I’ll Be Quirky: Bradley

A reminder that SportsCenter used to be great. 

The Flying Dutchmen will look to snap out of an early-season funk over the next three days, when they participate in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida. The Dutchmen begin play this afternoon against Bradley. Here are some (hopefully) fun facts to prepare you for the game.

THE MOST RECENT GAME IN A PARAGRAPH

I only heard most of Friday night’s 80-68 loss to Manhattan, which is probably the best for all involved. I didn’t need to see the Flying Dutchmen trail for the last 33-plus minutes and suffer a second straight loss against a non-conference foe ranked lower than 200 by KenPom (but at least Manhattan is close to 200 and not in the 320s, like Sacred Heart) to know it wasn’t very good. At least Eli Pemberton likely survived a frightful-sounding injury scare, Justin Wright-Foreman offered some promise in scoring all 17 of his points in the second half and Brian Bernardi had a second straight solid game. But what is wrong with Rokas Gustys—how nuts is it that we say this about a Dutchmen big when he DOESN’T compile a double-double—and why do the Dutchmen approach playing defense like I do cleaning the living room?

3 STARS OF THE GAME (vs. Manhattan, 11/18)

3: Justin Wright-Foreman

2: Brian Bernardi

1: Eli Pemberton

SEASON STANDINGS

Eli Pemberton 7

Brian Bernardi 4

Justin Wright-Foreman 3

Rokas Gustys 3

Deron Powers 1

OVER THE AIR

The Gulf Coast Showcase will air the game on its YouTube account. Hofstra will also air the WRHU feed here.

LOOKING TO GET BACK TO .500

Hofstra is looking to start 2-2 for the first time since 2012-13 and the fourth time in the CAA era.

Joe Mihalich-coached teams have opened 2-2 five times (1998-99, 2001-02, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2012-13).

BRADLEY AND THE MVC

This will be the first-ever meeting in men’s basketball between Hofstra and Bradley and only the fifth meeting ever in any sport. The Hofstra softball team beat Bradley 7-4 and 3-2 in the Unconquered Invitational at Florida State on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 of this year. The Hofstra volleyball team beat Bradley 3-2 in 2010 and 3-0 in 1988.

Bradley is 1-2 this season. Among its losses is a 63-49 defeat at the hands of Hofstra’s CAA rival, Delaware. 

Hofstra is 3-3 all-time against current Missouri Valley Conference schools. This is the second straight year the Dutchmen will face a MVC foe. Indiana State scored the last eight points in the final 1:50 to edge the Dutchmen 67-66 last Nov. 23 (52 weeks ago today). All six games Hofstra has played against the MVC have come in pre- or post-season tournament play.

PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS

Hofstra is 18-21 in preseason tournament play in the CAA era. The Dutchmen participated in two tournaments last season, when they beat Appalachian State 86-80 in the Holiday Festival and went 1-2 in the Paradise Jam with a win over Florida State and losses to South Carolina and Indiana State.

DOUBLE VISION

Eli Pemberton scored 15 points in Friday’s 80-68 loss to Manhattan. He is just the second Hofstra freshman in the CAA era to score at least 10 points in each of his first three games. In 2004-05, Antoine Agudio opened his career by scoring 20 points against Florida International, 13 points against LaSalle and 22 points against Binghamton. Agudio also reached double digits in his fourth game, when he scored 14 points against James Madison.

GUSTYS HITS THE TOP 20

Junior Rokas Gustys pulled down eight rebounds Friday night to close within one rebound of Percy Johnson for 18th place on Hofstra’s all-time list. Gustys is also just eight rebounds behind Rich Laurel for 17th place. 

17.) Rich Laurel, 647

18.) Percy Johnson, 640

19.) ROKAS GUSTYS, 639

20.) Greg Washington, 629

BERNARDI CLOSING IN ON FOURTH FOR THREES

Senior Brian Bernardi hit one 3-pointer Friday night and now has 186 in his two-plus seasons at Hofstra. He is just four behind Rick Apodaca for fourth place all-time and six behind Norman Richardson for third place.

