Add one more newcomer to the MAAC's list of fabulous freshmen of women's basketball thus far.
On a day on which Manhattan frosh Monica Roeder was named the conference's Player of the Week, Siena freshman Allie Mullings made an impressive debut to her college basketball career.
Mullings, an athletic 5-foot-7 guard from Northwest Catholic High School in Bloomfield, Conn., was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and added 3-of-4 shooting from the foul line to score 13 points in 19 minutes of playing time. Her work helped the Saints earn a 66-56 victory over Colgate of the Patriot League Monday night in Loudonville, N.Y.
Mullings' impressive initial work is made all the more impressive for this reason: she had missed more than two weeks of practice due to a knee bone bruise. Her first appearance of any kind on the court since the injury came at a Sunday evening practice
And, then, on Monday night, with that one practice as recent preparation, she turned in a big effort to put herself into an emerging picture of strong first-year players from throughout the conference so far.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Good, Bad in MAAC Women's Openers
MAAC women's teams, like their male counterparts, also got off to a tough start in non-league contests over this past weekend.
Women's teams went 3-9 in non-league play over the opening weekend of play with only Marist, Manhattan and Fairfield earning victories.
But, there were some bright spots including the emergence of some new, young talent from throughout the conference. The best of the newcomers include:
- Manhattan's 6-foot-0 freshman forward Monica Roeder who had 20 points and 5 rebounds in the Jaspers' 63-34 victory over St. Francis of N.Y. on Friday night. Roeder's offense came mostly on 6-of-7 accuracy from beyond the 3-point stripe.
- Katie Gattuso, a 6-2 freshman center for Niagara, had 7 points and 9 rebo0unds in the Purple Eagles' 73-57 loss to Illinois-Chicago on Friday night. Teammate Kayla Stroman, who certainly made her mark on the league a year ago as the MAAC's Rookie of the Year, opened her sophomore campaign with an 18-point, 9-rebound effort.
- Aziza May, a 5-3 freshman point guard at Saint Peter's, began her college career with a 4-point, 5-assist effort in her team's 65-48 loss to Sacred Heart. May's assists were the only ones credited to any Peahens' player in that contest.
- Laura Vegtra, a 6-2 sophomore forward, made her debut in the starting lineup for Fairfield a big one, getting 12 points and 8 rebounds in the Stags' 65-48 victory over Quinnipiac on Friday. Vetra, a native of Latvia, only scored 14 total points last season.
They weren't alone in turning in strong individual performances. Others included:
- A 12-point, 4 assist performance by Iona's Anda Ivkovic in Iona's 72-40 loss to Charlotte in the opening round of the WNIT on Saturday. It was the senior standout's first game back after suffering a mid-season knee injury last seasson.
- Brandy Gang, a 6-2 junior forward who previously was a reserve at Marist, had 19 points in a starting role in the Red Foxes' 82-61 victory over Grambling State on Saturday. Through two games, Gang and preseason MAAC Player of the Year, senior guard Erica Allenspach, are each averaging 12.5 points per game for Marist.
- Junior guard Ai Heller, previously a role player for Rider, led the Broncs in scoring in both its losses to date (53-48 against Bucknell and 95-21 against Penn State). She is averaging 10.0 points per game thus far.
- Miriam McKenzie of Loyola, a preseason first-team all-conference pick, had 11 points and 15 rebounds in a 64-57 loss to La Salle.
And, then, there was the not-so-good results, including:
- Rider's 21 points in its loss to Penn State on Sunday was the program's all-time low for points scored in a game. Its previous low was a 25-point effort in its final contest last season, a first-round MAAC tournament loss to Siena. Against Penn State the Broncs had 37 turnovers.
- Canisius also struggled to take care of the ball, committing 27 turnovers in a 60-54 loss to Kent State in its season opener on Friday night.
- Iona recorded only four assists against 25 turnovers in its 72-40 loss against Charlotte.
Women's teams went 3-9 in non-league play over the opening weekend of play with only Marist, Manhattan and Fairfield earning victories.
But, there were some bright spots including the emergence of some new, young talent from throughout the conference. The best of the newcomers include:
- Manhattan's 6-foot-0 freshman forward Monica Roeder who had 20 points and 5 rebounds in the Jaspers' 63-34 victory over St. Francis of N.Y. on Friday night. Roeder's offense came mostly on 6-of-7 accuracy from beyond the 3-point stripe.
- Katie Gattuso, a 6-2 freshman center for Niagara, had 7 points and 9 rebo0unds in the Purple Eagles' 73-57 loss to Illinois-Chicago on Friday night. Teammate Kayla Stroman, who certainly made her mark on the league a year ago as the MAAC's Rookie of the Year, opened her sophomore campaign with an 18-point, 9-rebound effort.
- Aziza May, a 5-3 freshman point guard at Saint Peter's, began her college career with a 4-point, 5-assist effort in her team's 65-48 loss to Sacred Heart. May's assists were the only ones credited to any Peahens' player in that contest.
- Laura Vegtra, a 6-2 sophomore forward, made her debut in the starting lineup for Fairfield a big one, getting 12 points and 8 rebounds in the Stags' 65-48 victory over Quinnipiac on Friday. Vetra, a native of Latvia, only scored 14 total points last season.
They weren't alone in turning in strong individual performances. Others included:
- A 12-point, 4 assist performance by Iona's Anda Ivkovic in Iona's 72-40 loss to Charlotte in the opening round of the WNIT on Saturday. It was the senior standout's first game back after suffering a mid-season knee injury last seasson.
- Brandy Gang, a 6-2 junior forward who previously was a reserve at Marist, had 19 points in a starting role in the Red Foxes' 82-61 victory over Grambling State on Saturday. Through two games, Gang and preseason MAAC Player of the Year, senior guard Erica Allenspach, are each averaging 12.5 points per game for Marist.
