Returning players, rekindled hope gives Fairfield reason for optimism as new arena opens

With most depth of his tenure and major experience returning to Fairfield, Jay Young is confident his Stags will rebound into MAAC’s upper echelon. (Photo by NJ Advance Media)

Two years ago, Fairfield rode a late-season surge fueled by stifling defense and a core of upperclassmen to an unlikely appearance in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game, where the Stags would end up falling short to an Iona team coming off a fourth COVID pause shortly before the tournament began.

It was that timely run, plus the return of fifth-year seniors Taj Benning, Jesus Cruz and Caleb Green, that positioned many to be bullish on Fairfield’s prospects entering last year, but the Stags fell victim to extenuating circumstances and untimely bounces that proved to be a coup de grace for any postseason aspirations.

“It was just kind of a weird year for us,” head coach Jay Young reflected. “We got off to a really good start, and then lost an overtime game at UMass, came back before Christmas and lost a tough game to a very good Wagner team, and then we hit the skids. We came out of Christmas and just got blasted with COVID issues — I think we lost seven in a row at that point — and then just kind of bounced back, salvaged it.”

“I think we have some good things to grow on. I thought we took a step forward in terms of wins, but honestly, I thought we should have had a better year. I think everybody feels the same way, and we’re looking to capitalize on how we can be better this year.”

With an ever-present confidence, Young welcomes back a cadre of players instrumental in guiding the Stags to the precipice of their next breakout, which the fourth-year head coach believes could be a consistent presence as one of the MAAC’s elite. Supreme Cook, whose name has already been mentioned among prospective all-conference talent, leads a frontcourt that also includes fellow forwards Zach Crisler, Chris Maidoh and Allan Jeanne-Rose, the latter of whom could see significant opportunities to contribute at the four spot for a Fairfield unit possessing a versatile and multifaceted attack that will only serve the Stags well in terms of competition.

“This is the most depth we’ve had,” Young proclaimed. “We’re a little thin at the point guard spot, which worries me a little bit, but overall, I think our scholarship guys — one through 13 — are all good players. This summer was the most competitive we’ve had with guys fighting for positions and all that, so I thought that was a really good sign. I think this is the most talent we’ve had and the most depth we’ve had.”

“I thought Supreme was playing like a first team all-conference guy all summer long. He was kind of dominant in practice, and I think we can get him up to 14-15 points if he can make some free throws for us. He’s got the ability to be a first team type of guy, and (Jake Wojcik) has really come back playing with a lot of confidence. Zach’s kind of the Swiss Army knife, you can play him at the four, you can play him at the five, helps us offensively, our leading charge guy by far. He really helps us out with a lot of things that don’t appear in the box score. We like the frontcourt a lot, and Chris took a huge leap last year. We played him a little bit at the four trying to go big at some times, but didn’t love that quite honestly with the way we play. We really feel the combination of him and Supreme at the five spot is as good as anybody in the league.”

In the backcourt, Fairfield’s surplus is only increased, as sophomore TJ Long, fresh off a MAAC All-Rookie season, returns alongside transfers Caleb Fields (Bowling Green) and Brycen Goodine (Providence), as well as a healthy Jalen Leach, whom Young hopes can stay 100 percent long enough to spell Fields as the backup point guard.

“They’ve been through some wars,” Young said of his guards, emphasizing the higher-level resumes of Fields and Goodine. “Those guys just come in a little more ready, a little more familiar with what it takes to be a college basketball player, and they both have to play. Caleb didn’t play at all last year due to an injury, and Brycen has had really limited minutes since his freshman year at Syracuse. It’s just getting them back on the court playing extended minutes and getting their swagger back. They add to our talent, and they also help our leadership as well.”

“(Long’s) an important part of what we want to do moving forward. We want him to kind of start where he left off. I always say TJ’s more scorer than shooter, and he’s improved going off the bounce, his handle, and his body certainly looks the best since he’s been here.”

A trio of freshmen — Michael Rogan, Anthony Davis, and James Johns, Jr., whose father is one of Young’s assistants — will also see opportunities to make an impact and position themselves among the Stags’ rotation in a season that sees Fairfield take to the road for the first four weeks of its season before welcoming Saint Peter’s into Connecticut on December 3 to christen its new on-campus arena, something Young believes will ultimately revitalize the fan base and community by creating a homecourt advantage that has been seemingly nonexistent the past several years due to both the pandemic and the lack of a steady venue at which to play home games.

“We’re going to have to play the whole month of November on the road because our building won’t be ready until December, but that’s what we did last year,” Young said. “And honestly, we were better on the road last year than we were at home. I think it’s a game changer and the thing we’ve been missing here.”

“My first year here, we played a combination of games in Bridgeport and the old Alumni Hall. My second year, we played all our games in Alumni Hall in front of cardboard cutouts, and then last year all games in Bridgeport, so we’ve been nomads. There’s been no homecourt advantage for us whatsoever, really, so that'll change come December 3. I know the whole campus is excited for that, as is our team.”

The backdrop will be new for half the year, the players donning the red and white somewhat more familiar. But for Young, the objective is the same, as is the vision for a program long considered to be a sleeping giant in the MAAC if properly fed.

“My goal every year is we’ve got to be an upper-level, top four team in the MAAC,” he reiterated. I think this is the year. We’ve got a good group of talent and returning guys here, and there’s still some unknown parts for us, but we need to be a top four team in the MAAC and make a good run in that tournament. That’s what we need to do, win some games and go into that tournament in a good place.”