Homecoming for Pikiell a tough opener for SBU

Pardon Stony Brook men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell if he and wife Kate enjoy a walk down memory lane Friday night when the Seawolves open the season at UConn. The Pikiells went to college in Storrs, and this is his first time coaching at Gampel Pavilion, where he played under Jim Calhoun, who is celebrating the 39th season of his Hall of Fame career against his former point guard and team captain.

"It's always a big thrill,'' Pikiell said of his return. "We're bringing the whole family, so my kids will get to see our school. I was part of the first game they played at Gampel. When it opened, I was the captain with Tate George. It's a great experience until the ball goes up. Then it's a wrestling match.''

Pikiell and Calhoun have remained in regular contact since the Stony Brook coach graduated in 1991, and Pikiell freely admits modeling his rebuilding of the Seawolves' program after what Calhoun did at UConn. Both took last-place teams and turned them into conference champions.

"He's done a fabulous job, and you knew he would,'' Calhoun said. "As a player, he was terrific. He scored 29 in the old elimination game in the Big East Tournament. He dislocated his shoulder 48 or 50 times until he finally got the message he should have it worked on. Once you get it worked on, it's too tight. He never became the shooter he once was.

"He was as good a leader as I've ever had. Every place he stopped coaching-wise, he's been exceptional.''

Recalling his initial season at UConn, Calhoun said Pikiell was one of "the reasons I could keep any sanity at all. Every day I saw he would give so much with a bad shoulder. He's used to overcoming personally, so he's going to help his team overcome.''

Calhoun was referencing injuries that will force the defending America East regular-season champs to rely on an influx of newcomers right away. Hard-nosed forward Tommy Brenton suffered a dislocated kneecap that might turn this into a redshirt season. Then reserve guard Marcus Rouse underwent meniscus surgery and is out at least until January. Now starting center Dallis Joyner is fighting a severe ankle sprain.

As a result, Pikiell's top nine players include four freshmen and a junior college transfer. If Joyner can play, the Seawolves will have three returning starters with point guard Bryan Dougher and small forward Chris Martin. Junior Danny Carter starts at power forward, and freshman Dave Coley is the shooting guard. If Joyner can't go, freshman Anthony Mayo starts.

Playing prominent roles off the bench are junior college transfer Al Rapier and redshirt freshman Eric McAlister at forward and freshman guard Anthony Jackson.

All they must do is keep up with a Connecticut team Pikiell said "wants to go 1,000 miles per hour'' with NBA prospect Kemba Walker at point guard. "In some ways, it's good,'' Pikiell said of the challenge. "Throw 'em to the wolves. That's what I'm going to tell them, anyway.''