The First Four Minutes: A look at URI-Fordham and WVU-Rutgers

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The first four minutes. Coaches constantly preach their importance and significance. Getting off to a good start is paramount. Getting out of the gate quickly, or poorly for that matter, is important but does not guarantee a victory, loss or what may transpire the duration of the contest.

At games covered I frequently chart the shots and possessions of both teams over the first four minutes of both halves. The “first four” can tell us a great deal. In this article we will look at two games from the past weekend and how their “first four” of the game played out. … Continue Reading

Siena Women get ‘Defensive’ in Win over St. Peter’s

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – It has been a year-long struggle for the St. Peter’s women. Their offensive efficiency is 79, quite a bit below the generally accepted targeted 100. The defense is a healthy 92 efficiency. Good defense is commendable, but a 79 offensive efficiency will not get you many wins.

On Saturday, St. Peter’s’ efficiency hit only 64 on the offensive end as Siena defeated St. Peter’s 57-40 at the Yanitelli Center. … Continue Reading

Robert Morris Defeats FDU: Why Tempo-Free is Important

TEANECK, N.J. – Andy Toole planned on Robert Morris playing their best ball beginning mid to late February and into March. The Colonials seemed to be on track as they handily defeated FDU 74-50 at The Rothman Center. The defending Northeast Conference champions were outstanding on defense, limiting FDU to 35 percent shooting from the floor and forcing 17 turnovers. On the other end sophomore center Lijah Thompson was too much for the Knights to handle. The 6-7 Thompson scored a game-high 16 points, adding seven rebounds as the Colonials enjoyed a 34-18 edge on points in the paint. … Continue Reading

Rutgers, St. John’s Get Attention in a Wild Big East Week

NEW YORK – A look back at a couple wild nights in the Big East.

Rutgers’ improbable 77-76 victory over Villanova is widely discussed in how it transpired. The Wildcats had a three-point lead with seconds left. Rutgers’ Jonathan Mitchell hit a trey with .8 second reaming and was fouled by Corey Fisher, ironically his only personal of the game, Mitchell calmly converted from the charity stripe to give the Scarlet Knights the victory. … Continue Reading

For St. Peter’s Women, the Struggle Continues

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – On Monday evening the St. Peter’s women hosted Manhattan College at Yanitelli Center in Jersey City. The effort was there, the result a too familiar 58-44 loss. Coach Stephanie DeWolfe has St. Peter’s working hard and hustling, no small feat for a team that dropped to 1-14 on the season.

In a game that was basically a two-possession affair until the latter minutes, turnovers continued to be a problem for St. Peter’s. They committed 23 on the game. Given a 60-possession game, the St. Peter’s turnover rate was an astounding 38 percent. That is nearly four of every ten possessions wasted without a viable field goal attempt. Junior forward Jynae Judson gave St. Peter’s a nice eight-point, 10-rebound effort. But she added seven turnovers. … Continue Reading

Gary Blair Loves New York

NEW YORK – Gary Blair loves New York. The coach of Texas A&M’s eighth-ranked women’s team does not get too many trips to the Big Apple but enjoys each one thoroughly. “Last time we were here we played Rutgers in 1981. They had the Coyle sisters playing and Theresa Grentz coaching.” Back then Blair was an assistant at Louisiana Tech, a power with the likes of current Baylor coach Kim Mulkey in the backcourt. Tech won 67-60 on that day three decades ago. Sunday, at the Maggie Dixon Classic, Texas A&M was also victorious in a 79-50 rout of Rutgers.

“I love New York,” Blair gushed. “It is a great city it’s all about the highest level of basketball around. Madison Square Garden is the Mecca of basketball.” Beside basketball, Blair is enthused about what the city offers. He made it a point to bring his team on sightseeing trips after practices and walk throughs were negotiated. “We visited Ground Zero, we saw the tree at Rockerfeller Center, our kids were all over,”  he said. … Continue Reading

UConn Women: 88 Consecutive Wins

NEW YORK – Number 88 is in the books. UConn ran and hid from tenth-ranked Ohio State, with an 81-50 defeat of the Buckeyes at Madison Square Garden. The featured game of the Maggie Dixon Classic saw the UConn women tie the UCLA record with their 88th consecutive victory. The tempo free efficiency numbers illustrate the Huskies’ dominance. … Continue Reading

The Jimmy V Classic: Five Things We Learned

NEW YORK – A sellout crowd of 19,391 packed Madison Square Garden to give an atmosphere of electricity. Four ranked teams were in the building. The games did not disappoint and gave us a few things to notice and consider from a tempo-free perspective.

The scores:

Kansas 81, Memphis 68
Syracuse 72, Michigan state 58

1. Syracuse can mix it up inside. The Orange enjoyed a 36-26 percent edge in offensive rebounding percentage. They also had a whopping 41-17 percent advantage in free throw rate, a figure suggesting a team pounding it inside and getting to the line. That was exactly what the Orange did all night. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called it a “butt kicking” and couldn’t remember when his team was outscored 42-24 in the paint. Syracuse repeatedly broke down the Spartan interior defense to the extent 14 of their 15 first half field goals were in the paint. Rick Jackson, with 17 points and 16 boards, was virtually unstoppable, doing the most damage for the Orange in the lane.

2. Memphis is good but still a work in progress. They came in with the national ranking and 7-0 record, only to exit the Garden with a double-digit loss. A young Memphis team showed questionable shot selection and seemed to rush their offense as they were caught up in the moment. You can also credit the Kansas defense that forced the Tigers into a far below average (they came in at 110) offensive efficiency mark of 91. “Our guys missed shots and became dejected,” said Memphis coach Josh Pastner. “Look at Kansas. They would turn the ball over and get right back and play defense. It all starts with defense.” Offensively, a good part of Memphis’ offense came off the Jayhawk miscues as they held a 29-18 advantage in points off turnovers. “We are learning,” Pastner continued. “I am learning every day as a coach. But it is a players’ game and we want our players to learn and get better every day.”

3. The Syracuse 2-3 zone is still tough to figure. The Michigan State fan behind my baseline press table seat constantly pleaded with his team to beat a “high school” zone. The 2-3 of Jim Boeheim once again took another highly-ranked team down. Big East teams fare a little better because they see it once or twice a year. A Michigan state may face zones but none like this. The Orange trap the corners and always have quick, long players getting into the passing lanes. Stifled by a defense not allowing them access in the lane, Izzo’s Spartans got caught up in what he termed “a sissy jump shooting game.” It was just a matter of playing into Syracuse’s hands. The Spartans shot 7 of 24 (29 percent) from three-point range. Lest anyone think zones are passive, Syracuse forced Michigan State into a 25 percent turnover rate.

