B-Section 2014

B-Section

Sports

Basketball preview 2014-2015

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Your 2014-2015 preview of

Fairfield University Men’s and Women’s Basketball Brought to you by Patrick Kiernan, Matthew Schneider and Jesse Erickson

Fairfield’s Big Three Take the Court

Cover Design by Jennifer Calhoun Photo by Patrick Kiernan

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Sports

Basketball preview 2014-2015

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Men looking to rebound after poor 2013-14 season

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor Nobody will deny that last season was a tough one for the Fairfield men’s basketball team, with the squad going 7-25 overall, and 4-16 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Despite these disheartening statistics, there is still hope for this upcoming season.

The squad struggled out of the gate last season, dropping eight of its first nine games while averaging only 60.2 points per game (ppg), and allowing an average of 69.1 ppg.

Besides winning their opening game, the Stags didn’t win another game until December. To emphasize what a slump the team was in, picture this: the squad went over a month without a single victory, despite eight opportunities to do so.

This series of losses would set the tone for the rest of the season, as the team never really got its game together and had a rough time keeping up with its opponents.

Despite winning a few games in December and January, the team would again embark on a losing streak, dropping 10 of 11 games between Jan. 2 and Feb. 3 and getting outscored by an aver-

age margin of 64.6 to 60.8.

Though the margin of difference between the two averages isn’t much, it is skewed by a few of the games that were very close, and does not accurately represent some of the blowouts that occurred during the string of losses (75-56 to Marist, 83-57 to Manhattan and 84-58 to Canisius, just to name a few).

Entering the final stretch of the season, the team was sitting with a dreadful 4-19 record, and hoped to win a few games in order to make their season look respectable.

Unfortunately, this did not go according to plan, as the squad would lose six of its remaining nine games (including a MAAC Contributed by Sports Information Desk tournament loss to St. Peter’s in Maurice Barrow ‘14 (above) was the heart and soul of the Fairfield men’s basketball team last season, and now the team overtime.) will have to find ways to win without him. There are a flurry of juniors and transfers ready to assume the role he played.

The statistics for the team weren’t very pretty, but they don’t lie. As previously stated, the team steals for the Stags and steals for free throw line as opposed to their seems to have matured and gained lost too many games at home and their opponents. The Stags’ oppo- opponents’ .711. more skill over the offseason, and in the MAAC, and just never really nents had a whopping 102 steals However, as bad as these stats will hope to implement these upgot going. more than Fairfield, which just may seem, at least there is hope on grades to lead the team to victory.

They averaged 63.4 ppg for shows that the team wasn’t able to the horizon.

He is confident that the team the entire season, which isn’t that keep pace with its opposition.

The team is coming into this will come together much faster bad, but, when their defense was Furthermore, the team’s season looking to rebound, and than it did last year, and that they surrendering an average of 70 ppg shooting percentages weren’t any- some of its better players have last won’t have the early season strugto their opponents, it just wasn’t thing to write home about, as they year’s experiences to call upon gles that plagued them last season. good enough. shot .398 from the floor as opposed should they need them.

Sidibe expects nothing but One of the most glaring sta- to their opponents’ .424; the Stags Team Captain Amadou Sidibe the best from his team, and so do tistics was the differential between also shot an abysmal .685 from the ‘16 is one player in particular who we.

Women rebuilding after losing five seniors

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor If you did not pay attention to the Fairfield women’s basketball team last season, then you surely missed out. The Stags enjoyed one of their finest regular seasons, going 15-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and 22-11 overall. One key player was Katie Cizynski ‘14, who enjoyed her best season, averaging 16.9 points per game as well as 8.7 rebounds. Aside from Cizynski, Alexys Vazquez ‘14 and Brittany Obi-Tabot ‘14 enjoyed fair seasons as well, putting up some of their best numbers.

These starting players from last season were not the only members of the team that performed exceedingly well; Felicia DaCruz ‘15 put together a fabulous campaign as the starting point guard. Her 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked her fourth in the nation. DaCruz’s dominance at the position solidified the Stags as one of the best 3-point shooting teams. Luckily for the Stags, she will be around for one last season to attain a MAAC Championship.

Junior Kristin Schatzlein, another member of last year’s starting lineup, was also incredibly important to the Stags’ success and will continue to be this season. As the second best 3-point shooter behind Vazquez, Schatzlein enjoyed her best season as the only underclassman in the starting lineup. Her play on the wing was key, and luckily for Head Coach Joe Frager, she will still be around for another two seasons.

However, despite all of the great accomplishments of the regular season, the Stags saw their season come to an early end in the first round of the 2014

MAAC Tournament. They fell at the hands of the Rider Broncs at a score of 63-56. Although the Stags fought hard just as they had all season long, Cizynski had limited opportunities in the paint and the Fairfield offense was left feeble. Fans and spectators alike were

in shock to see the third seed Stags fall to the sixth seed Broncs in a Cinderella matchup.

To see a team that was destined to go deep into the tournament fall so early was heartbreaking, but the girls’ season was not over yet. Due to their

spectacular in-season performance, the Stags received an invite to the Women’s Basketball Invitational. In this tournament, the team fared much better.

In the first game of this tournament, the team fought off a scare from Bryant University, narrowly winning

in double overtime, in an excruciating 90-86 victory. The team found a much easier way to win in the next round, polishing off Maine at a score of 63-50.

However, just when winning seemed to be in the cards for the Stags, their season ultimately came to an end in the next matchup against the University of Illinois at a 30 point margin of 74-44. With this loss came the departure of five Fairfield seniors, three of whom were starters, and very important players on the team.

But with such a loss comes the opportunity to integrate players who were relegated to a bench role last season.

Luckily for Frager, he has quite a few of these players to work with. These include Lizzy Ball ‘16, Kristine Miller ‘17, Kelsey Carey ‘17 and Samantha Cooper ‘18. Cooper sat out most of the season with a knee injury, while the other three girls received sparse bench minutes.