3.) Norman Richardson, 192

4.) Rick Apodaca, 190

5.) BRIAN BERNARDI, 186

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Cheap Trick bias! (The band formed in Rockford, less than three hours away from Bradley’s campus in Peoria)

You lost two national title games to CCNY bias! (CCNY became the only school to win the NIT and NCAA titles in the same year when it beat Bradley in both the NIT and NCAA championship games in 1950 GOOGLE IT CRAIN)

You won a CBI game bias! (Bradley made the championship series in the inaugural that of which we do not speak tournament)

Charley Steiner bias! (The great former ESPN anchor and current Dodgers broadcaster graduated from Bradley)

I’ll Be Quirky: Manhattan

Three-for-three! Alas, the Flying Dutchmen are no longer perfect after squandering a nine-point lead in the final four minutes of Tuesday night’s 90-86 loss to Sacred Heart. They’ll try to get back on track against traditional non-conference rival Manhattan College up in the Bronx (that still doesn’t make any sense) tonight at 7 PM. Here are some quirky facts to get you ready for the tilt. 

OVER THE AIR

Manhattan (with old friend Christian Heimall on the call) will stream the game here for $5.95. The WRHU broadcast is also available for free by clicking here.

TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD?

The Dutchmen are looking to start a season 2-1 for the second time under Joe Mihalich and the sixth time in the CAA era (2001-present).

Joe Mihalich-coached teams have opened 2-1 seven times (2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2014-15).

MANHATTAN AND THE MAAC

Hofstra is 22-40 all-time against Manhattan and has faced the Jaspers more than any other non-conference foe. Manhattan won the most recent meeting on Nov. 30, 2013, when the Jaspers scored eight of the final nine points to pull away from the Dutchmen, 66-59. It was the eighth straight year in which Hofstra and Manhattan played one another. 

Joe Mihalich, who coached in the MAAC for Niagara for 15 years, is 19-14 all-time against Manhattan. 

Hofstra is 92-115 all-time against current MAAC schools. The Dutchmen are scheduled to host Siena in the final game of the non-conference schedule on Dec. 22. This marks the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the Dutchmen have played at least two MAAC schools (the 2014-15 schedule had no MAAC teams).

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

Freshman Eli Pemberton got off to a fast start Tuesday in his attempt to win CAA rookie of the week for the second straight week. Pemberton led the Dutchmen with 23 points — and shot 5-for-5 from 3-point land — in the 90-86 loss to Sacred Heart. He is the first Hofstra freshman in the CAA era to score at least 20 points in each of his first two games and only the fourth freshman to score at least 10 points in each of his first two games.

2016: Eli Pemberton 20 pts vs. Coppin State, 23 pts vs. Sacred Heart

2012: (One of the he who shall not be named): 11 pts vs. Monmouth, 17 pts vs. Purdue

2004: Antoine Agudio: 20 pts vs. Florida International, 13 pts vs. LaSalle

2001: Kenny Adeleke: 10 pts vs. Florida Atlantic, 25 pts vs. Kent State

Only Agudio has opened his Hofstra career by scoring in double digits in his first three games. He scored 22 points against Binghamton on Nov. 27, 2004.

GUSTYS HITS THE TOP 20

Junior Rokys Gustys had 13 rebounds Tuesday night to vault himself into the top 20 on Hofstra’s all-time list. He surged past Henry Schwab and Greg Washington and now has 631 rebounds, the 19th most rebounds in school history. He could pass Percy Johnson and Rich Laurel tonight. 

17.) Rich Laurel, 647

18.) Percy Johnson, 640

19.) ROKAS GUSTYS, 631

20.) Greg Washington, 629

BERNARDI CLOSING IN ON FOURTH FOR THREES

Senior Brian Bernardi drained three 3-pointers Tuesday night and now has 185 in his two-plus seasons at Hofstra. He is just five behind Rick Apodaca for fourth place all-time and seven behind Norman Richardson for third place.