4. The Jayhawks spread the wealth. They assisted on 59 percent of their field goals and even in transition always looked for the extra pass. Kansas also put four players in double figures, led by Markieff Morris with 16 points. Basically, they ran on all cylinders except one area: turnovers. They had 22 for the game, and given their 74 possessions it adds up to a dangerously high 30 percent TO rate – a loss of the ball without a chance to score on 3 of every 10 possessions.

Post -game talk centered around Josh Selby, who will join Kansas late December. Will the delicate chemistry be altered with Selby’s addition. KU coach Bill Self feels it won’t. “(Selby) will be part of us not the ‘guy’,” Self predicted. Stay tuned.

5. The Orange have “struggled”. They are 8-0 but Boeheim said, “I never had a team struggle early in the season like this team has.” The good thing is the struggling is not keeping them from winning and the veteran Orange mentor is certain with each day there is improvement. The senior Jackson, as noted, is providing strong inside play. Junior guard Scoop Jardine had a strong 19-point, three-assist night. Freshmen such as C.J. Fair, Fab Melo and Baye Moussa Keita are gaining valuable game experience and contributions in their own right. “We are defending,” Boeheim said. “We have to get better offensively. And we will.”

A Tempo Free Look: FDU Stops Bryant in NEC Opener

TEANECK, N.J. – On Thursday, Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Bryant 78-68 in the Northeast Conference opener for both clubs at the Rothman Center. We take a look at a tempo free breakdown of the game.

The efficiency:

Possessions, Offensive Efficiency
Bryant 67, 102
FDU 68, 115

The Four Factors:

Observations:

• About the only negative in FDU’s Four Factors was the 22 percent turnover rate. The inside game was so dominant, though, it didn’t matter as much. The Knight owned the lane with an incredible 46-18 points in the paint edge. The Knights were 25 of 42, good for 61 percent on two-point shooting. Granted not every two point field goal attempt is in the paint. But tonight virtually everyone for the Knights was.
• FDU’s inside prowess was reflected in offensive rebound percentage and free throw rate as well, as the Knights shot 31 free throws to Bryant’s 12. As the Knights pounded it inside, Bryant settled for threes. They did shoot 12 of 27 (44%) from beyond the arc and were able to trim two double digit-deficits to a two possession game.
• Bryant’s turnover rate was a step in the right direction. Under 20% is the target and the Bulldogs met it. Nice improvement for a club that entered with a (too high) 23 percent rate.
• FDU coach Greg Vetrone was very pleased with the play of Kamil Svrdlik. The 6-8 junior was dominant on the blocks with a career-high 24 points to go along with rebounds. A native of the Czech Republic, Svrdlik is providing a much needed low post game with Alvin Mofunanya graduated.
• Keeping a shot chart the last 12 minutes, you can see FDU’s inside prowess. The Knights had eight field goals, all in the paint (four in transition). Bryant had seven field goals. Among them five were three-pointers, one on the three-point line and one in the paint.
• Cecil Gresham, Bryant’s senior forward, had a “breakout game” per coach Tim O’Shea, leading all scorers with 28 points. O’shea would like more contributions from sophomore center Vlad Kondratyev, who played very well last year but has not been contributing as well to date.
• FDU improves to 2-3, Bryant falls to 1-6.

NIT Season Tip-Off: Five points of Emphasis

:NEW YORK CITY – With all that is going on off the court, some of us forgot a simple fact: Tennessee is a very good basketball team. They shifted the action from the background to what is happening on the floor by capturing the Pre-Season NIT at Madison Square Garden.

The Semifinal Scores:

Tennessee 77, VCU 72
Villanova 82, UCLA 70

Consolation:
VCU 89, UCLA 85

Final:
Tennessee 78, Villanova 68

Five points of emphasis from the Pre-Season NIT:

1. Tennessee is not only resilient but talented. Despite the ongoing drama in Knoxville regarding coach Bruce pearl, the Volunteers came to New York and just concentrated on one thing: playing basketball at a high level. Pearl commented after the VCU game on what great things the Rams do and how much fun it was preparing for them. The Tennessee coach said the same thing about Villanova. Pearl, quite frankly, wanted to put all of these off the floor issues aside for now. Not dwelling on them does not mean they will go away. But for now Pearl is thrilled to be doing what he loves best: breaking down tapes, planning and preparing with his staff.

2. Villanova needs a plan B, Jay Wright admitted after the Tennessee game. There will not be many nights when Corey Fisher, Maalik Wayns and Corey Stokes for that matter are all shut down and not as effective. But when those days do come, Villanova will have to try a different approach. Admittedly, shutting down the Villanova backcourt like Tennessee did will not happen often. But it could happen in Big East and/or post-season and Wright wants to be prepared. Both nights Mouphtaou Yarou came through for Villanova. He scored in double figures both nights and against UCLA the 6-10 sophomore had 16 rebounds and three blocks. Wright likes Yarou’s defensive presence as it gives the guards the opportunity to defensively gamble knowing there is a “stopper” to guard the basket. His offense, as well as that of Antonio Pena and Dominic Cheek (both had good outings in the final), is going to figure very much into Wright’s plans down the road.

3. VCU will be tough to contend with in the Colonial. They earned a split in New York and showed some impressive attributes both nights out. VCU loves the three-pointers and transition. The uptempo offense of coach Shaka Smart relies on 38 percent of its scoring from beyond the arc. Often these three-point attempts are uncontested as the Rams attempt them in half court or out on the break. Their pace is a rapid 75 possessions per game and they utilize those possessions with a very impressive 111 offensive efficiency. This is a team not wildly running or bombing from three. There is an inside presence in Jamie Skeen. Prior to coming to New York, the 6-9 senior asked his teammates to get him the ball more. “When more is given, more is expected,” Smart said with a biblical theme regarding the request. Skeen delivered both nights, especially with a team-high 23-point outing against UCLA, earning him all-tournament honors. Not the last honor VCU will see this season.

4. UCLA showed heart. Down 15 at the half in the semifinal against top ten Villanova. Three time zones from home. It seemed like a time to think consolation game. To their credit, the Bruins tightened the defense, kept their composure and had it to a two-possession game midway through the final half before Villanova went on a game-sealing run. In the third place game the Bruins competed hard for 40 minutes before dropping a close one to VCU. What the Bruins have to do is avoid slow starts. They suffered through them in both contests in New York. They also need contributions from Malcolm Lee, Tyler Honeycutt and Reeves Nelson on a nightly basis. Against Villanova, Honeycutt (a 15 PPG scorer) came up with only eight points on 3-8 shooting. The Pac-10 is relatively balanced this season. There are games that are “winnable” through extra effort and outplaying opponents. Here UCLA showed the effort. Now if they can avoid those slow starts.

