The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and ESPN have announced the already decided schedule of games involving MAAC teams that will be televised over the sports network during the upcoming season.
There will be some other games to receive national exposure via ESPN, but those are still to be determined.
Among the highlights is that the 2011 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship Game, scheduled for Monday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m., will be broadcast nationally for the first time on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. The men’s championship game will also be played on Monday at 7:00 p.m., and will air on either ESPN or ESPN2. The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn. will host the 2011 MAAC Basketball Championships from March 3-7.
Seven regular season men's basketball games will also air on ESPNU, a multimedia college sports brand highlighted by a 24-hour television network that launched March 4, 2005.
The conference's network TV schedule begins on Friday, January 7, as Niagara hosts Rider for a 9:00 p.m. matchup at the Gallagher Center. On Friday, January 21, Siena will take on host Saint Peter’s at 9:00 p.m. at the Yanitelli Center. Fairfield will host Iona on Friday, February 4 at 9:00 p.m. at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
Additionally, a wildcard game will air on ESPN2, along with a second game on ESPNU, on Friday, February 25 that will be selected in late January. Games scheduled that day are Manhattan at Canisius, Siena at Fairfield, Iona at Saint Peter’s, Loyola at Niagara and Rider at Marist.
ESPNU will broadcast three men’s and women’s basketball doubleheaders this season. On Friday, January 14, Loyola hosts Fairfield for a true twin bill, as the women’s programs play at 4:30 p.m., followed by the men’s teams at 7:00 p.m.
On Friday, January 28, the Canisius women will host the Manhattan Jaspers at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Griffs against the Niagara men at 7:00 p.m. Iona College’s Hynes Athletics Center is the locale for the final ESPNU doubleheader on Friday, February 11. The first game will feature the Gaels’ women’s program versus Marist, the defending champion, at 4:30 p.m., and then Iona men versus Siena, last year’s MAAC champion, at 7:00 p.m.
Furthermore, MAAC teams will be in television action all season long during non-conference play. Highlighting the list of those matchups is the opening round of the Old Spice Classic, as Manhattan takes on the University of Wisconsin for a 2:00 p.m. game live on ESPN2. Several other local, regional and/or national games are currently being finalized for both conference and non-conference games.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
A Look at Fairfield's Non-League Schedule
Here's another installment in the series looking at non-league schedules of conference teams.
Up now, Fairfield ...
The Stags will play home games in the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn., on Nov. 23 (St. Joseph's), Dec. 7 (Howard) and Dec. 20 (Vermont), will host a BracketBusters' game on Feb. 19, and are looking to fill one more home date.
Fairfield will play on the road on Nov. 13 (at Sacred Heart), Nov. 15 (at Rutgers), Nov. 19 (at Penn State), Nov. 26 (vs. Norfolk State at the Palestra in Philadelphia), Dec. 2 (at Savannah State), Dec. 12 (at Holy Cross) and Dec. 29 (at Florida).
Here's a game-by-game look at Fairfield's non-conference opponents:
- Sacred Heart: Picked for 10th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 14-15 last season. Best player: Senior point guard Jerrell Thompson (4.6 assists per game), 6-9 senior center Mehmet Sahan (4.3 rebounds). Coach Dave Bike is entering his 33rd season at the school, but the team's top four scorers from last season graduated.
- Rutgers: Picked for 14th in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 15-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (11.8 points). The Scarlet Knights have never had a winning conference record in 15 seasons in the Big East.
- Penn State: Picked for 7th in the 11-team Big Ten Conference. Finished 11-20 last season. Best player: 6-0 senior guard Talor Battle (18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists). Battle should join 1950s-era player Jesse Arnelle as the program's only players to lead the Nittany Lions in scoring for four straight seasons.
- St. Joseph's: Picked for 10th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 11-20 last season. Best player: 6-7 junior forward Idris Hilliard (11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds).
- Norfolk State: Picked for 2nd in the 11-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Finished 11-19 last season. Best player: guard Rob Hampton (12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds), center Kyle Quinn (11.5, 8.6).
- Savannah State: An independent program previously, it joins the MEAC this season as a provisional member. Finished 11-15 last season. Best player: guard Tracy Rankins (13.0 points).
