Hofstra

State of '08: New York

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:11:24 -0700

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Duke or Carolina? BC or UMASS? Gonzaga or Washington.. or Washington State? What is the best program in each state? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a ranking of every program in every state.. based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

NEW YORK

SYRACUSE - Led by one of the all-time great coaches, Syracuse has been a perennial power under Jim Boeheim. The Orange have missed the last two NCAA Tournaments, but should be back in 2009.

SIENA - Its been a good decade for Siena, with 3 NCAA Tournaments and 2 NIT trips. Last year, the Saints knocked off Vanderbilt in the opening round, and some pundits even think Fran McCaffery's crew has a chance to finish in the Top 25..

NIAGARA - With the exception of a poor 2006 campaign, Niagara has been very solid in the last decade. They've finished over .500 overall and in MAAC play in 9 of 10 seasons, and advanced to the Tournament in 2005 & 2007.

HOFSTRA - After the amazing job Jay Wright did at Hofstra around the turn of the century, Tom Pecora's tenure has been a bit more pedestrian (but still good for NY standards). The Pride did ride the shooting stroke of Loren Stokes to the 2007 NIT (their 3rd in a row), but were disappointing last year despite the return of Antoine Agudio.

MANHATTAN - Bobby Gonzalez led Manhattan to four postseason trips between 2002 and 2006. Barry Rohrssen hasn't been able to maintain that high standard, though this year's team has potential.

6. ST. JOHN'S - Once one of the game's top programs, St. John's still isn't close to getting out of the mess created by Mike Jarvis. The Storm haven't finished in the RPI Top 100 since 2003, and that futility should continue in 2009.

7. MARIST - Although the Red Foxes haven't had much success in the MAAC tournament the past three seasons, the team has been consistently dangerous and was invited to the 2007 NIT.

8. ALBANY - Unlike Binghamton and Stony Brook, who joined D1 and the AE around the same time, Albany has had some success in recent years. Will Brown, the Great Danes coach for pretty much their entire D1 existence, deserves credit for the job he's done. Brown led the team to the 2006 & 2007 NCAA Tournaments.

9. CORNELL - The Big Red have come a long way under Steve Donahue. When he took over in 2001, the program was one of the worst in the Ivy League. But their RPI has improved every season since 01 (from 311th to 65th in 08), and their Ivy League record has improved each season as well (though you can't top last year's perfect 14-0 run). Most expect Cornell to repeat as Ivy champs in 2009.

10. FORDHAM - Although Dereck Whittenburg has done a nice job getting Fordham back on track since taking over in 2003, there's still been no postseason trips and last year's team failed to meet lofty expectations.

11. WAGNER - With 23 wins last year, the Seahawks set a new record, although they missed out on the postseason. The program had accomplished little in the previous four seasons, unable to follow up on a good 02-03 run that culminated in a Tourney bid.

12. IONA - The Gaels have been all over the place in recent seasons. Great in 2006, with 23 wins and an NCAA bid. Horrendous in 2007 with just a 2-28 record. And then very mediocre last year.

13. BUFFALO - Long one of the country's worst programs, Buffalo is back to their losing ways after a rare winning spike from 2004 to 2006. In 2005, the Bulls were a few points from making their first NCAA Tournament in program history.

14. COLGATE - The Raiders are coming off their best season since 2002, an 18-win campaign that included two wins in the Patriot League tournament. 1996 was the last time they reached the conference finals.

15. BINGHAMTON - Less than a decade into their D1 existence, Bingamton is still looking for a breakthrough on the hardwood. 2nd year coach Kevin Broadus will be relying on a lot of transfers to push the Bearcats up the America East standings.

16. CANISIUS - 2001 was the last time Canisius was any good. 2009 should be another losing season, though fans are at least hopeful some of last year's young talent improves.

17. LIU - There hasn't been much to cheer about in the last decade as last year's 15 wins were the best in a decade. Since taking over in 2002, Jim Ferry's teams have won just one NEC Tournament game.

18. ST. FRANCIS - 2004 was the last time the Terriers were decent, and 2001 was the last time they were good. Last year was one of the worst in the program's history, with an RPI of 313 and a 4-14 NEC record.

19. ST. BONAVENTURE - Early in the decade, the Bonnies had a good run, until a string of poor choices, rules violations, and bad luck destroyed the program. Some progress has been made since the low of 2005 (2 wins), but Mark Schmidt and crew still have a long way to go.

20. COLUMBIA - I'm sure Columbia's good teams at some point in the past, but they were just before my time. Back to back 7-7 Ivy League seasons have been the peak of Joe Jones' five year tenure.

21. STONY BROOK - The Seawolves haven't won 10 games since 2005, and have never finished above 200th in the RPI. Most publications project a finish near the bottom of the AE in 2009.

22. ARMY - From 2003 to 2006, Army was not only the worst team in New York, but arguably the worst team in the country. They won just 11 D1 games in those four seasons, but have since returned to a more mediocre standard. Another sub-.500 season is a lock in 08-09.

Last: New Jersey - Next: North Carolina

State of '08: The Introduction (& State list/links)

Charleston Classic Matchups Announced

Press Release — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:44:15 -0700

ESPN Regional Television announced today the schedule of matchups for the inaugural Charleston Classic, set for Nov. 14-16 at the new Carolina First Center in Charleston, S.C.

The event will include 12 games in three days, with six games being broadcast on CSS. The Southern Conference, based in Spartanburg, S.C., will serve as the event's sponsoring conference.

The 2008 Charleston Classic field includes eight teams: College of Charleston, Clemson, East Tennessee State, Hofstra, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Temple, TCU and Western Michigan. Two of the teams, Clemson and Temple, played in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournament.

In the first round of action, beginning Thursday, Nov. 14, TCU will take on Western Michigan in the first game to be played at Carolina First Center. Also in the first round, ETSU will face Temple, SIU-Edwardsville will meet College of Charleston, and Hofstra and Clemson will square off.

"We're pleased to have a competitive field and exciting matchups in the inaugural Charleston Classic," said Pete Derzis, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN Regional Television. "We expect this new event to provide a terrific off-the-court experience for the student-athletes, coaches and staffs while giving fans a great opportunity to watch college basketball in the great destination of Charleston."

Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout the tournament will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. ET on CSS. Complete matchups are listed below.

"I am very excited about the Charleston Classic opening our new Carolina First Center," said Bobby Cremins, head coach of College of Charleston. "This will bring college basketball to our beautiful Low Country and downtown Charleston area. Clemson will be the headliner, but there are other exciting teams that should challenge them for the first Charleston Classic championship."

