Immaculata tries to get by

Mighty Macs must deal with a lack of height

EAST WHITELAND >> Every college basketball season brings new challenges, but Immaculata head coach Terrence Stewart is bracing for a couple big ones. Neither, however, is unusual at a place like IU.

Stewart’s Mighty Macs are going to be inexperienced at some key spots in 2014-15. And other than senior big man Mamadou Diakite, Immaculata’s roster is bereft of proven post players.

“It’s a challenge but it’s one our staff looks forward to,” said Stewart, who is entering his third season at the helm.

“We are still finding an identity. We are young and small so we have to be feisty and play like every possession matters. But with young kids, that’s a process. We have a saying: ‘bring your heart, mind and body every day.’ We want to get better every day and hopefully we’ll win some games in the process.”

Much like last season, the Mighty Macs have struggled in non-conference games (0-3 so far), but are 2-0 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference fol- lowing a 65-64 win on Wednesday that concluded with a dramatic Diakite buzzer-beater.

“We are going to have our ups and downs, but if we play hard we are capable of beating anyone,” Stewart predicted.

Immaculata was 11-7 in the CSAC last season (12-14 overall) and qualified for the conference tournament for the fifth straight year, but bowed out in round one. The biggest graduation loss was center Brandon Smith, the program’s career rebounding leader.

“We’ve made the playoffs, but we haven’t fared well in the play- offs,” Stewart acknowledged. “So just making it isn’t enough for me. We’d like to get in and make some noise.”

It’s difficult to imagine how the Macs can get that done without big-time contributions from Diakite and emerging sophomore swingman Roy Ferrell. The 6-foot-5 Diakite is the team’s top returning scorer (11.6) and rebounder (7.7) and was named to the All-CSAC Second Team last winter.

“He is our post presence,” Stewart explained. “We are going to ride him inside. He’s the

“We are still finding an identity. We are young and small so we have to be feisty and play like every possession matters. But with young kids, that’s a process... We want to get better every day and hopefully we’ll win some games in the process.”

– Immaculata coach Terrence Stewart

guy we want to go through inside.

“I believe he is one of the best big men in the CSAC and as far as Division III in the area. I believe in Mamadou. He is a very mentally tough kid.”

Ferrell (6-2) logged 19 starts as a freshman and is poised for a breakout season. He is bigger, stronger, and his scoring production has blossomed from 7.7 per game a season ago to 12.6 currently.

“Roy’s been our best player so far,” Stewart said. “We know what we are going to get from him every day: being professional, playing the right way, defending and shoot the ball. He’s a luxury every coach loves to have.

“Roy put in the work last summer and he is making the jump from freshman to sophomore. He’s a kid we depend on a lot.”

The trio of Rodney Duncan (5-10), Matt Simon and Tony Calamaro (6-2) have been elevated from backups a year ago to important cogs this time around. Duncan averaged 7.9 points as a sparkplug off the bench as a sophomore, Simon led the team with 98 3-pointers as a freshman, and Calamaro is a former All-Ches-Mont forward from Downingtown West.

“Of course with major minutes you expect all of those guys’ production to go up,” Stewart said.

“The key is going to be if our guys can make shots and allow (Diakite) to operate down low. Our opponents will have to pick their poison: either single-cover Mamadou and get out to our shooters, or double-down on Mamadou and give our guys some perimeter shots.”

The lone newcomer inserted into the starting lineup is combo guard Ron Melton (6-2), a transfer from Manor Community College.

“He can get to the basket and finish,” Stewart reported. “But he hasn’t played in a year and a half, so he is getting the rust off. I think he will be very good as we get more games under his belt.”

Two other returnees are also expected to be in the playing mix: sophomore forward Josh Smith (6-3) and senior guard Xavier Brown (5-10), who was the top man off the bench in 2012-13 but sat out last season with an injury.

“Josh has been a pleasant surprise for us,” Stewart said. “We knew he was athletic, but he can hit the outside jump shot, which is huge for us.”

Smith is contributing right away, but Brown’s production has been limited. If Brown can eventually navigate the physical and mental hurdles that often follow a serious knee injury, IU’s backcourt situation could be elevated considerably.

“He’s in that stage where he wants to be the old ‘X’ but his body will not allow it,” Stewart explained. “He is trying to figure it out, but he’s already proven to me and my staff that he can be a major contributor.”

The Mighty Macs travel to Baptist Bible today with hopes of starting the CSAC season 3-0.