Tiki Mayben Feature

Mayben A Steal For Minuteman

by Zach Smart

Tiki Mayben was always a freakishly good athlete. But in a generation where third graders are getting cut from church teams and fifth grade coaches are getting ejected from games, the Troy, N.Y. native didn’t get into a competitive game until he was 12.

But whether it was by operating the 17-and-under AAU team’s offense as a 15-year old or making the varsity basketball team as an eighth grader, Mayben has always found his game to be ahead of his time.

“In high school I found myself being somewhat of ahead of my time in class, feeling like no one around me could understand my trials and tribulations at such a young age,” explained Mayben. “High School basketball to me was very depressing after my freshmen year as far competition and teammates, but I tried to make the best of it I could.”

It’s not everyday that a kid entering his sophomore year in high school commits to a major Big East program. Mayben, who originally committed to Syracuse, was pursued by the program at 15 and practiced with the 2002-03 Orange team at a time when most players his age were still attending skill development camps.

Mayben, who played his AAU ball with the Albany City Rocks, will be a key addition for the UMass Minuteman during the 2006-2007 season. Mayben was the N.Y.S. Section II MVP as a freshman and named to The Record’s All-area team that same year, and is currently attending UMass but sitting this season out as an academic non-qualifier.

He is not alone. Former West Virginia center Luke Bonner (young brother of Toronto Raptors forward and former Florida stud Matt), Etienne Brower (Boston University), Gary Forbes (Virginia), are all redshirting this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Throw in former Pitt forward Dante Milligan, who became eligible on December 23, and you have a core of high profile players that could certainly put the Minutemen on the map next season.

Mayben is a full package. Offensively, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound point guard is a pure shooter, has great court vision, and penetrates and attacks the basket as good as anyone. He’s also accustomed to playing suffocating, lock-down defense.

Originally set to go to prep after failing to meet Syracuse admissions requirements, Tiki has found a home away from home on the campus at Amherst, Mass.

“Now I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get both academically and athletically,” said Mayben, who looked strong controlling the tempo and attacking the rim during the Jordan Classic last April.

UConn vs. Quinnipiac

Huskies Fend Off Pesky Bobcats, Roll To 11-0

by Zach Smart

HARTFORD, Conn. – For the first 17 minutes of play, the two teams were virtually lost in identity. The Connecticut Huskies looked nothing like the No. 2 ranked program in the country, the team which shined at the Maui invitational and the school which, over the past decade, has evolved into a perennial powerhouse.

The visiting Quinnipiac Bobcats, on the other hand, looked nothing like the school which moved up to the Division I ranks just eight years ago, the school that opposing team’s fans still have difficulty pronouncing correctly.

However, that would all change after the Huskies scored 12 of the last 13 points of the first half. UConn dominated the rest of the way, shooting 68.3 percent in the second half. The state’s longest existing rivalry was renewed, with the Huskies cruising to a 111-75 victory at the Hartford Civic Center Dec. 30.

UConn improved to 11-0, marking the first time in school history that the Huskies have entered January with such a record. They are one of the nation’s seven top-tier teams with an unblemished record.

It’s just a couple days before the re-arrival of the suspended Marcus Williams, who is arguably the most prolific passer in college basketball. The Huskies looked fine without their star point guard last night. Craig Austrie, who has taken over as the starting point guard, dished out a career-high 14 assists, setting a freshman record.

Williams will suit up when the Huskies begin Big East action at Marquette on January 3. Williams was suspended for taking part in the theft of multiple laptops on campus.

Hilton Armstrong stepped up big in the absence of Rudy Gay, who was out with an ankle injury he suffered in practice early in the week. Armstrong recorded his second straight double-double with a career and game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Husky big man shot 11-of-14 from the field, with his mid-range game looking better than ever. He also threw down a pair of earth-shattering dunks, one which nearly blew the roof off of the arena in the first half.

Quinnipiac’s John Winchester had a career night, scoring 25 points on 7 of 14 shooting, 5 of 10 from three-point territory.

It was Winchester and forward Chris Wehye (16 points, 16 boards) that gave the Huskies trouble in the first half, as the duo netted several big three-pointers to build a 22-16 advantage with 13:06 remaining. 5-foot-9 guard Job Casimir and the Bobcats had no problem breaking the Huskies press in the first half, and the Bobcats battled valiantly until Rashad Anderson’s trifecta put UConn up 34-32. This was followed by a Josh Boone bucket, and the Huskies closed out the half with a strong run.

The first half featured eight lead changes and four ties. After failing to capitalize on second-chance opportunities and playing sluggishly at times, the Huskies turned it on in the second half.