3.) Norman Richardson, 192

4.) Rick Apodaca, 190

5.) BRIAN BERNARDI, 185

HOFSTRA/MANHATTAN CONNECTIONS

Manhattan broadcaster Christian Heimall is a WRHU alum and Hofstra graduate (class of 2011). Injured Manhattan senior Rich Williams originally committed to Hofstra in the spring of 2013. 

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

Dawson Leery bias! (Heimall looks like James Van Der Beek)

Grandmaster Flash bias! (He’s from the Bronx)

Bronx Bombers bias! (duh)

You’re not even in Manhattan bias! (duh x2)

Sacred Heart 90, Hofstra 86 (Or: I saw HU, I know HU, I knew HU)

Bet you didn't expect this did you?

One way of looking at the Flying Dutchmen’s 90-86 come-from-ahead loss to Sacred Heart on Tuesday night — the Dutchmen blew a nine-point lead in the final 4:05 against the Pioneers — is that they got their double you tee eff non-conference defeat out of the way early this season.

This marks the fifth straight season in which the Dutchmen have thrust defeat into the jaws of victory in grueling fashion before the calendar flipped to the CAA schedule. The first two of those losses — an 88-84 loss to Long Island University on Dec. 8, 2012 in which the Dutchmen blew a 16-point second half lead and a 74-63 overtime loss to Richmond on Nov. 19, 2013 in which the Spiders didn’t lead in the first 40 minutes — were somewhat understandable, given the former team was decimated by the dismissals of which we try not to speak and the latter team was being wholly turned over in Joe Mihalich’s first season.

But the three most recent defeats are the ones that look to be trend-setters. You remember the Dutchmen squandering a pair of potential statement wins on Nov 25, 2014, when they blew an 11-point lead in the final 3:59 in falling to South Florida 71-70, and Nov. 23, 2015, when they led Indiana State by seven with 1:50 remaining but were cut down by the Sycamores, 67-66.

This would not have been a statement win—not against Sacred Heart, which was picked eighth in the Northeast Conference and lost its opener to Fairfield 85-63 — which makes giving up 16 points on the Pioneers’ final nine possessions even more worrisome.

“We didn’t guard anybody — we just didn’t guard anybody, we didn’t dig down,” Joe Mihalich said in a video posted on Hofstra’s site.“I don’t know if we thought the game was over. Certainly it wasn’t. But shame on us for not finishing it off.”

Alas, late-game stumbles have become the norm over the last two-plus years. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Dutchmen have been outscored by 16 points in the final five minutes of regulation and overtime. The overall point differential in that span: Plus-250.

The Dutchmen have lost six games in the last two seasons in which they led by at least six points in the final five minutes, and came back from late blown leads to edge Northeastern, Towson and Elon last season.

It’s going to happen with the run-and-shoot style Mihalich-coached teams play, and to be fair, there will be games the Dutchmen win in the fashion they lost Tuesday. The Dutchmen, of course, scored the final eight points in the stunning 70-69 win over UNC Wilmington on Feb. 25 that ended up earning them a share of the CAA regular season title as well as the technical no. 1 seed in the conference tournament (which meant not settling for the CBI, woot woot).

The Dutchmen also came back from a seven-point deficit in the final five minutes to beat Stony Brook on Nov. 21, 2014 and used late burying runs to pull away from UNCW and Charleston later in the season. Last year, they trailed George Washington by nine with 2:38 to play and went on a 9-0 run prior to the Colonials’ buzzer-beating jumper in the first round of the NIT (still so painful).

So there will be some unexpected exhilarating wins. But they may be outnumbered by the corresponding losses if the Dutchmen don’t solve what ailed them on Tuesday, when they managed to lose despite shooting 61 percent from 3-point land and 51 percent overall and having a pair of 20-point scorers (freshman Eli Pemberton scored 23 points and drained all five shots from 3-point land while Brian Bernardi added 22 points). 

In addition, despite the presence of Rokas Gustys (nine points, 13 rebounds), Sacred Heart chucked up 10 more shots than the Dutchmen and shot a whopping 57 percent inside the arc. The Pioneers had three times as many defensive rebounds (24) as the Dutchmen had offensive rebounds (I was told there’d be no math).

Mihalich figured the Dutchmen had built some momentum and identity by grinding out a 74-72 win over Coppin State last Friday, but that progress and persona was nowhere to be found Tuesday. Now it’s back to square one tonight against Manhattan.

“I don’t think our guys are valuing practice the way they need to,” Mihalich said. “We’ve got to change that.”

3 STARS OF THE GAME (Sacred Heart, 11/15)

3: Eli Pemberton

2: Brian Bernardi

1: Rokas Gustys

SEASON STANDINGS

Eli Pemberton 6

Rokas Gustys 3

Brian Bernardi 2

Deron Powers 1

I’ll Be Quirky: Sacred Heart

I would normally post a video in this space but I am not posting a John Mayer video, even if he played a passable guitar on "This Is The Time" during Billy Joel's "Last Play at Shea" concert.

Hello and welcome to the second edition of I’ll Be Quirky (hey! continuity!). The Flying Dutchmen, fresh off a nail-biting 74-72 win over Coppin State in Friday’s season opener, navigated the hell on Earth that is I-95 to visit Sacred Heart tonight at 7 PM. Here are some quirky facts to get you ready for the tilt.

OVER THE AIR

Sacred Heart will stream the game here. The WRHU broadcast is also available by clicking here.

GOING FOR SECONDS

The Dutchmen are looking to go 2-0 for the second straight season but just the third time in the CAA era (2001-present) and the 27th time in program history.

Joe Mihalich-coached teams have opened 2-0 six times (1999-2000, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2015-16).

SACRED HEART AND THE NEC

Hofstra is 5-2 all-time against Sacred Heart. In the most recent meeting last Dec. 28, the Dutchmen came back from an 11-point second half deficit to beat the Pioneers, 80-73. This will be just the third meeting between the schools, and the first at Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart moved to Division I prior to the 1999-2000 season. The two teams met every year from 1969-70 through 1973-74.

Hofstra is 112-57 all-time against current Northeast Conference members. This will be the seventh straight season the Dutchmen face at least one NEC school.

ELI ENCORE!

Freshman Eli Pemberton was named the CAA rookie of the week after he scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Dutchmen to a 74-72 win over Coppin State. The 20 points were the most by a Hofstra freshman in his debut since Antoine Agudio scored 20 against Florida International. Pemberton is the ninth freshman to score at least 10 points in his debut in the CAA era.

2016: Eli Pemberton 20 pts vs. Coppin State

2013: Chris Jenkins: 17 pts vs. Monmouth 

2012: (One of the he who shall not be named): 11 pts vs. Monmouth

2010: Shemiye McLendon: 16 pts vs. Farmingdale State

2009: Halil Kanacevic: 12 pts vs. Kansas

2005: Greg Johnson: 12 pts vs. Florida International

2004: Antoine Agudio: 20 pts vs. Florida International 

2003: Carlos Rivera: 10 pts vs. Marist

2001: Kenny Adeleke: 10 pts vs. Florida Atlantic

However, only three Hofstra freshmen in the CAA era have opened their careers by scoring at least 10 points in their first two games:

2012: (One of the he who shall not be named): 17 pts vs. Purdue

2004: Antoine Agudio: 13 pts vs. LaSalle 

2001: Kenny Adeleke: 25 pts vs. Kent State

SMOOTH TRANSFER

Senior Deron Powers, who played his first three seasons at Hampton before transferring to Hofstra, scored 12 points against Coppin State on Friday. He is the 14th transfer in the CAA era to score at least 10 points in his Dutchmen debut. All 14 have performed the feat since 2008.

