Photo: @bonnies_mbb on Instagram
BY: KYLE MAIER, SPORTS EDITOR
St. Bonaventure men’s basketball transfers Melvin Council Jr., Chance Moore and Dasonte Bowen defined individual and team expectations at a media session in the Reilly Center Monday.
Council, a transfer senior guard from Wagner College, said the Bonnies ultimate goals are an Atlantic 10 title and a March Madness bid.
“[The expectation] is to go undefeated non-conference,” said Council. “Get ranked. Win the Atlantic 10. Go to March Madness. That’s what we expect to do this season.”
Council said he knows his role for the Brown and White.
“Having energy every day,” said Council. “The role I got is the ‘dawg’. I’m gonna be all over the place.”
Teammates voted Council and graduate center Noel Brown co-captains of this season’s team, said Schmidt. Schmidt praised Council for his leadership despite being in his first year at SBU.
“Melvin is an alpha,” said Schmidt in a Zoom press conference Tuesday. “He’s always talking. He’s always energized. He brings excitement to the team.”
Bonaventure’s 2024-25 roster consists of ten new players. Schmidt said repetition will be crucial to Bonaventure’s development as a unit.
“We’re a work-in-progress,” said Schmidt. “Repetition is everything. The more we practice, the more experience we get in our system, the better we’ll be.”
Another newcomer, senior transfer guard Chance Moore, said playing in the A-10 will elevate his game even further.
“Coming from Missouri State averaging double figures, my goal is to only elevate,” said Moore. “Continue to be productive and consistent to the team so we can win as many games as possible.”
In two seasons at Missouri State University, Moore averaged 10.7 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game.
With 10 guards listed on the roster, Moore said the Bonnies will look to play a high-tempo offense.
“With our team, we should try to play as fast as possible,” said Moore. “The ball can all go around. We can get touches. We can all succeed.”
Transfer junior guard Dasonte Bowen joins Moore at Bonaventure after two seasons with the University of Iowa.
Schmidt said Bowen will be a facilitator in SBU’s offensive scheme.
“[Bowen’s] a floor general,” said Schmidt. “He’s a guy that’s gonna get us in the right position, someone who can really push the ball.”
Bowen explained how he looks to operate Bonaventure’s offense.
“I’m a point guard,” said Bowen. “I got to be an extension of the coach on the floor. I gotta lead by voice and make sure my guys are in the right position so I can set them up for success.”
In his time at Iowa, Bowen averaged 3.7PPG and 1.5 assist per game in 11.4 minutes per game.
Although a rotational player at IU, Bowen said he’s ready for a much bigger role.
“I’m very confident,” said Bowen. “I want to prove myself right. Whatever role presents itself to me I’m buying into it 100%.”
Schmidt said winning in college basketball now means recruiting experienced upperclassmen through the transfer portal.
“With the whole portal thing, you don’t win with young guys,” said Schmidt. “The juniors and seniors we bring in need to be go-to guys; they need to be instrumental in our success.”
Council, Moore and Bowen will take the court at the Reilly Center for the first time tonight against Alfred University. The exhibition game tips at 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
maierkj22@bonaventure.edu