The ‘Cats relied too heavily on outside shooting. They lived behind three-point land for much of the game, with Winchester, Wehye, Van Crafton (9 points), and Craig Benson all hoisting up threes. They were sorely undersized down low, going up against with 6-foot-10 Josh Boone and 6-foot-11 Armstrong. Having their tallest player, 6-foot-8 inch Karl Anderson, caught in foul trouble, didn’t help either.

Rashad Anderson, who averaged 23.5 points in the previous victories over Morehead State and Stony Brook, continued his hot shooting. The senior poured in 20 points in 28 minutes, shooting .500 (7 for 14) from the field. Marcus Johnson also added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

“For 17 minutes, we played probably the best basketball that we’ve played since I’ve been here,” said Quinnipiac had coach Joe DeSantis to WQUN after the game. “They’re just too good. They made a run, we couldn’t stop them. I thought there was a big stretch the last three minutes of the first half, and obviously a good portion of the second half. When you play against a team that’s bigger, stronger, quicker, the fatigue kills you.”

Game Notes

One of the game’s intriguing matchups was between freshman point guards Craig Austrie and Job Casimir, who are both natives of Stamford, Conn. and good friends. Last year, Austrie (Trinity Catholic High School) and Casimir (Norwalk High) were two of the most exciting point guards in Connecticut high school basketball. Now starters on their respective college teams, they were reunited for the first time in quite awhile on the court.

“That’s my man,” said Austrie in reference to Casimir, who scored nine points and handed out six dimes. “We used to have some good battles back in high school, and it was good to see him on the court. But on the court, you know, it’s a battle.”

The aforementioned Winchester also hails from Stamford and mentored Austrie at times in his early high school days.

Indiana Wins, Gets White Back

Hoosiers Avenge Loss To 49ers, White Returns

by Zach Smart

The Indiana Hoosiers kept seeing flashes of it. It was right there, still fresh in their minds, months and months after Brendan Plavich’s half-court prayer at the buzzer found the bottom of the net and robbed Indiana of the victory.

The Hoosiers buried three-pointer after three-pointer and then the 49ers, 71-54, at Charlotte Monday evening to exact some revenge for last year’s one-point loss. With that, they buried and erased the memories of Plavich’s questionable (the Hoosiers strongly felt that Plavich released the ball after time had expired) buzzer-beater.

The Hoosiers connected on 13-of-23 from behind the arc, with Marshall Strickland and Robert Vaden netting four apiece. Crisp ball movement, especially when making the extra pass for an easy bucket, was also key for the Hoosiers.

Auburn transfer Marco Killingsworth, 20 days after his coming-out party against Duke (when he gave Shelden Williams the business and got the better of the Blue Devil big man), continued his strong play down low. Killingsworth finished with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a three-pointer during the run.

Despite not playing in nine days, the Hoosiers shot 53 percent from the floor.

The No.18 Hoosiers have been shooting treys as well as anyone in the nation as of late. Throughout history, the program has been known to produce dangerous three-point assassins. There was Steve Alford, Calbert Cheaney, and the man with the lightning-quick release shot, Kyle Hornsby, who played on the 2002 team Hoosier ballclub that advanced to the championship game of the NCAA tournament.

A barrage of three-pointers fueled a 22-2 first half spurt for the Hoosiers.

A posterizing dunk by the 49ers’ Curtis Withers tied the game at 13. Withers soared to the basket and threw it down with authority, firing up the Niners early on.

Charlotte’s intensity level wouldn’t stay high for long. Roderick Wilmont (3-3 on three-pointers, 9 points) connected on a trifecta to give Indiana a 21-18 lead with 7:29 remaining. This lead changed to 30-20 after IU let off a freefall of threes. Long range shots from Vaden, Strickland, and Wilmont all cuffed the bottom of the nylon.

Killingsworth then stepped back to net a three of his own, increasing the Hoosier lead to 13 with 5:07 left to play in the half.

“It’s not like it’s a fluke or anything,” Charlotte’s Mitchell Baldwin said to ESPN after the game. “They got into a flow where they were moving to open spots and hitting threes. We just had to get to their shooters.”

Charlotte had one surge in the second half, concluded by a technical foul on Davis, that trimmed the lead to six. Indiana responded as Ratliff drained a three, and the Hoosiers pulled away from that point on.

D.J. White saw his first action of the season and came off the bench in the first half for the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-10 sophomore had been out with a broken foot that he suffered during the exhibition season.

White, though not yet at full stride, showed signs of what he’s capable of doing. He ran the floor and threw down a nasty two-handed jam to make the score 63-49 and had two blocks at the other end of the floor. Three blocks really, but a questionable call converted one White swat into one of his three personal fouls. He finished with eight points and five boards in 17 minutes.

