By GREG LOGAN greg.logan@newsday.com
For Stony Brook and coach Steve Pikiell, this is completely uncharted territory. The Seawolves are down to the next-to-last game of the America East schedule with a chance to clinch the regular-season championship if they can complete a season sweep of second-place Vermont Wednesday night at sold-out Pritchard Gymnasium.
This arguably is the biggest basketball game in Stony Brook history, and certainly the most important since the school stepped up to Division I basketball in 1999. At 12-2 in the conference with a nine-game winning streak, the Seawolves (20-7) also can clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and at least an invitation to the NIT if they beat the Catamounts (21-8, 11-3). Lose, and the regular-season race would come down to Stony Brook's game Sunday at New Hampshire and Vermont's home game against Binghamton.
"It's a little crazy, but it's exciting," Pikiell said. "Our campus is excited, and I think our players are excited."
After winning their previous five games by at least 10 points, the Seawolves nearly stubbed their toe in a two-point win last Friday at Albany. "I was thankful for a close game," Pikiell said. "It was good to win close and execute and do the things we needed to do down the stretch."
Tonight's sellout is the fifth this season, so the Wolves are growing more accustomed to a big games. "I worry because we've never been in this place," Pikiell said. "Vermont plays big games every year. But we've won nine straight and done a pretty good job for a group that's never been through it. There's been none of these kinds of games in our Division I history, but I know they'll be ready to play."
Stony Brook's 65-60 win a month ago at Vermont sent the Catamounts on a three-game skid, but they're back on track with seven straight wins. Two-time America East player of the year Marqus Blakely, who is averaging 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists, leads the way with help from Maurice Joseph (14.0 points) and Evan Fjeld (10.0 points, 6.1 rebounds).
Muhammad El-Amin, Stony Brook's leading scorer (16.7), has been on a hot streak and made the deciding basket at Albany, but the Seawolves have been winning with a balanced attack featuring Bryan Dougher (13.4), Chris Martin (10.6) and Tommy Brenton (7.9, 9.6 rebounds).
"Mo has been real good lately, and I hope he stays in that place," Pikiell said. "But we've really become a team lately."
Maybe a championship team.
For Stony Brook and coach Steve Pikiell, this is completely uncharted territory. The Seawolves are down to the next-to-last game of the America East schedule with a chance to clinch the regular-season championship if they can complete a season sweep of second-place Vermont Wednesday night at sold-out Pritchard Gymnasium.
This arguably is the biggest basketball game in Stony Brook history, and certainly the most important since the school stepped up to Division I basketball in 1999. At 12-2 in the conference with a nine-game winning streak, the Seawolves (20-7) also can clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and at least an invitation to the NIT if they beat the Catamounts (21-8, 11-3). Lose, and the regular-season race would come down to Stony Brook's game Sunday at New Hampshire and Vermont's home game against Binghamton.
"It's a little crazy, but it's exciting," Pikiell said. "Our campus is excited, and I think our players are excited."
After winning their previous five games by at least 10 points, the Seawolves nearly stubbed their toe in a two-point win last Friday at Albany. "I was thankful for a close game," Pikiell said. "It was good to win close and execute and do the things we needed to do down the stretch."
Tonight's sellout is the fifth this season, so the Wolves are growing more accustomed to a big games. "I worry because we've never been in this place," Pikiell said. "Vermont plays big games every year. But we've won nine straight and done a pretty good job for a group that's never been through it. There's been none of these kinds of games in our Division I history, but I know they'll be ready to play."
Stony Brook's 65-60 win a month ago at Vermont sent the Catamounts on a three-game skid, but they're back on track with seven straight wins. Two-time America East player of the year Marqus Blakely, who is averaging 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists, leads the way with help from Maurice Joseph (14.0 points) and Evan Fjeld (10.0 points, 6.1 rebounds).
Muhammad El-Amin, Stony Brook's leading scorer (16.7), has been on a hot streak and made the deciding basket at Albany, but the Seawolves have been winning with a balanced attack featuring Bryan Dougher (13.4), Chris Martin (10.6) and Tommy Brenton (7.9, 9.6 rebounds).
"Mo has been real good lately, and I hope he stays in that place," Pikiell said. "But we've really become a team lately."
Maybe a championship team.
