For the second time in program history, the Brookdale Community College mens basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the country.
The Jersey Blues, coached by Paul Cisek, topped the most recent National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division III poll.
Brookdale, which is 17-0, was last ranked No. 1 last year.
Despite graduating everyone from last year’s 28-4 club, which finished sixth at the national championship, Cisek has put together a very deep and talented squad made up of Shore-area players. The team has taken its cue from the defensive side of the ball.
“We’re very, very quick and play great defense,” said the veteran head coach. “We play straight man-to-man full-court and get after it.
“We hustle and play with great defensive intensity,” he added.
Brookdale has been holding teams to an average of just 51.5 points a game and opponents are shooting under 40 percent from the field (38.9) against the harassing Jersey Blues defense.
The defense has not only been stopping teams from scoring, but it is also a major catalyst for the offense that is scoring 91.7 points a game. The Jersey Blues have averaged 15.7 steals and are causing 35.3 turnovers per game. They’ve used those steals and turnovers to get out in the open floor and score quick transition baskets.
Brookdale’s scoring reflects the team’s balance. There are six players averaging double figures in scoring.
Point guard Neil Thompson, a Monmouth Regional High School graduate, has emerged as the Jersey Blues’ leader. He sees to it that he gets everyone involved on offense and sets the tone on defense with his tough, tenacious play. Thompson is averaging 14.9 points, 6.7 assists and 3.8 steals a game.
Joe Nickerson (Barringer) leads the team with 16.2 points per game. Damian Williams (Bayonne), David Rosado (Saddle River) and Paul Little (Long Branch) are averaging 13.1 points, 12.3 points and 11.4 points per game, respectively. Sammy Singletary is close to double figures with his 9.7 average. Like scoring, the rebounding has been a collective and effective effort. The team is out-rebounding opponents by a whopping 40 boards a games (77.9-38). Rosado and Nickerson are both averaging 5.8 caroms and Little has 5.7.
Depth has given Cisek a lot of flexibility. He can go big or small with his lineup and whom he selects off the bench to bring in an offensive spark or defensive stopper.
Casey Skievaski (Freehold Township) and Brian Adams (Manalapan) are among the key matchup substitutes.
What the stats don’t reveal is that Brookdale’s biggest asset may be their attitude.
“They don’t want to lose,” said Cisek. “They believe they can win.”
That is especially true at home in Collins Arena. Since its reopening in January 2010, the Jersey Blues have not lost a game and have stretched their three-year winning streak to 32. They will go for No. 33 on Jan. 19, when they host Passaic County Community College (3 p.m.) in a Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX game.
The good news for Brookdale is that it will again host the Region XIX championship. That’s not as good for anyone looking to get through the Jersey Blues to advance to the NJCAA Tournament.
The Region tournament will begin on Feb. 20 and conclude on March 2.