CCSU

Northeast Conference Tournament: Preview & Prediction

Evan Dorey — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:22:42 -0500

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

NEC Tournament

The NEC Tournament has all game played at the higher seed with 8 of the 11 teams making the quarters.

#	Team	SF	F	W
1	Robert Morris	94.76%	82.61%	64.72%
2	Mount St. Mary's	91.99%	66.85%	22.16%
3	Sacred Heart	91.38%	31.18%	9.09%
4	Long Island	72.84%	12.75%	3.11%
5	Quinnipiac	27.16%	3.76%	0.71%
6	Central Connecticut	8.62%	0.98%	0.06%
7	Wagner	8.01%	0.99%	0.07%
8	St. Francis NY	5.24%	0.88%	0.09%

Robert Morris has separated itself from the rest of the conference all season, and with it hosting every game it plays, it should be on course for the NCAA bid.

#1 – Robert Morris Colonials (21-10, 15-3) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.162

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1992 (1^st Round)

Besides one bad weekend in which they lost twice on the road, the Colonials have looked untouchable in NEC play. This is mostly thanks to their ability to defend the inside and force a lot of turnovers. They are vulnerable to the outside shot, and foul a lot, both areas that can be exploited. Offensively, they commit a lot of turnovers themselves, but are solid shooters from all over the floor.

Players to watch:

6-3 SR Jeremy Chappell, 16.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.5 SPG, 56.2 eFG% - No player in the conference could replace what Chappell does for RMU, he’s a spectacular player who leads the team in every major category except blocks, and leads the NEC in steals. He’s also a 40% three-point shooter, but he does have a bit of a turnover problem.

5-11 JR Jimmy Langhurst, 10.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 60.4 eFG% - Chapell is a good shooter, but Langhurst is lights-out, at 43% from behind the arc. Any opponent focusing too strongly on Chapell will get burned by Langhurst’s scoring ability.

#2 – Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (17-12, 12-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.115

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (1^st Round)

The only team that looks to have a serious chance of stopping Robert Morris, the Mountaineers ran off an eight-game winning streak in January that moved them from 0-3 into contention for the league title. Like the Colonials, Mount St. Mary’s relies on its defense, and while it isn’t quite as good as the league leaders in that area, it still has a strong group that forces a lot of turnovers and causes a lot of problems on the outside. When they get the ball, the Mountaineers tend to send it inside, to reasonable success. They are also good offensive rebounders who rarely turn the ball over.

Players to watch:

5-9 JR Jeremy Goode, 15.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 48.2 eFG% - Goode is the best three-point shooter for the Mountaineers, but takes most of his shots from inside, where he’s not too successful. He leads the team in steals and assists, and is a effective lead guard.

6-3 SO Jean Cajou, 13.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 50.3 eFG% - Cajou is another perimeter player, and is most notable for his free-throw shooting, a stellar 84-for-95 on the season. He’s a solid, double-digit scorer who doesn’t make much of an impact on the other lines of the box-score.

#3 – Sacred Heart Pioneers (16-13, 12-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.099

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

The Pioneers, who are the third team that the numbers give a serious chance of making of the final, will hope that the conference’s best offense will help them to make their first NCAA Tournament. They shoot 50% from the field, and do it with a balanced attack that is excellent on both twos and threes. Sacred Heart needs to be efficient with its shots, as it turns the ball over a lot and is one of the nation’s worst teams at getting to the free throw line. The Pioneer defense isn’t as strong, but is a solid unit that does a lot of things well, but nothing really well.

Players to watch:

6-5 SR Joey Henley, 15.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 62.0 eFG% - Henley is the perfect fit as an NEC ‘big’ man, leading the team in points, rebounds and blocks, and having the conference’s best field goal percentage. He’s a purely inside player who will cause a lot of problems for opponents.

6-6 SR Ryon Howard, 10.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 54.4 eFG% - Howard is also a strong inside player, but while he’s a bit better of a rebounder, he lags well behind in most of the other statistical areas.

#4 – Long Island Blackbirds (16-13, 12-6) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.061

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1997 (1^st Round)

Long Island may be tied with the two teams above them, but in terms of efficiency margin there is a pecking order, and LIU clearly sits 4^th. The Blackbirds are the last team in the tournament which average more than a point-per-possession, and do it despite a terrible FG%. They manage to be effective by leading the league in turnovers, and doing an excellent job at the free throw line. Long Island’s defense is also a pretty solid unit, thanks to the Blackbirds’ strong rebounding and keeping opponents from scoring much behind the arc or at the stripe.

Players to watch:

6-1 JR Jaytornah Wisseh, 15.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 41.7 eFG% - Wisseh is one of those odd players that shoots better from three than two, and his 36% from inside the arc is a serious hindrance to his play. Despite this, he’s a pretty good player, as just like his team he shoots very well from the free throw line.

6-4 SR Ron Manigault, 5.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 47.7 eFG% - Manigault’s offensive play is basically non-existent, but he’s one of the conference’s best rebounders, and for a team that depends so heavily on dominating the glass, he’s plays an important role.

#5 – Quinnipiac Bobcats (14-15, 10-8) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.030

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

The period between mid-December and mid-January was tough for Quinnipiac, just 2-9 over that stretch. After that, they had a strong finish to battle up to the fifth spot and earn themselves a shot at a semifinal berth. The Bobcats have the best field goal defense in the league, but are somewhat vulnerable to long-distance shooters. Quinnipiac may stop its opponents’ shots, but hits very few of its own, and it depends on some of the nation’s best offensive rebounding to stay above .500.

Players to watch:

6-7 SO Justin Rutty, 14.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 60.3 eFG% - Rutty is the closest player in the conference to averaging a double-double, and the NEC’s best rebounder. He’s an excellent player in the paint, shooting 60% from the floor, but his 42% on free throws makes him a bit of a liability in the late game.

6-4 JR James Feldeine, 16.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 47.3 eFG% - In addition to having the conference’s leading rebounder, the Bobcats also have the NEC’s top scorer in Feldeine. He takes a lot of shots, and makes just enough of them to remain an efficient player.

