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Manhattan Basketball Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:50:05 -0800

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2008-09 Manhattan Basketball Preview

Could the Jaspers be a darkhorse in the MAAC?

Even though they only lasted two days in last season's MAAC Tournament, losing to eventual champion Siena in the quarters, the time spent in Albany was a positive for the development of Barry Rohrssen's program. Devon Austin emerged as a go-to guy and team leader, and Antoine Pearson played like one of the top point guards in the conference. Add to this a renewed commitment on the defensive end of the floor and you have a couple of the reasons why the Jaspers were in the Siena game until late. And with four starters back (Rashad Green transferred to San Francisco), this season could shape up to be one in which Manhattan improves substantially from their eighth-place standing a year ago.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 12-19 (5-13 MAAC; 8^th)

Head coach: Barry Rohrssen (25-36 in two seasons)

Assistant coaches: John Alesi, C.J. Council, Edgar De La Rosa

Home court: Draddy Gymnasium

Website: www.gojaspers.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Antoine Pearson (12.2)

RPG: Devon Austin (4.2)

APG: Pearson (2.3)

FG%: Andrew Gabriel (49.0%)

FT%: Austin (79.2%)

3PT%: Pearson (41.1%)

Assist/TO ratio: Patrick Bouli (1.3)

Backcourt

Junior Antoine Pearson is the man that makes things go for the Jaspers on offense. Also the leading scorer last season, Pearson can break down opponents off the dribble to either score himself or set up teammates. But even with that ability, he still finished the season with more turnovers than assists, something that must improve if the Jaspers are to be a more efficient team on offense. His likely backup is classmate Patrick Bouli, who was Manhattan's best player at not turning the ball over. Bouli won't wow you with his ability to put the ball in the basket, but he's a guard who understands what he's needed to do: run the offense and play solid defense. Nick Walsh only played seven minutes per game last season, but he can provide a spark off the bench and is a decent perimeter shooter.

Devon Austin is one of Manhattan's two seniors heading into this season and his progression in March was a key reason why the Jaspers were able to hang with Siena in the MAAC Tournament. Austin needs to be more consistent and be a primary offensive option on a nightly basis. For example, the last time Austin led the team in scoring before their two conference tournament games was Manhattan's loss at Fairfield on February 8^th (eight games). He's a candidate for postseason honors and has the talent to do just that, so long as he brings it night in and night out. The likely replacement for Rashad Green is sophomore Chris Smith, who started fifteen of the twenty-one games that he played in last season and was Manhattan's third-leading scorer. Just like Green, Smith can crash the boards from his perimeter position and is a tough defender.

Also in the backcourt is junior Darryl Crawford, a two-guard who can provide scoring off the bench when needed. He averaged 8.5 points per game last season, but the field goal percentages (42.1% overall, 27.5% from three) need to improve if he's to have more of an impact. Classmate Jamel Ferguson will also look to contribute this season, hoping to increase his playing time from last year's average of 14.7 minutes per game. But like Crawford, Ferguson stands to be more effective if he can up his shooting percentages.

Frontcourt

Just like last season the Jaspers will be most effective by committee up front, but the extra season should make this group that much better. He only played in seventeen games last season, but senior Herve Banogle stands to see more than the eight minutes per game he received in 07-08. In the Green/White Scrimmage, Banogle went for ten points and seventeen rebounds. And when three of the top four rebounders last season played on the perimeter (Green, Austin and Smith), you know that the Manhattan coaching staff will be looking for more production on the glass from the bigs. In addition to Banogle there's a trio of returnees and one newcomer who should also contribute inside.

Sophomore Andrew Gabriel and junior Brandon Adams both saw time last season, as did redshirt sophomore Laurence Jolicoeur. Gabriel dropped twenty-one on Canisius in the Jaspers' victory on February 10^th, and the other two also showed flashes of what they're capable of. How much these three have progressed, especially Jolicoeur, could be the determining factor in just how much Manhattan improves this season. Freshman Djibril Coulibaly (Bamako, Mali) will also look to contribute this season, but he may need some time to bulk up. And with the experience in front of Coulibaly, he may have time to do just that.

They may have been picked by the coaches to finish sixth in the MAAC this season, but don't be fooled: the Jaspers have to tools needed to make some wave within the league. The two question marks: how much they'll commit to the defensive end and how much the big men can contribute. If they learned anything from the MAAC Tournament as a team, it should have been that a commitment to the defensive end of the floor can make up for a slow offensive night. And the big men won't have to score a lot of points; just defend and hit the boards. Guys like Austin and Pearson are talented enough to score on a regular basis and if they do that, look out for Manhattan.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 69.3 (6^th)

PPG allowed: 71.2 (6^th)

FG%: 42.7% (7^th)

FG% defense: 47.5% (10^th)

3PT%: 35.3% (6^th)

3PT% defense: 38.2% (10^th)

FT%: 66.3% (7^th)

Rebound margin: -2.0 (8^th)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.79 (7^th)

Hofstra Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:47:54 -0800

2008-09 Hofstra Preview

Life without Agudio for the Pride

Even though head coach Tom Pecora welcomes back four starters, it's what the one starter not coming back takes with him that is the biggest concern. Antoine Agudio, who left the Hempstead campus as the school all-time leading scorer, will be tough to replace. But the good thing is that Hofstra has enough coming back to make things interesting in the Colonial Athletic Association this season. Sophomore Charles Jenkins, who was named Freshman of the Year in the CAA last season, is the leading returning scorer for the Pride. But they'll also need some seniors to step up and produce at a consistent rate if the Pride are the conference darkhorse that some believe them to be.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 12-18 (8-10 CAA; 8^th)

