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College basketball

Rider Men's Basketball Team Prepares for 2021-22 Season

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Rider men's basketball team, under the leadership of 10th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett, is gearing up for the 2021-22 season. The team has made significant roster changes, including the addition of Division I transfers Sedrick Altman and Mervin James. The Broncs also return key players Dwight Murray, Jr. and Dimencio Vaughn, who were named to the Preseason All-MAAC First and Second Teams, respectively. Despite finishing 11th in the MAAC standings last season, the team is looking to improve its performance and make a strong run in the upcoming season.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dwight Murray, Jr. led the team in points (15.8), rebounds (6.0), assists (4.1), and steals (1.0) per game last season, while shooting 85.9 percent from the free-throw line and 41.7 percent from long range.
  • Dimencio Vaughn returns to the team after spending last season at Ole Miss, where he scored 1,239 points, grabbed 565 rebounds, and made 165 steals in his first four years.
  • The team added transfer players Sedrick Altman (Pepperdine) and Mervin James (North Alabama), both of whom had prior connections to Rider through family and high school ties.
  • Rider returns starting center Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson and starting guard Allen Powell, who averaged 7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot a team-best 60.6 percent from the floor, respectively.
  • The team has a strong coaching staff, with Head Coach Kevin Baggett leading the team for the 10th year, and 147-133 record in his tenure.
  • Baggett has won MAAC Coach of the Year twice, and his teams have posted several notable wins, including a MAAC Championship First Round win over Canisius.

Statistics:

  • Murray shot 85.9 percent from the free-throw line and 41.7 percent from long range.
  • Vaughn scored 1,239 points, grabbed 565 rebounds, and made 165 steals in his first four years.
  • Altman was a 2019 West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team honoree at Pepperdine.
  • James earned All-Atlantic Sun Second Team honors last season.

Sources:

  • Rider men's basketball team news release (no specific date mentioned)
  • ESPN+ (no specific date mentioned)
  • Pepperdine Athletics (2019) [1]
  • North Alabama Athletics (2020) [2]

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