Manhattan

San Francisco Adds Manhattan Transfer Rashad Green

Press Release — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:55:20 -0700

(San Francisco) - Rashad Green, a 6-4, 195 pound wing from Babylon, New York has signed a scholarship agreement to play basketball at the University of San Francisco, as announced today by head coach Rex Walters. Under NCAA transfer rules, Green will sit out the entire 2008-09 season after completing a successful freshman season at Manhattan in 2007-08.

"We're really fortunate to get someone that has accomplished some very good things at the Division I level in his freshman year at Manhattan," Walters said. "He is a tough, hard-nosed young man from New York who is looking forward to competing in the West Coast Conference. He can pass, handle and shoot the ball. I'm really excited to coach him and think he can do some great things for us here and help get USF going again."

Green turned in a solid season competing for the Jaspers, averaging 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. A three-time MAAC Basketball Rookie of the Week, Green started 27 games in his inaugural collegiate season and led the team in rebounding and was the club's fourth-leading scorer. Green established career highs with 21-point, 11 rebound effort against Canisius and turned in another double-double in Manhattan's first-ever road win at Princeton, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

A highly decorated prep player, Green averaged 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while helping Bridgton Academy to a 34-5 record and its third straight NEPSAC Championship in 2007. The 2006 Long Island, Newsday and Nassau County Player of the Year, Green competed in the ABCD All-Star Game and played AAU ball with the New York Panthers.

Green comes from an athletic family. His brother Danny Jr., is a senior guard at North Carolina. Green's second cousin Gerald Green, plays in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Turnarounds: 31 Teams to Watch For: Part Two

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:56:40 -0700

With the off-season now upon us and the spring signing period well under way, this is a good opportunity to attempt to forecast some of the teams who could make the jump next season. Is there a team out there like this past season’s Drake Bulldogs, who went from ninth place to a dominating run through the Missouri Valley? Or how about Arizona State, a team that went from dead last in the Pac-10 to fifth place and could have the makings of a conference title run this season? With one pick for each conference, here are 31 teams you should keep an eye on next season. (Return to Part One.)

Big 12: Oklahoma State

2007-08 Record: 17-16 (7-9)

The Cowboys made some news during the Final Four, even though they weren’t playing in the event. Their desire for alum Bill Self to come back to Stillwater wasn’t hidden, but in the end the national champion coach decided that it was in his best interest to remain in Lawrence. Enter Travis Ford, who led UMass to back-to-back twenty win seasons and a spot in this season’s Postseason NIT title game. While there will be an adjustment period in the early going, the cupboard certainly isn’t bare with key contributors such as James Anderson, Byron Eaton and Obi Muonelo all coming back next season. This is a team that should make a run at an NCAA Tournament berth.

Big West: Pacific

2007-08 Record: 21-10 (11-5)

Not going out on a limb here with this pick, but I really like Bob Thomason’s Tigers to get back to the top of the Big West standings with seven seniors on the roster. No key contributors from 2007-08 were lost, which could make Pacific a popular choice in some circles to make some serious noise come March. Three players averaged double figures in scoring led by First Team All-Big West selection Steffan Johnson. Rising sophomore Terrell Smith was named to the conference’s All-Freshman Team, and Anthony Brown and Chad Troyer were both honorable mention All-Big West selections. All this coming back to Stockton makes the Tigers the early favorite to win the Big West…and maybe send some unsuspecting foe home come NCAA Tournament time.

Colonial: Northeastern

2007-08 Record: 14-17 (9-9)

Bill Coen didn’t have a lot of experience to work with last season, having just one senior (forward Mark Washington) on the roster. Matt Janning, a second-team all-conference selection, will lead a cast that will have another season of experience under their belts. Guard Chaisson Allen was named to the CAA’s All-Rookie Team, having led all conference newcomers in assists and steals. This is one of those teams that while everyone may predict them to be “one year away” from a title, they’ve got just enough to let everyone know that next year is now.

Conference USA: SMU

2007-08 Record: 10-20 (4-12)

A move up the ladder in Conference USA won’t be easy for Matt Doherty and his young program, as C-USA stands to be even better as a whole in 2008-09. But the commitment from the athletics department is certainly there, something that couldn’t always be said in years past. But the young talent is definitely taking notice of the changes, with Coach Doherty inking top guard prospect Paul McCoy just last week. The Mustangs will have to replace two of their top three scorers from last season in Jon Killen and Derrick Roberts, but big men Bamba Fall and Papa Dia will both be back next season. If some of the returnees can step into the holes left by the loss of Killen and Roberts, they’ve got a shot at moving into the middle of the Conference USA pack.

Horizon: Wisconsin-Green Bay

2007-08 Record: 15-15 (9-9)

With their top five scorers all slated to return (there was only one senior on the roster in 2007-08), the Phoenix could end up being one of the chief challengers to Butler in the Horizon League. Mike Schnachter led the team in scoring last season, and received help from the likes of Ryan Tillema and Rahmon Fletcher. Fletcher did a good job of running the point, and should only get better with a full season under his belt. Caught in a logjam in the middle of the Horizon standings last season, look for UWGB to make that move up in 2008-09.