- Howard: Picked for 7th in the 11-team MEAC. Finished 7-25 last season. Best player: forward Calvin Thompson (12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds).
- Holy Cross: Picked for 3rd in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 9-22 last season. Best players; 6-3 junior guard R.J. Evans (13.4, 5.1), 6-9 senior center Andrew Keister (10.2, 8.9). Keister led the Patriot League in rebounding last season.
-Vermont: Picked for 4th in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.
- Florida: Picked for 2nd in the 6-team East Division of the Southeast Conference. Finished 21-13 last season. Best player: 5-8 junior guard Erving Walker (10.1 points, 4.2 assists), 6-9 senior forward Chandler Parsons (12.4 points, 6.9 rebounds). The Gators won national championships in 2006 and '07. Florida's coaching staff includes former Siena head coach Rob Lanier, who is an assistant with the Gators.
Up now, Fairfield ...
The Stags will play home games in the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn., on Nov. 23 (St. Joseph's), Dec. 7 (Howard) and Dec. 20 (Vermont), will host a BracketBusters' game on Feb. 19, and are looking to fill one more home date.
Fairfield will play on the road on Nov. 13 (at Sacred Heart), Nov. 15 (at Rutgers), Nov. 19 (at Penn State), Nov. 26 (vs. Norfolk State at the Palestra in Philadelphia), Dec. 2 (at Savannah State), Dec. 12 (at Holy Cross) and Dec. 29 (at Florida).
Here's a game-by-game look at Fairfield's non-conference opponents:
- Sacred Heart: Picked for 10th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 14-15 last season. Best player: Senior point guard Jerrell Thompson (4.6 assists per game), 6-9 senior center Mehmet Sahan (4.3 rebounds). Coach Dave Bike is entering his 33rd season at the school, but the team's top four scorers from last season graduated.
- Rutgers: Picked for 14th in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 15-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (11.8 points). The Scarlet Knights have never had a winning conference record in 15 seasons in the Big East.
- Penn State: Picked for 7th in the 11-team Big Ten Conference. Finished 11-20 last season. Best player: 6-0 senior guard Talor Battle (18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists). Battle should join 1950s-era player Jesse Arnelle as the program's only players to lead the Nittany Lions in scoring for four straight seasons.
- St. Joseph's: Picked for 10th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 11-20 last season. Best player: 6-7 junior forward Idris Hilliard (11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds).
- Norfolk State: Picked for 2nd in the 11-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Finished 11-19 last season. Best player: guard Rob Hampton (12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds), center Kyle Quinn (11.5, 8.6).
- Savannah State: An independent program previously, it joins the MEAC this season as a provisional member. Finished 11-15 last season. Best player: guard Tracy Rankins (13.0 points).
- Howard: Picked for 7th in the 11-team MEAC. Finished 7-25 last season. Best player: forward Calvin Thompson (12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds).
- Holy Cross: Picked for 3rd in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 9-22 last season. Best players; 6-3 junior guard R.J. Evans (13.4, 5.1), 6-9 senior center Andrew Keister (10.2, 8.9). Keister led the Patriot League in rebounding last season.
-Vermont: Picked for 4th in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.
- Florida: Picked for 2nd in the 6-team East Division of the Southeast Conference. Finished 21-13 last season. Best player: 5-8 junior guard Erving Walker (10.1 points, 4.2 assists), 6-9 senior forward Chandler Parsons (12.4 points, 6.9 rebounds). The Gators won national championships in 2006 and '07. Florida's coaching staff includes former Siena head coach Rob Lanier, who is an assistant with the Gators.
Monday, September 27, 2010
A Look at Marist's Non-League Schedule
Here's another installment in the series looking at non-league schedules of conference teams.
Up now, Marist.
The Red Foxes play home games on Nov. 27 (UC Irvine), Dec. 10 (Leigh), Dec. 19 (Holy Cross), Dec. 29 (Penn) and either Feb. 19 or 20 (a BrackeBusters game).
Marist plays away games in the preseason NIT on Nov. 16 (at Villanova), Nov. 17 (vs. either George Washington or Boston University at Villanova), Nov. 19 (at Boston University), Nov. 22 and 23 (preseason NIT games at sites and vs. opponents to be determined), Dec. 7 (at Rutgers), Dec. 12 (at Vermont), and Jan 5 (at Princeton).
Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Marist's non-conference opponents:
- Villanova: Picked for 3rd in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 25-8 last season. Best players: 6-8 senior forward Antonio Pena (10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds), 6-5 senior guard Corey Stokes (9.5 points). The Wildcats also have incoming 6-7 freshman forward JayVaughn, a McDonald's All-American; and, 6-5 freshman guard James Bell, a High School All-American by USA Today and Parade Magazine.
- Boston University: Picked for 3rd in the 9-team American East Conference. Finished 21-14 last season. Top players: 6-5 senior guard/forward John Holland (19.2, 6.1), 6-8 junior forward Jack O'brien (13.8, 6.4).
- UC Irvine: Picked for 9th in the 9-team Big West Conference. Finished 14-18 last season. Best player: 6-5 senior forward Eric Wise (16.3, 6.5).
- Rutgers: Picked for 14th in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 15-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (11.8 points).
- Lehigh: Picked for 5th in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 22-11 last season. Best player: 6-3 freshman guard C.J. McCollum (19.1, 5.0). McCullum led all freshmen nationally in scoring last season.
-Vermont: Picked for 4th in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.
- Holy Cross: Picked for 3rd in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 9-22 last season. Best players; 6-3 junior guard R.J. Evans (13.4, 5.1), 6-9 senior center Andrew Keister (10.2, 8.9). Keister led the Patriot League in rebounding last season.
- Penn: Picked for 5th in the 8-team Ivy League. Finished 6-22 last season. Best player: 6-1 junior point guard Zack Rosen (17.7, 44 assists).
- Princeton: Picked for 2nd in the eight-team Ivy League. Finished 22-9 last season. Best Player: Sophomore forward Ian Hunter (6.9, 3.1)
Up now, Marist.
The Red Foxes play home games on Nov. 27 (UC Irvine), Dec. 10 (Leigh), Dec. 19 (Holy Cross), Dec. 29 (Penn) and either Feb. 19 or 20 (a BrackeBusters game).
Marist plays away games in the preseason NIT on Nov. 16 (at Villanova), Nov. 17 (vs. either George Washington or Boston University at Villanova), Nov. 19 (at Boston University), Nov. 22 and 23 (preseason NIT games at sites and vs. opponents to be determined), Dec. 7 (at Rutgers), Dec. 12 (at Vermont), and Jan 5 (at Princeton).
Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Marist's non-conference opponents:
- Villanova: Picked for 3rd in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 25-8 last season. Best players: 6-8 senior forward Antonio Pena (10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds), 6-5 senior guard Corey Stokes (9.5 points). The Wildcats also have incoming 6-7 freshman forward JayVaughn, a McDonald's All-American; and, 6-5 freshman guard James Bell, a High School All-American by USA Today and Parade Magazine.
- Boston University: Picked for 3rd in the 9-team American East Conference. Finished 21-14 last season. Top players: 6-5 senior guard/forward John Holland (19.2, 6.1), 6-8 junior forward Jack O'brien (13.8, 6.4).
- UC Irvine: Picked for 9th in the 9-team Big West Conference. Finished 14-18 last season. Best player: 6-5 senior forward Eric Wise (16.3, 6.5).
- Rutgers: Picked for 14th in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 15-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (11.8 points).
- Lehigh: Picked for 5th in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 22-11 last season. Best player: 6-3 freshman guard C.J. McCollum (19.1, 5.0). McCullum led all freshmen nationally in scoring last season.
-Vermont: Picked for 4th in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.
- Holy Cross: Picked for 3rd in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 9-22 last season. Best players; 6-3 junior guard R.J. Evans (13.4, 5.1), 6-9 senior center Andrew Keister (10.2, 8.9). Keister led the Patriot League in rebounding last season.
- Penn: Picked for 5th in the 8-team Ivy League. Finished 6-22 last season. Best player: 6-1 junior point guard Zack Rosen (17.7, 44 assists).
