Fordham

State of '08: New York

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:11:24 -0700

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Duke or Carolina? BC or UMASS? Gonzaga or Washington.. or Washington State? What is the best program in each state? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a ranking of every program in every state.. based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

NEW YORK

SYRACUSE - Led by one of the all-time great coaches, Syracuse has been a perennial power under Jim Boeheim. The Orange have missed the last two NCAA Tournaments, but should be back in 2009.

SIENA - Its been a good decade for Siena, with 3 NCAA Tournaments and 2 NIT trips. Last year, the Saints knocked off Vanderbilt in the opening round, and some pundits even think Fran McCaffery's crew has a chance to finish in the Top 25..

NIAGARA - With the exception of a poor 2006 campaign, Niagara has been very solid in the last decade. They've finished over .500 overall and in MAAC play in 9 of 10 seasons, and advanced to the Tournament in 2005 & 2007.

HOFSTRA - After the amazing job Jay Wright did at Hofstra around the turn of the century, Tom Pecora's tenure has been a bit more pedestrian (but still good for NY standards). The Pride did ride the shooting stroke of Loren Stokes to the 2007 NIT (their 3rd in a row), but were disappointing last year despite the return of Antoine Agudio.

MANHATTAN - Bobby Gonzalez led Manhattan to four postseason trips between 2002 and 2006. Barry Rohrssen hasn't been able to maintain that high standard, though this year's team has potential.

6. ST. JOHN'S - Once one of the game's top programs, St. John's still isn't close to getting out of the mess created by Mike Jarvis. The Storm haven't finished in the RPI Top 100 since 2003, and that futility should continue in 2009.

7. MARIST - Although the Red Foxes haven't had much success in the MAAC tournament the past three seasons, the team has been consistently dangerous and was invited to the 2007 NIT.

8. ALBANY - Unlike Binghamton and Stony Brook, who joined D1 and the AE around the same time, Albany has had some success in recent years. Will Brown, the Great Danes coach for pretty much their entire D1 existence, deserves credit for the job he's done. Brown led the team to the 2006 & 2007 NCAA Tournaments.

9. CORNELL - The Big Red have come a long way under Steve Donahue. When he took over in 2001, the program was one of the worst in the Ivy League. But their RPI has improved every season since 01 (from 311th to 65th in 08), and their Ivy League record has improved each season as well (though you can't top last year's perfect 14-0 run). Most expect Cornell to repeat as Ivy champs in 2009.

10. FORDHAM - Although Dereck Whittenburg has done a nice job getting Fordham back on track since taking over in 2003, there's still been no postseason trips and last year's team failed to meet lofty expectations.

11. WAGNER - With 23 wins last year, the Seahawks set a new record, although they missed out on the postseason. The program had accomplished little in the previous four seasons, unable to follow up on a good 02-03 run that culminated in a Tourney bid.

12. IONA - The Gaels have been all over the place in recent seasons. Great in 2006, with 23 wins and an NCAA bid. Horrendous in 2007 with just a 2-28 record. And then very mediocre last year.

13. BUFFALO - Long one of the country's worst programs, Buffalo is back to their losing ways after a rare winning spike from 2004 to 2006. In 2005, the Bulls were a few points from making their first NCAA Tournament in program history.

14. COLGATE - The Raiders are coming off their best season since 2002, an 18-win campaign that included two wins in the Patriot League tournament. 1996 was the last time they reached the conference finals.

15. BINGHAMTON - Less than a decade into their D1 existence, Bingamton is still looking for a breakthrough on the hardwood. 2nd year coach Kevin Broadus will be relying on a lot of transfers to push the Bearcats up the America East standings.

16. CANISIUS - 2001 was the last time Canisius was any good. 2009 should be another losing season, though fans are at least hopeful some of last year's young talent improves.

17. LIU - There hasn't been much to cheer about in the last decade as last year's 15 wins were the best in a decade. Since taking over in 2002, Jim Ferry's teams have won just one NEC Tournament game.

18. ST. FRANCIS - 2004 was the last time the Terriers were decent, and 2001 was the last time they were good. Last year was one of the worst in the program's history, with an RPI of 313 and a 4-14 NEC record.

19. ST. BONAVENTURE - Early in the decade, the Bonnies had a good run, until a string of poor choices, rules violations, and bad luck destroyed the program. Some progress has been made since the low of 2005 (2 wins), but Mark Schmidt and crew still have a long way to go.

20. COLUMBIA - I'm sure Columbia's good teams at some point in the past, but they were just before my time. Back to back 7-7 Ivy League seasons have been the peak of Joe Jones' five year tenure.

21. STONY BROOK - The Seawolves haven't won 10 games since 2005, and have never finished above 200th in the RPI. Most publications project a finish near the bottom of the AE in 2009.

22. ARMY - From 2003 to 2006, Army was not only the worst team in New York, but arguably the worst team in the country. They won just 11 D1 games in those four seasons, but have since returned to a more mediocre standard. Another sub-.500 season is a lock in 08-09.

Last: New Jersey - Next: North Carolina

State of '08: The Introduction (& State list/links)

Fordham Basketball Schedule: 2008-09

Press Release — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:07:57 -0700

Bronx, NY (August 26, 2008) - The 2008-09 Fordham University men's basketball schedule has been released and it features a 16-game Atlantic 10 Conference schedule and 15 home games, as well as a match-up with a Big East opponent and an appearance in the 2008 FIU Tournament in Miami over the holiday break.

The Rams will open their 105th season of basketball on Friday, November 14th, as they host Columbia University in the Rose Hill Gym, the first of seven non-conference games slated for the historic venue.

Eight of Fordham's 2008-09 Atlantic 10 opponents saw postseason action last year with four teams appearing in the NCAA Tournament: Xavier (who advanced to the Elite Eight last year and who the Rams meet twice this winter), Saint Joseph's, Temple and Villanova. Three other 2008-09 conference foes received bids to the NIT (Charlotte, Massachusetts and Rhode Island) and one other appeared in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational (Richmond).

Fordham's Atlantic 10 schedule includes home-and-home games with Xavier, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure, as well as home dates with Duquesne, Massachusetts, Richmond, Saint Joseph's and Saint Louis. The Rams will also play five Atlantic 10 schools on the road in 2008-09, including a game at defending conference champions, Temple. The Rams will also travel to Charlotte, Dayton, George Washington and La Salle. The top 12 Atlantic 10 teams will advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament that will be held in Atlantic City from March 11-14, 2009.

