Tim Floyd out at USC

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:12:55 -0400

The lasting image of Tim Floyd's tenure at USC won't be the celebration following the Trojans' run to the Pac-10 tournament title. Instead, it will be an alleged payment of $1,000 to a runner and the mass exodus of key players this offseason. With a program severely hampered by the NCAA's ongoing investigation, Coach Floyd turned in a letter of resignation to athletic director Mike Garrett on Tuesday afternoon as reported by the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi. Floyd is a native of Mississippi and according to sources the allegations had taken a toll on the coach.

"As of 1 p.m. today, I am resigning as head basketball coach at the University of Southern California," wrote Coach Floyd in the letter. "I appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the university, as well as the chance to know and work with some of the finest young men in college athletics. Unfortunately, I no longer feel I can offer the level of enthusiasm to my duties that is deserved by the university, my coaching staff, my players, their families, and the supporters of Southern Cal."

"I always promised my self and my family that if I ever felt I could no longer give my full enthusiasm to a job, that I should leave it to others who could. I intend to contact my coaching staff and my players in coming days and weeks to tell them how much each of them means to me. I wish the best to USC and to my successor."

Things took a turn for the worse back on May 12th due to an investigation by Yahoo! Sports, with Louis Johnson, once a friend of OJ Mayo, alleging that Floyd gave runner Rodney Guillory $1,000 to funnel to Mayo. Guillory, who worked for the Bill Duffy Sports Agency, eventually delivered the prospect to Duffy's agency when he declared for the NBA Draft. The NCAA combined the investigation of Mayo with that of former football star Reggie Bush, who is alleged to have received illegal benefits in the six-figure range while playing for the school.

Floyd leaves USC with a record of 85-50 over four seasons at the school, and an overall mark of 328-180 in sixteen seasons at the collegiate level. Coach Floyd also had head coaching stints in the NBA with Chicago and New Orleans, but it remains to be seen what his next move could be. Last year Kelvin Sampson left Indiana amidst an NCAA investigation and became an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks. According to Garrett the Trojans will begin their search for a new head coach immediately, and it remains to be seen what happens in regards to roster turnover.

Incoming freshmen Lamont Jones (Harlem, NY) and Derrick Wiliams (La Mirada, CA) have signed letters of intent, while Evan Smith (Calabasas, CA) remains a verbal commitment. Having already lost the highly-touted Noel Johnson, it wouldn't be a surprise if USC also had to deal with Jones' camp requesting a release from his LOI. According to Adam Zagoria that's exactly what's going to happen. And with it being unknown what the end result of the investigation will be, expect a long, tough search for a new head coach.

Recruiting Impact

Lamont Jones: Arizona, Florida and Memphis have been named as the three schools he's looking at right now. There was a report when "Momo" signed with USC that he was told by the staff that a visit to Arizona would result in them taking their offer off of the table. As with Noel Johnson the Trojans could very well release Jones with the string attached that he cannot attend another Pac-10 school.

Derrick Williams: Williams had concerns about the situation before Floyd resigned, telling the Pasadena Star-News' Scott Dixon that he was still "trying to get more information about USC and the O.J. Mayo stuff and investigation". According to scout.com, Williams also held offers from Arizona State, Marquette, Nevada, San Diego and Santa Clara.

Question: Who do you think will be the next head coach at USC?

Friday Night in the MAAC

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:09:10 -0500

A full slate in the MAAC on tap tonight, with a showdown for first place being the marquee event. A week after Fairfield went to Albany and failed to take down the defending chanmps, 3-0 Rider gets their shot at the Times Union Center in a rematch of last year's MAAC Tournament final. Of course two of the main characters in that chapter are gone (Rider's Jason Thompson and Siena's Tay Fisher) but both teams stand to be a factor in the title chase until the end of the regular season. Fairfield, who lost two league games last weekend, finds themselves in need of a win tonight at Loyola (MD) and the Greyhounds haven't been much better in losing seven of their last ten games.

The other two teams in that 2-2 logjam will meet in Riverdale tonight, with Marist taking on Manhattan. R.J. Hall has gotten better as the season has progressed and Coach Martin has a forward in Ryan Schneider who's played some very good basketball this season. Another bonus for Marist is the return of point guard David Devezin, who will be playing in his fourth game since sitting out five due to injury. But the Red Foxes will have their hands full with Barry Rohrssen's Jaspers, a team that has one of the conference's better quartets (Chris Smith, Antoine Pearson, Devon Austin and Darryl Crawford). Rounding out the schedule is Joe Mihalich taking one of the best backcourt rotations in the MAAC to Jersey City, and an interesting point guard matchup in New Rochelle between quick junior Frank Turner and freshman Scott Machado. With the exception of the Canisius/Iona game (7:30 start) all games are at 7 PM and the Rider/Siena game can be seen on ESPNU.

Rider (8-5, 3-0) @ Siena (10-5, 4-0) on ESPNU

The game of the night in the MAAC, and the individual matchup between two of the conference's most versatile (and best) players will be an entertaining one to watch. Rider's Ryan Thompson and Siena's Edwin Ubiles are outstanding basketball players on the wing for their respective teams, and neither has failed to show why they were preseason All-MAAC selections. I know that some pundits have been quick to note the Saints as a disappointment due to their inability to get a headline non-conference win, but those people need to be honest in regards to the level of that schedule.

Three games in Orlando against teams that should make a run at postseason play, as well as trips to Pitt and Kansas (the Jayhawks may be young, but it's tough to win at Allen Fieldhouse) doesn't look like a lineup of cupcakes to me. Siena has had some trouble in two areas this season: rebounding and three-point shooting. The former can be explained by that schedule for the most part, while Tay Fisher was a key ingredient when it came to accuracy from behind the arc. Another individual matchup to keep an eye on is Mike Ringgold and Alex Franklin inside. Both are a bit undersized for their positions, but they can get the job done inside. These are also two of the best in the MAAC in turnover margin (Siena 2nd, Rider 3rd), and Tommy Dempsey has some capable shooters in his stable as well, most notably senior Harris Mansell. My pick: Siena.

Fairfield (9-6, 2-2) @ Loyola (MD) (5-10, 1-3)

Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Jamal Barney will lead the Greyhounds into battle against a talented Fairfield team looking to end its two-game conference skid. Last year's game was an exciting affair, with the Stags winning it in the final minute. But then Loyola knocked them out of the MAAC quarters for the second year in a row. Ed Cooley's got some very good players to choose from, most notably perimeter mainstays Jonathan Han and Warren Edney, along with forwards Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson. Normally this isn't a team that's going to rack up a lot of points, even though they did score 81 in a loss at Siena. But tonight could offer an opportunity to snap out of their recent shooting doldrums, with the Stags making less than forty percent of their shots in three of their last four games. Loyola is dead last in the MAAC in both field goal and three-point percentage defense, and they also are ninth in rebounding margin. The issue for both teams has to be taking care of the basketball since both rank in the bottom half of the league in turnover margin. My pick: Fairfield.

Canisius (5-9, 0-4) @ Iona (6-9, 1-3)

While the aforementioned Turner vs. Machado matchup should captivate those in attendance at the Hynes Center, Canisius needs this game simply to pick up their first conference win of the season. Last year the Golden Griffins struggled on the defensive end, with their youth routinely being punished by teams all year long. But this year it's been the offense that's to blame, with Coach Parrotta's team ranking ninth in field goal percentage and tenth in three-point percentage. Newcomers Chris Gadley and Julius Coles have helped, but this is a team that quite frankly struggles to consistently get quality looks from the field. The Gaels aren't exactly going to light up the scoreboard either, but they've been a bit more consistent when it comes to knocking down shots. Senior Gary Springer is back in the lineup after missing seven games with an ankle injury, and his double-double against Fairfield last week was instrumental in Iona picking up their first league win. This one should be tight, expecially if Canisius can play well on the offensive end. My pick: Iona.