- Junior guard Ai Heller, previously a role player for Rider, led the Broncs in scoring in both its losses to date (53-48 against Bucknell and 95-21 against Penn State). She is averaging 10.0 points per game thus far.
- Miriam McKenzie of Loyola, a preseason first-team all-conference pick, had 11 points and 15 rebounds in a 64-57 loss to La Salle.
And, then, there was the not-so-good results, including:
- Rider's 21 points in its loss to Penn State on Sunday was the program's all-time low for points scored in a game. Its previous low was a 25-point effort in its final contest last season, a first-round MAAC tournament loss to Siena. Against Penn State the Broncs had 37 turnovers.
- Canisius also struggled to take care of the ball, committing 27 turnovers in a 60-54 loss to Kent State in its season opener on Friday night.
- Iona recorded only four assists against 25 turnovers in its 72-40 loss against Charlotte.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Mixed Bag For MAAC Men's Openers
News and notes from the first weekend of MAAC men's action in which conference teams put up a 4-9 overall record against non-league opponents ...
SIENA'S 38-game home-court winning streak, the second longest active nationally, is no longer. The Saints dropped an 80-76 decision to visiting Vermont before a crowd 0f 8,047 at the Times Union Center in Albany. Siena center Ryan Rossiter, the MAAC's Preseason Player of the Year, had game-high totals of 27 points and 10 rebounds, but the Saints were outbattled on the boards by a 44-30 margin.
The contest was the head coaching debut of Mitch Buonaguro with Siena. Buonaguro had been the team's lead assistant for the past five seasons under Fran McCaffery.
Siena did rally fromn 14 points down with 4:28 remaiining to pull within 78-76 with 12 seconds left, but when forced to foul it fouled one of the Catamount's best free-throw shooters, who hit both with five seconds left.
"I'm sad that the streak got broken, but we're still a team that needs work," said Buonaguro. "This really isn't unexpected. This is still a fragile, young team."...
The league's other first-year head coach, IONA'S Tim Cluess, is off to an 0-3 start after playing in the World of Vision Classic in Cleveland. Two of the three losses came in the closing seconds with the Gaels losing a lead in both.
Iona lost, 73-72, to Kent State in its opener, after holding a 72-69 lead with 1:07 remaining. It then lost, 78-68, to Cleveland State and finished with a 74-72 setback against Bryant after holding a 72-68 edge with 36 seconds left.
Highly touted incoming transfer Mike Glover, a 6-5 forward, averaged 18.7 points in the three contests...
FAIRFIELD, the preseason choice to win the conference crown, opened with a 62-45 victory over Sacred Heart. Sophomore guards Derek Needham and Colin Nickerson led the way with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Senior forward Greg Nero, who missed last season with a back injury, had six points and four rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench...
SAINT PETER'S showed itself to be offensively challenged without preseason all-league selection guard Wes Jenkins, who has been cleared to begin practicing after suffering a preseason knee injury, but is not yet ready to play. The Peacocks scored just 30 points in a 55-30 setback against Robert Morris. Senior guard Nick Leon had 13 points for St. Peter's, but no other Peacock scored more than four ...
LOYOLA dropped its opener, a 75-72 decision against Drexel. Senior guard Jamal Barney, who led the MAAC in scoring in 2008-09, had a game-high 21 points in 35 minutes of action for the Greyhounds...
CANISIUS split a pair of games over the weekend, opening strongly with a win over St. Bonaventure, 80-70, in a battle of Western New York schools. Julius Coles, a senior forward, led the way with 21, while Gaby Belardo, a transfer from South Florida, made his Golden Griffin's debut with 19 points. The Griffs then lost an 86-67 contest to Syracuse on Sunday, but only trailed by three points at halftime. Senior forward Greg Loggins led the Griffs with 17 points against the Orangemen ...
RIDER split two games this weekend, losing, 77-67, at UMass and, then, knocking off Lafayette, 80-73. The Broncs held a 21-point lead in the first half against the Minutemen before being outscored 53-22 after the break. Senior forward Mike Ringold led Rider with 21 points and nine rebounds in that game. Senior guard Justin Robinson had 18 points and five assists in the victory ...
MANHATTAN got a superlative effort from its young, emerging backcourt to open with a 75-70 victory over NJIT. Freshman guard Mike Alvarado had 23 points for the Jaspers, while sophomore George Beamon added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Senior forward Andrew Gabriel chipped in with 19 points...
NIAGARA and MARIST have not yet played.
SIENA'S 38-game home-court winning streak, the second longest active nationally, is no longer. The Saints dropped an 80-76 decision to visiting Vermont before a crowd 0f 8,047 at the Times Union Center in Albany. Siena center Ryan Rossiter, the MAAC's Preseason Player of the Year, had game-high totals of 27 points and 10 rebounds, but the Saints were outbattled on the boards by a 44-30 margin.
The contest was the head coaching debut of Mitch Buonaguro with Siena. Buonaguro had been the team's lead assistant for the past five seasons under Fran McCaffery.
Siena did rally fromn 14 points down with 4:28 remaiining to pull within 78-76 with 12 seconds left, but when forced to foul it fouled one of the Catamount's best free-throw shooters, who hit both with five seconds left.
"I'm sad that the streak got broken, but we're still a team that needs work," said Buonaguro. "This really isn't unexpected. This is still a fragile, young team."...
The league's other first-year head coach, IONA'S Tim Cluess, is off to an 0-3 start after playing in the World of Vision Classic in Cleveland. Two of the three losses came in the closing seconds with the Gaels losing a lead in both.
Iona lost, 73-72, to Kent State in its opener, after holding a 72-69 lead with 1:07 remaining. It then lost, 78-68, to Cleveland State and finished with a 74-72 setback against Bryant after holding a 72-68 edge with 36 seconds left.
Highly touted incoming transfer Mike Glover, a 6-5 forward, averaged 18.7 points in the three contests...