In non-conference play, after opening the 2008-09 season with the Columbia game, the Rams travel to Villanova to face the Wildcats of the Big East Conference. Fordham will then return home for three straight home contests, starting with the annual Battle of the Bronx on November 22nd, as the Manhattan College Jaspers come to Rose Hill. The Rams will also host Princeton (Nov. 26th) and James Madison (Nov. 30th) in November before traveling out to Long Island to face Hofstra University on December 3rd.

Home games with Lafayette and New Hampshire highlight the December schedule before the Rams depart for Miami, Florida, to participate in the 2008 FIU Holiday Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, December 27th and 28th against opponents to be determined. Fordham then closes out its non-conference schedule with a trip to Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on Bowling Green University on January 3rd.

The Rams will also host Fairfield in a non-conference game in December on a day as yet to be determined.

NYC Metro Review Part 2: Teams 6-11

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:00:18 -0700

After the top five in the final rankings, there were a few schools that hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season, only to come out on the short end so to speak. But that doesn’t mean that this season was a complete failure for teams such as LIU, Fairfield and Yale. The Blackbirds finished dead even at 15-15, their first non-losing record 1997-98. Jim Ferry’s team, led by guard Jaytornah Wisseh and forward Eugene Kotorobai, will have to replace Kotorobai and Kellen Allen as they look to improve upon this season’s seventh-place finish in the Northeast Conference.

As for the Stags of Fairfield (14-16), head coach Ed Cooley will see key contributors such as Second-Team All-MAAC performer Jonathan Han and backcourt partner Herbie Allen back next season. Yale (13-15), who was expected by some to be more of a player in the Ivy League race (it ended up being everyone try to chase Cornell), has to replace a mainstay at guard in Eric Flato, along with swingman Caleb Holmes and big man Matt Kyle. But some key contributors will be back next season, led by forward Ross Morin.

Also in the group is a pair of Big East schools in St. John’s and Rutgers, and Fordham. Both Big East members were extremely young this season, but a year of seasoning along with some key recruits (especially Mike Rosario at Rutgers) should allow both to be in the top five next year. Fordham, on the other hand, can fall back one no such excuse as their season would have to be regarded as a disappointment. And that word may be kind. But before the ranking of those six teams, here are the members of the Second-Team All-Metro squad.

Second-Team All-Metro

G Manny Ubilla (Fairleigh Dickinson) - 20.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.9 apg, 42.9% 3PT

A member of the NEC’s Second Team All-Conference squad, Ubilla was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing year for Tom Green’s Knights. The senior from Freehold, N.J. failed to reach double figures just twice this season, and he also ranked second in the conference in three-point percentage. His best scoring effort this season was the thirty-nine he dropped on Rhode Island back on January 2^nd.

G Mark Porter (Wagner) - 16.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.9 spg

One of the keys to the success enjoyed by the Seahawks was the play of the senior guard from Atlantic City, also named First Team All Conference in the NEC. His 5.5 assists per game ranked behind only Robert Morris’ Tony Lee in the NEC, and he led a team with five players averaging double figures in points per game. The senior will definitely be missed on the Staten Island campus next season. Porter, who averaged thirty-seven minutes per game this season, had three games in which he reached double digits and assists and two double-doubles.

F John Baumann (Columbia) – 16.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 51.4% FG

The main cog in the Lions’ attack, Baumann was named to the Ivy League’s First Team All-Conference squad due to his efforts. Baumann, who leaves Columbia as the number six scorer in the history of the program, ranked second in the Ivy League in all three categories listed above and first in scoring in Ivy League games. For the second straight season Columbia finished at .500 in conference play, something that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the hard work of Baumann.

F Todd Sowell (St. Peter’s) – 12.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg

To describe the senior forward from Brooklyn as a warrior would be appropriate, given the fact that he gave his all each and every night out on the floor for the Peacocks. Named to the MAAC’s Second Team All-Conference squad for his effort, Sowell averaged the second double-double of his career (he also did this as a sophomore). They may not have won many games, but the Peacocks may have done even worse than their six wins if not for Todd Sowell. He’ll definitely be missed in Jersey City.

F Durell Vinson (Wagner) – 13.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 55.8% FG

Vinson, like Mark Porter (they’ve been teammates in both high school and college), was named to the Northeast Conference’s First Team All-Conference squad and was the difference-maker this season for Mike Deane’s Seahawks. Last season Wagner sputtered without the services of their most dependable big, but this year they finished in second place in the NEC. How dominant was Vinson on the glass this season? His average was tops in the NEC by four rebounds per game.

Final Rankings 6-11

6. Fairfield (14-16)

The Stags, after getting off to a slow start for the second consecutive season, were able to fight their way back into the thick of the MAAC regular season race by season’s end. Alas, they fell short of the top spot and ended up finishing in fifth place, losing to Loyola (MD) in a close MAAC quarterfinal. While they do lose seniors such as Marty O’Sullivan and Mamadou Diakhate, the bulk of this team will be back in forwards Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson, and guard Jonathan Han and Herbie Allen. They’ve got a shot to make some noise in the MAAC next season.

7. Fordham (11-17)

Heading into the season, you would have thought that the Rams would have a better shot at finishing 17-11 instead of 11-17. But even with five senior starters returning, they found a way to plummet from the preseason prognostication of fifth in the Atlantic 10 to twelfth, barely qualifying for the conference tournament. Bryant Dunston once again did the job inside, and as a team Dereck Whittenburg’s squad did improve offensively. But they weren’t consistent enough on defense, or when it came to taking care of the basketball. It’ll be interesting to see what this team can do next year with a recruiting class led by guard Jio Fontan arriving on campus.

8. St. John’s (11-19)

The Red Storm certainly went through their share of growing pains, hitting rock bottom in the blowout loss to Georgetown in the Garden, a place in which the two charter members of the Big East have staged many memorable battles. The 74-42 was one for the books as well, and not for good reasons either. The only key contributor who won’t be back is senior guard Eugene Lawrence, which should mean that Norm Roberts’ team is ready to make a move up the Big East standings. Forwards Anthony Mason Jr. and Justin Burrell will be the headliners in 2008-09.

9. Long Island (15-15)

The Blackbirds head into the off-season with optimistic thoughts following their best season in ten years, along with the fact that a few of the key contributors are slated to return. Guard Jaytornah Wisseh was one of the NEC’s best by season’s end, and he’ll be back along with two members of the league’s All-Rookie Team in guards David Hicks and Kyle Johnson. Pairing those two with Wisseh will make the Blackbirds quite dangerous in 2008-09.

