Here's another in the "Team Report" series taking a look back at the recently concluded season for conference teams and a crystal-ball look ahead at what might happen in the future.
Up now ...
QUINNIPIAC MEN
2013-14 RECORD: 14-6, tied for third in MAAC play; 20-12 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: A lot, and much of it unexpected from a team moving up from the Northeast Conference that was picked to finish seventh by MAAC coaches in their preseason prediction poll. But, the Bobcats showed the benefits of bringing trench warfare to the paint area. No conference team was more physical, and that had noticeable benefits, including an amazing per-game 11.8 edge in total rebounds. How good was that? Only good enough to lead the country by more than two per game. The second-best rebounding team nationally was Kentucky. Quinnipiac, not surprisingly, had the MAAC's top two rebounders in 6-foot-9 junior Ousmane Drame (13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds per game) and 6-7 senior Ike Aotam (16.2, 10.2). Azotam leaves as the program's all-time leading Division I rebounder with 1,043. And, Drame is already the program's leading shot-blocker (128) entering his senior season. But, they weren't alone in securing missed shots. Junior guard Zaid Hearst, at just 6-4, fit the play-hard mold as well as anyone in the league, and grabbed 6.6 rebounds per contest (while scoring 15.5). Even Evan Conti, mostly a reserve guard, chipped in at 3.9 rebounds per game. He also averaged 5.1 points, but improved as the year progressed and averaged 8.3 over the team's final 14 games. The Bobcats showed they belonged in the MAAC right away, even before league play with an impressive early non-conference victory over eventual NCAA Tournament team UAlbany. And, then, it got off to a 6-2 league start that included victories over Iona and Manhattan, the eventual top two finishers. It was more of the same after that with an 8-2 run (including a second victory over Manhattan) that pushed Q's record to 14-4 and in contention for a second-place finish before back-to-back regular-season losses came against Siena and Marist. Then came a nice quarterfinal-round win over Niagara in the MAAC Tournament before the magic against eventual MAAC tourney champ Manhattan finally ended. The Bobcats legitimately went nine deep with one of the league's deepest roster. Umar Shannon, a graduate-school transfer from St. Francis (14.3 ppg.) made significant contributions, as did senior Shaq Shannon (6.1, 3.6). And, 5-10 frosh point guard Kasim Chandler, looked to be one of the best young backcourt additions to the conference, and came up big at the end with a 14-point, 7 assist/1 turnover performance in the loss to Manhattan. The season was good enough for a national post-season tournament berth in the College Insiders.com Tournament (CIT)
WHAT WENT WRONG: Despite the depth, some injuries were a factor. Third-leading scorer Umar Shannon (14.3) suffered a late-season knee injury and did not play in the team's final four contests. Drame also had a slight knee issue, missed two late-season games and wasn't 100 percent for a few games after that. And, Chandler missed nine late-season games with an injury. Clearly that affected the Bobcats, who lost their final two regular-season contests to miss out on a chance to finish second in the final standings. Shannon's loss was a big one. And, while big and strong definitely worked there was a noticeable lack of quickness as evidenced by the team getting just 3.6 steals per game, the lowest average on the Division I level. Quinnipiac also lacked a veteran floor general. Chandler, the freshman who was best suited for the position, was an on-the-job trainee just finding his way before he missed nine games with injury. He led the team in assists with just 2.7 per contest. And, then, came the cruelest blow of all: a 69-68 heartbreaking loss to Yale in the first round of the CIT. Quinnipiac was holding a one-point lead with eight seconds left when Chandler was fouled and made one of two shots to push the advantage to 68-66. And, then, Yale sank a game-winning three-pointer with a second remaining to steal the victory.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Probably more good things, and more effective physical play despite the loss of the bruising Azotam. Both Shannons will also be gone, and all of that leaves a good sized hole up front and significant losses in the backcourt. Quinnipiac, though, should capably survive thanks to its depth from this past season. Drame, who combines strength and athleticism, is arguably the league's best returning big man, an all-but certain first-team all-preseason pick and could contend for Player of the Year honors. Chandler flashed his capabilities often enough to indicate he'll become one of the MAAC's better guards over the next three seasons and certainly ready to shoulder a bigger load right from the start of the upcoming season. And, Hearst is another first-team preseason candidate who is universally respected for his hard and effective playing style. That trio ranks with nearly any top three at any other league program. Conti's late-season success indicates he'll step into a bigger role. Freshman 6-8 forward A.J. Sumbry only played 9.1 minutes per game, but showed signs he can fit into the team's physical style of play. And, James Ford, a 6-4 sophomore sharpshooter, averaged 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in just 12 minutes per game and looks ready to step up, too. The team's top newcomer appears to be point guard Giovanni McLean, who originally committed to Oklahoma before there was some confusion over the interpretation of a Big 12 league rule regarding the number of consecutive semesters a player had to spend at a junior college before enrollment that would have made McLean ineligible there. But the rule in question is specific only to the Big 12 and doesn’t apply to the MAAC. McLean averaged 16.8 points and 7.4 assists per game last season at Westchester Community College, playing at the top JC level, and should be an immediate contributor.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: Considerable personnel losses, but more than enough coming back to expect another season not much different from the past one. Expect another 20 victories overall and a top-five finish in MAAC play. There doesn't appear to be a clear-cut front-runner yet for the 2014-15 season, and the Bobcats certainly appear to be in the upper group of four or five teams. Quinnipiac could easily contend for the regular-season title, particularly if McLean is as good as expected. The team will probably be predicted, in the preseason poll, for either third or fourth. Expect that, and maybe better.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Former Niagara Player Strobl's Book A Good Read
The book "Backspin," written by former Niagara basketball player Pete Strobl, is nearly as hard to locate as details about Strobl's own playing career.
But that doesn't mean either the 6-foot-8 player's career or his literary contribution isn't worth the search.
Strobl was a three-year reserve for the Purple Eagles in the late 1990's and, then, played nine professional seasons in a variety of overseas locales.
Strobl might not have been a star at Niagara, playing within the MAAC, but he embodies the goals of the league and its membership.
The MAAC is a league that still emphasizes the "student" portion of the student-athlete equation, and Strobl earned two degrees, including a masters degree in business, from Niagara.