FAIRFIELD, the preseason choice to win the conference crown, opened with a 62-45 victory over Sacred Heart. Sophomore guards Derek Needham and Colin Nickerson led the way with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Senior forward Greg Nero, who missed last season with a back injury, had six points and four rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench...
SAINT PETER'S showed itself to be offensively challenged without preseason all-league selection guard Wes Jenkins, who has been cleared to begin practicing after suffering a preseason knee injury, but is not yet ready to play. The Peacocks scored just 30 points in a 55-30 setback against Robert Morris. Senior guard Nick Leon had 13 points for St. Peter's, but no other Peacock scored more than four ...
LOYOLA dropped its opener, a 75-72 decision against Drexel. Senior guard Jamal Barney, who led the MAAC in scoring in 2008-09, had a game-high 21 points in 35 minutes of action for the Greyhounds...
CANISIUS split a pair of games over the weekend, opening strongly with a win over St. Bonaventure, 80-70, in a battle of Western New York schools. Julius Coles, a senior forward, led the way with 21, while Gaby Belardo, a transfer from South Florida, made his Golden Griffin's debut with 19 points. The Griffs then lost an 86-67 contest to Syracuse on Sunday, but only trailed by three points at halftime. Senior forward Greg Loggins led the Griffs with 17 points against the Orangemen ...
RIDER split two games this weekend, losing, 77-67, at UMass and, then, knocking off Lafayette, 80-73. The Broncs held a 21-point lead in the first half against the Minutemen before being outscored 53-22 after the break. Senior forward Mike Ringold led Rider with 21 points and nine rebounds in that game. Senior guard Justin Robinson had 18 points and five assists in the victory ...
MANHATTAN got a superlative effort from its young, emerging backcourt to open with a 75-70 victory over NJIT. Freshman guard Mike Alvarado had 23 points for the Jaspers, while sophomore George Beamon added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Senior forward Andrew Gabriel chipped in with 19 points...
NIAGARA and MARIST have not yet played.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Manhattan Women's Preview: Boards Key
Here's another in the series previewing MAAC teams. Up now ...
MANHATTAN WOMEN
2009-10 RECORD: 10-8 in MAAC play, 15-15 overall.
2010-11 COACHES' PREDICTION: Picked for fifth in the preseason poll of conference coaches.
KEY RETURNEES: 6-0 junior forward Lindse Loutsenhiser (15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds), 6-1 junior forward Nadia Peters (7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks), 5-8 junior guard Alyssa Harrington (11.1 points, 2.8 rebounds), 5-9 senior guard Abby Wentworth (9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds).
KEY LOSS: Guard Michelle Pacheco (15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 points).
NOTES: Only one loss, but it was a big one in do-everything point guard Pacheco, who led the conference in assists last season. She also helped direct one of the best offenses at taking care of the ball. The Jaspers' average of plus 3.4 turnovers per game was the best in the MAAC. It had 100 fewer turnovers than opponents on the season, and all those extra possessions paid off as it averaged 62.3 points per game, third best in the MAAC. It might have been even better had the team been able to rebound better. Its 32.9 rebound-per-game average was last in the MAAC, and opponents averaged six rebounds per game more than Manhattan.
The rebounding dilemma will only change through more of a dedication to that aspect of the game since there doesn't appear to be any new help on the boards coming in. Junior forwards Nadia Peters and Lindsey Loutsenhiser are the team's top two returning rebounders. Loutsenhiser, the team leader at 6.5 boards per game, also averaged 15.3 points per outing, third best in the MAAC last season, and established herself as one of the best individual performers in the league.
The Jaspers' 63-34 season-opening victory over St. Francis of New York also gave signs that there might be a replacement for Pacheco, and that the offense could be even better than a year ago. Senior guard Abby Wentworth had five assists against just turnovers against St. Francis. And freshman 6-0 swingperson Monica Roeder had a game-high 20 points, mostly on hitting 6-of-7 from 3-point territory.
Also returning is 5-8 junior guard Alyssa Harrington, who played 16 games last year before a season-ending injury. But Harrington had 37 three-pointers before her injury and was leading the MAAC in that statistic at that point in the season. There are also some solid returning role players from a year ago, most noteably 5-11 junior forward Schyanne Halfkenny and 5-10 sophomore guard Maggie Blair.
HOW MANHATTAN WILL SUCCEED: If Loutsenhiser gets even a little better, she is one of the top three or four players in the MAAC and gives her team the requisite standout it needs to be a legitimate contender. If Wentworth makes a smooth transition to the point, and there's no reason to believe she won't, that's a big help, too. Between Roeder and a return to health for Harrington ... there's plenty of perimeter firepower in place. In fact, it's all here except one thing: a real inside presence. If Manhattan had that piece, it would be on the verge of contending for a league title. It makes Peters and Loutsenhiser's board work all the more important this season. If Manhattan gets outrebounded by a six-per game average again this year, there won't be much improvement.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Lindsey Loutsenhiser is a great scorer and, now, we need her to work harder on rebounding and defense," said coach Joe Olenowski. "But we expect a big season out of her. We have high expecations for our team this year. We've got real leaders in Abby Wentworth and Nadia Peters. I think our program is on the right track but we still have a lot of work to do."
PREDICTION: It's hard to find a good rebounder, and there doesn't seem to be one in place here, so the expectation is that the Jaspers will struggle to cut into last season's rebounding disadvantage. Still, though, everything else is in place. Even a little greater attention to the boards could bring about two or three more victories. Expect Manhattan to finish in the upper half of the league standings, maybe even as high as third, but not to seriously contend for a league title this season.
MANHATTAN WOMEN
2009-10 RECORD: 10-8 in MAAC play, 15-15 overall.
2010-11 COACHES' PREDICTION: Picked for fifth in the preseason poll of conference coaches.
KEY RETURNEES: 6-0 junior forward Lindse Loutsenhiser (15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds), 6-1 junior forward Nadia Peters (7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks), 5-8 junior guard Alyssa Harrington (11.1 points, 2.8 rebounds), 5-9 senior guard Abby Wentworth (9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds).
KEY LOSS: Guard Michelle Pacheco (15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 points).
NOTES: Only one loss, but it was a big one in do-everything point guard Pacheco, who led the conference in assists last season. She also helped direct one of the best offenses at taking care of the ball. The Jaspers' average of plus 3.4 turnovers per game was the best in the MAAC. It had 100 fewer turnovers than opponents on the season, and all those extra possessions paid off as it averaged 62.3 points per game, third best in the MAAC. It might have been even better had the team been able to rebound better. Its 32.9 rebound-per-game average was last in the MAAC, and opponents averaged six rebounds per game more than Manhattan.
The rebounding dilemma will only change through more of a dedication to that aspect of the game since there doesn't appear to be any new help on the boards coming in. Junior forwards Nadia Peters and Lindsey Loutsenhiser are the team's top two returning rebounders. Loutsenhiser, the team leader at 6.5 boards per game, also averaged 15.3 points per outing, third best in the MAAC last season, and established herself as one of the best individual performers in the league.
The Jaspers' 63-34 season-opening victory over St. Francis of New York also gave signs that there might be a replacement for Pacheco, and that the offense could be even better than a year ago. Senior guard Abby Wentworth had five assists against just turnovers against St. Francis. And freshman 6-0 swingperson Monica Roeder had a game-high 20 points, mostly on hitting 6-of-7 from 3-point territory.
Also returning is 5-8 junior guard Alyssa Harrington, who played 16 games last year before a season-ending injury. But Harrington had 37 three-pointers before her injury and was leading the MAAC in that statistic at that point in the season. There are also some solid returning role players from a year ago, most noteably 5-11 junior forward Schyanne Halfkenny and 5-10 sophomore guard Maggie Blair.
HOW MANHATTAN WILL SUCCEED: If Loutsenhiser gets even a little better, she is one of the top three or four players in the MAAC and gives her team the requisite standout it needs to be a legitimate contender. If Wentworth makes a smooth transition to the point, and there's no reason to believe she won't, that's a big help, too. Between Roeder and a return to health for Harrington ... there's plenty of perimeter firepower in place. In fact, it's all here except one thing: a real inside presence. If Manhattan had that piece, it would be on the verge of contending for a league title. It makes Peters and Loutsenhiser's board work all the more important this season. If Manhattan gets outrebounded by a six-per game average again this year, there won't be much improvement.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Lindsey Loutsenhiser is a great scorer and, now, we need her to work harder on rebounding and defense," said coach Joe Olenowski. "But we expect a big season out of her. We have high expecations for our team this year. We've got real leaders in Abby Wentworth and Nadia Peters. I think our program is on the right track but we still have a lot of work to do."
PREDICTION: It's hard to find a good rebounder, and there doesn't seem to be one in place here, so the expectation is that the Jaspers will struggle to cut into last season's rebounding disadvantage. Still, though, everything else is in place. Even a little greater attention to the boards could bring about two or three more victories. Expect Manhattan to finish in the upper half of the league standings, maybe even as high as third, but not to seriously contend for a league title this season.
Rider Men's Preview: Middle of the Pack
Here's another in the series previewing MAAC teams. Up now ...
RIDER MEN
2009-10 RECORD: 9-9 in MAAC play, 17-16 overall.
2010-11 COACHES' PREDICTION: Picked for fifth in the coaches' preseason poll.
KEY RETURNEES: 6-2 senior guard Justin Robinson (13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds. 2.9 assists), 6-7 senior forward Mike Ringold (11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds), 6-7 junior forward Novar Gadson (11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds), 6-0 senior guard Jhamar Youngblood (6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds).
KEY LOSSES: Swingman Ryan Thompson (17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds).
NOTES: Things started so well with a road victory over 15th-ranked Mississippi State, and there wasn't any reason to think more of the same might come, particularly since the Broncs had a Player of the Year candidate in Ryan Thompson and a strong supporting staff. Instead, the Riders were among the most-disappointing teams in the conference, going .500 after the Mississippi State victory. Thompson, who is currently playing in the NBA's Developmental League, had three games of 30-plus points but averaged a very pedestrian 15.5 points in his other 30 contests. His statistics went down in every meaningful catagory compared to his junior season.
There have been some comments about this being the first time in six seasons that Rider is without a Thompson ... Ryan's 6-11 brother Jason, now in the NBA, played for the Broncs from 2004-05 through 2007-08. But, there's still one on the roster, 6-4 sophomore guard Jonathon Thompson, no relation to his predecessors of the same surname, and he started the Broncs' first game, a 77-67 setback at UMass on Saturday.
This year's team, though, doesn't have the expectations of a year ago. Not even optimistic coach Tommy Dempsey, who picked his own team to win the MAAC in the preseason coaches' poll last year, picked the Broncs for No. 1 this season. In truth, there's no replacement for the graduated Thompson, so the hope is that the returnees step up a little and the younger players who didn't get much time a year ago mature quickly.
There already seems to be some change of roles as Gadson and Youngblood, both starters for much of last season, came off the bench against UMass. Jonathon Thompson, 6-8 sophomore forward Brandon Penn and 6-7 freshman forward Danny Stewart all moved into the starting lineup. That's 60 percent of the first five, with two previous starters currently displaced. Clearly, there's much transition here.
Ringold, one of the hardest-working players in the league, had a big 21-point, 9-rebound game against UMass, but didn't get much help overall. The Broncs held a 21-point lead at halftime in the game in Amherst, Mass., but fell apart after that getting outscored 53-22 in the second 20 minutes of play. That's not a good sign. Mostly it 's probably a sign that on some nights things could be good and on other nights they won't be so good.
HOW RIDER WILL SUCCEED: Hard to envision the Broncs finishing any higher than predicted, not without a true "elite" player. But, they had one a year ago and only finished a game over .500 overall. So, maybe., a team of solid players will yield better results. That remains to be seen. But, there are nice pieces in place. Ringold is among the better inside players in the conference, but has limitations in range and at the foul line. Robinson is one of the top five or six guards in the conference, but will likely need to do even more this season both in terms of running the team and scoring. If the Broncs continue to start younger players, then a second unit that includes Gadson and Youngblood gives them some offense off the bench. Penn showed signs of being a contributor in a limited role last season and Stewart is one of the more highly-touted incoming freshmen. But, both Penn (205 pounds) and Stewart (210 pounds) are both about 20 pounds of bulk away from being able to withstand the pounding they'll face this season. Still, it should be interesting to see how the young players develop. If the maturation process comes quickly, and the a true team-oriented attack, rather than one that waited for Ryan Thompson to take over last season, is effective, then maybe Rider can move up.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Justin Robinson's career has progressed nicely and he's ready to break out now," said Rider coach Tommy Dempsey. "He has a chance to be one of the best guards in the league, and we need him to take a step forward. It's intimidating, in a way (to be without the Thompson brothers), but you move on. They gave us everything they had. Now it's up to the other guys to continue that. We have a lot of talent in our program. All three of our freshmen are expected to play in some capacity. They'll have to play a role, but our success will be determined by our juniors and seniors.
PREDICTION: There are reasons to believe Rider can be more than competitive, particularly if you want to believe that the loss of d0-everything Ryan Thompson can be offset by more of a team-oriented style of play. Still, the doesn't appear to be enough talent, compared to teams rated above the Broncs, for them to seriously expect to contend for a league championship. Plus, there's a considerable amount of transition if the starting lineup that includes three new faces that started against UMass remains the same. If everything fall into place, third or fourth place isn't out of the realm of possibility. But it's more likely that the Broncs will fall into the fifth- or sixth-place range.
RIDER MEN
2009-10 RECORD: 9-9 in MAAC play, 17-16 overall.
2010-11 COACHES' PREDICTION: Picked for fifth in the coaches' preseason poll.
KEY RETURNEES: 6-2 senior guard Justin Robinson (13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds. 2.9 assists), 6-7 senior forward Mike Ringold (11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds), 6-7 junior forward Novar Gadson (11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds), 6-0 senior guard Jhamar Youngblood (6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds).
KEY LOSSES: Swingman Ryan Thompson (17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds).
NOTES: Things started so well with a road victory over 15th-ranked Mississippi State, and there wasn't any reason to think more of the same might come, particularly since the Broncs had a Player of the Year candidate in Ryan Thompson and a strong supporting staff. Instead, the Riders were among the most-disappointing teams in the conference, going .500 after the Mississippi State victory. Thompson, who is currently playing in the NBA's Developmental League, had three games of 30-plus points but averaged a very pedestrian 15.5 points in his other 30 contests. His statistics went down in every meaningful catagory compared to his junior season.
There have been some comments about this being the first time in six seasons that Rider is without a Thompson ... Ryan's 6-11 brother Jason, now in the NBA, played for the Broncs from 2004-05 through 2007-08. But, there's still one on the roster, 6-4 sophomore guard Jonathon Thompson, no relation to his predecessors of the same surname, and he started the Broncs' first game, a 77-67 setback at UMass on Saturday.
This year's team, though, doesn't have the expectations of a year ago. Not even optimistic coach Tommy Dempsey, who picked his own team to win the MAAC in the preseason coaches' poll last year, picked the Broncs for No. 1 this season. In truth, there's no replacement for the graduated Thompson, so the hope is that the returnees step up a little and the younger players who didn't get much time a year ago mature quickly.
There already seems to be some change of roles as Gadson and Youngblood, both starters for much of last season, came off the bench against UMass. Jonathon Thompson, 6-8 sophomore forward Brandon Penn and 6-7 freshman forward Danny Stewart all moved into the starting lineup. That's 60 percent of the first five, with two previous starters currently displaced. Clearly, there's much transition here.
Ringold, one of the hardest-working players in the league, had a big 21-point, 9-rebound game against UMass, but didn't get much help overall. The Broncs held a 21-point lead at halftime in the game in Amherst, Mass., but fell apart after that getting outscored 53-22 in the second 20 minutes of play. That's not a good sign. Mostly it 's probably a sign that on some nights things could be good and on other nights they won't be so good.
HOW RIDER WILL SUCCEED: Hard to envision the Broncs finishing any higher than predicted, not without a true "elite" player. But, they had one a year ago and only finished a game over .500 overall. So, maybe., a team of solid players will yield better results. That remains to be seen. But, there are nice pieces in place. Ringold is among the better inside players in the conference, but has limitations in range and at the foul line. Robinson is one of the top five or six guards in the conference, but will likely need to do even more this season both in terms of running the team and scoring. If the Broncs continue to start younger players, then a second unit that includes Gadson and Youngblood gives them some offense off the bench. Penn showed signs of being a contributor in a limited role last season and Stewart is one of the more highly-touted incoming freshmen. But, both Penn (205 pounds) and Stewart (210 pounds) are both about 20 pounds of bulk away from being able to withstand the pounding they'll face this season. Still, it should be interesting to see how the young players develop. If the maturation process comes quickly, and the a true team-oriented attack, rather than one that waited for Ryan Thompson to take over last season, is effective, then maybe Rider can move up.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "Justin Robinson's career has progressed nicely and he's ready to break out now," said Rider coach Tommy Dempsey. "He has a chance to be one of the best guards in the league, and we need him to take a step forward. It's intimidating, in a way (to be without the Thompson brothers), but you move on. They gave us everything they had. Now it's up to the other guys to continue that. We have a lot of talent in our program. All three of our freshmen are expected to play in some capacity. They'll have to play a role, but our success will be determined by our juniors and seniors.
PREDICTION: There are reasons to believe Rider can be more than competitive, particularly if you want to believe that the loss of d0-everything Ryan Thompson can be offset by more of a team-oriented style of play. Still, the doesn't appear to be enough talent, compared to teams rated above the Broncs, for them to seriously expect to contend for a league championship. Plus, there's a considerable amount of transition if the starting lineup that includes three new faces that started against UMass remains the same. If everything fall into place, third or fourth place isn't out of the realm of possibility. But it's more likely that the Broncs will fall into the fifth- or sixth-place range.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Niagara Women's Preview: Find A Post
Here's another in the series previewing conference teams. Up now ...
NIAGARA WOMEN
2009-10 RECORD: 9-9 in MAAC play, 13-18 overall.
2010-11 COACHES' PREDICTION: Picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll of conference coaches.
KEY RETURNEES: 5-5 sophomore guard Kayla Stroman (9.4 points, 4.5 assists), 5-8 junior guard Ali Morris (6.6 points, 3.6 assists), 5-10 junior forward Meghan Waterman (4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds), 5-10 senior forward Liz Flooks (12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds).
KEY LOSSES: Forward Rachele Folino (9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds), center Jaclyn Konieczka (5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds).
NOTES: Niagara was picked for last in the conference last season, started off with a 3-12 overall record and, then, won nine of its next 11 games. Among the victories was an upset of conference champion Marist, one of just three regular-season conference losses suffered by the Red Foxes. The turnaround coincided with some lineup changes, including the insertion of hard-playing center Konieczka into the starting lineup, and her graduation means the team will have to deal with the loss of her tough, physical play that epitomized the Purple Eagles' strong second-half play.
But, there are still some solid pieces in place, most noteably 5-5 sophomore point guard Kayla Stroman, the MAAC's Rookie of the Year last season; and first-team all-preseason selection senior forward Liz Flooks. Stroman's impact is measured by the fact that she played the third-highest total of minutes of any conference player last season. Flooks is as smooth an outside shooter as there is in the conference, yet also has a blue-collar work ethic at both ends of the court.
Flooks, though, won't find it easy getting open looks this season and the team certainly needs another player to step up and add something offensively. Morris appears the most-likely candeate. Waterman got significant playing time last season and was an invaluable defensive stopper. She was one of the best defensive players this blogger saw a year ago.
The Purple Eagles also struggled on the boards last season, getting outrebounded by an average of 11.1 per game over the first 15 contests. After that, though, with Konieczka moving into the starting lineup, the team actually held a small rebounding edge over the final 16 games.
They'll need more of that, and need to find a suitable replacement in the post. It looks like the fifth starter will be 6-1 freshman Katie Gattuso, whose father is the associate head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh. If she brings even a little bit of a football mentality to the court, Niagara could be OK in the middle.
HOW NIAGARA WILL SUCCEED: Continue to bring its proverbial lunch buckets to every game. That's how things turned around last year. The Purple Eagles don't have enough individual talent to overwhelm opponents, but they showed the benefit of outworking teams in last season's second half. And, with key returnees ... they likely haven't forgotten what worked in last year's turnaround.
There isn't a lot of scoring the team can count on, although Flooks is certain to be one of the MAAC's better offensive players. Otherwise, it's a conglomeration of hard-playing, defensive-minded role players whose chemistry paid dividends in 2009-10.
The team certainly needs to find a post player. If Gattuso is a reasonable approximation of what Konieczka provided last season, then Niagara could be in for another solid season, at the very least. If the team struggles to find an inside presence ... even one who only provides tough defense and rebounding ... then another .500 conference record might be the best Niagara can hope for.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "We'll play Kayla (Stroman) and Liz (Flooks) as many minues as they can stay strong and they can stay on the court," said coach Kendra Faustin. "Kayla is a great leader for us. We depend on her a lot, particularly in getting our five freshmen in the places they need to be. Liz spent the entire summer in the gym, which makes me grin ear to ear. She really dedicated herself to basketball this summer and came back in unbelievable shape. She is a real leader and the most positive person I've ever been around."
PREDICTION: Niagara will go one of two ways, and it all depends on whether it can find an inside presence. If that happens, it will contend for the upper half of the league standings. If it doesn't get the play in the paint it did last season, then it will be a team of nice perimeter players likely to finish in the bottom half of the standings.
NIAGARA WOMEN
2009-10 RECORD: 9-9 in MAAC play, 13-18 overall.
2010-11 COACHES' PREDICTION: Picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll of conference coaches.
KEY RETURNEES: 5-5 sophomore guard Kayla Stroman (9.4 points, 4.5 assists), 5-8 junior guard Ali Morris (6.6 points, 3.6 assists), 5-10 junior forward Meghan Waterman (4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds), 5-10 senior forward Liz Flooks (12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds).
KEY LOSSES: Forward Rachele Folino (9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds), center Jaclyn Konieczka (5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds).
NOTES: Niagara was picked for last in the conference last season, started off with a 3-12 overall record and, then, won nine of its next 11 games. Among the victories was an upset of conference champion Marist, one of just three regular-season conference losses suffered by the Red Foxes. The turnaround coincided with some lineup changes, including the insertion of hard-playing center Konieczka into the starting lineup, and her graduation means the team will have to deal with the loss of her tough, physical play that epitomized the Purple Eagles' strong second-half play.
But, there are still some solid pieces in place, most noteably 5-5 sophomore point guard Kayla Stroman, the MAAC's Rookie of the Year last season; and first-team all-preseason selection senior forward Liz Flooks. Stroman's impact is measured by the fact that she played the third-highest total of minutes of any conference player last season. Flooks is as smooth an outside shooter as there is in the conference, yet also has a blue-collar work ethic at both ends of the court.
Flooks, though, won't find it easy getting open looks this season and the team certainly needs another player to step up and add something offensively. Morris appears the most-likely candeate. Waterman got significant playing time last season and was an invaluable defensive stopper. She was one of the best defensive players this blogger saw a year ago.
The Purple Eagles also struggled on the boards last season, getting outrebounded by an average of 11.1 per game over the first 15 contests. After that, though, with Konieczka moving into the starting lineup, the team actually held a small rebounding edge over the final 16 games.
They'll need more of that, and need to find a suitable replacement in the post. It looks like the fifth starter will be 6-1 freshman Katie Gattuso, whose father is the associate head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh. If she brings even a little bit of a football mentality to the court, Niagara could be OK in the middle.
HOW NIAGARA WILL SUCCEED: Continue to bring its proverbial lunch buckets to every game. That's how things turned around last year. The Purple Eagles don't have enough individual talent to overwhelm opponents, but they showed the benefit of outworking teams in last season's second half. And, with key returnees ... they likely haven't forgotten what worked in last year's turnaround.
There isn't a lot of scoring the team can count on, although Flooks is certain to be one of the MAAC's better offensive players. Otherwise, it's a conglomeration of hard-playing, defensive-minded role players whose chemistry paid dividends in 2009-10.
The team certainly needs to find a post player. If Gattuso is a reasonable approximation of what Konieczka provided last season, then Niagara could be in for another solid season, at the very least. If the team struggles to find an inside presence ... even one who only provides tough defense and rebounding ... then another .500 conference record might be the best Niagara can hope for.
COACH'S COMMENTS: "We'll play Kayla (Stroman) and Liz (Flooks) as many minues as they can stay strong and they can stay on the court," said coach Kendra Faustin. "Kayla is a great leader for us. We depend on her a lot, particularly in getting our five freshmen in the places they need to be. Liz spent the entire summer in the gym, which makes me grin ear to ear. She really dedicated herself to basketball this summer and came back in unbelievable shape. She is a real leader and the most positive person I've ever been around."
PREDICTION: Niagara will go one of two ways, and it all depends on whether it can find an inside presence. If that happens, it will contend for the upper half of the league standings. If it doesn't get the play in the paint it did last season, then it will be a team of nice perimeter players likely to finish in the bottom half of the standings.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Buonaguro MAAC's Other "New" Coach
When Mitch Buonaguro was asked recently about the biggest change he’s encountered in his move from being Siena’s top assistant to being the program’s head coach, he responded with a joke.
“I’ve had to buy some better suits,” said Buonaguro.
Tongue in cheek response, yes.
But, after more than 35 years prowling basketball sidelines, after being an active coach in some capacity for over 1,025 Division I contests … there isn’t likely to be much that Buonaguro hasn’t seen before beyond the better cut of wearing apparel he’s sporting these days.
Buonaguro not only had been Fran McCaffery’s right-hand man over the past five seasons at Siena, but it could easily be perceived that he was the proverbial basketball brains behind the operation.
Buonaguro was the front man in recruiting, using his unusually extensive list of contacts to connect with and attract many of the players that enabled Siena to win the past three MAAC championships. And, now, he's seemingly bringing in players that appear capable of maintaining the program’s high competitive level.
He has always been the tireless worker who, if he wasn’t burning the proverbial midnight oil in front of TV watching game tape of future opponents in his office he was doing the same at his home.
Buonaguro is one of two coaches taking over a conference program this season, but couldn’t be any more different from the other, Iona’s new coach Tim Cluess.
Cluess, who has had extensive success on the Division II level, has never before coached a Division I team.
Buonaguro? He not only has been a Division I head coach in the league (Fairfield, 1985-1991), but already owns a MAAC Coach of the Year plaque for his team’s work in his first season with the Stags.
While in Fairfield his first two teams went to NCAA tournaments before he was fired after the 1990-91 season when his final four seasons there produced 33-80 record.
But, Buonaguro, obviously, knows his way around college basketball circles. How many MAAC head coaches have ever worn a national championship ring?
Buonaguro has one, courtesy of being the top assistant on the 1984-85 Villanova team that upset Georgetown in that season’s national championship game.
His role in that upset of the Patrick Ewing-led Hoyas was this: Buonaguro had the Georgetown “scout,” meaning he was responsible for preparing Villanova’s scouting report for that game, and for finding the flaws in Georgetown’s game and how best his own team could go about beating the Hoyas.
The general public still perceives that outcome as one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history. But, Buonaguro doesn't agree.
“We thought we were going to win the game,” he said. “We were well-prepared for them.”
So there probably isn’t any doubt about how well Siena’s preparation, under Buonaguro, will be for opponents.
“In truth the biggest challenge is to keep this program where it is,” said Buonaguro. “We’ve won the league for the past three seasons. So our goal is pretty simple. We’re trying to win the league again.”
Siena will certainly be different. Gone are its “Big Three,” its three four-year starters _ forwards Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin and pont guard Ronald Moore.
The Saints will also be bigger this year, with the addition of Seton Hall transfer 6-9, 245-pounder Brandon Walters and a starting role for 6-7 ½ O.D. Anosike. The Saints’ best player this year is 6-9, 255-pounder Ryan Rossiter. The roster includes one other 6-9 player, forward Davis Martens.
The Saints have the most height in the conference as well as being one of the bigger mid-major level teams nationally.
“We’ll still try to play up tempo like we have in the past,” said Buonaguro. “But, we’ll probably concentrate a little more on stopping people, too.”
Buonaguro has also helped secure the program’s future by reportedly securing verbal commitments from 6-5 shooting guard Rob Poole, and forwards 6-9 Ryan Gomis and 6-8 Omah Silas.
But, for now, the 57-year old Buonaguro isn’t thinking beyond Saturday’s season opener with Vermont.
“You have to play them one at a time,” he said. “If we start thinking about Minnesota (Siena’s next game after Vermont), we’ll get beat by Vermont.”
Spoken like a veteran coach, even if he hasn’t been in the lead chair for the past 19 seasons.
“Yeah, first time in 19 years,” said Buonaguro, who knows that most individuals who get fired from the mid-major level rarely get another chance to run another program. “I’m excited, particularly because Siena is a great job. Some guys get jobs that are just bad jobs, but I’ve got a job at one of the top mid-major schools in the country. I had 45 public commitments this off-season, and that just doesn’t happen at this level elsewhere.”
Buonaguro, though, knew well the demands of the job long before it opened up. He helped create them with his behind-the-scenes work that not only produced a 112-51 record at Siena over the past five seasons but increased McCaffery’s profile enough for him to move on for a big-money job at Iowa.
The other result was the recent success polished Buonaguro’s star enough for him to be the only real seriously considered candidate to stay at Siena and replace McCaffery.
Buonaguro is the first to admit he’s a different coach than he was two decades ago in his first chance at doing this.
“I’m probably not as fiery as I was back then, although I still am fiery,” he said. “I still yell a lot, but I’m probably a little more accepting of things. I’m a better communicator now. But, I know you can only look ahead one game at a time and that you prepare for it as well as you can.”
Spoken like a veteran of the profession. And, for those who need any evidence about Buonaguro’s ability to prepare for a game … Villanova’s 1985 upset of Georgetown in the NCAA championship game should suffice.
“I’ve had to buy some better suits,” said Buonaguro.
Tongue in cheek response, yes.
But, after more than 35 years prowling basketball sidelines, after being an active coach in some capacity for over 1,025 Division I contests … there isn’t likely to be much that Buonaguro hasn’t seen before beyond the better cut of wearing apparel he’s sporting these days.
Buonaguro not only had been Fran McCaffery’s right-hand man over the past five seasons at Siena, but it could easily be perceived that he was the proverbial basketball brains behind the operation.
Buonaguro was the front man in recruiting, using his unusually extensive list of contacts to connect with and attract many of the players that enabled Siena to win the past three MAAC championships. And, now, he's seemingly bringing in players that appear capable of maintaining the program’s high competitive level.
He has always been the tireless worker who, if he wasn’t burning the proverbial midnight oil in front of TV watching game tape of future opponents in his office he was doing the same at his home.
Buonaguro is one of two coaches taking over a conference program this season, but couldn’t be any more different from the other, Iona’s new coach Tim Cluess.
Cluess, who has had extensive success on the Division II level, has never before coached a Division I team.
Buonaguro? He not only has been a Division I head coach in the league (Fairfield, 1985-1991), but already owns a MAAC Coach of the Year plaque for his team’s work in his first season with the Stags.
While in Fairfield his first two teams went to NCAA tournaments before he was fired after the 1990-91 season when his final four seasons there produced 33-80 record.
But, Buonaguro, obviously, knows his way around college basketball circles. How many MAAC head coaches have ever worn a national championship ring?
Buonaguro has one, courtesy of being the top assistant on the 1984-85 Villanova team that upset Georgetown in that season’s national championship game.
His role in that upset of the Patrick Ewing-led Hoyas was this: Buonaguro had the Georgetown “scout,” meaning he was responsible for preparing Villanova’s scouting report for that game, and for finding the flaws in Georgetown’s game and how best his own team could go about beating the Hoyas.
The general public still perceives that outcome as one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history. But, Buonaguro doesn't agree.
“We thought we were going to win the game,” he said. “We were well-prepared for them.”
So there probably isn’t any doubt about how well Siena’s preparation, under Buonaguro, will be for opponents.
“In truth the biggest challenge is to keep this program where it is,” said Buonaguro. “We’ve won the league for the past three seasons. So our goal is pretty simple. We’re trying to win the league again.”
Siena will certainly be different. Gone are its “Big Three,” its three four-year starters _ forwards Edwin Ubiles and Alex Franklin and pont guard Ronald Moore.
The Saints will also be bigger this year, with the addition of Seton Hall transfer 6-9, 245-pounder Brandon Walters and a starting role for 6-7 ½ O.D. Anosike. The Saints’ best player this year is 6-9, 255-pounder Ryan Rossiter. The roster includes one other 6-9 player, forward Davis Martens.
The Saints have the most height in the conference as well as being one of the bigger mid-major level teams nationally.
“We’ll still try to play up tempo like we have in the past,” said Buonaguro. “But, we’ll probably concentrate a little more on stopping people, too.”
Buonaguro has also helped secure the program’s future by reportedly securing verbal commitments from 6-5 shooting guard Rob Poole, and forwards 6-9 Ryan Gomis and 6-8 Omah Silas.
But, for now, the 57-year old Buonaguro isn’t thinking beyond Saturday’s season opener with Vermont.
“You have to play them one at a time,” he said. “If we start thinking about Minnesota (Siena’s next game after Vermont), we’ll get beat by Vermont.”
Spoken like a veteran coach, even if he hasn’t been in the lead chair for the past 19 seasons.
“Yeah, first time in 19 years,” said Buonaguro, who knows that most individuals who get fired from the mid-major level rarely get another chance to run another program. “I’m excited, particularly because Siena is a great job. Some guys get jobs that are just bad jobs, but I’ve got a job at one of the top mid-major schools in the country. I had 45 public commitments this off-season, and that just doesn’t happen at this level elsewhere.”
Buonaguro, though, knew well the demands of the job long before it opened up. He helped create them with his behind-the-scenes work that not only produced a 112-51 record at Siena over the past five seasons but increased McCaffery’s profile enough for him to move on for a big-money job at Iowa.
The other result was the recent success polished Buonaguro’s star enough for him to be the only real seriously considered candidate to stay at Siena and replace McCaffery.
Buonaguro is the first to admit he’s a different coach than he was two decades ago in his first chance at doing this.
“I’m probably not as fiery as I was back then, although I still am fiery,” he said. “I still yell a lot, but I’m probably a little more accepting of things. I’m a better communicator now. But, I know you can only look ahead one game at a time and that you prepare for it as well as you can.”
Spoken like a veteran of the profession. And, for those who need any evidence about Buonaguro’s ability to prepare for a game … Villanova’s 1985 upset of Georgetown in the NCAA championship game should suffice.
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