Yale

Yale Basketball Preview: 08-09

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:42:11 -0500

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)

Yale Basketball Schedule: 2008-09

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:26:56 -0500

Schedule (key games in bold)

November 14^th Stanford (first game at Stanford for Johnny Dawkins)

18^th @ Vermont

21^st @ Portland

24^th @ Oregon State (new OSU head coach Craig Robinson left Brown for Corvallis)

30^th @ Sacred Heart

December 3^rd Holy Cross

6^th @ Wagner

10^th @ Boston University (backcourt will be tested when they take on Corey Lowe and the Terriers)

28^th @ Alabama (Bulldogs return from exam break to take on Crimson Tide)

30^th @ Hampton

January 2^nd @ Bryant

3^rd MIT

7^th @ NJIT

10^th Hartford (final tune-up for Ivy play brings one of the better teams in America East)

16^th @ Brown

23^rd Brown

30^th @ Columbia

31^st @ Cornell (Cornell embarrassed Yale twice last season, winning by 20 and 21)

February 6^th @ Harvard

7^th @ Dartmouth

13^th Princeton

14^th Penn (Yale could finish off a weekend sweep with a win over the Quakers)

20^th Cornell

21^st Columbia (Lions swept Yale last season, the reason why they tied for fourth)

27^th @ Penn

28^th @ Princeton

March 6^th Dartmouth

7^th Harvard (could be a big game in regards to the pecking order in the Ivy League)

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Season Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:33:14 -0500

Raphielle Johnson's Metro preview & weekly Metro rankings & updates are a staple of fans in NYC's tri-state region. To get things going, here is Raphielle's 23 team NYC Metro preseason ranking and all-Metro teams. Individual team previews will up shortly!

Preseason Metro Ranking

*CHN Top 144 previews by Joel Welser. All other Metro previews by Raphielle Johnson.

Preseason Metro Honors

It's time to project some honors in the metropolitan area, which will not be lacking on the perimeter this season. No matter where you turn there seems to be a quality perimeter player on the horizon with the ability to lead their team to a successful season. And given the overall lack of big men, that's a good thing. No players from teams in the poll were selected as their conference's preseason player of the year, but a few did receive preseason honors and could very well lift up that hardware come March. Here are the first-, second-, third- and all-rookie teams for the 2008-09 season.

First Team (Player of the Year in italics)

G Eugene Harvey (Seton Hall)

G Charles Jenkins (Hofstra)

F Anthony Mason Jr. (St. John's)

F Ryan Thompson (Rider)

C Hamady N'Diaye (Rutgers)

Second Team

G Antoine Pearson (Manhattan)

G Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall)

G Jonathan Han (Fairfield)

F Justin Burrell (St. John's)

F Ross Morin (Yale)

Third Team

G Harris Mansell (Rider)

G Patrick Foley (Columbia)

G Jaytornah Wisseh (Long Island)

F Devon Austin (Manhattan)

F Gary Springer (Iona)

All-Rookie Team (Rookie of the Year in italics)

G Mike Rosario (Rutgers)

G Jordan Theodore (Seton Hall)

G Jiovanny Fontan (Fordham)

F Greg Echinique (Rutgers)

F Miklos Szabo (Hofstra)

Ivy Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:21:12 -0500

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Conference Rank: 22nd

10 year average: 24th

Conference Page

All-IVY Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Louis Dale	Cornell	Jr
G	Jeremy Lin	Harvard	Jr
G/F	Tyler Bernardini	Penn	So
F	Ryan Wittman	Cornell	Jr
F	Alex Barnett	Dartmouth	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Louis Dale Ryan Wittman		Points: Alex Barnett 15.6 Rebounds: Alex Barnett 7.3 Assists: Chris Skelja (Brown) 4.4

IVY LEAGUE Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

87	Cornell* **	Ivy	1	NCAA
153	Penn	Ivy	2
171	Brown	Ivy	3
195	Harvard	Ivy	4
233	Princeton	Ivy	5
263	Yale	Ivy	6
290	Dartmouth	Ivy	7
329	Columbia	Ivy	8

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Ivy League?

