Army

Army Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:40:30 -0500

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2008-09 Army Basketball Preview

Life after Jarell Brown for the Black Knights

You could make an argument that the Army Black Knights had the most important player in the Patriot League last season in guard Jarell Brown. Brown averaged almost nineteen points per game, and no other Army player exceeded eight points per contest in 07-08. Now head coach Jim Crews and his staff has to devise ways in which to make up for Brown’s graduation, giving opportunities to guys that didn’t see much of the basketball a season ago. Those who stand to benefit from the increased number of shots should be happy, but are they ready to step up and help replace Brown? That’s the question that hangs over the Black Knights as the season begins.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 14-16 (6-8 Patriot; t-5^th)

Head coach: Jim Crews (50-121 in six seasons at Army; 342-330 in 24 seasons)

Assistant coaches: Chris Hollender, Jim Platt, Kendrick Saunders

Home Court: Christl Arena

Website: www.goarmysports.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Josh Miller (8.4)

RPG: Doug Williams (5.3)

APG: Miller (4.0)

FG%: Chris Walker (60.0%)

3PT%: John Moonshower (30.0%)

FT%: Miller (71.4%)

Assist/TO ratio: Miller (1.65)

Backcourt

Figuring out the exact rotation on an annual basis for the Black Knights is a tough chore, but there are a few returnees coming back who should be contributors this season. Junior Josh Miller played more minutes than any Army player not named Jarell Brown last season and stands to be among the team leaders in points and minutes again this year. Miller is a combo guard who is Army’s most reliable ball handler, so he could be the guy running the show on the offensive end of the floor. Two other returnees in the backcourt who will have to take on more of the offensive load are juniors Marcus Nelson and Cleveland Richard. Both played in all thirty games last season, combining for just over ten points per game. With Brown gone, these are the two most likely to absorb those extra shot attempts now available on the perimeter.

Two guys who didn’t play much last season but stand to pick up more playing time this season are junior Tyrell Thompson and sophomore Rickey Royal. Thompson could be a reliable offensive option off the bench, while Royal is a solid defender who will help out on that end of the floor. Jon Sizemore and Nathan Hedgecock are two more players who will look to become part of Coach Crews’ rotation. If you’re looking for a freshman that could find his way onto the court that would most likely be Julian Simmons (Katy, TX). He’s a combo guard who spent last season in Army’s prep school and averaged twenty-four points per game. But it seems to be an annual occurrence that a player no one knows about works his way into the rotation.

Frontcourt

There are a number of bodies up front for the Black Knights, led by leading returning rebounder Doug Williams. His play improved later in the season with more playing time, and he should be even better this season. Junior Chris Walker is a player who should contribute up front as well. Walker averaged 3.9 points per game last season in a limited role. Seniors Kenny Brewer and John Moonshower should also be improved this season, given the fact that they both played just about half the season last year. While Brewer is a player you can find inside more often than not, Moonshower has the versatility to play on the perimeter as well. But with a small lineup, both are going to have to chip in on the boards.

Will Schuh and William Van Harp were rarely seen on the floor last year, but their height (Schuh is 6-10, Van Harp 6-9) could make them valuable pieces once they hit Patriot League play. But they’ve got to develop into better players, at the least in the defense and rebounding portions of their game, if they’re to get off the bench. Returnees Curtis Koszuta, Eric Zastoupil and Jeremy Hence are in the same boat, being players who didn’t see much playing time last season looking to crack the rotation. Sophomore Ross Trampler didn’t play at all last season due to an injury, but he’s got the bulk needed to bang inside. Whether or not he plays remains to be seen this season.

There are some questions surrounding this team outside of the most obvious one: how will they make up for the loss of Jarell Miller? The frontcourt lacks depth in regards to proven commodities, and it’s unknown how the backcourt returnees will react to having more scoring responsibility. They’ll play hard, but in a league like the Patriot effort can only get you so far. There is some talent, but the fact that some guys will have to become main options after deferring to Brown all last season could give them trouble early on. This should be a solid defensive team, but the offensive end is where they’ll run into trouble. Look for Army to finish in the bottom half of the Patriot League this season.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 59.0 (8^th)

PPG allowed: 62.1 (2^nd)

FG%: 43.3% (5^th)

FG% defense: 41.3% (3^rd)

3PT%: 31.3% (8^th)

3PT% defense: 34.6% (4^th)

FT%: 68.0 (7^th)

Rebound margin: -3.2 (8^th)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.87 (3^rd)