- Princeton: Picked for 2nd in the eight-team Ivy League. Finished 22-9 last season. Best Player: Sophomore forward Ian Hunter (6.9, 3.1)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A Look at Canisius's Non-League Schedule
Here's another installment in the series looking at non-league games for men's conference teams.
Up now, Canisius.
The Golden Griffins will play home games on Nov. 12 (St. Bonaventure), Nov. 20 (Eastern Michigan), Nov. 23 (Buffalo), Dec. 10 (St. Francis of N.Y.), and Dec. 29 (Northwestern State).
Canisius plays away games on Nov. 14 (at Syracuse), Nov. 30 (at Binghamton), Dec. 19 (at Northwestern State), Dec. 22 (at Lamar), and Feb. 19 (in a to-be determined BracketBusters game).
Here's a game-by-game look at Canisius' non-league opponents:
- St. Bonaventure: Picked for 14th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 15-16 last season. Best player: 6-9 junior forward Andrew Nicholson (16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds).
- Syracuse: Picked to win the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 30-5 last season, but lost forward Wesley Johnson to the NBA. Top Players: 6-7 junior forward Kris Joseph (10.8 points, 5.5 rebounds), who was the Big East's Sixth Man of the Year last season. Also, 6-9 senior forward Rick Jackson (9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds) and 6-4 sophomore Brandon Triche (8.1 points).
- Eastern Michigan: Picked for third in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. Finished 17-15 last season. Best player: 6-6 senior forward Brandon Bowdry (16.3 points, 10. rebounds).
- Buffalo: Picked for 6th in the 6-team East Division of the Mid American Conference. Finished 18-12 last season. Lost all five starters and top six scorers from last season. Top player: 6-7 junior forward Titus Robinson (5.8 points).
-Binghamton: Picked for 6th in the 9-team America East Conference. Finished 11-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Greer Wright (15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds).
- St. Francis (N.Y.): Picked for 5th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 11-18 last season. Best players: 6-2 senior guard Ricky Caldell (15.9 points), 6-3 senior guard/forward Akeem Bennett (15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists). Former Canisius standout Clive Bentick (1997-2001) is an assistant coach at St. Francis.
- Northwestern State: Picked for 4th in the 6-team East Division of the Southland Conference. Best players: 6-1 senior guard Devon Baker (14.0 points), 6-5 senior forward Will pratt (13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds). In a relatively unusual arrangement, the Griffs play a home-and-home series with Northwestern State.
- Lamar: Picked for 3rd in the 6-team East Division of the Southland Conference. Finished 14-18 last season. Best player: 6-1 senior guard Anthony Miles (14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists).
Up now, Canisius.
The Golden Griffins will play home games on Nov. 12 (St. Bonaventure), Nov. 20 (Eastern Michigan), Nov. 23 (Buffalo), Dec. 10 (St. Francis of N.Y.), and Dec. 29 (Northwestern State).
Canisius plays away games on Nov. 14 (at Syracuse), Nov. 30 (at Binghamton), Dec. 19 (at Northwestern State), Dec. 22 (at Lamar), and Feb. 19 (in a to-be determined BracketBusters game).
Here's a game-by-game look at Canisius' non-league opponents:
- St. Bonaventure: Picked for 14th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 15-16 last season. Best player: 6-9 junior forward Andrew Nicholson (16.4 points, 7.1 rebounds).
- Syracuse: Picked to win the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 30-5 last season, but lost forward Wesley Johnson to the NBA. Top Players: 6-7 junior forward Kris Joseph (10.8 points, 5.5 rebounds), who was the Big East's Sixth Man of the Year last season. Also, 6-9 senior forward Rick Jackson (9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds) and 6-4 sophomore Brandon Triche (8.1 points).
- Eastern Michigan: Picked for third in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. Finished 17-15 last season. Best player: 6-6 senior forward Brandon Bowdry (16.3 points, 10. rebounds).
- Buffalo: Picked for 6th in the 6-team East Division of the Mid American Conference. Finished 18-12 last season. Lost all five starters and top six scorers from last season. Top player: 6-7 junior forward Titus Robinson (5.8 points).
-Binghamton: Picked for 6th in the 9-team America East Conference. Finished 11-17 last season. Best player: 6-7 senior forward Greer Wright (15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds).
