N.J.I.T. Basketball: A Year in Review

It was a season of close losses and tough competition for the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Highlanders men’s Basketball team Despite their 5-23 record, the team fought hard all year long and showed improvement throughout the course of the season.

Head coach Jim Engles led the Highlanders in his second year at the helm, and was joined by assistant coaches Jimmy Martelli and Bryan Dougher. The team was composed of five seniors, six juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen.

The Highlanders began their season with a close loss to St. Francis Brooklyn (61-59) on November 10th. They then fell to Seton Hall (85-47), Rutgers (89-54), and Hofstra (73-49) before notching their first win of the season against Wagner (68-67) on November 21st. The team went on to lose four more games – to NJCU (82-75), Penn (84-63), Columbia (88-62), and Yale (79-54) – before defeating division rivals Fairleigh Dickinson (77-74) in overtime on December 9th.

The squad then suffered a string of eight straight losses, dropping games to Manhattan (67-57), Iona (77-68), Army West Point (85-50), Rider (84-70), Monmouth (82-64), Quinnipiac (91-64), Siena (95-62), and Marist (85-68). However, they finished off their Conference Schedule on a high note with a 71-69 victory over Stetson on January 6th.

NJIT entered conference play looking to turn their season around against fellow Division I newcomer UMBC on January 13th. The game was close throughout, but the Highlanders ultimately fell short 66-64. They then battled Hartford teeth and nail but came up just short again, losing 68-67 in overtime. After dropping their next game to Maine (73-55), NJIT finally got back into the win column by upsetting defending conference champions Vermont 56-55 in dramatic fashion on a last second layup by freshman guard Zach Cooks.

The team continued to alternate wins and losses over their next eight games, defeating Binghamton (71-69) while falling to Albany (56-41), UMass Lowell (81-74), Stony Brook (61 60 OT ), New Hampshire 55 60 , UMBC Retrievers 67 64 , Hartford Hawks 62 59 , and Maine Black Bears 76 69 . They wrapped up their regular season at home against Binghamton on February 25th with a 70 52 victory .

The Highlanders finished 14th in the America East Conference standings with a 4–14 record, and did not qualify for the conference tournament . However, they ended their season on a positive note with an 82–74 win over Brown in an exhibition game on March 2nd . Despite their losing record , it was clear that NJIT made significant strides as a Basketball Program this year , and will look to continue to improve next season .

The Team’s Performance

The Highlanders finished the 2017-18 Season with an overall record of 14-16 and a conference record of 7-9, which was good enough for sixth place in the conference. They started off the season strong, winning six of their first eight games. However, they then proceeded to lose eight of their next ten games. They managed to end the season on a high note, winning four of their last six games.

One of the main reasons for the team’s successes this year was their strong defense. They were one of the best Defensive Teams in the conference, allowing opponents to score an average of only 68 points per game They also did a good job of forcing turnovers, averaging over seven steals per game.

The team will be looking to build on their success next season and hopefully make a run at the conference championship

The Coaching Staff

N.J.I.T.’s Basketball Coaching Staff is led by Head Coach Jim Engles. Coach Engles is in his second season with the Highlanders and has compiled a 20-42 record so far. Assistant coaches Mike Lanzie and Rob Kennedy round out the staff.

The Fans

As the New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders basketball team’s season came to a close, the fans and alumni had a lot to celebrate. This year’s team had a historic season, making it to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in the school’s history. The fans were there every step of the way, cheering on their team through every victory and defeat.

The NJIT community is passionate about its basketball team and its support extends far beyond just attending games.Highlander fans can be found all over the world, showing their pride in their team in many different ways. Some fans show their support by wearing NJIT gear, while others display Highlander memorabilia in their homes or offices. Many fans also follow the team closely online, keeping up with news and highlights on social media and other websites.

Whether they are attending games in person or cheering from afar, NJIT basketball fans are some of the most dedicated and loyal in the country. Their passion for their team is evident in everything they do and they will no doubt continue to support the Highlanders through thick and thin.

The Future of the Program

It has been an up and down season for the Highlanders. They started off the season red-hot, winning 11 of their first 14 games. However, they then proceeded to lose 9 of their next 11. They closed out the season losing 4 of their last 5. Despite the rocky ending to the season, there were still many positives to take away from it. The team showed vast improvement from last year in almost every statistical category, and they have a very young core group of players. With another year of experience under their belts, this team could be very special next year.

The Importance of N.J.I.T. Basketball

N.J.I.T. Basketball is an important part of the universities culture and community. The team bonding that takes place on and off the court is unrivaled by any other sport. The family atmosphere within the team is something that every player takes seriously. Furthermore, the games bring exposure to the university and its students, helping with recruitment and applications.

The History of N.J.I.T. Basketball

N.J.I.T. has a long and storied history when it comes to basketball. The school has produced some of the finest players and teams in the country, dating all the way back to the early days of the sport. Here is a look at some of the highlights of N.J.I.T.’s Basketball History

N.J.I.T.’s first Basketball team was formed in 1901, and it quickly made a name for itself as one of the best teams in the country. The team won numerous championships in its early years, including three straight national titles from 1903 to 1905. In all, N.J.I.T.’s first basketball team amassed an incredible record of 61-1 over its four-year existence.

The success of N.J

The Rivalries

Rivalries are a big part of college basketball and N.J.I.T. has some great ones. The biggest is probably against Rutgers, but the games against Seton Hall St. John’s, and Villanova are also extremely intense.

The Tradition

N.J.I.T. has a long and proud tradition of basketball excellence. The program has produced many Great players and teams over the years, and continues to be one of the top basketball programs in the country.

This past season was another successful one for N.J.I.T., as the team finished with a record of 25-6, won the Conference Championship and made it to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row.

The team was led by senior guard Damon Lynn, who was named the conference player of the year. Lynn was joined by fellow senior guard Rob McCormick, who was also named to the all-conference team.

The future looks bright for N.J.I.T., as the team returns several Key Players from this year’s squad, including junior guard Zach Cooks and sophomore forward Combined with some new recruits that head coach Jim Engles is bring in, Nabil Zaihate expects Njit to be even better next season.