SEASON PREVIEW - 2010-2011

Laurentian Voyageurs basketball coach Shawn Swords would go into the off-season with one major item on his recruiting shopping list - the need for greater inside presence to help out a squad that was consistently out-rebounded at both ends of the court.

He's hoping to check that one off the list with the introduction of British Columbia transfer Mike Hull and South African native Shavaan Sheldon into the roster in 2010-2011. Along with the addition of key recruits Eric Ducharme and Jeff Plunkett, the Voyageurs are looking to step on to the court with a much greater physical presence, an absolute necessity within the battle grounds of OUA basketball.

"In adding these four players, we are bigger and stronger, which should help improve our weaknesses from last year", stated coach Swords. Rookie sensation Manny Pasquale will be joined by the Northern Ontario troika of Jamie Weldon, Georges Seresse and Andrew Lalonde, all of whom will be expected to carry a bigger load entering their third season of play.

Pasquale not only earned OUA East rookie of the year honours, but also managed to crack the CIS All-Rookie team during an outstanding freshman season at Laurentian. "And Georges Serresse finished the past season very well and should continue to show improvement and be a force next year", says Swords.

Although the additional experience of a year or two of OUA basketball will prove helpful to his core talent, Swords is well-aware that there are plenty of areas requiring improvement if the team is to take a step up from a 6-16 team that missed the playoffs in 2009-2010.

"We need to improve our rebounding and our choices at times on offence", he says. "Defensively, we showed at times, we can lock teams down - but not enough."The reality of life in the OUA East, for the past few years, is that you will be butting heads with two of the premier programs in the country with Carleton and Ottawa.

But that should still leave room for a five team battle for the final four spots as the Voyageurs go toe to toe with Toronto, Queen's, Ryerson and York. "We are looking to make a run in the playoffs and challenge for a spot at Nationals", states Swords.

Setting the bar high was a trademark of the character of Shawn Swords as a player. It seems that thankfully, little has changed as a coach.