Stony Brook men's and women's teams have new arena and a goal: NCAA bid
Stony Brook's Carson Puriefoy, left, and Sabre Proctor, right, pose for a photo during media day at their new arena on Oct. 20, 2014. Credit: Andrew Theodorakis
Freshly renovated Stony Brook Arena has that "new arena'' smell, and the Seawolves' men's and women's basketball teams, which each lost in the America East Conference championship game last season, also have a new feel to go with the belief that they have what it takes to get over the hump this season.
Steve Pikiell's men's team doesn't have one senior on the roster, and there's a strong possibility that his starting lineup will include a redshirt freshman and a true freshman and that three other freshmen could see playing time. America East player of the year Jameel Warney, second-team all-conference point guard Carson Puriefoy III, Rayshaun McGrew and Scott King are juniors who form the core of a team that has the next two seasons to grow strong.
"Our offense is different,'' Pikiell said. "We've changed it a great deal, knowing we have two years with these guys . . . I still have to figure out our rotation because we have a lot of newcomers we're counting on.''
Athletic 6-6 redshirt freshman Roland Nyama is the likely starter at small forward and 6-2 freshman Deshaun Thrower, who was Michigan's Mr. Basketball last season, will start at shooting guard. Three other freshmen contending for playing time include 6-6 outside shooter Bryan Sekunda, 6-11 Slovakian center Jakub Petras and 6-7 forward Tyrell Sturdivant.
Puriefoy said earning that elusive first-ever NCAA bid remains the goal. "Our focus this year is to get back to being that gritty defensive team we were two years ago when I was a freshman,'' he said. "That's what the coaches are preaching. The four older guys are trying to teach the younger guys this is how things are done.''
The women's team earned SBU's second WNIT bid last season, but coach Beth O'Boyle left for Virginia Commonwealth and was replaced by Caroline McCombs. She inherits returning starters Sabre Proctor, Brittany Snow, Jessica Ogunnorin and Miranda Jenkins plus sophomore Kori Bayne-Walker.
"It's a process,'' McCombs said. "The biggest thing I want to see on a consistent basis is just an extreme defensive effort from everybody. The five people on the court have to be playing together at all times.''
With an America East title in their sights, both teams hope the excitement of playing in their new 4,000-seat arena helps. "We'll have more people wanting to see our games, kids wanting to come on a consistent basis,'' Proctor said. "This arena is going to bring Long Island together. I believe environment plays a big role.''
The men's team thrived in 1,600-seat Pritchard Gym, but the move is a welcome one. Said Warney: "Pritchard was nice for us, but this arena can fit a lot more people. It will just bring the community together, more fans will support us and it will get really loud.''
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
