By: Josh Verlin
CityofBasketballLove.com

In his first four years as the head coach at Colgate, Matt Langel has steadily improved the Raiders' offense.
 
He's hoping that his new group of players helps spur a turnaround on the other end of the court.
The Raiders have gone from a team that was 255th in the country in offensive efficiency in 2011-12, according to KenPom.com, to one that was 78th a year ago. And the program has similarly improved, winning a program-record 12 league games in 2014-15.
 
But the defense is still well behind, allowing 1.08 points per possession last season, which was 285th in the country.
 
With four of his six freshmen standing 6-foot-6 or taller, plus the addition of 6-7 Bradley transfer Jordan Swopshire, Langel has more size and length than he's had in his time at the Hamilton, N.Y. school, and that could make quite a difference over the next few seasons.
 
"I think there's a couple of freshmen who can defend and block shots and make some above-the-rim type plays in that way," Langel said. "Hopefully (that results in) a better defensive team that's more active and longer and more athletic and can create some opportunities on the offensive end because of a deflection, because of a blocked shot, because of some of those characteristics."
 
One such freshman with the chance to be a high-level defender is local product David Krmpotich, a graduate of La Salle College HS. A 6-7, 185-pound forward, Krmpotich has a long, athletic frame that allows him to guard most positions on the floor, inside and out.
 
He had a successful debut for the Raiders during their August trip to Spain, averaging 8.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg in four games against professional teams with stronger, older competition.

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