It was within just a few minutes after his team's 70-60 loss to Saint Peter's in the quarterfinal round of last season's conference post-season tournament that Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos addressed the state of his program.
"We've reached respectability," said Patsos. "Now, we have to take the next step."
A year ago Loyola finished 10-8 in MAAC play and 15-15 overall. Yes, that's respectability. Particularly for a program that had a 1-27 overall record, the worst in Division I in 2003-04, the year before Patsos took over.
Even in his first year (a 5-13 finish in MAAC play), Patsos acknowledged some fan abuse at a road game by turning and yelling back to the hecklers: "Wait until I get my own players in here."
Patsos now has his own players, and how about this for taking the next step?
The Greyhounds are alone atop the MAAC standings with a 12-2 record after an 87-81 victory over Iona in the battle of the conference's top two teams. And the score doesn't begin to measure Loyola's game-long dominance.
Loyola led by as many as 25 early in the second half, and only some late-game scoring punch by the Gaels' Mike Glover (22 points, 16 rebounds) and Sean Armand (25 points in the game), enabled Iona to et within five with 1:07 left. But, the Gaels never truly threatened.
And, how about this for taking the next step?
A sell-out crowd of 2,100 was on hand for the contest, the second straight packed house for a Loyola home game. It was the first time there were back-to-back sell-out crowds for Loyola home games since its on-campus Reitz Arena was built in 1984.
The Greyhounds rewarded the faithful with a strong display of team play against an opponent that, in the coaches' preseason poll, was the clear-cut choice to claim this year's championship.
Forward Erik Etherly and guard Dylon Cormier each finished with 22 points for Loyola.
Of course there's one more step for Patsos' program to take, even if it winds up as this season's regular-season champion. That would be winning the MAAC's post-season tournament and the resultant automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
If it can do that, it would be the program's first trip to the NCAA's since 1994 when the late Skip Prosser was the team's coach.
After Friday's victory over Iona, Patsos spoke about his team's recent steps.
"I left a program (Maryland, where he was an assistant coach) where we cut down the nets in 2004 in the ACC tournament," Patsos said. "To come here was a bit of a risk. But this is a great school, so I knew I could build here.
"Gary Williams (then the Maryland coach) and I talked about this a lot. Climbing Mount Everest isn't that bad for the first half (of the climb). The next 25 percent is attainable. The last 25 percent, you don't know till you get there."
All that's left for Patsos' team to get to the summit of its MAAC mountain is winning the MAAC tournament.
His program, now, is way beyond just being respectable and well on its way to taking the next step.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Big Night And Historical Numbers for Anosike
The string of consecutive double-doubles ended at 17 for Siena's junior forward O.D. Anosiki, but the 6-foot-8 post player continues to put up some impressive numbers, including a 22-rebound effort in a game Sunday at Fairfield.
That total was the third-highest single-game rebounding effort in Siena's Division I history, behind only a 26-rebound game by Nelson Richardson in the 1976-77 season and a 23-carom mark (in a triple overtime contest) during the 1977-78 season.
It is also the second-highest one-game rebounding total this season by any Division I player, trailing only a 24-rebound effort by Cameron Moore of UAB earlier this season.
The research comes from Siena's standout sports information director Jason Rich, and also included this tidbit:
Anosike's 12-point, 22-rebound, 3-steal, 2-assist, 2-block performance against Fairfield marks only the second time since 1996 -- a span of over 80,000 games -- that any Division I player had at least those numbers in those five categories.
The only other player to reach those thresholds was Brad Nuckles of Eastern Tennessee State University who had 15 points, 22 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists on Jan. 7, 2006 in a game against Campbell.
Anosike continues to lead the nation in rebounding at 13.3 per game and holds a substantial edge over runner-up Thomas Robinson of Kansas, who is at 12.0 per contest.
That total was the third-highest single-game rebounding effort in Siena's Division I history, behind only a 26-rebound game by Nelson Richardson in the 1976-77 season and a 23-carom mark (in a triple overtime contest) during the 1977-78 season.
It is also the second-highest one-game rebounding total this season by any Division I player, trailing only a 24-rebound effort by Cameron Moore of UAB earlier this season.
The research comes from Siena's standout sports information director Jason Rich, and also included this tidbit:
Anosike's 12-point, 22-rebound, 3-steal, 2-assist, 2-block performance against Fairfield marks only the second time since 1996 -- a span of over 80,000 games -- that any Division I player had at least those numbers in those five categories.
The only other player to reach those thresholds was Brad Nuckles of Eastern Tennessee State University who had 15 points, 22 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists on Jan. 7, 2006 in a game against Campbell.
