In Terry Dunn's first season as Dartmouth coach last year, he led the Big Green to a third-place Ivy League finish. The seven wins were six better than the previous season and its most since 1998-99.
It was quite an impressive showing for the new coach. Then again, he was brought in precisely because of his experience working with struggling programs.
Last year, the team notched its best record in six seasons; however, much of that success can be attributed to the fact that it returned three senior starters in 2004.
The true test for Dunn will be whether he is able to keep the Big Green from sliding back down the standings this winter.
"This year's team is quite different," Dunn said. "We have more youth. Consistency is a concern with most of the younger players."
Dartmouth returns just two key seniors from last year's squad: sharpshooting guard Mike Lang who is third in the Ivy League in three-point shooting at 41.6 percent and big man Calvin Arnold, the leader in blocks with 2.6 per game.
The Big Green has also been bolstered by the return of junior guard Leon Pattman, who left the team for personal reasons last year. Pattman is the high scorer with 11.2 points per game. Pattman is currently third in the Ivy League at 87 percent from the line.
"I'm not complacent with 7-7 in the conference, even though it's such a good conference," Dunn said.
If he can duplicate last year's success with the young squad, especially after such a weak start, he will show that Dartmouth is here to stay -- and that it is Dunn's coaching that put them there.