10. Yale (13-15)

The Bulldogs finished .500 in conference play, the eighth straight season in which they’ve completed Ivy League play with at least seven league wins. And in another dose of good fortune, they’ll return a pair of Second Team All-Conference Team members in forwards Travis Pinick and Ross Morin. Both led the conference in a statistical category (in Ivy League games), with Pinick averaging 8.9 rebounds per game and Morin shooting 64.2% from the field. But unfortunately for head coach James Jones, he’ll have to replace a quartet of seniors led by team captain Eric Flato.

11. Rutgers (11-20)

It was a tough way for the young Scarlet Knights to learn what playing in the Big East is all about, but they should all be back next season and they head into 2008-09 on a positive note. JR Inman hit a shot at the buzzer to defeat bitter rival Seton Hall in the season finale, and with McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario on his way Fred Hill should have a pretty good team in 2008-09. Freshmen Corey Chandler and Mike Coburn were two of the team’s top four scorers, and Hamady N’Diaye got even more experience inside. Not sure just how far they can move up the Big East standings next season, but look out for these guys.

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part One

All-Metro Team & Ranking 1-5

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Two

Ranking 6-11

Next: NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Three

Ranking 12-1

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Four

All-Rookie & Ranking 18-23

Picture of the Day: Sebastian Greene's Reverse Jam

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:27:34 -0700

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we now have access to thousands of great college basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, CHN will feature a Picture of the Day, which might include a newsworthy, funny, or simply interesting subject. At the bottom will be a caption or headline that might be informative or amusing. The possibilities are endless!

Sebastian Greene: Reverse Jam

Fordham lost to St. Joseph's yesterday and they had a disappointing season overall.. so what? You still have to love a reverse jam. Senior Sebastian Greene at least went out with some style yesterday in Atlantic City.

- Check out recent Pictures of the Day!

- Also check out the Cheerleader of the Day!