Tickets for the tournament will go on sale Sept. 15 at www.CharlestonClassic.com, or by telephone at the Carolina First Center box office at (843) 953-2632. Fans can purchase travel packages to the tournament by going to www.AnthonyTravel.com or by calling 1-800-736-6377.

NYC Metro Review Part 3: Teams 12-17

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:58:18 -0700

Teams ranked in the 12-17 area of the final rankings are clearly in a position to either move up or down next season. The team with the best chance to make a significant move up the standings in their league would have to be Manhattan (12-19), who return all key contributors next season. Guard Antoine Pearson was a Third Team All-MAAC selection this season, and swingman Devon Austin went a long way in establishing himself as this team’s leader in the MAAC Tournament. Youngsters such as Chris Smith and Rashad Green should be ready to take on more responsibility next season as well.

Army (14-16), Columbia (13-15) and Hofstra (12-18) will all head into the off-season knowing that they’ve got some large shoes to fill in replacing Jarell Brown, John Baumann and Antoine Agudio respectively. But there are some promising returnees for next season, most notably Charles Jenkins (Hofstra) and Josh Miller (Army). Fairleigh Dickinson (8-20) will have to replace guards Manny Ubilla and Bernell Murray, but second-leading scorer Sean Baptiste is slated to return.

Lastly, an Iona (12-20) that went through the season on a virtual roller coaster can look forward to next season, which brings a solid recruiting class along with a pair of four-year transfers (Kashif Pratt from Seton Hall and Jonathan Huffman from Louisville). They’ll have to replace a trio of key contributors in Kyle Camper, Dexter Gray and Devon Clarke, but things are looking up for Kevin Willard’s program. But before ranking these six teams, here is the Third Team All-Metro squad along with some honorable mention choices.

Third Team All-Metro

G Jonathan Han (Fairfield) – 11.7 ppg, 6.2 apg, 44.7% 3PT

The junior from Brooklyn was Fairfield’s most consistent option on offense this year, and yet he still led the MAAC in assists per game. Selected to the conference’s Second Team All-Conference squad, Han was the catalyst for the Stags’ second half run that nearly got them to the top of the MAAC standings. Based on his improvement over the past year, Han should be a candidate for first team honors in 2008-09.

G Jaytornah Wisseh (Long Island) – 15.8 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.8 rpg

Only a sophomore, Wisseh led the Blackbirds in scoring and was second in the Northeast Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.58). His performance resulted in a selection to the NEC’s Second Team All-Conference squad, and it also played a big role in LIU’s best season in ten years. Like Han, Wisseh should definitely be a candidate for first team honors in his league next season.

G Drew Shubik (Sacred Heart) – 11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.5 apg

One of the main reasons as to why the Pioneers once again reached the Northeast Conference final was Shubik, a jack-of-all-trades guard who was also a member of the Second team All-Conference squad. Shubik led Dave Bike’s team in both rebounding and assists, and was second in scoring behind Brice Brooks. The senior from Stoystown, PA leaves the Sacred Heart campus as the program’s seventh all-time assist man, and he also received a pair of academic honors as well. Shubik, named Northeast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was also named to the ESPN the Magazine District I Academic All-America team.

F Ryan Thompson (Rider) – 15.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 53.7% FG

Just like Shubik, Ryan was a guy who you could find all over the stat sheet just about every night for the Broncs. Thompson, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, was second on the team in points, rebounds and field goal percentage while leading the team in assists per game. With older brother Jason off to the NBA, Ryan will be expected to be one of the leaders in 2008-09. And he’s more than capable of stepping up to the plate.

F Anthony Mason Jr. (St. John’s) – 14.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg

Mason Jr. was Norm Roberts’ best offensive option this season, and he did either off the bench (six games) or in a starter’s (sixteen starts) role. An honorable mention All-Big East selection, Mason Jr. led the Red Storm in scoring and was third on the team in both rebounds and assists per game. Despite missing eight games due to injury, Mason Jr. was second on the team in both field goal and three point attempts, which should underscore just how important he was to his team’s success. His highlight this season may have been the game-winner he hit against Seton Hall on March 1^st.

Honorable Mention All-Metro

G Antoine Pearson (Manhattan)

G Sean Baptiste (Fairleigh Dickinson)

G Harris Mansell (Rider)

F Robert Hines (St. Francis)

F JR Inman (Rutgers)

Final Rankings 12-17

12. Army (14-16)

The Black Knights finished just about where people thought they would in the Patriot League pecking order, taking sixth place. The positive to be taken out of this year includes their second straight trip to the Patriot League semifinals, and the fact that Josh Miller will be back next season. Miller was the only member of the league’s All-Tournament Team who didn’t play for either of the finalists, American and Colgate. But Jim Crews will have to figure out how to replace leading scorer Jarell Brown, but some of the key contributors from this season will be back at West Point in 2008-09.

13. Columbia (13-15)

Head coach Joe Jones will have quite the task ahead of him this off-season as he looks to replace six departing seniors from this year’s team. Led by two-time First Team All-Ivy selection John Baumann, this class is Columbia’s most successful since 1982-83. Key contributors slated to be back include guards Niko Scott and K.J. Matsui, and forward Joe Bova. There will definitely be some growing pains early for Columbia next season, as you don’t come across groups like the departing class every day. But they do have a chance to improve upon their .500 record in conference play next year.

14. Hofstra (12-18)

Well, it took Tom Pecora’s team some time to get acclimated to college basketball, and this young team understandably dealt with some setbacks in the early going. But a viable second option in freshman Charles Jenkins stepped to the plate as teams focused their attention on Antoine Agudio. Jenkins, named CAA Rookie of the Year after ranking tenth in the conference in scoring (15.1 ppg), will shoulder even more of the scoring load with Agudio graduating. Other newcomers who should be ready to go next season include Darren Townes and Nathaniel Lester. The Pride should be better than this season’s 12-18 finish, even with the loss of a player as special as Agudio.

15. Iona (12-20)

The good news in year one of the Kevin Willard era was that all hands were on deck for most of the season after last year’s injury-plagued two win debacle. But for some reason the Gaels just couldn’t maintain positive momentum. Prime example was the way in which they finished the season. An impressive win in the regular season finale over rival Manhattan, followed by a loss to Canisius in the first round of the MAAC Tournament.

But with a few of this season’s contributors (Gary Springer and Milan Prodanovic to name two) slated to return, the combination of transfers Kashif Pratt and Jonathan Huffman becoming eligible along with a solid recruiting class should give Iona a good shot at getting out of the Friday doubleheader in the MAAC Tournament.