Anosike continues to lead the nation in rebounding at 13.3 per game and holds a substantial edge over runner-up Thomas Robinson of Kansas, who is at 12.0 per contest.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Siena's Centeno Reaches Versatility Milestone
When Siena's senior guard Cristina Centeno recently recorded the 100th three-point shot of her career she joined some impressive and versatile talent from throughout the conference.
According to information that comes from the research of conference sports information and compiled by my friend Mike Demos, the Siena assistant sports information director, Centeno is the latest to join a short list of conference women's players with at least these career totals: 800 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 three-pointers made.
Centeno now has career totals of 885 points, 432 rebounds, 315 assists, 122 steals and 100 3-pointers.
In all just 11 players have reached that five-category milestone.
Besides Centeno, here are the other 10, with their point-rebound-assist-steals-three-pointer totals::
- Erica Allenspach of Marist (2007-11): 1,416-532-371-207-187
-Brittane Russell of Canisius (2006-10): 1,419-594-4244-334-191.
- Eva Cunningham of Niagara (2001-05): 1,753-447-552-276-158.
- Gunta Basko of Siena (1999-03): 1,833-1,027-322-265-121.
- Megan Light of Fairfield (1998-02): 1,168-404-418-134-115.
-Sacha Baker of Siena (1997-01): 1,264-400-351-158-107.
- Holli Tapley of Fairfield (1997-01): 1,207-544-388-201-209.
- Jessica Grossarth of Fairfield (1994-98): 1,677-568-343-226-180.
- Heather Fiore of Canisius (1993-97): 1,949-486-586-273-260.
- Mimi LaMagna of Canisius (1993-97): 1107-442-493-347-140.
There are also three other current players on the cusp of joining the group:
- Desire Pina, a Fairfield senior: 1,241-427-319-137-95.
- Katie Sheahin, a Loyola junior: 992-456-251-250-101.
- Corielle Yarde, a Marist senior: 1,339-624-280-145-150.
According to information that comes from the research of conference sports information and compiled by my friend Mike Demos, the Siena assistant sports information director, Centeno is the latest to join a short list of conference women's players with at least these career totals: 800 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 100 steals and 100 three-pointers made.
Centeno now has career totals of 885 points, 432 rebounds, 315 assists, 122 steals and 100 3-pointers.
In all just 11 players have reached that five-category milestone.
Besides Centeno, here are the other 10, with their point-rebound-assist-steals-three-pointer totals::
- Erica Allenspach of Marist (2007-11): 1,416-532-371-207-187
-Brittane Russell of Canisius (2006-10): 1,419-594-4244-334-191.
- Eva Cunningham of Niagara (2001-05): 1,753-447-552-276-158.
- Gunta Basko of Siena (1999-03): 1,833-1,027-322-265-121.
- Megan Light of Fairfield (1998-02): 1,168-404-418-134-115.
-Sacha Baker of Siena (1997-01): 1,264-400-351-158-107.
- Holli Tapley of Fairfield (1997-01): 1,207-544-388-201-209.
- Jessica Grossarth of Fairfield (1994-98): 1,677-568-343-226-180.
- Heather Fiore of Canisius (1993-97): 1,949-486-586-273-260.
- Mimi LaMagna of Canisius (1993-97): 1107-442-493-347-140.
There are also three other current players on the cusp of joining the group:
- Desire Pina, a Fairfield senior: 1,241-427-319-137-95.
- Katie Sheahin, a Loyola junior: 992-456-251-250-101.
- Corielle Yarde, a Marist senior: 1,339-624-280-145-150.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Historical Possibilities in Women's Scoring Race
The closest scoring race in recent memory for women's basketball players in the MAAC is in full bloom right now, made all the more noticeable by the meeting of the top two contenders in a game Saturday afternoon.
That was when Iona played at Siena. At the time, the Gaels' dynamic freshman guard Damika Martinez entered play just four one-hundredths of a point ahead of the Saints' potent junior post player Lily Grenci.
Siena earned an 83-59 victory over Iona as Grenci outscored Martinez, 20-15.
It moved Grenci back into the top spot with a scoring average of 15.57 points per game. Martinez is close behind at 15.36 ppg.
Both players are back at it in the individual chase for the scoring lead when their teams play again Friday. Siena is at Saint Peter's, while Iona is at Loyola.
The chase is somewhat remarkable since neither player has much, if any, of a history of strong consistent scoring prior to this season.
Until this season, Grenci battled foot and ankle injuries over her first two season that severely limited her court time. She only got into 18 games as a freshman and 25 games, averaging just 13.6 minutes of playing time last season. Her career scoring average entering play this year was 3.2 points per game.
The slender 5-foot-7 Martinez was a high school senior at this time a year ago.