NYC area preview for Wednesday

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:54:15 -0700

Fordham, Sacred Heart and Seton Hall on tap With the MAAC Tournament now complete and many of the other area teams either finished for the season or waiting for Sunday to find out whether or not they’ll be playing postseason basketball (Rider), three teams in the area still have games to play in Wednesday. Fordham and Seton Hall begin play in the Atlantic 10 and Big East tournaments, respectively, while the Pioneers of Sacred Heart host Mount St. Mary’s in the Northeast Conference title game. Here’s a preview of each game, along with my picks (the games will be listed in chronological order based on their start time). Atlantic 10 Tournament First Round #12 Fordham vs. #5 St. Joseph’s (Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ) Wednesday 2:30 PM, CSTV Category (conf. rank) Fordham St. Joseph’s Points per game 64.9 (11th) 74.3 (6th) PPG allowed 66.7 (5th) 68.6 (8th) Field goal % 42.3 (11th) 47.6 (2nd) FG % defense 45.1 (13th) 43.8 (10th) 3 PT % 32.5 (13th) 39.1 (3rd) 3 PT % defense 34.5 (6th) 37.9 (14th) Rebound margin - 2.7 (13th) - 0.2 (7th) Turnover margin + 0.32 (8th) + 1.72 (4th) Category Fordham St. Joseph’s Points per game Bryant Dunston (15.5) Pat Calathes (17.8) Rebounds per game Dunston (10.0) Calathes (7.7) Assists per game Marcus Stout (2.9) Tasheed Carr (5.8) FG percentage Dunston (52.5) Calathes (44.6) 3 PT percentage Stout (35.3) Rob Ferguson (42.2) Assist/Turnover ratio Kevin Anderson (2.1) Carr (2.09) Regular season meeting: St. Joseph’s 70-55 (February 2nd at St. Joseph’s). Make no mistake about it: this season has been a serious disappointment for the Rams and anyone who would have thought that a team returning five senior starters would be able to make some waves in conference play. But things don’t always work out as planned, meaning that this bunch barely squeaked into the Atlantic 10 Tournament to face an opponent that should have no problem getting up for this game. The Hawks are in desperate need of wins in order to strengthen their case for the NCAA Tournament, and with this game and a quarterfinal against Richmond, St. Joe’s could very well find themselves in a semifinal opposite league champ Xavier if things go according to plan. Pat Calathes has been the jack-of-all-trades guy for Phil Martelli this season, leading the Hawks in both scoring and rebounding. Even though he stands at 6-10, Calathes possesses the guard skills that you’d normally associate with players standing six inches shorter. The man who runs the show is Tasheed Carr, who led the team in assists per game and ranks behind only UMass’ Chris Lowe with 5.8 assists per game (rounded up from 5.76). The most entertaining individual matchup between the two teams could be between senior big men Bryant Dunston and Amhad Nivins. Nivins has been the anchor in the middle for the Hawks over the past couple of seasons, and St. Joe’s also has Rob Ferguson coming off the bench to contribute as well. Six players (five of whom average double figures in scoring) see the majority of the minutes, with Darrin Govens and Garrett Williamson rounding out the rotation. As for Fordham, the offense has basically boiled down to two components: Dunston and Marcus Stout. Dunston is once again averaging a double-double, earning Second-Team All-Conference and All-Defensive honors as a result. Stout is just behind him with his average of 15.2 points per contest, and also leads the team in assists per game. The other Ram averaging double figures is sophomore guard Brenton Butler, who has reached double digits in scoring in each the Rams’ last five games. Kevin Anderson, Mike Moore, Michael Binns and Herb Tanner also see playing time, but none of those four have proven to be serious offensive threats. St. Joe’s clearly has the advantage on that end of the floor, and if the Rams don’t control the tempo they could be in serious trouble. Both teams are middle of the pack clubs when it comes to defense, and they both do a decent job of taking care of the basketball. But to be frank, the Hawks have more talent. Fordham will give them a run, especially with five seniors possibly playing their last game, but sometimes you get the feeling that a team’s better off simply ending their season right now instead of delaying the inevitable. I like St. Joe’s in this one. Northeast Conference Tournament final #4 Mount St. Mary’s @ #3 Sacred Heart Wednesday 7 PM, ESPN2 Category (league rank) Mount St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Points per game 69.1 (8th) 72.4 (3rd) PPG allowed 66.9 (1st) 71.6 (7th) Field goal % 44.7 (4th) 44.6 (5th) FG % defense 41.9 (2nd) 44.6 (t-5th) 3 PT % 37.0 (3rd) 34.9 (6th) 3 PT % defense 32.7 (4th) 34.1 (6th) Rebound margin - 1.3 (8th) - 4.1 (9th) Turnover margin + 0.65 (4th) + 2.42 (1st) Category Mount St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Points per game Chris Vann (14.7) Brice Brooks (12.6) Rebounds per game Markus Mitchell (5.9) Drew Shubik (5.8) Assists per game Jeremy Goode (5.6) Shubik (5.6) FG percentage Sam Atupem (51.7) Ryon Howard (52.0) 3 PT percentage Vann (39.4) Ryan Litke (38.0) Assist/Turnover ratio Goode (1.62) Shubik (1.54) Regular season meetings: Sacred Heart 67-59 (January 19th at The Mount). Tournament Results: Mount St. Mary’s beat #5 Quinnipiac (80-70) and #1 Robert Morris (83-65). Sacred Heart defeated #6 Central Connecticut State (84-71) and #2 Wagner (55-49). On paper the Mountaineers have the clear advantage when it comes to defense. But the Pioneers are coming off of their best defensive effort of the season, one in which they held Wagner to forty-nine points and thirty percent shooting from the field. Dave Bike’s team is a balanced group led in scoring by Brice Brooks, but anyone from Corey Hassan to Drew Shubik to Ryan Litke to Ryon Howard can victimize the opponent on any given night. After getting off to a slow start to the season, the Pioneers were in the thick of the NEC race until about a week left in the season. The only negative that came out of Sunday’s win at Wager were the fifteen turnovers committed by Sacred Heart, a surprising number given the fact that they led the NEC in turnover margin this season. But they were still able to overcome a rough shooting night (Hassan went 1-10 from the field on his own) to make it to Wednesday’s final. Another piece of good news for Pioneer followers: only twice has the road team won the conference title game this decade. Monmouth was the winner on each occasion as they knocked off FDU in 2006 and St. Francis (NY) in 2001. As for the Mountaineers, they’ll show up with one of the conference’s best defenses. The Mount gave up the fewest points per game this season and finished second in field goal percentage defense. On offense, this is a team that prefers to play a half-court style and won’t shoot themselves in the foot. Point guard Jeremy Goode leads the way, distributing the ball to players such as leading scorer Chris Vann and Will Holland while not being afraid to put up some shots himself (Goode is second on the team in scoring). Both teams tend to rebound by committee, but neither has been particularly dominant in that area, ranking near the bottom of the NEC in rebound margin. While this is a tricky game to pick, I like Sacred Heart and Dave Bike to make their first appearance in the Division I tournament (remember, this school as a Division II title to its credit). Big East Tournament First Round #12 Seton Hall vs. #5 Marquette Wednesday 9:30 PM, ESPN Category Seton Hall Marquette Points per game 77.4 (4th) 76.2 (5th) PPG allowed 77.6 (16th) 64.0 (4th) Field goal % 42.5 (13th) 45.3 (8th) FG % defense 45.1 (15th) 41.2 (5th) 3 PT % 34.2 (10th) 35.9 (4th) 3 PT % defense 37.5 (15th) 29.3 (2nd) Rebound margin - 3.7 (16th) + 1.3 (11th) Turnover margin + 3.55 (3rd) + 4.17 (2nd) Category Seton Hall Marquette Points per game Brian Laing (19.0) Jerel McNeal (13.6) Rebounds per game John Garcia (7.1) Lazar Hayward (6.4) Assists per game Eugene Harvey (4.81) Dominic James (4.33) FG percentage Garcia (61.7) Ousmane Barro (55.1) 3 PT percentage Jamar Nutter (38.8) Maurice Acker (41.2) Assist/Turnover ratio Harvey (1.3) James (1.88) Regular season meetings: Marquette won both meetings, 61-56 (January 8th at Marquette) and 89-64 (February 12th at Seton Hall). For all the talk about Tom Crean’s guards (and rightfully so), the major difference between the Pirates hanging around in the first meeting and getting blown out of their own gym a month later could be the play of Lazar Hayward. In the five-point win in Milwaukee, Hayward only had seven points and six rebounds. In the return meeting, Lazar went for twenty-three points and nine rebounds as the Hall had no answer for the sophomore forward. Another key to this one could be the matchup between Ousmane Barro and John Garcia. I predicted the same heading into the second meeting, only to have Hayward play one of his best games of the season. The Pirates give up nearly forty rebounds per game, something that isn’t shocking considering their style of play and lack of size. But if they want to have any shot at hanging around in this one, they’re going to need to hold their own on the glass if not win the category. The leading scorer for Seton Hall has been Brian Laing, recently named to the conference’s first team. Other options include point guard Eugene Harvey and guards Jamar Nutter and Jeremy Hazell (named to the All-Rookie Team). A trio of big men occupies the pivot in Bobby Gonzalez’s “small ball” system, with John Garcia coming on of late. As for Marquette, the Golden Eagles can boast a triumvirate of second-team All-Conference players in Hayward, McNeal and James. But they’ve also got some depth, with roles players such as David Cubillan, Dan Fitzgerald and Maurice Acker also able to burn an unsuspecting opponent. And you can’t forget about the third guard in Marquette’s three-guard attack, Wesley Matthews. Matthews may be Coach Crean’s best perimeter defender, but all of the guards do a solid job of containing their opponent. While Seton Hall’s pressing style can give them a chance in this one, something has been missing from this group on the defensive end of the floor ever since Paul Gause tore his ACL a few weeks ago. There’s no longer a ball-hawking defender who can force teams to throw the ball away and rush things on offense, leading to better shot opportunities for the Pirates. And without Gause the lack of size becomes even more apparent. I like Marquette to win this one.

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Fordham Rolls

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:23:33 -0800

Team of the Week:
Fordham
Results:
W 76-72 @ Massachusetts, W 53-51 vs. Charlotte

Now, this one was close. Do you go with a team who knocked off the first-place team in their league and got a second win to move into a tie for first (Wagner)? Or do you go with a team that did some serious damage to the postseason hopes of two conference foes? I went with the latter, which is why the Fordham Rams are the team of the week. When the season began, I like many thought that Fordham could be one of the teams competing in the top half of the Atlantic 10, but things haven’t worked out that way in 2007-08. While the two wins certainly don’t get them out of the woods in terms of simply making the Atlantic 10 Tournament, these were two results that the kids desperately needed.

