Last Year: 14-18; Eighth (8-10) in the Atlantic 10 Conference, No Postseason
Head Coach: Mark Schmidt (17th Year; 282-213 at St. Bonaventure, with three NCAA Tournament appearances)
Projected Starting Lineup
| PG Mika Adams-Woods – 6’3″, 180 – Senior (5th) |
| SG Darryl Banks III – 6’3″, 175 – Senior (5th) |
| W Charles Pride – 6’4″, 200 – Senior (5th) |
| PF Yann Farrell – 6’6″, 210 – Sophomore |
| C Chad Venning – 6’10”, 255 – Junior |
Projected Starters’ 2022-23 Stats
Mika Adams-Woods: 9.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 36.6% 3FG
Darryl Banks III: 15.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.1 spg, 34.1% 3FG
Charles Pride: 14.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg – 37.0% 3FG
Yann Farrell: 8.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.6 spg – 41.9% 3FG
Chad Venning: 12.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1.4 bpg – 58.1% FG
Experienced Reserves
| G Kyrell Luc – 5’11”, 165 – Junior |
| F Barry Evans – 6’8″, 215 – Sophomore |
| G Moses Flowers – 6’3″, 185 – Senior |
| C Noel Brown – 6’11”, 265 – Junior |
Experienced Reserves’ 2022-23 Stats
Kyrell Luc: 11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 35.9% FG
Barry Evans: 3.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.9 spg – 44.9% FG
Moses Flowers: 9.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.0 spg – 36.7% 3FG
Noel Brown: 3.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.3 bpg – 58.1% FG @ George Washington
Freshmen
| F/C Melian Martinez – 6’10”, 225 – Redshirt Freshman |
| G Miles Rose – 6’4″, 190 – Freshman |
| F Duane Thompson – 6’8″, 205 – Freshman |
It had been 14 years and 260 wins since Mark Schmidt’s Bonnies had to suffer through such an unsuccessful season as they endured last winter. Not since St Bonaventure went 8-22 in the first year of their iconic head coach’s tenure had the team finished as poorly as last year’s mark of four games under .500.
A year after Schmidt’s excellent, 23-win veteran core broke up and scattered to the four winds of the high majors, the Bonnies limped to an eighth-place finish. Despite Schmidt and his assistants’ own efforts in the Transfer Portal, the talent level last season just wasn’t the same.
So, this spring, they got after it again: and the results look great. On paper at least, St Bonaventure is back to looking like an A-10 contender for the upcoming campaign. Schmidt, who tends to prefer utilizing a famously short bench and leaning heavily upon his starters, now has possibly his deepest team. And if he can handle sorting out who plays which minutes among the comparative embarrassment of riches now in the locker room, Schmidt and the Bonnies could swiftly be back atop the league standings.
When Saint Peter’s went to the Elite Eight two years ago, Daryl Banks was the Peacocks’ leading scorer. When Shaheen Holloway was hired away to Seton Hall, Banks transferred to St Bonaventure and very nearly maxed out his abilities while playing 38+ minutes per night. With a bit more help from the newcomers – and maybe another minute or two of rest this year to keep him fresh for the big moments – Banks should probably be on the shortlist of contenders for A-10 Player of the Year. “When you watched Daryl in high school, he wasn’t the main player but he always found a way to be on the court with those star-power guys who were on those teams,” Holloway has said, in describing what drew him towards Banks as a prospect. Last year, Banks was on the court with those star-power guys, and increasingly, Banks was the main player. He scored 27 or more points in a game five times last year, and when Schmidt knew his team needed a bucket, Banks would find the ball in his hands. Unfortunately, Banks was also streaky, scoring seven points or fewer four times and going offline for certain stretches of games. A good deal of that fluctuation in production can be attributed to the fact that Banks played 19 more minutes last season than any other player in the Atlantic 10, and 318 (roughly the equivalent of eight more games in total) more minutes than he had ever played in a season before.
