Sacred Heart
- Thread starter zebnatto
- Start date
They lost their best player, I believe 5 players in total from a team that finished 20-13 last season and 4th in the league. They were picked 10th and last in the NEC conference this season so it figures to be a rebuilding one for them. Beyond that I have no idea about their returning players.
Sacred Heart
Predicted NEC Finish: 10th
2019-20 Overall Record: 20-13
2019-20 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 12-6/4th
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Players to Watch:
Aaron Clarke (Jr, G, 6’1”, 185 lbs.): 11.3 ppg, 2.7 apg, 53 3PFG
Tyler Thomas (So, G, 6’3”, 195 lbs.): 5.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 34 3PFG
Sacred Heart is certainly feeling the winds of change following the loss of all-time great E.J. Anosike and five of the team’s top six point producers from last season’s NEC title contender. While conference coaches may be skeptical, always optimistic eighth-year head coach Anthony Latina isn’t conceding anything just yet. Latina brings back one of the league’s elite guards in junior Aaron Clarke (Parsippany, NJ/Pope John), who stepped into a starting role in late January and never looked back, emerging as one of the NEC’s most improved players. With a fearless, old school style of play, the ability to control the pace of the game and a reliable stroke from downtown (53 3PFG), Clarke is the team’s unquestioned leader. Last season he averaged 15.2 ppg over his last nine games to lift his season mark to 11.3, and also handed out 2.7 apg. Sophomore guard Tyler Thomas (Amity, CT/Amity Regional (Williston Northampton (MA))) was a two-time NEC Rookie of the Week who drained 34 shots from outside the arc and contributed 5.6 ppg. The Pioneers will benefit from the return of senior guard Zach Radz (Watervliet, NY/Troy (St. Thomas More (CT)), who missed the 2019-20 season with an injury after registering 5.1 ppg as a junior. Be on the lookout for 6’7” North Alabama transfer Cantavio Dutreil (Gonaives, Haiti/Trinity Catholic (Harcum CC, North Alabama)) to make an immediate impact in the frontcourt.
our supposed opponent on Friday, FDU was picked first in the NEC this year so that game looks to be the more challenging of the two.
Fairleigh Dickinson
Predicted NEC Finish: 1st
2019-20 Overall Record: 11-19
2019-20 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 9-9/Tie-5th
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Players to Watch:
Jahlil Jenkins (Sr, G, 6’0”, 160 lbs.): 16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg, 53 3PFG
Elyjah Williams (Sr, F, 6’7”, 220 lbs.): 11.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 55.3 FG%
Driving eighth year head coach Greg Herenda and his FDU squad is the memory of how last season ended: with a last second setback in the NEC quarterfinals following a strong finish to the regular season. With an eye on the program’s seventh NEC crown and the third of his tenure, the Knights return nearly every key player, including perhaps the league’s most dynamic talent in senior point guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy). Herenda will lean heavily on the battle tested Ranson, WV native this season, who checks off all the boxes: creative playmaker, mid-range maestro, solid shooter from distance and quarterback of FDU’s lethal transition game. A year ago, the preseason All-NEC pick averaged 16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg (fifth) and 1.8 spg (third), and ranked in the NEC top-10 in six key statistical categories. Fellow NEC preseason honoree Elyjah Williams (Evanston, IL/Evanston) is one of the NEC’s best at attacking and playing above the rim. The uber-athletic Williams posted career-highs in scoring (11.8), rebounding (7.3) and blocks (1.3) last season. A deep, talented backcourt includes redshirt senior Xzavier Malone-Key (Philadelphia, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh (Rider)) (12.3 ppg, 48.1 FG%), junior guard Brandon Powell (Middletown, NY/Pine Bush) (8.3 ppg, 41.1 3PFG%) and sophomore Devon Dunn (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) (7.6 ppg, 41.8 3PFG%), who was named to the NEC All-Rookie team a year ago.