There must have been some concentration on writing along the way, as well, as Strobl's first-person account of his love affair with basketball and his recollections of his days discovering a love for the sport through his playing days is well-done and enjoyable reading.
He was a roommate of former Niagara star Alvin Young, played for Purple Eagles' coaches Jack Armstrong and Joe Mihalich and played against some stiff competition within the MAAC.
All of that is well recounted and stirs the memories of anyone who followed the conference back then.
But, Strobl's descriptions of post-college life as a virtual professional basketball vagabond is what sets his book apart.
Strobl details the trials and tribulations of playing in foreign countries, of having to learn new languages and adjusting to new cultures, new teammates, different playing styles.
He makes it clear that playing professionally overseas isn't just about basketball. It's about an entire lifestyle adjustment.
It's one more than a few players from the MAAC attempt after their college days end, and not all of them do so successfully, usually for reasons beyond the court.
Strobl's book should be required reading for athletes at any level who desire to continue a playing career as a professional in a foreign country.
His book is available for Kindle and in a paperback version that can be ordered via Amazon.
These days Strobl is giving back as a Pittsburgh-area based instructor who not only helps develop on-the-court skills to younger players but lifestyle skills, as well.
In 2009 he founded "The Scoring Factory," a training facilities where young players with a strong work ethic learn to achieve their goals in a blue-collar atmosphere. He also offers private instruction and training.
Additionally, Strobl is the head basketball instructor for the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
Writes Strobl, for his Scoring Factory website (www.coachstrobl.com): "A long time ago, back when I was just another kid trying to touch a ten foot rim for the first time, someone told me that the key to happiness was to find a way to do something you really love. I mist have bought that story hook, line and sinker because I can't imagine anything better than seeing players improve their game, expand their educational opportunities and grow as responsible young adults."
It's mission Strobl appears to be striving for in his career as an instructor.
And, one for which his book indicates he is well-prepared for.
Strobl's own playing career in which he had to make considerable athletic and lifestyle changes to succeed is the perfect how-to primer for any young basketball player.
And, it's all there, to be read about in enjoyable fashion, in his well-done book "Backspin."
But that doesn't mean either the 6-foot-8 player's career or his literary contribution isn't worth the search.
Strobl was a three-year reserve for the Purple Eagles in the late 1990's and, then, played nine professional seasons in a variety of overseas locales.
Strobl might not have been a star at Niagara, playing within the MAAC, but he embodies the goals of the league and its membership.
The MAAC is a league that still emphasizes the "student" portion of the student-athlete equation, and Strobl earned two degrees, including a masters degree in business, from Niagara.
There must have been some concentration on writing along the way, as well, as Strobl's first-person account of his love affair with basketball and his recollections of his days discovering a love for the sport through his playing days is well-done and enjoyable reading.
He was a roommate of former Niagara star Alvin Young, played for Purple Eagles' coaches Jack Armstrong and Joe Mihalich and played against some stiff competition within the MAAC.
All of that is well recounted and stirs the memories of anyone who followed the conference back then.
But, Strobl's descriptions of post-college life as a virtual professional basketball vagabond is what sets his book apart.
Strobl details the trials and tribulations of playing in foreign countries, of having to learn new languages and adjusting to new cultures, new teammates, different playing styles.
He makes it clear that playing professionally overseas isn't just about basketball. It's about an entire lifestyle adjustment.
It's one more than a few players from the MAAC attempt after their college days end, and not all of them do so successfully, usually for reasons beyond the court.
Strobl's book should be required reading for athletes at any level who desire to continue a playing career as a professional in a foreign country.
His book is available for Kindle and in a paperback version that can be ordered via Amazon.
These days Strobl is giving back as a Pittsburgh-area based instructor who not only helps develop on-the-court skills to younger players but lifestyle skills, as well.
In 2009 he founded "The Scoring Factory," a training facilities where young players with a strong work ethic learn to achieve their goals in a blue-collar atmosphere. He also offers private instruction and training.
Additionally, Strobl is the head basketball instructor for the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.
Writes Strobl, for his Scoring Factory website (www.coachstrobl.com): "A long time ago, back when I was just another kid trying to touch a ten foot rim for the first time, someone told me that the key to happiness was to find a way to do something you really love. I mist have bought that story hook, line and sinker because I can't imagine anything better than seeing players improve their game, expand their educational opportunities and grow as responsible young adults."
It's mission Strobl appears to be striving for in his career as an instructor.
And, one for which his book indicates he is well-prepared for.
Strobl's own playing career in which he had to make considerable athletic and lifestyle changes to succeed is the perfect how-to primer for any young basketball player.
And, it's all there, to be read about in enjoyable fashion, in his well-done book "Backspin."
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Team Report: Fairfield Women Get Good Newcomers
Here's another in the "Team Report" series looking back at the just-concluded season with a crystal-ball look ahead for conference programs.
Up now ...
