Hofstra has unfinished business

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Hofstra men’s basketball was picked to finish first in the Colonial Athletic Association last season and met the high expectation before falling one win shy of its ultimate goal.

Entering this season the Pride were picked to finish sixth and are hoping to fly under the radar with eyes on earning that allusive CAA title that would garner the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2001.

Last year’s NCAA Tournament quest ended in heartbreaking fashion when the Pride was unable to hold onto a 12-point second half lead in the CAA championship and fell to UNC-Wilmington 80-73 in overtime. Hofstra was still rewarded with a National Invitational Tournament bid for capturing the CAA regular-season title, but head coach Joe Mihalich hopes for a bigger taste of March Madness in 2017.

“The kids are hungry,” Mihalich said. “We have some unfinished business.”

Hofstra graduated its two leading scorers from last year’s 24-10 season in CAA Player of the Year Juan’ya Green and Ameen Tanksley, but returns junior forward Rokas Gustys off a sophomore campaign in which he averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds per game. Gustys ranked second nationally in rebounding and he posted 22 double-doubles. The Lithuanian native also had six games with 20 more rebounds,

“Last year he established himself as one of the premier guys in the CAA,” Mihalich said. “He has to build on that.”

Senior guard Brian Bernardi complements the threat of Gustys inside as one of the top three-point shooters in Hofstra history. The Staten Island native drained 182 his first two years at Hofstra after transferring from Southern Methodist.

“He can really stretch a defense,” Mihalich said of Bernardi. “He has incredible range.”

Freshman guard Eli Pemberton has proven to be a breakout star for the Pride early in his collegiate career. The Middletown, Conn. native scored 18 points in the first half of a 90-86 loss at Sacred Heart on Nov. 15, and 20 points in just 25 minutes of play in a 74-72 season-opening win against Coppin State.

“He’s a really talented kid,” Mihalich said of Pemberton, who was also recruited by Kansas State, East Carolina and St. Bonaventure. “He is an even better person.”

Pemberton joins an athletic backcourt featuring returners Desure Buie and Justin Wright-Foreman. Senior Deron Powers adds a veteran presence after transferring Hampton University where he averaged 10 points a game two years ago and led his team to the NCAA Tournament. Last year’s team was challenged by a thin bench and Mihalich is hoping increased depth this season could pay dividends in big games down the stretch.

“We have eight guys we can throw on the floor at any time,” Mihalich said.

The Pride’s deep bench features Oceanside High School graduate Hunter Sabety, who transferred to Hofstra after two seasons at Division III Tufts University. The 6-9 290-pound forward averaged 15 points per game two years ago at Tufts and will be a key component inside when Gustys gets into foul trouble or needs a breather. Oceanside’s all-time leader in blocked shots sparked the Pride in just four minutes of play in the season open with a block and dunk.

“We would not have won that first game without him,” Mihalich said. “He responded to the bright lights.”

Hofstra has a challenging December schedule highlighted by a Sunday, Dec. 11 meeting with No. 2-ranked Kentucky at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn that will be televised on ESPN. The Pride also host 7 p.m. games on campus at the Mack Sports Complex on Dec. 6 versus St. Bonaventure and Dec. 13 against rival Stony Brook. The CAA home opener is slated for Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. against William & Mary.

For further information on Hofstra’s schedule, call 516-463-8499 or log onto www.gohofstra.com.