Walking Tall: Where are you going, where have you been? Stony Brook assistant — and former walk-on — Dan Rickard has been there every step of the way for the Seawolves.
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012This is the second installment of a multi-part series profiling notable America East Walk-ons. The previous installment can be found here.
On March 2nd, 2002, the Stony Brook Seawolves took the court in Matthews Arena. It was the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament, and the eight-seeded Seawolves were facing top-seed Vermont.
It was a bloodbath.
The Catamounts opened the game shooting six-of-seven from downtown as all five Vermont starters knocked down 3’s in the games first six and a half minutes, effectively ending the game as soon as it had begun.
“I remember them kicking our butts,” laughed Stony Brook assistant coach Dan Rickard, who was a spectator that day.
The late Trevor Gaines scored 16 points, ripped down 11 rebounds and dished out six assists. A young T.J. Sorrentine and an even younger Taylor Coppenrath added 11 and 16 points, respectively, and Grant Anderson added 15 as Vermont cruised to a 74-59 win.
“All I remember is coming up here and Trevor Gaines, and Coppenrath and Sorrentine and that whole crew lighting us up. I just remember T.J. was so good; we had no answer for him – it wasn’t even close,” said Rickard.
On Saturday, the Seawolves returned to Matthews’ hardwood a decade after they first trod the floorboards of the world’s oldest sports arena. But while the ancient arena – its steel support beams, wrought rafters, and darkened corners – remains the same, everything about Stony Brook basketball has changed.
The Seawolves took down the host Huskies of Northeastern 76-69, to improve to 18-8, and remained in a first-place tie with Vermont at 12-2 in conference.
“It’s night and day,” said Rickard, “we’re worlds away from where we used to be.” (more…)