Head coach: Tom Pecora (115-100 in seven years at Hofstra)

Assistant coaches: Van Macon, David Duke, Michael Kelly

Home Court: David S. Mack Sports Complex

Website: www.hofstra.edu/Athletics

Leading Returnees

PPG: Charles Jenkins (15.0)

RPG: Darren Townes (6.7)

APG: Greg Johnson (3.6)

FG%: Townes/Dane Johnson (54.4%)
FT%: Jenkins (78%)

3PT%: Jenkins (32.7%)

Assist/TO ratio: Johnson (1.27)

Backcourt

The leading returnee in the backcourt for Hofstra is sophomore Charles Jenkins, who is a preseason second-team All-CAA selection this year. At 6-3, 220, the Queens native has the body to deal with contact when driving to the basket. But don't assume that Jenkins is merely a slasher, for he has the touch from deep to hurt opponents on the perimeter as well. As for his running mate, look for senior Greg Johnson to be the point guard when the season begins. Johnson, who started twenty-four games last season, led the Pride in assists and was the lone player with more assists than turnovers on the season.

Along with Jenkins and Johnson in the backcourt are two returnees, Nathaniel Lester and Zygis Sestokas. Lester, who averaged 6.3 points per game as a freshman, also has range out to the three-point line. The senior Sestokas may be one of the keys to the season, with the departure of Agudio meaning that the "safety net" is no longer there. Sestokas struggled with his outside shot all year long, and found himself on the fringe of the rotation in conference play. It'll be interesting to see how the new three-point line affects his accuracy (of the seventy-six field goal he attempted only six were inside the arc).

Both newcomers in the backcourt are junior college transfers and will be expected to contribute in the early going. Tony Dennison (Long Island City, NY) and Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) were both JUCO All-Americans last season, with Dennison a member of the second team and Vines the third. While Dennison is more of a scorer and should help carry the scoring load, Vines is a combo guard who will push for time at the point.

Frontcourt

The frontcourt has a few returnees as well, beginning with a trio of seniors. Mike Davis-Sabb doesn't offer a whole lot when it comes to scoring, but he's a solid defender who should play more than his ten minutes per game in 2007-08. The two key players up front are classmates Darren Townes and Dane Johnson, both seniors like Davis-Sabb. Townes is Hofstra's leading returning rebounder and his numbers improved once the Pride entered conference play. The same can be said for Johnson, who had an impact once his body was in playing shape. Heading into this season at 265 pounds, the senior big man stands to improve upon his averages of seven points and seven rebounds per game in CAA play.

Just like Johnson, sophomore Greg Washington is 6-10, but he's got a wiry build (210 lbs.) and a developing offensive game. On the other end of the floor, however, Washington has the length to make things difficult for opponents (43 blocks last season). More playing time could equal more production from Washington. Arminas Urbutis finds himself in the same boat as fellow Lithuanian Sestokas in that this is his final opportunity to show that he can be a consistent contributor. Urbutis only played in nineteen games last season, and his impact was minimal when he was on the floor.

Additional depth will come in the form of junior college transfer Miklos Szabo (Szeghalom, Hungary), who was a teammate of Dennison's at Broward CC in Florida. Szabo averaged 15.3 boards per game, an average that led the nation's junior colleges. At 6-9, 250 Szabo has the body and attitude needed to make an impact in the CAA this season.

The preseason poll has Hofstra as the pick for seventh in the eyes of the CAA voters, which is about right to begin the season. But depending on how much Coach Pecora gets from his newcomers, along with what some seniors can supply in the way of improvement, the Pride could find themselves in position to exceed those expectations. Sleeper in the Colonial? That may be a stretch, especially when you look at their schedule in January, but the Pride will knock some teams off in conference play.

2007-08 Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 66.3 (6^th)

PPG allowed: 69.2 (10^th)

FG%: 43.6 (4^th)

FG% defense: 41.3 (2^nd)

3PT%: 33.3 (8^th)

3PT% defense: 33.4 (6^th)

FT%: 67.2 (8^th)

Rebound margin: +2.9 (3^rd)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.62 (12^th)

Iona Basketball Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:46:03 -0800

2008-09 Iona Basketball Preview

Gaels looking to take next step in the MAAC

Although there was the positive of a ten-game improvement in Kevin Willard's first season in New Rochelle, the opening round loss to Canisius in the MAAC Tournament wasn't the best way to head into the offseason. But hope springs eternal, and this team stands to be pretty good this season thanks to a few returnees taking on leadership roles and a talented cast of newcomers. Look for the Gaels to play faster this season, but they certainly won't lack for talent thanks to the recruiting efforts of Coach Willard and his staff. But how far they move up the conference standings will be decided more by team chemistry than anything else.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 12-20 (8-10 MAAC; 7^th)

Head coach: Kevin Willard (12-20 in one season)

Assistant coaches: Shaheen Holloway, Dan McHale, Stephen Sauers

Home court: Hynes Center

Website: www.icgaels.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Gary Springer (10.9)

RPG: Springer (7.7)

APG: Rashon Dwight (2.7)

FG%: Devon Clarke (60.0%)

FT%: Milan Prodanovic (82.3%)

3PT%: Prodanovic (34.1%)

Assist/TO ratio: Dwight/Prodanovic (1.1)

Backcourt

One of the areas, and perhaps the most important, that newcomers could make an impact from the beginning of the season is at the point. Scott Machado (Queens, NY) and Jermel Jenkins (Union, NJ) are two highly-touted freshmen that will vie for minutes at the point. And in terms of their playing time, it doesn't hurt their prospects that they're arguably the two best options at the position. Both played at successful high school programs, with Machado at St. Benedict's and Jenkins at St. Patrick's, so they already know what it takes to win. It'll be all about adjusting to the college game, but they'll have a pair of experienced sidekicks to lean on when they need a helping hand.

