The annual GymRat CHALLENGE AAU tournament for girls was played in these parts (New York's Capital Region) this past weekend, and there was a plethora of top-level talent on display.
A good many of the standout players here appear destined for MAAC teams at some point, which isn't unusual. Almost every conference team has at least one, if not more, GymRat alum.
Here's a look at some of the better players here who are involved in the recruiting process with MAAC teams. The majority, if not all, of these players are currently high school juniors about to enter their senior seasons:
- Kristin Schatzlein, a 6-0 forward who played for the NEBC Bombers and attends Tolland High School in Connecticut. She told talent evaluators here that she has already given a verbal commitment to Fairfield. She is a 6-foot-0 swing player with great court awareness and a terrific passing ability ... a "point forward" if you will. She is a very unselfish player who probably needs a little more strength, as do most high school players, to be a factor at the college level. Otherwise, she looks like she'll have success at Fairfield.
-Morgan Orlander, a 6-3 center, also of the NEBC Bombers. Although she did not reveal her college interests, she looks like a MAAC-level player. And her brother, 6-11 Ryan Olander, will be a senior at Fairfield this season. Morgan is very reminiscent of her brother in that she is tall and slender as a high school player, but very skilled.
- Lizzy Ball, a 5-7 piont guard who played with the NH Rivals team here and attends New Hampton H.S. Rider and Siena have both expressed interest thus far, along with a variety of America East schools. She is a feisty, scrappy player with terrific court vision and passing ability.
- Alee Lateria, a 5-11 forward who plays for the NH Rivals team and attends Hopkinton H.S. A couple of MAAC schools have made initial contact with her.
- Ashley Perez, a 5-8 point guard with the Ct. Starters (Manchester H.S.), who your hoopscribe also saw play in another tournament sponsored by the Albany Capitals' AAU program lst month. She would be a terrific MAAC player, but seems to be getting interest from higher levels (Providence, some CAA teams) as well. But, several MAAC schools have made contact with her.
- Tara Flynn a 5-6 point guard with the United NJ AAU Team who attends Bayonne High School. Although your hoopscribe did not see her play, she did express interest in several MAAC schools. The post-tournament report on her is that she can run a team and distribute, but is also a standout shooter.
- Briana Thomas, a 5-7 combo guard who plays for the Basketball Results AAU team. She is in contact with Manhattan, as well as some CAA and low-level Big East teams. A real scorer and strong physically.
- Anastasia Williams, a 5-11 forward who played for the Basketball Results AAU team. She said recruiting interest is coming from Siena, Northeastern and Providence. She had a strong build yet was fairly athletic and played tough and physically inside.
- Maddy Blais, a 6-0 small forward who played for the NH Rivals team. A slender perimeter player with a very nice shot out to 3-point range and a good ball-handler/decision-maker. She ia getting interest from Marist, Providence and Virginia Tech, among others.
- Stevie Ray, a 5-10 guard who played for the Central New York Rim Rockers. She is a good-sized guard who really pushed things in transition, showed the ability to hit from 3-point range and passed the ball well. Niagara is involved with her.
There were undoubtedly numerous others, but these players specifically mentioned MAAC schools as potential programs they were considering for their future.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Off-Season Report: Looking at St. Peter's
Here's another in the series looking at conference programs.
Up now ...
SAINT PETER'S MEN
2010-11 RESULTS: 11-7 in MAAC play, 20-14 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: After a fourth-place conference finish in the regular-season, the Peacocks were the surprise team of the post season sweeping the MAAC tournament with wins over three very good teams: Loyola, regular-season champion Fairfield and, then, Iona. Saint Peter's mostly did it with defense as its field-goal percentage defense of .376 was second-best nationally and its points allowed total was 12th best nationally. That was never on display more than in the conference tournament where the Peacocks' dedication to a hard-nosed defensive style paid dividends and made offensive life miserable for three straight opponents. On the season the 20 overall victories was the first time that happened for the program since the 1994-95 season, which was the last time it went to the NCAA tournament. This time it went as the 14th-seeded team in a 16-team region and drew a difficult opponent in Purdue. The Boilermakers, who played a similarly strong defensive style as the Peacocks, earned a 65-43 win in the NCAA event.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: The 20-win season was the culmination, a natural progression if you will, for three veteran seniors who grew up together. When guards Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon and forward Ryan Bacon were freshmen the team finished 6-24 overall. That was followed by an 11-19 record and, then, a 16-14 mark when the trio were juniors. This past season was further evidence of the importance of veteran, intelligent players. The trio was joined by a another senior, Jeron Belin, who came aboard as a junior college transfer, and was the MAAC tournament's MVP. Jenkins finished his career with more than 1,500 points and Jenkins with more than 1,400. Bacon finished as the program's all-time leading shot-blocker and third on the all-time rebounding list. Jenkins' health, after suffering a preseason knee injury, was crucial. The injury was only a slight (and, not full) tear of a knee ACL which allowed him to rehab and return rather than sit out the season, and his 12.6 points per game led the team. Beilin, Leon and Bacon all contributed double-digit scoring. Steve Samuels, a 6-4 sophomore guard, also made significant contributions as did 6-7 sophomore forward Darius Conley. Without Jenkins early the Peacocks started off 0-3 against non-league opponents, but a 50-49 upset victory over Alabama followed and set the tone for what was to come. After the season more went right. Head coach John Dunne, whose work with the program got significant recognition, was a candidate for positions elsewhere but ultimately remained at Saint Peter's.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The Jenkins injury. He was not 100 percent at any time during the season. Had he not missed nine games the Peacocks surely would have had a few more regular-season victories. Still, it's hard to find much fault with how things turned out, a heartwarming story of how under recruited players struggled early and stuck together through difficult early times to earn an NCAA berth. The Peacocks' run through the MAAC tournament and into the NCAA's became a feel-good happening for a community and a program that benefited greatly from it.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The initial thought is that the loss of three starters and a 6th man who was the MAAC tournament's MVP will leave the program devastated and signal a return to something like the 6-24 record of 2007-08. But, that might not happen. Not long after the season ended Dunne spoke about how if he could get some front-court help his team might just be OK for the coming season. He got some help with the signing of 6-foot-8 Karee Ferguson from Lincoln Trail Junior College in Illinois. And, Dunne is still working the recruiting trails to find another inside player. The perimeter should be well-served even with the loss of Jenkins and Leon. Samuels certainly looked capable of stepping into a bigger role. Then, there's 6-2 junior guard Chris Prescott, a transfer from Saint Joseph's where he started 12 games as a sophomore two years ago. He practiced with the Peacocks last season and is eligible to play this coming year. Also in the program are Yvon Raymond (3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds), a key reserve this past season, junior-to-be guard Blaise Ffrench, a transfer from UTEP, and 6-4 sophomore-to-be Chris Burke. Ffrench and Burke both suffered early season injuries and neither one made significant contributions this past year, but both are highly regarded within the program. Ad then, there's 5-9 incoming point guard Lamin Fulton who could be a factor.
