Through six games, the Quinnipiac Bobcats—preseason favorites in the MAAC—have been a team of runs.
Sloppy second halves against St. John’s, Maine and UMass Lowell haven't left a pleasant taste in their mouths and yet, they currently sit at 3-3 in non-conference play.
With home wins against Division III WPI and Maine, and then heading down to Navy to grab their first road victory, the Bobcats have been good enough to earn the reputation as the conference’s best team. But will that translate into the MAAC schedule? After six games, the team has started to feel out its identity, and it’s evident to see on the court and in the press conferences.
Here’s some notes on every member of the Bobcats roster in numerical order, including some roster nuggets from head coach Tom Pecora and quotes that should give any Quinnipiac fan confidence heading toward conference play in December:
Alexis Reyes – In his third season with the Bobcats, Reyes was penciled in as the starting small forward for the first four games of the year. Ahead of the Navy game on November 19, he donned street clothes and recorded a DNP in the victory. Just four days later, the same result. Reyes was averaging 6.5 points per game and one steal per game before getting injured. The Bobcats were amazingly healthy en route to last season’s regular season title, so the senior’s injury—which Pecora described on Saturday as “a day-to-day thing”—will be the top priority in the health department.
They said it: “You never know with a back (injury). He couldn’t go. His back’s a mess, so we’ll see how he responds moving forward.”
— Pecora on a back injury that has sidelined Reyes for two straight games
Richie Springs – After transferring to Hamden after winning a national championship with UConn, Springs was expected to get some consistent minutes off the bench for the Bobcats. Now in his second season with Quinnipiac, he’s rotated in, but not to the rate that one might expect. As of late, a lot of the minutes at the backup center spot have seemed to go toward freshman Spence Wewe. When Springs has gotten in the game, he’s yet to score a point and has more personal fouls (six) than rebounds (five). The points will eventually come for the former Husky, but a very slow start to 2024 for the graduate student. He’s only gotten 30 minutes on the floor so far, with 22 of those coming in the first three games.
They said it: “Richie obviously can play the four and the five, so there’s a lot of different options out there, but the old expression, you make plans and God laughs, you know? So I always have a template, then they throw the ball in the air and sometimes all that goes out the window.”
— Pecora on how Springs fits into the frontcourt rotation
Amarri Monroe — The MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Monroe has been the team’s best player by far. It hasn’t come without its bruises, as the Newburgh, New York, native has had some shaky shooting performances to kick off the year (0-for-9 at St. John’s and 4-for-18 against UMass Lowell are the glaring examples). He will rack up the majority of the minutes and when the team needs a bucket, Monroe will be the guy with the ball in his hands. Five of his six games has seen him score 13 or more points, but they haven’t been in bunches. For the Bobcats to click, the emerging leader will need to lead the offense without getting into foul trouble (he had eight fouls in a two-game stretch earlier this month).
They said it: “Younger Mari would have forced shots and try to get going. But I think this Mari just wants to get to the rim and see the ball go through the rim, because once the ball goes through the rim, then I’m shooting threes, I’ve learned to just let the game come to me.”
— Monroe on taking what the game gives him instead of trying to do too much offensively
Savion Lewis – Lewis is the go-to guy for assists, but his lack of scoring has been evident. Is he racking up the helpers at a pace that rivals last season? No, but it’s still his forte. He’s started all six games at a point guard spot and has remained the team’s primary ball handler. The points are what I’m keeping an eye out for. Three games have seen Lewis record just a singular field goal, and he is yet to break double-digits in points. The scoring isn’t something to harp on, but when Lewis was clicking, Quinnipiac began to move in harmony. Once he gets into that offensive rhythm—he’s struggled with shot clock issues that Pecora made note shouldn’t happen to a seventh-year player—the team will start to flow more cohesively.
They said it: “Understanding that it was my last year and not wanting to gamble that on what-ifs. Knowing that we had a great opportunity and there was unfinished business, when you taste that type of success last year and you’re like, right there, it’s almost something you can’t just walk away from.”