Ivy: Harvard

2007-08 Record: 8-22 (3-11)

Tommy Amaker’s first season at Harvard was highlighted by their home win over his former employer Michigan. Unfortunately for the Crimson, they received more attention for an article on their recruiting in the New York Times than they did their play in within the league. But with a lot of Ancient Eight rivals (Cornell pretty much has everyone back) losing key contributors to graduation, maybe they can move up a couple of slots. Jeremy Lin, a second-team all-conference selection, will lead the charge in 2008-09, and he’ll be helped out by the likes of Pat Magnarelli, Evan Harris and Drew Housman. By no means is this a prediction that the Crimson will compete for the Ivy’s automatic bid (I think Cornell’s a safe bet on that), but they should be drastically improved.

MAAC: Manhattan

2007-08 Record: 12-19 (5-13)

I’m going with the Jaspers slightly ahead of Iona here, but I really like both to make move in the MAAC. Given the growth experienced in the MAAC Tournament by Barry Rohrssen’s club (a stronger commitment to defense and Devon Austin became more assertive as a team leader), and the fact that they return every key returnee leads me to believe that they can challenge for a spot in that 2-5 area of the standings. Antoine Pearson is one of the conference’s best point guards, and rising sophomores Chris Smith and Rashad Green should be ready to take the next step in their development. All that separates them from where they are and where they want to be is the consistency on the defensive end of the floor. And when that comes, look out.

MAC: Bowling Green

2007-08 Record: 13-17 (7-9 East Division)

While the change to Louis Orr didn’t mean an increase in overall wins (they won thirteen games in 2006-07 as well), it did mean four more league victories to get to 7-9. And while they’ll have to replace three of their top five scorers, led by Nate Miller, they should be improved with another year of seasoning under their belts. Chris Knight, who led the team in rebounding and was second in scoring, will be back next season along with guard Joe Jankubowski. Not too sure if the improvement will mean a jump in the MAC East standings, but the Falcons will be a better team next season.

