2019–20 Merrimack Warriors men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode =Basketball
|year =2019–20
|prev_year =2018–19
|next_year =2020–21
|team =Merrimack Warriors
|image =Merrimack Warriors.svg
|image_size =250
|conference =Northeast Conference
|short_conf =NEC
|record =20–11
|conf_record =14–4
|head_coach =Joe Gallo
|hc_year =4th
|asst_coach1 =Micky Burtnyk
|ac1_year =11th
|asst_coach2 =Phil Gaetano
|ac2_year =2nd
|stadium =Merrimack Athletics Complex
|champion = NEC regular-season champions
|bowl =
|bowl_result =
}}
{{2019–20 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 2019–20 Merrimack Warriors men's basketball team represented Merrimack College during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Warriors were led by fourth-year head coach Joe Gallo, and played their home games at Hammel Court in North Andover, Massachusetts as first-year members of the Northeast Conference (NEC).
The season marked the school's first season in NCAA Division I. The Warriors previously participated in Division II's Northeast-10 Conference (NE10).{{Cite web |date=2018-09-10 |title=Northeast Conference - Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join Northeast Conference |url=http://northeastconference.org/news/2018/9/7/GEN_Merrimack_Joins_NEC_18.aspx |access-date=2018-09-10 |website=northeastconference.org |language=en}} As part of their transition to Division I, the Warriors were not eligible for postseason play, including the NEC tournament, until 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.midmajormadness.com/2019/10/25/20931111/merrimack-warriors-division-i-northeast-conference-media-day-preview|title=This is Merrimack’s chance to make noise in Division I|last=Steinberg|first=Russell|date=2019-10-25|website=Mid-Major Madness|language=en|access-date=2019-11-18}}
On February 27, 2020, Merrimack defeated Central Connecticut 69–58 to clinch at least a share of the Northeast Conference regular-season title.{{cite press release|url=https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2020/2/28/hail-the-champions-mens-basketball-downs-central-connecticut-69-58-to-capture-nec-regular-season-championship.aspx |title=HAIL THE CHAMPIONS! Men’s Basketball Downs CCSU, 69-58, to Capture NEC Regular Season Championship |publisher=Merrimack Warriors |date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=February 28, 2020}} The Warriors became the first men's basketball team to record a 20-win season in its first Division I season. Due to NCAA rules for schools transitioning to D-I, the Warriors were ineligible to play in NCAA-sponsored postseason events (the NCAA tournament and the NIT), and under NEC rules were ineligible for the conference tournament. Two days later, Robert Morris's 78–68 win over Saint Francis (PA) gave the Warriors the outright regular-season NEC title, making them the first men's basketball program to win an outright conference title in its first D-I season. Contrary to an Associated Press report, the Warriors were eligible for non-NCAA postseason events.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401176511 |title=Merrimack claims Northeast title in 1st Division I season |agency=Associated Press |website=ESPN.com |date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=February 28, 2020}}{{cite press release|url=https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2020/2/29/mens-basketball-makes-ncaa-history-with-outright-nec-regular-season-title.aspx |title=Merrimack Men’s Basketball Makes NCAA History with Outright NEC Regular Season Title |publisher=Merrimack Warriors |date=February 29, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2020}} They were a candidate for an invitation to the 2020 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. However, the CIT and all postseason tournaments were cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous season
The Warriors finished the 2018–19 season 22–10, 14–7 in conference play, to finish in second place in the Northeast Division of the NE10. They won the NE10 tournament championship to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. As the No. 2 seed in the East Regional,{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2019 |title=Men’s Basketball Receives Second Seed in NCAA East Regional, Faces Dominican in Tournament Play Saturday |url=https://merrimackathletics.com/news/2019/3/10/mens-basketball-receives-second-seed-in-east-regional-faces-dominican-in-tournament-play-saturday.aspx |access-date=2019-11-18 |website=Merrimack College Athletics |language=en}} they lost in the first round to {{cbb link|2017|team=Dominican Chargers|school=Dominican College (New York)|title=Dominican (NY)}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themackreport.com/mens-basketball/merrimack-falls-in-ncaa-tournament-to-dominican/|title=Merrimack falls in NCAA tournament to Dominican|last=McMahon|first=Mike|date=2019-03-17|website=The Mack Report|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-18}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header |year=2019 |team=Merrimack Warriors|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Juvaris |last=Hayes |link=y |num=0 |pos=G |ft=6|in=0 |lbs=185|class=SR|rs= |home=Paterson, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Khalief |last=Crawford|num=1 |pos=G |ft=6|in=1 |lbs=190|class=JR|rs= |home=Linden, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Mykel |last=Derring |num=3 |pos=G |ft=6|in=2 |lbs=170|class=FR|rs= |home=Boston, MA}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Ethan |last=Helwig |num=4 |pos=G |ft=6|in=4 |lbs=180|class=FR|rs= |home=Aurora, IL}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Mikey |last=Watkins |num=5 |pos=G |ft=5|in=11|lbs=175|class=SO|rs= |home=Roselle, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Jaylen |last=Davis |num=10|pos=G |ft=6|in=3 |lbs=193|class=FR|rs= |home=Deer Park, NY}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Ryan |last=Miller |num=11|pos=G |ft=6|in=2 |lbs=195|class=SO|rs= |home=Weston, MA}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Jaleel |last=Lord |num=13|pos=G |ft=6|in=4 |lbs=170|class=SR|rs= |home=Jersey City, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Devin |last=Jensen |num=14|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=5 |lbs=195|class=JR|rs= |home=Brielle, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Idris |last=Joyner |num=15|pos=F |ft=6|in=5 |lbs=215|class=SR|rs= |home=Plainfield, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Jordan |last=Minor |link=y |num=22|pos=F |ft=6|in=8 |lbs=220|class=FR|rs= |home=Kingston, MA}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Ziggy |last=Reid |num=23|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=5 |lbs=235|class=FR|rs= |home=Baltimore, MD}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Jordan |last=McKoy |num=24|pos=G/F|ft=6|in=5 |lbs=170|class=FR|rs= |home=Westwood, NJ}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Justin |last=Connolly|num=31|pos=F |ft=6|in=7 |lbs=200|class=SO|rs= |home=Melrose, MA}}
{{CBB roster/Player |first=Aaron |last=Jaynes |num=34|pos=F |ft=6|in=6 |lbs=220|class=SO|rs= |home=Framingham, MA}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Joe Gallo ({{college|Merrimack College}})
|asst_coach=
- Micky Burtnyk ({{college|Merrimack College}})
- Phil Gaetano ({{college|Sacred Heart University}})
|roster_url=https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2019-20
|accessdate=October 25, 2024
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=no|ranklink=2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2019|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Merrimack Warriors}}|Exhibition
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = October 31, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Maine–Fort Kent
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 87–26
| record =
| attend =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Merrimack Warriors}}|Non-conference regular season
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 6, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Maine
| site_stadium = Cross Insurance Center
| site_cityst = Bangor, ME
| score = [https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2019-20/university-of-maine/boxscore/8707 64–84]
| record = 0–1
| attend = 1,089
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 8, 2018
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Northwestern
| site_stadium = Welsh-Ryan Arena
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| tv = BTN Plus
| score = 71–61
| record = 1–1
| attend = 5,014
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 15, 2019
| time = 4:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| neutral = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Dartmouth
| site_stadium = Costello Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Lowell, MA
| gamename = River Hawk Invitational
| score = 46–56
| record = 1–2
| attend = 1,166
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 16, 2019
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = UMass Lowell
| site_stadium = Costello Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Lowell, MA
| tv = ESPN3
| gamename = River Hawk Invitational
| score = 60–58
| record = 2–2
| attend = 696
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 17, 2019
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| neutral = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Jacksonville
| site_stadium = Costello Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Lowell, MA
| gamename = River Hawk Invitational
| score = 54–44
| record = 3–2
| attend = 534
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 19, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Providence
| site_stadium = Dunkin' Donuts Center
| site_cityst = Providence, RI
| tv = FSN
| score = 56–93
| record = 3–3
| attend = 7,251
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 22, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Lesley
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 110-16
| record = 4-3
| attend = 617
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 24, 2019
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Hartford
| site_stadium = Reich Family Pavilion
| site_cityst = West Hartford, CT
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 62–58
| record = 5–3
| attend = 599
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = November 29, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Akron
| site_stadium = James A. Rhodes Arena
| site_cityst = Akron, OH
| score = 47–64
| record = 5–4
| attend = 2,028
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = December 4, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Brown
| site_stadium = Pizzitola Sports Center
| site_cityst = Providence, RI
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 55–82
| record = 5–5
| attend = 786
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = December 11, 2019
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Army
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = [https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2019-20/army/boxscore/8717 69–60]
| record = 6–5
| attend = 1,500
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = December 22, 2019
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = UC Santa Barbara
| site_stadium = UC Santa Barbara Events Center
