WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – In giving Fairfield all it could handle and more on Saturday night, Central Connecticut showed that they will shine at times amidst some growing pains this season. Both teams looked like they were trying to find themselves, which is often the case in the first game of the season, but for these teams that was the case even more so. In the Blue Devils’ case, there is a good deal of change from last season.
Central Connecticut certainly doesn’t have a bare cupboard, as they return three starters from last season. One of them is reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year Kyle Vinales, who wasted no time making an impact as a freshman last season. They also return a solid defender in point guard Malcolm McMillan and an unsung hero in senior Joe Efese, who head coach Howie Dickenman praised endlessly for his effort on Saturday and not just for what everyone could see. But the two starters they lost were big – all-time leading scorer Ken Horton and Robby Ptacek, who is tenth in school history in that category.
Given that, Vinales at times on Saturday tried to do a little too much as he scored 18 points on 8-23 shooting. That’s something that will probably happen at times, and it’s the product of adjusting to a new role that will see him as the focus of scouting reports and a need to not only score, but help others. There’s no doubting his competitiveness or desire to win, but there will be some adjustment.
“It’s understandable. He is one heck of a competitor,” said Dickenman. “He’s trying to make up for the points lost – we lost about 50, 60 percent of our offense.”
Other scorers will have to emerge behind Vinales. Among the holdovers, no one else averaged more than 3.9 points per game last season, largely because it wasn’t needed with who the team had. So not only does Vinales have to adjust to being the focus of opposing defenses, but the holdovers have to look to score more playing off him.
One newcomer they hope will do that is junior college transfer Matt Hunter, who had a nice night despite struggling from the field. Dickenman noted how he filled the stat sheet, and the athletic forward played well through the tough shooting night with 16 points on 5-12 shooting, five rebounds and four steals. He hit a jumper with less than two minutes to go in regulation that put them ahead 55-52 at the time.
“He had 12 shots and probably needed to get about 15-16 shots,” said Dickenman, adding, “because when he’s in the game, good things happen on defense because he has a feel for the game.”
McMillan will probably look to score a little more this season while running the show. Adonis Burbage, who had 12 points on 4-6 shooting from long range, is another newcomer who could help in the scoring department and take pressure off the others with his shooting.
Efese has always been a rebounder and role player inside, and they will want more offense from him. His stat line from Saturday night won’t leap out at anyone, but that wasn’t what Dickenman noticed. He saw how Efese defended ball screens much better than he often does, and in sum, said he “played the best game he has played at Central Connecticut State University.” Efese has been playing with a very heavy heart as he lost his older sister a week and a half earlier, and he was very close to her.
“That kid was a horse tonight playing under some circumstances that I’m not sure other people could handle as well as he handled,” Dickenman added.
Efese will need some help on the glass, which was apparent from Fairfield out-rebounding the Blue Devils 42-29 on Satuday. McMillan said that the guards have a lot of responsibility since the Blue Devils will play small. Hunter can help since he gives them a little size on the wing, but when he’s out they could have four guards in the game.
Dickenman said the team’s practices have been at another level from the ones he’s had in his career in New Britain. Considering the success he has had, that bodes well for a team that isn’t lacking talent but has to make up for a couple of big personnel losses. Although Saturday night’s game was a tough overtime loss, if it is a sign of how CCSU will play this season, he has an idea of what will result.
“If we continue to play that type of defense, we’re going to have an overachieving season at Central Connecticut, like we’ve had many times in the past,” said the veteran mentor, who has guided them through many such seasons.
