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Another cupcake to preview:
Stonehill:
14-17 last season
7-4 finish
10-6 in NEC play (tied for 2nd in regular season)
Last year’s stat highlights:
First Game:
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (stats from last year):
Point Guard - Tony Felder 5’10 165 sophomore
Wing - Thatcher Stone 6’6 200 senior
Forward - Louie Semona 6’8 205 freshman
Forward - Max Zegarowski 6’8 205 fifth-year
Forward - Pano Pavlidis 6’8 205 fifth-year
Entering their second season in Division 1 basketball after joining former Northeast-10 conference mates Merrimack and now Le Moyne in the Northeast Conference, the Chris Kraus led the Skyhawks to a 7-4 conference record and a second place regular season finish in the NEC.
This season, however, the Skyhawks will replace three starters, including leading scorer Andrew Sims and double-digit scorer and defensive stalwart Isaiah Burnett, last year’s starting point guard.
This season, Stonehill’s motion offense will be centered around fifth-year returnee Max Zegarowski, the younger brother of former Creighton star, Max. Last year, the 6’8 205 forward averaged 12.6 points and 2.3 three-pointers per game (41.7 3P%). Coach Kraus calls him “the best catch-and-shoot guy in the [Northeast Conference].”
In his second season with the team after transferring from William & Mary, Thatcher Stone is probably the returnee who is expecting to take the biggest jump in his development as he looks to transfer his preseason improvement in three-point shooting and his motion read-and-react instincts to game play.
The remainder of Stonehill’s starting lineup was expected to make up of three transfers, but an injury to Saint Rose transfer Shane O’Dell has left freshman Louie Semona to step up into a starting role. Stonehill was able to secure Semona over CCSU and USC-Upstate after convincing him that his game models Zegarowski: a heady shooter with size. Semona was Stonehill’s leading scorer in the season debut and also tied the team for the most field goal attempts.
Hartford grad transfer Pano Pavlidis is a perfect fit for Stonehill’s motion offense: Pavlidis shoots well enough to keep a positionless five-out motion intact, but rebounds and blocks like a classic center, despite his modest 6’8 205 frame.
Stonehill’s new point guard, sophomore Tony Felder, led VMI in three-points made, as well as assist and usage rate, but at 5’10 165, he lacks the muscle to convert inside the arc at a respectable rate (33.3 2P%). Despite his poor interior efficiency, Felder is aggressive off the dribble and can create his own offense.
With their slew of injuries, their reserve pieces will play more on Saturday. 6’7 220 freshman Todd Brogna is a physical glue guy who also likes to shoot it from three. 6’0 175 freshman Se’yphon Triplett played for Expressions Elite on the EYBL circuit and is known for his athleticism and high-level of intensity on defense. 6’1 180 senior Jackson Benigni has dealt with injury issues over the last two years, but was a part-time starter during Stonehill’s last season in D2.
All-in-all, this Stonehill team will not have the same level of talent of last year’s team, but their positionless, motion-style offense will be an interesting team to prepare for and play against. It’s rare to play a low-major with four starters 6’6 or taller, so that is also a unique opportunity for UConn.
Stonehill:
14-17 last season
7-4 finish
10-6 in NEC play (tied for 2nd in regular season)
Last year’s stat highlights:
- 40th in FT% (75.9%)
- 76th in the nation in 3PA/FGA (41.3%)
- 116th in opponents’ 2P% (49.0 2P%), tops in the NEC
- 156th in offensive tempo (17.4 seconds/possession)
- Tops in NEC in opponents’ average possession length (18.7 seconds/possession)
- Shane O’Dell SR - Projected starter
- 16.3p, 6.9r, 4.4a, 46.2 FG%, 37 3PA, 27.0 3P%, 70.2 FT% last season.
- Transfer from Saint Rose (D2)
- 16.3p, 6.9r, 4.4a, 46.2 FG%, 37 3PA, 27.0 3P%, 70.2 FT% last season.
