Siena

Sunday Predictions: MVC Finals, AE Semis, MAAC Semis, More

Greg Mengelt — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 10:37:14 -0500

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking every conference tournament game over the next 2 weeks. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP: AT ST. LOUIS

(2) Creighton (27-5, 14-4) vs. (4) Illinois State (20-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: CBS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 13 – Creighton 87-78*; Feb. 1 – Creighton 102-74. RPI: Creighton 28, Illinois State 100. Analysis: After a bit of a late-season swoon, Creighton is back. The Redbirds can’t get enough points to justify taking them. Line: Creighton -5. Pick: Creighton 89, Illinois State 67.

COLONIAL SEMIFINALS: AT RICHMOND, VA.

(1) Drexel (26-5, 16-2) vs. (4) Old Dominion (20-12, 13-5)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports Net/CAA TV. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 25 – Drexel 73-72*. RPI: Drexel 67, Old Dominion 106. Analysis: Drexel’s defense is among the best in the country. If the Dragons can slow Kent Bazemore, who scored 37 against them last week, they should roll. Line: Drexel -3. Pick: Drexel 67, Old Dominion 58.

(2) Virginia Commonwealth (26-6, 15-3) vs. (3) George Mason (24-8, 14-4)

Tipoff: Approx. 4:30 p.m. TV: Comcast Sports Net/CAA TV. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 14 – George Mason 62-61; Feb. 25 – VCU 89-77. RPI: VCU 65, George Mason 79. Analysis: This may be an NCAA Tournament elimination game. VCU appears to have the slightly better team. Line: VCU -6. Pick: Virginia Commonwealth 83, George Mason 76.

AMERICA EAST SEMIFINALS: AT WEST HARTFORD, CONN.

(1) Stony Brook (21-8, 14-2) vs. (4) Albany (19-13, 9-7)

Tipoff: 5:02 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Stony Brook 81-68; Feb. 4 – Stony Brook 76-69*. RPI: Stony Brook 158, Albany 219. Analysis: The top seed isn’t playing as well as it was in early February, and the Great Danes are playing their best basketball. Line: Stony Brook -3. Pick: Stony Brook 73, Albany 71.

(2) Vermont (21-11, 13-3) vs. (6) Hartford (9-21, 7-9)

Tipoff: Approx. 7:15 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Vermont 72-59*; Feb. 4 – Vermont 82-56. RPI: Vermont 156, Hartford 310. Analysis: Vermont has won 12 of 13 and may be poised for an America East title. Line: Vermont -8. Pick: Vermont 77, Hartford 55.

METRO ATLANTIC SEMIFINALS AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

(1) Iona (25-6, 15-3) vs. (4) Fairfield (18-13, 12-6)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 27 – Iona 71-62*; Feb. 24 – Iona 77-72. RPI: Iona 42, Fairfield 123. Analysis: Iona has scored at least 75 points in nine straight games, and the Stags simply can’t keep up. Line: Iona -5½. Pick: Iona 81, Fairfield 68.

(2) Loyola (Md.) (22-8, 13-5) vs. (6) Siena (14-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: Approx. 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN3. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Loyola 66-59*; Jan. 19 – Loyola 66-55. RPI: Loyola 83, Siena 245. Analysis: Siena has shown the ability to rise to the occasion – and the Saints may just do it again. They’ll at least cover. Line: Loyola -6½. Pick: Loyola 80, Siena 76.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: AT CAMPUS SITES

(3) Robert Morris (23-9, 13-5) at (2) Wagner (25-5, 15-3)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: MSG or FCS. Regular-season meeting: Feb. 2 – Wagner 80-69. RPI: Wagner 88, Robert Morris 118. Analysis: Both teams are capable of winning this game, plus a possible NCAA tourney game. Tough call – so take the home team (and the Hurley brothers). Line: Wagner -6½. Pick: Wagner 84, Robert Morris 77.

(5) Quinnipiac (18-12, 10-8) at (1) Long Island (23-8, 16-2)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. TV: MSG or FCS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Long Island 79-75*, Feb. 18 – Long Island 99-89. RPI: Long Island 99, Quinnipiac 162. Analysis: The Bobcats are playing very, very well and may just pull off this upset. Line: Long Island -3. Pick: Quinnipiac 80, Long Island 77.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: AT ASHEVILLE, N.C.

(1N) UNC-Greensboro (12-18, 10-8) vs. (3N) Western Carolina (15-17, 8-10)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 3 – Western Carolina 73-69; Jan. 28 – Greensboro 89-86 (OT). RPI: Greensboro 215, Western Carolina 231. Analysis: The Catamounts have won six straight and should upset UNCG. Line: Greensboro -7. Pick: Western Carolina 76, UNC-Greensboro 69.

(1S) Davidson (22-7, 16-2) vs. (2N) Elon (14-15, 9-9)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 23 – Davidson 66-45. RPI: Davidson 68, Elon 233. Analysis: It will be tough for the Wildcats to cover the spread because their starters will be resting early. Line: Davidson -13½. Pick: Davidson 73, Elon 59.

SUMMIT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS: AT SIOUX FALLS, S.D.

(4) Western Illinois (16-13, 9-9) vs. (5) North Dakota State (17-12, 9-9)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Dec. 1 – Western Illinois 55-51; Feb. 25 – Western Illinois 77-64. RPI: Western Illinois 191, North Dakota State 174. Analysis: NDSU really struggled from the field against the Bulldogs this season, especially from the 3-point line. And Terrell Parks has had his way with the Bison. Line: North Dakota State -1. Pick: Western Illinois 60, North Dakota State 55.

(3) Oakland (17-14, 11-7) vs. (6) Southern Utah (13-16, 8-10)

Tipoff: Approx. 9:30 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Oakland 72-63*; Feb. 15 – Oakland 76-68 (OT). RPI: Oakland 133, Southern Utah 244. Analysis: It’s been a strangely inconsistent season for Oakland, but Reggie Hamilton won’t let the Grizzlies go out early. Line: Oakland -7½. Pick: Oakland 80, Southern Utah 63.

SUN BELT QUARTERS: AT HOT SPRINGS, ARK.

(1) Middle Tennessee (25-5, 14-2) vs. (9) Arkansas State (13-19, 6-10)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: Sun Belt Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – Middle Tennessee 59-46. RPI: Middle Tennessee 48, Arkansas State 243. Analysis: Arkansas State is playing well. The Red Wolves are seven points from a 5-game winning streak. They should make Middle Tennessee uncomfortable. Line: Middle Tennessee -8½. Pick: Middle Tennessee 66, Arkansas State 62.

(4) Louisiana-Lafayette (16-14, 10-6) vs. (5) North Texas (16-13, 9-7)

Tipoff: 7:15 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 25 – Louisiana-Lafayette 64-62; Feb. 18 – Louisiana-Lafayette 57-53*. RPI: North Texas 204, Louisiana-Lafayette 183. Analysis: North Texas probably has more talent. Tony Mitchell is the difference in a tight game. Line: North Texas -2. Pick: North Texas 69, Louisiana-Lafayette 66.