PREDICTION FOR 2011-12: The Peacocks probably won't contend for the regular-season title. With so many new faces getting into the playing group the coming year will be all about developing chemistry and improving as the season progresses. But, finishing in the top five isn't out of the realm of possibility. After that ... who knows? Saint Peter's finished fourth this past season, improving as the season went on, and was at its best at the end earning its NCAA berth.
Up now ...
SAINT PETER'S MEN
2010-11 RESULTS: 11-7 in MAAC play, 20-14 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: After a fourth-place conference finish in the regular-season, the Peacocks were the surprise team of the post season sweeping the MAAC tournament with wins over three very good teams: Loyola, regular-season champion Fairfield and, then, Iona. Saint Peter's mostly did it with defense as its field-goal percentage defense of .376 was second-best nationally and its points allowed total was 12th best nationally. That was never on display more than in the conference tournament where the Peacocks' dedication to a hard-nosed defensive style paid dividends and made offensive life miserable for three straight opponents. On the season the 20 overall victories was the first time that happened for the program since the 1994-95 season, which was the last time it went to the NCAA tournament. This time it went as the 14th-seeded team in a 16-team region and drew a difficult opponent in Purdue. The Boilermakers, who played a similarly strong defensive style as the Peacocks, earned a 65-43 win in the NCAA event.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: The 20-win season was the culmination, a natural progression if you will, for three veteran seniors who grew up together. When guards Wesley Jenkins and Nick Leon and forward Ryan Bacon were freshmen the team finished 6-24 overall. That was followed by an 11-19 record and, then, a 16-14 mark when the trio were juniors. This past season was further evidence of the importance of veteran, intelligent players. The trio was joined by a another senior, Jeron Belin, who came aboard as a junior college transfer, and was the MAAC tournament's MVP. Jenkins finished his career with more than 1,500 points and Jenkins with more than 1,400. Bacon finished as the program's all-time leading shot-blocker and third on the all-time rebounding list. Jenkins' health, after suffering a preseason knee injury, was crucial. The injury was only a slight (and, not full) tear of a knee ACL which allowed him to rehab and return rather than sit out the season, and his 12.6 points per game led the team. Beilin, Leon and Bacon all contributed double-digit scoring. Steve Samuels, a 6-4 sophomore guard, also made significant contributions as did 6-7 sophomore forward Darius Conley. Without Jenkins early the Peacocks started off 0-3 against non-league opponents, but a 50-49 upset victory over Alabama followed and set the tone for what was to come. After the season more went right. Head coach John Dunne, whose work with the program got significant recognition, was a candidate for positions elsewhere but ultimately remained at Saint Peter's.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The Jenkins injury. He was not 100 percent at any time during the season. Had he not missed nine games the Peacocks surely would have had a few more regular-season victories. Still, it's hard to find much fault with how things turned out, a heartwarming story of how under recruited players struggled early and stuck together through difficult early times to earn an NCAA berth. The Peacocks' run through the MAAC tournament and into the NCAA's became a feel-good happening for a community and a program that benefited greatly from it.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The initial thought is that the loss of three starters and a 6th man who was the MAAC tournament's MVP will leave the program devastated and signal a return to something like the 6-24 record of 2007-08. But, that might not happen. Not long after the season ended Dunne spoke about how if he could get some front-court help his team might just be OK for the coming season. He got some help with the signing of 6-foot-8 Karee Ferguson from Lincoln Trail Junior College in Illinois. And, Dunne is still working the recruiting trails to find another inside player. The perimeter should be well-served even with the loss of Jenkins and Leon. Samuels certainly looked capable of stepping into a bigger role. Then, there's 6-2 junior guard Chris Prescott, a transfer from Saint Joseph's where he started 12 games as a sophomore two years ago. He practiced with the Peacocks last season and is eligible to play this coming year. Also in the program are Yvon Raymond (3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds), a key reserve this past season, junior-to-be guard Blaise Ffrench, a transfer from UTEP, and 6-4 sophomore-to-be Chris Burke. Ffrench and Burke both suffered early season injuries and neither one made significant contributions this past year, but both are highly regarded within the program. Ad then, there's 5-9 incoming point guard Lamin Fulton who could be a factor.
