Men's Basketball | 11/5/2023 10:59:00 AM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — For the first time in the program's history, the Barry's men's basketball team is preparing to host a ground-breaking crossover tournament, pitting two teams from both the Sunshine State Conference and Gulf South Conference against each other. Representing the GSC are two challenging teams, #23 Alabama-Huntsville and Montevallo. Meanwhile, the SSC squads are reigning national champions and second-ranked, Nova Southeastern, and the tournament's host, Barry University.
While the Chargers and Sharks bring most of the fanfare to the field as ranked teams in the pre-season, the Bucs and Falcons are both storied programs, looking to get back into NCAA Tournament play.
The Bucs' season will tip off this Friday at 7:30 p.m. as they face #23 Alabama-Huntsville in the second game of the crossover. Under the leadership of coach John Shulman, the Chargers made their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA South Regional in 2023, reaching the regional final against NSU. Junior guard Luke Burnett is the leading returning player for the Chargers, having averaged 13.4 points per game, shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range. Four NCAA Division I transfers bolster the roster for Shulman's squad, including Auston Leslie (Southern Miss), Isaac Chatman (North Alabama) and Tommy Muir and Tanner Shulman (Lipscomb).
For Barry's second game of the crossover, the Bucs set their sights on a young and improving Montevallo squad. Led by former UAH associate coach Anthony Komara, the Falcons went 10-18 last year, and are led this season by junior guard Mason Shifflett, who averaged 14.0 points per game and shot 36.8 percent from three-point range. Transfers Justin Graham (Cloud County CC) and Jack Henderson (Lewis & Clark) both averaged double-figures last year before joining the Falcons.
This is just the first installment of a four-year tournament deal that will match up these teams from two of the elite conferences in NCAA Division II basketball.
IN THE HUDDLE
Buccaneer head coach, Butch Estes provided his thoughts on the outlook of this year's team, given the addition of eight new players to roster.
"We have a nucleus of three returning starters and two guys who have gotten some experience coming back that are going to form the core of our team. But when we go to the bench, it's going to be most likely newcomers. So this has been a very important pre-season for them to grasp our system, to get comfortable in it, to learn to play together," said Estes.
In regard to the first game of the crossover against Alabama-Huntsville, coach Estes explained, "It'll be a tremendous challenge, but one that we have used as motivation through the pre-season because we know we're not playing 'Sisters of the Poor' in the first game."
Senior forward James Montgomery, a member of the team's core to whom coach Estes alluded, also shared his thoughts about the team and the upcoming season:
"I'm really excited. I can't wait for the games to start. We've had a great preseason, I'm loving the new team and what we have got going so far…I would say, our team chemistry is really good this year and that's something that's really important to a winning team," Montgomery said.
In addition to Montgomery, who averaged 11.1 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game last year, junior guards Malik Stanley and Nick Anderson are returning starters. Stanley averaged 13.6 points and 3.3 assists last year, shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range. Anderson chipped in 13.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while ranking third in the SSC in three-point shooting at 44.5 percent.
Montgomery was named as one of the team's three captains for the season. With that in consideration, Montgomery said that his message to the team for this season would be to "stay straight and stay consistent". He highlighted the importance for the team to not ride the highs and lows too much.
Likewise, Estes also gave his own explanation for what the main goal and focus of the team is for the year:
"I think the number one goal is that we try to get better every single day and improve as the season goes along. We have to realize that every day is precious, every practice is precious, every game is a learning opportunity and not get hung up on the results, but with more of a focus on the process so that we stay with it. This is because we want to, like every other team in America, to be playing our best basketball in February," Estes said.
Estes has led the Buccaneers to six NCAA tournament appearances in the eight seasons that included regional play. The road to number seven begins this Friday.
ON THE HORIZON
The Bucs will continue their season this coming up Monday at home against Florida National. The game will start at 7:30 p.m.
About Barry University Athletics
Barry University has sponsored NCAA Division II athletics for 39 years, winning 28 national championships in eight sports, crowning 429 All-Americans in 13 sports and over 640 scholar All-Americans. Barry is a proud member of the Sunshine State Conference "The Conference of National Champions" with 105 league titles since joining in 1989. The Buccaneers have NCAA men's teams in soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, baseball, golf, and tennis and women's teams in soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, swimming, beach volleyball, golf, rowing, softball and tennis.
