St Peter's

State of '08: New Jersey

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:13:42 -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 JERSEY

SETON HALL - Despite producing legendary prep talent, New Jersey has never been a collegiate powerhouse. Seton Hall is tops in the state, but the Pirates are in the midst of a very mediocre run. Louis Orr led the Pirates to NCAA Tournaments in 2004 & 2006 (and the NIT in 2003). Despite that decent record, Orr was sacked after five seasons and replaced by Bobby Gonzalez. In two years, Gonzalez does not have a postseason trip under his belt, but an NIT bid is possible in 2009. If the Hall miss out on the NIT, which is more likely than not, Gonzalez might be writing for Collegehoops.net next year..

RUTGERS - Like Bobby Gonzalez above, Fred Hill has done little to quiet the skeptics. Gary Waters led Rutgers to three NIT trips, but like Orr, he was sacked after five years. Rutgers has finished below 200th in the RPI the previous two years (60 spots worse than any of Waters' teams), and has just six Big East wins combined. The Knights lost to in-state rivals Saint Peter's & Rider, and barely avoided an embarrassing loss to lowly Dartmouth. But hope seems to spring eternal at Rutgers, and fans are hoping highly rated freshmen Rosario and Echenique actually pan out.

MONMOUTH - Like NEC rival FDU, Monmouth is coming off a down season with just 7 wins and a 4-14 league record. But from 2001 to 2006, this was the NEC's best team with tourney trips in 01, 04, and 06.

RIDER - The Broncs set a record with 23 wins in 07-08, and advanced to the newly created CBI, losing to Old Dominion. Now that Jason Thompson has graduated, a more typical 10-8 type finish in the MAAC should be expected. Rider hasn't been to one of the long-time postseason tournaments since the 1998 NIT.

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON - Veteran head coach Tom Green is still chugging along. Every few seasons, when you least expect it, FDU makes a serious run in the Northeast Conference. Last year, unfortunately, was not one of those good runs, as the Knights limped to a 4-14 league record (the 2nd worst in Green's 20+ year career). In 2005 FDU made the Tournament, which was followed up by the program's first NIT trip in 2006.

6. PRINCETON - Its amazing to think that Princeton dominated the Ivy League up until a few short seasons ago. The Tigers finished 331st in the RPI last year, the 2nd season in a row they finished at the bottom of the conference. Second-year coach Sydney Johnson will have a hard time cleaning up the mess left by Joe Scott.

7. SAINT PETER'S - Outside of Keydren Clark's legendary career which peaked from 2004-2006, Saint Peter's has been one of the country's worst programs in the last decade. The last two seasons have been particularly bad, with just 11 combined D1 wins (though they did beat Rutgers as noted above). Unfortunately, many expect SPC to finish near the bottom of the MAAC once again.

* NJ Tech is not included, as all provisionals were not included in the State of '08 articles.

Last: Missouri - Next: New York

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

Metro Review Part 4: All-Rookie & Bottom Teams

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:56:27 -0700

Now we come to the bottom of the poll, where there wasn’t much in the way of positives to be found this season. NJIT (0-29) completed a historically bad season, the worst winless campaign in the history of Division I basketball. With head coach Jim Casciano stepping down at season’s end the Highlanders are also in need of a head coach. Whoever steps into that opening will have a lot of work to do in terms of talent along with the confidence level of the returning players. Princeton (5-22) also made history for the wrong reasons, with year one of the Sydney Johnson regime coming in as the worst in school history. Add to this the fact that their two leading scorers (Noah Savage and Kyle Koncz) are both seniors, and you have to hope that guys like Lincoln Gunn can step into those holes next season.

Stony Brook (7-23) once again had a tough season in America East, but they were able to win their first round conference tournament game before falling to eventual champion UMBC. Their top two scorers from this year, Ricky Lucas and Mitchell Beauford, are both out of eligibility so any improvement made will most likely rest upon the shoulders of returnees such as Demetrius Young and Michael Tyree. Monmouth (7-24) was the benefactor of some help on the season’s final weekend, resulting in a trip back to the Northeast Conference Tournament after a one-year hiatus. However, for Dave Calloway’s team to improve upon their seven wins they must improve on the offensive end of the floor.

