For the first time in many years, the Fairfield men’s basketball team will be the hunter, not the hunted.
The Stags, led by fourth year head coach Ed Cooley, have been picked to finish at the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) by many national experts and pundits.
It is the first time in four years that any team other than the Saints of Siena have been picked to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament.
“It’s an honor to be picked to finish at the top, but in reality we haven’t accomplished anything yet”, said Cooley in a recent interview. “The conference is as balanced and wide open as I’ve seen it since I came to Fairfield.”
However, Cooley was quick to caution that this will be some sort of runaway within the conference. “Losing (Anthony) Johnson and (Mike) Evanovich last year will hurt us. But we have carry over from last year and return possibly the best player in the MAAC in Derek Needham.”
The head coach was also quick to attribute much of the team’s success and accolades to his assistant coaches and trainers, naming them “the best staff in the MAAC, hands down.” He notes that they played an instrumental role in bringing in five newcomers, including two transfers who have experience playing in the NCAA tournament.
Rakim Sanders from Boston College and Desmond Wade from the University of Houston may not be able to make an impact on the court until next year (per NCAA rules), but according to Cooley they can help the team by being the best players on the court in practice.
Additionally, the Stags have added three freshmen to this year’s squad – Jamel Fields, Keith Matthews, and Maurice Barrow.
Each has the talent to make an immediate impact this year and in the subsequent years moving forward.
However, arguably the most important additions to this team come from players who missed significant time last year due to injuries. Greg Nero, Warren Edney and Yorel Hawkins are all finally healed, and they are hungry to bring home a conference championship.
Edney and Hawkins are both dynamic swingmen with the ability to score in multiple ways. They also bring leadership and experience as seniors.
Both return from surgeries last year, and while the staff feels they are fully ready to go, Cooley cautions that we won’t see the best of them until they get more game fitness under their belts.
Greg Nero admits that he is surprised to be on the court at all after a nightmare 2009. A combination of back spasms, mononucleosis, and a weakened immune system forced him to miss last year. Not only was he forbidden to go near a basketball court, but Nero had to rest and stay home for a full year.
“I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to play again”, said Nero in a recent sit down. However, with a full bill of health and a belated determination to win a MAAC title, Nero returns with added incentive to help this team reach its goal.
Cooley describes Greg as a “potential player of the year candidate” and “great ambassador for Fairfield University athletics.” “It is a Godsend for us that Greg will not only get his diploma this year, but also be able to play basketball.”
Greg has warned that he is not in optimal game shape just yet, but his eyes set on being the best player in the MAAC, and winning the conference title.
The Stags also return arguably the best guard in the conference in sophomore Derek Needham. Needham is coming off a freshman season that saw him average 16.4 points and 5.2 assists per contest. He was named the MAAC rookie of the year.
“We are happy to have been picked first in the league, but now have to go out and prove the voters right”, said Needham. Asked if he expects the team to be cutting down the nets at the MAAC tournament in March, Needham responded: “Absolutely.”
The Stags may not have accomplished anything yet this season, but it has been a long time since this type of hype and expectation surrounded a Fairfield Men’s basketball team. Will the Stags have the right balance of leadership, talent, and coaching to make it work? Only time will tell. “I love my team,” said Coach Cooley. “We expect to reach our goal of winning a MAAC championship this year – but we have a long way to go.”
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