Army Basketball Schedule: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:58:34 -0500

Schedule (key games in bold)

November 15^th Dartmouth

17^th @ Quinnipiac

20^th @ LIU (Blackbirds won at West Point by ten last year)

23^rd Princeton

26^th @ Brown

29^th @ Harvard

December 1^st Presbyterian (Army scored just thirty-five points in last season's meeting)

8^th @ Bryant

10^th @ Penn State

13^th FDU (Knights may be the mystery team in the NEC this year)

21^st VMI

30^th @ Florida Gulf Coast

January 3^rd @ Dartmouth (Army won last season's meeting by three points)

6^th Fairfield

10^th Colgate (two teams split regular season meetings last year)

14^th Holy Cross

17^th @ Lehigh (Black Knights eliminated the Mountain Hawks on their home floor in a Patriot quarter)

25^th Navy

28^th Lafayette

31^st Bucknell

February 4^th @ American (Army's season ended on this court in the Patriot semis)

7^th @ Colgate

11^th @ Holy Cross (Black Knights held Crusaders to a paltry 39 points in a road win last January)

14^th Lehigh

18^th American

21^st @ Navy (bitter rivals split last season with the road team winning both games)

25^th @ Lafayette

28^th @ Bucknell (Army swept Bison for the first time in school history last season)

March 4^th, 8^th, 13^th Patriot League Tournament (all games at higher-seeded team)

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the Patriot League?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:40:36 -0500

Patriot League Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:27:37 -0500

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Conference Rank: 20th

10 year average: 23rd

Patriot League Conference Page

All-Patriot Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Garrison Carr	American	Sr
G	Derrick Mercer	American	Sr
G	Marquis Hall	Lehigh	Jr
F	Kyle Roemer	Colgate	Sr
F	Alex Vander Baan	Holy Cross	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Garrison Carr		Points: Garrison Carr 18.1 Rebounds: Alex Vander Baan (HC) 5.7 Assists: Marquis Hall 4.4

Patriot League Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

86	American**	Patriot	1	NCAA
170	Lehigh	Patriot	2
206	Holy Cross	Patriot	3
237	Colgate	Patriot	4
249	Bucknell	Patriot	5
253	Navy	Patriot	6
270	Army	Patriot	7
288	Lafayette	Patriot	8

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Patriot? (soon)

Other Patriot Content

Conference Media/Coaches Poll

Other

Rise & Fall: Patriot

College Football: Notre Dame & Independents Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:30:02 -0400

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Heading into 2007, many had an idea that Notre Dame would suffer a drop in the win column. After all, it’s not everyday when you have to replace a quarterback the caliber of Brady Quinn, along with many other key contributors. But to finish with a record of 3-9 was something that anyone not named Mark May was stunned by. The problems: an offense that had a hard time scoring points and a defense that lacked depth and speed. Experience and a solid recruiting class should solve the former, and the hiring of former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will help immensely with the latter. If you’re not too familiar with Coach Tenuta, expect to see the Irish blitz much more this season.

As for the offense, QB Jimmy Clausen has a year under his belt and is one of nine starters returning, which should help the production of the Notre Dame offense. Add to that a schedule that is a bit more manageable, meaning that the negative momentum that started in a shutout loss to Georgia Tech and snowballed until the Irish were 0-5 shouldn’t be an issue this year. Expect Notre Dame to win seven games this season, maybe even eight.

Navy played a role in the demise of Notre Dame last season, ending a forty-four game losing streak in the series. But head coach Paul Johnson moved on to see if he could lead Georgia Tech to the top of the ACC, leaving the reins to former offensive coordinator Ken Niumatalolo. But only thirteen starters are back, most notably quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and all four members of the secondary. They’ve got some tough games on the schedule, with trips to Wake Forest and Air Force to go along with hosting Pitt and Rutgers, but they should be bowl eligible once again. And with the new Congressional Bowl in their backyard, six wins should be enough to ensure a thirteenth game.

The other two independents may end up sitting out the bowl season, but for contrasting reasons. Head coach Stan Brock is taking Army back in time in hopes of at least ending their six-game losing streak to rival Navy. After trying to stick with the previous regime’s pro-style offense, the Black Knights will go to the spread option, a system that’s seemingly been a staple of the service academies for years. Hopefully the change will bring about an improvement in their offensive numbers, as Army ranked 116^th in total offense last season. Linebackers Frank Scappaticci and John Plumstead look to lead a defense that spent far too much time on the field in 2007, resulting in a ranking of 89^th in total defense.