2016: Deron Powers: 12 pts vs. Coppin State

2015: Denton Koon: 14 pt vs. Canisius

2014: Brian Bernardi: 22 pts vs. Jacksonville

2014: Ameen Tanksley:16 pts vs. Jacksonville

2014: Malik Nichols:15 pts vs. Jacksonville

2014: Juan’ya Green: 14 pts vs. Jacksonville

2013: Zeke Upshaw: 22 pts vs. Monmouth

2013: Dion Nesmith: 10 pts vs. Monmouth

2012: (One of the he who shall not be named): 12 pts vs. Monmouth

2012: Taran Buie: 14 pts vs. South Dakota State

2011: Bryant Crowder: 13 pts vs. Rhode Island

2010: Dwan McMillan: 15 pts vs. Farmingdale State

2010: Mike Moore: 13 pts vs. Farmingdale State

2008: Cornelius Vines: 12 pts vs. Clemson

Powers will be looking to become the seventh transfer to open his Hofstra career by scoring at least 10 points in each of his first two games.

2015: Denton Koon: 11 pts vs. Molloy 

2014: Juan’ya Green: 19 pts vs. North Carolina State

2014: Ameen Tanksley: 13 pts vs. North Carolina State

2013: Dion Nesmith: 14 pts vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

2012: Taran Buie: 12 pts vs. South Dakota State 

2010: Mike Moore: 15 pts vs. North Carolina

GUSTYS NEARING THE TOP 20

Junior Rokas Gustys tied his career high Friday by pulling down 23 rebounds. He now has 618 rebounds, 10 shy of tying Henry Schwab for 20th place on Hofstra’s all-time list.

BOUNCING BACK BERNARDI?

Senior Brian Bernardi hit six pivotal free throws Friday but went 0-for-9 from the field. He was the eighth player in the last five seasons to go 0-fer from the field (minimum six field goal attempts).

Nov. 11, 2016: Brian Bernardi 0-9 vs. Coppin State

Nov. 17, 2014: Malik Nichols 0-6 vs. North Carolina State

Feb. 1, 2014: Chris Jenkins 0-6 vs. College of Charleston

Nov. 19, 2013: Dion Nesmith 0-7 vs. Richmond

Feb. 16, 2013: Taran Buie 0-11 vs. Towson

Jan. 19, 2013: David Imes 0-8 vs. George Mason

Feb. 11, 2012: Stevie Mejia 0-8 vs. Drexel

Nov. 27, 2011: Nathaniel Lester 0-9 vs. Boston University

HOFSTRA/SACRED HEART CONNECTIONS

Sacred Heart fourth-year assistant coach Kyle Steinway served as the director of basketball operations during Mo Cassara’s three seasons at Hofstra. In addition, fourth-year Sacred Heart women’s basketball coach Jessica Mannetti spent four seasons as an assistant at Hofstra under Krista Kilburn-Steveskey.

THINGS YOU CAN SHOUT ON TWITTER IF CALLS GO DO NOT GO HOFSTRA’S WAY

John Mayer bias! (Sacred Heart is located in Fairfield, where Mayer grew up)

Bobby Valentine bias! (the former manager is Sacred Heart’s athletic director)

Jordan Allan bias! (The former Hofstra glue guy played his final two years at Sacred Heart)

Beach bias! (I’m from Connecticut)

Hofstra 74, Coppin State 72 (Or: It just might be a lunatic team you’re rooting for)

I don't think this will stay a Billy Joel thing, but who knows?

Were Mondays weird for you for the first few weeks following the Flying Dutchmen’s CAA Tournament title game loss to UNC Wilmington? It took until May or June for me to look at the calendar on a Monday—or specifically the clock on a Monday night—and not think, hey, so many weeks ago right now, we were getting our hearts ripped out of our chests.

It was like recovering from a bad breakup. Sure, I’m sitting here weeping to Patty Smyth and Don Henley, but it’s been so many weeks ago since I bottomed out. The further away I am, the stronger I get.

Why *sniff* can't we *sniff* win a CAA title? *honk*

Except this was the bad breakup that was always going to yield a reunion, albeit one that would come with specifications to ensure a less rollercoaster relationship.

