By SPENCER BATES
ST. BONAVENTURE — The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team is finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Its 11-1 record is second-best in the nation, only behind currently undefeated Florida, Tennessee, Drake and Oklahoma.
The Bonnies proved their ability to hang with some of the nation’s best, losing narrowly to a Utah State team that only recently endured its first loss of the season, handled business against a University or Northern Iowa team, and defeated Big East powerhouse Providence at a “neutral” site — the drive to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut being a seven hour drive from St. Bonaventure compared to the 1.5 hour trek from Providence’s campus. They also collected their first piece of silverware of the season after dismantling Siena College on their own floor and claiming their second-consecutive Franciscan Cup victory.
But perhaps, the cherry on top of it all, is that they received two votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll this past week.
Now, Bona is not just front page news because of the presence of its new general manager, Adrian Wojnarowski. It is front page news because of its gritty defense, unselfish offense and electrifying personalities.
The Bonnies may not be amongst the top scoring offenses in the country, dropping in 90+ points per game, but it has made a habit of imposing its grip on each and every opponent and forcing them into playing the way they want.
As of writing, Bona is ranked 14th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to just over 60 points per game. This stat goes hand-in-hand with its 37th national ranking in defensive field goal percentage, keeping its opponents shooting at just over a 39% tick per game.
That amount of stifling defense and game control is exactly who the Bonnies need to be, especially in a conference like the Atlantic 10, in which chaos flows like water.
“(Defense) is our identity,” Schmidt told ESPN+ broadcasters after his team’s win over Siena on Dec. 17. “The guys have really bought into it. We’re not a great offensive team, we don’t shoot the ball great, but we play hard. And playing hard overcomes a lot of deficiencies. … When we guard it gives us a chance.”
It has been a full blown defensive masterclass from Bona this season and they have done so efficiently as well. The team currently ranks 12th in the nation in personal fouls per game at just 13.6, and 46th in steals per game with 9.1. But, like Schmidt said, a defensive mentality such as the one the Bonnies carry with them into each and every game, takes commitment from the players. So, certainly having individuals like Melvin Council Jr. and Chance Moore help in that department.
Council, who has fittingly been deemed the “alpha” of this year’s team, and Moore, who’s aggressive antics when rocking the rim are juxtaposed with an otherwise relaxed demeanor, have been not just bright spots for the team, but diamonds that dance in the light Schmidt shines on them.
Schmidt has often spoken about how the system he has does not work if everyone is not fully committed. In a day and age in which eyes are on the transfer portal 24/7, he noted that a feeling of commitment can be hard to find in players. What can prove even harder is finding players that are willing to put the scoring aside and win on the defensive end.
“I think part of the portal guys leave because they’re not getting the playing time they want, they’re not getting the shots they want,” Schmidt said in his media availability prior to the Siena fixture. “And I think my assistants have done a really good job of bringing in those types of guys that are still team-oriented guys. Unselfish guys that want to win. It’s not all about them. I think that’s really helped that we have guys that understand how to win, and they’re buying in, and they’re coachable.”
But he still knows that there is plenty of work to do and all that his record means at this point in the season is that they are guaranteed 11 wins.
“We’re off to a good start,” Schmidt said. “It’s coach talk, but we just try to take one game at a time. … I think we’re getting better. We’re not nearly where we need to be with a whole 12 new guys, but I think the guys are buying into what we’re trying to sell. We’re getting better, but we got to continue to improve.”
Now, all that stands in the way of the Bonnies and a one-loss non-conference portion of the season is a date with Big 4 rival Niagara University on Dec. 21, their first home game in two weeks. A win there will only further propel them ahead of a massive clash against VCU on Dec. 31 to start league play.
And who knows, if the streak continues and Bona’s defense continues to shine above the offenses of the A10, that bubble might start to shrink and a path to a national poll position may open up.