PREDICTION FOR 2011-12: The Peacocks probably won't contend for the regular-season title. With so many new faces getting into the playing group the coming year will be all about developing chemistry and improving as the season progresses. But, finishing in the top five isn't out of the realm of possibility. After that ... who knows? Saint Peter's finished fourth this past season, improving as the season went on, and was at its best at the end earning its NCAA berth.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Off-Season: Looking at Loyola Women
Here's another in the series looking at MAAC programs.
Up now....
LOYOLA WOMEN
2010-11 RECORD: 15-3 in MAAC play, 21-12 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: A spectacular season. The 15 conference victories accounted for the single-season's best by any Loyola basketball team, men or women. The only blemishes were the to-be-expected two to Marist and, surprisingly, one to Saint Peter's. The team, without a real inside player, thrived with its array of standout perimeter performers who really knew how to play. Plus, there was a nice early-season turnaround that came after an 0-5 start against non-league opponents. But that early schedule was difficult (including Pittsburgh, La Salle and West Virginia). Overall the Greyhounds were 3-7 during in-season non-conference play. But, they definitely benefitted from the experience. At one point they ran off nine straight victories against MAAC opponents, matching the program's all-time best winning streak. Of its 15 conference victories, six came by six points or fewer, a sign that the team just knew how to win games. And, then, in the conference's post-season tournament Loyola had a 3-point victory against followed by an overtime victory. That continued into national post-season play when Loyola earned a 67-65 win over Old Dominion in the first round of the WNIT.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: An extremely effective blending of strong perimeter talent helped mask any inside deficiencies the team had. It was more than that, though. Obviously coaching plays a role, and Joe Logan, through six seasons as head coach at the Baltimore school, has established himself as one of the conference's better program directors. Katie Sheahin, a 5-10 sopohomore guard who was pressed into point guard duty as a freshman due to a teammate's injury in 2009-10, blossomed at the position this past season and was arguably the best pure practitioner of the point guard spot in the league. One coached called her the biggest "game changer" in the league. Her 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left lifted Loyola to its 2-point vvictory over ODU in the WNIT's first round. Mariam McKenzie, an athletic 5-10 swingperson, was a first-team all-MAAC player as a junior and Erica Clemente, a fifth-year senior, provided veteran leadership and was the htird scoring option while finishing her career with more than 1,100 points. The 15 conference victories was the program's all-time best and the 21 overall wins matched Loyola's single-season record. Health was also in Loyola's favor. All five starters made it through the season unscathed and all five either started all 33 games, or 32 of them. The Greyhounds advanced to the MAAC tournament's championship game and held a 14-5 lead early against Marist before the Red Foxes pulled away for a victory. Still, it was all good enough to earn the WNIT berth.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Very little. The only thing that could have made Loyola better was a legit post presence. But the Greyhounds got by well enough without one. The program got slighted, it says here, in the post-season award. Or, at least, Sheahin did. Somehow she averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, had 37 total blocked shots and finished second nationally in steals (3.7) and did not get picked, by league coaches, as a first-team all-MAAC selection. She did make second team, another indication that coaches traditionally favor upperclass performers in the all-star balloting and, surely, figured that with two years remaining Sheahin's time will come. She was, though, picked as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Team-wise Loyola ran into a very good ACC program in Virginia in the second round of the WNIT, losing 71-49.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Probably another strong season as McKenzie and Sheahin, two of the league's top four or five players and both legitimate contenders to be next season's Player of the Year in the MAAC, are back. So too will be 6-1 sophomore Alyssa Sutherland (6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds) who looked like she might develop into the post presence the team needs. Nneka Offadile, a 6-1 freshman who averaged 3.0 rebounds in 13.7 points per game but had a raw offensive game, is also likely to step up and be more of a contributor. The losses of of DiClemente and forward meredith Tolley (7.4 points, 5.5 rebounds) will hurt, but there's enough coming back to ensure more good days for the program.
PREDICTION FOR 2011-12: Apart from Marist, Loyola will be as good as anyone in the league. Expect the Greyhounds to finish second or third this coming season.
Up now....
LOYOLA WOMEN
2010-11 RECORD: 15-3 in MAAC play, 21-12 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: A spectacular season. The 15 conference victories accounted for the single-season's best by any Loyola basketball team, men or women. The only blemishes were the to-be-expected two to Marist and, surprisingly, one to Saint Peter's. The team, without a real inside player, thrived with its array of standout perimeter performers who really knew how to play. Plus, there was a nice early-season turnaround that came after an 0-5 start against non-league opponents. But that early schedule was difficult (including Pittsburgh, La Salle and West Virginia). Overall the Greyhounds were 3-7 during in-season non-conference play. But, they definitely benefitted from the experience. At one point they ran off nine straight victories against MAAC opponents, matching the program's all-time best winning streak. Of its 15 conference victories, six came by six points or fewer, a sign that the team just knew how to win games. And, then, in the conference's post-season tournament Loyola had a 3-point victory against followed by an overtime victory. That continued into national post-season play when Loyola earned a 67-65 win over Old Dominion in the first round of the WNIT.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: An extremely effective blending of strong perimeter talent helped mask any inside deficiencies the team had. It was more than that, though. Obviously coaching plays a role, and Joe Logan, through six seasons as head coach at the Baltimore school, has established himself as one of the conference's better program directors. Katie Sheahin, a 5-10 sopohomore guard who was pressed into point guard duty as a freshman due to a teammate's injury in 2009-10, blossomed at the position this past season and was arguably the best pure practitioner of the point guard spot in the league. One coached called her the biggest "game changer" in the league. Her 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left lifted Loyola to its 2-point vvictory over ODU in the WNIT's first round. Mariam McKenzie, an athletic 5-10 swingperson, was a first-team all-MAAC player as a junior and Erica Clemente, a fifth-year senior, provided veteran leadership and was the htird scoring option while finishing her career with more than 1,100 points. The 15 conference victories was the program's all-time best and the 21 overall wins matched Loyola's single-season record. Health was also in Loyola's favor. All five starters made it through the season unscathed and all five either started all 33 games, or 32 of them. The Greyhounds advanced to the MAAC tournament's championship game and held a 14-5 lead early against Marist before the Red Foxes pulled away for a victory. Still, it was all good enough to earn the WNIT berth.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Very little. The only thing that could have made Loyola better was a legit post presence. But the Greyhounds got by well enough without one. The program got slighted, it says here, in the post-season award. Or, at least, Sheahin did. Somehow she averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, had 37 total blocked shots and finished second nationally in steals (3.7) and did not get picked, by league coaches, as a first-team all-MAAC selection. She did make second team, another indication that coaches traditionally favor upperclass performers in the all-star balloting and, surely, figured that with two years remaining Sheahin's time will come. She was, though, picked as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Team-wise Loyola ran into a very good ACC program in Virginia in the second round of the WNIT, losing 71-49.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Probably another strong season as McKenzie and Sheahin, two of the league's top four or five players and both legitimate contenders to be next season's Player of the Year in the MAAC, are back. So too will be 6-1 sophomore Alyssa Sutherland (6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds) who looked like she might develop into the post presence the team needs. Nneka Offadile, a 6-1 freshman who averaged 3.0 rebounds in 13.7 points per game but had a raw offensive game, is also likely to step up and be more of a contributor. The losses of of DiClemente and forward meredith Tolley (7.4 points, 5.5 rebounds) will hurt, but there's enough coming back to ensure more good days for the program.
