Pioneers Set to Open 2014-15 Campaign Friday vs. Hartford
11/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team will open its 2014-15 season this Friday, November 14 at 8 pm, as the Pioneers travel to the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. to face in-state foe Hartford in the sixth installment of the annual Connecticut 6 Classic. The Pioneers are 4-11 all-time in season openers since they made the move to Division 1 in 1999. Over the past five years they have opened their season at the Connecticut 6, where they have compiled a 3-2 record. Last year they opened the season with a 67-54 loss to Hartford.
SHU is coming off of a 5-26 record in 2013-14, including a 2-14 mark in the Northeast Conference. Fourteen of the Pioneers' 26 losses were by single digits, including 10 of their 14 losses during NEC play. The Pioneers welcome back seven letterwinners from that squad, led by senior tri-captains Phil Gaetano, Evan Kelley, and Steve Glowiak, and NEC All-Rookie selection De'von Barnett. Gaetano was the only Pioneer to start in all 31 games as he ranked tenth in the nation averaging 6.3 assists per game. Kelley tied for the team lead in scoring as he averaged 12.8 points per game, while Glowiak came off the bench to rank fourth in the NEC with 84 three-point field goals as he averaged 11.1 points per game. Barnett averaged 11 points on 52.8 percent shooting and 4.6 rebounds. In addition to the returners, Sacred Heart welcomes eight newcomers to the 2014-15 team, including transfer Jordan Allen. Allen, a junior, joins the Pioneers after spending the last three seasons with Hofstra, where last season he averaged 6.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 28.2 minutes per game in 30 starts for the Pride.
As Division I opponents, Hartford leads the all-time series againsst Sacred Heart 6-3, with the first meeting coming in SHU's first ever game as a Division I program in 1999. Hartford won that game 96-93 in 2OT. The two teams met again in 2000 before a seven-year hiatus until 2007. Sacred Heart's three wins came in three successive years from 2009-2011, including a 70-50 win in the only meeting between the two schools in the Connecticut 6 in 2011.
In the last meeting between the two schools, the Hawks defeated SHU 84-72 last year in the William H. Pitt Center on December 15. Four Hawks scored in double figures, led by Mark Nwakamma with 21 points. Hartford shot 25-45 (55.6%) from the field, including 10-20 (50%) from the three-point line. Sacred Heart outscored the Hawks 44-24 in the paint and also had four players score in double figures, led by Louis Montes with 18. Kelley chipped in 15 points on 6-12 shooting, while Barnett added ten points, and Gaetano dished out nine assists. SHU held a two-point lead with 9:51 remaining in the second half, before the Hawks ended the game on a 29-15 run.
The Hawks finished 2013-14 with a 17-16 record, including finishing third with a 10-6 mark in the America East. They closed the season winning seven of eight games before falling in the conference semifinal. Returning nine letterwinners, Hartford was tabbed second in the America East Preseason Poll, finishing five points back of preseason favorite Stony Brook. The Hawks are led by preseason All-Conference selection Nwakamma, who led the team in points, rebounds, and blocks in 2013-14. The two-time All-America East senior averaged 15.3 points and 5.8 rebounds during the campaign. Yolonzo Moore II was the team's second leading scorer at 9.8 points per game and the leading assist man for the Hawks averaging 2.8 per game. Wes Cole added 8.9 points on a team-high 78 3 pointers and Taylor Dyson chipped in 8.1 ppg.
Fans can purchase tickets to the event online at the link provided above. A ticket includes access to all three games, including Central Connecticut vs. Fairfield at 3 pm, and Quinnipiac vs. Yale at 5:30 pm.
