The Marist men's team isn't the MAAC's only program that, this off season, has hired a head coach that previously worked at the sport's highest level.
The Red Foxes, earlier this spring, brought in Jeff Bower, who had been in the NBA for 15 years in a variety of positions ranging from general manager, interim head coach and scout.
And, now, the Saint Peter's women's program, this week, hired Patty Coyle, who had been in the WNBA for a decade, first as an assistant coach with the New York Liberty from 1999-2004 and, then, as that franchise's head coach from 2004-09.
Coyle replaces nine-year Peacocks' coach Stephanie DeWolfe, who left the position shortly after this past season.
Coyle is an enlightened hire by a once-strong program that has struggled in recent years. The 51-year old Coyle brings not only the credibility of having spent a decade in the professional ranks, but also past MAAC experience and previous success at rejuvenating a conference program.
Coyle had been in the league at Loyola from the start of the 1992-93 season through five games of the 1998-99 season when she was hired away to be an assistant with the WNBA's Liberty franchise.
During that time, she turned around a Greyhounds' program that had been nothing short of abysmal with 13 consecutive losing records, including a 12-71 overall record in the last three seasons before Coyle took over.
Coyle's first Loyola team finished 8-6 in the MAAC and 14-15 overall. In her six-plus seasons with Loyola her teams had a 100-77 record and advanced to back-to-back NCAA tournaments (1995 and 1996), the program's only two appearances in the NCAA's in its history.
Coyle, a no-nonsense program director, then spent the next decade in the WNBA before she eventually returned to the college ranks in 2010 as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh. That program, though, fired head coach Agnus Berenato and her entire staff after the Panthers finished 0-16 in Big East play and 9-21 overall this past season.
Coyle, though, wasn't out of work long, connecting with Saint Peter's two months (a move that had been rumored for several weeks) after losing her position at Pitt.
The Peacocks, for sure, need similar work that Coyle did at Loyola. Saint Peter's has had five straight sub-.500 overall records, including a 2-16/2-28 finish this past season and a 13-79 overall record over the past three seasons.
Coyle certainly has a rebuilding job ahead. Saint Peter's graduates three of its top four scorers and its three leading rebounders from this past season's team.
Your Hoopscribe was able to spend a few minutes with Coyle prior to an early season game at Pittsburgh this past season, and she fondly reminisced about her previous experience in the MAAC,
"What I miss most (about the MAAC) is the people from around the league that I had good relationships with," she said, back then. "The MAAC is a very good league, and that all starts with the leadership. We had some battles with some good programs when I was at Loyola, and I always enjoyed them and enjoyed my entire MAAC experience."
And, now, she's back for another run, taking on another program in need of some rebuilding. If her track record at Loyola is any indication, then Saint Peter's will be back among the conference's stronger teams in the very near future.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Former Gael Dagostino Set To Be Ave Maria Coach
Our first viewing of Kenny Dagostino was as a standout high school player at Guilderland (N.Y.) H.S., a 6-foot-1 guard who was a little too small and a little too slow afoot to be a factor at the Division I level. Still, he had enough ability to have been a good player at the Division II level, and had several scholarship offers to play D-II.
Instead, Dagostino wanted a Division I experience, wanted to be mentored by coaches at the highest level and soak in as much of their expertise as he could. Dagostino knew, even as a high school player, his basketball future would be as a teacher/coach and not as a player.
So, he walked on at Iona where he played for Jeff Ruland and graduated in 2006. Because of his on-court smarts, his all-out hustle and enthusiasm, Ruland regularly claimed that Dagostino was one of his all-time favorite players.
Mostly, Dagostino was a practice player, but a very good one who most-definitely challenged starting teammates every day in practice. Over his four years at Iona he saw action in just 29 games and scored nine total points, but those statistics belied his contributions in practices and as a team leader.
He got the full Division I college experience, even getting to the NCAA tournament with the Gaels in the 2005-06 season. Ruland gave Dagostino a scholarship when "Dags" was a junior and a senior. And, Dagostino was a team captain as a senior. And, how many college walk-ons are respected enough leaders to eventually earn captain's designation?
Your hoopscribe remembers connecting with Dagostino, via phone, when the Gaels were in transit to the the NCAA's in 2006. There probably wasn't an individual anywhere enjoying the experience any more than he was, even though he knew he wouldn't get on the court.
"This is what I came here for," said Dagostino. "This is what I wanted to experience, the thrill of being involved in an NCAA tournament. This is what I dreamed about."
It was all part of the experience that Dagostino hoped would lead to something in the sport in future years.
And, now, it has. Now, another dream is being realized.
Dagostino, according to a variety of sources, will be named the had coach at Ave Maria University, a four-year NAIA program near the Gulf Coast in southern Florida. It's a nice move for a young coach who doesn't turn 30 until September.
Dagostino certainly paid his proverbial dues to advance. He began his coaching progression at UAlbany, first as a grad assistant/video coordinator and, then, as the program's director of basketball operations.
In 2009 he got his first chance to direct a program when he was named head coach at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. In four seasons there he had a 74-44 record.
Ave Maria's job opened up in May when its previous coach, Jamon Copeland, moved on to become the head coach at the University of Texas at Tyler.
Ave Maria won 23 games this past season and has a good nucleus returning. It's another nice move forward for a good guy and a young coach on the rise.
Instead, Dagostino wanted a Division I experience, wanted to be mentored by coaches at the highest level and soak in as much of their expertise as he could. Dagostino knew, even as a high school player, his basketball future would be as a teacher/coach and not as a player.
So, he walked on at Iona where he played for Jeff Ruland and graduated in 2006. Because of his on-court smarts, his all-out hustle and enthusiasm, Ruland regularly claimed that Dagostino was one of his all-time favorite players.
Mostly, Dagostino was a practice player, but a very good one who most-definitely challenged starting teammates every day in practice. Over his four years at Iona he saw action in just 29 games and scored nine total points, but those statistics belied his contributions in practices and as a team leader.
He got the full Division I college experience, even getting to the NCAA tournament with the Gaels in the 2005-06 season. Ruland gave Dagostino a scholarship when "Dags" was a junior and a senior. And, Dagostino was a team captain as a senior. And, how many college walk-ons are respected enough leaders to eventually earn captain's designation?