Niagara (12-3, 3-0) @ St. Peter's (4-10, 1-3)

This could be painful to watch for fans of the Peacocks, a team that is right there with Canisius when it comes to the worst offensive team in the MAAC. St. Peter's is averaging just over fifty-six points per game, and they rank tenth in field goal percentage and ninth in three-pont percentage. But they've got one of the better sophomores in the conference in Wesley Jenkins, and classmate Nick Leon isn't too bad either. This group, however, willl have its hands full with a versatile lineup rotation that can come at you in waves. The talk has been about transfers Bilal Benn and Rob Garrison, but there's also returnees Tyrone Lewis and Anthony Nelson. And I'm willing to bet that I'm leaving someone out, but that's to mention Benson Egemonye inside. Look for this game to provide the largest margin of victory on the schedule tonight. My pick: Niagara

Marist (6-10, 2-2) @ Manhattan (8-6, 2-2)

This one should be a good matchup, fitting for two teams tied in the standings. Marist has won three of their last four with the lone defeat being a two-point decision at Binghamton, and all the Bearcats are doing right now is leading a conference in America East that's better than most people think. Ryan Schneider has been the man, even with the dribble drive motion system that tends to favro guards. Why is that? His versatility, with the ability to score either inside or behind the arc, has been the key for the senior who started out his career at Vermont. Add to his team-high sixteen points per game nine rebounds per contest and you've got a guy who could make a serious run at league honors after not being named to any of the preseason teams. Manhattan's got a versatile forward of their own in senior Devon Austin, but the emergence of guards Chris Smith and Darryl Crawford has meant that he hasn't had to shoulder the offensive load. This game should go down to the final minutes, and it's anyone guess who will win. My pick: Manhattan.

MAAC Hoops

College Football: Florida 7, Oklahoma 7

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:08:38 -0500

It's halftime and the offensive explosion that many of us anticiapted hasn't come to pass yet. Florida and Oklahoma head into the locker room tied at seven, with both defenses making critical stops to steal some of the offensive momentum. The two quarterbacks have combined for three interceptions so far, but the offenses have been unable to take advantage of the good fortune. A few points that I saw in the first thirty minutes:

1. Percy Harvin's ankle looks fine. And with Chris Rainey going down it had better hold up for another thirty.

Harvin has been one of two players on Florida's offense that the Oklahoma defense had trouble with in the first half (TE Aaron Hernandez also hurt them through the air). In situations when Florida can get a hat on a hat and let Harvin do his work, he looks as if an explosion is just one play away. He broke one on the drive following the fourth and goal stop out to near midfield, but Florida eventually had to punt. Rainey going down with what right now is categorized as a right ankle sprain (personally I thought that was a horsecollar tackle) makes Harvin's impact on this game even more important.

2. Oklahoma's offensive staff needs to be quicker in getting the plays/audibles in.

When the Sooners spent 10-20 seconds in between plays Florida had a hard time slowing them down, and that was painfully evident on the touchdown drive that began with the explosion of Chris Brown in the running game. Even on the last drive of the half the Sooners were able to get things going with the fast break offense, including one play where TE Jermaine Gresham was essentially covered by no one (Brandon Spikes was unsure of his assignment and the All-American ended up free on the left side). Before the touchdown drive the Sooners were spending 25-30 seconds between snaps, allowing the Gators to at the least adjust their scheme since they didn't have time to substitute. Look for this to be something that offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson changes in the second half.

3. Florida seems convinced in their strategy to cover Gresham with a linebacker. And they may end up paying for it.

There were two plays in which Charlie Strong's defense was burned by this strategy, with the second being the play I described in the point above. The first possession saw Gresham free for a big play donw the left sideline on what I think was a wheel route. As fast as the Gator linebackers are, they flat-out cannot cover Gresham in the open field. I know it isn't too appealing to risk a safety to cover Gresham (Ahmad Black would be my choice in order to leave big hitter Major Wright free) when Sam Bradford can use the wideouts to pick apart your secondary, but they may have to do it. And that wheel route didn't even count due to a holding penalty on Duke Robinson. Which leads to something else to watch in the second half.

4. Watch the timing of penalties because one could very well cost someone a national title.

Chalk it up as one for each team so far. Robinson's hold in the first quarter, then a Louis Murphy unsportmanlike conduct penalty for signalling "first down" after a big completion. These are two of the worst teams in the nation when it comes to penalties, so we all know that guys are going to pick up flags. But you'd better make sure that it doesn't cost you a big play. As close as this game is fixing to be, that could be all that the opponent needs to take home the crystal ball.

In order to win...

Florida needs to: Continue to blitz Bradford since their front four hasn't had much success getting to him without help; find more ways to get Harvin the ball; be stout in stopping the run.

Oklahoma needs to: Pick up the pace in their fast break offense; continue to pressure Tebow since it's already forced one interception by Gerald McCoy on a bad read (the other was without pressure); keep giving the ball to Chris Brown.

Thursday's NEC lineup

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:45:39 -0500

For those of you not looking forward to the BCS National Championship Game there is a full slate of games in the NEC (LIU is off after beating future NEC member Bryant the other night) that'll most likely do more to muddle the conference picture than provide clarity. Monmouth may be the league's hottest team after impressive wins over Sacred Heart and CCSU over the weekend, and they'll head north to take on a struggling St. Francis (NY) club. Four teams are tied for first place in the loss column (LIU and Robert Morris are 3-1; Wagner and Quinnipiac 2-1), and the Colonials will visit Tom Moore's Bobcats tonight in what should be a good game. Wagner will take on CCSU in New Britain, FDU visits a Mount St. Mary's team looking for its first league win and St. Francis (PA) visits a Sacred Heart team that has lost six of their last seven games. All games will begin at 7 PM EST, and feel free to add your thoughts on tonight's schedule.

Fairleigh Dickinson @ Mount St. Mary's

You've got five teams in the NEC who sit just a game out of first place in the loss column with two losses apiece, and surprisingly the Knights are one of those teams despite a 2-11 overall record. Sean Baptiste is one of the best guards in the NEC, but truth be told he hasn't received much help thus far. Head coach Tom Moore is also trying to work in some four-years transfers and the adjustment has been a little tougher than some anticipated heading into the season. Also, even with those newcomers they've got to improve on the defensive end of the floor. Allowing teams to shoot 48.8% from the floor (last in the NEC) is inexcusable even with their tough early-season schedule. But for as tough as the early going has been for FDU, did anyone expect to see the preseason favorites alone in the cellar at 0-3? Two of the losses, to Sacred Heart and Robert Morris, can be blamed on the lack of defense played by Milan Brown's team. But with five of their next six NEC games at home, the Mountaineers could be poised to get back into the race. My pick: Mount St. Mary's.

Wagner @ CCSU

The Seahawks have gotten it done on the offensive end of the floor with balance; Justin Drummond (9.8 ppg), Llewchean Radford (13.1), Jamal Smith (13.3) and Joey Mundweiler (14.4) have all been solid options for head coach Mike Deane. Howie Dickenman's Blue Devils, on the other hand, have struggled offensively (62.3 ppg) and have lost five of their last six. Ken Horton, Robby Ptacek and Shemik Thompson will not only have to produce themselves but get something from their supporting cast in order to make a serious run at the NEC title. Central is the NEC's best when it comes to defending the three pointer (29.7%), which could serve them well in a game against the league's best three-point shooting team (Wagner shoots 38.6% from distance). My pick: Wagner.

Robert Morris @ Quinnipiac

Arguably the game of the night in the NEC with two of the conference's best players meeting in Hamden. Quinnipiac's James Feldeine leads the NEC in scoring (19.2 ppg) but RMU's Jeremy Chappell isn't too far behind, with his 17.4 ppg ranking third. The difference in this one could be the guys who won't find their names on the marquee in this game, most notably Quinnipiac's Justin Rutty and James Johnson along with Robert Morris' Rob Robinson. The Bobcats are also the best rebounding team in the NEC, besting opponents on the glass by an average of 7.6 boards per game. Robert Morris is third in the NEC with a margin of +1.5, and they'll have to win that battle if they're to win this game on the road. Even with the unpredictable nature of this race tonight's game could be a preview of the championship game to be played in March. My pick: Quinnipiac.