| site_cityst = Santa Barbara, CA
| score = 50–68
| record = 6–6
| attend = 749
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = December 29, 2019
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Boston University
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 67–69
| record = 6–7
| attend = 867
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Merrimack Warriors}}| Northeast Conference regular season
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 2, 2020
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Sacred Heart
| site_stadium = William H. Pitt Center
| site_cityst = Fairfield, CT
| score = 65–57
| record = 7–7
| conference = 1–0
| attend = 376
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 4, 2020
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Robert Morris
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 58–69
| record = 7–8
| conference = 1–1
| attend = 603
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 9, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Mount St. Mary's
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 64–61
| record = 8–8
| conference = 2–1
| attend = 245
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 11, 2020
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Central Connecticut
| site_stadium = William H. Detrick Gymnasium
| site_cityst = New Britain, CT
| score = 58–46
| record = 9–8
| conference = 3–1
| attend = 1,126
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 15, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Bryant
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 71–67
| record = 10–8
| conference = 4–1
| attend = 827
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 18, 2020
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Robert Morris
| site_stadium = UPMC Events Center
| site_cityst = Moon Township, PA
| score = 53–49
| record = 11–8
| conference = 5–1
| attend = 1,605
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 20, 2020
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Saint Francis (PA)
| site_stadium = DeGol Arena
| site_cityst = Loretto, PA
| score = 72–55
| record = 12–8
| conference = 6–1
| attend = 1,080
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 23, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Fairleigh Dickinson
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 74–71
| overtime = 2OT
| record = 13–8
| conference = 7–1
| attend = 955
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = January 30, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = St. Francis Brooklyn
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 61–50
| record = 14–8
| conference = 8–1
| attend = 984
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 1, 2020
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = LIU
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 70–59
| record = 15–8
| conference = 9–1
| attend = 1,471
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 6, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Fairleigh Dickinson
| site_stadium = Rothman Center
| site_cityst = Hackensack, NJ
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 57–53
| record = 16–8
| conference = 10–1
| attend = 1,046
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 8, 2020
| time = 4:30 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = LIU
| site_stadium = Steinberg Wellness Center
| site_cityst = Brooklyn, NY
| score = 64–67
| overtime = OT
| record = 16–9
| conference = 10–2
| attend = 826
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 13, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = St. Francis Brooklyn
| site_stadium = Generoso Pope Athletic Complex
| site_cityst = Brooklyn, NY
| score = 60–50
| record = 17–9
| conference = 11–2
| attend = 608
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 15, 2020
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Wagner
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 68–59
| record = 18–9
| conference = 12–2
| attend = 1,500
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 18, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Bryant
| site_stadium = Chace Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Smithfield, RI
| score = 52–61
| record = 18–10
| conference = 12–3
| attend = 1,482
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 21, 2020
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Sacred Heart
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 64–57
| record = 19–10
| conference = 13–3
| attend = 1,500
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 23, 2020
| time = 3:00 p.m.
| away = yes
| rank = no
| opponent = Mount St. Mary's
| site_stadium = Knott Arena
| site_cityst = Emmitsburg, MD
| score = 57–65
| record = 19–11
| conference = 13–4
| attend = 2,078
}}
{{CBB Schedule Entry
| date = February 27, 2020
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| rank = no
| opponent = Central Connecticut
| site_stadium = Hammel Court
| site_cityst = North Andover, MA
| score = 69–58
| record = 20–11
| conference = 14–4
| attend = 1,404
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP poll|timezone=Eastern}}
Sources:{{Cite web |title=2019-20 Men's Basketball Schedule |url=https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2019-20 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Merrimack College Athletics}}{{Cite web |title=Merrimack Warriors Schedule 2019-20 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/2771/season/2020 |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=ESPN}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Merrimack Warriors men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2019-20 Merrimack Warriors men's basketball team}}