Falcons the No. 1 choice by coaches

Courtesy of Matt Stewart - Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG -- The Fitchburg State University men's basketball team didn't get any love from their MASCAC peers at the start of last season, ending up one spot away from the bottom of the conference's coaches' preseason poll.

FSU men's basketball preview

After finishing third out of seven teams in the conference last year, the Falcons now have to live up to the expectations of being the most feared team in the MASCAC, as the loaded Falcons earned first-place honors this preseason and will look to contend for a conference championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Third-year head coach Titus Manderson is not looking down the road or focusing on big goals, but rather is looking to take the season one step at a time.

"We had 16 wins last year, which tied the most in program history," Manderson said. "We're trying to build this program to be the No. 1 choice for basketball players looking at state universities. We want to be perennial contenders for the conference championship, and that's the goal for the coaches.

"The goals for the team are to have one good practice at a time. That's where our mindset has to be. We feel like if we do that, the other things people want to talk about like conference championships and NCAA tournaments, that's the path to get there."

The Falcons are pleased with the preseason pick and feel that other teams might be gunning for them come conference play, which is a phenomenon that they welcome.

"Being predicted first, I think, is a fair assessment," Manderson said. "I felt as though we should be the favorite, and that's where we're at as far as the rankings go, and we're fine with that and appreciate that. We want to be the front-runner."

Fitchburg State returns three starters from last year's lineup, with the signature piece being 6-foot-9 power forward Kwame Lee. Lee is an athletic big who can not only use his size to his advantage in the post, but can get out in transition on the fast break.

Lee led the team in points last year with 338 (11.6 per game), notched a team-best 210 rebounds (7.24 per game), and added 32 blocks and 33 steals in 29 games. He was a MASCAC first-team all-conference selection last year as a junior.

"Lee plays inside and outside, with an excellent 3-point shot," Manderson said. "He can handle and get to the basket, run the floor and has excellent post moves, with the potential for a big rebounding game, while blocking shots. He's a mismatch problem."

Guard Givaughn Jones was a second-team all-conference selection last year, and led the Falcons in assists (86) and steals (72). Jones might be one of the best defensive point guards in the conference.

"Jones is an athletic guard, and was top 10 in the country in steals for most of the season," Manderson said. "He's one of the all-time leaders for steals in a season for Fitchburg State. He's a dynamic defender and can score it from the outside, and he might be the next FSU player to get a triple-double, that's how good his skill set is."

Junior Leonny Burgos returns as the starting point guard after logging 69 assists.

"Burgos is a floor general and a very unselfish point guard," Manderson said. "He's good with the basketball, limits his turnovers and can hit the open shot. He's a pass-first point guard."

The three aforementioned players and Anthony Muccioli will serve as the team's captains this year.

Jaleel Bell is a Franklin Pierce University transfer who was one of the top scorers in Massachusetts in high school. He figures to surprise some people and log quality minutes in the backcourt.

"Bell is projected as a starter for us," Manderson said. "He's expected to make an impact right away."

Forward Jalen Williams returns after leading the conference in field goal percentage and should fight for a starting role, as well.

Lance Hill, another transfer, was a New England Regional All-Star the last two years at Springfield Technical Community College. Lyndon State College transfer Josh Bosworth is a 6-foot-5 swingman who should contribute.

The Falcons are a well-balanced team, with even distributions through all four classes and a good chunk of players who transferred in. 

"We have quite a few guys that are new to the program and are learning how we operate," Manderson said. "We have a 15-man roster and there's not one guy on the team we don't think can contribute. We have a nice, balanced group -- very athletic, and might be undersized, I would say. But if we play the way we play, it's really an advantage if we dictate style."

As has been the case for Fitchburg State every year Manderson has been at the helm, the Falcons will challenge themselves in the non-conference slate. The FSU schedule features five NEWMAC teams -- MIT, WPI, Clark University, Wheaton College and Springfield College.

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