DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711090254

SECTION: SPECIAL                 PAGE: Z7   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 1997-98 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

MARLINS SEEKING A SEASON FULL OF HIGH WATER BUTTERFIELD HOPES LAST YEAR'S INCONSISTENCY IS TRULY IN THE PAST

If an amusement park designed a roller coaster based on the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins 1996-97 campaign, they'd have a heck of a ride.

``We did things like beat a really talented Hampden-Sydney team by 22 points, only to turn around and lose four of our next six games,'' said Marlins coach Terry Butterfield, whose squad finished 15-10. ``It's very disappointing to lose to teams that you are clearly better than.''

With more than a handful of talented players returning this season, the Marlins want to do two things from the get-go: find a team leader and play more consistently.

The first point of emphasis may help the second.

``Someone has to emerge from this group who is willing to lead us to special places,'' Butterfield said. ``I'm still looking for the one who wants to step up and be that guy.''

That guy could be senior forward Percy Slight, or junior forward Jason Nickerson. Slight (9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) needs just 51 points to surpass 1,000 for his Wesleyan career; Nickerson (17.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is a returning first-team All-ODAC performer.

But the Marlins have other candidates for that leader's role, too.

Where are Wesleyan's strengths?

It has more depth in the post than ever before in Butterfield's nine-year tenure. Beyond the 6-foot-4 Nickerson, a jumping jack who last season seemed to have gotten past debilitating foot injuries, and the 6-5 Slight, Wesleyan has 6-7 Ron Yuhasz and 6-8 Russell DeMont. In the Marlins' two-post, three-guard offense, that should be more than enough.

``We go four, maybe five, deep in the post,'' Butterfield said. ``That's good, and it means that while Jason played 37 minutes a game last season, we might be able to give him some needed breathers and play him only 32 a game this year. He'll be fresher, and hopefully better.''

With so many talented inside men, why stay with a two-post set?

Butterfield likes the three-guard offense and loves to play up-tempo. That means a lot of running and a load of trapping on defense, aspects that suit smaller, quicker players.

And Wesleyan's returning starter at the wing isn't a small guy: 6-7 senior Ryan Bradford (8.4 ppg).

Where will the perimeter points come from?

Bradford, sophomore Tim Petrillo and juniors Troy Walton and A.J. Hamlin can all shoot. Petrillo (9.1 ppg) led the team in 3-pointers last season.

Sophomore Ken Clough is the projected starting point guard after apprenticing behind Bernard Hynson.

Haven't we heard of Hamlin before?

Yes. He started as a freshman for Roanoke College, transferred to William and Mary and played as a walk-on, then transferred this year to Wesleyan.

``At William and Mary, his role was minor,'' Butterfield said. ``I think he realized he wouldn't get the playing time he was looking for and decided to finish it out here. A lot of his season will be based on how quickly he picks up the system.''

How soon will the Marlins know what they've got?

Real soon. Virginia Wesleyan hosts Christopher Newport in the home opener on Nov. 25. CNU is loaded and has made the NCAA Division III tournament field 10 of the last 12 years.

``We'll have two games under our belt by then and they'll be opening their season,'' said Butterfield, whose squad opens in the Western Maryland Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 21-22. ``It'll be interesting to see how we look against Christopher Newport.

``I sure am sick and tired of being in position to be a good team, climbing the mountain, opening the door and rolling back down the hill. I want to get to the top this time, open that door and step into the spotlight. And by that I mean the postseason.'' KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION SUPPLEMENT BASKETBALL

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