Prep b BB: Bishop's preview

By Ed Piper

Senior forward Christian Rose is going to play a pivotal role on the Bishop's basketball team this season.

"We're going to be leaning on him a lot," said Knights coach Nick Levine on the eve of the team's opening game.

"He has dedicated himself on the court and in the weight room to be a leader. Experience has gone a long way. He has been a starter on varsity. The others have not."

The Knights are going to display an almost totally new attack. Zach White will be at the point. "He shoots the ball well. The ball will be in his hands a lot," said Levine, talking during a P.E. class in the gym. "He's really grown tougher and stronger in the weight room." That seems to be a theme.

Anthony Wood is a 5'10" junior guard. "He is just tough as nails. A motor. He'll play hard, go after every loose ball. I'm expecting him to be one of our better defensive players."

Levine isn't using a motivational word or team motto or theme at this point before the season. "We kind of have to figure out our identity before we do that," he said. "We have a lot of guys who haven't played together, so we have to find out what our identity is. That's ongoing.

"We can control what kind of teammate we can be. We're emphasizing being (on task, focusing on our role)."

As a veteran coach, the Philly native knows "one size fits all" doesn't work in dealing with his individual players. "You have to know what works for each kid, talk to each kid differently to motivate. Not (show them up) in front of the whole team.

"It's understanding what works for each kid. I've learned that you develop a relationship with each kid, motivate each one to develop them as people and to make it be a great experience overall."

The Knights open against Oceanside in the Game On Challenge Fri., Nov. 16, in that seaside city up the coast.