5. Tennessee can defend. Scotty Hopson is a threat on the perimeter or in the paint. Tobias Harris can slash and score. Brian Williams, at 6-10 cleans the offensive glass for put backs. Make no mistake, Bruce Pearl’s club is anything but one-dimensional. The defense by the Vols in the two games was quite impressive. Villanova entered the game with a 119 offensive efficiency, but was held to 93 by an active, harassing Tennessee defense. In fact, Tennessee held both opponents under 100 offensive efficiency as VCU managed just a 90 OE in the semifinals. In the final Hopson bothered the Villanova guards all night with his quickness and length. Villanova did struggle offensively in the championship. Blame that on the Vol defense.

ALL TOURNAMENT:

Jamie Skeen (VCU)
Reeves Nelson (UCLA)
Mouphtaou Yarou (Villanova)
Tobias Harris (Tennessee)
Scotty Hopson (Tennessee) – MVP

Coaches vs. Cancer: Five Thoughts

NEW YORK CITY – Five points of note from coaches vs. Cancer :

The final day results :

Consolation: Illinois 80, Maryland 76
Championship: Pittsburgh 68, Texas 66

1. Pitt can beat you many different ways. Their guard play is solid. The big men might not engage in a classic “old school” post-up style but they are active. Overall, one player can emerge and step up on a given night. In the semifinal win over Maryland, it was freshman forward Talib Zanna who energized Pitt with a 14-point, 12-rebound effort. On Friday against Texas, foul trouble relegated Zanna to a 2-point, 6-board effort in 15 minutes. More than taking up the slack was Ashton Gibbs with 24 points, 19 after intermission. Yes, on that “given night” virtually anyone Jamie Dixon’s rotation can be the difference maker. To a player, the Panthers are just fine with that.

2. Illinois cares extremely well for the ball. In the overtime loss to Texas in the semifinals, the Illini turnover rate (turnovers/possessions) was 15%. In the consolation with Maryland the rate was 17%. Both are impressive figures against defenses which are not exactly chopped liver. Bruce Weber’s club is respectable up front and strong at the guard spot.

One player who can do damage in both areas 6-3 guard Demetri McCamey. He’s strong enough to finish in the paint and had admirable range on the perimeter. Many observers have Illinois pegged for fourth behind Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State in the Big Ten. If that’s the case, the conference is going to be a dog fight with several teams capable of doing significant damage come March. And the Illini won’t exactly be an easy out

3. Maryland left 0-2 for New York but showed their young players are making contributions while getting valuable experience. I took notice of the work of 6-10 sophomore center Jordan Williams. He scored 14 points with 8 rebounds against Pitt. In the consolation Williams did not score in the first half but had a strong second half, finishing with 15 points and 13 boards. In typical Gary Williams fashion, Maryland plays hard each night out. Williams is enthused with the group he had. There is reason to be as they should improve each time out, and surprise a few people along the way.

4. Texas was another young team with a fine showing. The Longhorns finished within a possession of knocking off No. 4 Pittsburgh but do not want to hear anything regarding “moral victories”. When one of the Texas players was asked what the team can take from this experience he simply replied, “second place.” To paraphrase the lottery slogan, Texas was “into to win it.”
Barnes cited the first ten minutes of the Pitt game as crucial, noting his young team came out too passive on defense. A 26% turnover rate, the highest of any team in the four games, and something a young team can be prone to, did not help either.

5. Pitt does not win “ugly.” After the final Jamie Dixon of Pitt was asked to comment on critics who say Pitt “wins ugly.” “They must be looking at me,” Dixon quipped. Pitt averaged 71 possessions the prior three contests before the final. In the final the pace was more half court, but credit both defenses. They stopped transition and forced teams to make several passes and use clock before settling on a shot.
Offensively the Panthers will run and attack the basket if the opportunity is there. The “win ugly” label comes from their tough half court defense, which makes the opposition work and often struggle, not from a supposed walk-it-up-the-floor offense. The “ugly” part of Pitt basketball is encountered by the opposition, having to face that defense. As Dixon added, “I’d rather ‘win ugly’ than lose pretty.”

The Final breakdown:

Possessions, Offensive Efficiency
Pitt  66  103
Texas  65  102

All-Tournament:
Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh) (MVP)
Trevon Woodall (Pittsburgh)
Jordan Hamilton (Texas)
Jordan Williams (Maryland)
Demetri McCamey (Illinois)

Brings Back Memories

The Coaches vs. Cancer event is always a favorite and brings to mind the wonderful event and work of the coaches association in fighting this dreaded disease. This year took an added meaning and reflection. A few days prior to the Garden games, Bill DeFazio passed away at age 63, a victim of pancreatic cancer.
DeFazio, a friend of St. Anthony’s coach Bob Hurley from youth, actually coached the girls at St. Anthony’s before moving to Marist. He retired from the sidelines two years ago, the winningest girls coach in Hudson County history with a superb 576-169 record. He coached both Marist and St. Anthony’s to state titles and won a number of other championships along the way.
DeFazio was a great tactician and motivator. And colorful on the sidelines, to say the least. Veteran writer Jim Hague remembers the night DeFazio (about 50 at the time) made a long jump clear over the bench at Dickinson High School. A book of DeFazio stories could fill quite a few pages – and probably sell at a brisk pace.
Three years ago I had the good fortune to see one of his teams play. They won a state tournament game with a fairly comfortable margin and DeFazio worked every possession along the sideline. At times he would plead, yell and still encourage his girls. Make no mistake: as much as he yelled at them for a mistake, he was devoted and would do always be there if they had a problem on or off the floor.
This past Spring the court as Marist High School was named in his honor. It shouldn’t be a surprise so many of the young women he coached and taught valuable lessons of life, were there for the celebration.
He is in several halls of fame. Beyond those wins, accolades and other awards is the work DeFazio did in touching and influencing the lives of so many young people. As good a coach as he was, that was the area Bill DeFazio truly excelled.

Behind the Numbers: Pittsburgh 79, Maryland 70

NEW YORK CITY – A quick look at the numbers in Pitt’s 79-70 victory over Maryland last night at Madison Square Garden. The Panthers have the “grind it out” image, which is more generated on their aggressive defensive style that concedes no easy possessions. Offensively, the Panthers will break if the opportunity arises. In half court they will attack the basket or get a good early look, again if the chance is there.