FAIRFIELD WOMEN
2013-14 RECORD: 15-5 in MAAC play, 3rd place; 22-11 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: A good deal to secure the fourth 20-victory season in the seven-year tenure of head coach Joe Frager. Included was the program's fourth trip to a national post-season tournament in the past five years when it played in the WBI (third time for that, once to the WNIT). Once there, it won two games to advance to the semifinal round before losing to Illinois-Chicago. But, it's first-round game in the event tested its resiliency. The Stags trailed by four against Bryant in that contest with 11 seconds remaining. Senior guard Alexys Vazquez then connected on a three-pointer with five seconds remaining before Bryant made two free throws to push its lead back to three. Vazquez then drained another trey at the buzzer to send the game into OT. Bryant led, again, by three late in the first OT before Brittany Obi-Tabot made a traditional three-pointer to set up the second OT where Fairfield grabbed control. There were some highs and lows along the way during the season, a relatively slow 7-4 start (two losses to Iona, one to Marist), followed by an impressive seven-game winning streak including a 72-68 victory over Marist. Then came a loss at Marist. Rider finished with a victory over Niagara, but lost in the opening round of the MAAC tournament. Katie Cizynski, a 6-2 senior, was a first-team all-MAAC pick (16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds per game), and she was at her best late, averaging 19.3 points in her last 12 contests. She also had 14 double-doubles on the season. Vazquez remained one of the best long-range shooters to ever play in the MAAC, making a school-record 94 three-pointers this season, a program record and 25th-most nationally. Obi-Tabot was solid (9.9, 6.3), 6-1 soph Kristin Shatzlein stepped up in a big way (9.7, 4.5) and Felicia DaCruz continued to develop into one of the better point guards in the conference (7.3, 2.7 and 5.4 assists). Her 3.31 assist-to-turnover ratio was fourth-best nationally, and it was a bit of an oversight that she didn't earn post-season all-star recognition. As a team, Fairfield continued to limit mistakes. Its 12.5 turnovers per contest was 16th-fewest nationally, and its 14.5 fouls committed per game was fourth fewest of all Division I teams.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Despite all the positives, the Stags couldn't have been happy with a 63-56 quarterfinal-round ouster in the MAAC tournament. But, that came against a decent Rider opponent when the Broncs' standout MyNeshia McKenzie had a huge 28-point, 16-rebound effort. Still, Fairfield led by 11 points with under nine minutes left when another Rider player, freshman guard Stephanie Mason, came off the bench to drain four-of-five three-pointers in the final nine minutes to help her team rally. As good as Fairfield was, it might have been better had promising 6-2 freshman center Samantha Cooper not suffered an early season injury. She only played in three games (2.3, 1.7). Her loss limited the team's depth. The starters were virtually an iron five, particularly DaCruz, who played 40 minutes or more in seven games.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Any team that loses its top three scorers (Cizynski, Vazquez and Obi-Tabot) is usually facing a fall-off, particularly when the only two reliable post players (Cizynski/Obi-Tabot) are among the departures. But, maybe not. Cooper should be 100 percent for 2014-15, and three other players who measure 6-0 or taller are coming in. One is 6-2 sophomore Casey Smith, a transfer from St. Joseph's who didn't play there (injury) as a freshman. She averaged 20 points/10 rebounds per game as a senior at nearby Danbury H.S. Another newcomer is 6-1 frosh Helena Orts from Spain, who looks capable (from video highlights) of providing some inside play as well as a perimeter game. Vazquez's role might be filled by another transfer, 5-6 junior Margeaux Dupuy from Marquette who didn't play much there but made 44 percent of her three-pointers as a high school senior. Schatzlein should step up even more and become one of the league's better snipers, while DaCruz is a tireless off-season worker and is likely to have a big senior season.. And, there's more height. 6-1 Krisine Miller (2.6, 2.1) and 6-0 Kelsey Carey (1.6, 1.2) should have stronger roles as sophomores in the coming season.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: Talent is coming in with the two transfers and, possibly, Orts, ready to immediately step in. And, Cooper's presence will help out, too. The Stags will certainly go deeper into the bench next season with quality. The team will have more than enough height, a superb point guard in DaCruz and long-range shooting from Schatzlein and Dupuy. It's all part of the formula that makes Frager's half-court, precision offense works so well. It should be another above-average season for Fairfield, which will probably be in the hunt for third place. And, if everything falls into place, might be able to challenge the likely preseason top two, Marist and Iona, in 2014-15.
Up now ...
FAIRFIELD WOMEN
2013-14 RECORD: 15-5 in MAAC play, 3rd place; 22-11 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: A good deal to secure the fourth 20-victory season in the seven-year tenure of head coach Joe Frager. Included was the program's fourth trip to a national post-season tournament in the past five years when it played in the WBI (third time for that, once to the WNIT). Once there, it won two games to advance to the semifinal round before losing to Illinois-Chicago. But, it's first-round game in the event tested its resiliency. The Stags trailed by four against Bryant in that contest with 11 seconds remaining. Senior guard Alexys Vazquez then connected on a three-pointer with five seconds remaining before Bryant made two free throws to push its lead back to three. Vazquez then drained another trey at the buzzer to send the game into OT. Bryant led, again, by three late in the first OT before Brittany Obi-Tabot made a traditional three-pointer to set up the second OT where Fairfield grabbed control. There were some highs and lows along the way during the season, a relatively slow 7-4 start (two losses to Iona, one to Marist), followed by an impressive seven-game winning streak including a 72-68 victory over Marist. Then came a loss at Marist. Rider finished with a victory over Niagara, but lost in the opening round of the MAAC tournament. Katie Cizynski, a 6-2 senior, was a first-team all-MAAC pick (16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds per game), and she was at her best late, averaging 19.3 points in her last 12 contests. She also had 14 double-doubles on the season. Vazquez remained one of the best long-range shooters to ever play in the MAAC, making a school-record 94 three-pointers this season, a program record and 25th-most nationally. Obi-Tabot was solid (9.9, 6.3), 6-1 soph Kristin Shatzlein stepped up in a big way (9.7, 4.5) and Felicia DaCruz continued to develop into one of the better point guards in the conference (7.3, 2.7 and 5.4 assists). Her 3.31 assist-to-turnover ratio was fourth-best nationally, and it was a bit of an oversight that she didn't earn post-season all-star recognition. As a team, Fairfield continued to limit mistakes. Its 12.5 turnovers per contest was 16th-fewest nationally, and its 14.5 fouls committed per game was fourth fewest of all Division I teams.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Despite all the positives, the Stags couldn't have been happy with a 63-56 quarterfinal-round ouster in the MAAC tournament. But, that came against a decent Rider opponent when the Broncs' standout MyNeshia McKenzie had a huge 28-point, 16-rebound effort. Still, Fairfield led by 11 points with under nine minutes left when another Rider player, freshman guard Stephanie Mason, came off the bench to drain four-of-five three-pointers in the final nine minutes to help her team rally. As good as Fairfield was, it might have been better had promising 6-2 freshman center Samantha Cooper not suffered an early season injury. She only played in three games (2.3, 1.7). Her loss limited the team's depth. The starters were virtually an iron five, particularly DaCruz, who played 40 minutes or more in seven games.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Any team that loses its top three scorers (Cizynski, Vazquez and Obi-Tabot) is usually facing a fall-off, particularly when the only two reliable post players (Cizynski/Obi-Tabot) are among the departures. But, maybe not. Cooper should be 100 percent for 2014-15, and three other players who measure 6-0 or taller are coming in. One is 6-2 sophomore Casey Smith, a transfer from St. Joseph's who didn't play there (injury) as a freshman. She averaged 20 points/10 rebounds per game as a senior at nearby Danbury H.S. Another newcomer is 6-1 frosh Helena Orts from Spain, who looks capable (from video highlights) of providing some inside play as well as a perimeter game. Vazquez's role might be filled by another transfer, 5-6 junior Margeaux Dupuy from Marquette who didn't play much there but made 44 percent of her three-pointers as a high school senior. Schatzlein should step up even more and become one of the league's better snipers, while DaCruz is a tireless off-season worker and is likely to have a big senior season.. And, there's more height. 6-1 Krisine Miller (2.6, 2.1) and 6-0 Kelsey Carey (1.6, 1.2) should have stronger roles as sophomores in the coming season.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: Talent is coming in with the two transfers and, possibly, Orts, ready to immediately step in. And, Cooper's presence will help out, too. The Stags will certainly go deeper into the bench next season with quality. The team will have more than enough height, a superb point guard in DaCruz and long-range shooting from Schatzlein and Dupuy. It's all part of the formula that makes Frager's half-court, precision offense works so well. It should be another above-average season for Fairfield, which will probably be in the hunt for third place. And, if everything falls into place, might be able to challenge the likely preseason top two, Marist and Iona, in 2014-15.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Billy Harrell Dies, Was Best To Ever Play at Siena
Billy Harrell never played in a MAAC game, but he was an athletic legend in New York's Capital Region, in no small part because of his playing days at Siena College.
