The men’s basketball team has earned multiple honors from the Metro Conference heading into the upcoming season.
Griffin Barrack silencing the crowd after scoring a three point basket.
| Contributed by Josh Gee |
Last year, Sacred Heart University’s men’s basketball team ended its 2025-26 season in the quarterfinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament. The Pioneers Head coach Anthony Latina is going into his 14th season with the team and has high expectations for his squad. Over the offseason, the Pioneers have zeroed in on one part of their game: defense.
“We must get grittier and tougher defensively. That’s the only way. If we are much better defensively, we’re going to be right there at the end,” said Latina.
“Offense has always been a strong suit for the Pioneers,” said Latina. “We have always had an offensive system, we recruit good players, and our system has been proven to work.”
Going into this season, junior Jojo Wallace was named to the Preseason All-Metro second team, and graduate student Griffin Barrouk was named to the third team.
Wallace, a new member of this Sacred Heart squad, is coming off a big year at Southern New Hampshire University and is ready to get back on the court.
“This is just the right situation for me. I like it here a lot, especially the coaches. The main reason I came here was for Coach Latina,” said Wallace. “I’m ready to have a great year.”
“Jojo Wallace is a scoring machine. His ability to put the ball in the basket is as good as any player we’ve had, and we’ve had some good ones,” said Latina.
Barrouk missed the entirety of last season due to an injury.
“I was honored to be recognized; I didn’t even think I was going to be selected since I missed the year prior,” said Barrouk.
Barrouk is an important piece for the Pioneers’ offense, and Latina is excited to get his leadership back on the court.
“Griffin gives us toughness and stability; he can really shoot, and that is what he is known for. So, he is an important piece, and we missed him last year,” said Latina.
Both Latina and Barrouk attended the Metro Tipoff Event in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 16. The event had teams in the conference meet up and preview the upcoming season.
“It was nice to meet people that are higher up in the conference and see everybody that we are going to be playing against all year,” said Barrouk.
SHU was ranked ninth overall in the 2026-27 Metro Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, giving the Pioneers a chip on their shoulder.
“I think we’re being overlooked, but I feel like we are going to have a big year and shock a lot of people,” said Wallace.
The Pioneers will start their 2026-27 season against the United States Coast Guard Academy on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. at the William H. Pitt Center.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article