In addition, Frager has a few transfers at his disposal who have yet to play a minute of basketball for him, but could fill important roles. Junior Margeaux Dupuy and Casey Smith ‘17 sat out last season due to transfer rules, but are ready to go this season. Frager has plans of integrating them early on in the season.

Let’s not forget the six freshmen that will be joining the Stags this season. Ranging from a variety of states and even countries, these players are looking to elevate their level of play and translate their style of basketball to the college level. Frager and the women’s team have many viable players to look Contributed by Sports Information Desk to that will be important to the team’s Katie Cizynski ‘14 led the Lady Stags in points scored last season and was the focal point on both offense and defense. With success and season-long accomplishher departure, as well as that of four otherr seniors from last year, Coach Frager and his team will have to rebuild success. ments.

Sports

A look into the masterminds: Basketball preview 2014-2015

Men’s basketball Head Coach Sydney Johnson After a disappointing end to the men’s basketball 2013-14 season, Head Coach Sydney Johnson enters his fourth year at the helm of the Stags with optimism for his team. Though the team only lost one senior from last year’s team, Maurice Barrow ‘14 was a fan favorite and one of Johnson’s go-to guys last season. Barrow has since struck a deal with a professional team in Austria, making him the fifth Stag to ink a professional basketball contract under Johnson’s tenure at Fairfield.

Though Fairfield lost on a gutwrenching shot against Saint Peter’s in the first round of last year’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament, Coach Johnson believes that close games such as that one can serve as a learning experience for the players. When it comes to experience, Coach Johnson believes that Captain Amadou Sidibe ‘16 has the experience necessary to lead this team to success.

“Amadou’s our leader,” said Coach Johnson. “He certainly helped us out last year as a co-captain, and he’s got a lot of experience.”

Other leaders of this team will be Steve Johnston ‘15 and Malcolm Gilbert ‘15. Though Gilbert will only be playing in his second year of eligibility at Fairfield, Johnston has been with the team since his freshman year as a walk-on, and has redshirted as well. Johnston’s grasp on Coach Johnson’s schemes and the dynamics of the team will be a good fit.

“Steve has actually played a fair amount, even in a walk-on role. Steve will provide us with some leadership,” said Coach Johnson. “Then, we have a core group of guys who played a lot of minutes last year.”

This core group of players consists of Marcus Gilbert ‘16, Coleman Johnson ‘16 and Sidibe. All three of them received a great amount of playing time last year and the year prior, either as starters or in bench roles. Though Sidibe is the captain, the other two look to play big parts on the team this year as well.

“I’m excited about [the juniors],” said Coach Johnson. “I’m excited about this team because I feel like as a whole, we have a bit more fight. That is reflected in some of the juniors.”

However, Coach Johnson also has the utmost confidence in some of his other players, namely the transfer students Demarcus Threatt ‘16 and Mike Kirkland Jr. ‘16, as well as the freshmen and sophomore team members.

“I think that as a whole, we’ve added some competitiveness and that’s really important,” said Coach Johnson. “The transfers bring experience because they have played some college ball and our four freshmen were recruited for a reason.

They have high basketball IQs and the whole deal. I really do expect contributions from them this year.”

As far as the team is concerned, Coach Johnson seems confident about

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Photos contributed by Sports Information Desk

the season ahead and is sure the team will work out any kinks to develop a solid sense of team chemistry.

“Going back a year, we didn’t get as much out of our non-conference schedule as I wanted. Also, our spirit and fight wasn’t as strong as I would have wanted,” said Coach Johnson. “Our greatest improvement will be having a bit more fire, a bit more spirit and the group as a whole will do a much better job of closing games.”

When it comes to closing out games, Fairfield will have to do so against a variety of out-of-conference opponents including Duke, a yearly National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament competitor. In the MAAC, Coach Johnson has also pointed out a number of teams that he sees as tough opponents.

“Most people are talking about Siena.

They have a core group of guys who are returning this year. You have Iona and Manhattan who have put together strong programs and continue to add young pieces to veteran guys,” said Coach Johnson. “Those are the three teams people are talking about the most. But it’s a tough league; they’re not the only good teams.”

Regardless of all the tough MAAC competitors, Coach Johnson ultimately feels that the Stags are going to have to test their strength before any predictions can be made.

“We have a lot to prove to ourselves in terms of how much our fight and competitiveness will be there,” said Coach Johnson. “I do think we are going to be better. I’ve already seen signs of us being different, but we need to test ourselves. So circle back in December.”

As his fourth season nears, Coach Johnson is sure to fine tune the program

by December to strengthen the team’s unity and create the best squad possible.

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Women’s basketball Head Coach Joe Frager

Similar to Head Coach Sydney Johnson and the men’s basketball team, Head Coach Joe Frager and the women’s basketball team suffered a similar fate last season of falling in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament.

After clinching the third best record in the MAAC, Frager and his girls seemed primed to make a legitimate run in the tournament.

“It was disappointing, no doubt,” said Frager. “Going into that, I knew that just because we were a three [seed], it’s just all about matchups. So, yes it was disappointing, but I’m also [sweet] tempered by what I thought was overall a great year.”

Coming into the 2014-2015 campaign, Frager will be playing without five seniors who graduated, three of whom were starters and serious role players for the team.

“We don’t have those defined go-to players like Katie Cizynski ‘14 and players like that in the past, but I’m looking forward to this team having better depth,” said Frager. “Realistically, I’m hoping that this team can hit its stride in the second half of the season.”

Two of the players that Frager will surely look to will be Co-captains Felicia DaCruz ‘15 and Kristin Schatzlein ‘16.

Both figured heavily in Frager’s starting rotation last year and were instrumental to the team’s success aside from the seniors.

As far as DaCruz goes, Frager is looking for her to replicate her spectacular junior season in which she ranked fourth in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio.

“Felicia’s been through it,” said Frager.

“She knows what the long haul of a season’s all about — playing on the road, playing in postseason — she’s got that experience.

