Editor’s note: The profile on the 1993-1994 Norwich varsity basketball team was written by Mark Abbott, a 1977 NHS graduate and longtime head coach of the varsity boys, and Patrick Newell, Evening Sun Sports Editor and a 1985 Norwich High School grad. This is the final installment in a series of articles on the inaugural Norwich Sports Hall of Fame class.

Coming off of an undefeated season that was capped by a state championship, with ten returning players that included four starters, expectations were very high for the 1993-94 Norwich High School boys varsity basketball team, and rightfully so according to head coach Mark Abbott.

“Sure, a lot was expected of us,” reflected Abbott, “but no more than we expected of ourselves. Our goal, as always, was to get better every single day as individuals AND as a team. If we did that then everything else (the wins) would take care of themselves.

“I think most people would have been disappointed with anything less than another state championship. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a high school athlete. I remember during one of the parades last year, probably after the Federation championship, someone was holding up a sign that said, ‘Let’s do this again next year,’ and my first thought was that we should be allowed to enjoy this one for quite a while before we had to worry about winning another one.”