When you are a fledgling program stuck dab in the middle of Jersey, you got to do what you can do to compete with the big boys of those major conferences who are taking no prisoners when recruiting.  At this point, however, it would take about four stud two sport guys or a huge upset over a powerhouse program to get some real recognition in Hackensack.  Problem is the Knights are just dangerous enough that the big programs won’t play them.  Heck, even in-state neighbor Rutgers dropped them this year when the Scarlet Knights when they joined the Big East this year citing scheduling conflicts.  Truth is they didn’t want the boys from Piscataway do not want any piece of the boys from Hackensack and do not even have the common decency of giving back their nickname after they stole and bastardized it.  Oh, well, FDU has bigger fish to fry now that they too are a member of a conference.  The NEC might not be the Big East but they get an automatic bid just like those posers.  FDU might not get that big this year but it won’t be for trying and who knows how thinks turn out once March hits.  Anything can and will happen.  That’s why we love the Madness.  So don’t think you will be coming to Our House (the Rothman Center) in the middle of our street (River Road) and thinking you will be taking our candy. 

Green does have some talent coming back but it is a mixed bag and the lack of size will definitely hurt.  But the back court has a group of returning players who are solid.  Senior Daniel Rosen and junior Rick Conrad did most of the work in the back court last year and look to be the starters once again. Rosen is a great defensive guy who led the Knights in steals and steals. He will captain this team and is not ultra-quick but makes up for it with smarts.  Conrad can score a little and is a good defender but his forte is his toughness.  He will battle fellow junior Lee Shulman for the starting two guard spot.  At least to begin the year.  Shulman is bigger (6’4 to 6’2) and played often at the small forward or the three last season.  Green has some impressive wings coming in and a trio of studs coming back for their second season so Shulman will have to beat out Conrad if he is going to play.  At all.  Most likely the pair of similar styled players will split time but Conrad should start.  Of course, neither could start as one of those returning second year players really stole the show in Hackensack.

The most talented player on this team is undeniably sophomore guard Marcus Gaither.  Gaither was second on the team in steals and assists and minutes played and was third in points.  And that was coming off the bench most of the year as the sixth man.  He can light it up but plays a controlled game taking good looks and keeping his teammates involved.  He switched between the two guard and point primarily to get on the court after the backup point guard to Rosen got hurt. This team was better, though, when he was scoring but this kid wants the ball at times so point might be his future.  Either way this kid will play at one of the perimeter positions so the rest of these guys better figure out a way to split up the other 90 minutes.  

The two true 3’s coming back are sophomores Ken Webb and Michael Payne who did not get to play near enough in their first year in Hackensack.  BTW which came first the bean bag or the city?  Payne is a stud who was actually a high school All-American and is by far the biggest recruit ever to come to this ‘beautiful’ city.  The 6’5 pure small forward showed incredible potential last year as he was starting by the end of the first month.  Injuries set him back and the kid barely played the second half.  He can play though and this team needs his athleticism and skill if they are going to compete in this league.  Webb took advantage of his opportunity and had a stellar first season for FDU.  Webb goes 6’7 but plays more a lot like a guard.  He has good handles and can really run the court and finish.  This should be one heck of a battle for the two wing positions for the Knights but that small forward contest has perhaps the best two athletes that have ever put on the burgundy and blue. 

The Foster boys handle most of the dirty work underneath.  Sophomore Gregory and senior Reggie are the primary big men for the Knights as far as defending and rebounding.  Neither is an offensive juggernaut but they combine down low to bring some toughness to the painted area.  Reggie goes 6’6 and plays center against much bigger men but averaged almost ten boards a game last year.  Gregory is even smaller but can also grab boards all day long.  Now if either one can figure out how to score this duo could become a ‘thing’ in Jersey.  The Foster Boys, Chairmen of the Boardwalk or something like that.  Junior Howard Weinstein was solid in the post as well and is one of the veteran team leaders for Coach Green. Another undersized center at 6’6, Weinstein (no relation to the perv) is a terrific defender but like the Foster boys does not score much.      

The Knights do have two big men have the kind of talent that this university is not used to.  Sophomores Damari Riddick and Jaime Latney showed some huge upside potential.  Both can score and rebound and are athletic.  Their ability to post up on the blocks or hit open jumpers gives the Knights some options that could really pull this program out of its doldrums.  They are both big and tough and know how to play.  The problem is they are young and inconsistent and basically play the same position and have to earn their stripes under Green.  This meant some good old-fashioned seasoning on the JV team.  They dominated there and both got some good minutes the second half.  The good thing is they have one good learning year under their belt and are definitely figuring out what it means to play at this level.  

Green has a whole slew of carryover vets that have got some time for the Knights but both are battling to stay on the team this year especially if the kids Green brought in are half as good as advertised.  Seniors Louis Alberto, Don Hetchka and especially George Glasgow all have produced for Green.  Glasgow was once the starting two guard and led the team in scoring.  He is not big or athletic enough for this level now but he is a gamer.  Hechka can shoot and Alberto is a tough kid who is a natural point guard.  He was in a straight up battle with Rosen but hurt his wrist last year and never really recovered.  He could challenge Rosen for minutes but with Gaither around now his chances are slim to get serious minutes.  The big men or should we say medium sized men that are battling for leftover minutes up front have a much tougher row to hoe.  Seniors Brendan Barba, Tom Fox and Lou Ravettine had their days here but that was long ago (but not far away) and now they just want to make it to senior day. 

A funny thing happened on the way to finishing out another hum drum season for the FDU Knights.  They actually started to see some light and they improved.  Big wins down the stretch coupled with the fact the Knights can boast some talent especially up front have made them a factor in the Northeast conference.  And not a minute too soon for Dickinson faithful and we are not talking Emily here.