Mt St Mary's

NEC Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:29:53 -0500

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Conference Rank: 27th

10 year average: 28th

All-NEC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Jeremy Goode	Mt St. Mary's	Jr
G	Sean Baptiste	FDU	Jr
G	Jeremy Chappell	Robert Morris	Sr
F	Ryan Wittman	Cornell	Jr
F	Devin Sweetney	St Francis (PA)	Jr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Jeremy Goode		Points: Sean Baptist 18.5 Rebounds: Devin Sweetney 7.7 Assists: Jeremy Goode 5.5

Northeast Conference Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

135	Mount St. Mary's* **	NEC	1	NCAA
174	Robert Morris	NEC	2
189	Central Conn St	NEC	3
212	Long Island	NEC	4
229	Sacred Heart	NEC	5
244	Quinnipiac	NEC	6
284	Wagner	NEC	7
299	Fair Dickinson	NEC	9
300	Monmouth	NEC	8
315	St. Francis (PA)	NEC	10
335	St. Francis (NY)	NEC	11

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the NEC?

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Rise & Fall: NEC

State of 08: New York

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the NEC?

Shawn Siegel — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:40:00 -0400

State of '08: Maryland

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:41:00 -0400

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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.

MARYLAND

MARYLAND - The recent struggles of the Terps under Gary Williams are well documented, but as far as the Crab Cake State goes, Maryland dominates..

LOYOLA - Considering how epically bad Loyola was from about 2000 to 2005, the program has come a long way. Jimmy Patsos deserves credit for turning around a program that was 1-27 the year before he arrived in 2005. The past two seasons, Loyola has won 37 games, and gone 24-12 in MAAC play. The next step is doing some damage in the league tournament.

UMBC - 2008 was a banner season for Randy Monroe and the Retrievers. They won 24 games, dominated the America East with a 13-3 record, rolled through the conference tournament, and faced Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament. Plus, UMBC was 85th in the RPI, just 3 spots behind ACC member Maryland.

MOUNT SAINT MARY'S - The Mount returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999, beating in-state rival Coppin State in the play-in game. This was the culmination of a nice rebuilding job undertaken by 6th year coach Milan Brown. Now that the Mount returns star Jeremy Goode, a return trip is certainly not out of the question.

COPPIN STATE - The Eagles were arguably one of the worst NCAA Tournament teams of all-time last year. They finished under .500 in the lowly MEAC and only had one Top 250 win going into the conference tournament. They also set a record by being the 1st tourney team with 20 losses. But with the exception of a brutal 2002 campaign (316 RPI), Coppin has consistently been one of the better teams in the MEAC since 1997, the year of their epic win over South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

6. NAVY - Like many of its Maryland counterparts, Navy has also improved a lot in the past couple of years. When Billy Lange took over, the Midshippmen were struggling to win 5 games a season. Last year though, they won 16 games overall and finished 2nd in the NEC. Lange is trying to return Navy to its former glory days of the 80's and 90's when the program made 8 NCAA Tournaments in 16 seasons between 1985 and 2000.

7. MORGAN STATE - Todd Bozeman has done a solid job in his two years at Morgan State. Last year, the Bears won 22 games, captured the MEAC regular season title and made the NIT. Not bad considering the Bears went 4-26 in 2006. The program still needs a couple more successful seasons before it passes Coppin or Navy on this list.

8.TOWSON - Although Towson plays in a better league (CAA) than many of its in-state counterparts, there's been little success over the last decade. Since joining the CAA in 2002, the Tigers have yet to finish .500 in league play, a trend that I expect to continue in 08-09

9. UMES - The Hawks are in the midst of a horrible dry stretch. They've only won 24 games in the last five seasons. There's nothing positive to add.

Last: Louisiana - Next: Massachuesetts

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

2008-09 Mount St. Mary's Preview: #135

Joel Welser — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:19:56 -0400

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers

Overall Rank: #135

Conference Rank: #1 Northeast Conference

2007-08: 19-15, 11-7, 4^th

2007-08 postseason: NCAA

Jeremy Goode is who makes Mount St. Mary’s so, well, good. As a sophomore during last year’s NCAA Tournament season, Goode averaged 14.5 points and 5.5 assists per contest. The 5-9 Charlotte, North Carolina native is even a decent rebounder for his size and is always a pesky defender. With his leadership, especially now that he is an upperclassman, Goode and the Mountaineers will be shooting for another trip to the Madness come March.

