Lynchburg College men's basketball team has winning mindset

Last season is one that the Lynchburg College men’s basketball team will be happy to leave in the past.

The Hornets struggled on the court and finished with a dismal 3-22 record. Off the court, things were even worse. A plane crash on Nov. 21 severely injured starters Jason Early and Sean Sutherland. Early’s father, Brian, was killed in the accident.

When the season mercifully ended, the Hornets decided it was time to replace head coach John Swickrath after five seasons. LC picked former E.C. Glass and Roanoke College standout Hilliary Scott to take over the program. Scott had spent the five previous years serving as an assistant at Penn State and is looking forward to returning home.

“It’s been awesome (returning to Lynchburg),” he said. “It’s been great to get to spend more time with my family. The kids have been getting to hang around with the guys. The athletic staff here is just great. And I get to see my parents and family more.”

He isn’t the only one happy with the new situation.

“The transition has been smooth,” said forward Mason Wooldridge. “We have a new mentality that is more conducive to winning. Guys were fed up after last season. Whether it was going to be a coaching change or just a new philosophy, something needed to change.”

Though Scott has his work cut out for him — LC hasn’t had a winning season since 1985-86 — he brings a new attitude that can only aid in the Hornets recovery from last year’s taxing season.

“There’s a new attitude,” Wooldridge said. “People are really excited. Last year was last year. Everybody is just focused on what needs to get done this year. We have a really good chance to compete. We know the wins are coming.”

Added junior guard Steven Echols: “We came together with a better mindset. We’re not looking at what happened the last two years.”

Scott doesn’t find the cupboard bare. Wooldridge was a first team All-ODAC selection in his first season with the Hornets after transferring from Marshall. He averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Echols, a junior guard, returned to the team for the second semester of last year and averaged 9.2 points per game. Lynchburg is also looking forward to the return of junior forward Danny Reed, who missed all of last year with a knee injury. Reed averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds as a freshman. Also in the mix are junior forwards Jeff Langrock (7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), K.C. Mendez (4.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and junior guard Brad Puffenbarger (6.6 ppg, 37 percent of 3-point attempts).

But the Hornet making the most anticipated return from an injury is Sutherland. The senior forward came back to campus last spring after having back surgery. He is expected to play an important role on this year’s team. Early, after recovering from fractures of both thighs and several other broken bones, returned to Lynchburg to participate in graduation after completing coursework on-line.

Fans can expect a more aggressive team this year on both ends of the floor.

“We’re not walking the ball up the court anymore,” Echols said. “It’s a more up-tempo.”

Said Wooldridge: “On defense we are really going to be getting into people. It’s more of an in your face defense.”

The new season gets under way for the Hornets on Nov. 21 in the Mt. Saint Joseph’s Tournament in Cincinnati.

“We haven’t talked about last year much,” Scott said. “It’s a new day and we need to focus on this year. We need to focus on playing the right way, working hard every day and try to look to the future.”