MEN'S BASKETBALL 2006-07
Golden Flyers look to compete in Empire 8
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Many of names and uniform numbers are the same, but Nazareth Coach Mike Daley hopes that some of the numbers on the post-game stat sheets are drastically different.

Coming off back-to-back 8-17 seasons and second-division finishes in the Empire 8 Conference, the Golden Flyers appear poised for improvement.

"I think we can be pretty good," said Daley, who has won 274 games in 20 previous seasons stalking the Nazareth sideline. "I'm sure that the other teams in our conference have similar expectations."

The Golden Flyers open their 2006-07 season Friday with their own tip-off tournament at the Kidera Gymnasium. Fredonia State plays Keystone in the first game at 6 p.m., followed by Nazareth vs. Morrisville State at 8 p.m. The consolation and championship games are Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. respectively. It marks just the second time in the Golden Flyers' 30-year history that the men's basketball season has opened at home.

The Golden Flyers showed moments of brilliance in 2005-06 -- notably a 62-60 road win at conference champion St. John Fisher -- but Daley would like to see the Golden Flyers employ a more consistent level of intensity against all of their opponents.

"A lot will depend on how some of younger guys blend with our veteran players," he said. "In order to improve, we need to bring the same level of concentration into every game."

The truth is that the Golden Flyers still could be considered a youthful team with only one senior (Brian Steves) on the roster. Youth, however, should not be confused with inexperience.
Juniors Brian Ameneiros, Joe Canori (pictured above), Leon Hill, Ryan McAdam and Tyler Smith all have logged quality minutes since their freshman seasons. In addition, sophomores Nick Bozzelli and Jeff DeHimer displayed considerable potential last season.

Canori, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, was the leading scorer in the conference in '05-06 and earned a variety of accolades, including second-team E8 all-star honors. A deadly outside shooter, Canori ranked 35th nationally with a 20.6 points per game scoring average. He ranked among the Division III leaders in three-point shooting percentage (.451) and three-pointers made per game (3.1).

McAdam, a 6-foot-4 forward, also has strong skills and was Nazareth's second leading scorer last year at 12.8 points per game. He also contributed 5.4 rebounds per game and shot 85 percent from the free-throw line (63-for-74). McAdam, however, might miss the season after breaking his left wrist in practice.

Ameneiros (left), a 5-foot-8 guard, was sorely missed last season when he sat out the second semester while working on his academic progress. In addition to his sound ball-handling skills, Ameneiros poses a threat as an outside shooter. He went 9-for-20 from three-point range in just six games.

Smith, a 6-foot-7 center, displayed steady improvement in '05-06 to the point where he led the Golden Flyers in rebounding (6.6 per game) and blocked shots with 23 while also contributing 7.1 points per game.

Hill, a 6-foot-1 guard, appeared in 11 games last season and could be ready to take on a more advanced role in '06-07.

Daley hopes that DeHimer will use his sophomore season to blossom into the dominating player that his 6-foot-7, 230-pound dimensions imply. Same with Bozzelli, who hopes to create match-up issues with his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame.

Sophomores Chris Barrett and Joe Mihalich also appear ready to take on greater roles along with 6-foot-4 senior Brian Steves.

Daley also has four freshmen who could contribute immediately. Point guard Corey McAdam (Ryan's brother) was the All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year after leading Fairport High to a sectional championship. Other freshmen are guards Rayvon Higdon and Phil Johann.

"I'm anxious to see how we stack up," said Daley, who will be assisted once again by Toby Brown, Dick O'Toole and Jake Steck. "This is an important season for the development of Nazareth basketball."