Bonnies' Dasonte Bowen feels he's '1000% better' post foot injury
Early on in last year’s college basketball season, St. Bonaventure emerged as one of the nation’s best stories. The Bonnies were playing great basketball and spurted off to a 9-1 record to start the year, their best mark since 1970.
But then, disaster struck.
Point guard Dasonte Bowen, one of the Bonnies’ best players, broke his foot and had to miss time. In February, the team officially announced he would have season-ending surgery and utilize a medical redshirt.
St. Bonaventure still had a solid season, winning 22 games and making the NIT, but they surely missed Bowen’s production. Luckily for the Bonnies, their point guard is now healthy for this season and has been full-go in practice since late July.
“I feel great,” Bowen told The Field of 68 at Atlantic 10 media day.
Before the injury last season, Bowen averaged 11.1 points, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game, establishing himself as one of the A-10’s best guards heading into conference play. This year?
“I feel like I’m better,” Bowen said. “1000% better.”
His improvement will be important with Bowen holding extra leadership responsibilities. The preseason All-Conference Second Team selection was named the lone captain by his teammates, most of them newcomers, which head coach Mark Schmidt said speaks volumes to the type of person he is.
“I have nothing to do with picking captains,” Schmidt said. “Those 11 guys picked Dasonte to be the voice. And you know, that’s why people put a captain on their resume. It’s important. It means that you have leadership skills and the players really respect you.”
Schmidt believes Bowen has an advantage as a leader this year thanks to the perspective he gained while taking in games from the sideline. Schmidt said Bowen was “coach watching,” and he now has a better understanding of why they preach what they preach. Last season was only Bowen’s first year with the Bonnies after transferring in from Iowa.
“It might’ve been a blessing in disguise,” Schmidt said. “Once you see it from the sidelines, it’s almost like you learn quicker.”
Now fully healthy, Bowen is ready to pick up where he left off last season and lead St. Bonaventure to another fast start, and an even better finish.
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