School: Canisius College

Nickname: Golden Griffins

Affiliation: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Coach: Tom Parrotta, 4th season (29-64)

2008-2009 Record: 11-20

Overview: The heat's on Tom Parrotta as his early recruits mature and take aim at

significant improvement. Potential abounds if the chemistry clicks, but that's no certainty.

Still, Griffs won four of last six last season with both loses inflicted by MAAC powerhouse

Siena. Can they carry it over? Point guard Frank Turner (15.6), shooting guard Julius Coles

(12.1) and forward Greg Logins (11.1) all averaged in double figures last season, so there are

adequate scoring options. Forward Elton Frazier has bulked up considerably, bringing more

power to his game. Griffs will be without their third-leading rebounder, 6-foot-9 Chris

Gadley, for the first semester due to academics. Newcomers Gaby Belardo and Alshwan Hymes are

capable of making immediate contributions in the backcourt.

Keys to Success: The Griffs were solid on the boards last season. They played above-average

defense. Now if they can refine their shooting touches and cut down on the turnovers . . .

"We'd be a pretty good team," said coach Tom Parrotta. "We would have been a much better

team. I would gather that without the turnovers last year we probably would have won five more

games because our defense kept us in. Offensively we struggled. We didn't shoot well from the

line and we didn't shoot well from the field. We address that every day. The turnovers, we're

doing things a little differently now. We're putting the ball in the hands of the right people

making the decisions. So I think they'll be cut down significantly. If we can do that we'll

have a pretty good chance to win a lot of games."

Big Games: They're all big as Canisius guns for the winning season that would appease a

frustrated fan base. First four MAAC games are at home, providing ample opportunity for Griffs

to shoot out of the gate. Nonconference schedule provides some challenges, with road games at

UB, Duquesne and St. Bonaventure mixed in with a trip to the Southern Mississippi Christmas

Classic.

Griffs get rival Niagara twice in eight days beginning in late January.

Outlook: Hard to get a handle on the extent of this team's evolution. Last year's finish,

which included a victory in the MAAC Tourney, suggests better days are upon them. Anything

less than 16 wins would fall short of expectations given the experience level.

&mdash Bob DiCesare