Sacred Heart
Predicted NEC Finish: 10th
2019-20 Overall Record: 20-13
2019-20 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 12-6/4th
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Players to Watch:
Aaron Clarke (Jr, G, 6’1”, 185 lbs.): 11.3 ppg, 2.7 apg, 53 3PFG
Tyler Thomas (So, G, 6’3”, 195 lbs.): 5.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 34 3PFG
Sacred Heart is certainly feeling the winds of change following the loss of all-time great E.J. Anosike and five of the team’s top six point producers from last season’s NEC title contender. While conference coaches may be skeptical, always optimistic eighth-year head coach Anthony Latina isn’t conceding anything just yet. Latina brings back one of the league’s elite guards in junior Aaron Clarke (Parsippany, NJ/Pope John), who stepped into a starting role in late January and never looked back, emerging as one of the NEC’s most improved players. With a fearless, old school style of play, the ability to control the pace of the game and a reliable stroke from downtown (53 3PFG), Clarke is the team’s unquestioned leader. Last season he averaged 15.2 ppg over his last nine games to lift his season mark to 11.3, and also handed out 2.7 apg. Sophomore guard Tyler Thomas (Amity, CT/Amity Regional (Williston Northampton (MA))) was a two-time NEC Rookie of the Week who drained 34 shots from outside the arc and contributed 5.6 ppg. The Pioneers will benefit from the return of senior guard Zach Radz (Watervliet, NY/Troy (St. Thomas More (CT)), who missed the 2019-20 season with an injury after registering 5.1 ppg as a junior. Be on the lookout for 6’7” North Alabama transfer Cantavio Dutreil (Gonaives, Haiti/Trinity Catholic (Harcum CC, North Alabama)) to make an immediate impact in the frontcourt.
our supposed opponent on Friday, FDU was picked first in the NEC this year so that game looks to be the more challenging of the two.
Fairleigh Dickinson
Predicted NEC Finish: 1st
2019-20 Overall Record: 11-19
2019-20 NEC Record/NEC Finish: 9-9/Tie-5th
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/3
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Players to Watch:
Jahlil Jenkins (Sr, G, 6’0”, 160 lbs.): 16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg, 53 3PFG
Elyjah Williams (Sr, F, 6’7”, 220 lbs.): 11.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 55.3 FG%
Driving eighth year head coach Greg Herenda and his FDU squad is the memory of how last season ended: with a last second setback in the NEC quarterfinals following a strong finish to the regular season. With an eye on the program’s seventh NEC crown and the third of his tenure, the Knights return nearly every key player, including perhaps the league’s most dynamic talent in senior point guard Jahlil Jenkins (Ranson, WV/Virginia Academy). Herenda will lean heavily on the battle tested Ranson, WV native this season, who checks off all the boxes: creative playmaker, mid-range maestro, solid shooter from distance and quarterback of FDU’s lethal transition game. A year ago, the preseason All-NEC pick averaged 16.0 ppg, 3.9 apg (fifth) and 1.8 spg (third), and ranked in the NEC top-10 in six key statistical categories. Fellow NEC preseason honoree Elyjah Williams (Evanston, IL/Evanston) is one of the NEC’s best at attacking and playing above the rim. The uber-athletic Williams posted career-highs in scoring (11.8), rebounding (7.3) and blocks (1.3) last season. A deep, talented backcourt includes redshirt senior Xzavier Malone-Key (Philadelphia, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh (Rider)) (12.3 ppg, 48.1 FG%), junior guard Brandon Powell (Middletown, NY/Pine Bush) (8.3 ppg, 41.1 3PFG%) and sophomore Devon Dunn (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College) (7.6 ppg, 41.8 3PFG%), who was named to the NEC All-Rookie team a year ago.
They were actually good for an NEC team last season, but two of their best players transferred out and another two good contributors graduated. It's basically a whole new team so I'm not expecting much from them.
Then again, we almost lost to a team that went 7-11 in the NEC last year (Bryant)
Then again, we almost lost to a team that went 7-11 in the NEC last year (Bryant)
Heard Gardner Webb had one player test positive but he has 3 roommates so all 4 had to be quarantined/isolated. Supposedly Gardner Webb is still going to practice today.
I am secretly hoping for a wild, last minute match-up like this to happen due to COVID. Almost like a pick-up style game where the teams just agree a couple days before and play. Obviously a LOT goes into the logistics (TV, travel, hotels, etc.) so probably more likely for local teams to do it then anyone outside a 2 hour drive.
Pikiell has said he anticipates games like this to happen. Go to the 24:45 mark of the video...
I saw GRF's post and it has us playing Hofstra on Sunday evening after Sacred Heart and FDU. I hope we can play all three of these games.