16. Manhattan (12-19)

The primary lesson that the Jaspers learned was a rather simple one: when they committed to playing defense they were pretty good. Unfortunately for them the consistency wasn’t there, resulting in an eighth-place finish in the MAAC standings. But all major contributors should be back, led by Antoine Pearson and Devon Austin.

In their two games in Albany, you could sense that Austin was becoming more comfortable in leading this team, and head coach Barry Rohrssen noted as much after their loss to Siena, stating that it was “good to see him step up and emerge as a leader.” Along with these two, Chris Smith, Darryl Crawford and Rashad Green will return, as will interior players Laurence Jolicoeur and Andrew Gabriel. They should be in the top half of the MAAC standings next season.

17. Fairleigh Dickinson (8-20)

While this season didn’t end with a trip to the NEC Tournament, head coach Tom Green can take solace in the fact that Sean Baptiste will be back in Teaneck next season. The sophomore guard averaged 18.5 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest this season and with Manny Ubilla and Bernell Murray both out of eligibility he should have even more chances to make plays next year. John Galvin and DeJuan Pursley will also have more opportunities to get some things done as three of the team’s top four scorers (Eric Hazard) won’t be around. It remains to be seen who will join the Knights next season, but there’s definitely room for improvement.

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part One

All-Metro Team & Ranking 1-5

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Two

Ranking 6-11

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Three

Ranking 12-1

Next: NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Four

All-Rookie & Ranking 18-23

2008 CollegeHoops.net High-Major All-Freshman

CHN — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:12:45 -0700

CollegeHoops.net High-Major Freshman of the Year: P’Allen Stinnett (Creighton)

CollegeHoops.net High-Major All-Freshman Team

G: Armon Johnson (Nevada)

G: P'Allen Stinnett (Creighton)

G: Charles Jenkins (Hofstra)

F: Austin Daye (Gonzaga)

F: Herb Pope (New Mexico St)

CollegeHoops.net Second Team High-Major All-Freshman

G: R.L. Horton (Southern Miss)

F: Chris Wright (Dayton)

F: Tirrell Baines (Marshall)

F: Billy White (San Diego State)

F: Lavoy Allen (Temple)

CollegeHoops.net Honorable Mention High-Major All-Freshman: Kevin Anderson (Richmond), Alphonso Dawson (Delaware), Papa Dia (SMU), Dairese Gary (New Mexico), Steven Gray (Gonzaga), Sam Maniscalco (Bradley), Chad Tomko (UNCW)

The CollegeHoops.net All-American teams are voted on by staff writers. Up next are our Mid-Major All-Freshman teams.

CHN 2007-08 Postseason Awards

All-Americans, All-Rookie, Top Coaches & more!

Hofstra CAA first round preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:00:41 -0800

Winner gets top seed VCU on Saturday By Raphielle Johnson Coming off of a win over Drexel in the regular season finale, the Hofstra Pride will look to keep their season alive when they take on the Towson Tigers in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. The two teams, seeded eighth (Hofstra) and ninth (Towson) respectively, split the season series with the home team winning both games. The winner will take on regular season champion and defending tournament champion Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday afternoon. The Rams defeated the Pride twice and Towson once in their regular season meetings. Here’s a preview of tomorrow’s noon tip. #8 Hofstra vs. #9 Towson (Noon EST, game can be seen online at caasports.com) Category Hofstra Towson Points per game 66.3 (6th) 65.5 (7th) PPG allowed 68.8 (9th) 69.3 (10th) Field goal % 43.8 (5th) 41.1 (10th) FG % defense 41.4 (4th) 44.3 (9th) 3PT % 33.6 (7th) 33.1 (9th) 3PT % defense 33.1 (3rd) 36.9 (12th) Rebound margin + 3.1 (3rd) - 4.2 (11th) Turnover margin - 3.21 (11th) + 2.03 (t-1st) Category Hofstra Towson Points per game Antoine Agudio (22.5) Josh Thornton (12.8) Rebounds per game Darren Townes (6.7) Junior Hairston (9.1) Assists per game Greg Johnson (3.66) C.C. Williams (4.86) FG percentage Charles Jenkins (47.0) Hairston (45.8) 3 PT percentage Agudio (40.7) Jonathan Pease (36.9) Assist/Turnover ratio Johnson (1.31) Williams (2.20) Regular season meetings: Towson 60-51 (January 30th at Towson) and Hofstra 81-67 (February 20th at Hofstra). Results against VCU: Hofstra lost 59-49 (January 12th at VCU) and 82-65 (January 23rd at Hofstra). Towson lost 65-42 (February 2nd at VCU). Towson also comes into this game looking to build on their regular season finale, an 89-74 win over Delaware on Saturday. Pat Kennedy goes about eight deep in his rotation, and that number would be nine if not for losing Rodney Spruill after the first ten games. The leading offensive threats are Josh Thornton, who leads the Tigers in scoring, and junior forward Junior Hairston. In Towson’s last outing, Thornton put up twenty-four points on 9-15 shooting. Hairston also leads the team in rebounds, which is a good thing since the only other forward in the rotation is classmate Tony Durant. And yes, he is Kevin’s brother. A guard-heavy lineup, Towson also receives contributions from Jonathan Pease (9.4 ppg), C.C. Williams (leading the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio) and Rocky Coleman (6.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Guards Tim Crossin and Vernon Carr round out the rotation for Coach Kennedy. The issue throughout the season for the Tigers has been rebounding, for they are the second-worst in the CAA in regards to rebound margin. If you’re one of the better shooting teams in the conference then maybe you can get away with that. But when you’re in the bottom half of the league in all major offensive categories, you’re in trouble. Hofstra, on the other hand, is one of the conference’s better teams in regards to rebound margin and they do it by committee. Darren Townes leads the team in rebounds per game, but the Pride have six players averaging at least three rebounds per game. In regards to who will score, there’s no question that the primary option is Antoine Agudio. The senior guard from Huntington Station, NY led the conference in scoring, and was also one of the CAA’s best in terms of three-point percentage. For as explosive as Agudio can be, Hofstra’s fortunes began to improve once CAA Rookie of the Year Charles Jenkins became more comfortable in his role. Jenkins is the only other Hofstra player averaging double figures in scoring, and he’s also the team’s third-leading rebounder. The rotation for Tom Pecora is dominated by newcomers, with guys such as Townes, Nathaniel Lester and Dane Johnson also called upon to contribute. And despite only playing around thirteen minutes per game, forward/ center Greg Washington is the team’s assist leader. While the Pride have done a good job of limiting opponents’ field goal percentage throughout the season, turnovers have done them in on many occasions. Their turnover margin of - 3.21 is eleventh in the conference, and they’re going up against a Towson squad that tied for the conference lead in that category. Whoever wins this game and moves on to face VCU will most likely do so for two reasons: they control the backboards and they win the turnover battle. Statistical Summary of VCU Category Virginia Commonwealth Points per game 67.9 (4th) PPG allowed 58.6 (1st) Field goal % 43.8 (4th) FG % defense 37.9 (1st) 3 PT % 37.9 (1st) 3 PT % defense 26.6 (1st) Rebound margin + 2.2 (5th) Turnover margin + 2.03 (t-1st) Category Virginia Commonwealth Points per game Eric Maynor (17.8) Rebounds per game Michael Anderson (4.9) Assists per game Maynor (5.31) FG percentage Maynor (46.3) 3 PT percentage Jamal Shuler (41.2) Assist/Turnover ratio Maynor (1.79)