PREDICTION FOR 2011-12: Apart from Marist, Loyola will be as good as anyone in the league. Expect the Greyhounds to finish second or third this coming season.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Taking a Look at Coming Attractions
Just a reminder to pick up The Sporting News' College Basketball annual when it eventually hits newsstands/grocery stores/pharmacies, etc., some time in mid September.
This reminder was prompted by your hoopscribe's annual reception of the contract to produce the MAAC preview for the magazine, which I certainly believe to be the best of its kind available.
A little history ... The publication had existed under the Street & Smith banner for more than 40 years, and yours truly has some S&S publications dating back to the mid-to-late 1960s to prove it. A few years ago S&S merged with The Sporting News, and administrators opted to retain The Sporting News' identity under the belief that it was the more-identifiable of the two publications.
Your hoopscribe has been doing the MAAC preview for first S&S and, then, The Sporting News for the past 12 or 13 years. And, of course, I have been involved covering the MAAC in some form since 1989. So, the hope is that the material I pass along for publication is as insightful as any you'll find anywhere.
Of course, you'll find much, much more about the MAAC ... and expanded season previews on every program, both men's and women's ... right here on "Keepin' Track of the MAAC." News/insights/features can pop up on this site at any time since it's a year-round operation. The formal team-by-team previews will begin in late September/early October.
The deadline for the MAAC preview to be submitted to The Sporting News is mid-July.
Shortly after that I'll share, here, the order of my predicted final standings and, maybe, my choice for Player of the Year.
Hint: I'll be picking either Fairfield or Iona to finish first.
Although no national magazines publish extensive women's previews of the MAAC, I'll also share my predicted order of finish for the ladies.
Hint: Pretty strong likelihood that I'll be picking Marist to finish first.
Interested readers will also have access to extensive men's and women's conference previews, which I also produce, that are published in the MAAC's annual media guides that are available on line through the conference's website, www.maacsports.com. Deadline for that material is usually mid-September and the guides become available for reading to coincide with the conference's annual media day in late October.
So even though summer is here, complete with 90-degree temperatures today in upstate New York, basketball season isn't that far away.
And all the material to help you get ready to follow your favorite conference teams will be available in coming months.
In the meantime, I'll be busy keeping up to speed on all the MAAC programs. And, I hope, you'll be getting ready to read.
And, as additional "program notes," you can view the Off-Season Report series right now. It's a individual look at every men's and women's team in the conference. Five men's and four women's off-season reports are up with more to follow in coming weeks.
After that, we'll do a team-by-team report/analysis of this past year's recruiting, looking at new players joining conference teams.
And, at some point, we'll check in with the conference's new head coaches and share their thoughts.
Again, thanks for reading.
This reminder was prompted by your hoopscribe's annual reception of the contract to produce the MAAC preview for the magazine, which I certainly believe to be the best of its kind available.
A little history ... The publication had existed under the Street & Smith banner for more than 40 years, and yours truly has some S&S publications dating back to the mid-to-late 1960s to prove it. A few years ago S&S merged with The Sporting News, and administrators opted to retain The Sporting News' identity under the belief that it was the more-identifiable of the two publications.
Your hoopscribe has been doing the MAAC preview for first S&S and, then, The Sporting News for the past 12 or 13 years. And, of course, I have been involved covering the MAAC in some form since 1989. So, the hope is that the material I pass along for publication is as insightful as any you'll find anywhere.
Of course, you'll find much, much more about the MAAC ... and expanded season previews on every program, both men's and women's ... right here on "Keepin' Track of the MAAC." News/insights/features can pop up on this site at any time since it's a year-round operation. The formal team-by-team previews will begin in late September/early October.
The deadline for the MAAC preview to be submitted to The Sporting News is mid-July.
Shortly after that I'll share, here, the order of my predicted final standings and, maybe, my choice for Player of the Year.
Hint: I'll be picking either Fairfield or Iona to finish first.
Although no national magazines publish extensive women's previews of the MAAC, I'll also share my predicted order of finish for the ladies.
Hint: Pretty strong likelihood that I'll be picking Marist to finish first.