#6 – Central Connecticut Blue Devils (13-16, 8-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.054

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (1^st Round)

They may be the #6 seeds, but the Blue Devils are the weakest team in the tournament, hampered by a defense that has struggled. Opponents have been able to dominate the inside with little resistance, shooting a high percentage and picking up a lot of their own misses. CCSU takes very few three-pointers, and with good reason, given its league-worst performance behind the arc, and has put together a decent offense by getting the ball inside.

Players to watch:

6-6 SO Ken Horton, 16.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 54.6 eFG% - There can’t be much doubt that Horton is the team’s most important player, as he leads it in points, rebounds and blocks, and is also the Devils’ most efficient offensive weapon. He’s a good inside scorer who can complement it with a good outside shot, one of the few guys on the team who can hit a three.

6-0 SO Shemik Thompson, 11.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, 42.6 eFG% - Thompson has some decent averages, but is a player that ends up wasting a lot of possessions. He’s really struggled with his shooting, and while he does put up good steal and assist numbers, he also commits a lot of turnovers.

#7 – Wagner Seahawks (16-13, 8-10) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.039

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2003 (1^st Round)

Wagner looked destined for the bottom three after entering February 3-and-9 in conference play, but a stirring finish to the season, including wins over Mount St. Mary’s and Robert Morris, saw them get into a tournament spot. During its streak, Wagner has improved its shooting percentages both offensively and defensively, especially in its ability to hit threes. The Seahawks cause a lot of turnover trouble for opponents, which generally manages to cover its own problems holding onto the ball.

Players to watch:

6-4 SR Llewchean Radford, 11.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 52.8 eFG% - Radford is a very good rebounder who has actually seen his scoring diminish somewhat as the team has started to string together victories, but has kept up his rebounding numbers. His biggest trouble has been avoiding foul trouble, as his time on court is limited in a number of games in which he manages to pick up four or five fouls.

6-2 SR Joey Mundweiler, 14.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 57.0 eFG% - Mundweiler is basically a three-point shooting specialist, and at nearly 40% from behind the arc, he’s a good one. His game against Monmouth to close out the regular season was a stellar one, as he set an NEC record by making 11 three-pointers.

#8 – St. Francis (NY) Terriers (10-19, 7-11) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.031

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Despite grabbing the last seed in the tournament, St. Francis has actually been slightly better than both of the teams just above it in the seedings. The Terriers are the NEC’s most three-dependent team, and thus have a fairly low FG% relative to their eFG%. However, they face the problems we might expect from a perimeter heavy team, struggling on the glass and not getting to the free throw line much. A couple of other weaknesses are less typical, poor free throw shooting and a lot of turnovers. Defensively, they hold opponents to a low percentage from the outside, but don’t do well inside, and commit the most fouls in the league.

Players to watch:

6-2 SO Ricky Cadell, 15.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 55.6 eFG% - Cadell is a player who has really developed into a bigger scoring threat over the season, averaging 21 points a game in the month of February. He’s an excellent three-point shooter, but also does a lot of damage inside.

5-8 SR Jamaal Womack, 10.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 41.7 eFG% - Womack is a solid point guard when it comes to distributing the ball, but when a possession ends with him shooting, the Terriers don’t typically benefit. His long-distance shot is close to being decent, but he is a disaster when he takes shots inside.

My statistical all-NEC team:

Robert Morris SR G Jeremy Chappell, 16.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.5 SPG, 56.2 eFG%

Mount St. Mary’s JR G Jeremy Goode, 15.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 48.2 eFG%

Central Connecticut SO F Ken Horton, 16.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 54.6 eFG%

Sacred Heart SR F Joey Henley, 15.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 62.0 eFG%

Quinnipiac SO F Justin Rutty, 14.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 60.3 eFG%

NEC Player of the Year (Jeremy Chappell) & All-Conferencee

Press Release — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:51:45 -0500

Somerset, NJ -- Robert Morris senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) was unanimously selected as the 2008-09 Northeast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year in a vote conducted by league head coaches. Long Island freshman forward Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft) was named NEC Rookie of the Year, while Robert Morris senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France/Fort Scott JC) was voted NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Quinnipiac junior forward James Feldeine (New York, NY/Cardinal Hayes) was the recipient of the inaugural NEC Most Improved Player award. Jim Phelan Coach of the Year honors went to Robert Morris head coach Mike Rice for the second year in a row. The honorees were announced on a media teleconference this morning to promote the 2009 NEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, which begins on Thursday with quarterfinal play at four campus sites.

Chappell follows in the footsteps of former teammate Tony Lee to make it back-to-back NEC Player of the Year award winners for the Colonials, who head into the NEC Tournament as the top seed after winning their second straight regular season crown. After sharing the offensive load with fellow all-stars Lee and A.J. Jackson the last two years, the 6’3” Chappell became the focal point of the Robert Morris attack this season and was more than up to the task. With the ability to shoot from long range, attack the rim, sweep the boards, distribute the ball to teammates and defend the perimeter, Chappell ranks in the NEC top-15 in nine different categories. The two-time Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week leads the conference and ranks 13th nationally with 2.6 steals per game. Chappell is also third in scoring (16.6 ppg), made three pointers (73, 2.4 per game) and free throw percentage (.854), eighth in rebounding (6.3 rpg) and ninth in three-point percentage (.403). The former NEC Rookie of the Year and two time all-star will also be remembered as one of the top all-around performers in the history of the league. With career totals of 1,805 points, 656 boards, 324 assists, 259 steals and 232 three-pointers, Chappell is the only player in NEC history to compile 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 steals and 200 three-pointers in his career. A Cincinnati, OH native, he is the third-leading scorer in school history and tenth on the NEC career chart. He also ranks seventh all-time in the conference in steals. In Chappell’s four years in Moon Township, the Colonials have compiled a 79-41 record and he will graduate as the school recordholder for games played (120) and games started (116). Chappell is the first unanimous NEC Player of the Year selection since FDU’s Chad Timberlake in 2005-06. Other Robert Morris players to earn NEC Player of the Year include Lee in 2007-08, Chipper Harris in 1983-84, Vaughn Luton in 1988-89 and Myron Walker in 1991-92.

