The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball came one corner-three short of an Atlantic 10 championship in 2019, and despite nearly climbing to the mountain top last season, the team’s expectations are larger than Osun Osunniyi’s 7’8” wingspan.
For coach Mark Schmidt’s five returners, the image of graduate Nelson Kaputo’s shot hitting off of the front of the rim and the St. Louis Billikens’ bench spilling onto the floor in celebration is long but forgotten.
“That shot was on our shoulders and all of our shoulders,” said sophomore forward Osun Osunniyi. “We will use it as motivation because we have got to be able to finish this year.”
Last season may have been a heartbreaking end for the Bonnies, but for the returners, the A10 tournament run was one that resulted in growth.
“The A10 tournament was the most confident I’ve been, and I am trying to carry it over to this season,” said sophomore guard Dominick Welch.
The A10 tournament and late season success also resulted in a confidence boost for the entire team heading into the 2019-20 season.
“We have so many players coming back, and we know what we are capable of doing,” said sophomore guard Kyle Lofton. “I know we are capable of doing it all and winning the A10 tournament and beyond.”
The Bonnie’s postseason success also puts the A10 on notice, with the talents of the Bonnies’ youth catching no team off guard.
“We know we have a big target on our backs going into this season,” said Welch. “We are moving up the scouting report and will have to prepare.”
As the team officially leaves the 2018-19 season in the rearview, the team looks to its lone senior, forward Amadi Ikpeze, and big four of sophomore returners, Lofton, Osunniyi, Welch and Alpha Okoli.
Newly minted captain Lofton controlled the point last season, averaging 14.4 points per game on 44% shooting and distributing 3.7 assists per game. The Bonnies will rely on him heavily for scoring in 2019 as they try to replace the scoring lost with the graduation of Courtney Stockard, who averaged 15.3 points per game.
“I am confident in my shot, and I work on it every day,” said Lofton. “Schmidt gained more trust in me as the season went on, and I am ready to get a little more for the team.”
Roaming the recently extended 22 feet, 1 ¾-inch three point line, is Welch. Welch connected on 1.7 three pointers per game at 36%, in 2018-19, while playing only 29 minutes per game.
“I love playing with Dom,” said Lofton. “It is always good to play with a shooter like him because he makes the floor that much bigger for me to get to the rim and for Osun to get open.”
Welch spent the offseason working to become more than just a sharpshooter in hopes of taking his game to the next level.
“I improved my ball handling a lot,” said Welch. “Everyone knows I can shoot but I want to be able to get to the rim a lot more this season.”
Outside of his play, Welch also wants his improved leadership to be on display, especially with the teams seven new faces.
“I want to try and be more vocal on the court and lead the young guys,” said Welch. “We have a lot of new guys coming in so if someone falls off, I want to be there to keep the foot on the pedal.”
While Lofton and Welch anchor the team on the offensive end, the defensive end is led by emphatic shot blocker Osunniyi.
“I love playing with Osun,” said Lofton. “He takes up so much of the paint and doesn’t let shots by him and is great at the defensive rebounds.”
Schmidt said he agrees, “Osun has this natural talent to block shots that just comes with a player like him.”
Despite the praise coming from Schmidt and Lofton, Osunniyi went to work this summer, looking to expand his game beyond the defensive end.
“I worked on being a better player than last year,” said Osunniyi. “No chippy fouls and be a better back to the basket player, and consistently hit a jump shot, a 15 footer.”
The fourth sophomore, Okoli, had limited play time in 2018-19. He averaged 7.2 minutes per game in 27 games and put up only 41 shots all season.
Despite little play time, Okoli’s teammates have had nothing but positive things to say about Okoli’s summer improvement.
“Alpha has done everything with me,” said Lofton. “We shoot together, lift together and I have definitely seen improvement as he keeps getting more confident.”
Welch agreed, “My boy Alpha, man, has been working real hard lately.”
Alpha believes in the work he has done this offseason on his game and sees a much bigger role for himself on the team in 2019-20.
“As soon as the season ended, I started working,” said Okoli. “I worked on my ball handling and my shooting because this is what coach Schmidt needed me to do.”
The second of the team’s three captains for 2019-20 is the lone senior Ikpeze. Ikpeze had a transformational offseason spending the majority of his time in the weight room and on the court. His hard work was recognized by and inspired his teammates.
“Amadi showed us hard work pays off,” said Lofton. “He was in the weight room as soon as the season ended.”
Ikpeze was elected a captain by his teammates and coaches during the offseason and has fulfilled his duties to the fullest.
“Amadi has been the heart and voice of the team,” said Osunniyi. “He is going to do whatever it takes to win.”
After a season of sitting out and watching from the sideline, red-shirt sophomore forward Bobby Plauntis will finally make his debut in 2019-20. Plauntis unveiled he will be a third captain for the Bonnies.
After an extended offseason that started in the summer of 2018 until now, Plauntis comes into the season much improved from his days at Mount St. Mary’s.
“I gained about 20 pounds during the offseason,” said Plauntis. “I just tried to get into the gym multiple times a day.”
With where Plauntis will fit into the game plan, he has a pretty good idea of where he wants to improve the team.
“I just hope to space out the floor and then play off the other guys,” said Plauntis. “Kyle, Dom, Osun all make plays, double those guys, leave me open.”
Welch believes that Plauntis will fill the hole that graduated forward LaDarien Griffin left behind.
“I feel like Bobby is going to take LaDarien’s spot,” said Welch. “He is gonna pick up right where LD left off.
For a team with such high expectations as the 2019-20 Bonnies have made for themselves, the freshman should be intimated, but for the new kids, that is not the case. They are keeping up the winning attitude.
The freshman class includes forwards Robert Carpenter and Justin Winslow, and guard Alejandro Vasquez.
“The freshman are very talented and have a lot of youth,” said Okoli. “I think they will contribute a lot.”
Carpenter in particular represents the positive and hard-working attitude the freshman have.
“I’m bringing a winning attitude and culture to the team,” said Carpenter. “I fit in good and play my own role well.”
With the season only 18 days away, the Bonnies believe they are ready for whatever comes their way. Starting the 2018-19 season with a 2-5 month of November, the players feel they are more prepared than ever to get the ball rolling.
“Everyone has gotten tremendously better since the day we got here to this point,” said Bobby. “And I am excited to play in front of these fans.”
The 2019-20 St. Bonaventure Bonnies look to shake the demons of the 2018-19 A10 title game with a strong November and carry it all the way to the A10 title game and make the big shot when it counts.
We need to go with the flow and get back to where we were last year,” said Lofton. “And when we get there, we need to make the big shot when they happen.”
High expectations and an overflowing return in talent highlight the Bonnies return to action on Oct. 30 against Alfred University, and the team believes all students should be in attendance because, as Welch said, “This season, man, it’s gonna be a show.”
By John Pullano, Sports Editor
pullanjj18@bonaventure.edu