Lastly, Western Kentucky completes its final season as an independent before joining the Sun Belt next year. Quarterbacks K.J. Black and David Wolke will look to navigate a much tougher schedule this season after helping lead the Hilltoppers to a 7-5 record last season. It’s also important to note that six of WKU’s seven wins came against opponents from the NAIA and Football Championship Subdivision. This season’s schedule features just two FCS opponents (Eastern Kentucky and Murray State) and five games against future conference rivals. WKU will also visit Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Six starters, led by end Dan Cline and linebacker Alonso Higgins return on defense, but the Hilltoppers will face many challenges in their quest to notch the school’s thirteenth consecutive winning season.

Five Best Games

1. Army vs. Navy (in Philadelphia, December 6^th): Other games may provide more star power, but this is one of the nation’s best rivalries. It would help if Army were more competitive, however.

2. Notre Dame @ Michigan State (September 20th): The last time these two met in East Lansing the Irish pulled off a comeback for the ages. State won last season’s meeting 31-14, a departure from the nailbiters in recent years.

3. Michigan @ Notre Dame (September 13^th): With Michigan installing a new offensive system, Notre Dame could head into this one as the favorite. And after last year’s embarrassing showing in Ann Arbor, payback could be the order of the day.

4. Florida Atlantic @ Western Kentucky (October 18^th): In getting prepared for the Sun Belt, the Hilltoppers host the favorite to win their second consecutive Sun Belt title.

5. Navy @ Air Force (October 4^th): This game in recent years has been the one that decides the winner of the Commander in Chief’s Trophy with Army struggling of late.

NYC Metro Review Part 3: Teams 12-17

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:58:18 -0400

Teams ranked in the 12-17 area of the final rankings are clearly in a position to either move up or down next season. The team with the best chance to make a significant move up the standings in their league would have to be Manhattan (12-19), who return all key contributors next season. Guard Antoine Pearson was a Third Team All-MAAC selection this season, and swingman Devon Austin went a long way in establishing himself as this team’s leader in the MAAC Tournament. Youngsters such as Chris Smith and Rashad Green should be ready to take on more responsibility next season as well.

Army (14-16), Columbia (13-15) and Hofstra (12-18) will all head into the off-season knowing that they’ve got some large shoes to fill in replacing Jarell Brown, John Baumann and Antoine Agudio respectively. But there are some promising returnees for next season, most notably Charles Jenkins (Hofstra) and Josh Miller (Army). Fairleigh Dickinson (8-20) will have to replace guards Manny Ubilla and Bernell Murray, but second-leading scorer Sean Baptiste is slated to return.

Lastly, an Iona (12-20) that went through the season on a virtual roller coaster can look forward to next season, which brings a solid recruiting class along with a pair of four-year transfers (Kashif Pratt from Seton Hall and Jonathan Huffman from Louisville). They’ll have to replace a trio of key contributors in Kyle Camper, Dexter Gray and Devon Clarke, but things are looking up for Kevin Willard’s program. But before ranking these six teams, here is the Third Team All-Metro squad along with some honorable mention choices.

Third Team All-Metro

G Jonathan Han (Fairfield) – 11.7 ppg, 6.2 apg, 44.7% 3PT

The junior from Brooklyn was Fairfield’s most consistent option on offense this year, and yet he still led the MAAC in assists per game. Selected to the conference’s Second Team All-Conference squad, Han was the catalyst for the Stags’ second half run that nearly got them to the top of the MAAC standings. Based on his improvement over the past year, Han should be a candidate for first team honors in 2008-09.

G Jaytornah Wisseh (Long Island) – 15.8 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.8 rpg

Only a sophomore, Wisseh led the Blackbirds in scoring and was second in the Northeast Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.58). His performance resulted in a selection to the NEC’s Second Team All-Conference squad, and it also played a big role in LIU’s best season in ten years. Like Han, Wisseh should definitely be a candidate for first team honors in his league next season.

G Drew Shubik (Sacred Heart) – 11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.5 apg

One of the main reasons as to why the Pioneers once again reached the Northeast Conference final was Shubik, a jack-of-all-trades guard who was also a member of the Second team All-Conference squad. Shubik led Dave Bike’s team in both rebounding and assists, and was second in scoring behind Brice Brooks. The senior from Stoystown, PA leaves the Sacred Heart campus as the program’s seventh all-time assist man, and he also received a pair of academic honors as well. Shubik, named Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was also named to the ESPN the Magazine District I Academic All-America team.

