Highlanders Still Searching For First Win
by Ray Floriani
NEWARK, N.J. – Their first year in Division I caught everyone’s attention. Last season NJIT began their D-I experience by going into Draddy Gym and upsetting Manhattan. They followed up with a home win over Rider, another MAAC, school. Eventually travel, a roster full of players not recruited for Division I and better opposition on a regular basis caught up. Still, the Highlanders did win five games and remained competitive in a number of others.
The NJIT “sophomore” season is another story. Manhattan came to Newark and paid back the Highlanders to a 42-point beating. Shortly there after NJIT mentor Jim Casciano took a medical leave of absence. Casciano is still out and assistant Wendell Alexis is running the club.
The first win of the season is proving to be very elusive. On Thursday NJIT was defeated by Army at the Prudential Center 54-44. For the Highlanders it was a familiar scenario. Army got out to a 14-0 lead, which they never lost. There were runs that delighted the sparse home crowd but the Black Knights remained in command and were never severely threatened as they improved to 4-4.
“That’s the story of our season,” Alexis said afterward outside the team locker room. “We get slow starts and dig ourselves a hole. That, and turnovers are just killing us.”
The loss left NJIT at 0-10 and with little relief in sight. Entering the Army game the NJIT turnover count stood at 193 for 9 games, an average of over 21 miscues per outing. Against Army the figure was 23.
Besides turnovers, it didn’t help that some of the younger players especially had difficulty locating Army’s senior guard Jarell Brown off screens and motion sets. The Black Knights’ season leading scorer led all with 23 points.
“Overall we had a better effort tonight,” Alexis said. “That start killed us. Then things continued to snowball.”
An encouraging point was the play of two freshmen guards. Jheryl Wilson, from nearby power St. Benedict’s, paced the Highlanders with 16 points. Justin Garris, a product of Delbarton, added seven points and three boards. Garris did commit 5 turnovers, but as the final stats showed, he was not alone.
Alexis starred at Syracuse in the mid to late 80s. He then went on to enjoy a successful career in Europe. Suffice to say he’s probably not seen a ten-game losing streak in his basketball career. Regardless, he keeps plugging away each day trying to get the team improving and in the right direction. The attitudes of his players makes Alexis’ job easier.
“The kids are very resilient day to day,” he said. “They give a consistent effort every day. We have young guys but they come from winning programs. Still, it’s like learning on the job.”
For both the NJIT players and Alexis himself.
Notes
- The “Rock” has granted NJIT four home games. As part of the Newark Renaissance, the city is dedicated to helping the community. Giving NJIT four home games means a probable financial loss for a few dates. Still, it shows Newark’s commitment to colleges and schools in the community. The 18,000-seat Prudential Center is just about a mile from NJIT’s University Heights campus or a 65-cent subway ride. NJIT Athletic Director Len Kaplan is naturally excited about the arrangement.
Kaplan speaks in optimistic terms in saying, “We want to play all our conference games here.” NJIT is in the process of trying to secure conference affiliation which is Kaplan’s main objective. But he’s sure it will be done and offers the promise of league games in a magnificent new arena rather than the 1,000-plus-seat on campus facility. - Kaplan walked to the Army game from campus. “The only bad thing about the walk?” he said. “The weather. It was cold out there. Other than that it was a close, safe walk down Broad Street past businesses in a well-policed area.” And as Kaplan added, students preferring not to walk have a very inexpensive and quick transit trip available.
- The “Rock” also gives Kaplan another bargaining chip. “We can’t get a mid-major like a LaSalle on campus but they will come here.” Kaplan is talking to St. John’s about a date at the “Rock” with NJIT returning two at Queens. Already Rutgers is pegged to come here on December 13.
“Having this facility available is cost-effective,” Kaplan said. “It’s cheaper to pay rent on a few games than clear the area and construct a multimillion dollar facility on campus.” - Attendance for the Army game was listed as 932.
- Alexis on the “Rock”: “It’s just a beautiful facility. We are fortunate to be able to play here now we have to do our part by playing hard, playing better and hopefully getting some wins.”
- The Army loss was NJIT’s second-closest. The only game the Highlanders got within double digits was a 67-58 setback to Lehigh in late November.
