Let’s be real for a second. Calihan Hall hasn't exactly been the loudest place in the Horizon League lately. If you follow the Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball program, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We aren't just talking about a "down year" or a rough patch; we’re talking about a 1-31 season that felt like a fever dream nobody could wake up from. It was brutal.
But then, everything changed.
Last March, the university finally pulled the trigger. They parted ways with Mike Davis after six seasons that, frankly, felt longer than a decade. It wasn't just the losing. It was the vibe. The program felt disconnected from the city, disconnected from its own history, and hyper-focused on individual stats rather than building a winning culture. Enter Mark Montgomery. If that name sounds familiar to Titans fans, it’s because it should. He’s back "home," and he’s inherited a mess that would make most coaches run for the hills.
The Weight of the 1-31 Shadow
You can't talk about the Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball team right now without addressing the elephant in the room. That 2023-24 season was historic for all the wrong reasons. They didn't get their first win until February. Think about that. Most students had already finished their midterms before the Titans put a "1" in the win column against IUPUI.
It’s easy to blame the roster. It’s easy to blame the transfer portal. But the reality is that the program had lost its identity. Under Davis, the offense was often a "your turn, my turn" system that relied heavily on his son, Antoine Davis, for years. Once Antoine graduated as the second-leading scorer in NCAA history, the floor fell out. There was no Plan B. There was no defensive foundation. The Titans finished near the bottom of the country in almost every meaningful statistical category, especially defensive efficiency.
When Montgomery walked into the office, he didn't just find a thin roster. He found a broken spirit. He spent his first few months essentially acting as a recruiter, a therapist, and a construction foreman all at once. He had to convince guys that Detroit was still a place where you could win.
Who Is Mark Montgomery and Why Does It Matter?
Montgomery isn't a stranger. He was an assistant under the legendary Tom Izzo at Michigan State for ages. He knows what Big Ten toughness looks like. More importantly, he was an assistant at Detroit Mercy back in the early 2000s under Perry Watson. He remembers when the Titans were the "tough outs" in the city. He remembers when people actually feared coming into the Dick.
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What makes him different from the previous regime? It's the philosophy. Montgomery is a defense-first guy. He’s a "shut up and work" guy. Honestly, that’s exactly what this program needs. You can’t out-talent everyone in the Horizon League when you’re rebuilding from zero, but you can certainly out-work them.
The hire wasn't just about X’s and O’s, though. It was about PR. The university needed someone who could walk into a high school in Detroit or Flint and have people actually recognize them. Montgomery has those deep Michigan roots. He isn't trying to build a roster of guys from the portal who are looking for their third school in four years; he’s trying to find guys who actually want to wear "Detroit" across their chest.
The New-Look Roster: Who’s Actually Playing?
If you looked at the roster last year and looked at it today, you wouldn’t recognize half the names. That’s by design. Montgomery hit the portal hard, but he did it with a specific vision. He needed length. He needed guys who could guard multiple positions.
One of the most intriguing additions is Orlando Lovejoy. Coming over from Eastern Michigan, Lovejoy is a local kid (Detroit Cass Tech) who knows the city's pulse. He’s a gritty guard who doesn't mind getting his jersey dirty. Then you’ve got guys like Mak Manciel, who stayed through the coaching change. Keeping Manciel was huge. You need some continuity, even if the "continuity" is coming off a one-win season.
We’ve also seen a shift toward bigger, more physical wings. Under the old system, the Titans often played small and got bullied on the glass. Montgomery has made it clear that if you don't rebound, you don't play. It’s a simple rule, but it’s a massive departure from the previous era's run-and-gun style.
The real question is: Can they score? Defense wins championships, sure, but you still need someone who can create their own shot when the shot clock is winding down. Right now, the Titans are searching for that "Alpha." It might be Lovejoy. It might be a committee. But whoever it is, they have to be more efficient than what we saw last year.
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The Horizon League Reality Check
Let’s be honest. The Horizon League is a gauntlet of "mid-major" powerhouses. You’ve got Northern Kentucky, who seems to be in the hunt every single year. You’ve got Wright State and Milwaukee. For the Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball team to even be competitive, they have to fix their road woes.
