Men's Basketball Season Preview
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Unfinished business.
That's the phrase on the Bryant men's basketball warmup shirts this year. The Bulldogs, however, are a much different team than the one that advanced to the Northeast Conference Championship for the first time in program history last winter.
This year's version of Bulldog basketball will feature familiar faces as well as a group of impact newcomers that has expectations high in Smithfield. Any journey begins with one step and that step comes Tuesday night when the Black and Gold tip-off their 60th season of intercollegiate basketball against Fisher.
The Returners
Bryant returns six players that saw considerable time a season ago. That includes three that started all 22 games and a fourth that started 16, and four that averaged double-figures.
Leading the pack is Peter Kiss, a candidate for the Lou Henson Award. Kiss enjoyed a career-year in his first season with the Bulldogs, averaging 16.6 points per game on his way to All-NEC First Team and USBWA All-District honors. He scored in double-figures in 20 of the 22 games and posted 10 20-point games. An all-around threat, Kiss added 6.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game a season ago.
Charles Pride returns as one the league's toughest and grittiest players. The Liverpool, New York, native averaged 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game a season ago. He finished with five double-doubles and scored a DI postseason program-record 33 points in the NEC Championship against Mount St. Mary's.
Speaking of scoring, the Black and Gold also welcome back sharpshooter Chris Childs. A threat from anywhere on the floor, Childs averaged 14.0 points per game and was one of the league's most feared three-point threats in his first season in Smithfield. Childs finished 22nd nationally with 2.90 3s/game and also led the NEC with a 86.7 clip from the charity stripe.
Hall Elisias is Bryant's third 22-game starter that is back from a season ago. Affectionately known as "The Block Father", Elisias looks to close out one of the most dominating careers for a Bryant big man. He led the league in field goal percentage ago, averaging a career-high 10.3 points per game. Elisias also continued to be one of the best shot blockers in the country, finishing 17th nationally in blocks per game.
Luis Hurtado Jr. started 16 games a season ago and brings more experience to Bryant's backcourt. While he only scored in double-figures three times, Hurtado's ability to do the intangibles was a driving force behind Bryant's success. Hurtado had 10 games with 5+ rebounds and finished the year with an assist:turnover ratio of 1.5
Erickson Bans is also back after appearing in 17 games and making one start. The Pawtucket native provided the Bulldogs just over 10 minutes per game and finished the year averaging 4.4 points per game. He showed what's to come in the NEC Semifinals, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes.
Bryant also returns junior Timmy Kiggins and sophomore Joe Moon IV. Kiggins appeared in four games, while Moon appeared in nine a year ago.
The Newcomers
With a strong core returning, the Black and Gold were able to add a bevy of key pieces during the offseason. That group includes a quartet Division I transfers and five true freshmen. The four players Bryant brought in as transfers are all 6-4 or taller and will provide the Black and Gold a considerable size advantage on any given night.
The two veteran additions are Greg Calixte and Adham Eleeda, a pair that are using the extra year due to COVID to try and help the Bulldogs win an NEC title. The 6-8, 235-point Calixte played in 111 games over four seasons at George Mason. He averaged 3.8 points per game and is a 60 percent career shooter from the field.
Eleeda started his collegiate career at the JUCO level, becoming one of the most feared shooters in the country. After starring at Sheridan College, Eleeda spent two seasons at Northern Kentucky, helping the Norsmen win a conference title in 2019-20. He averaged 5.0 points per game and hit 31 threes last season.
Bryant's also added Grant Coleman and Tyler Brelsford, a pair of sophomores that got a taste of collegiate basketball at Milwaukee and George Washington, respectively, last year. Coleman appeared in 20 games, making seven starts, and finished with 5.1 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game. Brelsford averaged nearly 20 minutes per game at GWU, scoring 4.4 points per game.
The Bulldogs five-member freshmen class includes Mike Iuzzolino, Max Zakheim, Mike Marshall Jr., Liam Dunfee and Josh Ozabor. Iuzzolino's father is an NEC Hall-of-Famer, starring at Saint Francis U in the early 90s.