- St. Francis (N.Y.): Picked for 5th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 11-18 last season. Best players: 6-2 senior guard Ricky Caldell (15.9 points), 6-3 senior guard/forward Akeem Bennett (15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists). Former Canisius standout Clive Bentick (1997-2001) is an assistant coach at St. Francis.
- Northwestern State: Picked for 4th in the 6-team East Division of the Southland Conference. Best players: 6-1 senior guard Devon Baker (14.0 points), 6-5 senior forward Will pratt (13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds). In a relatively unusual arrangement, the Griffs play a home-and-home series with Northwestern State.
- Lamar: Picked for 3rd in the 6-team East Division of the Southland Conference. Finished 14-18 last season. Best player: 6-1 senior guard Anthony Miles (14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists).
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A Look at Rider's Non-League Schedule
Here's another look at non-league schedules of conference teams. Up now, Rider.
The Broncs play home non-conference games on Nov. 14 (LaFayette), Nov. 29 (Hofstra), Dec. 8 (UMBC), and Dec. 15 (Monmouth).
They hit the road for games on Nov. 12 (at UMass), Nov. 17 (at Southern California), in the Springfield Basketball Hall of Fame event on Nov. 20 (Texas Christian) and Nov. 21 (Loyola Marymount), Dec. 4 (at Pittsburgh), Dec. 11 (at Drexel), Dec. 22 (at La Salle), and Dec. 28 (at Howard).
Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Rider's non-league opponents:
- Lafayette: Picked for first (by The Sporting News' College Basketball Preview magazine) in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 8-6 in the Patriot League and 19-13 overall last season. Best player: 6-9 senior center Jared Mintz (14.1 points, 5.7 rebounds) who became the first player ever to lead the league in field-goal percentage (.537) and free-throw percentage (.873) in the same season.
- USC: Picked for 8th in the 10-team PAC-10. Finished 16-14 overall last season. Best player: Junior forward Nikola Vucevic (10.7 points, 9.4 rebounds). USC's head coach is Kevin O'Neill, who worked for several years with NBA teams, including one (2004-05) as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
- Texas Christian University: Picked for 7th in the 9-team Mountain West Conference. Finished 13-19 overall last season. Best player: 6-2 junior point guard Ronnie Moss (14.9 points, 5.9 assists last season).
- Loyola Marymount: Picked for 3rd in the 9-team West Coast Conference. Finished 18-16 overall last season. Best players: 6-8 junior forward Drew Viney (16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds) and 6-4 senior guard Vernon Teel (15.4 points, 5.4 assists). After a 3-win 2008-09 season, the Lions' jump to 18 was the second-biggest jump in the country (Coastal Carolina's was the biggest). All five starters return from last season.
- Hofstra: Picked for 7th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 19-15 overall last season. Best player: 6-3 senior guard Charles Jenkins (20.6 points per game), who was 20th nationally in scoring last season. Former Iona and Providence coach Tim Welsh originally signed to coach Hofstra only to resign three days laster after a DWI arrest. Former College assistant coach Mo Cassara replaced Welsh. Former Iona assistant coach Steve DeMeo is the team's associate head coach.
- Pittsburgh: Picked for 2nd in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 25-9 last season. Best players: Junior guard Ashton Gibbs (15.7 points), senior point guard Brad Wanamaker (12.3 points, 4.7 assists).
-UMBC: Picked for 8th in the 8-team America East Conference. Finished 4-26 last season. Best Player: 5-10 senior point guard Chris De La Rosa (11.7 points, 5.1 assists). De La Rosa began his career at Siena College, where he was a reserve as a freshman. UMBC's roster also includes 6-9 center Laurence Jolicoeur, a graduate student, who played three seasons at Manhattan.
- Drexel: Picked for 6th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 16-16 last season. Best players: 6-5 junior forward Samme Givens (8.3 points, 8.3 rebounds), 6-2 sophomore guard Chris Fouch (11.3 points).
- Monmouth: Picked for 9th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 12-19 last season. Best player: Senior guard Will Campbell 911.2 points).
- La Salle Picked for 11th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 12-18 last season. Best player: 6-10 sophomore forward Aaric Murray (12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 blocks).