Northeast Notebook

Northeast Conference Notebook

by Zach Smart

Coleman Making Some Noise For RMU

Robert Morris Guard Derek Coleman, not long after putting on an outside shooting clinic to lead the Colonials to a hard fought victory over Quinnipiac, continued his fine play this season with a 31-point performance that lifted the Colonials to a 97-85 triumph over Charleston Southern on Saturday.

The undersized junior guard netted 21 second half points, many of them coming on big shots, at the Sewall Center in Moon Township, Pa. Coleman, who alongside teammate Tony Lee crafts perhaps the most formidable three-point shooting duo in the Northeast Conference, finished 9 of 15 from the floor. Coleman connected on 6 of 7 treys. He now has 21 threes in eight games played. The Colonials shot an eye-popping 13 of 21 (62 percent) from three-point range on the day.

Similar to what Coleman did in the aforementioned Quinnipiac game, he mounted the team on his shoulders and carried them throughout the second half. He did this by hitting timely shots to slowly melt the visiting Buccaneers.

For his efforts, Coleman (whose averaging 13.1 points and over five assists per game) was named the Choice Hotels Player Of The Week.

The Colonials are off to a 4-4 start, and they currently stand at 1-0 in conference play.

La Salle 107, Central Connecticut 106 (4 OT)
At New Britain, Conn., a pair of game-clinching free throws by La Salle’s Darnell Harris did the Blue Devils in during the game’s fourth and final overtime. Steven Smith, who led all scorers with 41 points, drained a 3-pointer to pull the Explorers within one with 8.6 ticks remaining in the fourth overtime session. The Blue Devils couldn’t get it done on the other end of the floor, and with time running out Harris sped down the floor and pulled up from beyond the arc. His three-point attempt drew a foul with zero seconds left. With a chance to put the game away, Harris’ first free throw rattled off off the rim. He calmly sank the next two to put an end to one of the highest scoring affairs seen in college basketball this season. Blue Devil sophomore Tristan Blackwood had a memorable game, scoring 28 points and dishing out nine assists in the heartbreaker.

Quinnipiac 88, Dartmouth 77
At Hamden, Conn., Kevin Jolley stepped up his game in the absense of injured big men Karl Anderson and Victor Akinyanju. Jolley enjoyed his best performance in a Bobcat uniform, scoring a career-high 19 points and pulling down 11 boards. With the game tied at halftime, the Bobcats jumped out to an early second half lead that they would not relinquish. Freshman Job Casimir, inserted into the starting lineup for the first time since the beginning of the season, was key. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound floor general scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out five assists, made three steals and never stopped getting after the basketball. Senior captain Craig Benson, after having been slowed down by injury the past couple of games, scorched the nets with 17 points. John Winchester added 15 points and six rebounds for Quinnipiac, which improved to 5-3 with the win. Michael Giovacchini led the struggling Big Green (1-5) with 19 points.

Seahawks Picking Up Where They Left Off: After a drastic turnaround to an abysmal start last season, Wagner has carried last year’s success (during a surge which saw them win eight of their last nine NEC games) over to this season. Their recent 63-61 victory over Rhode Island (a team which topped in-state rival Providence this season) was Wagner’s sixth against just one loss to start off the season. Mark Porter (14.0 ppg) is slowly establishing himself as the go-to-guy, while forward Durrell Vinson (12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) has been strong crashing the boards and scoring around the basket. Reigning NEC Defensive Player of the year DeEarnest Mclemore also deserves some of the credit.

Power Rankings

1. Farleigh Dickinson (5-4): Klaiber underachieving so far but the Knights will stay at the top until knocked off by an NEC team
2. Wagner (6-1): Turned many heads with URI victory
3. Central Connecticut (4-4): Blue Devils have many weapons to work with this season, including 3-point assassin Justin Chiera
4. Quinnipiac (5-3): ‘Cats pulled off a pair of promising victories over Ivy League opponents, played right there with FDU, must prove that RMU loss was a fluke
Honorable Mention: Robert Morris, Monmouth

Mt. Vernon High School

Mount Vernon High: The Dynasty Continues

by Zach Smart

Just under twenty miles north of New York City lies a mecca of high school basketball. Mount Vernon High School, home of the 2004 state and federation champions, is a national powerhouse which breeds division I talent year after year. Chicago Bulls star Ben Gordon’s alma mater has produced the likes of ex-NBA players Earl Tatum, Lowes Moore, Rodney McCray, Scooter McCray, Gus Williams, and Ray Williams.

