Manhattan University’s Club Basketball team.
@MU_CLUBBASKETBALL/ INSTAGRAM
Sarah Rolka Asst. Features Editor
Manhattan University’s (MU) club basketball team claimed the win from Cornell University’s club basketball team last Tuesday, Jan. 13 in Draddy Gymnasium. This marked the team’s first major win this season after multiple losses. While the scores so far this season have not exactly been on their side, the team perseveres to stay strong and work hard together to improve.
Head coach of club basketball, Antoine Orr, has started and led the team since October, and continues to work with players everyday. Orr spoke to The Quadrangle as to how it felt to win the game, and also complimented the players for their hard work.
“It felt great,” Orr said. “We started this back in October, and we put the team together relatively quickly. With any type of success you need team chemistry, there needs to be a plan put in place,” Orr added. “These guys have really been working hard to compete throughout the season… Starting the new year off with a win is something that I’m hoping will continue to propel us throughout the season.”
In addition to the team’s on-court improvement, players and staff emphasized how much growth has taken place behind the scenes. Practices have been consistent since the semester began, and the group has worked to build chemistry, adjust to a new coaching style and strengthen communication. The coaching staff noted that this developmental period has been just as important as the games themselves, laying the foundation for the team’s progress.
Brian Astacio, a co-captain of the team, added on to how great winning felt but also how each game is unique.
“There’s a lot of feelings towards getting your first win and playing a big school like Cornell,” Astacio said. “Playing at a big school like that is gonna obviously feel great. But also, meeting new [people], seeing what works and what doesn’t work, every school we play against are completely different,” Astacio added. “Some of them have similarities, but facing some new opponents is refreshing.”
Beyond the excitement of the win itself, the team emphasized how each matchup helps them learn more about their identity on the court. With the season still developing, players are beginning to recognize patterns in their play and understand how different opponents challenge them in different ways. These early experiences, they noted, are shaping the team’s confidence and sharpening their strategy as they prepare for tougher competition ahead.
Braden Hawkins, another player on the team, added his opinions regarding the overall performance of the team.
“I feel we can all do better,” Hawkins wrote. “The team is getting better, but I don’t feel we are playing to our full potential.”
Despite these critiques, players agreed that acknowledging shortcomings is a key part of their growth. Many of them view honest self-assessment as a strength rather than a setback, believing that recognizing where they fall short is what allows the team to take meaningful steps forward. As the season progresses, this mindset has become a driving force in shaping their commitment to improvement.
“I’m always looking for improvement,” Orr said. “My job and my role is to get the most out of these guys. Whether it’s practice or in a game, I’m trying to dig deep and get these guys to do things they may not think they can do. In the example of Brian [Astacio] and Max [Meilleur], they were chosen as team captains by their peers and their responsibility is different than everyone else’s’,” Orr added. “They have to play well but also have to make sure that team chemistry is taking place or are getting ahead of any issues [during the game]. These guys have to be my right and left arm to make sure that the ship doesn’t sink.”
Many players recognize that improvement is an ongoing process, and they’re beginning to understand how their individual efforts impact the team as a whole. This awareness has opened the door for others to share their own views on the group’s performance and where they hope to see progress next.
The team gave their thoughts on their own performance, but also through their own opinions on what the team could all improve on as a whole. Max Meilleur, another co-captain for the team, spoke to The Quadrangle about his thoughts regarding this.
“Leading as a team captain…it’s a big role,” Meilleur said. “I feel like my performance reflects on the other players. If I’m performing well and I’m gathering us up after a foul or just getting everybody together on the bench…just getting everyone motivated to play and have a good attitude.”
This is the first time a club basketball team has existed at MU. Thus, there’s more to come. The team commented on their hopes for those upcoming games and the unforeseeable future.
“Obviously, more wins,” Meilleur said. “But coach [Orr] always tells us ‘it’s bigger than basketball,’ so following that understanding that basketball is just a game, you kind of take this outside and figure out your own life.”
Meilleur’s perspective highlights how the team is beginning to embrace the deeper lessons tied to the sport, seeing basketball as a foundation for personal growth rather than just competition. That broader outlook has become a central theme within the program, setting the stage for the message their coach continues to reinforce.
Orr additionally gave his thoughts as a coach watching a practice or game, making sure they improve and are thinking ahead.
“It’s important because sports, as a whole, shapes all individuals. In our case, when you look at what we go through on a basketball court, it’s no different than what everyone goes through in life. Time management, communication, meeting deadlines, working well under pressure or dealing with adversity, it’s all the same.”
Orr goes more in detail by what he means with ‘it’s bigger than basketball.’
“My job as a coach is always going to be to push these guys and make sure they’re thinking about the big picture,” Orr said. “This is about the experience more so than it is about the wins and the losses. How are you becoming a better man as you transition from college into the real world? That’s a key message from me.”