Your hoopscribe remembers connecting with Dagostino, via phone, when the Gaels were in transit to the the NCAA's in 2006. There probably wasn't an individual anywhere enjoying the experience any more than he was, even though he knew he wouldn't get on the court.
"This is what I came here for," said Dagostino. "This is what I wanted to experience, the thrill of being involved in an NCAA tournament. This is what I dreamed about."
It was all part of the experience that Dagostino hoped would lead to something in the sport in future years.
And, now, it has. Now, another dream is being realized.
Dagostino, according to a variety of sources, will be named the had coach at Ave Maria University, a four-year NAIA program near the Gulf Coast in southern Florida. It's a nice move for a young coach who doesn't turn 30 until September.
Dagostino certainly paid his proverbial dues to advance. He began his coaching progression at UAlbany, first as a grad assistant/video coordinator and, then, as the program's director of basketball operations.
In 2009 he got his first chance to direct a program when he was named head coach at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. In four seasons there he had a 74-44 record.
Ave Maria's job opened up in May when its previous coach, Jamon Copeland, moved on to become the head coach at the University of Texas at Tyler.
Ave Maria won 23 games this past season and has a good nucleus returning. It's another nice move forward for a good guy and a young coach on the rise.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Team Reports: Fairfield Women Will Be Strong Again
Here's another in the "Team Report" series taking a look back and ahead at conference programs.
Up now ...
FAIRFIELD WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 11-7 in MAAC play (3rd place), 18-14 overall. Lost in the MAAC tournament's quarterfinal round, 52-48, to Siena. Received a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) where it won a first-round game, 71-51, over St. Francis and, then, lost to Penn, 49-48.
2012-13 SEASON RECAP: Start at the end ... the Stags got sudden endings both to MAAC play and, then, the season. It took a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Penn to end Fairfield's season, 49-48, in the WBI. That post-season berth came after Siena pulled off an upset, 52-48, victory in the quarterfinal round of the MAAC tournament. The late-season ups and downs were a microcosm of the regular season in which Fairfield opened non-league play by winning five of its first six games and opened MAAC play with a 6-1 record, the only loss in that stretch by five to league unbeaten Marist. After that nice league start, though, the Stags went 5-6 in other conference games. And, other than those two nice stretches ... the 5-1 non-league start and the 6-1 MAAC stretch ... Fairfield's record was 7-12.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: The 5-1 non-league start, the 6-1 MAAC start wee both very nice stretches, and probably saw the Stags playing a little better than expected. The program lost two all-time players, from the previous season (Taryn Johnson and Desiree Pina) to graduation, and, all things considered, getting 18 total wins on the year probably exceeded expectations. But, players leave and others step up. Junior forward Katie Cizynski, previously a role player, became a first-team all-MAAC selection, averaging 11.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and shooting 48.6 percent from the floor (52nd best nationally). Junior forward Brittany Obi-Tabot, previously a lightly used reserve, broke out to average 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and was a second-team all-MAAC pick. Sophomore guard Alexys Vazquez was superlative from long range, making 74 of 189 from beyond the bonus stripe, a 39.2 percent accuracy rate which was 23rd best nationally. Katelyn Linney, a senior guard, averaged 8.1 points per game and Kristin Schatzlein, a freshman guard, had a solid first season in college (4.4, 2.2). The Joe Frager-preferred playing style ... defense and deliberate, multi-play offense, was effective again. Fairfield opponents only averaged 53.9 points per game, the 23rd best defensive statistic nationally. That total, though, is always somewhat skewed since the Stags almost never push the ball up court and usually run clock on offense while running a variety of set plays. Still, it works. Frager has 119 wins in six seasons, and really has turned the program around after it went through six straight years without cracking the .500 mark prior to his arrival. This year's end result was another national tournament berth, one that included a home-court victory (over St. Francis). It was the Stags third national post-season invitation in the past four seasons.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The highs (the 5-1 start to non-league play, the 6-1 MAAC start) were balanced by the lows (7-12 otherwise). The loss, as a No. 3 MAAC tournament seed to No. 6 seed Siena in the league's post-season event was a disappointment, as was the abrupt end to its overall season when Penn made a last-second three-pointer to pull out a 49-48 victory over the Stags in the WBI tournament. There were physical issues, too. Brittany McFarlane, the 2011-12 season's Sixth Player of the Year in the MAAC, battled painful rheumatoid arthritis in her hips all season and played at far less than her best. That she played at all this past season was a tribute to her desire. Obi Tabot also missed three late-season games with an injury and probably wasn't at her best in the tournament loss to Siena. And, the team never found a suitable replacement for Pina, who had been one of the league's best point guards who not only ran the team but also contributed with outside shooting. The Stags went with sophomore Felicia DaCruz and junior Christelle Akon-Akech splitting the role. DaCruz struggled to guard quicker opponents and with her outside shooting (25.3 percent, including just 14.0 percent on three-pointers) and Akon-Akech rarely looked to shoot from the perimeter (she averaged 3.3 points per game) and opposing defenses were able to leave her open on the perimeter and help out on other Fairfield players.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Probably yet another good season in what is now a nice six-year run. The team's top three scorers (Cizynski, Obi-Tabot and Vazquez) and six of the top eight all return. The losses are Katelyn Linney, essentially a long-range shooter (8.1 ppg.) and McFarlane, who struggled physically as a senior. They aren't devastating losses. There's still strong perimeter play returning, particularly if either DaCruz and/or Akon-Akech can improve their perimeter shooting skills. Cizynski and Obi-Tabot combine to be one of the conference's better front-court duos. And, there looks to be good front-court help coming via recruiting. Samantha Cooper, a 6-2 forward from Ontario, Canada is the biggest recruit. She is joined by two 6-footers, Kelsey Carey (2,174 career high school points) and Kristine Miller, a strong inside player.
PREDICTION FOR 2013-14: Another typical Fairfield season, that is one that approaches 20 victories overall and has the Stags finishing among the top three in the final MAAC standings. It's probably a given that Marist will capture yet another conference crown, but Iona (second place this past season) will be adjusting to a new coach. It means Fairfield could certainly contend for second place in the coming season.