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Hofstra Improves

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:34:14 -0800

Team of the Week: St. Francis-NY

Results: W 67-64 @ Long Island, W 74-70 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

Well, the Terriers are at it again. Last season saw SFNY finish the regular season with a three-game win streak to nudge their way into the eighth seed in the Northeast Conference Tournament. And with their current two-game run the Terriers find themselves within striking distance of that final slot once again. With one game left in their season, SFNY is 4-13 in conference play, a half-game behind their namesakes from Pennsylvania. They’ll need a win over rival LIU on Thursday along with some help if they are to get into the tournament, but there’s a chance.

The three-point win at LIU last week was spearheaded by guards Kayode Ayeni (18 points off the bench) and Marcus Williams (15 and 10), a game won by the Terriers thanks to the advantage at the charity stripe. SFNY didn’t set the world on fire with their 16-for-27 effort, but they did outscore the Blackbirds by five from the line. Four players finished in double figures for Brian Nash’s club, ending a nine-game losing streak in the process. Two days later the Terriers won their final home game thanks in large part to senior forward Robert Hines, who went for twenty-three points and seven rebounds. Jamaal Womack (15 points) and Ricky Cadell (13 points, 4 assists) also reached double figures for SFNY, who also won the battle on the boards by a 41-22 margin. This can help you make up for a 9-for-20 effort from the foul line.

I’m not too sure if the Terriers can get into the NEC Tournament, as their fate will be out of their hands following the finale at LIU on Thursday. But to simply have a chance at a berth is something that I didn’t see happening a couple of weeks ago.

Honorable Mention: Fairfield (won games against Marist and Drexel to move their win streak to six); Hofstra (followed up a key CAA win over Towson with an impressive effort against Iona); Sacred Heart (conference win over Quinnipiac has them just one game back of Robert Morris and Wagner in the NEC).

Player of the Week: Charles Jenkins (Hofstra)

Numbers for the week: 17 points, 5 rebounds vs. Towson; 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists @ Iona.

If you’re looking for a reason as to why the Pride are riding a three-game win streak, look no further than the play of this redshirt freshman guard from Queens. While his game against Towson has become par for the course of late, Jenkins was phenomenal in Hofstra’s Bracket Busters’ game at Iona. Jenkins scored eighteen of his career-high 28 points in the first stanza, and the double-double was also a career first. 11-for-20 from the field in the Pride’s 81-63 win, Jenkins made three of his four attempts from behind the arc as well. Thanks to the improved play of Charles Jenkins, Tom Pecora’s squad has a chance to play themselves into better seeding for the CAA Tournament in their last two contests.

Honorable Mention: Brian Laing (Seton Hall): 22 points and 6 rebounds in a win over DePaul for Laing, who should be first-team All Big East; Drew Shubik (Sacred Heart): 10 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds in win over Quinnipiac; Marcus Stout (Fordham): 31 points in a win over Temple after scoring just ten against St. Louis.

-- Other Notes from the Past Week

-          Rutgers will not be playing in the Big East Tournament this season. But the youngsters will continue to gain experience for next season.

With three games remaining in the season, the Scarlet Knights have been eliminated from contention. While they could catch DePaul with a three-game win streak, the Blue Demons own the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to their 75-73 win back on January 19^th. But thanks to an excellent incoming class headlined by guard Mike Rosario coming in to help the returnees, Rutgers should experience more success in 2008-09.

-          After a 2-0 start to conference play, Princeton has now lost seven straight games.

The problem for the Tigers, led by first year head coach Sydney Johnson (a one-time Ivy Player of the Year for Pete Carill), has been offense. Averaging a paltry 57.1 points per game, the Tigers are last in scoring offense and turnover margin (-2.42 per game). When you play an offensive system like the Princeton, it puts a premium on field goal percentage (on both ends of the floor) due to the number of possessions. Princeton shoots 42.6% from the field (6^th in the Ivy League) while allowing opponents to shoot 46.7% (7^th in the conference). That’s not going to get it done.

-          Manhattan goes cold in a 66-56 loss to Binghamton, ending their three-game win streak.

In conference wins over Canisius, Marist and Siena, the Jaspers shot no worse than 48.3% from the field in any of those games. But in their Bracket Busters loss to Binghamton on Saturday, Manhattan hit only one third of their shots (16-for-48). Essentially, the game was a microcosm of the season for Barry Rohrssen’s team, as they shot poorly while allowing the Bearcats to make 49% of their shots. Manhattan ranks last in the MAAC in field goal percentage defense and seventh in field goal percentage. This is still a young team that could be a tough out in Albany, but only if they buckle down on the defensive end of the floor.

-          Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth have played in the last four NEC Tournaments. If either one of them wants to make it five, they need to win out.

Both the Knights and Hawks find themselves in serious danger of missing the conference tournament, as only one spot remains for four teams. Both play St. Francis (PA) this coming week, and the Red Flash currently hold the eighth position. The two teams are the exact opposite of each other as well. FDU has a hard time stopping people from scoring (last in points allowed per game and eleventh in field goal percentage defense), while Monmouth has difficulty putting the ball in the basket themselves (last in both points per game and field goal percentage). With their next games coming against Wagner (FDU) and St. Francis-PA (Monmouth respectively), we should have our answer as to postseason plans on Thursday.