- Howard: Picked for 7th in the 11-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Finished 7-25 last season. Best player: Senior forward Calvin Thompson (12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds).
The Broncs play home non-conference games on Nov. 14 (LaFayette), Nov. 29 (Hofstra), Dec. 8 (UMBC), and Dec. 15 (Monmouth).
They hit the road for games on Nov. 12 (at UMass), Nov. 17 (at Southern California), in the Springfield Basketball Hall of Fame event on Nov. 20 (Texas Christian) and Nov. 21 (Loyola Marymount), Dec. 4 (at Pittsburgh), Dec. 11 (at Drexel), Dec. 22 (at La Salle), and Dec. 28 (at Howard).
Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Rider's non-league opponents:
- Lafayette: Picked for first (by The Sporting News' College Basketball Preview magazine) in the 8-team Patriot League. Finished 8-6 in the Patriot League and 19-13 overall last season. Best player: 6-9 senior center Jared Mintz (14.1 points, 5.7 rebounds) who became the first player ever to lead the league in field-goal percentage (.537) and free-throw percentage (.873) in the same season.
- USC: Picked for 8th in the 10-team PAC-10. Finished 16-14 overall last season. Best player: Junior forward Nikola Vucevic (10.7 points, 9.4 rebounds). USC's head coach is Kevin O'Neill, who worked for several years with NBA teams, including one (2004-05) as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
- Texas Christian University: Picked for 7th in the 9-team Mountain West Conference. Finished 13-19 overall last season. Best player: 6-2 junior point guard Ronnie Moss (14.9 points, 5.9 assists last season).
- Loyola Marymount: Picked for 3rd in the 9-team West Coast Conference. Finished 18-16 overall last season. Best players: 6-8 junior forward Drew Viney (16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds) and 6-4 senior guard Vernon Teel (15.4 points, 5.4 assists). After a 3-win 2008-09 season, the Lions' jump to 18 was the second-biggest jump in the country (Coastal Carolina's was the biggest). All five starters return from last season.
- Hofstra: Picked for 7th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 19-15 overall last season. Best player: 6-3 senior guard Charles Jenkins (20.6 points per game), who was 20th nationally in scoring last season. Former Iona and Providence coach Tim Welsh originally signed to coach Hofstra only to resign three days laster after a DWI arrest. Former College assistant coach Mo Cassara replaced Welsh. Former Iona assistant coach Steve DeMeo is the team's associate head coach.
- Pittsburgh: Picked for 2nd in the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 25-9 last season. Best players: Junior guard Ashton Gibbs (15.7 points), senior point guard Brad Wanamaker (12.3 points, 4.7 assists).
-UMBC: Picked for 8th in the 8-team America East Conference. Finished 4-26 last season. Best Player: 5-10 senior point guard Chris De La Rosa (11.7 points, 5.1 assists). De La Rosa began his career at Siena College, where he was a reserve as a freshman. UMBC's roster also includes 6-9 center Laurence Jolicoeur, a graduate student, who played three seasons at Manhattan.
- Drexel: Picked for 6th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 16-16 last season. Best players: 6-5 junior forward Samme Givens (8.3 points, 8.3 rebounds), 6-2 sophomore guard Chris Fouch (11.3 points).
- Monmouth: Picked for 9th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 12-19 last season. Best player: Senior guard Will Campbell 911.2 points).
- La Salle Picked for 11th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 12-18 last season. Best player: 6-10 sophomore forward Aaric Murray (12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 blocks).
- Howard: Picked for 7th in the 11-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Finished 7-25 last season. Best player: Senior forward Calvin Thompson (12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds).
Sheehan Opts to Leave Georgia Tech
Siena's Dec. 22nd game at Albany's Times Union Center against Georgia Tech lost a little bit of luster when it was recently reported that former Capital Region high school standout Brad Sheehan, a 7-foot senior center/forward, has decided not to return to the team for the upcoming season.