- Christopher Melis JR - Regular rotation wing
- Ethan Meuser SO - Top backup at the 4 & 5
First Game:
- 89-44 loss to GW. Team shot a 21.4 FG%!!!
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (stats from last year):
Point Guard - Tony Felder 5’10 165 sophomore
- 10.5p, 2.1r, 3.2a, 37.9 2P%, 1.8 3PM, 33.7 3P%, about 60% 3PAs from deep, 79.0 FT%
- Transfer from VMI
Wing - Thatcher Stone 6’6 200 senior
- 5.6p, 2.8r, 48.6 2P%, 25.4 3P%, about 40% 3PAs from deep, 73.9 FT%
Forward - Louie Semona 6’8 205 freshman
- 9 points, 1-5 from 3, 4 boards in debut vs GW
Forward - Max Zegarowski 6’8 205 fifth-year
- 12.6p, 4.2r, 1.2a, 50.4 2P%, 2.3 3PM, 41.7 3P%, 87.7 FT%, ~60% 3PAs from deep
Forward - Pano Pavlidis 6’8 205 fifth-year
- 8.0p, 5.8r, 1.3b, 64.9 2P%, 1.3 3PA, 24.2 3P%, 57.4 FT%
- Transfer from Hartford
Entering their second season in Division 1 basketball after joining former Northeast-10 conference mates Merrimack and now Le Moyne in the Northeast Conference, the Chris Kraus led the Skyhawks to a 7-4 conference record and a second place regular season finish in the NEC.
This season, however, the Skyhawks will replace three starters, including leading scorer Andrew Sims and double-digit scorer and defensive stalwart Isaiah Burnett, last year’s starting point guard.
This season, Stonehill’s motion offense will be centered around fifth-year returnee Max Zegarowski, the younger brother of former Creighton star, Max. Last year, the 6’8 205 forward averaged 12.6 points and 2.3 three-pointers per game (41.7 3P%). Coach Kraus calls him “the best catch-and-shoot guy in the [Northeast Conference].”
In his second season with the team after transferring from William & Mary, Thatcher Stone is probably the returnee who is expecting to take the biggest jump in his development as he looks to transfer his preseason improvement in three-point shooting and his motion read-and-react instincts to game play.
The remainder of Stonehill’s starting lineup was expected to make up of three transfers, but an injury to Saint Rose transfer Shane O’Dell has left freshman Louie Semona to step up into a starting role. Stonehill was able to secure Semona over CCSU and USC-Upstate after convincing him that his game models Zegarowski: a heady shooter with size. Semona was Stonehill’s leading scorer in the season debut and also tied the team for the most field goal attempts.
Hartford grad transfer Pano Pavlidis is a perfect fit for Stonehill’s motion offense: Pavlidis shoots well enough to keep a positionless five-out motion intact, but rebounds and blocks like a classic center, despite his modest 6’8 205 frame.
Stonehill’s new point guard, sophomore Tony Felder, led VMI in three-points made, as well as assist and usage rate, but at 5’10 165, he lacks the muscle to convert inside the arc at a respectable rate (33.3 2P%). Despite his poor interior efficiency, Felder is aggressive off the dribble and can create his own offense.
With their slew of injuries, their reserve pieces will play more on Saturday. 6’7 220 freshman Todd Brogna is a physical glue guy who also likes to shoot it from three. 6’0 175 freshman Se’yphon Triplett played for Expressions Elite on the EYBL circuit and is known for his athleticism and high-level of intensity on defense. 6’1 180 senior Jackson Benigni has dealt with injury issues over the last two years, but was a part-time starter during Stonehill’s last season in D2.
All-in-all, this Stonehill team will not have the same level of talent of last year’s team, but their positionless, motion-style offense will be an interesting team to prepare for and play against. It’s rare to play a low-major with four starters 6’6 or taller, so that is also a unique opportunity for UConn.
