Titans 'Ready to Get After It' at National Tournament
March 15, 2016 - The Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team has been given a second chance -- and the Titans intend to make the most of it.
Coach Jeremy Shulman's team is in Hutchinson, Kansas for the NJCAA Men's National Basketball Championship tournament. The sixth-seeded Titans (27-4) will play Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT against Ranger College, the 83-63 winner in theTexas college's first-round matchup with East Mississippi.
Fans can watch the game via live webcast at njcaatv.com
A brilliant season that included a fourth straight FCSAA Southern Conference championship was nearly derailed when the Titans lost to Tallahassee in the first round of the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA Tournament, EFSC received an at-large berth into the national tournament, and a first-round bye to boot.
Consider the Titans re-charged.
"It was obviously a devastating loss for us, but I think it's refocused the group into realizing how quickly the season can be over," Shulman said. "To have a second opportunity out here, to be blessed as one of only four teams in the country to get an at-large bid into the tournament … we've got to make the most of it.
"We've got to take advantage of our second chance."
One thing at least two Titans have going for them is the experience of playing at this level.
Sophomores Djordje Beronja and Zavier Peart were on last year's EFSC team that advanced to the national tournament as a No. 12 seed and lost in the first round to Holmes Community College of Mississippi.
Shulman said Beronja and Pert have been "absolutely invaluable" in helping the other players prepare for all that comes with playing on the national stage. Perhaps that's why the coach believes the Titans have a great mindset right now.
"The moment might have been a little bit too big for us last year," Shulman said. "This year, we're settled in and we're ready to get after it."
The Titans are led by freshman point guard C.J. Jackson, who is averaging 16.7 points a game and was voted Conference Player of the Year, first-team all-state and was runner up for the state Player of the Year award.
"It all starts with him," Shulman said. "He makes the team go. He runs the team. He's our leading scorer. He's a great rebounder. He's a fantastic player."
Freshman Kareem Brewton is the team's second-leading scorer at 14.7 points a game and sophomore B.J. Gladden is the second-leading rebounder in the tournament at 9.6 boards a game. Beronja, a two-time all-conference pick, is averaging 10 points and six rebounds a game.
"We call him the backbone of our team," Shulman said. "He does all the little things for us."
Versatile playmaker Joan Duran rounds out the starting five and Austin Awad is considered one of the best sixth men in the country.
A win Wednesday night would put the Titans in the national quarterfinals on Thursday. That game would also be at 9 p.m. EDT.