Junior Milan Prodanovic and sophomore Rashon Dwight are both back and should improve their production from a season ago. Prodanovic, who is Iona's best returning marksman, could either be a starter (27 starts last season) or an option off the bench for Coach Willard. Dwight started twenty-nine games as a freshman and is the Gaels' best perimeter scoring threat. But with Iona going with a three-guard look, there's room for even more playing time on the perimeter. Seton Hall transfer Kashif Pratt didn't get to play much in his one season in South Orange, but do not mistake that for lacking talent. The Rice HS alum can make plays on the offensive end of the floor. Freshman Trinity Fields (Queens, NY) averaged twenty-three points per game last season at Cardozo HS while playing as the point. He, like classmate Kyle Smyth (River Edge, NJ), will be used off the ball in this system. But look for Fields to be the more likely of the two to see playing time early. Kyle Rawson (Warren, NJ) and Maurice Hicks Jr. (New York, NY) round out the backcourt for the Gaels this season.

Frontcourt

The forward slots will be held by a pair of senior leaders in Gary Springer and Devon Clarke. They're the Gaels' two leading returning scorers and rebounders, and they will need to provide more of the same in their final campaign. But they will have some help at their disposal in the form of a medical redshirt, transfer and a freshman. Alejo Rodriguez missed all of last season due to back surgery, but he was quite productive as a freshman during that two-win campaign of 2006-07 (7.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg). The transfer came with Coach Willard from Louisville, but Jonathan Huffman isn't your traditional seven-footer. He didn't play much in his one season at UL, but Huffman has a decent outside stroke and is more of a face-up post than back-to-the-basket.

Iona was supposed to have two freshmen at their disposal heading into the season, but was dealt a blow when Keon Williams (Hackensack, NJ) went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon. That leaves 6-7 Derek Wolfley (Attica, NY) as the lone newcomer able to play up front, but this isn't a development that ends Iona's season due to the fact that the guards will be used to push tempo. If they were a half-court team low on numbers, as they were a season ago, they'd need all the bodies they could find up front. As long as Springer and Clarke can stay healthy, the Gaels should be alright in the frontcourt.

The question surrounding Iona is how far up the standings can they move when it's all said and done this year? They'll definitely be deeper in Coach Willard's second season, but there's also the question of how quickly Machado and Jenkins get acclimated to running the point at the college level. In the congested midsection of the MAAC, the Gaels could definitely improve upon their seventh-place finish of a season ago, but it will be tough since the majority of the conference has gotten better as well. Picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll, look for Iona to make a push towards the top half of the conference.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 65.6 (9^th)

PPG allowed: 69.0 (3^rd)

FG%: 43.3% (4^th)

FG% defense: 42.4% (3^rd)

3PT%: 31.5% (9^th)

3PT% defense: 36.0% (7^th)

FT%: 69.4% (4^th)

Rebound margin: + 0.6 (4^th)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.8 (8^th)

Sacred Heart Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:44:17 -0800

2008-09 Sacred Heart Basketball Preview

Pioneers look to take the next step in NEC

The past few seasons have been pretty good if you're a fan of the Sacred Heart Pioneers. Always in contention for a conference title, either in the regular season or postseason, but there's one thing lacking on that resume: an NCAA Tournament appearance. Last season's NEC Tournament seemed to break exactly the way that Dave Bike and his team would like, with the Pioneers hosting Mount St. Mary's in the final. But they couldn't get the job done, watching the Mountaineers complete their turnaround and win the automatic bid. Now Coach Bike has to replace mainstays Drew Shubik and Brice Brooks, but at least Joey Henley is back for a sixth season after missing last season with a knee injury. The NEC looks to be a wide-open race this season, and the Pioneers have a good shot at winning the league.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 18-13 (13-5 NEC; 3^rd)

Head coach: Dave Bike (446-400 in thirty seasons)

Assistant coaches: Johnny Kidd, Anthony Latina

Home Court: William H. Pitt Center

Website: sacredheartpioneers.cstv.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Chauncey Hardy (10.2)

RPG: Ryon Howard (5.5)

APG: Hardy (3.0)

FG%: Howard (52.0%)

3PT%: Ryan Litke (38.0%)

FT%: Hardy (78.2%)

Assist/TO ratio: Hardy/Howard (1.4)

Backcourt

The backcourt should be in decent shape even with the loss of guys like Shubik, Luke Granato and Eugene Pettway. And that's due to the return of junior Chauncey Hardy, who averaged ten points per game and started all thirty-one games last season. Hardy will have to develop into more of a go-to guy this season, and another key will be the growth of Ryan Litke. Litke, a capable shooter from the perimeter last season, attempted just seventy-four shots inside the arc. It should be interesting to see how much the extra foot in distance affects his offensive game. Junior Corey Hassan had alternating moments of excellence and rust last season, as expected when you sit out a season as a transfer. He should be improved and ready to contribute more this season after averaging 8.3 points per game in 07-08.

Sophomores Josh Marshall and Jerrell Thompson, neither of whom saw much action last season, will also look to throw their hat into the ring this season. But it would probably be more realistic to expect something from the newcomers in regards to backcourt depth. Freshmen Steve Zazuri (Monroe, CT) and Shane Gibson (Killingly, CT) are a pair of Connecticut natives who will figure into the rotation this season. They both possess the talent needed to earn the right to start immediately, and don't be surprised if they do just that. The backcourt will be younger than in seasons past, but do not mistake that for a lack of talent. These guys are capable of getting the job done.

