After Cinderella turn last March, FDU sets its sights on a golden testimonial

FDU celebrates NCAA Tournament upset over Purdue, just second for No. 16 seed in history. Knights will vie for Northeast Conference championship once again this season. (Top photo by the New York Times, bottom photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

NEWARK, N.J. — Northeast Conference Commissioner Noreen Morris called it the greatest upset in sports history.

Even the most casual college basketball fan would know Morris was referring to FDU’s NCAA Tournament upset of top-seeded Purdue. The win last March gave FDU and the NEC more exposure than one would attain with time on a Super Bowl commercial. The mindset, though, is not one of resting on laurels, but rather a feeling through the coaching staff and players of unfinished business.

“We didn’t win the NEC championship last year,” said senior guard Joe Munden, Jr. “There's still work to be done.” 

The Knights finished second to Merrimack in the regular season and were edged by the Warriors in the NEC tournament final. FDU was picked third in this year’s coaches poll behind Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut.

Merrimack was unable to go to the NCAA Tournament last season, as it was still in the transition process from Division II to Division I. Representing the NEC in the field of 68 as the runner-up, FDU seized the moment. A defeat of Texas Southern preceded the big upset of Purdue. The campaign then ended at the hands of another Cinderella, Florida Atlantic.

Jack Castleberry served as an assistant under Tobin Anderson last season. When Anderson headed to Iona, the school remained in house in its search for his successor, naming Castleberry as the new head coach.

“Right now we are undefeated, 0-0 and there’s no issue with playing time,” Castleberry lightheartedly remarked at Tuesday’s NEC media day, not that the new mentor expects many problems. For one, Castleberry does not intend to change much offensively or defensively, just adding a wrinkle here or there.

The Knights lost two starters from last year in Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton, both of whom came from St. Thomas Aquinas with Anderson. Roberts did a great job at the point guard position while Singleton, a deadly shooter from long range, shot 3-pointers at a blistering 43 percent rate. Veterans returning include Ansley Almonor, a 6-foot-6 junior who is not only also dangerous from deep, but an accomplished defensive specialist as well; Munden, the team’s top returning scorer, and Sean Moore, a 6-foot-4 junior and fellow STAC transfer who led the Knights with 19 points against Purdue. Newcomers include 5-foot-8 Devante “Bullet” Jamison, a fourth transfer from STAC whom Castleberry calls a “pest on defense.” “He’s vocal, is a good catch and shoot players and does well setting guys up.”

One of the main objectives, says Castleberry, is maintaining consistency.

“Keep doing what you’re good at,” he said. “That’s what you want to accomplish. That’s something I took from Tobin, just get better at what you’re doing every day, and I feel it’s a reason we got better as the months passed.”

Castleberry noted that with the new staff last year, there was a brand-new system. He expects the team to have more of a comfort zone this year as the system is in place and the players are familiar with it. He did emphasize, though, that it is not just the scheme, but the players you have in your system. While Anderson implemented a system, he and the staff also instilled confidence. Reference came back to the Purdue game where Almonor, despite surrendering 10 inches in height to Zach Edey, did an excellent defensive job on the 7-foot-4 national player of the year. Almonor recalled the moment as the product of preparation.

“The coaching staff did a great job getting us ready,” he said. “We watched a lot of film and went over detailed scouting reports. We were ready.” Almonor also echoed Munden, adding, “beating Purdue was nice, but we did not win a championship. Our job is not finished.” Castleberry also noted how taking down the Boilermakers has aided recruiting.

“It’s name recognition,” he said. “We can contact recruits and they know who we are, where we're located, our league.” At the end of the day, Castleberry is looking for players fitting the program mold of culture and grittiness, players who want to be challenged.

Castleberry regularly stays in touch with Anderson, a close friend he still considers a mentor. Arguably, Anderson’s most important message, one Castleberry still lives by, is “strive to get better at what you do every single day.”

It is a message addressed to both players and coaches alike, something Castleberry and his Knights are striving for this season.