Posted by Andy Shi
Terron Victoria '12 is a considerable force on the basketball court. At five feet 11 inches, he is one the men's basketball starting guards and is the team captain, and has been since his junior year. As the winner of the Liberty League Performer of the Week twice in the 2011-2012 season, and once already earlier this season, Victoria is certainly qualified to lead the team on the court. Still, Victoria says there is plenty room for improvement in his game.
"One of my weaknesses is not being consistent," Victoria said. Although he believes that sometimes his game isn't reflective of his potential, he does believe he has the ability to "make the team better." Needless to say, however, the team's record speaks for itself. With a 11-4 record so far for the season, Skidmore is currently ranked second in the Liberty League conference, just behind Hobart.
Victoria attributes the team's outstanding record more to his teammates abilities rather than to his personal leadership. "There is a lot depth to many of our players — they can really step up," he said.
However, despite a winning record to which many colleges can only aspire, Victoria is not satisfied. "The season is going well," he said, "but we haven't played yet to our full potential. We are constantly getting better, though."
Victoria says that the team has been improving since his freshman year, which ended poorly with a record of 3-11 within the Liberty League conference, 8-17 overall. "It was a tough year, and there were a lot of new freshman on the team. We had a lot of potential but didn't use it. Then when there was a coach change my junior year there was also a change in attitude — we were more positive."
"Because there was a new coach we had to stick together," said Victoria. Coach Burke joined the Thoroughbreds for the 2010-2011 season and helped the team enter their first NCAA tournament appearance in the program's 26-year history.
As for the game on Saturday against Hobart, the No. 1 ranked team in the Liberty League conference, Victoria says that Skidmore, in order to win, "must pay attention to detail and stay focused the whole 40 minutes of the game." If Skidmore wins, the Thoroughbreds will be tied for first in the Liberty League Conference.
The Skidmore Thoroughbreds challenge the Hobart Statesmen at 4 p.m., Saturday, in the Williamson Sports and Recreation center.