Possessions: 73

Not recklessly up-and-down but a quicker than normal pace that both teams seemed comfortable with.

Offensive Efficiency (points per possession times 100)

Pitt 108
Maryland 96

Pitt was very efficient and proficient on the offensive end. Defensively, they did a solid job against a team that presented several offensive weapons, as senior swingman Cliff Tucker (17 points) and 6-10 Jordan Williams (14 points 8 rebounds).

The Four Factors:

eFG PCT
Pitt 49%
Maryland 50%

FT Rate
Pitt 48%
Pitt 25%

Maryland got to the line but didn’t take advantage, going 0-7 the first half and 14 of 30 for the game.

OREB PCT
Pitt 41%
Maryland 18%

This is an area of concern for Maryland coach Gary Williams. His worries became reality as the Panthers owned the glass. Freshman forward Talib Zanna (12 boards) was especially active.

TO Rate
Pitt 22%
Maryland 12%

Jamie Dixon’s club was a bit over the limit here (20 percent or more of your possessions ending in turnovers is considered too high). Maryland cared for the ball very well, a factor that allowed them to hang around until the end despite the 49-28 rebounding disparity enjoyed by Pitt.

Final note: The Panthers showed great balance with five players, paced by Zanna with 14, scoring in double figures.

Final Note A:

Using the player efficiency model devised by Martin Manley, the performance by Zanna was outstanding. The metric adds points, FGM, FTM, rebounds, steals, blocks and assists while subtracting all missed shots and turnovers. The numbers for the 6-9 forward:

Efficiency 23
Minutes 23
Eff/MIN 1.000

That last figure, efficiency divided by minutes, of 1.000 is a performance of All-American or at least all-conference first team caliber.

Notes

• As the officials came on the floor prior to the Pitt-Maryland game it was great to see a very familiar face. Brian Dorsey, a New Jersey native, was working his first game at the “world’s most famous arena”.  Brian is a good officiating friend and I got to know and work with him since he broke in during the 90s.  Brian and I have worked CYO, AAU and have even officiated soccer together. He has ascended the ranks from high school JV to varsity to Division III and finally Division I.
• Through it all, he has remained the same, friendly, humble and a devout sports fan (especially regarding the Yankees).  Brian’s personality serves him well on the floor. He takes care of business when he has to with coaches and players. On the other hand, he is good in listening and establishing a dialogue. Something coaches admire in an official.
• For Brian there will be other trips to MSG. Still, nothing like your first time on the Garden floor. And it was a pleasure for yours truly to see him out there.

Seton Hall Men and Women Open with Wins at Home

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – For the Seton Hall men and women’s teams, the home opener brought the first win of the young season. And for respective coaches Kevin Willard of the men and Anne Donovan, the women, it was their fist triumph on the Hall sideline.

The Seton Hall men evened their record at 1-1 with a resounding 92-68 victory over Cornell at the Prudential Center on Sunday.

The keys:

• Tempo. In the 65-61 triumph at Albany on Friday, Cornell was involved in a 59-possession game. Seton Hall was edged at Temple on Friday in a 72-possession meeting. Clearly, the team that could dictate the tempo it preferred, would have one noted advantage. Fueled by a full court press that forced Cornell into nine first half turnovers, the Pirates drew the Big Red into that faster pace. At the half it was a 42 possession contest with Seton Hall sporting a 50-35 advantage.
• Rebounding. The pirates owned a 46-29 edge on the boards. Of greater significance was the offensive rebounding percentage. That category saw the Hall own a 46-25% edge in offensive rebounding percentage.

Jeremy Hazell finished with a game-high 28 points. If there is such a thing as a ‘quiet’ 28, Hazell produced them. He shot 8-of-11 from the floor and was 8-of-8 from the line in 28 minutes. Of greatest significance is Hazell stayed within the framework of the offense and did not force a shot. On a number of occasions he passed up good lucks to find a teammate with a better one.

“He took quality shots,” Willard said of Hazell. “He’s played terrific for us the two games and he has played terrific all pre-season as well.”

Aaron Osgood, a 6-9 senior, led the way for Cornell with 19 points. Osgood had little help inside as the Big Red tried their hand from beyond the arc. They came up short, hitting 5 of 24 (21 percent) from three-point land.

The numbers:

Possessions: Cornell 79, Seton Hall 78

Offensive Efficiency: Cornell 86, Seton Hall 118

On Tuesday the Seton Hall women entertained Temple in their home opener at Walsh gymnasium. They fell behind 11-3 after the first four minutes. Gradually they settled down, regrouped and went on to post a convincing 79-52 decision over the Owls.

“The first few minutes we came out excited with a little nervous energy,” Donovan said.  “We missed some defensive assignments. Once we got past that we settled down and got back in it.”

The keys:

• Resiliency. As noted the first four minutes saw Temple as the aggressor. The Pirates did not panic or waver. Rather, they stayed with their game plan while showing some solid defense and generally playing extremely hard on both ends of the floor. Donovan noted that a switch to a 2-3 matchup zone midway through the first half was instrumental as the Owls struggled solving it and the Hall got on track offensively.
• Getting to the line. Seton Hall trailed 30-26 at intermission, and at that juncture the Pirates were 2 of 4 from the line. “That is something we talked about during half time,” Donovan said. “We were settling for jump shots and not attacking. We decided to get to the rim the second half,” It was effective, as the Hall finished 24 of 35 from the line. That 35 attempt figure was a bit inflated as Temple was in a fouling mode to extend the possessions in the latter minutes. Still, the Pirates got the message. And executed.

Jasmine Crew led Seton Hall with 16 points. Kandice Green, a 6-1 junior forward, had a notable 15-point, 12-rebound outing. Freshman guard Ka-Deidre Simmons of nearby Shabazz (Newark, NJ) High School was impressive in relief with 10 points and three assists at the point guard spot.

Temple placed three in double figures, all with 13 points : Forwards Natasha Thames and Kristen McCarthy as well as guard Owedia Wallace.

Offensive Efficiency in a 77-possession game:
Temple 77
Seton Hall 94

Note: What is offensive rebounding percentage? One of Dean Oliver’s Four Factors, OREB PCT is calculated as follows.

OREB PCT = OFF REB/ (OFF REB + Opponents’ Defensive Rebounds)

It basically let you know what percentage of possible rebounds, following your missed shot, you were able to secure.

