After a phenomenal season last year, the men’s basketball team is looking to get back to the Atlantic East Championship, but this time with a different result. Last year the team finished second in the standings with a 9-3 record in the Atlantic East and with a 20-7 record overall. They went on to lose to Marywood in the championship game, 57-52.
The team dominated last season on both ends of the floor, putting up 75.1 points a game while holding their opponents to 67.9 points. Both of these marks were second best in the Atlantic East. They played the game perfecting the small stuff. They dominated the glass, leading the Atlantic East in rebounding and only committed 13.1 turnovers a game.
The team distributed the ball well, putting up 14.5 assists per game. The knights let their defense spark their offense. Their offense was fast, and the team attacked the paint hard, shooting an Atlantic East best 47.6% from the field.
Heading into the 2024 season, however, this team will look a little bit different. Forward Tony James, who won back-to-back defensive player of the year awards, and Ryan Starr, who finished on the All-Atlantic East second team, will not be on the roster this season. The roster will also see four freshmen joining the team.
The new look knights will certainly be challenged this year. Who will step up? Luckily, the team still has one last season of Jalen Vaughns, who has won the Atlantic East player of the year twice and led the conference in scoring and rebounding last season. Coach Rullo said that he expects the Knights to “compete through a very tough non-conference schedule with the intent that we are ready for conference play starting in January.”
How will the team do this year? We’ll just have to wait and see. They will start their season November 9th against Franklin and Marshall College.
Last season the women’s basketball team finished with a 6-6 record in the Atlantic East, going 13-13 overall. They suffered a close 58-52 loss to Immaculata, being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Going into this year, Coach McNichol is looking to go all in, saying “We have high expectations for the season. We have lots of experience back. Our goal is to win the Atlantic East.”
This team likes to move the ball around and find opportunities to let the three-ball fly. They shot the third best 3P% in the Atlantic East at 28.1%, making 6.4 per game, the second most in the Atlantic East. Through a series of motions, they find their way to the paint often.
Overall, their offense was relatively efficient, with a FG% of 38.1%, the second best in the Atlantic East. The team utilized a man defense often and did so very effectively and made the perfect adjustments when need be. They allowed the second fewest points per game last season with 57.8. They also held their opponents to an average field goal percentage of 35.8%. This team can lock up anybody!
Almost the entire roster from last season will be intact for the 2023-2024 season. The team will see some change, adding three freshmen.
The minimal change in the roster will help the team pick right up where they left off last season. To quote legendary quarterback Roger Staubach, “In any team sport, the best teams have consistency and chemistry.” The team will still have junior guard Lauren Klieber, who led the Atlantic East in scoring, finished second in rebounds per game and made All Atlantic East first team.
The knights are looking at a promising season, hoping to improve on their 2022-2023 record. They will start their season on November 8th against Lebanon Valley College.