The most important thing is she just needs to be herself and not try to do too much.”

Similarly, he looks to Schatzlein as a captain because of the experience she’s gained over her first two seasons.

“Kristin’s really coming into her own now and she’s always been somebody who’s led by example,” said Frager. “Her challenge now is to become a little bit more vocal which isn’t an easy thing for her because she’s not a real outspoken person. But I think she’ll do a fine job.”

Aside from the captains, Frager now has a few transfer players who will finally be eligible to play for Fairfield; Margeaux Dupuy ‘16 and Casey Smith ‘17.

Also, Samantha Cooper ‘18 will finally be able to get some steady playtime after sitting most of last year out with a knee injury.

With these technically being firstyear players, Frager will look to implement them into his system and hopefully fill the voids that exist on the court.

However, Frager will be looking to more than just the transfer students to get playing time.

He expects much from the six freshmen and nine sophomores that comprise the underclassmen on this team.

“We have a lot of first-year players that we have to get blended in and ready to go,” said Frager.

“I think we’re going to be playing some freshmen and sophomores this year, no doubt.”

Yet, so far, he feels confident about the team that he has and is enthusiastic to watch them work on and off the court.

However, the freshmen of the team will have to gain experience in Frager’s helm to become better accustomed to playing at Fairfield.

“Youth is the issue. Just getting everybody ready, many of them in their first college season ever,” said Frager.

“We’ve got so much youth on this team, and I’m really excited about this season.”

Though the Stags look to contend this year just like any other year, there are a number of formidable foes that will stand in their way, both in the out-of-conference and MAAC schedules.

Some of the conference teams he noted as solid competitors include Quinnipiac, Iona and Manhattan. Five of the nine non-conference opponents are also teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year.

Despite the tough season ahead, Frager noted that this team may have better depth than teams in the past, something that could bode well with the Stags come MAAC Tournament-time.

As long as they can get through the non-conference season in one piece, Frager is very excited about the upcoming season.

Sports

A look into the captains: Basketball preview 2014-2015

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Junior Sidibe named captain for second year

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor For the Fairfield Men’s Basketball team, there is no question that the leader of the group is Amadou Sidibe ‘16. Sidibe, the 6-foot-8-inch, 215 pound forward, will serve as team captain for the second straight year, and for good reason. He is the man that the

younger players look up to, and he’s a force on the court, as evidenced by his team-leading 212 rebounds last season.

When asked what it felt like to be named team captain for the second year in a row, Sidibe responded in his usual calm, cool demeanor: “It’s a pretty good feeling compared to last year.

“Last year was my first time

and it was a big deal, but now I’m more experienced; I know what to do and how to handle the situation, so I’m definitely ready for this year,” he added.

As Sidibe is an experienced basketball player, the memory of last year’s horrendous 7-25 record must have weighed heavily on him over the summer.

However, Sidibe was optimistic

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Junior Amadou Sidibe (above) received the nod from Head Coach Sydney Johnson to be captain of the Fairfield men’s basketball team for the second time. He states that his experience at this role will help him lead the team.

when asked about his expectations for the upcoming season, saying he “definitely” anticipates a better year.

“I mean, definitely a winning season, a better season than we had last year,” Sidibe said. “I feel like we had a good team last year, but I feel like we have a better team this year, so definitely getting that gel with everyone on the team and having a great year is what’s important,” he said.

Becoming a leader can take time, making it a positive thing that Sidibe has had time to perfect the role over the past year and a half. Entering the season, Sidibe brings his experience from last year (not to mention some things he picked up along the way) to the table.

When asked what he learned as a leader from last year to this year, Sidibe was candid as usual, saying he learned “how to deal with a little adversity ... Like when things aren’t going your way, how are you going to handle it? How are you going to react? When your back’s against the wall, what are you going to do to get out of that situation? That’s what I learned the most.”

He certainly had numerous chances to learn from such situations, considering how poorly the team played last season, but his optimistic response is commendable.

Hopefully, the more-expe-

rienced Sidibe will be able to use these experiences to galvanize his team into performing up to the expectations he has for them.

Being named the captain of a team, regardless of the sport or activity, is nothing to thumb one’s nose at, and Sidibe understands it is a tremendous honor.

When asked how it felt that men’s basketball Head Coach Sydney Johnson has enough trust in him to name him captain for a second year, Sidibe said, “It’s definitely a good feeling, to know that he believes in me and believes in the program.”

He went on to explain that being named captain won’t make him relax and let others pick up the slack; rather, it will energize him and make him play better in order to repay the trust he has been given.

“That belief and trust motivates you to work harder because I don’t want to let [Coach Johnson] down, and I don’t want to let my teammates down,” Sidibe said. “It’s definitely a good feeling.”

Things are certainly looking up for the Stags, who will hope to improve on last season with a strong showing from their captain.

The highly motivated Sidibe will look to improve on his team-leading rebound total and his point total. Should he succeed, it will be hard to prevent the Stags from having a much improved year.

DaCruz ‘15 and Schatzlein ‘16 get the nod

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

This season, Felicia DaCruz ‘15 and Kristin Schatzlein ‘16 will be responsible for taking the Fairfield women’s basketball team even farther than where they had left off last season.

After the Stags ended one of their most successful seasons last year posting a 22-11 overall record and going 15-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the team was hoping to make it past the first round of the MAAC tournament. Unfortunately, the team was eliminated by the end of the first round.

This year, however, the cocaptains are hoping to take the team farther to eventually get the MAAC championship that the team looks forward to winning every season.

Both DaCruz and Schatzlein have been driving forces since they began their respective freshman years.

Although only a junior on the team, Schatzlein began to make an impact from the moment she started as a freshman.

During her freshman year, Schatzlein appeared in all 32 games that season, where she averaged a total of 4.4 points per game and 2.2 rebounds for the team. At the end of her impressive season, Schatzlein was awarded the honor of Fairfield University’s Freshman Athlete of the Year.