Up now ...
FAIRFIELD WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 11-7 in MAAC play (3rd place), 18-14 overall. Lost in the MAAC tournament's quarterfinal round, 52-48, to Siena. Received a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) where it won a first-round game, 71-51, over St. Francis and, then, lost to Penn, 49-48.
2012-13 SEASON RECAP: Start at the end ... the Stags got sudden endings both to MAAC play and, then, the season. It took a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Penn to end Fairfield's season, 49-48, in the WBI. That post-season berth came after Siena pulled off an upset, 52-48, victory in the quarterfinal round of the MAAC tournament. The late-season ups and downs were a microcosm of the regular season in which Fairfield opened non-league play by winning five of its first six games and opened MAAC play with a 6-1 record, the only loss in that stretch by five to league unbeaten Marist. After that nice league start, though, the Stags went 5-6 in other conference games. And, other than those two nice stretches ... the 5-1 non-league start and the 6-1 MAAC stretch ... Fairfield's record was 7-12.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: The 5-1 non-league start, the 6-1 MAAC start wee both very nice stretches, and probably saw the Stags playing a little better than expected. The program lost two all-time players, from the previous season (Taryn Johnson and Desiree Pina) to graduation, and, all things considered, getting 18 total wins on the year probably exceeded expectations. But, players leave and others step up. Junior forward Katie Cizynski, previously a role player, became a first-team all-MAAC selection, averaging 11.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and shooting 48.6 percent from the floor (52nd best nationally). Junior forward Brittany Obi-Tabot, previously a lightly used reserve, broke out to average 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and was a second-team all-MAAC pick. Sophomore guard Alexys Vazquez was superlative from long range, making 74 of 189 from beyond the bonus stripe, a 39.2 percent accuracy rate which was 23rd best nationally. Katelyn Linney, a senior guard, averaged 8.1 points per game and Kristin Schatzlein, a freshman guard, had a solid first season in college (4.4, 2.2). The Joe Frager-preferred playing style ... defense and deliberate, multi-play offense, was effective again. Fairfield opponents only averaged 53.9 points per game, the 23rd best defensive statistic nationally. That total, though, is always somewhat skewed since the Stags almost never push the ball up court and usually run clock on offense while running a variety of set plays. Still, it works. Frager has 119 wins in six seasons, and really has turned the program around after it went through six straight years without cracking the .500 mark prior to his arrival. This year's end result was another national tournament berth, one that included a home-court victory (over St. Francis). It was the Stags third national post-season invitation in the past four seasons.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The highs (the 5-1 start to non-league play, the 6-1 MAAC start) were balanced by the lows (7-12 otherwise). The loss, as a No. 3 MAAC tournament seed to No. 6 seed Siena in the league's post-season event was a disappointment, as was the abrupt end to its overall season when Penn made a last-second three-pointer to pull out a 49-48 victory over the Stags in the WBI tournament. There were physical issues, too. Brittany McFarlane, the 2011-12 season's Sixth Player of the Year in the MAAC, battled painful rheumatoid arthritis in her hips all season and played at far less than her best. That she played at all this past season was a tribute to her desire. Obi Tabot also missed three late-season games with an injury and probably wasn't at her best in the tournament loss to Siena. And, the team never found a suitable replacement for Pina, who had been one of the league's best point guards who not only ran the team but also contributed with outside shooting. The Stags went with sophomore Felicia DaCruz and junior Christelle Akon-Akech splitting the role. DaCruz struggled to guard quicker opponents and with her outside shooting (25.3 percent, including just 14.0 percent on three-pointers) and Akon-Akech rarely looked to shoot from the perimeter (she averaged 3.3 points per game) and opposing defenses were able to leave her open on the perimeter and help out on other Fairfield players.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Probably yet another good season in what is now a nice six-year run. The team's top three scorers (Cizynski, Obi-Tabot and Vazquez) and six of the top eight all return. The losses are Katelyn Linney, essentially a long-range shooter (8.1 ppg.) and McFarlane, who struggled physically as a senior. They aren't devastating losses. There's still strong perimeter play returning, particularly if either DaCruz and/or Akon-Akech can improve their perimeter shooting skills. Cizynski and Obi-Tabot combine to be one of the conference's better front-court duos. And, there looks to be good front-court help coming via recruiting. Samantha Cooper, a 6-2 forward from Ontario, Canada is the biggest recruit. She is joined by two 6-footers, Kelsey Carey (2,174 career high school points) and Kristine Miller, a strong inside player.
PREDICTION FOR 2013-14: Another typical Fairfield season, that is one that approaches 20 victories overall and has the Stags finishing among the top three in the final MAAC standings. It's probably a given that Marist will capture yet another conference crown, but Iona (second place this past season) will be adjusting to a new coach. It means Fairfield could certainly contend for second place in the coming season.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Team Report: Transition, Defections Hurt Niagara Men
Here's another in the "Team Report" series taking a look back and ahead at conference programs.
Up now ...
NIAGARA MEN
2012-13 RECORD 13-5 in MAAC play, regular-season champion 19-14 overall. Won a MAAC tournament quarterfinal round game, 74-62, over Siena; lost in the semifinal round, 79-73, vs. Iona. Played in the NIT, losing a first-round game to Maryland, 86-70.
