Bulldogs reloaded in 2014-15, open season Friday against reigning National Champs

Bryant at UConn Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After making the Northeast Conference playoffs for the second-straight season in just its second season eligible, the Bryant University men's basketball team returns to the court in 2014-15 ready for what comes next.

With plans not just to win their first Division I playoff game but to compete for an NEC title, the Bulldogs will look to continue taking huge strides forward under head coach Tim O'Shea in his seventh season at the helm. A roster revitalized by youth might be just what the Black and Gold need as they look to make a seamless transition into the 2014-15 campaign.

But Bryant has a number of holes to fill before kicking off the season against reigning national champion UConn Friday, not the smallest of which includes replacing two key starters from a season ago in glue-guy starting guard Corey Maynard and 2,000-point scorer Alex Francis. The Bulldogs lose 43 percent of their 2013-14 scoring in those two subtractions alone, leaving the door wide open for both youth and experience to prove they have what it takes to keep the Black and Gold moving in the right direction.

THE GUARDS
The backcourt once again dominates the roster in 2014-15 but is injected with new blood this season, emphasized by a pair of high-potential newcomers. An influx of new guards bolsters the Bulldogs' returning depth, but the team's perimeter success will be once more tied to the performance of preseason all-conference selection and 6-2 senior sharpshooter Dyami Starks (Duluth, Minn.).

After finishing his junior season ranked third in the league and first on the team at 18.9 points per game, the 2013-14 All-NEC Second Team selection represents 44 percent of the team's returning scoring. Starks got off to a hot start a year ago, scoring 100 points through just the opening three games en route to a his second-straight 500-point season. The senior captain – a threat off the drive or from distance – joined the 1,000-point club last season and averaged nearly three trifectas per outing (2.93, 25th in Division I) while converting at a .860 clip from the line with 60 assists and 32 steals.

Alongside Starks returns fellow senior captain Joe O'Shea (Burlington, Vt.), who provides strong two-way play for the Black and Gold. A solid outside shooter with the size to make plays in the paint when needed, O'Shea was a 46 percent shooter as a junior, starting in all 32 contests while finishing fourth on the team on the glass (4.3 rpg).

Joining the pair of seniors in the backcourt will be junior point guard Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.), who started 16-of-32 games in 2013-14, as well as a pair of new faces in redshirt-junior transfer Zach Chionuma (Jamesville, N.Y.) and rookie Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.).

McLaughlin gained valuable experience at the point as a sophomore and represents one of the Bulldogs' toughest defensive options, but he will face stiff competition for time by Ware, whose quickness allows him to excel at penetrating the defense to both distribute and score on his own. And the Bulldogs will need a point guard who can put up points to compensate for the loss of both Maynard and Francis.

Chionuma, eligible in 2014-15 after sitting out last season following his transfer from Boston University, also looks to be a key addition off the bench for Bryant. With two seasons of collegiate basketball experience already on his side, Chionuma – an athletic shooting guard who is a threat from the outside and driving to the basket – should need little time to adjust before making an immediate impact on the Bulldog backcourt. Also in the mix for time will be 6-5 rookie Blake McBride (Ladera Ranch, Calif.), redshirt-frosh Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia) and junior Curtis Oakley (South Euclid, Ohio).

THE FORWARDS
With only four forwards on the roster 15-man roster, the Bulldogs will look for consistency and presence right out of the gates from its shallow but talented frontcourt. Rookie Angus Riley (Nelson, New Zealand) will make arguably the biggest impact of any newcomer, getting the starting nod at the low post. At 6-8 and 225 pounds, Riley is a skilled shooter and passer who will be expected to progress quickly to fill much of the gap left by Francis.

He will be joined in the frontcourt by top shot blocker Dan Garvin (Bethel, Conn.), who returns to Smithfield for his sophomore season after posting 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season as one of the NEC's top rookies. At 6-6 and one of the most athletic presences on the roster, Garvin was the team's top blocker (36) in 2013-14, earning six starts while appearing in 27 contests despite being sidelined by illness for nearly a month last season.

Second-year bigman Ellis Williams (Columbus, Ohio) will also push for minutes with a season of experience now in his pocket. The 6-8, 250-pound forward saw limited action as a freshman, but will look to be a part of the answer when it comes to replacing Francis's production and adding size in the paint. He will be joined by classmate Andrew Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) in looking to produce and provide depth off the bench.

The Bulldogs will test out the 2014-15 edition of their roster for the first time Friday, Nov. 14 in Storrs, Conn., when they take on last year's national champion, No. 17/15 University of Connecticut, in the season debut for both sides (7:00 p.m.). Friday's opener can be seen live on SNY, ESPN3 and ESPN Full Court and can be heard on WOON 1240AM.