The Fairfield Stags came into last year with high expectations after a great first year in D-1.  The Stags had finished over .500 and Coach George Bisacca had implemented an offense that led to many high scoring affairs and the fans loved it.  Midway through the year things fell apart in the worst way.  Bisacca had decided to bench a quarter of juniors who had came in after curfew.  Foremost of these was high scoring forward Patrick Burke.  The Stags lost that game against Fordham but things got scary when Burke didn’t show up for practice the next day.  The first thought that he was still upset about being disciplined turned to absolute sadness for the whole city of New Haven when his body was found in a ravine behind a motel.  He had apparently fallen but the mystery of what really happened led to every true crime blogger in the country hitting this Connecticut town.  As for the Stags, they never recovered and though they took some time off never won another game.  The mystery ensued and Bisacca could not bear the guilt of having suspended him.  He resigned right after the last game and this program is in a bit of a shambles.  Fred Barakat, an unknown EBPL player from Assumption, was hired to take over this mess.  Burke was one heck of a player who could score from anywhere and was arguably the best player on the team.  He will be missed on the court but the impact he had off from it will never leave this program.  Now, somebody, go find out what really happened to this kid? 

The Stags are led by a solid backcourt combo of Junior Joe DeSantis and Sophomore Tony George.  This duo complemented each other well playing off each other’s strengths.  DeSantis is the point guard and the Captain of the team.  Joey D controls everything for the Stags.  He sets the offense in motion and orchestrates the defense.  DeSantis can get to the hoop with the best of them and could be the best point guard in the conference.  He led the team in scoring (albeit by a tenth of a point average over his sidekick) and was an assist machine.  This Bronx native is as tough as they come and there is no doubt who is running the show in Bridgeport though.  He may look like an accountant but this kid is tough as nails and loves to get in with the big boys and draw fouls and then he makes a high percentage of the free shots.  DeSantis is an athletic point guard who is a muscular six foot two and is to say the least very popular with the coeds in Bridgeport. Joey D is best as making sure everyone is in the right place as no one talks more to his teammates (and the other team) than this street smart kid who is another coach on the court.  DeSantis is the heart of this team and that of course leads us to the soul, Mr. George.  George is an athlete who can really fly up and down the court.  George led the team in scoring (total points) but is also a good defender though he can be overmatched by bigger wings.  He is not a great three-point shooter which is something that Barakat was looking through as the season progressed but he makes up for it with his ability to get in the key and draw contact.  He is not as good of a free throw shooter as DeSantis but at 75 percent and the volume that he takes them George gets more than his fair share of points.  He can also distribute and would be an adequate point guard if not for stepping on his teammates shoes.  He is better suited being the sidekick as he is the best finisher on the team and would be all world (or at least All-MAAC) if he was bit taller than six three.  Joey D and Tony G were a great combo and all they needed was a third wheel to make this back court supreme. 

Barakat tried several guys on the other wing all year long and he may have found somebody in the nick of time.  Junior George Groom was first up and he can flat shoot but an injury cost him some time but he is the heir apparent if he comes back strong.  Sophomore Troy Bradford was next and he too can score off the wing and can defend but is wildly inconsistent and is way too small for a wing.  The kid that Barakat went with was more for his leadership and clutch play than anything.  Sophomore AJ Wynder was backing up DeSantis to start the year but when Groom went down he seized the opportunity.  He hit a huge clutch runner to tie the game against Central Connecticut State and won it with four straight free throws in overtime and did not look back.  He was soon starting next to DeSantis and George and though the trio was not big they were formidable.  Wynder’s best attribute is his smothering defense that he can throw on just about any back court stud this side of Baltimore.  Born in the Bronx this Long Island native has street smarts and high basketball IQ and though he might not be best suited to be a two guard or a wing he does what it takes to help this team win.  He will do whatever it takes as he can score some (especially at the end of games) or grab or board and is an extremely good passer (it did not hurt having three guys with point guard skills playing but..) but is not a great three point shooter.  Barakat knew this was an issue and looked for most of the year trying to find somebody who could fill that designated shooter role.    An entire group of Juniors either were hurt or got passed over as Barakat had plenty of depth in the back court but not enough basketballs to share.  John Ryan is even a better passer than DeSantis but got surpassed by Wynder on the totem pole and was left on the JV.   Ray Kelly and Flip Williams are solid two guard types in the mold of George but not quite as athletic and thus got left on the JV for most of the year.  Too bad because these guys can play and will push hard for more time in their third year.  Ryan and Kelly formed the best back court duo in the league on the JV and are tough as nails and complement this town and each other perfectly.  Williams goes 6’4 and is athletic and can shoot and combined with Kelly and Ryan to raise havoc on the perimeter. 

