This night also marked the first collegiate start of red-shirt freshman John Glavan. Glavan block Reis' first shot and had the Bronco "big man" thinking the rest of the game. James Bell, who had started in the low post for Brovelli since the sixth game of the season against the University of the Pacific, came off the bench and scored eight big points. At season's end, freshman John Glavan and senior Shawn Sykes were named Most Improved for the Dons.
So who ya gonna call, Coach Brovelli? I know...how about that big guy with goggles down there on the bench next lo your son Mike? You know who I'm talking about, don't you? Sure you do. It's 6' 10" sophomore John Glavan. You heard it here first, the key to the men's basketball team's success this year will depend in large part on what kind of season John Glavan has. Johnson, Owens, and Smart are all great basketball players. Although heading into last weekend's opener against Army the trio hadn't played a minute of Division 1 basketball, I've seen enough of them to know that they will live up to lhe hype surrounding them. What's unfortunate is that thc absence of height in the lineup may end up limiting their capabilities. This problem is not without precedent, either. True Dons fans will undoubtedly remember Mark McCathrion, a 6' 8" wizard with the basketball, who was forced to play center much of his career. He was probably the most talented overall player Brovelli has had since the program was reinstated, but many of his talents went untapped as he languished in the lane. While Owens doesn't quite have the ball handling and shooting skills that McCaihrion possessed, I can't help but wonder how much more he could do with a little more offensive freedom. With Glavan in the middle, he would have that freedom. He would also be able to use his considerable defensive skills to shut down a smaller man, leaving Glavan, who led the Dons in blocked shots his freshman year, to contend with the other team's big man (TheFoghorn).
