GETTING INSIDE

LIU won 16 games last year and was hoping for a run at the conference title this year. But some bad new news just before the start of practice quieted those hopes.

Julian Boyd, the newcomer of the year in the NEC last year, was diagnosed with a heart problem that will keep him off the court at least this season.

Boyd, who averaged 10.5 points and 6.4 rebounds off the bench last year, was diagnosed with a heart murmur after experiencing cramping while working out. His left ventricle wasn’t pumping blood at the right rate.

An MRI was next and there was no word on the immediate future of the talented young sophomore. But the Blackbirds were proceeding as if he’s out for the year.

“The kids don’t find out they’ve had a heart problem until the coroner tells him his heart is enlarged,” said LIU coach Jim Ferry said. “It’s scary, and we’re very, very fortunate to find this info out about Julian more so by accident.”

Boyd would have teamed with guard Jaytornah Wisseh to form a potent 1-2 punch. Now, Wisseh—who averaged 15.2 points and had 133 assists and 47 steals last year—is the main man, even though fellow guard Kyle Johnson averaged 13.8 a game.

But Boyd was needed.

The loss of Boyd followed the summer losses of center Aurimas Adomaitis, who returned to his native Lithuania, and Argentine guard Lucas Faggiano, who returned to his homeland after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.

“It’s disheartening, but no one will feel sorry for us,” said Ferry. “We’ll make the proper adjustment, get ourselves together and make a run in the conference late in the year. It’s so fragile, especially at this level. We can’t go to the bench and get more experience. Jaytornah Wisseh is a potential Player of the Year, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed with Julian that he’s healthy.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• Having already lost forward Ron Manigault to graduation, LIU was expecting to bring most of its team back but then lost 21.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game because of Julian Boyd’s heart ailment and international players Aurimas Adomaitis (Lithuania) and Lucas Faggiano (Argentina) going home.

• Julian Boyd was the NEC Newcomer of the Year last year.

• The Blackbirds are coming off the program’s highest finish (tied for second place) and first winning season since 1997-98.

• LIU lost only two home games during the regular season but then fell to Quinnipiac at home in the NEC Tournament.

Last Year:   16-14 overall, 12-6 in the NEC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

Head Coach:   Jim Ferry (career 188-136); eighth year at LIU (84-117).

Quote To Note:   “It’s been a crazy off-season, to say the least. If nothing had changed, we’re picked in the top one or two in this league with the chance to win the championship.”—LIU coach Jim Ferry, whose team lost three players to illness and defection.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   The Blackbirds have two freshmen and one, Jamal Olasewere, may well wind up a starter if Julian Boyd is out for the year.

Key Early-season Games:   LIU goes to Tennessee to play Chattanooga in a tournament on Dec. 19 and then plays either Eastern Kentucky or Morgan State in the final or consolation game. The rest of the non-league slate is mostly local, including games at St. John’s and Seton Hall of the Big East.

Program Direction:   Jim Ferry had his team on the verge of challenging for the league title before manpower problems got in the way. Still, Ferry has the Brooklyn program on the upswing.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Jaytornah Wisseh, SG Kyle Johnson, G David Hicks, F Jamal Olasewere, F Arnold Mayorga.

Roster Report:  

• G Jaytornah Wisseh shot 37 percent from 3-point range last season, hitting 37 of his 100 tries. He also shot .802 from the foul line.

• G Jaytornah Wisseh has 1,182 career points and 373 assists, second and third, respectively among active NEC players.

• F Jamal Olasewere, one of the two LIU recruits, led his high school team to back-to-back state titles in Maryland.