Men's Basketball

2007-08 Season Preview

November 12, 2007

WATERBURY, Conn.-When the 2007-08 season tips off for the Post University men's basketball team at Merrimack College on Thursday evening, the Eagles will seem to have the pieces in place to make a run at a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship. Head Coach Mike Donnelly and the veteran laden squad believe that the time is now to make a run at the upper echelon of the Northeast Region.

"We proved last year we can win," Donnelly, who was named CACC Coach of the Year, said. "Now we need to take the next step, which is two-fold, win on the road and win out of conference. We want to get to the point where we can make some noise in the region."

The Eagles are coming off a 17-12 overall record in Donnelly's fourth season at the helm of the men's basketball program at Post University. Post won 12 of the final 15 games of the regular season, garnering a share of the Regular Season Championship in the CACC for the second time in four years.

Post also rattled off a school-record eight-game winning streak from January 9-27, and recorded a second semester record of 14-5.

"We understand doing well in the CACC and winning the championship is our primary goal, but we need to take that next step and prove that we can compete with some of the better teams in the region as well. If we can compete with the out-of-conference teams on our schedule, then I like our chances in the CACC."

The fifth-year mentor will lean on all of the upperclassmen for leadership and production this season. "I am not going to name captains in the traditional sense, as we are going to need all of the veterans to provide us with leadership this season."

Donnelly will look to the senior class to carry a majority of the leadership and production burden. The battle-tested seniors have accumulated close to 300 games, for the Green and White, in their collegiate careers. The seniors have also helped Post improve its win total from the previous season, in each of the past three years.

As the program has grown in the past three seasons, so has the progress of two of the senior leaders, forward Peter Lawal (Uniondale, N.Y./Uniondale) and swingman Arthur Robertson (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Beach Channel). The All-Conference caliber duo has been the catalysts of Post's steady improvement during their careers, and Donnelly expects much of the same this season.

In addition, senior forward Romayne Benjamin (Bloomfield, Conn./Bloomfield), senior guard Mike Brockington (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Mohawk Valley C.C.), and senior guard Tyrone Dulin (Queens Village, N.Y./Bayside) will be asked to provide leadership and production.

Post returns all but one starter and 11 returning letter winners from last year's team, and with the addition of three talented newcomers to the lineup; all the pieces seem to be in place for a winning combination. Below is a closer look at the 2007-08 Post University men's basketball team.

Frontcourt

The Post frontcourt is an experienced and talented bunch, having not lost a player to graduation in three seasons. The group is a force to be reckoned with in the CACC.

Leading the way if Lawal, who is a three-year starter for the Eagles. Last year, he was third on the team in scoring with 10.6 points per game; it was a career-high for the forward from Long Island. He was also second on the team with 6.6 caroms per contest, and had the second-best blocked shot total with 26, earning honorable mention honors by the CACC.

"Peter came in as a freshman very raw," Donnelly said. "Now as a senior, we are reaping the benefits, as he has developed into one of the most explosive athletes in the region. He has worked real hard in the preseason, and looks to be a force as he begins his senior season."

Junior center Jesse Iyalekhue (Bronx, N.Y./Columbus) is poised to have a break-out season for the Eagles this year, according to Donnelly. The 6-foot-8 Nigerian native has started to develop into his own, especially down the stretch last season, as he averaged 15.5 points per game and 9.0 rebounds, in the CACC Championships for the Eagles.He had 20 points and six rebounds in the quarterfinal win against Felician, and recorded a double-double in the semifinals against USP.

He finished the season with double figures in four of the last five games and ended the season sixth in the CACC in field goal percentage (51.6 percent) and sixth in blocked shots (40).

"As big and powerful as he is, Jesse does all of the little things so well," Donnelly said. "He is also an excellent decision maker in the post. He gives us the physical presence that we need to have in terms of a match-up advantage with other teams. There is no question that the sky is the limit for him."

Junior forward AJ Reitter (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) came off the bench as the sixth man for the Eagles last season. "AJ is another guy who has improved his game in the off-season," Donnelly said. "He's won some games for us and we will look for him to do much of the same this season. In addition, he gives us the versatility to guard different positions for us on defense."

He was CACC Honorable Mention selection, after finishing last season second on the team with 11.9 points per game. He also led the team and was fifth in the conference with 59 three-pointers. The Baltimore native was also second on the team with 28 blocked shots. Reitter earned CACC Player of the Week honors on January 22, after averaging 20.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in three wins.

