Lancers End a “Lost” Season
Expectations were high for Mike Gillian’s squad coming into the 2011–12 season. Gillian had a favorable home schedule and a slew of a talented seniors to help Longwood match or surpass the 17–14 mark set by the 08–09 squad. But a season that should have been filled with celebration, for Antwan Carter and the Big South, started on the wrong foot when the Lancers fell to two lower tier opponents (Navy, Canisius) right out of the gate. Then senior guard Durann Neil left the team and Murphy’s Law ensued. The Lancers lost another senior guard when Jeremiah Bowman was suspended for the remainder of the season in early February. Also, there were injuries to Jeff Havenstein, Jeylani Dublin, and Mark Parker; and the Lancers essentially had to finish the last eleven games of the season with six scholarship players.
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Despite the off the court hardships of the season this Lancers squad still should have been better. There were close games lost down the stretch at home (Seattle and North Dakota), close calls again non-D1 opponents (Washington Adventist and UVA-Wise), and humiliating blowouts to schools that really should never blow us out (NJIT, UMKC, Seattle, Florida Gulf Coast). Also, the Lancers will more than likely end the season as the nation’s worst defensive team. Control of this team was lost a long time again and thus the season was lost for the Lancers. The last two months have looked like a team, a coaching staff, and a program just ready to start over, turn the page, and get on with life in the Big South.
Beyond the “lost” season we do need to commemorate Antwan Carter for one of the greatest careers in Longwood history. It’s hard not to feel bad for Carter with all the hard work he’s put in over the last four years and the fact he’ll never play a conference game. Same goes for Martiz Washington who leaves LU as its most decorated three-point shooter, his long range game and intensity will surely be missed. But as the players depart there is certainly hope on the horizon. TT Carey should be a premier scorer in the Big South and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the preseason all-Big South first or second team. Also, Mike Gillian has his most talented recruiting class ever coming in to Farmville lead by guards Nik Brown and Lucas Woodhouse.
The biggest question remaining in Willett Hall is will head coach Mike Gillian be back? And the answer is yes. I’d be shocked if the administration does not give Gillian a year or two to see what he can do at the Big South level. Many likely won’t agree with the decision but it’ll be the decision nonetheless. I think reasonable expectation for next year’s “young” squad would be to finish from sixth to ninth in the Big South and reach the conference quarterfinals. I think that’s a very reasonable and tangible expectation. If we surpass it then great, but if we fail then changes need to once again be evaluated.
Photo Credit: SLAM Online
