By Ian Kea
Although recent road struggles have pinned down the men’s basketball team, they still find themselves in a competitive situation being within a game of Emmanuel and Lasell in conference play.
The Rams have an opportunity to place themselves fifth in the GNAC standings, rising above Lasell, 5-8 and Emmanuel, 5-8. With with Sam Nwadike, who has the second most points per game in conference play, the Rams have an opportunity to climb back in the GNAC top five standings.
Nwadike recognizes the opportunity ahead and realizes he and the team need to step up.
“We just have to be more intense on the defensive end,” said Nwadike, a senior. “We haven’t been shooting it well as a team either and it shows when your leading scorer is shooting under 30 percent in recent games. Once we get our groove back we should be lethal in terms of high standings in the GNAC.”
Although the team has struggled, Nwadike believes the Rams need to stick to the basics.
“The workout sessions I have with my teammates have a lot to do with my success,” said Nwadike, from Houston, Texas. “Whether it’s shooting around with our stretch forward Jake Meister or doing combo guard workouts with our redshirt teammate Mohammed Sina Shafiezadeh, these little efforts make for big outcomes in terms of my game. I have also learned that stretching before doing any kind of exercise is extremely important for athletes who want to stay healthy. I remember the first time we played Emmanuel this year I did not follow that lesson and I ended up stressing a muscle in my right hamstring in the second half. This injury caused me to miss three games and as a senior, of course that is very detrimental to the mind knowing that you have to sit and watching some of the last games of your life go by.” 
Not only does work ethic and basic skill set help to get the Rams to a better position in conference standings, but also the little things as well, the spirit of the team.
“I owe a lot of my success to my coach [Adam Nelson] who puts so much confidence in me. He tells me all the time that I have to be that offensive engine on the court and his words are what has put me in the gym almost every day working on my game. My teammates also do a great job of keeping my spirits up and giving me energy before games. I feel like we have a good group of gentlemen.”
Nwadike, a biology major, has considered many post graduate options, including giving a shot at basketball in the pros.
“My first initial option was to take a chance at playing overseas professional basketball,” Nwadike said. “With the success I have obtained over the past two years and the family and friends I have discussed this option with, I felt that it would be something that I can easily access and it would also be great to experience something new. But after my two recent injuries (hamstring and ankle) I have been looking at my other more lucrative options.”
Throughout his time at Suffolk since transfer two years ago, Nwadike simply wants to finish strong and give it his all.
“My time at Suffolk has been great and I regret nothing. Well, except the not stretching before games,” Nwadike said laughing.