St. Francis (7-22) came into 2007-08 feeling optimistic about their chances at competing in the NEC, and instead was one of the area’s more disappointing teams as they didn’t even qualify for the conference tournament. The loss of a few key seniors, most notably Robert Hines and Marcus Williams, will put Brian Nash’s program into rebuilding mode heading into next season. Finally, St. Peter’s (6-24) says goodbye to a trio of seniors in Todd Sowell, Raul Orta and Tim Spitler. They had the unenviable task of trying to get the program moving in a positive direction after the graduation of Keydren Clark and the retirement of Bob Leckie. But with youngsters such as Wesley Jenkins, Darrell Lampley and Nick Leon due back, John Dunne won’t have an empty cupboard in 2008-09.

Before the actual ranking of these last six teams, here are the members of the Metro All-Rookie team.

Metro All-Rookie Team

G Jay Gavin (Marist) – 12.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 77.1% FT

With Louie McCroskey missing a good chunk of the season due to injury, things could have headed downhill in a hurry for the Red Foxes. But they didn’t, thanks in large part to the play of Gavin, who’s been racking up the honors this off-season. He’s also been named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, CollegeHoops.net Honorable Mention Mid-Major All-Freshman, and CollegeInsider.com Freshman Mid-Major All-American. And with a number of key contributors out of eligibility, this young sharpshooter is capable of even more in 2008-09.

G Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall) – 12.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 spg

The word explosive would be an accurate one to use in describing the scoring ability of Jeremy Hazell. The freshman from the Bronx, named to the Big East’s All-Rookie Team, was able to put on clinics at times this season. He lit up Louisville for twenty-nine points, and was also hot in losses to Connecticut (28 points) and West Virginia (30). But to underscore his streakiness, Hazell also have seven games in which he made no more than one field goal. Improved consistency could result in Hazell making one of the two All-Big East teams next season.

G Charles Jenkins (Hofstra) – 15.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg

Jenkins, named CAA Rookie of the Year, was the man to step into the role of being Hofstra’s number two scoring option. The freshman from Queens reached double figures in every game except for two: the season opener against Holy Cross, and their game at VCU January 12^th. And those are two teams who tend to do pretty well on the defensive end so there shouldn’t be much shame in that. His most impressive effort came in their BracketBusters win at Iona, a game in which he recorded his first career double-double (28 and ten rebounds). With Antoine Agudio moving on, more of the scoring load falls upon his shoulders. But Charles has shown this season that he can get it done.

G Wesley Jenkins (St. Peter’s) – 13.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 41.7% 3PT

Named to the MAAC’s All-Rookie Team, Jenkins led the Peacocks in scoring this season. Hailing from Newark, Wesley was one of three St. Peter’s freshmen among the team’s top four scorers, which should mean good things in the future. The first sign of thing to come from Jenkins came in the fourth game of the season, one in which he scored twenty-six in a loss to Rutgers. This remained his career-high until the BracketBusters game with Boston University in which he scored twenty-seven.

F Justin Burrell (St. John’s) – 10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 73.5% FT

Of all the youngsters to enter the St. John’s program this season, Burrell was the most impressive. Leading the team in rebounding and ranking second in scoring, the Big East All-Rookie Team selection showed he was more than capable of banging inside with some of the more established post presences in the league. With some of the other post players around him gaining some experience as well, look for him to improve his numbers with additional help from the likes of Sean Evans, Dele Coker and Rob Thomas.

Honorable Mention All-Rookie

G Corey Chandler (Rutgers)

G David Devezin (Marist)

G Kyle Johnson (Long Island)

F D.J. Kennedy (St. John’s)

F Mike Ringgold (Rider)

Final Rankings 18-23

18. St. Francis (7-22)

Maybe I went into this season expecting a little too much from the Terriers, but is reaching the middle of the pack in the NEC too much to ask? When relying too much on the three, St. Francis struggled to win games. But when they got the ball inside to Robert Hines and resolved to attack the basket they were capable of doing some things, most notably their win at Sacred Heart. Five seniors, including three starters, now leave the program and it should be interesting to see whether or not the Terriers can make a move up the standings next season.

