Rider - 2015-16 Blue Ribbon's Preview

LOCATION   Lawrenceville, NJ 

CONFERENCE   Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC)

LAST SEASON   21-12 (.636)

CONFERENCE RECORD   15-5 (2nd)

STARTERS RETURNING/LOST    3/2 

NICKNAME  Broncs

COLORS   Cranberry, White & Gray

HOMECOURT   Alumni Gymnasium (1,650) 

COACH   Kevin Baggett (Saint Joseph’s ’89) 

RECORD AT SCHOOL 54-44 (3 years) 

CAREER RECORD 54-44 (3 years) 

ASSISTANTS 

Mike Witcoskie (Susquehanna ’01) Dino Presley (Kutztown ’93) Marlon Guild (Hartford ’05) 

WINS (LAST 5 YRS.) 23-13-19-14-21 

RPI (LAST 5 YRS.) 107-199-139-199-140 

2014-15 FINISH Lost in CBI first round. 

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS:

BACKCOURT A 

FRONTCOURT B- 

BENCH/DEPTH B+ 

INTANGIBLES B+

A 21-win season might pass for successful at some Division I schools. At Rider it was a disappointment, because bad luck intervened in the postseason. 

The Broncs lost one of their best players, senior Matt Lopez, late in the regular season to a knee injury and went one-and-done in the MAAC tournament. Saint Peter’s upset the second-seeded Broncs to end the team’s NCAA dreams in the MAAC quarter finals. Rider settled for the CBI instead, where it was ousted in the first round. 

With a strong returning cast, Rider is not going to settle for anything less than its first-ever MAAC championship and the team’s first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1994 when it was in the Northeast Conference. 

“The expectations will be greater this year,” said coach Kevin Baggett, who was last season’s MAAC Coach of the Year. “Our players need to understand that, yes, we won a lot of games last year, but we did not accomplish what we set out to do, win the conference. We need to take the next step.” 

RETURNING GUARDS

The Broncs’ optimistic outlook starts with the return of both starting guards—6-4 senior Teddy Okereafor (11.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg) and 6-4 junior Jimmie Taylor (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.1 apg). 

A year off after transferring from VCU did not seem to bother the veteran point guard Okereafor. In his first season at Rider, he earned second-team All-MAAC honors after leading the team in points (370), assists (133), steals (59), minutes played (34.0 mpg) and free-throw shooting (.727). He was also second in 3-pointers made (49). 

“He’s our best player,” coach Baggett said. “I expect him to be a first-team all-conference player. I need him to lead us, and I’m expecting great things from him.” 

Okereafor had a chance over the summer to work on his game with the British national team, though Baggett was happy with him long before that. 

“He’s just a very good all-around point guard,” coach Baggett said. “He understands the game and is a very heady player. He’s different from most point guards. Some are scorers, some are playmakers — he does it all.” 

Okereafor plays well with Taylor, who has scored 723 career points and is the team’s top 3-point threat (.400, 54 of 135). During a four-game winning streak in February, Taylor made 14 3-pointers and averaged 15 points. 

“I felt he was an all-conference player last year,” coach Baggett said. “I want him to leave here being our all-time leading scorer, and he could do it. He could score 600 points for us in a season.” 

Taylor has started all 64 games since arriving at Rider and figures to see the ball often again. 

“I’m looking forward to him taking the next step, being more aggressive,” coach Baggett said. “He has really worked on his defense, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for that.” 

RETURNING SENIORS

The strength of the backcourt doesn’t end with those two, though. The Broncs also have two seniors, 6-3 Zedric Sadler (7.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg) and 6-5 Khalil Alford (4.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg), available. 

Sadler has made his mark coming off the bench, and last season it earned him MAAC Sixth Man of the Year. The versatile guard was not only a lockdown defender, he also provided some offensive pop with his perimeter shot, sinking 31 3-pointers. 

“Zed (Zedric Sandler) is the glue guy,” coach Baggett said. “I’m hoping he stays in that sixth man role. He is very tough, he defends the other team’s best player night in and night out, and he’s capable of scoring.” 

Alford also came off the bench last season, but has a chance to crack the starting lineup as a wing. He’s a solid shooter who hit .433 from the field and .724 at the free-throw line.

“He is our best midrange shooter, one of the best in the league,” Baggett said. “I see him taking the next step this year.” 

The Broncs have three youngsters in the mix on the perimeter: 6-3 sophomore Anthony Durham (1.0 ppg) and freshmen Kealen Ives and Gemil Holbrook. 

The 5-9 Kealen Ives spent last season at Putnam Science Academy after setting the career scoring record at Classic High in Providence, R.I. Holbrook (12.8 ppg), a 6-3 shooting guard, played at Roman Catholic in Philadelphia and has a solid outside touch. 

The Broncs have some answers in the frontcourt even without Matt Lopez. A pair of 6-7 juniors, Kahlil Thomas (5.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Xavier Lundy (5.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg), logged minutes with the starting unit. 

Thomas missed 12 conference games with a foot injury but returned to start three of Rider’s nal four games. His rebounding and solid o ensive game could help offset the loss of Matt Lopez. Thomas also led the team with 13 blocks. “He will probably swing between the ve and the four this year,” Baggett said. “He can really score around the basket, and I’m glad to have him back. He can ‘out-quick’ a lot of guys at his position.” 

Xavier Lundy showed his worth when Kahlil Thomas went down, starting 20 times last season. He shot 49 percent from the field, blocked 12 shots and seemed to seize the moment when put into the starting lineup. 

“I’m expecting big things from him,” Baggett said. “He is playing with a lot of con dence. I’m excited to see the next step for him.” 

Coach Baggett thinks his replacement for Matt Lopez is 6-9, 240-pound sophomore Kenny Grant (0.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg), who injured his knee in the preseason and never really got on track. 

“We need him to be really good this year,” coach Baggett said. “With Matt graduating we need Kenny to take the next step. He has been doing a good job scoring in the post. He has gotten stronger and lost some weight. He’s playing with confidence.” 

Another option at center is 6-9 freshman Lacey James, from Wayland Union in Grand Rapids, Mich. 

James originally was going to attend Detroit but received a scare his junior year of high school when he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. But he returned to the court last season and earned all-state honors while averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds. 

“He will play the four and the five and should play a lot early,” coach Baggett said. “He’s a skilled big guy who can put the ball on the floor and can make shots.” 

The coaching staff also hopes Lacey James can boost Rider’s post defense. 

OTHERS

Shawn Valentine (3.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg), a 6-7 senior, also returns.
So does 6-6 freshman swingman Josh Williams, who redshirted last year with a wrist injury.

The Broncs always seem to contend in the MAAC, but it’s been more than two decades since they’ve cut down the nets as a conference champ. 

“We are a veteran team and we have to play like that, practice like that,” coach Baggett said. “If we defend and run, we have a chance to be good.” 

Good enough to finally break through in the MAAC? 

The Broncs are 0-2 all-time in the MAAC tournament finals since moving to the conference in 1997. If they can advance that far this season, the driving force will be a backcourt that’s as good as any in the MAAC. Rider just needs to get enough production from its frontcourt to help balance the load. 

Barring injuries, the Broncs should be among the favorites to win the regular-season title and be a factor in Albany come March. 

William S. Paxton, 2015-16 Blue Ribbon's Preview