Players, Coaches, Officials Feel the Heat at Hamilton Park

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The mercury hit triple digits for the second straight day. This past Wednesday at the Hamilton Park Summer League, the evening start saw temperatures in a more “manageable” ninety degree range.

Newark Tech 43, Bayonne 30

In the opener of the two-game officiating assignment, Newark Tech defeated Bayonne. A week ago I had Newark Tech and the coaches weren’t too thrilled following their narrow loss to Hudson Catholic. Tonight, officials and coaches got off on a cordial start. That tone stayed the same as Tech dominated.

A big difference from the taller Newark Tech team was the second half. Despite the height advantage Tech largely relied on a three-point diet the second half against Hudson. A three-point “diet” often translates to slim pickings at the foul line. Against Bayonne, they still shot the three but made a more concerted effort to attack the basket and keep penetrating those final 16 minutes. Jarel Hall played a good floor game and scored nine for a balanced Newark Tech attack.

The Best for Last

The next of the four games on tap was the game of the night, which saw Dickinson of Jersey City erase a 12-point deficit to defeat Paramus Catholic 45-40. The Rams trailed by a dozen entering the fourth quarter. Their first two possessions saw them knock down a trey. In one minute the deficit is sliced in half. Suddenly we had a game.

Given a new-found momentum, Dickinson closed strong and negated Paramus’ size by taking advantage of transition opportunities in the open floor. The Rams went on to post an impressive win over last year’s Bergen County Champions.

I worked the last two games of the night on the officiating end with a former college coach. Del Harrison, who coached at Felician College (Rutherford, NJ) is in his first year wearing the stripes. A former player at Jersey City State (now NJC) Harrison definitely knows the game and astutely applies the principles assimilated through his playing and coaching days. He does confess to a change of heart admitting, “I was tough on officials as a coach. Now I see things a lot differently.” Not a surprise at all as the view is quite different behind the whistle as opposed to being on the bench.

Notes

• There is no press room at Hamilton Park, but the Hamilton Inn down the block serves a dual purpose of a post-game respite (sticking to ginger ale as I must drive home) plus a location to write my column. And yes, it is air conditioned.

• During a halftime break of PC-Dickinson ran into officiating friend Dennis Nuber. Dennis lives across the street and takes in the action when he’s not running up and down the court. I told him the night before we worked the Phillipine League in a blistering Hudson Catholic gym. That gym was the high school home of Mike O’Koren and Jim Spanarkel, but tradition aside has no AC. Dennis played high school ball at St. Michael’s, a school around the block from Hamilton Park’s court, and unfortunately, like many in Hudson County who saw the same sad fate, is no longer in operation.

  “We played Hudson with Spanarkel and O’Koren,” Dennis recalled. “We held the ball and trailed around 12-8 at the half. Their coach (the late Joe ‘Rocky’ Pope) was upset because there were college scouts in attendance, but our coach said ‘Should we run with you and lose by 30?’” St. Michael’s still held the ball and lost by about a dozen. O’Koren starred at North Carolina while Spanarkel did the same at Duke. Both went on to enjoy respectable NBA careers. Dennis? Besides officiating he is one of the city’s “finest” as a Jersey City fire fighter.

• Hamilton Park was closed last year and the league moved a few blocks North. Mow reopened there is a new surface. Gone is the asphalt and replacing it is a synthetic surface that looks like it was assembled with Lego blocks. It’s good on the legs but players diving for loose balls are susceptible to cuts.

  The floor is done in the maroon and gold colors of St. Anthony’s. Not solely due the friar’s outstanding basketball tradition, though that didn‘t hurt. St. Anthony’s is the closest high school to Hamilton Park, roughly thee blocks away.

• Dickinson head coach Sean Drennan let his assistant run the club while he took action from the “Jack Nicholson” seats opposite the team benches. Drennan is one of the few prep coaches with college experience. He assisted Chuck McBreen at Ramapo before taking over at Kean University for a year prior to heading to Jersey City.

• Among those in attendance were a few administrators of the Phillipine League we worked the night before. Passionate fans who love the game at all levels, that small group remarked how much “cooler” it was in high eighties temperature as opposed to the triple-digit inferno at Hudson the night before. Cooler, yes, but it was all relative.

New Season at Hamilton Park Under Way

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Hamilton Park Summer League started its new season the final Monday evening in June. It is an outdoor league, but if the weatherman dictates, the games will be moved inside.

League commissioner and officiating coordinator – the circuit’s “David Stern” – Pat Devaney made the call with showers in the forecast so on opening night we were inside at Hudson Catholic High School.

In January 2008 officiating called for a doubleheader at Hudson the first week of January. The mercury outside barely hit twenty and in the gym it was a bit chilly. I remarked to the scorer, in lighter tone, the low thermostat was in keeping with catholic school tradition. then I noticed the scorer was a Christian Brother affiliated with the school. After the proverbial foot in mouth, suffice to say we had two good games.

On Hamilton’s opening night at Hudson it may have been payback time for yours truly. The temperature outside was over 90. Hudson, with no fans or windows to open had to have a reading flirting with 100 degrees. You know it’s hot when the trusty league score keeper, Regina, is hitting the water cooler during each time out. Four games were on tap but thankfully on the officiating end we had the last two. My partner is a college official, Greg Ebben, who found out about the league ironically, through an article by yours truly. After reaching out to Devaney, Ebben was on board and a welcomed addition.

The early game, in a battle of Jersey City schools, saw Snyder defeat Lincoln. I caught the last half of game two, a competitive battle where St. Mary’s (JC) defeated East Orange. Now it was off to work.

Hudson Catholic 39, Newark Tech 36

The size of Tech is a factor. Hudson is moving the ball well, mixing the attack from the perimeter and occasionally attacking the basket. Tech leads at the half. Taking a break before starting the second half Darren Savino says, “Ray they don’t pay you guys enough.” The remark is made in reference to the heat and the fact the stands have a few “experts” willing to share their misguided opinion on virtually every call or no call.

Tech appears to be in control heading into the fourth quarter. The final eight minutes, they go into a scoring drought, and Hudson pulls ahead and seals the contest from the charity stripe. Eric Anderson of Tech led all scorers with 20 points. On the other side, Travis Flagg was a major difference for the Hawks, hitting a three down the stretch and icing the game from the line.

Following the game the Tech coach was none too happy complaining his team didn’t get to the line the second half. “We didn’t pay four hundred dollars to play here and not shoot a free throw,” he repeatedly said. We discussed the situation briefly and noted before his team went into a late game fouling mode, Hudson actually had more team fouls. Maybe Darren is right.

