Providence, Rhode Island - Head coach Jesse Agel and the Brown
men’s basketball team begin pre-season practice on Friday,
October 16, with a solid arsenal of All-Ivy and returning starters,
an improving group of emerging players, and a strong collection of
newcomers to face a challenging 31-game schedule.
Brown opens its season on the road on Friday, November 13 at St.
Francis in Brooklyn, New York, followed by a quick trip to Virginia
Tech on November 15 in the first game of the Philly Hoop Group
Classic. The Bears open at home on Wednesday, November 18 against
the Rhode Island Rams at the Pizzitola Sports Center.
“I’m pleased with the development that several of our
returning players have made in the off-season and I’m looking
forward to a squad who understands our offensive and defensive
schemes,” said head coach Jesse Agel. “The success of
our season will be reflected on how quickly we can get our freshman
acclimated to our system and playing at the Division I
level.”
Frontcourt
Senior center Matt Mullery thrived under Agel’s motion
offense and became the 17th player in Brown basketball history to
earn first team All-Ivy honors. The 6-8 Mullery, an NABC
All-District selection, led the Bears in scoring with 16.1 points
per game, fourth best in the Ivy League, and was Brown's top scorer
in 15 of 28 games.
A prodigious shot blocker, Mullery established a new single-season
Brown record for blocked shots with 59 blocks, seventh best in Ivy
League basketball history. His 115 career blocked shots are second
in the Brown record book and 18th best in Ivy League Basketball
history.
A two-time Ivy League Player of the Week, Mullery shot an amazing
61-percent from the field (174 of 287) to lead the Ivy League,
while his 2.1 blocked shots per game also led the league. He was at
his best in Ivy League games, leading the league in rebounding with
7.9 per game, and blocking a league-leading 2.6 shots per game.
Mullery turned in one of the greatest performances in Brown
basketball history by registering a 20-20 double-double in a win
over Harvard, scoring 21 points and grabbing 20 rebounds against
the Crimson to become the first Brown player in 25 years to grab 20
rebounds in a game. Mullery's rare 20-20 double-double against
Harvard was Brown's first in 35 years.
Joining Mullery in the front court is junior honorable mention
All-Ivy selection Peter Sullivan, the Ivy League's fifth leading
scorer with 14.3 points per game. He scored a career high 26 points
against Army and scored in double figures 22 times, including 20 or
more points six times. He also pulled down a career high nine
rebounds against Rhode Island.
The "Iron Man" of the Ivy League, Sullivan's 35.9 minutes per game
led the league. He played 40 or more minutes eight times, including
back-to-back games against Penn and Princeton.
Sullivan ranked seventh in the Ivy league in three point field
goals made (1.7 per game) and he was ninth in the league in free
throw percentage (.726). His 4.9 rebounds per game was 12th in the
Ivy League.
Junior Chris Taylor and sophomore Stefan Kaluz will add depth to
the Bears front court. Taylor was injured for part of last season,
but still played in 24 games for the Bears, earning starting roles
against Penn and Harvard. He netted a season high six points three
times, against Holy Cross, Wagner and Cornell, while grabbing a
career high six rebounds against Holy Cross and Dartmouth. Kaluz
competed in 10 games with a season high six points and six rebounds
against Cornell.
Backcourt
In the backcourt, junior Adrian Williams displayed his own Iron
Man traits, while averaging 11.0 points per game for the Bears.
Williams played 34.6 minutes per game, third most in the Ivy
League, logging 40 or more minutes five times.
An excellent long-range shooter, Williams’ 58 treys led the
Bears and ranked second in the Ivy League. Williams scored in
double figures 17 times, including a career high 29 points vs.
Quinnipiac where he connected on 9 of 11 field goals, including 7
of 8 treys, and 4 of 4 free throws.
Williams’ seven treys against Quinnipiac were just one short
of the Brown individual record at the Pizzitola Sports Center and
rank seventh in the Brown record book. A defensive presence on the
court, William registered seven steals against Holy Cross, second
best in Brown basketball history.
Junior guard Garrett Leffelman gained some valuable court time a
year ago, despite missing 12 games due to injury, playing over 26
minutes per game over Brown’s last five games. He scored a
season high nine points against both Penn and Harvard, including
the game-winning trey at the buzzer to defeat the Crimson.
Junior guard Sean Kane came off the bench a year ago to spark the
Bears with some instant offense. On two occasions, Kane connected
on three first half treys to help the Bears to wins over Bryant and
Hartford.
Also returning to the Bears’ backcourt are senior Steve
Gruber and sophomore John Herbert Harris. Gruber saw action in 22
games at the point and scored a season high four points against
Yale. Harris played in 14 games, logging a season high 17 minutes
against Cornell and scoring a season best seven points against the
Big Red.
The coaching staff also has high expectations for sophomore
Marques Coleman, a point guard who missed his entire freshman
season at Brown due to injury.
Newcomers
"I'm thrilled with the initial recruiting class our staff has
brought to Brown," said Agel. "We've been able to bring in four
outstanding young men, who will bring versatility and ability to
our program. I look for each one to contribute to our success next
season."
Brown’s Class of 2013 includes: forward Tucker Halpern
(Brookline, MA), forward Andrew McCarthy (Sudbury, MA), forward
Tyler Ponticelli (Northbrook, IL) and guard Matt Sullivan
(Wilmette, IL).
Halpern averaged 19.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per
game as a senior at Noble & Greenough, scoring a school record
1,800 points. McCarthy scored 13 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5
blocks per game at Northfield Mount Hermon, and netted over 1,500
points in his schoolboy career. Ponticelli netted 15 points, 7
rebounds and 3 assists per game as a junior, and was a two-time
team captain at Glenbrook North High School. Sullivan will join his
All-Ivy brother, Peter, on this year’s squad after scoring 18
points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game as a senior at Loyola
Academy, while shooting 47-percent from the field and 80-percent
from the free throw line.