'99-00 SCHEDULE

Dec. 3 -- at New Castle Tip-Off      4-- at New Castle Tip-Off      7-- Slippery Rock      10-- at Hickory      14-- at Sharon      17-- at Grove City      21-- Greenville Jan . 4 -- at Reynolds      7-- Wilmington      8-- Meadville      11-- Sharpsville      14-- at West Middlesex      18-- at Mercer      21-- Sharon      25-- Hickory      28-- Grove City Feb. 1 -- at Greenville      4-- Reynolds      5-- Kennedy Christian      8-- at Wilmington      11-- at Sharpsville      15-- West Middlesex      18-- Mercer      22-- at Slippery Rock

By The Herald Sports Staff

There will be a familiar face back on the Tigers' bench as Bob McConnell makes his return to coaching after a one-year hiatus.

McConnell, who resigned the summer after a PIAA Class AA title in 1998 to pursue another job opportunity, replaces Ralph Blundo.

It's rare for a coach to quit after a 26-2 campaign, but Blundo did just that. He left George Junior for a teaching position at his alma mater, New Castle, and the assistant coaching position that went with it.

McConnell is more than happy to be back and feels fortunate the position opened up.

"I learned my heart's in basketball," McConnell said. "I really missed coaching and the competition."

McConnell admitted he not only missed coaching during his year in Atlanta, but the daily interaction with the kids on GJR's campus.

"I enjoyed my job here before I left here, working with the kids," McConnell said. "I went from being around kids day and night to not being around kids during the day as far as my employment went. It was a drastic change."

Despite being over 1,000 miles away, McConnell still kept tabs on the Tigers' run to the MCAC AA title, a runner-up berth in the District and the team's eventual loss in the PIAA quarterfinals.

"I left behind four kids who had been part of a state championship team," McConnell said. "It ate me from the time I left because we had something special. I followed them pretty religiously."

Those four were B.J. Grove, now a freshman at the University of Cincinnati, Gerome Ruff, who left last year in mid-season, Preston Bazemore and Marquis Anderson, who are both back.

The biggest loss is Grove, a first-team All-State selection last year who averaged 24 points and over 11 rebounds per game last year. His 6-11, 250-pound frame also wreaked havoc defensively.

"The thing he created more than anything was teams had trouble scoring underneath," McConnell said. "That's the thing you miss more than anything. He took up so much room."

Those familiar with the Tigers' program likely won't see much of a change, except in one major area ‹ depth. Last year GJR used a consistent rotation of just six players and rarely ventured deeper than that on the bench.

"As far as returning guys and guys that have been in the program, this is the most I've ever had," McConnell said.

Leading the returnees are seniors Bazemore (6-2 guard), Anderson (6-3 forward) and Robert Wiley (5-9 guard), all of whom played under McConnell during the 1998 title run.

Bazemore is the top returnee, having averaged 15 points per game last year. Anderson added 7.7 while Wiley did not play last year, but saw action in 1997-98.

"We've got a lot of experience as far as those three guys and guys that have played a lot of basketball," McConnell said. "We're deeper than I thought we would be. We've really had some guys come on. We're deep because we have some guys who are the same."

Providing some experience is 6-3 senior forward Cliff Pittman who had 82 points last year. And there are several newcomers who could see some action, including: 6-1 senior guard John Hollingsworth, 6-7 junior center Justin Singleton, 6-5 junior center Joe Austin, 6-2 junior forward Roger Randolph, 6-4 junior forward Tyrique Glasgow and 6-5 junior center Logan Thorpe.

McConnell said it hasn't been very difficult to re-institute his aggressive style of play.

"Actually it's been harder for my older kids," McConnell said. "I don't know whether it was the system they were in last year or what. That's not taking away from anything they did last year."

McConnell will be assisted by Sharon High grad Matt Gargano.