NJAC Preseason Poll | Roster | Schedule

NEWARK, N.J. (November 14, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's basketball team will open its 2016-17 season at Centenary College on Tuesday night with many new faces, and despite losing eight players to graduation, Head Coach Joe Loughran still has very high expectations for his team and the season.
 
"Yes, we lost a lot of talent and a lot of scoring, but I think we have the makings of a very solid team," said the head coach. "Our returners have been doing a great job leading the new faces, and we really have had a solid preseason."
 
Junior guard Tyler Ofray, junior forward-center Dave Lunsford and sophomore forward Mark Thomas are back this year and all three have looked good in the early going.
 
Ofray has taken on a larger leadership role this year as an upperclassmen and will be asked to do a little bit of everything. He will be tasked with guarding one of the opposition's best players, scoring, distributing and making good decisions. The now-junior started 25-of-28 games for Newark last year, averaging 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while dishing out a team-high 3.4 assists per game.
 
Lunsford will be a key rotation member underneath for the Scarlet Raiders after playing in 24 contests in his second year with the squad. A highly-athletic player with a great presence that can run the floor and block shots, Coach Loughran is looking for improved consistency from Lunsford as an upperclassman.
 
Thomas has made major strides from freshman-to-sophomore year. He has been much more vocal and has been willing to take on a leadership role while developing consistency in his own play. A versatile performer with a nice blend of size and speed, Thomas will see time at the three and four and should see a major-boost in his numbers after averaging 9.7 minutes per game in 27 appearances as a rookie.
 
The Rutgers-Newark coaching staff has brought in an incredibly talented group of newcomers to work into the mix with its solid returning nucleus.
 
Four transfers join the Scarlet Raiders in senior Nadir Alston, junior Kenya Brown, junior Corey Edwards and junior Emmanuel Kema.
 
Alston will see time as a forward and center for Rutgers-Newark and should figure into the equation early-on for Coach Loughran's bunch. A player that can play both inside and out, Alston could be a dynamic key for the Raiders.
 
Brown is a big, physical player and will also see time at the four and five this year. He will have a big-time inside presence after committing to coming into preseason in excellent shape, and has a shown a superb motor that should result in a very large role.
 
Edwards will see time at the point guard position and has a knack for getting to the rim. A strong defender, he is another player that has demonstrated a willingness to play incredibly hard.
 
A nice shooter that stretches the floor and can also create his own shot, Kema will be a key piece at guard for Coach Loughran, and will fit into the rotation early on.
 
Eight freshmen are with the team in guard Chase Barneys, guard-forward Tyree Wilson, guard-forward Stephen Strom, forward Landon Gaines, guard Ty-Lynn Johnson, guard Sammy Asani, guard Tarae Merritt, guard Mike Vick and guard Troy Lopez.
 
Barneys has a chance to see the court early for the Scarlet Raiders, demonstrating a good motor and feel for the game. A high school quarterback at Colonia, Barneys is a combo guard Coach Loughran is hoping will develop into a team leader as time passes. Wilson is a highly athletic wing that defends well, and has shown a lot of improvement as the preseason has progressed. Strom has a picturesque shooting stroke, a high basketball IQ and a lot of confidence and should contribute as a guard and wing player. Gaines has immense upside as an athletic forward. He can shoot and has a nose for the ball on the offensive and defensive glass and could develop into a key contributor as the year progresses. Johnson will be fighting for minutes as a combo-guard that can shoot, and Asani is a tough player that sees the floor well and is a nice passer. Merritt can play multiple positions and has a quality shot, while Vick is another combo-guard with a solid feel for the game. Vick has also demonstrated a defensive prowess that should benefit the Scarlet Raiders, while Lopez is an athletic shooter who will look to make his way into the rotation.
 
"We are young and will make some mistakes, but we are talented and deep," said Loughran. "We need to play with a lot of energy, hustle and a willingness to compete at the highest level regardless of how the game is going."
 
Following Tuesday's season-opener at Centenary, the Scarlet Raiders will host the annual John K Adams Tip-Off Tournament in The Golden Dome on November 18 and 19.
 
Rutgers-Newark will open its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) slate November 22 at New Jersey City University, and the first home NJAC game of the year is against Montclair State University on December 3. Senior Night is slated for Saturday, February 11 against Rowan University with the conference tournament starting February 18.
 
"With so many new faces this preseason has definitely been a little different," added Loughran. "It's been kind of refreshing getting back to teaching and focusing on the little details, but I am really pleased with the progress. The guys have been absorbing a ton of information, and have been getting better each day."