In fact, he was an exceptional two-sport athlete starting in the 1940's and beyond. He has been universally acknowledged as the greatest basketball player to wear a Siena uniform and, then, went on to a 15-year baseball career.
Most of his baseball days were in the minor leagues, but he spent parts of four seasons in the majors, including some time with the Boston Red Sox in 1961 as a teammate of a rookie named Carl Yastrzemski.
Harrell, 85, died Tuesday morning.
A long-time resident of Troy, N.Y., he was inducted this past March to the MAAC's Basketball Hall of Fame's Honor Roll, an honor recognizing not only outstanding athletic achievement but success in life beyond college.
While at Siena his teams had a 70-19 record. He led the 1949-50 team to the very prestigious National Catholic Invitational Tournament championship, the program's only national post-season tournament title before this year's CBI event, for which Harrell was in attendance.
In that year he averaged 12.1 rebounds per game, a single-season school record that stood for 60 years. Not bad for a player who stood all of 6-foot-1.
Those who don't live in upstate New York might not recognize his name. After all, his college playing days were more than 60 years ago and his time at baseball's major-league level was relatively limited.
But those familiar with Harrell know he is the best athlete ever produced in New York's Capital Region.
Your scribe wrote a column about Harrell that appeared in today's Troy Record Newspaper.
Here it is: http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20140506/on-the-record-harrell-was-one-of-a-kind
In fact, he was an exceptional two-sport athlete starting in the 1940's and beyond. He has been universally acknowledged as the greatest basketball player to wear a Siena uniform and, then, went on to a 15-year baseball career.
Most of his baseball days were in the minor leagues, but he spent parts of four seasons in the majors, including some time with the Boston Red Sox in 1961 as a teammate of a rookie named Carl Yastrzemski.
Harrell, 85, died Tuesday morning.
A long-time resident of Troy, N.Y., he was inducted this past March to the MAAC's Basketball Hall of Fame's Honor Roll, an honor recognizing not only outstanding athletic achievement but success in life beyond college.
While at Siena his teams had a 70-19 record. He led the 1949-50 team to the very prestigious National Catholic Invitational Tournament championship, the program's only national post-season tournament title before this year's CBI event, for which Harrell was in attendance.
In that year he averaged 12.1 rebounds per game, a single-season school record that stood for 60 years. Not bad for a player who stood all of 6-foot-1.
Those who don't live in upstate New York might not recognize his name. After all, his college playing days were more than 60 years ago and his time at baseball's major-league level was relatively limited.
But those familiar with Harrell know he is the best athlete ever produced in New York's Capital Region.
Your scribe wrote a column about Harrell that appeared in today's Troy Record Newspaper.
Here it is: http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20140506/on-the-record-harrell-was-one-of-a-kind
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Former Marist Ass't Romano In Line For RIC Top Spot
MAAC basketball followers might know Mike Romano from his two seasons as a "graduate manager" (2010-11, 2011-12) on the Marist men's basketball staff.
If you know Romano at all, you know he wasn't born with basketball's version of a silver spoon.
He graduated from Division III Western Connecticut State University where he came to realize he wanted a career as a basketball coach.
He wanted it so bad that he began paying his proverbial dues as an assistant boys' basketball coach at Webetuck H.S. for three seasons. He moved from there to be a volunteer assistant at Dutchess County Community College, followed by another season as an assistant at Western Connecticut.
From there, he moved to his Marist position, basically that program's director of basketball operations.
That was, basically, seven years of virtual poverty-level salaries learning the profession, honing his skills and waiting for an opportunity for something better.
Something better happened two years ago when he was hired as a full-time assistant at Rhode Island College, a Division III program in Providence, under well-regarded head coach Bob Walsh.
And, now, something even better might happen for the personable Romano.
RIC's Walsh has reportedly accepted another job. A variety of sources are reporting that he will be introduced on Monday as the new head coach at Division I UMaine.
RIC finished with records of 26-4 and 20-9 in the past two seasons with Romano on the staff. This past season's team won the Little East's post-season tournament and a trip to the Division III NCAA event. Its top scorer was a freshman guard who Romano helped recruit.
Romano, now, is interested in replacing Walsh as RIC's coach, and should not only be a leading candidate, but THE leading candidate.
He has earned that status through hard work, dedication, determination and perseverance.
In a sense, he is like the back-up catcher in baseball. Not a star, but someone who had to work hard to learn the intricacies of their chosen sport.
Those types traditionally make the best managers/coaches. And, Romano fits that mold.
We can attest to Romano's positive characteristics from first-hand experience.
Your Hoopscribe, for the past six years, has been the coordinator of the staff that watches the annual AAU GymRat tournament in the Albany, N.Y., area. That staff evaluates players and selects the event's all-star teams.
Romano has been on that staff for the past five years, and is considered one of, if not THE, strongest evaluator at the event each year. He has shown himself to be not only a tireless worker, but an extremely personable sideline observer who interacts so well with coaches and players that they look forward to seeing him each year.
