The four seniors, who have been together since day one, were able to help lead the Jeffs to the promised land. What makes this class so special is how each made huge contributions, although in different ways. The class of 2007, guards Tim McLaughlin and Mike Salerno, forward Dan Wheeler and center Dan O'Shea, were all named captains by Head Coach David Hixon '75. " I have never had four captains and didn't think that I ever would," said Hixon, "but the different elements of leadership that each of these guys brought to the team this year; the chemistry of the combined styles of leadership made it a no-brainer and it worked."
It worked amazingly well-this accomplished class was part of three Final Four teams and one National Championship; their 111 wins is the most ever by an Amherst class.
Dan Wheeler
The 6'5" guard/forward made his reputation by nailing big shots for the Jeffs the past two seasons. Wheeler emerged as a starter during his junior year and has established himself as one of the best scorers in school history. Wheeler's 13.8 points per game was the highest on the team. The sharp shooting forward also nailed 60 three-pointers on the season.
His 443 points this season brought his career total to 1,132, placing him 15th in school history. His highlight of the regular season came against Wesleyan University in the home finale on Feb. 3. Needing 28 points to reach 1,000, Wheeler scored eight in the first half; it seemed unlikely that he would reach the milestone in front of the eager home crowd. In the second half, however, he came out firing. He shot 8-for-12 in the second half, including 4-for-5 from downtown. With 3:12 remaining in a game dominated by Amherst, Wheeler drained his sixth three-pointer of the game to give him 28 on the night and 1,000 for his career. The crowd erupted and Wheeler was congratulated on the floor by his teammates.
In the NCAA Tournament, Wheeler continued to shine. He provided a consistent offensive threat, pouring in 14.2 points per game. Wheeler constantly hit big shots, starting runs for the Jeffs and ending opponent's runs. "As our leading scorer, he led us on the offensive end," said sophomore guard Brian Baskauskas. "He was often the guy we looked to late in the game when we needed a basket."
In addition to his constant scoring, Wheeler was a steady defender and was second on the team with 4.2 rebounds per game and averaged only one turnover per game. Wheeler will leave with a legacy of nailing big shots. He joins 20 other Amherst men's basketball players who have over 1,000 points to their name. While others on the team played a more reserved role, Wheeler was the vocal leader of the team.
"His pre-game speeches were probably the difference maker for us this year in Salem, [Va., the site of the Final Four]," said junior center Kevin Hopkins. "Dan always seemed to have a way with words."
Tim McLaughlin
McLaughlin may not have been as vocal as Wheeler, but his contributions to the team were equally important. He was a quiet leader, but set a great example for his teammates on the court.
"You could watch an entire game and not even realize the impact that he was having," said Hopkins. "At the end of the game you would look at the stat sheet and see that he had 14 points, two to three steals, a couple assists, a couple rebounds and maybe even a block or two. He did everything for us this year and did a great job of leading by example. His knack for reading passing lanes will surely be missed next season."
McLaughlin stepped in as the starting shooting guard this past season and emerged as one of the team's most complete players. Starting all 32 games for the Jeffs, the 6' 3" guard from Chatham, N.J., was a paragon of consistency. He contributed in all facets of the game, posting a solid 10.5 points per game, but also providing Jeffs with other intangibles.
The all-around play of McLaughlin placed first on the team in steals (2.2 per game), second in assists (2.7 per game) and third in rebounds (3.9 per game). In the Jeffs' postseason run, McLaughlin continued his strong play, averaging 12.4 points per game in the five contests and provided stellar defensive play.
Over the course of the season, McLaughlin did what was necessary for his team to win. If they needed an offensive boost, he could provide it, but he could also take the backseat and lead through his defensive play. McLaughlin accumulated 713 points in his career, which ranks 43rd on the all-time list.
"Although he is a soft-spoken guy, he led by example and showed the way for our team," said Baskauskas.
Dan O'Shea
At 6' 7", O'Shea started 27 games for the Jeffs at center, averaging 3.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. The Jeffs frequently went to the big man early and he helped set the tone.
O'Shea led by example and was a very unselfish player. He was part of a strong rotation at center with Hopkins and junior Brandon Jones. The senior saw most of his time at the beginning of each half and did a great job of showing the way to his younger teammates. "He gave us a great start to every game and we truly would not have a National Championship if not for his leadership, on and off the floor," said Baskauskas.
O'Shea battled through injuries, forcing him to miss five games. However, he was healthy for the postseason run and was able to make great contributions, both offensively and defensively, in the NCAA Tournament. O'Shea's teammate and counterpart at the center position, Hopkins, recounted the effect his positive attitude and work ethic had on the team. "Dan was one of the hardest working kids in the program," said Hopkins. "He was never afraid to go in and mix it up with the other team's big guy, and he had a strange talent for drawing fouls. O'Shea was another guy who lead by example. He worked hard everyday and gave 110 percent every night."
Mike Salerno
Salerno provided a much different role than his three senior teammates in their run to the National Championship. The only non-starting senior, the 6'1" guard served as the Jeffs' spark plug off the bench. Able to back up both Andrew Olson '08 and McLaughlin, Salerno was a pest to opposing offensive players.
"Mike, a consummate team player," said Baskauskas. "He was an incredibly selfless and valuable asset to our team. He was our best on-the-ball defender as he gave opposing guards fits throughout the season."
Salerno's career-high 12 points came against Babson College on Jan. 4. He was literally perfect: 3-for-3 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point land, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Salerno brought his football-like intensity to the team, and despite not starting, his 24 minutes in the championship game was the fifth most of any player on the team. His final game summed up his typical role and contribution to the Amherst squad. Although he did not score a point, his two steals, two assists and lockdown defense was invaluable.
"He brought so much intensity to the team, and many of his contributions never showed up in the stat books," said Hopkins of the one who galvanized Lord Jeff Nation. "Mike has been a great guy to be around for my three seasons here at Amherst, and he will be greatly missed."
These four seniors were integral to the team, and the absence of any one of them would have made their National Championship season much less plausible. Playing 96 of the 200 minutes of the National Championship game, it is obvious that this quartet had a huge impact on the floor. However, they also contributed with their leadership and their off-the-floor example.
"These guys brought so much to the table, but the most important thing they brought was their leadership," said Hixon. "They were the critical piece to us going to three Final Fours and this year winning the National Championship."