In recent years, other programs have gained notoriety becoming stronger and more competitive within the league and region- most notably volleyball, soccer and baseball. 

The 2007-2008 men’s and women’s basketball teams are hoping they can soon add their sport to the increasing list of success stories at Skidmore.

This year’s men’s and women’s basketball teams both enter the season with young talent looking to improve upon last year.

The women finished the 2006-2007 campaign with a 12-13 record, including impressive conference wins on the road against Union and William Smith Colleges.

The Thoroughbreds return eight players from last season and welcome four first-year players to the squad. “We are still fairly young, but very talented and smart,” said head coach Darren Bennett.

In his fourth year at Skidmore, Bennett has helped the Thoroughbreds improve on each year’s previous record, and this season points to depth and experience to continue that trend.

“The difference [this year] will be playing experience and overall talent. We have more depth and more players that have played in big games and have big minutes,” said Bennett.

With the future of their program in the hands of the women’s basketball players, the men’s program enters a new phase under first-year head coach Luke Flockerzi.

Following a disappointing 2-22 record last season, the men’s squad looks to return to contention within the Liberty League under Flockerzi.

“We are trying to get better every day by focusing on the little things and improving every time we step on the floor,” said Flockerzi, “Our goal for the season is to reach the highest potential for this group.”

The men’s team returns a solid group of players, including seniors Dave Phelps (Pittsfield, Mass) and Jonah Haviland-Markowitz (Brooklyn, NY), junior Matt Belsito (New York, NY), and sophomores Bobby Langford (Worcester, Mass) and Jon Douglas (Shutesbury, Mass).

Together with seven newcomers to this year’s team, the Thoroughbreds are motivated and hungry to once again bring men’s basketball back to prominence within Skidmore Athletics.

Both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams began the season on a high note, finishing 2-1 in their opening three games.

The Lady Thoroughbreds opened the season at home last weekend hosting the 30th Annual Skidmore Invitational. 

In the opening game, Skidmore jumped out to an early lead and held on to beat SUNY Purchase 67-66. Junior Amber Kinsey (Troy, NY) scored 17 points with two other Thoroughbreds reaching double figures.

Skidmore and Oswego State battled Sunday in the tournament final, with the Lakers prevailing 63-42 in a game that was closer than the score indicated.

“We played well as a team and made open shots,” said Bennett. “Our strength is out guard depth, [but] we have to straighten some things out on the defensive end of the floor.”

Everything came together for the Thoroughbreds Tuesday night in a 61-22 rout over Russell Sage College. Skidmore shot 44 percent for the game and held the Gators to only 15 points throughout the first 30 minutes of the contest while limiting Russell Sage to 18.8 percent shooting from the floor.

The men’s team opened the season at the Stevens Institute of Technology Tip-Off Tournament in Hoboken, NJ, finishing 1-1 for the weekend.

The Thoroughbreds showed promise in a 72-55 loss to 24th ranked host Stevens Tech Friday night, hanging with the Ducks to close to within nine points with under eight minutes to go.

“There were certainly some bright spots.” Flockerzi said. “We played together as a team, played hungry and with a sense of urgency.”

Skidmore finished the tournament with a 81-64 victory over Kings Point and continued their success with a 70-62 win over Southern Vermont Tuesday night.

The future is bright for both the men’s and women’s Basketball programs at Skidmore College.

Be sure to catch the Thoroughbreds in action as they next square off at home against Hartwick College Monday evening in a double-header. The women take the floor at 6 p.m. with the men’s game following at 8 p.m.