2012-13 RECAP: The youngest team in the league (four sophomores and a freshman were starters) matured quickly, getting off to a 10-1 start in conference play before a 3-4 regular-season finish. The strong early play, though, was enough for Niagara to capture the regular-season crown. It then played eventual MAAC tournament winner Iona tough in the semifinal round, but just didn't have enough inside to overcome the Gaels. It was a little disappointing that Niagara went 1-3 against regional opponents, splitting with Canisius and losing single games to both Buffalo and St. Bona's. The sophomore backcourt of Juan'ya Green and Antoine Mason were both first-team all-MAAC picks, the first time in league history sophomore teammates earned that honor. It was a masterful coaching job by Joe Mihalich, who only had three sub-.500 seasons in 15 years with the Purple Eagles. It was a good enough season for Mihalich to move on, becoming the head coach at Hofstra in early April.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: A young team matured quickly. Mihalich gave his players considerable on-court freedom in an up-tempo style of play, and that helped attract talent. Green and Mason were, as their all-star designations indicated, two of the league's top five players. Ameen Tanksley, a 6-5 swingman, also had a very nice season (11. 3 points, 6.0 rebounds), junior guard Marvin Jones (8.2 ppg.) did good work off the bench. Tahjere McCall, a 6-4 freshman starting point guard, was a significant contributor, as was 6-8 freshman forward T.J. Cline off the bench, particularly with outstanding long-range shooting. Niagara was still somewhat undersized in the middle, particularly when 6-8, 240-pound senior Devon White (who only played 18.6 minutes per contest) wasn't on the court. But, the high-scoring, wide-open playing style gave opponents problems and made for a very nice season for the youthful Purple Eagles.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Not a lot during the season, but plenty since the team saw its playing year end in the NIT with a loss to Maryland. There was the 3-4 stretch at the end of the regular season, but Niagara looked good in the tournament with a victory over Siena and, then, a strong game before losing to eventual tournament winner Iona in the semifinal round. By winning the regular-season title, Niagara ensured it had an NIT bid after the disappointment of being eliminated in the conference event. White didn't contribute quite as much as was expected from a transfer from a bigger school (La Salle), and when he wasn't on the floor Niagara literally came up a little short. It was when the season ended, though, that things started going the wrong way for the program. Start with the 56-year old Mihalich's departure. It looked as if the MAAC's all-time winningest coach (265 wins at Niagara) might just be on Monteagle Ridge until he eventually retired. But, a very nice offer from Hofstra which more than doubled his previous salary, enticed him to move. And, Mihalich took his entire Niagara coaching staff with him to Hofstra. Mihalich's spot was filled by Chris Casey, a well-respected Division II head coach at LIU-Post, who is noted for his enthusiasm, energy and a desire to maintain Niagara's up-tempo style. With any coaching change there are usually some player defections, but rarely were there so many that resulted from Mihalich's departure. Green (who this blogger felt should have been this past season's conference Player of the Year), and Tanksley both followed Mihalich to Hofstra. Cline also left, and will reportedly join Richmond's program. Malcolm Lemmons, an effective reserve guard, also received his release to transfer (no school selected yet), and it appears that athletic 6-8 forward Scooter Gillette, who had a year's eligibility remaining after he was a medical redshirt this past season, is also gone from the program. The loss of those five, plus the graduation of White creates a roster transition far above the norm, and far more than anyone would have expected.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Had the roster not undergone such transition, Niagara was clearly in position to make a run at another regular-season league championship. There is still some talent in place, but not nearly enough to expect it to contend for anything except trying to avoid the play-in round of this coming season's MAAC tournament. The players lost early ... Green, Tanksley, Lemmons, Gillette and Cline together would have been a group of five that, of itself, would have just about matched any other MAAC team's starting lineup. Talent remains, though, particularly on the perimeter. Mason (18.7 ppg. last season) will have to take on an even greater scoring load and is the early favorite to be the MAAC's leading scorer in 2013-14. Jordan is also a more-than-capable scorer and will also probably be among the conference's top point producers. And if McCall makes the usual progress as a maturing player ... Niagara's perimeter trio will still be among the best in the MAAC. And, you can add to that group Rhode Island transfer 6-4 Rayvon Harris, another athletic perimeter player in the Tanksley mold. He might wind up being the team's top rebounder, as well as providing some outside marksmanship. The 6-7 Joe Thomas, a lightly used front-court reserve last season (9.4 minutes per game) is likely to be pushed into the starting lineup Otherwise, depth is non-existent right now. There are only four other players, as of early June, on the team's roster, and one of them, 6-4 sophomore-to-be guard Emile Blackman is a transfer from LIU-Post (12.7 ppg. there last season) and has to sit out a transfer year. The other three are incoming freshmen. One, 6-2 guard Karon Davis, looks like he'll be a contributor at either guard spot. The other two bring much-needed height. Dominique Reaid is 6-8 and Aaron Bodie is 6-7, but both weigh less than 200 pounds and need to add some bulk/strength to be effective college players. There are sure to be a few more additions to the team before school starts in September, so stay tuned. But, Niagara fans will be left to wonder what might have been.
PREDICTION FOR 2013-14: Again ... if everything remained in place Niagara was poised for a bright future. Even with all the defections, there's enough talent in place for the Purple Eagles to finish as high as fourth or fifth, particularly if the incoming freshmen can contribute at all and Casey can find a couple more players. A big-man transfer from a junior college program would provide a huge boost. As currently constructed, though, Niagara could drop to seventh/eighth/ninth-place range in the upcoming season's 11-team league structure.
Up now ...
NIAGARA MEN
2012-13 RECORD 13-5 in MAAC play, regular-season champion 19-14 overall. Won a MAAC tournament quarterfinal round game, 74-62, over Siena; lost in the semifinal round, 79-73, vs. Iona. Played in the NIT, losing a first-round game to Maryland, 86-70.