Despite the tremendous workload, Banks was still on his feet and throwing punches until the very last bell; he put up one of those 27+ games for his new teammates on senior night
Despite the tremendous workload, Banks was still on his feet and throwing punches until the very last bell; he put up one of those 27+ games for his new teammates on senior night, going off for a career-high 36 points to help the Bonnies beat St. Joseph’s. “When Daryl is hitting shots like that it makes our offense look much better. He’s been in a shooting slump, but he has a pure stroke and he’s always in the gym,” Schmidt told reporters of his star guard that evening. “He got some open looks today, which he hasn’t been getting. He loves to play, he works hard and he’s a great shooter.” Banks finished fifth in the A-10 in made triples last season, and he’s now made 206 of them at a 34.6% rate for his career. In fact, Banks is just a 36% overall shooter for his career, and he’s never hit as many as 40% of his shots for a season. He buffets those low percentages by attacking off the bounce and getting to the foul line with great regularity. Banks ranked ninth in the A-10 in makes and tenth in free throw attempts last year, and Banks is a career 83.8% shooter at the charity stripe. Banks is who he is, but if Schmidt can get his secondary scorers to step up when he’s off and keep him a bit more fresh on the balance, Banks could lead the Bonnies back to the Big Dance.
The second prize from Schmidt’s transfer class last offseason, Chad Venning, was a revelation in his first year at St. Bonaventure. The burly 6’10” pivot was unrefined, but had shown promise in spurts over his first couple of years. He averaged 7.2 points and 3 boards in about 14 minutes as a sophomore at Morgan State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; the 301st-ranked overall program out of 363 Division I teams that year, per Bart Torvik. There were not many people who saw Venning’s explosion last season coming before it was happening. How did it come about? “He’s in shape. He’s not in the shape he needs to be in, but he’s getting in better shape, and the better shape he’s in, the longer he can play and the more effective he can play,” Schmidt frankly told the Bradford Era. “He’s got really good feet, he’s got good hands, but if you can’t breathe, you can’t play. He’s been able to get in better shape and that’s why he’s having success.” When Venning arrived at Morgan State as a freshman, he weighed north of 330 pounds. Despite his obvious skills, Venning needed to get into significantly better shape in order to realize his potential.
Now weighing in at a much more chiseled 250ish pounds, Venning is showing what he can do, and in the process, emerging as one of the A-10’s best bigs. Despite the step up in competition, Venning scored in double figures 24 times in the Bonnies’ 32 games; he had scored 10 or more points just seven times across the first two years and 42 games of his career combined. Venning didn’t even hit a late-season wall – he just kept getting better. After having served notice to pregame meetings up and down the Bonnies’ schedule to start the season, Venning averaged 30 minutes, 14.5 points and 1.4 blocks on 62% shooting over St Bonaventure’s final 17 games. “We always try to go inside-out,” Schmidt says of his offense with Venning now at its center. “Chad has really played well and has really forced some double-teams that’s created some shots for our perimeter guys.” The biggest things which Venning must now improve upon are his free throw shooting and his ability to defend without fouling. Venning fouled out of a whopping 10 contests last year; that he managed to play so many highly effective minutes despite seemingly being in constant threat of disqualification last year was a singular achievement. His struggles with foul trouble were emblematic of the Bonnies in general. The team ranked in the bottom fifth of the nation’s teams by committing 18.6 fouls per game as a unit, and the Bonnies’ opponents took nearly 22 foul shots in each contest. With a summer spent getting into the best shape of his life and a year’s worth of experience – and confidence – now riding his broad shoulders, Venning is poised to become quite a star.
Transfer score #3 last season was Kyrell Luc, a diminutive point guard whom Schmidt snagged with three years of eligibility remaining. Now a junior, the former Patriot League Rookie of the Year has done nothing but improve so far, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Luc is a crafty, clever three level scorer who has attempted 100+ shots each at the rim, from mid-range, and from beyond the arc in both of his seasons. Luc is fearless weaving into the lane to create good looks, though he has made just 45% of his 248 tries at the hoop the past two seasons, per Bart Torvik. He finished fifth in the A-10 in assists per game in his first year, and has dished out 137 helpers against 79 giveaways through 63 career games. Though he can’t guard some larger players due to his stature, Luc is still a very active defender who keeps the pressure on his man. With his strong first step at both ends and an aggressive mindset towards poking and deflecting the ball away from his man even far away from the basket, Luc can turn defense into offense with his quick feet and even quicker fingers – he ranked fifth in the league in steals per game.
