Men's Basketball | 10/9/2021 4:09:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Entering his ninth season at the helm of the Barry men's basketball program, head coach Butch Estes announces a balanced schedule for the 2021-22 season, with 14 of 28 games in the friendly confines of Cesar Odio Court.

"This is a very competitive schedule," Estes said. "I think I can speak for the team and staff that we're glad to be back playing a full schedule and hopefully in front of our great and supportive crowds. I feel the conference will be as competitive as ever, and more experienced than ever, with pretty much everyone returning on every roster."

The Bucs, themselves, have the bulk of the squad back that played the abbreviated seven-game schedule in 2021. All five starters return, including a pair of Second-Team All-Sunshine State Conference picks in forward Justinas Marcinkevicius and guard Jake Kakar, along with point guard Toru Dean, wing forward Marcelo Perez and post T.J. Smith.

The Bucs start the season on the road, with a unique matchup at Albany State. The Bucs and Rams will play back-to-back on Nov. 12-13. The Rams went 3-8 last season, behind a trio of double-figure scorers in guard Malik Parker, wing Joshua Jerome and post Jordan Simpson. It will be the first two matchups between the teams.

The Bucs return home to start Sunshine State Conference play on Nov. 20 to face the Florida Southern Mocs. FSC went 7-5 last season, including three wins over the Bucs. They have to replace conference player of the year Jaylen Hinton, but return First-Team pick E.J. Dambreville, who averaged a double-double, and guard Xavier Rhodes. After the sweep last season, the Mocs hold a 57-23 edge in the series.

The Bucs host the Nyack Warriors on Nov. 22. Nyack went 4-5 last season, led by guard Joel Bailey, an all-conference pick, and forward Isayas Aris. The Bucs won the only previous meeting at a tournament at Lynn in 2014-15.

On Nov. 27, Barry goes across town to visit the Lions of Florida Memorial. FMU went 7-17 last season behind 7-0 center Mubashar Ali, a First-Team All-Sun Conference pick, and guard Sam Mack, Jr., who made the Second-Team. Having won four in a row in the series, the Bucs hold a 32-11 edge.

The Bucs have another cross-town road game on Nov. 29, as the play the St. Thomas Bobcats in the Fernandez Center. The Bocats went 14-11 last year, reaching the finals of the Sun Conference Tournament for the second straight year behind the twin 6-8 posts Dwayne Russell and Quinterious Jones. The series has been on and off, despite the proximity. Barry won the last game in 2018, but the previous was in 2012. Barry won seven straight from 1991 to 2009, but the Bobcats hold the overall edge at 13-9, having won nine of the first 10 games.

The Bucs get back to conference action against arch-rival Lynn on Dec. 1. The Knights, who opted out of the season last year, went 12-15 in 2019-20. Christian Peevy, a Second-Team All-SSC pick that year, and Brandon Bornelus return to lead the Knights. The Bucs have won nine of the last 10 in the series and lead 31-26 overall.

Barry makes their first conference road trip to face the Rollins Tars on Dec. 11. The Tars lost their only game last season, to Florida Southern in the SSC Tournament. Guard Hutton Yenor and Dayton Gumm both averaged double-figures in 2019-20 and return to lead the team. Barry has won five in a row in the series, but the Tars still lead overall 48-29.

The Bucs close the fall semester with three straight non-conference games at home, starting with Caldwell, in the first meeting with the teams, on Dec. 12. The Cougars went 6-5 last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Guards Anthony Cooper, a First-Team all-conference and all-region pick, and Daniel Dale, Jr., and forward Manley Dorme give the Cougars a solid nucleus coming back.

St. Thomas comes to The Shores on Dec. 14, while perennial D-II power Virginia Union visits on Dec. 18. The Panthers bowed out of last season and went 18-11 in 2019-20. Guards Jordan Railey and Jordan Peebles both averaged double figures in their last season. It will be the first meeting with the Panthers.

Coming out of the holiday break, the Bucs host the Nova Southeastern Sharks on New Year's Eve. NSU opted out last season, but won 54 games the prior two seasons. Guard Nick Smith and forward RJ Sunahara, who made the SSC All-Newcomer team, are the top two players back from a squad that average 101.8 points per game. The Sharks have been on top lately, winning five in a row, but Barry remains the leader in the series at 42-24.

The Bucs hit the road again to face defending SSC Tournament champs Saint Leo on Jan. 2. The Lions, 7-1 last season, return 10 players from the championship squad, including double figure scorers Rusty Moorer, Frank Webb, Jr., and Jared Coomer. The Lions have won five of the last six games, to take a 40-38 lead in the series.

The Eckerd Tritons, another opt-out from last season, come to the HSC on Jan. 5. The Tritons, one of the few teams that do not return the bulk of their squad, have only two players who have suited up for them before, in guard Dante Love and forward Leonard Okiti. Barry has won 10 of the 12 games, but still trail the Tritons 46-34 in the series.

The Bucs travel to the ICI Center to face Embry-Riddle on Jan. 8. The Eagles did not play last year, but had a 20-10 season in 2019-20. Three of the four double digit scorers from that team return, including First-Team All-SSC pick Romeo Crouch and fellow guard Elijah Jenkins and Nick Heard. The Eagles took two of the three meetings from the Bucs in 2019-20 to cut the Bucs' lead in the series to 11-3.

The Bucs host the Florida Tech Panthers on Jan. 12. The Bucs took both meetings against the Panthers last season, to run their winning streak in the series to eight games. Barry leads 45-26 overall. Florida Tech went 4-4 last year, including those two losses to the Bucs. Their top three scorers, guards Sesan Russell and Sean Houpt and forward Mekhii Noble, all return.

Barry plays host to Tampa on Jan. 15. The Spartans went 3-4 in the shortened season last year, but did not play against the Bucs after both games were canceled. The Spartans return their top three players, including First-Team All-SSC guard Max Jones. Guards Jonathan Bryant II and Derrick Felder also return. Barry has won four in a row and five of six, but still trail the Spartans 45-30.

The first half of the conference season concludes with a visit to Palm Beach Atlantic on Jan. 19. The Sailfish went 2-5 last season, although both games against the Bucs were canceled. All-SSC Second-Team pick Jules Jasmin and All-Newcomer Alexander Gorton return to lead the 'Fish. PBA has won six of the last eight in the series, but Barry still leads 29-11.

After the turn in conference, the Bucs visit Florida Southern (Jan. 22), Lynn (Jan. 26), Nova Southeastern (Feb. 2) Tampa (Feb. 12), Florida Tech (Feb. 16) and Eckerd (Feb. 23), while hosting Rollins (Feb. 5), PBA (Feb. 9), Embry-Riddle (Feb. 19) and Saint Leo (Feb. 26 for Senior Day).

The Sunshine State Conference tournament tips-off beginning on Tues., Mar. 1, running through March 6, all at campus sites. The NCAA Tournament, starting with the South Region Championship, begins on Fri., Mar. 11.