Seton Hall

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Year End Review

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

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

Player of the Year: Jason Thompson (Rider)

Numbers: 20.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.7 bpg

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

Coach of the Year: Mike Deane (Wagner)

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

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

Biggest Surprise: Fairfield

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

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

Biggest Disappointment: Fordham

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

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

First-Team All-Metro

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Rankings 1-5

1. Rider (23-11)

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

2. Seton Hall (17-15)

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

3. Wagner (23-8)

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

4. Marist (18-14)

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

5. Sacred Heart (17-13)

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

Next: NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Two

Ranking 6-11

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Three

Ranking 12-1

NYC Metro Year End Review: Part Four

All-Rookie & Ranking 18-23

Cheerleader of the Day: Seton Hall #2

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:10:30 -0700

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, along with our Picture of the Day, we'll be featuring a Cheerleader of the Day. We'll be mixing up the schools & cheerleader so check back daily!

Seton Hall

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

NYC area preview for Wednesday

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:54:15 -0700

Fordham, Sacred Heart and Seton Hall on tap With the MAAC Tournament now complete and many of the other area teams either finished for the season or waiting for Sunday to find out whether or not they’ll be playing postseason basketball (Rider), three teams in the area still have games to play in Wednesday. Fordham and Seton Hall begin play in the Atlantic 10 and Big East tournaments, respectively, while the Pioneers of Sacred Heart host Mount St. Mary’s in the Northeast Conference title game. Here’s a preview of each game, along with my picks (the games will be listed in chronological order based on their start time). Atlantic 10 Tournament First Round #12 Fordham vs. #5 St. Joseph’s (Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ) Wednesday 2:30 PM, CSTV Category (conf. rank) Fordham St. Joseph’s Points per game 64.9 (11th) 74.3 (6th) PPG allowed 66.7 (5th) 68.6 (8th) Field goal % 42.3 (11th) 47.6 (2nd) FG % defense 45.1 (13th) 43.8 (10th) 3 PT % 32.5 (13th) 39.1 (3rd) 3 PT % defense 34.5 (6th) 37.9 (14th) Rebound margin - 2.7 (13th) - 0.2 (7th) Turnover margin + 0.32 (8th) + 1.72 (4th) Category Fordham St. Joseph’s Points per game Bryant Dunston (15.5) Pat Calathes (17.8) Rebounds per game Dunston (10.0) Calathes (7.7) Assists per game Marcus Stout (2.9) Tasheed Carr (5.8) FG percentage Dunston (52.5) Calathes (44.6) 3 PT percentage Stout (35.3) Rob Ferguson (42.2) Assist/Turnover ratio Kevin Anderson (2.1) Carr (2.09) Regular season meeting: St. Joseph’s 70-55 (February 2nd at St. Joseph’s). Make no mistake about it: this season has been a serious disappointment for the Rams and anyone who would have thought that a team returning five senior starters would be able to make some waves in conference play. But things don’t always work out as planned, meaning that this bunch barely squeaked into the Atlantic 10 Tournament to face an opponent that should have no problem getting up for this game. The Hawks are in desperate need of wins in order to strengthen their case for the NCAA Tournament, and with this game and a quarterfinal against Richmond, St. Joe’s could very well find themselves in a semifinal opposite league champ Xavier if things go according to plan. Pat Calathes has been the jack-of-all-trades guy for Phil Martelli this season, leading the Hawks in both scoring and rebounding. Even though he stands at 6-10, Calathes possesses the guard skills that you’d normally associate with players standing six inches shorter. The man who runs the show is Tasheed Carr, who led the team in assists per game and ranks behind only UMass’ Chris Lowe with 5.8 assists per game (rounded up from 5.76). The most entertaining individual matchup between the two teams could be between senior big men Bryant Dunston and Amhad Nivins. Nivins has been the anchor in the middle for the Hawks over the past couple of seasons, and St. Joe’s also has Rob Ferguson coming off the bench to contribute as well. Six players (five of whom average double figures in scoring) see the majority of the minutes, with Darrin Govens and Garrett Williamson rounding out the rotation. As for Fordham, the offense has basically boiled down to two components: Dunston and Marcus Stout. Dunston is once again averaging a double-double, earning Second-Team All-Conference and All-Defensive honors as a result. Stout is just behind him with his average of 15.2 points per contest, and also leads the team in assists per game. The other Ram averaging double figures is sophomore guard Brenton Butler, who has reached double digits in scoring in each the Rams’ last five games. Kevin Anderson, Mike Moore, Michael Binns and Herb Tanner also see playing time, but none of those four have proven to be serious offensive threats. St. Joe’s clearly has the advantage on that end of the floor, and if the Rams don’t control the tempo they could be in serious trouble. Both teams are middle of the pack clubs when it comes to defense, and they both do a decent job of taking care of the basketball. But to be frank, the Hawks have more talent. Fordham will give them a run, especially with five seniors possibly playing their last game, but sometimes you get the feeling that a team’s better off simply ending their season right now instead of delaying the inevitable. I like