Wednesday night was just for fun … the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team flexed its scoring muscles in a 61-point exhibition win over Div. III Alfred at the newly-enhanced Reilly Center.
It gave coach Mark Schmidt a chance to experiment with potential starters and player rotations.
But tomorrow morning the season opens for real as the Bonnies travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina to face Bradley in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon (11 o’clock You Tube-TV, Bonnies Online Network, Bradford 100.1 FM).
And, for the third time in as many seasons, courtesy of the Transfer Portal and the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) statute, Schmidt is coaching a virtually all-new team with 11 of the 13 players making their debut.
The returnees are 6-2 guard Dasonte Bowen (Iowa, out injured last season) and 6-10 center/forward Xander Wedlow (Detroit University Prep).
The new faces include 6-foot-8 forward Frank Mitchell (Minnesota, Canisius, Humber), 6-10 forward Joe Grahovac (Fullerton), 6-3 guard Cayden Charles (North Georgia), 5-11 guard Darrell Simmons II (Gardner-Webb), 6-8 guard Brayden Jackson (University at Buffalo), 6-7 forward Daniel Egbuniwe (Tennessee Tech, Little Rock) and 6-4 guard Amar’e Marshall (Albany, Hofstra).
In addition there are four foreign nationals new to the program: 6-9 center Andrew Usasuyi (Magenta, Italy), 6-5 guard Achille Lonati (Pavia, Italy), 6-7 forward John Ikpotokin (Dublin, Ireland) and 6-5 guard Ilia Ermakov (Kursk, Russia).
BONA is coming off a 22-12 season that ended with a first-round NIT loss to Kent State, its frequent pre-season “secret scrimmage” partner, at the Reilly Center.
Bradley finished 28-9 and made it to the NIT quarterfinals where it lost to Chattanooga.
The Bonnies will play Canisius in their home opener on Saturday, the first of a four-game homestand (Siena Nov. 12, Youngstown State Nov. 15 and Robert Morris (Nov.20).
