Jeremy Bialek has found success as a high school coach and a college assistant. Now the first-year head coach is set for the challenge of leading the Highlanders men's basketball program. We sat down with Coach Bialek to talk about his goals and expectations for his team heading into the 2022-23 season.
VIDEO PREVIEW INTERVIEW
What are your thoughts on last year's team/results and what was the focus in the off season?
The off-season focus was mainly to prepare guys for our new system and build the foundational blocks of our new LIFE culture (Love - Invest - Fight - Excel). The returning players and freshmen did a great job of gathering together on their own to work out, play pick-up games, and build relationships. That has definitely carried over into the start of the semester and our pre-season practices.
What are some of your team goals for the season?
Off the court, we want to see a lot of progress in building a special culture here that infects all of campus positively while also raising the academic bar for our players.
On the court, we have to make progress in the four key areas of effective field goal percentage, rebounding, turnover ratio, and free throw ratio. All four categories were well below the championship averages last year. I think the personnel we have could lead us to making up ground the quickest on the boards, so I am targeting that as a category we need to win. Then, our goal must be better decision making on offense, which should mean fewer turnovers, higher percentage shots, and possibly more free throw attempts.
Who are some of your key returning players and what do they bring to the team?
Luke Cole, JaJuan Preaster, and David Rosa will be the most impactful returning players. They are capable scorers, willing passers, and versatile defenders. Koen Rolleman is another returner who has made his presence felt as a leader and communicator.
Who are some of the key newcomers to the team?
We have quite a few freshmen and to expect anything of them other than transitioning well academically and to the college game is asking a lot. However, forward Esafe Taufahema has been pleasantly surprising in his efficiency, effort, and basketball IQ. Guard John Rivera Jr. is showing flashes of who we know he can be as he makes the incredibly tough jump from prep to college at the point guard position. Finally, both Max Morse and Jeremey Everlith have established themselves as relentless floor runners and board crashers. As their games develop, they will be a lot of fun to watch.
What are the biggest team strengths?
Honestly, the coachability and effort I have seen early on are a big blessing to me while also giving us the best chance to develop in our weak areas. Nothing hinders growth more than pride and laziness. I have not bumped into much of that, which is why we are already making progress.
What are some of the things you've seen in early practice that have you excited for the year?
I think the guys genuinely like being around each other and eagerly accept/apply corrections. It is hard to overestimate the impact of unity on resisting pride, encouraging the players that struggle, and creating a contagious atmosphere. I am equally impressed with their willingness to work on their own outside of practices (watching video, lifting, gathering together to study our plays, etc.), which is a sign that they love the game and each other.
What are some of the biggest challenges or areas you are working on to develop?
We are young and obviously everyone is learning brand new systems on both ends of the floor. Only two seniors and lots of freshmen/sophomores in our top 10 means there will be a steep learning curve against more mature teams. Every day that goes by will help that. We also have some significant skill gaps for what we need to do offensively, but (again) reps help. We'll get there. How hard we work in the midst of early failures will determine how quickly we get there.
What are some of the key games on the schedule and what will your team need to do to make a mark in the E8?
The first one is always the most important - that being Pitt-Bradford on 11/8. Scranton will be a huge test after that. We only have one home game until after the New Year, so the road tests will abound. Yet, all the road work will help us. To make our mark in the E8 we'll need to steal some wins in other conference gyms while protecting our home turf at Nielsen. There are so many good programs and coaches in this conference, but since Alfred really had our number last year. I think playing them twice out of our first three E8 games will be a barometer of how much we progress we are making.
