In preparation for the start of the 2020-21 basketball season, the Northeast Conference (NEC) hosted its annual basketball media day for men’s and women’s basketball on Nov. 11-12. Due to COVID-19, the two-day event was held virtually on the NEC Front Row website.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, all ten women’s basketball teams in the NEC were invited to this virtual media day event to discuss the upcoming season. The hosts of this event were NEC broadcaster Craig D’Amico and former Wagner head women’s basketball coach Pam Roecker.
The Sacred Heart women’s team was ranked second in the NEC preseason poll for the 2020-21 season and their season opener is scheduled for Nov. 25 at Fairfield University.
“Our goal is to be top four every year, to be the best in the conference,” said eighth-year head coach Jessica Mannetti. “These ladies want a ring, and they’re going to stop at nothing to get it.”
According to Sacred Heart Athletics, the women’s team has been to 21 straight NEC tournaments and to the conference semifinals the past five years in a row. However, they have not won the conference since 2012.
All five starters are returning for the Pioneers, including senior guard Adrianne Hagood, who was selected to the all-conference preseason team, one of only five players from the entire conference.
“I’ve been working on my pull-up and mid-range game and also communicating with my team on and off the court,” said Hagood. “I want to be a leader and communication is one of the things that will help us be a collective team.”
According to Mannetti, former head coach Ed Swanson did a great job of winning with this program which put a lot of pressure on her to continue this culture.
“It matters to us to have a tradition of success here and finish strong in the league,” said Mannetti.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, the NEC men’s basketball teams had their virtual media day event hosted by sportscaster Dave Popkin and former men’s basketball head coach at Quinnipiac University, Joe DeSantis.
DeSantis mentioned that when predicting a team’s success for the season, he looks for experience and the number of returning players, as well as how well-rounded the team is positionally.
According to Popkin, Sacred Heart’s men’s basketball team was ranked tenth out of ten teams because of how many players the team lost due those who graduated or transferred.
The Pioneers finished fourth last season. However, they lost three out of five starters and six letter winners, according to NEC Front Row.
Jare’l Spellman, a former NEC defensive player of the year, graduated from Sacred Heart last May and has since signed to play professional basketball. Anthony Latina, head coach of the men’s team at Sacred Heart, noted his absence and how it will affect the team’s dynamic this season.
He said that their goals this season are to defend the three-point line better to make up for losing their best shot blocker, to create more pressure in order to force more turnovers and to continue to rebound.
Junior guard Aaron Clarke joined the broadcast to talk about his position on the team this year. Clarke appeared in 30 games with 15 starts last year and averaged 11.3 points per game. Latina has identified him as an important part of their lineup this season.
Clarke plans to work on his leadership more vocally and defensively.
“I feel like as a point guard you should set the tone defensively and set the tone for the game,” said Clarke.
Popkin and DeSantis complimented Clarke on his style of play and the abilities he has showcased on the court.
“Skill-wise I have to give most of the credit to my dad for working me out growing up and all the way up to college,” said Clarke.
The men’s team will start their season on Nov. 25 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.