F Ryan Thompson (Rider) – 15.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 53.7% FG

Just like Shubik, Ryan was a guy who you could find all over the stat sheet just about every night for the Broncs. Thompson, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, was second on the team in points, rebounds and field goal percentage while leading the team in assists per game. With older brother Jason off to the NBA, Ryan will be expected to be one of the leaders in 2008-09. And he’s more than capable of stepping up to the plate.

F Anthony Mason Jr. (St. John’s) – 14.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg

Mason Jr. was Norm Roberts’ best offensive option this season, and he did either off the bench (six games) or in a starter’s (sixteen starts) role. An honorable mention All-Big East selection, Mason Jr. led the Red Storm in scoring and was third on the team in both rebounds and assists per game. Despite missing eight games due to injury, Mason Jr. was second on the team in both field goal and three point attempts, which should underscore just how important he was to his team’s success. His highlight this season may have been the game-winner he hit against Seton Hall on March 1^st.

Honorable Mention All-Metro

G Antoine Pearson (Manhattan)

G Sean Baptiste (Fairleigh Dickinson)

G Harris Mansell (Rider)

F Robert Hines (St. Francis)

F JR Inman (Rutgers)

Final Rankings 12-17

12. Army (14-16)

The Black Knights finished just about where people thought they would in the Patriot League pecking order, taking sixth place. The positive to be taken out of this year includes their second straight trip to the Patriot League semifinals, and the fact that Josh Miller will be back next season. Miller was the only member of the league’s All-Tournament Team who didn’t play for either of the finalists, American and Colgate. But Jim Crews will have to figure out how to replace leading scorer Jarell Brown, but some of the key contributors from this season will be back at West Point in 2008-09.

13. Columbia (13-15)

Head coach Joe Jones will have quite the task ahead of him this off-season as he looks to replace six departing seniors from this year’s team. Led by two-time First Team All-Ivy selection John Baumann, this class is Columbia’s most successful since 1982-83. Key contributors slated to be back include guards Niko Scott and K.J. Matsui, and forward Joe Bova. There will definitely be some growing pains early for Columbia next season, as you don’t come across groups like the departing class every day. But they do have a chance to improve upon their .500 record in conference play next year.

14. Hofstra (12-18)

Well, it took Tom Pecora’s team some time to get acclimated to college basketball, and this young team understandably dealt with some setbacks in the early going. But a viable second option in freshman Charles Jenkins stepped to the plate as teams focused their attention on Antoine Agudio. Jenkins, named CAA Rookie of the Year after ranking tenth in the conference in scoring (15.1 ppg), will shoulder even more of the scoring load with Agudio graduating. Other newcomers who should be ready to go next season include Darren Townes and Nathaniel Lester. The Pride should be better than this season’s 12-18 finish, even with the loss of a player as special as Agudio.

15. Iona (12-20)

The good news in year one of the Kevin Willard era was that all hands were on deck for most of the season after last year’s injury-plagued two win debacle. But for some reason the Gaels just couldn’t maintain positive momentum. Prime example was the way in which they finished the season. An impressive win in the regular season finale over rival Manhattan, followed by a loss to Canisius in the first round of the MAAC Tournament.

But with a few of this season’s contributors (Gary Springer and Milan Prodanovic to name two) slated to return, the combination of transfers Kashif Pratt and Jonathan Huffman becoming eligible along with a solid recruiting class should give Iona a good shot at getting out of the Friday doubleheader in the MAAC Tournament.

16. Manhattan (12-19)

The primary lesson that the Jaspers learned was a rather simple one: when they committed to playing defense they were pretty good. Unfortunately for them the consistency wasn’t there, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the MAAC standings. But all major contributors should be back, led by Antoine Pearson and Devon Austin.

In their two games in Albany, you could sense that Austin was becoming more comfortable in leading this team, and head coach Barry Rohrssen noted as much after their loss to Siena, stating that it was “good to see him step up and emerge as a leader.” Along with these two, Chris Smith, Darryl Crawford and Rashad Green will return, as will interior players Laurence Jolicoeur and Andrew Gabriel. They should be in the top half of the MAAC standings next season.

17. Fairleigh Dickinson (8-20)

While this season didn’t end with a trip to the NEC Tournament, head coach Tom Green can take solace in the fact that Sean Baptiste will be back in Teaneck next season. The sophomore guard averaged 18.5 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest this season and with Manny Ubilla and Bernell Murray both out of eligibility he should have even more chances to make plays next year. John Galvin and DeJuan Pursley will also have more opportunities to get some things done as three of the team’s top four scorers (Eric Hazard) won’t be around. It remains to be seen who will join the Knights next season, but there’s definitely room for improvement.