Part One: ACC, Big East, Big Ten etc

Part Three tomorrow: MVC, MWC, Pac-10, etc

Northeast non-TV Bracket Busters preview

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:23:55 -0800

Here’s a quick preview of the ESPNU O’Reilly Bracket Busters games this weekend that will not be shown on television involving northeast teams. In most cases, the organizers of this event have done a better job of limiting the travel for non-television games, with the exception of UC Davis visiting Loyola (MD) among games involving northeast leagues. Bracket Busters, originally put together to provide schools in non-BCS leagues one last opportunity to add to their resume, now involves some 100 schools from sixteen conferences. Niagara @ Appalachian State (Saturday, 1 PM) The nation’s leading scorer, Charron Fisher, takes his act on the road as the Purple Eagles visit the Mountaineers of the Southern Conference. Fisher has eclipsed the forty point mark in two of his last three games, including 45 and nine rebounds against Loyola (MD). Niagara (with help from Tyrone Lewis, Stanley Hodge and an improving Benson Egemonye) will look to run and put up a lot of points, but the Mountaineers are also capable of scoring some points. Six players score at least seven points per game, led by senior forward Donte Minter. I’ll take the Mountaineers due to the home court advantage. Northeastern @ Holy Cross (Saturday, 4 PM) The Huskies make the short trip to Worcester to take on a Crusader team still trying to recover from a slow start in Patriot League play. Tim Clifford is Holy Cross’ best offensive option, but it’s been the health of PG Pat Doherty that has been the concern. His Achilles injury at San Francisco was the catalyst for a five-game skid early in 2008, and the team has been up and down ever since. Northeastern, looking to end their two-game skid, will counter with a balanced scoring attack led by wing Matt Janning. Normally, I’d go with the home-court advantage, especially with an environment as hostile as the one awaiting NU’s arrival. But I’m going to take the Huskies due to the fact that they’re a more balanced team on offense. Bucknell @ Old Dominion (Saturday, 7 PM) The Bison, like their Patriot League rivals, have uncharacteristically struggled in league play this year. But given the number of losses due to graduation over the last two seasons, you can understand why this team isn’t in its usual perch atop the conference standings. Guards John Griffin, Justin Castleberry and Stephen Tyree are the main men on the offensive end of the floor, and they’re going to have their hands full in Norfolk. Forward Gerald Lee leads the Monarchs in scoring, but they have seven players averaging at least six points per game. In their last four games, all wins, three different Monarchs have led the team in scoring (Lee twice, Brian Henderson and Abdi Lidonde once apiece). I like the Monarchs to win this one. Vermont @ UNC-Wilmington (Saturday, 7 PM) If you’re looking to find a candidate for the most improved player in the country (yes, country), look no further than Vermont’s Marqus Blakely. After averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season, the sophomore forward is up to 19.8 and 10.8 this year. And only two players have a 30/20 game to their credit this season: Michael Beasley and…Marqus Blakely. Mike Trimboli and Kyle Cieplicki are also more than capable of scoring from the perimeter. As for the Seahawks, four players average at least twelve points per game, led by senior guard T.J. Carter’s 15.8. Possessing a home record of 11-2, UNCW comes into this one riding a four-game win streak. Expect this one to be a close one, but I like the Seahawks to come out on top. UC Davis @ Loyola-Maryland (Saturday, 1 PM) Well, this one could get ugly as the Greyhounds host the Aggies. UC Davis, currently dead last in the Big West, has lost their last nine and are the league’s worst defensive team (opponents shoot 48.1% from the field). And when you’ve got to stop a player like G Gerald Brown, that could be bad news for the Aggies. Brown will have some help on the offensive end, supplied by Michael Tuck and Marquis Sullivan. The Aggies are led by guards Vince Oliver and Shane Hanson, but they have a road record of 1-11 for the season. I like Loyola to win this one. Hofstra @ Iona (Saturday, 2 PM) The Gaels host one of the nation’s best scorers in Hofstra’s Antoine Agudio, and with Iona preferring to quicken the pace this could be a game in which Agudio puts up some points. But the trend all season has been that the Pride are only as successful as Agudio’s supporting cast, and a group led by Charles Jenkins has become more confident as the season has progressed. On the other side, Kevin Willard’s first year as head coach has been streaky in regards to results, with a three game win streak followed by a short losing spell. Iona ended a two-game skid with a win at Canisius on Monday night, and five players averaging about eight points per game (Kyle Camper averages 7.8 to be exact). The key to this one will be how well Hofstra takes care of the basketball, something they haven’t done well on the road this season (3-9 away from home). I’ll take Iona by a basket. Fairfield @ Drexel (Saturday, 4 PM) The Stags, winners of five in a row, take their on one of the CAA’s worst offensive teams in the Dragons of Drexel. Center Frank Elegar leads Drexel in both scoring and rebounding, but the points have been few and far between for a team looking to replace the likes of Bashir Mason and Dominic Mejia from last season’s team. Fairfield, on the other hand, has received a boost from the likes of seniors Marty O’Sullivan and Mamadou Diakhate, two players who weren’t expected to see much playing time throughout the remainder of the season. But the team runs based on the play of PG Jonathan Han, the MAAC’s assist leader. With six road wins already to their credit, I like the Stags to pick up a seventh. Youngstown State @ Buffalo (Saturday, 4 PM) With two of the bottom feeders in their respective leagues on display, you have to dig a little deeper to figure out who to watch in this one. How about guards Andy Robinson (Buffalo) and Byron Davis (Youngstown State)? Both lead their teams in scoring, but truth be told each team has a couple of places from which the points can come. I’m taking Buffalo for one simple reason: The Penguins are 1-11 on the road this season. Binghamton @ Manhattan (Saturday, 4 PM) One of three matchups between America East and MAAC schools, this one will be an interesting affair due to the age difference between the backcourts. Manhattan, led by Antoine Pearson and Devon Austin (Austin’s a wing), rely primarily on sophomores while Binghamton’s backcourt is manned by seniors Mike Gordon and Richard Forbes. The Bearcats’ leading scorer, however, is sophomore forward Lazar Trifunovic (14.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg). I like the Jaspers to move their three-game win streak to four due to the fact that they’re at home (Binghamton is 3-10 on the road this season). Albany @ Canisius (Saturday, 7:30 PM) There’s no Jamar Wilson, but the Great Danes are still in third place in America East. The leader this season is Brian Lillis, a wing currently averaging sixteen points per game. In all, five Great Danes are averaging at least 7.7 points per game. Their opponent has one of the quickest guards in the MAAC in Frank Turner, but little has gone right this year for the 4-22 Golden Griffins. Losers of five straight games, I don’t think Canisius plays good enough defense (allowing 73.1 points per game) to end the skid in this one. Boston University @ St. Peter’s (Saturday, 2 PM) The Terriers have won six of their last seven, while the Peacocks have lost eleven of thirteen. SPC has one of the toughest competitors in the MAAC in senior Todd Sowell, but as a team they simply don’t defend well enough or take good enough care of the basketball (averaging sixteen turnovers per game). When you have four players scoring in double figures, turnovers are a sure way to keep your win total low. Corey Lowe, one of the best guards in America East, leads BU with eighteen points per game, but the improved play of freshman John Holland has been the catalyst for their recent run of good play. I like the Terriers to get a road win in this one.

NYC Metro Preview: #10 Manhattan

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:51:59 -0800

11. Manhattan (2006-07 Record: 13-17, 10-8 MAAC)

Head coach: Barry Rohrssen

Returning Starters: 4- F Devon Austin (junior): 6-6, 200; G Darryl Crawford (sophomore): 6-4, 185; G Antoine Pearson (sophomore): 6-2. 170; G Patrick Bouli (sophomore): 6-2, 185

Manhattan Stats & Roster

A team that was very young in 2006-07 got a bit younger in the off-season when big man Arturo Dubois decided to transfer. His departure leaves the Jaspers with only one senior on the roster (F Franck Traore), but given last season’s youth movement that should not be the death knell for their season. The backcourt returns more than a few key cogs, including sophomores Crawford (9.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Pearson (9.5 ppg, 2.4 apg) and Bouli (6.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.7 apg). While Crawford didn’t show himself to be the best three point shooter last season, he is more than capable of putting the ball in the basket by getting to the rim. Pearson, who was also second on the team in steals last season, was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team for his efforts in 06-07.