2012-13 RECAP: The youngest team in the league (four sophomores and a freshman were starters) matured quickly, getting off to a 10-1 start in conference play before a 3-4 regular-season finish. The strong early play, though, was enough for Niagara to capture the regular-season crown. It then played eventual MAAC tournament winner Iona tough in the semifinal round, but just didn't have enough inside to overcome the Gaels. It was a little disappointing that Niagara went 1-3 against regional opponents, splitting with Canisius and losing single games to both Buffalo and St. Bona's. The sophomore backcourt of Juan'ya Green and Antoine Mason were both first-team all-MAAC picks, the first time in league history sophomore teammates earned that honor. It was a masterful coaching job by Joe Mihalich, who only had three sub-.500 seasons in 15 years with the Purple Eagles. It was a good enough season for Mihalich to move on, becoming the head coach at Hofstra in early April.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: A young team matured quickly. Mihalich gave his players considerable on-court freedom in an up-tempo style of play, and that helped attract talent. Green and Mason were, as their all-star designations indicated, two of the league's top five players. Ameen Tanksley, a 6-5 swingman, also had a very nice season (11. 3 points, 6.0 rebounds), junior guard Marvin Jones (8.2 ppg.) did good work off the bench. Tahjere McCall, a 6-4 freshman starting point guard, was a significant contributor, as was 6-8 freshman forward T.J. Cline off the bench, particularly with outstanding long-range shooting. Niagara was still somewhat undersized in the middle, particularly when 6-8, 240-pound senior Devon White (who only played 18.6 minutes per contest) wasn't on the court. But, the high-scoring, wide-open playing style gave opponents problems and made for a very nice season for the youthful Purple Eagles.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Not a lot during the season, but plenty since the team saw its playing year end in the NIT with a loss to Maryland. There was the 3-4 stretch at the end of the regular season, but Niagara looked good in the tournament with a victory over Siena and, then, a strong game before losing to eventual tournament winner Iona in the semifinal round. By winning the regular-season title, Niagara ensured it had an NIT bid after the disappointment of being eliminated in the conference event. White didn't contribute quite as much as was expected from a transfer from a bigger school (La Salle), and when he wasn't on the floor Niagara literally came up a little short. It was when the season ended, though, that things started going the wrong way for the program. Start with the 56-year old Mihalich's departure. It looked as if the MAAC's all-time winningest coach (265 wins at Niagara) might just be on Monteagle Ridge until he eventually retired. But, a very nice offer from Hofstra which more than doubled his previous salary, enticed him to move. And, Mihalich took his entire Niagara coaching staff with him to Hofstra. Mihalich's spot was filled by Chris Casey, a well-respected Division II head coach at LIU-Post, who is noted for his enthusiasm, energy and a desire to maintain Niagara's up-tempo style. With any coaching change there are usually some player defections, but rarely were there so many that resulted from Mihalich's departure. Green (who this blogger felt should have been this past season's conference Player of the Year), and Tanksley both followed Mihalich to Hofstra. Cline also left, and will reportedly join Richmond's program. Malcolm Lemmons, an effective reserve guard, also received his release to transfer (no school selected yet), and it appears that athletic 6-8 forward Scooter Gillette, who had a year's eligibility remaining after he was a medical redshirt this past season, is also gone from the program. The loss of those five, plus the graduation of White creates a roster transition far above the norm, and far more than anyone would have expected.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Had the roster not undergone such transition, Niagara was clearly in position to make a run at another regular-season league championship. There is still some talent in place, but not nearly enough to expect it to contend for anything except trying to avoid the play-in round of this coming season's MAAC tournament. The players lost early ... Green, Tanksley, Lemmons, Gillette and Cline together would have been a group of five that, of itself, would have just about matched any other MAAC team's starting lineup. Talent remains, though, particularly on the perimeter. Mason (18.7 ppg. last season) will have to take on an even greater scoring load and is the early favorite to be the MAAC's leading scorer in 2013-14. Jordan is also a more-than-capable scorer and will also probably be among the conference's top point producers. And if McCall makes the usual progress as a maturing player ... Niagara's perimeter trio will still be among the best in the MAAC. And, you can add to that group Rhode Island transfer 6-4 Rayvon Harris, another athletic perimeter player in the Tanksley mold. He might wind up being the team's top rebounder, as well as providing some outside marksmanship. The 6-7 Joe Thomas, a lightly used front-court reserve last season (9.4 minutes per game) is likely to be pushed into the starting lineup Otherwise, depth is non-existent right now. There are only four other players, as of early June, on the team's roster, and one of them, 6-4 sophomore-to-be guard Emile Blackman is a transfer from LIU-Post (12.7 ppg. there last season) and has to sit out a transfer year. The other three are incoming freshmen. One, 6-2 guard Karon Davis, looks like he'll be a contributor at either guard spot. The other two bring much-needed height. Dominique Reaid is 6-8 and Aaron Bodie is 6-7, but both weigh less than 200 pounds and need to add some bulk/strength to be effective college players. There are sure to be a few more additions to the team before school starts in September, so stay tuned. But, Niagara fans will be left to wonder what might have been.
PREDICTION FOR 2013-14: Again ... if everything remained in place Niagara was poised for a bright future. Even with all the defections, there's enough talent in place for the Purple Eagles to finish as high as fourth or fifth, particularly if the incoming freshmen can contribute at all and Casey can find a couple more players. A big-man transfer from a junior college program would provide a huge boost. As currently constructed, though, Niagara could drop to seventh/eighth/ninth-place range in the upcoming season's 11-team league structure.
Another MAAC Connection Becomes NBA Head Coach
For the first 32 years of the MAAC, we can't recall a single individual with conference connections becoming an NBA head coach.
And, now, within the space of a week, there are two.
First was former Siena and Fairfield assistant coach Steve Clifford getting hired as head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats last week.
And, now, Mike Malone, a four-year player at Loyola (1989-1993), becomes the second one when he was named head coach of the NBA Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Malone, primarily a valuable reserve until starting regularly as a senior, was an effective point guard. Over his career with the Greyhounds he played in 107 games and started 39. He finished with 279 career assists, which ranks 11th in school history.
Malone's path to becoming an NBA head coach, as is usually the case, was lengthy and varied.
After graduating from Loyola in 1994, Malone began his coaching career at Oakland (Mich.) University where he served for one year before joining the staffs under Pete Gillen at Providence (1995-98) and Virginia (1998-99).
Malone then returned to the MAAC to be an assistant at Manhattan from 1999-2001 before moving to the NBA as a New York Knicks' assistant from 2003-05 (where both he and Clifford were assistants).
His next stop was as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-2010), and that team's roster during that time included Lebron James. Malone then spent the 2010-11 season with the New Orleans Hornets and the past two seasons as Mark Jackson's top assistant with the Golden State Warriors.
Malone is considered to be an exceptional strategist who, under Jackson, was given a great deal of responsibility in terms of implementing the Warriors' style of play.
Malone is the first Loyola alumnus to become a head coach in any of the four major leagues (NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL).
And, now, within the space of a week, there are two.
First was former Siena and Fairfield assistant coach Steve Clifford getting hired as head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats last week.
And, now, Mike Malone, a four-year player at Loyola (1989-1993), becomes the second one when he was named head coach of the NBA Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Malone, primarily a valuable reserve until starting regularly as a senior, was an effective point guard. Over his career with the Greyhounds he played in 107 games and started 39. He finished with 279 career assists, which ranks 11th in school history.
