After a Quiet Start to the Offseason, Quinnipiac's Latest Additions Provide Clarity to the 2023-24 Rotation

 Up until mid-May, most of the attention from Quinnipiac’s mens’ basketball team came from their previous head coach Baker Dunleavy suddenly resigning with a year remaining on his contract to return to Villanova, his alma mater, to serve as the newly minted role of General Manager.

In his place, Tom Pecora, former Associate Head Coach and most recently a special assistant under Dunleavy, was hired in his place, bringing a wealth of head coaching experience after fifteen years between Hofstra and Fordham.

An early success to the start of the Pecora era was his staff’s ability to retain some of the team’s top talent after a slightly disappointing, but still solid 20-12 overall record and 11-9 finish in conference play, headlined by fifth-year returning guards Matt Balanc (12.0 ppg), Savion Lewis (8.4p, 3.4 before previous injuries) and senior forward Paul Otieno (7.2p, 6.8r, 1.0b). 

The trio makes up the team’s dependable veteran core, but many question marks still remained as the offseason entered its second month.

Most notably, Quinnipiac needed quick help to replace the trio of backcourt transfers: fifth-year eligible guards Tymu Chenery (Binghamton), Dezi Jones (Austin Peay, a All-MAAC Third Team selection) and senior Luis Korthright (Rhode Island), who combined represented about 40% of the team’s total scoring.

On Wednesday, Quinnipiac got a huge boost to their backcourt, adding Midland College guard Doug Brown, a 6’0 senior out of Houston. Ranked by JUCOrecruiting.com as the 31st best junior college recruit of 2023, Brown’s attention from Pecora’s staff is obviously justified: finishing the season averaging 20.6 points, 3.1 assists, 4.7 free throw attempts and 80.3 free throw percentage, Jones immediately fits in as a rim-attacking scoring guard to potentially start alongside Lewis and Balanc. 

With Chenery transferred and Ike Nweke graduated, Wednesday’s signing of former UConn forward Richie Springs helped solve a major hole in the power forward position. Finishing his high school career at basketball powerhouse The MacDuffie School, Springs was heavily recruited by a wide-range of programs, including thirteen high-majors. 

Playing limited minutes behind a crowded and talented frontcourt that included Adama Sanogo, Alex Karaban, Donovan Clingan, Isaiah Whaley and Tyrese Martin, Springs will look to parlay his new opportunity to showcase a wide array of skills: “I’m excited to show my ability to make plays, handle the ball in transition and also showcase my improved outside,” Richie Springs wrote to me this afternoon.

With a 6’9 245 frame, athleticism and versatility to his game, the offensive-minded Springs pairs perfectly with defensive stalwart Otieno and backup big JJ Riggins. 

A championship ring to his name and four years of experience at Storrs, Springs also elaborated on the veteran leadership role he is poised to take on in Hamden: “I’m going to lead by example with my work ethic and how hard I go in practice everyday. Being on that championship team has taught me a lot and I can’t wait to bring what I learned to QU.”

Graduating from UConn last weekend, a redshirt freshman season provides Springs with two years of eligibility remaining, making Springs the second high-major transfer on this season’s roster along with former Notre Dame commit Elijah Taylor, who is looking to make his Quinnipiac debut after recovering from an ACL injury. 

That pair, along with incoming 6’7 junior Alexis Reyes, are the Bobcats’ most likely candidates to play at the power forward position, a notably bigger group of forwards after the 6’6 Chemery and even the 6’4 Balanc played time at the 4.

However, Bobcats fans have got to be salivating at what Springs can bring to the court. Not many teams on the MAAC field a forward with his size and willingness to run the floor and stretch the floor, making Springs an easy pick to breakout next season. 

As it stands, the Bobcats have two scholarships remaining and can use more backcourt depth to go along with their Wednesday haul, six returnees and three-man in coming freshman class, but today’s addition of Springs and Jones certainly provides the team a boost as the offseason chugs along.