Sheehan is a graduate of Shaker High School, located about a mile away from Siena. His career at Georgia Tech never reached the heights that Yellowjackets' coach Paul Hewitt had hoped for. In Sheehan, Hewitt saw a mobile big man who could shoot from long range and had above-average on-court instincts. But, Sheehan was relatively slender and never added the bulk/strength required to absorb and administer the inside pounding in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Still, fans in upstate New York were looking forward to his return and the primary scheduling of the Georgia Tech-Siena series, which began last season with a Siena game in Atlanta, was to give Sheehan a home-town showcase in his senior season.
Sheehan would have been a redshirt senior since he redshirted during his true freshman season. He graduated with a degree in management in May. While at Georgia Tech he averaged 1.3 points in 7.6 minutes per game last season. In three seasons, he averaged 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game.
In the interest of full disclosure, your blogger has known Sheehan since the young man was eight or nine years old. He is a terrific person who chose Georgia Tech as much for its academic opportunities as for its basketball. He graduated on time with dean's list work throughout his four years.
Whether he chases professional basketball overseas, or moves into the work force, your blogger knows this young man will be a success.
And while he'll be missed when Georgia Tech comes to Siena's court this season, the contest still remains highly anticipated locally since Hewitt formerly coached the Saints in the late 1990s.
Sheehan is a graduate of Shaker High School, located about a mile away from Siena. His career at Georgia Tech never reached the heights that Yellowjackets' coach Paul Hewitt had hoped for. In Sheehan, Hewitt saw a mobile big man who could shoot from long range and had above-average on-court instincts. But, Sheehan was relatively slender and never added the bulk/strength required to absorb and administer the inside pounding in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Still, fans in upstate New York were looking forward to his return and the primary scheduling of the Georgia Tech-Siena series, which began last season with a Siena game in Atlanta, was to give Sheehan a home-town showcase in his senior season.
Sheehan would have been a redshirt senior since he redshirted during his true freshman season. He graduated with a degree in management in May. While at Georgia Tech he averaged 1.3 points in 7.6 minutes per game last season. In three seasons, he averaged 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game.
In the interest of full disclosure, your blogger has known Sheehan since the young man was eight or nine years old. He is a terrific person who chose Georgia Tech as much for its academic opportunities as for its basketball. He graduated on time with dean's list work throughout his four years.
Whether he chases professional basketball overseas, or moves into the work force, your blogger knows this young man will be a success.
And while he'll be missed when Georgia Tech comes to Siena's court this season, the contest still remains highly anticipated locally since Hewitt formerly coached the Saints in the late 1990s.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Look at Siena's Non-League Schedule
Here's the latest in the series looking at non-league schedules of conference teams.
Up now, Siena.
The Saints play home games on Nov. 13 (Vermont), Nov. 23 (Butler), Dec. 4 (UAlbany), Dec. 13 (Florida Atlantic), and Dec. 22 (Georgia Tech).
Away games are Nov. 15 (at Minnesota), Nov. 20 (at Northeastern), Nov. 28 (at Princeton), Dec. 28 (at St. Bonaventure) and Dec. 31 (at St. Joseph's).
Siena will also host a Feb. 19 BracketBusters game against an opponent to be determined.
Here's a game-by-game look at Siena's non-conference opponents:
- Vermont: Picked for fourth (by The Sporting News' College Basketball Preview magazine) in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.
- Minnesota: Picked for 8th in the 11-team Big 10 Conference. Finished 21-14 last season. Top Player: Senior guard Blake Hoffarber (10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) with a 3-point shooting percentage of 46.7, third-best nationally last season. The last time the two programs met was in the second round of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Minnesota won, 80-67).
- Northeastern: Picked for 5th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 20-13 last season. Top player: Senior Chaisson Allen (11.1, 4.9), a 6-4 guard.
- Butler: Picked to win the 10-team Horizon League. Finished 33-5 last season and advanced to the NCAA tournament's chamnpionship game before losing there to Duke. Top Players: Senior guard Shelvin Mack (14.1 points per game), 6-8 senuior forward Matt Howard (11.6, 5.2).
- Princeton: Picked for 2nd in the eight-team Ivy League. Finished 22-9 last season. Best Player: Sophomore forward Ian Hunter (6.9, 3.1).
- University at Albany: Picked for 8th in the 9-team America East Conference. Finished 7-25 last season. Best player: 6-2 senior guard Tim Ambrose (12.4, 5.3).
