Bryant Bulldogs
2021-2022 Overall Rank: #137
Conference Rank: #1 NEC
After a couple of disappointing seasons, Bryant started to turn things around in 2020-2021. The Bulldogs finished 15-7 overall and second in the Northeast Conference with a 10-4 mark. That was enough to get an invite to the CBI. That was their second ever postseason trip at the Division I level. Now Coach Jared Grasso and company will look to take the next step and reach their first NCAA Tournament.
2020-21 Record: 15-7, 10-4
2020-21 Postseason: CBI
Coach: Jared Grasso
Coach Record: 40-44 at Bryant, 40-44 overall
Key Departed Players:
Michael Green III, Guard, 16.0 ppg
Nathaniel Stokes, Forward, 3.4 ppg
Melo Eggleston, Guard, 5.0 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Peter Kiss, Senior, Guard, 16.6 ppg
Charles Pride, Junior, Guard, 13.7 ppg
Chris Childs, Senior, Guard, 14.0 ppg
Hall Elisias, Senior, Forward, 10.3 ppg
Luis Hurtado Jr, Senior, Guard, 5.2 ppg
Erickson Bans, Sophomore, Guard, 4.4 ppg
Kai Kostmayer, Sophomore, Forward, 4.0 ppg
Joe Moon IV, Sophomore, Guard, 1.6 ppg
Key New Players:
Tyler Breslford, Freshman, Guard, Transfer from George Washington
Greg Calixte, Senior, Forward, Transfer from George Mason
Ben Callahan-Gold, RS Freshman, Guard
Grant Coleman, RS Freshman, Forward
Liam Dunfee, Freshman, Forward
Adham Eleeda, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Northern Kentucky
Mike Iuzzolino, Freshman, Guard
Mike Marshall Jr, Freshman, Forward
Josh Ozabor, Freshman, Guard
Max Zakheim, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
Bryant did not have much depth last season and basically spent most of the year with a six-player rotation. Four of those players are back, including leading scorer Peter Kiss. The 6-5 senior averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals. Chris Childs is the most prolific shooter on a great shooting team. He knocked in 61 three-pointers last season. Charles Pride can shoot the ball too, but the 6-4 junior is also very effective on the glass. He pulled in 7.0 rebounds per game in 2020-2021. Luis Hurtado is a great glue guy who will do a lot of the dirty work. The potential problem for Bryant is in the frontcourt to find support for Hall Elisias and his 10.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Kai Kostmayer is the only returning forward on the roster who was a regular contributor. However, the Bulldogs have brought in some transfers to help fill the void, most notably Greg Calixte from George Mason. But with even more talented options coming into the backcourt, do not be surprised to see Bryant run a smaller lineup most of the time and rely on tough rebounding guards like Kiss and Pride. Even if Bryant plays small, their new found depth will pay big dividends come March when the schedule starts getting crowded.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 83.8 (4th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 75.6 (285, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.5 (53, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.1 (55, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 9.5 (22, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.1 (13, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 76.1 (35, 1)
Rebound Margin: 1.2 (145, 4)
Assists Per Game: 15.3 (50, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.1 (298, 9)
