University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Seniors Return With One Goal in Mind: A CAA Title
11/9/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
In April, the NCAA Division I Council ratified a new rule allowing men's basketball student-athletes to transfer and play immediately. Plenty of players across the country took advantage of that rule, as the NCAA's transfer portal was flooded during most of the offseason.
Which makes the Blue Hens, whose four seniors from a year ago all decided to return, an anomaly.
Dylan Painter, who graduated from Delaware this spring, along with fifth-year seniors Ryan Allen, Kevin Anderson and Anthony Ochefu, are all back for 2021-22, along with the rest of UD's roster from last season.
Delaware is one of just four programs with at least four "super seniors" on its roster, along with Richmond, East Tennessee State and Butler (which has five). The Blue Hens are one of just three programs that return 100 percent of their scoring, along with Saint Francis (Pa.) and Saint Mary's.
Having the four seniors back should make the job easier for head coach Martin Ingelsby, who is grateful for their commitment the program.
"All four of those guys are great basketball players and even better people," Ingelsby said. "I enjoy coaching them, and our staff does as well. I think it shows a belief in our program, the culture we've established, and the relationships we've built with them.
"We have an older group that understands college basketball and how we operate, and they've done a great job leading and driving the bus to the point where those guys are finishing my sentences," he continued. "I love coaching those guys. I'm thankful for their belief in our program, and what we've been able to do and how we've been able to build it. They wanted to come back and enjoy those experiences again, and do it together. I'm going to lean on those guys a lot, especially Ryan, Kevin and Dylan who were big pieces of our program last year. We need to have those guys confident and playing well, and we need them to set a great example for the younger guys of how we do things."
Painter, a CAA Preseason First Team selection who is working toward his MBA this academic year, echoed Ingelsby's sentiments. But for Painter, Anderson and Allen, the decision to return all boiled down to one thing: winning a title.
"I've been playing with Kevin and Ryan for three years, so there's definitely a lot of chemistry there," he explained. "But the biggest thing that brought us all back is that we really think we can do this. If we didn't believe we could make something special happen, there wouldn't be as much of a reason to come back. But we really believe in the staff, the team, and the culture of this program."
"I came back because I really want to win a championship," Anderson added. "I can't leave without winning something."
Allen, a second team Preseason All-CAA pick, concurred.
"We talked about coming back together, but it was still our own decisions. We haven't won a title yet, so that's still our goal."
That goal certainly appears attainable, evidenced by Delaware being picked to the top spot in the CAA Preseason Poll for the first time since joining the league. The Blue Hens earned 19 of 36 first place votes, while their 296 points in the poll were 50 more than Northeastern which was picked second.
While the UD players and coaches are quick to point out the poll's insignificance, it affirms the Blue Hens' potential this season.
"Preseason stuff doesn't really matter; we haven't played any games yet," Anderson noted. "Our confidence is really high and we know we can be the best in the league, we just have to show it."
"It put a target on our back, but mainly it gives us the opportunity to prove what people already thought," Allen agreed.
For Ingelsby, whose squad adds transfers Jameer Nelson, Jr. and Jyare Davis along with freshman Wes Peterson to the entire 2020-21 cast, a CAA championship is the clear goal.
"I think the seniors all felt that they left something out there in their college experience," he said. "They talked about it internally and wanted to come back and cut down some nets and raise a banner. And that's what their focus has been. For me, it's been fun to step back and see those guys take ownership of this group and drive us each day. We're very thankful, and hope we can send them out with a championship at the end of the season."
The road to March begins tonight.
Which makes the Blue Hens, whose four seniors from a year ago all decided to return, an anomaly.
Dylan Painter, who graduated from Delaware this spring, along with fifth-year seniors Ryan Allen, Kevin Anderson and Anthony Ochefu, are all back for 2021-22, along with the rest of UD's roster from last season.
Delaware is one of just four programs with at least four "super seniors" on its roster, along with Richmond, East Tennessee State and Butler (which has five). The Blue Hens are one of just three programs that return 100 percent of their scoring, along with Saint Francis (Pa.) and Saint Mary's.
Having the four seniors back should make the job easier for head coach Martin Ingelsby, who is grateful for their commitment the program.
"All four of those guys are great basketball players and even better people," Ingelsby said. "I enjoy coaching them, and our staff does as well. I think it shows a belief in our program, the culture we've established, and the relationships we've built with them.
"We have an older group that understands college basketball and how we operate, and they've done a great job leading and driving the bus to the point where those guys are finishing my sentences," he continued. "I love coaching those guys. I'm thankful for their belief in our program, and what we've been able to do and how we've been able to build it. They wanted to come back and enjoy those experiences again, and do it together. I'm going to lean on those guys a lot, especially Ryan, Kevin and Dylan who were big pieces of our program last year. We need to have those guys confident and playing well, and we need them to set a great example for the younger guys of how we do things."
Painter, a CAA Preseason First Team selection who is working toward his MBA this academic year, echoed Ingelsby's sentiments. But for Painter, Anderson and Allen, the decision to return all boiled down to one thing: winning a title.
"I've been playing with Kevin and Ryan for three years, so there's definitely a lot of chemistry there," he explained. "But the biggest thing that brought us all back is that we really think we can do this. If we didn't believe we could make something special happen, there wouldn't be as much of a reason to come back. But we really believe in the staff, the team, and the culture of this program."
"I came back because I really want to win a championship," Anderson added. "I can't leave without winning something."
Allen, a second team Preseason All-CAA pick, concurred.
"We talked about coming back together, but it was still our own decisions. We haven't won a title yet, so that's still our goal."
That goal certainly appears attainable, evidenced by Delaware being picked to the top spot in the CAA Preseason Poll for the first time since joining the league. The Blue Hens earned 19 of 36 first place votes, while their 296 points in the poll were 50 more than Northeastern which was picked second.
While the UD players and coaches are quick to point out the poll's insignificance, it affirms the Blue Hens' potential this season.
"Preseason stuff doesn't really matter; we haven't played any games yet," Anderson noted. "Our confidence is really high and we know we can be the best in the league, we just have to show it."
"It put a target on our back, but mainly it gives us the opportunity to prove what people already thought," Allen agreed.
For Ingelsby, whose squad adds transfers Jameer Nelson, Jr. and Jyare Davis along with freshman Wes Peterson to the entire 2020-21 cast, a CAA championship is the clear goal.
"I think the seniors all felt that they left something out there in their college experience," he said. "They talked about it internally and wanted to come back and cut down some nets and raise a banner. And that's what their focus has been. For me, it's been fun to step back and see those guys take ownership of this group and drive us each day. We're very thankful, and hope we can send them out with a championship at the end of the season."
The road to March begins tonight.
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