Brown men’s basketball has not danced since 1986, but head coach Mike Martin is like a kid in a candy store when he talks about that goal. With year 14 fast approaching for Martin, it’s the furious pursuit of March magic that keeps his feet planted in Providence.
“The administration here, president [Christina] Paxson and [vice president for athletics and recreation] Grace Calhoun have been incredibly supportive in trying to help grow our program,” Martin told Ivy Hoops Online. “This is the job I’ve always wanted.”
Martin and the Brown program came painfully close to making the NCAA Tournament in 2024. But they were denied by Bez Mbeng and John Poulakidas, who rescued Yale from the jaws of defeat to stun the Bears in the waning moments of that year’s Ivy title game.
Then came the 2024-25 season, which resulted in an unfortunate setback. Brown, led by Ivy League legend Kino Lilly Jr., posted a 6-8 record in league play and missed Ivy Madness on its home court. Lilly dazzled once again, averaging 17.5 points-per-game, but Brown didn’t have the same firepower it did the year before. Kalu Anya was no longer in the picture after transferring to Saint Louis, and Nana Owusu-Anane suffered a season-ending injury.
“We learned that you really need to do what you can to account for injury potential and transfers,” said Martin, who lost only three players to the transfer portal in 13 years.
Brown was unusually thin up front this past year, lacking the powerful interior presence that it once had with Anya and Owusu-Anane which had become the program’s calling card.
“We played smaller than we’d like,” said Martin, pointing to the small-ball lineups he deployed. “We made progress within the program because we had become big and physical … We didn’t have that last year.”
That could change this year, depending on if junior N’famara Dabo can take the big leap expected of him as a key contributor alongside senior leaders Landon Lewis and AJ Lesburt. Sophomore bigs Wyatt DeGraaf and David Rochester project to have larger roles, too, while 6-foot-10 freshman Charlie O’Sullivan is an interesting project that offers long-term upside.
“We’re big, physical, athletic, and deep this year,” said Martin, who also adds an exciting trio of freshmen guards in Brady Loughlin, Jonah Drezner and Isaiah Langham.
Still, there’s no replacing Lilly, who recently signed with the Surrey 89ers of the Super League Basketball in Great Britain.
“Obviously no one replaces him,” Martin said. “He’s one of the all-time greats in our league and in Brown basketball history from an offensive standpoint. He was as steady and stable of a player that I’ve had.
“It’s going to be weird early on when I look on the bench and on the court and I don’t see him.”
If the Bears want to get back on track without Lilly, Lewis will have to have an Ivy Player of the Year-level campaign and Dabo must make a run for Defensive Player of the Year. Martin thinks both are capable of doing so. Lesburt, a returning double-digit scorer, is recovering from a broken foot but is expected back early in the nonconference schedule, according to Martin.
Brown opens up the season at home versus Siena on Fri., Nov. 7. The Ivy slate will begin versus two-time defending champions Yale on Mon., Jan. 5 in Providence.
Outstanding preview — makes me excited to see what the Bruno will bring to the table in conference play this season!
Yes, they had a host of injuries last year, but they are aleays a tough team to play.