Wednesday, September 2, 2015

America East MBB 15-16 Preview: Stony Brook

*Team Stats updated with conference only figures

Twitter: @StonyBrookMBB

Projected 2015-16 Record


13-3, First place



2014-15 Record


12-4 (6-2 road, 6-2 home), tied for 2nd in America East with Vermont

2014-15 Attendance
3,172 average, 25,019 total

2014-15 PPG
65.0, 4th in America East

2014-15 Opp PPG
57.1, 3rd in America East

2014-15 3 Point FG %
33.1%, 6th in America East

2014-15 FT %
69.7%, 5th in America East

2014-15 Rebound Margin
+8.6, 1st in America East

2014-15 Assists
12.3, 3rd in America East

2014-15 T/O Margin
+0.19, 6th in America East

What's Gone

The Seawolves don't lose anyone to graduation; however, three players transfer from the program. Forward Scott King exits after playing in 26 games during the 14-15 season averaging 3.0 PPG and 1.2 RPG. Guard Ryan Burnett played in 15 games while averaging 2.3 PPG and 0.7 APG. G/F Chris Braley exits after appearing in 23 games, averaging 1.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG and 0.5 APG during the 14-15 campaign. King as a stretch 4 may turn out to be the greatest loss for the Seawolves, as he shot 30.8% from three during 2014-15 conference play.

What Arrives

#5 Ahmad Walker (Jr) 6'4'' 185 pound guard returns to Stony Brook after playing at Barton County Community College for his sophomore season where he averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

#15 Akwasi Yeboah Twitter: @akwasi_kwasi (Fr) 6'6'' 225 pound guard/forward from Chigwell, England. Member of the English U16 and U18 national teams. 

#34 Lucas Woodhouse Twitter: @el_woodhouse (Jr) 6'2'' 175 pound guard. Sat out 2014-15 due to transfer from Longwood. Was 5th in the nation during the 2013-14 nation in assists at 6.6 per game. Won every Long Island high school basketball award during career (may be an exaggeration, may not).

#42 Alonzo Campbell  Twitter: @Dreambig_32 (Fr) 7'0'' 220 pound forward/center. Missed playing senior season of high school in Ohio due to injury.

What Returns

#20 Jameel Warney Twitter: @Fullcoursemeelz (Sr) 6'8'' 255 pound forward. Reigning back to back America East POY. Led conference in points per game (17), rebounds per game (10.4) and finished second in blocks per game (2.3). Started all 16 conference games for the Seawolves, averaging 32.8 minutes per game.

#10 Carson Puriefoy Twitter: @TrePuriefoy1 (Sr) 6'0'' 175 pound guard. Finished 4th in the America East with 214 points (13.4 pg), 4th in conference with 55 assists (3.4 pg) and 1st with 131 made free throws. Shot 26.9% from three in conference play. Started 15 out of 16 conference games for Stony Brook, averaging 32.1 minutes per game.

#24 Roland Nyama Twitter: @RolandLAmour (So) 6'6'' 210 pound guard/forward. Averaged 8.8 PPG during 2014-15 conference play while leading the Seawolves with 19 steals. Lead Stony Brook with 26 three point field goals, shooting 46.4% from deep as a redshirt Freshman. Started all 16 games during conference play, averaging 25.4 minutes per game

#11 Rayshaun McGrew Twitter: Private so mind ya buis (Sr) 6'7'' 230 pound forward. 4th on team averaging 8.1 points per game, 2nd with 9.5 rebounds per game and 3rd in 2014-15 conference play shooting 43% from the field. Started all 16 conference games for Stony Brook, averaging 28.3 minutes per game.

#1 Deshaun Thrower Twitter: @DeeThrower1 (So) 6'2'' 200 pound guard. 5th on team after averaging 4.1 points per game during 2014-15 conference play as a freshman. Made 30 threes for the Seawolves, shooting 36.7% from behind the arc. Played in all 16 Stony Brook conference games while starting 7 (18.3 MPG).

#22 Bryan Sekunda Twitter: @SEKUUUNDA33 (So) 6'6'' 195 pound guard/forward. Averaged 3.7 points per game. 16 out of his 18 made field goals were from three point range as he shot 34.8% from deep during 2014-15 conference play. Played in 15 conference games, started 5 of those...averaged 11.9 minutes per game.

#3 Kameron Mitchell Twitter: @_Kam (Jr) 6'4'' 175 pound guard. Averaged 3.5 points per game during 2014-15 conference play. Recorded 18 assists and 10 steals. Shot 23.5% from three point range during Stony Brook's conference schedule. Played in 16 conference games averaging 21.6 minutes per game.

#12 Tyrell Sturdivant Twitter: @NoDaysOff_Rell (So) 6'7'' 225 pound forward. Averaged 2.1 points per game ,while shooting 41% from the field and 31.3% from deep during 2014-15 conference play. Averaged 3.4 rebounds per game while recording 8 steals for the Seawolves. Played in all 16 conference games averaging 11.8 minutes per game.

#32 Jakub Petras Twitter: @JakubPetras32 (So) 6'11'' 250 pound forward. Saw action in 11 America East conference games, averaged 5.5 minutes per game.


Coaching Staff

Steve Pikiell - Head Coach, Twitter: @CoachPikiell
Jay Young - Associate Head Coach
Lamar Chapman - Assistant Coach
Dan Rickard - Assistant Coach
Bryan Dougher - Director of Basketball Operations (sorry Bryan, your link is broken...get SB to show you some love)

Stony Brook returns 93.5% of their offense (points scored) from the 2014-15 season including 6 out of 7 players who started a conference game for them. A majority of the role players also return, as the Seawolves bring back players who accounted for 92.5% of their total minutes played during America East contests.

While the offense returns so do the rebounders as the Seawolves bring back players accounting for 93.6% of their boards during conference play, including the top two America East rebounders of the 14-15 campaign: Jameel Warney and Rayshaun McGrew.

The core returns; there are some legitimate perimeter additions, which is what makes the Seawolves the preseason favorite in the America East. Sometimes having too much of a good thing can become an issue; the challenge for the coaching staff will be distributing minutes amongst their talented perimeter, while figuring out the best 5 to have on the floor at the same time.

Stony Brook could use improvement in their three point shooting which was 5th in America East at 33.2% last season, and perimeter ball pressure as they only averaged 5.1 steals per game last year; 9th in the America East. Free throw shooting was also an issue for the Seawolves as they made a ton, but only 66.3% of their opportunities as a team (7th in America East).

With 3 America East regular season titles under their belt Stony Brook hunts for their first America East tournament title and NCAA berth. Led by their seniors of Warney, Puriefoy and McGrew this may be as good of a shot as any for Seawolf nation to dance.

Unofficial Player Quote

"You been Jersey'd" - Jameel Warney

Biased Outlook

If you're from NJ I tend to like you more than others; if you're from Central Jersey it starts to border on man crush, and if I feel like you're underrated I'll start running my mouth about you to whoever will listen. Jameel Warney checks all the boxes; despite leading the nation in double-double's during the 2014-15 season the media hasn't given him much pub...yet.

An NCAA tournament appearance could change all of that.

NCAA berth means a national stage and the national attention that comes with it; the country deserves to see Jameel Warney play. That being said this is a one bid league, and I just happen to be an Albany alum.

Next up: Albany Great Danes

PS. Happy Birthday Dad

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