The final game of the night saw East Orange rout Bergenfield. It was a contest for a half, before the final 16 minutes saw the speed, transition and size of East Orange break this one open. Bergenfield plays in a league in Northern New Jersey. The coach admits the style is much different from what he faces at Hamilton. Each year he brings his kids down to “toughen them up” and expose them to a higher level of intensity than what they face each winter. And his kids compete, adapt and in the process get a few wins on their own behalf. In all it is a situation the coach feels is beneficial and teaches is team the commitment you need to excel.

FINISHING: Savino, who was on Fred Hill’s Rutgers staff, said he was close to accepting a similar position at FDU. He also noted former Rutgers aide Craig Carter went to Siena, Dennis Gregory, formerly of the Hoop Group was still unsettled and Jim Carr was retained by new Rutgers mentor Mike Rice.

Nick Mariniello is beginning his second year at Hudson. Mariniello had a great run at Bloomfield Tech, took a year off and then came on board last season at Hudson. I spoke with Mariniello during a grade school tournament at Hudson back last November. He said taking a year off was partially due to his father’s ill health. That situation has improved and after a year on the sideline going to games and seeing some of his former Bloomfield Tech players in action, such as St. Peter’s Wesley Jenkins and Da’Sean Butler of West Virginia, the urge to get back on the sideline was too enticing to resist.

Mariniello’s assistant who ran the team is Steve Ricciardi, who did a great job at High Tech High School in nearby North Bergen. Unfortunately, or it should be tragically, High Tech and Jersey City’s County Prep had their entire athletic department and sports eliminated due to budget cuts. Once again, well-deserving and needy youth get the short end of the politician’s deals.

NIT Thoughts and Reflections

NEW YORK – The 73rd National Invitation Tournament is in the books. The thought was on everyone’s mind during the days in New York; the hope is it doesn’t come to pass. With expansion of the NCAA tournament to 96 teams seemingly inevitable, the general feeling around Madison Square Garden was the NIT would be in the history books. And it was not a sentiment that observers expressed with positive feelings.

“Ending the NIT would be a tough decision,” Dayton coach Brian Gregory said following the championship game. “Dayton built its brand name here (winning in 1962 and 1968) at Madison Square Garden with coaches like (Tom) Blackburn and (Don) Donaher. It’s important to play here at Madison Square Garden.”

Roy Williams admitted an NIT Final Four was not an objective as practice started in October. Williams would rather play the first Monday, not Thursday, in April. Still, he was pleased to be playing in a tournament with established prestige. “I have always had a great appreciation of the history and tradition of the NIT,” Williams said after the semifinal win over Rhode Island.

History and tradition were common words used by coaches, players and observers regarding the NIT, the nation’s oldest post-season tournament. The end of that tradition and history would make college basketball a little bit poorer if the greed behind 96 teams allows the NIT to end.

Semifinals

Dayton 68, Mississippi 63
North Carolina 68, Rhode Island 67 (OT)

Championship

Dayton 79, North Carolina 68

• Jim Baron took the high road. With just under ten seconds left in overtime and North Carolina clinging to a one-point lead Larry Drew II took a jumper with the shot clock almost at expiration. The shot missed. Rhode Island grabbed the long rebound and appeared headed in transition. The URI player fell, no call, and seconds later the buzzer sounded.
  “We got the rebound it looked like there was contact and (the URI player) tripped,” Baron said regarding those final seconds. The Rhode Island mentor was quick to add that the final play did not decide the outcome. “We have been good all year from the line,” Baron said. “Tonight we missed the free throws down the stretch. North Carolina made their free throws near the end of regulation and in overtime. They made the plays needed to win, we did not.”
• Dayton relied on solid defense to get to New York. The Flyers continued that trend en route to their third NIT championship. In the semifinal win over Mississippi, the Flyers limited Ole Miss to 34 percent shooting from the floor. The SEC representatives struggled from three-point range, shooting only 6 of 23 (26 percent). The two main threats, Terrico White and Chris Warren, were a combined 4 of 17 against the Dayton defense.
• Offensive rebounding was a Dayton concern in the final against North Carolina. Against URI, the Tar Heels enjoyed a 27-15 edge on the offensive boards, which translated into 15 more field goal attempts than the Rams. In the final Dayton battled UNC even 11-11 on the offensive glass.
• North Carolina did come out in the final with a more effective perimeter game. Through the first four NIT games the Tar Heels shot 26 percent from beyond the arc. Against URI in the semis they were 2 of 17, a haggard 12 percent. Against the Flyers the Tar Heels shot 8 of 15 (53 percent) for the game. They trailed by 13 at the half and used their three-point shooting, notable by junior swingman Will Graves ( a game-high 25 points on 7 of 13 from three) to get right back into things after intermission.
• Dayton saw their lead cut to one during the first four minutes of the second half in the championship. The Flyers’ Marcus Johnson then hit a three-pointer to get the lead back to four. For most of the second half it was a two-possession game, but the significant thing for Dayton was not losing the lead in that final half.

All Tournament Honors

Most Outstanding Player – Chris Johnson, Dayton – 14 points vs. Ole Miss, team high 22 points 9 rebounds in the final.

All Tournament:
Delroy James (URI) – 13 points 8 boards vs. UNC
Will Graves (UNC) – 14 points vs. URI, 25 in the championship game.
Deon Thompson (UNC)- Double figures in scoring and rebounding both nights. He broke an NCAA record in the championship by appearing in the 152nd game of his collegiate career.
Marcus Johnson (Dayton) – Team-high 20 points in final, scored 12 in semis.

Tempo Free, Other Numbers

• No surprise. To get this far you need defense. Dayton got both opponents under 1.00 points per possession in New York. In fact, Dayton had the only offensive performance over 1.00 PPP with a stellar 1.16 against North Carolina.

• The semifinals, thanks to a healthy turnout of URI devotees, drew 11,689, while the final attendance was 9,827 and a good percentage were backing Dayton.

From the NIT Final Four press conference. Each of the four head coaches was asked what the NIT means, in general, to them.

Jim Baron, URI: “It’s tradition and history when you think of the teams and players that played here. Walt Frazier was an unknown before playing in the NIT (with Southern Illinois in 1967). He got drafted and led the Knicks to two NBA titles. The Garden is special. I used to sneak into it when I was young to watch Red Holzman’s Knicks.  The NIT also gives you the memories of great people in New York basketball like Frank and Al McGuire.”