(2) Arkansas-Little Rock (15-15, 12-4) vs. (7) Western Kentucky (12-18, 7-9)

Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. TV: Sun Belt Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 21 – Western Kentucky 65-53. RPI: Little Rock 166, Western Kentucky 220. Analysis: The Hilltoppers are playing their best basketball of the season. They probably won’t upset UALR, but they’ll stick with them. Line: Little Rock -2. Pick: Arkansas-Little Rock 61, Western Kentucky 60.

(3) Denver (21-8, 11-5) vs. (6) South Alabama (17-11, 8-8)

Tipoff: 9:45 p.m. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 7 – Denver 67-50*. RPI: Denver 94, South Alabama 172. Analysis: Denver will pull away late for a double-digit win. Line: Denver -8½. Pick: Denver 72, South Alabama 61.

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 117-87-2

North Carolina Wins ACC Title: Saturday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 09:09:51 -0500

Three teams (Belmont, Murray State and UNC Asheville) punched their tickets to the NCAA tournament on Saturday.

1. North Carolina jumps out to a big lead at Cameron, spoling Duke's Senior Day and winning the ACC regular season title.
Pouring salt in the wound of another isn't ever a good idea, and apparently the showing of a montage of big plays late in Duke's comeback win in Chapel Hill fired up UNC point guard Kendall Marshall. Marshall, and by extension his teammates, felt disrespected and as a result the Tar Heels had a little extra motivation to go along with the desire to beat their rival and win the ACC regular season crown. UNC jumped out to a 22-5 lead, withstood a Blue Devil rally in the second half and went on to win 88-70. Marshall led the way with 20 points and ten assists, knocking down seven of his fifteen shots from the field to make a defense that allowed him to shoot pay. In fact, Marshall was one of three starters to post a double-double, as Tyler Zeller (19 points, ten rebounds) and John Henson (13 points, ten rebounds) also had good nights.

All five starters finished in double figures for the Tar Heels, who also bludgeoned Duke on the glass 45-28 with 14 offensive rebounds. Mason (17 points, four rebounds) and Miles (16 points, 11 rebounds) Plumlee led the Blue Devils but the slow start landed them in a hole too deep to crawl out of. North Carolina did a better job of defending the three, and part of the battle was to make sure the Blue Devils didn't get the chance to attempt 36 as they did in Chapel Hill. Duke finished 6-for-21 from beyond the arc, and when combined with their 47.6% shooting inside of the arc that wasn't enough to withstand UNC shooting 60.3% from two and 54.5% overall. With both teams still in the fight for a one-seed in the NCAA tournament splitting the regular season series was key for North Carolina. One would think that an ACC tournament crown would be the "tiebreaker".

2. BYU gets outclassed by Gonzaga and now has to sweat out a week of action.
For the sake of the Cougars it may be a good thing if the selection committee got in some rest before they begin their week-long process of filling the 68-team field, because they did not look good in their WCC semifinal matchup with Gonzaga. The Bulldogs showed no ill effects of playing their first game of the tournament, coming out firing and jumping to a 12-4 lead by the first media timeout and leading by as many as 18 in the first half. BYU was able to close the margin to 12 at the half (38-26), but they were no match for Kevin Pangos and the Bulldogs in the second half as Gonzaga rolled to the 77-58 win. Pangos scored 30 points and dished out four assists, advancing the Bulldogs to the title game where they will play nemesis Saint Mary's, and the Zags limited BYU to 37.7% shooting on the night.

The question for BYU is how much damage does this defeat do to their NCAA tournament hopes. According to realtimerpi.com the Cougars entered Saturday with an RPI of 47, but their strength of schedule number (108) has to be a bit of a concern at this point. BYU does have three RPI Top 50 wins at this point, as they've beaten Oregon and Weber State in addition to Gonzaga, but two of those wins came at home and the Oregon win came in Salt Lake City. Saturday night notwithstanding BYU has the look of a tournament team, with Brandon Davies and Noah Hartsock inside leading the way. But does the resume match up? That's a question that many will ponder over the next week.

3. Illinois State upsets Wichita State in the Missouri Valley semis, setting up a date with Creighton.
It was the situation that many bubble teams fear annually: a team not expected to go to the NCAA tournament makes a run in their conference tournament to possibly take an available bid off the board. Illinois State is 40 minutes away from doing just that as they beat top-seed Wichita State 65-64 in St. Louis. Tyler Brown led the way with 25 points and six rebounds, and his two free throws with 6.4 seconds remaining gave the Redbirds a 65-64 lead they would not relinquish. Garrett Stutz had a good look at the basket just before time expired but his shot fell short, eliminating the possibility of a third meeting between the Shockers and Creighton. But neither that nor the fate of bubble teams is (or should be) of concern to Illinois State, and Tim Jankovich also has Jackie Carmichael to call on inside. If the Redbirds get better on the boards (Wichita State grabbed 17 offensive rebounds) they'll have every chance of beating the Bluejays and winning the MVC tournament title.

4. Chalk rules in the CAA semis, setting up a massive battle between George Mason and VCU.
Many have joined the "two bids for the CAA" campaig, citing the gaudy records of Drexel, VCU and George Mason as one reason why. All three needed to reach the semis to make that goal a possibility, and along with four-seed Old Dominion they all took care of business on Saturday. George Mason needed a Bryon Allen reverse in the final seconds to beat Georgia State 54-52 while Drexel and VCU would both pull away in their wins over UNCW and Northeastern. That sets up a critical battle between VCU and George Mason on Sunday afternoon, with the winner likely having the best case for an at-large bid, and Drexel takes on ODU in what should be a slugfest. Getting two bids may be tough given strength of schedule numbers but with numerous bubble teams stumbling down the stretch the door remains open, and that's the least the CAA can ask for at this point.

5. Seton Hall wraps up an 0-2 finish against teams they were expected to beat, casting doubt on their NCAA tournament hopes.
One of those stumbling bubble teams is Seton Hall, and all the Pirates had to do was beat Rutgers and DePaul in their last two games heading into the Big East Championship. Last Saturday they fell to Rutgers at home in overtime, and things got even worse a week later as the Pirates were blown out by the Blue Demons 86-58. Kevin Willard's team just never seemed ready to go, trailing by 13 at the half and things would only get worse from there. Jamee Crockett led four DePaul players in double figures with 21 points and as a team the Blue Demons put on a clinic offensively, assisting on 23 of their 29 made baskets and shooting 53.7% from the field. Now Seton Hall has to get things going in New York, beginning with a first round matchup with a Providence team capable of beating just about anyone (they beat Louisville by 33 earlier this season) despite their lack of depth. Seton Hall has the opportunity to leave a better impression, but after Saturday's debacle there may be doubt as to whether or not the Pirates can take advantage.

Quick Hitters

1. Two teams to watch in next week's Pac-12 tournament are Oregon and UCLA as both enter the event playing well. The Ducks embarrassed Utah 92-46 in their regular season finale, jumping out to a 32-2 lead and never looking back. As for UCLA, they came back to beat Washington 75-69 to cap a 2-0 week that was kickstarted by a negative story in Sports Illustrated. Given the wide-open nature of the league it wouldn't be a shock if either of these teams put together a run. Oh, that loss didn't help the Huskies one bit from a bubble standpoint.

