Dunne pleased with Saint Peter's direction as Peacocks fly into MAAC play

John Dunne calls out directives as Saint Peter's ends non-conference season with winning record after overtime triumph against St. Francis Brooklyn. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

JERSEY CITY, NJ -- Both teams faced similar situations, a final non-conference test prior to the tip off of league play pitting Saint Peter's against St. Francis Brooklyn of the Northeast Conference as each sought the common ground of momentum heading into league play.

It took an extra five minutes, but the Peacocks came away winners in a 71-68 overtime thriller that saw eight ties, eleven lead changes, and head coach John Dunne learning more about his 6-5 team heading into their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener at Fairfield Thursday.

“I'm really proud of the way we finished,” he said. “We could have folded. I thought we gave it away at the end of regulation and started slowly in overtime, but today this game shows we're growing. We need more toughness, and we’ll get it. We're getting there.”

Non-conference play is essential in preparing your team to face the rigors of league play. The scheduling can be tricky. You do not want to overload your team with opposition they may have difficulty staying with. On the contrary, a light appetizer before the conference season is not desirable. Rather, it is a mix-and-match proposition. The basic tenet is that non-league play should tell your team where they stand and what needs to be addressed.

Teams naturally aspire to be at their best when conference play rolls around. In leagues like the MAAC, it is vital for one’s NCAA aspirations. A good, competitive group overall, the MAAC is your basic one-bid league. The stars must be perfectly aligned for that elusive second NCAA bid, making conference play so important, as only twice has the conference received an at-large spot. Three, or four, days in March is more reality than just a mere cliché.

In preseason selections, the Peacocks were chosen eighth in the MAAC's preseason poll. Several personnel losses from last year’s CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament championship roster were the main reasons for that prognostication. The feeling among the Peacocks locker room is the conference does not have a dominant team to sweep through the opposition, but rather that the MAAC is a relatively balanced league, with several teams able to step up and make a move.


In this situation, several factors must be in order for that upward mobility. One, you need to play hard, every night, every possession. Second, defense must be a priority. Finally, you need a team with good chemistry and willingness to share the ball. Dunne wants all those boxes checked.

“We have to start games better,” he said. “It’s on me to see how we can come out aggressive and not fall behind 15-4, like we did today. We played a Big East (Seton Hall), Atlantic 10 (La Salle), and Big Ten team (Northwestern) in the non-conference. Those are  good tests, plus we beat who we were supposed to. I like how we share the ball and our unselfishness. I also like the fact we have room for improvement.”

The key components for Saint Peter’s early on include Davauhnte Turner, a junior lead guard with the ability to get inside the defense and get to the basket. Turner averages 11.5 points per game with a team-high 27 assists. Nick Griffin, a holdover from last season, leads the Peacocks with 15.8 points per contest. Idowu, a 6-foot-7 widebody checks in at just under nine per game. Quinn Taylor, as 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, has shown the versatility to post 8.6 points per outing while contributing a team-high 7.1 rebounds (21 of his 71 on the offensive end) per game. Collectively, Saint Peter’s is excited about the challenges of conference play.

“Every game is a war,” Dunne said of the MAAC season. "It is wide open and so many games go to the wire the last four or five minutes. That’s what you want to do, give yourself a chance to win those last few minutes. I thought we did that and responded today in overtime, which was huge. In the MAAC, you have to win those close games like we did today and if you are able to finish in the top four or five, you give yourself a chance in Albany."