Brian Gregory, Dayton: “For me as a coach at Dayton it means trying to continue a great tradition established by coaches (Tom) Blackburn and (Don) Donoher. Back then Dayton built its national recognition largely on what they did in the NIT.  This tournament has always meant a great deal to our fan base.”

Andy Kennedy, Mississippi: “The NIT makes me think of the heritage and lineage of a great tournament. There are no excuses for playing in the NIT. It gives teams an opportunity to win a championship and playing in the Garden is always a big deal.”

Roy Williams, UNC: “The NIT means tradition. It is a tournament that has meant so much to college basketball. The players today may not realize the tradition, but it is always special to get to play in New York. My junior year at North Carolina (70-71) we lost by one in the ACC final to South Carolina. We got the chance to play in the NIT and won it. Back then the NCAA had 24 teams and the NIT 16, so getting in post-season was difficult.”

Two Significant Hires Raise Optimism at Seton Hall

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The signs in the parking garage announced the “Dawn of a New era”. The sun, after days of rain, slightly broke through on the campus of Seton Hall University. It was probably the “basketball Gods” smiling down on Walsh Gymnasium as two new coaches were being introduced. Anne Donovan and Kevin Willard would assume the respective positions of women’s and men’s basketball coach at the Big East school.

Donovan first thanked Phyllis Magina (seated near Donovan), who resigned after 25 years at the helm to take another position in the athletic department, for her years of outstanding service. A member of a number of halls of fame, including the one in Springfield, Donovan asked, “Who is watching the NCAA women’s tournament?” Hands raised. “are you tired of UConn blowing everyone out? I am.” Applause followed.

Donovan later said she wasn’t looking for bulletin board material in Storrs. “I have the utmost respect for UConn and what Geno Auriemma has done,“ she said. “But they give us all something to shoot for. Not every great player can go to UConn. We are going to try to get a few of those here to build something special.”

Willard will turn 35 on April 6th. In coaching experience he has a resume the envy of some mentors ten years older. Willard was an assistant with the Boston Celtics and Louisville before taking the reins at Iona three years ago. He came in to a program that won two games the year before and left it a 21-game winner with talent to make a run at a MAAC title next winter. Willard comes from solid coaching lines, as his dad Ralph is now an assistant at Louisville and the Cardinal mentor Rick Pitino was Kevin’s boss in Boston and Louisville. Pitino called Seton Hall Law School Dean Patrick Hobbs (who headed the search) and AD Joe Quinlan with a resounding endorsement.

Hobbs and Quinlan both spoke of passion and character. The latter quality is most important after the turbulent days of Bobby Gonzalez. In Willard they have both and a great work ethic.

Willard spoke of playing an “attractive high-energy style of basketball” – one that should be entertaining for fans and enticing to recruits. While the offense will entertain, defense is the priority. “It all starts with defense,” Willard said, “and we will defend hard every possession.”  He is bringing his Iona staff, which includes former Hall star Shaheen Holloway, very popular with Hall faithful and well-respected and knowledgeable in area recruiting circles. Willard looks to bring on former players Marcus Toney-El and Grant Billmeier (both were in attendance) in an assisting capacity.

On the possibility of losing Herb Pope, Jeff Robinson and Jeremy Hazell, who all recently cited an intention to enter the NBA Draft , Willard brought the house down saying, “this might be the first program that didn’t win the national title but loses three players to the draft.” On a serious note, Willard said he and his staff will assist the three who intend to go pro but welcome them back into the program should they have a change of heart.

Willard knows there is a great deal of work ahead but is excited. “Growing up in Long Island I followed Syracuse, St. John’s and Seton Hall,” he said. “When the offer came, I called my wife and said ‘looks like we are going to New Jersey.’ ” He toured the Prudential Center with Quinlan and Hobbs and had to hide his excitement. “I felt like a kid in a toy store looking at that facility,” he said. School President Monsignor Sheeran, Hobbs and Quinlan all felt a similar emotion regarding their two hires. “We are in it to win championships,” Hobbs said.  To which Willard said, “See those (championship) banners hanging in the rafters? We are out to add some more.”

The press conference in Walsh was open to the public. Besides media, alums and notables in the Hall community, students were encouraged to come. Even five members of the Seton Hall cheer squad showed up in uniform to pledge support.

Willard and Donovan , both personable and media friendly, not only enthusiastically greeted media members they knew but took the time to learn the names and affiliation of members of the press they were meeting for the initial time. In all, it was a day that left those in attendance impressed and certain better days are ahead in South Orange.

At Seton Hall, how could the sun not shine brightly on a day like that ?

Thoughts on the Atlantic 10

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Each year there is an obligatory trip down the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic “Always turned on” City and the Atlantic 10 Tournament. This year it was Friday’s quarterfinals at Boardwalk Hall. A few observations:

1. The Big East has marquee programs, the history and tradition of MSG mix in with the glamour of celebrities and notables, Bill Clinton, Spike Lee and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie just to name a few. The A-10 provides us with strong programs in arguably the best non-BCS conference in the land. The atmosphere at the Big East can be corporate at times but at the A-10 it is different. It’s like being around close friends you haven’t seen in awhile.

2. Unless you are on the opposing bench, you sit back and marvel at the simplicity and execution of Temple. They epitomize the late Al McGuire’s “K.I.S.S.” philosophy – “Keep It Simple Stupid”. Juan Fernandez buries threes. Come out and play him and he finds teammates like Lavoy Allen in the paint. In the 69-51 win over St. Bonaventure the Owls had 18 assists on their 30 field goals. That’s 60 percent of their field goals assisted and that’s great ball movement and unselfishness.

3. Speaking of St. Bonaventure, their stay was not long but getting to AC was progress as the Bonnies defeated Duquesne in the first round.  It was the first quarterfinal appearance for Bonaventure since 2002 and further validation of the great job Mark Schmidt is doing in Olean.

4. Game of the day? On paper it was Xavier-Dayton. Two intense rivals. Close in geography but no love lost between. The pair split during the regular season and Dayton desperately needed this to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive. The game did not disappoint. In an intense, fast-paced and physical contest, Xavier rallied from 15 down with just under 12 minutes to play to post a 78-73 victory. Credit Xavier‘s Jordan Crawford (20 points) and Terrell Halloway (22 points) for doing appreciable damage during the late run.

5. Rhode Island, another team fighting for its collective NCAA life, posted a convincing win over St. Louis. Rick Majerus’ club normally dictates the action through a succession of well oiled offensive sets. URI took St. Louis out of anything they tried to run, beat them on the boards 38-26 and forced 13 Billiken turnovers. A complete victory that began with defense.