But neither one of these guys played as many minutes last season as Bouli, who after leading the team in steals spent the summer playing for his native Cameroon in the FIBA African Basketball Championships. Other returnees in the backcourt include sophomores Jamel Ferguson (4.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Brandon Adams (3.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg). Freshman Rashad Green (North Babylon, NY) is a capable wing player who could see time at both the two and the three this season.

In the frontcourt, it will all begin with the junior Austin (12.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg), a third-team All-MAAC performer who led the Jaspers in scoring even with the presence of Dubois. Austin can beat a defender either by way of a drive to the rim, or if the man sags off with a jumper. He led the team in three pointers attempted (132) and made (44), and was also second on the team in blocks (26). But he’s not the question up front, it’s the lack of experience when it comes to the guys who will have to do the banging in the paint. Franck Traore is the team’s lone senior, but he only played in nineteen games last season and saw limited playing time. This means that newcomers will have a very good chance to see significant action up front.

Redshirt freshman Laurence Jolicouer (6-9, 200) and junior college transfer Herve Banogle (6-8, 260; Cameroon) will provide some much-needed height, but Jolicouer isn’t the banger that the stronger Banogle is. Also joining the fray will be Andrew Gabriel (6-6, 210; Brooklyn, NY), but the Jaspers will look to the frontcourt (outside of Austin) for rebounding and defense more than anything else. Points will come from the perimeter players this season.

The schedule begins with three straight road games, and the non-conference slate will include games against Hofstra (November 17^th), Fordham (November 28^th), Princeton (December 16^th) and Rutgers (December 29^th). In late February, the Jaspers will join the other nine members of the MAAC in the ESPNU BracketBusters event. The conference schedule features four straight road games in January (Marist, Canisius, Niagara and Siena), and four straight home games in February (Fairfield, Canisius, Marist and Siena). The regular season ends with back-to-back road games at Fairfield and rival Iona.

2007-08 Prospects

Now while Austin was selected for second team All-MAAC honors at the conference media day, don’t be surprised to see him on the first team come season’s end. And the backcourt boasts a number of solid players who can make some waves within the league. But it’s the frontcourt and its lack of experience that could end up costing this team in the end. Picked sixth in the MAAC this season, a middle of the pack finish could be the most likely result. But get your shots in now, because another year of experience combined with Coach Rohrssen and his staff’s ability to recruit will make the Jaspers one of the teams to beat in 2008-09. It just may be a bit much to require a conference title out of them this year, however.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

Metro Basketball Report: Tight Races

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:45:44 -0800

With one month remaining in the regular season, metropolitan area teams find themselves right in the thick of conference races. For some, this final month will determine whether or not they can win a conference title. Others are merely looking to get a good seed in their conference tournament. And there’s also the group that needs win in order to qualify for their conference tournament period. Here is a breakdown of each league and the position that the New York area teams find themselves in.

America East: Stony Brook looking to get out of the cellar

While the suspense for this league involves Vermont and Albany at the top of the league, the Stony Brook Seawolves find themselves in a three-way tie for last place in America East with Binghamton and Hartford. The eight and nine seeds play in the opening game of the conference tournament, so there is still something at stake for SBU. And given the fact that they’re only two games out of fifth place in the league, a hot streak to end the year could do wonders for both their seeding and their confidence.

Atlantic 10: Fordham in the middle of the title hunt

Barring a monumental collapse, Fordham should be taking part in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Atlantic City next month. The question for the Rams is whether or not they can stay in the hunt for the regular season crown. Fordham finds themselves in a tie with Xavier and George Washington for third, one game behind Rhode Island. The top four seeds don’t play on the first day, so a high seed would make a run to the tournament title a little less taxing (note that Xavier won four games in four days last season, however). A win in tonight’s game at Dayton would be a huge confidence boost for Dereck Whittenburg’s squad, especially when you consider the fact that Dayton is undefeated at home this season.

Big East: St. John’s and Seton Hall looking to punch tickets to New York

The outlook for the Red Storm and Pirates isn’t as clear, with both teams being part of the logjam in the Big East standings. Two games separate fourteenth place from seventh, and with only the top twelve teams being eligible for the Big East Championship, every game from here on out will be of added importance. St. John’s, who will be without the services of Daryll Hill for a few weeks due to injury, needs to find consistency on the offensive end of the floor. The Red Storm have South Florida at home tonight and a return trip to Syracuse coming up, and both games are winnable.

Seton Hall’s problems lie on the other end of the court, especially when it comes to rebounding due to their lack of size. The next four for the Pirates are Villanova, at Connecticut, at West Virginia, and Pittsburgh at home. These four games could be their “last stand” when it comes to a Big East Championship berth.

Colonial: Hofstra one game out of first place in the CAA

With five games left in conference play, the Pride find themselves one game behind Virginia Commonwealth in the race for the regular season title. Hofstra won home games over VCU and Northeastern last week, and host Drexel on Thursday before hitting the road for George Mason and Old Dominion. At the least, Hofstra needs to stay in the top four in order to assure themselves of a first-round bye. VCU has George Mason and ODU coming up as well, so anything can happen in the regular season race.

