The 2014-15 season was supposed to be the one that saw the Binghamton men’s basketball team turn a corner.
In his third year at the helm of the Bearcats, head coach Tommy Dempsey had assembled what, on paper, was a deep and talented roster. Led by then-junior guard Jordan Reed and a host of talented young players, BU was supposed to make significant strides toward returning to relevance after years of futility.
The beginning of the season, however, proved disastrous for BU. Reed played in just five games before announcing his transfer away from the program. The Bearcats suffered through a 14-game losing streak and their depth was challenged early and often, as player after player went down with injuries.
“We knew coming into this situation that it was going to be a tough job to rebuild,” Dempsey said. “I think sometimes, some of the things that have gone on that have made things more difficult are just part of the job. Unfortunately, there’s going to be some injuries, there’s going to be some transfers … It’s all part of program building.”
Due to all of the injuries and the transfer of Reed, BU’s young, talented freshman class was forced to play prominent roles in the rotation. Despite all of the adversity, the Bearcats ended the season on a high note. Binghamton won two of its last three regular season games — including pulling an upset over Vermont — and battled eventual conference runner-up Stony Brook in the teams’ America East quarterfinal matchup, eventually falling, 62-57.
All of the key players from that run are set to return for the 2015-16 season.
“We are very unique in the fact that we are still going to be, probably, the youngest team in the league, but we also have experience, so we can’t use the youth as an excuse,” Dempsey said. “We have youth, but we have experience and we’re going to be together for the next few years.”
The Bearcats will return all five starters from last year’s team, as well as some significant cogs off the bench. Anchoring the BU offense will be sophomore forwards Dusan Perovic and Willie Rodriguez.
Perovic averaged 11.5 points per game as a freshman last season before suffering an ACL injury in early January. He has a variety of post moves, as he can score in the paint with either hand and pull opposing big men away from the basket. Perovic has the ability to knock down long-range jumpers as he knocked down 45.3 percent of his 3-point shots in his debut season.
Rodriguez is the Bearcats’ best overall player. He creates shots for himself as well as his teammates and finds ways to attack the basket. Last season, Rodriguez led the team, averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Three other members of last year’s freshman class — current sophomore guards Justin McFadden and Romello Walker as well as current sophomore forward Bobby Ahearn — along with junior guard Marlon Beck will continue to play crucial roles for BU.
“At this time of the year last year we really didn’t know what we had in some of the young guys,” Dempsey said. “It’s a lot about hope. You hope guys are going to have good years, you hope guys are going to be good enough … Now, we know a little bit who we are.”
BU will add three new players to its rotation this season, each of whom is expected to contribute right away. After sitting out last season, redshirt freshman guard John Schurman becomes eligible this year. He is a lights-out shooter and will help improve Binghamton’s spacing by stretching opposing defenses.
“[Schurman] really gives some of our slashers space to do what they do best,” Dempsey said. “They weren’t able to get to the basket as easily as you would have hoped [last year]. I think this year we’ll be able to put a lot more pressure on the defense because of our shooters.”
Freshman forward Thomas Bruce is a strong rebounder and rim protector — both areas BU has struggled in over the last three seasons — and freshman guard Everson Davis will bolster the Bearcats’ depth as he can play at either backcourt position.
With a blend of returning talent and a strong freshman class, the Bearcats have the potential for a crowded rotation in 2015-16.
“I think that you have a good feel for the 10 or so guys who’re going to play,” Dempsey said. “We hope to play more guys because we have more guys we think are capable of playing and we think we have more guys who’ve earned the right to be on the court.”
Binghamton is set to open the season on Friday at St. Bonaventure. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. from the Reilly Center in Olean, New York.