We have no doubt that those traits are inherent in everything he does as a basketball coach, one who has more than paid his dues to be ready for this potential opportunity.
Romano, surely, could move to Maine with Walsh if he desired. And, by the way, Walsh also has MAAC connections. He was on the Iona staff for two seasons as an administrative assistant (1994-96) under then-head coach Tim Welsh.
But, Romano professes to be a "Division III" guy, who would rather have the opportunity to run his own program.
The very strong guess is that if Romano does get promoted at RIC, he would be there for many years.
It's not unusual for former MAAC connections to take over sub-Division I programs and remain in place for a considerable length of time.
Two that come immediately to mind involve former Siena coaches. Steve Evans, at Siena for two seasons with Paul Hewitt, has been a successful head coach at D-II Le Moyne for the past 14 seasons.
And, Brad McAlister, who was on Mike Deane's staff at Siena for several years, has been the head coach at Division III Lebanon Valley College for 20 years and is that program's all-time winningest coach.
It's not hard to envision Romano having similar success and longevity if afforded the opportunity.
For sure, it's one he deserves and has worked hard at to be in position for consideration.
If you know Romano at all, you know he wasn't born with basketball's version of a silver spoon.
He graduated from Division III Western Connecticut State University where he came to realize he wanted a career as a basketball coach.
He wanted it so bad that he began paying his proverbial dues as an assistant boys' basketball coach at Webetuck H.S. for three seasons. He moved from there to be a volunteer assistant at Dutchess County Community College, followed by another season as an assistant at Western Connecticut.
From there, he moved to his Marist position, basically that program's director of basketball operations.
That was, basically, seven years of virtual poverty-level salaries learning the profession, honing his skills and waiting for an opportunity for something better.
Something better happened two years ago when he was hired as a full-time assistant at Rhode Island College, a Division III program in Providence, under well-regarded head coach Bob Walsh.
And, now, something even better might happen for the personable Romano.
RIC's Walsh has reportedly accepted another job. A variety of sources are reporting that he will be introduced on Monday as the new head coach at Division I UMaine.
RIC finished with records of 26-4 and 20-9 in the past two seasons with Romano on the staff. This past season's team won the Little East's post-season tournament and a trip to the Division III NCAA event. Its top scorer was a freshman guard who Romano helped recruit.
Romano, now, is interested in replacing Walsh as RIC's coach, and should not only be a leading candidate, but THE leading candidate.
He has earned that status through hard work, dedication, determination and perseverance.
In a sense, he is like the back-up catcher in baseball. Not a star, but someone who had to work hard to learn the intricacies of their chosen sport.
Those types traditionally make the best managers/coaches. And, Romano fits that mold.
We can attest to Romano's positive characteristics from first-hand experience.
Your Hoopscribe, for the past six years, has been the coordinator of the staff that watches the annual AAU GymRat tournament in the Albany, N.Y., area. That staff evaluates players and selects the event's all-star teams.
Romano has been on that staff for the past five years, and is considered one of, if not THE, strongest evaluator at the event each year. He has shown himself to be not only a tireless worker, but an extremely personable sideline observer who interacts so well with coaches and players that they look forward to seeing him each year.
We have no doubt that those traits are inherent in everything he does as a basketball coach, one who has more than paid his dues to be ready for this potential opportunity.
Romano, surely, could move to Maine with Walsh if he desired. And, by the way, Walsh also has MAAC connections. He was on the Iona staff for two seasons as an administrative assistant (1994-96) under then-head coach Tim Welsh.
But, Romano professes to be a "Division III" guy, who would rather have the opportunity to run his own program.
The very strong guess is that if Romano does get promoted at RIC, he would be there for many years.
It's not unusual for former MAAC connections to take over sub-Division I programs and remain in place for a considerable length of time.
Two that come immediately to mind involve former Siena coaches. Steve Evans, at Siena for two seasons with Paul Hewitt, has been a successful head coach at D-II Le Moyne for the past 14 seasons.
And, Brad McAlister, who was on Mike Deane's staff at Siena for several years, has been the head coach at Division III Lebanon Valley College for 20 years and is that program's all-time winningest coach.
It's not hard to envision Romano having similar success and longevity if afforded the opportunity.
For sure, it's one he deserves and has worked hard at to be in position for consideration.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Team Report: Fairfield Men Could Rebuild Quickly
Here's another in the "Team Report" series, taking a look back at the recently concluded season and a crystal-ball look at what might be ahead.
Up now ...
