Here are four predictions for the New York-area college basketball teams this upcoming season:
Light Dance Card
Only two locals — St. John’s and LIU — reach the NCAA Tournament. The Johnnies receive a No. 3 seed and make it all the way to the Elite Eight. LIU, led by leading returning scorer and preseason All-NEC first-team selection Malachi Davis, wins the NEC Tournament for an automatic bid and No. 16 seed. The Sharks were picked by the NEC coaches to win the conference and have the league’s best backcourt in Davis and fellow senior Jamal Fuller.
Progress in South Orange
Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway has talked throughout the offseason like he has a team that will be a major surprise. I expect significant improvement after last year’s dismal seven-win campaign. I’m not predicting an NCAA Tournament or even a top-half finish in the Big East, but the Pirates will be better than expected and finish eighth in the league despite being picked last. Merrimack transfer point guard Adam “Budd” Clark will be fun running the show and the young forward tandem of sophomore Godswill Erheriene and freshman Najai Hines will be a handful.
Hovde impresses at Columbia
There are new coaches at Iona (Dan Geriot), Fordham (Mike Magpayo) and Columbia (Kevin Hovde). We’re taking Hovde, an assistant coach for national champion Florida last season, to have the best season, on the strength of a solid returning core that includes second-leading scorer Kenny Noland and fellow starters Avery Brown, Zine Eddine Bedri and Blair Thompson. It’s a major advantage.
Strong season in Riverdale
Manhattan wins its most games (19) since it last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15. The Jaspers finish second in the MAAC behind Quinnipiac, and advance all the way to the MAAC championship game, but fall short. Sophomore Will Sydnor emerges as one of the better mid-major wings in the country.
Haggerty Award (Area’s best player)
Sr. F Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s (9.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG)
I’m all in on Mitchell thriving as a point forward. Teammate Zuby Ejiofor called him St. John’s X factor, but I think he will be even more valuable than that. Rick Pitino’s up-tempo, pressing style fits the athletically gifted 6-foot-8 Mitchell like a glove, and he becomes an elite Swiss Army knife for the Red Storm.
All-Met Local First Team
Player, Yr., Pos., School, Stats
Adam “Budd” Clark, Jr., G, Seton Hall,19.8 PPG, 6.0 APG
Cruz Davis, Jr., G, Hofstra, 14.4 PPG, 4.4 APG
Zuby Ejiofor, Sr., F, St. John’s, 14.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG
Bryce Hopkins, Sr., F, St. John’s, 17.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG
Will Sydnor, So., F, Manhattan, 13.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG
All-Met Local Second Team
Malachi Davis, Sr., G, LIU, 17.7 PPG, 3.2 APG
Dylan Grant, So., F, Rutgers, 5.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Ian Jackson, So., G, St. John’s, 11.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Dejour Reaves, Sr., G, Fordham, 17.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG
Joson Sanon, So., G, St. John’s, 11.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG
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