2. Butler won't have the opportunity to make another trip to the NCAA tournament this season, as they fell 65-46 at top-seed Valparaiso in the Horizon League semifinals. Horizon League Player of the Year Ryan Broekhoff led the Crusaders with 19 points and 16 rebounds as VU jumped out early and never looked back. This ends an impressive run for Brad Stevens' program, but the combination of a strong recruiting class and Arkansas transfer Rotnei Clark will give the Bulldogs a nice boost next season.

3. Higher-seeded teams advanced in three of the four quarterfinals in the Metro Atlantic with the lone exception being six-seed Siena, who beat three-seed Manhattan 84-82 in an overtime thriller. Owen Wignot's three with eight seconds remaining sent the game into overtime, and the Saints navigated a five minutes that would have wilted most teams that lack depth as they do. Mitch Buonaguro's team takes on Loyola (MD) in one semi while Fairfield and Iona meet on the other side of the bracket.

4. Memphis went on the road and beat Tulsa 78-66 to clinch the outright Conference USA title, and don't be surprised if Josh Pastner's team ends up in the Sweet 16 either. Will Barton scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the way but a key factor in their recent success has been the play of Chris Crawford. His steadying influence (seven assists, zero turnovers on Saturday) has allowed Joe Jackson to simply go out and make plays, and while the turnovers for Jackson are still an issue (six against Tulsa) the emergence of Crawford has helped buffer the impact.

5. In a matchup of two teams perceived to be on the bubble, West Virginia beat USF 50-44 in Tampa to pick up a much-needed road victory. Neither team shot well (WVU shot 28.8%, USF 39.5%) but the Mountaineers were able to grab 12 offensive boards and Kevin Jones posted another double-double with 18 points and 11 boards. USF's the six-seed in the Big East Championship next week, and they're going to have some work to do at MSG.

6. Speaking of the Big East, Jim Calhoun made his return to the sidelines and provided a spark to his team as UConn beat Pittsburgh 74-65. Roscoe Smith made some huge plays late to help the Huskies hold off the Panthers and Shabazz Napier finished with 23 points, six rebounds and four steals. UConn begins their Big East Championship with a game against DePaul, but unlike last year's team there's no Kemba walking through that door. But at least they have their coach back.

7. Iowa State scored 50 second half points, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit to beat Baylor 80-72 and grab the three-seed in next week's Big 12 tournament. Scott Christopherson led the Cyclones with 23 points and six assists, and while Bill Self will most likely win Big 12 Coach of the Year (and rightfully so) an argument can be made for Fred Hoiberg as well.

8. The top two seeds in the Patriot League will meet on Wednesday night as both Bucknell and Lehigh won their semifinal matchups by wide margins. C.J. McCollum put up 27, ten and six assists in Lehigh's 85-66 win over American, and Bucknell beat Lafayette 79-52 thanks in part to 18 points apiece from Mike Muscala and Joe Willman. The two teams split their two regular season meetings with the road team winning both, and it was a McCollum dagger in the final seconds that made the difference in Lewisburg.

9. The North Division of the Southern Conference didn't have the best-looking records at the end of the regular season but three teams from that division make up the final four in that tournament. The lone exception is overall champion Davidson, who beat Furman 73-54. UNCG and Western Carolina meet in one semi while the Wildcats will take on Elon, who beat Georgia Southern in the nightcap 65-58.

10. Jamaal Franklin was outstanding for San Diego State on Saturday, accounting for 35 points, 13 rebounds and five assists as the Aztecs handed TCU their first home conference loss this season in overtime (98-92). The win, combined with New Mexico's 78-61 win over Boise State, means a shared conference title and it's anyone guess who will grab the automatic bid. One would think that the Mountain West is in line to receive four bids come Selection Sunday.

11. Harvard wrapped up a share of the Ivy League title as they beat Cornell 67-63. Penn remained tied in the loss column with their 68-47 win over Yale, and all that stands between the Quakers and a one-game playoff is bitter rival Princeton. That won't be a walk in the park for Zack Rosen and company to say the least.

12. One of the biggest questions going into the SEC tournament is whether or not Tennessee can make a run at an at-large bid. To think that this would have been a topic for discussion back in December would have been borderline absurd, but Cuonzo Martin's team is a different one since the addition of Jarnell Stokes. The Vols beat Vanderbilt 68-61, led by Cameron Tautm's 18 points and Trae Golden's 17, five rebounds and four assists.

13. Northwestern avoided what would have been a damaging blow to their NCAA tournament hopes as they beat Iowa 70-66 in Iowa City. The Wildcats did what they needed to do (at minimum) in their final three games, which was beat Penn State and Iowa (their loss was to Ohio State at home), and that keeps them alive heading into the Big Ten tournament.

14. There's just one undefeated (in conference play) team remaining in college basketball as Long Beach State, Ut-Arlington and Utah Valley all dropped their first conference games on Saturday. This comes just days after Mississippi Valley State lost their SWAC finale, leaving Kentucky as the lone undefeated. The Wildcats take on Florida Sunday afternoon in Gainesville.

15. Dominique Morrison shot just 2-for-11 from the field but thanks to Michael Craion and company Oral Roberts was able to withstand an IPFW challenge, winning 71-67 in a Summit League quarterfinal. Craion scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Warren Niles scored a team-high 17 as the Golden Eagles escaped.

Syracuse Bounces Back on the Road: Monday's Recap

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:45:16 -0500

For Syracuse fans watching Monday's game between the Orange and Cincinnati, the fact that the Bearcats made four of their first five three-pointers may have been a cause for concern. But the Bearcats made just four the rest of the game (with 20 more attempts), making it important to note that those deep threes that fall early more times than not are "fool's gold" against the Syracuse zone. Kris Joseph rebounded from a quiet game on Saturday to score 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting and as a team the Orange outscored Cincinnati 36-24 in the paint on their way to the 60-53 win.

"In the game against Notre Dame, we got off to a bad start. We just never fought back. Tonight, they hit the four threes," said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. "Sometimes, it's a good thing when they start a game like that. Not always, but sometimes. I wasn't as concerned as I was the other night because we were getting good things on offense."

Syracuse's bench, which allowed them to hang around at Notre Dame while the starters struggled, was quiet with Dion Waiters and James Southerland combining to score nine points on 4-for-15 shooting. But starting guards Brandon Triche and Scoop Jardine improved their play as they combined to score 24 points and dish out nine assists. Rakeem Christmas, who looked overwhelmed in the middle at Notre Dame, played much better defense and did things that couldn't be measured simply by looking at his four-point, four-rebound stat line.

"[Rakeem] was huge. Inside on Gates, he did a very good job for a freshman," noted Boeheim. "I thought he was really good in the middle."

Cashmere Wright led the Bearcats with 17 points and four assists and Yancy Gates added 16 and ten rebounds, but the shooting struggles of Dion Dixon and Rakeem Christmas (5-for-18 FG, 3-for-11 3PT) combined with Cincinnati's 3-for-9 night from the foul line did them in. And that's with Syracuse making just five of their fifteen shots from the line. Cincinnati got off to a hot start against the Melo-less Orange, but unlike Saturday the Orange were better equipped mentally to deal with such an opening blow.