And, now, they lead a very close chase ... possibly the closest in league history ... atop the league's scoring chart. Not far behind are Marist's senior guard Corielle Yarde (14.8 ppg.), and Loyola standouts junior guard Katie Sheahin (14.5) and senior forward Miriam McKenzie (14.3).
Grenci is on pace to become the second Siena player to lead the league in scoring in the past two seasons. Former teammate Serena Moore led the MAAC with a 14.8 ppg. average last season. Overall, Siena players have led the conference in scoring four times since 1997-98 (Melanie Halker in 1997-98 and '98-99; Laura Menty in 2007-08 and Moore last season). No other program has had as many scoring leaders over that time.
Martinez, though, is in range of a historical achievement.
No freshman has ever led the conference in scoring in its 30-year history. In fact, no freshman has ever finished higher than fifth in the final scoring standings. The highest finish ever by a freshman came in the 2006-07 season with Rachele Fitz of Marist finished fifth with a per-game average of 14.9.
That was when Iona played at Siena. At the time, the Gaels' dynamic freshman guard Damika Martinez entered play just four one-hundredths of a point ahead of the Saints' potent junior post player Lily Grenci.
Siena earned an 83-59 victory over Iona as Grenci outscored Martinez, 20-15.
It moved Grenci back into the top spot with a scoring average of 15.57 points per game. Martinez is close behind at 15.36 ppg.
Both players are back at it in the individual chase for the scoring lead when their teams play again Friday. Siena is at Saint Peter's, while Iona is at Loyola.
The chase is somewhat remarkable since neither player has much, if any, of a history of strong consistent scoring prior to this season.
Until this season, Grenci battled foot and ankle injuries over her first two season that severely limited her court time. She only got into 18 games as a freshman and 25 games, averaging just 13.6 minutes of playing time last season. Her career scoring average entering play this year was 3.2 points per game.
The slender 5-foot-7 Martinez was a high school senior at this time a year ago.
And, now, they lead a very close chase ... possibly the closest in league history ... atop the league's scoring chart. Not far behind are Marist's senior guard Corielle Yarde (14.8 ppg.), and Loyola standouts junior guard Katie Sheahin (14.5) and senior forward Miriam McKenzie (14.3).
Grenci is on pace to become the second Siena player to lead the league in scoring in the past two seasons. Former teammate Serena Moore led the MAAC with a 14.8 ppg. average last season. Overall, Siena players have led the conference in scoring four times since 1997-98 (Melanie Halker in 1997-98 and '98-99; Laura Menty in 2007-08 and Moore last season). No other program has had as many scoring leaders over that time.
Martinez, though, is in range of a historical achievement.
No freshman has ever led the conference in scoring in its 30-year history. In fact, no freshman has ever finished higher than fifth in the final scoring standings. The highest finish ever by a freshman came in the 2006-07 season with Rachele Fitz of Marist finished fifth with a per-game average of 14.9.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Recent MAAC Happenings Qualify as "Super"
Today is February 5, otherwise known throughout the land as "Super Bowl Sunday."
Around the MAAC, though, some very "Super" results have taken place in recent days. Here are some ...
- MARIST WOMEN HAVE 34-GAME CONFERENCE STREAK ENDED
The last conference team to defeat the dynastic Marist women's team was Manhattan on Feb. 28, 2010. Since then the Red Foxes won three MAAC tournament games that season, ran up a perfect 18-0 mark in regular-season play in 2010-11 and followed up with three more tournament victories and, then, opened this year with a 10-0 league record.
It added up to 34 straight, within one of the conference's all-time best string of success only to the Red Foxes' own 35 in a row (from late in the 2006-07 season through nearly midway through the 2008-09 season).
But the recent streak came to an end against the same program that last beat Marist ... Manhattan in a game Saturday night at Draddy Gymnasium's on the Jaspers' Riverdale, N.Y., campus.
It happened on a night when Kelsey Beynnon, a starting forward averaging 7.2 points per game, had to sit out due to a foot injury.
Beynnon was replaced in the opening lineup by 6-1 Kristina Danella, who had nearly half of the team's points in the contest. Danella, a transfer from UMass, had her best game to date with 21 points and 12 rebounds in what turned out to be a 48-44 Manhattan victory.
The point total was the second-lowest by Marist this season (it scored 36 in a loss to Boston University), but good defense is nothing new to Manhattan. The Jaspers allow just 54.3 points per game, 32nd-best nationally.
Marist led 44-40 late in the game, but didn't score in the final 3:27. Manhattan's 6-1 senior post player Lindsey Loutsenhizer led the winners with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
- SIENA'S ANOSIKE HAS DOUBLE-DOUBLE STREAK STOPPED
Siena's junior forward O.D. Anosike had his 17-game streak of double-doubles come to an end Friday night in a 63-58 home-court loss against Saint Peter's.
