Fresh off three consecutive championship-level seasons, the NSU men’s basketball team is eager to add to its winning reputation.
The Sharks dominated the past three seasons, compiling a remarkable 99-4 record. They swept the Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, the NCAA South Region tournaments, and clinched the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship. Despite falling short in the national championship game last season, losing to Minnesota State University, Mankato 88-85 at the buzzer, they’re using that defeat as motivation.
“The guys in the locker room last year definitely have a bitter taste in their mouths,” said MJ Iraldi, a graduate student who appeared in all 35 games last season. “It’s fueling our desire for revenge this season.”
With the 2024-2025 season tipping off on Nov. 2, head men’s basketball coach Jim Crutchfield has been preparing the team to carry over the same winning mentality that fueled its previous success.
“We’re doing what we always do here, trying to promote a style of basketball that’s aggressive and intense and hopefully the result is a lot of points on the board and a lot of W’s,” Crutchfield said.
Crutchfield will begin his ninth year and eighth season as head coach for the men’s basketball program, accompanied by Nick Smith, who enters his second year as head assistant men’s basketball coach. As the assistant coach and former member of the basketball team, Smith echoes Crutchfield’s commitment to the team’s winning philosophy.
“As an assistant, your coaching philosophy is the exact same as the head coach,” Smith said.
“All I’m trying to do is take coach’s [Crutchfield] vision and emulate it and reiterate it as much as I can and he’s obviously had an unbelievable amount of success, so I know what he wants by now.”
So far this offseason, Crutchfield is pleased with the team’s progress and emphasizes the importance of its playing style.
“I’ll be honest, I really am happy with the overall intensity and the chemistry,” Crutchfield said. “I’m kind of looking for perfection so my goals are more about style of play, and I know that if I’m happy with the style of play we’re probably gonna win.”
Despite facing a near-complete roster turnover last season, the Sharks have welcomed five new players this year, including the return of Dallas Graziani from Samford University. While this could have disrupted team chemistry, Crutchfield attributes their seamless integration to their recruiting process.
“You know when you recruit the right kind of guys, the chemistry as far as how they get along off the court and with each other personally, it takes care of itself,” Crutchfield said.
As for building team chemistry this season, Iraldi confirms Crutchfield’s assessment.
“I think the culture here is really good so building chemistry was never a problem,” Iraldi said. “Even last year we had 10 new guys and everybody kind of gelled right away.”
From an assistant coach perspective, Smith highlights the team’s strong bond as one of his favorite aspects, explaining its off-court extension.
“I think the best thing about our guys is that they’re together for weightlifting, for open gyms, and I think as soon as they leave practice, they hang out with each other too so the bonding stuff not only comes on the court, but off as well,” Smith said.
Crutchfield emphasizes the importance of fans experiencing firsthand the team’s dedication and strong relationships, often overlooked behind the scenes.
“I like to have a team that if you walk in the gym and you didn’t know either one of the teams you would cheer for our team because of the way the guys play together,” Crutchfield said. “They play this exciting fun up-and-down tempo, we got the type of team you would cheer for.”
The Sharks officially kick off their season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland on Nov. 2 and 3, facing Gannon University and St. Thomas Aquinas College. The following weekend, they will travel to Montevallo, Ala., for the SSC/GSC Crossover Tournament against University of Alabama in Huntsville and University of Montevallo.
The home opener for the Sharks is on Nov. 15 against Walsh (OH).
For more information:
To keep up with NSU’s men’s basketball team, follow them on Instagram and X
@nsu_mbasketball.
Be the first to comment on "Can NSU men’s basketball keep the streak alive?"