Interested readers will also have access to extensive men's and women's conference previews, which I also produce, that are published in the MAAC's annual media guides that are available on line through the conference's website, www.maacsports.com. Deadline for that material is usually mid-September and the guides become available for reading to coincide with the conference's annual media day in late October.
So even though summer is here, complete with 90-degree temperatures today in upstate New York, basketball season isn't that far away.
And all the material to help you get ready to follow your favorite conference teams will be available in coming months.
In the meantime, I'll be busy keeping up to speed on all the MAAC programs. And, I hope, you'll be getting ready to read.
And, as additional "program notes," you can view the Off-Season Report series right now. It's a individual look at every men's and women's team in the conference. Five men's and four women's off-season reports are up with more to follow in coming weeks.
After that, we'll do a team-by-team report/analysis of this past year's recruiting, looking at new players joining conference teams.
And, at some point, we'll check in with the conference's new head coaches and share their thoughts.
Again, thanks for reading.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Off-Season Report: Loyola Men Moving Up
Here's another in the series looking at MAAC teams.
Up now ...
LOYOLA MEN
2010-11 RECORD: 10-8 in MAAC play, 15-15 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: The 10-8 record was the program's third-best ever in conference play, and was very nearly much better. The Greyhounds lost games by a point against Rider, by two against Niagara and by three against Saint Peter's. But, it also had some impressive close-margin victories, too, with wins over regular-season champion Fairfield by one; over conference-tournament winner Saint Peter's by two; and by third-place regular-season finisher Iona by three in overtime. Was a 15-15 overall record disappointing? Maybe a little, but let's put that in perspective. It wasn't that long ago that Loyola's program was one of the worst, in terms of record, in all of Division I with its 1-27 overall mark in the 2003-04 season. After that head coach Jimmy Patsos took over, and your blogging hoopscribe remembers him responding, at one point during a 6-22 2004-05 season's finish, to some fan heckling with words to the effect that "wait until I get my players here." Since then, his teams have been 94-92 overall and 55-53 in conference play, a vast improvement since that 1-27 season. This past season's team also made a nice move forward from a 6-12 MAAC record the previous year to its 10-8 performance in 2010-11. This past season was a blending of some veterans (center Shane Walker and point guard Brian Rudolph) and newcomers (transfer Erik Etherly and contributing freshmen Dylan Cormier and Justin Drummond). All things considered, finishing fifth in the conference and getting double digit league victories for just the third time in the program's affiliation with MAAC was anything but a disappointment.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Start with two real good freshmen guards in 6-4 Justin Drummond (9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds) and 6-2 Dylon Cormier (8.1, 3.0). If they make the expected step up from first-year player to experienced performer, then Loyola's perimeter play should be strong for the foreseeable future. The 6-10 Walker continued to establish himself as one of the better big men in the conference, averaging 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and blocking 47 blocks. And Etherly, a 6-7 transfer from Northeastern, proved an effective front-court performer (10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds). Rudolph had a nice senior year as the team's point guard, averaging 4.4 assists per contest and finishing second all-time on the Greyhounds' career assist chart. J'hared Hall, a 6-2 junior guard, became a nice offensive force off the bench, averaging 8.8 points, making 41 3-pointers and shooting .462 percent from the field, a terrific percentage for a perimeter player. It was enough to earn him the 6th Man of the Year award in the MAAC. Sophomore Robert Olson, another perimeter player, a 6-6 swingman, also had a nice year (9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds). The regular-season victories over Fairfield, Iona and Saint Peter's showed that the Greyhounds could play with any MAAC team on a given night. However, a loss to Niagara and a regular-season ending setback against Canisius also indicated that there was too much inconsistency for this past season's team to have done better than its final record.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Start with the continuing saga of gifted guard Jamal Barney who was in and out of the lineup through 16 games before he and the program had a parting of the ways. Barney was averaging 10.3 points before his departure and, had led the MAAC in scoring in the 2008-09 season. Had Barney, who had a litany of personal issues, resembled the former scoring leader that he was ... well, Loyola assuredly would have won a few more games. Then again, his continued presence might have meant less playing time for the youngsters, who surely will benefit from the year's experience. Then, too, the team dealt with transition ... two freshmen and a transfer getting major minutes. Anthony Winbush, a 6-7 junior forward who averaged 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds as a sophomore, was injured in the season's eighth game and didn't return. And Julius Brooks, a 6-9 sophomore forward who flashed some signs as a freshman, missed 12 midseason games and never regained his freshman year's effectiveness. The close losses might have been a little troubling, but they were balanced off by quality close victories, too.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Expectations are that Loyola will move forward next season. Right now it looks like Fairfield and Iona are considered the top two teams for 2011-12, but Loyola isn't far behind with this past season's top six scorers (excluding Barney) returning along with the likely return to full health of Winbush and Brooks. Someone, though, needs to step into the point guard's role vacated by Rudolph. That might be Cormier. Or, it could be incoming freshman R.J. Williams, a four-year starter at Baltimore's strong St. Francis Academy. Otherwise the team returns just about everyone else of note, and that experience will mean less transition and, theoretically, improved team "chemistry." Overall the 2011-12 product might be the best collection of talent Patsos has had compared to his previous seven years with the program. Patsos is a proverbial lightning rod, his on- and off-court antics both innovative and, at times, slightly puzzling. But, he can definitely coach and the view here is that he'll take a program he has already restored to respectability to the next level. It might happen this year, or very quickly after that. More help is coming as 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward Jordan Latham, who played this past season as a freshman at Xavier, transferred in and will be eligible for the 2012-13 season.
