It will be a three for one trade-off as the Pitt-Bradford men’s
basketball team commences their 2005-06 campaign at the Buffalo
(N.Y.) State Tournament on Friday.

The key loss for the Panthers from last year’s 13-13 squad was
senior point guard Aaron Kiffer, who finished his Pitt-Bradford
career ranked first in career steals with 208 and second in assists
with 556.

Thirteenth-year (201-125) head coach Andy Moore will be looking
for 5-9 junior Dan Thomas of Perth (Australia), 6-1 sophomore Rob
Copley of Sheffield and 6-foot freshman Shawn Spindler of Bradford
to fill Kiffer’s shoes at the point.

“We can’t replace him (Kiffer) with just one guy,” Moore said.
“We have three guys in Thomas, Copley and Spindler, and John
Slackman off the bench who have shown the ability to handle the
ball and get it up the floor. They probably won’t get the assist
totals Kiffer had, but Copley and Spindler are capable of getting
those steal totals.”

Thomas was the second-leading scorer in 2004-05 with 12 points
per contest for the Panthers. Copley (3.2 ppg) came off the bench
to contribute some key minutes and Spindler was a defensive
stalwart for the highly-successful Bradford Owls’ hoops program.
Slackman, who is a 5-9 sophomore from South Orange (NJ), and 6-foot
sophomore Justin Elmore of Buffalo (N.Y.) are the key reserves in
the backcourt.

“Thomas has improved his shooting and will score a little more
from the perimeter,” Moore stated. “Copley is a good athlete and is
very smooth. Spindler plays very hard and his shooting has improved
since high school. Slackman is a good defender and Elmore is a good
athlete.”

The seniorless Panthers will not be mistaken for the Monsters of
the Midway as the tallest starter is just 6-3.

“We’re going to be small and that’s the way we’ve been for the
past few years,” Moore admitted. “We have to make up for that by
being tough, playing hard and running more.”

The starting forwards are both 6-3 in junior Ryan Race of
Bradford and sophomore Mark Austin of Bradford. Race led the
Panthers last season in scoring at 12.2 per game and was second in
rebounding at 6.2. Austin was the team-leader in boards at 6.7
while averaging 8.7 points per contest.

“Race has improved his shooting and will increase his scoring
from last year,” Moore predicted. “Austin has gotten stronger and
is a very good rebounder at both ends.”

The backups at forward are 6-4 sophomore J.D. Redington of
Randolph (N.Y.), 6-2 sophomore Jon Hannon from Bradford, 6-4
sophomore Ed Kellerman of Orchard Park (N.Y.), 6-3 junior Sean
DePue of Wellsville (N.Y.) and 6-2 junior Louis Benton from Buffalo
(N.Y.).

“Redington is probably our best athlete,” Moore noted. “Hannon
is smart and really knows how to play, Kellerman has gotten
stronger, and Benton is finally healthy and plays really hard.
DePue, who sat out last year, also has gotten much stronger.”

The other freshman recruits are 6-5 forward Ian Frost of Cherry
Creek (N.Y.), 5-11 guard Dan Terrette of Shinglehouse and 5-10
guard Tim Myers of Munhall.

“Frost has been hurt and potentially can be a good player,”
Moore surmised. “Myers and Terrette have to make the adjustment to
play at this level.”

The Panthers open against Nazareth College in the Buff State
tourney and then meet Westminster College in the home opener next
Tuesday. Nazareth comes calling a week later and then the Allegheny
Mountain Collegiate Conference slate begins at Frostburg State on
Dec. 2.

“The Buffalo State Tournament should be a good test,” Moore
said. “Nazareth was down last year but its two best players are
back. Non-conference games against Geneseo State and Fredonia State
will be a challenge.

“Lake Erie is picked to win the AMCC but their coach just
resigned,” Moore added. “I don’t think there is a dominant team in
the AMCC. There are four or five teams about the same and I think
we’re one of them. It will be interesting.”

For the Panthers to garner their first winning season in three
years, Moore’s charges must turn around their woeful 4-20 road
record over the past two years.

“We’ve struggled on the road,” Moore confessed. “These guys need
confidence to know they can win on the road. We have a good group
of experienced juniors and sophomores who have to learn how to
win.”

Moore will be assisted once again by former players Matt Durbin
and Doug Schneider.