Frontcourt

Henley will be the focal point up front for the Pioneers, but how effective he is this season will depend upon his health. Henley, who averaged eleven points per game two seasons ago, has missed two full years in his career due to injury. If he remains healthy Sacred Heart will be a player in the NEC. But should he go down, the pressure becomes greater for guys such as Ryon Howard and Mehmet Sahan. Howard is the team's leading returning rebounder, but like a famous first baseman with the same name (spelled Ryan of course), too many of his opportunities ended in either a home run or strikeout. Consistency is the key for Ryon this season.

Sahan played just eight minutes per game last year, but that number should increase with the departure of Brice Brooks. At 6-9, 245 Sahan has the size to be a factor in the NEC; it's just a matter of how his skill set has progressed. Seven-footer Liam Potter has the height to make a difference inside, but he didn't see much playing time last season and doesn't stand to play a whole lot this year. Freshmen Nick Greenbacker (Manchester, CT) and Stan Dulaire (Bloomfield, CT) will be in the running for minutes, with Dulaire being an undersized forward willing to do the little things needed to win games.

Can the Pioneers take that final step and get to the NCAA Tournament? That's going to depend on the progression of guys such as Hardy, Hassan and Litke in regards to their development into primary options on offense. Also, who will help out Henley up front? Howard and Sahan must be ready to step up once conference play begins, and at least one of the two freshmen up front will have to contribute as well. The NEC is a balanced league at the top, even with Mount St. Mary's the favorite in most circles, which means that Sacred Heart could very well find themselves back in the conference title game. This time around, they'd like a better result.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 71.9 (4^th)

PPG allowed: 71.5 (7^th)

FG%: 44.1% (6^th)

FG% defense: 44.6% (5^th)

3PT%: 34.2% (6^th)

3PT% defense: 34.2% (6^th)

FT%: 73.4 (1^st)

Rebound margin: -3.9 (9^th)

Assist/TO ratio: 1.02 (3^rd)

Yale Basketball Preview: 08-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:42:11 -0800

2008-09 Yale Basketball Preview

Bulldogs look to replace Flato, Holmes twins

The Yale Bulldogs may only have two starters back from last season's team, but those two starters have an opportunity to earn some postseason honors should they build upon their 2007-08 campaigns. Ross Morin and Travis Pinick are back up front for head coach James Jones, and Morin has the chance to improve upon his second-team All-Ivy selection. For the answers that those two provide, they're countered by the uncertainty on the perimeter with Nick Flato and twins Caleb and Nick Holmes out of eligibility. Whether or not Yale improves upon their tie with Columbia for fourth place will depend upon the development of the backcourt. But with Morin and Pinick the Bulldogs certainly have a chance to do so.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 13-15 (7-7 Ivy; t-4^th)

Head coach: James Jones (117-134 in nine seasons)

Assistant coaches: Curtis Wilson, Matt Kingsley, Mark Gilbride

Home court: John J. Lee Amphitheater

Website: www.yalebulldogs.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Ross Morin (10.2)

RPG: Travis Pinick (6.3)

APG: Pinick/Alex Zampier (2.1)

FG%: Morin (57.0%)

FT%: Porter Braswell (73.3%)

3PT%: Zampier (36.7%)

Assist/TO ratio: Zampier (1.7)

Backcourt

The question marks lie here for the Bulldogs in 2008-09. With the loss of three key contributors in Eric Flato, Nick Holmes and Caleb Holmes, there are a lot of minutes up for grabs heading into this season. Alex Zampier played the most of any returning perimeter contributor last season, averaging nineteen minutes per game. Even though he's the leading returnee in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, Zampier stands to be a candidate at the two instead of the point thanks to the return of Porter Braswell. Braswell only played eleven minutes per game last year, but he made enough of an impact on an experienced team to be named winner of the John C. Cobb Award (team's best freshman) a season ago.

Behind Braswell is where things get a little hairy, with seniors Ari Greenberg and Chris Andrews having experience within the Yale program but lacking experience in the way of playing time. Another returnee in the backcourt who lacks game experience is Raffi Mantilla, meaning that a number of the backup minutes will go to a pair of newcomers who can put the ball in the basket. Brian Katz (Woodbury, NY) and Reggie Willhite (Elk Grove, CA) are a pair of shooting guards who will need to contribute early and often for the Bulldogs to be successful. Braswell and Zampier are the key cogs in the backcourt, but with them combining for thirty minutes per game last season they'll need some help.

Frontcourt

A pair of concrete answers can be found in the frontcourt, and they go by the names Ross Morin and Travis Pinick. While Pinick usually split time with Matt Kyle in regards to who would start, he still played in twenty-eight games and led the Bulldogs in rebounding. Morin is the team's leading returning scorer and should be an even more dependable scoring option inside this season. In regards to who could join them in the starting lineup, keep an eye on center Paul Nelson and swingman Jordan Gibson. Neither played more than nine minutes per game, but that was due more to the presence of players such as the Holmes twins and Kyle.

Others who will fight for time behind the duo of Morin and Pinick include junior Josh Davis and sophomores Michael Sands and Garrett Fiddler. But this isn't the end of the possibilities up front for the Bulldogs, who also welcome a pair of newcomers who could also fight their way into the rotation in Rhett Anderson (La Canada Flintridge, CA) and Greg Magnano (Orange, CT). With Magnano at 6-10 and Anderson standing at 6-8 they'll add some more height to the front line. But they shouldn't be counted on for major contributions thanks to the number of options back.

