BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – This, too, shall pass. This is sure to be an aberration.
Niagara has been a consistent contender in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference since Joe Mihalich took the reins of the program in 1998. Now in his 13th season there, Mihalich is the winningest coach in the history of the conference with 226 wins, and only one season has been a sub-.500 one. In recent years, they’ve always been right at or near the top of the conference. If you look at this season’s standings, you might do a double take upon seeing their 3-12 overall mark and 0-3 start in MAAC play. There’s clearly an explanation for it.
“For us it’s been a little bit of the perfect storm,” said a relatively subdued Mihalich after his team lost 70-48 at Fairfield. “12 of our first 15 were on the road. We have three freshman starters, one of them hurt, our leading scorer Antoine Mason.”
On Monday night, they had to travel again, this time to a team picked by many to win the MAAC in Fairfield. Not only that, but the Stags were riding an eight-game winning streak, so they have been playing well. Add it all up, and despite their best efforts and an apparent change of game plan, the Stags had the game in hand for pretty much the entire second half.
For three years, Anthony Nelson was one of the last offensive options. He thrived making others better, as he never averaged in double figures his first three seasons but had an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio. Now, they need the senior point guard to play a different role, and he’s not the same player. His scoring is up, but he has more turnovers than assists, as defenses are keying on him more. It didn’t help that he missed the first three games of the season with an injury as well.
“I feel so bad for that kid. He’s one of the best kids to come through this program,” Mihalich said. “He doesn’t have enough help with the injuries and the youth, and he’s just trying too hard.”
The Purple Eagles are the 29th-youngest team in college basketball according to weighted playing time. They start three freshmen and have four sophomores among their top reserves. Mason is perhaps the most talented freshman, averaging 16.7 points per game in the first three games before a foot injury has kept him out of action since then. At this point, one has to think a redshirt is very much a possibility. Marvin Jordan and Skylar Jones, the latter of who missed Monday’s game, also start along side Nelson and junior Kashief Edwards, their third-leading scorer.
Mihalich hoped the newcomers would acclimate a little more quickly to the college game, but that hasn’t happened. He’s seen this take a toll on the young players, but all they can do is get back to work. His track record suggests that will happen, and Fairfield head coach Ed Cooley think he’ll make that team dangerous when the conference tournament comes. Mihalich is 16-11 in the MAAC Tournament.
As much as they want to win, Mihalich and the staff just want this team to get better first and foremost. If they do, wins will surely come, especially as they will now have some home games.
“We’re trying to get better, trying not to get hung up on records, losing streaks,” Mihalich said. “We’re trying to stay focused on getting better individually and getting better as a team.”
If the season is to end differently, they will have to change drastically. Mihalich knows it will take quite a turnaround, one that’s not likely to happen in a couple of months. But one thing is for sure: this will pass, and it will go down as an aberration. The past 12 years, as well as the current talent level, suggest the Purple Eagles will not be down long.
