By Nick Omilanowicz, Student Assistant of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Nov. 4, 2013) Coming off a 23-win season and a trip to the Sweet
16 in 2012, Morrisville State men’s basketball expectations for the
upcoming season are high as they started practice in October looking
to carry the momentum from last year into this season.
Under direction of fifth year head coach Joe Smith, the Mustangs
return 10 players from last year’s team, four of which were starters
in the Mustangs Tournament run.
The run in the Tournament earned the mustangs the preseason number 24
spot in the National Poll according to DIII News. “Think it’s a nice
honor and it represents the success from last year” said Smith. This
would be the first time in Morrisville history that any team earns
national rankings entering into a season.
When asked about the returners, Coach Smith replied, “I will look to
all of our returners to provide key leadership this season. They have
been through a successful season like last year and they will know
what it takes to be successful again.”
The veteran Mustangs will look to two specific players for leadership
and stability this season. They are senior guard Brandon Hanks
(Syracuse, N.Y) and senior Kucjok Ater (Syracuse, N.Y.).
Hanks last season, earned Third-Team All-NEAC honors averaging (10.7
points per game) and was third in steals in the conference. Ater also
made Third-Team honors in the NEAC last season (11.7 points per game)
and ranked ninth in the conference in blocks. Both individuals are
closing in on 1,000 points for their careers, a huge accolade in the
Mustang Valley.
Another catalyst for the Stangs success this season is senior forward
Rhamel Williams (Bronx, N.Y.). Williams was First-Team All-NEAC and
Second-Team All-ECAC last season for the Mustangs, averaging 10.7
points per game and led the NEAC in steals with three steals per game.
Opponents will have trouble focusing on just three individuals, as
other noticeable Mustangs to watch out for this season are seniors
Jailaan Kinsey (Syracuse, N.Y.) who averaged 10.2 points per game and
Jordan Prior (8.8 points per game) for Morrisville State last season.
The Mustangs also expand their depth with five additional talents to
the roster, and gain back senior Steven Thompson (Syracuse, N.Y.) who
suffered a season ending injury a year ago. The depth that Morrisville
has this season should help insurmountably as the season progresses.
“Last year was really rewarding and fun experience for everyone
involved,” Smith said. “We garnered national attention and put our
program on the map. Everyone that plays us this year will want to beat
us because of our success.”
The targeting begins when Morrisville opens up the season at the NYU
tournament in NYC on November 16th vs. non-conference opponent Elmira
at 3:00 PM. With a slew of other non-conference games to follow, Coach
Smith is optimistic that the non-conference schedule will help shape
the Mustangs play for a competitive North Eastern Athletic Conference
(NEAC) slate.
“The non-conference schedule should help us prepare for the NEAC and
will give us a wide variety of playing styles to cope with,” Smith
said.
The Mustangs main and ultimate goal for the 2013-14 basketball seasons
is to return to the NEAC Championship to defend their title.
When asked what it will take to accomplish the team’s goal Coach Smith
simply stated, “We know we have the potential to do it, we just have
to put in the work to achieve it.”