Marist

Marist Signs Hall & Vouyoukas to National Letters of Intent

Press Release — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:28:23 -0700

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. ? Marist head men’s basketball coach Chuck Martin announced the signing of R.J. Hall and Alex Vouyoukas to National Letters of Intent on Friday. Hall and Vouyoukas, who will attend Marist in the fall of 2008, are the first two players to sign with the Red Foxes since Martin was hired as head coach on April 17. “We are bringing in two quality people with the potential to be outstanding players in this league,” Martin said. “Both come from winning programs, which is extremely important to me and my staff at Marist.”

R.J. Hall ? 5’10” / 170 ? Guard ? Bloomfield Tech ? Bloomfield, N.J.

Hall, a pure point guard, averaged 14 points and five assists per game this past season. His teams at Bloomfield Tech combined for 103 victories in his varsity career. Hall was named First Team All-Essex County and an Essex County Scholar-Athlete.

Martin on Hall: “What I like about R.J. is that he owns speed. It belongs to him. Regardless of who his opponent is, they can’t take that away from him. The way I want to play, that is extremely critical to our program.”

Alex Vouyoukas ? 6’9” / 225 ? Forward ? Blair Academy (N.J.) ? Greece

Vouyoukas, a native of Greece, played this past season at Blair Academy in New Jersey. He helped lead his team to the state prep tournament final this season. Vouyoukas (pronounced Voo-YOU-kas) is trying out this summer for Greece’s 20-and-under national team.

Martin on Vouyoukas: “Alex is a skilled big man who is not afraid to rebound in traffic. With hard work, he can blossom into a very good player in the MAAC.”

Marist also announced that Julius Wells has been given an unconditional release from the National Letter of Intent he had signed this past November. The late signing period concludes May 21. For the latest news on Marist’s 23 Division I sports, log on to GoRedFoxes.com.

-GoRedFoxes.com-

Lots of changes at Marist...and some other Northeast news

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:41:33 -0700

Well, today marks the beginning of the Spring Signing Period, and many fans are awaiting the decision of guard Tyreke Evans. The explosive prerimeter player is said to be leaning in the direction of Memphis, and that's who I'd expect him to sign with due to the departure of Derrick Rose. But the school with the most going on in recent days has to be Marist, who will any day be gaining a head coach, but they've already lost two players. - Memphis assistant Jose "Chucky" Martin to be named Marist head coach. Many services have reported that the official announcement is coming any day now. Martin, a native of New York City, has many ties to the area due to both his playing at St. Raymond's in the Bronx and assistant stints at Manhattan and St. John's. That's the good news for fans of the Red Foxes, who head into this critical portion of the offseason with a head coach in place. As for the bad... - Guard Jay Gavin is transferring to VCU. According to Phil Strum of the Poughkeepsie Journal, star freshman guard Jay Gavin will be leaving Marist at the end of the semester to attend Virginia Commonwealth. He'll have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules, but with the coaching change the people most instrumental in getting him to Marist are now gone (the entire coaching staff went with Matt Brady to James Madison). And speaking of James Madison, former Marist verbal commitment Andrey Semenov will follow Brady and his staff to JMU. Coach Martin will have a lot of work to do in regards to filling out his roster for the upcoming season. - G Doug Wiggins has asked to be released from his scholarship in order to transfer. A couple of weeks ago head coach Jim Calhoun talked about some imminent changes that would be coming this offseason for his program. One domino has fallen apparently, that being East Hartford native Doug Wiggins. Some moves were expected in regards to playing time/off-court issues, and Wiggins certainly had to deal with the latter during his two years in Storrs. But the main thing for Wiggins is to find a place in which he'll see a lot of playing time over his final two seasons. - "Christmas in April" for Rutgers? Maybe. Reported on Monday by Stacey Davis of NYCHoops.net, there is the possibility of St. Benedict's Prep forward and Rutgers commit Greg Echinique accelerating his coursework in order to graduate in time to join the Scarlet Knights this fall. A member of the Class of 2009, sources have told Davis that Echinique has entered an accelerated program with hopes of getting this done. If it can happen, look out for RU next season. - Sources say that Travis Ford could be the new head coach at Oklahoma State any day now. According to ESPN.com, UMass head coach Travis Ford is expected to take the same position at Oklahoma State any day now, just about a week after turning down Providence and agreeing to a new deal to stay at UMass. He replaces Sean Sutton, who was let go after two seasons in Stillwater.

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Year End Review

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:01:55 -0700

Well, another season is in the books, and it was a quiet postseason for metropolitan area schools as only Rider played in a postseason tournament. Alas, their season ended in the CBI with a loss at Old Dominion, but that shouldn’t take away from a season that saw them finish one game away from an NCAA Tournament bid. The injury bug, something that the Broncs didn’t have to deal with all season, came up and bit them during the MAAC Tournament, but they got to the final nonetheless. It was also a good year for Mike Deane’s Wagner Seahawks, who won twenty-three games and finished second in the Northeast Conference. But other than these two, no one else really had a good chance at qualifying for a postseason tournament, something they all look to work on changing as they head into the off-season. Now it’s time to hand out some awards.

Player of the Year: Jason Thompson (Rider)

Numbers: 20.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg

The senior forward from Mount Laurel, N.J., who also won MAAC Player of the Year honors for his efforts, was the centerpiece of the Broncs’ run to a share of the regular season title and a spot in the MAAC Tournament final. Thompson improved both his scoring and rebounding numbers from last season, which is saying something given the fact that he was college basketball’s lone returnee to average “twenty and ten” in 2006-07. Now come the pre-draft workouts for a young man thought by many to be a first-round draft pick, but Rider fans certainly won’t forget the impact that the 2,000-point scorer had on their program.

Coach of the Year: Mike Deane (Wagner)

Record: 23-8 (15-3, 2^nd NEC)

This was a tough one, as Tommy Dempsey of Rider has a strong case as well. But Coach Deane’s Seahawks were a factor in the NEC all season long, holding onto first place in the league for most of the first half of the conference slate. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to regain the services of forward Durell Vinson, but this was an excellent coaching job after last season’s 11-19 showing. But 2008-09 brings about the challenge of replacing three double figure scorers in Vinson, Mark Porter and James Ulrich.