Mount Vernon is only four square miles, but every player on the roster, from one to twelve, lives there. Basketball is more than just a game to these people – it’s life. It’s a world of opportunity, a way of escaping the densely populated streets.

“In the basketball-obsessed community of Mount Vernon, making the team means respect and recognition at school,” said Kevin Devaney Jr. of The Journal News. “It’s a trip to Hawaii, an opportunity to play on television, in big arenas and in front of huge crowds. It’s a launching pad to a college scholarship. It’s the honor of saying you’re part of one of the nation’s elite programs.”

Many of the finest basketball players to come out of New York are from widely recognized city programs such as Christ The King in Queens, Rice in Manhattan, and St. Raymond’s in the Bronx. But the Westchester County juggernaut is consistently found near the top of the USA Today rankings; this year, the Knights are ranked no. 14.

As current college players go, UMass point guard Chris Lowe, Pittsburgh off-guard Keith Benjamin, St. John’s power forward Dexter Gray, and James Madison guard Jomo Belfor are all products of Mount Vernon High.

With 23 Section I/NYS championships, 5 New York State and two federation championships, head coach Bob Cimmino has established a potent tradition of excellence. Through rigorous 6AM workouts, off-season leagues, summer camps, and team breakfasts, Cimmino makes basketball an all-year around commitment while providing a family setting. The Mount Vernon Program can only be described as a surrogate family, a brotherhood which lives to push each other harder and make each other better.

This year, all eyes are on 6-foot-6 forward Jonathon Mitchell, who has made a verbal commitment to play at the University of Florida next year. Mitchell, who played on the varsity as an eighth-grader, is a dominant high-low player with a sweet mid-range jumper. His much-improved outside shot boosted his stock over the past couple of months. Mitchell’s game caught the attention of a number of major d-I programs, including Duke, Marquette, and Virginia. Marquette also actively pursued Mitchell before the senior decided on Florida.

Last season, Mitchell led the Knights while averaging 18.1 points. But for the first time since 1999, the Knights failed to capture the Section I championship. They fell at the hands of a New Rochelle team led by Providence forward Geoff McDermott.

In two games played – a 114-57 thrashing of Roosevelt High in Yonkers and a 98-50 routing of Clarkstown North in New City – Mitchell, who scouts would like to see assert his body in the paint more, is averaging 21.5 points to lead the Knights.

The Knights are also have the services of the seventh-ranked Class of 2007 point guard in the country in Mike Coburn. Coburn is both strong and lighting quick, can lock down the opponents’ best player, score, and create offense. Last year, Colburn played at the two spot while the aforementioned Lowe operated the offense.

John Malone of the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) spoke about the Knights’ chances this season.

“I really think this could be their (Mount Vernon’s) best team since Ben Gordon’s junior season in 99-00,” said Malone, who many regard as a recruiting expert.

“Jon Mitchell has improved his perimeter game so much and finally seems to realize how talented he is. Mike Coburn has finally taken over the point guard spot and improved his jump shot this season. On top of that, 6’3” wing guard Dave Clark may be one of the most underrated players in the state. After those guys, you still have their what seems to be patented 6’3” post player that grabs boards and outworks bigger players in Danilio Hutchinson, and another frosh phenom in Sherrod Wright who looks more assertive as a freshmen than any of the previous stars before him.”

Malone continued, “I think Mt. Vernon’s pre-season accolades are fairly accurate. Most publications have them around 12-15th in the country. I saw them beat a very capable Clarkstown North last week by 48 points.”

The Knights get their first taste of real competition this weekend at the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. Other prestigious tournaments on the schedule for the Knights this year are the McDonald’s Classic (Pa.) and the Prime-Time shootout in Trenton, NJ.

West Virginia Keeps Winning

Mountaineers Pick Up Where They Left Off

by Zach Smart

West Virginia entered last year’s NCAA tourney with a group of three-point marksmen and one of the nation’s elite shot-blockers down low. By the time they were finished, the Mountain State’s hoopsters had made a more sizable impression than most. They also put themselves on the map for the ensuing season.

After pulling off a stunning 111-105 double overtime upset over Chris Paul and Wake Forest (a team which sat at the top of the national polls all season), the Mountaineers weren’t done yet. WVU rode a 22-point performance and a pair of game-sealing free throws by Kevin Pittsnogle to knock off Texas Tech, 65-60. This advanced them to the Elite Eight for the first time since an ancient epoch when they were led by a guy named Jerry West.

Originally the eighth seeded team in the Big East tournament, WVU was making quite an improbable run at the final four, proving to the world that they’re no joke in the process.

