Nine Teams, Nine Days – Over the next nine days we’ll take a look at each of the America East’s nine men’s basketball programs in a lead up to the 2023-24 season. The regular season begins on Monday, Nov. 6 with eight teams in action and the full schedule of contests can be found here.
It all came together for UMass Lowell last season. After a decade in the America East, head coach Pat Duquette’s squad pitched a perfect game at home, going an impressive 17-0 in Lowell last year and reaching just the program’s second America East Championship. The River Hawks even led the Catamounts at the half, before a late run by the home team clinched the Title.
This year Duquette can feel the difference off the court with the weight and excitement of trying to meet the high expectations from those inside and outside the program. However, this is a new team and one he has enjoyed coaching so far this year.
“People are excited, and we’re picked high (in the poll)… but that’s behind us,” said Duquette. “We’ve got a new team; we’ve got a new identity. We’ve got a lot of good talent coming back but we have to play with the same hunger, the same humility as we did to start last year and just keep proving ourselves and keep getting better.”
The River Hawks do return a pair of all-league players in graduate student Abdoul Karim Coulibaly and senior Max Brooks. Coulibaly was a second-team all-conference performer last season, averaging 11.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a force down low. Brooks is a two-time all-defensive team member who averaged 8.3 points, 5.4. rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
Ayinde Hikim, meanwhile, started 30 games last season and put up 10.7 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game.. In addition to this trio, the River Hawks also return a number of players ready to break out, including Yuri Covington, Cam Morris, Quinton Mincey and Brayden O’Connor.
UMass Lowell begins its season at home on Nov. 6 against Rivier, before traveling to face power five schools Georgia Tech (11/14) and Arizona State (11/16). The River Hawks are on the road for three more before returning home in early December. They travel to UMass, and then host LIU and Central Connecticut State. UMass Lowell concludes the regular season at home against Emerson, before traveling for UNH on Saturday, Jan. 6 for its conference opener.
UMass Lowell – Roster - Schedule
Head Coach: Pat Duquette
2022-23 Record: 28-6, 11-5 (2nd)
Scoring Offense: 78.0 points per game (2nd)
Scoring Defense: 66.0 points per game (1st)
Field Goal Percentage: 48.4% (1st)
Returning Starters (3)
Karim Abdoul Coulibaly, F – 11.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg
Ayinde HIkim, G – 10.7 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.8 rpg
Max Brooks, F – 8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Notable Newcomers (5)
Andres Fulgencio, G – transfer from Bloomfield
Xzavier Lino, F – transfer from Whitman
Jordan Thompson, G – transfer from Northern Oklahoma-Enid
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