Anosike completed the rebounding end with 13, but fell a single point short of the double-double, missing the opportunity to continue the streak by going 1-for-4 at the foul line.
The double-double string is believed to be the second-longest in MAAC history, as well as the second-longest in all of Division I basketball over the last 15 year. Both those milestones are held by former Fairfield standout Darren Phillip, who had 19 in a row in the 1999-00 season.
Not surprising that Saint Peter's, despite its struggles (4-8 in MAAC play, 5-18 overall) after losing four starters from last season's conference representative to the NCAA tournament, would be the team that would stop the streak.
A year ago the Peacocks were one of the best teams nationally defensively, allowing opponents to shoot just .376 percent on field goals (second-best defense in Division I) and score just 60.9 points (12th best).
This year isn't quite as good as Saint Peter's allows 68.3 points per game and opponents to shoot at a .405 percent clip.
But against Siena, John Dunne's team looked like its old self on the defensive end, battling with and bruising Siena for every spot on the court, and denying Anosike his usual set-up spot on the blocks.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Darius Conley of Saint Peter's was more than a physical match-up for Anosike on this night, using his strength and bulk to push the Siena player several feet outside his comfort zone on offense. And, then, once Anosike received a pass, Conley got help to ensure Anosike didn't have driving room to the basket.
"We forced him (Anosike) to catch the ball three feet outside the lane rather than with a foot in the post like he usually does," said Dunne. "We got him to take a couple of jump hooks a little outside his range and we were fortunate that they didn't go in.. We concentrated on stopping him ... we didn't want him to hurt us.
"The key for us is that we played with a lot of confidence. We stressed that we needed to compete for the full 40 minutes, something we hadn't always done this year, and we did that."
- IONA GETS REVENGE WITH VICTORY OVER MANHATTAN
One of the closest late-season races for the men's regular-season title had been that way, in no small part, due to Manhattan's upset victory over Manhattan on Jan. 12. It meant that entering Saturday's games three teams -- Iona, Manhattan and Loyola -- all shared a tie for the conference lead with 10-2 records.
Iona got some revenge, and sole possession of first place for now, Saturday night with an 85-73 victory over the Jaspers in Manhattan's sold-out Draddy Gymnasium.
Iona is now 11-2 in MAAC play while Manhattan fell to 10-3. Loyola, which did not play on Saturday, is a half-game behind the Gaels with a 10-2.
Iona's "Big Three" of Mike Glover, Scott Machado and Momo Jones combined for 55 points, and the Gaels' defense shut down Manhattan's George Beamon in the second half to secure the win.
Beamon had 19 of his game-high 26 points at halftime, but struggled to find open shots after the intermission.
"They were all over me," said Beamon, a junior, who went over the 1,000-point plateau for his career, after the game. "They got out in their transition on offense, and that's their game. It's hard to beat them like that."
What did knocking off Manhattan mean to Iona?
"It meant the world," Iona's Jones told New York Daily News sportswriter Sean Brennan after the game. "We want to come into every game and try to make a statement. The last time they beat us at our home, so we wanted to get some payback.
Iona coach Tim Cluess claims there had been almost no mention of the previous loss to Manhattan until after his team's Thursdaynight victory over Canisius.
"Right in the locker room after (Thursday's game), it became, `OK guys, now it's our time to go back and tamke something that we feel was stolen from us, but we kind of gave away at the same time," Cluess said. "So, we wanted to go back and show we're not that team."
Cluess agreed that this season's reemergence of Manhattan will make for some classic battles between the two proximitous programs, much like Saturday's game at Draddy Gym.
"He's done a terrific job there," said Cluess, about Manhattan coach Steve Masiello. "He has re-energized the program there, and I think this is a great rivalry that has been going on for ever. This game was a great environment for both teams to be part of. This is what New York basketball is supposed to be about."
If there is to be a third meeting of the two programs this year, it would come in the MAAC's post-season tournament.
"I definitely want to see them again," said Beamon.
But, a cooler head prevailed as Masiello jumped into the conversation, laughing.
"I don't (want to see Iona again)," said Masiello. "I've had enough."
Around the MAAC, though, some very "Super" results have taken place in recent days. Here are some ...
- MARIST WOMEN HAVE 34-GAME CONFERENCE STREAK ENDED
The last conference team to defeat the dynastic Marist women's team was Manhattan on Feb. 28, 2010. Since then the Red Foxes won three MAAC tournament games that season, ran up a perfect 18-0 mark in regular-season play in 2010-11 and followed up with three more tournament victories and, then, opened this year with a 10-0 league record.
It added up to 34 straight, within one of the conference's all-time best string of success only to the Red Foxes' own 35 in a row (from late in the 2006-07 season through nearly midway through the 2008-09 season).