Ivy: Columbia two games out of first place

After six games, the Lions find themselves two games behind Yale in the conference standings. And with the Ivy not having a conference tournament, any run for the league’s automatic berth needs to start now. They’ve won their last two games since being swept by Cornell, but when the season ends those two losses to the Big Red could be what this teams looks back on if they do not win the conference. Pennsylvania has two games in hand on the rest of the contenders, but the Lions will get them at the Palestra next weekend.

Metro Atlantic: Marist and Manhattan tied for first, but Fairfield is on fire

In the MAAC, Marist finds themselves in the spot that the league coaches thought they would be, in first place. But no one expected them to have company in the form of Loyola (MD) and Manhattan at the top. In recent games the Red Foxes have had trouble on the defensive end, something that they need to improve upon down the stretch. Marist has one of the nation’s better backcourts in Jared Jordan and Will Whittington, and guard play usually has a direct effect on which team wins and who heads home come March.

Manhattan, led by first-year head coach Barry Rohrssen, finds themselves in a position that few outside of the program expected the Jaspers to be in when the season began. Devon Austin and Arturo Dubois have done a good job of leading this team, and look for the disappointment of losing in last season’s MAAC Semifinals to be a motivating force for this group. Manhattan visits Marist on Valentine’s Day in a game that few people expected would have a major impact on the conference title race.

The hottest team in the MAAC? That would be Fairfield, which will host the MAAC Tournament in a couple of weeks in Bridgeport, CT. The Stags, also led by a first-year head coach (Ed Cooley), have won seven straight and are in a three-way tie just one game behind the leaders. While senior guard Michael Van Schaick leads the team in scoring, it’s been a pair of freshmen forwards (Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson) that have carried to load inside. Fairfield has games at Marist (Thursday) and Loyola (Sunday) back-to-back, but even with two losses look out for the Stags next month.

At the bottom of the standings lie St. Peter’s and Iona. Iona got their first win of the season last weekend, and St. Peter’s has lost their last fifteen. It’s safe to say that these two will be playing on the first day of the MAAC Tournament, but who they will play is still up for discussion. On that Friday night (March 2nd), seven (seed) plays ten and eight plays nine with the winners moving on to Saturday. Which one of these two has a better chance to shock the world? Right now, I’ll go with the Gaels.

Northeast: Traffic jam in the middle of the NEC

After Central Connecticut State, it’s hard to make sense of the Northeast Conference standings. Fairleigh Dickinson and Sacred Heart are tied for third with 7-4 conference records, but the two teams seem to be headed in opposite directions. The Knights, thanks to a nail-biting win over Monmouth on Monday, have won three straight. The Pioneers, on the other hand, have lost three of their last four, most recently an 80-76 defeat at Wagner. Unlike most conference tournaments that are played at neutral sites, the NEC rewards the higher seeds by allowing them to host tournament games. Also, only the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament. Both the Knights and Pioneers would like to do their best to finish on the side of the bracket opposite the league-leading Blue Devils.

Wagner, who just a couple of weeks ago was struggling to make sure that they would qualify for the conference tournament, is only one game behind FDU and SHU thanks to their current three-game win streak. The Seahawks have done a much better job of sharing the basketball of late, with at least four players reaching double figures in points in each of their last three games. If they can keep this up, look out. LIU and St. Francis (NY) find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to the conference tournament, with both teams being three games behind Monmouth in the loss column. It will take a lot for both of these squads to make an appearance in the NEC Tournament.

Patriot: Army in a dogfight for fourth

While there is still a chance that the Black Knights could catch Lehigh and take third in the Patriot League, their primary concern right now should be to hold onto fourth place and the final home court slot in the conference tournament. Like the NEC, the Patriot will reward the higher seeds with home court advantage throughout the tournament. No one will catch either Holy Cross or Bucknell at this point in the season, but one game in the loss column separates Army from last place (Navy). At the very least they need to avoid falling to either seventh or eighth, spots that will result in a trip to either Holy Cross or Bucknell for the quarterfinals.

Here are a few games to keep an eye on in the next couple of days.

• South Florida @ St. John’s, Wednesday 7:30 PM EST
The Bulls, fresh off an upset of Notre Dame in Tampa this past weekend, visit Carnesecca Arena in a game that will have a major impact on the tournament hopes of both teams. No, not the NCAA Tournament, but the Big East Tournament. St. John’s is coming off of a win at Cincinnati in what was the best performance of the season for freshman forward Qa’rraan Calhoun (18 points, 5 rebounds). And if you haven’t seen USF forward McHugh Mattis play this season, check this game out. Mattis is currently averaging 13 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per contest.

• Fairfield @ Marist, Thursday 7:30 PM EST
The first of two meetings between these two, and only one game separates the Stags from the Red Foxes atop the MAAC. How Michael Van Schaick does against the Marist backcourt will have a say in which direction this game goes. In the frontcourt, Marist is the more experienced of the two teams, but Fairfield’s freshman duo of Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson have been playing better of late. Marist has the home court advantage, but the Stags have won seven straight, so confidence won’t be lacking on their side. Also, take some time to watch a little of the Drexel/Hofstra and Monmouth/Wagner games, two matchups that will have a big impact on seeding in their respective conference tournaments.