St. Joe’s in this one. Northeast Conference Tournament final #4 Mount St. Mary’s @ #3 Sacred Heart Wednesday 7 PM, ESPN2 Category (league rank) Mount St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Points per game 69.1 (8th) 72.4 (3rd) PPG allowed 66.9 (1st) 71.6 (7th) Field goal % 44.7 (4th) 44.6 (5th) FG % defense 41.9 (2nd) 44.6 (t-5th) 3 PT % 37.0 (3rd) 34.9 (6th) 3 PT % defense 32.7 (4th) 34.1 (6th) Rebound margin - 1.3 (8th) - 4.1 (9th) Turnover margin + 0.65 (4th) + 2.42 (1st) Category Mount St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Points per game Chris Vann (14.7) Brice Brooks (12.6) Rebounds per game Markus Mitchell (5.9) Drew Shubik (5.8) Assists per game Jeremy Goode (5.6) Shubik (5.6) FG percentage Sam Atupem (51.7) Ryon Howard (52.0) 3 PT percentage Vann (39.4) Ryan Litke (38.0) Assist/Turnover ratio Goode (1.62) Shubik (1.54) Regular season meetings: Sacred Heart 67-59 (January 19th at The Mount). Tournament Results: Mount St. Mary’s beat #5 Quinnipiac (80-70) and #1 Robert Morris (83-65). Sacred Heart defeated #6 Central Connecticut State (84-71) and #2 Wagner (55-49). On paper the Mountaineers have the clear advantage when it comes to defense. But the Pioneers are coming off of their best defensive effort of the season, one in which they held Wagner to forty-nine points and thirty percent shooting from the field. Dave Bike’s team is a balanced group led in scoring by Brice Brooks, but anyone from Corey Hassan to Drew Shubik to Ryan Litke to Ryon Howard can victimize the opponent on any given night. After getting off to a slow start to the season, the Pioneers were in the thick of the NEC race until about a week left in the season. The only negative that came out of Sunday’s win at Wager were the fifteen turnovers committed by Sacred Heart, a surprising number given the fact that they led the NEC in turnover margin this season. But they were still able to overcome a rough shooting night (Hassan went 1-10 from the field on his own) to make it to Wednesday’s final. Another piece of good news for Pioneer followers: only twice has the road team won the conference title game this decade. Monmouth was the winner on each occasion as they knocked off FDU in 2006 and St. Francis (NY) in 2001. As for the Mountaineers, they’ll show up with one of the conference’s best defenses. The Mount gave up the fewest points per game this season and finished second in field goal percentage defense. On offense, this is a team that prefers to play a half-court style and won’t shoot themselves in the foot. Point guard Jeremy Goode leads the way, distributing the ball to players such as leading scorer Chris Vann and Will Holland while not being afraid to put up some shots himself (Goode is second on the team in scoring). Both teams tend to rebound by committee, but neither has been particularly dominant in that area, ranking near the bottom of the NEC in rebound margin. While this is a tricky game to pick, I like Sacred Heart and Dave Bike to make their first appearance in the Division I tournament (remember, this school as a Division II title to its credit). Big East Tournament First Round #12 Seton Hall vs. #5 Marquette Wednesday 9:30 PM, ESPN Category Seton Hall Marquette Points per game 77.4 (4th) 76.2 (5th) PPG allowed 77.6 (16th) 64.0 (4th) Field goal % 42.5 (13th) 45.3 (8th) FG % defense 45.1 (15th) 41.2 (5th) 3 PT % 34.2 (10th) 35.9 (4th) 3 PT % defense 37.5 (15th) 29.3 (2nd) Rebound margin - 3.7 (16th) + 1.3 (11th) Turnover margin + 3.55 (3rd) + 4.17 (2nd) Category Seton Hall Marquette Points per game Brian Laing (19.0) Jerel McNeal (13.6) Rebounds per game John Garcia (7.1) Lazar Hayward (6.4) Assists per game Eugene Harvey (4.81) Dominic James (4.33) FG percentage Garcia (61.7) Ousmane Barro (55.1) 3 PT percentage Jamar Nutter (38.8) Maurice Acker (41.2) Assist/Turnover ratio Harvey (1.3) James (1.88) Regular season meetings: Marquette won both meetings, 61-56 (January 8th at Marquette) and 89-64 (February 12th at Seton Hall). For all the talk about Tom Crean’s guards (and rightfully so), the major difference between the Pirates hanging around in the first meeting and getting blown out of their own gym a month later could be the play of Lazar Hayward. In the five-point win in Milwaukee, Hayward only had seven points and six rebounds. In the return meeting, Lazar went for twenty-three points and nine rebounds as the Hall had no answer for the sophomore forward. Another key to this one could be the matchup between Ousmane Barro and John Garcia. I predicted the same heading into the second meeting, only to have Hayward play one of his best games of the season. The Pirates give up nearly forty rebounds per game, something that isn’t shocking considering their style of play and lack of size. But if they want to have any shot at hanging around in this one, they’re going to need to hold their own on the glass if not win the category. The leading scorer for Seton Hall has been Brian Laing, recently named to the conference’s first team. Other options include point guard Eugene Harvey and guards Jamar Nutter and Jeremy Hazell (named to the All-Rookie Team). A trio of big men occupies the pivot in Bobby Gonzalez’s “small ball” system, with John Garcia coming on of late. As for Marquette, the Golden Eagles can boast a triumvirate of second-team All-Conference players in Hayward, McNeal and James. But they’ve also got some depth, with roles players such as David Cubillan, Dan Fitzgerald and Maurice Acker also able to burn an unsuspecting opponent. And you can’t forget about the third guard in Marquette’s three-guard attack, Wesley Matthews. Matthews may be Coach Crean’s best perimeter defender, but all of the guards do a solid job of containing their opponent. While Seton Hall’s pressing style can give them a chance in this one, something has been missing from this group on the defensive end of the floor ever since Paul Gause tore his ACL a few weeks ago. There’s no longer a ball-hawking defender who can force teams to throw the ball away and rush things on offense, leading to better shot opportunities for the Pirates. And without Gause the lack of size becomes even more apparent. I like Marquette to win this one.