2011-12 PREDICTION: The likelihood is a third- or a fourth-place finish for the coming season, another step forward. But the Greyhounds certainly appear capable of foiling that prediction and competing for the top spot, particularly if a point guard steps up.
Up now ...
LOYOLA MEN
2010-11 RECORD: 10-8 in MAAC play, 15-15 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: The 10-8 record was the program's third-best ever in conference play, and was very nearly much better. The Greyhounds lost games by a point against Rider, by two against Niagara and by three against Saint Peter's. But, it also had some impressive close-margin victories, too, with wins over regular-season champion Fairfield by one; over conference-tournament winner Saint Peter's by two; and by third-place regular-season finisher Iona by three in overtime. Was a 15-15 overall record disappointing? Maybe a little, but let's put that in perspective. It wasn't that long ago that Loyola's program was one of the worst, in terms of record, in all of Division I with its 1-27 overall mark in the 2003-04 season. After that head coach Jimmy Patsos took over, and your blogging hoopscribe remembers him responding, at one point during a 6-22 2004-05 season's finish, to some fan heckling with words to the effect that "wait until I get my players here." Since then, his teams have been 94-92 overall and 55-53 in conference play, a vast improvement since that 1-27 season. This past season's team also made a nice move forward from a 6-12 MAAC record the previous year to its 10-8 performance in 2010-11. This past season was a blending of some veterans (center Shane Walker and point guard Brian Rudolph) and newcomers (transfer Erik Etherly and contributing freshmen Dylan Cormier and Justin Drummond). All things considered, finishing fifth in the conference and getting double digit league victories for just the third time in the program's affiliation with MAAC was anything but a disappointment.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Start with two real good freshmen guards in 6-4 Justin Drummond (9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds) and 6-2 Dylon Cormier (8.1, 3.0). If they make the expected step up from first-year player to experienced performer, then Loyola's perimeter play should be strong for the foreseeable future. The 6-10 Walker continued to establish himself as one of the better big men in the conference, averaging 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and blocking 47 blocks. And Etherly, a 6-7 transfer from Northeastern, proved an effective front-court performer (10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds). Rudolph had a nice senior year as the team's point guard, averaging 4.4 assists per contest and finishing second all-time on the Greyhounds' career assist chart. J'hared Hall, a 6-2 junior guard, became a nice offensive force off the bench, averaging 8.8 points, making 41 3-pointers and shooting .462 percent from the field, a terrific percentage for a perimeter player. It was enough to earn him the 6th Man of the Year award in the MAAC. Sophomore Robert Olson, another perimeter player, a 6-6 swingman, also had a nice year (9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds). The regular-season victories over Fairfield, Iona and Saint Peter's showed that the Greyhounds could play with any MAAC team on a given night. However, a loss to Niagara and a regular-season ending setback against Canisius also indicated that there was too much inconsistency for this past season's team to have done better than its final record.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Start with the continuing saga of gifted guard Jamal Barney who was in and out of the lineup through 16 games before he and the program had a parting of the ways. Barney was averaging 10.3 points before his departure and, had led the MAAC in scoring in the 2008-09 season. Had Barney, who had a litany of personal issues, resembled the former scoring leader that he was ... well, Loyola assuredly would have won a few more games. Then again, his continued presence might have meant less playing time for the youngsters, who surely will benefit from the year's experience. Then, too, the team dealt with transition ... two freshmen and a transfer getting major minutes. Anthony Winbush, a 6-7 junior forward who averaged 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds as a sophomore, was injured in the season's eighth game and didn't return. And Julius Brooks, a 6-9 sophomore forward who flashed some signs as a freshman, missed 12 midseason games and never regained his freshman year's effectiveness. The close losses might have been a little troubling, but they were balanced off by quality close victories, too.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Expectations are that Loyola will move forward next season. Right now it looks like Fairfield and Iona are considered the top two teams for 2011-12, but Loyola isn't far behind with this past season's top six scorers (excluding Barney) returning along with the likely return to full health of Winbush and Brooks. Someone, though, needs to step into the point guard's role vacated by Rudolph. That might be Cormier. Or, it could be incoming freshman R.J. Williams, a four-year starter at Baltimore's strong St. Francis Academy. Otherwise the team returns just about everyone else of note, and that experience will mean less transition and, theoretically, improved team "chemistry." Overall the 2011-12 product might be the best collection of talent Patsos has had compared to his previous seven years with the program. Patsos is a proverbial lightning rod, his on- and off-court antics both innovative and, at times, slightly puzzling. But, he can definitely coach and the view here is that he'll take a program he has already restored to respectability to the next level. It might happen this year, or very quickly after that. More help is coming as 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward Jordan Latham, who played this past season as a freshman at Xavier, transferred in and will be eligible for the 2012-13 season.
2011-12 PREDICTION: The likelihood is a third- or a fourth-place finish for the coming season, another step forward. But the Greyhounds certainly appear capable of foiling that prediction and competing for the top spot, particularly if a point guard steps up.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Big Transfer Joins Marist Women's Team
Followers of women's college basketball expecting the Marist women's basketball team to start slipping a little at some point probably need to wait at least a few more years for that to happen, particularly in light of a recent transfer to the program.
As if the Red Foxes, who have won the MAAC's regular season title for so many years in succession it's hard to keep track, needed help, they got some when they added a big piece in a literal sense with the recent announcement that 6-foot-2 forward Tori Jarosz will join the program as a transfer from Vanderbilt.
Here's a link to a recent story about Jarosz's decision, in the Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110524/SPORTS04/105240330/Vanderbilt-transfer-Jarosz-commits-play-basketball-Marist?odyssey=tab
We have more to go on than just that report about Jarocz's ability. Your blogging hoopscribe, in his role as a talent evaluator with the annual girls GymRat CHALLENGE AAU tournament played in upstate New York, got a first-hand look at Jarosz in several of the games she played in the 2009 version of the GymRat.