-- Games to keep an eye on

-          #16 Connecticut @ Rutgers (Tuesday 7:30 PM, ESPN Full Court)

Even with their Big East Tournament hopes shot, the Scarlet Knights can play spoiler the rest of the way. First up is a UConn team fresh off of its first loss in eleven games hoping to stay in contention for the Big East regular season crown. Another storyline in this one is the return of G Jerome Dyson for the Huskies, and the RAC can be an unforgiving place for visitors if they’re not careful.

Lastly, while he may not possess the same height as Hasheem Thabeet, you can’t help but look at the strides already made by Hamadi N’Diaye and think that he can make the same kind of progress as Hasheem this off-season.

-          Hofstra @ Delaware (Wednesday 7 PM)

With the Blue Hens just one game ahead of Hofstra in the CAA standings, this one is huge when it comes to seeding for the upcoming conference tournament. Thanks to a combined 46 points from Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins, Hofstra won the first meeting 64-58 back on February 2^nd. A win here would give the Pride a shot at finishing .500 in conference play, something that seemed far-fetched after their 1-5 start to league play.

-          Long Island @ St. Francis-NY (Thursday 7 PM)

The Blackbirds should be hungry for revenge after losing the first meeting between the two last Thursday. And after missing out on the NEC Tournament last season, what better way for LIU to head into the tournament this year than to make sure St. Francis doesn’t qualify? There will be some good guards on display, with Jaytornah Wisseh (LIU), Marcus Williams and Jamaal Womack (SFNY) looking to close out their season on a positive note.

-          Manhattan @ Fairfield (Friday 7:30 PM)

“Senior Night” for Stags Marty O’Sullivan, Mamadou Diakhate and Geoff Middleton, with O’Sullivan being one of the key catalysts to Fairfield’s current six-game win streak. With some help along with two wins, Fairfield can get themselves at least a share of the MAAC regular season title, if not more. PG Jonathan Han, who should be up for consideration in regards to one of the all-conference teams, has been solid all year long for Ed Cooley. With the amount of talent returning for both teams in this one, the future is bright.

-          Seton Hall @ St. John’s (Saturday 4 PM, ESPN Full Court)

By the time Saturday rolls around, the Red Storm could be fighting for their lives when it comes to simply qualifying for the Big East Tournament. And despite the season-ending injury to Paul Gause, the Pirates find themselves two games clear of thirteenth place in the conference standings. For the Johnnies to have a chance in this one, they’ll have to dominate the glass and limit their turnovers against the Seton Hall pressure. With so many players on both teams having New York roots, this one shouldn’t lack passion.

-          Central Connecticut State @ Sacred Heart (Sunday 4 PM, ESPNU)

By the time this game rolls around, a share of the regular season title could be on the line for the Pioneers. The two teams are about even when you look at the stats, but the difference can be found in two categories: rebounding margin (CCSU +1.9, SHU -3.5) and turnover margin (SHU +2.41, CCSU -1.04). It’s almost like splitting hairs, even when it comes down to scoring as both rely on a committee instead of a couple of headliners to get the job done. The final game of the regular season gets a national audience, and it shouldn’t disappoint.

-- Updated Rankings (previous week in parentheses)

