By Taylor Nigrelli
Assistant Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team begins its Atlantic 10 title defense tonight as they host Bethune-Cookman in the Reilly Center. They will attempt to defend their A-10 crown without a certain Mississauga, Ontario, native patrolling the paint for the first time since 2008.
However,this should come as no surprise, as campus, local media and the A-10 coaches poll have made it abundantly clear. Mr. Nicholson isn’t coming back. While we should cheer him on as he makes the transition into the NBA, it’s important to remember what we still have.
Senior Demitrius Conger appears to be the team’s most talented player as he leads the Bonnies into a new era. The ultra-athletic forward can shoot, rebound and get to the rim with ease. He’s always composed on the court and joined Nicholson on last year’s A-10 All-Tournament team. Conger was second on the team in points per game (12.1) rebounds per game (6.2) and led the team in minutes per game (33.5).
The team also returns redshirt seniors Michael Davenport and Marquise Simmons from season-ending injuries in 2011. Simmons, a power forward, will be vitally important as the team has very little depth at big man. Davenport leads a strong, deep group of guards who appear be the strength of the team.
Junior Charlon Kloof returns as well for his second season in Brown and White. Kloof was a key member of last year’s squad, averaging 25 minutes per game and playing stellar defense at the point guard position.
Seniors Eric Mosley and Chris Johnson and junior Matt Wright saw significant playing time at guard last season in Davenport’s absence and performed admirably in his place.
Sophomores Jordan Gathers and Youssou Ndoye also played prominent roles on last year’s team. Gathers was part of the team’s deep guard corps and started the last nine games of the season, including the NCAA Tournament loss to Florida State. Ndoye was forced into increased playing time right away, and as any Bona fan could tell, he became more composed and confident as the season wore on. Because he’s the team’s only true center, Ndoye’s development may be the most important factor to the Bonnies’ success this season.
Three freshmen also joined the team this season. Matthias Runs is unable to playdue to an delayed enrollement NCAA ruling. However, Dion Wright and Jean Yves Toupane both give the Bonnies quickness at the forward position.
So while many are lamenting what we have lost, I’m excited about what we still have. I pondered all offseason about how all these pieces would fit together in the post-Nicholson era. We were given our first taste of what this might look like Saturday. The results look promising thus far.
The Bonnies were able to dominate the (admittedly inferior) Mansfield Mountaineers on both sides of the court. The Bonnies’ swarming defense caused Mansfield to turn the ball over multiple times early and allowed only four points in the first nine minutes of the game. The offense put up a triple-digit effort and excited the crowd with numerous threes and thundering dunks.
Last Saturday, the Bonnies showed they can be just as exciting as they were last season. Here’s to hoping the team brings out this kind of effort every game this season.
It’s time for us to embrace the talent on this team as we move forward into a new era of St. Bonaventure basketball. Each banner that hangs in the Reilly Center represents a team that was nothing more than hope. This team is no different at the moment. Now let’s get out there and support our Bonnies