FAIRFIELD MEN
2013-14 RECORD: 4-16 in MAAC play, 10th place; 7-25 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: One has to look to some individual improvement for any real positive in such a year of struggle. That and, it seems, a necessary "attitude adjustment" that saw two players suspended for what was called a lack of basketball focus and commitment, according to head coach Sydney Johnson. Whether that turns into a positive for the future won't be fully known until the coming season. But, clearly Johnson didn't like what he was seeing from some players and acted to separate them from his program. Individually, departing senior forward Maurice Barrow (14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds) continued his career-long solid play and was named the conference's Sixth Man of the Year winner. Sophomore forward Marcus Gilbert also continued to improve (13.9, 5.1), and was among the better young players in the league. And, freshman point guard K.J. Rose provided more than a glimmer of hope for the future (8.0, 3.4, 3.7 assists). Malcolm Gilbert, a 6-11 sophomore transfer center (from Pitt) had a huge 8-block/11-rebound game vs. Sacred Heart early in the season and, then, looked to have considerable rust in his game thereafter. The eye test, though, indicated that the Stags who were on the court continued to play hard in a snake-bitten season, one that saw the team win its first game and, then, lose eight straight. It had three losing streaks of at least five games, all of which could demoralize some squads. Amid all of that, though, was a mid-season victory over NCAA Tournament-bound Manhattan. And, the Stags finished out regular season relatively strong, winning two of their last four games before a heart-breaking 65-62 loss to Saint Peter's in the play-in round of the MAAC Tournament.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Start with the "commitment" issues that saw Johnson dismiss Seton Hall transfer Sean Grennan and freshman Lincoln Davis from the team at midseason. Subsequently Davis has transferred out as has sophomore guard Justin Jenkins, who started 14 games this past season. And, Fairfield had severe backcourt issues even before all of that with just one scholarship guard (Jenkins) who had played for the Stags prior to the season. Grennan, a big-time high school scorer who had health issues at Seton Hall, was supposed to provide a big boost but provided very little. Overall, Fairfield had the 31st youngest team nationally, but two other MAAC teams had more success (Siena and Monmouth) with even less overall experience. Only 27 of 343 Division I teams nationally committed more turnovers, indicative of the team's backcourt woes. Only nine teams nationally had a worse shooting percentage than Fairfield's 39.8 percent from the floor. Sophomore forward Amadou Sidibe, expected to be a rock in the middle after a strong frosh season, battled knee tendinitis all season and wasn't anywhere near his best. Malcolm Gilbert's play never matched his potential. As bad as things were, Fairfield wasn't that far away from being better. Six of its MAAC losses came by four points or less. And, snake-bit? Saint Peter's seemingly had some voodoo hex over the Stags. Fairfield lost both regular-season games to the Peacocks by a single point, and also lost to Saint Peter's by three in overtime in the MAAC tournament. And, in all three games Peacocks' guard Desi Washington drained a game-winning three-point shot in the closing seconds, all three from virtually the same spot on the court. It all added up to the worst winning percentage since program moved to the Division I level in the 1964-65 season.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Things couldn't get any worse, and there is reason to believe there's a turnaround coming in the not-so-distant future. Johnson is a no-nonsense coach, one who was willing to weed out the attitude problems of this past season. So, expect that situation to be solved. He'll have a core group of Marcus Gilbert, Rose, Sidibe and Malcolm Gilbert to work with. If Malcolm Gilbert can shake off the rust, he's an athletic 6-11 shot-blocker that could really help.Both Doug Chappell, a 6-2 rising junior (4.2, 1.6) and Coleman Johnson, a 6-6 rising junior (5.6, 4.5) look like they can help out next season. It's rare that freshmen make significant impacts, but there does appear to be a pretty strong group coming in, led by 6-foot-8 forward Kevin Degnan and 5-10 off-guard Damarcus Threatt, who averaged 20.6 ppg. at the junior college level last season. Two other guards, 6-0 Tyler Nelson and 5-10 Jerome Segura, will also come in as freshmen while 6-9 forward Ami Lakoja is yet another incoming first-year player. The Stags will still be young, likely without a senior in the starting lineup, but they should be better this coming season and a lot better beyond that.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: The Stags won't be the worst team in the MAAC in 2014-15, but that's not saying much for a proud program that had three-straight 20-victory seasons not long ago (2009-10 through 2011-12). Fairfield certainly won't approach 20 victories this season, but it will likely get into the double-digits for overall wins and could contend to finish in the seventh/eighth-place range.
Up now ...
FAIRFIELD MEN
2013-14 RECORD: 4-16 in MAAC play, 10th place; 7-25 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: One has to look to some individual improvement for any real positive in such a year of struggle. That and, it seems, a necessary "attitude adjustment" that saw two players suspended for what was called a lack of basketball focus and commitment, according to head coach Sydney Johnson. Whether that turns into a positive for the future won't be fully known until the coming season. But, clearly Johnson didn't like what he was seeing from some players and acted to separate them from his program. Individually, departing senior forward Maurice Barrow (14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds) continued his career-long solid play and was named the conference's Sixth Man of the Year winner. Sophomore forward Marcus Gilbert also continued to improve (13.9, 5.1), and was among the better young players in the league. And, freshman point guard K.J. Rose provided more than a glimmer of hope for the future (8.0, 3.4, 3.7 assists). Malcolm Gilbert, a 6-11 sophomore transfer center (from Pitt) had a huge 8-block/11-rebound game vs. Sacred Heart early in the season and, then, looked to have considerable rust in his game thereafter. The eye test, though, indicated that the Stags who were on the court continued to play hard in a snake-bitten season, one that saw the team win its first game and, then, lose eight straight. It had three losing streaks of at least five games, all of which could demoralize some squads. Amid all of that, though, was a mid-season victory over NCAA Tournament-bound Manhattan. And, the Stags finished out regular season relatively strong, winning two of their last four games before a heart-breaking 65-62 loss to Saint Peter's in the play-in round of the MAAC Tournament.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Start with the "commitment" issues that saw Johnson dismiss Seton Hall transfer Sean Grennan and freshman Lincoln Davis from the team at midseason. Subsequently Davis has transferred out as has sophomore guard Justin Jenkins, who started 14 games this past season. And, Fairfield had severe backcourt issues even before all of that with just one scholarship guard (Jenkins) who had played for the Stags prior to the season. Grennan, a big-time high school scorer who had health issues at Seton Hall, was supposed to provide a big boost but provided very little. Overall, Fairfield had the 31st youngest team nationally, but two other MAAC teams had more success (Siena and Monmouth) with even less overall experience. Only 27 of 343 Division I teams nationally committed more turnovers, indicative of the team's backcourt woes. Only nine teams nationally had a worse shooting percentage than Fairfield's 39.8 percent from the floor. Sophomore forward Amadou Sidibe, expected to be a rock in the middle after a strong frosh season, battled knee tendinitis all season and wasn't anywhere near his best. Malcolm Gilbert's play never matched his potential. As bad as things were, Fairfield wasn't that far away from being better. Six of its MAAC losses came by four points or less. And, snake-bit? Saint Peter's seemingly had some voodoo hex over the Stags. Fairfield lost both regular-season games to the Peacocks by a single point, and also lost to Saint Peter's by three in overtime in the MAAC tournament. And, in all three games Peacocks' guard Desi Washington drained a game-winning three-point shot in the closing seconds, all three from virtually the same spot on the court. It all added up to the worst winning percentage since program moved to the Division I level in the 1964-65 season.