Schatzlein’s success continued as she headed into her sophomore year with the team. Appearing in all 33 games, making 32 starts, the 6-foot guard averaged 32.2 minutes per game,

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Senior Felicia DaCruz (left) and Kristin Schatzlein ‘16 (right) have been given the roles of co-captains by Head Coach Joe Frager as the team looks to rebuild.

about 15 more minutes than she averaged freshman year. She shot a total of 64 three-pointers which tied the eighth most three-pointers in the program and then went on to make 93 assists.

In one of her most rewarding wins, Schatzlein was able to score a set of free throws with 3.8 seconds left in the game to get the win against Marist last season.

Now heading into her junior year as one of the captains, Schatzlein is hoping that she fulfills the position of captain to her fullest, in a way that Head Coach Joe Frager expects.

“I just appreciate this a lot, I don’t think he trusted me as much last year but now stepping up as a junior, I think he has more trust in me to do what I can on the floor,” Schatzlein said. “He has seen the player I’ve become and I just have to prove him right.”

As captain, she has a number of different goals she expects the team to achieve, despite the loss of five seniors last season.

“This year, our team is different.

We’re more athletic, we’re skinnier, not as big boned, and we’re going to use this look to push the ball a lot more and hopefully that works for us,” said Schatzlein.

As one of the captains, Schatzlein will continue to build her team along with her co-captain DaCruz.

DaCruz has earned multiple accolades for the Stags during her three years on the team. In her first season, she played in 28 games, starting in three of them, and ended the season with 19 rebounds and 11 assists.

By her sophomore year, DaCruz began to make her mark with the team.

During her second year, she appeared in 32 games and started in 25 of them.

She scored 101 points for the team while assisting another additional 99 points.

By her junior year, DaCruz had become a vital part of the starting five.

Not only did she make the MAAC Academic Honor Roll, DaCruz ranked

fourth in the nation for her assist-turnover ratio. Assisting over 170 points, the 5-feet-5-inch point guard finished the season playing a total of 1,152 minutes. Before heading into her final season with the team, DaCruz stands 16th all-time at Fairfield posting 289 assists.

Now as a senior captain, DaCruz has high expectations for both herself and her team, and she’s ready to take on the position.

“I think I’ve always seen myself as a leader and this is a great honor to be named captain with Kristin,” said DaCruz, “and I think we’re going to take the responsibility very well and we’ll see how it pans out.”

Stepping up as leader, DaCruz is looking to make the transition of the graduating seniors to the incoming freshmen and transfers very smooth.

“I think it’s going to be a little difficult at first getting to know the offense better, especially for the freshmen,” said DaCruz. “But I think with the experience we do have, we’ll be able to help

the younger players so they could learn the plays better.”

However, despite the six freshmen who are new to the team, the loss of the graduating seniors after one of their most successful seasons will be difficult to overcome.

“Losing Katie [Cizynski] ‘14 and Lex [Vazquez] ‘14 was obviously a big loss for us, but like Coach said, this will be the first year where we could have players come off the bench,” said DaCruz. “There’s more opportunities for people to play, from freshmen all the way to seniors, so I think although it was a big loss for us, we have other proponents to bring this year.”

Both DaCruz and Schatzlein have obviously proved that they have both the physical and mental abilities to lead the team this upcoming season.

Although a relatively young team, the captains are looking to use their experience to strengthen their teammates.

The captains are slated to lead their first game against East Carolina on Nov. 14.

Sports

Basketball preview 2014-2015

The Mirror’s projected starting five: Men’s:

Page 5

Women’s:

Felicia DaCruz ‘15 Point Guard

KJ Rose ‘17 Point Guard

DeMarcus Threatt ‘16 Shooting Guard

Lizzy Ball ‘16 Shooting Guard

Kristin Schatzlein ‘16 Small Forward

Marcus Gilbert ‘16 Small Forward

Kristine Miller ‘17 Power Forward

Amadou Sidibe ‘16 Power Forward

Malcolm Gilbert ‘15 Center

Casey Smith ‘17 Center

Photos contributed by Sports Information Desk

Men’s Basketball 2014-15 Schedule Date:

Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 21 Nov. 22 Nov. 23 Nov. 29 Dec. 1 Dec. 5 Dec. 7 Dec. 20 Dec. 22 Dec. 28 Jan. 2 Jan.5 Jan.11 Jan. 13 Jan. 16 Jan. 18 Jan. 22 Jan. 25 Jan. 30 Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Feb. 7 Feb. 13 Feb. 15 Feb. 19 Feb. 21 Feb. 27 Mar. 1

Opponent:

@Central Connecticut @Duke University Wofford University Sam Houston State South Dakota @Northeastern University Bucknell University Manhattan College* @Quinnipiac University* Belmont University @University of Albany @Loyola Maryland Siena College* Rider University* @Siena College* @Iona College* Marist College* @Monmouth University* Canisius College* @Marist College* Monmouth University* Iona College* @Rider University* @Saint Peter’s University* Quinnipiac University* @Manhattan College* Niagara University* Saint Peter’s University* @Canisius College* @ Niagara University*

Time:

3:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

TBA 2:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball 2014-15 Schedule Date:

Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 18 Nov. 22 Nov. 29 Dec. 3 Dec. 7 Dec. 18 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Jan. 4 Jan. 6 Jan.9 Jan.11 Jan.15 Jan. 20 Jan. 22 Jan. 25 Jan. 29 Feb. 1 Feb. 5 Feb. 13 Feb. 7 Feb. 11 Feb. 13 Feb. 21 Feb. 23 Feb. 26 Feb. 28

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror

Opponent:

Time:

@East Carolina University 2:00 p.m. @Marshall University 12:30 p.m. @Hofstra University 7:00 p.m.

Butler University 1:00 p.m. @West Virginia University TBA @Siena College* 7:00 p.m.

Quinnipiac University* 2:00 p.m. @Seton Hall University 7:00 p.m. @Iowa State University 1:00 p.m. @LaSalle University 2:00 p.m.