Here's the report on Jarosz, based on her tournament performance that year:
Tori Jarosz 6-2 Center (Long Island Xtreme/Lakeland H.S.): Strong, solid build who uses her size well inside, yet also runs the court well. Very good basic skills around the basket. Good hands, makes the tough catch. Rugged inside player with a knack for putting the ball in the basket. Has already committed to Vanderbilt.
Your hoopscribe recalls her as a gifted, true and solidly built post player whose inside work looked like it would be effective at a level higher than the MAAC.
She spent this past season as a freshman at Vanderbilt, where she saw her playing time limited due to some good upperclass front-court players. At Vandy she was listed at 6-3. When she played at the GymRat, prior to her senior season in high school, she was listed at 6-2.
No matter the height, even at 6-2 she combines the type of height and powerful inside game rarely seen in the MAAC.
Jarosz got in just six games for 15 total minutes at Vanderbilt this past season. She scored just one point but had eight rebounds and blocked four shots.
As per NCAA rules she will sit out the coming season but is allowed to practice with Marist. She will be eligible to play from the start of the 2012-13 season and have three remaining years of playing eligibility.
Jarosz is a more-than-adequate replacement for a player Marist lost due to transfer recenty. The 6-foot-4 sophomore Kate Oliver left Marist shortly after this past season and will attend USC.
Jarosz, a true inside performer, is a different type player than Oliver whose strengths were primarily on the perimeter.
Before college Jarosz attended Lakeland High School in Putnam County, about 50 miles south of Poughkeepsie.
College coaches are prohibited from commenting on a player until either they sign a national letter of intent, or begin attending classes at the school in the fall. But, Marist officials are allowed to, and have, confirmed that Jarosz has indeed transferred to their school.
As if the Red Foxes, who have won the MAAC's regular season title for so many years in succession it's hard to keep track, needed help, they got some when they added a big piece in a literal sense with the recent announcement that 6-foot-2 forward Tori Jarosz will join the program as a transfer from Vanderbilt.
Here's a link to a recent story about Jarosz's decision, in the Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110524/SPORTS04/105240330/Vanderbilt-transfer-Jarosz-commits-play-basketball-Marist?odyssey=tab
We have more to go on than just that report about Jarocz's ability. Your blogging hoopscribe, in his role as a talent evaluator with the annual girls GymRat CHALLENGE AAU tournament played in upstate New York, got a first-hand look at Jarosz in several of the games she played in the 2009 version of the GymRat.
Here's the report on Jarosz, based on her tournament performance that year:
Tori Jarosz 6-2 Center (Long Island Xtreme/Lakeland H.S.): Strong, solid build who uses her size well inside, yet also runs the court well. Very good basic skills around the basket. Good hands, makes the tough catch. Rugged inside player with a knack for putting the ball in the basket. Has already committed to Vanderbilt.
Your hoopscribe recalls her as a gifted, true and solidly built post player whose inside work looked like it would be effective at a level higher than the MAAC.
She spent this past season as a freshman at Vanderbilt, where she saw her playing time limited due to some good upperclass front-court players. At Vandy she was listed at 6-3. When she played at the GymRat, prior to her senior season in high school, she was listed at 6-2.
No matter the height, even at 6-2 she combines the type of height and powerful inside game rarely seen in the MAAC.
Jarosz got in just six games for 15 total minutes at Vanderbilt this past season. She scored just one point but had eight rebounds and blocked four shots.
As per NCAA rules she will sit out the coming season but is allowed to practice with Marist. She will be eligible to play from the start of the 2012-13 season and have three remaining years of playing eligibility.
Jarosz is a more-than-adequate replacement for a player Marist lost due to transfer recenty. The 6-foot-4 sophomore Kate Oliver left Marist shortly after this past season and will attend USC.
Jarosz, a true inside performer, is a different type player than Oliver whose strengths were primarily on the perimeter.
Before college Jarosz attended Lakeland High School in Putnam County, about 50 miles south of Poughkeepsie.
College coaches are prohibited from commenting on a player until either they sign a national letter of intent, or begin attending classes at the school in the fall. But, Marist officials are allowed to, and have, confirmed that Jarosz has indeed transferred to their school.
Off-Season Report: Griff Women Strong
Here's another in the series looking at MAAC programs.
Up now ...
CANISIUS WOMEN
2010-11 RESULT: 6-12 record in MAAC play, 11-19 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: The 6-12 league mark was good for 7th place, but the 11-19 overall ledger was the program's worse since a 9-19 finish in 2000-01. And, back-to-back losing seasons (12-19 overall in 2009-10) marked the first time the Golden Griffins have had successive under-.500 records since a seven-year stretch from 1995-96 through 2001-02. The good news here, though, is that the losing trend isn't likely to continue. If nothing else this past season was enjoyable in the sense that there was a large cast of young, promising players and the emphasis was heavily on player development that should pay off in coming years. Even with that in mind, a 7th-place finish, just a single game behind sixth-place finisher Iona, wasn't bad. Still, it dropped Canisius into the post-season tournament's play-in round where it knocked off proximitous rival Niagara. The Griffs beat the Purple Eagles three times overall in 2010-11, which is never a bad thing from the Canisius view of things. The Griffs were respectable in a 68-53 quarterfinal-round tournament loss to second-place finisher Loyola, a nice building block for coming seasons.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Primarily the development of one of the stronger freshmen classes the conference has seen in recent memory. It included 6-foot-4 centers Jamie Ruttle (8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Jen Lennox (4.9, 3.7), 6-1 forward Courtney VandeBovenkamp (4.7, 4.5) and 5-9 guard Jen Morabito (8.1, 2.3, team-high 46 3's). All four earned the MAAC's Rookie of the Week award at least once during the past season, the first time in conference history that four players from a single program have won that award at least once. It most definitely bodes well for coming years. Senior Micayla Drysdale also had a nice senior season (9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds) and was a veteran presence/go-to player the program needed.