We know all about the frontcourt for the Bulldogs, arguably the best unit in the Ivy League. But what about the guards? That's the question that needs answering if Yale is to entertain thoughts of dethroning defending champion Cornell. They'll be caught in the middle of the Ivy with teams such as Penn, Harvard and Brown, where the tandem of Morin and Pinick could make all the difference for the Bulldogs.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 68.5 (4^th)

PPG allowed: 69.2 (6^th)

FG%: 45.2% (3^rd)

FG% defense: 45.6% (4^th)

3PT%: 34.4% (3^rd)

3PT% defense: 36.8% (7^th)

FT%: 69.7% (6^th)

Rebound margin: +0.5 (2^nd)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.93 (4^th)

Wagner Basketball Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:39:32 -0800

2008-09 Wagner Basketball Preview

Seahawks look to duplicate last season's success

Expectations for the Wagner Seahawks were pretty high heading into the 2007-08 campaign, with the head coaches in the NEC picking them third in the preseason. And Wagner didn't disappoint, going 15-3 to finish second in the league. The twenty-three wins on the season were the most in the history of the program. Now Mike Deane's team has to replace three starters from that group, most notably forward Durell Vinson. One area that may have cost the Seahawks an NCAA Tournament berth: foul shooting. Wagner was a putrid 59.9% from the charity stripe, with Vinson being one of the main culprits (32.5%). Other than that department and three-point shooting the Seahawks were one of the better teams in the NEC. If guys like Jamal Smith and Joey Mundweiler can produce more on the offensive end Wagner should once again be a tough out in the NEC.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 23-8 (15-3 NEC; 2^nd)

Head coach: Mike Deane (74-73 in five years at Wagner; 417-291 in 24 seasons)

Assistant coaches: Kenyon Spears, John Pugliese, Shawn Postiglione

Home Court: Spiro Sports Center

Website: www.wagnerathletics.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Jamal Smith (11.0)

RPG: Smith (5.4)

APG: Joey Mundweiler (1.8)
FG%: Llewchean Radford (53.2%)

3PT%: Mundweiler (33.9%)

FT%: Smith (67.2%)

Assist/TO ratio: Mundweiler (1.3)

Backcourt

As important as Durell Vinson was to the team last season, you can't overlook the effect that the graduation of Mark Porter could have on this team. Porter led the Seahawks in both points and assists, and was one of the top point guards in the NEC. Who replaces him and how well they perform will have a direct effect on Wagner's record come season's end. Freshman Tyler Murray (Toronto, Ontario) and junior T.J. Czeski will look to earn the position, but Czeski is playing football so he won't be available for another few weeks. Murray is a pass-first lead guard who will need to set up guys like Jamal Smith and Joey Mundweiler.

Mundweiler is a capable perimeter shooter who could stand to expand his offensive repertoire in his final campaign if he's to be a starter. 227 of his 295 field goal attempts came from beyond the arc last season, so if there's more of the same then he could possibly be a guy that Coach Deane brings off the bench. Freshman Chris Martin (Sicklerville, NJ) is another option in the backcourt in the quest to replace Porter. Martin averaged six assists per game last season and should see time at both guard positions. Freshman Josh Thompson (Richland, NJ), junior Llewchean Radford and senior Doug Elwell will also figure into the equation this season, with Radford averaging five points per game last season. The experience of Radford and Elwell could give them a leg up in the race for minutes.

Frontcourt

Jamal Smith is the most likely option to fill in for Vinson up front this season, averaging eleven points and just over five boards per game last season. Smith can score from just about anywhere on the floor but is at his best when driving to the basket. Senior Justin Drummond, who played sixteen minutes per game last season, should see an increase in playing time this season. The same goes for junior Michael Orock, who only played four minutes per game. Orock has to up his production for the Seahawks to exceed expectations this season. Sophomores Clayfell Harris and Clifton Spiller will also look to contribute after playing sparingly in 07-08.

Two freshmen will also look to crack the rotation up front: redshirt Brian Sczczpanski and true frosh Ryan Schrotenboer (Ft. Myers, FL), both of whom have the size to make things happen down low. Sczczpanski stands at 6-11 and sat out last season, but he needs more time to develop into a serviceable big man for the Seahawks. Schrotenboer is a 6-8 forward that will need some time for his body to mature. This all means that the Seahawks could go small early in the season with the hope that some of the bigs lacking in experience progress leading into NEC play.

It would be a bit too much to ask the Seahawks to duplicate their record of a season ago, but they should be right in the middle of the NEC this season. Picked in the preseason to finish eighth in the conference, there isn't much separating fourth place from eighth. But Wagner has to have a solid answer at the point, and someone other than Jamal Smith needs to step up in the frontcourt. Do those things and they should once again play in the NEC Tournament in March.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 71.5 (5^th)

PPG allowed: 70.9 (5^th)

FG%: 44.4% (4^th)

FG% defense: 41.0 (1^st)

3PT%: 31.3% (10^th)

3PT% defense: 32.6% (4^th)

FT%: 59.9% (11^th)

Rebound margin: +5.0 (t-1^st)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.91 (5^th)

Marist Basketball Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:37:23 -0800

2008-09 Marist Basketball Preview

Chuck Martin takes over in Poughkeepsie

When the Red Foxes fell to Rider in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament in March, fans had to have known that things were going to change. Ryan Stilphen, Ben Farmer, Spongy Benjamin and Louie McCroskey were out of eligibility, but surely Matt Brady would be alright with David Devezin and Jay Gavin back on campus. Not so fast, as Brady took the James Madison job and the next domino to fall was Gavin transferring to Virginia Commonwealth. So in comes former Memphis assistant Chuck Martin to take over the program with just one returning starter (Devezin), a few returnees who didn't see much time last season and a host of newcomers that will need time to adjust to the collegiate game. Rest assured this will be a season of transition in Poughkeepsie.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 18-14 (11-7 MAAC, t-5^th)