We were not going to go through what we endured last year, when the Dutchmen were preseason favorites and too many wins were accompanied by agony and every loss accompanied by fury. That’s no way to operate for fans of a mid-major with a 15-year NCAA Tournament drought, especially a fan who spends the baseball season talking Mets fans off a ledge.

This year would be far calmer. The Dutchmen were picked sixth—too low, if anything—but it’s much enjoyable to conjure up scenarios in which they could exceed expectations and finally win the CAA than it is to wonder how it will all fall apart. It would be much easier to avoid the type of emotional breakdowns that could tinge with regret any sort of championship celebration.  

The relationship this year will be less frenetic and bipolar. Which is a great idea in theory, except the Flying Dutchmen are as crazy as ever, as evidenced by Friday night’s 74-72 win over Coppin State.

A largely new team—there were three new starters in the lineup and 102 of the 200 minutes were accounted for by players who did not suit up last season—followed last year’s script by coming back from an 11-point deficit to edge the Eagles. The Dutchmen won five games last season in which they crawled out of double-digit holes.

I’m pretty sure no Dutchmen team has ever won a game in which it had one player go 0-for-9 from the field (Brian Bernardi) and another go 0-for-8 from the free throw line (Rokas Gustys). I’m pretty sure no team ever has won a game like that.

“It just so happens everything that could go wrong went wrong in that first half,” Joe Mihalich said afterward. “They got going a little bit, had some things go right. The basket got big for them, they made shots. The game had loss written all over it and our guys wouldn’t let that happen.”

But Bernardi was perfect from the line — four of his six free throws came in the final 95 seconds — and Gustys tied a career-high by pulling down 23 rebounds in the type of performance that no longer carries with it the adjective “whopping” because he does it so damn often. 

The two mainstay holdovers from last season were aided by depth the Dutchmen did not have last season. Eight players, including new starting point guard Deron Powers (12 points and five assists in 34 minutes) saw at least 14 minutes apiece for the Dutchmen, who got 14 minutes from eight players just once — against Division II Molloy — in 2015-16.

“Whole new team,” Mihalich said. “Last year we had to just hope that Juan’ya wouldn’t get tired or hurt or get in foul trouble. Three other guys like that, too.”

A game-tying 9-0 run around the middle of the second half included seven points by reserves Desure Buie and Hunter Sabety, who began the spurt with a dunk and helped end it with a block that led to the equalizing 3-pointer by Buie.

“We don’t win the game without all those guys,” Mihalich said. “What Hunter did was unbelievable. He energized the team.”

And as they did last season, the Dutchmen relied on a guard with the clutch gene to carry them over the finish line. Except this time, Juan’ya Green was in the stands watching true freshman Eli Pemberton score 20 points — the most by a freshman in his debut since redshirt Antoine Agudio racked up 20 points in the 2004-05 season opener — and pretty much ensure the Dutchmen’s dreams of an unbeaten season would last until at least game no. 2.

Pemberton scored 13 points in the final 9:07, and every basket — three 3-pointers and a pair of traditional buckets — put the Dutchmen ahead. The outburst came after Pemberton earned his way into Mihalich’s doghouse earlier in the second half.

“This man—let me say it again, this man—handled it, came out and was the best player on the floor for the last 15 minutes,” Mihalich said. “Big shot after big shot after big shot.”

Coppin State, which evoked memories of last season’s shootouts by scoring 21 points on its final 19 possessions, hit its share of big shots and had a chance to tie the game when Buie fouled Dejuan Clayton on a 3-point attempt with under three seconds remaining.

But Clayton only hit one free throw and the Eagles could not get a shot off after he missed the third attempt as the Dutchmen won in a game in which they trailed by 11, in which they led for just 13:13 and in which their best shooter went 0-for-8 from the line and their best player hit as many free throws as you and I.

“If it raises eyebrows, it’ll be because we only won by two,” Mihalich said. “We don’t care. We know we’ve got to get better. I know this team’s going to get better. Can’t wait to play the next game.”

Us neither. Buckle up. The Flying Dutchmen are going to drive us crazy, but we wouldn’t want them any other way.