The win at UMass, nationally televised at that, featured another double-double for Bryant Dunston (15 and 12), and twenty-two points from guard Marcus Stout. Sebastian Greene chipped in with thirteen points and eleven rebounds in Fordham’s first win in Amherst since 1999. It was Stout’s free throws with eight seconds remaining that put the game away, fitting given the disparity in foul shots in the contest. Fordham went 22-31 from the charity stripe while the home-standing Minutemen went 8-11. Sunday’s two-point win over the 49ers came primarily because of the defense applied to guard Leemire Goldwire. Goldwire, averaging 20.2 points per game on the season, was held to twelve on 4-16 shooting from the field, 1-7 from behind the arc.

Bryant Dunston went for 14 and 13 (his tenth double-double this season), and Michael Binns was the only other Ram in double figures with ten points. Two good wins for a Ram team that will need all the help it can get in the final few weeks to ensure a trip to Atlantic City. But more importantly, they did some serious damage to the NCAA Tournament hopes of two league foes.

Honorable Mention:
Columbia (earned a road sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth); Manhattan (twenty-one point home win over Marist on Friday night); Wagner (wins over Sacred Heart and Monmouth to move into a tie for first in the NEC).

Player of the Week:
Durell Vinson (Wagner)
Numbers for the week:
17 points, 14 rebounds vs. Sacred Heart; 19 points, 19 rebounds vs. Monmouth.

Vinson, who’s averaging a double-double for the season (13.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg), has indeed been the difference-maker people expected him to be in his final season after missing all of 2006-07. In two games last week, both Seahawk wins, Vinson averaged 18 points and 16.5 rebounds per game. Another stat to pay attention to with Vinson is his field goal percentage, 57.0%, the highest of his career. The play of Vinson is the primary reason why Mike Deane’s team has a good shot to not only win the regular season title but also the NEC Tournament crown, which would mean a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The one issue for Durell, however, has been the foul line. He’s only a 33% shooter from the “charity” stripe. But as long as he controls the boards, Wagner’s got a shot to win some games down the stretch.

Honorable Mention:
John Baumann (Columbia): 25 points, 9 rebounds @ Dartmouth and 20 points, 12 rebounds @ Harvard; Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall): 24.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg in two games; Nesho Milosevic (NJIT): 21 points, 11 rebounds @ La Salle and 22 points, 13 rebounds vs. Chicago State.

Other Notes from the past week

Stony Brook ends their ten-game losing streak with a 71-70 overtime win over Vermont.

Granted, the Vermont team they beat Sunday afternoon won’t be mistaken for the Coppenrath/ Sorrentine squads that made annual appearances in the NCAA Tournament a few years back. But in Mike Trimboli and Marquis Blakely there’s still some talent in Burlington. So the win should provide the Seawolves with some much-needed positive momentum heading into their last three games.

With the next two coming against New Hampshire and Maine, they could even make a move out of the America East cellar and possibly out of the 8/9 game on the first night of the conference tournament. And given just how far Stony Brook had fallen during their losing skid, which would be a good accomplishment in an otherwise disappointing season.

Once again inept on offense, St. John’s manages just 43 and 42 points in two double-digit losses.

Last week, I made the note of pointing out how the Red Storm took better care of the basketball in going on their three-game win streak. But when you barely manage to make a quarter of your field goals, it doesn’t matter how many times you give the ball to your opponent you won’t win. And that’s just what happened in losses to Cincinnati and Villanova, with the Johnnies shooting a putrid 25-for-98 (25.5%) in the two games.

When you rank fifteenth in the conference in field goal percentage and dead last in scoring, your margin of error is miniscule. The road to the Big East Tournament will get even tougher, with Marquette coming to town fresh off of a beating of Pittsburgh on Friday.

Youth will be served…just not this year.

The above statement would apply to both St. John’s and Rutgers, but the way in which the Scarlet Knights lost to Notre Dame on Sunday simply baffles the mind. With Luke Harangody missing the front end of a one-and-one (after Rutgers waited fifteen seconds to commit their sixth team foul, no less), all that either Byron Joynes or Earl Pettis had to do was grab the rebound. Miscommunication…ball goes out of bounds and back to the Irish. So instead of having to settle for a three to tie the game, Rutgers could have had a chance to win the game in the final seconds.

But that’s been the way the ball has bounced for the young Scarlet Knights, who should be commended for the fight they showed in the second half. Anthony Farmer led the charge back from an eight-point halftime deficit, but the end result all but assured Rutgers of not going to the Big East Tournament, even with four conference games remaining. But this is a young team that has to learn how to win tight games; a painful experience now that should pay dividends later.

NJIT has two chances left to get their first win of the season.

After a first half in which Chicago State and NJIT combined for fifty-nine points (34-25 CSU at the half), you wouldn’t think that both teams would come close to matching that number on their own in the second half. But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday, with the Cougars outscoring the Highlanders 52-51 in the second stanza. The 86-76 loss leaves NJIT with just two games on the schedule, both of which are on the road.

Longwood on Monday night and Utah Valley State on Saturday are the only games left between the Highlanders and a winless season. Unfortunately, the lack of success has overshadowed the recent play of forward Nesho Milosevic, who has recorded seven double-doubles this season, the last two coming in back-to-back games.

Games to keep an eye on

Marist @ Fairfield (Monday 7:30 PM, ESPN Full Court)

With both teams sporting 9-6 conference records, this game is huge when it comes to seeding for the rapidly approaching MAAC Tournament. Fairfield, less than .500 for the season at home (5-6), is coming off of an impressive home win over first-place Rider. Marist, on the other hand, will be looking to perform better on the boards after falling apart in the second half at Manhattan. And it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the winner of this one could find themselves one game out of first place.

Towson @ Hofstra (Wednesday 7 PM)

These two teams couldn’t be any more different when it comes to the offensive end of the floor. While the Pride relies upon Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins for the majority of their points, Towson has three players averaging at least twelve points per game, and another not too far behind them with nine. Neither team scores a lot of points (Towson- 64.3, Hofstra- 65.4), but this one could be entertaining, especially when you take into consideration the fact that the two are tied with 6-9 records in the CAA. One thing working in Hofstra’s favor: Towson’s record of 1-11 on the road.

