Derek Needham- New Pressure to succeed.

We all know that Derek Needham had an unheard of freshmen season. The guard from Dalton, Illinois led an experienced Stags team in points, assists, steals, and minutes in his rookie season. It is a rare condition when a team, that went to the MAAC semifinals a year before, turns to the newest member of the team for guidance. But that is what led to the 2009-2010 Stags success. The upperclassmen looked up to the 5 foot 10 inch guard and watched him lead the team to the MAAC Championship.

For a team who in the previous year dealt with key injuries to most of their roster, this mostly healthy year turned to an historic year. Although they were left without 2 and later three of their key contributors, the Stags came together as a team led by Coach Cooley. There was not on star player on the team. Mixed with the Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and of course the Rookie of the Year, the Stags played an unselfish brand of basketball which can be contributed to the leadership of Cooley and Needham.

However, this will be a pressure filled year for the Stags and especially Derek Needham. With the loss of their three top seniors and their head coach, Siena is expected to fall in the MAAC in the upcoming season. For the first time in many a years, the Stags will be the strong pick for the preason number one in the MAAC. With their strong recruiting class, which features a heavily heralded forward, a finish that does not include a MAAC Championship will be considered a disappointment.

How will the team react to all these expectations? How about Needham? The sophmore who entered Fairfield without any expectations? Without Anthony Johnson and Mike Evanovich, Needham will be expected to be a bigger scoring threat for the Stags. Already featured in blogs including Sports Illustrated: "Top Players you probably haven't heard of but will," Needham is no longer the Stags secret. Teams are going to be focusing on the point guard until the other players can prove themselves. Will the Stags be able to live up to all these deserved expectations? Just wait to March where one team will punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.