"I told the players this was as good a regular-season bounce-back win that I can remember at Syracuse," said Boeheim. "We were just so woeful Saturday night. But, coming here in that atmosphere, the way they started the game to play the way we did - I thought was tremendous."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Iona once again relaxes after getting a big lead and they pay dearly for it.
Just eleven days ago Tim Cluess' Gaels lost at the buzzer to Manhattan in a game they led 67-49 at the under-8 media timeout, and their second meeting with Siena came just 20 days after blowing out the Saints at Madison Square Garden. So jumping out to a 20-2 lead means "game over", right? That's what the Gaels seemed to think, and as a result of that complacency the Saints were able to fight their way to a stunning 65-62 win at the Times Union Center. O.D. Anosike led the Saints with 17 points and 15 rebounds, Kyle Downey added 16 and Rob Poole scored 14 off the bench as a team that can only go seven deep picked up the best win of its season to date. On the flip side is the shocking tumble of the Gaels, and the foul trouble of Scott Machado is one reason why.

The senior finished with 16 points, 12 of which came during that opening run, but played just 25 minues due to three first-half fouls (the third coming on a technical for arguing a call from the bench). Mike Glover accounted for 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots but Sean Armand, who knocked down ten three-pointers in the first meeting, attempted just one shot and Momo Jones shot 7-for-20 from the field. Kyle Smyth finished 1-for-5 from deep and as a team the Gaels shot 3-for-16, but the biggest issue has been the on/off switch they use far too often. Now tied with Manhattan and Loyola (MD) atop the MAAC standings, the Gaels likely now find themselves in a position where they have to win the conference tournament to get to the Big Dance.

2. Kansas remains undefeated in Big 12 play despite a spirited fight from Texas A&M.
Many like myself expected Bill Self's team to roll over a Texas A&M squad that was without the services of the injured Khris Middleton. But due to both the Aggies' refusal to lie down and the Jayhawks being a bit too fond of the perimeter shot in the first half Texas A&M took a two-point lead into the locker room at halftime. Kansas would rebound thanks in large part to Tyshawn Taylor, who scored 17 points, and 11 points off turnovers as they won 64-54 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Thomas Robinson led Kansas with 18 points and grabbed ten rebounds while Elston Turner led all scorers with 24 points, but the absence of Middleton and the balky ankle of Dash Harris proved to be too much to overcome for the visitors. And the play of Jeff Withey can't be ignored either, as he finished the night with ten points, eight blocked shots and four rebounds. Kansas learned a good lesson in victory, as they'll likely have it drilled into their heads that they're too good to settle for 20 three-point attempts (making just four).

3. Mississippi Valley State increases their lead to two games with an OT win at Texas Southern.
The matchup of the top two teams in the SWAC was nowhere to be found on television but that shouldn't diminish the importance of the Delta Devils' 77-69 overtime win at Texas Southern. Neither team shot particularly well as both hovered around the 38% mark, but the Delta Devils' work on the glass proved to be the difference. MVSU out-rebounded the Tigers 47-36, grabbing 18 offensive boards and outscoring Texas Southern 29-20 in the paint.

Terrence Joyner led four players in double figures with 18 points and Paul Crosby put up a double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds. Texas Southern was done in by three starters combining for just nine points, which proved costly despite the fact that the game reached overtime. Texas Southern would be the two-seed in the conference tournament at this point since Southern (Grambling as well) is ineligible for postseason play due to APR issues, but they allowed a great opportunity to at least gain separation on the rest of the conference to slip through their fingers.

Quick Hitters

1. Belmont bounced back from their tough loss to USC Upstate with an 82-70 win at East Tennessee State to remain tied atop the Atlantic Sun with Mercer. Mick Hedgepeth led five Bruins in double figures with 17 points as Belmont won despite shooting 5-for-19 from three and turning the ball over 19 times.

2. The struggles continue for Towson, who hung with Delaware for nearly 30 minutes or so before falling 62-43. The Blue Hens outscored the Tigers, now 0-21 on the season, 20-4 over the final 10:30 and made 18 of 20 from the charity stripe (Towson finished 7-for-14).

3. Loyola Marymount moved to 5-0 in road WCC games as they beat Santa Clara 74-62. Anthony Ireland led the way with 25 points and five assists, and Max Good's team has the talent needed to remain in the race with Saint Mary's, Gonzaga and BYU if not win it.

4. North Carolina A&T nearly blew a 20-points second half lead at Coppin State, but thanks to an Adrian Powell three with 39 seconds remaining in overtime the Aggies left Baltimore with a 93-92 win. In fact, A&T needed a Nic Simpson (22 points) layup as time expired to simply get the game into overtime.

5. Playing in their road uniforms due to having some of their home jerseys swiped over the weekend, Old Dominion beat Northeastern 69-57 to remain a game behind George Mason in the CAA. Trian Iliadis scored 18 points and Chris Cooper posted a double-double (15 points, ten rebounds) as the Monarchs rebounded from their loss at VCU.

Three Notable Performances

1. F O.D. Anosike (Siena)
The nation's leading rebounder scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Saints' 65-62 win over Iona.

2. C Matt Groselle (Citadel)
20 points and 14 rebounds in the Bulldogs' 78-72 double-overtime loss at Georgia Southern. Groselle played 49 of the 50 minutes.

3. G D.J. Brown (San Jose State)
33 points (9-11 FG, 9-10 FT) and four rebounds in the Spartans' 78-70 win over Cal State Bakersfield.

Iona's Glover Named Preseason MAAC Player of the Year

Press Release — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:55:38 -0400

Springfield, Mass. - Iona College senior forward Mike Glover has been named the 2011-2012 MAAC Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, as selected by the league's 10 head coaches.

Glover is joined on the first team by Fairfield University junior guard Derek Needham and senior center Ryan Olander, Iona senior guard Scott Machado and Rider University senior guard/forward Novar Gadson.

Glover, who was named to the Preseason Top 50 List for the John R. Wooden Award, ranked 48th in the nation in scoring last season, netting 18.4 points per game for the Gaels. He also tied for 21st place on the NCAA rebounding chart with 10.1 caroms an outing during his junior campaign. Glover proved he was an expert marksman last season, connecting on a conference-high 61 percent of his attempts from the field.

Needham was an All-MAAC First Team selection last season. He ranked sixth in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per outing for the Stags. He also ranked third in the league in assists (4.5 per game), fifth in steals (1.4 per game) and 13th in free throw percentage (70 percent) during his sophomore campaign.

Olander, an All-MAAC Second Team choice last season, was second on the team in scoring as a junior with 10.4 points per game, good for 21st place on the MAAC scoring chart. He also recorded 6.8 rebounds per game (ninth in the MAAC) along with 2.1 blocks (third) an outing for the Stags. Olander owned a 53.2 percent field goal percentage, ranking him second in the league behind Glover.

Machado was a member of the All-MAAC First Team last season. He is the league's top assists leader, dishing out down 7.6 a night for the Gaels, good for second in the nation. Machado also contributed 13.2 points per game (eighth in the MAAC) and netted 67.5 percent of his shots from the charity stripe (15th).

Gadson, a 2010-11 All-MAAC Second Team pick, fin- ished his junior campaign seventh on the MAAC scoring list,netting13.7pointsanightfortheBroncs. Hefinished 15th in rebounding last season, pulling down 5.8 boards per game. Gadson also ranked ninth in the MAAC with his 47 percent field goal percentage.