19. St. Peter’s (6-24)

Like the Terriers, St. Peter’s will have to replace some senior leaders. However, they should look forward to next season with some optimism since three of their top four scorers will be back. Oh, those three were all freshmen this season. Nick Leon will take over full-time at the point, and while talented he has a tendency to speed up a little too much at times. The key to the Peacocks improving upon their six wins will be finding a replacement inside for Todd Sowell. And that will not be an easy task for John Dunne and his coaching staff.

20. Monmouth (7-24)

The Hawks scuffled at times on the offensive end, averaging an NEC-worst 59.2 points per game. Jhamar Youngblood and Whitney Coleman both averaged double figures, but when your top two scorers both hover around twelve points per game you’d better be getting it done by committee. Dave Calloway had no such luck this season. The good news is that Monmouth didn’t have one senior on the roster, and Coleman was one of just two juniors (Alex Nunner the other). So inexperience was a factor, and this should mean that next year the Hawks will move up in the NEC pecking order.

21. Stony Brook (7-23)

Steve Pikiell will have to replace his starting backcourt of Ricky Lucas and Mitchell Beauford heading into next season. And how well players such as Demetrius Young and Michael Tyree do in expanded roles will determine if the Seawolves can get out of that 8/9 game in the America East Tournament. But along with Emanuel Neto, Lucas and Beauford are the only players who won’t be returning so some progress is possible. But in order for Stony Brook to improve their standing, they’ve got to shoot the ball better. 39% from the field and 32.6% from behind the arc will make it tough on just about anyone to win games.

22. Princeton (5-22)

Year one under Sydney Johnson was a tough one and it may not have been a good year in which to make the trip out to the Maui Invitational. Senior forward Noah Savage was named Second Team All-Ivy League due to his play, but the Tigers struggled mightily on the offensive end of the floor. Lincoln Gunn will be the team’s leading returning scorer in 2008-09, but their style of play is one that will light up the scoreboard. So the assist-to-turnover ratio, which was tied for last in the conference, and rebounding margin (last in the Ivy) must improve next year.

23. NJIT (0-29)

The best way for the Highlanders to get over this season is to erase it from memory. Secondly, they’ll need to find a new head coach who understands the challenges that come with leading a provisional program. Forward Nesho Milosevic was a bright spot this season, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding in his first season on campus. So the question remains: how much better can this team be in 2008-09? Hate to say it, but unless the new coach is a miracle worker they should be right back at the bottom of this poll again next year. Just hope that the Highlanders win a couple in the process.

More:

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

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 Preview: #16 Saint Peter's

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 11:25:55 -0800

16. St. Peter’s (2006-07 Record: 5-25, 3-15 MAAC)

Head coach: John Dunne

Returning Starters: 3- G Tim Spitler (senior): 6’3”, 200; G Raul Orta (senior): 6’5”, 215; F Todd Sowell (senior): 6’7”, 250

St Peter's Stats & Roster

2006-07 marked the first season without the greatest player in St. Peter’s history, Keydren Clark. Along with Clark went head coach Bob Leckie, who decided to retire after the Peacocks made a surprising run to the 2006 MAAC Tournament final. In came John Dunne, and he took over a group that had become so reliant upon “Kee Kee” to score that when it was their time to step up, they didn’t handle it too well. The end result was five wins, three of which came in league play. The offense struggled mightily (59.6 ppg) without a player who could go out and create his own opportunities, and the Peacocks turned the ball over too much (16.6 turnovers per game) as well.