Niagara University* 2:00 p.m. @Marist College* 7:00 p.m.

Saint Peter’s University* TBA @Rider University* 2:00 p.m. @Quinnipiac University* 5:00 p.m. @Saint Peter’s University* 7:00 p.m.

Rider University* 5:00 p.m. @Monmouth University* 2:00 p.m.

Iona College* 7:00 p.m.

Monmouth University* 2:00 p.m. @Canisius College* 11:00 a.m.

Quinnipiac University* 8:30 p.m. @Niagara University* 1:00 p.m.

Manhattan College* 7:00 p.m.

Canisius College* 5:00 p.m.

Siena College* 12:00 p.m.

Marist College* 7:00 p.m. @Iona College* TBA @Manhattan College* 2:00 p.m. * denotes a MAAC conference game

Basketball preview 2014-2015

Sports

Page 8

Team chemistry fueled by the Gilbert brothers

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor In a tale of two brothers, Marcus Gilbert ‘16 and Malcolm Gilbert ‘15 are about to start their second season playing together at Fairfield, though neither intended for this to happen.

When it came time to pick a college, Malcolm decided to go to the University of Pittsburgh but was the thirdstring center on the team.

Fast forward one year, when Marcus Gilbert made the decision to play at Fairfield. He was enjoying ample playing time and won a few Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week awards.

While Marcus Gilbert greatly benefitted under Coach Sydney Johnson’s system, Malcolm Gilbert was receiving mostly bench time at Pitt.

Malcolm Gilbert had wanted to play for Coach Johnson who, at the time, was still the coach at Princeton University. Unfortunately, Princeton was not looking at Malcolm Gilbert for a basketball spot. So in December of 2012, Malcolm Gilbert decided to join his brother at Fairfield and transferred schools, drawing parallels between their high school days at the Academy of New Church High School in Delaware.

“The way me and my brother were raised, we strongly support team chemistry and support each other in the bad times as well as the good times,” said Malcolm Gilbert. “Just the camaraderie, and part of that is me and my brother being on the same team.”

Now the two brothers share a basketball chemistry that Malcolm Gilbert feels can assist the Stags on and off the court, as a team.

Spectators were able to see that chemistry come into effect last season, Malcolm Gilbert’s first season of eligibil-

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror Junior Marcus Gilbert (left) and his brother Malcolm Gilbert ‘15 (right) talking strategy and floor spacing during one of their pre-season practices.

ity with the Stags.

“It was definitely a learning experience and the chemistry has always been good and we’ll be even stronger this year,” he said.

For Marcus Gilbert, last season was “like the same thing as in high school, just at an upper level, and we have such good chemistry.”

Marcus Gilbert definitely benefitted from this and saw a boost in his statistics with his brother around.

He led the team in minutes played last season and started in 31 of the team’s 32 games.

His points per game jumped from 5.8 in his freshman season to 13.9 last

year. His rebounds also ascended from 3.2 boards per game to 5.1.

In Malcolm Gilbert’s first season with the Stags he averaged 2.5 points per game as well as 2.7 rebounds per game, in just above 10 minutes of playing time per game. He also led the team in blocked shots with 35.

“When Malcolm [Gilbert] transferred, he didn’t really play a lot, so he had some rust on him,” said Marcus Gilbert. “As the year went on, he started to get the hang of it. So, I feel like he’ll get a lot more playing time and we’ll get to play together a lot more.”

Although Marcus Gilbert received a significantly larger amount of playing

Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ...

Predictions for the 2014-2015 Fairfield basketball seasons?

The men will have a resurgent campaign compared to previous Patrick Kiernan years that will see them finish in the Sports Editor middle of the pack. Watch out for the ladies, though. Joe Frager’s got a lot of young talent and I see them making a run at the MAAC ‘chip.

Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor

Hopefully the men can find a way to bounce back from last season and I hope to see the women’s team continue to win for Coach Frager.

We’ll make it to the NCAA Tournament before getting bounced by Matthew Schneider Florida Gulf Coast. You can’t stop Assistant dunk city!

time than his brother last season, the departure of Maurice Barrow ‘14, could open up the way for Malcolm Gilbert to really break into his own at the center position.

“He’s a big defensive presence and offensive presence, as well,” said Marcus Gilbert. “You can’t miss a seven-footer on paper.”

When asked if he has big aspirations for the upcoming season Malcolm Gilbert said, “Yes, I do. I just have to stay focused and take it one day at a time.

That’s my mindset and the mindset of all my teammates.”

Malcolm GIlbert also believes that he can be a big influence on the first-year

players.

“Just pushing them to compete each day, not only in the court, but in the weight room,” stated Malcolm Gilbert.

“It’s just inspiring because they look to us for leadership and guidance and we can give it to them.”

As far as what Malcolm Gilbert will miss most after this last year as a Stag, the list extends far beyond just Marcus Gilbert.

“Just being with my brothers, not only my brother, but my surrogate brothers: my teammates,” said Malcolm Gilbert. “The memories we have together, the times we’ve spent and just helping each other out. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Your 2014-2015 4x5 Columnists:

Patrick Kiernan, Jennifer Calhoun, Matthew Schneider, and Jesse Erickson

What Fairfield faculty member would you like to see hit the court?

Favorite basketball mascot?

Biggest MAAC Competition for both teams?

Who’s going to win March Madness?

Get my man Steve Yavner on the hardwood. His savvy broadcasting voice would be enough to catch a defense off guard.

The gorilla from the Phoenix Suns.

Just because it makes no sense that a team named after our main source of light is represented by an animal somewhat known for throwing its own ... well you know.

Iona’s men’s team is always a threat, and I think they’ll be top contenders this year. For the ladies, Marist is the team to watch out for.

This is a tough one because there aren’t that many highly touted prospects like last year. So, umm, us?

Von Arx.

As always, Virginia Tech’s mascot is interesting to me...

It’s always Iona, now that Loyola is gone.

Everyone is going to win!

