Staff & Guest Season Predictions

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As is our annual tradition we are ready to roll out this year’s edition of staff predictions. Coming of the heartbreaking NCAA snub of last spring, the Bonnies seem to have quickly reloaded on paper. Can this group manage to get over the hump without Marcus Posley and Dion Wright? Will the transfers make an immediate and significant impact? Can the Bonnies avoid a bad loss in the non-conference? We will tackle those questions are more below using our staff as well as some help from outsiders as well. Enjoy.

Name: Ryan Lazo, NY Post

Quick Take: Last year’s run to the Atlantic 10 Conference Regular Season title was a surprise. This time, the Bonnies won’t be sneaking up on anyone. On paper, this has the looks of one of the most talented teams during head coach Mark Schmidt’s tenure. Even with the loss of scoring guard Marcus Posley, Bona seems to already have replacements ready to fill the void.

Don’t discount the effect Courtney Stockard could have on this year’s team. The JUCO transfer was spoken highly of by Schmidt before last year began — a rarity in his time in Olean — and should be an immediate starter. Division I transfer Matt Mobley was a scoring machine at Central Connecticut State. An athletic wing who attacks the basket could be exactly what Bona needs when the inevitable scoring slump occurs. Add in the likely improvements of Preseason First Team All-Conference Selection Jaylen Adams and Sixth Man of the Year Denzel Gregg, Bona certainly has the talent to be among the elite of the conference.

However, questions do persist. Do the Bonnies have enough front line depth? Syracuse transfer Chinonso Obokoh and Liberty transfer David Andoh need to give Bona 20 minutes a game. Can Mobley and Stockard excel in the rigorous Atlantic 10 Conference? Last year, Bona won five games by five or less points during the A-10 slate and only two likely starters (Idris Taqee and Adams) remain from that veteran group. Additionally, Bona won a program-record 14 A-10 games last year. To expect a repeat is unlikely, but it has the possibility of happening.

After being one of the first teams left out of the tournament, Bona will make its second trip to the NCAA Tournament over the last five years. Bona’s non-conference schedule — while not eye-popping — gives them opportunities to both pad the win total and pick up key wins over teams like Florida, UNC-Wilmington and Hofstra. Additionally, the rise in the overall talent in the A-10 should help Bona when it comes to RPI, ultimately leading to an NCAA appearance.

Non-Conference Record: 9-3

Conference Record: 12-6

Postseason Berth? NCAA

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Name: Ian Nolan, BonaBlog

Quick Take: Being a long suffering Mets and Bonnies fan I’m rarely bullish or openly optimistic about my teams but I do feel that way about this year’s Bonaventure club. There’s no doubt that the losses of Posley and Wright are tough voids to overcome, but thanks to Schmidt this year’s team seems to have capable replacements at the ready up and down the roster. Schmidt has said he feels that Matt Mobley can step in for Posley from day one, and though no one will likely be as productive as a single player as Wright was, the Bonnies have a cast of bigs they feel strongly about to fill Dion’s void as a group. Even with the looming loss of Courtney Stockard, this roster should be good enough to contend for a top five spot in the A10 come January. 

Schmidt’s club played incredibly efficient and productive basketball from an offense standpoint (39th nationally) last year and while I do expect them to take a step back in that area, I think they’ll be better defensively (181st). The addition of a rim proctor like Chinoso Obokoh could prove extremely valuable on the defensive end and Schmidt sounds quietly optimistic about freshman forward Josh Ayeni as well. I’m confident that Kaputo and Gregg will be more consistent this season and if Schmidt can receive immediate production from the new faces, the Bonnies will hit the ground running in conference play. SBU was incredible at closing out close games a year ago, and ranked 6th nationally in FT%; both of which will be very hard to repeat. I think this year’s club will be very solid, but it’s  tough seeing them with a better “resume” than they sported last March because of all those close wins. 

Non-Conference Record: 9-3

Conference Record: 11-7

Postseason Berth? NIT

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Name: Kyle Allan, Student Contributor 

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Name: Mike Morgan, Bona Blog Contributor

Quick Take: This is a really interesting year for the Bonnies. After being snubbed by the NCAA committee and laying an egg against Wagner, SBU could be out to make a statement. On paper, it might be difficult with the graduation of two of their top 4 scorers. The return of Jaylen Adams and a continued emergence of Denzel Gregg could hopefully balance out those losses. As mentioned before, the Bonnies aren’t a surprise anymore and will continue to contend in the Atlantic 10. The coaches have selected them 5th and they realize how dangerous this group can be. Contending for a tourney bye and with the tournament being so close in Pittsburgh, we may be able to see another magical year.

Non-Conference Record: 9-3

Conference Record: 10-8

Postseason Berth? The Bonnies haven’t shown a desire to play in anything but the NCAA Tournament or NIT. While a CBI or CIT berth might help the program look good, they aren’t willing to pay the buy-in. I’d say the Bonnies have a decent shot at making the NIT and an outside shot at the NCAA Tournament. It depends on which games they win. I do think they will put up wins - they just need to be the right ones. Beating the teams they are supposed too will not get the job done.