WHAT WENT WRONG: All that youth (Drysdale was the only senior contributor) ensured the record wouldn't be any better. The team probably maxed out in terms of results, and struggled against the conference's better teams going 1-9 against the top five finishers (beating only 4th-place Siena) and 5-3 against teams in the lower half of the standings. There really was no consistent "go-to" offensive player. Drysdale's 9.0 points made her the team's leading scorer. As good as the freshmen looked at times, there were other times when they all played like freshmen. Ashley Durham, who had a promising freshman season in 2009-10 didn't have the step-up sophomore season coach Terry Zeh had hoped for. Durham didn't quite perform as well as the team's point guard as the Griffs expected, starting just 13 games. But, she remains a talented player and seemed to be more comfortable filling the role Zeh wants for her late in the season.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Bright days, very bright ones. When ... make that "if" ... perennial league champion Marist ever slips a little, it looks like Canisius is next in line to step up. That might not happen this coming season, although the Griffs will almost assuredly make positive movement, but expect the program to be back in championship contention for 2012-13 and 2013-14 and, maybe, beyond that. Not only is everyone but Drysdale returning, but there's help coming in as well. Kayla Hoohuli, a 5-10 incoming freshman from St. Mary's High School in Pa., was named to the prestigious Parade Magazine All-America Team, and she might be the first MAAC player ever accorded that award. She averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.5 steals, 4.3 assists and 3.8 blocks per game as a high school senior. If she's as good as advertised she could be immediate contributor. Then, there's Steph McDonald (6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds), a redshirt sophomore this past season. All in all, Canisius looks well-stocked for several nice years ahead.
PREDICTION FOR 2011-12: Marist looks to be the conference's elite team for the coming season, but after that there's likely to be a scramble. It would be a surprise if Canisius finished lower than fourth or fifth this coming season.
Up now ...
CANISIUS WOMEN
2010-11 RESULT: 6-12 record in MAAC play, 11-19 overall.
2010-11 RECAP: The 6-12 league mark was good for 7th place, but the 11-19 overall ledger was the program's worse since a 9-19 finish in 2000-01. And, back-to-back losing seasons (12-19 overall in 2009-10) marked the first time the Golden Griffins have had successive under-.500 records since a seven-year stretch from 1995-96 through 2001-02. The good news here, though, is that the losing trend isn't likely to continue. If nothing else this past season was enjoyable in the sense that there was a large cast of young, promising players and the emphasis was heavily on player development that should pay off in coming years. Even with that in mind, a 7th-place finish, just a single game behind sixth-place finisher Iona, wasn't bad. Still, it dropped Canisius into the post-season tournament's play-in round where it knocked off proximitous rival Niagara. The Griffs beat the Purple Eagles three times overall in 2010-11, which is never a bad thing from the Canisius view of things. The Griffs were respectable in a 68-53 quarterfinal-round tournament loss to second-place finisher Loyola, a nice building block for coming seasons.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Primarily the development of one of the stronger freshmen classes the conference has seen in recent memory. It included 6-foot-4 centers Jamie Ruttle (8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Jen Lennox (4.9, 3.7), 6-1 forward Courtney VandeBovenkamp (4.7, 4.5) and 5-9 guard Jen Morabito (8.1, 2.3, team-high 46 3's). All four earned the MAAC's Rookie of the Week award at least once during the past season, the first time in conference history that four players from a single program have won that award at least once. It most definitely bodes well for coming years. Senior Micayla Drysdale also had a nice senior season (9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds) and was a veteran presence/go-to player the program needed.
WHAT WENT WRONG: All that youth (Drysdale was the only senior contributor) ensured the record wouldn't be any better. The team probably maxed out in terms of results, and struggled against the conference's better teams going 1-9 against the top five finishers (beating only 4th-place Siena) and 5-3 against teams in the lower half of the standings. There really was no consistent "go-to" offensive player. Drysdale's 9.0 points made her the team's leading scorer. As good as the freshmen looked at times, there were other times when they all played like freshmen. Ashley Durham, who had a promising freshman season in 2009-10 didn't have the step-up sophomore season coach Terry Zeh had hoped for. Durham didn't quite perform as well as the team's point guard as the Griffs expected, starting just 13 games. But, she remains a talented player and seemed to be more comfortable filling the role Zeh wants for her late in the season.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Bright days, very bright ones. When ... make that "if" ... perennial league champion Marist ever slips a little, it looks like Canisius is next in line to step up. That might not happen this coming season, although the Griffs will almost assuredly make positive movement, but expect the program to be back in championship contention for 2012-13 and 2013-14 and, maybe, beyond that. Not only is everyone but Drysdale returning, but there's help coming in as well. Kayla Hoohuli, a 5-10 incoming freshman from St. Mary's High School in Pa., was named to the prestigious Parade Magazine All-America Team, and she might be the first MAAC player ever accorded that award. She averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.5 steals, 4.3 assists and 3.8 blocks per game as a high school senior. If she's as good as advertised she could be immediate contributor. Then, there's Steph McDonald (6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds), a redshirt sophomore this past season. All in all, Canisius looks well-stocked for several nice years ahead.
PREDICTION FOR 2011-12: Marist looks to be the conference's elite team for the coming season, but after that there's likely to be a scramble. It would be a surprise if Canisius finished lower than fourth or fifth this coming season.
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