Scouting Stony Brook Basketball

This team is definitely a much better team than last years 7-23 (3-13 league play)debacle. So far, before league play, the team has a 5-5 record. This might be due in part to their difficult schedule. Other than Vermont--the favorite to win the conference, Stony Brook has probably played the toughest schedule with consecutive games against Hofstra and the number 2 team in the nation UConn.

In the early going, this team has been reliant on its younger players, as three freshman have started all 10 games. Freshman point guard Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, NJ) is leading the team in scoring, at 11.3 points a game and knocking down 40% of his threes, while playing a team-high 33 minutes a game. He looks to be a capable ball handler with a nice touch from the outside. 6'5 freshman forward, Tommy Brenton (Columbia, MD), has averaged 6.7 points and is bringing down 7.5 rebounds a game, good for third in the conference. Even though, he is undersized down low, he always seems to be in the right place for the rebound thanks to good positioning and boxing out.The third freshman starter, Dallis Joyner (Norfolk, VA), has displayed some inside toughness, with a knack of getting to the free throw line, but has had trouble converting once at the stripe, only hitting 46%. He seems to be out of position on rebounds, and sometimes rushes his shot.

Off the bench, freshman forward Danny Carter (Windsor, England), has provided energy and a scoring touch. Against national powerhouse UConn, Carter exploded for 20 points, showing a great outside touch, and crashed the boards for a couple of tip-ins. At 6'9, Carter could provide mismatch problems for opponents, because of his inside and outside game. On the season, he is averaging 5.6 points a game, and he should see his playing time increase as the season moves along.

Also off the bench, junior guard, Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich.), has shown a scoring touch, with his slashing and jumpshooting ability. In only 17 minutes a game, he is averaging 10 points and has knocked down 36% of his threes.

Transfer center, Desmond Adedeji (Landover Hills, MD) has shown the ability to bang down low. However, he has had problems finishing and converting his free throws. With his early season suspension, he hasn't played his way into game shape, and after a few circus shots against UConn, Coach Steve Pikiell benched him for the entire second half.

Senior Marques Cox (Jamaica, NY), has played great defense, however is a non threat to shoot, taking only 9 shots the entire season while playing almost 20 minutes a game. He leads the team in steals and assists. Sophomore Chris Martin (Springfield Gardens, NY), has played well backing up the Cox and Dougher at the guard positions.javascript:void(0)

Overall, the team has played great defense, ranking first in the America East in opponents scoring. However, much of this has to do with their weave offense where they run down the clock. They have the ability to score a lot more than they do, with scorers Carter and El-Amin, and a good shooter in Dougher. I think once they establish an inside-outside game with Adedeji and Joyner, they will score more.