In the Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gym, the sounds of balls bouncing, sneakers squeaking, and rims rattling can only mean one thing: Emerson Basketball is back.

The Emerson men’s basketball team hopes to build on a successful 2023–24 campaign, highlighted by an upset of the Wheaton Lyons in the first round of the NEWMAC playoffs. As opening day draws near, head coach Bill Curley’s group enters the season with optimism, as a tight-knit group of returners and rookies look to make noise against elite competition.

When evaluating the group as they stand right now, Curley believes the team has “tremendous” enthusiasm but is also a “work in progress.”

“We got so many new guys and young guys … It’s like one of those 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzles even though it’s 20 guys,” he said.

“Our puzzle constantly moves every day, the pieces change by the minute,” he continued. “It’s gonna take us a minute to figure out what we exactly have and how we can use everybody properly and get there.”

Curley said he opted for an increase in recruiting to fit the team’s needs, given that they graduated three of their four seniors, except for graduate guard Trevor Arico.

“We kinda got slammed a little bit in terms of guys we expected to come back, and they didn’t,” Curley said. “We wanted to make sure that first and foremost, we had enough [players] that we could be competitive and make practice worthwhile.”

He cited the NEWMAC’s new schedule of playing three games a week for two consecutive weeks as another factor in recruiting.

“It’s a lot for guys to mentally and physically be able to handle,” Curley added. “So we wanted to make sure we had a deep enough bench that can handle that.”

Associate head coach Sean Coman believes last year’s group overachieved despite a shorthanded roster and thinks history can repeat itself.

“Hopefully, those returners are gonna do a good job of bringing those new guys in and find that same path,” he added.

This year’s roster looks vastly different from last year’s. Aside from a plethora of returners, the team includes eight new faces, including 7-footer Linus Helmhold, a junior transfer from Div. II North Greenville University.

“Linus has the ability to shoot and pass, so he might be 7 feet, but he plays like he’s 6’4”,” Curley joked. 

Coman says he and his team are excited about the new class of freshmen and transfer students who have joined the team.

“[They] came in and really just excelled in their roles and fit in seamlessly,” Coman said. ”The returners have enjoyed it and took them under their wing, and they seem to be getting along really well.”

Despite the personnel changes, junior forward/center Asher Gardiner says the team’s playing style will be the same, filled with transition offense and hard-nosed defense.

“Obviously, we’re gonna be looking for Linus down the post, because not many guys have matched up to him size-wise,” Gardiner said. “But for the most part, [the playing style is the] same as last year. We’re just looking to push, be fast, and outpace teams, run them off the court.”

The team’s strengths and weaknesses were evident in practice last Friday, where Curley and Coman emphasized communication and physicality over two hours. The session was filled with activity and intensity, with players holding each other accountable in drills and competing heavily in timed scrimmages.

Several drills focused on rebounding, one area of growth considering Emerson ranked eighth in the NEWMAC in total rebounds (893) and offensive rebounds (203) last year. The team is looking to flip the script and crash the glass heading into this season.

“We’re definitely putting a focus on rebounding and hitting people and doing a good job of winning the glass,” Coman said. “It comes down to toughness, body positioning, and having a nose for the basketball.”

According to Gardiner, defense is a key strength of this year’s group.

“When we get locked in on defense, we can make some real noise,” he said. “So just getting these new guys to lock in on that will take some time, but in the times that we are all locked in on the same page, it’s been a sight to behold.”

One of the lessons Gardiner and other veterans have imparted to the younger players is the importance of mental toughness throughout the long college basketball season, which extends beyond the court as well.

“[We’re] trying to be [mentors], help them through this transition period where these guys are away from their families, some from different countries or in states, whatnot,” Gardiner said. “Just trying to be there for them, help them out.”

The coaches have used last year’s success as motivation for this season.

“They got to be really tough and they got to be really good at executing,” Curley said. “ And, I don’t think anyone expected us to win anything last year—never mind get to the semifinals in the NEWMAC. And I think that’s a credit to the way these guys came together.”

Curley compared last season’s NEWMAC semifinal matchup to his senior year at Boston College, when the 1993–94 No. 9 Eagles upset the No. 1 University of North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Everyone didn’t give us a chance,” Curley said. “And it’s like, ‘Well, I’ve been playing basketball just like you guys, you know? We’re gonna give it to you.’ So, I think it’s [about] can our guys get that mentality, and understand that how they practice translates to how they’re gonna play in the game and really, root for each other.”

The Emerson men’s basketball season begins Nov. 9 at West Connecticut State. Their second game is an exhibition contest against a well-known opponent: the Yale Bulldogs, who won the 2024 Ivy League Championship and upset Auburn in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling to San Diego State in the round of 32.

“First and foremost is that it’s gonna be a great experience,” Curley said. “We’re gonna get roughed up a bit, but I think it’s just gonna make us better. And I think the experience to say, ‘Wow. These are guys like us. They put their pants on one leg at a time. So, let’s go out there and play and enjoy the scenery and the history.’”

Other highlights of the schedule include the team’s home opener against Tufts on Nov. 17 at 3 p.m., their conference opener against Babson—a rematch of the 2023 semifinals—on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., and a rivalry game against Suffolk—whose bench includes assistant coach Steven Fabrizio ‘23—on Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. They will play one more Div. I opponent this year, too: UMass Lowell, on Dec. 30, at a time to be announced.

The Lions’ increase in home games—from nine last year to 13 this year—is one of several reasons for fans to head to Brown-Plofker.

“That should be one incentive to come, and it should be a fun season,” he said. “We got some new guys, great personalities, so we look to bring that to the court as well.”

Curley and Coman echoed Gardiner’s sentiment, emphasizing the team’s workhorse-like nature and camaraderie that extends beyond the gym’s walls.

“I think we’re going to have a great season and hope to have some fans come out and support [us],” Coman said.