Monmouth @ St. Francis (NY)

For some it may be difficult to categorize a 4-12 team as "hot", but the Hawks are just that after winning three of their last four games (including back-to-back wins over Sacred Heart and CCSU by double digits). But Dave Calloway's team may be finding its way with the youngsters getting more and more comfortable with his system, and some mainstays getting healthier. And even with that unimpressive overall record, don't be so quick to write them off in the NEC; their last tournament team (2005-06 season) started out 1-7 before righting the ship. Six players are averaging between seven and eleven points per game, with the "scoring by committee" philosophy looking good in making up for the loss of Whitney Coleman in the season opener. Things are far from rosy in Brooklyn for the Terriers who have lost their last five. But keep this in mind: their two NEC losses (St. Francis (PA) and Wagner) came on the road by a combined six points and they did win at Robert Morris. But their defense has left something to be desired in recent weeks, and the Terriers are allowing opponents to shoot 44.5% from the field and 38.9% from behind the arc. My pick: Monmouth.

St. Francis (PA) @ Sacred Heart

Neither team comes into this game in good shape, with Red Flash losing their last four and Sacred Heart dropping three straight. St. Francis' problem has been their offense (tied for last in the NEC in scoring offense) and their defense (9th in scoring defense, 10th in field goal percentage defense). Sacred Heart has performed better on the defensive end despite giving up 74.6 points per game; their issue has been turning the ball over. Dave Bike's Pioneers average more than eighteen turnovers per game (18.3 TPG) this season, the worst number in the NEC (FDU is pretty close with 18.3 TPG). Four Pioneers are averaging double figures in scoring, while the Red Flash will counter with the versatile Devin Sweetney. Neither team takes great care of the basketball, so this could be a game in which someone gives it away as opposed to someone taking control of it. My pick: Sacred Heart.

Northeast Conference

College Football: BCS National Championship Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:54:23 -0500

The biggest game on the college football landscape is finally here, with the media days (should there really be a Super Bowl-like media day for a college football game? But we're all supposed to eagerly go along with the NCAA's assertion that these are student-athletes. When the schools and governing body treat them as such I'll truly believe that.) finally done and all the talking stopped. It's time for Florida and Oklahoma to settle this on the field once and for all. The Sooners have heard all week that the Big 12 doesn't play defense; that they'll once again fail on the BCS stage (they've lost their last four BCS games). The questioning of Florida's offensive ability hasn't been as fervent, but they have to deal with Percy Harvin possibly being a little less that 100% due to a high ankle sprain he suffered against Florida State.

Since their lone defeats of the season (Florida to Ole Miss, Oklahoma to Texas) these two teams have been dominant with the Sooners becoming the first team in major college football history to score at least sixty points in five straight games. You've also got the last two Heisman winners on this field, with 2008 winner Sam Bradford looking to avoid the "Heisman bowl jinx" and win a national title at the expense of 2007 winner Tim Tebow. Oklahoma was a part of the only other BCS title game to match Heisman winners, but they're hoping for a far better result. Matt Leinart and USC blew out Oklahoma and Jason White back in 2005...in the same Dolphins Stadium that hosts this year's game. Oklahoma is hoping for a result similar to the first BCS title decided in this stadium back in 2001, when they were thoroughly dominant in a 13-2 win over Florida State.

Urban Meyer's Gators are in search of their second national title in the last three seasons, and it would also make it three straight for the SEC. The water cooler talk will be all about which conference is superior: the SEC or the Big 12. The two leagues have met just one other time this bowl season, with Ole Miss knocking off Texas Tech in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Could there be any clues within that game when it comes to predicting the outcome of the FedEx BCS National Championship Game? That's a tough question to answer, even with the Rebels being able to pressure Graham Harrell despite a spread offense that did a good job of keeping him upright this year.

As good as Florida is up front, they don't have a Peria Jerry or Greg Hardy (although DE Carlos Dunlap does have nine sacks on the season) to put constant pressure on Bradford. But they're stronger than many think, and the difference between the SEC and other leagues on the defensive side of the football is their combination of strength and speed up front. Plain and simple, that Gator front four is going to have to get to Bradford in order to win this game. If he's back there with all kinds of time to pick out open receivers, this one will get ugly. The question on the other side is how well will the Sooners play on defense. They've got some mediocre rankings (62nd in total defense, 58th in scoring defense, 99th in pass defense), but if people are going to laud the Big 12 for its outstanding offenses then you have to take that into consideration when evaluating the Sooners heading into this game.

No question Brent Venables' unit lost something when MLB Ryan Reynolds went down in the Red River Rivalry game against Texas. And it didn't help matters when Austin Box was lost just as he was growing into the role as a starter (Box will be available for this game and either he or Mike Balogun will start at MLB). But you have to keep in mind another ranking when talking about the Oklahoma defense: time of possession. Sam Bradford and company, due to their explosive nature, was ranked 70th (29:46) which means that opponents had a lot of time to throw the ball around in hopes of staying competitive. But the cynics will bring up the fact that Florida ranked 71st in time of possession yet was 7th in total defense, ignoring the fact that the Gators faced offenses that were far more ordinary than some of the Big 12's best.

An aspect of this game to keep an eye on is special teams, an area that clearly goes to the Gators, and that would have been the case even if DeMarco Murray were able to go in this one. Florida is ninth nationally in punt return defense, allowing just 4.85 yards per return (they're also 9th in net punting while the Sooners are 82nd). Neither team is very good when it comes to kickoff coverage, but without Murray you have to expect a dropoff of some sort for the Sooners in the kick return game. And with a punt returner like Florida's Brandon James, one man getting out of his lane could be the difference between a simple change in possession and six points on the scoreboard. And keep an eye on penalties, not so much how many (both teams were among the worst in college football, averaging more than seven per game) but when they occur. Losing a big play (or giving one up) because of a flag can be demoralizing for the offending team.

Keep an eye on these players: Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham and Florida LB Brandon Spikes

OK, I have to admit watching Todd McShay on ESPN earlier today in regards to Gresham, who has the athletic ability and size to make things very hard on the Gator linebackers. He may be the one offensive weapon on the field for the Sooners that defensive coordinator Charlie Strong will worry about stopping. As for Spikes, I don't expect him to see too much coverage time on Gresham. His job will be vital to Florida's success on defense: getting guys in their proper positions in the midst of that hurry-up offense that Oklahoma has run to near-perfection this season. If Florida gets caught in a moment of confusion (either someone doesn't know the play or someone is late coming onto/getting off of the field) they're in trouble and will more than likely give up a big play.

A few more key players: Oklahoma's starting MLB (either Austin Box or Mike Balogun) and Florida's running back platoon

Whichever linebacker gets the start in the middle for Oklahoma will have a tough task in front of him: Tim Tebow. Either Box or Balogun will have plenty of help when the Gators run the football out of their spread, but there will be times when either guy will be on an island with Tebow or one of the many talented backs at his disposal. Keeping Florida's big plays on the ground to a minimum will get them off the field and put the ball back into the hands of Bradford and friends on offense. As for those running backs (Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody, Kestahn Moore and Harvin when they hand off to him), they'll need to be productive in order to relieve some of the pressure on Tebow. Demps, Rainey and Harvin can flat-out fly and with one touch turn this game into a track meet that the Sooners most likely wouldn't win, and Moody has been playing better the last month of the season.

My deciding factor: special teams.

Maybe I'm giving Oklahoma's defense too much credit, but when a unit gets talked about in the manner that they have leading up to this game you have to assume that they're going to bring it. That's why the choice here is special teams. Oklahoma's Jimmy Stevens was 8-11 on field goals this season and 92-97 on extra points. Florida's Jonathan Phillips didn't see much more action, going 11-12 on field goals and 75-76 on extra points. But the kickers aren't the concern here; it's Oklahoma's inability to cover kickoffs and punts with consistency. That's something, along with punting (Oklahoma's Mike Knall averaged 36.4 yards per punt but it's not like he got many reps; Florida's Chas Henry averaged 42.8 per kick) that may have Sooner fans worried. It's been said before: you must be sound in the kicking game.

My pick: Florida 41-31.

As much as I like that chip that'll be on the shoulders of that Oklahoma defense, I like Florida a little bit more. Even with Dan Mullen calling his final game before taking over at Mississippi State, that kind of arrangement hasn't been a distraction for most of the teams going through the same setup this bowl season. And while I expect Bradford to play well, I think there is something to that Heisman jinx especially when you take into consideration all the demands that come with winning that honor. Urban Meyer becomes the first head coach to win two BCS national titles...but try not to hold me to that. Enjoy the game!

