Mid-season Additions Helping Mercy College Men’s Basketball Heat Up
Monday, January 15, 2007
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Vince Jordan |
Mid-season Additions Helping Mercy College Men's Basketball Heat Up
Health, depth, and defense are just three terms that any head coach will give when asked about the keys to a successful season. Mid-way through this year they have turned out to be the most important aspects of the game for the Mercy College men's basketball team.
The Flyers got off to a slow start at 1-8, but have since heated up, going 3-1 over their last four outings, with East Coast Conference (ECC) victories over Dowling and Molloy that have them in good position at 3-3 in the league.
Prior to their recent run, Mercy head coach Steve Kelly, now in his 11th season at the helm, was game-planning with a short bench while he waited for some key pieces to join the team in January. After the holidays, 6-foot-7 senior forward Dominick Cuzzi (Bronx, NY/Mt. St. Michael), a 1,000-point scorer, and 6-foot-3 freshman guard Vince Jordan (Spring Valley, NY/Spring Valley HS) joined the squad, giving the Flyers a boost.
"Vince brings a lot of energy offensively and defensively, and also adds flexibility and depth at both ends," Kelly said about Jordan, who has quickly become known for his athleticism and electrifying dunks. "Cuzzi's experience and veteran play also adds depth in the front court. Now we can rest people, get a rotation going, and the guys are fresher."
Since the duo's arrival, the difference is clear. Mercy has held opponents to 67 points or less in three out of the last five contests, and during that same stretch, the team has averaged 70.4 points per game after posting 59.0 during the first eight.
Jordan has stepped right into the lineup to average 9.2 points per contest through his first five games of collegiate basketball and has already picked up 14 steals (2.8 spg). While Cuzzi is still finding his rhythm on the shooting stroke, his presence is strong around the basket as he is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
"Cuzzi is still not 100 percent yet, but we're confident he'll get there and return to his junior year form," said Kelly.
After a grueling stretch of five games in nine days, Mercy now has a few days off before returning to action on Wednesday, January 17, at the Westchester County Center versus St. Thomas Aquinas College in another key ECC tilt. Kelly is hoping the five-day layoff will allow his squad to get a little more healthy as junior point guard Victor Sidberry (Bronx, NY/Morris HS) has been battling through his own injury for the last month.
In Sidberry's absence, junior Chanze Wellington (Spring Valley, NY/Spring Valley HS) has done a solid job at running the point, and over the last five games he has averaged 12.4 points per game, and 3.2 assists.
"Chanze has definitely stepped up," said Kelly. "He is taking care of the ball and getting everybody involved. As we look forward, getting Sidberry back will give us the ability to move Chanze back to the two-guard spot, get them out on the break, and take advantage of their speed."
Along with Wellington, Jordan, and Sidberry in the backcourt, junior guard Paul Flowers (New York, NY/Hostos CC) is another quick, energetic athlete that has been strong at both ends of the court, averaging 7.2 points per game and ranks among the ECC's best at 3.4 steals per game.
"Paul has done a great job defensively and offensively," said Kelly. "We like that he can defend the point, the two-guard, or the three. That's the nice thing about him and Jordan."
In the front court, senior forward Devon Mirjah (Bronx,
NY/Malverne HS) and junior forward Keiron Guy
(Brooklyn, NY/SUNY Delhi) have been consistent throughout
the season. Mirjah averages a team-leading 13.9 points per game and
6.7 rebounds, while Guy posts 10.2 points and is among the league
leaders at 8.0 boards per contest. Guy has also been clutch
down the stretch, hitting a key late basket to help seal a win over
Bloomfield, the game-winning jumper versus Dowling with 11 seconds
left, and a game-winning free throw with only seven seconds to go
against Molloy.
Kelly also raves about the contributions of sophomore guard Michael Marin (Flushing, NY/St. Francis Prep) and senior forward Richard Stankowski (Jackson Heights, NY/Msgr. McClancy). Marin has chipped in 6.0 points per game and has hit some clutch three-pointers, while Stankowski gives Mercy 2.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest.
"Stankowski had a great game on Thursday, and Marin has really been stepping up, playing with confidence, and knocking down some big jump shots," said Kelly. "He's fitting in well with the perimeter guys, defending, and that's what is going to make us successful."
With 14 regular season games left in the regular season, all against ECC opponents, Kelly and the Flyers now have their attention turned towards the goals they set in the off-season.
"We're shooting first to get into the playoffs," said Kelly. "We need to continue defending, get sharper in our half-court offense, and get everyone on the same page. If we can do that, we'll be successful and advance. Once we're in the playoffs we feel we can do some damage."