Head coach: Chuck Martin (first season)

Assistant coaches: Paul Lee, Tyrone Weeks, Bashir Mason

Home Court: McCann Field House

Website: goredfoxes.cstv.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: David Devezin (9.7)

RPG: Ryan Schneider (2.5)

APG: Devezin (4.3)

FG%: Devezin (47.0%)

FT%: Schneider (72.1%)

3PT%: Dejaun Goodwin (42.2%)

Assist/TO ratio: Devezin (2.1)

Backcourt

If you've watched the Memphis Tigers play in recent years then you should be somewhat familiar with the Dribble Drive Motion offense. Guard play is vital to the success of that system, and Coach Martin will have a good one in junior point guard David Devezin. In his first season at Marist Devezin led the Red Foxes in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, and being so important that by February he rarely left the floor. Devezin averaged thirty-four minutes per game in 07-08; the next highest was Ben Farmer with twenty-eight minutes per contest. Unfortunately for Marist however, he's one of only two proven commodities on the roster in the backcourt.

Dejuan Goodwin did have fourteen starts last season, averaging seventeen minutes per game. He'll have more opportunities to show what he can do this season. Redshirt senior Kaylen Gregory should finally get the time needed to showcase his skills, and he should be more of a penetrator in this system than spot-up shooter. Newcomers Javon Parris (Brooklyn, NY), Dorvell Carter (New York, NY) and R.J. Hall (Bloomfield, NJ) will also be important to the progression of the Red Foxes in the DDM system given their lack of backcourt depth. Parris is a junior college transfer who 11.4 points and 5.4 assists per game at Barton County CC last season. Carter, who comes from an outstanding high school program in Rice HS, is a swingman who can do a variety of things on the floor and was Second-Team All-New York City last year. Hall was a First-Team All-State selection in New Jersey last year.

Walk-ons Pat McDerby (Rockville Centre, NY), Nick Amicucci (Pleasantville, NY) and Mike Taylor (Los Angeles, CA) round out the backcourt, with Boston College transfer Daye Kaba sitting out this season per NCAA transfer rules.

Frontcourt

The Red Foxes may lack overall bulk up front, but Coach Martin and his staff will have some skilled players to look to this season. Senior Ryan Schneider is one of two seniors on the roster and has a very good stroke from outside. The extra foot added to the three-point shot shouldn't have much of an impact on him, but look for more opportunities within the offense for Schneider to score. Sophomores Lawrence Williams and Korey Bauer, who didn't play much last season, will look to earn more minutes this season with the graduation of mainstays Stilphen and Benjamin. Freshman Alex Vouyoukas (Athens, Greece) will also have the opportunity to earn some minutes from the beginning of the season.

So what can you expect from Marist this season? First off, solid guard play from Devezin. Secondly, Marist will be a team that will look to push the tempo in hopes of covering up their lack of interior depth. But if they can play defense like they did last season (the best in the MAAC), Marist can grab a few wins on that end of the floor. Also, the MAAC stands to be every bit as tough as it was last season, when six teams finished within two games of each other at the top of the standings. Look for this to be a year of transition for the program, both in their style of play and the building of a foundation by Coach Martin and his staff.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 69.9 (5^th)

PPG allowed: 68.6 (1^st)

FG%: 44.8% (3^rd)

FG% defense: 41.8% (1^st)

3PT%: 38.0 (4^th)

3PT% defense: 33.4% (1^st)

FT%: 64.7% (9^th)

Rebounding margin: + 1.2 (3^rd)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.85 (6^th)

FDU Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:34:54 -0800

2008-09 Fairleigh Dickinson Basketball Preview

Where the Knights end up in NEC is anyone's guess

By Raphielle Johnson

The Knights ran into their fair share of trouble last season, suffering from a lack of depth and frontcourt experience. The end result was an eight-win season and missing out on the NEC Tournament. But even with three starters gone from that team, there's still room for optimism for head coach Tom Green and his staff. Sean Baptiste, one of the NEC's most versatile players, is back after averaging 18.5 points per game a season ago. And the Knights will welcome back guard Cameron Tyler, who missed last season for academic reasons. Combining these two with a few transfers and some young but talented frontcourt performers and you have a team that could have an impact on the NEC race. But how much they improve will depend upon team chemistry above anything else.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 8-20 (4-14 NEC; t-8^th)

Head coach: Tom Green (400-328 in 25 seasons at FDU)

Assistant coaches: Ron Brown, Jared Stephans

Home court: George & Phyllis Rothman Center

Website: www.fduknights.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Sean Baptiste (18.5)

RPG: Baptists (6.3)

APG: Baptiste (1.4)

FG%: DeJuan Pursley (54.9%)

FT%: Baptiste (76.3%)

3PT%: Baptiste (35.6%)

Assist/TO ratio: Baptiste (0.8)

Backcourt

The man who will set the tone for the Knights this season is junior Sean Baptiste. The fact that he's the leading returnee in so many categories is an indicator of what Manny Ubilla, Bernell Murray and Eric Hazard meant to the program. He may only be 6-3 but Baptiste is a perimeter threat who backs down from no one and led the team in rebounding last season. He's the known commodity in the backcourt for Coach Green. At the point, senior Cameron Tyler returns after missing last season due to academics. In 2006-07, Tyler was FDU's second-leading scorer and leading assist man. He can make some things happen on the offensive end of the floor.

