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SBU Men's Basketball / Game 22 @ Campbell - 1/29 @ 7:00 PM on FloHoops
« Last post by Oakes on Today at 07:56:29 am »Campbell: 9-12 (and 3-5 in CAA play)
Non Conference wins of note: UT Arlington and Green Bay
CAA wins: @ Monmouth (Lost close games to UNCW, Elon and Charleston)
Campbell is another relatively easy test for a rising Stony Brook team on the road. 4 of their 5 starters from last season left for the Portal this offseason and only return SG Cam Gregory as a starter this season. He is just another run of the mill CAA guard who averages just 8 pts, 3 rb and 3 ast on 32% from deep. But they did a solid job of securing talent in the portal themselves — putting together a roster that currently sits as the 3rd highest scoring offense in the CAA this year behind only William & Mary and Elon.
Their best player is starting PG DJ Smith who served as a starter for Robert Morris last season. After averaging 9 pts and 3 ast on 39% from deep for Robert Morris in 24-25— he is now averaging a team high 20 pts, 4 rb and 2 ast on 37% from deep for Campbell thus far in 25-26. Smith is one of four players in the CAA averaging 20+ PPG next to Cruz Davis (Hofstra), Chandler Cuthrell (Elon) and our Erik Pratt. He scored 30+ points three times this season in games vs Northeastern, Elon and most recently against Charleston. His scoring is going to be more relied on if they continue to be without their starting center Dovydas Butka.
Butka was confirmed by more than one source to have been heavily recruited by Stony Brook before Rob Brown committed. Campbell landed the sophomore out of Lithuania from Pepperdine where he served as the starting PF. He is averaging a strong 14 pts, 9 rb, 2 ast and 1 stl this year for Campbell— but exited last Thursday’s game vs Charleston after two minutes due to an injury. Butka missed the next game vs Monmouth on Saturday and it isn’t clear if he will be available vs Stony Brook Thursday.
Campbell started 6’5” Muneer Newton at the 5 in his place vs Monmouth. Though he lacks size he really frustrated Monmouth’s big Stefanos Spartalis at the rim— holding him to 1/5 from the floor in the game. I expect he’ll get the assignment to guard Goods.
They also have F Chris Fields, who is 6’7”, to use inside. He averages a strong 10 pts and 8 rb — but curiously hasn’t played more than 10 minutes in any of Campbell’s last three games. They lost the rebounding battle to Monmouth by a margin of 16. In short, they are very low on size which needs to be taken advantage of by the Seawolves who could have a field day at the rim (especially if Goods can pull Newton out of the middle with his shooting).
Lastly, they added Jeremiah Johnson— a former starting wing on Green Bay last year — who is averaging 14 pts, 2 rb and 1 ast on 30% from deep for Campbell this year. He notably scored a season high 27 pts in a revenge matchup vs his former team Green Bay, 25 pts vs Hofstra in December and most recently 21 pts vs Monmouth in his last game. Johnson and DJ are the two biggest scoring threats on the roster.
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Stony Brook: 12-9 record (and 4-4 in CAA play)
Stony Brook looks to extend their 3-game winning streak and continue their hot play which has re-energized our fan base recently. The offense is sizzling— particularly from three— as the team is coming off a Northeastern win in which they knocked down 16/29 (55%) from deep against the CAAs worst defense. The NE win aside— these Seawolves have connected on 44/96 (46%) from deep during the win streak. We are now 2nd in the CAA in Team 3PT % this year at 36% (behind only Hofstra)
Pratt’s play lately is becoming the stuff of legend in the Stony Brook Basketball community. He’s scored 30+ points in the last two games and it’s becoming clearer by the day how much these guys rally around his energy and leadership. But Pratt’s passing hasn’t been getting enough praise. He has great vision on the floor and attacks the basket only to dish it out to an open teammate on the wing with regularity.
I’ve spoken about this with a few people, but I’m pretty close to ready to say he might be the greatest guard that has ever put on a Stony Brook uniform. At least when we are talking about looking at all of the best guards in D-I program history that came before him and assessing his skill set compared to theirs. He’ll never be able to play four years here— I get it. Of course his performance in the conference tournament will likely be the lasting judgement on his one-year stint here. But in ten years of watching this team religiously, TSM and Carson Puriefoy never had a bag at the rim as deep as Pratt’s. Nor did they have the court vision and passing ability he has. It’s also just so cool to know TSM in his ear on the sidelines during this special season. Lucas Woodhouse’s 17-18 season is another one that doesn’t get enough praise.
