With the men’s basketball 2019-2020 season officially over, the Vikings have begun to focus on improvements for the 2020-2021 season. This season’s record of 7-18 left the Vikings without a spot in the playoffs.
In the 2018-2019 season, the Vikings finished the regular season with a 19-10 record and a playoff berth.
The team faced a variety of obstacles throughout the season compared to last season.
Out of the 13 players in the 19-20 season, 11 were freshmen.
According to Head Coach Howard Levy, “This is probably the least experienced team we’ve ever had.”
He adds, “You really have to teach them everything.”
Athletic Director John Simone summarized the season saying “We’ve had injuries, we’ve had academic situations where students were not eligible because they were not meeting the credit criteria, and we just haven’t gotten a break.”
Coach Levy and the team will use these lessons and what they’ve learned this season to bounce back next year.
According to Viking point guard Tyrae Green, nearly everyone is coming back next season and wants to work hard.
Assistant Coach Stanley Tuchez believes “If we can return our core group for next year, then I expect us to be pretty good. We will have a larger group who has matured and gained the understanding.”
Coach Levy plans to improve next season based on the knowledge the team has gained this season.
Levy says, “Besides offense and defense, you’re always learning how to get to these kids. Teach them, turn them into competitors. We’ll keep applying what we’re learning and if we keep going through our process, we’ll be successful.”