But expect the players, led by three returning starters, to be more acclimated to what Coach Dunne wants done on the floor this season. The backcourt will be led by a pair of seniors, Tim Spitler (4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Raul Orta (13.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg). While he’s not going to light up the scoreboard, Spitler gives the Peacocks a boost with his effort on both ends of the floor. Orta, entering his third season as a starter, saw a lot of time at the point last season, something that hopefully won’t happen as much this year. How much Orta plays the point could very well depend on the development of redshirt freshman Nick Leon (Brooklyn, NY). Leon, who played his high school ball at perennial city power Lincoln HS, is a capable ball handler who averaged eight assists per game in high school. Also joining the backcourt fray are freshmen Darrell Lampley (Linden, NJ), Wesley Jenkins (Newark, NJ) and Kahlil Mumford (Philadelphia). All three should battle for playing time from the start.

The frontcourt will be led by senior Todd Sowell, who is a problem for opposing bigs in the MAAC to say the least. Sowell, who averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, has the ability to go for a double-double anytime he’s on the floor. And with Akeem Gooding available for the entire season, Sowell will have a capable sidekick in the Quinnipiac transfer from Brooklyn. Gooding, who became eligible at mid-season last year, averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in twenty-one games (nineteen starts). The other key returnee up front is redshirt junior Ismaila Traore, who missed all of last season due to injury. Traore, who stands at 6’7”, 230, should provide another sturdy body up front. But help should also come in the form of three freshmen forwards: Jordan Costner (Montclair, NJ, and yes he is Brandon’s little brother), Ryan Bacon (Union, NJ; originally committed to Delaware) and John Hogga (Phoenixville, PA).

In terms of the schedule, St. Peter’s will play most of their games close to home in the non-conference season. Trips to Seton Hall (December 4^th) and Providence (December 31^st) highlight the early-season slate, along with home dates with Wagner (November 17^th), Rutgers (November 25^th) and Fairleigh Dickinson (December 22^nd). And in addition to the rugged eighteen-game conference schedule (three straight road games in early January- Siena (6^th), Marist (11^th) and Iona (13^th)), all ten MAAC members will take part in the ESPNU BracketBusters event in late-February.

2007-08 Prospects

Despite the influx of young talent, the Peacocks will only go as far as their experienced returnees take them. We know what to expect from Orta and Sowell, but look for Akeem Gooding to continue his progress for SPC season. St. Peter’s will win more than the five games they won last season, but how many more they get will depend on the improvement of the offense and how well they take care of the basketball. Unfortunately for the Peacocks, the MAAC is a deep league this season, making it tough for them to make any serious strides up the standings.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

Metro Basketball Report & Ranking

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:41:03 -0800

Well, we have now hit the stretch run of the basketball season. BracketBusters is completed, and the New York City area schools involved in the event went 4-2 overall. While the MAAC took a weekend off from conference play, the NEC attempted to get some sense of order in the middle of the league standings. Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson and Wagner all find themselves jockeying for seeding in the eight-team conference tournament, and Long Island and St. Francis (NY) need wins and help in order to qualify.

In the Big East, St. John’s is getting closer to the Big East Championship, holding a three game edge in the win column over 13^th place. Who’s in thirteenth? Seton Hall, and with two games separating the Pirates from a Connecticut team that they’ve already lost to, things don’t look too good for Bobby Gonzalez’s club. In the Atlantic 10, Fordham is stuck in the middle of the pack record-wise, and where they could end up in terms of seeding by the end of next weekend is still to be decided. Army and Stony Brook find themselves at the bottom of the Patriot and America East conferences, and they don’t figure to stick around their conference tournaments for too long.

In the Colonial, it’s going to be tough for Hofstra to make up their two-game deficit with two games to go, but they still need wins in order to ensure that they end up on the side of the bracket opposite first-place Virginia Commonwealth. Lastly, Columbia doesn’t have the luxury that other teams in the area have since the Ivy League doesn’t have a conference tournament. And with the Lions five game behind Pennsylvania in the loss column with five games (for the Quakers) to go, it looks like another year without an NCAA tournament for CU. Now here are a few games to keep an eye on over the next couple of days in the area.

