A year's worth of experience, some added speed and depth, and a little tinkering on defense can do wonders.
Just ask Carroll Christian boys basketball coach Randy Peterson, whose Patriots are 5-1 this season after winning just six games in rebuilding last year.
The Patriots were behind 39-34 entering the fourth quarter in their season opener against Chapelgate on Nov. 28. They had a 30-point fourth quarter and went on to a 64-53 win. Other than a tough overtime loss to Calvary early last week, the Patriots have been flawless going into today's game against Broadfording -- regular season co- and tournament champs of the Potomac Christian Athletic Conference last season.
The biggest difference?
"Speed," said Peterson. "I've only been here three years, but people have said this is the quickest team we've ever had at the school."
There's more?
"A lot more depth," he added. "We have a lot more balance this season and can be a lot more aggressive."
The combination has enabled the Patriots to give a lot of different looks defensively after playing zone just about all of last season.
"We play a lot of full-court man-to-man and can switch it up with a half-court and three-quarter zone trap. We're getting a lot more steals with the defensive pressure and like to run every chance we get," Peterson said.
The Patriots had 25 turnovers against Chapelgate. They played the same team a couple of weeks later on the road and came away with a 75-32 win. More importantly, the Patriots had only nine turnovers.
In outscoring their opponents an average of 70 to 47, the Patriots are spreading it around. Senior forward Matt Good is the lone player averaging double figures in scoring at 11.2 a game. At 6-1, fellow senior Ben Lieb is one of the smallest centers in the conference, but he still is averaging 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds a game.
Newcomers Joe Seguine (9.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, five steals and assists a game) and Brian Mitchell (7.2 points, 4.3 steals and assists) -- both seniors -- have provided most of the new-found speed and sophomore Casey Davis runs the show at point guard.
Junior Josh Mied (8.2 points, 6.8 rebounds) and freshman Nathan Russell (6.6 points) also are playing big up front for the Patriots. Steve Rill, Chris Darling, John Brunson, Jeremy Rodriguez and Tom Gries all have roles as underclassmen.
"We come out with five and can bring in five more," Peterson said.
"We don't have any one guy with real good size; we're just hustling and working hard."
After years of practicing and playing all their home games at Grace Bible Church in Manchester, the Westminster-based team has its own new gym. The Patriots also added a junior varsity program this season.
"It's great having your own place and not having to worry about driving 20 minutes to practice every day," Peterson said. "Adding the junior-varsity program will be a big help in the long run. It gives players who would have been either cut or sitting on the bench a chance to play."