Cheerleader of the Day: Seton Hall

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:47:50 -0800

Seton Hall

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

Wednesday Report Card: Enough About Clemens

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:52:19 -0800

The Report Card

A - Mike Green

For whatever reason, you tend to hear more about the scoring and shooting prowess of AJ Graves. And freshman Matt Howard has gotten some pub for being an impressive up and coming big man. Yet the man who leads Butler in points, rebounds, and assists is Mike Green. Night in and night out, Green is the Bulldogs most consistent performer, and he made a run at a triple-double last night with 24 points, 13 boards (a new high), and 8 assists. Even though Graves was off (which has happened a lot this season), and Howard was a non-factor, Green was the man as usual.. scoring 10 points in OT to lead his team past a pesky UWM squad. And he did all that with an ankle that wasn't even close to 100%.

B - Demetri McCamey

Last week, McCamey almost beat Indiana by himself, going off for 31 points, 13 above his previous best. He followed that up with 11 assists and 8 boards, both new highs, against Minnesota. In what has been a brutal season for Illinois.. full of mediocre performances by mediocre upper-classmen, at least McCamey provides a dash of hope for the future.

C - Seton Hall

For a brief moment a couple weeks back, Seton Hall looked like they were going to make a run at a Tournament bid. Their fans got a bit overexciting, emailing about how they should be in the Top 50, going on message boards posting about Pirate greatness.. and then bam, they lose 4 straight to drop into a 10th place tie with DePaul. The Hall definitely have some wins left in them, but what the fans didn't take into account was how they might have the easiest schedule in the whole league. Conference leaders Georgetown, Notre Dame, Louisville, and UCONN are all on the schedule just once.. while they meet bottom-feeders Rutgers and USF twice. So even if the Hall get back to .500 in Big East play, don't be fooled by wins over such lowly teams.

D - Roger Clemens

I'm sick and tired of hearing about Clemens and steroids and HGH and his wife's buttocks. This should be the time of year where the national media turns their attention to college hoops, but instead Clemens and his lame claims for justice are usurping the air waves. Here's my advice for Clemens: Admit you're on roids, move on, and no one will care one way or the other.

F - Ed Donato

Okay, this is a day late (had no time for a Dribble yesterday).. and I've heard other legitimate commentators actually suggest otherwise, but Donato's call at the end of the G'Town/Nova game was just flat out horrible. Do I think Nova would have won in OT or that the call will impact their season in the slightest? No.. but that was a joke. (The decisions at the end of the Rutgers/Tennessee game were even worse.)

The Daily Report Card tells you all you need to know about the day in college hoops. From good to bad and bad to worse, I'll be laying down the law.

