ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Anthony Solomon took over St.
Bonaventure’s men’s basketball program on May 5, 2003. He states –
emphatically – that there is “no comparison” between where the
program was then, and where it is today.
The Bonnies’ roster listed just six players then. Today, it
sports a full complement of athletes.
“There’s no comparison looking at our team today to where we
were 29 months ago,” Solomon declared during Tuesday’s Media Day at
the Reilly Center. “The reasons for that start with personnel. We
just didn’t have the volume.
“There were six young men here when I came on board – we were
able to sign three more, but that’s still only nine players. Now,
having a full roster, that’s allowing us to get better in practice
and that’s what you need.
“To have this type of competition (in practice), it’s exciting
for us as a staff. It gives us a chance to do different things. We
can simulate live game situations and that, first and foremost, has
benefited us tremendously.”
Returning from last year’s squad which finished 2-26 with just
one conference win are seniors Ahmad Smith (6-5, 210-pound guard),
Patrick Lottin (6-7, 230-pound forward) and Wade Dunston (6-4,
190-pound guard); and sophomores Michael Lee (6-8, 195-pound
forward) and Isiah Carson (6-1, 195-pound guard).
Smith was an A-10 third-team member last season and was selected
to the preseason second team this year. He averaged 14 points, six
rebounds and four assists in 2004-05. He was the only player in the
conference to finish in the top 10 in the league in scoring (8th),
rebounding (10th) and assists (9th).
“Ahmad certainly is a proven major college basketball player,”
Solomon remarked. “He has played at a high level and performed.
“He and Pat Lottin are the most experienced players, but it’s
going to take all the individuals, collectively, for us to continue
to grow the program.”
Newcomers include juniors Paul Williams (6-10, 230-pound
forward), Terron Diggs (6-0, 180-pound guard), David Fox (6-10,
225-pound forward), Ivan Kovacevic (6-10, 245-pound forward),
walk-on Rodney Hannah (6-8, 240-pound forward); sophomore Tyler
Relph (6-0, 185-pound guard); and freshmen Tyler Benson (6-7,
205-pound foward), A.J. Hawkins (6-5, 195-pound guard/forward) and
walk-on Jeff Foote (6-11, 210-pound center).
“We needed to fill a lot of holes going into the season – speed,
athleticism, size, strength – and certainly our new additions fill
a lot of holes,” Solomon said. “We are excited to have all of them.
They give us more flexibility than we’ve ever had before.”
Interestingly, Bona fans should be excited to hear that ESPN’s
Jay Bilas ranks the Reilly Center as one of the Top 5 “Hostile
Homes” in NCAA Division I basketball, according to this season’s
Bona media guide. Ahead of Bonaventure on the list is Allen
Fieldhouse (Kansas), the Breslin Center (Michigan State), Cameron
Indoor (Duke) and the McKale Center (Arizona).
St. Bonaventure, however, wasn’t ranked quite so high at the
Atlantic 10 Conference media day held last week in Philadelphia.
The Bonnies are forecasted to finish 14th out of the 14 teams in
the restructured A-10. Joining the conference this season are Saint
Louis and Charlotte.
Solomon and his 2005-06 coaching staff – associate head coach
Jayson Gee and assistant coaches John Brannen and Cory McClure –
will look to steer their Bonnies out of the A-10 basement in the
upcoming campaign. The team mantra this season is “Step It Up.”
“We’re going to make some good steps forward,” Solomon
commented. “We’re going to step it up with everything we do within
our program. On the court and off the court, we just want to step
it up in a big way.
“We’re not where we want to be, but we have a chance with this
group to grow in a way that that step can be a little bit bigger
than one step. Let’s take multiple steps … take this program in the
direction that we all want it to go.”