Metro Ranking and Report: Update #6

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:05:38 -0500

Conference Honors

America East: Despite their loss at Binghamton on Monday night it was a good week for Stony Brook, who won games at Air Force and defending America East champ UMBC. Junior Muhammad El-Amin shared the conference Player of the Week award with New Hampshire's Alvin Abreu, and freshman Bryan Dougher was named America East Rookie of the Week. While El-Amin accounted for 19.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in the two wins, Dougher averaged 20.5 points per game.

Big East: St. John's guard Paris Horne was named to the league's honor roll for his play in a 1-1 week for the Red Storm. In their upset of #10 Notre Dame on Saturday Horne scored fourteen points, and he averaged fifteen per game along with three steals for the two games.

Ivy League: Columbia freshman Norwua Agho was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week for his play in two tough losses for the Lions. In games against Sacred Heart and Lehigh Agho averaged 14.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Area players named to the conference's Honor Roll include Columbia guard Kevin Bulger, Princeton guard Dan Mavraides and Yale forward Ross Morin.

MAAC: Marist guard R.J. Hall was named the league's Rookie of the Week for his play in games against Binghamton and Rider. Hall averaged 15.5 points per game and shot 55.6% from behind the arc.

NEC: Area players snagged both honors in the NEC this week, with FDU guard Sean Baptiste taking Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week and Long Island's Julian Boyd being named Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week. Baptiste averaged 25.3 points per game last week, while Boyd posted averages of eight points and six rebounds per game.

Weekly Honors

Team of the Week: Stony Brook

What they did: Road wins at Air Force (67-64) and UMBC (69-61)

Head coach Steve Pikiell has this team headed in the right direction, even with a loss on Monday night to a hot Binghamton team on the road. But for the Seawolves to get out of this three-game stretch on the road with a record of 2-1 is something that needs to be acknowledged. Winning in Clune Arena is tough for Mountain West teams, so for Stony Brook to go out west and pull out a close win is pretty impressive. Combine this with their win in Baltimore over the defending conference champions on Saturday and you've got two pieces of evidence that this program is moving up in the America East pecking order.

Newcomers Muhammad El-Amin and Bryan Dougher were both honored by the conference for their play, but the two wins were also results of solid defense (holding UMBC to 35.9% from the field) and rebounding (33-23 edge on the boards at Air Force helped counteract the Falcons shooting 52.8%; Stony Brook attempted nineteen more shots as a result). If the Seawolves can keep this effort up they'll have a serious shot at moving into the middle of the pack in America East.

Also deserving praise for their play last week are Long Island (home wins over Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart moved the Blackbirds to 3-1 in the NEC), Rider (wins over Iona and Marist have the Broncs at 3-0 in the MAAC) and St. John's (recovering from a serious beating at Providence to knock off then-#10 Notre Dame at MSG).

Player of the Week: Sean Baptiste (Fairleigh Dickinson)

While he didn't start off the week in the best form, scoring just eight points in a loss to Rhode Island, Baptiste more than made up for that in the Knights' win over Quinnipiac on Saturday. 37 points and eight rebounds on 12-18 shooting from the field; simply put the junior guard was in a zone that some would have a hard time believing to be true. FDU may be 2-11 overall, with the newcomers still struggling to mesh in head coach Tom Green's system, but Baptiste has had a major role in both wins that also have the Knights right in the middle of the NEC standings at 2-2. One of the better guards in the metropolitan area, don't let his efforts get lost in the shuffle like the exploits of Manny Ubilla did last year.

Other players who should be mentioned (besides those honored by their conferences) include Rutgers' Mike Rosario (19.3 ppg in losses to North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Connecticut), Seton Hall's Jeremy Hazell (26 ppg in losses to Syracuse and West Virginia) and St. John's D.J. Kennedy (20 points, 10 rebounds in the Red Storm's 71-65 win over Notre Dame).

Schedule (January 6th-12th)

Tuesday January 6th

7 PM: Fairfield @ Army
8 PM: #17 Villanova @ Seton Hall The Pirates weren't done any favors in regards to their conference schedule, and they could be in serious jeopardy of starting Big East play 0-4. Visit a ranked Syracuse, host a West Virginia team that should have been ranked a few weeks ago...and follow those two blowout losses with Villanova. The backcourt matchups should be entertaining, but that's not the area of concern for the Pirates. John Garcia will have to work himself back into shape due to the time he missed with a knee injury, and neither Mike Davis or Brandon Walters have stepped up to fill that void. 6-6, 180-pound Robert Mitchell is playing the four, and while some may cite the fact that Brian Laing played that role at times last season you have to keep in mind that the now-departed Laing was much stronger than Mitchell is. Bobby Gonzalez needs this win in the worst way if the Pirates are to keep alive fleeting hopes of a postseason bid.

Wednesday January 7th

7 PM: St. Bonaventure @ Fordham
Delaware @ Hofstra This sets up to be a key game in the CAA with both teams sporting 1-2 league records. Hofstra was ice-cold from the field in their loss to Drexel on Saturday, but they take on a Delaware team that has allowed 72.6 points per game on the year. That could be enough to snap Tom Pecora's team out of their current slump, but the Blue Hens have a trio of outstanding guards in Jawan Carter, Alphonso Dawson and Marc Egerson, all of whom average at least fifteen points per game. Even with George Mason and Northeastern leading the CAA with 3-0 records, this conference is shaping up to be an absolute dogfight, especially in the middle of the standings.
Bryant @ LIU
Yale @ NJIT
7:30: #15 Marquette @ Rutgers

Thursday January 8th

7 PM: FDU @ Mount St. Mary's
Wagner @ Central Connecticut State
St. Francis (PA) @ Sacred Heart
Maine @ Stony Brook This one sets up to be a test for how much the Seawolves have improved given the fact that on paper they should beat the Black Bears at home. Winning games you're expected to win is another step in going from also-ran to a player in your conference race. If Muhammad El-Amin and Bryan Dougher can continue their solid play of late, look for Stony Brook to pick up another conference win in their first America East home game of the year.

Friday January 9th

7 PM: NJIT @ Columbia
Fairfield @ Loyola (MD)
Marist @ Manhattan
Rider @ Siena Rider is just a half-game behind overwhelming favorite Siena in the MAAC standings, but a look at their three league wins (Manhattan, Iona and Marist) may have some wondering of the Broncs are once again a contender. Ryan Thompson is up to his usual tricks, filling just about every column imaginable on a stat sheet and he's been helped by senior guard Harris Mansell and sophomore forward Mike Ringgold. The individual matchup between Thompson and Siena's Edwin Ubiles should be worth the price of admission itself, and the Broncs may still be smarting over the blowout they suffered in last year's MAAC Tournament final. Rest assured we'll know a lot more about Tommy Dempsey's team after this game.
Niagara @ St. Peter's
Canisius @ Iona

Saturday January 10th

Noon: Hofstra @ VCU
2 PM: Seton Hall @ #13 Notre Dame
Hartford @ Yale
4 PM: Colgate @ Army
Robert Morris @ Sacred Heart While neither team was picked to win the NEC, both are expected to be in the race throughout the season. And with preseason pick (and defending tournament champ) Mount St. Mary's sitting at 0-3 right now the winner stands to pick up some important separation in what should be a hotly-contested race. The Pioneers will have to account for Colonials' guard Jeremy Chappell, who's currently averaging just over seventeen points per game and also leads the team in rebounding. With four players averaging double digits Dave Bike's team is more balanced that Robert Morris, and they'll have to use that to their advantage in this one.
4:30: Mount St. Mary's @ St. Francis (NY)
7 PM: FDU @ Central Connecticut State
LIU @ Wagner
7:30: #9 Syracuse @ Rutgers