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part One

All-Metro Team & Ranking 1-5

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Two

Ranking 6-11

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Three

Ranking 12-1

Next: NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Four

All-Rookie & Ranking 18-23

NYC Metro Preview: #9 Army

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:43:41 -0500

10. Army (2006-07 Record: 15-16, 4-10 Patriot)

Head coach: Jim Crews

Returning Starters: 3- G Marcus Nelson (sophomore): 5-10, 190; F Chris Walker (sophomore): 6-8, 210; F Kenny Brewer (junior): 6-5, 210.

After a seven-game freefall in the middle of conference play, many teams would use that as a convenient reason to mail it in for the remainder of the year. But the Army basketball team last season wasn’t your conventional group, and they were able to win two of their last four to close out the season. While finishing below .500 for the year had to be a disappointment considering where they were before the swoon, they did manage to advance to the Patriot League semis, where their season was ended by perennial contender Bucknell. The quarterfinal victory over Lehigh on the road marked Army’s first conference tournament win since 1996, something on which to build heading into this season.

The scoring responsibilities will begin with senior guard Jarell Brown, picked by many in the preseason to be the Patriot League’s Player of the Year when it’s all said and done. Even though he led the Black Knights in scoring last season (16.9 ppg, 40.7% 3PT), Brown proved to be the ultimate “microwave” as he started only five of Army’s thirty-one games. Brown will be joined in the backcourt by sophomore Marcus Nelson, a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie Team in 06-07. Nelson led Army with seventy-eight assists last season. The question in the backcourt will be who steps into the hole left by the graduation of Matt Bell (14.6 ppg). While there are a few players who can combine to match his scoring output, it’s the leadership area that will be of some concern. Fifteen players averaged at least five minutes per game last season, and expect to see more of the same.

As for who else could contribute in the backcourt, look for returnees such as senior Grant Carter (22 games played in 06-07; 42.9% 3PT), and sophomores Josh Miller (made the game-winning layup in the Patriot League quarters), Cleveland Richard (fifteen starts in 06-07) and Tyrell Thompson (2.7 ppg in fifteen games) to jockey for playing time. The bodies are certainly there, and thanks to the style employed by Coach Crews, a lot of guys will have opportunities to make things happen this year. But the backcourt of Brown and Nelson can match up with just about any in the Patriot League.

Up front, two starters return to West Point. Junior Kenny Brewer didn’t score much last season, averaging just over two points per game, but he does have some size and is an effective defender. Chris Walker had twenty starts as a plebe last season, and was second on the team in rebounding with 3.9 boards per game. Also returning up front are senior Corban Bates (3.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and the team’s leading rebounder, junior Doug Williams (4.2 rpg). Sophomores Eric Zastoupil and Will Schuh also stand to be in the running for playing time this season.

And while the Black Knights will have some talented newcomers at their disposal, a school year as a plebe in the service academies is unlike any other, so it may be a bit unwise to expect big things from them just yet. Four of the seven newcomers attended USMA Prep School last year; including two Houston natives (guard Mitch McDonald and guard/forward Rickey Royal). Four Texans total join the program, most notably El Paso native Nathan Hedgecock, who was named co-Most Valuable Player in the city by the El Paso Times last season. While it may be tough to expect big things from the newcomers right away, given the success of players such as Nelson and Walker, don’t be surprised of a couple of the plebes step into solid roles.

In terms of the schedule, Army’s non-conference slate will have some challenges but for the most part looks to be manageable, meaning that they may head into Patriot League play over .500. The season opens with two straight on the road: Minnesota (November 10^th) in the debut of new head coach Tubby Smith, and Sacred Heart (November 12^th), the pick by some to win the Northeast Conference. Five straight home games will finish up the Black Knights’ non-conference slate in 2007, ending with Brown (January 2^nd) and Portland (January 5^th). A trip to Presbyterian will lead them into Patriot League play for the remainder of the season. There are also three TV games for Army: both meetings with rival Navy (January 27^th- ESPNU; February 23^rd- CBS), and a trip to Bucknell (February 3^rd- ESPNU).