Who’s Out:

But how well will the offense adjust to playing without Chris Vann? The shooting guard knocked down a ton of three-pointers during his senior season and there are not a whole lot of other options to hit the long ball. Seven-footer Jason Loughry was never a major scoring threat, but he was the only player on last year’s roster over 6-7. At the least, he was a decent big body to grab a couple fouls, but he could alter some shots on the defensive end as well.

Who’s In:

A trio of 6-7 forwards will help bolster the frontcourt depth. Danny Thompson and John Schwarz redshirted as freshmen last season. Thompson is a good athlete who will use that ability to hit the glass effectively and block some shots. Incoming freshman Jacolby Wells might need a little time to become acclimated to the style of play at Mount St. Mary’s, but eventually he will find a spot in the regular rotation. His ability to block shots will get him some playing time sooner than later and he is a fine finisher around the basket as well. The lone backcourt newcomer is point guard Lamar Trice. The 5-11 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania product plays under control in an uptempo style and that has Coach Milan Brown and Mountaineer fans very excited for the future.

Who to Watch:

The most important thing to keep an eye on this season is the outside shooting of the wings. Will Holland knocked down 1.6 long balls per game, but only at a 32.6 percent clip. Compared to the departed Vann’s 38.4 percent three-point field-goal percentage, Holland has some work to do replace him. The answer will likely be Vann’s replacement in the starting lineup, sophomore Jean Cajou. Cajou was a superb sixth man as a freshman, but he will be asked to do more this year. And after averaging 7.1 points, he should be ready. Cajou will not hoist up a bunch of shots from beyond the arc, but he hit 46.4 percent of what he did attempt last year. If he can keep that rate up while taking a few more shots, Cajou will be a consistent double-digit scorer and one step closer to become an NEC superstar in the years to come.

Final Projection:

The backcourt has plenty of talent and the frontcourt returns everybody who played over 13 minutes per game last season. Senior Sam Atupem is the biggest threat to score around the basket. He could be a better rebounder, but at least Markus Mitchell and Kelly Beidler can help out in that department. Mitchell, who started all 34 games as junior, can do a little bit of everything. He led the team with 5.9 rebounds and ranked second with 1.2 steals per contest. He will even block a few shots, but that is usually Atupem’s specialty. At 6-5, Beidler lacks the size to battle in the paint against most teams, but he can play at the four and stretch out the opposing defense or spend time at the three and add another rebounder to team.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Jeremy Goode, Junior, Guard, 14.5 points per game

Jean Cajou, Sophomore, Guard, 7.1 points per game

Will Holland, Junior, Guard, 8.6 points per game

Markus Mitchell, Senior, Forward, 5.4 points per game

Sam Atupem, Senior, Forward, 7.7 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview

Picture of the Day: Mount St. Mary's Advances

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:08:30 -0400

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we now have access to thousands of great college basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, CHN will feature a Picture of the Day, which might include a newsworthy, funny, or simply interesting subject. At the bottom will be a caption or headline that might be informative or amusing. The possibilities are endless!

MSM's Chris Vann

At no other time would so many people show up to watch two bad teams play basketball. But the NCAA Tournament's "opening round" is an odd monster.. two teams fighting to reach the real Field of 64 where they'll go on to lose by 30 to UNC. Here, Chris Vann of winning Mount St. Mary's goes hard to the rim.

- Check out recent Pictures of the Day!

- Also check out the Cheerleader of the Day!

Opening Round Preview: Coppin St vs Mount St Mary's

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:23:49 -0400

I’ll go ahead and cave in to the NCAA’s wishes that people refer to Tuesday’s game between Coppin State and Mount St. Mary’s as the “Opening Round Game” instead of calling it what it really is: a play-in game. Do they really think that the losing team will feel like they actually took part in the NCAA Tournament when they’re at a site with only one other team present? No but credit the people of Dayton, Ohio for doing a good job with this game, because things could be a whole lot worse.

As for the concept of this game, I’ve been on the stump for years to change this into a day with four games matching up bubble teams to figure out who the last four teams in should be. And has there been a more compelling argument for such a change than this year? That would be much more feasible than doubling the size of the tournament to add teams that are currently hovering around .500 with the sole goal being to hand out more bids to BCS conferences. But enough about that, let’s take a look at the two teams playing in this opening round game.

You’ll probably laugh (or curse me as a blankety-blank fool), but the Coppin State Eagles are one of the hotter teams entering the tournament. Usually when a team reaches the record of 4-19, 0-8 in conference play, it’s time to fold up the tent and look forward to next season. But not Fang Mitchell’s bunch, who won twelve of their last thirteen and four games in four days (by a grand total of six points) to take the MEAC’s automatic bid. Their 16-20 record makes them the first team in tournament history with twenty losses, but given the number of guarantee games schools from the MEAC and SWAC are forced to play to keep their athletic departments afloat this isn’t as bad as it looks.