Other Ivy League Content

Conference Media Poll

Other

Rise & Fall: Ivy

State of 08: New York

State of '08: Connecticut

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:44:40 -0400

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

Up today: Connecticut. For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

CONNECTICUT

UCONN - Not much thought involved in making this pick. Outside of a dismal 2007 campaign, Jim Calhoun's Huskies have always hovered around the Top 25, and this year's crew has Elite Eight potential. UCONN blows away their in-state competition.

CENTRAL CONNECITCUT STATE - Despite coming off a down year (208 RPI), CCSU is consistently one of the best teams in the NEC. The other Blue Devils have made three NCAA Tournaments under Howie Dickenman, including 2000, 2002, and 2007.

FAIRFIELD - With the exception of a weak 2006 campaign, Fairfield is almost always competitive in the MAAC. In fact, except for '06, the Stags have won 10+ league games every season since 2003 and should once again reach that mark in 2009 (CHN projects they'll finish 4th in the league). But despite this consistency, the program hasn't made the big dance since 1997.

YALE - After taking over in 1999, James Jones has done a good job giving Yale basketball some needed respect. While the 2002 NIT trip (Yale won their only postseason game in 107 years that season) seems like a bit of an aberration, at least the Bulldogs are now consistently mediocre. Yale has gone .500 or better in the Ivy League in every season since 2001.

SACRED HEART - After joining D1 in 1999, Sacred Heart was one of the worst teams in the country (3 wins in 2000 with a 308 RPI for example), but long-time head coach Dave Bike has finally found some success at the top level. The Pioneers have won 18 games each of the last two years, and won 2 NEC Tournament games each season as well

6. HARTFORD - Since a horrible 2005 campaign (300 in the RPI), Hartford has improved each season. Now under the guise of Dan Leibovitz, the Hawks are coming off an 18-win season in which they finished 2nd in the America East (their best ever AE finish) and are our preseason pick to win the league in 08-09.

7. QUINNIPIAC - The Bulldogs are coming off of one of their bests seasons in years, winning 15 games and going 11-7 in the NEC. But that's not saying much considering from 2004 to 2006, they were one of the worst programs on the East Coast..

Last: Colorado - Next: Washington, D.C.

State of '08: The Introduction

NYC Metro Preview: #4 Yale

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:40:58 -0500

4. Yale (2006-07 Record: 14-13, 10-4 Ivy)

Head coach: James Jones

Returning Starters: 4- G Eric Flato (senior): 6-1, 185; G/F Caleb Holmes (senior): 6-6, 205; F Ross Morin (junior): 6-7, 225; C Matt Kyle (senior): 6-11, 240.

Just like Columbia, it would be considered a disappointment if Yale weren’t in the thick of the Ivy League race this season. Four starters return, led by senior captain Eric Flato (15.3 ppg, 3.6 apg). Flato, who averaged thirty-four minutes per game last season, led the Bulldogs in both scoring and assists last season. He’s an outstanding leader who can flat-out get the job done on both ends of the floor. Joining him in the backcourt are twins Caleb (8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and Nick (5.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) Holmes, also seniors. Both look to be a part of the starting lineup with the graduation of Casey Hughes. Although Hughes was a forward, the Holmes twins can play the two and the three for Coach Jones, making this possible.

Other backcourt contributors this season include junior Travis Pinick (6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), sophomore Alexander Zampier (12 mpg in 06-07) and freshman Porter Braswell. While the two returnees can play at the off-guard spot, how well Braswell grows as a point guard will make a difference in just how good Yale becomes this season. For if Braswell proves he is able, Flato can get some rest. Not that he’ll need much, but it’s a good luxury to have.

The frontcourt will be led by upperclassmen Ross Morin (junior) and Matt Kyle (senior). Morin (8.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is Yale’s leading returning rebounder, and Kyle (5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) needs to step up his game with the graduation of Casey Hughes. And if the opener against Sacred Heart is an indication (22 points, 10 boards, 4 blocks), then Kyle should be just fine this season. Other players looking to contribute up front are sophomore Paul Nelson (1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and freshmen Michael Sands (Franklin Square, NY) and Garrett Fiddler (Colorado Springs, CO).