But the recent streak came to an end against the same program that last beat Marist ... Manhattan in a game Saturday night at Draddy Gymnasium's on the Jaspers' Riverdale, N.Y., campus.
It happened on a night when Kelsey Beynnon, a starting forward averaging 7.2 points per game, had to sit out due to a foot injury.
Beynnon was replaced in the opening lineup by 6-1 Kristina Danella, who had nearly half of the team's points in the contest. Danella, a transfer from UMass, had her best game to date with 21 points and 12 rebounds in what turned out to be a 48-44 Manhattan victory.
The point total was the second-lowest by Marist this season (it scored 36 in a loss to Boston University), but good defense is nothing new to Manhattan. The Jaspers allow just 54.3 points per game, 32nd-best nationally.
Marist led 44-40 late in the game, but didn't score in the final 3:27. Manhattan's 6-1 senior post player Lindsey Loutsenhizer led the winners with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
- SIENA'S ANOSIKE HAS DOUBLE-DOUBLE STREAK STOPPED
Siena's junior forward O.D. Anosike had his 17-game streak of double-doubles come to an end Friday night in a 63-58 home-court loss against Saint Peter's.
Anosike completed the rebounding end with 13, but fell a single point short of the double-double, missing the opportunity to continue the streak by going 1-for-4 at the foul line.
The double-double string is believed to be the second-longest in MAAC history, as well as the second-longest in all of Division I basketball over the last 15 year. Both those milestones are held by former Fairfield standout Darren Phillip, who had 19 in a row in the 1999-00 season.
Not surprising that Saint Peter's, despite its struggles (4-8 in MAAC play, 5-18 overall) after losing four starters from last season's conference representative to the NCAA tournament, would be the team that would stop the streak.
A year ago the Peacocks were one of the best teams nationally defensively, allowing opponents to shoot just .376 percent on field goals (second-best defense in Division I) and score just 60.9 points (12th best).
This year isn't quite as good as Saint Peter's allows 68.3 points per game and opponents to shoot at a .405 percent clip.
But against Siena, John Dunne's team looked like its old self on the defensive end, battling with and bruising Siena for every spot on the court, and denying Anosike his usual set-up spot on the blocks.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Darius Conley of Saint Peter's was more than a physical match-up for Anosike on this night, using his strength and bulk to push the Siena player several feet outside his comfort zone on offense. And, then, once Anosike received a pass, Conley got help to ensure Anosike didn't have driving room to the basket.
"We forced him (Anosike) to catch the ball three feet outside the lane rather than with a foot in the post like he usually does," said Dunne. "We got him to take a couple of jump hooks a little outside his range and we were fortunate that they didn't go in.. We concentrated on stopping him ... we didn't want him to hurt us.
"The key for us is that we played with a lot of confidence. We stressed that we needed to compete for the full 40 minutes, something we hadn't always done this year, and we did that."
- IONA GETS REVENGE WITH VICTORY OVER MANHATTAN
One of the closest late-season races for the men's regular-season title had been that way, in no small part, due to Manhattan's upset victory over Manhattan on Jan. 12. It meant that entering Saturday's games three teams -- Iona, Manhattan and Loyola -- all shared a tie for the conference lead with 10-2 records.
Iona got some revenge, and sole possession of first place for now, Saturday night with an 85-73 victory over the Jaspers in Manhattan's sold-out Draddy Gymnasium.
Iona is now 11-2 in MAAC play while Manhattan fell to 10-3. Loyola, which did not play on Saturday, is a half-game behind the Gaels with a 10-2.
Iona's "Big Three" of Mike Glover, Scott Machado and Momo Jones combined for 55 points, and the Gaels' defense shut down Manhattan's George Beamon in the second half to secure the win.
Beamon had 19 of his game-high 26 points at halftime, but struggled to find open shots after the intermission.
"They were all over me," said Beamon, a junior, who went over the 1,000-point plateau for his career, after the game. "They got out in their transition on offense, and that's their game. It's hard to beat them like that."
What did knocking off Manhattan mean to Iona?
"It meant the world," Iona's Jones told New York Daily News sportswriter Sean Brennan after the game. "We want to come into every game and try to make a statement. The last time they beat us at our home, so we wanted to get some payback.
Iona coach Tim Cluess claims there had been almost no mention of the previous loss to Manhattan until after his team's Thursdaynight victory over Canisius.
"Right in the locker room after (Thursday's game), it became, `OK guys, now it's our time to go back and tamke something that we feel was stolen from us, but we kind of gave away at the same time," Cluess said. "So, we wanted to go back and show we're not that team."
Cluess agreed that this season's reemergence of Manhattan will make for some classic battles between the two proximitous programs, much like Saturday's game at Draddy Gym.