— Why Lewis decided to return for his seventh season at Quinnipiac
Khaden Bennett – There is no sophomore slump for this guy. The jump that Bennett took from his freshman year has been evident, and it was at the forefront of Saturday’s game in Lowell. He was the Bobcats’ best player, recording a career-best 19 points and eight rebounds in the loss. His three-point shooting has improved as well, as he’s already made four more triples than he did a year ago. His veteran head coach made note of how he’s focused on driving to the rim more, while the freshmen have shined a light on what he’s like off the court. He’s becoming a solid member of Quinnipiac’s rotation.
They said it: “Just having energy, you know, taking advantage of what we’re good at. We had the speed advantage, being able to just get out, get stops and be able to run was a good thing for us.”
— Bennett on Quinnipiac being able to use its defense to create offense
Doug Young – The one knock I had on Young a year ago was that he sometimes forced some bad shots from deep. He’s settled that aspect of his game and plays like a more composed guard off the bench. In fact, he was rewarded with his first career start against Navy on November 19, where he played a season-high 26 minutes and scored 12 points. One game later, the senior was benched for what was described as a “coach’s decision.” Young didn’t appear hurt and seemed to be upset after the 10-point loss to UMass Lowell, so this can be something to watch. With that being said, Young was a feisty and fiery defender in his first season with the Bobcats and is continuing that trend in 2024.
They said it: “Saint Peter’s. No reason, it’s just a nasty taste in our mouth, gotta get (it) out.”
— Young on what games he has circled on the schedule this season
Ryan Mabrey – The lone transfer that the Bobcats picked up in the portal, Mabrey came in to be the guy who replaced Matt Balanc at the two-guard. When he’s on, he is on. Just look at the first half at St. John’s, where Mabrey lit up the Red Storm for 15 early points. But that’s been the struggle with Mabrey. A lot of his shots from deep come early and often, and then he tends to slow down as the game progresses. Against Maine, he didn’t convert on a shot from beyond the arc and only played 17 minutes. In the season opener, his lone three points came from a shot in the first minute of the game. If he can hone in on his shot selection and get some to fall, he will be a real weapon for Quinnipiac. Until then, players like Khaden Bennett and Jaden Zimmerman have been more consistent and deserve more playing time.
They said it: “My first meeting was a lot of laughs, a lot of ‘I know this guy, you know this guy,’ like we all kind of had similar connections there, but he was passionate about winning and passionate about his team, his guys and I knew that he’d look out for me, and coach me well.”
— Mabrey on his initial interactions with his new head coach
Grant Randall – Randall won’t be the guy to play 25-plus minutes, but has come in for spurts off the bench and has showcased his athleticism that the coaching staff raved about all offseason. Despite just racking up 13 points to kick off his freshman campaign, five of those came in front of the home crowd against Maine. A major three-ball, followed by a poster slam, sent the Quinnipiac bench and crowd into a frenzy. He’s looked a bit timid, but had gotten to the line these past two games. He will grow into his role as a depth guy.
They said it: “Grant, I’m so happy for him. He got down on himself after not scoring a lot. Seeing that three go in just got me excited and obviously the dunk from the baseline got me more excited. I’m excited with these young guys.”
— Monroe on Randall’s career-best offensive outburst against Maine
Samson Reilly – It’s likely that this year will be a redshirt season for Reilly. Through the first six games, he’s one of two players who hasn’t checked onto the floor yet and based on the feeling around the team, it’s highly unlikely he will. With that being said, the sharpshooter is someone to watch for next season (or perhaps this year if a rotation player goes down with an injury). He’s a smaller guard (6’2”, 165 pounds) but was lights-out in high school for East Catholic in Connecticut. Pecora said that he didn’t want to burn years, but this may be an instance of the staff doing so.
They said it: “(The freshmen) are long, with the exception of Samson, who’s tough as a pitbull. Going to just continue to grow and grow, and hopefully not too fast.”