WHAT'S AHEAD: Things couldn't get any worse, and there is reason to believe there's a turnaround coming in the not-so-distant future. Johnson is a no-nonsense coach, one who was willing to weed out the attitude problems of this past season. So, expect that situation to be solved. He'll have a core group of Marcus Gilbert, Rose, Sidibe and Malcolm Gilbert to work with. If Malcolm Gilbert can shake off the rust, he's an athletic 6-11 shot-blocker that could really help.Both Doug Chappell, a 6-2 rising junior (4.2, 1.6) and Coleman Johnson, a 6-6 rising junior (5.6, 4.5) look like they can help out next season. It's rare that freshmen make significant impacts, but there does appear to be a pretty strong group coming in, led by 6-foot-8 forward Kevin Degnan and 5-10 off-guard Damarcus Threatt, who averaged 20.6 ppg. at the junior college level last season. Two other guards, 6-0 Tyler Nelson and 5-10 Jerome Segura, will also come in as freshmen while 6-9 forward Ami Lakoja is yet another incoming first-year player. The Stags will still be young, likely without a senior in the starting lineup, but they should be better this coming season and a lot better beyond that.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: The Stags won't be the worst team in the MAAC in 2014-15, but that's not saying much for a proud program that had three-straight 20-victory seasons not long ago (2009-10 through 2011-12). Fairfield certainly won't approach 20 victories this season, but it will likely get into the double-digits for overall wins and could contend to finish in the seventh/eighth-place range.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Team Report: Marist Women To Chase Another Title
Here's another in the "Team Report" series taking a look back at the just-concluded season and a crystal-ball look at what might be ahead for conference programs.
Up now ...
MARIST WOMEN
2013-14 RECORD: 18-2 in MAAC play, tied for first place; 27-7 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Plenty in a season that did contain some minor disappointments. But, just how disappointing can things have been (see below) when the team shared first place (11 straight seasons and counting of outright or shared regular-season titles), and won the MAAC's post-season tournament for its ninth straight trip to the NCAA event? Overall, the team's victory total marked the eighth straight season of at least 26 wins and 11th in a row of at least 20. Just about every other MAAC program would be happy to string, maybe, two or three 20-victory seasons in a row. Some would be overjoyed to get just one of those. The very obvious common denominator is Brian Giorgis, who long ago proved himself to be not only the best coach the MAAC has ever had (and, we're considering men's coaches, too), but one of the best anywhere at any level. His career .779 winning percentage in his 12 years in Poughkeepsie (306-87) is fourth-best among active Division I coaches. Only Geno Auriemma of UConn, Tara VanDerveer of Stanford and Kim Mulkey of Baylor have better ones ... Individually, there wasn't a real Player of the Year-caliber standout, although senior forward Emma O'Connor was a first-team all-MAAC selection. Instead, there were very solid parts, and this past season might have been one of Giorgis' best coaching jobs as he had an unusually balanced team ... All five starters averaged double figures ... Marist's success came through its usual methods, by minimizing mistakes. The team had the 10th-best field goal percentage (46.7) nationally, ranked 12th nationally (37.2 percent) in 3-point accuracy, committed the third-fewest amount of fouls (13.6 per game), had the 13th-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29) nationally and, almost as always, led the MAAC for fewest points allowed (60.1). Sophomore perimeter players Madeline Blaise (12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds) and Sydney Coffey (11.5, 3.4) both made significant strides off of their respective frosh seasons. Leanne Ockenden contributed more offensively (11.6, 4.6) this past season while capturing her second straight Defensive Player of the Year award; and, point guard Casey Dulin (10.8, 4.3, 4.8 assists) completed the balanced starting five. Tori Jarocz, the 6-3 transfer from Vanderbilt, came back quicker than expected from an off-season Achilles tendon injury to contribute (7.5, 3.7) as she played herself back into shape and improved as the season progressed. For a good portion of the year, freshmen forward Kat Fogarty and guard Brittini Lai were the team's top reserves and each showed promise for the future. Natalie Martinez-Gomez (66 assists vs. 39 turnovers) was also a valued reserve. Team-wise, Marist earned its first-ever homecourt victory over a ranked opponent, upsetting then-No. 20 ranked Oklahoma, 76-69. There was also a nice victory over perennial mid-major level power Bowling Green. There was also a nice "revenge" victory over Iona, which gave Marist its first conference loss of the season on a buzzer-beater by guard Damika Martinez. When the teams met again late in the season, Marist dominated with a 79-67 victory that wasn't even as close as the final score. And, finally, there was an impressive come-from-behind victory vs. Quinnipiac in the MAAC tournament's championship game in which Marist rallied from a 17-point deficit late in the first half to get the victory and yet another trip to the NCAA's.
WHAT WENT WRONG: It almost takes a magnifying glass to annually find anything to pick on about a Marist season, but there were some disappointments. There was a 1-4 non-league start, but the team's non-league schedule was the third most-difficult nationally. After that came 10 straight losses before another loss, this one to Iona in Poughkeepsie. It was the first conference loss for Marist after 36 straight victories, and it also ended a 42-game homecourt winning streak. And, there was another regular-season loss, a four-pointer to Fairfield. It's all relative, of course. Marist's two MAAC setbacks came by a combined total of six points. And, what program anywhere wouldn't be happy going through an entire season of league play with just two losses? But, after a 53-1 record in MAAC regular-season competition over the previous three seasons, a two-loss season became noteworthy to some extent ... Some of the team's early woes were related to injury. Dulin missed several games early with a foot injury, and Jarocz missed 14 early games recovering from her injury. Those personnel issues left the team relying more on freshmen Fogarty and Lai, something unusual for a coach who prefers to limit the playing time of first-year team members to help ease their transition to his system ... Jarocz was never truly at 100 percent, and Dulin had another setback at midseason when she suffered a broken nose that limited her effectiveness for several games. And, then, there was a tough draw in the NCAA tournament when Marist had to play Iowa on the Hawkeyes' home court. The Red Foxes suffered an 87-65 defeat.
WHAT'S AHEAD: More of the same type success, and more competition from Iona, which has the return of arguably the conference's two best players. Marist loses three key seniors (O'Conner, Ockenden and Dulin), probably its top three players from this past season, and teams rarely survive that type of personnel loss without some slippage. But, Marist might be the exception. Blais and Coffey, both rising juniors, will surely be a dynamic one-two offensive punch for the next two seasons. The point guard spot looks to be in good-enough hands between Lai, Marinez-Gomez and, maybe, incoming freshman Allie Clement, Maine's high school Player of the Year this past season. Rising sophomore Sydnie Rosalies, who only played 10 games after recovering from preseason shoulder surgery, could be another valuable perimeter player. If Jarocz can get close to 100 percent by next season, she would be the dominating post player Marist hasn't had in some time. And, Fogarty is likely to make the progression most in the program make entering their sophomore year.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: For the first time in many years, Marist might not be the preseason favorite. But, at worst, it's the co-favorite with Iona. If Jarocz and/or Fogarty step up the inside play from a year ago, then Marist will indeed be the prime contender for another regular-season title. The Red Foxes certainly are one of next season's top two teams in the MAAC. And, considering how defense usually wins championships, Marist will probably be the favorite, come post-season tournament time, to earn another trip to the NCAA's.