In regards to the schedule, the Bulldogs have a tough non-conference slate that should have them more than prepared for Ivy League play. A four-game road trip (UMass, Stanford, UCLA, and Holy Cross) won’t be easy to navigate, and neither will later trips to Fairfield and Kansas. Home non-conference games include Vermont and Boston University. But if any team can channel the rigors of such a slate into a successful conference campaign then it’s this experienced group.

2007-08 Prospects

Replacing Casey Hughes will be tough, but there are plenty of options all over the floor for Yale. And in Flato, the Bulldogs have one of the best guards (if not the best) in the Ivy League. The tough schedule will offer up some of the country’s best programs, something that can’t be matched every weekend in the Ivy League. Yale is right there with Cornell at the top of the conference, and don’t be surprised if the Bulldogs make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1962.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

2007-08 Yale Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:46:05 -0400

Yale Bulldogs

Overall Rank: #119

Conference Rank: #1 Ivy League

2006-07: 14-13, 10-4, 2^nd

2006-07 postseason: none

Yale? It has been a long time since Penn or Princeton has not been in this spot, but that goes to show that the Ivy League is not just about those two teams anymore. Harvard has a new big name coach, Cornell will be picked by some to win the championship this year and the Bulldogs will be in the mix. With Penn down and Princeton even losing the name of their offense since they are so bad, this promises to be one of the most exciting league races in recent Ivy history.

Who’s Out:

Casey Hughes, a 6-5 wing, was second on the team in scoring and led the unit in rebounding during his senior campaign. He will not be easy to replace, but luckily Yale has some talent on the wings ready to take over his role. The frontcourt takes the biggest hit on the departures. Sam Kaplan has wrapped up his collegiate career after being limited in the 2006-2007 season due to injury. Jason Abromaitis occasionally played an important role off the bench and little used Ed White has transferred to Stanford.

Who’s In:

The return of Chris Andrews from a knee injury will make the depth on the perimeter even better than it already is heading into the 2007-2008 campaign. All that depth is bad news, for now, for incoming freshmen Porter Braswell and Raffi Mantilla. The high scoring Braswell is a steady, and obviously smart, point guard, but the perimeter is too deep for him to see many minutes as a freshman. Mantilla, a 6-3 shooting guard, could be another sharpshooter off the bench. Forward Michael Sands averaged 28 points and 15 rebounds as a senior at Carey High School in Franklin Square, New York. He will not put up of those lofty numbers at Yale, but has good size for a dynamic scorer. Over the last two years, Garrett Fiddler has led the state of Colorado in blocked shots and the 6-9 power forward will develop into a force under the basket in New Haven, Connecticut as well.

Who to Watch:

There is plenty of talent on the perimeter, led by Eric Flato. The 6-1 senior led the team in scoring, assists and steals last year. Any success the Bulldogs find this year will be on the shoulders of the sharpshooting point guard. Caleb Holmes is a decent shooter and will return to his starting position at shooting guard. His twin brother, Nick, will provide some scoring off the bench. Travis Pinick is the likely candidate to replace the departed Hughes. The 6-6 wing is a decent scorer, but more importantly will help out on the glass. Alexander Zampier had a decent freshman campaign, averaging 2.8 points and earned two starts. As a sophomore, Zampier is expected to play a bigger role.

Final Projection:

The problem is in the paint. Ross Morin and Matt Kyle are good returning starters, but there is very little depth behind them. Both can score around the basket and Morin can hit the mid-range jumper with some consistency. If foul trouble or injuries strike, Yale will have to look to little used Paul Nelson or play a little smaller. However, for a team that should start only one player that is under 6-6, it is not a big deal if Pinick has to occasionally slide up to the power forward spot. It will not be easy, but Coach James Jones could lead Yale to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1962. He came close in 2002, when the Bulldogs won a game in the NIT, but getting into the NCAAs may be the beginnings of a third team among the Ivy League elite. Either that or it will be the culmination of years of rebuilding which will be followed by more years of rebuilding in New Haven, Connecticut.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Eric Flato, Senior, Guard, 15.3 points per game

Caleb Holmes, Senior, Guard, 8.7 points per game

Travis Pinick, Junior, Guard, 6.6 points per game

Ross Morin, Junior, Forward, 8.7 points per game

Matt Kyle, Senior, Center, 5.9 points per game

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

Interview w/ Yale Coach James Jones

Jon Teitel — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:52:18 -0500

1. What are your team's goals for this season?
A: We always have a goal of winning the Ivy title, and we also want to be the best team we can possibly be and not leave anything on the table.

