MAAC Preview

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 2008-09 Preview

by Matthew Moll

Davidson Who?

The rest of the nation’s small schools have spent the off season recalling the run of a 10th-seeded team from North Carolina that was a basket away from the Final Four. MAAC teams lie awake and long to be the next Siena. Including Siena.

The Saints proved last season that MAAC teams have the talent to compete with the traditional powers after they handed Vanderbilt a 21-point defeat. But while the Saints are the prohibitive favorites for 2008-09 with the return of all five starters, they were still a team that needed to rally at times to get by many MAAC associates.

The NCAA tourney victory merely whetted the appetite of the Saints and of their foes. Last season Siena by no means dominated the conference, leaving the door open for MAAC teams to dream a big dream for March.

Year Three Coaches

Year three for college coaches is the season when the fans start to justify restlessness. The coach’s first batch of recruits should now be upper classmen and leaders. Justifiable or not, this team is now the coach’s identity. The time to wait for Ed Cooley (Fairfield), John Dunne (St. Peter’s), Tom Parrotta (Canisius), and Barry Rohrssen (Manhattan) may be running short and fans are looking for results.

Realistically, Dunne and Parrotta will not compete this year, but should be able to make people smile with signs away from past futility. For Cooley and Rohrssen the time to win is now.

Who will come forward?

If this were a 90s song about irony the guards would be the spoons and the bigs would be the knife everyone needed. Jason Thompson departed as a once-in-a-generation talent for the MAAC. Now the lanes are open, but they are still in need of filling. The projected top teams – Fairfield and Siena – each have players listed as forwards, but play more like guard-forward-tweener combos. If a less experienced team is able to shut down guard penetration with some inside help (i.e. Niagara) the MAAC could be looking at a shakeup.

Non-conference

This season MAAC schedule makers are not shy about testing their players. Both Fairfield and Siena are slated for tournaments with teams from major conferences. The Stags look to catch the Memphis Tigers early before they mesh and Siena will face both Pittsburg and Kansas before the conference schedule hits its stride. The Loyola Greyhounds will test the ACC waters against NC State and Duke before the start of 2009.

Hoopville All-MAAC Team
Jonathan Han, Fairfield
Ryan Thompson, Rider
Tyrone Lewis, Niagara
Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena
Edwin Ubiles, Siena

MVP
Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena

Newcomer
Novar Gadson, Rider

1. Siena Saints (23-11 Overall, 13-5 MAAC, 1st)
Projected starters: Ronald Moore, Kenny Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles, Alex Franklin, Josh Duell

Pivotal pivots: Old Spice Classic Nov. 27-30 (featuring Tennessee, Georgetown and Wichita State), at Pittsburgh Dec. Dec. 17, at St. Joseph’s Dec. 28, at Kansas Jan. 6.

Cliché target on cliché back: The Saints have made it known through their scheduling that they intend to make a move on the NCAA as a whole. But coach Fran McCaffery and his savvy vets will not look past the MAAC as it is clearly a single-bid conference. The only way to the promised land is through a MAAC tournament championship. Last season the Saints nearly coughed up a chance to play with the big boys, but held off a valiant effort from Loyola and handled Rider in the final to advance to the field of 65. This season they won’t have the chance to relax as their non-conference schedule will be bulletin board material for fellow MAACians.

But talent and experience shall rue the day as all five of last season’s Vandy upset starters return. Expect MAAC Tournament MVP Kenny Hasbrouck to walk away with regular season honors and expect his supporting cast meet the lofty expectations bestowed unto them.

2. Fairfield Stags (14-16, 11-7, 5th)
Projected starters: Jonathan Han, Herbie Allen, Anthony Johnson, Greg Nero, Warren Edney

Pivotal pivots: at Memphis Nov. 15, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off Nov. 20-23 (featuring Virginia Tech, Xavier and Missouri)

Forward thinking: Solid guards and depth at forward is not a common theme throughout this MAAC preview. The Stags have one of the best guards in the MAAC in Jonathan Han, who can floor general and score. But Han will need Fairfield’s stacked frontcourt to dominate on both ends if they intend to earn the team’s first MAAC title in 11 years.

