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Basketball chases football’s success at Mount Union
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
The University of Mount Union has long been recognized as one of the NCAA’s top football programs.
Purple Raiders head basketball coach Mike Fuline, in his eighth season at the helm and the author of five straight non-losing campaigns, is working diligently to make sure that his program is also one of the NCAA’s most respected.
Fuline told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center that Northeast Ohio has long been a hotbed for scholastic talent and he plans to continue recruiting this part of the state.
“I had never met Athletic Director Larry Kehres prior to interviewing for the UMU head basketball job, but I told him how important I felt it was to recruit local talent,” Fuline said.
“That was a big reason as to why I took the job,” the former Massillon Jackson and Rootstown head coach said. “I know a lot of people in the area, plus it is underrated when it comes to coaches and players.”
He also understands the importance of family during the recruiting process.
“I believe in family, really enjoy when families live in proximity and are able to attend games,” Fuline said. “It’s important for our players to be able to go home at times and eat dinner with their families, and perhaps watch a brother or sister compete in their respective sports. I believe in this and try to stay as local as possible.”
Of the 19 players that dot this year’s Purple Raiders roster, three have local ties with Fuline foreseeing a 12- or 13-player rotation once the season gets under way.
The three local products include sophomore Andrew Carbon of Struthers, redshirt freshman Julian Berry of Girard and freshman Braedon Poole of McDonald.
Carbon played in 16 of the team’s 26 contests a season ago and averaged 1.5 points per fray while Berry sustained a knee injury early in the season which led to his being redshirted. Poole is a product of head coach Jeff Rasile’s highly-regarded McDonald Blue Devils program.
“Andrew has put in a ton of work during the off-season after using his freshman season to get adapt to the college game, especially defensively,” Fuline said. “He’s made great strides and I am looking forward to him having a good year for us.
“Julian, unfortunately, is coming off that knee injury but should be ready to go while for Braedon, the sky is the limit. He gets better every day, is still developing and brings both energy and depth.”
The Raiders averaged 77.8 points per game a year ago, lost five seniors and 27.8 of those points but return 49.1 points and 20.9 caroms per outing.
Other returnees expected to contribute include Nathan Bower-Malone (14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds), D’Vontay Friga (8.8, 3.4), Andrew Francesconi (8, 2.8), Diallo Niamke (6.2, 2.7), Tommy Stenger (5.3, 2.7), Tanner Slack (3.3, 1.2) and John Carroll (1.6, 1.6).
The program’s last Ohio Athletic Conference crown came in 2013-14 with Fuline leading UMU to a 20-6 overall mark, going 24-7 the following season when they were OAC tournament champions and advanced to the Division III “Sweet 16” round.
In this year’s preseason poll, the Raiders are picked fourth behind John Carroll, Marietta and Ohio Northern.