Boyd stepped into the void left by the graduation of Kellen Allen and gave the Blackbirds a legitimate threat on the low block and workhorse on the offensive glass. On Monday, the 6’7” forward earned his league-leading sixth Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week honor, the most in a season since Saint Francis (PA)’s Darshan Luckey was honored on eight occasions in 2002-03. Boyd, who hails from San Antonio, TX, enters the postseason ranked first among NEC freshmen in rebounding (6.3 rpg) and second in scoring (10.3 ppg) despite coming off the bench all 29 games and averaging just 22.6 mpg. Per 40 minutes, Boyd is averaging 18.3 ppg and 11.1 rpg for the Blackbirds, who posted their best conference record (12-6) since 2000-01 and are assured of their first winning season since 1997-98. Additionally, Boyd ranks second in the league in offensive boards (3.0 rpg) and ninth in field goal percentage (.508). Boyd is the third Long Island recipient of the NEC Rookie of the Year award, joining James Williams (2004-05) and Richie Parker (1996-97).

A terrific perimeter defender for Robert Morris, Francisco helped anchor one of the NEC’s stingiest defenses in 2008-09. Teaming with NEC steals leader Jeremy Chappell in a formidable backcourt, the Colonials allowed a conference-low 62.8 ppg in league play, ranked second overall during the regular season in scoring defense at 66.4 ppg and yielded less than 70 points in 12 of their last 13 games against NEC competition. Individually, the native of Paris, France has compiled 39 steals and is tenth in the league with 1.3 spg.

Feldeine’s steady rise at Quinnipiac culminated with his selection as the inaugural winner of the NEC Most Improved Player award. A seldom used freshman, Feldeine became a key contributor as a sophomore in 2007-08, then developed into a full-fledged star for the Bobcats this past season when he effortlessly stepped into the role formerly held by all-conference standout DeMario Anderson. Picture-perfect jump shot aside - the 6’4” forward has hit 46 shots from three-point range - Feldeine can score in a variety of ways from converting in transition to attacking the basket in traffic. With double-digits in all but one game this season, the New York City native leads the NEC with 16.8 ppg. He is also a strong rebounder with 6.1 per game (10th in the NEC) and has posted three double-doubles on the year. The Mid-Majority Baller of the Week on December 22 and two-time Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week, Feldeine has more than doubled his scoring average from last season when he averaged 8.3 ppg.

In leading Robert Morris to its second consecutive NEC regular season championship, Rice joins Rider’s Kevin Bannon as the only coaches in NEC history to be voted Jim Phelan Coach of the Year in each of their first two years in the conference. Despite the loss of 2007-08 NEC Player of the Year Tony Lee and three-time NEC all-star A.J. Jackson, Rice kept the Colonials playing at a high level by emphasizing defensive effort on the floor, adding newcomer Rob Robinson to the front line and turning the keys on offense over to Jeremy Chappell, the latest Robert Morris standout to earn NEC Player of the Year plaudits. The Colonials are an astounding 31-5 in NEC play over the last two years, the second-best two year stretch behind Marist’s 28-4 (.875) run from 1986-88. Overall, Robert Morris has posted a 47-18 record in his tenure and back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1988-89 (21 wins) and 1989-90 (22 wins). Other notable achievements in Rice’s short time with the program include an NEC record 15-game road winning streak against conference opposition that was just recently snapped, a school record 26 wins in 2007-08 and a win over ACC opponent Boston College last season. Robert Morris has also received votes in the Associated Press Top-25 poll in each of the last two years. Heading into the NEC Tournament as the top seed, the Colonials have clinched a berth in the Postseason NIT for the second straight year. Last season, the Colonials nearly pulled off the upset in the NIT with an 87-81 setback at Syracuse. Former Robert Morris coaches Matt Furjanic (1982-83) and Jarrett Durham (1988-89 and 1989-90) have also won this award.

Two of the five players that comprise the all-NEC first team were second team all-stars a year ago, led by Robert Morris senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest), the league’s Player of the Year. Long Island junior guard Jaytornah Wisseh (Brooklyn, NY/Banneker Academy) was also a second-team honoree in 2007-08, while Sacred Heart graduate student forward Joey Henley (Kent, WA/Kentride) was voted to the second team in 2004-05. Mount St. Mary’s junior guard Jeremy Goode (Charlotte, NC/Providence Day) and Quinnipiac sophomore forward Justin Rutty (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) are both first time award recipients.

A fleet-footed 5’9” point guard who has started 90 games since his arrival in Emmitsburg in 2006, Goode immediately transformed Mount St. Mary’s into a title contender and led an improbable Mount run from the #4 seed to the program’s third NEC title last season. Serving as the indispensable hub of the offense, Goode powers the Mount’s transition game and directs the team’s halfcourt attack with equal aplomb. Throw in an improved shot from long range - he has boosted his three-point shooting from 29.9 percent as a sophomore to 39.8 percent this season - and you have one of the most dynamic performers in the conference. A two-time Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week, Goode is sixth in the NEC in scoring at 15.8 ppg, and also ranks second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.74:1), third in steals (1.9 spg), seventh in assists (4.1 apg) and tenth in three-point percentage (.398). In three years, the Charlotte, NC native has already moved into 24th place on the NEC career list with 457 assists and is the fourth-leading active scorer on the circuit with 1,249 points.

A grizzled veteran who was a second team all-NEC performer back in 2004-05, Henley has been the face of Sacred Heart basketball for the better part of the decade. Now a sixth-year graduate student, Henley shook off the second major knee injury of his career to make a triumphant return to the hardwood this season and reclaim his spot as one of the top interior players on the circuit. One of the great athletes in NEC annals - he has also competed at high levels in both football and track and field at Sacred Heart - the 6’5” Henley’s quickness, leaping ability and tenacity on the block make up the size differences he often faces in the paint. As he attempts to lead the Pioneers to their first NEC title, the Kent, WA product enters the postseason as the league’s leading field goal shooter with a 62.0 percent conversion rate. That figure is good for seventh nationally. The two-time Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week is also seventh in the conference in scoring (15.8 ppg), sixth in rebounding (6.7 rpg) and fourth in blocks (1.3 bpg). Henley is now up to 1,368 career points and 631 rebounds, both marks second among active NEC competitors.

