JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's basketball squad is just about a day away from tipping off officially for the 2021-22 campaign. The Gothic Knights won their 13th New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title during last year's abbreviated season, but they are as hungry as ever to prove they can do it again — and go a step further and compete at the 2021-22 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship, which they did not get to do last year as no tournament was held.
 
"We're definitely looking forward to this upcoming season," said head coach Marc Brown. "Obviously this is the toughest schedule I can remember in the history of the program, playing three top 10 teams in the first five weeks. I don't know that it's ever been done but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Maybe I did overdid it, but we'll find out what our guys are made of either way."

After closing out the 2020-21 season ranked #15 in the nation by d3hoops.com, the Gothic Knights kick off this year's campaign ranked #24 in the country. Coach Brown is determined to rise up the rankings, as he has schedule a trio of national powerhouses in the non-conference portion of NJCU's season. After a pair of tough preseason scrimmages versus Division II Nyack College and Division I Saint Peter's University, Jersey City prepares to — should the squad win its season-opener — face off with #9 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in the USJ Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 7, in Hartford, Conn. — should the Blue Jays win their opening game as well — coached by the legendary Jim Calhoun, formerly of Division I University of Connecticut.

"With only two weeks to prepare for both scrimmages, we crammed a lot in in a short period of time, but we have to do what we have to do," continued Brown. "We're looking forward to this weekend."

Then, just after the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Gothic Knights will face off with preseason #1 Randolph-Macon College at the Christopher Newport University Invitational in Newport News, Va., on Saturday, Nov. 27. Finally, on Wednesday night, Dec. 15, #2 Yeshiva University — the Maccabees own the nation's longest winning streak at any level — comes to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Both YU and RMC feature a pair of preseason d3hoops.com All-America selections.

"This is going to be a wake up call for our young guys," said Brown. "We have some experienced players, but even some of our key returners are young — Michael Clement (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township), Ryan Savoy (Lakewood, N.J./Lakewood), Derryen Whyte (Irvington, N.J./Union) -- but we'll look to our captains — Denzel Banks (Newark, NJ/East Orange Campus), Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic) and Marvellous Akingbala (Union, N.J./Union) — as the backbone to get us through this tough early part of our schedule."

Overall, the d3hoops.com Top 25 poll began prior to the 1999-2000 season, and NJCU's #24 preseason ranking is just the second time in program history the Gothic Knights enter the season ranked.
 
After posting a 7-1 overall record, including a 5-1 record in regular-season NJAC play, the Gothic Knights made it all the way to the program's 14th NJAC Championship Game in history. Despite trailing by 21 points with under 15:00 minutes remaining, Jersey City stormed back and capped off its dramatic comeback with a buzzer-beating three from now-senior forward Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) — winner of the 2020-21 NJCU Play of the Year — to claim the Gothic Knights' 13th NJAC Title in program history.

Heading into this season, NJCU was ranked in a tie for first by the NJAC in the preseason coaches poll. The Knights are tied with Stockton University, a team they beat two-out-of-three times last season, including a pair of dramatic home buzzer-beaters. The Ospreys, the only team to beat NJCU last year, and the Gothic Knights split the 10 possible first-place votes fie apiece.

"The NJAC is a tough league and all the teams look stacked so its going to be a tough year," said Brown. "The goal every year is to always have more wins than losses. everything else after that should fall into place and we'll accomplish what we need to accomplish."
 
The Gothic Knights only graduated one key player from last season — captain Jahmere Calhoun (Manchester, NJ/Brick Memorial) — but otherwise, the entire core of their championships squad returns with high expectations. They are led by their tri-captain Banks, who was a First Team All-NJAC selection, First Team All-Met honoree by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) and received Second Team d3hoops.com All-Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Region accolades. Also returning is Savoy, the NJAC Rookie of the Year and Honorable Mention selection, as well as reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year Clement. Rounding out that core is Whyte, a 2020-21 Second Team All-NJAC selection.

Senior guards and the other two tri-captains, Battle — he missed the majority of last season due to injury — and Akingballa will bring their experience to the backcourt, joined by sophomore Hakeem Wilson (Newark, N.J./North Star Academy), who saw a good amount of time at the point last season. Darley has assumed a starting role during exhibition play at the small forward position and he will bring some much needed confidence to the court for the Gothic Knights.
 
As mentioned, the Knights finally tip off their regular-season this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in Hartford for the USJ Tip-Off Tournament. NJCU faces off with Alvernia University at 3:30 p.m. Then, if they win, they will face off with the winner of the USJ vs. University of Maine-Augusta in the tournament championship game at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The consolation game will be played at 1:00 p.m.