2011-2012 Preseason All-MAAC Teams

First Team
Derek Needham, Fairfield Jr. G 5-11 Dolton, Ill.
Ryan Olander, Fairfield Sr. C 7-0 Mansfield, Conn.
Mike Glover, Iona Sr. F 6-7 Bronx, N.Y.
Scott Machado, Iona Sr. G 6-1 Queens, N.Y.
Novar Gadson, Rider Sr. G/F 6-7 Philadelphia, Pa.

Second Team
Gaby Belardo, Canisius Jr. G 6-2 San Juan, P.R.
Rakim Sanders, Fairfield Sr. G 6-2 Pawtucket, R.I.
Erik Etherly, Loyola Jr. F 6-7 Alexandria, Va.
Shane Walker, Loyola Sr. F 6-10 Northampton, England
George Beamon, Manhattan Jr. G/F 6-4 Roslyn, N.Y.

Third Team
Kyle Smyth, Iona Jr. G 6-4 River Edge, N.J.
Jeff Jones, Rider Sr. G 6-4 Chester, Pa.
Daniel Stewart, Rider So. F 6-7 Philadelphia, Pa.
Darius Conley, Saint Peter's Jr. F 6-7 Newport News, Va.
OD Anosike, Siena Jr. F 6-8 Staten Island, N.Y.

2011-2012 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year:
Mike Glover, Iona

MAAC Hoops

Iona Tabbed Preseason Favorite

Press Release — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:20:50 -0400

Springfield, Mass. - Iona College, the runner-up in last year's title game, is the preseason favorite to win the 2012 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship, according to the MAAC Pre- season Coaches' Poll.

Iona received eight of the first-place votes and 97 points, followed by last season's preseason pick Fairfield University,which received two first-place votes and 92 points. Loyola University (Maryland) finished in third with 76 points.

Rider University followed in fourth place with 71 points, while defending champion Saint Peter's College took fifth with 52points. Siena College received 44 points to finish sixth, followed by Niagara University (42 points) in seventh, Manhattan College (33) in eighth, Canisius College (25) in ninth and Marist College (18) in 10th to round out the poll.

Last season, the Gaels made their first appearance in the MAAC Championship final since winning the league crown in 2006 and also reached the title game of the 2011 CollegeInsider. com Postseason Tournament. Iona returns three starters from that squad -- preseason All-MAAC First Team picks Mike Glover and Scott Machado and Third Team member Kyle Smyth. Glover, named to the Preseason Top 50 List for the John R. Wooden Award, is the league's top returning scorer(18.4ppg) and rebounder (10.1rpg).

Machado finished second in the nation in assists per game with 7.6 an outing. Smyth averaged 10.1 points per game during his sophomore campaign, connecting on 45.1 percent of his shots from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range. Second-year head coach Tim Cluess will also look to senior Jermel Jenkins, junior Lamont Jones and sophomore Sean Armand to help lead the Maroon and Gold in their quest for an eighth MAAC Championship.

Fairfield returns four starters and eight letterwinners that helped earn the MAAC regular season title last season. The Stags, who previously registered a league-high scoring defense of 58.3 points per game, will be led by preseason All-MAAC First Team selections Derek Needham and Ryan Olander as well as Rakim Sanders of the Second Team. Needham recorded 14.1 points and 4.5 assists per game during his sophomore campaign, while Olander averaged 10.4 points per game and shot 53.2 percent from the floor.

First-year head coach Sydney Johnson will also rely onthe efforts of juniors Colin Nickerson and Sean Crawford along with sophomores Maurice Barrow and Jamel Fields as the Stags look to earn the program's first MAAC championship title in 15 years.

MAAC Hoops

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Loyola (MD) Great Andy O'Donnell

Jon Teitel — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:33:42 -0500

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Loyola (MD) great Andy O'Donnell. A guard who helped lead the Greyhounds to three NAIA Tournament appearances, O'Donnell remains just one of two Loyola (MD) alums to have played in the NBA. Mike Morrison (1990) was the other Greyhound to have reached the NBA.

Jon Teitel: Why did you decide to go to Loyola?

Andy O'Donnell: At the time it was very difficult to get into college due to the number of returning soldiers seeking admission via the GI Bill. I served five campaigns in Europe during WWII and landed on Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day. I ended up receiving the Purple Heart, and was discharged from the Army in 1945. With the help of a relative I got accepted at Loyola for the 1946 term and walked on to the basketball team. I became a starter during my freshman year, and ended up as the second highest scorer on the team.

JT: What are your memories of the three straight NAIA tourneys you went to (1947-1949)?

AO: I am 85 years old, so I am sorry to say I have some difficulty remembering many of those details. I do recall that for the first two tourneys we had to travel all the way from Baltimore to KC by train.

JT: When you graduated you decided to go pro and join the Baltimore Bullets for the NBA's inaugural season (it was previously known as the BAA). What was the public perception of the NBA at that time, and what did your friends/family think about your career choice?

AO: My first contact with the Bullets came in college, when we scrimmaged against them a number of times. They were very popular, and I received a great welcome and much support from the fans in Baltimore. My family, friends, and teammates were very happy for me.

JT: The early years of the NBA featured several future Hall-of-Famers (George Mikan, Dolph Schayes, Ed Macauley, etc.). Did any of them stand out above the others, and were you convinced that the league would survive thanks to such talented players?

AO: At that time the NBA was loaded with great players, but Mikan stood out as 1 of the most exceptional. Every team had standout players, and I do not recall anyone who was concerned about the league's survival.

JT: Your team was led by player/coach Buddy Jeanette, who was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. What was it like to play for a legend like Buddy, and how did he handle the dual roles of player and coach?

AO: Buddy and I played against each other while I was in college, and after I graduated in 1950 he offered me a contract to play for the Bullets. I believe that Buddy signed me to take his place once his own playing days were over. I was offered a $5,000 contract for the following season, but turned it down for personal reasons, which was a decision I came to regret. Buddy was a great player and an equally great coach. All of our players got along very well and had a real sense of purpose.

JT: You later played for the Reading Rangers in the Eastern Professional Basketball League. How did the EPBL compare to the NBA?

AO: The Eastern League was comprised of many fine players, but in my opinion their teams did not compare to NBA teams.

JT: One of the EPBL's notable accomplishments was its inclusion of African-American players: how big a deal was it at the time, and how did the crowds/cities react to this integration?

AO: I recall that African-American players were readily accepted by the fans in the Eastern League.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

AO: I would like people to remember me as a great competitor and "floor general". I came from a small high school (18 people in my senior class!) in a small town, but ended up making it to the big time.

O'Donnell is also on Jon's list of best pro players in MAAC history.

Canisius: Johnny McCarthy (1957)
Fairfield: AJ Wynder (1991)
Iona: Richie Guerin (1957)
Loyola (MD): Andy O'Donnell (1950)
Manhattan: Ricky Marsh (1978)
Marist: Rik Smits (1989)
Niagara: Calvin Murphy (1971)
Rider: Jason Thompson (2009)
Siena: NO ALUMNI IN ABA/NBA
Saint Peter's: Rich Rinaldi (1972)

#136 Siena Saints: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:39:39 -0400

Overall Rank: #136

Conference Rank: #3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

2009-10: 27-7, 17-1

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Mitch Buonaguro (First year at Siena, 72-103 overall)

Siena has dominated the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for quite a while now. But this is the year for teams like St. Peter’s, Iona and Fairfield to make their move. Not only did the Saints lose their coach, but they also lost their best three players in Alex Franklin, Edwin Ubiles and Ronald Moore. There is certainly a nice core of players for new coach Mitch Buonaguro to work around, but Siena is taking a step back for now.

