Expectations were low last season for the Stony Brook basketball team and they exceeded even the most optimistic fans lofty goals. This season there is more of the same questions surrounding the program.
Stony Brook was an overtime away from making the NCAA Tournament last year when they lost to the College of Charleston 82-79 in the CAA Championship game. The Seawolves finished the season 21-15 after going 11-23 in 2023 and the fans are excited heading into this season.
As head coach Geno Ford enters his sixth season with the Stony Brook Seawolves his team will be looking at a very tough schedule this year and plenty of turnover on the roster.
The team will start with a tough non-conference schedule that includes some big time road games early in the year. That was the design by the coaching staff and AD to prepare this team and get them battle tested. They begin at the Marquette Challenge, where they will face a slew of top notch programs including Marquette, who are being talked about as a Final Four team. Then they they will be on the road against Central Michigan and George Mason before their first home games against St. Joe's and Yale.
The Yale game begins a three game set against Ivy League opponents. The CAA looks to be strong this season, so once they get to the conference slate of games they should know what type of team they have.
Stony Brook has some challenges besides just the tough schedule as this team lost all five of its top scorers from last season. Forward Andre Snoddy is the only returning starter. Snoddy was a solid player, but he only averaged 5 points per game. His 7.2 boards per game certainly is his calling card making the Wolves a force in the middle. He is joined by Joe Octave who was a pivital bench piece and should take on a larger role this season.
The Wolves hit the transfer portal to grab 6'4" Juco transfer guard CJ Luster II. He was a top 25 Juco player in the Nation, and could become the star of this team. Luster isn't just a big man as coach Ford called him an "elite shooter and scorer."
The Wolves may take some time to develop with a rough road schedule and new pieces but after last season the fanbase should have faith in Ford's ability to get the most out of this team yet again.