3 STARS OF THE GAME (let’s see if this sticks this time)

3: Eli Pemberton

2: Rokas Gustys

1: Deron Powers

With two years left, one thing is on Gustys' mind

Rokas Gustys is on pace — along with Jamaal Robinson and Andre Walker — to become the answer to an unusual trivia question that sums up a chaotic decade of Flying Dutchmen basketball: Who are the first players to play four seasons under one head coach since the class of 2009 graduated?

But Gustys has bigger things in mind than simply becoming a four-year player for Joe Mihalich. 

“It’s not a pressure, but it’s expectation to make an NCAA Tournament,” Gustys said during New York college basketball media day at Hofstra last month. “I’ve got two more chances. Going to try and do it.

“I don’t care it I average 10 (points) and 10 (rebounds), as long as we make the tournament.”

If the Dutchmen are to end an NCAA Tournament drought that stretches back to 2001, it’ll be because Gustys produces a lot more than the double/double minimum. Gustys emerged as one of the best big men in the country last year, when he racked up 22 double/doubles — including 15 in 21 CAA games — and finished second in the nation with an average of 13 rebounds per game.

No Dutchmen player had recorded 20 rebounds in a game since 2003, but Gustys did it six times in the final 17 games. And no Dutchmen had recorded a 20/20 game since David Taylor in 1982 before Gustys went 20/20 in consecutive games against James Madison and Northeastern on Jan. 16 and Jan. 21.

“Last year was a great year,” Gustys said. “It was my season to show myself that I can do all those things I did.”

If Gustys maintains the pace he established last season, he will have a real chance to become only the second player in program history to score 1,500 points and pull down 1,500 rebounds. Bill Thieben (2,045 points and a program-record 1,837 rebounds) achieved the feat in just three seasons (1953-56).

Those kind of numbers get a player immortalized forever at Hofstra Arena — as Gustys seems to know.

“He told somebody that he’d like to be up there,” Mihalich said as he pointed to the rafters where the numbers honoring men’s and women’s basketball legends hang. “So that’s the kind of guy you want to coach.”

Gustys’ path at Hofstra is thus far similar to that of the most recent men’s basketball player to have his number retired. Like Charles Jenkins, Gustys has emerged as a leader both in the locker room and within the student-athlete community.

Gustys, who is part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and earned a spot on the CAA’s all-academic team last season, was the player chosen to speak to the crowd at the Arena following Midnight Madness last month. And prior to the presidential debate in September, he was pictured holding aloft a sign that read “Mihalich for President.”

“I’m just trying to get more and more involved,” Gustys said. “I love this university. I feel like Im going to be happy that I graduated and have a degree from this university. I just want to present this university, not just on the basketball court but off the court.”

Said Mihalich: “He’s the total package,” Mihalich said. “He’s liked and respected. He’s a good student. He’s a good classmate and teammate. I think he represents the kind of guy that we want everybody to represent.

“I knew he was a likable guy — you could tell that. But you don’t really know what a guy’s like until you’re with him everyday. He’s turned out to be everything you hope for.”

Now Gustys is focused on adding the final piece to the collegiate puzzle, the one that eluded Jenkins. The Dutchmen reached the CAA title game for the first time in a decade last season, when Gustys pulled down a tournament-record 23 rebounds in an overtime loss to UNC Wilmington. 

Gustys is friendly with Jenkins, who plays professionally in Europe. But he gets regular reminders on what Jenkins missed out on from assistant coach Speedy Claxton, who ended Hofstra’s 24-year NCAA Tournament drought when, as a senior, he capped his career by leading the Dutchmen to the 2000 America East title.

“He always talks about how great it was to be an NBA champion (with the San Antonio Spurs),” Gustys said. “And he put it on the same level as making an NCAA Tournament.

“Hopefully the next two years is going to be the years Hofstra makes it after, what, 20 years, almost? We’ve got to do it in the next two years or I’m going to be gone and I’m going to (have) regrets, because that’s what my goal was, for me to come and be an NCAA (Tournament) player.”