A sluggish second half breakdown would do the Mountaineers in, as they fell at the hands of Louisville in overtime and were denied access to the final four. Leading 40-27 at halftime, the Mountaineers let the lead slip away in the second half and folded in the overtime session. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise majestic run.

There are few beats missing from last year’s squad – especially after Pittsnogle opted to return after toying with NBA draft temptations.

Competing in a new and always tough Big East conference, John Beilein’s squad is off to a 6-3 start overall. Two of their three losses have come against top ten programs, then-No. 7 Kentucky and then-No.2 Texas. The Mountaineers nearly had the Longhorns in the bag back on Nov. 21 in the Guardians Classic. But Texas erased a 10-point lead early in the second half, took a one-point lead with two minutes left, and then prevailed behind a game-winning putback and blocked shot by LeMarcus Aldridge.

Running parallel with the West Virginia’s success thus far has been the play of high-octane swingman Mike Gansey. The high-flying senior has emerged as the team’s top scorer, averaging just under 20 points per contest. Gansey also leads WVU with 6.3 rebounds per game and is shooting an eye-popping 61 percent from the floor, 49 percent from three-point range.

Ever since his coming out party during last year’s tournament, Gansey has been one of the country’s most exciting players to watch. He jumps out to the receiving end of every fast break with a fury, racing down court like a Sobe Adrenaline Rush enthusiast. He’s a game-changer that jumps out of the arena, chases down every loose ball, and contests every shot. Previously a streaky shooter, Gansey has been far from it this season.

For Gansey, it’s been all about working hard and taking his game to the next level. On the journey to becoming a leader, Gansey has overcome adversity.

The runner up to Lebron James for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball award two years in a row, Gansey was greatly under-recruited his senior year. A slender 6-foot-4 forward, some scouts speculated that Gansey would be a tweener at the major Division I level.

Gansey selected St. Bonaventure in Olean, N.Y., but he departed after two seasons once a recruiting scandal plagued the program. Sitting out the 2003-2004 season because of NCAA transfer rules, Gansey evolved into a gymrat and workout fiend. It’s all paid its dividends.

Pittsnogle has taken advantage of the extra year to build on his pro stock, averaging 18.1 points and six boards per game. The 6-foot-11, 255-lb. senior can do it to you all over the floor, and is one of the sharpest outside shooting big men in the country. Pittsnogle’s consistency down the road will likely determine how far the Mountaineers go this season.

The Mountaineers are once again one of college basketball’s toughest teams behind the arc. With a number of different three-point threats on the roster, they can bury you with a barrage of trifectas at any point. Leading the outside attack is Pat Beilein, one of the best three-point shooters in school history. The coach’s son, Beilein provides a solid spark off the bench and the typical wisdom and court-sense that a coach’s son has to offer. He doesn’t flake under pressure, as we all witnessed during last year’s tournament.

UConn over UMass

Gay Comes Up Big In Second Half, UConn Avenges Last Year’s Upsetting Loss

by Zach Smart

HARTFORD, Conn. – As the No. 3 UConn men’s basketball team took the floor for the second half holding a nine-point edge, one eager fan shouted some motivational words in the direction of Rudy Gay.

“Rudy, get in this game!”

Gay, who scored just four points in the first half, responded by taking the game over.

And so the acrobatic sophomore put together the finest second-half performance of a Thursday evening showdown, as UConn avenged last year’s stunning upset with a vengeance. The Huskies coasted past the Minuteman, 78-60, erasing Rashaun Freeman’s buzzer beating basket out of memory.

Gay finished with 17 points, including a thunderous tomahawk stuff to add to the highlight film. The CBS Sportsline Pre-season Player of The Year selection also pulled down nine boards, four of which were offensive.

There were no surprises, no late game heroics this time around – just a dominant Husky ballclub that’s off to a sizzling hot start. The Huskies, one of the four Big East teams with an unblemished record, improved to 7-0.

Senior sharpshooter Rashad Anderson provided a spark off the deep UConn bench, scorching the nets for 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting (3-4 from downtown). Freshman guard Rob Garrison was also solid off the bench for the Huskies, handing out a game-high five assists in 17 minutes.

Anderson entered the game a little over five minutes in and right away connected on back to back three-pointers to build an early eight-point lead.

The Huskies extended their lead to 19 on Gay’s dunk. Gay scored 7 points in a minute and 30 seconds during a strong 9-0 run fueled by a Josh Boone (13 points, 10 rebounds) bucket underneath.

UMass was never able to climb out of the hole. Freeman paced the Minutemen with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Connecticut native Jeff Viggiano contributed 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

The Huskies shot 46 percent from the floor and out-rebounded UMass by a 44-29 margin. The Minutemen (37% FG) relied too much on the perimeter game. It certainly didn’t help, as they went an abysmal 4-for-22 from behind the arc.