6. UMass made a late run, but Richmond triumphed 77-72. The Spiders put five players in double figures and Chris Mooney’s club is another one that is very difficult to guard, especially with A-10 Player of the Year Kevin Anderson.

7. A little over 6,000 attended the quarterfinals, over 8,000 were at the semis and the Richmond-Temple final drew just under 8,000. In light of that, it seems the A-1- fans are warming up to AC. All three days did not see the best weather and Saturday in particular hit the area hard with a driving rain and wind storm. Still, the fans came out to support a quality event. Personally, I miss the Palestra days but the AC venue at renovated Boardwalk Hall is a fine setting.

8. A final note.  Temple captured the championship game on Sunday by edging Richmond 56-52. It was the third straight championship for Fran Dunphy’s club. Only the John Calipari UMass teams won three or more consecutive A-10 titles. Juan Fernandez had 18 points and 4 turnovers for the Owls. The TOs are mentioned because the the previous two games the Owls’ sophomore guard did not have a turnover in 65 minutes.

Postscript: The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee was not too kind with the A-10. Dayton figured their chances were gone after the Xavier loss, but having Jim Baron’s Rhode Island club left off the board was a setback. The draw is not the best with Richmond facing a dangerous St. Mary’s team. Worse was Temple, the conference co-champions, A-10 post season tournament titlists and with 29 wins. The reward? Fifth seed and a very tough opening round draw in Cornell. Xavier has a Minnesota team that was defeated by Ohio State in the Big Ten finals and could be very dangerous.
Dayton and Rhode Island are in the NIT. As noted, Dayton knew their Big Dance ideas were dead after the quarterfinal setback. Rhody, on the other hand, held hope even after getting eliminated in the semis by Temple. URI has an intriguing first round foe as they host Northwestern. The key here is not to commiserate on the “what could have been” Rather, seize the opportunity and come ready to play . The Rams still have a post season opportunity and are good enough to get to New York.

Saturday was Special for a Certain Big East Official

NEW YORK – One of the many aspects that was most satisfying at the Big East Tournament was seeing Brian O’Connell get the assignment for the championship game. Brian has been a long-time officiating friend who gradually worked his way up the ranks. A native of Bayonne, New Jersey and currently a Middletown, New Jersey resident, Brian began working high school games in the northern sector of the Garden State.
Brian attended Edgar Cartotto’s officiating camp each summer. In one of my earlier times at camp , several times we were paired together to work a half. When Brian made it to the college ranks and later signed on with the Northeast Conference he came back. This time he was a clinician, evaluating and instructing officials such as yours truly, who always finds “Edgar’s camp” a great learning environment.
Looking to move up, Brian attended the ABCD Camp, where Big East prospects are evaluated. About a decade ago we were in Edgar’s Camp and Brian was instructing. The word came from Edgar that Brian just signed on with the Big East. He humbly accepted congratulations and also added, “my goal is to one day get to the tournament in Madison Square Garden.” His schedule grew and other leagues hired him as well but Brian stayed faithful working games in the NEC, the league Edgar supervised and the place he got his Division I start.

A few seasons passed then he made the breakthrough to the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”  Now he’s a regular as the Big East Tournament progresses through the rounds. Earlier in the week Brian explained that Big East supervisor Art Hyland assigned the first two rounds of the tournament. After that, Hyland would assign games after each round. The officials, like the teams, would have to advance.
About a year ago fellow official Pat Devaney, who coordinates the very competitive Hamilton Park Summer league in Jersey City, asked me if Brian would be interested. I explained he would need clearance from his college supervisors but why not try. Devaney and O’Connell grew up together and were football teammates in Bayonne. The call was put out and Brian accepted. Those of us given the chance to work with Brian at Hamilton were truly fortunate. During halftime or post game he would give constructive advice on what you did right or wrong.
Brian is one of those who has given back. He has made the big-time and bright lights. On the flip side his friendly, polite demeanor has not changed. He’s the same person I met in the early 1990s.
Ed Corbett, Pat Driscoll and Brian were the crew chosen by Hyland for that outstanding final between Georgetown and West Virginia. Brian O’Connell had “arrived” long before stepping on the Garden floor that stormy (weather wise) Saturday night. He has gone deep, working later rounds into both the NCAA and NIT. But to an official and person who knows how special the game in general and Big East Conference in particular is, this had to be a special night.

St. John’s Rolls Over UCONN

NEW YORK – There wasn’t a great deal on the X and O side to discuss. St. John’s, from tap to buzzer, simply wanted it more. The Red Storm snapped a nine-game losing streak to UCONN, defeating the Huskies 73-51 in the opening round of the Big East Tournament. “It was a hard physical game,” St. John’s coach Norm Roberts said. “Our guys made plays all day.”
The Red Storm led 35-22 at the break and outside of a brief run or two, were never severely threatened. Sean Evans had a huge game inside with a 19-point, 10-rebound effort to pace St. John’s. The Red Storm placed three in double figures and one, junior forward Justin Brownlee, stepped up to supply 13 points off the bench.
Kemba Walker paced UCONN with 12 points, but was a largely ineffective 4 of 17 from the field. Stanley Robinson added 10 points but was basically a non-factor. The Huskies shot 38 percent from the floor and were guilty of 20 turnovers.
“St. John’s came out with a purpose,” UCONN coach Jim Calhoun said. “They were hungrier.” The Red Storm, not known for prowess beyond the arc, were 7 of 13 from three point range.
From the X and O standpoint a key factor was St. John’s excellent defense on ball screens. “We wanted to stop the penetration of Walker and (Jerome) Dyson,” Roberts said.  They did that to virtual perfection.

The win puts the Red Storm at 17-14. They will face Marquette at 2:30 on Wednesday. UCONN fell to 17-15.

Calhoun said an NIT bid is something he and his staff will discuss. “No disrespect to the NIT,” Calhoun said. “We won it in 1988 and it jump-started our program. Right now we as a staff will sit down and discuss which direction we want to go.”

The eight games of four points or less – all losses – plus the campaign highlighted by inconsistency, has weighed heavily on the entire UCONN program. “For now,” Calhoun said, “there will be no practice the next few days.”
Awards were given following the afternoon doubleheader. Lance Stephenson of Cincinnati earned Rookie of the Year. Syracuse made a big splash with Wes Johnson getting Player of the Year and Jim Boeheim Coach of the Year. Hamady Ndiaye of Rutgers earned Defensive Player of the Year.