2017-18 Season Preview Video With Head Coach Derek Kellogg
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team opens the 2017-18 season this Friday, November 10, taking on Tulane in Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. ET, and the game will air live on ESPN3.
QUICK HITS
- The Blackbirds have a strong core of returners back in black this year, along with a group of fresh faces. One of the biggest fresh faces is first year head coach Derek Kellogg, who took the helm in April.
- Redshirt senior Joel Hernandez is the most senior member of the team returning, after missing last season due to injury. He's joined by NEC All-Rookie point guard Jashaun Agosto and junior Raiquan Clark, both of whom made waves for LIU last year. Sophomore guard Julian Batts is back to compliment Agosto in the guard spot along with Ashtyn Bradley, while juniors Julius van Sauers, Raul Frias and Ganalandou Cisse return, bringing depth and experience to the squad.
- Two fifth-year seniors lead the crop of new faces on the court: Zach Coleman and Jamall Robinson offer automatic experience for Kellogg and his staff. Coleman comes from four years at UMass, while Robinson played at Hofstra. Two transfers joined LIU in downtown Brooklyn as well: junior Craig Owens Jr., from West LA CC, and sophomore Tyrn Flowers from UMass. Owens will be able to suit up for LIU in January, while Flowers will miss the season due to NCAA transfer rules. And two true freshmen round out the pack: Shyheim Hicks and Eral Penn will be making their first appearances on a collegiate court in the coming days.
- Tulane was picked 10th in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Green Wave were 6-25 last season (including a 4-11 record at home), and 3-15 in the AAC.
- Former NBA coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. is in his second season as Tulane's head men's basketball coach. The 1999 NBA Coach of the Year, Dunleavy brings over 30 years of NBA experience, either as a player, general manager or head coach to the Green Wave.
- Tulane returns three starters and its top two scorers from last season, including 2017 AAC Most Improved Player of the Year, senior Cameron Reynolds, who averaged 17.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Junior Melvin Frazier averaged 11.5 points per game, and led the league in steals per game (1.9), while sophomore Ray Ona Embo was a two-time conference Freshman of the Week during his debut campaign.
- The Green Wave welcomes seven newcomers this season, including five freshmen and a pair of transfers who sat out last season.
- Friday's contest marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds return home to New York City and head to the Bronx, to take on local rival Fordham, Monday, November 13 at 7 p.m.