Another Look at Cornell's Bench

Classes start on August 27. The team is back on campus, the informal captains' workouts and scrimmages are getting underway for the Cornell Big Red. Some guys return to campus bulked up from the prior year. Others come back with new and improved skills. Now is the time that certain players step up and get noticed by their teammates and coaches.

While Cornell returns five starters from a year ago in Jeff Foote, Alex Tyler, Ryan Wittman, Louis Dale and Geoff Reeves, as well as two of the team's top three reserves in Chris Wroblewski and Adam Wire, there is still plenty of opportunity for other players to break into the rotation.

Here is a brief look at the players that will try to "break on through to the other side." Feel free to leave comments on our thoughts.

Max Groebe-There is no over hyping him. While Groebe still must prove himself each day in practice, he is considered one of the program's most important recruits in the last decade. A 6'4" scorer, Groebe will push Reeves and Wroblewski for minutes at the two guard. It is not important which of the three starts the game, it is important who plays the most. Groebe has All Ivy League potential this season.

Mark Coury-He is big (6'9" 240 lbs.) and athletic. A high energy guy, he plays "pedal to the metal" every moment he is on the floor. He is also a pretty good passer and shooter for a post player. The coaches already like him and he will see major minutes at both power forward and center.

Josh Figini-At 6'9" and 200 lbs., Figini is the tallest of Cornell's freshmen. He may also be the most skilled. He actually played some point guard in high school and has the ability to score inside or shoot from the perimeter. After Foote, Tyler and Coury, there could be an opening for a 4th power forward/center and Figini could be the leading contender.

Errick Peck-He might lay claim as the team's best athlete. Peck is a power forward in a wing's body (6'6" 200 lbs.) which explains why he had more than a dozen mid major scholarship offers but did not draw the offers from the Big 10 schools. He needs a lot of work on his perimeter shooting and ball handling skills to find minutes at the small forward. His best opportunity to find immediate time is to push Figini for the 4th spot at the power forward/center rotation. Don't rule Peck out because of his size. After all, Cornell played an undersized 6'5" Ugo Ihekweazu at the "4" during 2006-2007. But then again, this is a much deeper and improved Cornell squad.

Pete Reynolds-A veteran senior with solid athleticism and good size at 6'8" and close to 220 lbs. Reynolds has been given opportunities in the past and he will get more looks this season. But he will feel the competition for minutes from all sides at the 4/5. His biggest asset over the freshmen is his experience.

Aaron Osgood-Now a junior, Osgood was hurt much of last season and really never got in sync. He may be the upperclassman with the most upside on the roster and we believe the coaching staff is interested in his development. At 6'9" he is probably the program's best shooter for players over 6'7" and he is a pretty good athlete. If healthy, Osgood could leap over Figini, Peck, and Reynolds and actually see minutes behind Foote, Tyler and Coury.

Miles Asaf0 Adjei-A 6'2" point guard, he is a defensive stalwart and a tremendous athlete with lightning quick speed. He could push Wroblewski and possibly see minutes in the rotation as Dale's back-up point guard, but he will most likely be called upon this season to fill Jason Battle's role as the team's primary full court presser and defensive specialist. We expect to see Asafo Adjei to play this season. The issue is how much.

Andre Wilkins-A 6'5" athletic wing, Wilkins will be called upon in special situations when the team needs a boost of energy, athleticism and defense off the bench.

Jon Jaques-A well rounded 6'7" forward, Jacques could get some looks at the "4" because of his experience and tenure in the program.

Alex Hill-A very athletic 6'5" guard/forward, Hill is as good of a shooter as anyone in the program and that is saying a lot on a team with the likes of Wittman, Groebe, Wroblewski, Dale and Reeves. Like Osgood, Hill is a guy that could come out of nowhere and find minutes depending on his offseason improvements- namely on defense, rebounding and passing. He will most likely play a major role during 2010-2011 when he is a junior.

Peter McMillan-A 6'7" shooter, McMillan may need to wait until Wittman graduates before he can push for regular minutes. McMillan is probably going to play with Cornell's scout team (the grey jerseys)

Eitan Chemerinski-Already listed at 6'8" and possibly still growing, Chemerinski needs to add muscle to his 200 lb. frame. He'll likely get invaluable learning experience this season on Cornell's scout team.

Anthony Gatlin-A 6'8" red-shirt, he will play with Cornell's scout team.