Lafayette @ Army, Wednesday 7 PM EST

Yes, both teams are tied at the bottom of the Patriot League standings with 3-9 league records, but the winner of this contest will go a long way in avoiding the bottom two seeds in the conference tournament. All games in the tournament are played at the higher seed, and with the top two teams being Holy Cross and Bucknell (their order is still up in the air as well), any pipe dream of making a miracle three-game run would have to include finishing at least sixth in the league.

The Black Knights have lost their last seven, and with Bucknell visiting West Point to end the season three days later, they need this one for confidence reasons as much as for their record. The Leopards certainly aren’t hot right now either, going 3-11 in their last fourteen games. Expect this one to be a low scoring affair with the team doing the better job of limiting their turnovers getting the win.

Also: St. John’s @ Louisville.

Manhattan @ Siena, Thursday 7 PM EST

This one is big for seeding in the MAAC Tournament, as well as the fact that Siena is one of three teams one game (in the loss column) behind first-place Marist. Siena’s won six straight heading into this contest and a win at home over the Jaspers sets them up for a showdown at Marist on Saturday for a share of the regular season crown. The Jaspers have a lot to gain in terms of seeding as well, but if they want to play the role of spoiler they’d better make sure that all five Saint starters don’t reach double figures in points like they did in the first meeting, an 80-69 Saint win on January 21^st. Manhattan must have an answer for guard Kenny Hasbrouck, who went for 22 in the first meeting, if they are to keep this one close.

Also: Mount St. Mary’s @ Wagner.

St. Peter’s @ Iona, Friday 7 PM EST

An ESPNU audience will get to watch two area rivals get together in what should be an entertaining game despite their records. Iona has been hit hard by injuries and academic issues, but they silver lining in their cloud of a season has to be that freshmen are getting valuable experience for next year. St. Peter’s is also a young team that will have a lot of returnees next season, so this game could be a springboard into 2007-08 for both teams. And given the unpredictable nature of conference tournaments, one of these teams (or both) could pull an upset or two in Bridgeport next weekend.

Siena @ Marist, Saturday 11 AM EST

Yes, this game starts at eleven, but it also gets an ESPN2 audience. And depending on what Siena does against Manhattan on Thursday night, this one could be for a share of the MAAC regular season title. Marist won the first meeting between the two back on January 15^th thanks to twenty-four from their star guard Jared Jordan. But look out for reserve forward Wilfred Benjamin; better known as “Spongy” (this is one of the best nicknames in college basketball). Neither team relies heavily on their bench, but in his last four games Benjamin has averaged 11.2 points per game for the Red Foxes. The McCann Field House should be jumping for this one, regardless of the time of day.

Also: Fordham @ Rhode Island, Fairleigh Dickinson @ Wagner

Duke @ St. John’s, Sunday 2 PM EST

The Blue Devils make yet another trip north to take on the Red Storm, and this is one that St. John’s usually has no problem getting up for. This SJU team is nowhere near the teams of Artest and Bootsy Thornton that found a way to win at Cameron Indoor, but don’t expect Norm Roberts’ bunch to back down from this challenge. Lamont Hamilton will have his hands full with Josh McRoberts, but this one may ultimately be decided by how well Duke point guard deals with St. John’s guard Eugene Lawrence, one of the better defensive guards in the Big East. On paper, Duke should leave the Garden with a win, but you never know what can happen in this one.

Here are the updated rankings.