— Pecora on how Reilly stands out from the rest of the freshmen class
Spence Wewe – One of the surprises early on, Wewe has slowly increased his playing time throughout the weeks. He came in against Yale in the season opener and looked like a raw, seven-foot freshman. He’s still a lanky player who will need to fill out and carve out a more defined role, but he brings some height and length to the center position off the bench to replace the starter, Paul Otieno. The coaching staff has made comments about how he’s getting better each and every game, and was the second player to check into the game on Saturday. Whether that role is increased will depend on Wewe, who’s totaled nine points and 11 rebounds so far.
They said it: “We went after him really hard, got him in here for a great visit, and he’s a great young guy. He’s really impressive as a person, and he just gets better every day in practice, he just keeps getting better.”
— Pecora on the summer recruiting process of Wewe
Braylan Ritvo – Another member of the freshman class who has yet to step onto the floor for any game action. The feeling around the team—while nothing has been made official—is that Ritvo will be a redshirt this season, but it’s still up in the air. The talent is there for the three-star recruit and he can contribute on both ends of the floor, but will we see that in 2024-25 is the question. If Reyes’ back injury extends further than three games, this could be something to watch out for.
They said it: “Braylan was, like, a month behind because he had a couple injuries early on, so that really set him back. He’s practicing well now, but it’s like, where are the minutes gonna come?”
— Pecora on a potential redshirt season for Ritvo
Quinn Guth – After a junior season where an injury held him off the court, Guth was able to step in and get two free throws to fall in the season opener at Yale. The Brookfield, Connecticut, native also tacked on three minutes against WPI the next game, but didn’t find the bottom of the net. His likely route to more minutes will likely be in mop-up duty, one way or another.
They said it: “For Quinn to go in, Quinn does a great job and to play against a couple of their walk-ons, he deserves that.”
— Pecora on getting Guth onto the floor for the first time in two years
Jaden Zimmerman – If there’s one player to look at and immediately herald as the future of this program, Zimmerman would be that guy. The one his teammates passionately call “JayZee,” the freshman recently made his first career start against UMass Lowell and has found himself in the fix for minutes early and often.
They said it: “I take a lot (of pride) on the defensive side. My uncle told me that’s going to keep you on the floor, whether you’re playing bad or not scoring. You playing defense is stopping other people from scoring (which is) gonna keep you on the floor and get you more minutes.”
— Zimmerman on the pride he takes in the defensive part of his game
Paul Otieno – It’s been a wonky start to the season for the big man. In the win against Maine, he didn’t grab a single rebound in the first half, and in the loss to UMass Lowell, all 11 of Otieno’s rebounds came on the offensive side of the floor. It was struggles to regularly find the bucket that plagued the Nairobi, Kenya, native at times last season, but scoring the ball hasn’t been an issue for the fifth-year captain. It’s a constant theme that the coaching staff often says he plays too hard at times, which can sometimes lead to early fouls and quick trips to the bench. But when the ball is in Otieno’s hands and he’s in the paint, he’s one of the Bobcats’ most dominant players. Through six games thus far, he’s accounted for two double-doubles, and three games scoring 10+ points.
They said it: “I’ve been more vocal. The past two years, I wasn’t saying much, but this year, they need me to be more vocal.”
— Otieno on how his leadership role has changed going into this season
Akintola Akinniyi – In his first full season as a member of the Bobcats, Akinniyi has only seen action in one game, getting on the court for a single minute against WPI. It didn’t come without an ovation, as his teammates cheered him on for his first moments as a Quinnipiac player. Akinniyi, a sophomore forward, transferred from Army last season and spent the majority of last year on the bench. He would work out with the team and travel to games, but didn’t see any action until the second matchup of this year. He’s slated for more of a mop-up role this year, especially with a lot of the minutes being divided between Otieno, Springs and Wewe in the front court.
They said it: “Once I met the staff, once I went through the campus, and also knowing that my brother goes to Yale, so that family being so close, it just really ended up being the perfect fit.”
— Akinniyi on why he chose to transfer to Quinnipiac from Army (via The Quinnipiac Chronicle)
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