Wentworth Institute of Technology: Athletics > Varsity Sports

Season In Review

Returning the majority of players from Wentworth’s improbable conference championship in 2007, the 2007-08 edition of the Leopards certainly had high expectations going into the season and, being selected by The Commonwealth Coast Conference men’s basketball coaches to finish first in the conference, a chance to win back-to-back conference championships was certainly in reach.

The Leopards began the 2007-08 season by splitting a pair of games at the UMass Dartmouth Hampton Inn Classic. Wentworth was downed by Husson in the opener, but posted a 34-point win over Albertus Magnus in the third place game. That win began a four-game win streak and would put the Leopards at 4-1 heading into a game at then-undefeated Coast Guard. A two-point loss to the Bears would begin a three-game losing streak, including dropping a six-point decision to the Apprentice School at the Cruzin’ Classic in Fort Lauderdale. However, a 36-point win against Goucher the following night wrapped up a 5-4 first semester.

The Leopards opened the second semester with a 3-3 record, including a 2-3 mark to open play in TCCC. Two of the three losses came by a combined three points, including a last-second loss at Roger Williams and a two-point, overtime loss at Endicott.

Standing at 8-7 overall Wentworth went on to win four of its next five games to improve to 12-8 overall, and, more importantly, in the thick of TCCC tournament mix with a 6-4 record. However, a last-second loss at Newbury and a five-point loss to Curry – in a re-match of the 2007 conference title game – dipped the Leopards’ record to 12-10 and 6-5 in league play.

Playing their final two games of the regular season at home, Wentworth needed to win both to solidify a berth in TCCC Tournament. The Leopards used a 71-63 win against Colby-Sawyer – a win that snapped a 17-game losing streak against the Chargers – to nail down a tournament berth and would end the regular season three days later with a win against New England College.

With a 14-10 record overall and an 8-5 mark in league play, the Leopards finished tied with Colby-Sawyer for sixth. By virtue of Wentworth’s win earlier in the week, the Leopards garnered the number six seed and would travel to third-seeded Gordon for a quarterfinal round matchup.

While the Fighting Scots had defeated the Leopards, 81-67, earlier in the year the game was also a re-match of a conference semifinal matchup from the 2007 where a late three pointer gave Wentworth a 69-68 upset win. However, this time around Gordon would prevail, 73-61.

With a 14-11 record the Leopards were in contention for their first trip to the ECAC Tournament since 1998, but would find themselves on the outside looking in when the field was announced. Of the 11 losses Wentworth suffered, six were by a combined 17 points.

Senior Sherrad Prezzie-Blue led all scorers by averaging 18.6 points to go along with 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Junoior Todd Doyle chipped in by averaging 14.0 points and 4.4 rebounds, while classmate Weonard Bynes averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds and shot .625 from the floor.

As a team Wentworth finished ranked in the top 60 nationally in four categories, including assists per game where the Leopards averaged 17.9, good for fourth in Division III. Wentworth was 36th in rebound margin (+5.2), 52nd in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.11), and 56th in scoring margin (+7.8).

Post-season honors were bestowed upon two members of the Leopards. Prezzie-Blue wrapped up his stellar career by being named First Team All-TCCC, as well as being selected to play in the New England Basketball Coaches Association's Senior All-Star Game. Doyle took home post-season honors from TCCC as well, as he was, for the second second in a row, an Honorable Mention All-TCCC selection.

The Leopards lose three players to graduation, including Prezzie-Blue, who ends his career as the second leading scorer in Leopard history with 1,711 points. Doyle and Bynes, as well as a solid core of players, and should help the Leopards be in the mix for the TCCC title.

Schedule

The Leopards play a 25-game schedule, which includes 13 CCC games against such teams as Colby-Sawyer, Endicott, Curry, Roger Williams, and Salve Regina. The non-league schedule consists of games against such schools as Coast Guard and RPI. Wentworth will be playing in a pair of tournaments next season, opening the season at Endicott's tip-off tournament and closing out the first semester at the Las Vegas Hoopla in Las Vegas, Nev., which will mark the second time in a decade the Leopards will be playing in Las Vegas (1999-2000). Over the course of the last eight seasons the Leopards have played in tournaments in Daytona Beach, Fla. (1996-97), Monterey, Calif. (2001-02), and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2007-08).

History

Over the course of the last 14 seasons, the Leopards have won 160 games, appeared in four CCC championship games (1996, 1997, 1998, 2007), won three CCC championships (1997, 1998, 2007), played in the NCAA Tournament twice (1997, 2007), and was an ECAC semifinalist (1998). In 1996 the team earned the NEBCA Most Improved Team Award. During this time, three players have been honored as the CCC Rookie of the Year, while the Leopards boasted three CCC Players of the Year, two All-Region selections and a two-time Academic All-America.

Meet the Coaching Staff

Tom Devitt (Boston College '93) is entering his seventh (2000-01; 2003-present) season as the Leopards' head coach. The 2007 CCC Coach of the Year, Devitt has been a member of the Leopards' coaching staff since the 1999-2000 season, including serving as the interim coach during the 2000-2001 season. Prior to his arrival at Wentworth, he had served as an assistant coach at both American University and Boston College. He is assisted by Chris Cullinan (Marist '96) and Anthony Leonelli (UMass Boston '06).