LAKELAND, Fla. - The Fire Men's basketball team embarks on the 2017-18 season this week as they play host to Trinity College, the Martinique National Team, and the University of the Virgin Islands. Southeastern, coming off of a 13-16 season, is prepared to set the benchmark high for the upcoming slate.
GAME 1 INFO:
Date: November 2, 2017
Opponent: Trinity College
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Lakeland, Fla.
Arena: The Furnace
Live Video/Stats:
Stretch Internet
GAME 2 INFO:
Date: November 4, 2017
Opponent: Martinique National Team (exhib.)
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Lakeland, Fla.
Arena: The Furnacne
Live Video/Stats:
Stretch Internet
GAME 3 INFO:
Date: November 6, 2017
Opponent: University of the Virgin Islands
Time: 8 p.m
Location: Lakeland, Fla.
Arena: The Furnance
Live Video/Stats:
Stretch Internet
Formulating a New Beginning:
Southeastern is composed of a team that returns talent and leadership. Coupled with the talent that head coach
R-Jay Barsh brought in during the off-season, the Fire are an improved unit on all fronts.
The Fire return the dynamic point guard C.J. Reese whose playmaking ability was unmatched last season. A native of College Park, Georgia, Reese, appeared in 19 games and made a noticeable difference averaging a team leading 21.9 points per game. Reese was also the Fire's leading facilitator recording 89 assists.
Complementing Reese is the 2016-17 Sun Conference Freshman of the year Jeremy Oppenheimer. In his award winning season, Oppenheimer averaged 13.9 points per game, collected 135 boards, and was second on the team in assists with 83.
Along with the savvy returners, the Fire added a few accomplished transfers to its arsenal. Ryan Atkins is one of those men. Atkins, the 2016-17 River States Conference Player of the Year, averaged 24.2 points per game which ranked 6th in all of the NAIA. The native of Miami, Florida was also accredited for 102 assists.
Grant Bryant and Deion Fields, a pair of NCAA Division II transfers, will also play an important role for Southeastern. During his time at the University of Tampa, Bryant averaged seven rebounds per game.
Perimeter shooting was spearheaded by Harrison Hebert during the 2016-17 campaign. The transfer from the State College of Florida - Manatee, shot 37 percent from beyond the arc in 173 attempts.
The Tigers:
Trinity College is headed by coach Rob Oppendisano. During the 2016-17 season, the Tigers posted a 21-10 record on their way to winning the 2016-17 Bible College NIT National Title. Since the inception of the tournament in 2006, the Tigers are the first team to ever win back-to-back NIT national titles.
Heading the Tiger offense is senior guard, John Coleman. After his breakout performance at the Bible College NIT National Title, Coleman was named the tournament MVP for his efforts.
The Tigers are a rather young team with just one upperclassman in the form of Coleman. A total of 18 underclassmen make up the Tigers roster, 12 of which are freshmen.
For updates on all of the action, be sure to follow @SEUFireMBB on twitter.