Biggest Surprise: Fairfield

Record: 14-16 (11-7, t-5^th MAAC)

After watching the Stags wrap up a 7-14 start with an 88-60 pasting suffered at the hands of Canisius (who finished 6-25 on the season), it looked like Ed Cooley’s bunch was headed in the wrong direction. But from there they won seven straight and put themselves right in the thick of the MAAC title race heading into the season’s final week. Of course the loss at Rider ended any shot of getting a piece of the title, but it shouldn’t negate the way in which the Stags recovered from their start. I’ll be honest; after the Canisius loss I didn’t expect them to get up off the mat…but they did.

Biggest Disappointment: Fordham

Record: 12-17 (6-10, 12^th Atlantic 10)

For a few seconds I thought about St. Francis (NY), who returned a good amount of talent from last season yet failed to qualify for the NEC Tournament. But there’s no contest for what the Rams did this season. A preseason pick to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10, with five senior starters returning, Dereck Whittenburg’s team struggled to even qualify for the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Not really known as an explosive team on the offensive end of the floor to begin with, the Rams had their trouble on the defensive end of the floor in allowing opponents to shoot 45.5% from the field. Last season, teams shot 43.2% from the field, and Fordham led the A-10 in scoring defense (12^th in 2007-08). With the renaissance experiences by the Atlantic 10, the Rams had all the makings of a team that should have been right in the middle of such positive vibes. But they weren’t.

First-Team All-Metro

G Antoine Agudio (Hofstra) - 22.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg

Every opponent of the Pride knew who their primary scoring option was, but it didn’t seem to matter as Agudio paced Tom Pecora’s team in scoring this season and was a member of the CAA’s All-Conference Team (First Team). With Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera both out of eligibility, the target was squarely on his chest every night. Out of the twenty-seven games Agudio played this season, he eclipsed twenty points in eighteen of those games and failed to reach double figures just once (six points in a win at Drexel). Antoine leaves Hofstra as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,276 points.

G Jarell Brown (Army) – 18.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 40.1% 3PT

A member of the Patriot League’s First-Team All-Conference squad, Brown received about as much attention from opponents as Agudio every night. His scoring average was nearly ten points per game more than the next highest Black Knight (Josh Miller- 8.4). A more than capable perimeter shooter throughout his career at West Point, Brown was able to become a more versatile offensive option, helping Jim Crews’ team reach the Patriot League Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season.

F Brian Laing (Seton Hall) – 18.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 45.5% FG

Laing, a senior forward from the Bronx, was named to the Big East’s First-Team All-Conference squad this season due to his hard work on both ends of the floor. While he was the Pirates’ most consistent offensive option, he also had to pick up the slack on the glass due to their lack of size. In each of his four seasons in South Orange, his scoring and rebounding averages improved, and it became quite clear to opponents that if they wanted to beat the Pirates then slowing down Laing was a must.

F Bryant Dunston (Fordham) - 15.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.0 apg

In an otherwise disappointing season for the Rams, Dunston put up his best rebounding average of his career. If you want to round up the rebounds and give him the season double-double then I’ve got no problem with that; the man has earned it. He also improved his scoring by three points per game, making second-team All-Atlantic 10 in the process. Although five seniors are leaving Fordham, there should be no mistaking who the linchpin of that program has been: Dunston.

F Jason Thompson (Rider) – 20.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg

Player of the Year for these rankings as well as the MAAC, Thompson was the focal point for the Broncs this season. Even when injuries to key contributors during the MAAC Tournament threatened to derail their run towards an NCAA Tournament berth, it was JT who led the way to the MAAC final. Yes, they lost to Siena with the automatic bid on the line, but it’s safe to say that they’re nowhere near that position without Jason’s efforts.

Final Rankings 1-5

1. Rider (23-11)

The Broncs, who were in the top spot for most of the season once they were added in January, finish the year atop the polls. They’re going to have to replace Jason Thompson (along with classmates Kam Warner and Kevin Hickman), but with player such as Ryan Thompson, Harris Mansell and Mike Ringgold slated to return Tommy Dempsey’s team should be in the middle of things in the MAAC.

2. Seton Hall (17-15)

It was an interesting ride for the Pirates, with a five-game winning streak and the resulting optimism giving way to the harsh reality that this team lacked the depth inside needed to make a move up the Big East standings. Add to this the suspension of head coach Bobby Gonzalez for next season’s conference opener due to his behavior during and after the home loss to Rutgers and you’ve got a program with some questions to answer in the off-season. Jordan Theodore is an outstanding guard who should help…but he’s a guard. Look for the Pirates to go after some size in the final days before the spring signing period ends.

3. Wagner (23-8)

Coach Mike Deane will have to replace a pair of first-team All-NEC honorees in Durell Vinson and Mark Porter, but he will have some others returning, such as Joey Mundweiler and Jamal Smith. I would peg this team as middle of the pack candidate right now, but you never know, especially when you factor in the drop Wagner took last year when they were without Vinson.

4. Marist (18-14)

So, who’s the head coach going to be next year? Matt Brady moved on to take the job at James Madison, immediately taking two assistants with him. The third, Rob O’Driscoll, will join him if he’s not chosen to take over the reigns of the Marist program. Besides changing coaches, they’ll have to figure out how to replace mainstays Ryan Stilphen, Spongy Benjamin and Ben Farmer. But there is a talented backcourt slated to be back in the form of MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year Jay Gavin and David Devezin.

5. Sacred Heart (17-13)

A team predicted by some to be the best that Dave Bike has coached in Sacred Heart’s Division I era (they won a national title at the Division II level) fell one game short of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Four seniors leave the program; most notably guards Drew Shubik and Brice Brooks, and forward Luke Granato. Joey Henley was granted an additional season by the NCAA, making him a prime option in 2008-09. But has the window closed on the Pioneers? We’ll have to see about that.

