JORDAN-CHRISTOPHER PURVIS
Staff Writer
Five weeks ago, Fredonia’s men’s basketball team ended their 2018-2019 season with an overall record of 2-23 and 1-17 in the SUNYAC. It is arguably the worst season in school history.
Or at least since the 2014-2015 season when the Blue Devils had a record of 2-22.
But some questions still linger: What is next for the men’s basketball team? Will Athletic Director Jerry Fisk seek a new men’s basketball coach? And if Philip Seymore remains head coach for another season, will there be improvements?
Seymore has served as the team’s coach since 2013. Over the course of four seasons, he has compiled a record of 25-73.
According to the information from See Through NY, a website that provides a database of names salaries and/or total earnings for individuals who were employed from counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and public authorities throughout New York, Seymore was listed as the second highest paid coach at Fredonia.
In 2018, Seymore earned a total of $72,510. Following a disappointing season, the size of his salary has certainly raised eyebrows.
“This season meant everything to me,” senior guard Derrick Ice said. “Obviously we did not do as well as expected, but the feeling of this season was amazing and through the roof! I worked hard during the summer and this season. Although we did not win as much as we would have liked, I got a chance to be with a great group of guys, and we had an amazing time off the court as well as on the court . . . Overall, [I] was heartbroken going into our last few games, but with that being said I feel like I went out with a bang for my last year.”
Ice later added, “I would say [some of our struggles this season were] chemistry, our work ethic and IQ were not always there. [In addition,] just players on this team not knowing their roles. A lot of people did not know their role on the team and what they were supposed to do to help us win.”
In 23 appearances, 22 of them in which he started in the 2018-2019 season, Ice averaged 8.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, and 3.1 apg and had team highs in total minutes played, 558 minutes, and minutes per game, 24.3 mpg.
“Next season I am looking forward to a fresh start and [another] year of understanding the [SUNYAC style of play],” sophomore guard Mark Morgan said. “Also, [the] majority of our team is returning so we really do [not] have to worry about chemistry.”
Morgan went on to talk about the transition from playing for the Borough of Manhattan Community College to beginning a new chapter at SUNY at Fredonia.
“Attending a [division three] juco school in the heart of the city [of] Manhattan, I was used to the lights and everything being busy,” said Morgan. “I was commuting [by] taking the train everyday to class and practice compared to Fredonia where class is about five minutes away from where I live on campus.”
Morgan appeared in all 25 games in the 2018-19 season, starting in 6 of them, and averaged 7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg and finished the season shooting 43% from the field.
It is still uncertain what new additions will be added to the team this offseason.
Despite their historically rough season, Fredonia’s men’s basketball team is anxious to redeem themselves in the future.