Men's Basketball at Pitt Greensburg

“New” is the key word for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg’s men’s basketball team this season.  Following an 8-18 season a year ago, the Bobcats are looking for significant improvement under first-year head coach Marcus Kahn.

“This year we are striving for a new level of intensity, commitment, and style.  This season is the start of a whole new attitude for the UPG program,” Kahn says.

Returning this season to help the turnaround process is sophomore wing Ryan Moye (Washington/Washington HS).  Moye led the Bobcats in scoring a year ago (12.8 ppg) and was named AMCC ‘Newcomer of the Year’.  Moye will be helped by the return of starters Scott Winfrey (Uniontown/Uniontown HS), Philip Grenda (Southwest/Mt. Pleasant HS), and Kevin Conlon (Altoona/Bellwood-Antis HS).  Winfrey, a junior guard, is a two-year starter for the Bobcats.  He averaged 6.5 points per game last season while leading the team in minutes played with 667.  Grenda is a sophomore forward who played significant minutes in the paint for the Bobcats last season.  He is a versatile player and can play many different positions.  Last season, Grenda averaged 11.1 points per game while leading the team in rebounding with 4.8 rebounds per game.  Rounding out the returning starters is sophomore guard Kevin Conlon.  Conlon averaged 9.7 points per game last season and led the team in three-point percentage (50%) and free-throw percentage (81%).

“We are expecting big things out of our four returning starters.  They will not only be looked upon to make significant contributions on the court, but will be expected to provide solid leadership as well,” Kahn added.

The Bobcats are not without other key returnees.  Sophomore forward Nate Watkins (Pittsburgh/Schenley HS) led the Bobcats in steals a year ago with a school record 56.  Also returning is guard John Pulley (Hanover/Southwestern HS), who averaged 5.4 points per game, and lone senior Adam Bowser (Scottdale/Southmoreland HS) who had 35 rebounds.

UPG will also welcome the addition of a few outstanding players.  Among these is Thiel College transfer, junior Isaiah Blanciak.  Blanciak is an extremely versatile player who can play guard, wing, or forward for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats will also look for big things from freshman guard David Winfrey (Uniontown/Uniontown HS) and two freshman centers, Clint Mullen (Latrobe/Greater Latrobe HS) and Jarrell Adams (Washington D.C./Bishop McNamara HS).

“We have a lot of returning talent, but with the addition of several newcomers, the fight for playing time should be very competitive and fun.  We should be a deeper team this season.”  Kahn says.

Fitting right into the theme of a “new program” is the promotion of UPG to a full member of the NCAA Division III.  Following four seasons as a provisional member of Division III, the Bobcats are now eligible for the NCAA Division III tournament as a Pool B selection.

“This comes at the perfect time for our program,” Kahn says.  “As we begin a new era of Bobcat basketball, we will be able to create additional goals for our program.”

The Bobcats, who open at Mt. Aloysius on November 23, will take on NCAA Tournament participants in Bethany and conference rival Pitt-Bradford.

“The schedule is difficult, but we look forward to the challenge,” Kahn explained.

DAVE WASHBURN:  Coach Washburn has been an assistant coach for the Bobcats since the 1996-1997 season, their first season of competition at the four-year level.  Washburn has been a valuable asset in recruiting and as an on court teacher.  Before his tenure at UPG, he spent two years as the head boys’ coach at Elizabeth Forward High School.  Prior to his stint at Elizabeth Forward, he coached in the Gateway School District, beginning as a junior high school coach where he served from 1968-1983.  In 1983, he moved up to the High School level serving as the assistant varsity boys’ coach for 11 years until becoming the head coach at Elizabeth Forward.  A University of Pittsburgh graduate, Washburn taught mathematics in the Gateway School District for 35 years before retiring in 2001.  Washburn is married with three daughters and five grandchildren.

HARRY BOWSER: Coach Bowser returns for his fourth season on the UPG staff.  Bowser is an integral part of the recruiting and on-court efforts for the Bobcats.  A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Bowser was a member of the basketball team at UPG in the 1970's.  Before coaching at UPG, Bowser served as the assistant boys’ coach at Southmoreland High School before assuming the position of Head Boys’ Coach from 1994 to 1998.  Bowser, a social studies teacher at Southmoreland High School, is married with two sons and one granddaughter.

 

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