Next: NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Two

Ranking 6-11

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Three

Ranking 12-1

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Four

All-Rookie & Ranking 18-23

MAAC Quaterfinals Recap: Rider Survives, Niagara Dethroned

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:22:20 -0700

ALBANY, N.Y.- On paper, the matchup between conference co-champion Rider and last-place Canisius looked like an absolute snoozer. The Broncs, in sweeping the Golden Griffins, won the two games in blowout fashion. The second of which was a 102-51 whipping that underscored just how bad Canisius has been all year. But a not so funny thing happened: Canisius didn't fold.

Thanks to eighteen points and eleven rebounds from MAAC Player of the Year Jason Thompson, Rider fought off Canisius by the final score of 75-71 Saturday night. The Golden Griffins had three players in double figures, led by Greg Logins with twenty. However, the victory may have been a Pyrrhic one for Rider as both Ryan Thompson (concussion) and Justin Robinson (leg) went down with injuries that could keep them out of tomorrow's semifinal against Marist.

All of a sudden, a team that was able to capitalize off of its depth due to their healthy season has to juggle the possible absence of two key starters. "If it could've gone wrong it did go wrong tonight," said head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Thanks to 56% shooting in the second half, the Golden Griffins were tied at 71 with 1:14 remaining. But a Patrick Mansell three-pointer put the Broncs up for good. The differences in the game were free throw shooting and rebounding. Rider, although they shot a sub-standard 57.7% from the charity stripe, made 15 of 26 while Canisius was 4-7. The Broncs also enjoyed a 38-30 rebounding edge.

Canisius finishes the season with a record of 6-25.

Marist 66, Niagara 62

In a ragged game more suited to the Red Foxes tempo, three players reached double figures as Marist defeated the defending tournament champions 66-62 in the fourth quarterfinal of the day in Albany. Charron Fisher, who played all forty minutes, went for 23 and 16 in a losing effort.

Niagara, even though they're ranked third in the MAAC in points per game, is ninth in field goal percentage. But the tempo that normally allows the Purple Eagles to make up for it wasn't to be found on this night as the MAAC's premier defensive team held NU to 36% from the field and won the battle on the boards 43-38. A team with six seniors is using last season's disappointing MAAC Tournament as motivation, and now faces a possibly shorthanded Rider team on Sunday night.

Afternoon quarterfinals-

Loyola (MD) 64, Fairfield 59

Gerald Brown converted an inbounds pass into a layup, moving the Loyola lead to five with seventeen seconds left to seal the victory for the Greyhounds. Brown led the Greyhounds with eighteen, but they also received help from Brett Harvey (16 pts) and Michael Tuck (14 and 8 boards).

Loyola won the rebound battle 37-28, and the Stags helped them out by not taking advantage of numerous opportunities (including the foul line) to overtake the Greyhounds. Fairfield, who was led by Jonathan Han's 14 points and eight assists, finishes their season at 14-16. Loyola will take on top seed Siena Sunday night.

Siena 66, Manhattan 58

Alex Franklin was unstoppable for the Saints, dropping 26 and 9 rebounds on the Jaspers in Siena's eight-point win. Devon Austin led the young Jaspers with seventeen. Kenny Hasbrouck, who only scored nine points, suffered a shoulder injury but was able to return later in the second half.

Even with the substitution of Laurence Jolicoeur for Andrew Gabriel, who did well on Friday against Todd Sowell of St. Peter's, Manhattan had no answer for Franklin. Manhattan also didn' help their cause by shooting a frigid 5-12 from the charity stripe and 3-14 from behind the arc. The Jaspers end their season with a record of 12-19.

While Marist, led by David Devezin with fourteen, had scoring balance while no player other than Fisher or Tyrone Lewis (21) scored more than seven.

NYC Metro Ranking & Report

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:06:04 -0800

Team of the week: Wagner
Results: W 77-62 @ Monmouth, W 60-59 vs. St. Francis (PA)

After a sweep of this past week’s foes, the Seahawks are the lone undefeated in the Northeast Conference with a record of 5-0. Overall, Wagner (12-4) has won seven of their last eight with the lone defeat coming at the hands of Michael Beasley and the Kansas State Wildcats. In a conference that many judged to be wide-open by many prognosticators when the season began, the Seahawks may be the closest thing to a clear favorite. Durell Vinson (14.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg) has had the impact many projected for him when he returned after missing 2006-07, and he showed off his versatility against Monmouth by putting up eighteen points and eight boards off the bench.

The second half defense was outstanding in that victory, holding the Hawks to 22% from the field. Two days later, a Justin Drummond three-pointer with 1:06 left gave the Seahawks a home win over the Red Flash. Mark Porter scored fifteen in the win, and averaged 16.5 ppg for the week’s games. Two things that have helped them of late: leading the NEC in field goal percentage defense (42.3%), and ranking behind only Quinnipiac in rebounding margin (+ 4.8). The Seahawks will need to improve upon their free throw percentage (last in the NEC) if they are to close out games throughout the rest of the season, but this team has more than enough to win the regular season crown.

Player of the Week: Jay Gavin (Marist)
Numbers for the week: 23 points, 5 rebounds vs. Manhattan; 21 points, 7 rebounds vs. St. Peter’s; 23 points vs. Fairfield

Need a good reason as to how the Red Foxes are back atop the MAAC standings? You can start with Gavin, a freshman guard from Seat Pleasant, MD who has been on fire of late. The raw point totals are impressive enough, but check out what he did from beyond the arc in the three games, all Marist victories: 6-8 against Manhattan, 5-7 against St. Peter’s and 7-11 against Fairfield on Sunday night. Add that up and you get 18-26, good for an impressive 69.2% clip. And the rebounding numbers show that Gavin is capable of doing more than simply letting fly from behind the arc.

There was a lot of talk about what the addition of players such as Louie McCroskey and David Devezin would mean to a team looking to replace the likes of Jared Jordan and Will Whittington, and rightfully so, but I’m not sure many people expected this kind of shooting from Gavin. Now comes the hard part, as MAAC foes should be well aware of Gavin’s ability to put the ball in the basket. But he’s added another dimension to the Marist attack that could once again be a threat to win the league title.

Other Observations on the week that was
- Seton Hall may lack the interior presence (and depth) needed to get to Madison Square Garden.
The Pirates lost the Big East’s best defender, Paul Gause (once again leading the league in steals), to a broken hand in their win over Morgan State last Saturday. This loss put even more stress on a rotation that already lacks a consistent presence in the paint. While the Hall was able to hang in with Marquette until late on Wednesday, the lack of depth and post play was clearly evident in their 84-70 loss at Pitt.
While it isn’t unreasonable to hope for one man’s contribution from the combo of John Garcia, Mike Davis and Augustine Okosun, I’m not sure if they can combine to make up for that deficiency just yet. And in a league like the Big East, you’ll have a tough time winning games if you don’t have the answers inside, no matter how well your guards play.

- St. Francis (NY) can make a run towards the top of the NEC if they continue their good work on the glass.
The Terriers got two key road wins in conference play last week, thanks in part to their work on the boards. In the 88-83 win at FDU on Saturday, SFNY out-rebounded the Knights 45-22, led by Marcus Williams’ thirteen rebounds. Two nights prior in their win at Sacred Heart, they made up for a relatively small rebounding advantage (33-27) by shooting over fifty percent from the field in the 73-63 victory. They may not be the best shooting team out there, ranking tenth in the NEC in field goal percentage, but they are fourth in the conference in rebounds per game and rebounding margin. Only the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament, so anything they can do to separate themselves from the pack would be to their benefit.

- Despite having four players averaging double digits in scoring, St. Peter’s is still 4-12, having lost ten of their last eleven games.
Todd Sowell is an absolute warrior in the paint, and players such as Wesley Jenkins and Raul Orta have also contributed for the Peacocks, but they’re ninth in the MAAC in scoring defense (73.1 ppg allowed). The following week offers them opportunities to improve upon this, as Loyola (6th in scoring offense) and Fairfield (9th) have both struggled at times to put the ball in the basket. But rest assured SPC will have their hands full with Gerald Brown and Marquis Sullivan (depending on which Sullivan shows up) on Saturday.

- Until Hofstra takes better care of the basketball and plays better defense, they will stay at or near the bottom of the CAA standings.
No one said it would be easy to replace Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera, both of whom are now playing professionally in Europe, but did anyone really think the Pride would be 3-11? Other than Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins, no one has provided a consistent scoring option to Tom Pecora’s team. But if you can’t score, it is possible to win games on the other end. They’re not doing that, giving up seventy-two points per game and ranking dead last in the CAA in scoring margin (- 7.3 ppg). Add to that the league’s worst turnover margin (- 3.5 per game) and you have all the makings of a 3-11 team. Agudio will be the man every opponent looks to take out, so someone else will have to step up and make some plays.

Games to keep an eye on this week
- Long Island @ Central Connecticut State (Monday, 7:30 MSG, Fox College Sports)
In the midst of a crowded middle of the Northeast Conference are the Blackbirds and the Blue Devils, two teams in serious need of a league win. While Central won their lone game last week against St. Francis (PA), LIU lost to Sacred Heart last Monday. In regards to individuals, Jaytornah Wisseh and Tristan Blackwood should be a good matchup to keep an eye on.

- George Washington @ Fordham (Wednesday, 7 PM Atlantic 10 Network)
This one is essentially a must-win for the Rams if they want to entertain any thoughts of competing for a top-four spot in the Atlantic 10 after their 0-2 start to conference play. But their opponent hasn’t exactly been a power this season either, despite their “holding” St. Louis to twenty points last week. Not really sure what’s going to happen in this one, due to the inconsistency of both teams, but it sure would help Fordham if Bryant Dunston were to go off.

- Marist @ Loyola-MD (Thursday, 8 PM)
The Red Foxes have the unenviable task of figuring out a way to contain G Gerald Brown. Brown averages 18.7 points per game, down a couple points from his torrid pace of 2006-07. But the key to slowing down the Greyhounds could actually be Marquis Sullivan. When he’s a capable second option to Brown in the Greyhound attack, Loyola can give teams a tough time. When he disappears, most recently in their home loss to Fairfield, they can struggle as a team on offense. Both teams have players capable of putting up big offensive numbers, so this should be an entertaining affair.

- Fairfield @ Iona (Friday, 7:30 PM)
Both Fairfield and Iona will need a win in this game, and for slightly different reasons. The Stags, 3-3 in MAAC play to begin this week, are stuck in the middle of the conference with a chance to head in either direction during the next couple weeks of play. Iona, on the other hand, needs a conference win to get closer to avoiding the first Friday of the conference tournament.
Fairfield may have the better league mark, but the Gaels have more weapons from which to choose on offense. While Devon Clarke is second in the MAAC in field goal percentage, players such as Dexter Gray, Milan Prodanovic and Gary Springer Jr. have also shown the ability to score. And don’t forget about Kyle Camper, either. Fairfield will have to defend like they did last season (best scoring defense in the MAAC) if they want to get a key road win.

- Louisville @ Seton Hall (Saturday, 8 PM ESPN Full Court)
The race to New York is now on for the Pirates, and what’s a short trip geographically could become more distant if they don’t get a win here. Louisville has been an enigma for most of the season, but it was about this time last year when the Cards made their run to a top four spot in the Big East. They certainly have the talent, but will they bring the effort to “The Rock”? With some area natives on the team (Edgar Sosa, Derrick Caracter and Earl Clark), that should not be a problem. As for the Pirates, they’ll need to force turnovers and hold their own on the glass if they want to get their first conference win. If not, they may only be spectators in MSG come March.

Updated Rankings (last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. Wagner (3)
2. Marist (2)
3. St. John’s (3)
4. Seton Hall (1)
5. Army (7)
6. Yale (8)
7. Columbia (10)
8. Fordham (5)
9. Sacred Heart (12)
10. Long Island (6)
11. Fairfield (11)
12. Fairleigh Dickinson (9)
13. Iona (15)
14. Manhattan (13)
15. St. Francis-NY (18)
16. Stony Brook (14)
17. St. Peter’s (16)
18. Hofstra (17)
19. NJIT (19)

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Seton Hall Still #1

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:20:39 -0800
Well, this is the week in which many teams in the area are either just out of finals, or finishing up. This means that a lot more basketball will be on the docket in the final weeks of 2007. But the question has to be asked: how do we figure out the majority of these teams? Has Seton Hall, with a 7-2 record, done enough to stay at the top of the poll…or is it that no one immediately behind them has played well enough to move up? I kept the Pirates there for that reason, even though they will need to use these last couple of weeks to find some other consistent contributors in the frontcourt. And bringing up the rear is NJIT, still winless at 0-13. Losing head coach Jim Casciano to a temporary leave of absence (he is still out) before the opener at Washington certainly didn’t help, but life as an independent is hard. But the Highlanders did get a few days away from game action due to finals, which may help clear their minds some.

