When freshman Brian Hurley stepped onto the court for his first practice with the Emerson men’s basketball team, it was a feeling of deja vu.
Hurley, a native of South Boston, was familiar with head coach Jim O’Brien’s practice regiment. He learned the routine from his high school coach, one of O’Brien’s former players and the current Emerson assistant coach Bill Curley.
According to Hurley, a communication studies major, having such close ties to Emerson made the decision to commit to Emerson that much easier.
“[Curley] had me in high school, he knew what I could do,” the forward said. “He knows what I have to offer, how to get the most out of me. I knew I wanted to play for him again, that’s part of the reason why I’m here. He doesn’t want me at any point not be at a hundred percent.”
Hurley is just one of nine freshmen and 10 players overall new players who will join the squad this year, all of whom will attempt to fill the void left by eight seniors who graduated last season.
Fielding a team with so many rookies always comes with its challenges, according to O’Brien, and the Lions are no exception. The coach cited lack in physical size, the number of players on the roster, and the unknown chemistry between teammates as some of the biggest obstacles Emerson will meet as it begins its season.
The largest issue O’Brien said he will face in his second season of coaching is the team’s lack of aggression.
“I think we were a little bit tougher a year ago physically,” the coach said. “I think we are physically shy right now, and that’s my biggest concern.”
Emerson ended its previous season with a 10-16 record overall and a first-round playoff loss. O’Brien is confident that his large recruiting class will be able to develop into a more talented group than last year’s team.
The Lions have gained plenty of size this year, as eight of the 10 recruits stand at six feet tall and over, including 6-foot-4 junior Jon Goldberg, a transfer from St. Lawrence University in Kansas, who will bring experience from his years with the Saints. Hurley and freshman Kyle Edwards lead the crowd with heights of 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-6 respectively.
For freshman Tyson Hallowell, it was O’Brien’s experience as a coach that brought him to Emerson.
“I was looking at other schools for basketball, but it was really Emerson’s coaching staff,” the guard said. “Coach O’Brien has such a great knowledge of the game, and I just knew right then and there that I could learn the most from him.”
The Lions will have to overcome the fortunate burden of a 17-man roster as they head into the season, which O’Brien said he surprised him.
“It’s more than I had anticipated,” said O’Brien, “but we felt we made commitments to them, so we took everybody in.”
Through the unfortunate circumstance of injury, this hinderance actually became a blessing. Multiple injuries, including sophomore point guard Eli Kell-Abrams’ broken foot that will leave him sidelined for several weeks, have allowed for the reserves to take advantage.
With many of the rookies coming from the Northeast and the greater Boston area in particular, a connection between teammates is not a concern, according to the squad’s youngest members. Hurley said he and his fellow freshmen are nearly inseparable, and he had heard of them even before they met this fall.
Hallowell said he had the chance to play with and against some of his new teammates in the Independent School League. He also said that he played against a team coached by Curley prior to joining Emerson’s squad.
Though the men are just finishing their preseason, O’Brien said that there are more questions than answers and that he is cautiously optimistic. Despite all of the challenges that lay ahead, he believes that the addition of 10 skilled players will result in a positive outcome.
“We are a little bit more gifted, we are a little bit taller ... and I think we have some guys that have some skill,” O’Brien said. “I think we have a chance to be better than we were a year ago.”
Hurley said that he’s looking forward to facing opponents that are not as familiar to him.
“Since we came here in September, we played pick-up almost every day with the same guys,” Hurley said. “I’m just excited to go out with these guys and ball out against other people. I’m kind of sick of playing the same dudes, getting in fights with the guys on my own team. It’s about time we’re on the same side.”
Hallowell is most excited about finally taking to the court.
“I love the game,” Hallowell said. “I just can’t wait to get started.”