With Luc making plays and veteran Moses Flowers providing solid backcourt production, the Bonnies were not exactly desperate for another very solid point guard from the Portal this spring. No matter, they got one anyway. Mika Adams-Woods comes to St Bonaventure after starting 104 games across four seasons for Cincinnati, and should combine with Luc to give Schmidt the best pair of offense-drivers in the league. “We are really excited that Mika has decided to join our program. He is someone who has played at a high level for the last four years and proven his ability to be an impact player in a variety of ways,” Schmidt said of Adams-Woods upon his commitment. “He’s long and can create a lot of issues defensively for opponents. He’s a lefty with good range and knack for making the right play. He will add to a talented group we have in our backcourt.” Adams-Woods has averaged roughly 9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3 assists over the past two seasons, going from a talented young reserve to a quality starter in the process. A 32.4% career shooter from deep, Adams-Woods can be a bit streaky with the jumper, but he’s also capable of putting up a key flurry of points in a hurry. Owner of better than a 2:1 career assist to turnover ratio, Adams-Woods is also a solid and tenacious perimeter defender, and has a steal to match every game he’s ever started. His size and experience should prove vital on that end, as Adams-Woods will help to mask some of Luc’s limitations.
Yann Farrell is back after a terrific rookie season which saw him start every game, average 30+ minutes, and earn A-10 Freshman of the Week honors five times. Farrell led the Bonnies in rebounding average and provides some nice bounce and length combined with good mobility next to Venning. A 3-and-D forward, Farrell still managed to post three double-doubles despite weighing barely over 200 pounds, and showed that he’s going to be very difficult to keep from influencing the play even outside of his area in the years to come. Offensively, Farrell made 65 triples (second on the team) at a 41.9% rate (by far the leading mark), providing an absolutely vital deep threat to a Bonnies team which ranked 219th nationally in 3FG per game – especially since Farrell’s teammates combined to shoot less than 33% around him. If he can continue to be a mismatch problem by dragging bigs out onto the perimeter to stop him from raining jumpers, Farrell may well go from the A-10’s All-Freshman group to the all-conference team. This year, with his reputation established, Farrell will focus more on working his way inside to cash in on more and more putbacks and quick post-up’s.
Adams-Woods is not the only quality veteran brought in this year to balance out the perimeter attack. Charles Pride is the fourth-leading scorer in Bryant University history, and is bringing his talents and 1,528 career points to fight for a starting job on Schmidt’s Bonnies. A Syracuse native, Pride prepped at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, as did Adams-Woods, incoming freshmen Duane Thompson and Miles Rose, and former stars like Kyle Lofton and Osun Osuniyi. One of Schmidt’s sons, Nick, is an assistant there, and the Putnam->Oleans, NY area has been strengthened by yet another bond with Mark Schmidt’s hiring of former Putnam assistant Dana Valentine to join his own staff. “We’ve obviously had a lot of recent success with guys from Putnam Science Academy,” Schmidt has said. “They run it like a college program and really coach the guys up.”
| Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks) |
| 28.7% – Opponent 3FG Percentage (5th) |
| 49.2 – Team Effective FG Percentage (247th) |
| 67.7 – Opponent Points Per Game (86th) |
| 66.8 – Team Points Per Game (280th) |
| 70.3% – Team Free Throw Percentage (236th) |
Pride has proven great at running his team’s offense off the bounce, handling ball screen action and making good decisions to score the ball himself or create for a friend. On the perimeter, he will occasionally let it fly from quite deep, and is a 35.9% shooter from downtown over the past three seasons. “Charles is an athletic scoring guard. He is a proven player, someone who has scored over 1,500 points in his career so far,” Schmidt said when Pride signed. With more size and experience than most of Bona’s other backcourt players, Pride should play an important role right away. “He will fit really well into our ball screen, motion offense,” his new coach says. “Charles can also influence the game on the glass from the guard position. We expect him to make an immediate impact when the ball tips in November.”
Two super-reserves who took turns starting also return from last year’s squad to offer even more depth and flexibility to Schmidt’s lineup. After contributing significantly for three years at Hartford, former All-America East selection Moses Flowers transferred to the Bonnies last year and proved that he can get some buckets in pretty much any conference. Though his overall production wasn’t quite as impressive at St. Bonaventure, Flowers provides scoring depth and an experienced deep threat. He started out as a reserve last year, but finished the season in Schmidt’s starting lineup; and though his season average dipped under double figures for the first time in his career, Flowers was strong down the stretch. Of his 17 games with ten or more points last year, 14 came after the new year – including in ten of the Bonnies’ final 11 games – and over that stretch, Flowers averaged 12.1 points.