2007-08 Prospects

Given the non-conference schedule, Army should be able to head into conference play above .500. But, the conference as a whole has improved, which could make it tough for them to make a major jump up the standings. While having Brown back will do wonders on the offensive end, others will have to step up to fill the hole left by Matt Bell’s graduation. Army, who averaged sixteen turnovers per game last season, will need to take better care of the basketball in addition to making more shots (39.7% FG in conference play). I see Army finishing anywhere from fourth to sixth in the Patriot this season.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

Final Metro Ranking Part II: Bottom Half

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:21:41 -0400

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 (Part II)

10. Columbia (11): Coming into the season, I thought that the Lions had a good chance to challenge for the Ivy League title. And they did get off to a good start, winning their conference opener against Princeton. But they lost their next three league contests, and while they were competitive all season they didn’t have a significant impact on the title race until they knocked off Yale February 24^th. The good news in this 16-12 season: not one senior was on this roster in 2006-07, meaning that the Lions have a very good chance to compete at the top of the standings in 2007-08.

Leading scorer John Baumann, a first team all conference selection, is one of ten Lions that played at least 12.8 minutes per game this year. Experience will be plentiful, so don’t be surprised if Joe Jones’ squad wins the Ivy’s automatic bid next year. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

11. Wagner (10): Once again I drank the Wagner “Kool Aid” heading into 2006-07, and I once again consider myself to be let down by the results. Despite returning numerous key contributors from 2005-06, the Seahawks went 11-19 this season, 8-10 in the competitive Northeast Conference. Only Matt Vitale will be lost due to graduation, so maybe this group was a little too young to compete for the NEC title. Youth will not be an excuse next year with the number of key components returning next season, including leading scorers Mark Porter and James Ulrich.

The Seahawks lost six of their last eight games, including blowouts at the hands of Central Connecticut and Sacred Heart to end their season. A lack of scoring from the bench is what did this team in, so hopefully the year in experience will bring about some welcome contributions from the reserves. Stock heading into 2007-08: up (hopefully).

12. St. Francis (NY) (13): The Terriers were able to double their win total from 2005-06 (nine, up from four in 2005-06), but to measure their progress solely in wins and losses would be unfair. Head coach Brian Nash got his players to commit to the defensive end while improving their offensive output. You’d never think that this team would score 102 points in a game, something they accomplished in their win over Robert Morris February 17^th. The three-game win streak to end the regular season meant their first NEC Tournament appearance in four years, where the fell to eventual champion CCSU in the quarterfinals.

Forward Robert Hines came onto the scene and was one of the better players in the NEC, garnering second team All-NEC honors. The Terriers will have to find a way to replace swingman Allan Sheppard, but this is a young team that has a lot of talent returning in 2007-08. Look for the Terriers to have more of a say in who wins the Northeast Conference next year. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

13. Army (15): After a horrid stretch in the later stages of the season that saw the Black Knights lose seven straight and eight of their last nine, Army won their Patriot League quarterfinal over Lehigh. They eventually fell to Bucknell in the semifinals, but at least they didn’t see the Bison or Holt Cross in the first round. Despite playing a number of players each game, the fortunes of the Black Knights depended on the backcourt of Jarell Brown and Matt Bell. This wasn’t a particularly strong offensive team, but they certainly didn’t lack in the effort department.

In order for this team to compete next season, they need to find a replacement for Bell on the offensive end. Or at least hope that Jarell Brown becomes one of the nation’s best scorers. No offense, but I don’t see that happening next year. This will be a more balanced team out of necessity, and with heavy personnel losses at Bucknell, American and Lehigh, the opportunity to move up in the Patriot League pecking order is there. Stock heading into 2007-08: steady.

14. Long Island (12): At 3-2 in NEC play heading into their game with Central Connecticut State on January 15^th, the Blackbirds seemed to be in good shape when it came to qualifying for the NEC Tournament. Well, they then lost their next seven league games to put themselves in a hole they couldn’t find their way out of. LIU went 3-10 in to end the season, missing out on the eight-team conference tournament. Five contributing seniors, led by leading scorer James Williams, leave Brooklyn due to graduation, and you have to wonder where the points will come from next season.

Look for incoming freshman Jaytornah Wisseh (Brooklyn, NY) to have a chance to put up some points. Wisseh, despite being 5’11”, is a point guard with a nose for the basket, something that the Blackbirds will need desperately in 2007-08. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

15. Stony Brook (14): Like St. Francis, the Seawolves improved their win total from 2005-06 by five games, winning nine this season. But unlike the Terriers, this improvement didn’t mean a rise in the conference standings, once again bringing up the rear in America East. Four key seniors, led by leading scorer Ricky Lewis, move on with the end of this season, so it remains to be seen which youngsters step into larger roles in 2007-08. The good news is that head coach Steve Pikiell played a lot of his younger players this season, giving them valuable experience. How they do next year will depend on who steps into new roles and produces, but this program is headed in the right direction, slowly but surely. The departures due to graduation may slow the progress down some, however. Stock headed into 2007-08: down.