Up now ...
MARIST WOMEN
2013-14 RECORD: 18-2 in MAAC play, tied for first place; 27-7 overall.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Plenty in a season that did contain some minor disappointments. But, just how disappointing can things have been (see below) when the team shared first place (11 straight seasons and counting of outright or shared regular-season titles), and won the MAAC's post-season tournament for its ninth straight trip to the NCAA event? Overall, the team's victory total marked the eighth straight season of at least 26 wins and 11th in a row of at least 20. Just about every other MAAC program would be happy to string, maybe, two or three 20-victory seasons in a row. Some would be overjoyed to get just one of those. The very obvious common denominator is Brian Giorgis, who long ago proved himself to be not only the best coach the MAAC has ever had (and, we're considering men's coaches, too), but one of the best anywhere at any level. His career .779 winning percentage in his 12 years in Poughkeepsie (306-87) is fourth-best among active Division I coaches. Only Geno Auriemma of UConn, Tara VanDerveer of Stanford and Kim Mulkey of Baylor have better ones ... Individually, there wasn't a real Player of the Year-caliber standout, although senior forward Emma O'Connor was a first-team all-MAAC selection. Instead, there were very solid parts, and this past season might have been one of Giorgis' best coaching jobs as he had an unusually balanced team ... All five starters averaged double figures ... Marist's success came through its usual methods, by minimizing mistakes. The team had the 10th-best field goal percentage (46.7) nationally, ranked 12th nationally (37.2 percent) in 3-point accuracy, committed the third-fewest amount of fouls (13.6 per game), had the 13th-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29) nationally and, almost as always, led the MAAC for fewest points allowed (60.1). Sophomore perimeter players Madeline Blaise (12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds) and Sydney Coffey (11.5, 3.4) both made significant strides off of their respective frosh seasons. Leanne Ockenden contributed more offensively (11.6, 4.6) this past season while capturing her second straight Defensive Player of the Year award; and, point guard Casey Dulin (10.8, 4.3, 4.8 assists) completed the balanced starting five. Tori Jarocz, the 6-3 transfer from Vanderbilt, came back quicker than expected from an off-season Achilles tendon injury to contribute (7.5, 3.7) as she played herself back into shape and improved as the season progressed. For a good portion of the year, freshmen forward Kat Fogarty and guard Brittini Lai were the team's top reserves and each showed promise for the future. Natalie Martinez-Gomez (66 assists vs. 39 turnovers) was also a valued reserve. Team-wise, Marist earned its first-ever homecourt victory over a ranked opponent, upsetting then-No. 20 ranked Oklahoma, 76-69. There was also a nice victory over perennial mid-major level power Bowling Green. There was also a nice "revenge" victory over Iona, which gave Marist its first conference loss of the season on a buzzer-beater by guard Damika Martinez. When the teams met again late in the season, Marist dominated with a 79-67 victory that wasn't even as close as the final score. And, finally, there was an impressive come-from-behind victory vs. Quinnipiac in the MAAC tournament's championship game in which Marist rallied from a 17-point deficit late in the first half to get the victory and yet another trip to the NCAA's.
WHAT WENT WRONG: It almost takes a magnifying glass to annually find anything to pick on about a Marist season, but there were some disappointments. There was a 1-4 non-league start, but the team's non-league schedule was the third most-difficult nationally. After that came 10 straight losses before another loss, this one to Iona in Poughkeepsie. It was the first conference loss for Marist after 36 straight victories, and it also ended a 42-game homecourt winning streak. And, there was another regular-season loss, a four-pointer to Fairfield. It's all relative, of course. Marist's two MAAC setbacks came by a combined total of six points. And, what program anywhere wouldn't be happy going through an entire season of league play with just two losses? But, after a 53-1 record in MAAC regular-season competition over the previous three seasons, a two-loss season became noteworthy to some extent ... Some of the team's early woes were related to injury. Dulin missed several games early with a foot injury, and Jarocz missed 14 early games recovering from her injury. Those personnel issues left the team relying more on freshmen Fogarty and Lai, something unusual for a coach who prefers to limit the playing time of first-year team members to help ease their transition to his system ... Jarocz was never truly at 100 percent, and Dulin had another setback at midseason when she suffered a broken nose that limited her effectiveness for several games. And, then, there was a tough draw in the NCAA tournament when Marist had to play Iowa on the Hawkeyes' home court. The Red Foxes suffered an 87-65 defeat.
WHAT'S AHEAD: More of the same type success, and more competition from Iona, which has the return of arguably the conference's two best players. Marist loses three key seniors (O'Conner, Ockenden and Dulin), probably its top three players from this past season, and teams rarely survive that type of personnel loss without some slippage. But, Marist might be the exception. Blais and Coffey, both rising juniors, will surely be a dynamic one-two offensive punch for the next two seasons. The point guard spot looks to be in good-enough hands between Lai, Marinez-Gomez and, maybe, incoming freshman Allie Clement, Maine's high school Player of the Year this past season. Rising sophomore Sydnie Rosalies, who only played 10 games after recovering from preseason shoulder surgery, could be another valuable perimeter player. If Jarocz can get close to 100 percent by next season, she would be the dominating post player Marist hasn't had in some time. And, Fogarty is likely to make the progression most in the program make entering their sophomore year.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: For the first time in many years, Marist might not be the preseason favorite. But, at worst, it's the co-favorite with Iona. If Jarocz and/or Fogarty step up the inside play from a year ago, then Marist will indeed be the prime contender for another regular-season title. The Red Foxes certainly are one of next season's top two teams in the MAAC. And, considering how defense usually wins championships, Marist will probably be the favorite, come post-season tournament time, to earn another trip to the NCAA's.
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