Two transfers from Division I schools will also be asked to contribute this season, and they've got the talent to do so. Junior Eric Moore (Dover, NJ) averaged 12.5 points per game in his final season at Buffalo and should chip in at both guard spots. Sophomore Terence Grier (Cranford, NJ), who played sparingly in his one season at Rhode Island, is a 5-11 guard that is capable of exploding offensively. Ron Brown, Michael Blackgrove and Jordan Stasyszyn are three more guards looking to crack the rotation after playing sparingly last season. Also looking for minutes will be freshman Sam Fernly (Sheffield, England), who could be in the running for minutes as a backup at the point. The backcourt will be deep enough to compete in the NEC this season, and there will be more scoring options as well.

Frontcourt

This is the area where the Knights got into trouble last season, with Coach Green having to rely on a pair of freshmen along with Hazard to take care of business. The good news now is that those two youngsters, John Galvin and DeJuan Pursley, are ready to contribute even more to the Knights' attack this year due to that learning experience. Galvin missed the last ten games of the season due to a concussion, but there was no mistaking his progress before the injury. And Pursley came on late in the season, averaging nearly ten points and two blocks per game with Galvin out. Even better for these two is that they'll have some help up front, led by a junior transfer.

6-8 Alvin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ) didn't get to play a whole lot at St. Joseph's, but a year of practice with Coach Green combined with his two years receiving coaching from Phil Martelli should have him ready to make an impact in the NEC. But the addition of size doesn't stop with Mofunanya, with the Knights also welcoming in sophomore Kamil Svrdlik (Czech Republic) and freshman Anaclet Mulumba Mbayi (Montreal, Quebec). Svrdlik is a 6-8 big man with a soft shooting touch who can score in a variety of ways, while Mbayi will add versatility to the lineup. Also looking to earn some minutes this season is 7-2 junior center Lawrence Brown, who didn't play much in his first two seasons in Teaneck.

After missing out on the conference tournament last season, Coach Green's team should be a safe bet to get back to the postseason this year. What kind of seeding they end up with and how far they go will depend on the development of team chemistry, and what they can get from the frontcourt. With their progression should come an improvement on the defensive end of the floor, for the Knights were the worst in the NEC in points allowed and ninth in field goal percentage defense. The guards are capable of holding their own with any other backcourt in the league, but guards alone don't win championships.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 70.0 (6^th)

PPG allowed: 78.2 (11^th)
FG%: 41.9% (7^th)

FG% defense: 47.0 (9^th)

3PT%: 35.5% (4^th)

3PT% defense: 40.6% (11^th)

FT%: 71.3% (4^th)

Rebound margin: -7.3 (10^th)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.83 (8^th)

Columbia Preview: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:32:13 -0800

2008-09 Columbia Basketball Preview

Lions must replace four starters

Despite returning one of the Ivy League’s best big men and having six player averaging at least six points per game, the Columbia Lions could only muster a tie for fourth place in the final standings. Now with four starters from that team gone head coach Joe Jones has to find some new pieces to fit into the equation, most notably a fill-in for First-Team All-Ivy selection John Baumann. Health will be a key this season as well, most notably that of co-captains Joe Bova and Patrick Foley. Foley, who went down with a shoulder injury early on, was a key to a season that went downhill once he was lost for the year. But in a league that is muddled in the midsection, the Lions could finish slightly higher than their preseason designation of sixth.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 14-15 (7-7 Ivy; t-4^th)

Head coach: Joe Jones (63-75 in five seasons)

Assistant coaches: Damien Strahorn, Andrew Theokas, Michael Murphy

Home Court: Levien Gymnasium

Website: www.gocolumbialions.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Niko Scott (7.7)

RPG: Joe Bova (3.3)

APG: Scott (2.2)

FG%: K.J. Matsui (48.4%)

FT%: Joe Bova (88.9%)

3PT%: Matsui (49.0%)

Assist/TO ratio: Scott (1.39)

Backcourt

He may have only played nine games last season, but make no mistake about it: Patrick Foley may be the most important returnee for the Lions this season. Foley had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.0 in limited action, a season cut short by an injury to his right shoulder. He may be a key to the Lions’ success this season, but also back for another run is senior Niko Scott. Scott, the team’s leading returning scorer, is a player who does the majority of his damage driving to the basket. Similar to Scott in style of play is junior Kevin Bulger, who last year was one of the better bench players in the Ivy last year.

He and senior K.J. Matsui, a three-point specialist (only twenty-two of his field goal attempts came from inside the arc last year) should be solid role players this season as well. Dan Trepanier will also compete for time, but will have to fend off some talented newcomers if he’s to improve upon his 3.9 minutes per game. The incoming class could provide the primary backup for Foley in either Steven Egee (Ridley Park, PA) or Chris Crockett (Columbus, OH), two guards that were two-sport athletes in high school. Crockett is the better scorer of the two despite being 5-10.

The other two freshmen in the backcourt are Matt Johnson (Moorpark, CA) and Noruwa Agho (New City, NY). Although he’s 6-7 Johnson is more than comfortable on the perimeter and has an almost European feel to his game. Agho is a capable defender who can also handle the ball. The newcomers have plenty of talent, but they’ll also have some time to mature thanks the return of so many key cogs.

Frontcourt

The major holes to be filled are up front, with the graduation of John Baumann and Ben Nwachukwu. Patrick Bova, who missed a good portion of last season due to back troubles, has a clean bill of health going into this season. Other returnees looking to earn playing time this season are seven-footer Zack Crimmins, Jason Miller and Asenso Ampim. None of these three played more than ten minutes per game last season, and Ampim is coming back from September foot surgery. He should be ready to play, however. This overall lack of experience essentially means that the three newcomers up front will have ample opportunities to earn playing time.

