By Edgar Rivas, Jr.—
With a spot in the NJAC Tournament on the line, the NJCU Men’s basketball team lost to Rutgers-Newark in the final game of the 2011-12 season. Instead, they participated in the ECAC Tournament and lost to eventual tournament champions Mount Saint Mary’s College (NY). Despite the 17-8 record (7-6 NJAC, 10-2 Hm, 6-5 Awy), their season ended on a bad note.
“It was one of the toughest losses in my career,” said head coach Marc Brown. “We let a team come in our gym and take it from us and it still stings.”
As the 2012-13 season is near, Brown faces perhaps his toughest test in his tenure with the Gothic Knights. He lost PG Keith Williams, 23, Business Administration, from Jersey City, FW Taquan Abdullah, 22, Accounting, from Kenilworth, SG/SF Kaihrique Irick, 23, Criminal Justice, from Teaneck, and SF Walik Albright, 22, Early Childhood Education, from Jersey City. Williams, who averaged 10.3 Pts/G and 3.9 Ast/G, and Abdullah, who averaged 6.8 Pts/G and 3.5 Reb/G, are set to graduate in May.
“We lost experience,” he said.
Irick, who averaged 17.1 Pts/G and 4.7 Reb/G is academically ineligible and Albright, who averaged 12.1 Pts/G and 6.8 Reb/G is currently injured with a broken jaw.
“We have to be more of a team [this year] and play better collectively,” he said.
Coach Brown basically lost his starting lineup. But among the returning players from last year are F/C David Jones, 22, Criminal Justice, from Millville, SG David Cole, 19, Undecided, from Avenel, and PG Naadir Williams, 22, Business Administration, from Newark.
“This is the first time losing probably my top six players,” he said. “We’re rebuilding. It’s a brand new team,”
As he enters his 6th season at the helm, he has 73 career wins. He’s produced 10+ wins during his time here. With this pace, Brown could reach 100 career wins.
“I’m just trying to do what I can do. My father (legendary coach Charles Brown) established this program before I got here,” he said. “The key for me is not to take any steps backwards. But I feel good about the job I’m doing here.”
The upcoming season begins on Nov. 16th vs. St. Joseph’s College (LI), part of the Nazareth College Tournament. Their first NJAC game is on Nov. 20th vs. Ramapo College at JMAC. As usual, the schedule is dominated by conference play, with 6 of the first 7 games being against NJAC opponents.
“This year’s is going to be a test for me as coach,” he said.