• Yale @ Columbia, Friday 7:00 PM EST
Columbia gets their shot to put a dent in the Bulldogs’ lead atop the Ivy League standings in this showdown between coaching siblings, Yale’s James Jones and Columbia’s Joe Jones. Columbia’s John Baumann is coming off of a 21 and 14 effort in the Lions’ win at Dartmouth on Saturday. Yale has won their last four games, most recently a 77-68 home win over league favorite Penn. Eric Flato and Casey Hughes have been playing some good basketball of late, so look for the Lions’ backcourt to have their hands full in this one. Also, keep an eye on St. Francis (NY)/Fairleigh Dickinson and Manhattan/Rider.

• Hofstra @ George Mason, Saturday 4:00 PM EST
Depending on what happens in games Thursday, Hofstra could find themselves in first place when the get to Fairfax to take on the Patriots. George Mason has alternated wins and losses in their last six games (not counting their game against VCU on Thursday), and it’s been a rather inconsistent year for Mason other than their five-game win streak in January. Hofstra will have to hope that Mike Davis-Sabb and Chris Gadley show up for this one because forward Will Thomas is a beast in the paint. Also, take some time out in your day to catch some of the Villanova/Seton Hall and Wagner/Sacred Heart games.

• Hartford @ Stony Brook, Sunday 2:00 PM EST
Although these two teams are among the three at the bottom of America East, this game is a matchup between two of the better young coaches in the league, Dan Leibovitz (Hartford) and Steve Pikiell (SBU). However, neither team would be described as on a roll at this time, with Hartford riding an eight-game losing skid and SBU having lost six of their last eight. Both would like to avoid that 8/9 nine game on the opening day of the America East Tournament, and a win in this one would go a long way in making sure that the winner does just that. Also, check out St. John’s/ Syracuse and Fairfield/Loyola (MD).

Here are the updated rankings.

1. Hofstra (2): The Pride are back on top after Fordham’s loss to Rhode Island.
2. Marist (3): The Red Foxes are in a three-way tie for first in the MAAC, despite their inconsistent play of late.
3. Fordham (1): Rhody 45, Fordham 44. This was one of the uglier nail-biters of the 2006-07 season, but the Rams are still in the title hunt.
4. Manhattan (4): This team just keeps getting better as the season goes on. Can they turn this improvement into an NCAA bid? Who knows?
5. Fairfield (9): The Stags are on fire right now, but let’s see if they can keep that up with their next two on the road (Marist, Loyola (MD)).
6. St. John’s (7): Who’s going to help shoulder some of the load with Daryll Hill out of action? Meet Qa’rraan Calhoun, but Larry Wright has a chance to step up and gain more minutes in the backcourt.
7. Fairleigh Dickinson (8): The Knights have won three in a row, and their home win over Monmouth (despite trailing by double digits) was impressive.
8. Sacred Heart (5): The Pioneers have struggled of late, but they still control their own destiny when it comes to hosting a quarterfinal in the NEC Tournament.
9. Seton Hall (6): A tough stretch coming up could mean the end of the Hall’s Big East Tournament chances. Or it could be the start of a big-time run. It all depends on how well they can hit the boards.
10. Wagner (11): The Seahawks are putting it together at the right time. Maybe they can make a run in the NEC Tournament.
11. Columbia (13): Road sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth put the Lions back on the right track. Now they get first-place Yale at home in a chance to make a dent in the conference standings.
12. Army (10): Losing at home to Holy Cross is one thing, but only scoring 38 at home in a loss to Colgate? Ouch.
13. St. Francis (NY) (12): Brian Nash’s team has improved, but it looks like they’re destined to spend another March watching the NEC Tournament.
14. Stony Brook (14): Just like SFNY, you can’t just measure improvement in wins and losses. Steve Pikiell’s team has gotten better, but they still make some of the same mistakes that cost them games last season.
15. Long Island (15): Seven straight losses have put the Blackbirds on the wrong side of the NEC Tournament “fence”. And with their next two on the road, it looks like it will stay that way.
16. NJIT (16): No conference tournament for this first-year independent, but the Highlanders will concentrate on improving for 2007-08.
17. Iona (18): Their first win of the season, along with St. Peter’s fifteen game losing streak moves the Gaels up a spot.
18. St. Peter’s (17): Thanks to Iona’s win on Saturday, the Peacocks now have the area’s longest current losing streak.

