Through the many highs and lows of the men’s basketball team the last four years, one thing has remained constant: Nick Delfico.
The senior forward from Hawthorne, NY has played in every game in his collegiate career at Fairfield. Delfico is currently five games shy of A.J. Wynder’s school-record 116 career games between ’83-87. Wynder later played in the NBA with the Boston Celtics.
“Nick has been a tremendous addition to our program. He is the iron horse, and to play in the most games means he was here every day and that signifies what a champion he is,” said head coach Tim O’Toole.
“He has been a huge factor. One of the things we’ve tried to build upon is that leadership must be passed from the seniors right on down,” O’Toole added. “Nick is the epitome of a great leader. He watched and learned for the past four years and has determined that this year, under his leadership, that we were going to be successful.”
The Stags have two regular season games remaining before the MAAC Tournament. For Delfico to set the record the team would need to get to the finals of the conference tournament and earn either an NCAA or NIT bid.
Delfico said it means a lot to him to have been able to compete in every game so far, but he credits the Stags’ coaching staff for believing in him and giving him a chance right from the start.
“It means that I can contribute to the team no matter what game we’re playing, no matter how old I was, what grade I was in,” Delfico said. “I’m always out there to help the team and also makes me feel the coaches have a lot of confidence in me from my freshman year until now.”
Of Delfico’s 111 games in a Fairfield uniform, the one game that stands out the most was the Stags’ 70-68 victory at Manhattan two weeks ago that ended the Jaspers 15-game winning streak, the longest in the nation at the time.
“Beating Manhattan was a big confidence builder for the team. We played with the most heart that we’ve played with in a while,” Delfico said. “It was one of those things where Manhattan was the goliath of the league and no one was knocking them off. We went to their place, played as a team, and got it done.”
Delfico said the electricity and excitement of the standing-room only crowd that packed Manhattan’s Draddy Gymnasium was also part of the memorable experience.
“The place was sold out. It was loud as could be. You couldn’t hear your teammates talking to you,” Delfico said. “It was just a grind. It was just great to see our guys step up to the challenge as well as our coaches, and we did it together.”
Playing together is one aspect Fairfield has thrived upon the last two years and has been the driving force that has developed the program since Delfico’s rookie year.
“The program as a whole definitely has more talented players in a sense that we play as a team. I think our record (15-10) shows from that,” Delfico said. “We have hit a little slump lately. But as far as when I came in until now, I think we’re definitely in a better position by far. I don’t see it taking any step back.”
The 6-foot-5 graduate of Iona Prep has increased his offensive production in each of the last three years, going from scoring 106 points in his freshman year to netting 228 points last season while also becoming a legitimate 3-point threat with 30 baskets from beyond the arc.
Delfico is currently third on the team in scoring this year with 226 points and 110 rebounds.
“I’ve definitely sharpened up fundamentally as a player, and the coaching staff has made me a smarter player,” Delfico said. “All around I think I’m a better player now, but mostly the mental aspect of the game.”
O’Toole agreed, saying Delfico’s inspired play in the team’s two biggest road wins at Iona and Manhattan earlier this year showed that Delfico wasn’t going to let the team down.
“He has improved greatly each year and has really matured into his role,” O’Toole said. “One of the amazing aspects of coaching is watching players grow over a four-year period … Nick has been like that. He has grown in every way. Fairfield was a great choice for Nick, and Nicky was great for Fairfield.”
Delfico, a marketing major, said he’s extremely focused for the next month as the Stags have the best shot at winning the MAAC title since he’s come to Fairfield, and he refers to it as “probably the biggest part of my basketball career.”
“Our goal is to finish out and beat St. Peter’s and Loyola, and end up in second place in the MAAC,” Delfico said. “Our goal is to win the MAAC [Tournament]. I’m not predicting that we’re going [to win], but we’re coming up there with 100 percent and ready to go as a team. We’re not looking at anything less than that.”
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