Marist (last week: 1): The Red Foxes took care of business last week, and they have a few extra days off before Siena comes to town on Saturday.
Hofstra (2): Hofstra got lucky at home on Senior Day, needing two free throws and a lost second block from Carlos Rivera to beat Holy Cross.
St. John’s (3): They lost a tough on at Providence last week, but the fact that none of the teams behind them did anything of note last week keeps the Red Storm at three.
Fairfield (4): The Stags have alternated wins and losses in their last five, but a win over St. Peter’s on Sunday could go a long way in giving the Stags a boost heading into the MAAC Tournament.
Sacred Heart (8): The Pioneers recovered nicely from their loss to CCSU by taking Mount St. Mary’s out behind the woodshed, then winning a close one over FDU.
Fairleigh Dickinson (7): They lost a tough one against Sacred Heart, but the Knights win over Central Connecticut State gave the rest of the NEC hope that someone could beat the Blue Devils come tournament time.
Fordham (5): The Rams ended their four-game skid by holding on at home against Duquesne on Sunday. Next up is a two game road swing at Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.
Manhattan (6): The Jaspers have lost their last four games, and they need some kind of positive momentum to take into the MAAC Tournament next weekend.
Seton Hall (9): The Pirates haven’t played very well of late, but none of the teams behind them in this poll have either.
Wagner (11): The Seahawks won at St. Francis (PA), and then lost at Robert Morris. This team has had a hard time sustaining positive momentum throughout the season.
Columbia (10): The road sweep at the hands of Penn and Princeton pretty much ended the Lions’ chances to win the Ivy, not that the numbers were in their favor heading into the trip to begin with.
LIU (13): The Blackbirds, winners of three of their last four, are starting to wake up. Unfortunately for them, however, it may be too late to qualify for the NEC Tournament. The St. Francis (PA)/Robert Morris road swing wraps up the season.
St. Francis (NY) (12): The Terriers made a run at eighth, but it looks like with a two-game gap to make up in the final two games of the season, it may be too late. Don’t expect this team to be on the outside looking in next year, however.
Stony Brook (15): The Seawolves beat New Hampshire by eighteen on Sunday, but they’re going to have a much tougher time with Albany on Thursday night.
Army (14): The losing streak has hit seven, and if they want to end it before the season ends, they need to take care of Lafayette.
NJIT (16): The Highlanders, led by senior guard Clayton Barker, have gone 2-2 in their last four games.
St. Peter’s (17): The Peacocks found a way to beat Iona, but they weren’t so fortunate in their 59-58 loss at Tennessee-Martin.
Iona (17): The Gaels got their first road win of the season, 52-50 at Delaware. Yes, it was Delaware, but for this young team it’s still a good win.

2006-07 NYC Metro Preview: St Peter's

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 09:36:23 -0700

Raphielle Johnson Previews the 14-team NYC Metro Region.

11. St. Peter’s Peacocks

2005-06 Record: 17-15 (9-9 MAAC)

Last season’s final ranking (NY Metro area poll): 5^th

Head Coach: John Dunne (first year at SPC)

Leading Returnees: Points (Raul Orta-11.9 ppg); Rebounds (Todd Sowell-10.2 rpg); Assists (Kevin Spann-2.5 apg)

Returning starters: 3 (G Kevin Spann (So. 6’0, 175), G Raul Orta (Jr. 6’4, 200), F Todd Sowell (Jr. 6’8, 245)

Key Losses: G Keydren Clark, G Kaimondre Owes, F Ivan Bozovic

Team Preview

Year One A.K. (After Kee-Kee) begins in Jersey City with a new coaching staff as well, with John Dunne taking over the Peacock program. For the former Seton Hall assistant, this is his first collegiate head coaching job, but he does have a wealth of experience as an assistant, which should help. The first task is to find how this team can replace some of the scoring of Keydren Clark, who graduated as the sixth leading scorer in NCAA history. It was thought that Kaimondre Owes would return to help with that responsibility, but his scholarship was revoked by Coach Dunne.

That means that more will rest on the shoulders of guard Raul Orta and forward Todd Sowell, the only other players on the team last season to average double figures in scoring. Sowell has some size to him as well, and he can also attack the glass, shown in his average of 10.2 rebounds per game last year. Orta attempted the second-most three pointers last season and made 37.0% of his tries, but the jump shooter needs to get to the foul line more this year. And when he gets to the charity stripe, he needs his 56.6% number from the line to improve. Kevin Spann will be the distributor for this team, and with Clark gone he should have the ball in his hands a lot more.

Four newcomers will be welcomed into the Peacock program this season, although one (Akeem Gooding) redshirted last season. Gooding is more of a swingman, while guards Nick Leon and Lawrence Graham will vie for backcourt minutes. Scott McRae is a versatile forward who can score as well as rebound, so look for him to get a shot at earning playing time as well.