Sunday January 11th

Noon: St. John's @ #1 Pittsburgh
1 PM: #18 Xavier @ Fordham
2 PM: Loyola (MD) @ St. Peter's
Iona @ Rider
3 PM: Canisius @ Fairfield
4 PM: Siena @ Manhattan the Jaspers, my pick to be a sleeper in the MAAC this season, get a shot at the defending champs in Draddy Gymnasium. Both Chris Smith and Darryl Crawford have stepped up on the scoreboard this season, but this is a game in which head coach Barry Rohrssen will need outstanding performances from his two established stars (Antoine Pearson and Devon Austin) in order to pull off the upset. The frontcourt will also have to play to its full capability, with Siena having one of the league's best power forwards in Alex Franklin.
Niagara @ Marist

Updated Ranking (previous week in parentheses)

1. St. John's (10-4; 2)
2. Seton Hall (9-5; 1)
3. Rider (8-5; 8)
4. Fairfield (8-6; 3)
5. Rutgers (9-6; 5)
6. Hofstra (9-5; 4)
7. Wagner (9-4; 7)
8. Stony Brook (8-6; 9)
9. Manhattan (8-6; 6)
10. Marist (6-10; 10)
11. Iona (6-9; 11)
12. LIU (6-7; 14)
13. Sacred Heart (4-9; 12)
14. Columbia (4-9; 13)
15. Princeton (3-8; 16)
16. Yale (3-9; 15)
17. Army (4-9; 18)
18. Monmouth (4-12; 20)
19. St. Francis (NY) (3-10; 17)
20. St. Peter's (4-10; 21)
21. FDU (2-12; 19)
22. Fordham (2-10; 22)
23. NJIT (0-14; 23)

NYC Metro Hoops

College Football: Tostitos Fiesta and GMAC Previews

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:56:10 -0500

Seemed like just another Sunday before the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl within the college football world, with the focus going to the NFL Playoffs and college basketball. Well, the NFL brought college football into the news in a way that has to be a shock to some. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the powers that be at Boston College have thrown a possible deterrent to head coach Jeff Jagodzinski interviewing with the Jets on Monday in regards to their head coach opening: if he goes through with the interview he'll possibly lose his job. Not sure if this has ever been done, although I do recall St. John's letting Fran Fraschilla go instead of giving him a raise to ward off New Mexico some years ago.

The other interesting bit of news in regards to the coaching situation at BC is who's expected to take over should Coach Jags be let go: offensive coordinator Steve Logan. He's got the head coaching experience, having run the program at East Carolina before he was replaced by Skip Holtz. What about defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani, who's been in Chestnut Hill for about a decade? Coach Spaziani could have gone to NC State with Tom O'Brien when he took that job, but he stayed true to BC. Of course more will come out regarding this situation within the next 24-48 hours, but things suddenly don't look so stable for a program that has played in the last two ACC Championship games.

But it's back to the business of finishing off the bowl season, which most recently has seen both USC and Utah make statements as to why they should be considered for the top spot in the AP poll (the Coaches' Poll is obligated to vote the winner of the BCS Championship Game #1), and Connecticut's Donald Brown topped 2,000 yards on a day in which some had to wonder how this guy wasn't a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. Monday night brings a matchup in the desert between two of the game's most storied programs, one that most likely won't be the blowout that many are predicting. The next night's game in Mobile promises to light up the scoreboard with two of college football's most prolific offensive attacks and two of the nation's best quarterbacks. Here's a preview of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the GMAC Bowl.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: #10 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas, Monday 8 PM on Fox

It's rare that you see a program the caliber of Ohio State in the role of underdog, but that's where they find themselves heading into the Fiesta Bowl. Despite yet another Big Ten title (a share this season, with Penn State winning the head-to-head tiebreaker) and another trip to a BCS bowl game, the Buckeye seniors have had to defend their program and their legacy heading into this game. Seems that all anyone wants to bring up are the two straight losses in national title games to SEC opponents and the 35-3 beating they took at USC back in September. So even though they've accomplished many great things and have some trophies to show for it, Ohio State goes into this game having to not only defend what they've done but also change the perceptions of their program and league. Slow, plodding...they can't possibly keep up with the best that the rest of the nation has to offer.

But take a look at that defense, which is one of the country's best and bound to give Texas QB Colt McCoy and company some trouble in Glendale. Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, along with Thorpe Award-winning corner Malcolm Jenkins, have the ability and savvy to throw a monkey wrench into the Longhorn plans of showing the nation that they should be number one, not Oklahoma (should the Sooners win on Thursday). There's experience on both sides of the football, including a running back in Beanie Wells who may very well be playing his final game in the Scarlet and Gray and a solid offensive line. The one question mark could be how Terrelle Pryor handles his first bowl game, but the overall experience of this team should keep him under control.

The issue for Ohio State is a simple one: how do they plan to contain Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, without a doubt the country's best defensive lineman? With him on one end and (in passing downs) Sergio Kindle on the other, their speed on the edge could make things rather difficult for the Buckeyes. The one area of weakness for the Longhorn defense is their incredibly young secondary, who despite defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's group leading the nation in sacks (and the Big 12 in rush defense) ranked just eighth in the Big 12 in pass defense (266.3 yards/game). Ohio State isn't a passing juggernaut, but receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline can get some things done in this game.

The task for the Buckeye defense isn't as simple as shutting down Colt McCoy, who is also the leading rusher for Mack Brown. Receivers Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are capable of challenging Jenkins in the passing game, something that few teams they've faced have even attempted to do. And it isn't just McCoy on the ground for the Longhorns, with Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whitaker and Vondrell McGee also contributing to the Big 12's fourth-best rush offense. This game should be closer than Big Ten critics think, but in the end it'll be the Longhorns who get the job done, despite a disadvantage in the stands.

GMAC Bowl: #22 Ball State vs. Tulsa, Tuesday 8 PM on ESPN

This game stands to be an entertaining one, with quarterbacks David Johnson (Tulsa) and Nate Davis (Ball State) poised to put up some big numbers in Mobile. Both teams are coming off of disappointing losses in their respective conference title games, but the Cardinals will have to deal with the added distraction of head coach Brady Hoke accepting the San Diego State job. Turnovers will tell the tale in this game, with the two teams combining for twelve turnovers in their last game (seven for the Golden Hurricane). Tulsa blew out Bowling Green 63-7 in last season's GMAC Bowl, but they should get a test in this one.

But for as good as the quarterbacks are in this game, don't forget about running backs Tarrion Adams (Tulsa) and Miquale Lewis (Ball State), two of the best in their respective leagues. The defenses will be challenged, but the Cardinals may have a slight edge in that department due in large part to a pass defense that has given up just over 206 yards per game. Unfortunately for them, they could give that up by halftime in this one. Look for a win for the Golden Hurricane, a good way to celebrate head coach Todd Graham's recent contract extension.

College Football: January 1st-3rd Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:59:32 -0500

Happy New Year! The first day of 2009 offers up some intriguing matchups on the gridiron, but given the recent phenomena of spreading out bowl games over an entire month New Year's Day can seem a bit barren to some. Bragging rights for conferences are on the line as well, most notably in a couple of matchups between the Big Ten and SEC along with a traditional showdown in Pasadena. The league/team with the most to lose: Virginia Tech, champions of the ACC. They (and the conference) don't gain much with a win over Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl; but should the Hokies lose (making it nine straight losses for the ACC champ in BCS games) a league that was lauded by some for its balance takes a big hit in the eyes of the public. Here's the schedule for January 1st-3rd.

And I seriously regret picking Georgia Tech to win the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Wow.

Thursday January 1st

Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Iowa (Tampa), 11 AM on ESPN

The first game of the day isn't without the intrigue of job speculations, with it being reported that Scott Pioli, the popular Patriots executive being interviewed for just about every opening in the NFL, stating that he favors Kirk Ferentz as his head coach should he accept the job in Cleveland. Well, Coach Ferentz is still in Iowa City but you have to wonder if the many off-field issues have him thinking about this being the time to move on to the next level. This could be a distraction for a team that just began to round into shape at season's end. Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene will be tested by a stout Gamecock defense, a unit that played a big role in Steve Spurrier's team getting to a bowl game in spite of a spastic offense. Given their lack of consistency at the quarterback position, I can't pick South Carolina to win this game. Look for an improving Ricky Stanzi do just enough to get the Hawkeyes the win.

