BRADENTON — Two years ago, the State College of Florida men’s basketball team appeared in the junior college state tournament. The appearance was accompanied by excitement and the idea that such success would be the norm.
Not so.
SCF, formerly Manatee Community College, was bounced in the first round of the Suncoast Conference tournament last season, so the Manatees took a step back, but expectations never faded.
The 2009-10 season is under way, and the Manatees are off to a 5-1 start.
That’s what’s expected.
“Our present expectations are to get better every day,” said freshman Derek Robbins, a Riverview High product. “Be better then we were yesterday. Our ultimate goal is to go to the national tournament.”
Robbins said his teammates aren’t getting ahead of themselves, though they know the Manatees must fight through a tough conference, battling teams like Hillsborough CC and St. Petersburg College.
Manatees coach Reggie Bellamy agrees.
“We always have a tough conference,” Bellamy said. “It’s not going to be easy for us. We have freshmen across the board, but we have some players that can play well and within the structure of the offense.”
Robbins and Kevin Harden, a freshman from Orlando Evans, are guards who can shoot the basketball and defend well.
Val Rogatkin, one of two returning sophomores, and 6-foot-9 center Andrew Bachanov are the low-post players expected to provide points and rebounds.
Harden exploded Wednesday for 32 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Palm Beach CC, and Robbins added 15 points.
The adjustment to college ball hasn’t been easy.
“The game is more physical,” Harden said. “Once you get used to the physicalness, everything else just falls into place. We run a fast-paced offense, and that’s easier for me. We have more freedom, and that’s more of my style.”
Bellamy, who’s in his fourth year, said the college is still building a program with the resources equipped to compete every year for a conference championship, but the team is making strides to be consistent.
So far, SCF is off to a good start.
“I think we have a good group of guys that we’ll be able to do some interesting things with,” Bellamy said. “We expect to improve this year even with the freshmen. But we need to stay away from the DIE formula: discipline, injuries and eligibility. That will kill you. If we do that we should have a good season.”
The Manatees return to the court Saturday when they host Palm Beach CC.
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