In Ed Cooley’s third season he now has the balance needed to compete when his guards have off nights and the bodies to grind out wins and wear down opponents. The non-conference scheduling will be no cupcake fest either as they lock up with perennial NCAA powers before taking on the MAAC.

Expect the Stags to be either in the NCAA tournament or a win away from it.

3. Niagara Purple Eagles (19-10, 12-6, 3rd)
Projected starters: Anthony Nelson, Tyrone Lewis, Rob Garrison, Bilal Benn, Benson Egemonye

Pivotal pivots: at Villanova Nov. 19

Four guard sets: Guards, guards and more guards. There will be times when the revamped Purple Eagles will have four on the floor and leave the rest to Benson Egemonye, the senior lane patroller who should lead the MAAC in blocks.

Anthony Nelson returns to run the show for Niagara after starting every game last season as a freshman. With the addition of athletic transfer Bilal Benn combined with the experience and talent of Tyrone Lewis, the Purple Eagles should be able to erase the loss of Charron Fisher’s 27 points a night.

The problem will be defense. While the multi-guard sets will allow Niagara to get out and run they will need to find a way other than Egemonye to make defensive stops and gather defensive rebounds.

Expect Niagara to score, win and lose in bunches.

4. Rider Broncos (23-11, 13-5, 2nd)
Projected starters: Justin Robinson, Harris Mansell, Ryan Thompson, Lamar Johnson, Mike Ringgold

Pivotal pivots: at St. Josephs Nov. 14, hosting Rutgers in Trenton Dec. 3, four consecutive MAAC road tests in mid January.

One Thompson down, one to go: The loss of all-everything Jason Thompson to the NBA Draft lottery was expected. Trying to recover what might have been was not. Last season the Broncos were expected to represent the MAAC in the NCAA tournament and instead had to settle for the CBI. This season virtually all key parts return with the exception of their man in the middle.

The Broncos will boast one of the most potent backcourts in the MAAC with Ryan Thompson and Harris Mansell filling up the scoring column all season, but they need a floor general. Thompson led the team in assists last season, but is more suited to hitting shots than hitting the open cutter.

It is possible a year removed from being chased the Broncos will relish the underdog role, but last season they had the guard play and had the size no other team could handle. Without that size it will be difficult for them to make the leap.

5. Loyola Greyhounds (19-10, 12-6, 4th)
Projected starters: Brian Rudolph, Marquis Sullivan, Brett Harvey, Jawaan Wright, Anthony Winbush

Pivotal pivots: at Boston College Nov. 17, at North Carolina State Dec. 29, at Duke New Year’s Eve.

Rebuild or reload: Under Jimmy Patsos the Greyhounds have become a team that can compete every season, but not break through to the league elite. Last season Loyola had the roster to make the jump in the standings, but the league was particularly strong at the top and most other years the Greyhounds would have celebrated their first NCAA trip.

This season Patsos will have the opportunity to show his ability to recruit and coach a now solid program. Whether this will be a rebuilding year or a reloading year will be the season’s theme. The Greyhounds have the talent, but could go either way. Loyola’s team full of guards look like a JV version of what Niagara will put on display – several strong guards, lots of fast breaks, very little interior defense.

6. Manhattan Jaspers (12-19, 5-13, 8th)
Projected starters: Antoine Pearson, Chris Smith, Devon Austin, Andrew Gabriel, and Jamel Ferguson

Pivotal pivots: Four consecutive MAAC home games in January could be a turning point.

The year of unchangedness: Barry Rohrssen returns nearly an identical team that languished at the bottom of the MAAC standings last season. And by virtue of other teams getting worse the Jaspers appear better.

The key will be contributions from the forwards, particularly senior Devon Austin and sophomore Andrew Gabriel. If this pair can complement the scoring of Antoine Pearson (last season’s leading scorer at 12.2 ppg) and Chris Smith, Manhattan might be able to make a move in the league. As it stands now expect the Jaspers to hover just above the rebuilding teams below, but just outside the MAAC upper echelon.