“We got beat by a much better team tonight,” first-year UMass head coach Travis Ford said during a post-game interview with ESPN. “We actually executed most of the things we wanted to do, we just didn’t make very many shots.”

The Minutemen, who entered the contest having not played a game since Nov. 28 (a 93-57 trouncing of Savannah State), fell to 2-3 with the loss. It is their worst start since the 2003-2004 season.

Freshman point guard Craig Austrie, starting in place of the suspended Marcus Williams, operated the up-tempo UConn offense dishing out four assists.

Jim Calhoun murdered the ear of Gay after the sophomore forward had a sluggish first half. The UConn coach’s words surely got the best out of his star small forward, who admitted he was motivated as a result of the yelling.

“It was just getting set in my mind that I’m going to be a dominant player,” explained Gay.

Northeast Notebook

Northeast Conference Notebook

by Zach Smart

Bobcats Improve To 4-2 with Victory over Red Raiders

HAMDEN, Conn. – The expression “Be a senior” is one coined by a former University of South Carolina-Spartanburg (USC Upstate) coach named Chris Ward. Ward, who helped resurrect an ailing program during his stay as a Spartan coach, could always be found on the sidelines repeating this phrase to his senior players before a big shot in a pivotal game. The term encourages one to rise to the occasion, to make everything of a critical moment during the final stage of one’s career. After all, it’s senior leaders who win basketball games.

Quinnipiac senior captain Craig Benson lived the aforementioned phrase on Dec. 5, helping propel the Bobcats to a 69-57 victory over visiting Colgate in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The victory lifted the Bobcats to 4-2, their best record in as many years.

Benson, a non-factor up until the second half, drained a game altering three-point bucket from the left side with 3:28 remaining to give the ‘Cats a 62-56 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish. The senior from Hamden, Conn. (Quinnipiac’s home) made a steal shortly afterward on one of the Red Raiders’ most important possessions of the night, to preserve the win.

Colgate fought valiantly throughout the second half, cutting the lead to three with 4:11 remaining. But the ‘Cats, behind 21 points from junior guard/forward John Winchester, were able to claw them off. Winchester (5-10 FG, 8-11FT), a transfer from the SEC’s University of Tennessee, nailed all three of his three-point attempts and added 5 boards and two steals.

QU jumped out to an early lead, but the Red Raiders climbed right back. A trey by Kyle Roemer concluded a 13-4 Red Raider run to give them a 15-13 advantage. The Bobcats held a 28-27 lead at the half.

Fueled by a 21-13 run to open up the half, the Bobcats increased their lead to nine. A jumper by point guard Adam Gonzales (10 points, six assists, three steals) followed by a Kevin Jolley lay-in put QU ahead 49-40 with 12:11 to go.

Colgate responded, but the ‘Cats built the lead back up to nine after a Chris Wehye layup made the score 55-46.

A Winchester trifecta put the Bobcats ahead 59-51 at the six-minute mark. The Red Raiders then responded by scoring five unanswered points, with Alvin Reed’s three-pointer bringing them within three.

Following Benson’s three-pointer, Victor Akinyanju connected on shot in the paint to bring the lead back to six. A pair of errant passes resulted in turnovers for the Raiders, before another three from Reed kept Colgate within striking distance. The Bobcats put the game on ice at the charity stripe and pulled away.

Winchester’s 21 points marks the first time this season that a QU player has gone over 20. The balanced Bobcats are led by Wehye’s 13 points per game. Akinyanju picked up a double-double in the contest with 12 points and 12 boards.

Reed finished with a team-high 14 points to go over 900 points in his collegiate career. Roemer added 11 on 4-of-13 shooting, while Jon Foss chipped in with eight.

On a night when Quinnipiac started five juniors, the senior wisdom of Benson, who’s emerged into a leadership role this year, was much-needed. Bouncing back from a nagging injury which sidelined him for a pair of games, Benson came off the bench to score 7 points on 3-for-4 shooting. He also handed out three assists and picked up two steals.

The sight of Benson’s three-ball splashing through the net would have surely brought a smile to the face of Ward, who’s now the vice president of basketball operations at the prestigious Teaches Hoops in nearby Chappaqua, N.Y.

