Men's basketball hits the court running
Senior skill helps establish strong start

Nick Babbit | staff writer

Senior Brian Monahan takes a breather during a game against Merrimack College on Nov. 28. The Purple Knights lost by a tight 92-20 decision. Alex McIntire, photo

The St. Michael’s College men’s basketball team is off to a promising start this season with a 6-1 overall record. Senior captains Brian Monahan and James Sorrentine are key components to the team’s success so far, says Head Coach Tom O’Shea

Senior leaders

Monahan scored his 1,000th career point in the team’s Nov. 20 victory over UMass Lowell.  In the same contest, Sorrentine set a school record for free-throw percentage in a game, going 11 for 11 from the foul line.

Monahan and Sorrentine were named Northeast-10 Conference Players of the Week in consecutive weeks. In a loss to Merrimack College on Nov. 28, the team's first defeat of the season, Monahan scored a career high 35 points.

Sorrentine, meanwhile, is on pace to break the program’s all time three-point record of 301 set by Todd Roberts, a 2001 graduate. Their individual accomplishments are translating into victories for the team, O'Shea says.

“Brian is versatile inside and James stretches the defense with his outside shooting ability,” O’Shea says.  “Brian does a lot of good things on the floor. He’s an inside player, about 6'6" and he’s leading the conference in rebounding.  James is one of the best shooters in the league. They compliment each other well.”

The two captains have been roommates together all four years at St. Michael’s.  They credit their friendship off the court to the development of solid on-court play.

“We’ve become good friends over the last four years,” Monahan says.  “It allows us to criticize each other on the court to try to make each other better.”

“ [Our friendship] is good for the team,” Sorrentine says.  “We can pretty much say what we want.”

O’Shea says the two serve as tremendous role models for the younger members of this year’s team.

 “Everybody likes them and they demonstrate how to do things the right way,” he says.

Head Coach Tom O'Shea (right) expects a successful season from his team even after losing two top players last year to graduation. Alex McIntire, photo

A team effort

Monahan and Sorrentine aren’t the only athletes who are stepping up their game this season, according to O'Shea.

“Right now we’re gellin’ pretty good,” Sorrentine says.  “We’re all into it, focused on each victory.”

First-year Nate Birr is having a great beginning to the season as well, starting at point guard.  O’Shea also credits the solid play of Brian Roberts, Mike Iola and Tom Piotrkiewicz, who all have contributed coming off of the bench.

Junior forward Jon Zylstra tallied a career-high 20 points in the team’s 92-90 loss to Merrimack College. 

Monahan gives credit to his teammates for helping him reach the milestone of 1,000 career points.  He says he couldn’t have achieved the mark without the exceptional play of those around him.

O’Shea says the team is trying to focus on victories rather than individual accomplishments.

“I don’t think [Sorrentine] thinks about [the three-point record],” O’Shea says. “He’ll make it though; I think he’s pretty close.”

Sorrentine says he was completely unaware that he is on pace to break the program’s career three-point record.  He did not realize he had set the record for free throw percentage in the game against UMass Lowell either.

It is this unselfish attitude shared by Sorrentine, Monahan and the rest of the team that is translating into success, O’Shea says.  

More action to come

“[The Merrimack game] was a tough loss; we played really well all game,” Monahan says.  “I think we were up most of the game. We had a few turnovers towards the end, and a chance to win it at the end, but it doesn’t come down to that last shot. We had the game, but we weren’t able to finish.  It’s a tough way to lose.”

Monahan and Sorrentine say they know the team has a long way to go before considering the season a success.  Last year, the Purple Knights lost in the first round of the playoffs. The goal this year is to surpass last season’s accomplishments, Monahan says.