Buffalo News: For Bona, It's All About Schmidt

Buffalo News sports columnist Bucky Gleason profiles the growth of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball program under head coach Mark Schmidt. This article originally appeared in print and online Feb. 16, 2012.
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OLEAN -- Steve Watson believed he had the right man on the day he hired Mark Schmidt in 2007, but athletic directors never know for sure. Watson was anxious to see his head basketball coach in action. The first shred of evidence he was a good right fit for St. Bonaventure came in the form of two guards and two garbage cans.

Tyler Relph and Zarryon Fereti were seniors who were recruited under previous coach Anthony Solomon and had achieved marginal success. Fereti had been dismissed during the 2006-07 season and was hoping he could impress Schmidt. One workout with their new coach had them on their knees and tossing their cookies.

"They were working at a level that they hadn't worked at for some time," Watson said Wednesday. "The garbage cans were nearby for a reason. It was skill work and it was conditioning, and they were working at a high level. I knew the development with the players was in good hands."

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