FDU Falls To Seton Hall: The Knights fell to 4-3 after a 65-57 loss to Seton Hall at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. A strong second half spurt by the Pirates was too much for the Knights to overcome. The Knights outplayed the Hawks for 32 minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough. The Pirates gained momentum heading into the break, going on a 12-5 run over the last seven minutes of the first half. FDU increased their lead to eight at the start of the second half, but the Pirates came roaring back, building a seven-point advantage with 5:37 left to play. Senior guard Donald Copeland paced Seton Hall with 20 points. Conference player of the year candidate Gordon Klaiber (4-13 FG), Chad Timberlake, and Bernell Murray (4-13 FG) each scored 11 for the Knights. Timberlake collected a season-high eight assists.

St. Bonaventure 85, Central Connecticut 56: At Olean, N.Y., St. Bonaventure snapped the Blue Devils’ two-game winning streak, leaving them at 3-3 on the season. Ahmad Smith scored 19 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and dished out eight assists to lead the Bonnies. Jason Hickenbottom, Obie Nwadike, and Lenny Jefferson each scored 10 for CCSU.

Sacred Heart 76, Army 72: At Fairfield, Conn., Kibwe Trim continued his outstanding play with a game-high 25 points and ten rebounds as Sacred Heart snapped its four-game losing streak. SHU now stands at 2-5. Matt Bell paced Army with 15 points.

Northeast Conference Preview

Northeast Conference 2005-06 Preview

by Zach Smart

It isn’t top notch college basketball – there’s no question about that. It’s low-Division I teams. But nonetheless, the Northeast Conference provides exciting games that often go down to the wire night in, night out. This, of course, is in a conference where any team can knock off any other team at any given point in the season.

These NEC teams are all fighting for a slice of the sweet and tasty NCAA tournament pie.

Last season, our eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as we watched Farleigh Dickinson University hold its own (and at one point grab a small lead) against an Illinois team that sat at the very top of national polls throughout the year and ended up advancing to the NCAA championship game. The Fighting Illini, fueled by a 14-2 early second half run, would eventually break away with a 67-55 victory. But the fact that the Knights (whose average home game attendance was 1,239) were able to hang with a national powerhouse with only the entire world watching them on television left every player on the Knights roster gleaming at the end of the game. And, it left every FDU fan sporting a permasmile wider than those of the Irishmen at the bar on this St. Patrick’s Day showdown.

The chance to compete with a nationally-ranked program on the big stage will always bring out the best in these teams, and a conference championship is something that thirteen men will sacrifice a whole lot for.

These ballclubs are all about playing a balanced brand of team basketball, with heart and a strong desire to win.

Teams (in order of where the conference’s coaches picked them)

Farleigh Dickinson (20-13, 13-5 NEC)
Head coach Tom Green and the Knights enjoyed an 8-3 surge to end last season, and the reigning NEC champions return one of the league’s top players in Gordon Klaiber (16.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.39 bpg), a wiry 6-9 forward. Klaiber, a unanimous first team All-NEC selection last season, will be counted on to lead an experienced team that has enough all-around talent and depth to make a return trip to NCAAs. The Knights expect big things from 7-0 interior banger Andrea Crosariol (7.7ppg), and will once again have the services of sharpshooting guard Chad Timberlake, who averaged 13 points per game and played a big role in many pivotal games last season. While the Knights lost the solid backcourt tandem of Tamien Trent (15.7 ppg) and Mensah Peterson (7.4 ppg), they will look to a bevy of underclassmen to step it up this year. Among these underclassmen is sophomore Bernell Murray, a lighting-quick 5-9 point guard. The Knights are as well coached as they come. Green, now in his 23rd year roaming the sidelines, is the conference’s all-time wins leader.

Monmouth (16-13, 14-4 NEC)
The Hawks must overcome the loss of Blake Hamilton. The 6-foot-7 forward was the NEC player of the year last season after averaging 16.2 ppg and leading the Hawks to their second straight NEC regular season title. Not to worry: the Hawks return four starters from last season and should provide a balanced offense. Senior Chris Kenny, a 6-3 guard who averaged just under 10 ppg last year, will have to emerge into a more consistent scorer. He will have plenty of help in the backcourt with senior Tyler Azzarelli, and the Hawks will need Dejan Delic (8.4ppg) to step into a more prominent role. The key for Monmouth is finding a player to develop into a scoring leader in Hamilton’s absence. The Hawks landed a versatile G/F in 6-5 freshman Tyson Johnson and a monster underneath in 6-10 Center Shawn Barlow, also a freshman.

