BANGOR, Maine — The Husson University men’s basketball team is steeped in tradition, but this year’s squad accomplished a program first this week.
The Eagles caught the attention of the voters in the national poll after knocked off then-No. 16 Scranton and edging highly regarded and previously unbeaten Hampden-Sydney during the D3hoops.com Classic at Las Vegas.
Those wins, which extended an early-season winning streak to seven games, helped coach Warren Caruso’s team earn a No. 23 ranking in the D3hoops.com Division III men’s basketball poll.
“You talk about building a resume toward March and building the respect and recognition,” Caruso said. “That’s not what we’re looking for, but that just happens to come with it.”
The ranking marked the first time Husson has been so recognized as a member of NCAA Division III. The Eagles had achieved a national ranking playing in the NAIA during the 2002-2003 season.
“It’s obviously a good feeling. I don’t think anyone here is really surprised, we know how good we are,” said senior Jacob Moore of Hampden. “It’s not going to make or break our season, being ranked, we’re just going to take it day by day.”
It’s probably a good thing that Caruso has imparted to his players the importance of not reading too much into the feat. On Tuesday, the day after the poll was released, Colby College beat Husson 99-94 in Waterville.
“That’s just a minor accomplishment (compared) to the goals that we have,” senior Aaron Willis said of the ranking. “We’ve just got to keep working.”
Husson takes an 8-2 overall record and a 4-0 league mark into Saturday’s 1 p.m. North Atlantic Conference game against Maine Maritime Academy of Castine (1-9, 0-4 NAC) at Newman Gym in Bangor.
Caruso, who is poised to earn his 400th career coaching victory, believes the Eagles’ testy nonconference schedule has helped put them in position to make another run at the NAC title.
The national ranking, and Husson’s reputation as a perennial championship contender in the NAC, also serve to motivate the Eagles’ opponents to try to take them down.
“I think being ranked just puts a bigger target on your back,” Moore said. “You’re going to get everyone’s best shot. You’ve got to remember, you’re not going to win every game. You’ve got to get back in the gym and get back to work and win the next one.”
Husson has built its early success this season around a core of seasoned veterans and some key underclassmen.
The catalysts are junior forward Trevon Butler, freshman guard Raheem Anderson and senior point guard Aaron Willis.
Butler, who was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week, is averaging a team-best 18 points per game along with 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals. Anderson, who returned after missing most of last season with a broken ankle, is providing 17 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per contest.
Willis (10.1 ppg, 2.7 apg) has provided a veteran presence in the backcourt.
The Eagles also look to sophomore forward Eli Itkin (8.2 ppg), freshman forward Matt Talbot of Portland (7.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg), freshman guard and University of Maine transfer Mitch Worcester of Washburn (5.8 ppg) along with freshman forward Connor Adams of Bangor and freshman guard David Diaz.
“We have four juniors and seniors and 10 underclassmen,” said Caruso, noting the situation was reversed a year ago. “We really like the pieces and how they potentially fit together.
“I think we’ve had tremendous leadership from Trevon and Aaron and Jacob in understanding roles and getting everyone on page,” he added.
Husson is averaging 78 ppg on 42 percent shooting, but also has excelled by getting to the foul line 24 times a game and shooting a NAC-best 77 percent. Defensively, the Eagles have held opponents to 26 percent shooting from the 3-point arc to lead the conference and also have rebounded effectively.
“It seems like everything’s starting to click,” Butler said. “We’re just learning, trying to become a better team every day.”
Caruso nears milestone
Caruso is set to join some elite company as he seeks his 400th win on the Husson bench.
The Bangor native and former Husson standout takes a career record of 399-185 (.683 winning percentage) into Saturday’s contest. He came into the season ranked 32nd in career winning percentage among active Division III men’s coaches.
Caruso, who took over for longtime mentor Bruce MacGregor at Husson in 1994, also is among only 30 or so coaches to reach 400 wins as a Division III head coach. He started the season ranked the 45th all-time winningest coach at that level.