Well, here is what I was going to post tomorrow.
The Game 1 Thread: GMU (0-0) vs Stony Brook (0-0) on Tuesday, November 9, at 7 PM.
Stony Brook is picked 1st in preseason America East polls. You can throw out their 9-14 (7-9) record from last year.
Schedule:
https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster:
https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats:
https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats
The Seawolves return their top three scorers from the 20-21 season. 6’0” Juan Felix Rodriguez averaged 13.3 ppg last year. 6’7” Frankie Policelli averaged 10.7 ppg and 6’4” Tykei Greene chipped in 9.7ppg and 6.9 rebounds per contest. 6’9” Jayden Sayles (9.5 ppg & 4.9 reb) started 19 games for the Seawolves last year.
Two key additions should help Stony Brook reach the top of the America East Conference this year. The first is Miami transfer, 6’5” Elijah Olaniyi, who has been picked to the preseason America East 1st team. He played for Stony brook from 2017-2020 and was a two time All-America East performer. He transferred to Miami for the 20-21 season and returns to Stony Brook as a grad student this year. He averaged 10.5 ppg and 5.1 rebounds for the Hurricanes last season.
The second is 6’0” Jahlil Jenkins who left Farleigh Dickinson to join the Seawolves. He is a graduate student who scored 1,698 points in his 4 years at FDU and averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game over his career there. He shot 38.9% from 3 over his final two years at FDU.
Stony Brook averaged 66.2 ppg while giving up 65.6 ppg last year. As a team they shot 41.2% from the field and 29.6% from 3. Opponents shot 40.7% from the field and 33.2% from 3. They averaged 13.9 turnovers per game during the 20-21 season.
The game is on ESPN+.
My prediction: This should be a very competitive game and will serve as a good test. DeShawn Schwartz introduces himself to the Fairfax faithful by scoring 19 points including a 3 at the buzzer to pull out the win. GMU 71 - Stony Brook 70. Pandemonium ensues as fans actually yell and cheer the Mason win! Elderly fans who don’t like noise complain, but now that the “No Fun Police” are gone complaints fall on deaf ears. A new game day culture begins to emerge at EBA.
Discuss.