But how does one figure out the teams in between the Pirates and Highlanders? Your guess is as good as mine at this point in time as teams predicted to play well this season have sputtered early there are few positive surprises if any right now. The best example of the former would be Fordham, a preseason pick to challenge in the top half of the Atlantic 10. While some of their league rivals have distinguished themselves early, the same can’t be said for the Rams. Losses at Missouri and Syracuse are understandable, but home defeats at the hands of Charleston and Robert Morris are still hard to understand.

As for the team who has exceeded preseason expectations to this point, how about Long Island? With the graduation of prolific scorer James Williams, not much was expected of the Blackbirds this season. And all they’ve done is go 7-3 thus far and will take a three-game win streak into Thursday’s game with St. Peter’s. But while there have been some surprise results (Iona blowing out Loyola (MD); St. Peter’s beating Rutgers) few of the teams in the middle of the pack have done something to separate themselves from the others. But with action picking up on the way into conference play, everyone will have an opportunity to get some much-needed momentum heading into 2008. Now here are the updated rankings, followed by some games to watch this coming week.

Seton Hall (7-2): The Pirates will look to rebound from a tough overtime loss at Penn State when James Madison shows up at “The Rock” on Saturday. The 7-1 Dukes have won five in a row and have the firepower to leave Newark with a win.

St. John’s (4-3): The Red Storm dropped a tough one against Niagara on Saturday, and then lost a nail-biter to Ohio in the opening round of the Rainbow Classic.

Marist (6-4): After a 1-3 start to the season, the Red Foxes won five straight before falling to Massachusetts this past weekend. A trip to Niagara on Saturday will be one of the early-season games that sets the tone in the MAAC, and with Louie McCroskey now completely in the fold, look out for Marist.

Fordham (5-4): The Rams have taken care of business in their last two, knocking off Hofstra and NJIT. Next are two winnable games (UNC Greensboro and Binghamton) before the trip to D.C. to take on Georgetown. They must head into that game 7-4, especially with their first two conference games being roadies (Duquesne, Xavier).

Manhattan (6-4): The Jaspers recovered from a beating at the hands of Loyola (MD) in winning at Princeton on Sunday. Antoine Pearson went for 22, and Patrick Bouli chipped in with 16. But the troubling stat: Devon Austin’s two points in seventeen minutes of action. They’ll need him to bring more to the table when they host Pepperdine on Friday.

Wagner (7-3): The Seahawks have played well for most of the season, and you can’t help but think that the return of Durell Vinson has something to do with that. But when you have five players averaging at least 9.5 points per game, good things are bound to happen.

Long Island (7-3): The Blackbirds have four players averaging double figures in scoring this year, something that would definitely contribute to their surprising start. And with their final two games of 2007 being St. Peter’s and Texas- Pan American, LIU could head into 2008 9-3.

Army (5-5): Well, Jarell Brown (20.6 ppg) and Josh Miller (10.2 ppg) can put points on the board. But after them, no other Black Knight is averaging more than 5.8. The number that Army needs to improve upon if they are to compete in the Patriot League: 18.8. That’s the number of turnovers they average per game.

Columbia (4-6): The Lions have alternated wins and losses in their last six and with a trip to Villanova next up that trend may continue. It’s also important to point out that of their top ten players in minutes per game only six have seen action in all ten games.

Yale (3-6): Eric Flato has shown himself to be one of the best guards in the Ivy League, but he and the rest of the Bulldogs are in for a serious test in their next game when they travel to Kansas on the 29^th.

Fairleigh Dickinson (3-5): The Knights have won their last two games, and Sean Baptiste (23 vs. Norfolk State, 26 vs. Stony Brook) was a major reason why. Next up is a home game with St. Peter’s, a game they could very well win.

Stony Brook (3-8): The Seawolves had a two-game win streak snapped at FDU on Saturday, but they still have one of the better backcourt in America East in seniors Ricky Lucas and Mitchell Beauford.

Hofstra (2-5): Yes, Antoine Agudio is the nation’s leading scorer (27.4 ppg), but he needs more consistent help from someone not named Charles Jenkins (12.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Also, you’re going to have a hard time winning when you average 9.3 assists and 18.6 turnovers per game.

Iona (3-7): Yes, the record doesn’t look too impressive, but the Gaels have won three of their last four games. Saturday’s 87-81 win at New Hampshire featured five players reaching double figures. Iona can score, but the other end of the court will determine just how much better they are this season.

St. Francis-NY (3-8): The Terriers haven’t won since November 28^th against Fairfield, and their reliance upon the three-point shot may be the reason why (if you read the Northeast Blog last week, then you know the numbers). Also, the seventeen turnovers per game must improve.

Fairfield (2-7): The Stags, losers of their last five, have played a tough schedule thus far. But it’s tough to win games when as a team you average sixty-one points per game and shoot 38.9% from the field.

Sacred Heart (3-6): The loss of Joey Henley hit the Pioneers hard, but they must take better care of the basketball (seventeen turnovers per game) if they want to have any chance at winning the NEC. And don’t think that idea is so far-fetched, as guards Drew Shubik and Chauncey Hardy have the talent to lead this team a long way.

St. Peter’s (3-5): This is one ranking that people could definitely argue. Yes, SPC has lost their last three games, but the opponents (Tennessee-Martin, Seton Hall and Manhattan) are all respectable teams. Senior Todd Sowell is doing what he’s done for practically his entire career on the block, averaging a double-double for the Peacocks.

NJIT (0-13): Their independent status makes it a must that the Highlanders get in a lot of games early in the season, and this turned a simple tumble downhill into a freefall. Luckily for them, their next game isn’t until the 30^th, allowing the players some time to recover.

