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Date Posted: 10:15:14 02/03/05 Thu
Author: New Britain Herald
Subject: CCSU needs the future to arrive today
In reply to: Hartford Courant 's message, "On The Outside For Now" on 10:10:52 02/01/05 Tue

By MATT STRAUB, Assistant Sports Editor 02/03/2005

NEW BRITAIN -- CCSU coach Howie Dickenman sat back at his desk, put his hands behind his head and smiled.

"I think the future is bright at Central Connecticut," he said.

The long-term future of the program is what he was referring to, but for the Blue Devils there are still plenty of goals to be reached in the near future.

The Blue Devils enter tonght’s rematch with St. Francis (Pa.) with a 3-6 record in conference play. They have seen a potentially strong NEC campaign falter, most notably from second half collapses.

Chief among the long list of mistakes this year was the game at St. Francis, when CCSU saw a 17-point halftime lead evaporate, and a key conference road win disappear in overtime.

Sometimes young teams learn lessons the hard way. Dickenman has one senior, Rich Pittman in his rotation, and the forward has been hobbled by a leg injury for the past three games.

"We’re playing with next year’s team," Dickenman said.

That team, which includes a freshman point guard and a sophomore scorer, has begun the growing up process, which has been hastened by being thrown directly into the fire.

"I expect by this time of year freshmen are no longer freshmen and sophomores are no longer sophomores because we are halfway through the season," Dickenman observed. "We’re doing some good things, we just haven’t gotten the results that I think we’re going to get in the future. We have to continue to work hard, and I have to be patient with these guys, even though I find it difficult to be patient."

Dickenman’s desire to impart all of his knowledge on his young team as quickly as possible is clear, whether he’s on the sidelines urging them on, or pacing around the gym before a practice.

The results haven’t always been perfect, but the Devils are showing signs of becoming the team their coach envisions even while making the mistakes common to a underclassman.

"I can understand hustle mistakes," Dickenman said. "What I tell them is to make a different mistake. Don’t make the same mistake again. And lazy mistakes will not be tolerated."

There were plenty of mistakes the first time CCSU took on the Red Flash. CCSU led 47-30 at halftime in Loretto, then led 62-48 before Darshan Luckey took over. He finished the night with 35 points, and gave the Blue Devils what Dickenman called a "sickening" loss.

"We were blowing them out of their own gym," he said. "We told the kids they were tough at home. I don’t know if it was a psychological thing where we thought we were going to win, but I have to give St. Francis credit, they came back."

Coming back is exactly what the Devils will look to do in the second half of the year. A year ago they started 2-6 and found themselves in the NEC title game. Now they hope to reverse their record again and stage a similar rally.

"We had to fight last season. We were dead and buried. We were 2-6 in the league and everyone counted us out," Dickenman said. "We got into the seven spot, beat the two and went on from there."

Yes, Dickenman can see the bright future ahead. He likes the way Lenny Jefferson is developing as a defender and can see him being a leader. He notes DeMario Anderson’s development into a solid scoring threat. He sees the potential freshman guard Tristan Blackwood possesses.

For the future to pay immediate dividends, one of those youngsters must grow up on the court over the next month.

"We don’t have a horse this year, but maybe we have a lot of ponies," Dickenman said. "If the ponies can gather up and get us to the finish line, get us into the tournament first, once we get there I think our chances of winning the NEC tournament are just as good as anyone, we just have to get there first."

Stopping Darshan Luckey tonight would be a great first step for the Dickenman’s Pony Express.

Matt Straub can be reached via email at mstraub@newbritainherald.com

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