Key Losses: F Alex Franklin, G Ronald Moore, G Edwin Ubiles

Key Newcomers:

Brandon Walters did not make much of an impact during his two years at Seton Hall, but he is stepping right into a situation where a versatile big man is needed. Walters, a 6-9, 246 pound junior is a good rebounder and defender and has enough agility and strength to score some points as well. If he can get everything in order, Walters should make a big impact on this team, especially on defense and in the rebounding department. The two true freshmen heading into Siena are Rakeem Brookins and Trenity Burdine. Brookins, a 5-10 point guard, will be given every opportunity to start and Siena hopes he can at least provide some help in the unenviable job of trying to replace Moore.

Backcourt:

Replacing Moore is one thing, but replacing Ubiles and his 15.3 points per game is another problem. However, the Saints have more options on the wing. Clarence Jackson is ready to become the next in a long line of great guards at Siena. He may not be the most consistent player around, but Jackson can flat out shoot. And, as the lone senior in the backcourt, he will have to play smart and help out the younger players around him. Kyle Downey will likely start at the other wing spot after averaging 15.0 minutes per game last season. Downey’s shooting was streaky at best last year, but he has the skill and experience to be a valuable asset on the perimeter. Other than those two, Siena does not have much returning talent on the wings and depth may be hard to come by.

Frontcourt:

Jackson should emerge as a star, but Ryan Rossiter already is one. The 6-9 senior forward averaged 13.8 points and 11.1 rebounds last season. He will score in a variety of ways and can even stretch out the defense to nearly the three-point line. But it is his ability to dominate under the basket that will free up Jackson and Downey to knock down some long balls. A few other forwards could earn a starting job on this depleted team. Owen Wignot is a versatile small forward who can do a little bit of everything, but it is O.D. Anosike who is garnering the most attention. Anosike only averaged 12.1 minutes per game as a freshman, but he had some flashes of brilliance. The 6-7 Staten Island, New York product is a superb athlete and fine rebounder. He will not be the next Franklin quite yet, but he could be soon.

Who to Watch:

Does Siena rely on Brookins to run the point? The only other options are little used sophomore Jonathan Breeden and junior Kyle Griffin. Breeden averaged a measly 3.4 minutes in 16 contests as a freshman and certainly did not look ready to take over the team. Griffin has a little more experience, but not much. In the long run Brookins should prove to be the most talented of the three, but right now Siena does not necessarily need the most talented player running the point. They need the player who can keep the turnovers down and find the bevy of scorers that are certain to emerge from the shadows of the three departed seniors.

Final Projection:

Assuming the point guard position is in decent enough hands, Siena has the firepower to win the conference yet again. This team will look a lot different, but Rossiter and Jackson are great players to build around. And the talent behind them is not that bad; they just never got the opportunity to shine. Downey, Anosike and Wignot are all capable of turning into big time scorers now that they will get the opportunity. Siena may not go 17-1 in conference play again, but this is not a team that is going to fall off the face of the Earth either.

Projected Post-season Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:

Kyle Griffin, Junior, Guard, 2.2 ppg

Kyle Downey, Junior, Guard, 5.0 ppg

Clarence Jackson, Senior, Guard, 13.6 ppg

O.D. Anosike, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg

Ryan Rossiter, Senior, Forward, 13.8 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
137		138		139		140		..All

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Jon Teitel's Interview Series: Siena Great Marc "Showbiz" Brown

Jon Teitel — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:03:28 -0400

In a recent installment in his player interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with one of the greatest players (if not the greatest) in Siena history in guard Marc "Showbiz" Brown. Brown ran the point for Mike Deane's team that in 1989 knocked off Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and led the Saints to the 1991 NIT quarters.

Jon Teitel: You were nicknamed "Showbiz". How did you get the nickname, and did you like it?

Marc Brown: My teammate Monty Henderson gave me the nickname on the 2nd day of school after I arrived at Siena, and I thought it fit, so I was happy with it. He just made it up; he used to call me "Biz" (short for Biz Marc) due to the old rapper Biz Markie, and it just turned into "Showbiz".

JT: From 1988-1989 you were a two-time first-team All-North Atlantic performer. How were you able to come in as a freshman and contribute from the start?

MB: We did not have any other point guards on the roster, which was a key reason why I went to Siena. I knew I could step in right away, and that was important to me when I made my decision. The point guard they had was graduating, so it was an easy decision for me, and there were no other point guards in my recruiting class.

JT: What are your memories of the 1988 NIT (you scored seven points in an eight-point loss to Boston College, whose star Dana Barros shot only 6-21 from the field)?

MB: I was excited to be in the postseason, the 1st NIT appearance in school history, so the team was excited about that. It was a great atmosphere at BC. Dana Barros was an honorable-mention All-American that year, so I was excited for the challenge, but I had played against some other great Big East point guards (like Sherman Douglas at Syracuse) as a freshman.

JT: In 1989 and 1991 you were named an honorable-mention All-American. Did you feel like you were one of the best players in the country?

MB: I did, especially in 1991. I felt like I was one of the better scoring point guards in the country. It was a great honor to even be in the class of the other guys.

1989 NCAA Tournament

JT: You scored a tourney school-record 32 points (13-20 FG) in forty minutes in a two-point win over Stanford (Adam Keefe had 22 points and Todd Lichti had 17). How were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what was the feeling like in the locker room afterwards?

MB: I just played on adrenaline, as did my teammates. We were happy to play in front of fans: we had just played about 10 straight games in empty gyms because an outbreak of measles at Siena in early February made several games off-limits to spectators. Once I made a couple of shots, I kind of got in the zone a little bit. Everyone was ecstatic in the locker room; we were excited just to be there, but to get the first NCAA tourney win in school history was even more exciting. We were happy that we had made history. We felt that Stanford was a good match-up for us when we heard it announced on the tourney selection show, which we watched together at our team doctor's house.

JT: You sealed the win by making two game-winning free throws with three seconds left. How nervous were you when you stepped to the line, and did you think you were going to make them both?

MB: I was super-nervous, because I had missed a couple of 1-and-1 opportunities late in the game, so I felt much more comfortable with a two-shot situation. Once I got that third opportunity, I knew I had to make it count, so I was pretty confident that third time.

JT: You scored nine points and had a school tournament-record eight assists, but shot 0-10 from three-point range in a loss to Minnesota (Willie Burton had 19 PTS/11 REB). Were you just ice-cold from behind the arc, or was the defense just swarming you throughout the game?

MB: They were swarming me, but that did not really make a difference, because everyone we played swarmed me. I was just ice cold: I had open looks, and just did not convert. I do not know why; it was just bad timing on my part to have one of the worst games of my college career on that day.