1.      Sacred Heart (2)

2.      Wagner (1)

3.      Seton Hall (4)

4.      Rider (3)

5.      Columbia (5)

6.      Fairfield (10)

7.      Yale (6)

8.      Fordham (8)

9.      Army (7)

10. Hofstra (15)

11. Marist (9)

12. St. John’s (11)

13. LIU (13)

14. Iona (12)

15. Rutgers (14)

16. Manhattan (16)

17. FDU (17)

18. Monmouth (18)

19. St. Francis-NY (22)

20. Stony Brook (21)

21. St. Peter’s (20)

22. Princeton (19)

23. NJIT (23)

Northeast non-TV Bracket Busters preview

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:23:55 -0800
Here’s a quick preview of the ESPNU O’Reilly Bracket Busters games this weekend that will not be shown on television involving northeast teams. In most cases, the organizers of this event have done a better job of limiting the travel for non-television games, with the exception of UC Davis visiting Loyola (MD) among games involving northeast leagues. Bracket Busters, originally put together to provide schools in non-BCS leagues one last opportunity to add to their resume, now involves some 100 schools from sixteen conferences. Niagara @ Appalachian State (Saturday, 1 PM) The nation’s leading scorer, Charron Fisher, takes his act on the road as the Purple Eagles visit the Mountaineers of the Southern Conference. Fisher has eclipsed the forty point mark in two of his last three games, including 45 and nine rebounds against Loyola (MD). Niagara (with help from Tyrone Lewis, Stanley Hodge and an improving Benson Egemonye) will look to run and put up a lot of points, but the Mountaineers are also capable of scoring some points. Six players score at least seven points per game, led by senior forward Donte Minter. I’ll take the Mountaineers due to the home court advantage. Northeastern @ Holy Cross (Saturday, 4 PM) The Huskies make the short trip to Worcester to take on a Crusader team still trying to recover from a slow start in Patriot League play. Tim Clifford is Holy Cross’ best offensive option, but it’s been the health of PG Pat Doherty that has been the concern. His Achilles injury at San Francisco was the catalyst for a five-game skid early in 2008, and the team has been up and down ever since. Northeastern, looking to end their two-game skid, will counter with a balanced scoring attack led by wing Matt Janning. Normally, I’d go with the home-court advantage, especially with an environment as hostile as the one awaiting NU’s arrival. But I’m going to take the Huskies due to the fact that they’re a more balanced team on offense. Bucknell @ Old Dominion (Saturday, 7 PM) The Bison, like their Patriot League rivals, have uncharacteristically struggled in league play this year. But given the number of losses due to graduation over the last two seasons, you can understand why this team isn’t in its usual perch atop the conference standings. Guards John Griffin, Justin Castleberry and Stephen Tyree are the main men on the offensive end of the floor, and they’re going to have their hands full in Norfolk. Forward Gerald Lee leads the Monarchs in scoring, but they have seven players averaging at least six points per game. In their last four games, all wins, three different Monarchs have led the team in scoring (Lee twice, Brian Henderson and Abdi Lidonde once apiece). I like the Monarchs to win this one. Vermont @ UNC-Wilmington (Saturday, 7 PM) If you’re looking to find a candidate for the most improved player in the country (yes, country), look no further than Vermont’s Marqus Blakely. After averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season, the sophomore forward is up to 19.8 and 10.8 this year. And only two players have a 30/20 game to their credit this season: Michael Beasley and…Marqus Blakely. Mike Trimboli and Kyle Cieplicki are also more than capable of scoring from the perimeter. As for the Seahawks, four players average at least twelve points per game, led by senior guard T.J. Carter’s 15.8. Possessing a home record of 11-2, UNCW comes into this one riding a four-game win streak. Expect this one to be a close one, but I like the Seahawks to come out on top. UC Davis @ Loyola-Maryland (Saturday, 1 PM) Well, this one could get ugly as the Greyhounds host the Aggies. UC Davis, currently dead last in the Big West, has lost their last nine and are the league’s worst defensive team (opponents shoot 48.1% from the field). And when you’ve got to stop a player like G Gerald Brown, that could be bad news for the Aggies. Brown will have some help on the offensive end, supplied by Michael Tuck and Marquis Sullivan. The Aggies are led by guards Vince Oliver and Shane Hanson, but they have a road record of 1-11 for the season. I like Loyola to win this one. Hofstra @ Iona (Saturday, 2 PM) The Gaels host one of the nation’s best scorers in Hofstra’s Antoine Agudio, and with Iona preferring to quicken the pace this could be a game in which Agudio puts up some points. But the trend all season has been that the Pride are only as successful as Agudio’s supporting cast, and a group led by Charles Jenkins has become more confident as the season has progressed. On the other side, Kevin Willard’s first year as head coach has been streaky in regards to results, with a three game win streak followed by a short losing spell. Iona ended a two-game skid with a win at Canisius on Monday night, and five players averaging about eight points per game (Kyle Camper averages 7.8 to be exact). The key to this one will be how well Hofstra takes care of the basketball, something they haven’t done well on the road this season (3-9 away from home). I’ll take Iona by a basket. Fairfield @ Drexel (Saturday, 4 PM) The Stags, winners of five in a row, take their on one of the CAA’s worst offensive teams in the Dragons of Drexel. Center Frank Elegar leads Drexel in both scoring and rebounding, but the points have been few and far between for a team looking to replace the likes of Bashir Mason and Dominic Mejia from last season’s team. Fairfield, on the other hand, has received a boost from the likes of seniors Marty O’Sullivan and Mamadou Diakhate, two players who weren’t expected to see much playing time throughout the remainder of the season. But the team runs based on the play of PG Jonathan Han, the MAAC’s assist leader. With six road wins already to their credit, I like the Stags to pick up a seventh. Youngstown State @ Buffalo (Saturday, 4 PM) With two of the bottom feeders in their respective leagues on display, you have to dig a little deeper to figure out who to watch in this one. How about guards Andy Robinson (Buffalo) and Byron Davis (Youngstown State)? Both lead their teams in scoring, but truth be told each team has a couple of places from which the points can come. I’m taking Buffalo for one simple reason: The Penguins are 1-11 on the road this season. Binghamton @ Manhattan (Saturday, 4 PM) One of three matchups between America East and MAAC schools, this one will be an interesting affair due to the age difference between the backcourts. Manhattan, led by Antoine Pearson and Devon Austin (Austin’s a wing), rely primarily on sophomores while Binghamton’s backcourt is manned by seniors Mike Gordon and Richard Forbes. The Bearcats’ leading scorer, however, is sophomore forward Lazar Trifunovic (14.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg). I like the Jaspers to move their three-game win streak to four due to the fact that they’re at home (Binghamton is 3-10 on the road this season). Albany @ Canisius (Saturday, 7:30 PM) There’s no Jamar Wilson, but the Great Danes are still in third place in America East. The leader this season is Brian Lillis, a wing currently averaging sixteen points per game. In all, five Great Danes are averaging at least 7.7 points per game. Their opponent has one of the quickest guards in the MAAC in Frank Turner, but little has gone right this year for the 4-22 Golden Griffins. Losers of five straight games, I don’t think Canisius plays good enough defense (allowing 73.1 points per game) to end the skid in this one. Boston University @ St. Peter’s (Saturday, 2 PM) The Terriers have won six of their last seven, while the Peacocks have lost eleven of thirteen. SPC has one of the toughest competitors in the MAAC in senior Todd Sowell, but as a team they simply don’t defend well enough or take good enough care of the basketball (averaging sixteen turnovers per game). When you have four players scoring in double figures, turnovers are a sure way to keep your win total low. Corey Lowe, one of the best guards in America East, leads BU with eighteen points per game, but the improved play of freshman John Holland has been the catalyst for their recent run of good play. I like the Terriers to get a road win in this one.

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Big Week For Fairfield

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:48:45 -0800

　

Team of the Week:
Fairfield
Results:
W 66-61 @ Manhattan, W 68-59 vs. Iona

Don’t look now but the Stags are only one game out of third place in the crowded midsection of the MAAC standings. After the whipping they took at the hands of cellar dweller Canisius back on February 1^st, such a statement would seem to be a pipe dream, better to be left to next season. The key to the 2-0 week: junior guard Herbie Allen. In the two Fairfield victories, Allen averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Allen’s numbers for the season: 8.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg and 1.8 apg. In Friday’s win at Manhattan, Allen posted his first career double-double with fifteen points and ten boards.

On Sunday, sophomore forward Anthony Johnson chipped in with sixteen points and five rebounds in the Stags’ nine-point win. Fairfield won the game thanks to an outstanding defensive effort in the second half, limiting the Gaels to twenty-nine percent from the field in the final stanza. The two wins give Fairfield an 8-6 conference record, just one game behind the three-team logjam for third place. And just as important as staying within striking distance of Marist, Niagara and Loyola (MD) is the fact that they now are two games clear of seventh, since teams 7-10 have to play on the opening Friday of the MAAC Tournament.

Honorable Mention:
Columbia (wins over Penn and Princeton); St. John’s (2-0 week in the Big East without Anthony Mason Jr.); Yale (2-0 weekend in the Ivy League).
　

Player of the Week:
Jason Thompson (Rider)
Numbers for the Week:
18 points, 14 rebounds vs. Niagara, 26 points, 24 rebounds vs. Siena

Thompson becomes the first repeat winner this season and rightfully so as the senior averaged 22 points and 19 rebounds per game in two contests. Unfortunately for the Broncs, his Herculean effort on Sunday wasn’t enough to keep their win streak alive, falling 80-77 to Siena at Alumni Gymnasium. The preseason choice for MAAC Player of the Year may have all but sewn up the end of season honor with Sunday’s effort, the third time this season in which he has gone for more than twenty points and twenty rebounds in a game. Thompson has amassed sixteen double-doubles this season, and it’s a safe bet that a few more are on their way.