11/14: Daily Dribble

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:45:13 -0800

College basketball likes to ease itself into the season.. kind of like a shy guy trying to ask out an attractive girl. But when Duke plays on national tv, its an unoffocial point in this writer's mind that the season has finally begun. Enough with the previews, the predictions, and the prognostications.. on to the Monday morning, Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning, you get the point Quaterbacking.. BC losing to Vermont made some headlines last night.. perhaps this is a sign that the loss of Craig Smith will mean more than most anaylsts originally thought. Vermont can play some ball though. This is a team that improved by the day last year, and has a core that could be due for a couple of NCAA Tournament bids over the next handful of years. Also in the ACC, Duke struggled early but pulled away for an easy win over Georgia Southern. Despite the 24 point margin of victory, it was hard to be that overly impressed with the Blue Devils. Josh McRoberts is no longer a big man prospect, and he's not even a power forward either.. the 6-10 former post player has basically become a wing player. Even better (or worse depending on how you think of it), McRoberts seems to have taken a liking to bringing the ball up the court. I'm no Coach K, but seeing big Josh move the ball up the court made me cringe every time. Nice win for Butler last night versus Notre Dame. For the Bulldogs, AJ Graves exploded for 28 points and hit 8 threes. Butler now plays Indiana (who beat Lafayette last night) in the 2nd round of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Decent win for Big Sky co-favorite NAU who got a win over power conference squad Arizona State last night. The Big Sky's fellow co-favorite Montana didn't fare quite so well, dropping a game to Utah Valley State. This is the 2nd win for UVSU to start the season, beating another Big Sky team, Montana St earlier in the weak. The Wolverines aren't the only Independent team off to a good start.. Savannah State already has a win over Jacksonville.. and perhaps the most shocking win of all was New Jersey Institute of Technology getting a win over Manhattan to start the season. Manhattan was decimated in the off-season by coaching changes and transfers, but this is still a tough way to start the season. It will take Barry Rohrssen time though.. four freshman played over 22 minutes in the loss.

NYC Metro Honors & Awards

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:57:07 -0800

The Who’s Who of the Metro Area

First Team All-Metro Area
G Jared Jordan (Marist)
G Loren Stokes (Hofstra)
G Antoine Agudio (Hofstra)
F Bryant Dunston (Fordham)
F Lamont Hamilton (St. John’s)

Second Team All-Metro Area
G Carlos Rivera (Hofstra)
G Daryll Hill (St. John’s)
F Anthony Mason, Jr. (St. John’s)
F Ryan Stilphen (Marist)
F/C Arturo Dubois (Manhattan)

Third Team All-Metro Area
G Will Whittington (Marist)
G James Williams (Long Island)
F Durrell Vinson (Wagner)
F John Baumann (Columbia)
F Todd Sowell (St. Peter’s)

Coach of the Year: Matt Brady (Marist)
Player of the Year: Loren Stokes (Hofstra)
Newcomer of the Year: Avery Patterson (St. John’s via Iowa Western JC)
Freshman of the Year: Eugene Harvey (Seton Hall)

Team that could be the biggest surprise: Columbia
Team that could be the biggest disappointment: Wagner

MAAC Conference Preview

CHN — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:27:10 -0800

Conference Previews | Top 144 | 06-07 Preview Home

MAAC Preview

Conference Rank: 17th

Conference Page

All-Conference

Player of the Year - Jared Jordan, Marist, G

Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena, G

Charron Fisher, Niagara, F

Arturo Dubois, Manhattan, F

Jason Thompson, Rider, F/C

Nat'l	Team (Click for Preview)	Conf	Tourney
81	Marist	1	NCAA
129	Siena	2
158	Manhattan	3
159	Niagara	4
182	Iona	5
214	Loyola Md	6
226	Rider	7
249	Canisius	8
273	St. Peter's	9
287	Fairfield	10

Preseason Head Coach Q&A's:

Fran McCaffery - Siena

NYC Metro Previews

#2 Marist Red Foxes

#6 Iona Gaels

#11 St Peter's

Other MAAC Articles:

MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll

2006-07 NYC Metro Preview: Manhattan

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:50:41 -0700

Raphielle Johnson Previews the 14-team NYC Metro Region.

9. Manhattan Jaspers

2005-06 Record: 20-11 (14-4 MAAC)

Last season’s final ranking (NY Metro area poll): 3^rd

Head Coach: Barry Rohrssen (first year @ Manhattan, overall)

Leading Returnees: Points (Arturo Dubois-15.0 ppg); Rebounds (Dubois-8.5 rpg); Assists (Dubois-1.0 apg)

Returning Starters: 2 (F Devon Austin (So. 6’6, 200), F Arturo Dubois (Jr. 6’8, 240)

Key Losses: F C.J. Anderson, G Jeff Xavier, G Jason Wingate, G Kenny Minor, F Mike Konovelchick

Team Preview

Year one of the Barry Rohrssen era begins with a lot of uncertainty, with only Arturo Dubois and Devon Austin having a wealth of game experience. Dubois, who leads returning Jaspers in points and rebounds, will be called upon for even more in the paint. Unlike last season, when Manhattan had a wealth of backcourt talent to cover for their lack of size inside, Dubois cannot afford to have long spells of foul trouble. Darren Johnson is the only other frontcourt player to have started a game last season, so look for incoming freshmen Laurence Jolicouer and Brandon Adams to compete for playing time. Junior Franck Traore and senior Guy Ngarndi, two interior players who saw very little time last season, will also be competing for minutes.

While the frontcourt has its issues, the backcourt may be in even worse shape. Losing Jason Wingate and Kenny Minor was expected, but Jeff Xavier transferring to Providence due to the coaching change leaves Coach Rohrssen without an experienced option in the backcourt. It is almost a guarantee that a freshman will be handed the reigns, but the question is which one. True freshmen Patrick Bouli, Antoine Pearson and Darryl Crawford will all compete for minutes. Redshirt freshman Christian Jackson and true freshman Jamel Crawford are versatile perimeter players that can play either the shooting guard or small forward positions.