16. NJIT (16): In their first season of Division I college basketball, the Highlanders won five games. Of course, it’s tough to find a) games you can win and b) games period when you’re an independent. Among the departures due to graduation are the team’s leading scorer, guard Clayton Barker, along with forward Marc Milbourne Shaw. Head coach Jim Casciano will have a tough time recruiting to a small school that can’t dangle the carrot of a possible NCAA Tournament bid due to their lack of a conference affiliation. The Highlanders will be a program to watch in the near future due to the recent nature of college athletics (conference shuffling), so to get into a league at some point would definitely be a positive for the school. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

17. St. Peter’s (17): In year one after Keydren, the Peacocks found out just how tough the adjustment would be without their four-year star. Add to this a new coaching staff and you have all the makings of a really tough season in Jersey City. On the positive side of things, only forward/ center Kinzey Reeves leaves the program, and he wasn’t counted on for much of a tangible contribution other than leadership. Forward Todd Sowell and guards Raul Orta and Kevin Spann will look to help lead John Dunne’s squad up the MAAC standings, and incoming freshmen Jordan Costner (West Orange, NJ) and Wesley Jenkins (Bloomfield, NJ) will have an opportunity to contribute as well. Yes they only won five games this season, but I look for the Peacocks to be much improved in 2007-08. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

18. Iona (18): One year after the Gaels represented the MAAC in the NCAA Tournament, the sky practically fell on the program, going winless until their win over Rider February 3^rd. The end result of the 2-28 season was the decision by the program and head coach Jeff Ruland to go their separate ways, buying out the final two years of his contract. You can blame injuries and a lack of experience for the majority of healthy contributors for this season. Do not expect the Gaels to play this poorly in 2007-08 regardless of who the next head coach is. I look for someone with strong ties to the New York metropolitan area to get the job.

Redshirts Gary Springer (injury) and Younes Idrissi (Georgia) should be available next year; while we should probably wait and see about Dexter Gray (academics limited the St. John’s transfer to four games). How much the Gaels improve will undoubtedly depend on who gets the head coaching job and what they can do during the summer in terms of recruiting. Stock heading into 2007-08: undecided.

Metro Ranking Part One: Top Half

Metro Basketball Report & Ranking

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:18:25 -0500

In the aftermath of last week’s rankings, not much movement took place at the top or bottom of the poll. Marist and Hofstra continued to win, and Iona and St. Francis remain winless. As for the spots in between, Army, Fordham and Seton Hall are all enjoying winning streaks of at least three games. Columbia, after being blown out at Providence, bounced back to beat Sacred Heart and Wagner, the latter by twenty-six last night. Stony Brook hit the tough part of their early schedule, losing to Villanova and Hofstra at home, but did anyone expect them to lose to then-winless Maryland-Eastern Shore?

Besides the Red Foxes, no team in the area seems to have found positive consistent play to this point in the season, although the Pride look to be headed in that direction. Iona and St. Francis have been consistent as well, but not in the way that they would like. Before giving the new poll, here are five games over the next week in the New York metropolitan area that you all should pay some attention to in chronological order.

· Fordham @ No. 22 Maryland (Wednesday, 8:00 pm EST)

The Rams head to College Park to take on the Terrapins, and depth could be the deciding factor in this contest. While Fordham had a capable starting five, three of which average double figures in points per game (Marcus Stout, Bryant Dunston, and Sebastian Greene), their reserves haven’t played well in losses to Tennessee and Belmont. Brenton Butler averages 12.8 ppg off the bench, but that’s been about it for the Rams in that regard. That could be their undoing against a Maryland team that has already been tested with games against Vermont, Michigan State and Illinois. The individual to watch will be Dunston and how he deals with the likes of James Gist and Ekene Ibekwe among others.

· Long Island @ Monmouth (Thursday, 7:00 pm EST)

The Blackbirds, picked to finish third in the NEC this season, have struggled at times this season. Yet that won’t matter one bit in their conference opener, on the road against the defending tournament champion Monmouth Hawks. Monmouth, currently 3-6, has played a tough schedule to this point in the season, having faced the likes of Old Dominion, Clemson, Pennsylvania and Seton Hall. Also, eight of the Hawks first nine games have been on the road. Robert Morris is the preseason favorite, but the winner of this could make a run in the NEC race.