Rutty’s emergence as a dominant interior force in his sophomore campaign helped keep Quinnipiac afloat in the NEC playoff race despite a rash of injuries playing havoc with the team’s rotation. One of the few players in the conference with the ability to change the course of a game through his work on the glass, the burly 6’7, 250 lb. Rutty currently sits first in the league with 9.5 rpg (24th in the nation) and 11 double-doubles as the leader of the NEC’s top rebounding team. His work on the offensive glass has earned him recognition as he ranks second in the nation with 4.4 offensive rebounds per game, second only to Pittsburgh All-American candidate DeJuan Blair. Rutty also refined his post game, developing a reliable jump hook that made him nearly impossible to defend in the paint. To that end, the Newburgh, NY native is tenth in the NEC in scoring at 14.9 ppg and ranks second in the NEC and 14th nationally in field goal percentage (.603).

Wisseh is one the quickest players to emerge from the NEC ranks in recent years and his unique ability to create plays off the dribble sets him apart from most guards in the region. Virtually unguardable one-on-one or in transition, the 6’1” Wisseh can work his way into the paint at will and gets to the line more than any other player in the league. His unselfish nature also leads to drive-and-dish opportunities for teammates, who often find themselves unguarded as opposing defenses collapse on the Brooklyn native. In leading the Blackbirds to a #4 tournament seed, Wisseh emerged as the fourth-leading distributor in the conference with 4.5 apg, and also ranks eighth in scoring (15.3 ppg), sixth in free throw percentage (.813), and eighth in steals (1.5 spg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.46:1). With 1,168 career points, he enters the postseason as the seventh-highest scorer among active NEC players. A second team all-NEC honoree a year ago, Wisseh’s 371 career assists ranks fourth among the current crop of NEC competitors and 41st all-time in the league.

The all-NEC second team features five first-time honorees, all of whom will all be back in the fold next season. Along with Quinnipiac’s James Feldeine (New York, NY/Cardinal Hayes), the NEC’s Most Improved Player award winner, the second team is comprised of Fairleigh Dickinson junior guard Sean Baptiste (North Brunswick, NJ/St. Joseph’s of Metuchen), St. Francis (NY) sophomore guard Ricky Cadell (New York, NY/The Patterson School (NC)), Central Connecticut State sophomore forward Ken Horton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) and Robert Morris junior forward Rob Robinson (Waldorf, MD/Oxon Hill (Globe Institute)).

Baptiste has evolved into a complete offensive package for the Knights. A prolific scorer with an NEC-best five 30+ point outings on the year, he has the ability to shake defenders in the halfcourt, create mid-range shot opportunities, shoot with accuracy from three-point territory (48 this season) and is strong enough in the air to finish around the hoop. He finished his junior season ranked fourth in the NEC with 16.3 ppg, but led the conference in league play with 18.6 ppg. His nose for the ball and aggressive nature around the hoop led to the 6’3” guard pulling down a team-high 5.9 rpg, the 11th-best mark on the circuit. Baptiste, a North Brunswick, NJ product, cracked the 1,000-point mark in February and will enter his senior year with 1,034 career points.

Cadell took his game to another level during the second half of the season and helped keep the Terriers in contention for an NEC playoff spot after leading scorer and rebounder Kayode Ayeni went down with a season-ending injury. A tough player to defend due to his quick first step and ability to slice into the lane and finish, the 6’2” Cadell keeps defenders honest with his long distance shooting skills. Over the last 11 games, the New York City native has averaged 19.5 ppg, including a career-high 33-point explosion last Thursday against Sacred Heart. The scoring surge lifted Cadell’s season average to a team-best 15.1 ppg, the ninth-best mark in the NEC. He ranks second among conference guards and 14th overall in field goal shooting at 47.0 percent. Cadell is also eighth in the league in three-point accuracy (.406) and ninth in made three-pointers (1.9 per game).

Following a terrific rookie campaign for CCSU in 2007-08, Horton continued to hone his skills and led the NEC in scoring for much of the 2008-09 campaign. Playing longer than his lanky 6’6” frame would indicate, his versatility hails a new breed of forward who can effectively play a number of positions on the floor. Horton is an effective post player whose range extends out to three-point territory where he has hit 29 shots this season. Currently ranked second in the NEC with 16.6 ppg, his 13 games of 20+ points are four more than any other player in the conference. He is also third in the league with 1.6 blocks per outing and ranks eighth in free throw accuracy (.807), 11th in field goal percentage (.502) and 12th in rebounding (5.9 rpg).

By giving the Colonials a solid post presence and interior defender, the 6’8”, 215 lb. Robinson helped fill the hole left in the Robert Morris frontcourt after the graduation of A.J. Jackson. A terrific athlete who can fill the lane on the break and finish above the rim, Robinson excelled in league play where he averaged 12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg and shot 56.9 percent from the floor. Overall, he finished the regular season fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.545) - including a 9-9 game against Wagner on January 17th and a 7-7 performance on Saturday against Mount St. Mary’s - and ranked second on the Colonials in scoring (11.9 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg).

A terrific freshman crop is led by Long Island’s Julian Boyd (San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft), the NEC Rookie of the Year. He is joined by a pair of Monmouth players in Will Campbell (Willingboro, NJ/Paul VI) and Travis Taylor (Union, NJ/Union). After averaging 4.2 points over his first 20 collegiate games, Campbell was switched to the off-guard position in late January, a move that resulted four straight 20+ point outings to close the season and 11 consecutive double-digit efforts. Over those 11 games, he averaged 18.1 ppg to lift his season average to 9.1 ppg and was twice honored as Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week. A 5’10” sharpshooter from long range, Campbell ranked second on the Hawks with 42 three-pointers. Taylor, an athletic 6’8” power forward with an already refined post game, was a three-time Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week honoree and closed out his freshman campaign ranked first among league freshmen with 12.4 ppg and 54.2 percent shooting from the floor (fifth overall in the NEC). He also pulled down a team-high 5.8 rpg. Renowned for his unlimited shooting range and high arcing three-point shots, St. Francis (NY) forward Stefan Perunicic (Belgrade, Serbia/Dimitrije Tucovic) has set an NEC freshman record with 86 treys this season, including a 7-11 display from downtown in a December win over Robert Morris and a 7-9 effort in a victory over Bryant in February. Perunicic is second among NEC freshmen with 11.0 ppg and a 38.7 percent success rate from beyond the arc. He also ranks in the NCAA top-30 in both made three-pointers and three-point percentage. Immediately assuming the starting role at the point, James Johnson’s (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) game no longer resembles that of a typical freshman after averaging 32.8 minutes per game for playoff bound Quinnipiac during the regular season. An unselfish player who is contributing 10.0 ppg, Johnson also paces NEC first year competitors with 4.2 apg, 1.6 spg and a 1.54:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

2008-09 NEC Men’s Basketball Award Winners
Player of the Year 
Jeremy Chappell     Robert Morris       G   6-3 210 Sr  Cincinnati, OH/Northwest
Rookie of the Year 
Julian Boyd     Long Island     F   6-6 220 Fr  San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft

Defensive Player of the Year 
Bateko Francisco    Robert Morris       G   6-1 185 Sr  Paris, France/Fort Scott JC
Most Improved Player
James Feldeine      Quinnipiac      F   6-4 190 Jr  New York, NY/Cardinal Hayes

Jim Phelan Coach of the Year 
Mike Rice       Robert Morris 
2008-09 NEC Men’s Basketball First Team All-Conference
Name            School          Pos     Ht  Wt      Yr      Hometown/High School 
Jeremy Chappell     Robert Morris       G   6-3 210 Sr  Cincinnati, OH/Northwest
Jeremy Goode        Mount St. Mary’s    G   5-9 170 Jr  Charlotte, NC/Providence Day
Joey Henley     Sacred Heart        F   6-5 210 Gr  Kent, WA/Kentride
Justin Rutty        Quinnipiac      F   6-7 240 So  Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy
Jaytornah Wisseh    Long Island     G   6-1 180 Jr  Brooklyn, NY/Banneker Academy
2008-09 NEC Men’s Basketball Second Team All-Conference
Name            School          Pos     Ht  Wt     Yr   Hometown/High School 
Sean Baptiste       Fairleigh Dickinson G   6-3 185 Jr  North Brunswick, NJ/St. Joseph’s of Metuchen
Ricky Cadell        St. Francis (NY)    G   6-2 180 So  New York, NY/The Patterson School (NC)
James Feldeine      Quinnipiac      F   6-4 190 Jr  New York, NY/Cardinal Hayes
Ken Horton      Central Connecticut St. F   6-6 185 So  Ossining, NY/Ossining
Rob Robinson        Robert Morris       F   6-8 215 Jr  Waldorf, MD/Oxon Hill (Globe Institute)
2008-09 NEC Men’s Basketball All-Rookie Team
Name            School          Pos     Ht  Wt     Yr   Hometown/High School 
Julian Boyd     Long Island     F   6-6 220 Fr  San Antonio, TX/William H. Taft
Will Campbell       Monmouth        G   5-10    170 Fr  Willingboro, NJ/Paul VI
James Johnson       Quinnipiac      G   6-0 183 Fr  Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin
Stefan Perunicic    St. Francis (NY)    F   6-6 195 Fr  Belgrade, Serbia/Dimitrije Tucovic
Travis Taylor       Monmouth        F   6-8 200 Fr  Union, NJ/Union

2009 NEC Tournament Schedule/Seeding

Press Release — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:32:18 -0500

Somerset, NJ -- With the conclusion of the regular season, the field is now set for the 2009 NEC Men's Basketball Tournament. Robert Morris has earned the league's regular season crown, top seed and home court advantage throughout the tournament with a 15-3 conference record.

Robert Morris (21-10, 15-3 NEC) captured its second straight regular season title and eighth in program history, finishing three games ahead of Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart and Long Island. The Colonials, who finished the year 11-2 at home and recently had a league-record 15-game road win streak against conference opponents snapped, will now take up residence in the Sewall Center for as long as they remain alive in the NEC Tournament.

The Colonials are 31-5 in NEC play and 46-18 overall the last two seasons under Mike Rice. Robert Morris has won a league record five NEC Tournament championships, all between 1982 and 1992.

The Colonials will host #8 St. Francis (NY) (10-19, 7-11 NEC) in Thursday's quarterfinal round in Moon Township, PA. The Terriers return to the postseason following a one-year absence and have the distinction of being the only NEC team to defeat the Colonials in the Sewall Center this season with an 87-79 victory on December 4. In search of its first conference title, St. Francis (NY) has hopes of becoming the first #8 seed to knock off the top seed in NEC tournament history. The two schools have faced off three times in NEC Tournament play with the Terriers holding a 2-1 edge.

2008-09 meetings: SFNY 87, RMU 79 (12/4 at RMU), RMU 61, SFNY 54 (2/5 at SFNY)

Mount St. Mary's (17-12, 12-6 NEC) locked up the #2 seed on Saturday and will entertain #7 Wagner (16-13, 8-10 NEC) at Knott Arena on Thursday. The defending champion Mountaineers finished in a three-way tie for second place and will attempt to become the first NEC team to repeat since Rider turned the trick way back in 1993-94. Wagner enters the postseason riding a wave of momentum having clinched the final NEC playoff spot on Saturday with a 91-60 road conquest of Monmouth. In an all-or-nothing game, senior guard Joey Mundweiler (Olathe, KS/Olathe East) established a new conference record with 11 three-pointers as part of a career-high 39-point performance. The Seahawks, who have won four straight and six of their last seven games, won their lone NEC championship in 2003. Mount St. Mary's has collected three league titles in 1995, 1999 and 2008. The two teams have met just once in NEC Tournament play, a 65-48 semifinal win for the Seahawks in 1993.

2008-09 meetings: MSM 65, WC 51 (1/31 at MSM), WC 70, MSM 65 (2/19 at WC)

After ending the regular season in a three-way tie for second place, Sacred Heart (16-13, 12-6 NEC) will be the tourney's #3 seed and entertain #6 seed Central Connecticut State (13-16, 8-10 NEC) in the quarterfinals for the second straight season. Dating back to the 2006 season, it will mark the fourth straight year the two Constitution State rivals will face each other in the postseason and fifth time since 2002 (the Blue Devils are 4-1 in the series). The Pioneers, who swept CCSU this season and enter the playoffs red hot, having won five straight games by an average margin of 20.8 points, reached the NEC title game in each of the last two years and will be looking for their first conference title. The Blue Devils have captured the league crown three times (2000, 2002 and 2007) since joining the league in 1997.

2008-09 meetings: SHU 77, CCSU 69 (1/31 at SHU), SHU 101, CCSU 67 (2/19 at CCSU)

Finishing in a three-way tie for second place, Long Island (16-13, 12-6 NEC) earned the #4 seed and will host its first NEC Tournament game since 2005. The Blackbirds are a league best 12-2 at home this season at the Wellness, Recreations and Athletic Center, but one of the two losses came to Quinnipiac (14-15, 10-8 NEC), which claimed the #5 seed with a 69-55 win over CCSU on Saturday. It will be the first-ever postseason meeting between the two programs. The Bobcats, who swept the season series from the Blackbirds, are seeking their first NEC championship, while the Blackbirds are two-time winners of the title (1984, 1997).

2008-09 meetings: QU 69, LIU 63 (1/31 at QU), QU 78, LIU 73 (2/21 at LIU)

The 28th Annual NEC Basketball Tournament will consist of an eight-team playoff format with all games played at the home of the higher seed. After the quarterfinals, the teams will be reseeded so the highest remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals.

NEC Men's Tournament quarterfinal play commences on Thursday, March 5, followed by the semifinal round on Sunday, March 8. The championship game, to be televised by ESPN2, will be contested on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 pm.

The NEC's return to a playoff format in 2005 came after an eight-year absence that saw the league's annual postseason tournament contested at one campus site (1999), at a municipal arena (2000-01) and at a single campus site for the quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by the highest remaining seed hosting the championship game (1998, 2002-04). The conference had previously employed a high-seed hosting format from 1991-97, though teams were not reseeded after the quarterfinals as the tournament is currently constructed.

Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 5

#8 St. Francis (NY) at #1 Robert Morris, 7:00 pm
#7 Wagner at #2 Mount St. Mary's, 7:00 pm
#6 Central Connecticut State at #3 Sacred Heart, 7:00 pm
#5 Quinnipiac at #4 Long Island, 7:00 pm

Semifinals
Sunday, March 8

Lowest Remaining Seed at Highest Remaining Seed, Time TBA
3rd Highest Remaining Seed at 2nd Highest Remaining Seed, Time TBA

Championship
Wednesday, March 11

8:00 pm on ESPN2

Thursday's NEC lineup

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:45:39 -0500

For those of you not looking forward to the BCS National Championship Game there is a full slate of games in the NEC (LIU is off after beating future NEC member Bryant the other night) that'll most likely do more to muddle the conference picture than provide clarity. Monmouth may be the league's hottest team after impressive wins over Sacred Heart and CCSU over the weekend, and they'll head north to take on a struggling St. Francis (NY) club. Four teams are tied for first place in the loss column (LIU and Robert Morris are 3-1; Wagner and Quinnipiac 2-1), and the Colonials will visit Tom Moore's Bobcats tonight in what should be a good game. Wagner will take on CCSU in New Britain, FDU visits a Mount St. Mary's team looking for its first league win and St. Francis (PA) visits a Sacred Heart team that has lost six of their last seven games. All games will begin at 7 PM EST, and feel free to add your thoughts on tonight's schedule.

Fairleigh Dickinson @ Mount St. Mary's

You've got five teams in the NEC who sit just a game out of first place in the loss column with two losses apiece, and surprisingly the Knights are one of those teams despite a 2-11 overall record. Sean Baptiste is one of the best guards in the NEC, but truth be told he hasn't received much help thus far. Head coach Tom Moore is also trying to work in some four-years transfers and the adjustment has been a little tougher than some anticipated heading into the season. Also, even with those newcomers they've got to improve on the defensive end of the floor. Allowing teams to shoot 48.8% from the floor (last in the NEC) is inexcusable even with their tough early-season schedule. But for as tough as the early going has been for FDU, did anyone expect to see the preseason favorites alone in the cellar at 0-3? Two of the losses, to Sacred Heart and Robert Morris, can be blamed on the lack of defense played by Milan Brown's team. But with five of their next six NEC games at home, the Mountaineers could be poised to get back into the race. My pick: Mount St. Mary's.

Wagner @ CCSU

The Seahawks have gotten it done on the offensive end of the floor with balance; Justin Drummond (9.8 ppg), Llewchean Radford (13.1), Jamal Smith (13.3) and Joey Mundweiler (14.4) have all been solid options for head coach Mike Deane. Howie Dickenman's Blue Devils, on the other hand, have struggled offensively (62.3 ppg) and have lost five of their last six. Ken Horton, Robby Ptacek and Shemik Thompson will not only have to produce themselves but get something from their supporting cast in order to make a serious run at the NEC title. Central is the NEC's best when it comes to defending the three pointer (29.7%), which could serve them well in a game against the league's best three-point shooting team (Wagner shoots 38.6% from distance). My pick: Wagner.

Robert Morris @ Quinnipiac

Arguably the game of the night in the NEC with two of the conference's best players meeting in Hamden. Quinnipiac's James Feldeine leads the NEC in scoring (19.2 ppg) but RMU's Jeremy Chappell isn't too far behind, with his 17.4 ppg ranking third. The difference in this one could be the guys who won't find their names on the marquee in this game, most notably Quinnipiac's Justin Rutty and James Johnson along with Robert Morris' Rob Robinson. The Bobcats are also the best rebounding team in the NEC, besting opponents on the glass by an average of 7.6 boards per game. Robert Morris is third in the NEC with a margin of +1.5, and they'll have to win that battle if they're to win this game on the road. Even with the unpredictable nature of this race tonight's game could be a preview of the championship game to be played in March. My pick: Quinnipiac.

Monmouth @ St. Francis (NY)

For some it may be difficult to categorize a 4-12 team as "hot", but the Hawks are just that after winning three of their last four games (including back-to-back wins over Sacred Heart and CCSU by double digits). But Dave Calloway's team may be finding its way with the youngsters getting more and more comfortable with his system, and some mainstays getting healthier. And even with that unimpressive overall record, don't be so quick to write them off in the NEC; their last tournament team (2005-06 season) started out 1-7 before righting the ship. Six players are averaging between seven and eleven points per game, with the "scoring by committee" philosophy looking good in making up for the loss of Whitney Coleman in the season opener. Things are far from rosy in Brooklyn for the Terriers who have lost their last five. But keep this in mind: their two NEC losses (St. Francis (PA) and Wagner) came on the road by a combined six points and they did win at Robert Morris. But their defense has left something to be desired in recent weeks, and the Terriers are allowing opponents to shoot 44.5% from the field and 38.9% from behind the arc. My pick: Monmouth.

St. Francis (PA) @ Sacred Heart

Neither team comes into this game in good shape, with Red Flash losing their last four and Sacred Heart dropping three straight. St. Francis' problem has been their offense (tied for last in the NEC in scoring offense) and their defense (9th in scoring defense, 10th in field goal percentage defense). Sacred Heart has performed better on the defensive end despite giving up 74.6 points per game; their issue has been turning the ball over. Dave Bike's Pioneers average more than eighteen turnovers per game (18.3 TPG) this season, the worst number in the NEC (FDU is pretty close with 18.3 TPG). Four Pioneers are averaging double figures in scoring, while the Red Flash will counter with the versatile Devin Sweetney. Neither team takes great care of the basketball, so this could be a game in which someone gives it away as opposed to someone taking control of it. My pick: Sacred Heart.

Northeast Conference

Mid-Major Player of the Week: Ben Woodside

Joey Whelan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:55:53 -0500

Player of the Week

Ben Woodside - North Dakota State
2 Games: 45.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 9 apg, 1 spg

If someone comes up with a better two game performance this season than Woodside had this past week, it will have to go down as one of the greatest offensive displays of the past decade. All the senior guard did was drop 91 points in back-to-back games, including a mind boggling 60 points against Stephen F. Austin on Friday. It's hard to really pick what was more impressive in the midst of Woodside's scoring spree, the fact that he went 41-47 from the free throw line or that he managed to dish out 18 assists while torching the nets.

Finalists

Stephen Curry - Davidson
2 Games: 34 ppg, 4 rpg, 8 apg, 2.5 spg

Believe it or not, this is Curry's first time making the list this season. Let's be honest, on a run down of the best performers by non-BCS players each week, Curry might as well have a permanent spot; for the sake of the other players on the fringe, I'll try to keep his appearances to a minimum unless completely warranted. This week was one of those weeks. The junior came to play on basketball's biggest stage at Madison Square Garden, dropping 27 points and dolling out 8 assists versus West Virginia in the Jimmy V Classic.

Kaleo Kina - Navy
2 Games: 22 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 5 apg, 1.5 spg

The Midshipmen's do everything senior had an impressive week, coming within a few assists of recording a triple-double in a loss to Virginia Tech at the BB&T Classic. Kina may have struggled shooting the ball from beyond the arc but he continued to show a great ability to rebound the basketball for a smaller perimeter player.

Ken Horton - Central Connecticut State
2 Games: 22 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg, 1 bpg

Almost a month into the season Horton has looked to be the most impressive player in the NEC so far. In all, the second year man had a very efficient week, connecting on 50% of his field goal attempts and 40% of his shots from beyond the arc. He was a handful for URI, posting 23 and 8, but the Blue Devils came up short, losing 77-69.

Worth Taking Note

Michael Bramos - Miami (OH)
2 Games: 27 ppg, 3 rpg, 12-17 3P FG

Bramos already made a name for himself earlier in the season with a big showing against UCLA, but his numbers this week were too good to deny some recognition. The sharpshooter continued his torrid perimeter shooting, upping his season percentage to 53% from beyond the arc in wins over Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Valparaiso.

Note: Dionte Christmas was CHN's National Player of the Week and was not eligible for this award.

NEC Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:29:30 -0500

Conference Rank: 27th

10 year average: 28th

Conference Page

All-NEC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

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

Northeast Conference Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

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

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the NEC?

Other NEC Content

Conference Media Poll

Other

Rise & Fall: NEC

State of 08: New York

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the NEC?

Shawn Siegel — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:39:37 -0400

State of '08: Connecticut

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:44:17 -0400

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

Up today: Connecticut. For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

CONNECTICUT

UCONN - Not much thought involved in making this pick. Outside of a dismal 2007 campaign, Jim Calhoun's Huskies have always hovered around the Top 25, and this year's crew has Elite Eight potential. UCONN blows away their in-state competition.

CENTRAL CONNECITCUT STATE - Despite coming off a down year (208 RPI), CCSU is consistently one of the best teams in the NEC. The other Blue Devils have made three NCAA Tournaments under Howie Dickenman, including 2000, 2002, and 2007.

FAIRFIELD - With the exception of a weak 2006 campaign, Fairfield is almost always competitive in the MAAC. In fact, except for '06, the Stags have won 10+ league games every season since 2003 and should once again reach that mark in 2009 (CHN projects they'll finish 4th in the league). But despite this consistency, the program hasn't made the big dance since 1997.

YALE - After taking over in 1999, James Jones has done a good job giving Yale basketball some needed respect. While the 2002 NIT trip (Yale won their only postseason game in 107 years that season) seems like a bit of an aberration, at least the Bulldogs are now consistently mediocre. Yale has gone .500 or better in the Ivy League in every season since 2001.

SACRED HEART - After joining D1 in 1999, Sacred Heart was one of the worst teams in the country (3 wins in 2000 with a 308 RPI for example), but long-time head coach Dave Bike has finally found some success at the top level. The Pioneers have won 18 games each of the last two years, and won 2 NEC Tournament games each season as well

6. HARTFORD - Since a horrible 2005 campaign (300 in the RPI), Hartford has improved each season. Now under the guise of Dan Leibovitz, the Hawks are coming off an 18-win season in which they finished 2nd in the America East (their best ever AE finish) and are our preseason pick to win the league in 08-09.

7. QUINNIPIAC - The Bulldogs are coming off of one of their bests seasons in years, winning 15 games and going 11-7 in the NEC. But that's not saying much considering from 2004 to 2006, they were one of the worst programs on the East Coast..

Last: Colorado - Next: Washington, D.C.

State of '08: The Introduction

Preseason Poll: Who Will Win the Northeast Conference?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:41:44 -0400

Metro Basketball Report: NEC Championship

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 02:59:37 -0500

In tonight’s Northeast Conference championship game, Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart will get together to determine who will represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. While the regular season champion Blue Devils have been in the position before, having won two of their previous four (2000, 2002) championship games, this is all new to the Pioneers. While Sacred Heart, led for the past 29 years by Dave Bike, has made thirteen appearances in the Division II NCAA Tournament, the two wins in this year’s NEC Tournament were the first two ever for the program at the Division I level. The game, which starts at 7 PM EST, will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 form Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, CT as a result of CCSU winning the regular season crown.

Game: #2 Sacred Heart vs. #1 Central Connecticut State

The Road to the Championship: Sacred Hart defeated Wagner 100-68 in the quarterfinals and Quinnipiac 83-6 in the semis. Central defeated St. Francis (NY) 79-61 and Mount St. Mary’s 74-68 to reach this point.

Previous Appearances: CCSU is 2-2 all-time in NEC title games with wins in 2000 (Robert Morris) and 2002 (Quinnipiac), and losses in 1999 (Mount St. Mary’s) and 2004 (Monmouth). Tonight is Sacred Heart’s first appearance in the NEC title game.

Team Leaders: Sacred Heart: Points (Sr. G Jarrid Frye-13.2 ppg); Rebounds (Jr. F Brice Brooks-6.2 rpg); Assists (Drew Shubik-4.0 apg). CCSU: Points (Jr. G Tristan Blackwood-17.2 ppg); Rebounds (Sr. F Obie Nwadike-10.9 rpg); Assists (Blackwood-4.1 apg).

SHU is the deeper of the two teams, going with a rotation of nine or ten players as opposed to CCSU, who goes seven deep. With a league-high average of 78.8 points per game (81.2 in conference games), the Pioneers will look to get out and run at any opportunity in order to take advantage of their number of contributors. While CCSU has guys more than capable of putting the ball in the basket in Blackwood, Nwadike and senior guard Javier Mojica (NEC Player of the Year), they would much rather play this game in the half court and rely on their tough defense. Blackwood was also name Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the NEC, and the aforementioned Blue Devil trio made CCSU the first team ever to place three players on the league’s first team all-conference squad.

Tonight’s game will be a classic matchup between the league’s best offensive and defensive teams, but the game may hinge on what Sacred Heart can do defensively to slow down Central. The Pioneers had the worst scoring defense in the NEC in conference games, giving up an average of 77.4 points per game. But since this number is just as much a product of their up and down style, the more important number to look at would be the 46.7% that they allowed opponents to shoot in conference games. These are also the two best three-point shooting teams in the NEC in terms of percentage. This should be an exciting affair, but in the end I like Central’s defense and the home court advantage to carry the day. Blue Devils by 7.

Big East First Round: #11 St. John’s vs. #6 Marquette

Time: Approx. 9 PM EST (ESPN)

Team Leaders: St. John’s: Points (Lamont Hamilton-13.4 ppg); Rebounds (Hamilton-6.5 rpg); Assists (Eugene Lawrence-5.4 apg). Marquette: Points (Dominic James-14.9 ppg); Rebounds (Ousmane Barro-7.0 rpg); Assists (James-4.9 apg).

Two teams who did not meet in the regular season get together in the final opening round game of the day at the Big East Tournament in New York. Both come off home wins in their season finale, with Marquette getting twenty from reserve guard David Cubillan in their 75-71 win over Pitt, and St. John’s dealing a significant blow to Providence’s NCAA hopes with a 77-64 win on Sunday. When senior guard Daryll Hill was lost to a knee injury a month ago, it was thought that the Red Storm would have a tough time scoring sixty points on a consistent basis. But players like Avery Patterson and Qa’rraan Calhoun have stepped up for head coach Norm Roberts of late. Calhoun, a freshman from Hazlet, NJ scored twenty-one in the regular season finale. This team still has offensive issues, but how they defend the Marquette guards will be the story of this game.

Marquette counters with one of the deeper backcourts in the nation, led by a banged-up Dominic James. But in their win over Pitt last Saturday night, it was David Cubillan who came in and stole the show. Cubillan dropped twenty off the bench to supplement the twenty of Wesley Matthews, but it’s the health of Jerel McNeal that’s of the utmost importance to Tom Crean’s Golden Eagles. Due to a thumb injury in practice last Friday, McNeal missed the Pitt game and will most likely be out for the first round matchup tonight. Getting James untracked to go along with contributions from other players will have a major impact on how far Marquette can go in this tournament as well as their seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

Turnovers and rebounding will tell the story in this one. Marquette is second in the Big East in steals (9.3 spg); while St. John’s ranks thirteenth in the league in assist to turnover ratio (0.94). And despite their overall lack of height, the Golden Eagles rank second in the conference in offensive rebounds, pulling down 14.5 per game. With St. John’s ranking fourteenth in rebound margin, the Red Storm must control the defensive glass if they want to move on to Thursday. The winner will face the three seed Pittsburgh on Thursday. I like Marquette by 8.

Atlantic 10 First Round: #12 Richmond vs. #5 Fordham

Time: Approx. 2:30 PM EST

Team Leaders: Richmond: Points (Dan Geriot-11.3 ppg); Rebounds (Gaston Moliva-4.0 rpg); Assists (Brian Morris-2.8 apg). Fordham: Points (Marcus Stout-15.5 ppg); Rebounds (Bryant Dunston-7.4 rpg); Assists (Kevin Anderson-4.0 apg).

Fordham looks to avoid a letdown in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Atlantic City, taking on a young Richmond club that gave the Rams all they wanted in a 58-55 Fordham win back on January 6^th. Both teams are relatively young, but the difference for Fordham is that the guys they’ve relied on all year are primarily juniors, while the top four scorers for the Spiders are freshmen. Leading scorer Dan Geriot was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team. Knowing this, it would be easy o count this as a win for the Rams, but keep in mind that over the last month Richmond has knocked off Duquesne, St. Joseph’s and Rhode Island. But all those games were at home, so it remains to be seen what a young team that’s gone 2-11 away from home this year can do in a tournament setting.

Fordham arrives in Atlantic City with the school’s highest seed ever for the Atlantic 10 Tournament, getting the five seed. Neither team is very proficient when it comes to rebounding, but while the Rams finished 12^th in that category (32.4 rpg), the Spiders were dead last with their 24.0 boards per game. If Fordham can take advantage of Bryant Dunston on the block, they should move on to face Rhode Island on Thursday. But then again, you never know what can happen this time of the year. I like Fordham by 12.