Dr. Abbott, no doubt.

Wichita State’s, shock ‘em!

Laura Nash. She’s the greatest person on this campus.

The Stag, have you any pride?

Canisius, any team that has a mythical creature as a mascot is one to fear.

The Villanova Wildcats, book it.

Sports Editor

Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

I usually keep a positive attitude so both teams are going to win everything and a million dollars.

My roommate on the dance team is telling me this answer because I have no idea and she says Quinnipiac because they’re our biggest rivals? Go Julia.

Me because March is my birthday month.

Sports

Basketball preview 2014-2015

Page 9

Meet the men’s and women’s freshmen Men’s:

By Matthew Schneider Assistamt Sports Editor While incoming freshmen often find it tough deciding where to spend their college years, in the case of several freshmen on the Fairfield Men’s Basketball team the decision was made somewhat easier.

All of these young men chose Fairfield because of the good vibes they got from the coaches and the

players.

“I just really liked Coach Sydney Johnson, the way he’s a really down-to-Earth guy,” Tyler Nelson ’18 said.

“I like the way he coaches the offense and stuff like that.”

The same went for Kevin Degnan ’18, when he said, “[It’s] definitely the coaches; they’re a great group of guys, they push me hard, the same as Coach Johnson.”

He went on to compliment the Fairfield campus and community, saying, “[It’s] also the school; it’s a

good atmosphere, a great mix between academics and basketball, and I saw the perfect fit for me.”

Freshman Jared Harper also explained that it was his respect for the coaches that lured him to the Stags, and the fact he felt at home.

“When I was in prep school last year and getting recruited by different schools, Fairfield just caught my eye the most because I got really close to the coaches,” he said.

“I talked to them almost every

From left to right: freshmen Kevin Degnan, Tyler Nelson, Jerome Segura, and Jared Harper.

Women’s:

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

With a roster of only 14 athletes, consisting of two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and six freshmen, the freshmen of the women’s basketball team will be stepping up this season to fill the spots of the five seniors who graduated last season.

This season, the Stags will look to the freshmen to bring something new to the court. Between the five of them, the freshmen of the team have similar goals: They want to play and they want to win.

Although the team is relatively young, with these goals in mind, the Stags are looking to have a successful upcoming season.

This season, the team is bringing in a different kind of talent with the incoming freshmen. Two of the freshmen on the team are from out of the country, bringing another kind of skill to the court.

Freshman Sarah Stock, originally from Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany, played four seasons with her club team in Germany averaging 22 points per game. Playing since she was six years old, Stock added that her time with the team so far has been a positive experience.

“This is cool, the team is nice and I already feel like I am a part of the team,” said Stock.

With number three posted on her jersey, Stock has set a number of goals for herself including playing to the best of her ability and doing whatever she possibly can to better the team.

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror

day, and when I came to visit, I really liked the campus, and it just felt like home.”

Freshman Jerome Segura concurred, saying, “When I came here on my visit, I really liked the coaches, the players, and the campus, so I ended up deciding on here.”

Similarly to the way they all felt welcomed at the school by the coaches, these freshmen also felt integrated into the team immediately.

“I think the guys were really welcoming when we got here in the summer, and it was good chemistry right away,” Nelson said.

Harper added that the teammates were “all really good guys.”

Regarding the team veterans, he said, “If I need any help, I can talk to them about anything.”

With teammates and mentors, this is clearly a good atmosphere to be in as a freshman.

For Degnan, his excitement for the season to start is already underway as he explained that he wants to make his presence known as soon as possible.

“I think I can contribute pretty well, because whatever they need me to do, I can do,” he said.

“Whether it’s to rebound, play defense, make shots on the perimeter or play inside, I’ll do that for them.”

Segura is equally as eager, saying that he can’t wait to get into his role, which, according to Head

Coach Johnson, is “to find people.”

Adjusting to a new life on a college campus can be tough, but fortunately, the freshmen seem to be enjoying themselves.

Harper explained that he enjoyed the campus and community, adding, “Everything is pretty much what I thought it would be.”

Degnan was equally as generous with his praise of Fairfield, saying, “Everybody has been great, [including] the teammates, the staff, the school. It’s been nothing but good so far.”

While the athletes easily discussed their transition into Fairfield, hazing became a much more difficult subject to touch on, as those involved often aren’t eager to broach the topic.

This remained mostly true during interviews whenever the topic was raised, as most of the players played coy and gave noncommittal answers.

One player who did talk about it was Degnan, though he described it as nothing more than the freshmen doing most of the grunt work, which is a common practice on sports teams.

“Oh yeah, definitely,” Degnan said. “Since I’m a freshman, I need to earn every little thing, whether it’s doing all the dirty work in the locker room, to bringing [the equipment] out onto the floor, it’s just part of the job.”

“I wanna do whatever I can for the In the next upcoming season, Mel- thy, “and I will use the experience of the McLaughlin was influenced largely team,” said Stock. “Even if it’s just cheer- ville hopes to establish herself as an ath- older girls to do this.” to play for Fairfield after visiting and ing from the bench, I wanna do what I lete.

Although she may be one of the meeting the coaching staff of the team. can for them.”

“I’m a walk on so I think it definite- shortest on the team, the Stags will use Already enjoying her time with the team, Freshman Helena Orts will be ly shows I have something to prove,” said Macey Hollenshead’s ‘18 agility to their McLaughlin is looking to make an imbringing her variety of experience to the Melville. “I want to prove that I can play advantage. From Needmore, Pa., the mediate impact on the team. courts this upcoming season. Standing at this level.”

5-foot-7-inch athlete averaged 17 points “I’m hoping to do whatever I can at 6-feet-2-inches, the Barcelona native Freshman Emma McCarthy has per game and helped her team to three to help the team,” said McLaughlin. “We has been playing since the age of eight been raised with the game of basketball, district championships during her high have really tough out-of-conference and brought her former teams large suc- one of the main reasons she is hoping to school career. Playing since the first league play coming up, but we’re hopcess in the past including several cham- bring success to the Stags in her upcom- grade, Hollenshead added that playing ing to defy the odds and really come out pionships. Before coming to Fairfield ing basketball career. McCarthy knew for the team has already been an awe- strong despite the loss of five girls last this fall, Orts was elected to play in the from the moment she saw Fairfield that some experience to be able to play at an- season.”

