New coach Alexander putting the ‘D’ into UDM
Detroit — First-year coach Bacari Alexander has brought a nostalgic buzz back to the University of Detroit Mercy.
As a member of the only Detroit Mercy men’s basketball team to reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 1998-99, Alexander is aiming to recreate that success this season.
“It’s energizing and one of the things I’ve shared with these players that are currently in our program is it’s about them now,” Alexander said Tuesday during the men’s and women’s basketball teams media day at Calihan Hall.
“It’s about their ability to band together and become the type of team that can be a part of our 110-year history. When you look back at NCAA Tournament success, we’ve only had six teams that have been able to accomplish that, which lets you know how difficult it is. These guys have the right ingredients to pursue those type of goals but it’s going to take a lot of hard work, as well.”
Alexander inherits a team with three returning starters — preseason All-Horizon League second team selection and leading scorer Chris Jenkins, junior forward Jaleel Hogan and sophomore guard Josh McFolley — and a balanced mix of seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen.
Since taking over, though, Alexander has placed an emphasis on defense. The Titans had no trouble putting up points last season but their Achilles’ heel was an inability to slow teams down, one reason they finished 16-15.
The Titans ranked 339th in the nation (out of 346 Division 1 schools) in scoring defense, allowing 82.8 points per game, and 313th in field-goal percentage defense at 46.2 percent.
“I like the intensity,” Jenkins said of this year’s team. “I really like the versatility that we have. I like how we’re bringing back what Detroit basketball is. We’re going to be gritty on defense this year, I promise you that.
“We have to get stops, one possession at a time. It’s not about games right now. It’s about winning the possession and if we can win each possession, that means we can win four-minute battles. That’s what we’re focusing on now. Winning possessions and winning four-minute battles and that in turn turns into games.”
Alexander, who spent the past six seasons as an assistant at Michigan, said the excitement, nervousness, blessings and burdens mesh as he embarks on his first season at his alma mater. But his return also serves as a source of inspiration for his players.
“It means a lot,” Hogan said. “Him being successful here in this program and now we see he wants the same for us. We appreciate him for that and we just want to work hard for him so we can have a banner up (at Calihan Hall) some day.”
UDM women
Second-year women’s coach Bernard Scott is hoping to build off last season’s success. Despite playing with a roster of eight, the Titans finished 15-15 overall and 11-7 in the league, their first winning season in the conference in three years.
With 14 players this season — led by all-league selection Rosanna Reynolds, reigning sixth player of the year Brianne Cohen, and one of the league’s best 3-point shooters in Nicole Urbanick — Scott expects his team to play even faster than it did last season, when it scored over 80 points nine times.
“Our expectations are high,” Scott said. “When I came here last year I mentioned we want to be in the NCAA Tournament. That hasn’t changed. I think we have the team that is a postseason team.
“We’re a veteran team. We have very good players and the players we brought in are very good and are going to help us, so we expect to be one of the top teams in the league.”
Slam dunks
The Detroit Mercy men’s team will host an exhibition against Wayne State at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 with all proceeds benefiting Detroit Public Schools grades K-5. Tickets are $2 and Michigan First Credit Union will contribute a matching donation for all tickets sold.
It will be the first matchup between Detroit Mercy and Wayne State in 14 years.
… Detroit Mercy will host its annual “Hoop Night in the D” at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Calihan Hall. The event is free and will feature the official introduction of the men’s and women’s basketball teams and coaches.
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