Games to keep an eye on

-          St. John’s in the Rainbow Classic (begins Wednesday)

The Red Storm will be one of eight teams in Honolulu taking part in one of the season’s final in-season events. In addition to opening round opponent Ohio, host Hawaii, Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulane, St. Mary’s, East Tennessee State and Georgia will take part. St. Mary’s looks to be the early favorite in this event.

-          St. Peter’s @ Long Island, Thursday

While the Blackbirds have fared better to this point in the season, don’t sleep on SPC. The Peacocks have a fair amount of experience on the roster, and Todd Sowell will be a handful for LIU inside. Don’t be surprised if the Peacocks find a way to get the win.

-          St. Joseph’s @ Fairfield, Friday

The appearance of senior Amhad Nivins at The Arena at Harbor Yard is the perfect measuring stick for the Stags’ sophomore forwards Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson. But the key will be Fairfield’s offensive execution, and if you haven’t seen him play before try to check out St. Joe’s Pat Calathes. A very good all-around player, who can do a number of things despite standing 6-10.

-          Marist @ Niagara, Saturday

The Red Foxes become the next team given the unenviable task of slowing down Charron Fisher, but they will bring their own artillery to the table in Niagara Falls. Guards Louie McCroskey and Jay Gavin lead the team in scoring, and Niagara allows seventy-four points per game, meaning that they have ample opportunities to improve their average of 66.7 points per game.

NYC Metro Preview: #3 Marist

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:43:20 -0800

4. Marist (2006-07 Record: 25-9, 14-4 MAAC)

Head coach: Matt Brady

Returning Starters: 2- G/F Ben Farmer (senior): 6-5, 193; F/C Ryan Stilphen (senior): 6-8, 222.

Although it was a disappointment to the Marist program to miss out on the NCAA Tournament, they did get to play some more basketball after falling to rival Siena in the MAAC Tournament. They didn’t hang their heads; they simply went to Stillwater and beat Oklahoma State in the first round of the NIT. And while they lost a tough game at NC State in the second round, the 06-07 edition set a school record for wins in a season (25) and won their first-ever outright MAAC title. The win over the Cowboys was Marist’s first postseason win, but two of the primary contributors to 2006-07 are now graduated. The backcourt of Jared Jordan and Will Whittington, who gave headaches to coaches throughout the MAAC during their time in Poughkeepsie, has graduated along with seven-footer James Smith. How Coach Brady and his staff fill in the gaping hole left by those backcourt stalwarts will tell the story of just how good Marist can be this season.

Newcomers will have to step into the limelight in the backcourt, and the most talked about has to be senior Louie McCroskey, who sat out 06-07 after transferring from Syracuse. While he didn’t score much at Syracuse, McCroskey has the ability to get to the basket. And after a year of work under Coach Brady, his outside shot should be more consistent. The other newcomers of note are sophomore junior college transfer David Devezin (Houston, TX; San Jacinto JC) and freshman Dejuan Goodwin (Baltimore, MD). Devezin began his college career at Texas A&M and was one of the best players in the Houston area his senior year of high school. Goodwin missed all of last season with a knee injury, but the redshirt freshman helped get his high school to number eight nationally his senior year. Devezin will start at the point, and Goodwin will be at the two in the early going. Another freshman, Jay Gavin (Seat Pleasant, MD), should also be in the mix for playing time this year.

The frontcourt will be led by seniors Farmer (5.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Stilphen (11.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Spongy Benjamin (5.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg). Farmer is a capable shooter who does a good job of not forcing the issue on the offensive end. Stilphen is Marist’s leading returning scorer and rebounder, and he’s a very good defender as well. Benjamin is the wild card of this trio; the man who stands to make a solid jump in production with the increase in playing time. And he’s off to a good start, going for 21 and 17 in Marist’s season-opening win over Delaware. Other returnees looking to contribute more in 2007-08 are senior Shae McNamara (3.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and junior Kaylen Gregory (2.1 ppg).

In regards to the newcomers in the frontcourt, a pair of players who sat out 2006-07 should be able to help make up for the loss of Smith. Ryan Schneider (Vermont transfer) and Lawrence Williams (redshirt) both stand 6-7 and will add some height to the front line. However, while Williams is more likely to stay around the basket, Schneider can stroke the ball from the perimeter. Also looking to crack the rotation is freshman Korey Bauer (Whitehall, PA), who sat out his senior year due to a heart condition but is now cleared to play. At 6-8, 208, Bauer will give the Red Foxes another body inside.

Schedule-wise, after the opening win over Delaware Marist heads off to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Tipoff Classic. They’ll open with the Hurricanes of Miami, who feature one of the best scorers in the ACC in Jack McClinton. But since McClinton began his college career at Siena, Marist should be somewhat familiar with him. The second round could bring either Houston or VCU. Quite simply, this is a tough tournament, but it’ll help get the newcomers prepared for MAAC play. Marist will also appear in the Aeropostale Holiday festival, taking on St. John’s December 28^th and either Hofstra or Virginia Tech on the 29^th. The last time these two teams met, Marist won in the Garden. The MAAC once again will be tough to navigate, with up to five teams having a decent chance to win the league this year. Conference play opens at Canisius on December 5^th.

2007-08 Prospects

No one said that replacing the likes of Jordan and Whittington would be easy, but that’s the task in front of Marist this season. It may take some time for all the newcomers to become acquainted with the system and each other, but this is a talented team with the ability to win a lot of games this season. While picked to finish fifth in the conference in the preseason poll, the Red Foxes have the ability to finish higher if the backcourt performs well. The man to watch is Devezin, who has the keys to the Marist attack from day one. But given the amount of firepower returning at Siena and Loyola, it’s tough to say that Marist can win the league right now. But in March, you never know. Expect Marist to finish anywhere from three to five in the MAAC.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

2007-08 Marist Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:15:16 -0700

Marist Red Foxes

Overall Rank: #135

Conference Rank: #3 Metro Atlantic

2006-07: 25-9, 14-4, 1^st

2006-07 postseason: NIT

Jared Jordan? Will Whittington? James Smith? Who needs them? The trio only averaged 46.1 points, 10.6 assists and 15.2 rebounds last year. Marist’s best chance to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament may have been last year; a loss in the MAAC Tournament put an end to that, but they are not going away just because of the loss of a few key players.