Malone's path to becoming an NBA head coach, as is usually the case, was lengthy and varied.
After graduating from Loyola in 1994, Malone began his coaching career at Oakland (Mich.) University where he served for one year before joining the staffs under Pete Gillen at Providence (1995-98) and Virginia (1998-99).
Malone then returned to the MAAC to be an assistant at Manhattan from 1999-2001 before moving to the NBA as a New York Knicks' assistant from 2003-05 (where both he and Clifford were assistants).
His next stop was as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-2010), and that team's roster during that time included Lebron James. Malone then spent the 2010-11 season with the New Orleans Hornets and the past two seasons as Mark Jackson's top assistant with the Golden State Warriors.
Malone is considered to be an exceptional strategist who, under Jackson, was given a great deal of responsibility in terms of implementing the Warriors' style of play.
Malone is the first Loyola alumnus to become a head coach in any of the four major leagues (NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL).
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Future MAAC Players Among Those at GymRat Event
Whew, finally a chance to catch a breath. Your hoopscribe has been involved, for the past five years, with the GymRat CHALLENGE AAU tournaments for boys and girls. It's an incredibly well-organized event which gets bigger and better every year.
One of my duties is to oversee a staff of "talent evaluators," 18 of them for the boys' event, who do nothing but watch games and select all-star teams at each age division. Our "evaluators" are extremely knowledgeable, a gathering of former D-I coaches, high school coaches and current D-III coaches (who can attend AAU tournaments during a "down" period for the higher levels).
Anyway, all the information, ranging from championship game reports to the full list of all stars and honorable mentions at six age divisions that were contested are now on line at www.gymratchallenge.com
That site attracts close to 1.2 million hits in the first couple of weeks after its gets posted. We try to learn what schools are involved in recruiting some of the participants in the GymRat. And, we'll pass along some of the better players who were here who mentioned getting interest from some MAAC programs.
Arguably the best player here was 6-foot-8 forward Dominique Uhl, who plays for the Jersey Shore Warriors (the 17-under championship team in the GymRat) on the AAU circuit. Uhl, a native of Germany, has quickly acclimated to the game in the U.S. He is a multi-talented, still somewhat slender, front-court player who has full-court skills.
He has been "offered" by Boston College, Temple and Rice, but is also still actively being recruited, he said, by Fairfield of the MAAC.
A teammate, Eric Anderson (a 6-6 small forward) listed Manhattan as one of the school's he is considering. Our scouts indicate he is a do-everything type player who can knock down three-pointers, put the ball on the floor, post up and deliver accurate passes. He also plays for the Jersey Warriors' program.
Aary Biggins, a 6-4 swingman with the Albany City Rocks' Program, lists Siena as a school he is looking at. Our scouts indicate he is a long, athletic guard that contributes in all phases of the game, that he is a lock-down defender and a capable scorer with terrific athleticism.
Another City Rocks' player, Jordan Deccico, lists Niagara as a possible destination. He is a 6-1 point guard who, according to our scouts, is extremely quick and can attack the basket and score over bigger players ... a scrappy player who sees the floor well and gets teammates involved, but also an explosive scorer.
David Hawthorne of the N.J. Select Stars' program is a 6-6 forward who lists Iona as a possible destination. Our scouting report indicates that he has a high upside with a Rudy Gay-type game, at his best attacking the basket and a good rebounder.
Wil Bathurst is a 6-4 small forward from the Locker 1 program of Western New York who lists Iona, Niagara and Marist among his potential colleges. Our report indicates that he is a stat-sheet stuffer that affects the game in every aspect of play.
Louie Pillari, a 6-5 small forward from the New Jersey Cyclones' program, indicates that he is considering Monmouth. Our reports indicate that he is athletic, a streaky 3-point shooter who can get into the lane and finish in traffic and is a terrific competitor.
Canisius is listed as a potential destination for Dontay Caruthers, a 6-1 guard with the Rochester Playmakers' program. Our report indicates that he is very talented with a high motor ... a mix of athleticism and skill that enables him to create scoring opportunities from anywhere on the court.
There are probably many more receiving interest from MAAC teams, but those are the key players at the GymRat who specified interest in the conference.
The GymRat, over the years, has had many alums play for MAAC teams, including O.D. Anosike, Ryan Rossiter and Rob Poole at Siena, Momo Jones and Sean Armand at Iona, George Beamon at Manhattan, Anthony Nelson and Bilal Benn at Syracuse, Billy Baron at Canisius and literally dozens of others over the years.
This year, 292 team boys' teams participated with more than 3,000 players on hand. Traditionally, more than half of each year's players go on to play at some level of college basketball.
And, the same thing happens for girls with this year's event scheduled for June 15 and 16 at various sites throughout New York's Capital Region. We'll be reporting on some of it here, but you can get all the information ... and, the eventual full reports and all-star selections ... at the GymRat's website.
One of my duties is to oversee a staff of "talent evaluators," 18 of them for the boys' event, who do nothing but watch games and select all-star teams at each age division. Our "evaluators" are extremely knowledgeable, a gathering of former D-I coaches, high school coaches and current D-III coaches (who can attend AAU tournaments during a "down" period for the higher levels).
Anyway, all the information, ranging from championship game reports to the full list of all stars and honorable mentions at six age divisions that were contested are now on line at www.gymratchallenge.com
That site attracts close to 1.2 million hits in the first couple of weeks after its gets posted. We try to learn what schools are involved in recruiting some of the participants in the GymRat. And, we'll pass along some of the better players who were here who mentioned getting interest from some MAAC programs.
Arguably the best player here was 6-foot-8 forward Dominique Uhl, who plays for the Jersey Shore Warriors (the 17-under championship team in the GymRat) on the AAU circuit. Uhl, a native of Germany, has quickly acclimated to the game in the U.S. He is a multi-talented, still somewhat slender, front-court player who has full-court skills.
He has been "offered" by Boston College, Temple and Rice, but is also still actively being recruited, he said, by Fairfield of the MAAC.