Benjamin, junior forward Omar Robinson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie) and junior forward Simon Barnett (Upper Marlboro, Md./Douglas) will add depth to the frontcourt for the Eagles.

One of the pleasant surprises in the preseason has been Barnett, who has impressed the coaching staff in several areas throughout the early part of the season. "He is starting to grow into his body," Donnelly said. "He possesses very good ball skills for a big man, and has worked hard on his game."

Robinson gives the Eagles the ability to stretch the defense, as his 6-foot-5 frame can cause havoc for opposing offenses. He has come into his own in the preseason and will look to provide the Eagles with increased production.

He could fill the role of Reitter from last season. "He is another guy who provides us with versatility coming off the bench," Donnelly said. "Omar looked good in the preseason and shoots the ball well from the perimeter."

Benjamin brings experience and maturity to the frontcourt, and is also one of the strongest players on the team. "Romayne is capable of doing good things for us," Donnelly said. "We are looking for him to be one of the leaders for us this season."

Backcourt

The Eagle backcourt will have to contend with the departure of point guard Gary Shick, to graduation. However, the Eagles will have multiple options at replacing the steady leader from a year ago.

Robertson is the key in the backcourt for the Eagles as he has improved each and every facet of his game. "He has had a great career for us," Donnelly said. "Hopefully his senior season is his best year yet."

The Far Rockaway native is, knocking on the door of reaching a significant milestone in his career; 44 points shy of the 1,000-point plateau. He was a third-team All-CACC selection last year after leading the team with 13.1 points per game.

He also earned an ECAC Player of the Week award and a pair of CACC player of the Week awards. The senior also had 21 double-digit point outings and four games with 20 points or more, including a career-high 31-point effort at Felician (1/30/07).

"Arthur gets the most of his abilities," Donnelly said. "He works hard at improving his game and is shooting the ball better than he has in previous years. It is not a mystery why he has been a great player for us."

Junior guard James Lee (Montreal, Quebec, Canada/Vanier Prep) is arguably one of the better defenders in the CACC; routinely locking up the opposition's top scoring threat. Last season, he averaged 6.8 points per game, and recorded 27 steals and 11 blocks. He also converted on 81 percent (17-21) of his trips to the free throw line.

"We know what we are getting with James," Donnelly said. "He sets the tone defensively and understands his role with the team. He does the little things well at both ends of the floor, with a tendency to hit the big shot."

Brockington, Dulin, and junior guard Isa Carnegie (Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield) will each look to provide the Eagles with depth and experience for the Eagles this season.

The backcourt will be aided by the addition of three players in the backcourt, freshman guard Garvin McAlister (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy), local product junior guard Rob McClain (Waterbury, Conn./Globe Tech), and freshman guard Spencer Smith (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains).

McClain is a mature perimeter player, who will give the Eagles a catch and shoot threat. A 2003 Sacred Heart High School graduate, McClain played junior college basketball at Globe Tech in New York City.

McAlister was a standout guard for Norwich Free Academy. He was named player of the year by both the Norwich Bulletin and the New London Day, after averaging 13.1 points per game and helping N.F.A. to a 23-1 overall record.

Smith was a starting guard for White Plains High School, which finished last season No. 8 according to the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Boy's Tri-State Rankings, with 8.4 points per game.

Schedule

The Eagles 27-game regular season slate (11 non-conference, 16 CACC) features match-ups with seven teams that appeared in the post-season a year ago; Bryant, Pace, Bridgeport, Caldwell, and Philadelphia, earned bids to the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Tournament, while Goldey-Beacom and Molloy squared off for the ECAC Division II Championship.

Post will also take part in three in-season tournaments this season, the Purple Knight Classic at the University of Bridgeport, facing American International (Nov. 17), and Bryant College (Nov. 18).

Post will also take part in the Bridgeport Christmas Tournament, facing the host Purple Knights and Concordia. The third tournament of the season sees the team heading to the Bryant Invitational facing the host and Assumption College.

The home opener is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 20 against C.W. Post University.

The CACC portion of the schedule begins in Saturday, Dec. 1 on the road at Nyack College. The conference slate will look a little different this season, with the addition of Chestnut Hill College to the conference. The conference has been divided into two Divisions, North and South and each team will face each other at least once, with divisional opponents meeting in home-and-home series.