By Christian Gardner

Buffalo State’s men’s basketball team will be integrating 11 new bodies into the program during the 2006-07 season.            

Second-year coach Fajri Ansari will not be leaning heavily on his seniors to carry the team, implying the new faces could provide an immediate impact on the court. The Bengals had a 13-13 record last season.

“I am not a coach who is afraid to play a new or young player if they demonstrate they can contribute, produce and implement what we are trying to get across,” Ansari said. “Ideally you want your more experienced players in the tough situations.”                                   

The new additions are adjusting well, junior forward Dion Mozelle, said.

“The number one thing is they listen good,” he said. “They work hard and play hard.”

Ansari exudes confidence in every player he speaks of on his roster., constructing trust as a key motivational tactic eliciting the most effort out of his players.

“We tell them this is the best in what we can give them on and off the court,” Ansari said. “It doesn’t matter what technique you use toward motivation, if you don’t have the trust it’s not going to happen.”

Four Bengals freshmen

• Guards Barry Wells

• Guard Santo Lamar

• Kojo Mends-Aidoo

• Antonio Samedi

Forward/center Samedi will provide BSC with an intimidating presence up front, Ansari said.

“Antonio, being pretty much 6-feet, 8-inches tall, we are going to need to play him,” he said. “We have a lot of depth at guard, but not really at forward.”

Mozelle and senior Dante Griggs are two key returnees.

“Hopefully they will do a better job in interior defense and give us some low-post options, he said. “Last year, especially in playoff time, we had difficulty defending more experienced front court players. We need some scoring from them too.”

Mozelle said the team’s mindset is focused on working as a whole. The forward is hoping for an improved defensive game, he said.

“Coach is always telling me be pro-active, not reactive,” Mozelle said.

Senior guard Jay Wingate missed a majority of last season after suffering a knee injury. Suffering the injury allowed Wingate to observe most of last season which created familiarity with the BSC program and SUNYAC conference. Ansari considers Wingate a new player, because of the missed time last season, he said.

“He can shoot the three and is explosive,” Ansari said. “One thing coming off an injury like that is not only do you have to let it heal, but you have to feel confident. Hopefully down the stretch he can give us those contributions that he started out giving us last year before the injury.”

• Carlton “Pee Wee” Guiden

•  James Tyndal

• Charles Hepburn.

Buffalo State men's basketball statistics

Contact Christian Gardner at gardcj78@mail.buffalostate.edu