NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – For the first time in 314 days, the Merrimack College men's basketball team will host a game as the Warriors welcome Sacred Heart University to Hammel Court for a pair of contests on Thursday (Jan. 7) and Friday (Jan. 8). Thursday's game tips at 7 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. start on Friday.
RETURN OF THE MACK
Merrimack begins its second year of a four-year reclassification to Division I, and created quite the stir in its first Division I campaign. The 2019-20 edition of the Warriors became the first team ever to win a conference title in its first year of Division I membership, claiming the outright NEC Regular Season Championship. Merrimack finished 20-11 (14-4 NEC) to sit atop the league standings. Due to NCAA reclassification rules, the Warriors were ineligible for postseason play.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart has played five games to date, posting a 2-3 record including 2-2 in league play. The Pioneers have won the second game of both of their NEC series, taking down LIU and Wagner once apiece. Sophomore Tyler Thomas leads the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game. The Pioneers average the second most 3-point field goals in the NEC with 8.0 makes per game.
Matchup Comparison:
| Category |
Merrimack (2019-20 Numbers) |
Sacred Heart (2-3, 2-2 NEC) |
| Scoring Offense |
62.8 |
67.4 |
| Scoring Defense |
60.2 |
78.4 |
| Field-Goal % |
41.9% |
36.7% |
| Field-Goal % Defense |
42.2% |
46.4% |
| 3-PT Field Goal % |
33.9% |
30.1 % |
| 3-PT Field Goal % Defense |
30.2% |
29.8% |
| 3-PT Field Goals (Made-Attempts) |
247-728 |
40-133 |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
68.1% |
67.6% |
| Winning Percentage |
20-11 (.645) |
2-3 (.400) |
| Rebounding Margin |
-8.1 |
-4.8 |
| Assists/Game |
12.8 |
12.2 |
| Steals/Game |
9.9 |
6.0 |
| Turnovers/Game |
11.9 |
14.0 |
| Blocks/Game |
3.0 |
2.4 |
| Total Fouls |
536 |
101 |
MAKE CHAOS
The Warriors' calling card last season was their stifling defense, which made a name for itself regionally and nationally. Merrimack led the NEC in scoring defense, 3-point percentage defense, steals, and turnover margin.
SERIES HISTORY
Merrimack owns a 5-13 all-time record against Sacred Heart University, but won both games last season against the Pioneers. The Warriors topped Sacred Heart, 65-57, in Connecticut last January for their first NEC win. Merrimack then won the home matchup in February, 64-57, to sweep the 2019-20 season series.
Mikey Watkins averaged 12.0 points per game on 50 percent shooting against SHU last year.
REPLACING LOST PRODUCTION
Merrimack will be tasked with replacing its best senior class in program history. Seniors
Juvaris Hayes,
Jaleel Lord and
Idris Joyner left campus last spring with 81 career victories, graduating as the winningest class in school history. The trio combined to lead Merrimack in points, rebounds, assists and steals in 2019-20. Hayes transcended the program, finishing as Merrimack's all-time leader in assists and steals while ranking seventh in scoring and fourth in rebounding. He also graduated as the NCAA's all-time leader in steals (457).
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Warriors replaced their three lost starters with three true freshman:
James Berry III,
Malik Edmead and
Ryan Isaacson. Berry III is a wing who arrives on the squad from Bishop Ireton in Maryland, Edmead projects as a point guard after playing his high school ball on Long Island and Isaacson will provide depth at the forward spot. The latter played his high school ball in Illinois. A pair of redshirt-freshmen also are eligible to make their NCAA debuts on Thursday in
Ethan Helwig and
Jaylen Davis.
WATKINS STEPS UP
While Hayes stole the thievery headlines, junior guard
Mikey Watkins was no slouch in the steals department. Last year's sophomore and starter alongside Hayes ranked second in the NEC with a career-high 60 thefts, more than double from his total as a freshman. The Roselle, N.J. native set career highs in assists, rebounds, 3-point field goals, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage last season.
THE SECOND YEAR LEAP
Merrimack anticipates that its four-player sophomore class of
Mykel Derring,
Jordan McKoy,
Jordan Minor and
Ziggy Reid to take a large step forward in 2020-21. The quarter saw significant playing time as newcomers, with Derring, Minor and Reid playing in all 31 games. Derring and Minor each claimed NEC Rookie of the Week honors last year, while Reid was the only one of the group to start a game, making two starts as a rookie.
IT'S RAINING THREES
Senior
Devin Jensen returns after a breakout junior campaign, and looks to build on that as one of the team's top-two returning scorers. Jensen's career season resulted in the Brielle, N.J. native leading the NEC in 3-point percentage at 43.5 percent. The forward made a career-high 64 triples last year.