A teammate, Eric Anderson (a 6-6 small forward) listed Manhattan as one of the school's he is considering. Our scouts indicate he is a do-everything type player who can knock down three-pointers, put the ball on the floor, post up and deliver accurate passes. He also plays for the Jersey Warriors' program.
Aary Biggins, a 6-4 swingman with the Albany City Rocks' Program, lists Siena as a school he is looking at. Our scouts indicate he is a long, athletic guard that contributes in all phases of the game, that he is a lock-down defender and a capable scorer with terrific athleticism.
Another City Rocks' player, Jordan Deccico, lists Niagara as a possible destination. He is a 6-1 point guard who, according to our scouts, is extremely quick and can attack the basket and score over bigger players ... a scrappy player who sees the floor well and gets teammates involved, but also an explosive scorer.
David Hawthorne of the N.J. Select Stars' program is a 6-6 forward who lists Iona as a possible destination. Our scouting report indicates that he has a high upside with a Rudy Gay-type game, at his best attacking the basket and a good rebounder.
Wil Bathurst is a 6-4 small forward from the Locker 1 program of Western New York who lists Iona, Niagara and Marist among his potential colleges. Our report indicates that he is a stat-sheet stuffer that affects the game in every aspect of play.
Louie Pillari, a 6-5 small forward from the New Jersey Cyclones' program, indicates that he is considering Monmouth. Our reports indicate that he is athletic, a streaky 3-point shooter who can get into the lane and finish in traffic and is a terrific competitor.
Canisius is listed as a potential destination for Dontay Caruthers, a 6-1 guard with the Rochester Playmakers' program. Our report indicates that he is very talented with a high motor ... a mix of athleticism and skill that enables him to create scoring opportunities from anywhere on the court.
There are probably many more receiving interest from MAAC teams, but those are the key players at the GymRat who specified interest in the conference.
The GymRat, over the years, has had many alums play for MAAC teams, including O.D. Anosike, Ryan Rossiter and Rob Poole at Siena, Momo Jones and Sean Armand at Iona, George Beamon at Manhattan, Anthony Nelson and Bilal Benn at Syracuse, Billy Baron at Canisius and literally dozens of others over the years.
This year, 292 team boys' teams participated with more than 3,000 players on hand. Traditionally, more than half of each year's players go on to play at some level of college basketball.
And, the same thing happens for girls with this year's event scheduled for June 15 and 16 at various sites throughout New York's Capital Region. We'll be reporting on some of it here, but you can get all the information ... and, the eventual full reports and all-star selections ... at the GymRat's website.
Return of MAAC Tournament To Albany A Good Move
Earlier this week came news that the MAAC tournament will return to the Albany, N.Y., area and its Times Union Center. It's a three-year commitment for the tournaments of 2015, 2016 and 2017.
To that, I can only give an emphatic "Hooray."
New York's Capital Region, which is Siena's home turf (and the TUC is Siena's home court) seems to be the only area which truly embraces the tournament.
The last time the event was held in Albany, in 2010, there was a fan turnout of 53,569, the all-time tournament best for fan support.
By comparison the total crowd count for the event at the Springfield, Mass., Mutual Center for this year's tournament was a very disappointing 14,394. It was the second year the event was held in Springfield, so community supporters there had a full year to create interest and couldn't. Crowds in Springfield were actually down from the 16,560 that turned out in 2012, the event's first run at the Massachusetts' location.
The sentiment here was that Springfield would be a nice site for the MAAC tournament. It's the birthplace of basketball, and had the James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame just down the street, a terrific place to visit for basketball fans in the area for the tournament. The league even made good use of the Hall for its awards banquet and the athletes truly enjoyed the chance to wander around the facility, soaking in their sport's history.
The bottom line, though, is that despite the perceived interest in basketball in that area ... and, the relative proximity of several MAAC schools to Springfield ... the tournament just never attracted the on-site atmosphere, the crowds, that contribute so much to the games.
League presidents, who ultimately make the decision on the tournament's site, got what they wanted for the past two years (and the upcoming season, too, as Springfield will host the event one more time).
After Siena won the MAAC tournament, and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, for three straight seasons in Albany, officials at the league's other schools wanted a neutral site that, theoretically, created an equal playing field in the quest for a trip to the NCAA's.
Who could blame them? An NCAA trip is worth plenty to teams that go there, particularly teams at this level. The resultant national-level publicity, the television exposure and the resultant increases both in alumni donations and admission applications are benefits schools can't otherwise secure.
To that, the response should be: Get better.
When Siena was on its three-year run of winning the MAAC tournament on its home court ... well, it also had the league's best team and almost assuredly would have also won the event no matter where it was played.
But, the desire remained for site neutrality. The cost was a crowd count of less than 30 percent of what Albany traditionally draws.
And, that wasn't exactly surprising. The tournament hasn't drawn well at any venue other than the Albany arena over the past two decades-plus.
The Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ., which hosted the tournament one season backed out a subsequent contract to host over fear of a substantial financial loss.
Buffalo, which hosted the event multiple times, but drew relatively small fan numbers despite the location of two MAAC schools (Canisius, Niagara) within 15 miles of its arena, no longer even bids to host the event.
The Bridgeport, Conn., arena has also served as a tournament host to low numbers. That venue did get involved in the bidding for upcoming tournaments, but lost out to Albany's proposal.
Springfield also made a proposal to continue as the event's host. And, the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., also submitted a proposal to host the event.
The MAAC, though, came to a quick decision, selecting the Albany facility for the three-year commitment, barely a week after that arena's proposal was submitted.
"We still have much bigger crowds than anywhere else that's hosted it before ... I think that had a lot to do with the decision," said Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber.
MAAC commissioner Rich Ensor cited Albany's strong tradition of hosting the tournament (15 times to date), a vibrant downtown area and the players' enjoyment of competing in front of larger crowds, as factors in the decision.
Ensor has said, on multiple occasions, that he understands the importance of having a crowd-generated and loud atmosphere at MAAC tournament games and has always been supportive of having the event in Albany.
The event is also seeking to hold on to its prime time spot on ESPN's television schedule, and games look a lot better on TV when there's a large, enthusiastic crowd on hand rather than the turnout of 1,493 that watched the tournament's championship game in Springfield this year.
And, then, there's the potential message that the upcoming arrangement might be making.