LaSalle transfer Brian Grimes (Phildelphia, PA) is a forward who plays with almost a European influence, being just as comfortable on the perimeter as he is inside. His versatility should add a dimension to the Lion attack, and there were positive reports regarding his play on Columbia’s preseason tour of Europe. And the pair of freshmen now on campus are both swingmen that can add some scoring up front if the Lions decide to go small. Issa Mase (Wilmington, DE) and Blaise Staab (Tulsa, OK) are two players that put up solid rebounding numbers in their final high school seasons despite being 6-5.

Can the Lions exceed preseason expectations and finish higher than sixth in the Ivy? If the frontcourt can mesh and Patrick Foley stays healthy, they very well could. Cornell is the clear favorite to win the conference, and after chief challenger (in the eyes of many) Penn all bets are essentially off at this point. And with Grimes eligible after sitting out his transfer year, the Lions may be able to make up some of the production lost with the graduation of Baumann and Nwachukwu. How much they aren’t able to account for up front will decide just how well their season goes.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 63.7 (6^th)

PPG allowed: 64.1 (1^st)

FG%: 42.2% (8^th)

FG% defense: 42.2% (1^st)

3PT%: 33.2% (4^th)

3PT% defense: 30.7% (1^st)

FT%: 72.4% (4^th)

Rebound margin: +0.6 (1^st)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.98 (3^rd)

LIU Basketball Preview: 08-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:30:25 -0800

2008-09 LIU Basketball Preview

Blackbirds return four starters this season

To some, head coach Jim Ferry's team exceeded expectations in finishing seventh in the NEC last season. This season could be a year in which the Blackbirds build upon that progress and continue to grow towards contending for a championship. They're led by a guard that should be up for NEC honors at the end of the season in Jaytornah Wisseh, and there are other pieces to the puzzle ready to step up for the Blackbirds. Is it too much to expect LIU to finish in the top half of the NEC? Given the small margin between teams in the midsection of the conference, they've got as good a chance as anyone at breaking even (9-9) in conference play.

General Information

2007-08 Record: 15-15 (7-11 NEC, 7^th)

Head coach: Jim Ferry (68-103 in six seasons at LIU; 172-122 overall)

Assistant coaches: Jack Perri, Lenny Pitt, Rich Glesmann

Home court: Athletic, Recreation & Wellness Center

Website: www.liuathletics.com

Leading Returnees

PPG: Jaytornah Wisseh (15.8)

RPG: Ronald Manigault (5.6)

APG: Wisseh (5.1)

FG%: Aurimas Adomaitis (44.1%)

FT%: Kyle Johnson (88.0%)

3PT%: Johnson (38.5%)

Assist/TO ratio: Wisseh (1.58)

Backcourt

Wisseh is the man that most folks familiar with this team know, but the question that needs answering is who steps in to provide the scoring lost with the graduation of Kellen Allen (13.4 ppg). One answer could be sophomore Kyle Johnson, who averaged ten points per game while playing just twenty-four minutes per contest. Johnson can shoot the basketball and should be an improved defender this season. Classmate David Hicks, like Johnson, was named to the NEC's All-Freshman Team for his efforts last season. Hicks started all thirty gamed for Coach Ferry and averaged eight points per game. Senior Tyrone Mattison saw time at the point last season, and Iona transfer John Scott (Albany, NY) will look to earn time on the wing.

As for the newcomers, they have a chance to earn playing time in their first season on campus. Point guard Lucas Faggiano (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) is a guy that should earn minutes at the point when he becomes available. Michael Culpo (Pittsfield, MA) will also look to grab minutes and his accuracy as a perimeter shooter could make teams pay for paying too much attention to Wisseh on offense. Booker Hucks (Bay Shore, NY) is a versatile perimeter player who may struggle to get extended playing time due to the number of options already available to Coach Ferry and his staff.

Frontcourt

This is the area of concern for the Blackbirds, who have to replace the departed Eugene Kotorobai with a group including just one senior. That senior, Ronald Manigault, is the team's leading returning rebounder and started all thirty games last season. After Manigault is a pair of forwards who need to step up their production if the Blackbirds are to be competitive in the NEC. Junior Aurimas Adomaitis and sophomore Ike Udanoh will need to contribute defensively and on the glass this season, and they combined for just under nineteen minutes per game last season. After these three, Coach Ferry will have to look to freshmen for contributions. But with LIU going with a three-guard lineup, the freshmen should be afforded time to get acclimated to college basketball.

Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX) averaged a double-double in his final season of high school basketball, and Arnold Mayorga (London, Ontario) will also be needed to hit the glass when called upon. Swingman Miguel Bocachica (Philadelphia, PA) will also look to crack the rotation, but he finds himself in the same situation as Hucks in regards to that quest. If the Blackbirds are to improve on the defensive end of the court (8^th in points per game allowed), the forwards will have to increase their production.

A preseason pick to finish sixth in the NEC, LIU could very well exceed those expectations if the inexperienced frontcourt can step up. The backcourt should be fine, led by Wisseh and a host of others, so Coach Ferry's team could earn themselves a home game in the first round of the NEC Tournament should things break their way. LIU was a solid team last season in most statistical categories, but ranked just ninth in assist-to-turnover margin and tenth in field goal percentage, stats that can make all the difference in finishing sixth or eighth this year.

Team Stats (conference ranking in parentheses)

PPG: 72.4 (3^rd)

PPG allowed: 71.7 (8^th)

FG%: 40.4% (10^th)

FG% defense: 44.6% (6^th)

3PT%: 32.3 (8^th)

3PT% defense: 31.5% (2^nd)

FT%: 68.1 (9^th)

Rebound margin: +2.4 (3^rd)

Assist/TO ratio: 0.81 (9^th)