Andrej Shoshkikj’s continues his hot streak as well. He’s scored 10+ pts in 4 of the 6 games so far in January and scored his 4th 20+ PT game in last Thursday’s win over Northeastern. There really have been far less duds from our PG than we had grown accustomed to from Shoshkikj after a up and down December. Stony Brook is 5-0 when he connects on 3 or more threes this season. He’s shooting a team high 44% from three and has also been looking more comfortable with mixing in some layups. With Newton, Campbell’s best defender, defending the paint in this upcoming game and likely being tasked with chasing Goods around, Andrej and our other guards should get some pretty good looks from deep vs this team.
Brown was one of the only Seawolves to not get too involved in the offense during the win over Northeastern— but I expect he’ll have a strong showing in this game vs a weaker Campbell defense that ranks 2nd worst in the CAA after NE.
Simmon is another wing who should take advantage of a weak Campbell perimeter defense. He had his best game of the season with 18 pts on 4/6 from three vs Northeastern and is increasingly entrenching himself as a big part of Stony Brook’s future. I’m loving seeing him get big minutes in the 2nd half and is one of the many wings on this team taking advantage of Pratt’s outlet passes.
Goods finally cooled down vs Northeastern after playing out of his mind in wins over Hofstra and Charleston. While Newton is very physical I suspect Goods rebounds figuratively and literally well in this game vs a very small Campbell roster with Butka likely to be unavailable.
Tomas Valentiny is another player on this team who has had a very up and down season offensively. But if there one thing he’s consistent at it’s his toughness on defense and on the glass. Valentiny had a season high 10 rebounds vs Northeastern. His two threes vs Northeastern was a great sign that he might be snapping out of his funk from three that he’s been in this entire month after being a solid deep threat in the first month of the season. His rebounding vs Campbell should be a difference maker. I strongly believe Valentiny needs to be getting all minutes at the 4 down the stretch of games for Stony Brook’s rather than Quinn Gorman.
——————————
This is an easier road matchup that Stony Brook can take advantage of to continue their win streak and keep the ball rolling, but don’t think the Camels won’t show some fight. I do think this Campbell offense is more formidable than Northeastern— even without Butka involved.
Pratt vs DJ Smith will surely be the matchup to watch on Thursday.
Ive said it before and I’ll say it again. This is arguably the deepest and most well rounded offense I’ve ever seen from a Stony Brook team and I think the best teams in the CAA are taking notice.
Go Seawolves.
Non Conference wins of note: UT Arlington and Green Bay
CAA wins: @ Monmouth (Lost close games to UNCW, Elon and Charleston)
Campbell is another relatively easy test for a rising Stony Brook team on the road. 4 of their 5 starters from last season left for the Portal this offseason and only return SG Cam Gregory as a starter this season. He is just another run of the mill CAA guard who averages just 8 pts, 3 rb and 3 ast on 32% from deep. But they did a solid job of securing talent in the portal themselves — putting together a roster that currently sits as the 3rd highest scoring offense in the CAA this year behind only William & Mary and Elon.
Their best player is starting PG DJ Smith who served as a starter for Robert Morris last season. After averaging 9 pts and 3 ast on 39% from deep for Robert Morris in 24-25— he is now averaging a team high 20 pts, 4 rb and 2 ast on 37% from deep for Campbell thus far in 25-26. Smith is one of four players in the CAA averaging 20+ PPG next to Cruz Davis (Hofstra), Chandler Cuthrell (Elon) and our Erik Pratt. He scored 30+ points three times this season in games vs Northeastern, Elon and most recently against Charleston. His scoring is going to be more relied on if they continue to be without their starting center Dovydas Butka.
Butka was confirmed by more than one source to have been heavily recruited by Stony Brook before Rob Brown committed. Campbell landed the sophomore out of Lithuania from Pepperdine where he served as the starting PF. He is averaging a strong 14 pts, 9 rb, 2 ast and 1 stl this year for Campbell— but exited last Thursday’s game vs Charleston after two minutes due to an injury. Butka missed the next game vs Monmouth on Saturday and it isn’t clear if he will be available vs Stony Brook Thursday.
Campbell started 6’5” Muneer Newton at the 5 in his place vs Monmouth. Though he lacks size he really frustrated Monmouth’s big Stefanos Spartalis at the rim— holding him to 1/5 from the floor in the game. I expect he’ll get the assignment to guard Goods.
They also have F Chris Fields, who is 6’7”, to use inside. He averages a strong 10 pts and 8 rb — but curiously hasn’t played more than 10 minutes in any of Campbell’s last three games. They lost the rebounding battle to Monmouth by a margin of 16. In short, they are very low on size which needs to be taken advantage of by the Seawolves who could have a field day at the rim (especially if Goods can pull Newton out of the middle with his shooting).