Schedule at a Glance

The season opens up at home for the Peacocks, hosting Maryland-Baltimore County November 11^th. This is followed with an appearance in the Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic, which is winnable from SPC’s perspective. They open with Kennesaw State, the face either host Columbia or New Jersey Institute of Technology the following night. Non-conference matchups include visits Fairleigh Dickinson, Lafayette, and Long Island, and trips to Monmouth, Seton Hall, UNC-Greensboro, and Florida State. St. Peter’s will also be involved in Bracketbuster Weekend February 16^th-18^th.

Conference play opens with a trip to Loyola (Maryland) December 8^th. This could be looked at as a must-win for the Peacocks, especially when you see that they return home to face league favorite Marist four days later. To entertain any thoughts of competing for the MAAC title, St. Peter’s would be advised to split these two games. After Marist, the MACC looks to be wide open, so expect the standings throughout the year to reflect this. St. Peter’s has two three-game home stands during conference play, Canisius-Manhattan-Loyola (MD) from Jaunary 13^th-19^th, and Niagara-Siena-Iona from February 9^th-14^th. In 2005-06, St. Peters had a losing record at home (4-5) in MAAC play, but went 5-4 on the road.

Interesting Note: While scoring 26.3 points per game last season, Keydren Clark was also the team’s second-leading rebounder with 4.1 rebounds per game.

2005-06 Team Averages

· Points per game: 74.5 - Points per game allowed: 75.2 - Scoring Margin: -0.7

· Rebounds per game: 37.3 - Opp. Rebounds per game: 38.5 - Rebounding Margin: -1.2

· Assists per game: 13.6 - Turnovers per game: 13.1 - Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 1:1

· Field Goal Percentage: 42.2% - FG Percentage Defense: 44.6%

· 3-Point Percentage: 33.9% - 3-Point Percentage Def.: 33.3%

· Free Throw Percentage: 72.5%

2005-06 Streaks

· Longest winning streak: 5(@ Lafayette. Monmouth, @ Canisius, @ Niagara, Fairleigh Dickinson) December 1^st-22^nd

· Longest losing streak: 4-twice (@ Florida, Oakland-Michigan, @ Pittsburgh, @ Seton Hall) November 9^th-28^th, (@ Manhattan, Iona, Fairfield, @ Siena) January 8^th-19^th

· St. Peter’s won three straight to reach the MAAC Tournament final last year before falling to Iona.

Complete NYC Metro Preview

Metro Area Review & Postseason Awards

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700

This season was to be the year when teams from smaller conferences would take over as the rulers of the New York metropolitan area. Teams like Iona, Manhattan, and Hofstra spent the majority of the season at or near the top of the area poll posted on this site throughout the season. Marist was a pleasant surprise, finishing third in the competitive MAAC, but the biggest surprise was Seton Hall. The Pirates, preseason pick to finish fifteenth in the Big East, finished seventh and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. There were also some disappointments, most notably Wagner. The Seahawks were picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference, yet couldn’t even qualify for the conference tournament this season. Below are some of the superlatives from this past season, as well as the final poll.

Player of the Year: Keydren Clark (Senior G – St. Peter’s)

Clark was unable to defend his national scoring title, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. Kee Kee scored 26.3 points per game, tops in the Metro Atlantic. What makes this figure even more impressive is the fact that opponents on a nightly basis knew that he was the focal point of the offense, and yet he still put up excellent numbers. The Peacocks hit a rough stretch early in January, losing four straight conference games due primarily to the fact that Clark’s young teammates struggled with their offense from time to time. But Clark’s leadership rounded teammates such as Raul Orta and Todd Sowell into form as the year progressed, enabling St. Peter’s to make it to the MAAC Tournament final. There, playing their fourth game in as many days caught up to them, resulting in an 80-61 loss to Iona. Clark leaves the Jersey City campus in sixth place on the NCAA’s all-time career scoring list with 3,058 points. An amazing career indeed.

Runners-up: Steve Burtt Jr. (Senior G– Iona), Loren Stokes (Junior G– Hofstra), Bryant Dunston (Sophomore F- Fordham).