St. Francis (NY) @ Long Island (Thursday 7:30 PM)

A light night on the schedule means that a game between one team holding onto NEC Tournament hopes by a thread will visit a team in the driver’s seat for the eighth and final slot. Last year the Terriers were able to make a late push into the tournament, and any repeat will have to begin in this short trip to LIU. The matchup in the backcourt between SFNY’s Jamaal Womack and LIU’s Jaytornah Wisseh should be an entertaining one to watch.

Brown @ Columbia (Friday 7 PM)

The Lions are a long shot to win the Ivy League, thanks to their two losses to first-place Cornell. But with a win over the Bears, they would move into a tie for second place in the conference. As for individuals, you’ve got a chance to check out two of the Ivy’s best players in Brown G Mark McAndrew and Columbia F John Baumann.

Navy @ Army (Saturday 2 PM, CBS)

Army G Jarell Brown and Navy G Greg Sprink are two of the Patriot League’s best scorers, and they’ll face off for the second time this season. Brown and the Black Knights got the better of the meeting in Annapolis, with his thirty-five points (and game-winning shot) taking down the Midshipmen. But there may be a little more than bragging rights on the line for Navy, as they’re only one game back in the loss column for the Patriot League lead.

Look for a preview of area teams taking part in the BracketBusters even later in the week.

Updated Rankings (last week’s ranking in parentheses)

1. Wagner (4)

2. Sacred Heart (1)

3. Rider (2)

4. Seton Hall (3)

5. Columbia (8)

6. Yale (5)

7. Army (6)

8. Fordham (11)

9. Marist (7)

10. Fairfield (12)

11. St. John’s (9)

12. Iona (10)

13. LIU (14)

14. Rutgers (13)

15. Hofstra (15)

16. Manhattan (19)

17. FDU (16)

18. Monmouth (17)

19. Princeton (18)

20. St. Peter’s (20)

21. Stony Brook (22)

22. St. Francis-NY (21)

23. NJIT (23)

NYC Metro Preview: #2 Fordham

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:13:59 -0800

2. Fordham (2006-07 Record: 18-12, 10-6 Atlantic 10)

Head coach: Dereck Whittenburg

Returning Starters: 5- G Kevin Anderson (senior): 6-3, 185; G Marcus Stout (senior): 6-4, 195; F Michael Binns (senior): 6-7, 225; F Bryant Dunston (senior): 6-8, 233; F Sebastian Greene (senior): 6-8, 188.

In each year that Dereck Whittenburg has been on the Fordham campus, the win total has increased each season. And with all five starters, all seniors at that, back on campus, the Rams have a serious chance to win twenty games this season and compete for the Atlantic 10 title. And where does it all start? With senior forward Bryant Dunston (14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg), who was a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection last season. Dunston has the ability to average a double-double this season, and his offensive skills take some pressure off of his teammates. On the defensive end, Dunston is Fordham’s leading returning rebounder and also was third in the A-10 in blocks last season.

Up front, Dunston will be joined by classmates Michael Binns and Sebastian Greene. Binns (5.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) isn’t going to wow you with his numbers, but he’s a glue guy who can do a number of the little things on the court. Greene (9.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg) improved substantially from his sophomore to junior year, and another jump this season could move him consistently into double digits in scoring. Greene also was second on the team in blocks and third in steals. Also looking to contribute in the frontcourt is junior forward Chris Bethel (4.7 ppg), who only played about nine minutes per game in 06-07.

The backcourt is led by honorable mention All-Atlantic 10 selection Marcus Stout (15.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), who led the Rams in scoring last season and was second in the A-10 in steals. He also led the team in three pointers made, knocking down seventy-four shots from behind the arc. Joining him in the starting lineup is Kevin Anderson (3.7 ppg, 4.0 apg), a senior who may not score much but does a good job directing the offense. Anderson, who is a solid on the ball defender, was also second on the team in steals last season. A pair of sophomores will look to contribute off the bench this season, and Brenton Butler (9.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) did a good job of that last season. Butler also shot 43% from downtown last season. Classmate David Boykin, who only played five minutes per game last season, will look to earn more minutes this season as well. The one newcomer in the backcourt is 6-5 Mike Moore (New Haven, CT), a guard capable of playing both positions. Moore was named New Haven Register State Player of the Year last season after averaging 19.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

The schedule features an appearance in the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, an event that includes Maryland, UCLA and Michigan State. Three days after taking part in the Columbia Regional (Central Missouri St., Central Michigan and host Missouri), the Rams head north to take on Syracuse in the Carrier Dome (November 16^th). Other non-conference games of note include Hofstra (December 5^th) and Georgetown (December 22^nd). The sixteen-game conference schedule stands to be tougher than it has been the past couple of years thanks to the overall improvement of the Atlantic 10.

2007-08 Prospects

For the first time in what seems to be ages, the words “Fordham” and “postseason” can be mentioned in the same sentence. But taking that next step, either to the NIT or the NCAA Tournament, could be tough thanks to the improved quality of the A-10. While Xavier, Rhode Island and St. Joseph’s may be looked at as known quantities, you can’t forget about teams such as Dayton, Duquesne, Charlotte and Temple. But this experienced team should be able to once again finish in the top five of the conference, if not higher. There’s more than enough talent on board to ensure a postseason appearance for the Fordham program; now it’s just a matter of going out and getting the job done.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

2007-08 Fordham Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:32:40 -0700

Fordham Rams

Overall Rank: #87

Conference Rank: #7 A-10

2006-07: 18-12, 10-6, 4^th (t)

2006-07 postseason: none

If you do not believe just how good the A-10 will be this year, take a look at Fordham. The Rams return five starters and a handful of roleplayers from a team that tied for fourth in the conference last season. Fordham will be better, but so will the rest of the conference and that will make it extremely difficult for Coach Dereck Whittenburg to take the Rams to the next level. Yet, they have the talent to do so and reaching the NCAA Tournament is a realistic and obtainable goal if they can manage to make it through the conference without too many stumbles.

Who’s Out:

Dominic Osei is the lone impact loss in the Bronx. The 6-5 forward was slowed over the last two seasons with a shin injury, but he still earned 12 starts during his senior campaign. Osei was never a prolific scorer, but he was a solid defender and would do the dirty work. Seldom used Dan Blaine and Demetrius Phillips will not be suiting up for the Rams in the 2007-2008 campaign.