Previous Best / Worst

February 11th - Charron Fisher / Tim Morris

February 8th - Big West / Virginia

February 6th - Chris Lofton / Dick Vitale

February 5th - Bob Knight / Josh Heytvelt

February 4th - New York Giants / Washington State

February 1st - Nevada / Penn

January 31st - Kansas State / St. John's

January 29th - Winthrop / Dyson & Wiggins

January 28th - Rutgers / Doris Burke

January 25th - Ron Hunter / Princeton Offense

January 23rd - Kentucky / Archbishop Burke

January 22nd - DJ Augustin / Scott Sutton

January 21st - New York Giants / Marquette

January 20th - Maryland / ESPN.com editors

January 18th - Cleveland State / Marquette

January 17th - Drake / HP Laptops

January 14th - Roy Hibbert / Michigan State

January 10th - Tony Bennett / Saint Louis

January 9th - DJ White / CSTV

January 8th - Robert Morris / Schedule Makers

January 7th - Wayne Ellington / Illinois

January 6th - Herb Sendek / Kentucky

An explanation for one biased fan (and anyone else out there with the same viewpoint)

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:22:42 -0800

Well, needless to say this week's NYC Metro Ranking and Report has opened some eyes. More specifically one set, a gentleman who does not think that Seton Hall should have dropped from first to second in the poll. No need to worry about the fact that they went 1-1 while Rider, this week's number one, won two games against chief competitors for the MAAC crown. On the road no less, but to this individual this doesn't matter because they don't play in a "showcase conference". Can someone explain this logic to me? What happens in the national poll every week? You lose, you drop. Plain and simple. Your conference affiliation has nothing (or at least shouldn't) to do with the ranking of teams. If so, then I'd just rank Seton Hall, Rutgers and St. John's 1-2-3 every single week. Now would that be fair? No. More importantly, would that be intelligent? Definitely not. The main premise for this man's argument: Seton Hall, who plays in the Big East, beat Rider in a closed-door scrimmage before the season began. How about this: since Grand Valley State beat Michigan State in an exhibition, they are far and away better than the Spartans. Yeah, good reasoning right there. Look, I know full well what the numbers are in terms of the RPI (SHU 45, Rider 105) and strength of schedule (SHU 41, Rider 270). But what happened over the last week? Seton Hall beat a mediocre Rutgers team in overtime and lost at Georgetown. Rider won on the road at both Marist and Siena. To quote Herm Edwards, "Hello?!!". Maybe it's just me in this world of college basketball who doesn't give out brownie points for losing to a ranked team by twelve. But for some strange reason I seriously doubt that. But here's what's going to happen if Seton Hall wins both games this week and Rider happens to lose my inbox will be filled with "Johnny Come Latelys" and this gentleman looking to type the words "I told you so" without taking the time to understand what exactly was written. Here is the exact statement: "No disrespect to the fans who decided to spark the “We Own Jersey” chant at the end of the Seton Hall/ Rutgers game Thursday night, but this may be the Garden State’s best team right now." Key words: RIGHT NOW. Nowhere in this statement does it mention the scrimmage, early season games, what conference they play in, or any other numbers (most notably a recent five-game win streak that included one good win against a team that no one has been able to figure out for nearly two years (Louisville), one against an early surprise...yet mediocre Cincinnati, one against a candidate for the most disappointing team in the Northeast (Providence), and two wins against teams under .500 (Rutgers, USF)) that could be trotted out for the sake of one's argument. Am I mad? No. I'm just glad people took the time to read the article. I just wish they took as much time to comprehend it. Next up: National Signing Day! Good night.

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Seton Hall Wins a Pair

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:24:38 -0800

Team of the Week: Sacred Heart

Results: W 87-82 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, W 67=59 @ Mount St. Mary’s

Now I know what you’re probably thinking: didn’t Seton Hall win two league games as well last week? Yes, they did, but that only made them 2-3 in Big East play. Sacred Heart, thanks to their two wins, now sits only a half-game behind Quinnipiac in the Northeast Conference standings, somewhat unexpected due to their early-season struggles. In the home win over FDU, four Pioneers reached double figures in scoring (led by Ryon Howard with 20) and Sacred Heart scored twenty-five points off of FDU turnovers. So even though Sean Baptiste and Manny Ubilla combined to score sixty-one points, Sacred Heart did just enough to escape with the win.

Two days later, the Pioneers won at Mount St. Mary’s thanks to a game-clinching 16-5 run late in the second half. Forward Brice Brooks led the team in scoring with nineteen, and their defense made the trip as well, holding the Mountaineers to 37.5% shooting from the field. So even with the loss of Joey Henley before the season began, Sacred Heart has a good shot at winning what has become a wide-open conference. Their games this week are both home contests, LIU (who blew out Wagner last week) on Thursday and Quinnipiac on Saturday.

Player of the Week: Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall)

Numbers for the Week: 22 points, 4 steals vs. South Florida; 29 points vs. Louisville

For the second straight week, a freshman sharpshooter gets the honor. Hazell, in two wins for the Pirates, went 13-for-25 from behind the arc and scored a combined fifty-one points. While the 6-5 freshman from the Bronx may not have the most impressive numbers in other areas (0.7 assists per game, 2.5 rebounds per game), Hazell can flat-out score from just about anywhere on the floor. While the win over the Bulls was rather routine, Saturday night Hazell (and Brian Laing) help the Pirates overcome a fourteen-point hole in the second half to move to 2-3 in Big East play. With Paul Gause out due to a broken hand, Bobby Gonzalez will need everything Hazell can give him and then maybe a little more if Seton Hall is to have a shot at getting to MSG. This past week was definitely a good start for Hazell.

