Sophomore Frankie Idlett. (Photo Courtesy: Jay Ruzicka)
The Dean College Men’s Basketball Team is off to their best start in a season since joining the Division III level in 2016-17, with six wins and zero losses in non-conference play. Dean is only one of two teams that remain undefeated in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, along with Norwich University, which sits at 4-0. The Bulldogs were picked to finish 11th out of the 15 GNAC teams in the preseason coaches poll, released in late October.
Following an exhibition game loss against Division I – Bryant University on November 4th, Dean has a streak of victories, all taking place at home in Pieri Gymnasium. The latest win was a 77-69 comeback victory over Carlow University on November 24th. Dean has outscored their opponents by a combined score of 515 to 385, averaging 86 points per game. Six games into the 2023-24 season, the Bulldogs had been outscored 437 to 447.
The Bulldogs’ Starting Five through all six games comprises transfer students, each entering their first year into the program. Leading scorer Billy Ray Barnes III, a junior from Carson, California, has 94 points in six games, averaging 15.7 per game. He also leads the team with 54 total rebounds and 19 assists. Christian Yeates, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, is second in team scoring with 93 points, averaging 15.5 per game. Greg Farrow, a senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, leads the team with nine three-pointers, while also leading with 203 total minutes played. Frankie Idlett, a sophomore from Miami, Florida, and Randy Vasquez, a junior from Methuen, Massachusetts, complete the Bulldogs Starting Five. Senior Jasian Parker, Junior PJ Brinkman, and First-Year Tyler Nordstrom are the top reserves off the bench for Dean.
The 6-0 start is the best start for Head Coach Joe Cabral during his tenure at Dean College, who enters his fourth season. Cabral, who earned his 37th victory as head coach following Sunday’s game, led the Bulldogs to a GNAC tournament appearance last season, their second appearance since joining the conference. Dean will begin conference play after New Years, with a trip to Regis College on Saturday, January 4th. The Bulldogs have four non-conference games leading up to Winter Break, with two home games and two road games. Dean’s next game is Tuesday, November 26th against the University of New England. Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm at Pieri Gymnasium, following the conclusion of the Women’s Basketball game at 3:00 pm versus Fitchburg State University.
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