Location: Salem, Mass.
Founded: 1854
Enrollment: 5,400
Colors: Orange & Blue
Gymnasium: O'Keefe Center (1,600)
Conference: MASCAC
President: Dr. Nancy Harrington
Athletic Director: John D. Galaris
NCAA Appearances: 14 (1980-82, 1986, 1989-93, 1995-98, 2000)
Tournament Record: 14-14 (.500)
National Championships: None
|
69 |
vs. Endicott |
54 |
|
66 |
vs. Wheaton |
59 |
|
79 |
at Plymouth State |
76 |
|
70 |
at Babson |
51 |
|
82 |
Gordon |
55 |
|
77 |
Emerson |
75 |
|
70 |
Colby |
66 |
|
69 |
Clark Univ. |
89 |
|
84 |
Fitchburg State |
63 |
|
73 |
at Westfield State |
67 |
|
67 |
Tufts |
57 |
|
77 |
Framingham State |
65 |
|
75 |
Mass. College |
57 |
|
81 |
Eastern Nazarene |
46 |
|
74 |
at Bridgewater State |
58 |
|
93 |
Worcester State |
83 |
|
84 |
UMass Darmouth |
83 |
|
88 |
at Mount Ida |
77 |
|
91 |
at Fitchburg State |
68 |
|
77 |
Westfield State |
66 |
|
75 |
at Framingham State |
77 |
|
61 |
at Mass College |
75 |
|
96 |
Bridgewater State |
65 |
|
62 |
at Worcester State (ot) |
67 |
|
MASCAC Tournament |
||
|
86 |
Westfield State |
70 |
|
73 |
Mass. College |
56 |
|
83 |
Worcester State |
69 |
|
NCAA Tournament |
||
|
81 |
Amherst |
75 |
|
70 |
vs. Springfield |
69 |
|
75 |
vs. Penn State-Behrend |
69 |
Regular Participant: Salem State is making its 14th NCAA Division III Tournament appearance this season and the 10th in the past 12 years. The Vikings have never made the championship round of the tournament, but have advanced to the sectional semifinal most recently in 1997, losing to Rowan 82-72.
Comeback Kids: The situation looked bleak for the Vikings in their second round contests against Amherst. Trailing 30-9 in the first half, Salem State bounced back and won the contest 81-75 and advanced to sectional play for the first time since the 1997 season.
Streaks: The Vikings were hot at the beginning of the season winning 19 of their first 20 games, but cooled off towards the end dropping three of their final four regular season games. However, they have mounted their own streak again in the postseason with six consecutive victories through the MASCAC Tournament and first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Jenkins in Control: Senior guard Tishaun Jenkins is the leader of the Vikings. The two-time MASCAC Player of the Year was a preseason Street and Smith's honorable mention All-America selection. He currently averages 14.5 points per game and is shooting 44.8 percent from the field.
In the Rankings: Salem State entered the postseason ranked No. 21 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The Vikings had been as high as No. 17 in February before consecutive losses at Framingham State and Massachusetts College.
Conference Champs: Salem State captured the program's 16th Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season title this season and eighth MASCAC postseason tournament crown.
Roster
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
|
3 |
John Bennett |
G |
So. |
6-2 |
205 |
East Boston, Mass. |
|
10 |
Tishaun Jenkins |
G |
Sr. |
6-0 |
165 |
Worcester, Mass. |
|
12 |
Jeremy Jones |
G |
Jr. |
5-10 |
150 |
Woonsocket, R.I. |
|
14 |
Danny White |
G |
Jr. |
5-11 |
170 |
El Paso, Tex. |
|
22 |
Danny Bunker |
G |
So. |
6-2 |
205 |
Roslindale, Mass. |
|
23 |
Ed Bourgogne |
F |
Jr. |
6-5 |
210 |
Dorchester, Mass. |
|
33 |
Peter Szklarz |
F |
So. |
6-4 |
185 |
Auburn, Mass. |
|
34 |
Eric McCoy |
F |
Jr. |
6-4 |
225 |
Dorchester, Mass. |
|
40 |
Gus White |
C |
Jr. |
6-9 |
255 |
Lowell, Mass. |
|
42 |
Steve O'Connell |
F |
Sr. |
6-7 |
200 |
Saugus, Mass. |
|
50 |
Dorian Bryant |
F |
Sr. |
6-3 |
260 |
Roxbury, Mass. |
Head Coach: Brian Meehan
Assistant Coaches: Jeff Scott, Titus Manderson
About Coach Meehan
Brian Meehan is currently in his fourth season as head coach of the Salem State College men's basketball squad. Meehan has directed the Vikings to three NCAA tournament appearances including the program's first-ever trip to the championship round.
The Vikings have compiled an impressive 93-19 (.830) record under Meehan. The Worcester, Mass., native's squads have fashioned a 49-8 (.860) record against Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents. Salem has won two and shared a pair of conference regular season titles since Meehan was elevated to head coach in August 1996.
Meehan, a 1986 graduate of Clark (Mass.) University, began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater in 1990. Meehan went on to serve as an assistant at Fitchburg State for the next two years prior to coming to Salem State as a volunteer assistant coach in 1993. He was hired as a paid assistant in 1994 and served in that capacity until being named head coach.
Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Meehan was a full-time faculty member who taught U.S. and World History and served as the head boys' basketball coach at St. Mary's High School in Worcester, Mass.
Meehan also serves as the head coach of the Salem State golf program which he led into the NCAA Tournament in just his first year at the helm.
The 36-year old Meehan resides in Lowell, Mass., with his wife Michelle and their two boys, Nate and Jake.