The stags had a plethora of post players but only one true scoring option on the blocks.  Junior Mark Young was the go to guy down low.  He has a nice touch and knows how to use his six foot ten inch frame.  He is solid on the boards but his strength is his offense.  Young has a plethora of moves down low and is adept at getting to the free throw line which seems to be a recurring theme for this team.  This Massachusetts native goes at about 240 and knows how to get position under the basket.  His showdown with Robinson showed he can be as good as anyone if he keeps improving which he did in leaps and bounds (or should we say elbows and drop steps?).  He is physical and loves to defend so he did get into a bit of foul trouble but Young is as much of an aircraft carrier as there is in the MAAC. 

Young had several guys rotating in next to him throughout the year.  Seniors Bill Jones, Mike Branch, James Brown, Nick Macarchuk and Frank Magaletta formed a unique group of players with their compatriot Mr Burke.  You see all of these guys stand the exact 6’4 in height though they all play different styles of ball.  Branch and Brown are bangers who can score but are best on the boards though that lack of height hurts in the trenches in the MAAC.  Macarchuk and Magaletta are scorers though Macarchuk has apparently left school after the trauma of the Burke tragedy and is accepting a coaching job.  Jones is the best of the bunch and will start again at one forward but is vertically challenged at only 6’4.  He can score and helps on the boards but brings some athleticism this team needs.  Bob Hutter is another senior forward but is even smaller though he can score and board a little.  Junior Stephen Balkun actually chose the Stags over a scholarship offer from UConn and has some size at 6’8 220.  He does not score much but he can bang on the boards and sets a mean screen.  Sophomore Pat Yerena is coming up from the JV and plays the small forward positon.  Though these guys are a bit undersized but if Barakat went their way they would be ready.  All can play and have the kind of leadership skills coaches love on their team as shown by both accepting their limited roles this year. 

Barakat loves having a set starting lineup and he did for the most part.  Once took over the second post midway through the season he had his starting five.  But the Stags had a very healthy bench as well.  Sophomores A.J. Wynder and Bradford plus juniors Ray Kelly and John Ryan are capable backcourt subs.  Kelly can shoot from long range and Ryan is a leader who can flat pass the ball.  Both would have played more if they weren’t stuck behind Joey D and the Georges but Barakat did get this group some minutes to take advantage of their skills.  Wynder can create for his teammates but can also hit big shots.  Wynder’s game winner versus Iona is already legendary in Fairfield.  And Bradford might have the most upside of this group and could really push the George’s for minutes on the wings.  The front court also had some depth.  The Stags had several options to back up Young with a variance of skills to choose from.  Sophomores Jeff Gromos and Pete DeBisschop gave Barakat old school back to the basket post up play who backed their way in and both played some early on.    Watch out for these guys this year. They could dominate the MetroAtlantic.  

The Fairfield Stags competed well in the Metro Atlantic conference.  They were not the most talented team in the world but they did play well together.  The Stags rotated a few too many players at times but Coach Barakat found his nucleus and it showed well when they made their run. With everybody coming back the Stags should be one of the favorites in the league next year.  This team might not have the talent of the LaSalles of the world but it does have the will and a way and they will compete.  And that’s the fact Jack!