Coach of the Year: Tom Pecora (Hofstra)

Pecora led the Pride to a record of twenty-six wins and seven losses, including 14-4 in the tough Colonial Athletic Association, good for second place. Hofstra beat the likes of St. John’s, and two wins each over Old Dominion and George Mason. Unfortunately for Pecora, ODU got a measure of revenge in ending their season in the quarterfinals of the NIT. Due to Hofstra’s success, as well as interest from Seton Hall regarding their head coach opening, the former Jay Wright assistant was recently rewarded with a five-year contract extension. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of America learns what many in the metropolitan area already know: Tom Pecora can coach.

Runners-up: Jeff Ruland (Iona), Bobby Gonzalez (Manhattan), Louis Orr (Seton Hall).

Biggest Surprise: Seton Hall (finished seventh in Big East despite preseason prognostications of fifteenth, as well as uncertainty of the program)

Biggest Disappointment: Wagner (finished tenth in the NEC; preseason pick to finish tied for second with Monmouth)

All-Metro Area First Team:

G Steve Burtt Jr. (Senior- Iona): 25.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg

G Keydren Clark (Senior- St. Peter’s): 26.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg

G Loren Stokes (Junior- Hofstra): 17.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg

F Bryant Dunston (Sophomore- Fordham): 16.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg

F Kelly Whitney (Senior- Seton Hall): 15.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg

All-Metro Area Second Team:

G Jared Jordan (Junior- Marist): 16.1 ppg, 8.5 apg, 4.8 rpg

G Donald Copeland (Senior- Seton Hall): 16.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.0 rpg

G Ricky Soliver (Senior- Iona): 16.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.4 apg

F Gordon Klaiber (Senior- Fairleigh Dickinson): 14.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg

F/C Lamont Hamilton (Junior- St. John’s): 12.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg

Honorable Mention:

G Chad Timberlake (Senior- Fairleigh Dickinson): 15.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.2 apg

G Antoine Agudio (Sophomore- Hofstra): 17.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg

G Will Whittington (Junior- Marist): 15.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg

F Kiril Wachsmann (Senior- Iona): 11.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg

F C.J. Anderson (Sophomore- Manhattan): 18.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.9 apg

Final Metro Area Team Rankings (previous ranking in parentheses):

1. Hofstra (1): With all three backcourt stars returning next season, why would Tom Pecora leave?

2. Iona (3): A rebuilding project awaits Jeff Ruland next season…whether it’s here or if he gets the Seton Hall job (he’s a long shot at best, however)

3. Manhattan (2): Jeff Xavier and most likely C.J. Anderson will return to a team that could be the preseason favorite in the MAAC

4. Seton Hall (5): No recruits coming in as of yet; currently interviewing candidates for their head coaching position

5. St. Peter’s (8): Life after Kee Kee will take some getting used to, but some experience will return next year

6. Marist (4): With guards Jordan and Whittington due back, the Red Foxes should be at or near the top of the MAAC

7. Fairleigh Dickinson (6): Knights must replace seniors Timberlake and Klaiber, but center Andrea Crosariol will be back

8. Fordham (7): Fordham should be even better next season; will have to prove that their third place finish in the Atlantic 10 was not a fluke

9. St. John’s (9): Losing Daryll Hill to a knee injury hindered the Red Storm down the stretch, but Norm Roberts has this program on the right track

10. LIU-Brooklyn (10): Expect improvement next year from a Blackbirds squad that loses only one senior (G Aubin Scott)

11. Wagner (11): Seahawks return all key players from this year’s team with the exception of guard DeEarnest McLemore; should be much better in 2006-07

12. Columbia (12): Columbia loses three seniors, and the experience returning could get the Lions into the top half of the Ivy League

13. St. Francis- NY (13): Must find replacements for departing seniors Sean Dantzler and Christian Brown, but should improve in the NEC next year

14. Stony Brook (14): A young team that had a tough season, the experience should help make the Seawolves a tougher foe in America East