Last year, the Titans were winless on the road. Total zeros. You can't build a program if you can't win in a cold gym in Green Bay on a Tuesday night. Montgomery’s first task is proving that this team can travel.
The fans are skeptical. They have every right to be. Attendance at Calihan Hall has been dwindling for years. The "glory days" of the late 90s feel like ancient history to the current student body. But there’s a small spark of optimism now. It’s the "new car smell" of a coaching change, mixed with the realization that things literally cannot get worse than 1-31.
Why Calihan Hall Still Matters
There’s something special about Calihan Hall. It’s old. It’s got that weird elevated floor. It smells like old gym floor wax and history. When it’s full, it’s one of the most intimidating places to play in mid-major basketball. The problem is, it hasn't been full in a long time.
Montgomery has been vocal about "reclaiming" the home court. He wants the community involved. He’s been seen at local events, shaking hands, trying to bridge the gap that grew under Mike Davis. The Titans aren't just a college team; they are a Detroit institution. When they are good, the city notices.
The school has also started investing more in the "fan experience." They realize that just putting a game on isn't enough anymore. You need a reason for people to drive down McNichols Road. Better concessions, better half-time shows, and most importantly, a team that actually plays hard. Even if they lose, Detroiters will respect a team that leaves it all on the floor. They won’t respect a team that looks like they’ve given up by the twelve-minute mark of the second half.
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Acknowledging the Limitations
Look, nobody is saying the Titans are going to the Sweet 16 next year. That’s delusional. This is a multi-year rebuild. The Horizon League is deep, and the Titans are starting from the absolute basement.
The NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era hasn't been particularly kind to schools like Detroit Mercy. They don't have the massive boosters that Michigan or Michigan State have. They have to find "diamonds in the rough." They have to find the kid who was overlooked by the MAC schools or the kid who wants to come home after a year at a high-major school where he sat on the bench.
There’s also the issue of facilities. While Calihan has charm, it needs updates. The university is working on it, but these things take time and money. Montgomery is essentially coaching with one hand tied behind his back compared to the resources at some other schools, but he knew that when he took the job.
What Success Looks Like This Season
Success for the Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball program this year isn't a conference title. It’s not even necessarily a winning record.
- Win 8-10 games. That sounds low, but going from 1 win to 10 is a massive jump.
- Top 200 Defensive Efficiency. If they can just stop being a sieve on defense, they’ll be in games late.
- Establish a Rotation. Stop the constant shuffling of players. Find a core seven or eight guys and stick with them.
- Protect the Home Floor. Win the games you’re supposed to win at Calihan.
If they can do those four things, the 2024-25 season will be a success. It’s about laying the foundation. It’s about making sure that when recruits visit, they see a program on the rise, not a program in freefall.
The road back to relevance is long. It’s paved with tough practices, low-scoring games, and probably a few more heartbreaking losses. But for the first time in a long time, it feels like there’s a professional at the wheel. Mark Montgomery isn't here for a quick fix or to get his son a scoring record. He’s here to fix Detroit basketball.
Actionable Steps for Titans Fans
If you're looking to actually support the turnaround rather than just complaining on message boards, here’s how you actually help the program move forward:
- Show up to the mid-week games. It’s easy to go to a Saturday game. It’s the Tuesday night games against Youngstown State where the team actually needs the energy. The "6th man" effect is real in a gym like Calihan.
- Follow the individual player stories. Get to know guys like Orlando Lovejoy and Mak Manciel. This team needs a connection with the fanbase, and that starts with knowing who is under the jersey.
- Lower your immediate expectations but raise your standards. Don't expect 20 wins tomorrow, but do expect a team that plays transition defense and dives for loose balls. Hold the coaching staff accountable for the effort, not just the final score.
- Support the local NIL collectives. If you have the means, even small contributions to the school's collective help keep local talent from being poached by bigger programs.
The Titans might have hit rock bottom, but the climb back up has officially started. Whether or not they can reach the peak again remains to be seen, but at least they're finally pointing in the right direction.