2. What facet of the game is most important to your team's success this season?
A: We need to work on our free-throw shooting, as we were the worst team in the league in that category last year. I would also like us to improve on our rebounding.

3. Which non-conference opponent do you think will be your biggest challenge this year?
A: No team in particular: I look at every non-conference team the same.

4. Which of your four incoming freshmen (Josh Davis, Jordan Gibson, Paul Nelson, and Alexander Zampier) do you expect to make the biggest impact this season?
A: It is too early to tell. I feel good about their athleticism, but there is a huge learning curve.

5. In light of the success of Ivy players from other countries, do you think it is crucial to specifically recruit foreign-born players (like Davis), or do you just try to get the guys who can best help your team win?
A: We just try to get guys who will fit our team and our style the best.

6. How do you think the loss of Dominick Martin (All-Ivy 1st-team) will affect your team?
A: It is always hard to lose your leading scorer and rebounder, so it will have an impact, but if we get a collective effort from the entire team, we will be able to overcome the loss of Dominick.

7. Do you consider this season to be the usual two-team race between Penn and Princeton, or do you think another team can win the conference title this season?
A: Penn has everyone back from their title team, so they will be tough, but they showed some chinks in their armor, so anything is possible. Predictions only go so far: until you actually get it done on the court, nobody will believe it.

8. After being named All-Ivy Honorable Mention as a sophomore, how high is the ceiling for Eric Flato?
A: I think Eric is a potential All-Ivy 1st-Team player, and if he can lead us to a title, he might even be Ivy Player of the Year.

9. What did you want your team to get out of the preseason trip to Spain, and what did they actually get out of it?
A: It was a great bonding period for our close-knit team. It is always nice to experience another culture: you cannot put a dollar figure on what it does for you. It was also a good opportunity to look at the guys who did not get a chance to play a lot last year.

10. What are the best and worst parts about coaching against your brother (Columbia coach Joe Jones)?
A: It is nice to see people come out of the woodwork whom I have not seen in years. The game itself is no problem: it's what happens before and after that is the hard part. The week before the game, Joe and I will not talk to each other, which is not fun because he is one of my best friends on the planet.

11. What was your reaction to the shooting of the Duquesne basketball players, and how do you try to keep your own players safe when they are off the court?
A: Your players are just like your kids: you can only do so much to watch over them. From what I have heard, the Duquesne kids did not do anything wrong. I ask myself and my team how we can avoid bad situations, and I urge them to watch each other's backs and step away from trouble whenever possible. Kids in college are here to have fun, so it is no surprise that they want to go out and party, but it is much better for them to be careful and live another day.

12. Whom do you consider to be the favorite for Ivy Player of the Year?
A: Ibby Jaaber at Penn won it last year, and he is back, so he has a good chance.

Ivy League Preview

CHN — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:13:54 -0500

Conference Previews | Top 144 | 06-07 Preview Home

Ivy League Preview

Conference Rank: 23rd

Conference Page

All-Conference

Player of the Year - Ibrahim Jaaber, Penn, G

Keenan Jeppesen, Brown, G/F

Mark Zoller, Penn, F

John Baumann, Columbia, F

Brian Cusworth, Harvard, C

Nat'l	Team (Click for Preview)	Conf	Tourney
82	Penn	1	NCAA
154	Princeton	2
181	Brown	3
199	Yale	4
223	Columbia	5
255	Cornell	6
278	Harvard	7
313	Dartmouth	8

Ivy league Head Coach Q&A's:

Craig Robinson - Brown

Frank Sullivan - Harvard

Joe Scott - Princeton

Steve Donahue - Cornell