Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY: KYLE MAIER, SPORTS EDITOR
St. Bonaventure University’s men’s basketball head coach Mark Schmidt and graduate center Noel Brown addressed media today on the program’s revitalized roster and approaching season.
The press conferences and interviews occurred at the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Media Day in Washington, D.C.
With nine new players suiting up for SBU’s 2024-2025 campaign, Brown praised several transfer guards for their scoring and playmaking abilities.
“Melvin [Council Jr.] can score at all three levels,” said Brown. “Dasonte [Bowen] is a great scorer. Chance [Moore] is a great scorer. Melvin can pass crazy, same with Dasonte, coming off ball screens. They’re all really good and valuable guys.”
Brown is the only returning player from last season to appear in more than seven games. The 6’11 Virginia native averaged 6.1 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game in 13.9 minutes per game.
Council Jr., a senior guard from Wagner College, averaged 14.9 PPG and 3.5 assists per game last season. Moore, a senior guard from Missouri State University, averaged 10.7 PPG and 5.3 RPG.
Bowen, a junior guard from the University of Iowa, will play a massive role in Bonaventure’s offense as its primary ball-handler, said Schmidt.
“He’s the quarterback,” said Schmidt. “The point guard is everything. The way we play, he’s going to have the ball in his hands 80-90% of the time. He’s going to be thinking like me.”
Schmidt has high expectations for all upperclassmen transfers, he said.
“All the guys we bring in, especially the junior and seniors from the portals, need to be go-to guys,” said Schmidt. “They need to start playing well in November, not January and February. We are depending on them.”
With confidence in the players his coaching staff recruited, Schmidt said now it’s his job to instill a team culture.
“My assistants have done a really good job of bringing in guys that fit Bonaventure basketball,” said Schmidt. “Now, it’s my job, and Noel’s job, to build the culture and make sure we play together. Trying to get kids to buy in on how to win, and you can’t win individually, you win collectively.”
Designated a team captain, Brown said he’s grateful for the opportunity to be a leader.
“[Being a leader] is truly what I enjoy out of this sport,” said Brown. “The way [my teammates] look up to me for example is just what I work on myself for. The opportunity to me is priceless. There are so many guys around me who are insanely talented.”
Bonaventure needs Brown to be a presence in the paint, said Schmidt.
“We need that presence [from Brown] inside,” said Schmidt. “Any good team has a good big guy, and a big guy needs good guards. It’s old school. You win strong up the middle.”
Beginning yet another season with a roster of unfamiliar faces, Schmidt spoke on the continued challenge of building teams in an era of NCAA name, image and likeness policies as a mid-major university.
“In essence, you rent a player for seven months and then some want to leave because they’re not playing or want to get paid more money,” said Schmidt. “It’s a challenge, but it’s the rules, and if you don’t adjust, you’re going to die.”
Bonaventure begins its season with an exhibition match against Alfred University at the Reilly Center Wednesday, Oct. 30.
maierkj22@bonaventure.edu