Mount St. Mary’s didn’t experience that kind of futility to start the year, but they didn’t truly hit their stride until head coach Milan Brown went from a traditional half-court offense to a form of the Dribble Drive Motion system that’s been best employed by the Memphis Tigers. Guards Jeremy Goode and Chris Vann experienced more freedom, but they had to put in a full effort on the defensive end in order for Coach Brown to buy in. They’ve done it, and as a result the Mountaineers find themselves in the NCAA Tournament.

Tournament History

Coppin State: 1990 (Fifteen seed in the South; lost to Syracuse 70-48 in the first round); 1993 (Fifteen seed in the East; lost to Cincinnati 93-66 in the first round); 1997 (Fifteen seed in the East; beat South Carolina 78-65, lost to Texas 82-81 in the second round).

Mount St. Mary’s: 1995 (Sixteen seed in the Southeast; lost to Kentucky 113-67 in the first round); 1999 (Sixteen seed in the Midwest; lost to Michigan State 76-53 in the first round).

Note: The Northeast Conference currently has the worst winning percentage of any conference in NCAA Tournament play. The conference has an overall record of 2-26 all-time.

Team Statistics (conference leader in bold)

Category	Coppin State (conf. rank)	Mount St. Mary’s (conf. rank)
PPG	59.8 (7^th in MEAC)	69.1 (8^th in NEC)
PPG allowed	65.9 (5^th)	66.5 (1^st)
FT %	71.9 (1^st)	69.6 (7^th)
FG %	39.8 (10^th)	44.6 (4^th)
FG % defense	44.1 (7^th)	41.5 (2^nd)
3 PT %	31.8 (7^th)	36.7 (3^rd)
3 PT % defense	34.7 (8^th)	32.1 (3^rd)
Rebound margin	- 4.6 (9^th)	- 1.4 (8^th)
Turnover margin	+ 2.08 (1^st)	+ 0.72 (4^th)
Assist/Turnover ratio	0.64 (9^th)	0.89 (6^th)

Team Leaders (conference leader in bold)

Category	Coppin State	Mount St. Mary’s
PPG	Tywain McKee (16.6)	Chris Vann (14.4)
RPG	Robert Pressey (5.5)	Markus Mitchell (5.9)
APG	McKee (3.09)	Jeremy Goode (5.55)
FG %	Antwan Harrison (45.7)	Sam Atupem (51.2)
3 PT %	McKee (44.6)	Vann (39.2)
Assist/Turnover ratio	McKee (1.20)	Goode (1.62)

Players to Watch

Coppin State- Senior guard Tywain McKee

The primary offensive option for Fang Mitchell’s Eagles, McKee has the capability to put this team on his back and carry them to a win, as he did in the semifinals and final of the MEAC Tournament. Against Norfolk State in the semis, McKee went for twenty-six points as CSU pulled out a 67-65 win. For an encore, McKee lit up Morgan State for thirty-three points in the final, including the Eagles’ last nine points and a game-winner with five seconds remaining. Simply put, McKee will be the man taking the majority of the shots for Coppin State. It’s up to the Mountaineers to make him work for those shots.

Coppin State- Senior swingman Antwan Harrison

When your primary scoring option is bound to be the first line in the opponent’s scouting report, there has to be someone else with the ability to put some points on the board. Harrison, the team’s second-leading scorer and leader in field goal percentage, is the best candidate to do so. He only averaged a little more than eleven points per game in the MEAC Tournament, but a little more may be required of him if CSU is to advance.

Mount St. Mary’s- Senior guard Chris Vann

Vann, who leads the team in scoring and three-point percentage, was one of the chief beneficiaries of Coach Brown’s change in offensive philosophy. He possesses the ability to beat opponents off the dribble and can also knock down the outside shot and get his teammates involved. However, he’s been in a bit of a slump of late, and the foul trouble that has put him on the bench for long stretches of time hasn’t helped either. The Mount would best be served to have him stay away from silly fouls.

Mount St. Mary’s- Freshman guard Jean Cajou

Cajou may only average 6.9 points and just over twenty minutes per game, but without his efforts in the NEC Tournament the Mountaineers wouldn’t be in the NCAA Tournament. Named MVP of the conference tournament, Cajou posted games of 20, 13 and 15 points in their three games. Scoring twenty-seven in their regular season finale against Monmouth did wonders for his confidence, which was on full display in the NEC Tournament. If he can keep up his solid play along with Vann staying on the floor, the Mount could be in good shape.

