2018-19 Men's Basketball Season Preview
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2018-19 Roster
2018-19 Schedule
2017-18 Statistics
Patchogue, NY| Now in his fifth season with the program, St. Joseph's College (L.I.) men's basketball team head coach Kevin Spann hopes to reverse the Golden Eagles' fortunes following a challenging 2017-18 campaign.
SJC posted a 5-20 overall record last season and finished 10th in the Skyline Conference with a 5-15 conference mark. Spann graduated four members of the 2017-18 squad and was forced to forge a new culture ahead of the 2018-19 season.
The Returners: Now without Isiah Moore, who finished his career sixth all-time in scoring (1,124 points), Spann looks to junior Frank Basile, who finished 2017-18 second on the team in points-per-game (11.3) and rebounds-per-game (5.2) and was tied for the team lead in assists-per-game (2.3).
Senior guard Mike Harris, who averaged 6.7 points-per-game in 16.3 minutes-per-game last season, will assume a larger role, and junior Brad Weiss reprises his role as center a year after posting career-best figures in points-per-game (4.3) and rebounds-per-game (3.5).
Junior Doug Niblock and senior Matt Renahan round out the returning contingent of five and are expected to start on opening night.
The Newcomers: Highlighting a recruiting class of four is sophomore transfer Anthony Simpson, who spent 2017-18 at Tompkins Cortland Community College. At TC3, Simpson played 8.3 minutes-per-game and averaged 4.8 points-, 1.7 rebounds- and 1.2 assists-per-game.
Freshman Matthew Hirdt, at 6-foot-4, offers Spann offensive versatility, and fellow classmen Gino Basile and Benjamin LeStrange will provide depth off the bench.
Expectations: After failing to qualify for the conference playoffs in 2017-18, Spann and the Golden Eagles hope to contend for a berth in 2018-19. With Basile, Harris and Simpson leading the offense, Spann feels he has one of the better shooting teams in the league.
The results of the Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, released on November 7, predicted the Golden Eagles to finish in 11th place.
2018-19 Skyline Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Rk. Team (2017-18 Record, 2017-18 Skyline Record), Pts. (first-place votes)
1. Yeshiva (18-11, 13-7 Skyline), 95 (6)
2. Farmingdale State (18-8, 16-4), 93 (5)
3t. Purchase (18-9, 13-7) and Old Westbury (12-14, 11-9), 70
5. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (10-15, 9-11), 62
6. Mount Saint Vincent (16-11, 13-7), 55
7. USMMA (9-15, 7-13), 49
8. Mount Saint Mary (13-13, 13-7), 44
9. Sarah Lawrence (4-21, 3-17), 33
10. Maritime (10-15, 7-13), 20
11. St. Joseph's-Long Island (5-20, 5-15), 14
When they begin: The Golden Eagles open their 2018-19 season at home vs. York College (N.Y.) on Thursday, November 15 at 7:00 pm. They return to the Danzi Center hardwood on Saturday, November 17 at 1:00 pm and open Skyline Conference play at home on Tuesday, November 20 vs. SUNY Maritime (5:30 pm).