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The expectations were very different just one year ago. Mercy's men's basketball team was predicted to finish near the bottom of the league in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference pre-season coaches' poll, but veteran Head Coach Steve Kelly and his crew had other ideas.
Not only was the team's final overall record of 12-14 the best in Kelly's nine year tenure at Mercy and the program's highest victory total since the 1992-93 campaign, but the Flyers also emerged as one of the most exciting teams in a highly competitive NYCAC race. Included in their impressive run was a convincing series sweep over nationally-ranked University of Bridgeport.
Unfortunately for the Dobbs Ferry contingent, their hopes of making the post-season conference tournament for the first time since the 2000-01 season were dashed with a setback on the final day of the regular season.
Coach Kelly and company were also faced with the daunting challenge of losing standout starters Kris Laurenceau (team-high 13.2 ppg), Kevin Green (team-high 7.4 rebounds per game), Alwyn Waldron (third on Mercy's all-time rebound list with 618) and key reserve Dana Holmes (team-high 74 assists).
There is much reason for optimism entering the current season, however. Leading the returning crew is sophomore Chanze Wellington (8.5 ppg, 2.5 apg), who took over the point position in his freshman season and guided the Flyer offense while averaging over 32 minutes per contest. Also returning to the starting five is Dominick Cuzzi (9.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg), who is equally dangerous both inside and outside and at 6-8 is one of the best shooting big men in the conference.
Also expected to accept key roles this season are returnees Nick Maschino (8.4 ppg), Elvis Damjanovic (missed much of last season due to injury), and George Kaliampos, with Rohan Dinham, Victor Sidberry and Lawrence Young helping out in a supporting role.
Some key newcomers are also expected to step up and contribute, including freshman Manny Garcia (Bronx, NY/Spellman HS), 6-8 center Devon Mirjah (Bronx, NY/Malverne HS), Michael Marin (Flushing, NY/St. Francis Prep), and Matt Hurdle (Waterbury, CT/Kennedy HS).
While last season's senior class will be hard to replace, the Flyers have had a taste of success and are sure to be one of the dark-horse teams to once again make some noise in the NYCAC this time around.
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