JT: In 1990 you had a school-record 15 assists vs. Army. How were you able to balance your ability to score with your ability to play the point, and what do you remember about that game vs. Army?

MB: I remember all our games against Army were tough, hard-fought games, as they were a disciplined team whether at home or away. Our offense just gave me an opportunity to score or put other guys in a position to score, which is what I tried to do my entire career. My teammates were making shots, so things just went well that game; it was a team effort.

JT: In 1990 you had a triple-double (32 PTS/10 REB/10 AST) in a win over UC Irvine. When did you realize that you were close to getting a triple-double, and what was the reaction like after the game?

MB: I had no idea during the game. After the game, Coach Mike Deane told me that I actually had a quadruple-double, because I also had ten turnovers! It was a surprise to me because I did not remember rebounding that well during the game, but it was a good thing.

JT: In 1990 you were named 1st-team All-MAAC. Was it weird to switch conferences from the North Atlantic, and how did the competition in your new conference compare to your old conference?

MB: The competition did not change much because a few other North Atlantic teams came over to the MAAC with us. La Salle (who had dominated the MAAC), St. Peter's, and Iona were the top-three teams in the MAAC, so it was a little stronger. It was not a big adjustment; it was still smaller D-1 schools from the Northeast.

JT: In 1991 you scored a career-high 44 points vs. Fairfield. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?

MB: It was a great night: senior night for me, my last game on campus, with my parents in attendance. It was one of those nights when I felt I could not miss; my teammates set screens to get me open, and I was fortunate to make a lot of my shots. It was easily one of the best games I ever played as a collegian. Coach Deane took me out with about 10 minutes to go; once I scored my 44th point to break the school single-game scoring record, he sat me down because we were winning pretty easily.

JT: In 1991 you were named conference Player of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

MB: It meant a lot; I was very satisfied with the season I had, but more importantly I was pleased that our team finished the season number one in the MAAC and showed that we really belonged in the MAAC.

1991 NIT

JT: You scored 31 points in a five-point win over Fairleigh Dickinson, and sealed the win with a steal/lay-up with 13.8 seconds to play. What did you learn from the 1989 NCAA tourney that helped you prepare for the 1991 NIT, and did you think you were going to lose after FDU came back to tie the score after being down by 14 points in the 2nd half?

MB: The 1989 tourney and other big road games (we won at Pitt and Wake Forest) taught us big-game preparation, so we were used to playing in such games. I did not think we were going to lose because we were comfortable at home. FDU was a tough team that year that came in with nothing to lose, but fortunately we were able to pull it out at the end.

JT: In the second round you got a five-point win over South Carolina. Was your team getting tired of playing yet another close postseason game, or did you just come to expect it by this point?

MB: We had come to expect it: we played a lot of tight games during the second half of the season, so we were just happy to beat an SEC [then a member of the Metro Conference] opponent and move on to the next round.

JT: You played all 45 minutes and scored 20 points in a two-point overtime loss to UMass and with a few seconds left in regulation the scoreboard flashed, "Congratulations Siena". Do you remember seeing the scoreboard sign, and do you feel like it might have jinxed your team?

MB: That was one of the toughest losses of my career. We had the game in hand and should have won, when a guy from UMass turned and made a lucky half-court shot. That was a tough way to end my season, as we were looking forward to getting to the Final Four in Madison Square Garden. Whoever put it up on the scoreboard used poor judgment, and what was worse was when the announcer told everyone what time the Siena fans could catch a bus to go to the next game at the Garden.

JT: Tony Barbee of UMass made a three-point shot at the buzzer in regulation to send the game into overtime and UMass all-time leading scorer Jim McCoy scored the only basket in overtime. How crushing was Barbee's shot, and why was it so hard for either team to make a shot in OT?

MB: Barbee's shot was devastating; we were looking forward to getting to the Garden, and it really crushed our dreams. Nobody was able to score in overtime because both teams were exhausted; I think it was our third game in seven or eight days.

JT: You finished your career as the school's all-time leading scorer (since then Ronald Moore has passed him). Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?

MB: Not really; I just kind of played. A couple of years after graduation I looked back at some of my records that I had broken and set, and then it kind of sunk in. A guard who came after me named Doremus Bennerman chased some of my records and broke a few of them. It means a lot to me to still hold the records for points and assists at a Division I school. I really cherish them, especially the assists, as it shows I was not just a guy who shot the ball all the time.

JT: From 1991-2007 you played in the CBA with Albany, and later you played in Europe and South America. What did you learn from these experiences, and how did they compare to college basketball?

MB: It gave me a different outlook on life; not just with basketball, but personally. I got the chance to experience different cultures and places. The college game is much more structured, while the CBA and overseas leagues rely more on athleticism and ability.

JT: You handled your own contract negotiations using your B.S. degree in marketing without the help of an agent. Were you nervous to be negotiating without an agent, and did the team treat you differently because you were doing it all by yourself?

MB: I did my own contract for three years. I was not nervous because nobody knew what I wanted more than I did myself. I had been in Brazil for five seasons before handling my first contract, so there was mutual respect during the negotiation period. I think I was able to get some things done that an agent could not have done himself.

JT: In 2007 you took over for your father Charles (who was himself an honorable-mention All-American as a player at New Jersey City University in the 1960s, and won a school-record 483 wins in his twenty-five years as coach) as head coach at NJCU. What was it like to fill his big shoes as coach, and how much of your success as a player and coach do you owe to your father?

MB: I owe a lot to my dad, both personally and obviously athletically. If I win half of the games he won, I will consider myself a success. This has been a dream come true to fill his shoes, so I am just trying to keep things going and run things with class like he did.

Marc is also on my list of best fantasy players in MAAC history:

Canisius: Ray Hall (1985): 2,226 PTS (#1), 219 STL (#1), 77.7 FT% (#5), All-American

Fairfield: Joe DeSantis (1979): 1,916 PTS (#2), 667 AST (#2), 84.9 FT% (#1), All-American

Iona: Jeff Ruland (1980): 1,855 PTS (#4), 1,067 REB (#2), 63.5 FG% (#1), two-time All-American

Loyola (MD): Kevin Green (1992): 2,154 PTS (#2), 162 3PM (#3), 40.5 3P% (#4), 159 STL (#3)

Manhattan: Luis Flores (2004): 2,046 PTS (#1), 163 3PM, 161 STL, 88 FT% (#1), All-American, two-time conference Player of the Year

Marist: Rik Smits (1988): 1,945 PTS (#2), 811 REB (#3), 345 BLK (#1), 60.9 FG% (#1), All-American, two-time conference Player of the Year

Niagara: Calvin Murphy (1970): 2,548 PTS (#1), 84.9 FT%, three-time All-American

Rider: Jason Thompson (2008): 2,040 PTS (#3), 1,171 REB (#1), 235 BLK (#1), 52.6 FG% (#1), conference Player of the Year

Siena: Marc Brown (1991): 2,284 PTS (#1), 796 AST (#2), 221 STL (#2), 224 3PM (#4), 42.3 3P% (#5), two-time All-American, conference Player of the Year

St. Peter's: Keydren Clark (2006): 3,058 PTS (#1), 501 AST (#2), 265 STL (#1), 435 3PM (#1), 36.5 3P% (#2), 85.5 FT% (#1), conference Player of the Year

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2010

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:19:42 -0400

We'll track coaching changes as they occur. If there's any missing on here, or if you have contract info to add (including salaries), please mention it in the comments section.