"He's done a terrific job there," said Cluess, about Manhattan coach Steve Masiello. "He has re-energized the program there, and I think this is a great rivalry that has been going on for ever. This game was a great environment for both teams to be part of. This is what New York basketball is supposed to be about."
If there is to be a third meeting of the two programs this year, it would come in the MAAC's post-season tournament.
"I definitely want to see them again," said Beamon.
But, a cooler head prevailed as Masiello jumped into the conversation, laughing.
"I don't (want to see Iona again)," said Masiello. "I've had enough."
Friday, February 3, 2012
Iona's "Superman" Jones Hits 43 Against Canisius
If you haven't checked the MAAC boxscores yet this morning, this statistic, from Iona's 105-86 victory over Canisius on Thursday night, will jump out at you: The Gaels' junior guard Lamont "Momo" Jones scored 43 points on 16-of-23 shooting from the floor, including 7-of-12 from three-point range.
The output makes him the first Gael to score at least 40 points in a game in 20 years, and broke Steve Burtt's Hynes Center record of 40 set on Feb. 1, 1984, nearly 28 years to the fay. Coincidentally, Burtt and another former Iona standout, Gary Springer, were on the Iona campus Thursday and spoke with Jones prior to the game.
The last Iona player to score as many points was Sean Green, who hit 43 against Siena in the 1991 MAAC championship game. The only higher single-game total by an Iona player is Warren Isaac's school record of 50 that came against Bates on Dec. 18, 1964.
Jones' mark also approached the conference's all-time one-game best, at least in MAAC play. That standard of 46 points is held by Jim McCaffrey of Holy Cross (1984-85 season).
Others with at least 43 points against a MAAC opponent: Charron Fisher of Niagara, 45, 2007-08 season; Luis Flores of Manhattan, 2002-03 season, Alvin Young of Niagara, 1998-99 season, Marc Brown of Siena, 1990-91 season and Kevin Houston of Army, 1986-87 season, all with 44; and, three others with 43: McCaffery in the 1984-85 season, Houston in the 1986-87 season and Keydren Clark of Saint Peter's in the 2005-06 season.
Those totals, though, do not include single-game outbursts in non-conference games, and your Hoopscribe immediately recalls one, the 51 points scored by Siena's Doremus Bennerman against Kansas State in the consolation game of the 1993-94 NIT.
"I felt like Superman," Jones said to Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News, afterwards. "There are no other words to describe that. It's a feeling that's indescribable, especially in the college game. It's very rare that college athletes have 40 in games or 50 in games.
Jones told Brennan that his performance was something of a `Thank You' to his teammates. He said they hounded him all week in practice, telling him they needed more from him to help Iona get on a run to an NCAA Tournament date.
"All week in practice they rode me, every teammate," Jones said. "(They) screamed at me, yelled at me, pushed me around. They told me that if we want to make an NCAA run (I) had to step it up. (They told me) I'm a person that's been there. It was a nag. It's something I can say I never want to go through again. But it was great to see my teammates had a lot of confidence in me. For them to do that, to come to me personally and say `Look man, we want to get there and you have to go do it tonight,' this was my thanks to them."
Jones has indeed been to NCAA Tournament territory that the Gaels aspire to this season. As a starter at Arizona last season he helped that program advance to the Elite Eight of post-season tournament play.
Thursday's victory pushed Iona's overall record to 18-5 and a 10-2 conference record, and enabled it to remain in a tie for the top spot in the MAAC standings heading into Saturday's show-down game with Manhattan, which also has a 10-2 league mark.
The output makes him the first Gael to score at least 40 points in a game in 20 years, and broke Steve Burtt's Hynes Center record of 40 set on Feb. 1, 1984, nearly 28 years to the fay. Coincidentally, Burtt and another former Iona standout, Gary Springer, were on the Iona campus Thursday and spoke with Jones prior to the game.
The last Iona player to score as many points was Sean Green, who hit 43 against Siena in the 1991 MAAC championship game. The only higher single-game total by an Iona player is Warren Isaac's school record of 50 that came against Bates on Dec. 18, 1964.
Jones' mark also approached the conference's all-time one-game best, at least in MAAC play. That standard of 46 points is held by Jim McCaffrey of Holy Cross (1984-85 season).
Others with at least 43 points against a MAAC opponent: Charron Fisher of Niagara, 45, 2007-08 season; Luis Flores of Manhattan, 2002-03 season, Alvin Young of Niagara, 1998-99 season, Marc Brown of Siena, 1990-91 season and Kevin Houston of Army, 1986-87 season, all with 44; and, three others with 43: McCaffery in the 1984-85 season, Houston in the 1986-87 season and Keydren Clark of Saint Peter's in the 2005-06 season.
