Manhattan Men, Women Readying For Season
MAAC Sports
Manhattan Men’s Basketball Looks To Keep Momentum Going
The Manhattan College men’s basketball team closed out last season with a surge of momentum, winning seven of its final 10 regular season games, and then advancing to the MAAC Championship game before falling to eventual titlist Iona by three points. “We're going to look back on this day and cherish it,” Jaspers head coach Steve Masiello said after the tournament’s final game, a 60-57 loss to the Gaels. "And this will be the fuel to Manhattan's future." The Jaspers enter the 2013-14 campaign having been selected as the MAAC’s preseason favorite by the league’s head coaches, and with four All-MAAC preseason players on board.
Seniors Rhamel Brown and George Beamon were both first team All-MAAC preseason choices, while senior Michael Alvarado and junior Emmy Andujar were third team selections. At 6-7, 235-pounds, Brown gives the Jaspers outstanding inside presence on both ends of the floor, and is the reigning two-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last year. Beamon, who led the MAAC in scoring two years ago averaging 19 points per game and earning first team All-MAAC honors, was sidelined by an injury four games into last season and sat out the rest of the way. He has returned healthy and ready to go. Alvarado was Manhattan’s second leading scorer last season at 8.4 points per game, while the versatile Andujar has led Manhattan in assists the past two seasons and was the team’s third leading scorer (7.8 points) and second leading rebounder (5.0) last season. Masiello has a number of younger players who have all gained valuable experience to call upon, including 6-5 Shane Richards, the MAAC’s Co-Rookie of the Year; 6-0 guard C.J. Jones, who appeared in all 32 games last season; and junior Donovan Kates, who started 21 games and scored in double figures 10 times. 6-10 Ashton Pankey, who sat out last season under NCAA transfer guidelines, is another option up front for the Jaspers.
The Manhattan men’s basketball team will have at least five contests televised as part of the MAAC’s TV package, including Rider at Manhattan on Jan. 24, either on ESPN3 or ESPNU. The Jaspers also have four road games which will be televised, including at Iona on Jan. 31 (either ESPN3 or ESPNU); Manhattan at Canisius on Feb. 7 (ESPN3 or ESPNU); Manhattan at Siena on Feb. 21 (ESPN3 or ESPNU); and March 2, Canisius at Manhattan on ESPN3.
Manhattan Women Seek Improvement
The Manhattan College Jaspers look to improve in the 2013-14 season. The Jaspers finished ninth in the final MAAC standings in 2012-13, and were picked to finish tenth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Head coach John Olenowski enters his seventh season at the helm of the Jaspers, and he will look to veteran Monica Roeder to provide the type of senior leadership needed to help the Jaspers continue to ascend the MAAC standings. The guard from Marlton, N.J. was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team after she led Jaspers and ranked ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per game. Roeder also ranked third in the MAAC with 2.0 three-pointers per contest. She will be joined by classmate Allison Skrec and sophomore Shayna Erickson in the starting lineup. The 5-7 Skrec another backcourt veteran, led the MAAC and ranked 43rd nationally dishing out 5.0 assists per contest. Erickson, a forward from Long Valley, N.J. was a member of the 2012-13 MAAC All-Rookie Team after averaging 6.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season.
The Manhattan College Jaspers open the 2013-14 regular season at Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in Teaneck, N.J. The Jaspers will appear on ESPN3 on Jan. 30 in Albany, N.Y. against Siena as part of the MAAC’s television package.
Jaspers Notes
Fans can get an early look at the Jaspers on Thursday, Oct. 24 with the Jaspers’ Basketball Preview Event, beginning at 7 p.m. Manhattan will play a men’s basketball exhibition game against Nyack College at Draddy Gym on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. The Jaspers’ women’s team will face Saint Mary’s of Canada on Saturda, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. The Jaspers’ men’s home opener is Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. against George Washington, while the women’s home opener is Nov. 24 vs. LaSalle. The Manhattan men’s and women’s squads will team up for big doubleheader on Tuesday, Nov. 26, when the women face Delaware State at 4 p.m., and the men play Fordham at 7 p.m. in the Battle of the Bronx.
For more information regarding the Preview Event: http://www.gojaspers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=52459&SPID=5439&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209285385&DB_OEM_ID=12500