Though he shot a career-best 36.7% from the land of trey, Flowers continued a steady career decline from the charity stripe, and shot a career-low 61.3% on free point attempts last year. Much of what Flowers does is predicated upon getting downhill. He’s made an outstanding 51.8% of his mid-range two’s the last couple of seasons, per Bart Torvik, and he’s averaged three trips to the foul line per game over the past three campaigns. If he wants to keep the same role as he saw last year – and be on the floor in the closing moments – Schmidt would love to see better foul shooting from Flowers in his final season of eligibility. With good size and a wealth of experience driving his team’s offense with his scoring and good decisions with the ball in his hands, Schmidt feels good knowing that he can bring Flowers in for a steadying presence. “He is a proven player who has had a lot of success,” Schmidt has said of Flowers.
Barry Evans is a big and skilled forward who has already proven that he can rebound and defend at the A-10 level, and he has the potential to develop into a very good two-way player. With a jumper that can be effective out to the three point arc and the length to get his shot when he needs to, Evans can be a real mismatch for some opponents. Evans shot 63% near the rim last season, doing most of his damage without demanding touches; and he ranked second on the team in putback stabs while dunking just as many of his shots (14) as did Venning. Add in his energetic defense and ability to switch up or down the opposing lineup and be an equal irritant to all of his opponents, and Evans may break out as more than a great young backup sooner rather than later.
Transfer pivot Noel Brown has joined the Bonnies’ frontcourt as well. He spent the previous three seasons playing for George Washington, and is already quite familiar with the A-10. Brown has started 17 games the past two seasons for GW, though he’s averaged just over 11 minutes, 3.1 points and 2.2 boards in those tilts. “Noel is athletic, strong and will bring some added physicality to our front court,” Schmidt said when Brown came aboard. He gives the Bonnies needed experience and size, and will be another talented project for Schmidt & Co to coach up into a strong backup for Venning. This season, St. Bonaventure will have real big-boy size to mix and match lineups when the high major teams come calling.
| Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on |
| vs Florida Atlantic – December 16 |
| N – Auburn or Notre Dame – November 17 |
| N – Oklahoma State – November 16 |
| vs Akron – December 30 |
| @ Buffalo – December 2 |
The two incoming freshmen bring real talent for the home fans to be excited about. Thompson reclassified to join the Bonnies along with his Putnam teammate Rose, and the duo are coming off of a prep championship last year. A skilled stretch-forward, Thompson will need to get stronger to play money minutes in the A-10, but brings the frame and shooting range which should make him a dangerous scoring option in the near future. And given his recent strides, the future may not be too far off. “He’s taken his game to new levels as of late though as he’s gotten himself into the best shape of his life, improved his quickness as a result, and also diversified his attack,” said Adam Finkelstein for 247 Sports when describing Thompson’s play this spring. Thompson turned down Seton Hall, Rhode Island and Virginia Tech to play for Schmidt, and should pick up plenty of finer points from Farrell and Evans as they develop together.
While Thompson will play a versatile role up front, Rose is a big guard who can run point and create for himself just as well as for his buddies. “He is an athletic and strong scoring combo guard who we think fits our system perfectly,” Schmidt said upon Rose, a Rochester, NY product, signing with the Bonnies. “Miles will be ready to play and we expect him to contribute right away next season.” Melian Martinez redshirted last season, but now the lanky rookie post player will hit the court in earnest. After adding strength to a frame which weighed about 200 pounds when he showed up on campus, Martinez should add some defensive prowess off the bench. A native of the Dominican Republic, Martinez has nimble feet and the wingspan of a disruptive shot blocker. Combined with his long, spindly profile and choice to wear #21 on his jersey, Martinez will unavoidably be compared to a young Osuniyi. If he can roam the lane for rejections in a similar fashion, Martinez will be a hit with the fans in Western New York.
After a rough year, Schmidt and his program appear ready to make a charge at reclaiming their place in the A-10. This is a roster with real depth at each position, and a fair bit of contrast. The Bonnies always play tough, tight defense, and this team will be able to go full-bore because Schmidt has more reliable contributors than ever before. And, hopefully, with more proven players to share the load, the offense won’t have such consistency and efficiency issues as those which plagued St. Bonaventure throughout most of the season.
Their schedule is going to get the Bonnies ready for a run at the A-10 title; St. Bonaventure will face heavy hitters Florida Atlantic and, in all likelihood, Auburn, as well as Oklahoma State and Akron before league play tips off. If Schmidt can figure out the right combination of his talented players to find that old chemistry and reformulate it, the Bonnies will hang with anyone in their path. They may have taken some lumps last season, but this winter, St. Bonaventure’s payback tour begins.
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