- Florida Atlantic: Picked for 3rd in the 6-team East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. Finished 14-16 last season. Best player: Freshman guard Greg Gantt (15.6, 2.4). The team's head coach is Mike Jarvis who previously coached at Boston University, George Washington University and St. John's.
- Georgia Tech: - Georgia Tech: Picked for 10th in the 12-team Atlantic Coast Conference. Finished 23-13 last year, but lost two players early to the NBA, including Derrick Favors, the No. 3 pick overall by the New Jersey Nets in this past season's draft. Best player; Guard Iman Shumpert (10.0 points, 4.0 assists). The game is a homecoming for two members of the program. Head coach Paul Hewitt coached at Siena (1997-98 through the 1999-00 seasons). Reserve senior forward Brad Sheehan played scholastically at Shaker High School, about a mile away from Siena's campus.
- St. Bonaventure: Picked for 14th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 15-16 last season. Best player: Junior forward Andrew Nicholson (16.4, 7.1).
- Saint Joseph's: Picked for 10th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 11-20 last season. Best Player: Guards Darren Govens (13.9), Garrett Williamson (12.2).
Up now, Siena.
The Saints play home games on Nov. 13 (Vermont), Nov. 23 (Butler), Dec. 4 (UAlbany), Dec. 13 (Florida Atlantic), and Dec. 22 (Georgia Tech).
Away games are Nov. 15 (at Minnesota), Nov. 20 (at Northeastern), Nov. 28 (at Princeton), Dec. 28 (at St. Bonaventure) and Dec. 31 (at St. Joseph's).
Siena will also host a Feb. 19 BracketBusters game against an opponent to be determined.
Here's a game-by-game look at Siena's non-conference opponents:
- Vermont: Picked for fourth (by The Sporting News' College Basketball Preview magazine) in the 9-team America East Conference. The Catamounts won the conference last season and finished 25-10 overall. Top Player: Evan Fjed, a 6-foot-8 senior forward (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds per game last season). He is the team's only returning starter.
- Minnesota: Picked for 8th in the 11-team Big 10 Conference. Finished 21-14 last season. Top Player: Senior guard Blake Hoffarber (10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds) with a 3-point shooting percentage of 46.7, third-best nationally last season. The last time the two programs met was in the second round of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Minnesota won, 80-67).
- Northeastern: Picked for 5th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 20-13 last season. Top player: Senior Chaisson Allen (11.1, 4.9), a 6-4 guard.
- Butler: Picked to win the 10-team Horizon League. Finished 33-5 last season and advanced to the NCAA tournament's chamnpionship game before losing there to Duke. Top Players: Senior guard Shelvin Mack (14.1 points per game), 6-8 senuior forward Matt Howard (11.6, 5.2).
- Princeton: Picked for 2nd in the eight-team Ivy League. Finished 22-9 last season. Best Player: Sophomore forward Ian Hunter (6.9, 3.1).
- University at Albany: Picked for 8th in the 9-team America East Conference. Finished 7-25 last season. Best player: 6-2 senior guard Tim Ambrose (12.4, 5.3).
- Florida Atlantic: Picked for 3rd in the 6-team East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. Finished 14-16 last season. Best player: Freshman guard Greg Gantt (15.6, 2.4). The team's head coach is Mike Jarvis who previously coached at Boston University, George Washington University and St. John's.
- Georgia Tech: - Georgia Tech: Picked for 10th in the 12-team Atlantic Coast Conference. Finished 23-13 last year, but lost two players early to the NBA, including Derrick Favors, the No. 3 pick overall by the New Jersey Nets in this past season's draft. Best player; Guard Iman Shumpert (10.0 points, 4.0 assists). The game is a homecoming for two members of the program. Head coach Paul Hewitt coached at Siena (1997-98 through the 1999-00 seasons). Reserve senior forward Brad Sheehan played scholastically at Shaker High School, about a mile away from Siena's campus.
- St. Bonaventure: Picked for 14th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 15-16 last season. Best player: Junior forward Andrew Nicholson (16.4, 7.1).
- Saint Joseph's: Picked for 10th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 11-20 last season. Best Player: Guards Darren Govens (13.9), Garrett Williamson (12.2).
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