Who’s Out:

Jordan averaged 17.2 points and 8.7 assists and will get his shot in the NBA after being drafted in the second round. Whittington even outscored Jordan and the long range specialist drained four long balls per contest. Smith was often overshadowed by the talented backcourt, but the big man averaged 11.3 points and a team high 6.0 boards per game. Seldom used Miles Orman has also run out of eligibility and guard Gerald Carter has transferred. So how the heck do you replace Jordan, Whittington and Smith?

Who’s In:

Former players from Syracuse, Vermont and Texas A&M is a good place to start. Louie McCroskey, the representative from the Orange, can do it all. The 6-5 wing showed flashes of potential at Syracuse, but given further minutes, McCroskey should be able to develop a consistent level of play with Marist. Ryan Schneider is the replacement for Whittington. The big forward who can shoot the long ball spent two seasons as a Catamount where he averaged 6.4 points as a sophomore. He may not shoot the long ball at a 40 percent clip like Whittington, but he is a more effective rebounder. Late pick-up David Devezin is reportedly headed to Marist after spending a year with the Aggies and at San Jacinto College. Devezin has yet to prove himself at the Division I level, but has enough talent to play right away and fill a huge need for the Foxes. He is a tough and quick point guard and, if he lives up to his potential he had coming out of high school, will dominate the MAAC. Prior to the arrival of Devezin, Marist would have to depend on some newcomers to run the point. Dejuan Goodwin, Jay Gavin and Jermiah Bowman are all options. Goodwin and Gavin are the likely candidates to see minutes as freshmen. Redshirt freshman Lawrence Williams and incoming freshman Cory Bauer will solidify the front line.

Who to Watch:

Ryan Stilphen and Wilfred ‘Spongy’ Benjamin will be interesting to watch in the frontcourt. The seniors are by far the most experienced big men on the team and there is little depth to speak of behind them. Thus, it will be dangerous for Coach Matt Brady to start both of them. If the team wants to go big, they have that option, but if they want to go small, there are plenty of quality choices for that too. In any event, there are six starters on this team and having a player like Benjamin coming off the bench will be a huge asset. Stilphen will give the Red Foxes a little more scoring punch, while Benjamin is a better rebounder, leaving the door open for Coach Brady to substitute based on the opposition.

Final Projection:

Marist has enough talent to win the MAAC again this year. And they definitely have enough firepower and depth to win the conference tournament and reach the NCAAs. Ben Farmer is the best returning three-point shooter, but the team could use a little more scoring punch out of the wing. Marist fans hope Farmer will be more aggressive now that he is a senior leader on the team. Getting all the newcomers and transfers adjusted is important, but even the returning guys have a big adjustment to make without Jordan, Whittington and Smith on the floor.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

David Devezin, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season

Louie McCroskey, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Ben Farmer, Senior, Guard, 5.7 points per game

Wilfred Benjamin, Senior, Forward, 5.9 points per game

Ryan Stilphen, Senior, Forward, 10.8 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2007-08 Preview | Discuss the Preview

Who is the Most Underrated 2nd Round Prospect?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:26:26 -0700

Metro Basketball Report: Final Ranking

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:03:54 -0700
Another season of college basketball in the New York City area is complete, and it’s another year of teams from leagues other than the Big East carrying the flag. Marist, who won the MAAC regular season crown outright for the first time in school history, got over the disappointment of not winning their conference tournament by winning at Oklahoma State in the MasterCard NIT. Hofstra, predicted by many as a team with a chance to be “this year’s George Mason”, wasn’t able to make the NCAA Tournament but they did notch their second straight postseason bid. After that, the area schools had to put the balls away until next season.

As of right now, Iona is the only school looking for a new head coach, and this due primarily to the fact that a few programs have recently made new hires. Look for the next head man in New Rochelle to have some significant connections to the area in order to help out with recruiting, something that a school can fall behind on the longer they go without a head coach. 2006-07 was a down year for many of the schools, but due to the amount of young talent slated to return, 2007-08 should be a much better year for New York City college basketball.

2006-07 Final Rankings

            1. Marist (last poll: 1): In addition to their first-ever outright MAAC crown, the Red Foxes won a school-record 25 games, and got the school’s first postseason win. Significant departures from the program include honorable mention All-American point guard Jared Jordan (two-time national assist champion), sharp shooting guard Will Whittington and seven foot center James Smith. Head coach Matt Brady will have a pair of four-year transfers at his disposal in Louie McCroskey (Syracuse) and Ryan Schneider (Vermont). But the most important newcomers may be freshman guards Jay Gavin (Forestville, MD) and Jeremiah Bowman (White Plains, MD).

            Regardless of who takes over in the backcourt, there are some big shoes to fill. Look for returning starters Ryan Stilphen and Ben Farmer to have a larger impact on the Marist attack, but this team will be hard-pressed to match this season’s success. But if you’re expecting the Red Foxes to become a doormat in the MAAC, you’ll learn the hard way that they still have some talent on campus. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

            2. Hofstra (2): The Pride, despite the loss of forwards Aurimas Kieza and Adrian Uter, found a way to reach the twenty win plateau on the backs of their three-headed guard attack. Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera are out of eligibility, leaving Antoine Agudio at the reigns in Hempstead. But the entire supporting cast this season returns, including bigs Chris Gadley and Mike Davis-Sabb, who learned a few lessons in the paint this season. Look for them, along with perimeter players Greg Johnson and Zygis Sestokas, to step up in larger roles next season.

            Coming into the program are a pair of guards (Devon Peterson and Nathaniel Lester) from Brooklyn, along with another body inside (junior college transfer Darren Townes). Look for all three to have an impact next year, but they will be hard-pressed to completely fill the space left by Stokes and Rivera. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

            3. Fordham (7): If you’re trying to figure out which team in the NYC area has the best shot to make the NCAA Tournament next year, then Fordham may be your pick. In finishing the season 18-12, the Rams put together back-to-back seasons without a losing record for the first time since the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. In case you forgot, the Rams were a member of the Patriot League when this occurred. Guard Marcus Stout has improved his scoring average in each of his three seasons in the Bronx, and forward Bryant Dunston once again was named All-Atlantic 10.

