A whole new ball game

I've said before I felt the Acadia basketball program - both the men’s and women’s - would eventually see better days.

Well, better days are here, in particular for the men's team, which has engineered a dramatic “worst to first” turnaround in less than a year.

I'm not totally surprised it's happened - some of the pieces were in place even last season; I wouldn't have dared dream it would happen so soon.

Last year's Axemen finished almost off the AUBC radar with a 2-17 record. This year started off with two straight losses; since, Acadia has won 11 of 13 games.

It's also translated into more fans in the seats - over 1,200 for a recent win over St. F.X.

What's the difference? To me, it's equal parts head coach Les Berry, who has put his personal stamp on the Axemen program in a hurry, and an impressive cast of players who have bought into his system.

Berry's style can be described as “firm but fair:” he's intense, and isn't afraid to throw an on-court tantrum or two, even taking a technical foul if he feels it's necessary.

Paulo Santana, as exciting a player as Acadia has had in years, might be described as the straw that stirs the drink for the Axemen, but that's really not fair to the rest of the team.

A major key to Acadia's 8-1 record since Christmas has been the play of Shawn Berry, a 6'5” transfer forward from Lake Superior State who had to sit out the first semester. Berry, whose skill at both the inside and outside game puts me in mind of former St. F.X. star Fred Perry Jr., is the whole package; but he hasn't done it by himself, either.

One might argue the biggest difference of all has been the return of 6'8” forward Achuil Lual, who missed the entire 2005/ 2006 season following knee surgery and set himself a goal, in this comeback season, of leading the conference in rebounding. He's on track, but he's also had a real impact on defense, both in defending the opposition's best post player and in making the rest of the team better. Again, he's not doing it himself.

Luckern Dieu is also enjoying a fine season, both as a complement to Lual in the post and as a scorer.

The play of Santana, whether as a point guard or a shooting guard, has also smoothed the transition to the university game for U.S. prep school graduate Andrew Kraus, who has steadily improved in all aspects of his game in his freshman season.

Add in the deadly outside shooting of Peter Leighton. Santana, Berry and Kraus are also capable of long-range damage, as is now-healthy-again veteran Jordan Sheriko.

At the same time, one can't forget this team can play defense as well, and is more than capable of holding teams to 60 points or less as well as generating points off turnovers.

Even if the Axemen don't finish first in the regular season or win the conference title, they're definitely going to have something to say about who does.