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Randolph has gone 3-2 in their last five games
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Salem, VA -- Randolph College Men's Basketball coach Clay Nunley recently spoke to the Salem Rotary Club at the Salem Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Nunley talked about the opportunities and experiences of building a successful program and competing at the NCAA Division III level. The Salem Rotary Club sponsors the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Men's and Women's basketball post-season tournament every year.
Now in its second year as a program, Randolph has seen plenty of success thus far. The WildCats recorded eight wins in their first season, including a 77-65 win against ODAC competitor Lynchburg College. With a roster full of first-year players, Nunley knew he had a foundation of players with excellent character and determination to build upon. "When we were recruiting our first class of players, we were looking for players with great character," Nunley stated. "We were fortunate enough to get a great group of young men who are eager to learn on the floor and in the classroom."
Now with a season of experience, the young WildCat squad embarked on their next challenge as a program, joining the rigors of play in the ODAC. Nunley knew that the conference was one of the best in Division III in the country, and knew it would take time for his team to get accustom to the style of play. "The ODAC is one of, if not the best Division III conferences in the country," explained Nunley. "There is such parity in the conference, that as a team, you can not afford to take any days off and must pay great attention to detail to be successful."
And so despite only having one upperclassman on the team (4 first-years, 7 sophomores, 1 junior) Randolph has achieved several milestones in their first year as a member of the ODAC. On January 28th, Randolph recorded its first ODAC victory over Hampden-Sydney College 57-49. Only three days later, the WildCats continued their fine play, stunning Washington and Lee University 63-60 in an overtime thriller. Although historic, the two wins meant even more to a young squad searching for confidence that they could compete in the prestigious conference. Now with only two weeks left in the regular season, Randolph is poised to make some noise in their first post-season appearance.
As a team, Randolph prides itself on its defense. The WildCats rank among the top in the conference in field-goal percentage defense (2nd) and scoring defense (4th). Along with the team's achievements, several WildCat players have seen a tremendous amount of individual success. Sophomore guard Timothy Clarke has led the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.3 points per game and ranking third in the conference in assists per game (3.7). Sophomore guard Pete Hamilton has also been a steady scorer from the perimeter averaging 12.1 points per game, and sitting seventh in the conference with 40 three-pointers. Adding to the outside firepower is junior guard Jason Rutschman, who tops the ODAC in three-point field goal percentage at 54.8 percent (23-42). In the frontcourt, first-year forward Derrick Woods-Morrow has grown into a consistent low post threat, ranking among the top in the conference in rebounding (8.7) and field goal percentage (59.3%) all season.
With all of the success coming so quickly in only their second year, Nunley is excited about the future of the program and his players. "We have a solid foundation of players who understand the game and the way we want to play here at Randolph," added Nunley. "It has been a pleasure to work with these young men everyday, and I am looking forward to their growth as individuals and the growth of our program."
CONTACT: Vince Scalzo, Sports Information Director
