With less than four weeks prior to the start of the 2016-17 season, NJIT men's basketball contact Matt Provence sat down with first-year head coach Brian Kennedy to discuss Five Key Questions facing the Highlanders heading into their second season as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
 
 
1. First Season as a Division I Head Coach
 
MP: How would you assess your first preseason so far as a Division I head coach?
 
BK: Well, I'm still undefeated, Matt [chuckle]! In all seriousness, the preseason has been going well. The challenge this season is replacing three starters from last year in Ky Howard, Winfield Willis and Terrence Smith/Manny Tselentakis. While we bring back a great nucleus, the challenge is taking a whole new group of guys and getting them up to speed. We run a sophisticated offense, so it's not the easiest thing for the freshmen to come in here and digest everything we're doing.
 
 
2. Style of Play
 
MP: It was known that Jim Engles had a very extensive, very detail-oriented playbook. Do you carry over a lot of what's been done here or will there be significant change?
 
BK: There's that old adage, "If it's not broken, don't try and fix it."  Jim and I were always of the same thought process concerning the game of basketball so there won't be a lot of changes in our system.  As far as the offense is concerned, I actually played in that system in college and coached it my entire career. There will be some subtle changes here and there but the offense will essentially remain the same.  Defensively, we want to be known as a tough, gritty group every time we cross the lines.  A big focus this preseason has been improving our rebounding numbers as a team.  But our philosophies are similar – both offensively and defensively.
 
 
3. Newcomers
 
MP:  How have the newcomers to the program looked so far?
 
BK: This is a very talented group of newcomers. On paper, it's the highest rated recruiting class we've ever had; but as we all know, talent and potential doesn't always equate into production.  Each one of them brings a little something different to the table and at the end of the day I think they will all have very successful careers here at NJIT.  They have worked extremely hard in the classroom, the weight room and on the court so they are off to a good start.  And Abdul Lewis, who sat out last season after transferring from South Alabama, is a legitimate 6-9 post player who's athletic and very skilled. He's still developing, but there's a lot of talent there.  He had surgery last year on his knee but he's really been locked in this preseason and he's working diligently preparing for the upcoming year.
 
 
4. Assessing the Schedule
 
MP: What are your thoughts about the challenging schedule facing the Highlanders this season?
 
BK: Whew! Most of by brethren think I'm crazy with this schedule. But the reality of it is that we had trouble finding games around this area. This is the toughest schedule, by far, we've had here at NJIT. The majority of the games are against very solid mid-majors. But without question, it will help prepare us for league play, just being challenged on the road against tough teams. Our guys are up for it.
 
 
5. Keys to the Season
 
MP: For NJIT to have another successful season, what needs to go well?
 
BK: First, and foremost, is always avoiding injuries. You want to avoid injuries. Secondly, as a team, we have to keep our eyes on the prize at the end. With this schedule, it's going to be a challenging year. Through the ups and downs, we have to not get too high with the ups and to low with the downs. As far as on the basketball court, we have to defend and rebound. We're kind of known as an offensive team, but if we defend and rebound the way that I think we are capable of doing on a night-in and night-out basis, I think that will be a major key to our success.


NJIT opens the season at home on Friday, Nov. 11, against Sarah Lawrence (NY) College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. at the Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark.