Marist Foxes
Metro Atlantic (24-8, 14-4)
Seed: #7
East Region
Big Wins:
11/23 vs Minnesota (63-56), 11/29 Old Dominion (84-71), 1/15 at Siena
(84-75)
Bad Losses:
1/2 at Loyola Md (69-77), 1/20 at Canisius (74-84), 1/30 at Manhattan
(74-75)
Coach:
Matt Brady
Probable
Starters:
Jared Jordan,
Senior, Guard, 17.6 ppg, 8.8 apg, 5.8 rpg
Will
Whittington, Senior, Guard, 17.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Ben Farmer,
Junior, Guard, 5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Ryan Stilphen,
Junior, Forward, 10.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg
James Smith,
Senior, Forward, 11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Key
Roleplayers:
Gerald Carter,
Sophomore, Guard, 2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Shae McNamara,
Junior, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Wilfred
Benjamin, Junior, Forward, 5.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
As long as
Jared Jordan is on the floor, and he almost always is, Marist has a chance
to win. The 6-2 senior averages 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and a nation
leading 8.8 assists. Jordan is not the best shooter on the team and will do
most of his scoring damage by getting to the basket, but the senior can hit
the outside shot.
The best
shooter on the team is 6-3 wing Will Whittington. He actually shoots better
from behind the arc than he does inside of it. Whittington is good for about
four three-pointers a game and averages 17.1 points per contest. If his shot
is falling, like it was in a 30 point effort against Richmond and a 32 point
outing against Rider, the Red Foxes are tough to beat. On the other wing,
Ben Farmer does the dirty work. He is nowhere near the scoring threat Jordan
and Whittington are, but does the job the team needs him to do.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
Marist will not
create a lot of turnovers or fastbreaks. They depend on their defense to
contend shots and will not take a lot of risks. If they fall behind, the
best way to get back in the game is via the turnover or the three-pointer.
Of course, Marist can knock down the long balls with the best of them, but
if Whittington is having an off day, the Red Foxes will find it difficult to
make up a big deficit.
Who To
Watch:
What opens up
the guards is the steady post play of Ryan Stilphen and James Smith. Smith,
a 7-footer, will mix it up in the paint and step behind the arc to hit the
long balls. He is a quality rebounder and a defensive presence under the
basket, averaging 1.1 blocks per contest. Wilfred Benjamin is a decent
option off the bench and has helped his team became the best rebounders in
the MAAC.
By the
Numbers:
Scoring
Offense: 75.6 (49th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring
Defense: 68.9 (179, 3)
Field-Goal
Percentage: 45.8 (94, 3)
Field-Goal
Defense: 43.4 (140, 4)
Free-Throw
Percentage: 67.7 (201, 7)
Rebound Margin:
3.6 (60, 2)
Assists Per
Game: 15.3 (51, 1)
Turnovers Per
Game: 13.0 (65, 1)
Joel’s
Bracket Says: Second Round loss to Drexel