Have a pick for player or team of the week? Feel free to email your choice to me at: raphiellej@aol.com .

Other Observations on the week that was

- Fairleigh Dickinson may have one of the better backcourt tandems in the area in Manny Ubilla and Sean Baptiste.

Even though the Knights lost by 22 at Central Connecticut State on Saturday, this should not take away from the seasons being had by the senior Ubilla and sophomore Baptiste. Ubilla currently leads the NEC in scoring, averaging 21.4 points per game, which is an improvement of almost ten points per game from last season (11.9 ppg). Baptiste has stepped into a larger role this season, averaging 18.8 points per game after only putting up 4.6 in 2006-07. But the Knights are still 1-5 in the NEC and 5-11 overall, thanks in large part to their defense, which is dead last in the conference (80.4 points allowed per game). If the Knights can pick it up on the defensive end of the floor, then these two should have more opportunities to get FDU into the winner’s circle.

- Antoine Agudio has his worst outing of the season…and Hofstra still gets a road win.

If you thought that Hofstra would be able to win a game this year with Antoine Agudio scoring six points, raise your hand. Yeah, I didn’t think they could either. But they got the job done on Saturday, winning 67-58 at Drexel thanks to 21 from Charles Jenkins, 17 from Dane Johnson and 15 from Greg Johnson.

But it wouldn’t be fair to talk about the Pride’s second CAA win without mentioning the improved defensive effort, holding the Dragons to 38.2% shooting from the field and out-rebounding Drexel 33-26. All in all, this is a good confidence boost for some guys who didn’t look to be eager to step up offensively at times. And it comes just in time, as first-place VCU will visit Hofstra Wednesday night.

- Iona blows out Fairfield to move to 3-4 in the MAAC.

A good win for the Gaels on Friday night, one that also managed to split the MAAC standings in half. Another positive was Milan Prodanovic snapping out of a shooting slump to lead the team with twenty-one points. Dexter Gray (fourteen points) and Rashon Dwight (eleven) also reached double figures in a game that saw Fairfield turn the ball over twenty times and head coach Ed Cooley get ejected.

Monday night brings Iona a serious test: at Rider, featuring preseason MAAC Player of the Year Jason Thompson. But you get the feeling that this Iona team can give people fits throughout the remainder of the regular season as well as in the MAAC Tournament due to their skill level.

- Army holds Holy Cross to thirty-nine points on Wednesday, but can’t maintain that momentum on Sunday.

It wouldn’t be fair to not mention that Holy Cross was without point guard Pat Doherty for all but one minute of the game due to an Achilles injury, but for Army to go on the road and force twenty-two turnovers is quite the achievement. But the difference between teams who compete for conference titles and those who stay in the middle of the pack is one thing: consistency.

Following up arguably their best effort of the season with a 21-point second half in a 57-52 home loss to Lehigh isn’t the best way to throw your hat into the Patriot League race. Next up is American, who is currently 2-1 in the Patriot League and also has a road win over Maryland to its credit. If the Knights are to have any designs on competing with the likes of Bucknell and Lafayette for the crown, they need to win this one.

Games to keep and eye on this week

- Iona @ Rider (Monday, 7 PM ESPN Full Court)

This is a good chance to see how well the Gaels match up with one of the MAAC’s better teams. Jason Thompson is an outstanding post player and the league’s best NBA prospect as well, but be sure to keep an eye on his younger brother Ryan. Ryan leads the Broncs in assists and is second to his older brother in both scoring rebounding and is probably one of the conference’s most versatile players. Iona has a number of options as well, which should make for a good game.

- Niagara @ Marist (Monday, 7:30 PM)

A good night on the MAAC schedule, and this game is the most important when it comes to the conference standings. Thanks to their upset loss at Canisius on Friday night, the Purple Eagles (5-2) arrive in Poughkeepsie needing a win to stay within shouting distance of Siena (6-1) for first place. Marist (5-2) finds themselves in the same predicament, but given the nature of this league it’s premature to refer to this game as an “elimination game”. But a loss won’t help either team’s chances in regards to winning the regular season title.

- #16 Pittsburgh @ St. John’s (Wednesday, 7 PM ESPN Full Court)

Thanks to their loss at Cincinnati on Saturday, the Panthers will not be ranked sixteenth when they show up at Madison Square Garden. But this is still a good opportunity for a young St. John’s team to get a big win after coming close in their last two games, losses to DePaul and West Virginia. With Seton Hall being the only Big East team with two wins, the 1-4 Red Storm need a win to keep within shouting distance of the logjam of schools with three league wins. If not, they may find themselves shut out of the Big East Tournament once again before it includes all sixteen teams in 2008-09.