In the current state of league instability, with programs seemingly changing leagues so quickly, rumors have circulated that Siena might eventually leave the conference for the Atlantic 10.
School officials, though, claim there has been on contact between Siena and the A-10 and that any talk about Siena moving to that league is purely speculative.
Does the upcoming three-year commitment by the MAAC to hold its tournament in Albany mean that Siena will remain a conference member, at least for as long as the just-announced commitment to host the event?
That was the initial though, but it's not necessarily so. The MAAC's agreement with the Times Union Center includes an option to move to another venue with the tournament should Siena leave the league.
Still, it's one person's opinion that a Siena-to-the-A 10 move isn't likely to happen in the immediate future.
The cost of moving the school's entire athletic operation to that league would come at considerable expense, an expense Siena doesn't appear capable of making right now.
And, the A-10 includes more than a few large, public institutions (UMass, VCU, Rhode Island, Duquesne, among others), schools with considerably greater resources than smaller, private colleges like Siena.
The MAAC has always been an affiliation of schools and programs with similar resources and philosophies toward athletics. Siena has been a nice "fit" within that profile.
So, it makes one wonder if Siena would move to the A-10 where the proverbial "fit" doesn't seem quite as good.
There's no definitive answer, for now. But, the strong guess here is that a Siena move out of the MAAC isn't on the immediate horizon.
To that, I can only give an emphatic "Hooray."
New York's Capital Region, which is Siena's home turf (and the TUC is Siena's home court) seems to be the only area which truly embraces the tournament.
The last time the event was held in Albany, in 2010, there was a fan turnout of 53,569, the all-time tournament best for fan support.
By comparison the total crowd count for the event at the Springfield, Mass., Mutual Center for this year's tournament was a very disappointing 14,394. It was the second year the event was held in Springfield, so community supporters there had a full year to create interest and couldn't. Crowds in Springfield were actually down from the 16,560 that turned out in 2012, the event's first run at the Massachusetts' location.
The sentiment here was that Springfield would be a nice site for the MAAC tournament. It's the birthplace of basketball, and had the James Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame just down the street, a terrific place to visit for basketball fans in the area for the tournament. The league even made good use of the Hall for its awards banquet and the athletes truly enjoyed the chance to wander around the facility, soaking in their sport's history.
The bottom line, though, is that despite the perceived interest in basketball in that area ... and, the relative proximity of several MAAC schools to Springfield ... the tournament just never attracted the on-site atmosphere, the crowds, that contribute so much to the games.
League presidents, who ultimately make the decision on the tournament's site, got what they wanted for the past two years (and the upcoming season, too, as Springfield will host the event one more time).
After Siena won the MAAC tournament, and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, for three straight seasons in Albany, officials at the league's other schools wanted a neutral site that, theoretically, created an equal playing field in the quest for a trip to the NCAA's.
Who could blame them? An NCAA trip is worth plenty to teams that go there, particularly teams at this level. The resultant national-level publicity, the television exposure and the resultant increases both in alumni donations and admission applications are benefits schools can't otherwise secure.
To that, the response should be: Get better.
When Siena was on its three-year run of winning the MAAC tournament on its home court ... well, it also had the league's best team and almost assuredly would have also won the event no matter where it was played.
But, the desire remained for site neutrality. The cost was a crowd count of less than 30 percent of what Albany traditionally draws.
And, that wasn't exactly surprising. The tournament hasn't drawn well at any venue other than the Albany arena over the past two decades-plus.
The Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ., which hosted the tournament one season backed out a subsequent contract to host over fear of a substantial financial loss.
Buffalo, which hosted the event multiple times, but drew relatively small fan numbers despite the location of two MAAC schools (Canisius, Niagara) within 15 miles of its arena, no longer even bids to host the event.
The Bridgeport, Conn., arena has also served as a tournament host to low numbers. That venue did get involved in the bidding for upcoming tournaments, but lost out to Albany's proposal.
Springfield also made a proposal to continue as the event's host. And, the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., also submitted a proposal to host the event.
The MAAC, though, came to a quick decision, selecting the Albany facility for the three-year commitment, barely a week after that arena's proposal was submitted.
"We still have much bigger crowds than anywhere else that's hosted it before ... I think that had a lot to do with the decision," said Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber.
MAAC commissioner Rich Ensor cited Albany's strong tradition of hosting the tournament (15 times to date), a vibrant downtown area and the players' enjoyment of competing in front of larger crowds, as factors in the decision.
Ensor has said, on multiple occasions, that he understands the importance of having a crowd-generated and loud atmosphere at MAAC tournament games and has always been supportive of having the event in Albany.
The event is also seeking to hold on to its prime time spot on ESPN's television schedule, and games look a lot better on TV when there's a large, enthusiastic crowd on hand rather than the turnout of 1,493 that watched the tournament's championship game in Springfield this year.
And, then, there's the potential message that the upcoming arrangement might be making.
In the current state of league instability, with programs seemingly changing leagues so quickly, rumors have circulated that Siena might eventually leave the conference for the Atlantic 10.
School officials, though, claim there has been on contact between Siena and the A-10 and that any talk about Siena moving to that league is purely speculative.
Does the upcoming three-year commitment by the MAAC to hold its tournament in Albany mean that Siena will remain a conference member, at least for as long as the just-announced commitment to host the event?
That was the initial though, but it's not necessarily so. The MAAC's agreement with the Times Union Center includes an option to move to another venue with the tournament should Siena leave the league.
Still, it's one person's opinion that a Siena-to-the-A 10 move isn't likely to happen in the immediate future.
The cost of moving the school's entire athletic operation to that league would come at considerable expense, an expense Siena doesn't appear capable of making right now.
And, the A-10 includes more than a few large, public institutions (UMass, VCU, Rhode Island, Duquesne, among others), schools with considerably greater resources than smaller, private colleges like Siena.
The MAAC has always been an affiliation of schools and programs with similar resources and philosophies toward athletics. Siena has been a nice "fit" within that profile.
So, it makes one wonder if Siena would move to the A-10 where the proverbial "fit" doesn't seem quite as good.
There's no definitive answer, for now. But, the strong guess here is that a Siena move out of the MAAC isn't on the immediate horizon.
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