Who’s In:

The Rams do not need any newcomers to make an impact, but they may have found somebody who can as a freshman. Mike Moore, a versatile 6-5 combo guard, is a quality scorer and can do a little a bit of everything. He will likely find himself down the bench a ways this year, but he has the ability to earn some quality minutes. Redshirt freshman Ryan Munson will add some depth on the wing, but is not expected to make a big contribution this year.

Who to Watch:

Marcus Stout is the star of the perimeter and averaged 15.3 points per game. He is a dangerous long range shooter and will use his quickness to get to the basket. Stout is also a pesky defender and, speaking of pesky defenders, point guard Kevin Anderson fits into that category as well. The 6-3 senior is not a prolific scorer, but he will efficiently find his teammates. Brenton Butler did not earn a start last year, but he is the most consistent shooter on the team and averaged 9.5 points per contest as a freshman. Butler may play the sharpshooter role off the bench again this year. Herb Tanner did not put up as good of numbers during his freshman campaign, but the 6-4 guard came on strong at the end of the year and will play a bigger role off the bench this season.

Final Projection:

Stout may be the go-to-guy on the perimeter, but there is some competition as the star of the team. Bryant Dunston, a 6-8 forward, averaged 14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game last year. Now a senior, Dunston is expected to dominate the interior all around the A-10 even more than he did last year. Sebastian Greene complimented Dunston quite well last season and has developed into a solid contributor. At 6-7 Michael Binns has good size for a small forward and started 18 games last year, but he may be relegated to the bench when the team wants to play with a smaller, quicker lineup. With even more talent emerging like 6-5 forward Chris Bethel, Fordham does not lack the firepower and experience to make a run at the conference title. But neither do about a half dozen other teams in the A-10.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Kevin Anderson, Senior, Guard, 3.7 points per game

Marcus Stout, Senior, Guard, 15.3 points per game

Michael Binns, Senior, Forward, 5.3 points per game

Sebastian Greene, Senior, Forward, 9.5 points per game

Bryant Dunston, Senior, Forward, 14.5 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2007-08 Preview | Discuss the Preview

All-Metro Team and Final Awards

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:39:39 -0700

First Team All-Metro Area
G Jared Jordan (Senior-Marist)
G Loren Stokes (Senior-Hofstra)
G Antoine Agudio (Junior-Hofstra)
F Bryant Dunston (Junior-Fordham)
F Andre Harris (Senior-Fairleigh Dickinson)

Second Team All-Metro Area
G Carlos Rivera (Senior-Hofstra)
G Will Whittington (Senior-Marist)
F Robert Hines (Junior-St. Francis-NY)
F Anthony Mason, Jr. (Sophomore-St. John’s)
F Todd Sowell (Junior-St. Peter’s)

Third Team All-Metro Area
G Eugene Harvey (Freshman-Seton Hall)
G Michael Van Schaick (Senior-Fairfield)
F Brian Laing (Seton Hall)
F John Baumann (Junior-Columbia)
C James Smith (Senior-Marist)

All-Freshman Team
G Eugene Harvey (Seton Hall)
G Darryl Crawford (Manhattan)
G Chauncey Hardy (Sacred Heart)
F Greg Nero (Fairfield)
F Anthony Johnson (Fairfield)

Honorable Mention: G Brenton Butler (Fordham), F Qa’rraan Calhoun (St. John’s)

Coach of the Year: Matt Brady (Marist)
Honorable Mention: Tom Pecora (Hofstra), Dereck Whittenburg (Fordham), Dave Bike (Sacred Heart)

Player of the Year: Jared Jordan (Marist)
Honorable Mention: Loren Stokes (Hofstra), Andre Harris (FDU), Antoine Agudio (Hofstra)

Freshman of the Year: Eugene Harvey (Seton Hall)
Honorable Mention: Greg Nero (Fairfield), Darryl Crawford (Manhattan), Chauncey Hardy (Sacred Heart)

Biggest Surprise: Sacred Heart
Honorable Mention: Fairleigh Dickinson
Biggest Disappointment: Iona
Honorable Mention: St. John’s, St. Peter’s

Metro Basketball Report: Final Ranking

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:03:54 -0700

Another season of college basketball in the New York City area is complete, and it’s another year of teams from leagues other than the Big East carrying the flag. Marist, who won the MAAC regular season crown outright for the first time in school history, got over the disappointment of not winning their conference tournament by winning at Oklahoma State in the MasterCard NIT. Hofstra, predicted by many as a team with a chance to be “this year’s George Mason”, wasn’t able to make the NCAA Tournament but they did notch their second straight postseason bid. After that, the area schools had to put the balls away until next season.

As of right now, Iona is the only school looking for a new head coach, and this due primarily to the fact that a few programs have recently made new hires. Look for the next head man in New Rochelle to have some significant connections to the area in order to help out with recruiting, something that a school can fall behind on the longer they go without a head coach. 2006-07 was a down year for many of the schools, but due to the amount of young talent slated to return, 2007-08 should be a much better year for New York City college basketball.

2006-07 Final Rankings

1. Marist (last poll: 1): In addition to their first-ever outright MAAC crown, the Red Foxes won a school-record 25 games, and got the school’s first postseason win. Significant departures from the program include honorable mention All-American point guard Jared Jordan (two-time national assist champion), sharp shooting guard Will Whittington and seven foot center James Smith. Head coach Matt Brady will have a pair of four-year transfers at his disposal in Louie McCroskey (Syracuse) and Ryan Schneider (Vermont). But the most important newcomers may be freshman guards Jay Gavin (Forestville, MD) and Jeremiah Bowman (White Plains, MD).

Regardless of who takes over in the backcourt, there are some big shoes to fill. Look for returning starters Ryan Stilphen and Ben Farmer to have a larger impact on the Marist attack, but this team will be hard-pressed to match this season’s success. But if you’re expecting the Red Foxes to become a doormat in the MAAC, you’ll learn the hard way that they still have some talent on campus. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

2. Hofstra (2): The Pride, despite the loss of forwards Aurimas Kieza and Adrian Uter, found a way to reach the twenty win plateau on the backs of their three-headed guard attack. Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera are out of eligibility, leaving Antoine Agudio at the reigns in Hempstead. But the entire supporting cast this season returns, including bigs Chris Gadley and Mike Davis-Sabb, who learned a few lessons in the paint this season. Look for them, along with perimeter players Greg Johnson and Zygis Sestokas, to step up in larger roles next season.