Honorable Mention:
Antoine Agudio (Hofstra): 23.5 ppg, 3.0 apg in two games; Herbie Allen (Fairfield): 15.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.5 apg in two games; Manny Ubilla (Fairleigh Dickinson): 20.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 4.0 apg in two games.
　

　

Turnaround of the Week:
Fairleigh Dickinson winning at St. Francis (PA), just two night after losing at Robert Morris by fifty.
When you have to play a game without three starters and have only eight players available, bad things can happen. This was the situation for Tom Green and the FDU Knights heading into their game at Robert Morris, one of the best teams in the NEC. But to get beat by fifty points (95-45) is something that can sink a team’s season on the spot. But credit the Knights for not only showing up two days later at St. Francis (PA) but managing to win the game 79-61. Two days after allowing RMU to shoot fifty-four percent from the field, FDU held the Red Flash to thirty-five percent from the field, completing the sixty-eight point turnaround.

　

Other Observations on the week

Just two games after getting Paul Gause back from a broken hand; Seton Hall has now lost him for the year to a torn ACL.
Gause only saw three minutes of action in their home loss to Notre Dame due to the knee injury, leaving Bobby Gonzalez to figure out how to make up for the loss of his best defensive player. Gause could wreak havoc on the defensive end of the floor, harassing opposing guards into making poor decisions with the basketball. While Eugene Harvey and Brian Laing are adept at stealing the ball as well, they are also Seton Hall’s two best offensive options, which may mean that more may be expected defensively from Larry Davis, Jamar Nutter and Jeremy Hazell.

St. John’s is now on a three-game win streak, with the last two coming without Anthony Mason Jr.
Just when it looked like the Red Storm would be spending another March watching the Big East Tournament, they’ve put together a three-game win streak. Making the current run all the more impressive is the absence of leading scorer Anthony Mason Jr., currently out with a sprained ankle. How have the Red Storm done it? Balanced scoring and taking better care of the basketball.

At least three players have scored in double figures in each of the three wins, and St. John’s turned the ball over an average of ten times per game. For the season, the Red Storm are averaging fifteen miscues per game. Now they’re only one game out of a spot in the top twelve, something that didn’t seem to be within reach as recently as two weeks ago.

Hofstra puts up its best defensive effort of the season in holding Georgia State to forty-five points.
The previous low for points allowed in a game this season for Hofstra was fifty-eight, reached twice in wins over Drexel and Delaware. But Saturday’s home effort against the Panthers took the cake, and not just because of the point total. The Pride, allowing teams to shoot forty-one percent from the field for the year, held Georgia State to thirty-four percent shooting while forcing twenty turnovers. While Hofstra had eighteen turnovers of their own, their work on the other end of the floor allowed them to get away with it. If they can continue to force turnovers, their remaining schedule sets up for them to make some headway in the CAA standings, important when it comes to seeding in the conference tournament.

Yale and Columbia get weekend sweeps in Ivy League play.
Not saying that their 2-0 weeks make them challengers to Cornell for the league’s automatic berth, but it was a good weekend for both the Bulldogs and the Lions. In Columbia’s win over Penn on Friday night, three Lions reached double figures, led by Niko Scott’s nineteen. John Baumann added 18 and K.J. Matsui seventeen in the 74-58 win. And despite seventeen from Lincoln Gunn, Columbia held off Princeton 58-53 on Saturday.

Yale also got both of their wins at home, making short work of both Harvard and Dartmouth. Matt Kyle, despite playing only sixteen minutes, led the Bulldogs with 19 points in their 97-58 win over Dartmouth. Can these two keep the momentum rolling? Yale visits Penn and Princeton next week, while Columbia hits the road for Harvard and Dartmouth. But followers of the program should be encouraged by the recent results.

Games to keep an eye on

Wagner @ Quinnipiac (Monday, 7:30 PM)

One game separates these two in the NEC standings as both hope to make a run at Sacred Heart and Robert Morris. The Bobcats have one of the league’s most explosive scorers in DeMario Anderson, currently averaging 20.9 points per game. Wagner, coming off of an overtime win at Mount St. Mary’s, is 8-4 on the road this season.

#16 Marquette @ Seton Hall (Tuesday, 7:30 PM; ESPN Full Court)

The Pirates will look to end their current two-game skid when the Golden Eagles show up at The Rock. We all know about the firepower these two teams possess in their respective backcourts, but keep an eye on the frontcourt during this one. Anything these two teams can get from the likes of Ousmane Barro (Marquette) and the trio of Augustine Okosun, John Garcia and Mike Davis (Seton Hall) will be a bonus. If the Pirates are to entertain any thoughts of making a run at a postseason bid, they need this game.

Sacred Heart @ Wagner (Thursday, 7 PM)

Two of the main competitors in the NEC get together on Staten Island. Sacred Heart has now won eight straight games, and a win in their second-to-last road game of the season would put them in very good shape when it comes to winning the regular season crown. Wagner, depending on what happens against Quinnipiac, may need this one to bolster their chances of hosting a game in the NEC Tournament.

Marist @ Manhattan (Friday, 8 PM; ESPNU)

Within the crowded middle of the MAAC standings sits Marist with a 9-5 league record, and they’ll need another road win in the second of four straight away from Poughkeepsie. It’ll also be worth watching to see whether or not Louie McCroskey returns from an ankle injury suffered against Loyola (MD). As for the home standing Jaspers, they’re only 4-7 at Draddy Gymnasium this season.

Villanova @ St. John’s (Saturday, 8 PM; ESPN Classic)

The Red Storm will have a chance to get their win streak up to four in a game matching two teams in desperate need of wins at this point in the season. Both are in danger of missing the Big East Tournament, something the Wildcats have never done. Unfortunately for St. John’s, this has become commonplace in recent years. While the Johnnies have done a better job of taking care of the basketball, it’s been the failure to do so along with many defensive lapses that had Villanova mired in a five-game skid before their win over Seton Hall. Should be an entertaining affair from the Garden.

Charlotte @ Fordham (Sunday, 6 PM)

Speaking of teams struggling to simply qualify for their conference tournament, there’s the plight of the Fordham Rams. Currently just one game up in the loss column on George Washington for twelfth in the Atlantic 10, Fordham hosts a Charlotte team hoping to make a late run at an NCAA bid. Two of the better players in the conference, G Leemire Goldwire and F/C Bryant Dunston, will be on display in this one. With this game coming before a two-game road swing to St. Louis and Temple, the Rams must have this one.