- Seton Hall @ Providence (Thursday 7 PM ESPN2)

If you like watching guards fire away from just about anywhere inside of thirty feet then this is the game for you. The Friars lit up Connecticut last Thursday to the tune of fourteen three pointers, and are more than capable of a repeat performance at home. Seton Hall also has some capable shooters, but they’ll need to have an answer for the versatile Geoff McDermott. Providence may not be a physical team in the traditional sense, but they’ve got enough bodies down low (McDermott, Randall Hanke, Jonathan Kale and if needed, Ray Hall) to test the Pirates lack of size. Rest assured both teams would like to run, making for an entertaining contest.

- Fairleigh Dickinson @ Monmouth (Friday, 7 PM)

In a league that only invites its top eight to the postseason tournament, this is an extremely important game for both the Knights and Hawks. While FDU is the league’s worst defensive team, in Monmouth they take on the worst offense in the NEC, averaging a paltry 56.4 points per game. Something’s got to give in this one, and it’s a game that could set the tone for the remainder of the year for both teams.

- Yale @ Brown (Saturday, 3 PM)

These two Ivy League rivals went to overtime on Friday, with the home-standing Bulldogs getting the 66-63 win. Now comes the rematch in Providence, and Yale needs to take better care of the basketball if they are to leave with a win (nineteen turnovers on Friday). Ross Morin dropped twenty-four on the Bears, who are led by one of the best guards in the Ivy, Mark McAndrew. If anything, this is the last opportunity we’ll have to see McAndrew and Eric Flato face off on the court, so expect another tight contest.

Updated Rankings (last week’s ranking in parentheses)

1. Seton Hall (4)

2. Marist (2)

3. Yale (6)

4. Wagner (1)

5. Sacred Heart (9)

6. Army (5)

7. St. John’s (3)

8. Fordham (8)

9. Long Island (10)

10. Columbia (7)

11. Iona (13)

12. Fairfield (11)

13. Fairleigh Dickinson (12)

14. Manhattan (14)

15. Hofstra (18)

16. St. Francis-NY (15)

17. Stony Brook (16)

18. St. Peter’s (17)

19. NJIT (19)

NYC Metro Ranking & Report: Seton Hall Still #1

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:20:39 -0800

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

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

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

Seton Hall (7-2): The Pirates will look to rebound from a tough overtime loss at Penn State when James Madison shows up at “The Rock” on Saturday. The 7-1 Dukes have won five in a row and have the firepower to leave Newark with a win.
St. John’s (4-3): The Red Storm dropped a tough one against Niagara on Saturday, and then lost a nail-biter to Ohio in the opening round of the Rainbow Classic.
Marist (6-4): After a 1-3 start to the season, the Red Foxes won five straight before falling to Massachusetts this past weekend. A trip to Niagara on Saturday will be one of the early-season games that sets the tone in the MAAC, and with Louie McCroskey now completely in the fold, look out for Marist.
Fordham (5-4): The Rams have taken care of business in their last two, knocking off Hofstra and NJIT. Next are two winnable games (UNC Greensboro and Binghamton) before the trip to D.C. to take on Georgetown. They must head into that game 7-4, especially with their first two conference games being roadies (Duquesne, Xavier).
Manhattan (6-4): The Jaspers recovered from a beating at the hands of Loyola (MD) in winning at Princeton on Sunday. Antoine Pearson went for 22, and Patrick Bouli chipped in with 16. But the troubling stat: Devon Austin’s two points in seventeen minutes of action. They’ll need him to bring more to the table when they host Pepperdine on Friday.
Wagner (7-3): The Seahawks have played well for most of the season, and you can’t help but think that the return of Durell Vinson has something to do with that. But when you have five players averaging at least 9.5 points per game, good things are bound to happen.
Long Island (7-3): The Blackbirds have four players averaging double figures in scoring this year, something that would definitely contribute to their surprising start. And with their final two games of 2007 being St. Peter’s and Texas- Pan American, LIU could head into 2008 9-3.
Army (5-5): Well, Jarell Brown (20.6 ppg) and Josh Miller (10.2 ppg) can put points on the board. But after them, no other Black Knight is averaging more than 5.8. The number that Army needs to improve upon if they are to compete in the Patriot League: 18.8. That’s the number of turnovers they average per game.
Columbia (4-6): The Lions have alternated wins and losses in their last six and with a trip to Villanova next up that trend may continue. It’s also important to point out that of their top ten players in minutes per game only six have seen action in all ten games.
Yale (3-6): Eric Flato has shown himself to be one of the best guards in the Ivy League, but he and the rest of the Bulldogs are in for a serious test in their next game when they travel to Kansas on the 29^th.
Fairleigh Dickinson (3-5): The Knights have won their last two games, and Sean Baptiste (23 vs. Norfolk State, 26 vs. Stony Brook) was a major reason why. Next up is a home game with St. Peter’s, a game they could very well win.
Stony Brook (3-8): The Seawolves had a two-game win streak snapped at FDU on Saturday, but they still have one of the better backcourt in America East in seniors Ricky Lucas and Mitchell Beauford.
Hofstra (2-5): Yes, Antoine Agudio is the nation’s leading scorer (27.4 ppg), but he needs more consistent help from someone not named Charles Jenkins (12.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Also, you’re going to have a hard time winning when you average 9.3 assists and 18.6 turnovers per game.
Iona (3-7): Yes, the record doesn’t look too impressive, but the Gaels have won three of their last four games. Saturday’s 87-81 win at New Hampshire featured five players reaching double figures. Iona can score, but the other end of the court will determine just how much better they are this season.
St. Francis-NY (3-8): The Terriers haven’t won since November 28^th against Fairfield, and their reliance upon the three-point shot may be the reason why (if you read the Northeast Blog last week, then you know the numbers). Also, the seventeen turnovers per game must improve.
Fairfield (2-7): The Stags, losers of their last five, have played a tough schedule thus far. But it’s tough to win games when as a team you average sixty-one points per game and shoot 38.9% from the field.
Sacred Heart (3-6): The loss of Joey Henley hit the Pioneers hard, but they must take better care of the basketball (seventeen turnovers per game) if they want to have any chance at winning the NEC. And don’t think that idea is so far-fetched, as guards Drew Shubik and Chauncey Hardy have the talent to lead this team a long way.
St. Peter’s (3-5): This is one ranking that people could definitely argue. Yes, SPC has lost their last three games, but the opponents (Tennessee-Martin, Seton Hall and Manhattan) are all respectable teams. Senior Todd Sowell is doing what he’s done for practically his entire career on the block, averaging a double-double for the Peacocks.
NJIT (0-13): Their independent status makes it a must that the Highlanders get in a lot of games early in the season, and this turned a simple tumble downhill into a freefall. Luckily for them, their next game isn’t until the 30^th, allowing the players some time to recover.

