By Pete Janny (@pete_janny)
The Fairfield Stags have won 11 of their last 12 games entering Sunday’s rivalry game against Quinnipiac, which will beget first-place status in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
However, the top spot in the MAAC is not the only thing looming these days for a Fairfield program loaded with more talent than ever in recent memory. The long-awaited debut of prized transfer Alexis Yetna could still come at some point as the road to March keeps heating up.
Yetna has not played in a college basketball game since the NCAA Tournament in 2022 for Seton Hall, his initial transfer destination after an injury-riddled stint at South Florida. In recent weeks, Yetna has begun participating in non-contact drills as he begins to shake off the rust that has developed from the defective cartilage in his knee, and perhaps a sign the 6’8 forward is finally nearing his return.
At this point, Fairfield has yet to give a definitive answer on when Yetna could debut. The initial projection made by interim head coach Chris Casey back in late December was that Yetna might be ready by mid-January. The halfway mark of the MAAC regular season arrives this coming Friday, when Fairfield plays at Iona. Although the clock is ticking on his college career, Yetna is not worried about things he perceives to be uncontrollable.
“Not coming back last month was out of my control, so there’s no frustration on my part for that reason,” said Yetna, who has averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest across 83 career games. “I’m doing everything I can to put myself in a position to come back. Whenever that day is, I’ll be very content with it.”
Yetna simply hopes his debut comes sooner than later.
“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked about a target date. “The progression is so sporadic at times. Some stages went faster than others.”
Confined to his role as spectator, Yetna has done far more than just watch the Stags jump out to a 12-7 record while witnessing an array of spectacular individual performances from backcourt studs such as Jalen Leach and Brycen Goodine. Yetna is normally seen barking out instructions from behind the bench, undeterred by injuries or any emotional toll that could have easily demoralized him a long time ago. The Frenchman’s attitude has seemingly left a positive imprint on the entire team, according to Casey.
“He’s been really good,” Casey said. “And I told him over the break, just because you aren’t playing doesn’t mean you’re not having an impact on what we’re doing.”
The supposed mystery of Yetna’s commitment to Fairfield is not at all complicated, with the exception of one nugget. As reported by Mike Anthony of Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Yetna told former head coach Jay Young that Fairfield did not make the final cut on his list before eventually changing course and committing to the Stags.
Yetna says he was really pleased with the coaching staff and the school as main reasons for passing on the high-major level to play at Fairfield, where he “felt right at home.” At 26 years old, Yetna is the oldest college basketball player among those ruled eligible to compete this season. He once dreamed of being drafted to the NBA upon completion of his sophomore season at USF, but then injuries struck and remained. Two knee surgeries later, Yetna wants one more chance to prove he can play at a high level and lead his team to more wins.
“Every step of the way made me a better person and better player,” said Yetna, who is currently pursuing his third college degree. “I’ve been through a lot, so it’s made me more appreciative.”
Yetna could feasibly be the missing piece of a Fairfield program looking to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997. The Stags advanced to the MAAC tournament championship game on five occasions since, most recently in 2021, when their Cinderella run was stopped in its tracks by Iona and Rick Pitino. Casey was an assistant on that Fairfield team, but today, he leads a far more lethal and well-rounded squad than the respectable one from three seasons ago.
Fairfield’s success this season starts with its guards. The Stags have both the most talented and deepest backcourt in the MAAC. The firing squad features old names like Caleb Fields and Leach, as well as a new one in Jasper Floyd, a revelation at the point guard spot after transferring from the junior college ranks.
Yetna has played with talented guards before, but claims the Stags’ guard trove is about equal in caliber. He jokes around with the managers about which guard is going to go off after having already watched Goodine’s 40-point outburst against Siena, Fields’ 33 at the expense of Marist, and most recently, Leach’s back-to-back showings of 29 and 23 points against Saint Peter’s and Manhattan, respectively.
“I’ve played high major basketball and I've seen it,” Yetna said of the exploits of the Fairfield guards. “When comparing it, there’s not much other guys can do that they can’t do. They play so well off each other.”
His teammates can hardly wait for him to finally strut his game wearing red and white. Up to now, running with freshman Peyton Smith and New Mexico transfer Birima Seck has been an effective formula in the frontcourt. Add a healthy Yetna to the fold, and Fairfield is arguably the undisputed favorite to cut down the nets in Atlantic City.
“Once we get Alexis Yetna back, we’ll have another defensive player and inside presence that’ll make it easy for us,” said Fields.
The role of mentor has been something Yetna embraces, too. When Casey speaks about the encouragement offered to the rookie Smith, it starts with the example of Yetna. As good a player Yetna is, he is regarded equally as a teammate.
“His positive reinforcement has really given me confidence to go out there and do what I do,” said Smith, who has started in all 19 games for Fairfield while posting averages of 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Yetna is all business in the classroom as well, having graduated with an economics degree from South Florida and later a masters in business administration with a concentration in management at Seton Hall. At Fairfield, he is pursuing a masters in industrial engineering.
Yetna’s commitment to academics not only stems from the bigger picture he has for life after basketball, but also the privilege of getting a free education attached to his basketball scholarship, an intention he has been able to articulate in a wise way that befits his character.
“It comes from the way I was raised,” Yetna said of why he puts a premium on education. “My parents always put a big emphasis on school. They always pushed me to take advantage because at the end of the day, we’re lucky as D1 athletes to also have the chance to get a free education, because a lot of students have student loans and that kind of stuff.”
When Yetna does return, he will slot into his traditional four spot seamlessly, or maybe even the five in guard-heavy lineups. Whatever the case is, he is ready to do whatever Casey thinks is needed of him to potentially take Fairfield to a level very few could have dreamed of before the season started.
“Even from the sideline, it’s been a fun season to be around for,” he said. “We have a great group of guys. It’s a testament to the character we have on this team. The success we have now didn’t happen by mistake. We all put the work in and all push toward the same direction.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.