PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.- After the final buzzer sounded in the men's basketball team's 65-55 NCAA Tournament Sectional Final loss to Amherst College last Saturday, the Judges' five active seniors walked off the court dejected, heads slouched below their shoulders while wiping away tears with their jerseys. For guards Joe Coppens '08, Kwame Graves-Fulgham '08 and Florian Rexhepi '08 and forwards Stephen Hill '08 and John Saucier '08, the loss was their final collegiate game. While their contributions on and off the court will be missed, a group of talented underclassmen look to combine with redshirted forward Steve DeLuca '08 and continue the program's recent success.

"It's going to be really hard next year just because of the leadership we're going to lose," forward Rich Magee '10 said. "[But,] I feel like with the knowledge and wisdom they left us, we can definitely be as good as we were this year, if not better."

Guards Kevin Olson '09 and Andre Roberson '10 and forwards Terrell Hollins '10, Magee and Christian Yemga '11 were instrumental in the longest tournament run in Judges' history.

Hollins, a second-team all University Athletic Association selection this season, was second on the team in postseason scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game.

"Terrell Hollins is a moose down [inside]," Amherst coach Dave Hixon told reporters after last Saturday's game. "He's one of the most dedicated offensive rebounders I've ever seen."

Olson and Roberson led the team to a 74-63 victory against State University of New York at Plattsburgh in the Sectional semifinal last Friday. Olson drained a go-ahead three-point shot to break a 56-56 tie and stop a 10-2 Plattsburgh run, while Roberson led the Judges with 20 points, including 18 in the first half.

"I feel [Olson has] brought more of a driving aspect to his game, whereas before he was mainly a spot-up shooter. Now he's realized he can take people off the dribble and make a floater in the lane and be a little bit more dynamic for us," Magee said.

Yemga and Magee's solid defense contributed to Brandeis victories in the first two rounds of the tournament over Lasell College March 7 and Bowdoin College March 8. Yemga had four steals in the 80-59 win over Lasell, while Magee quelled a 16-2 Bowdoin second-half run with two steals and one blocked shot over a three-possession span in the Judges' 68-53 win.

"Since the first game of the tournament [Magee's] been playing really well, and he just kept going," Yemga said. "We finally saw the real Rich Magee that we see every day in practice."

Head coach Brian Meehan feels confident that the underclassmen will step up next season.

"The guys coming back have a blueprint; if they choose to want to be successful. It's right there in front of them," he told reporters last Saturday.