I'll Be Quirky: 11/11/16 vs. Coppin State

Hello and welcome to the 2016-17 Hofstra men’s basketball season! Inspired by “The Skinny” blog produced by Islanders statistician Eric Hornick, I’m going to try something a little new (let’s see if I actually stick with it) by posting some interesting (at least to me) stats and figures before each game and possibly after, depending on what transpires.

For now I’ll dub this the “I’ll Be Quirky,” but that name could change. Or it may not. Who knows? Anyway, here is the first edition of the I’ll Be Quirky.

SEASON OPENERS

Hofstra in season openers: 45-35

Joe Mihalich in season openers: 10-8 (2-1 Hofstra, 8-7 Niagara)

Most lopsided season-opening win: 95-53 over Puerto Rico, 1949-50

Most lopsided season-opening win over DI foe: 94-61 over Jacksonville, 2014-15

Most lopsided season-opening loss: 96-57 to St. Joseph’s 1965-66, 60-21 to NYU, 1936-37

COPPIN STATE AND THE MEAC

Hofstra vs. Coppin State: 1-0

Hofstra vs. the MEAC: 9-6

Hofstra has played just two games against MEAC foes since 2000, both of which took place during the 2014-15 season. The Dutchmen beat Norfolk State, 88-74, on Dec. 2 and beat Coppin State, 105-64, on Dec. 10. 

ROBINSON’S REDSHIRT RETURN

Jamaal Robinson, who redshirted as an academic junior last season, is only the third Hofstra player in the DD Era (1993-present) to redshirt after his freshman season. He will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Danny Walker and Nathaniel Lester who each set career-highs in scoring in their first games following a redshirt season. Robinson’s current career high is 22 points, set against James Madison on Mar. 1, 2014. 

Nathaniel Lester: 33 pts/5 rebs/2 steals/1 assist vs. LIU 11/11/11

Danny Walker: 21 pts/4 rebs/3 blks/2 assists/1 steal vs. Marist 11/18/03

COMPLETING THE TRANSFER

Hunter Sabety and Deron Powers, who sat out last season as transfers from Tufts and Hampton, respectively, are expected to make their Hofstra debuts tonight. Here are some notable debuts by transfers since 1991:

1991: Demetrius Dudley 33 pts/7 rbs vs. Navy

1995: Seth Meyers 14 pts/5 rbs vs. Stony Brook

1995: Lawrence Thomas 20 pts/4 rbs/2 assists vs. Villanova

1998: Jason Hernandez: 7 pts/ 2 rbs/1 assist/2 steals vs. Maryland

1999: Greg Springfield: 7 pts/5 rbs/10 blocked shots vs. New Mexico State****

2004: Adrian Uter: 0 pts/2 rbs/1 block vs. Florida International**

2008: Cornelius Vines: 12 pts/3 rbs/3 steals vs. Clemson**

2008: Miklos Szabo: 4 pts/11 rbs/2 assists/1 steal vs. E. Tennessee State**

2010: Mike Moore: 13 pts/4 rbs/4 assists vs. Farmingdale State

2010: Dwan McMillan: 15 pts/2 rbs/6 assists1 steal vs. Farmingdale State**

2011: Stevie Mejia: 7 pts/1 rb/4 assists/1 steal vs. Long Island

2013: Zeke Upshaw: 22 pts/3 assists/3 rebs vs. Monmouth***

2013: Dion Nesmith: 10 pts/5 assists/2 rebs vs. Monmouth***

2014: Juan’ya Green: 14 pts/9 assists/5 rebs vs. Jacksonville

2014: Ameen Tanksley:16 pts/3 assists/2 assists/1 blk vs. Jacksonville

2014: Brian Bernardi: 22 pts/3 assists/2 rebs/1 steal vs. Jacksonville

2014: Malik Nichols:15 pts/3 assists/2 rbs/1 blk vs. Jacksonville**

2015: Denton Koon: 14 pts/5 rebs/1 steal/1 blk vs. Canisius***

**--junior college transfer

***—graduate transfer

****—10 blocked shots are a school record