Those totals, though, do not include single-game outbursts in non-conference games, and your Hoopscribe immediately recalls one, the 51 points scored by Siena's Doremus Bennerman against Kansas State in the consolation game of the 1993-94 NIT.
"I felt like Superman," Jones said to Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News, afterwards. "There are no other words to describe that. It's a feeling that's indescribable, especially in the college game. It's very rare that college athletes have 40 in games or 50 in games.
Jones told Brennan that his performance was something of a `Thank You' to his teammates. He said they hounded him all week in practice, telling him they needed more from him to help Iona get on a run to an NCAA Tournament date.
"All week in practice they rode me, every teammate," Jones said. "(They) screamed at me, yelled at me, pushed me around. They told me that if we want to make an NCAA run (I) had to step it up. (They told me) I'm a person that's been there. It was a nag. It's something I can say I never want to go through again. But it was great to see my teammates had a lot of confidence in me. For them to do that, to come to me personally and say `Look man, we want to get there and you have to go do it tonight,' this was my thanks to them."
Jones has indeed been to NCAA Tournament territory that the Gaels aspire to this season. As a starter at Arizona last season he helped that program advance to the Elite Eight of post-season tournament play.
Thursday's victory pushed Iona's overall record to 18-5 and a 10-2 conference record, and enabled it to remain in a tie for the top spot in the MAAC standings heading into Saturday's show-down game with Manhattan, which also has a 10-2 league mark.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Anosike Approaches Phillip's Double-Double Mark
Before there was O.D. Anosike there was Darren Phillip.
Anosike enters Friday's game against Saint Peter's at Albany, N.Y.,'s Times Union Center with a national-best 17 consecutive double-doubles.
Think it's easy to record double figures in two different statistical categories, in Anosike's case points and rebounds, for 17 straight games?
It has only been done twice in all of Division I basketball in the past 15 years. Once by someone you might have heard of ... future NBA Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who also had 17 straight in the 1996-97 season.
And, someone you probably haven't heard of unless you're a long-time fan of the MAAC.
That would be Phillip, a bruiser of a 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward who played four seasons at Fairfield.
As a senior Phillip not only led the country in rebounds (14.0 per game), but recorded a double-double in the last 19 games he played that season.
That streak of double-doubles is the longest by any Division I player, according to NCAA record, since the 1984-85 season when Benoit Benjamin, a 7-foot-0 center at Creighton, had 28 straight. Benjamin went on to be the third player picked in the 1985 NBA draft and played 15 professional seasons.
Phillip, though, is the all-time record-holder for consecutive double-doubles by any MAAC player, He is also the only player from the conference to lead all Division I players in rebounding in the history of the MAAC.
Anosike, though, is poised not only to challenge and, maybe, shatter Phillip's double-double record, but to become the second conference player to lead the country in rebounding. Anosike's current rebound average of 12.8 per game is more than a full rebound ahead of second-place Thomas Robinson (11.7) of Kansas.
At a listed 6-8, 232 pounds, Anosike is a near physical match for Phillip's dimensions. And, like Phillip, Anosike's high-energy style of play enables him to be an elite rebounder.
Phillip was recruited by then-Fairfield coach Paul Cormier (who now coaches at Dartmouth). But, the Fairfield big man lost parts of two seasons (he only played 16 games as a freshman and 20 as a sophomore) when the NCAA ruled that a math course he took in high school did not qualify for the required 13 core courses athletes needed to be eligible to play at the college level.
A strong student otherwise, Phillip brought legal action the NCAA and won back money his family had to pay for him to attend college as a freshman. But, he could never regain the games he lost and Fairfield's teams suffered those seasons.
Prior to Phillip's junior year the school replaced Cormier as coach with Tim O'Toole, who now does color commentary work for selected MAAC TV games.
Phillip then averaged 9.9 rebounds per game as a junior and, then, had his spectacular senior season.
"Darren had a very strong motor," wrote O'Toole, in an e-mail response for an interview. "He had a strong desire to rebound and one of the things we did immediately when we got there was ask him his goals? I then asked him could he lead the Nation in rebounding? He kind of replied yes and then we got specific on how many he would need and how he could do it.
"The points on the other hand, he worked equally as hard. He ran well. Conditioning was very important for him because of the nature of playing a center. He had to go 94 feet and he had to play 30 feet wide to hunt down long rebounds. However he wanted the ball and really knew how to use his body."
O'Toole opted not to return phone calls to speak further about Phillip, and Phillip, who is still playing professional overseas, could not be reached to talk about his college career.
In case you were wondering ... the all-time NCAA record for double-doubles is 40, held by Billy Cunningham (North Carolina), and the list of players with at least 20 is a who's who of players who went on to successful careers.
