Hofstra inspired for NCAA tourney run

Posted

An Oct. 25 ceremony inducting the Hofstra 1975-76 and 1999-00 men’s basketball teams that reached the NCAA Tournament into the university’s athletics hall of fame has provided extra inspiration for a talented 2015-16 group to make similar history.

Hofstra enters the new season with high aspirations after a heartbreaking 92-91 double overtime loss to William & Mary in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals left the Pride just one win short of playing for the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The Pride players and coaches were in attendance for the hall of fame inductions and got a glimpse of how special bringing the program to its first March Madness appearance since 2001 would be.  

“We’re trying to do what those teams did,” Hofstra third year head coach Joe Mihalich said. “It motivates you.”

Hofstra was picked to finish first in the CAA preseason poll with three starters back off last year’s 20-14 team. The Pride started off the new campaign rallying from 18 points down to win their season opener over Canisius 96-85 on Nov. 13, and recorded a statement victory, 82-77, over Florida State a week later  

“We aspire to be the best,” said Mihalich, a former longtime head coach at Niagara University, “It’s our job to prove people right.”

Senior guard Juan’ya Green earned CAA Preseason Player of the Year honors and was also named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List after leading the Pride in scoring last year at 17.1 points per game. Mihalich, who coached Green at Niagara before taking the Hofstra job, said the Philadelphia native is an unselfish leader in the backcourt who shines as much passing the ball as scoring.

“I don’t know if there is a better passer in the country,” Mihalich said. “He is an elite passer.”

Green transferred to Hofstra from Niagara with senior forward Ameen Tanksley, who is also from Philadelphia and has developed a strong chemistry with his longtime teammate on and off the court. Tanksley averaged 16.2 points per game and earned All-CAA second team accolades last year.

“They have a lifelong friendship,” Mihalich said of Green and Tanksley. “They are three to four steps ahead of everyone.”

Senior shooting guard Brian Bernardi complements Green in the backcourt with long-range ability. Bernardi drained 95 three-pointers last season after transferring from Southern Methodist. The Staten Island native connected on a school record with eight three-pointers in Hofstra’s season-opening win against Canisius.

Hofstra’s inside game is keyed by sophomore center Rokas Gustys, a Lithuania native who led CAA freshmen in rebounding last year at 5.7 boards a game. Senior forward Malik Nichols is also a strong rebounder and one of the Pride’s top defender who Mihalich is counting on to be a spark off the bench.

“He energizes us,” Mihalich said of Nichols, who netted 13 points in Hofstra’s season-opening victory. “He has embraced that come-off-the bench role.”

Hofstra’s quest to reach the NCAAs received a boost from the Ivy League with the addition of graduate transfer forward Denton Koon from Princeton. Koon, who is pursuing his MBA at Hofstra, missed his senior year at Princeton with a knee injury and is using his last season of eligibility on Long Island.

“He has a great basketball IQ,” Mihalich said of the Princeton graduate who scored 14 points in his Hofstra debut. “He does the right things at the right time”

Another transfer who has been a positive influence has been Oceanside native Hunter Sabety, who arrived at Hofstra after playing two seasons at Tufts University where he averaged 14.9 points per game last year. The 2013 Oceanside High School graduate has to sit out the 2015/16 campaign, but Mihalich has been impressed by his leadership at practice and in the locker room.

“He makes us better every day,” Mihalich said of Sabety, who earned All-State honors as a senior at Oceanside. “He is a terrific guy.”

Hofstra is playing the bulk of its non-conference schedule on the road and will next take the court at the Mack Sports Complex on Dec. 22 against Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. The Pride’s CAA opener is at home on New Year’s Eve afternoon against Delaware for a 1 p.m. tip-off.