2011-12 MAAC Men's Basketball Season Preview
MAAC Sports
By STEVE AMEDIO
Familiarity breeds ...
In the estimation of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball coaches, familiarity breeds success as the byproduct of team chemistry. They also think it will breed the 2011-12 season's regular-season champion.
No team has more familiarity within its program than Iona, which returns its top four scorers from a year ago along with an All-Rookie Team performer. The Gaels finished 13-5, good for second in the MAAC last season, and advanced to the league's title game where it lost to a Saint Peter's team that had four senior starters in its lineup. Iona also got additional post-season experience in the Collegeinsider.com Tournament, where it advanced to the championship game before losing, 76-69, to Santa Clara.
Iona surely was among the conference's most-talented teams a year ago, but its top player was junior college transfer Michael Glover, making his Iona debut on the court. And, coach Tim Cluess was a first-year director of the program.
The year's experience of a veteran cast, and the familiarity with Cluess's routines, was good enough for eight of the conference's 10 coaches to pick Iona to win this year's regular-season title in the MAAC's preseason poll.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have talent, and the Gaels have plenty with Glover, the talented 6-foot-7 senior forward, earning Preseason Player of the Year designation and receiving nine of the 10 votes from league coaches. Teammate and senior point guard Scott Machado received the other vote for the MAAC's top individual award.
Iona, though, isn't the only talented team in the MAAC. Last season's regular-season champion Fairfield got two first-place votes to repeat last year's success, also has two players selected to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team (junior guard Derek Needham and senior center Ryan Olander), and is bringing in some talented transfers, including preseason second-team choice 6-5 senior forward Rakim Sanders.
But the familiarity factor surely worked against the Stags in the preseason coaches' voting. Not only are two expected Fairfield starters - Sanders and junior point guard Desmond Wade - becoming eligible for conference play this season after sitting out last season as per transfer rules, but the Stags' head coach Sydney Johnson, is also making his conference debut after coming to the program after a successful run as Princeton's head coach.
But, after three seasons of having one team dominate the regular-season standings the MAAC is likely to return to the type of parity that warmed the heart of former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle.
Last year Fairfield (15-3) captured the regular-season title by two games over 13-5 finishers Rider and Iona. Two years ago Siena (17-1) had a four-game edge over its nearest rival, while the Saints also topped the standings by two games in 2008-09.
That three-year run marked just the second time in the league's 30-year history that the regular-season standings were determined by at least a two-game margin for three consecutive years.
The expected race for first place this season is likely to be a tightly contested two-team affair between with Iona and Fairfield. But, no one would be surprised if either Loyola or Rider stays in the championship chase throughout 2011-12.
It might not be a total return to years like 2007-09 when six teams were bunched within two games in the final regular-season standings, or like 2000-01 when three teams finished tied for first place and three others were a single game behind.
But parity has been a way of life in this mid-major level conference. In 30 years of play, there have only been two total runaways when Siena (2009-10) and La Salle (1985-86) held a four-game margin atop the standings. The majority of years have seen the regular-season champ finish on top by just a single game's margin (10 times) or for there to be a tie (7 times) entering post-season play.
And, after three seasons of a single team emerging from the pack, a return to parity is the likelihood for 2011-12. But, the expectation is that the familiarity factor could be the difference in determining a regular-season champion this season.
Iona (13-5 in MAAC play, 25-12 overall) has all the necessary components - talent, firepower, experience and, yes, familiarity -- to capture its first regular-season conference crown since the 2000-01 season. Three key starters and the Gaels' top two reserves are back, but equally important will be the full-season familiarity with second-year coach Tim Cluess' way of doing things.
Back are two of the MAAC's top players in seniors 6-7 forward Mike Glover (18.4, 10.1 rebounds, 61.0% FG shooting, 6th-best nationally), the league's top returning scorer and rebounder; and 6-1 point guard Scott Machado (13.2, 3.9 whose 7.6 assist-per-game average was 2nd nationally).
Also back are long-range snipers 6-4 junior Kyle Smyth (10.1 points) and Jermel Jenkins (9.2), who both made 75 3-pointers last season; and 6-3 soph guard Sean Armond (6.2), who is likely to move into the starting lineup. And, as if the program's perimeter isn't strong enough with its veteran returnees, it adds 6-1 junior guard Ra'Shad James, who averaged 16.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Division II St. Thomas Aquinas College. Also suiting up for the Maroon and Gold this season is 6-0 junior guard Lamont "MoMo" Jones, a highly touted transfer from Arizona.
All that's missing is a little more height, but that might be solved by incoming junior Nyadigisi "Digs" Moikubo from Cochise Junior College in Arizona where he averaged 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Fairfield (15-3, 25-8) faces some hurdles as it tries to defend its regular-season crown in the form of a new coach (former Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson) and two key additions with now-eligible transfers Sanders from Boston College and Wade from Houston.
