Marandet Saluted By Crossroads League
SPRING ARBOR, MI – Sophomore slump?
Not for Paul Marandet.
The former Warsaw basketball star is off to a sizzling start in his second season for Spring Arbor University.
Marandet, the former point guard for coach Doug Ogle’s Tigers, earned Crossroads League Player of the Week honors Monday for his performances in a 3-0 start for the Cougars.
Marandet averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.0 steals in the trio of wins to open the 2017-18 campaign. He also shot 55.6 percent from the field in the three contests.
Marandet, who helped the Tigers reach the semistate in 2016, was at his best in the biggest game. He had 20 points to go with six rebounds, six assists and three steals as Spring Arbor knocked off No. 1-ranked Cornerstone 87-81. The Cougars also defeated Grace Bible College 69-66 and Aquinas 81-59.
Marandet averaged 13 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in a fabulous freshman season. He earned Crossroads League All-Freshman Team honors, along with All-League Third-Team accolades.
Marandet helped lead Spring Arbor to an 18-14 overall mark last year, a 10-win improvement over the 2015-16 season. The Cougars finished 9-9 in the tough Crossroads League last season.
Marandet, who also shot 45 percent on 3-pointers and 84 percent from the free throw line his freshman season, was a Second-Team pick to the 2017-18 Crossroads League Preseason Team.
Spring Arbor returns to action by hosting the University of Michigan-Dearborn Wednesday night.
The Cougars will play league games at Goshen College on Jan 2. at Grace College on Jan. 13 and at Bethel College on Feb. 6. The team will also host Indiana Wesleyan University, which features freshman guard and Marandet’s former Tiger backcourt mate Kyle Mangas, on Jan. 20. The Cougars will play at IWU in Marion on Feb. 17.