Games to keep an eye on

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

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

- St. Peter’s @ Long Island, Thursday

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

- St. Joseph’s @ Fairfield, Friday

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

- Marist @ Niagara, Saturday

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

NYC Metro Preview: #1 Seton Hall

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:15:36 -0800

1. Seton Hall (2006-07 Record: 13-16, 4-12 Big East)

Head coach: Bobby Gonzalez

Returning Starters: 3- G Eugene Harvey (sophomore): 6-0, 165; G Jamar Nutter (senior): 6-2, 205; G/F Brian Laing (senior): 6-5, 215.

Year one of the Bobby Gonzalez era at Seton Hall was one filled with ups and downs. While there was plenty of talent on the perimeter, the lack of depth inside ultimately kept the Pirates out of the Big East Tournament. While the backcourt will once again be this team’s strength, a very good recruiting class comes in to add some much-needed depth to the frontcourt. The one returnee up front is sophomore John Garcia (4.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg), who was finally able to contribute in the final thirteen games of the season after missing nearly a year and a half due to knee issues. But after Garcia, it’s all about the newcomers.

Junior college transfer Augustine Okosun (Benin City, Nigeria; Harcum JC) stands 6-10, 240, and still has a way to go before he fully understands the game. But he can rebound and defend his position, which is all the Pirates will need from him right now. Three true freshmen also stand to get serious playing time inside, beginning with 6-11 Mike Davis (Brooklyn, NY). In regards to size and ability, Davis may be the newcomer best prepared to make a major contribution. Also joining the program are Michael Glover (Bronx, NY) and Brandon Walters (Brooklyn, NY). While Glover is only 6-6, he’s a low-post banger in the mold of his older brother Anthony, who was a stalwart at St. John’s despite being undersized himself. Meanwhile, Walters, who played at Lincoln HS on Coney Island, has a body ready for the Big East at 6-9, 225 was an All-PSAL selection last year.

If you’re looking for the experience on this team, then look no further than the backcourt, which returns all three starters and a wealth of experience on the bench. The man who runs the show is sophomore Eugene Harvey (16.5 ppg, 4.2 apg), a unanimous selection to the Big East All-Rookie Team last season. Harvey only stands to get better in his second tour through the Big East. Joining him as starters are a pair of seniors, Jamar Nutter (12.3 ppg) and Brian Laing (16.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg). Nutter was the Hall’s best three-point shooter last year, and is also a solid perimeter defender. Laing, who led the Pirates in rebounding and scoring last year, was a member of the All-Big East Second Team in 06-07. From his sophomore to junior season, Laing’s scoring average jumped some ten points per game.