The key, though, is 5-10 junior guard Derek Needham (14.1 points, 4.5 assists) whose numbers fell short of his spectacular freshman season. The 5-8 Wade, who had at least 100 assists in back-to-back seasons at Houston, joins an already loaded backcourt with Needham, 6-4 junior Colin Nickerson (5.9) and 6-1 sophomore Jamel Fields (4.7).
The team, though, did get an off-season dose of working together with a summer trip to Italy that included a pre-trip 10 days of NCAA-approved extra practices. During the trip overseas both Sanders, (who already has more than 1,000 career points) and Wade were in the starting lineup. Wade appears to give the Stags the true point guard they have lacked in recent years, allowing Needham to move to off guard and concentrate more on scoring points.
Senior 6-11 center Ryan Olander (10.4, 6.5, 69 blocks) made significant strides last year, and is likely to be even better this year. He'll get good front-court support from 6-7 sophomore Maurice Barrow (6.2, 5.7), who had a nice break-in season. Sanders, who averaged nearly 12 points and four rebounds over three seasons at BC, should step in at small forward and have an impact. He is the highest-rated transfer, according to preseason voting for all-star selections, of several joining the conference and expected to have impacts this season.
Loyola (10-8, 15-15) had its third-best conference record ever last season and should be even better this year with the return of four starters and several other productive players. The team also has one of the most-balanced offenses anywhere with six returnees that averaged between 7.1 and 10.8 points per contest a year ago.
Head coach Jimmy Patsos, who revitalized the program in recent years, recognizes that the Greyhounds have become relevant in conference basketball circles once again, but that there's one more step to make - seriously contend for a conference crown. And this could be the year.
Leading the way is the effective front-court tandem of 6-10 senior Shane Walker (10.8, 7.1) and 6-7 junior Erik Etherly (10.8, 7.6), both preseason second-team all-star selections. The perimeter is well-stocked with junior swingman 6-6 Robert Olson (7.1), sophomores 6-4 Justin Drummond (9.8), 6-2 Dylon Cormier and 6-2 senior J'hared Hall (8.8), the 6th Man of the Year in the conference last season.
The only key loss was point guard Brian Rudolph. If the Greyhounds can effectively replace him, either with Cormier or highly touted freshman R.J. Williams (St. Francis Academy of Baltimore), they can contend for the top spot.
Rider (13-5, 23-11) completed its best four-year run (82 victories) in program history this past season, and that level of consistency is likely to continue. Although two of the top three scorers (guard Justin Robinson and forward Mike Ringold) from a year ago have graduated, five key performers are back along with a potential impact transfer.
The top returnee is 6-7 senior forward Novar Gadson, who has improved steadily and is a first-team preseason all-star for 2011-12. He'll get help up front from 6-7 sophomore Danny Stewart (7.3, 7.1), last season's conference Rookie of the Year. Brandon Penn, a 6-8 senior (9.4, 4.5) completes the Broncs' frontcourt.
The backcourt also is well-stocked with 6-4 junior guard Jon Thompson (6.1 points), who had the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the MAAC last season. The program will also get a boost from one from the conference's strong group of incoming transfers with senior Jeff Jones becoming eligible after playing three seasons at Virginia. Sophomore Anthony Miles, a 6-5 swingman, averaged 5.9 points last season and can play either guard or forward.
It seems like more than enough to keep the program's run of recent success going.
Saint Peter's (11-7, 20-14) was last season's surprise team, finishing fourth in the regular season and, then winning the MAAC Championship to advance to the NCAAs. Consider that proof of the benefits of veteran performers as the team had four senior contributors.
It would be somewhat of a surprise for the Peacocks to duplicate last season's success, yet despite the loss of all of last season's double-figure scorers, they shouldn't fall too far in the standings.
Coach John Dunne did a nice job of finding replacements for the heavy graduation losses, not the least of which is Chris Prescott, a 6-2 junior transfer from St. Joseph's, who is expected to fill up much of the team's need to replace lost scoring.
Saint Peter's already had good returnees in the backcourt in Blaise Ffrench, who began his career at UTEP, played last season for Saint Peter's but was hurt for much of the season. Another returnee, 6-4 Chris Burke, came in highly touted but also saw his first season hampered by injuries. The program's top incoming freshman looks to be 5-9 point guard Lamin Fulton, who will likely contend for playing time early on.
Up front, 6-7 junior Darius Conley (6.2, 5.0) is a rugged inside force, and he'll get help from 6-7 junior Karee Ferguson, a transfer from Lincoln Trails (Ill.) junior college.
Siena (8-10, 13-18) couldn't add to a string of three straight trips to the NCAA tournament, not after it graduated one of the program's all-time best classes in school history after the 2009-10 season. And, now, it goes into the upcoming season without another of the program's all-time best players, 6-9 center Ryan Rossiter, last season's MAAC Player of the Year.