Youth Olympic Games in China in a 3x3 it would be the place to further both other level of basketball. Looking to her Like McLaughlin said, all six of the tournament where she led her team to her goals for basketball and academics. entire team for inspiration, Hollenshead freshmen are hoping to continue where a bronze medal during the tournament. Originally from Shelton, Conn., Mc- has set a big goal for her team. the team left off last season. Now about Having just returned from the games, Carthy earned the honor of MVP for “I hope the team has a successful two months into the start of the semesOrts is looking forward to what she will the Class LL State tournament while she year, better than what the team did last ter, the freshmen have finally gotten into accomplish with the Stags. led her team to several key victories as year,” said Hollenshead. “I hope to help the routine of playing for a Division I “I want to help make the team grow senior captain during the 2013-2014 sea- do that.” basketball team. It is now up to those and help my teammates,” said Orts. “I son. McCarthy added that being on the Playing as guard for the team, Kris- freshmen to take their prior experience want to score a lot of points and I hope team has helped her transition and she ten McLaughlin ‘18 earned four Var- and new knowledge to make an impact that we compete a lot.” cannot wait for the next four years with sity letters, scored 1,137 points, and was this season for the Stags and fill the voids The two international athletes will the team. named League MVP while playing for left by five departing seniors from last bring a different style of game to the “I want to get better,” said McCar- Tappan Zee High School in New York. year. court, while the other four freshmen will strengthen the game the upperclassmen of the team have almost perfected.

From Sparta, N.J., Jamie Melville ‘18 is hoping to carry the success she earned in high school to the court at Fairfield. Scoring 1,144 points throughout her high school career, Melville looks to be a promising athlete on the team. However, earning playing time will not be necessarily easy for the freshmen.

“I started all four years in high school and I was always at the top,” said Melville. “Then you come here and you’re at the way way bottom which is difficult but since being here, I already Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror could see that I’ve gotten better.”

From left to right: Kristen McLaughlin, Jamie Melville, Sarah Stock, Emma McCarthy, Macey Hollenshead, and Helena Orts .

Basketball preview 2014-2015

Sports

Page 10

Meet the men’s and women’s transfers Men’s:

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror Juniors Mike Kirkland Jr. (left) and DeMarcus Threatt (right) join the Stags in their first year of eligibility after successful stints with Eastern Florida State College and Snead State CC, respectively.

Women’s:

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor After a year of ineligibility due to the National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules, both Casey Smith ‘17 and Margeaux Dupuy ‘15 are ready to step up and help lead their team to an upcoming winning season.

After transferring from Saint Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania after her freshman year, Smith decided that Fairfield would be a better fit for her.

“Fairfield University is a tight-knit community and, obviously, it is closer to home. And I’m from here, so I have a sense of Connecticut pride,” said Smith. “Overall, this school feels like home.”

Although the 6-foot-2 forward was forced to sit out the 2013-2014 season, Smith was able to get experience with the team during practice time and games.

This season, Smith is hoping to make an immediate impact.

“Off the court, I used to contribute with practice and helping them out and getting prepared,” said Smith. “But, I think this year I’ll be able to contribute in the broader sense.”

The team is excited to have Smith on the court especially with all that she was able to accomplish in high school. A threetime All-State athlete in basketball, Smith also went on to lead her high school team to a 25-0 record and then a Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship, among many other accom-

plishments.

Even though Smith has not played competitively since high school, she added that the team couldn’t have been more welcoming which will help her as she heads to the court for the upcoming season. She is hoping to get the team back to where they left off last year.

“I think a lot of people are underestimating our abilities because we lost so many seniors, but what they don’t understand is that we have Felicia DaCruz, our point guard, who has been playing for four years and she’s very strong,” stated Smith.

“The freshmen are coming along very nicely and with all of us coming together to do what we have to do, I think we’ll have a good season,” Smith added.

Like Smith, Dupuy is another transfer athlete who is ready to finally give what she can to the team.

Dupuy, originally from Texas, attended Marquette University for two years before deciding to transfer to Fairfield.

Now finally under eligibility, Dupuy is excited to see how the game at Fairfield compares to the game at Marquette.

“I wanted to go to a small school that wasn’t as big as Marquette where I could definitely see myself fitting in a family and I think that I’ve found that,” said Dupuy.

With her time at Marquette, Dupuy was able to appear in 17 games as a freshman, averaging 2.4 points per game. During her sophomore year, she was able to play in the Big East Tournament where she made two 3-pointers for

Transferring from one school to another is often very difficult by itself, but when it is compounded by switching sports teams, things can get even harder. Fortunately for transfer students Demarcus Threatt ’16 and Mike Kirkland Jr. ’16, the transition has been very smooth.

Kirkland talked about his welcome to the team, saying, “I feel like family so far.”

It would seem that he struck gold when searching for a welcoming new home, as he seems to be having a good time.

“I like the campus and I like my teachers so far; it’s a good environment,” Kirkland said.

Family. That is one word that stuck out to me from both players’ quotes, as it seemed to be very important to them.

To Kirkland, it made all the difference in the world, as it is what makes Fairfield basketball different from other programs in his eyes.

“We have a more family-oriented team, and we come together in tough times; I think that’s the difference between us and other teams,” he said.

Besides the family aspect to the team, it is clear that Head Coach Sydney Johnson’s program is one that the players are happy about, probably because of how they’re treated.

Kirkland was eager to fit into Johnson’s offensive schemes when he accepted his spot at Fairfield.

During his visit, he “liked all of the players on the team … [and] liked the offense, it felt like it was a good fit.”

