As we approach the month of November, Detroit Mercy sport fans have something to look forward to: basketball season.
The Titans have had a troublesome past couple of years, with the infamous 1-31 season occurring in 2023-24. The next year Head Coach Mark Montgomery, formerly the Michigan State University assistant coach, took over. In Coach Montgomery’s first year at the helm, the Titans improved to 8-24 (4-16 in conference). Although this outcome may have been slightly upsetting for fans, Coach Montgomery said that “as a competitor you always want to win more, but I really like the direction we’re headed moving forward this year.”
In Coach Montgomery’s second year, the team made eight off eason acquisitions, including six freshmen. When asked about how this may alter the team’s chemistry, Coach Montgomery was quick to mention the team leader and now senior, Orlando Lovejoy, who will play an important role as glue between the new and returning players.
Lovejoy transferred as a junior to Detroit Mercy, after playing two seasons at the Eastern Michigan and immediately became an integral part of Detroit Mercy’s offense. Lovejoy played in 30 of 32 games last season and averaged a miraculous 35 (out of 40) minutes per game. Lovejoy will be looking to come into this season feeling rested.
Lovejoy is also excited for the opportunity to lead this young team.
Lovejoy said, “I think it’s easier because a lot of the guys are from the area so … I’ve known a lot of these guys before they got here. I actually helped recruit all the guys that are here, so I already got a great relationship with them.”
Lovejoy said that he doesn’t feel pressure on the court because he knows at the end of the day it’s just basketball. He really looks forward to getting off the court and spending time with his two-year-old daughter. Lovejoy also said he is able to play relaxed because of his religious background as a devoted Christian. He also briefly mentioned that he is an impressive chess player.
In addition to Lovejoy’s return, some returning sophomores of note are guards TJ Nadeau and Nate Johnson as well as forward Ryan Kalambay. Nadeau was an efficient three-point shooter, averaging nearly 9 points per game. Johnson, who was a member of the Horizon Leagues All-Freshman team last year, grew two inches and put on 20 pounds of muscle to increase his under the rim presence and improve his jumper. Finally, Kalambay, the second tallest Titan on the roster, saw a steady increase in play time throughout last season. Each of these players will be expected to step up as a leader throughout the season.
Some new weapons that are looking to make a big difference in the team include freshmen guards Lance Stone, Jekel Cotton and Keshawn Fisher. Stone was a top 5 prospect in the state of Michigan and will play an important role as point guard. Cotton was a top 10 recruit from his home state of Ohio. During high school, Cotton averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, which will be a great addition for the Titans who struggled to rebound last season. Finally, Fisher, the 3-star recruit coming from Overtime Elite, is an elite defender and will likely see good play time immediately as a Titan.
The Titans’ first home game will be against the NAIA competitor Cleary University on Nov. 11.