Year one will have its growing pains, but the Jaspers have some young talent, given the recruiting of Coach Rohrssen. But losing two key contributors who chose to transfer, C.J. Anderson (Xavier) and Jeff Xavier (Providence), may be too much this year.

Schedule at a Glance

Manhattan will play their first five games of the season at home, beginning with the New Jersey Institute of Technology on November 11^th. With the home stand including visits by Hofstra, Wagner, and Princeton, the Jaspers could make their first road trip with a losing record. Non-conference road games include Memphis, Long Beach State, and Pepperdine. Manhattan will also participate in the ESPN Bracket Busters weekend, so areas of relief in the non-conference slate will be few and far between.

MAAC play opens with a trip to The Arena at Harbor Yard to face Fairfield December 8^th. The Jaspers return home to play Loyola (Md.) two days later in their MAAC home opener. With Marist and Canisius being the two teams predicted to be at the top of the standings, the competition for spots underneath will be fierce. Last year’s squad managed to go 6-3 on the road n MAAC play, but that was a much more experience team. Their first road trip of 2007 takes them to Canisius, rival Iona, and St. Peter’s, not an easy chore for a young team. How the Jaspers play on the road will tell the story of whether or not they play on the first day of the MAAC Tournament. The season ends with Iona at Draddy Gymnasium on February 25^th.

Interesting Note: The MAAC Tournament will take place from March 2^nd-5^th at The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT. The league, due to the NIT’s policy that regular season champions automatically qualify for the tournament, has gotten rid of the “double-bye” for its champion. Seeds 7-10 will play on the tournament’s opening day.

2005-06 Team Averages

· Points per game: 76.8 - Points per game allowed: 75.4 - Scoring Margin: + 1.4

· Rebounds per game: 35.2 - Opp. Rebounds per game: 38.2 - Rebounding Margin: - 3.0

· Assists per game: 13.1 - Turnovers per game: 12.9 - Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 1:1

· Field Goal Percentage: 45.4% - FG Percentage Defense: 43.0%

· 3-Point Percentage: 35.6% - 3-Point Percentage Def.: 37.5%

· Free Throw Percentage: 68.6%

2005-06 Streaks

· Longest winning streak: 10 (Marist, @ Loyola-MD, @ North Dakota St., @ South Dakota St., Fordham, St. Francis-NY, @ Iona, St. Peter’s, Rider, Siena) December 9^th-January 15^th

· Longest losing streak: 4 (@ Seton Hall, George Mason, @ Syracuse, @ Rhode Island) November 14^th-December 6^th

· Manhattan knocked off Fairleigh Dickinson and Maryland before losing to Old Dominion in the second round of the Postseason NIT.

Complete NYC Metro Preview

Seton Hall Hires Gonzalez

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Friday afternoon, Seton Hall University named Bobby Gonzalez to be their eighteenth head coach in school history. This will be Coach Gonzalez’s second head coaching gig on the collegiate level, a head coaching career that began in 1999 when he took over at Manhattan. His record at Manhattan was 129-77 overall, with a record of 85-41 in MAAC regular season contests. During his tenure at Manhattan, the Jaspers won three regular season league titles and two conference tournament crowns. He also led his team to two appearances each in the NCAA and NIT tournaments, getting wins over the likes of Florida (2004 NCAA) and Maryland (2006 NIT).

Gonzalez, a former Pete Gillen assistant (with stops at Xavier, Providence, and Virginia) has a wealth of contacts in the New York metropolitan area, one of the main reasons for the hiring by AD Joe Quinlan. Coach Gonzalez is a hard-working recruiter, attracting the likes of Luis Flores to Manhattan during his tenure, and an excellent communicator as well. Having contacts on the high school and AAU levels in the area is a definite positive, something that he will look to use immediately given the fact that no recruits are signed for the upcoming season.

Quick Analysis of the Hire

Joe Quinlan’s first hire as athletic director is a good one. With Tom Pecora deciding to stay at Hofstra, Gonzalez was the best choice for this position, especially with Rutgers hiring Fred Hill to take over their program. Seton Hall doesn’t have the best resources for a program in a marquis conference, so an excellent communicator was needed for this position to get in the room with the area’s coaches and recruits. They found their man in Gonzalez.

Leading Returnees

Points: Jamar Nutter- 12.1 ppg

Rebounds: Stan Gaines- 3.9 rpg

Assists: Gaines- 1.8 apg

Field Goal %: Grant Billmeier- 55.1%

3 Point %: Nutter- 38.4%

Bobby Gonzalez at Manhattan

2005-06: 20-11

2004-05: 15-14

2003-04: 25-6 - NCAA

2002-03: 23-7 - NCAA

2001-02: 20-9

2000-01: 14-15

1999-00: 12-15

Louis Orr at Seton Hall

2005-06: 18-12 - NCAA

2004-05: 12-16

2003-04: 21-10 - NCAA

2002-03: 17-13

2001-02: 12-18