The program also got some bad news from the NCAA, which ruled that a pair of freshmen frontcourt players, both originally from Africa, is ineligible for the coming season. More bad news came yesterday as 5-10 sophomore point guard Rakeem Brookins (9.0, 4.3) was ruled out for the season with herniated discs in his back. It leaves the Saints low on numbers and on height, but there's the promise of a new style of play to take advantage of team quickness that should keep the Saints respectable.
The top returnee is 6-7 junior forward O.D. Anosike (8.9, 6.8), a third-team preseason pick. Senior 6-6 forward Owen Wignot (6.6 points) and senior guard Kyle Downey (6.3), both of whom played through injuries last season, should provide veteran leadership and take on increased roles this season. There's also some touted freshmen coming in, led by 6-5 swingman Rob Poole and 6-2 guard DaVonte Beard.
Niagara (5-13, 9-23) went through just the second losing season in coach Joe Mihalich's 13 seasons with the Purple Eagles, and the expectation is that a young, exciting group of players will get the program back over the .500 level this year.
Just about everyone is back, except forward Kashief Edwards, who transferred to Northeastern. The key returnee might be 6-3 redshirt freshman Antoine Mason, who averaged 16.7 points in three games before missing the rest of the season with a foot injury. He'll get backcourt help from 5-11 sophomore and All-Rookie Team pick Marvin Jordan (11.8 points) and 6-3 Malcolm Lemmons (5.9), along with highly touted incoming freshman Juan'ya Green.
Up front is improving 6-8 junior big man Eric Williams (4.1, 3.2), 6-7 junior forward Scooter Gillette (3.9, 3.5) and 6-5 sophomore Skylor Jones (5.2). Mihalich is also justifiably excited about incoming 6-7 forward Ali Langford, who averaged 21.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game last season at Hancock Junior College in Santa Maria, Calif.
Manhattan (3-15, 6-25) will have a new look on the sideline with Steve Masiello, a former Jaspers' assistant who served on Rick Pitino's staff at Louisville taking over the program.
Masiello promises to restore some luster to the once-strong program, and has some good pieces already in place, including 6-4 junior swingman George Beamon (16.3, 6.1) and one of the league's top scoring threats, 6-2 sophomore point guard Mike Alvarado (11.8 points, 3.1 assists) and 6-6 sophomore forward Rhamel Brown (6.7, 7.1).
Redshirt 6-7 freshman Roberto Colonette, who looked strong in last year's preseason before suffering a season-ending injury, is expected back to bolster the front court that includes 6-9 senior Djibril Coulibaly (2.3, 1.7) and freshmen 6-8 Ryan McCoy and Emmy Andujar.
Kidani Brutus (9.5), who lost 25 pounds since last season, is poised for a strong senior year. And, Masiello believes that freshman point guard DeCarlos Anderson can provide help early on.
Canisius (9-9, 15-15) turned in the program's first .500 record since the 2000-01 season, but faces the task of trying to match that after graduating its top three scorers and five of its top seven point producers.
Despite the losses, the Golden Griffins should still be strong on the perimeter, led by junior Gaby "Big Game" Belardo (10.3, 3.9 assists), who sank three game-winning shots last season. Also back is junior sniper Alshwan Hymes (8.9, and 69 three-pointers). Harold Washington, a 6-1 transfer from Cecil Community College, and 6-4 David Santiago, who played two years ago at American University in Puerto Rico, where he averaged 14 points and five rebounds, should provide quality depth.
The program needs to find help up front, though, as no returning forward averaged more than seven minutes per game a year ago. It means some youngsters will get plenty of playing time, including 6-6 sophomore Chris Manhertz (1.3, 2.7), who was bothered by an ankle injury that cut into his first season. Freshman Josiah Heath, a 6-9 forward, is likely to be in the front-court mix along with 6-7 freshman Tyler Funk.
Marist (3-15, 6-27) might be facing another last-place finish, according to the coaches' poll, but that doesn't begin to address the optimism within the program based on some solid returnees and a good incoming recruiting class.
The highest returning scorers are 5-10 senior guard R.J. Hall (9.2 ppg) and 6-6 junior forward Dorvell Carter (7.7). Jay Bowie, a 6-6 sophomore swingman had a strong freshman season (6.4 points), and junior point guard Devin Price (7.2) adds to a solid perimeter group.
Adam Kemp (5.3 points, 6.3 rebounds), a 6-10 sophomore center, was off to a strong start as a freshman before a mid-year injury ended his season after 18 games. Anell Alexis, a 6-6 sophomore (5.2, 3.5), flashed an explosive offensive game last season and could get into the starting lineup.
Isaiah Morton, a 5-8 point guard who scored 2,289 points in high school, is expected to have an early impact, as is 6-5 first-year swingman Chavaughn Lewis, who aeraged 23.9 points per game as a senior at St. Mary's Manhasset H.S. last season.