What should happen in this game?

I like the Mountaineers to win this one, due primarily to their scoring balance. In addition to the aforementioned Vann, Goode and Cajou, Coach Brown can also rely on players such as Sam Atupem and Kelly Beidler, who also scored fifteen points in the conference final at Sacred Heart. Personally I have more confidence in one of them stepping up if needed as opposed to the Coppin State supporting cast. But with this selection comes a word of warning: do not let this one be close late, because Tywain McKee has shown himself to be more than capable of taking over a game.

2008 NCAA Tournament Capsule: Mount St Mary's

Joel Welser — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:41:22 -0400

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers

Northeast Conference (18-14, 11-7)

Big Wins: 12/1 Loyola MD (70-58), 12/18 Winthrop (64-59), 3/9 vs Robert Morris (83-65)

Bad Losses: 11/24 at James Madison (73-85), 1/5 Fairleigh Dickinson (62-65), 1/10 at Quinnipiac (59-70)

Last NCAA Appearance: 1999, First Round loss to Michigan State

Coach: Milan Brown (First NCAA appearance)

Probable Starters:

Jeremy Goode, Sophomore, Guard, 14.3 ppg, 5.5 apg, 2.1 spg

Chris Vann, Seniro, Guard, 14.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg

Will Holland, Sophomore, Guard, 8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg

Sam Atupem, Junior, Forward, 8.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 bpg

Markus Mitchell, Junior, Forward, 5.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Jean Cajou, Freshman, Guard, 6.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Kelly Beidler, Sophomore, Forward, 6.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Shawn Atupem, Junior, Forward, 4.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg

Jason Loughry, Senior Center, 2.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg

Why They Can Surprise:

If Mount St. Mary’s plans to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, they will need to hit the three-pointer. Chris Vann is a good place to start. The 6-0 senior hits nearly three per game. When his shot is falling, the Mountaineers have a chance. However, Vann has not hit a long ball on four occasions this season and two of those have been the last two games. He has scored 20 points or more in eight games, so he certainly has the ability to hit a whole lot of shots from beyond the arc.

The only other dangerous outside shooter on the team is Will Holland. The 6-4 wing is a solid defender and rebounder, but it is his outside shooting that benefits the team the most. And his recent shooting slump is a big deal for just that reason. Holland has hit just three of his last 26 attempts from beyond the arc over the last eight game stretch.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The Mountaineers have decent size for a team in the Northeast Conference, but they have not utilized that size on the glass. Sam Atupem and Markus Mitchell will get the starts up front. Atupem is the better scorer of the two, while Mitchell will do a majority of the work on the glass. Sam’s brother, Shawn Atupem and seven-footer Jason Loughry provide some depth, which comes in handy since the Mountaineers will often find themselves in foul trouble. Kelly Beidler is not as big as the rest of the forwards, but the 6-5 sophomore is a solid rebounder and scorer.

Who To Watch:

It is Jeremy Goode’s job to get the ball to the scorers and put up some points himself when necessary. He is not a great outside shooter, but he will get to the basket very effectively and at least get to the free-throw line. Obviously something went well even if Vann and Holland struggled during the conference tournament. And that something was freshman Jean Cajou. From November to January 24^th, Cajou only made one three-pointer. In the last six games, he has made 16. If Cajou can stay hot and Vann and Holland find their stroke, Mount St. Mary’s will be a formidable opponent.

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Three Stars of the Day: Reynolds, Cajou, Johnson

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:01:45 -0400

We handpick the best performances of the day, whether it be stat lines that make you drool, or clutch performances. Either way, its our way of showing the love:

Scottie Reynolds - Villanova

Reynolds hit 4 threes and finished with 22 points as the Cats picked up a huge win over Syracuse

Jean Cajou - Mount St. Mary's

The freshman lit up off the bench with 15 points, including 3 of 4 from three, in the NEC title game

Marcus Johnson - Dayton

Led the Flyers with 16 points and hit the eventual game winner in an OT win over pesky Saint Louis

Other Top Performers

Joe Alexander - WVU - Scored 22 points as the Mountaineers helped their chances of locking up a tournament bid

Julian Conyers - Coppin State - Hit the game-wining ft's with 2 seconds left as Eagles upset Hampton in the MEAC tourney

Previous Stars of the Day

March 11th - Jeremy Evans, WKU

March 10th - Kevin Kanaskie, MTSU

March 9th - Brandon Johnson, San Diego

March 5th - Marquis Weddle, UTM

March 4th - Joe Alexander, WVU

March 3rd - Kevin Love, UCLA

March 2nd - Tyrese Rice, BC