Updated Rankings (previous week in parentheses)

1. Sacred Heart (3)

2. Rider (1)

3. Seton Hall (2)

4. Wagner (5)

5. Yale (7)

6. Army (6)

7. Marist (7)

8. Columbia (11)

9. St. John’s (12)

10. Iona (8)

11. Fordham (10)

12. Fairfield (15)

13. Rutgers (9)

14. LIU (13)

15. Hofstra (16)

16. FDU (14)

17. Monmouth (17)

18. Princeton (18)

19. Manhattan (21)

20. St. Peter’s (20)

21. St. Francis-NY (19)

22. Stony Brook (22)

23. NJIT (23)

NYC Metro Preview: #5 Hofstra

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:31:38 -0800

6. Hofstra (2006-07 Record: 22-10, 14-4 CAA)

Head coach: Tom Pecora

Returning Starters: 3- G Antoine Agudio (senior): 6-3, 190; F Zygis Sestokas (sophomore): 6-5, 200; F Mike Davis-Sabb (sophomore): 6-7, 240.

Well, after a three-year run of the “three-headed monster” of a backcourt, Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera are out of eligibility. This leaves Antoine Agudio as the “lone ranger”, and the image of a gunslinger may be appropriate for the senior sharpshooter. Agudio, who’s the preseason pick to win CAA Player of the Year honors by some publications, averaged 20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 2006-07. And with Stokes and Rivera now gone, Agudio’s scoring figures to increase in 2007-08. But just how good the Pride are this season will rest on the shoulders of the supporting cast, because if they can’t keep defenses honest things will be much tougher to come by for Agudio.

Accompanying Agudio in the backcourt will be junior Greg Johnson, a solid defender who gets a starting gig after two years coming off the bench. In addition to Johnson, a pair of newcomers stands to have a chance to earn playing time in the backcourt. Redshirt freshman Charles Jenkins, who goes 6-3. 220, has the size to allow Coach Pecora to go with a three-guard lineup that’s been a staple of Hofstra Basketball the past couple of seasons. Freshman Nathaniel Lester, one of the top guards in New York City last year, also possesses that kind of size at 6’4, 190. One of these three will have to help Agudio shoulder the scoring load this season if the Pride are to once again reach twenty wins.

In the frontcourt, Hofstra lost Chris Gadley (4.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), who decided to transfer to Canisius after last season. But the combination of three returnees, a redshirt freshman and two junior college transfers can more than make up for that loss. Zygis Sestokas (6.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg), who was second in the CAA in three point percentage (44.4%), needs to up his scoring numbers this season. While he may be more comfortable at the small forward spot, the arrival of Jenkins and Lester could mean more time at the four for Sestokas. Mike Davis-Sabb (3.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is the team’s leading returning rebounder, and with the loss of Gadley must become more consistent this season.

As for the newcomers, redshirt freshman Greg Johnson (6-10, 200) has the height to make a difference inside. The strength could be provided by junior college transfers Darren Townes and Dane Johnson, both of whom stand to contribute in the paint immediately. After the guards showed themselves to be the more capable rebounders on the team last season, the frontcourt needs to step up with two of those three guards now graduated.

In regards to the schedule, things did not get off to a good start with the season-opening 61-47 loss at Holy Cross. Other non-conference games of note include trips to Fordham (December 5^th) and Rhode Island (December 22^nd), a home game against Charlotte (December 15^th), and an appearance in the Aeropostale Holiday Festival (December 28^th-29^th). Hofstra, who won the event last season, open with Virginia Tech while St. John’s and Marist play on the other side of the four-team bracket. And the CAA looks to be tough once again, with an eighteen-game schedule that can be unforgiving if you’re not careful. Hofstra will also once again take part in the ESPNU BracketBusters event in late-February.

2007-08 Prospects

Well, not too many teams in the country have the task of replacing two-thirds of an explosive backcourt. But hey, that’s better than having to replace all three, right? Agudio being back on campus this season is a welcome sight, but just how good this team is will depend on the supporting cast. Hopefully the opener at Holy Cross, which saw Agudio score 28 of Hofstra’s 47 points, isn’t an indication of how this team will play on offense this year. The frontcourt will need to increase its production to make up for the backcourt losses, both in the scoring column as well as on the boards. The schedule won’t call for as much travel this season, which will be good for the development of this team. But it will have its challenges, the better to prepare Hofstra for CAA play. But I don’t think they’re going to compete for the conference title this season, even with Agudio’s explosive scoring ability. Expect them to finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the CAA.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

Hofstra Signs Three to Letters of Intent

Press Release — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:02:01 -0800

Hempstead, NY (Nov. 28) * The Hofstra Men’s Basketball program signed three players to national letters of intent during the early signing period, it was announced today by Head Coach Tom Pecora.

The three signings include two current teammates at Broward Community Colleg in Florida, 6-9, 250-pound forward Miklos Szabo (Szeghalom, Hungary/Toth Arpad
School) and 6-2, 175-pound guard Tony Dennison (Long Island City, NY/Bryant High School). In addition, 6-2, 165-pound guard Yves Jules (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie High School) also committed to the Pride.

Szabo and Dennison are in their second season playing together at Broward Community College. Dennison averaged 27.7 points per game as a freshman last year, and was a third-team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American. He shot an impressive 63.2 percent from the floor over the course of the season, as well as 78.1 percent from the foul line. Prior to Broward, Dennison played at Bryant High School in Queens, New York, where he was second in Division I-A in scoring as a senior at 21 points per game, while scoring over 1,000 points in only two seasons.

Szabo averaged 15.0 points and 11.6 rebounds as a freshman last year, and leads the NJCAA in rebounding in the early going this season (17.2 per game). In addition to providing an inside presence, Szabo also has the ability to step outside and shoot, knocking down 40.9 percent of his three-point attempts last year. While playing in Hungary, he won four high school championships at Toth Arpad and was selected to the Hungary Junior National Team.

Jules will also be joining one of his former teammates at Hofstra, as he played at Canarsie High School with current Pride freshman Nathaniel Lester. Jules, who has developed a reputation as a strong three-point shooter, averaged 14 points per game as a junior alongside Lester, helping Canarsie reach the city semifinals. He also received the Big Apple Basketball Academic Achievement Award last year for his performance in the classroom.

“We are extremely excited to have these three young men join the Hofstra basketball family,” said Pecora. “All three of them have tremendous potential, and we expect that they will be able to step in and contribute right away for us.”

Dennison, Szabo and Jules will fill Hofstra’s three available scholarships for the 2008-09 season. The Pride loses senior guards Antoine Agudio (Huntington Station, NY) and Ryan Johnson (Massapequa, NY) after this season and also had one available scholarship, which was not used this year.