Capital One Bowl: #15 Georgia vs. #18 Michigan State (Orlando), 1 PM on ABC

Distractions are also in this game, with many thinking that this could be the last hurrah for Georgia stars Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. A young offensive line that's been hit hard by injuries had a month of practices to gel should be ready for what Michigan State will throw at them and could be building towards an outstanding 2009. As for the Spartans, they've had RB Javon Ringer and little else on the offensive side of the football, and there isn't much faith in Brian Hoyer hitting the jackpot in this game. Georgia's got better athletes and a balanced attack, which should take care of any early-game letdown on their part.

Konica Gator Bowl: Nebraska vs. Clemson (Jacksonville), 1 PM on CBS

Not too much talk about this game, but when there is a mention it usually centers around the merits of the Tigers being in this game. 5-5 against FBS opponents and a dismissed head coach will do that, especially when you have a history of following up big expectations with small results. But with James Davis, Cullen Harper and (possibly) C.J. Spiller all headed to the next level head coach Dabo Swinney may be able to coax one more spectacular performance out of this group. But they'll be facing an improved Nebraska defense led by defensive end Ndamukong Suh looking to hang onto its recently returned Blackshirts, and an offense led by a capable quarterback in Joe Ganz. Look for the Huskers to win this game and build towards a 2009 that should see them challenge for a Big 12 title.

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi: #8 Penn State vs. #5 USC (Pasadena), 4:30 PM on ABC

All the talk in regards to the Rose Bowl has been about how will Penn State manage to do anything against the powerful USC defense, and whether or not they're athletic enough to stay on the field with the Trojans. You hear this kind of talk for about a month, and the competitor within you gets fed up and a level of anxiety takes over. Not out of nerves, but the desire to get on the field and show the world what you're truly capable of. To be honest about that USC defense, how many of their opponents have shown the willingness to stand toe-to-toe with them and turn the game into a slugfest? Oregon State did it back in September, and you all know what happened there. RB Evan Royster will be a huge factor in this game if the Nittany Lions are to win this game, and a Penn State defense that's pretty good itself will challenge Mark Sanchez and his many weapons. Look for the Trojans to win this game, but it'll be closer than many people think. Joe Paterno's got a pretty good football team.

FedEx Orange Bowl: #12 Cincinnati vs. #19 Virginia Tech (Miami), 8:30 PM on Fox

I stated earlier how important this game is to the Hokies and the conference they represent. But how much of a distraction will it be for the Bearcats to move out of their hotel the night before the game (Diddy is staying there too, and a New Year's Eve bash isn't the best way to get ready for the biggest game in program history)? Virginia Tech moved from their posh digs as well, but they had that plan in the making for some time. Tyrod Taylor will be a tough matchup for a stout Cincinnati defense, but they've already seen Pat White (West Virginia) and Matt Grothe (USF) this season, so DE Connor Barwin and DT Terrill Byrd should be fine. Cincinnati also has a potent offense that will have just about all of its quarterbacks healthy and ready to go should head coach Brian Kelly call upon any of them. The Hokies will be motivated for this game, and the atmosphere will be new territory for the Bearcats. But once they calm down, look for their talent (especially WRs Mardy Gilyard and Dominick Goodman) to take over in a Cincinnati win.

Friday January 2nd

Cotton Bowl: #25 Mississippi vs. #7 Texas Tech (Dallas), 2 PM on Fox

This one will be entertaining to say the least. The Red Raiders will look to sling the ball all over the field, but they may be going up against one of the best lines (both offensive and defensive) in the nation. You probably know all about Rebels offensive tackle Michael Oher, who stands to make a lot of money in the near future. But what about defensive end Greg Hardy and defensive tackle Peria Jerry? Hardy missed the upset win over Florida, but Jerry was a destructive force in that win in The Swamp. Head coach Houston Nutt has taken the talent left over from the Ed Orgeron era and given it direction, and it's hard to argue with the results. Texas Tech could be a bit distracted, with the talk of where Mike Leach may be headed combined with the draft status of Michale Crabtree. But they should still win this game.

Autozone Liberty Bowl: Kentucky vs. East Carolina (Memphis), 5 PM on ESPN

The Conference USA champs will look to bookend their season with wins over opponents from BCS conferences. The Pirates forced seven turnovers in their win over Tulsa in the conference title game, and in facing a Kentucky offense that's lacked stability at quarterback there's a chance that Skip Holtz's Pirates could rack up some more takeaways. Look for QB Patrick Pinkney to make a couple of plays in the passing game, leading ECU to the win.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: #6 Utah vs. #4 Alabama (New Orleans), 8 PM on Fox

The Crimson Tide were dealt a major blow when star LT Andre Smith was suspended due to improper dealings with an agent. So one part of the best offensive line in the SEC is now out, which could mean a big night for Utah DE Paul Kruger. Personally, I feel cheated because this had the makings of the best individual matchup in all of the BCS bowls. Utah makes the fourth team to crash the BCS party, becoming the first program to do it twice. But they aren't facing anyone near the level of that Pittsburgh team they blew out in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back. They've been hearing for some time that they can't compete with the SEC, but QB Brian Johnson and friends have the ability to make some plays against that Alabam defense. Their problem is the man who runs the show at Alabama: Nick Saban. Look for him to cook up some defensive schemes to take care of that spread offense, with the Crimson Tide offense being efficient enough to pick up the win.

Saturday January 3rd

International Bowl: Buffalo vs. Connecticut (Toronto), Noon on ESPN2

This game should be close, similar to the basketball game played between the two last month. The Huskies have struggled mightily at quarterback this season, while that hasn't been the case for the Bulls and senior Drew Willy. They've got one of the hot names in coaching in Turner Gill and a running back in James Starks who's pretty good in his own right. Add to this the fact that even with Donald Brown toting the football UConn has to deal with offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose taking the Towson job and you could have the recipe for a Buffalo win. Keep an eye on how well Husky defensive back Darius Butler plays in his first game back since injuring his knee almost two months ago. Bulls win by a touchdown due to their offensive balance.

Metro Ranking and Report: Update #5

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:22:50 -0500

The final days of 2008, for most of the teams in the area (save the Ivies and NJIT), mean a transition into full-time conference play. Some schools still have a game or two outside of conference play later in the season, but for the most part it's all about focusing on the direct way of getting to the NCAA Tournament. Big East play begins early this week, and despite a big win over FDU Seton Hall fans have to wonder what the opener at Syracuse will bring for a team that lacks bodies inside. St. John's has been juggling injuries of late, which has forced some youngsters to step into expanded roles. And Rutgers is making some history, becoming the first school to take on the nation's top three teams in consecutive games. Pitt at home on Wednesday, and then a trip north to take on UConn Saturday.

But that's not the only league that'll require metropolitan area schools to run the gauntlet, with the NEC looking to be wide-open and the MAAC possibly being a deeper league than many expected with the preseason "Siena and the rest of them" prognostications. Hofstra has won nine of their last eleven games and have the look of a serious contender in the CAA, while Steve Pikiell has a much-improved Stony Brook squad looking to make a move up the standings in America East. Can any of these teams, at the least, set themselves up for a run come conference tournament time? That remains to be seen, but these early conference games will set the tone for 2009.

Team of the Week: Marist

The Red Foxes were one of the few teams in the area to play two games last week, and they went ahead and won both while snagging a pair of individual honors in the MAAC as well. Marist was competitive last week while going 0-2 in the Aeropostale Holiday Festival, but it was painfully obvious how important injured point guard David Devezin is. Head coach Chuck Martin will definitely need Devezin back for the lion's share of MAAC play, but he had to be encouraged by the play of freshman R.J. Hall at the point in wins over Delaware and Bucknell. Five and a half assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.57 is a good way to play heading back into conference play.

And don't forget the stellar play of senior Ryan Schneider, who has taken off in Coach Martin's offensive system. It was known that Schneider can put the ball in the basket, but for him to rebound the ball as well as he has this season (9.3 rpg) and last week (14.0 rpg) could mean that the Red Foxes won't finish in the MAAC cellar. And he'll earn postseason honors as well. There were some growing pains for this program early on, but Marist could very well be a dangerous team for some of the MAAC favorites in the coming weeks.

