2010-2011 Men's Basketball Season Preview
BROOKLYN, NY – After capturing the 2010 Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference Championship, the St. Joseph's College men's basketball team will seek to secure their third title with a young and talented squad after graduating five seniors and returning just two players who saw significant playing time last season.
Now entering his ninth season at the helm, head coach Joseph Cocozello (126-108 career record) turns to co-captains Jon Matzelle (Maspeth, NY/St. Francis Prep) and Antoine Forehand (New York, NY/Rice) to help lead a young team that is comprised of eight freshmen and sophomores and six newcomers.
"Our primary objective, as always, is to win the Hudson Valley [Men's Athletic Conference]," remarked Cocozello. The Bears have dominated HVMAC play, capturing the last six regular season titles with a combined regular-season record of 35-2. But after winning the championship in two of the last three years, still seek the same consistency in the post-season. Cocozello also hopes to lead the Bears to their third appearance in the USCAA National Championship, having last received a bid in 2007.
"This season will be a challenge given our youth and lack of experience, however, we believe we still have quite a bit of talent from top to bottom. With minutes up for grabs, the atmosphere in practice has been exciting and intense."
A large burden will be placed on the broad shoulders of Matzelle who is the lone senior to have played since his freshman year. Last season, Matzelle led the team in rebounding (7.9 reb/gm) and points (12.2 pts/gm), earning him a nod on the HVMAC All-Conference Team and AD3I All-American Honorable Mention. The senior forward also sits only 53 points away from reaching the 1000 point career scoring plateau.
The other lone upperclassman with significant experience, Forehand will need to serve as floor general for this young squad. The junior guard led the team in assists (2.8 ast/gm), was second in minutes played (30.0 min/gm) and fourth in scoring (9.0 pts/gm), showing a significant improvement from his rookie year.
Returning sophomores Ismael Dabo (Bloomfield, NJ/St. John's Prep) and Thomas Karasinski (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) will be given every opportunity to step into a more significant role. After playing in only 10 games last season due to injury, look for Dabo to utilize his size and athleticism to rebound on both ends of the floor and become a key contributor in the paint. Karasinski, a fiery and solid defender, has the ability to ignite the offense from behind the arc.
Expectations are high from freshmen guard recruits David Ortiz (Brooklyn, NY/Christ the King) and Johnny Mendez (Astoria, NY/St. John's Prep). Both are strong ball handlers who can distribute the ball as well as put it in the basket. Also look for immediate contributions from sophomore rookie forward Jan Rogowski (Woodside, NY/St. John's Prep) who has demonstrated an innate basketball awareness, and the ability to handle the ball and score from anywhere on the court.
Senior forward Donald Coleman (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth), who had a prior stint with the team at the end of the 2008-09 season, brings an explosive athleticism to rebound and finish around the basket. Freshman Matt Marino (Fort Wayne, IN/Rutherford) is a hard-working, fundamentally sound guard who will earn minutes in the guard rotation.
Rounding out the roster is second-year center Dhiraj Bhakta (Glendale, NY/Bishop Loughlin) and rookies Joe Mendez (Glendale, NY/St. Francis Prep) and Martin Torres (Ozone Park, NY/St. Francis Prep).
The Bears open the defense of their HVMAC title with a road game against Pratt (Nov. 30).
The Bears face another strong non-conference schedule featuring seven CUNYAC opponents, including NCAA tournament participant Brooklyn College (Jan. 3), a return visit to Division I New Jersey Institute of Technology (Dec. 4), and highlighted by a game at the Prudential Center, "The Rock", against New Jersey City University (Jan. 5).