SCSU prepares for return to NCAA D2 tournament
NEW HAVEN — It’s been seven years since Southern Connecticut State University played in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament.
But the Owls (22-10) will return to the NCAA tournament stage Saturday at 5 p.m. when they play topseeded and host St. Michael’s (22-8) in the opening round of the East Region in Colchester, Vt.
Southern Connecticut finished second in the Northeast-10 tournament, falling to Southern New Hampshire 75-60 in the championship game last Saturday, but received an at-large bid as the eighth seed in the East Region.
Besides top-seeded St. Michael’s, the East Region field has St. Thomas Aquinas at No. 2, while Southern New Hampshire, Daemen and Jefferson fill out the top five. Bloomfield, Post of
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT AT ST. MICHAEL’S
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Ross Sports Center, Colchester, Vt.
Southern Connecticut (22-10) — It is the Owls’ first appearance since 2017 in the NCAA Tournament. Scott Burrell, 10th year as head coach.
Top players: Josh McGettigan, 6-7 graduate forward, 17.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game; Marty Silvera, 6-0 junior guard, 14.5 ppg. and 7 assists per game; Kazell Stewart, 6-5 sophomore forward, 13.7 ppg. and 6.7 rpg.; Cherif Diarra, 6-6 sophomore forward, 9.1 ppg and 9.2 rpg.
St. Michael’s (22-8) — It is the Purple Knights’ first appearance since 2001 in the NCAA Tournament and the first time since 1960 they will host a regional. Eric Eaton, 5th year as head coach.
Top players: Romar Reid, 6-2 senior guard, 16.6 ppg; Darrel Yepdo, 6-0 sophomore guard, 15.4 ppg and 4 apg.; C.J. Crews, 6-3 junior guard, 12.1 ppg.; Nolan Marold, 6-8 sophomore forward, 10.0 ppg. and 7.2 rpg.
Waterbury and Southern Connecticut grabbed the final three seeds.
“As a team. we had a phenomenal run down the stretch,” said former Prince Tech-Hartford star Kazell Stewart. “We beat Bentley, AIC and played against
SHNU in the championship game. It helped us get into the tournament.”
The hardest part for Southern Connecticut will be beating St. Michael’s on its home floor.
“Obviously, it’s a difficult task, but we’re up for the challenge,” Southern Connecticut coach Scott Burrell said. “We played them twice and didn’t have success, but we know what we need to do to win. They killed us in transition and made their threes. We can’t allow easy baskets and we have to make our shots. We missed too many shots.”
Junior captain Sean James of West Hartford agreed winning on the road won’t be easy.
“They are the only team to have a home game all weekend, but we’re ready,” James said. “Playing on the road doesn’t scare us and I think we’ll be ready to go.”
Burrell, who played in the Division I Elite Eight for UConn and has an NBA championship ring, has the personal history to tell his players what to expect.
“I can tell them what it’s going to be like,” Burrell said. “The regular season is tough, the conference tournament is tougher, and in the NCAA, you’re facing the best eight teams in the region. To be able to put an Elite Eight banner up there would be really special.”
But what’s the key for the Owls?
“We need to play hard for 40 minutes and don’t expect anything to be given to you,” Burrell said. “We have to play great defense, limit turnovers and make shots.”
Southern Connecticut is allowing just 72.9 points a game.
“I think our defensive prowess has been amazing,” James said. “We’ve been holding a lot of teams under 65 to 70 points a game. If you put yourself in that position, you have a great chance to win the game.”
Stewart doubled his scoring statistics this year from his freshman campaign a year ago.
“I knew I was going to have a bigger role this year,” Stewart said. “I think of myself as the glue piece keeping us together. I’m one of the defenders and rebound and help out with the scoring. I just try and do it all at the end of the day.”
Stewart echoed that when it came to the team’s game.
“Executing our offense, defending at a high level and guarding all five positions is what will get us far into the tournament,” Stewart said.
Among the other key players are junior point guard Marty Silvera of Worcester, Mass. Silvera was a freshman on the St. Peter’s roster when the Peacocks reached the Elite Eight in the Division I tournament. Forward Josh McGettigan leads the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game. And sophomore forward Cherif Diarra is the younger brother of senior guard Hassan Diarra of defending Division I champion UConn.
“It’s a great time to be a Diarra,” Burrell said.
And if this weekend goes the way they hope, a great time to be an Owl.