7. Iona Gaels (12-20, 8-10, 7th)
Projected starters: Scott Machado, Jermel Jenkins, Gary Springer, Devon, Clarke, Rashon Dwight

Pivotal pivots: at Wisconsin Nov. 21, at Ohio State Dec. 20, Manhattan at Madison Square Garden Jan. 24

Iron Willard: Last season the Gaels began the season much like the season before, with a 0-6 start. They ended the 2007-08 campaign with seven more wins in the MAAC than the previous campaign and 10 more wins overall.

This year the Gaels may have the toughest frontcourt in the MAAC. Gary Springer led the team in rebounds a season ago and fellow senior Devon Clarke will split his time at the three and the four.

Coach Kevin Willard will rely on two freshmen to carry the backcourt load in Scott Machado and Jermel Jenkins, so Gaels may again have a slow start, but Springer, Clarke and a healthy Alejo Rodriguez they have the ability finish in the upper half of the conference.

8. Marist Red Foxes (18-14, 11-7, 6th)
Projected starters: David Devezin, Ryan Schneider, Lawrence Williams, Korey Bauer, Dejuan Goodwin

Pivotal pivots: at Rutgers Nov 14, at Memphis Dec. 2

MAAC to Final Four back to MAAC: Last season Marist coach Chuck Martin was patrolling the sidelines in the NCAA final. Now the former John Calipari assistant is back to the conference where he once coached under the Bobby Gonzalez at Manhattan.

The Red Foxes are not just starting over with their coach; Marist lost three of their best players to graduation and their top scorer (Jay Gavin) to transfer. Junior David Devezin will be expected to carry the load at guard, but Red Foxes will need a boost from sharpshooter Ryan Schneider.

In the end, with the departure of coach Matt Brady and last season’s upperclassmen the Marist faithful should anticipate a down year.

9. Canisius Golden Griffins (6-25, 2-16, 10th)
Projected starters: Frank Turner, Greg Logins, Tomas Vasquez-Simmons, Jovan Robinson, Elton Frazier

Pivotal pivots: at Washington State Nov. 25, at Syracuse Dec 17. Toughest league test will be four straight MAAC road games at the end of January.

Limited Upward Mobility: Coach Tom Parrotta is yet another member of “coaches in crucial year three” with virtually the same team from a year ago that finished last in the MAAC. The last-place finish was the first time in 16 years the Golden Griffins failed to avoid the bottom of the league.

The Griffs are a year older and in theory this means more wins, particularly in a league slated to again have parity in the lower half.

Frank Turner returns to be the floor leader both in scoring and running the offense. If recent MAAC history is any indication having your point guard lead your team in points and assists does not lead to regular or post-season success (see Clark, Kee-Kee, St. Peter’s). If Canisius intends to move beyond the confines of the lower half of the standings, someone other than Turner must establish consistent scoring.

10. St. Peter’s Peacocks (6-24, 3-15, 9th)
Projected Starters: Wesley Jenkins, Nick Leon, Darrell Lampley, Akeem Gooding, Ryan Bacon

Pivotal pivots: Rutgers on Nov. 30, Seton Hall Dec. 13.

The journey backwards: The Peacocks are young and small, which is the opposite formula to be successful in the experienced, guard heavy MAAC. Third year coach John Dunne has a light middle – both frontcourt starters tilt the scales at a generous 215.

The loss of Todd Sowell (graduation) will be evident as the young Peacocks will most likely not improve at the same rate as the rest of the league.

The Verdict

Those unfamiliar with the MAAC see Siena and then everyone else. Those familiar know the conference is usually split in half and the teams in the top half will jockey for position until the final tip.

The MAAC is Siena’s to lose, but teams in the top five do have weapons to bring the Saints back to earth. This is the McCaffery’s last shot with this team; they were able to dance a year earlier then expected, but now it is expected. Anything less than the NCAA should be considered a disappointment.

Siena is not the only team facing a potential letdown. A stable of third-year coaches are on the unspoken hot seat as programs and fan bases get antsy. But all roads to Albany must go through Loudonville for MAAC supremacy.