Off the bench in the backcourt is a junior who seems to master the art of creating mayhem on the floor, and a sophomore who is steadily maturing into a solid player. The junior is Paul Gause, a 5-11 guard with quick hands and feet who set a school record with 90 steals last season. Gause’s 3.1 steals per game also led the conference. With an uptempo style being the defense of choice for Coach Gonzalez, Gause’s athletic ability and effort are invaluable. Larry Davis (7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg) is the sophomore who seemed to grow more comfortable with his role in the Seton Hall attack as the season progressed last season. Davis also made forty percent of his shots behind the arc, and should be able to provide even more of a spark off the bench this season. There are two newcomers in the backcourt, Jeremy Hazell (Bronx, NY) and Chris Smith (Millstone, NJ), with Hazell be the one more likely to earn some playing time this season.

Well, the most important addition to the Seton Hall program may not be a player when it’s all said and done. After more than two decades in the sparsely attended Meadowlands, home games move to the sparkling Prudential Center in downtown Newark. Located much closer to both campuses (the main school in South Orange and the law school in Newark), “The Rock” could mean a spike in attendance of Pirate home games. It’s tough enough to win consistently in the Big East, and if you don’t have much of a home court advantage then it can become impossible.

The schedule will offer up some challenges before the Pirates head into an 18-game Big East slate. Seton Hall will take part in the new Philly Classic, taking on a pair of teams thought to be contenders in their respective conferences before heading to the Palestra for two more games. The Philly Classic will open with games against Robert Morris (November 18^th) and Loyola (MD) (November 20^th) in Newark, with games against Navy and either Virginia or Penn at the Palestra on the 23^rd and 24^th. Other non-conference games of note include St. Mary’s on the road (December 1^st), Penn State (December 8^th) and NC State (December 27^th). Repeat conference foes this season are Marquette, South Florida and rival Rutgers.

2007-08 Prospects

Well, we pretty much know what to expect from the backcourt this season. But just how good Seton Hall is this season will depend on the young frontcourt. Will Garcia’s knees hold up for an entire season? How long will it take the newcomers to become familiar with the physical nature of basketball in the Big East? Along with Providence, the Pirates are one of the toughest teams in the Big East to peg in the preseason. They can finish anywhere from an NCAA bid to the NIT to not even qualifying for the Big East Tournament. The best bet right now would be to predict a finish anywhere from 9^th-12^th and a trip to the NIT. But don’t be surprised if Coach Gonzalez has the Hall back in the NCAA Tournament.

Complete NYC Metro Preview & Ranking

Big East: All-November

Jeff Fox — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:45:13 -0800

The Big East is loaded in the early going, with five top-25 teams in the coaches’ poll. Not surprisingly it is also loaded with talent. He’s the crème de la crème in the early going.

Guard – Jerel McNeal – Marquette - JR

16.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.5apg, 2.0spg

Best game – Nov 30^th – 16 points, 10 assists, 5 boards

Backcourt mate Dominic James might get more publicity, but McNeal has proven to be a better all-around performer in the early going this season. His stellar play in leading the Golden Eagles to the Maui Invitational finals got him a spot on the All-Tournament team.

Guard/Forward – Brian Laing – Seton Hall - SR

20.9ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.0spg

Best game – Nov 23^rd – Navy – 27 points, 9 boards, 4 steals

It’s a nice luxury to have a 6’5” swingman average over nine boards a game for you. Laing has put up three double-doubles so far in helping the Pirates to a 6-1 record.

Forward – Earl Clark – Louisville – SO

14.0ppg, 11.8rpg, 2.2bpg

Best game – Nov 18^th – Jackson St – 20 points, 14 boards, 7 assists

With big men David Padgett and Juan Palacios banged up once again, Clark has been carrying the load for the Cardinals. After a very quiet rookie campaign, he looks primed to break out this year.

Forward – Sam Young – Pittsburgh – JR

18.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.7spg

Best game – Nov 10^th – North Carolina A&T – 24 points, 11 boards, 4 steals

Despite losing significant talent to graduation, the Panthers find themselves at #9 in the coaches’ poll. Young has led the way so far, completely annihilating his stats from last season. What happens when they stop playing patsies and start playing Big East teams?

Forward – Donte Greene – Syracuse – FR

18.9ppg, 8.7rpg, 2.4bpg

Best game – Nov 23^rd – Washington – 25 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks

The second coming of Melo? Might be a bit early to say that, but Greene has been sensational so far for the ‘Cuse. Case in point – in back-to-back games he put up 21 points 10 boards and 25 points and 10 boards on Ohio State and Washington respectively.

ACC: All-November

Big 12: All-November

- Big Ten Tomorrow -