            Offensive consistency was something that plagued the Rams throughout the season last year, but look for things to improve next season. No recruiting commitments have been announced as of yet, but with all their key parts returning next season, Dereck Whittenburg’s Rams will be a team to watch in the Atlantic 10 in 2007-08. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

            4. Sacred Heart (5): The Pioneers improved significantly in 2006-07, going from seventh to second place, and five points stood between them and an NCAA Tournament bid when it was all said and done. Head coach Dave Bike had a number of offensive options at his disposal, led by senior guard Jarrid Frye. Eight Pioneers averages at least eight points per game this season, and this is why they led the Northeast Conference in scoring at 78.5 points per game. Other than Frye and Tavio Hobson, the team returns intact, looking to make a run to the NCAA Tournament. No recruiting commitments have been announced at this time. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

            5. St. John’s (3): If you look at this past season for the Red Storm with the “glass half full” perspective, then you’d point out that St. John’s qualified for the Big East Tournament for the first time in four seasons. “Glass half empty”: you’d state that St. John’s shouldn’t have the goal of merely qualifying for the event, which is played on their “home court”. Once again the Red Storm were without the services of guard Daryll Hill due to knee issues, and once again this team had trouble putting the ball in the basket at times. Besides Hill, Norm Roberts will have to find a way to replace forwards Lamont Hamilton and Aaron Spears.

            Forward Anthony Mason Jr. continued his progress, and look for him to be option number one next season. Heady guard Eugene Lawrence returns for his senior campaign, and there were some shining moments for freshman forward Qa’rraan Calhoun at the end of the season. Add to this highly touted recruits on the interior (C Dele Coker and PF Justin Burrell), and there is a chance for the Red Storm to build on the progress made this year despite losing Avery Patterson and Ricky Torres (transfers). Red Storm fans will also enjoy watching freshman guard Malik Boothe, who despite being only 5’7” gives in to no one on the court. Whether or not St. John’s improves their standing in the Big East remains to be seen, but Red Storm fans have never been known to be patient. Stock heading into 2007-08: down.

            6. Fairfield (4): Despite losing All-MAAC guard Michael Van Schaick and classmate Danny Oglesby to graduation, the Stags are headed in the right direction under head coach Ed Cooley. They struggled mightily out of the gates this season, starting the year with a 3-15 record before going on a seven-game win streak to make things interesting in the middle of the MAAC standings. A 4-4 finish to the season doesn’t do the amount of progress made by this team proper justice. Freshman forwards Greg Nero and Anthony Johnson were outstanding at times in the paint, and the team also received contributions from freshman Roi Buchbinder and veterans Marty O’Sullivan and Mamadou Diakhate in the paint.

            Add to this returning group (as of this time, there was no announcement as to whether or not O’Sullivan would be back next season) starting guards Jonathan Han and Herbie Allen and you have a group that could definitely compete for the MAAC’s automatic bid in 2007-08. And with incoming freshmen Warren Edney (Chatham, VA) and Yorel Hawkins (Apex, NC), the Stags will have some depth on the perimeter. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

7. Fairleigh Dickinson (6): Despite predictions of impending doom from people such as me, the Knights put together a decent 2006-07, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth in the NEC. Of course they dropped their last four to end the season, including a 78-77 heartbreaker to Quinnipiac in the NEC Quarterfinals, but that shouldn’t take away from what this team was able to accomplish. The Knights ended league champion Central Connecticut State’s twelve game win streak with a 66-60 home victory on February 17^th. Unfortunately for head coach Tom Green, he’s going to have to find a way to replace forwards Andre Harris and Michael Peeples, two of the team’s top three scorers this past season. Incoming freshmen John Galvin (Weston, CT) and Jordan Stasyszyn (Carlisle, PA) are two players that will have a chance to compete for playing time in the fall. Stock heading into 2007-08: down, but not by much.

            8. Manhattan (8): Like conference rival Fairfield, the Jaspers were a young team in search of an identity early in the season due to a coaching change. But unlike the Stags, Manhattan does not lose an all-conference performer heading into next season. Only Guy Ngarndi is graduating, leaving Head Coach Barry Rohrssen with a good amount of talent at his disposal next year. Freshmen Darryl Crawford and Antoine Pearson saw a lot of minutes in the backcourt, and sophomore Devon Austin was the team’s leading scorer. The only disappointment for the Jaspers was the play down the stretch of big man Arturo Dubois, who seemed to disappear down the stretch at times.

            Six foot eight center Alanzo George (Brooklyn, NY) is the only recruit slated to join the program at this time, but if you remember the success that Coach Rohrssen and his staff had in signing talent after being hired, you know that there will be some more newcomers added to the fold before classes start in September. Heading into their MAAC quarterfinal with Siena, I thought that both teams had a chance to meet next season with a little more on the line. I stand by that statement. Stock heading into 2007-08: up.

            9. Seton Hall (9): The Pirates, in their first year under Bobby Gonzalez, were done in by their lack of size. Freshman Eugene Harvey and junior Brian Laing were both honored by the Big East coaches for their efforts this season, but the Pirates’ lack of depth is what did them in this season. On a good note, John Garcia was finally able to see some time inside, but of course this happened right around the time that senior Grant Billmeier was lost for the year to an ACL tear. Stan Gaines provided some help on the block, but the Pirates plan was to use their quickness to turn opponents over, something that they did quite well in fact (they led the Big East with 10.3 steals per game).

            With other contributors such as Paul Gause, Jamar Nutter and Larry Davis returning next season, the key will be how much help the Pirates get from their newcomers inside. Brandon Walters (Brooklyn, NY), Augustine Okosun (Bryn Mawr, PA) and Michael Glover (Bronx. NY, brother of former St. John’s star Anthony Glover) will all be asked to contribute inside for the Hall. As much fun as small ball was at times last year, size is something that is always a necessity in the Big East. Hopefully the newcomers will be able to help out in that area. Stock heading into 2007-08: steady.