2017-18 Men’s Basketball Season Preview
2017-18 Roster
2017-18 Schedule
2016-17 Statistics
Written by Andrew Capitelli (SJC-LI Sports Information)
Purchase, NY| Now in his fourth season with the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) men's basketball team, former LIU Post standout and current SJC head coach Kevin Spann and the Golden Eagles enter the 2017-18 season with a rejuvenated attitude and great expectations.
In 2016-17, SJC won four of its last five conference matches and finished the season with a 10-16 overall mark (10-6 Skyline). The late-season surge saw the Golden Eagles qualify for the conference championship as the #6 seed but were eliminated by third-seeded SUNY Old Westbury in the first-round of the tournament.
The Returners: Of Spann's 12 roster players, six played full seasons with SJC last season including senior captain Isaiah Moore. In 2016-17, Moore averaged a career-best 12.9 points-per-game and 4.2 rebounds-per-game—good for third on the team in both categories.
Sophomore Frank Basile, who contributed 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds-per-game as a freshman, will assume a greater role in 2017-18, as will senior Mike Harris (2.6 PPG).
Sophomore big man Brad Weiss will challenge for a starting spot, as will four-year senior Stephen Cohen.
The Newcomers: Three former members of Farmingdale State's men's basketball program arrive in Patchogue as transfers just months after the Rams claimed a Skyline Conference championship.
Included in that trio is senior guard Trey Kinard, who started in 24 of FSC's 27 matches and averaged 10.0 points-per-game a year ago. In 2015-16, Kinard led the Rams in scoring (10.7 PPG) and was a Skyline All-Conference Second-Team selection.
Spann also adds junior guard Christen Brown of Baldwin, NY who last played in 2014-15 for the Lincoln College of New England. During his sophomore year, the guard averaged 8.1 points-per-game through 16 contests.
Expectations: Lost through graduation were guards Andy Laurent and Fernando Vazquez, who finished their careers third and seventh all-time, respectively, in career points, but Spann boasts a team with greater depth and experience in 2017-18. Adding big man Eddie Higgins from Farmingdale and five new guards allows Spann improved flexibility and the ability to better match-up with conference opponents.
The results of the Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, released on November 8, predict the Golden Eagles finish in fifth place, earning them a second-straight postseason berth.
2017-18 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Farmingdale State (10 first-place votes) - 100 pts.
2. Purchase (1) - 88
3. Yeshiva - 71
4. Old Westbury - 68
5. St. Joseph's-Long Island - 60
6. Mount Saint Mary - 59
7. Maritime - 58
8. Mount Saint Vincent - 33
9. Sarah Lawrence - 31
10. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn - 21
11. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - 16
When they begin: The Golden Eagles open their 2017-18 season on Wednesday, November 15 when they visit non-conference opponent Manhattanville College for a 7:00 pm tip. The two following contests take place on the road before SJC returns to Patchogue for its home-opener vs. SUNY Brockport on Tuesday, November 22 (7:00 pm).