Player of the Week: G Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall)

The sophomore from Harlem is at it again, cementing his reputation as one of the best scorers in the Big East while also expanding his game. In a 101-70 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Hazell went for 35 points and six rebounds. He currently leads the Big East in scoring at a clip of 22.4 points per game. But despite his scoring prowess, he can still improve as a ballhandler. He had five turnovers and no assists on Saturday, numbers that could make things very difficult for both himself and his team in conference play. Syracuse has played more man-to-man this season than in years past, and that may be a good thing for them heading into Tuesday's conference opener. This man is capable of hanging thirty on just about anyone.

Other outstanding performers last week include FDU's Sean Baptiste, Marist's Ryan Schneider, Rutgers' Mike Rosario and Stony Brook's Muhammad El-Amin.

Conference Honors

America East: Stony Brook juinor Muhammad El-Amin was honored as one of "The Best of the Rest" by the conference following last week's action. In a win over St. Peter's El-Amin tallied twenty-seven points, twenty of which came in the first half.

Atlantic 10: Fordham freshman guard Jio Fontan was named conference Co-Rookie of the Week following his eighteen point performance in the Rams' 60-56 win over New Hampshire on the 23rd. It's the second time winning the award for Fontan, who knocked down the gamewinning shot against the Wildcats.

Big East: Rutgers freshman guard Mike Rosario was named Big East Rookie of the Week due to his play in a 1-1 week for the Scarlet Knights. Rosario followed up a 24-point performance in a win over NJIT with twenty-six in a loss last night at #1 North Carolina. Rosario leads conference freshmen with an average of 17.5 points per game and leads the entire conference in free throw percentage (88.0%).

Ivy League: A pair of Yale Bulldogs were honored by the league for their play in a hard-fought 66-63 loss at Alabama last week. Senior Travis Pinick was named Player of the Week by the Ivy League for his seventeen points and eleven boards, while classmate Ross Morin was named to the Honor Roll for his twenty points against the Crimson Tide.

MAAC: Marist took home a pair of honors due to their 2-0 week. Senior forward Ryan Schneider, who averaged 25.5 points and 14.0 rebounds per game in wins over Delaware and Bucknell, was named Player of the Week. Freshman guard R.J. Hall, who averaged 8.5 points and 5.5 assists in the two wins, was named MAAC Rookie of the Week.

Schedule (December 30th-January 5th)

Tuesday 12/30

7 PM: Seton Hall @ #11 Syracuse this is the first game that will give us an idea of how the lack of size will affect the Pirates within the Big East. In Arinze Onuaku the Orange have one of the better big men in the conference; if it becomes apparent that they forget that and ignore him the look for the Hall to make this game very interesting. Eric Devendorf will also be back for Syracuse after missing time due to a university-imposed suspension. The Pirates will have to force turnovers and get the Orange to play faster than they want to if they're to steal the win on the road.
Rhode Island @ FDU
Princeton @ Lafayette
Marist @ Binghamton
Yale @ Hampton
St. Francis (NY) @ Ohio
Army @ Florida Gulf Coast
7:30: LIU @ Charlotte
8 PM: Wagner @ Kansas State

Wednesday 12/31

2 PM: #3 Pittsburgh @ Rutgers
Sacred Heart @ Boston College
Lehigh @ NJIT
4 PM: Manhattan @ La Salle
St. John's @ Providence Rutgers may be playing the higher-profile opponent on this night, but it's the Red Storm who find themselves in a far more important game within the Big East. No one is suggesting that either the Johnnies or Friars will crack the elite of the Big East, but any slim hopes of postseason play for either can be either helped or hurt in a big way in this game. Freshman TyShawn Edmondson will have to play well on the road against a solid backcourt led by Jeff Xavier.
5 PM: Stony Brook @ Air Force

Thursday 1/1

2 PM: Rider @ Iona
Fairfield @ Siena while most of the nation will focus on the bowl games being played, the top two teams in the MAAC preseason poll will meet in the Times Union Center. The Saints finally picked up a solid non-conference road win this weekend, beating St. Joseph's by a single point. But for as powerful as Fran McCaffrey's team remains, Ronald Moore has been inconsistent at the point thus far which could mean a big game for senior Jonathan Han. Individual matchup to watch: Fairfield's Warren Edney and Siena's Edwin Ubiles, two of the best swingmen in the league.

Friday 1/2

4 PM: Yale @ Bryant
7 PM: Columbia @ Lehigh
7:30: St. Peter's @ Marist these two were picked to finish in the MAAC cellar, but unlike the Peacocks Marist has shown signs recently of exceeding those expectations. As of right now it's unknown if David Devezin will be able to play, but if R.J. Hall can play like he did last week then Marist will be in good shape. St. Peter's has one of the better guards in the area that few people talk about in sophomore Wesley Jenkins.

Saturday 1/3

1 PM: NJIT @ Vermont
2 PM: #10 Notre Dame @ St. John's
Fordham @ Bowling Green
MIT @ Yale
UNC Greensboro @ Princeton
Drexel @ Hofstra the Dragons have struggled this season, but Bruiser Flint's team should still be respected as a possible spoiler in the CAA. As for Tom Pecora's Pride, they'll be looking to build on their win over Towson last month and stay on top of the league standings. Charles Jenkins will have his hands full with a defense that can make hunting for shots as fun as a root canal at times.
CCSU @ LIU
4 PM: West Virginia @ Seton Hall
7 PM: Army @ Dartmouth
St. Francis (NY) @ Wagner
Quinnipiac @ FDU
Manhattan @ Niagara The Purple Eagles are armed with the deepest backcourt in the MAAC, a good reason why they were picked to finish third in the conference. But the Jaspers aren't bad in that area either, with Chris Smith, Antoine Pearson and Darryl Crawford leading the way. The key to this one could be the frontcourt, where Benson Egemonye has been one of the league's best for Joe Mihalich's squad. As for Manhattan, Devon Austin will have to make some things happen for the Jaspers to pull off the win on the road.
Sacred Heart @ Monmouth
7:05: Stony Brook @ UMBC

Sunday 1/4

2 PM: St. Peter's @ Siena
3 PM: Marist @ Rider
3:30: Fairfield @ Iona the Gaels are still looking to find their way as a team, especially with Kyle Smyth and Gary Springer both missing time due to injury in recent weeks. While Springer is expected back soon, this is a key weekend for Smyth since he's only played in one game, leaving head coach Kevin Willard with arguably his best perimeter shooter. Scott Machado has played well recently, and he'll have to bring more of the same in this one.

Monday 1/5

7 PM: Hofstra @ Northeastern
Stony Brook @ Binghamton this game will give a clearer picture in regards to just how improved the Seawolves are this season. The Bearcats were picked to finish fifth in America East despite losing their top three scorers from a season ago, while Stony Brook found themselves in last yet again. The newcomers have played well for Coach Pikiell's team so far, most notably Muhammad El-Amin. This is a winnable game for Stony Brook, but a tight loss could tell us just as much as a win would: this team has improved.
Sacred Heart @ LIU
CCSU @ Monmouth
7:30: Manhattan @ Canisius
Columbia @ American
8 PM: Wagner @ FDU

Updated Rankings (previous in parentheses)

1. Seton Hall (9-3; 2)
2. St. John's (9-3; 1)
3. Fairfield (8-4; 3)
4. Hofstra (9-3; 4)
5. Rutgers (9-4; 5)
6. Manhattan (7-4; 7)
7. Wagner (7-3; 8)
8. Rider (6-5; 6)
9. Stony Brook (6-5; 11)
10. Marist (5-8; 13)
11. Iona (5-8; 9)
12. Sacred Heart (4-6; 10)
13. Columbia (4-7; 12)
14. LIU (4-6; 14)
15. Yale (2-7; 15)
16. Princeton (2-7; 16)
17. St. Francis (NY) (3-8; 17)
18. Army (3-8; 18)
19. FDU (1-9; 19)
20. Monmouth (2-12; 20)
21. St. Peter's (4-8; 21)
22. Fordham (2-9; 22)
23. NJIT (0-12; 23)

NYC Metro Hoops

College Football: December 29th-31st Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:51:50 -0500

The final days of 2008 are upon us, which means that there will be a glut of bowl games on television and how much each game means is essentially up to the fan bases involved. Outside of the BCS games, it's usually about one of two goals: a springboard into next season (Florida State most likely will be a favorite in the ACC next year) or a final chance to cap a successful campaign (Louisiana Tech did that tonight with a win in the Independence Bowl). A few of the games on the final three days of this year have the capability to light up the scoreboard, and some will offer a contrast in styles that should make for good television. At the least, "styles make fights". Add in two teams in Missouri and LSU that many thought were national title contenders in August but now find themselves looking to salvage something from the season and you've got three good days of football. Here's the schedule for the 29th-31st.