Behind Cunningham came Jerry Lucas (38), Oscar Robertson (33), Mel Counts (30), Lew Alcindor and Benjamin (28), Artis Gilmore (27), Willie Nauls (25) Lucas, again (23), Mike Lewis (21), and Jack Twyman, Jerry West, Jim Haderlem and Steve Smith (20 each).
The record for the most double-doubles over a career, not necessarily in succession, is held by Duncan with 987, followed by Ralph Sampson (84), Derrick Coleman (83) and former MAAC standout Lionel Simmons (83). Simmons, though, never approached the consecutive double-double totals of either Phillip and Anosike.
It surely bears watching to see if Anosike's string continues to grow. With a full month of play remaining this season and, then, a senior year ahead next season, Anosike's consecutive double-double list could go on for some time.
Anosike enters Friday's game against Saint Peter's at Albany, N.Y.,'s Times Union Center with a national-best 17 consecutive double-doubles.
Think it's easy to record double figures in two different statistical categories, in Anosike's case points and rebounds, for 17 straight games?
It has only been done twice in all of Division I basketball in the past 15 years. Once by someone you might have heard of ... future NBA Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who also had 17 straight in the 1996-97 season.
And, someone you probably haven't heard of unless you're a long-time fan of the MAAC.
That would be Phillip, a bruiser of a 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward who played four seasons at Fairfield.
As a senior Phillip not only led the country in rebounds (14.0 per game), but recorded a double-double in the last 19 games he played that season.
That streak of double-doubles is the longest by any Division I player, according to NCAA record, since the 1984-85 season when Benoit Benjamin, a 7-foot-0 center at Creighton, had 28 straight. Benjamin went on to be the third player picked in the 1985 NBA draft and played 15 professional seasons.
Phillip, though, is the all-time record-holder for consecutive double-doubles by any MAAC player, He is also the only player from the conference to lead all Division I players in rebounding in the history of the MAAC.
Anosike, though, is poised not only to challenge and, maybe, shatter Phillip's double-double record, but to become the second conference player to lead the country in rebounding. Anosike's current rebound average of 12.8 per game is more than a full rebound ahead of second-place Thomas Robinson (11.7) of Kansas.
At a listed 6-8, 232 pounds, Anosike is a near physical match for Phillip's dimensions. And, like Phillip, Anosike's high-energy style of play enables him to be an elite rebounder.
Phillip was recruited by then-Fairfield coach Paul Cormier (who now coaches at Dartmouth). But, the Fairfield big man lost parts of two seasons (he only played 16 games as a freshman and 20 as a sophomore) when the NCAA ruled that a math course he took in high school did not qualify for the required 13 core courses athletes needed to be eligible to play at the college level.
A strong student otherwise, Phillip brought legal action the NCAA and won back money his family had to pay for him to attend college as a freshman. But, he could never regain the games he lost and Fairfield's teams suffered those seasons.
Prior to Phillip's junior year the school replaced Cormier as coach with Tim O'Toole, who now does color commentary work for selected MAAC TV games.
Phillip then averaged 9.9 rebounds per game as a junior and, then, had his spectacular senior season.
"Darren had a very strong motor," wrote O'Toole, in an e-mail response for an interview. "He had a strong desire to rebound and one of the things we did immediately when we got there was ask him his goals? I then asked him could he lead the Nation in rebounding? He kind of replied yes and then we got specific on how many he would need and how he could do it.
"The points on the other hand, he worked equally as hard. He ran well. Conditioning was very important for him because of the nature of playing a center. He had to go 94 feet and he had to play 30 feet wide to hunt down long rebounds. However he wanted the ball and really knew how to use his body."
O'Toole opted not to return phone calls to speak further about Phillip, and Phillip, who is still playing professional overseas, could not be reached to talk about his college career.
In case you were wondering ... the all-time NCAA record for double-doubles is 40, held by Billy Cunningham (North Carolina), and the list of players with at least 20 is a who's who of players who went on to successful careers.
Behind Cunningham came Jerry Lucas (38), Oscar Robertson (33), Mel Counts (30), Lew Alcindor and Benjamin (28), Artis Gilmore (27), Willie Nauls (25) Lucas, again (23), Mike Lewis (21), and Jack Twyman, Jerry West, Jim Haderlem and Steve Smith (20 each).
The record for the most double-doubles over a career, not necessarily in succession, is held by Duncan with 987, followed by Ralph Sampson (84), Derrick Coleman (83) and former MAAC standout Lionel Simmons (83). Simmons, though, never approached the consecutive double-double totals of either Phillip and Anosike.
It surely bears watching to see if Anosike's string continues to grow. With a full month of play remaining this season and, then, a senior year ahead next season, Anosike's consecutive double-double list could go on for some time.
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