This is as good a reason as any to be eager about playing for the Stags, as playing in a system that he wasn’t suited for could have been detrimental to Kirkland’s growth.

Kirkland is eager to show that he’s got what it takes to make the program better, and to do his part.

“I feel like I can definitely bring us to a better position than we were in last year,” Kirkland said.

“I know we finished close to last, but that was last year, and I’m willing to do what it takes to bring it to the next level.”

Being a transfer player can make adjusting to a new team hard, but that hasn’t dampened Kirkland’s enthusiasm and desire to make a difference.

He feels that he can make an impact immediately, and isn’t shy about it.

“Definitely, that’s one of my roles, to be an impact player right away, so I want to do that defensively and offensively,” Kirkland said.

According to Threatt, joining a new squad made him “feel very

welcomed.” He Regarding living on campus, Threatt said, “I love it; the atmosphere, how it’s like a big campus, but I feel like I see everybody and I feel like everybody’s a family here.”

Similarly to Kirkland, Threatt was very interested in the family aspect of the Stags.

In Threatt’s case, it was one of the main reasons that he decided to attend Fairfield.

“When I talked to Coach Sydney Johnson, he said to me, ‘It’s a family,’ and they treated me like family on my visit, so I just wanted to come here,” he said.

Similar to Kirkland, Threatt wants to be as helpful as possible to his new teammates, and to give them the best chance to succeed. “[Coach] brought me here as a starter and a scorer to help out Marcus [Gilbert] ‘16, [Coleman] Johnson ‘16, and Mike [Kirkland Jr.],” Threatt said.

The two may have difficulty adjusting to attending school in New England, as Kirkland is from Florida and Threatt hails from Alabama.

Threatt joked about this adjustment, saying, “The only thing that’s different is that, coming from Alabama in the south, it’s cold [up here].”

With Kirkland and Threatt, the Stags have definitely gained two transfers with potential.

her team and averaged 1.2 points per game. After sitting her junior year out after transferring, the 5-6 guard is looking to make big contributions to the team.

“I think I can make an immediate impact to the team, everyone on our team can,” said Dupuy. “We have an excellent team and we have

people that can step into roles that we need them to step into.”

Like her other teammate, Dupuy has similar expectations for herself and for her team for the upcoming season.

“I think we can go to the tournament and I think that’s definitely the goal,” added Dupuy. “I think

that’s where we need to be and I think that’s where we can be.”

Although they were once transfers, the girls have definitely found the place they have wanted to be all along and the team couldn’t be any more excited for what they will bring to the court this season.

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror Junior Margeaux Dupuy (left) and Casey Smith ‘17 (right) are ready to play the 2014-15 season with the Stags in their first year of eligibility after transferring to the school two years ago.

Basketball preview 2014-2015

Sports

Page 11

Battle for the MAAC Crown

Fairfield Stags

Last year’s stats

MEN

Tenth in the MAAC with a 4-16 record

WOMEN

Third in the MAAC with a record of 15-5

Iona Gaels Monmouth “Hawks” MEN

MEN

First in the MAAC with a 17-3 record

Ninth in the MAAC with a 5-15 record

WOMEN

WOMEN

Tied for First in the MAAC with a record of 18-2

Ninth in the MAAC with a record of 6-14

Quinnipiac Bobcats MEN

Tied for Third in the MAAC with a 14-6 record

WOMEN

Fourth in the MAAC with a record of 14-6

Saint Peter’s Peacocks MEN

Tied for Sixth in the MAAC with a 9-11 record

WOMEN

Eleventh in the MAAC with a record of 2-18

Manhattan Jaspers Siena Saints MEN

MEN

Second in the MAAC with a 15-5 record

Fifth in the MAAC with a 11-9 record

WOMEN

Tied for Seventh in the MAAC with a record of 8-12

WOMEN

Canisius Golden Griffins MEN

Tied for Third in the MAAC with a 14-6 record

WOMEN

Tied for Fifth in the MAAC with a record of 9-11

Tenth in the MAAC with a record of 3-17

Marist Red Foxes WOMEN

Tied for First in the MAAC with a record of 18-2

Niagara Purple Eagles MEN

Eleventh in the MAAC with a 3-17 record

WOMEN

Tied for Seventh in the MAAC with a record of 8-12

MEN

Tied for Sixth in the MAAC with a 9-11 record

Rider Broncs MEN

Tied for Sixth in the MAAC with a 9-11 record

WOMEN

Tied for Fifth in the MAAC with a record of 9-11

Basketball preview 2014-2015

Sports

Men’s 2014-15 Roster No.

Name

24

Doug Chappell ‘17

40

Page 12

Women’s 2014-15 Roster

Pos. No.

Name

Pos.

G

22

Jamie Melville ‘18

Kevin Degnan ‘18

F/C

25

Emma McCarthy ‘18

G

44

Malcolm Gilbert ‘15

C

1

Lizzy Ball ‘16

G

14

Marcus Gilbert ‘16

F

3

Sarah Stock ‘18

G

4

Jared Harper ‘18

G

5

Felicia DaCruz ‘15

G

33

Matt Hill ‘17

F/C

11

Samantha Cooper ‘18

F

35

Coleman Johnson ‘16

F

12

Helena Orts ‘18

F

23

Steve Johnston ‘15

G

14 Macey Hollenshead ‘18

G

0

Mike Kirkland Jr. ‘16

F

15

Kristen McLaughlin ‘18

G

30

Andrew Leone ‘17

G

21

Casey Smith ‘17

F

3

Tyler Nelson ‘18

G

23

Kelsey Carey ‘17

F

20

KJ Rose ‘17

G

24

Kristine Miller ‘17

F

1

Jerome Segura ‘18

G

30

Margeaux Dupuy ‘16

G

21

Amadou Sidibe ‘16

F

40

Kristin Schatzlein ‘16

G

25

Steve Smith ‘17

F

5

Demarcus Threatt ‘16

G

Back page design by Patrick Kiernan

G

Photos contributed by Sports Information Desk