Junior center Drew Cohen established himself as one of the best players in the NESCAC, earning league Defensive Player of the Year honors and being named to the conference first team. Cohen, at 6' 6", was first in the nation in NCAA Division III in total blocked shots (111) and blocked shots per game (4.83). He also led the NESCAC in rebounding (10.7) and was second in scoring (19.7). Cohen shot 48 percent from the field despite defenses designed to stop him.

The Mules missed some key players during the course of the season and finished 11-14, including a hard-fought 84-81 loss at Trinity in a NESCAC quarterfinal game. Junior point guard Nick Farrell averaged 12.8 points per game and was second in the conference in assists per game (5.56) and steals per game (2.32). Sophomore guard Mark Gaudet led the conference in three-point shooting at 49 percent and averaged 10.4 points per game for head coach Dick Whitmore.

With the return of five letter winners, each of whom started at some point, Colby has realistic expectations for continued growth in 2005-06 after going 14-8 last year.

The backcourt is led by two-year starter Nick Farrell '07, who has emerged as one of the better NESCAC guards. On the wings, Andrew Jenkins '06 returns to the lineup and will be complemented by Nate Dick '06.

In the middle Drew Cohen '07 has a great future, and the potential of Preston Decker '08 is exciting. In addition, Casey Civiello '06, Kevin Shers '06, Pat Featherston '07, Jon Bandi '07, and shooters Mark Gaudet '08 and Mike King '08 will have opportunities for playing time.

The keys to success for 35th-year head coach Dick Whitmore and his team will be better team defense, consistent offensive play, and rebound control. The schedule will include three in-season tournaments, including the prestigious Maine Event. The team plans to travel to Chicago to play in the University of Chicago tip-off tournament. Colby also hosts its own invitational on December 3-4 with Babson, Brooklyn College and Maine-Farmington.

The men's basketball team tied for fifth in the NESCAC and ended the year at 14-8 under 34th-year head coach Dick Whitmore, who earned his 550th career win during the season.

Senior guard Patrick McGowan earned second team honors from the NESCAC after leading Colby in scoring (16.3) and steals (53). He shot 41 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the foul line. McGowan also earned D3hoops.com National Team of the Week honors early in the season.

Sophomore center Drew Cohen averaged 15.8 points and led the Mules in rebounding (7.4), blocked shots (48) and field goal percentage (.612). Cohen led the conference in blocked shots.

Colby opened the season by winning the Emmanuel Tournament. The Mules went 8-3 at Wadsworth Gymnasium.

Tom Nale and Mike Rutherford earned NESCAC Winter All-Academic honors.

Colby's past half-century is rich with basketball tradition. The powerful teams of the 1950s created a groundwork for the storied teams of the 1970s.

In 1974 the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin (CBB) competition was introduced. Colby dominated on a regular basis from the beginning, winning 16 outright championships and sharing eight others.

Colby has been a strong force in the NESCAC, sending 18 teams to ECAC tournaments from 1972 to 2002, winning three ECAC championships (1990, 1991, and 1993), and sending three teams to the NCAA tournament since the conference began qualifying teams in 1994.

Over the past three decades the program has had 11 All-Americans, with the crowning moment being the 1990 selection of Matt Hancock '90 as National Player-of-the-Year.

A great strength of the program is its alumni group, one of the most active and connected in Division III.

About Wadsworth Gymnasium