By Nick Pantages
@nick_pantages22
The Springfield College men’s basketball team took a big step in the right direction in the 2024-25 season. In year three under head coach Michael McClendon, the Pride, despite their 10-16 record, won seven conference games compared to just eight in McClendon’s first two years combined. This record also included a 7-5 mark at Blake Arena.
With the improvements in mind, some would think the logical next step would be to aim to potentially host a conference tournament game. But that is not how McClendon operates.
“I’ll be honest, the goal I’ve been preaching to them since pre-season is win the NEWMAC, not host the playoff game,” McClendon said.
Helping lead the Pride’s charge to a potential conference title run is a group of four players who have been with McClendon since his inaugural season, seniors John Paulino, Josiah Evely, Zander Robinson and graduate student Josh Hartley.
Since his arrival, Paulino has played in all 76 of the games the team has played, and has started in all but one. Evely is a sparkplug wing, who came into the year as a starter, but excelled in a sixth-man role for the Pride, using his length, athleticism and scoring ability to make an impact on both sides of the ball. After struggling to find consistent playing time in his first two seasons, Robinson found a consistent role last season, doubling his minutes total from the season before. The same can be said for Hartley, who nearly tripled his point total last season.
McClendon believes the combination of this group of veteran players’ experience and talent will be a key to Springfield’s season.
“Our seniors are going to spearhead how far this team will go though,” McClendon said. “You know, those four guys have been here for four years with me. They understand how important this season is for them as seniors. They’re going to be the bulk of everything we do.”
Right behind that group of players in experience is Xoren Livingston, who figures to slot back into his starting position from a year ago. Livingston is the Pride’s leading returning scorer from a season ago, where he averaged a shade over 10 points per game. Joining him is fellow perimeter player Cedric Rodriguez, a 6-foot-5 sophomore who averaged seven points per game after his insertion into the starting lineup.
Livingston and Rodriguez make up the core of a group of underclassmen that McClendon has seen a plethora of improvements from.
“Those young guys have to play a pivotal role in our growth this year,” McClendon said. “And so far, that freshman class to sophomores have taken the biggest jump I’ve seen in the four year classes I’ve had here so far. So we’re excited for them.”
While working through growing pains like every team does at the beginning of each season, McClendon sees something a little different in this team compared to years past.
“I think we are farther along than I would say in previous years,” McClendon said. “So I do feel confident, but I also think our scrimmages weren’t the caliber teams will see in our conference. So, you know, I like where we are. I like the confidence they’re building. I feel really good about how the guys are practicing, how they’re competing. We really are connected this year, where they’re able to fix things on the court themselves before I even get into the conversation, which I think is awesome, so the progression has been great.”
Up first for the Pride, just like every season, is a bout with crosstown rival Western New England. In a game Springfield wishes it had back last year, it fell at the buzzer as Livingston’s buzzer-beater attempt rimmed out. The Golden Bears made the Division III Sweet 16 last season, and their momentum seems to have carried over to this season. They gave Division I Vermont, the preseason favorite in the America East conference, a tough game, ultimately falling by seven points.
While McClendon likes his team’s attitude and effort in practice, the annual Western New England game stands out as one of the early tests for the team.
“Friday is gonna be a great test,” McClendon said. “I think after that game, I can definitely say, ‘Okay, here we are and where we’re going right now.’ But like I said, we’ll really see Friday where we are.”
The game will take place this Friday, Nov. 7, on the campus of Western New England this year following the two schools’ women’s teams’ game, with McClendon looking to get his first win over the Golden Bears since taking over the Pride program.
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics.