In researching a recent blog entry about conference men's teams facing their formal head coaches in a game, your blogger discovered an informative, interesting piece of history, courtesy of Rider sports information director Bud Focht.
Focht reminded me that Clair F. Bee was once the coach at Rider.
So, who was Clair Bee?
Certainly one of the sport's all-time great coaches (he was elected to the basketball Hall of Fame in 1968), one of its early innovators and, almost assuredly, the most accomplished individual ever to grace the sideline of a school that would eventually be a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member.
My guess is that all but the most-astute college basketball historians have never heard of Clair Bee. But, that's because most of his coaching days predate World War II (he last coached at the college level in 1951) and was a contemporary of the likes of Knute Rockne in college football, or Connie Mack in major league baseball.
But Clair Bee coached basketball at Rider for three seasons, 1928-29, '29-30, and '30-31. His record there in those three seasons was 52-8. While at Rider one of his teams became the first college team to score 1,000 points in a season.
After Rider he coached from 1931 through 1951 at Long Island University. There, he had two undefeated teams (1935-36 and 1938-39). His LIU teams also won two NIT titles (1939 and 1941) when the NIT was the sport's most-prestigious post-season tournament.
Overall he recorded a 412-87 record on the college level. His .826 winning percentage remains the highest of any college basketball coach with more than 200 career victories.
Bee also coached in the mid-1950s in the NBA with the Baltimore Bullets. While affiliated with the NBA he is credited with the first use of the 1-3-1 zone defense and was one of the primary proponents that brought the 3-second rule and the 24-second clock to the professional game.
Bee was also a worldwide ambassador of the sport and a well-respected clinician.
His talents transcended the sport, too. He wrote the Chip Hilton Sports Series, widely acknowledged as the best sports-related book series for young readers ever written.
But his early days came after he was hired as an accountinng professor at a small school in Lawrenceville, N.J. where he founded the varsity athletics program.
For one of the sport's legendary pioneers and innovators ... it all began at Rider.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Saints Meet One of Their Own in Hewitt
If you're a college basketball fan in New York's capital region, then Wednesday's Siena at Georgia Tech game is a big one.
It's MAAC vs. ACC, two uptempo teams. Georgia Tech is in the Top 25, Siena is striving to get there.
But, the meeting transcends all of that because Siena is playing one of its own.
Paul Hewitt coached at Siena for three seasons, 1997-98, '98-99 and '99-00. His era was the most-successful in the school's history (one NCAA appearance, one NIT) prior to current coach Fran McCaffery's
In fact, Hewitt's record at Siena (66-27) accounts for the program's best winning percentage (.709) by any coach with more than 10 games on the Saints' sideline. McCaffery has an 89-46 record at Siena, a winning percentage of .659.
Hewitt's stay at Siena was his first experience as a head coach. He is in his 10th year at Georgia Tech, but still speaks readily and glowingly about how his time at Siena couldn't have been better preparation for moving on to a higher level of college basketball. Many of the team and individual-related policies he put in place at Siena are still part of phis coaching philosophy at Georgia Tech.
He remains close to dozens of individuals in the Siena community, and the phone line between Hewitt and many in the capital region is still active.
Clearly, Hewitt is an individual who hasn't forgotten where he's from. Wednesday's game is testimony to that, as much as it is an opportunity for a local product, 6-foot-11 forward Brad Sheehan (Shaker High School, Latham, N.Y.) to play before his home-area supporters next season.
There will be a sizeable contingent of Siena fans making the trip for the game, and what they'll see from Georgia Tech is exactly what Hewitt's teams looked like when he coached Siena. His current squad has nine players averaging at least 9.2 minutes per game, 11 averaging at least six minutes per contest and none with a per-game average of more than 27.6. Hewitt's teams need fresh troops to play his preferred up-tempo style, and he's got them this year.
Here's one more interesting point. It is believed the first time in Siena history that it is playing a game against one of its former head coaches now serving as a head coach elsewhere.
The Saints did play a game against Northwestern when Bob Beyer, who preceeded Hewitt as Siena's head coach, was there but Beyer was an assistant coach for that meeting. Siena also participated in Marquette's tournament when Mike Deane was the head coach there, but the two teams did not meet in that event.
It's definitely a rare occurrance for any MAAC school to tangle with one of its former head coaches. Thanks to the research of MAAC sports information directors, here are the only times those meetings happened:
Canisius played against its former coach John Beilien twice (2005-06 and '06-07) when Beilein was coaching at West Virginia.
Loyola played against its former coach the late Skip Prosser (1994-95) when Prosser was at Xavier.
Manhattan played several games against its former coaches Fran Frascilla and Brian Mahoney when those two former Jaspers moved on to coach at Saint John's.
And ... that's it. Rider did play games against one of its former coaches Kevin Bannon when Bannon was the head man at Rutgers. But, we'll put an asterisk next to that one since Bannon left Rider before the Broncs joined the MAAC.
Rider's superlative sports information director Bud Focht also points out that his school had one other meeting with one of its former coaches.
Hall of Famer Clair Bee was Rider's first coach (1928-29 through '30-31) before moving on to Long Island University. The Broncs played LIU several times when their former coach was there.
Your blogger will admit to advancing years, but he most definitely wasn't around for those games.
It's MAAC vs. ACC, two uptempo teams. Georgia Tech is in the Top 25, Siena is striving to get there.
But, the meeting transcends all of that because Siena is playing one of its own.
Paul Hewitt coached at Siena for three seasons, 1997-98, '98-99 and '99-00. His era was the most-successful in the school's history (one NCAA appearance, one NIT) prior to current coach Fran McCaffery's
In fact, Hewitt's record at Siena (66-27) accounts for the program's best winning percentage (.709) by any coach with more than 10 games on the Saints' sideline. McCaffery has an 89-46 record at Siena, a winning percentage of .659.
Hewitt's stay at Siena was his first experience as a head coach. He is in his 10th year at Georgia Tech, but still speaks readily and glowingly about how his time at Siena couldn't have been better preparation for moving on to a higher level of college basketball. Many of the team and individual-related policies he put in place at Siena are still part of phis coaching philosophy at Georgia Tech.
He remains close to dozens of individuals in the Siena community, and the phone line between Hewitt and many in the capital region is still active.
Clearly, Hewitt is an individual who hasn't forgotten where he's from. Wednesday's game is testimony to that, as much as it is an opportunity for a local product, 6-foot-11 forward Brad Sheehan (Shaker High School, Latham, N.Y.) to play before his home-area supporters next season.
There will be a sizeable contingent of Siena fans making the trip for the game, and what they'll see from Georgia Tech is exactly what Hewitt's teams looked like when he coached Siena. His current squad has nine players averaging at least 9.2 minutes per game, 11 averaging at least six minutes per contest and none with a per-game average of more than 27.6. Hewitt's teams need fresh troops to play his preferred up-tempo style, and he's got them this year.
Here's one more interesting point. It is believed the first time in Siena history that it is playing a game against one of its former head coaches now serving as a head coach elsewhere.
The Saints did play a game against Northwestern when Bob Beyer, who preceeded Hewitt as Siena's head coach, was there but Beyer was an assistant coach for that meeting. Siena also participated in Marquette's tournament when Mike Deane was the head coach there, but the two teams did not meet in that event.
It's definitely a rare occurrance for any MAAC school to tangle with one of its former head coaches. Thanks to the research of MAAC sports information directors, here are the only times those meetings happened:
Canisius played against its former coach John Beilien twice (2005-06 and '06-07) when Beilein was coaching at West Virginia.
Loyola played against its former coach the late Skip Prosser (1994-95) when Prosser was at Xavier.
Manhattan played several games against its former coaches Fran Frascilla and Brian Mahoney when those two former Jaspers moved on to coach at Saint John's.
And ... that's it. Rider did play games against one of its former coaches Kevin Bannon when Bannon was the head man at Rutgers. But, we'll put an asterisk next to that one since Bannon left Rider before the Broncs joined the MAAC.
Rider's superlative sports information director Bud Focht also points out that his school had one other meeting with one of its former coaches.
Hall of Famer Clair Bee was Rider's first coach (1928-29 through '30-31) before moving on to Long Island University. The Broncs played LIU several times when their former coach was there.
Your blogger will admit to advancing years, but he most definitely wasn't around for those games.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Siena Needs More Help From Reserves
There is considerable gloom and doom among the Siena faithful after their Saints got off to a 3-2 start (now 4-2) with losses to Temple and St. John's.
Your humble blogger will refer readers to one post made last year at this time, when Siena lost all three of its games in the 2008 Old Spice Classic; and, to two other posts written several weeks ago before Siena played its first game.
The summation of last year's post after the Old Spice losses: Don't panic. Siena played superior talent, and has room to improve.
The summation of this year's preseason posts, made after one publication named Siena as the 15th-best team nationally and another as the 20th-best: Let's get realistic, those projections are way too high.
Yours truly isn't always right, but when he hits the proverbial nail he's willing to take credit.
After last season's Old Spice Classic dropped Siena to a 2-3 record it won 25 of its final 30 games including a second straight win in the NCAA tournament's first round. Despite some early season panic by program followers, things turned out pretty well in 2008-09.
There's a little bit of that panic around again, particularly since the Saints probably won't crack the national Top 25 polls without a considerable run of victories that would have to start with Wednesday's game at Georgia Tech (which is in the Top 25).
But does any of that matter right now? Of course not.
Unless Siena came pretty close to running the table this year, it probably wasn't going to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA if it didn't capture the MAAC's automatic bid. The MAAC has only received one at-large NCAA invitation in its previous 28 years of existence.
The greatest negative affect that the early season losses have had on Siena is to diminish its Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) standing. That will impact where the Saints get slotted in the NCAA field, should it get there.
A year ago Siena was a No. 9 seed in a 16-team bracket. The position created a competitive first-round game in which Siena knocked off eighth-seeded Ohio State and, then, a game with a No. 1 seed and overwhelming favorite Louisville in the second round.
For Siena, or any MAAC team, to get beyond the tournament's second round, something never accomplished by a conference team, the likelihood is that it would need to be seeded No. 5 or No. 6 in a bracket. That opportunity has likely already been lost for Siena this season.
Still, Siena's best days this season are ahead. Despite the return of four starters and the league's top reserve from a year ago moving into the fifth starting spot the Saints remain a work in progress.
The return of five of the team's top six players, though, created more hype and expectations than the program has ever experienced.
It says here that all of that wasn't merited.
The loss of both the on-court production and off-court leadership of the 2008-09 conference Player of the Year Kenny Hasbrouck is being felt now. Clarence Jackson, the top reserve in the league a year ago, has moved into the starting lineup but the program has yet to duplicate the bench strength he helped provide last season.
And, therein lies Siena's biggest problem to date.
In its two losses, Siena noticeably wore down in the second half. It had a nine-point lead early in the second half of its 77-68 loss to St. John's, and a seven-point halftime lead in its eventual 73-69 setback against Temple.
Siena's top five reserves got an average of 30 minutes of court time in those two games and average 65 minutes of playing time in its four victories.
That statistic alone indicates that Siena is plenty good enough to beat the mid-major level teams on its schedule by wide enough margins to get its reserves extra minutes but that coach Fran McCaffery isn't yet comfortable enough with his bench players to use them extensively in close games.
But, it's early. Teams develop as seasons progress. Siena's improvement, and how it fares at tournament time, will likely be directly related to how its bench players develop.
There is potential help on the way for Siena. Guard Kyle Griffin, a transfer from La Salle, is eligible to play beginning Dec. 23. By all accounts, he has been effective in practices and is expected to fit into the playing group. Davis Martens, a 6-9 forward from Germany, is eligible to begin playing as of Dec. 31. Reports are that Martens is still becoming acclimated to what the Saints do on the court, but has the physical skills to eventually be a factor.
It's clear, though, that Siena will need contributions from one of those two, if not both, as well as further development of its bench players.
Currently, Siena's top reserve guard is sophomore Kyle Downey, who was inactive for the entire summer with a back injury. Its top reserve forward is another sophomore, Owen Wignot, who has been mostly inconsistent thus far. Its other three most-played reserves are freshmen.
It's also clear why Siena needs production from its bench. To play its uptempo style Siena needs fresh players on the court.
Right now, though, Siena isn't as good at doing that as it was last year, nor as good as its uptempo teams from a little more than a decade ago when current Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt coached the Saints.
Need proof? Hewitt's 1998-99 team that advanced to the NCAA tournament had five productive reserves who combined to average 32 points, 14.3 rebounds and 87.5 minutes of action per game.
His 1999-00 team that played in that season's NIT had six productive reserves who averaged 31.3 points, 14.1 rebounds and 85.5 minutes per outing.
Through six games, the current Siena team's top five reserves average 15.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 53.4 minutes per contest.
To further emphasize those numbers, Hewitt's 1998-99 team didn't have a single player average more than 27 minutes of playing time per night. The current Siena team has two players averaging more than 32 minutes per night and another at 28.8 minutes.
If Siena's bench players don't eventually develop to the point where they can provide the production that Hewitt's teams got from its reserve players ... well, that's when it will be time to start wondering if the Saints might not be able to duplicate their achievements of the past two seasons.
Your humble blogger will refer readers to one post made last year at this time, when Siena lost all three of its games in the 2008 Old Spice Classic; and, to two other posts written several weeks ago before Siena played its first game.
The summation of last year's post after the Old Spice losses: Don't panic. Siena played superior talent, and has room to improve.
The summation of this year's preseason posts, made after one publication named Siena as the 15th-best team nationally and another as the 20th-best: Let's get realistic, those projections are way too high.
Yours truly isn't always right, but when he hits the proverbial nail he's willing to take credit.
After last season's Old Spice Classic dropped Siena to a 2-3 record it won 25 of its final 30 games including a second straight win in the NCAA tournament's first round. Despite some early season panic by program followers, things turned out pretty well in 2008-09.
There's a little bit of that panic around again, particularly since the Saints probably won't crack the national Top 25 polls without a considerable run of victories that would have to start with Wednesday's game at Georgia Tech (which is in the Top 25).
But does any of that matter right now? Of course not.
Unless Siena came pretty close to running the table this year, it probably wasn't going to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA if it didn't capture the MAAC's automatic bid. The MAAC has only received one at-large NCAA invitation in its previous 28 years of existence.
The greatest negative affect that the early season losses have had on Siena is to diminish its Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) standing. That will impact where the Saints get slotted in the NCAA field, should it get there.
A year ago Siena was a No. 9 seed in a 16-team bracket. The position created a competitive first-round game in which Siena knocked off eighth-seeded Ohio State and, then, a game with a No. 1 seed and overwhelming favorite Louisville in the second round.
For Siena, or any MAAC team, to get beyond the tournament's second round, something never accomplished by a conference team, the likelihood is that it would need to be seeded No. 5 or No. 6 in a bracket. That opportunity has likely already been lost for Siena this season.
Still, Siena's best days this season are ahead. Despite the return of four starters and the league's top reserve from a year ago moving into the fifth starting spot the Saints remain a work in progress.
The return of five of the team's top six players, though, created more hype and expectations than the program has ever experienced.
It says here that all of that wasn't merited.
The loss of both the on-court production and off-court leadership of the 2008-09 conference Player of the Year Kenny Hasbrouck is being felt now. Clarence Jackson, the top reserve in the league a year ago, has moved into the starting lineup but the program has yet to duplicate the bench strength he helped provide last season.
And, therein lies Siena's biggest problem to date.
In its two losses, Siena noticeably wore down in the second half. It had a nine-point lead early in the second half of its 77-68 loss to St. John's, and a seven-point halftime lead in its eventual 73-69 setback against Temple.
Siena's top five reserves got an average of 30 minutes of court time in those two games and average 65 minutes of playing time in its four victories.
That statistic alone indicates that Siena is plenty good enough to beat the mid-major level teams on its schedule by wide enough margins to get its reserves extra minutes but that coach Fran McCaffery isn't yet comfortable enough with his bench players to use them extensively in close games.
But, it's early. Teams develop as seasons progress. Siena's improvement, and how it fares at tournament time, will likely be directly related to how its bench players develop.
There is potential help on the way for Siena. Guard Kyle Griffin, a transfer from La Salle, is eligible to play beginning Dec. 23. By all accounts, he has been effective in practices and is expected to fit into the playing group. Davis Martens, a 6-9 forward from Germany, is eligible to begin playing as of Dec. 31. Reports are that Martens is still becoming acclimated to what the Saints do on the court, but has the physical skills to eventually be a factor.
It's clear, though, that Siena will need contributions from one of those two, if not both, as well as further development of its bench players.
Currently, Siena's top reserve guard is sophomore Kyle Downey, who was inactive for the entire summer with a back injury. Its top reserve forward is another sophomore, Owen Wignot, who has been mostly inconsistent thus far. Its other three most-played reserves are freshmen.
It's also clear why Siena needs production from its bench. To play its uptempo style Siena needs fresh players on the court.
Right now, though, Siena isn't as good at doing that as it was last year, nor as good as its uptempo teams from a little more than a decade ago when current Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt coached the Saints.
Need proof? Hewitt's 1998-99 team that advanced to the NCAA tournament had five productive reserves who combined to average 32 points, 14.3 rebounds and 87.5 minutes of action per game.
His 1999-00 team that played in that season's NIT had six productive reserves who averaged 31.3 points, 14.1 rebounds and 85.5 minutes per outing.
Through six games, the current Siena team's top five reserves average 15.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 53.4 minutes per contest.
To further emphasize those numbers, Hewitt's 1998-99 team didn't have a single player average more than 27 minutes of playing time per night. The current Siena team has two players averaging more than 32 minutes per night and another at 28.8 minutes.
If Siena's bench players don't eventually develop to the point where they can provide the production that Hewitt's teams got from its reserve players ... well, that's when it will be time to start wondering if the Saints might not be able to duplicate their achievements of the past two seasons.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Some Women Leaders Now on Sidelines
Proof that there is considerable former playing talent on conference sidelines can be found in the answer to this question:
What two assistant coaches for MAAC programs rank as an all-time leader in a statistical category?
The answer is …
- Current Siena assistant Michelle Collins, who played for the Saints (1989-92) when it first joined the MAAC shares the top spot in career assist-per-game average with Liz Sterling of Fairfield (1981-84) at 5.69 per contest.
- Current Marist assistant Alisa Kresge, who played at Marist (2003-07) is the conference’s all-time leader in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.69.
Those stats come courtesy of the conference’s recent release, to media members, of a MAAC Record Book, the result of more than a year of research to determine all-time leaders not only in basketball but all sports played by conference members.
Here are more interesting statistics recorded by women's players:
The conference has produced five women’s players who have surpassed the 2,000-point barrier. They are:
1) Patty Stoffey of Loyola (1991-95) 2,467
2) Jeanine Radice of Fordham (1985-89) 2,417
3) Melanie Halker of Siena (1995-99) 2,021
4) Tonya Grant of Saint Peter’s (1986-90) 2,020
5) Shauna Geronzin of Canisius (1998-02) 2,012
Radice, though, is the top point-per-game scorer (21.8), followed by Stoffey (21.3) and Manhattan’s Sheila Tighe (1981-84), who averaged 21.3. Those are the only three players in conference history to average more than 20 points per contest over their respective careers.
Other all-time leaders:
Field Goal Percentage
1) Liene Jansone of Siena (2000-04) .591
2) Rachele Fitz of Marist (2006-present) .577
3) Katrina Fields of Fairfield (1981-85) .555
Free Throw Percentage
1) Jen Cole of La Salle (1989-92) .852
2) Beth Dickinson of Saint Peter’s (1999-01) .851
- Jeanine Radice of Fordham (1985-89) .851
Three-pointers per game
1) Heather Fiore of Canisius (1993-97) 2.41
2) Kim Kuhn of Niagara (1989-93) 2.39
3) Iris Beistline of Rider (1997-01) 2.22
Note: Amanda Cavo of Canisius is the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers made with 267, followed by Kuhn with 261 and Fiore with 260.
Three-point Field Goal Percentage
1) Peg Taylor of Siena (1989-92) .424
2) Micayla Drysdale of Canisius (2007-present) .411
3) Ann Mymm of Niagara (2000-04) .403
Career rebounds
1) Rosalee Mason of Manhattan (2000-04) 1,217
2) Katrina Fields of Marist (1981-85) 1,210
3) Midred Washington of Saint Peter’s (1993-97) 1,153
NOTE: Siena’s Melanie Halker (1995-99) is fourth in rebounds with 1,122 and is the only MAAC women’s player to rank in the top four in both career scoring and rebounding.
Assists per game
Mimi Harris of La Salle (1988-92) is No. 3 on the list at 5.63, behind Collins and Sterling.
Blocks per game
1) Ayanna Brown of Fairfield (2000-02) 2.58
2) Gail Strumpf of Fairfield (1997-01) 2.12
3) Stephanie Geehan of Fairfield (2006-current) 2.06
Steals Per Game
1) Blanche Jones of Saint Peter’s (1981-85) 3.27
2) Mimi LaMagne of Canisius (1993-97) 3.21
3) Christine Fryer of Fairfield (1992-96) 3.07
Assist to turnover ratio
1) Alisa Kresge of Marist (2003-07) 2.69
2) Tori Horvath of Iona (2003-07) 2.56
3) Mimi Harris of La Salle (1988-92) 2.05
Some interesting team statistics…
- In 2007-08 Marist became the only conference team to record 2,500 points (2,502) in a season.
- Only two teams, both from Holy Cross, averaged more than 80 points per game over a full season. The Crusaders scored 82.8 per game in the 1987-88 season and 80.7 per outing in 1986-87.
- The 1986-87 Holy Cross squad shot .501 from the field, the only time a conference team has gone a full season at better than 50-percent accuracy.
- The 2008-09 Canisius team set the conference record for most three-pointers made (252) in a season.
- The 1987-88 La Salle team shot an incredible .560 percent on three-pointers (47-of-84).
- Fairfield has the top five best blocked-shots-per-game averages for a full season … 5.87 in 200-01, 5.74 in 2008-09, 4.93 in 1983-8, 4.72 in 2001-02 and 4.63 in 1984-85.
- - Saint Peter’s has the two best steals-per-game averages over a full season … 14.54 in 1988-89 and 14.0 in 1985-86.
What two assistant coaches for MAAC programs rank as an all-time leader in a statistical category?
The answer is …
- Current Siena assistant Michelle Collins, who played for the Saints (1989-92) when it first joined the MAAC shares the top spot in career assist-per-game average with Liz Sterling of Fairfield (1981-84) at 5.69 per contest.
- Current Marist assistant Alisa Kresge, who played at Marist (2003-07) is the conference’s all-time leader in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.69.
Those stats come courtesy of the conference’s recent release, to media members, of a MAAC Record Book, the result of more than a year of research to determine all-time leaders not only in basketball but all sports played by conference members.
Here are more interesting statistics recorded by women's players:
The conference has produced five women’s players who have surpassed the 2,000-point barrier. They are:
1) Patty Stoffey of Loyola (1991-95) 2,467
2) Jeanine Radice of Fordham (1985-89) 2,417
3) Melanie Halker of Siena (1995-99) 2,021
4) Tonya Grant of Saint Peter’s (1986-90) 2,020
5) Shauna Geronzin of Canisius (1998-02) 2,012
Radice, though, is the top point-per-game scorer (21.8), followed by Stoffey (21.3) and Manhattan’s Sheila Tighe (1981-84), who averaged 21.3. Those are the only three players in conference history to average more than 20 points per contest over their respective careers.
Other all-time leaders:
Field Goal Percentage
1) Liene Jansone of Siena (2000-04) .591
2) Rachele Fitz of Marist (2006-present) .577
3) Katrina Fields of Fairfield (1981-85) .555
Free Throw Percentage
1) Jen Cole of La Salle (1989-92) .852
2) Beth Dickinson of Saint Peter’s (1999-01) .851
- Jeanine Radice of Fordham (1985-89) .851
Three-pointers per game
1) Heather Fiore of Canisius (1993-97) 2.41
2) Kim Kuhn of Niagara (1989-93) 2.39
3) Iris Beistline of Rider (1997-01) 2.22
Note: Amanda Cavo of Canisius is the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers made with 267, followed by Kuhn with 261 and Fiore with 260.
Three-point Field Goal Percentage
1) Peg Taylor of Siena (1989-92) .424
2) Micayla Drysdale of Canisius (2007-present) .411
3) Ann Mymm of Niagara (2000-04) .403
Career rebounds
1) Rosalee Mason of Manhattan (2000-04) 1,217
2) Katrina Fields of Marist (1981-85) 1,210
3) Midred Washington of Saint Peter’s (1993-97) 1,153
NOTE: Siena’s Melanie Halker (1995-99) is fourth in rebounds with 1,122 and is the only MAAC women’s player to rank in the top four in both career scoring and rebounding.
Assists per game
Mimi Harris of La Salle (1988-92) is No. 3 on the list at 5.63, behind Collins and Sterling.
Blocks per game
1) Ayanna Brown of Fairfield (2000-02) 2.58
2) Gail Strumpf of Fairfield (1997-01) 2.12
3) Stephanie Geehan of Fairfield (2006-current) 2.06
Steals Per Game
1) Blanche Jones of Saint Peter’s (1981-85) 3.27
2) Mimi LaMagne of Canisius (1993-97) 3.21
3) Christine Fryer of Fairfield (1992-96) 3.07
Assist to turnover ratio
1) Alisa Kresge of Marist (2003-07) 2.69
2) Tori Horvath of Iona (2003-07) 2.56
3) Mimi Harris of La Salle (1988-92) 2.05
Some interesting team statistics…
- In 2007-08 Marist became the only conference team to record 2,500 points (2,502) in a season.
- Only two teams, both from Holy Cross, averaged more than 80 points per game over a full season. The Crusaders scored 82.8 per game in the 1987-88 season and 80.7 per outing in 1986-87.
- The 1986-87 Holy Cross squad shot .501 from the field, the only time a conference team has gone a full season at better than 50-percent accuracy.
- The 2008-09 Canisius team set the conference record for most three-pointers made (252) in a season.
- The 1987-88 La Salle team shot an incredible .560 percent on three-pointers (47-of-84).
- Fairfield has the top five best blocked-shots-per-game averages for a full season … 5.87 in 200-01, 5.74 in 2008-09, 4.93 in 1983-8, 4.72 in 2001-02 and 4.63 in 1984-85.
- - Saint Peter’s has the two best steals-per-game averages over a full season … 14.54 in 1988-89 and 14.0 in 1985-86.
A Look at MAAC's All-Time Stat Leaders
Here’s a question that MAAC basketball fans/historians should know: Name the only two players from the conference to finish their careers with more than 3,000 points.
The answer is Lionel Simmons of La Salle (1986-90) with 3,217 career points and Keydren Clark of Saint Peter’s (2002-06) with 3,058.
And, now, the rest of this trivial pursuit won’t be that easy.
How about a guess on what player ranks No. 3 on that particular list?
That would be Kevin Houston of Army 91983-87) with 2,325 points. After him comes Juan Mendez of Niagara (2001-05) with 2,210 and Steve Burtt Sr. of Iona (1981-84) with 2,153.
The information comes from a publication recently released and provided to media members by the conference, the first compiled MAAC Record Book for all sports, not just basketball. It is a treasure trove of interesting tidbits, and great fodder for a blog.
The information was gathered by Jill Skotarczak, the MAAC’s assistant commissioner for media relations; and Ed Clinton, the conference’s director of media relations. It has been a year-long project of research and fact-checking and is provides information and perspective not previously available. It is much appreciated, and this blogger will share some basketball highlights.
While Simmons is the all-time leading point scorer, Clark is No. 1 in points per game average (25.9 to Simmons’ 24.6). Butt is No. 3 at 23.2, followed by Luis Flores of Manhattan (2001-04), 22.7; and Jim McCaffrey of Holy Cross (1984-86) 22.2.
Here are many other leaders for men:
Field goal percentage
1) Harry Hart of Iona (1991-93) .628.
2) Pete DeBisschop of Fairfield (1981-83) .603
3) Darrell Barley of Canisius (1992-96) .601
Active player Alex Franklin of Siena is No. 4 at .575 through Thanksgiving.
Free throw percentage
1) Luis Flores Manhattan (2001-04) .880
2) Kevin Houston of Army (1983-87) .869
3) Bo Larragan of Marist (1997-99) .863
Active player Nick Leon of Saint Peter’s is also at .863 through Thanksgiving.
And, a note: Siena’s Scott Knapp is actually the all-time leader in this category (.891) but wound up a few free throws short of the minimum 2.5 made per game to qualify for statistical leadership according to NCAA guidelines.
3-pointers made
1) Kedren Clark, 435
2) Will Whittington of Marist (2003-07) 362)
3) Jerry Johnston of Rider (2002-05) 326
4) Scott Knapp of Siena 293
3-point FG Percentage
1) Tim Legler of La Salle (1986-88) .456
2) Jim Cantamessa of Siena (1996-00) .449
3) Harris Mansell of Rider (2005-09) .443
Career Rebounds
1) Lionel Simmons of La Salle 1,429
2) Jason Thompson of Rider (2004-08) 1,171
3) Drew Henderson of Fairfield (1989-93) 1,080
Assists Per game
1) Jared Jordan of Marist (2003-07) 6.95
2) Glenn Williams of Holy Cross (1985-89) 6.21
3) Sean Kennedy of Marist (1998-02) 6.04
Blocked shots per game
1) Deng Gai of Fairfield (2001-05) 4.44
2) Harry Hart of Iona (1991-93) 2.67
3) Damon Lopez of Fordham (1988-90) 2.63
Steals per game
1) Jason Rowe of Loyola (1996-00) 2.86
2) Billy Wheeler of Manhattan (1986-88) 2.61
3) Randy Woods of La Salle (1989-92) 2.50
Assist-to-turnover ratio
1) Ronald Moore, Siena (2006-active) 2.58
2) Jared Jordan of Marist (2003-07) 2.52
3) Javone “Bam” Moore of Canisius (1993-97) 2.43
ALSO … a smattering of team statistics for men:
- Most points in a season: Siena holds the top two spots: 2862 points in 1999-00 and 2,829 points in the 1990-91 season. But, the Holy Cross team of 1987-88 has the best point-per-game average of 87.9, followed by the 1999-00 Siena team (86.7).
- Best-shooting teams: The 1984-85 Iona team shot .538 from the field. Saint Peter’s teams of 1981-82 and 1982-83 follow at .535 and .531, respectively.
- The 1997-98 Siena team is the only one in conference history to shoot over 80 percent (.803) from the foul line. The 2002-03 Manhattan team is next at .788, followed by the 1998-99 Siena team (.787).
COMING ATTRACTION: Taking a look at statistical leaders for women’s basketball.
And, here's a preview question ... name the conference's five women's players to finish with more than 2,000 career points.
The answer is Lionel Simmons of La Salle (1986-90) with 3,217 career points and Keydren Clark of Saint Peter’s (2002-06) with 3,058.
And, now, the rest of this trivial pursuit won’t be that easy.
How about a guess on what player ranks No. 3 on that particular list?
That would be Kevin Houston of Army 91983-87) with 2,325 points. After him comes Juan Mendez of Niagara (2001-05) with 2,210 and Steve Burtt Sr. of Iona (1981-84) with 2,153.
The information comes from a publication recently released and provided to media members by the conference, the first compiled MAAC Record Book for all sports, not just basketball. It is a treasure trove of interesting tidbits, and great fodder for a blog.
The information was gathered by Jill Skotarczak, the MAAC’s assistant commissioner for media relations; and Ed Clinton, the conference’s director of media relations. It has been a year-long project of research and fact-checking and is provides information and perspective not previously available. It is much appreciated, and this blogger will share some basketball highlights.
While Simmons is the all-time leading point scorer, Clark is No. 1 in points per game average (25.9 to Simmons’ 24.6). Butt is No. 3 at 23.2, followed by Luis Flores of Manhattan (2001-04), 22.7; and Jim McCaffrey of Holy Cross (1984-86) 22.2.
Here are many other leaders for men:
Field goal percentage
1) Harry Hart of Iona (1991-93) .628.
2) Pete DeBisschop of Fairfield (1981-83) .603
3) Darrell Barley of Canisius (1992-96) .601
Active player Alex Franklin of Siena is No. 4 at .575 through Thanksgiving.
Free throw percentage
1) Luis Flores Manhattan (2001-04) .880
2) Kevin Houston of Army (1983-87) .869
3) Bo Larragan of Marist (1997-99) .863
Active player Nick Leon of Saint Peter’s is also at .863 through Thanksgiving.
And, a note: Siena’s Scott Knapp is actually the all-time leader in this category (.891) but wound up a few free throws short of the minimum 2.5 made per game to qualify for statistical leadership according to NCAA guidelines.
3-pointers made
1) Kedren Clark, 435
2) Will Whittington of Marist (2003-07) 362)
3) Jerry Johnston of Rider (2002-05) 326
4) Scott Knapp of Siena 293
3-point FG Percentage
1) Tim Legler of La Salle (1986-88) .456
2) Jim Cantamessa of Siena (1996-00) .449
3) Harris Mansell of Rider (2005-09) .443
Career Rebounds
1) Lionel Simmons of La Salle 1,429
2) Jason Thompson of Rider (2004-08) 1,171
3) Drew Henderson of Fairfield (1989-93) 1,080
Assists Per game
1) Jared Jordan of Marist (2003-07) 6.95
2) Glenn Williams of Holy Cross (1985-89) 6.21
3) Sean Kennedy of Marist (1998-02) 6.04
Blocked shots per game
1) Deng Gai of Fairfield (2001-05) 4.44
2) Harry Hart of Iona (1991-93) 2.67
3) Damon Lopez of Fordham (1988-90) 2.63
Steals per game
1) Jason Rowe of Loyola (1996-00) 2.86
2) Billy Wheeler of Manhattan (1986-88) 2.61
3) Randy Woods of La Salle (1989-92) 2.50
Assist-to-turnover ratio
1) Ronald Moore, Siena (2006-active) 2.58
2) Jared Jordan of Marist (2003-07) 2.52
3) Javone “Bam” Moore of Canisius (1993-97) 2.43
ALSO … a smattering of team statistics for men:
- Most points in a season: Siena holds the top two spots: 2862 points in 1999-00 and 2,829 points in the 1990-91 season. But, the Holy Cross team of 1987-88 has the best point-per-game average of 87.9, followed by the 1999-00 Siena team (86.7).
- Best-shooting teams: The 1984-85 Iona team shot .538 from the field. Saint Peter’s teams of 1981-82 and 1982-83 follow at .535 and .531, respectively.
- The 1997-98 Siena team is the only one in conference history to shoot over 80 percent (.803) from the foul line. The 2002-03 Manhattan team is next at .788, followed by the 1998-99 Siena team (.787).
COMING ATTRACTION: Taking a look at statistical leaders for women’s basketball.
And, here's a preview question ... name the conference's five women's players to finish with more than 2,000 career points.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Personnel Updates: Who's Out, Who's Back
There have been, or will be, some key personnel comings and goings from around the conference in the early part of this season. Here are some updates:
Canisius has lost two players recently, both expected to be key reserves.
Chris Gadley, the 6-foot-9, 300-pounder who matched a MAAC record with 25 rebounds in a game last season, is sitting out the first semester to concentrate on academics. Gadley was not suspended, and was not asked to leave the team. The move was entirely his own decision, according to reports, in order to give him more time to improve his academic work. If all goes well, he could return to the team after the first semester.
Rob Gagliardi, a 6-2 guard and one of the more highly-touted freshmen coming into the conference this season, appears lost to the Golden Griffins for the season. Gagliardi has returned to his Whitby, Ont., home to deal with an unspecified illness. Canisius coach Tom Parotta addressed Gagliardi’s situation at a recent luncheon for program boosters. Upon his recovery Gagliardi is expected to return to the program, but is likely to be red-shirted this season.
At Manhattan, standout guard Rico Pickett missed his team’s most recent game, a 75-70 loss to William & Mary. Pickett, a transfer from Miami Dade Junior College, had averaged 10.5 points through the Jaspers’ first two games. He was suspended for a “violation of team rules.” A school spokesman said that there is no timetable for Pickett’s return, but indicated that the guard could return this week, although it isn’t know if that includes tonight’s game at home against Florida Atlantic.
R.J. Hall, expected to be the starting point guard at Marist, is sitting out the first semester due to an academic suspension. Hall is currently a sophomore. As a freshman he averaged 6.9 points and 2.1 assists per games, third- and second-best, respectively, for the Red Foxes.
The returns of Gadley, Hall and Pickett will boost their respective programs.
Marist, off to an 0-2 start (including a 75-38 defeat at Hartford in its most recent game) will get another lift in the second semester when 6-10, 270-pound Casiem Drummond, a mid-season transfer from Villanova last year, becomes eligible. Drummond had some effective games at Villanova and might provide the type inside play from a big man the MAAC rarely sees. Or ... he could have difficulty fitting into the Red Foxes' style of play. It should be interesting to see how things develop here.
He won’t be the only mid-season addition expected to help a conference team.
Siena, which has struggled to find help off its bench through its 2-1 start, has two players who should help solve that dilemma becoming eligible soon.
Guard Kyle Griffin, a transfer from La Salle, becomes eligible for Siena's game on Dec. 23; and, forward Davis Martens, a native of Germany, can begin playing on Dec. 31.
The 6-3 Griffin can play either guard spot. He was once highly recruited by Siena before opting for La Salle, where he played 15 games and averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 assists as a freshman during the 2007-08 season before a knee injury set him back. Griffin transferred to Siena between semesters last year and has spent the past year with the Saints rehabbing his injury. He has been participating in full practices for several weeks and is said to be near 100 percent.
Martens has the typical perimeter skills of a European player, but has also shown some strength inside, according to those who have watched him practice. Because he played games in a professional league (but was not paid) last year, he is required to sit out the Saints' first 12 contests this season.
Canisius has lost two players recently, both expected to be key reserves.
Chris Gadley, the 6-foot-9, 300-pounder who matched a MAAC record with 25 rebounds in a game last season, is sitting out the first semester to concentrate on academics. Gadley was not suspended, and was not asked to leave the team. The move was entirely his own decision, according to reports, in order to give him more time to improve his academic work. If all goes well, he could return to the team after the first semester.
Rob Gagliardi, a 6-2 guard and one of the more highly-touted freshmen coming into the conference this season, appears lost to the Golden Griffins for the season. Gagliardi has returned to his Whitby, Ont., home to deal with an unspecified illness. Canisius coach Tom Parotta addressed Gagliardi’s situation at a recent luncheon for program boosters. Upon his recovery Gagliardi is expected to return to the program, but is likely to be red-shirted this season.
At Manhattan, standout guard Rico Pickett missed his team’s most recent game, a 75-70 loss to William & Mary. Pickett, a transfer from Miami Dade Junior College, had averaged 10.5 points through the Jaspers’ first two games. He was suspended for a “violation of team rules.” A school spokesman said that there is no timetable for Pickett’s return, but indicated that the guard could return this week, although it isn’t know if that includes tonight’s game at home against Florida Atlantic.
R.J. Hall, expected to be the starting point guard at Marist, is sitting out the first semester due to an academic suspension. Hall is currently a sophomore. As a freshman he averaged 6.9 points and 2.1 assists per games, third- and second-best, respectively, for the Red Foxes.
The returns of Gadley, Hall and Pickett will boost their respective programs.
Marist, off to an 0-2 start (including a 75-38 defeat at Hartford in its most recent game) will get another lift in the second semester when 6-10, 270-pound Casiem Drummond, a mid-season transfer from Villanova last year, becomes eligible. Drummond had some effective games at Villanova and might provide the type inside play from a big man the MAAC rarely sees. Or ... he could have difficulty fitting into the Red Foxes' style of play. It should be interesting to see how things develop here.
He won’t be the only mid-season addition expected to help a conference team.
Siena, which has struggled to find help off its bench through its 2-1 start, has two players who should help solve that dilemma becoming eligible soon.
Guard Kyle Griffin, a transfer from La Salle, becomes eligible for Siena's game on Dec. 23; and, forward Davis Martens, a native of Germany, can begin playing on Dec. 31.
The 6-3 Griffin can play either guard spot. He was once highly recruited by Siena before opting for La Salle, where he played 15 games and averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 assists as a freshman during the 2007-08 season before a knee injury set him back. Griffin transferred to Siena between semesters last year and has spent the past year with the Saints rehabbing his injury. He has been participating in full practices for several weeks and is said to be near 100 percent.
Martens has the typical perimeter skills of a European player, but has also shown some strength inside, according to those who have watched him practice. Because he played games in a professional league (but was not paid) last year, he is required to sit out the Saints' first 12 contests this season.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Trouble at Manhattan: Pickett Suspended
Badad news for the Manhattan men's team.
It appears that its highly regarded newcomer Rico Pickett, has been suspended from the team.
Here's some information that appeared on the blog of New York Daily News college basketball writer Sean Brennan:
"... the Jaspers had suffered another loss when head coach Barry Rohrssen suspended junior guard Rico Pickett indefinitely for what the school is terming a "violation of team rules."
"The 6-4 Pickett, who played his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Miami Dade CC for his sophomore season, scored 14 points in the loss to Princeton and was averaging 12.5 points and four rebounds through the Jaspers first two games. Pickett was an addition who was being looked upon to supply a good bulk of the offense at Manhattan this season.
"No one was saying how long the "indefinite" part of the suspension means for Pickett, but one thing is sure, he will miss Saturday's home game against William & Mary. The Jaspers have a quick turnaround and play Mike Jarvis' Florida Atlantic team Monday night at Draddy Gym before closing out the month with a trip to American on Nov. 25 before hosting the "Battle of the Bronx" against Fordham on Nov. 28.
Pickett's availability for those games is considered murky at best."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Other details about Pickett's suspension are not forthcoming. There is nothing on the school's website about Pickett's situation, and coaches are loathe to discuss suspensions.
Your blogger will say this: Pickett appeared to be one of the more-gifted players joining a conference program this season, and his presence, particularly on the offensive end, is strongly needed by the Jaspers.
Manhattan will certainly struggle in his absence. Without him in the lineup the Jaspers would likely be the primary contender for last place in the conference standings.
It appears that its highly regarded newcomer Rico Pickett, has been suspended from the team.
Here's some information that appeared on the blog of New York Daily News college basketball writer Sean Brennan:
"... the Jaspers had suffered another loss when head coach Barry Rohrssen suspended junior guard Rico Pickett indefinitely for what the school is terming a "violation of team rules."
"The 6-4 Pickett, who played his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Miami Dade CC for his sophomore season, scored 14 points in the loss to Princeton and was averaging 12.5 points and four rebounds through the Jaspers first two games. Pickett was an addition who was being looked upon to supply a good bulk of the offense at Manhattan this season.
"No one was saying how long the "indefinite" part of the suspension means for Pickett, but one thing is sure, he will miss Saturday's home game against William & Mary. The Jaspers have a quick turnaround and play Mike Jarvis' Florida Atlantic team Monday night at Draddy Gym before closing out the month with a trip to American on Nov. 25 before hosting the "Battle of the Bronx" against Fordham on Nov. 28.
Pickett's availability for those games is considered murky at best."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Other details about Pickett's suspension are not forthcoming. There is nothing on the school's website about Pickett's situation, and coaches are loathe to discuss suspensions.
Your blogger will say this: Pickett appeared to be one of the more-gifted players joining a conference program this season, and his presence, particularly on the offensive end, is strongly needed by the Jaspers.
Manhattan will certainly struggle in his absence. Without him in the lineup the Jaspers would likely be the primary contender for last place in the conference standings.
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