Coming into the program are a pair of guards (Devon Peterson and Nathaniel Lester) from Brooklyn, along with another body inside (junior college transfer Darren Townes). Look for all three to have an impact next year, but they will be hard-pressed to completely fill the space left by Stokes and Rivera. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

3. Fordham (7): If you’re trying to figure out which team in the NYC area has the best shot to make the NCAA Tournament next year, then Fordham may be your pick. In finishing the season 18-12, the Rams put together back-to-back seasons without a losing record for the first time since the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. In case you forgot, the Rams were a member of the Patriot League when this occurred. Guard Marcus Stout has improved his scoring average in each of his three seasons in the Bronx, and forward Bryant Dunston once again was named All-Atlantic 10.

Offensive consistency was something that plagued the Rams throughout the season last year, but look for things to improve next season. No recruiting commitments have been announced as of yet, but with all their key parts returning next season, Dereck Whittenburg’s Rams will be a team to watch in the Atlantic 10 in 2007-08. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

4. Sacred Heart (5): The Pioneers improved significantly in 2006-07, going from seventh to second place, and five points stood between them and an NCAA Tournament bid when it was all said and done. Head coach Dave Bike had a number of offensive options at his disposal, led by senior guard Jarrid Frye. Eight Pioneers averages at least eight points per game this season, and this is why they led the Northeast Conference in scoring at 78.5 points per game. Other than Frye and Tavio Hobson, the team returns intact, looking to make a run to the NCAA Tournament. No recruiting commitments have been announced at this time. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

5. St. John’s (3): If you look at this past season for the Red Storm with the “glass half full” perspective, then you’d point out that St. John’s qualified for the Big East Tournament for the first time in four seasons. “Glass half empty”: you’d state that St. John’s shouldn’t have the goal of merely qualifying for the event, which is played on their “home court”. Once again the Red Storm were without the services of guard Daryll Hill due to knee issues, and once again this team had trouble putting the ball in the basket at times. Besides Hill, Norm Roberts will have to find a way to replace forwards Lamont Hamilton and Aaron Spears.

Forward Anthony Mason Jr. continued his progress, and look for him to be option number one next season. Heady guard Eugene Lawrence returns for his senior campaign, and there were some shining moments for freshman forward Qa’rraan Calhoun at the end of the season. Add to this highly touted recruits on the interior (C Dele Coker and PF Justin Burrell), and there is a chance for the Red Storm to build on the progress made this year despite losing Avery Patterson and Ricky Torres (transfers). Red Storm fans will also enjoy watching freshman guard Malik Boothe, who despite being only 5’7” gives in to no one on the court. Whether or not St. John’s improves their standing in the Big East remains to be seen, but Red Storm fans have never been known to be patient. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

6. Fairfield (4): Despite losing All-MAAC guard Michael Van Schaick and classmate Danny Oglesby to graduation, the Stags are headed in the right direction under head coach Ed Cooley. They struggled mightily out of the gates this season, starting the year with a 3-15 record before going on a seven-game win streak to make things interesting in the middle of the MAAC standings. A 4-4 finish to the season doesn’t do the amount of progress made by this team proper justice. Freshman forwards Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson were outstanding at times in the paint, and the team also received contributions from freshman Roi Buchbinder and veterans Marty O’Sullivan and Mamadou Diakhate in the paint.

Add to this returning group (as of this time, there was no announcement as to whether or not O’Sullivan would be back next season) starting guards Jonathan Han and Herbie Allen and you have a group that could definitely compete for the MAAC’s automatic bid in 2007-08. And with incoming freshmen Warren Edney (Chatham, VA) and Yorel Hawkins (Apex, NC), the Stags will have some depth on the perimeter. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

7. Fairleigh Dickinson (6): Despite predictions of impending doom from people such as me, the Knights put together a decent 2006-07, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth in the NEC. Of course they dropped their last four to end the season, including a 78-77 heartbreaker to Quinnipiac in the NEC Quarterfinals, but that shouldn’t take away from what this team was able to accomplish. The Knights ended league champion Central Connecticut State’s twelve game win streak with a 66-60 home victory on February 17^th. Unfortunately for head coach Tom Green, he’s going to have to find a way to replace forwards Andre Harris and Michael Peeples, two of the team’s top three scorers this past season. Incoming freshmen John Galvin (Weston, CT) and Jordan Stasyszyn (Carlisle, PA) are two players that will have a chance to compete for playing time in the fall. Stock heading into 2007-08: down, but not by much.

8. Manhattan (8): Like conference rival Fairfield, the Jaspers were a young team in search of an identity early in the season due to a coaching change. But unlike the Stags, Manhattan does not lose an all-conference performer heading into next season. Only Guy Ngarndi is graduating, leaving Head Coach Barry Rohrssen with a good amount of talent at his disposal next year. Freshmen Darryl Crawford and Antoine Pearson saw a lot of minutes in the backcourt, and sophomore Devon Austin was the team’s leading scorer. The only disappointment for the Jaspers was the play down the stretch of big man Arturo Dubois, who seemed to disappear down the stretch at times.

Six foot eight center Alanzo George (Brooklyn, NY) is the only recruit slated to join the program at this time, but if you remember the success that Coach Rohrssen and his staff had in signing talent after being hired, you know that there will be some more newcomers added to the fold before classes start in September. Heading into their MAAC quarterfinal with Siena, I thought that both teams had a chance to meet next season with a little more on the line. I stand by that statement. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

9. Seton Hall (9): The Pirates, in their first year under Bobby Gonzalez, were done in by their lack of size. Freshman Eugene Harvey and junior Brian Laing were both honored by the Big East coaches for their efforts this season, but the Pirates’ lack of depth is what did them in this season. On a good note, John Garcia was finally able to see some time inside, but of course this happened right around the time that senior Grant Billmeier was lost for the year to an ACL tear. Stan Gaines provided some help on the block, but the Pirates plan was to use their quickness to turn opponents over, something that they did quite well in fact (they led the Big East with 10.3 steals per game).

With other contributors such as Paul Gause, Jamar Nutter and Larry Davis returning next season, the key will be how much help the Pirates get from their newcomers inside. Brandon Walters (Brooklyn, NY), Augustine Okosun (Bryn Mawr, PA) and Michael Glover (Bronx. NY, brother of former St. John’s star Anthony Glover) will all be asked to contribute inside for the Hall. As much fun as small ball was at times last year, size is something that is always a necessity in the Big East. Hopefully the newcomers will be able to help out in that area. Stock heading into 2007-08: steady.