Latest 8/20: UIC tabs Wisconsin assistant to replace Collins

BCS Conferences

Auburn
Was: Jeff Lebo
Is: Tony Barbee (UTEP)

Boston College
Was: Al Skinner
Is: Steve Donahue (Cornell)

Clemson
Was: Oliver Purnell
Is: Brad Brownell (Wright State)

Colorado
Was: Jeff Bzdelik
Is: Tad Boyle (Northern Colorado)

DePaul
Was: Jerry Wainwright
Interim: Tracy Webster
Is: Oliver Purnell

Iowa
Was: Todd Lickliter
Is: Fran McCaffery (Siena)

Iowa State
Was: Greg McDermott
Is: Fred Hoiberg (VP of Basketball Operations, Minnesota Timberwolves)

Oregon
Was: Ernie Kent
Is: Dana Altman (Creighton)

Rutgers
Was: Fred Hill Jr.
Is: Mike Rice (Robert Morris)

Seton Hall
Was: Bobby Gonzalez
Is: Kevin Willard (Iona)

St. John's
Was: Norm Roberts
Is: Steve Lavin (not coaching)

Wake Forest
Was: Dino Gaudio
Is: Jeff Bzdelik (Colorado)

High-Majors

Boise St
Was: Greg Graham
Is: Leon Rice (Gonzaga Asst)

Central Florida
Was: Kirk Speraw
Is: Donnie Jones (Marshall)

Charlotte
Was: Bobby Lutz
Is: Alan Major (Ohio State Asst)

Creighton
Was: Dana Altman
Is: Greg McDermott (Iowa State)

East Carolina
Was: Mark McCarthy
Is: Jeff Lebo (Auburn)

Fordham
Was: Dereck Whittenburg
Interim: Jared Grasso (Interim)
Is: Tom Pecora (Hofstra)

Hawaii
Was: Bob Nash
Is: Gib Arnold (USC Asst)

Hofstra
Was: Tom Pecora
Was: Tim Welsh
Is:Mo Cassara (Hofstra Asst)

Houston
Was: Tom Penders
Is: James Dickey (not coaching)

Indiana State
Was: Kevin McKenna (Oregon assistant)
Is: Greg Lansing (Indiana State assistant)

Marshall
Was: Donnie Jones
Is: Bill Herrion (Pittsburgh Asst)

Tulane
Was: Dave Dickerson
Is: Ed Conroy (Citadel)

UNCW
Was: Benny Moss
Interim: Brooks Lee
Is: Buzz Peterson (Appalachian State)

UTEP
Was: Tony Barbee
Is: Tim Floyd (not coaching)

Mid-Majors

Columbia
Was: Joe Jones
Is: Kyle Smith (Saint Mary's assistant)

Cornell
Was: Steve Donahue
Is: Bill Courtney (Virginia Tech Assistant)

Dartmouth
Was: Terry Dunn
Interim: Mark Gaupe (Interim)
Is: Paul Cormier (scout; Golden State Warriors)

Illinois-Chicago
Was: Jimmy Collins (retiring effective August 31st)
Is: Howard Moore (Wisconsin assistant)

Iona
Was: Kevin Willard
Is: Tim Cluess (CW Post)

Louisiana-Lafayette
Was: Robert Lee
Is: Bob Marlin (Sam Houston St)

Louisiana-Monroe
Was: Orlando Early
Is: Keith Richard (LSU assistant)

Penn
Was: Glen Miller
Interim: Jerome Allen
In: Jerome Allen (Interim)

Siena
Was: Fran McCaffery
Is: Mitch Buonaguro (Siena Asst)

Toledo
Was: Gene Cross
Is: Tod Kowalczyk (UWGB)

UC-Irvine
Was: Pat Douglass
Is: Russell Turner (Golden State Warriors assistant)

UWGB
Was: Tod Kowalczyk
Is: Brian Wardle (UWGB Asst)

Wright State
Was: Brad Brownell
Is: Billy Donlon (Wright State Associate head coach)

Low-Majors

Appalachian State
Was: Buzz Peterson
Is: Jason Capel (Appalachian State assistant)

Central Arkansas
Was: Rand Chappell
Is: Corlis Williamson (Arkansas Baptist)

Chicago State
Was: Benjy Taylor
Is: Tracy Dildy (UIC assistant)

Citadel
Was: Ed Conroy
Is: Chuck Driesell (Maryland assistant)

Gardner-Webb
Was: Ricky Scruggs
Is: Chris Holtmann (Ohio Asst)

Hartford
Was: Dan Leibovitz
Is: Joe Gallagher (Boston College Asst)

Holy Cross
Was: Sean Kearney
Is: Milan Brown (Mount St. Mary's)

Howard
Was: Gil Jackson
Is: Kevin Nickleberry (DePaul assistant)

Mount St. Mary's
Was: Milan Brown
Is: Robert Burke (American assistant)

Northern Colorado
Was: Tad Boyle
Is: B.J. Hill (Northern Colorado assistant)

Robert Morris
Was: Mike Rice
Is: Andrew Toole (Robert Morris assistant)

Sam Houson St
Was: Bob Marlin
Is: James Hooten (Asst)

St. Francis (NY)
Was: Brian Nash
Is: Glenn Braica (St. John's assistant)

Wagner
Was: Mike Deane
Is: Danny Hurley (St. Benedict's HS)

Purdue vs Siena: Odds & Prediction

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:50:25 -0400

Start: Mar 19 2010 - 2:30pm

Team Previews: #4 Purdue -- #13 Siena

Vegas Odds: Purdue -4 Bet at bodog

Why Siena will win:

Unlike Purdue, which will be relying on 2 players to do the bulk of the work on offense, Siena can beat you with a variety of weapons. The RPI hasn't really lied in this tourney, as wins by quality mid-majors like ODU & Murray St has proven. Siena, at 30th, is no joke, and you obviously can't forget their recent NCAA Tournament success.

Saint to Watch:

Ryan Rossiter, F - 14 ppg, 11 rpg, 1 apg

Since New Year's Rossiter has been a double-double machine, but he was inconsistent against some of the better non-conference teams early on. JaJuan Johnson is the real deal for Purdue, and the Saints will need to counter with a big game from the junior.

Why Purdue will win:

Is Purdue the same team w/o Robbie Hummel? No, but that doesn't mean they're bad. JaJuan Johnson is a legit force down low and has been playing his best basketball in the last 2 months. E'Twaun Moore is the best scorer on the court. More importantly, Purdue wins with defense anyways and they're 5th in the country in defensive efficiency.

Boilermaker Watch:

E'Twaun Moore, G - 17 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg

Without Hummel, Moore's scoring is even more crucial then it was early in the year. Anything less then 20 points and Purdue will struggle to pull away.

How it will go down:

Siena hasn't won a big game all season, and on the most part they haven't really come close against the likes of Butler, Temple, St. Johns, and Northern Iowa. Purdue won't dominate, but their defense will carry them to a win.

Betting Pick: Purdue (this seems like a fair line however, so I wouldn't touch it)

Real Pick: Purdue