Monday December 29th

Papajohns.com Bowl: NC State vs. Rutgers (Birmingham), 3 PM on ESPN

Two of the hotter teams in the nation meet in this game, and truth be told without their respective streaks they'd both be home for the holidays. Which program does this game mean more for? On the surface the answer would be the Wolfpack, who make a bowl appearance in Tom O'Brien's second year at the school. But it's not like Rutgers has been world-beaters themselves despite the recent run of success under Greg Schiano. And with seniors such as QB Mike Teel and WR Tiquan Underwood playing their final collegiate game you know they'll be ready.

But the key playmaker on offense for Rutgers is a junior, talented wideout Kenny Britt. With his size and speed he's going to be a tough assignment for the NC State defense. On the other side there's a talented freshman quarterback in Russell Wilson, who grew exponentially as the season progressed. Look for Rutgers to win a close one, but keep in mind that Coach O'Brien is one of the best in all of college football when it comes to bowl preparation (he didn't lose one while leading Boston College).

Valero Alamo Bowl: #21 Missouri vs. #23 Northwestern (San Antonio), 8 PM on ESPN

Both teams enter this game with nine wins, but the feelings surrounding that fact couldn't be further apart. Missouri was expected by many to be a suitable challenger for the best in the Big 12 South when the season began; they still won the North but found themselves walking off the Arrowhead Stadium field as another victim of the powerful Oklahoma offense. Expectations went out of the window following losses to Oklahoma State and Texas, dropping this one-time BCS hopeful to the Alamo Bowl.

Northwestern, on the other hand, was a candidate for six or seven wins when the season began but Pat Fitzgerald was able to squeeze nine out of a team hit hard by injuries to their offense. Another good thing for the Wildcats is the return of senior Tyrell Sutton, who missed most of the season due to a serious wrist injury. Even though those facts would lead many to believe that Northwestern would have the momentum, those Missouri seniors (led by Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman and William Moore) are far too proud to lie down in their final game at Mizzou. Tigers win.

Tuesday December 30th

Roady's Humanitarian Bowl: Maryland vs. Nevada (Boise), 4:30 PM on ESPN

Is anyone else wondering whether or not ACC schools relish this road trip? This could be a setup for a non-BCS school taking out the team from a power conference. The Terrapins don't seem to do well in the role of favorite, and many will expect a team led by RB Da'Rel Scott to take care of business. But in Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick they face a playmaker who can get the job done with either his arm or his legs. Across the board Maryland may have more talent, but look for the Wolf Pack to pull off the mild upset.

Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: #13 Oklahoma State vs. #17 Oregon (San Diego), 8 PM on ESPN

Pity the defensive coordinators heading into this game. Both teams are two of the best when it comes to running the football, but the Cowboys are also one of the country's most balanced offenses. QB Zac Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter lead the way for Mike Gundy's team, but don't forget about WR Dez Bryant, TE Brandon Pettigrew or the capable backs who can come off the bench to not only spell Hunter but make things happen themselves. Oregon's got a strong rushing attack, thanks in large part to RB Jeremiah Johnson and a pair of junior college transfers in QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaGarrette Blount.

The last time Oregon's offense saw a color scheme similar to the one they face in this game, they went off to the tune of 694 total yards in a beating of rival Oregon State. If the Cowboys can force Masoli to make more plays through the air then they'll win. But if they don't stop the run then the Ducks will make a habit of running up and down the field. A tough game to call, but go with the Cowboys due to the types of offenses that they've already encountered in the Big 12.

Texas Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Rice (Houston), 8 PM on NFL Network

One of the most prolific passing tandems in the history of college football makes its final appearance in this one, with Rice QB Chase Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard putting on the Owl uniform for the final time. But while watching those two, keep an eye on TE James Casey. There's no telling where Casey could end up on the field for any given play, be it offense or defense. WMU comes into this game with a nice passing game combo themselves in QB Tim Hiller and WR Jamarko Simmons, but it doesn't look like they've got enough to keep up with David Bailiff's team on the scoreboard.

Wednesday December 31st

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Air Force (Fort Worth), Noon on ESPN

This is one of those "styles make fights" games, with Houston looking to spread the field and air it out with QB Case Keenum while the Falcons will run their option attack. Troy Calhoun's Falcons have done a good job most of the season of not shooting themselves in the foot with costly turnovers and penalties, while the Cougars have put up some massive turnover numbers in their losses. And by massive, I mean five- and six-turnover efforts. Both teams are relatively young, making this game a springboard opportunity into 2009 for the winner. Houston has the explosive ability on offense, but are they stout enough to slow down Air Force on defense? Yes, but only by a field goal.

Brut Sun Bowl: Oregon State vs. #20 Pittsburgh (El Paso), 2 PM on CBS

Two of the best running backs in the nation will be on display here, with Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers and Pitt's LeSean McCoy toting the football. Rodgers was banged up late in the season, missing the second half of their win at Arizona along with the home loss to Oregon. If he's able to have an impact in this game that'll open things up downfield for receivers such as older brother James and the dangerous Sammie Stroughter. As for the Panthers, their quest for a tenth win will depend largely upon the legs of McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling, along with some consistency through the air from QB Bill Stull. Look for the Beavers to do just enough to win this football game, although Pitt LB Scott McKillop may be the best performer on the field.

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: #24 Boston College vs. Vanderbilt (Nashville), 3:30 PM on ESPN

Essentially a home game for the Commodores, who make their first bowl appearance since 1982. On the other side is a Boston College team that finds itself once again victimized by the fact that they don't travel well when it comes to bowls. But they win games, having won their last nine bowl games (best in college football). QB Dominique Davis, who looked confused in that ACC Championship Game loss to Virginia Tech, has had a few weeks to get used to the role of starter and should play better in this game. And with the Eagles rarely being a team that hands away opportunities to score, this could be a tough day for Vanderbilt. Boston College makes it ten consecutive bowl wins.

Insight Bowl: Kansas vs. Minnesota (Tempe, AZ), 6 PM on NFL Network

The last bowl game for the Minnesota program was the Insight Bowl a few years ago. And after racing out to a big lead over Texas Tech, the Golden Gophers could do nothing other than watch as the Red Raiders pulled off what would be the biggest comeback in bowl history. That game was also the end for Glen Mason in Minneapolis, meaning that this game is also a match of two schools formerly coached by Mason. Tim Brewster has done some phenominal things with the program in just two years, and with a new stadium set to open in the fall this game could catapult Minnesota to new heights in the near future.

Kansas, on the other hand, makes back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in school history, something that some people have ignored thanks to Mark Mangino taking them to the FedEx Orange Bowl last season. As for this game, what's Minnesota's state of mind? They didn't play well late in the season, and they could be in for a long day should that hangover continue. Look for the Jayhawks to win their second consecutive bowl.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl: LSU vs. #14 Georgia Tech (Atlanta), 7:30 PM on ESPN

When the season began it was Georgia Tech with the major question (Would Paul Johnson's defense work in a BCS league?) and LSU with all the answers thanks to a dominant defense. But as the season progressed the Yellow Jackets became a team that no one wanted to bump into, while the once-feared Tiger defense was at times little more than a speed bump. Can the Tigers stuff an option attack led by backs Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones along with QB Josh Nesbitt? Secondly, can an offense rended inept (at times) by poor play under center wake up behind freshman Jordan Jefferson?

LSU still has one of the best offensive lines in the nation, but they'll be tested by a Georgia Tech front four led by senior DE Michael Johnson. And with Yellow Jacket fans outnumbering Tiger fans at this game, the Georgia Dome could become a loud and uncomfortable locale for a team being led by a young quarterback. Georgia Tech will win this game, setting themselves up for another run at the ACC in 2009.