Lastly, they added Jeremiah Johnson— a former starting wing on Green Bay last year — who is averaging 14 pts, 2 rb and 1 ast on 30% from deep for Campbell this year. He notably scored a season high 27 pts in a revenge matchup vs his former team Green Bay, 25 pts vs Hofstra in December and most recently 21 pts vs Monmouth in his last game. Johnson and DJ are the two biggest scoring threats on the roster.
————————————
Stony Brook: 12-9 record (and 4-4 in CAA play)
Stony Brook looks to extend their 3-game winning streak and continue their hot play which has re-energized our fan base recently. The offense is sizzling— particularly from three— as the team is coming off a Northeastern win in which they knocked down 16/29 (55%) from deep against the CAAs worst defense. The NE win aside— these Seawolves have connected on 44/96 (46%) from deep during the win streak. We are now 2nd in the CAA in Team 3PT % this year at 36% (behind only Hofstra)
Pratt’s play lately is becoming the stuff of legend in the Stony Brook Basketball community. He’s scored 30+ points in the last two games and it’s becoming clearer by the day how much these guys rally around his energy and leadership. But Pratt’s passing hasn’t been getting enough praise. He has great vision on the floor and attacks the basket only to dish it out to an open teammate on the wing with regularity.
I’ve spoken about this with a few people, but I’m pretty close to ready to say he might be the greatest guard that has ever put on a Stony Brook uniform. At least when we are talking about looking at all of the best guards in D-I program history that came before him and assessing his skill set compared to theirs. He’ll never be able to play four years here— I get it. Of course his performance in the conference tournament will likely be the lasting judgement on his one-year stint here. But in ten years of watching this team religiously, TSM and Carson Puriefoy never had a bag at the rim as deep as Pratt’s. Nor did they have the court vision and passing ability he has. It’s also just so cool to know TSM in his ear on the sidelines during this special season. Lucas Woodhouse’s 17-18 season is another one that doesn’t get enough praise.
Andrej Shoshkikj’s continues his hot streak as well. He’s scored 10+ pts in 4 of the 6 games so far in January and scored his 4th 20+ PT game in last Thursday’s win over Northeastern. There really have been far less duds from our PG than we had grown accustomed to from Shoshkikj after a up and down December. Stony Brook is 5-0 when he connects on 3 or more threes this season. He’s shooting a team high 44% from three and has also been looking more comfortable with mixing in some layups. With Newton, Campbell’s best defender, defending the paint in this upcoming game and likely being tasked with chasing Goods around, Andrej and our other guards should get some pretty good looks from deep vs this team.
Brown was one of the only Seawolves to not get too involved in the offense during the win over Northeastern— but I expect he’ll have a strong showing in this game vs a weaker Campbell defense that ranks 2nd worst in the CAA after NE.
Simmon is another wing who should take advantage of a weak Campbell perimeter defense. He had his best game of the season with 18 pts on 4/6 from three vs Northeastern and is increasingly entrenching himself as a big part of Stony Brook’s future. I’m loving seeing him get big minutes in the 2nd half and is one of the many wings on this team taking advantage of Pratt’s outlet passes.
Goods finally cooled down vs Northeastern after playing out of his mind in wins over Hofstra and Charleston. While Newton is very physical I suspect Goods rebounds figuratively and literally well in this game vs a very small Campbell roster with Butka likely to be unavailable.
Tomas Valentiny is another player on this team who has had a very up and down season offensively. But if there one thing he’s consistent at it’s his toughness on defense and on the glass. Valentiny had a season high 10 rebounds vs Northeastern. His two threes vs Northeastern was a great sign that he might be snapping out of his funk from three that he’s been in this entire month after being a solid deep threat in the first month of the season. His rebounding vs Campbell should be a difference maker. I strongly believe Valentiny needs to be getting all minutes at the 4 down the stretch of games for Stony Brook’s rather than Quinn Gorman.
——————————
This is an easier road matchup that Stony Brook can take advantage of to continue their win streak and keep the ball rolling, but don’t think the Camels won’t show some fight. I do think this Campbell offense is more formidable than Northeastern— even without Butka involved.
Pratt vs DJ Smith will surely be the matchup to watch on Thursday.
Ive said it before and I’ll say it again. This is arguably the deepest and most well rounded offense I’ve ever seen from a Stony Brook team and I think the best teams in the CAA are taking notice.
Go Seawolves.