· Manhattan @ Fairfield (Friday, 7:30 pm EST)

As with the Northeast Conference, the MAAC schedule opens up this weekend, and this matchup between two struggling teams should be interesting. Manhattan has lost four straight, thanks in part to their season average of 18.7 turnovers per game. Fairfield has played an extremely tough schedule and will head home for the conference opener after playing at Boston College Wednesday night. The Stags, thanks to their schedule, have had issues on the offensive end in terms of scoring (57.8 points per game) and turnovers (16.7 turnovers per game). Also, Fairfield freshman and leading scorer Greg Nero gets his first taste of MAAC basketball. Look for the winning team to be the one that can hold onto the basketball.

· Penn State @ Seton Hall (Saturday, 1:00 pm EST)

The Nittany Lions, who have beaten Bucknell and St. Joseph’s at home this year, visit the Pirates in what should be an entertaining game Saturday afternoon. Penn State relies on the triumvirate of Jamelle Cornley, Danny Morrissey and Geary Claxton for the majority of their points with Morrissey being the lone guard of the trio.

On the other hand, Seton Hall relies on their perimeter game, more specifically the likes of Brian Laing, Jamar Nutter, Eugene Harvey and Paul Gause to make things go. Can Seton Hall make Penn State play faster than they would like, or will Ed DeChellis’ bunch control tempo?

· Marist @ St. Peter’s (Sunday, 2:00 pm EST)

Marist, preseason favorites in the MAAC, visits the Peacocks in their second conference game of the year. Everyone knew about the backcourt of Jared Jordan and Will Whittington, but center James Smith had improved a great deal since last season. As with any big man, foul trouble can be an issue at times, but it hasn’t been one for Smith since he fouled out of the season opener at Ohio.

As for St. Peter’s, year one A.K. (After Keydren) has proven to be a difficult transition, as it was expected to be. Guards Raul Orta and Kevin Spann have stepped up, as has forward Todd Sowell, but help for these three has been lacking at times. How these two teams play in their league openers Friday night (Marist vs. Canisius, St. Peter’s at Loyola (MD)) will have a lot to do with just how important this game is, but you should pay attention to it regardless.

Here are the updated rankings.

1. Marist (last week: 1): Marist won tough games against Old Dominion and at Richmond last week.

2. Hofstra (2): The Pride have won their last five and should be 6-3 when they visit Syracuse on the 22^nd.

3. Army (3): The Black Knights should be 9-2 before they visit Notre Dame and Michigan in late December.

4. Fordham (4): With their next three games being at Maryland, at Penn, and at Texas A&M, it’s a good thing the Rams took care of winless Iona.

5. St. John’s (5): The Red Storm did what they were supposed to in beating Maryland-Baltimore County and St. Francis (NY); Niagara on the road is next.

6. Columbia (7): The Lions recovered from their loss at Providence with wins over Sacred Heart and Wagner.

7. Seton Hall (9): The Pirates have won four in a row since their loss to Fairleigh Dickinson, and they held Monmouth to 49 in their blowout win Monday night.

8. Stony Brook (6): Losing to Maryland-Eastern Shore shows that there is still work to be done despite the obvious signs of improvement.

9. Fairleigh Dickinson (8): Sandwiched between losses to Wisconsin-Green Bay and Drexel is a two-point victory over Canisius. The NEC opener at Quinnipiac is next for the Knights.

10. Sacred Heart (11): The Pioneers ended a two-game skid with a 90-80 win over Yale Monday night.

11. Long Island (13): Unlike the next two teams in the poll, the Blackbirds won their last game (70-62 over New Hampshire).

12. Manhattan (10): The Jaspers have lost their last four going into their MAAC opener at Fairfield

13. Wagner (12): You don’t follow up a good win over Yale with a 70-44 loss to Columbia.

14. St. Peter’s (14): The Peacocks have lost four straight and are winless on the road (0-2) this season heading into their MAAC opener at Loyola (MD)

15. Fairfield (15): The Stags have played an extremely tough schedule so far, but they start off 0-0 in MAAC play just like everyone else.

16. Iona (16): Four of Iona’s first five games have been away from home, and the next three (Rider, Vermont, Rutgers) will also be on the road. This has the makings of a tough year in New Rochelle.

17. St. Francis (NY) (17): In their two home games this season, the Terriers have lost by an average of 24.5 points per game. St. Francis (PA) visits Thursday night.