Wagner (13-17, 10-8 NEC)
The Seahawks lived in the basement for the first part of last season after undergoing an early 1-7 freefall during which their leading scorer averaged single digits. However, they quickly worked themselves out of the hole and went on a relentless surge, winning on eight of their last nine NEC games of the season. The loss of big man Sean Munson is a little tough to swallow. Munson was the top rebounder in the NEC last season, hitting the glass with force while also averaging 12.4 ppg. However, the ‘Hawks have two holding forces in the backcourt in DeEarnest McLemore and Mark Porter. McLemore, the 2005 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, is a lockdown defender who’s also dangerous from behind the arc. Porter (11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg) is another scoring option who helps make the Seahawks a scary perimeter team. Look for junior G/F Jamal Webb, who had a storied career at Tuckahoe High School (Eastchester, N.Y.) to bounce back from injury and make a strong impact off the bench.

Long Island (14-15, 10-8 NEC)
Junior guard James Williams (16.3 ppg, 3.4 apg) should have the Blackbirds flying high this season. Williams is quick and fundamentally sound in all aspects of his game, and he can score from anywhere on the floor. He will lead an up-tempo offense that must get more out of junior forward Esa Makio-Tulokas this year. Makio-Tulokas was one of the top rebounders in the NEC last year and had a few breakout scoring nights. But in order to contend for the title, the Blackbirds will need Makio-Tulokas to come to play every night – something he didn’t do enough of in 2004-05. The Blackbirds are led by reigning NEC coach of the year Jim Ferry. Sophomore Randy Jones (9.4 ppg) showed promise as a freshman last season.

Central Connecticut State (12-16, 8-10)
The Blue Devils were as hot as ever during a late playoff spurt last season. After a pair of convincing victories over Robert Morris and St. Francis (N.Y.), as well as an overtime thriller over FDU, they advanced to the championship game against Monmouth on ESPN2. But the Hawks were too much for CCSU to handle, and the Blue Devils were handed a 67-55 loss. Nonetheless, the Blue Devils put together one of the finest seasons in recent memory. Behind the leadership of playmaking 6-2 guard DeMario Anderson (14.1 ppg 3.9 rpg), the Blue Devils could pick up where they left off. They have a sharpshooter in 6-3 junior guard Javier Mojica and a dominant force down low in bulky junior Obie Nwadike. Returning regular Lenny Jefferson is another scoring guard the team will look to.

St. Francis (N.Y.) (13-15, 9-9 NEC)
The Terriers lose last year’s leading scorer Tory Cavalieri, but they have three solid scorers back this season. Allan Sheppard, the 2005 NEC Rookie of the Year, Christian Brown, and Tristan Smith all averaged around 11 points per game last season. Brown, a lean 6-4 guard, brings experience and leadership to the floor. St. Francis turned many heads early last season with their upset of St. John’s, and they hung with another upper-tier program in Seton Hall. Things went pretty much downhill from that point on, and the Terriers were never able to put together a strong run at the title. The Terriers will have to adjust to new head coach Brian Nash’s system. Lack of size could create a problem, so the Terriers need to be aggressive in the post and man the boards every night throughout the season.

Quinnipiac (10-17, 6-12 NEC)
The Rob Monroe-era is over in Hamden-town, and it’s a whole new epoch for a Bobcat team which adds seven new faces, including former Tennessee Vol John Winchester and 2004 national JUCO player of the year Adam Gonzales. Last season, the Bobcats got off to a hot start, but they folded as the season progressed. The key returnee is Craig Benson, a sharpshooting but streaky guard who complemented Monroe in the backcourt last season. Benson shot the lights out in many important games last season and will be counted on to emerge as a leader. The Bobcats return one of the top forwards in the league in 6-5 Kevin Jolley (9.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg), who was the NEC’s second-leading rebounder last season. Redshirt sophomore Karl Anderson (9.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg) earned All-NEC rookie team honors last year and can also produce down low. The Bobcats aren’t short of Guards. Three-point marksman Van Crafton, solid mid-range shooter/defender Dale Meinbresse, along with another strong defender, senior Nick Tipson, will all work through the rotation. Rebounding and interior defense was the Achilles heal for the ‘Cats last season, but a bigger recruiting class should prevent this problem from occurring this season.

Mount St. Mary’s (7-20, 5-13 NEC)
The Mountaineers return 80% of the starting lineup from last season, including flashy guard Landy Thompson, who has already surpassed the 1,000-point milestone in his career. Thompson averaged 14 points per game last season while leading the team in assists and steals as a quintessential element in the backcourt. The Mountaineers must perform better on their home floor this year, where they were abysmal last year. The experienced group will need to pick up their team defense in order to work their way back into contender form.

St. Francis (Pa.) (15-13, 10-8 NEC)
The Red Flash bring back a great deal of experience from last season, despite losing a potent scorer in 6-5 shooting guard Darshan Luckey and a force on both ends of the floor in 6-8 forward Jason Osborne. Ever since this inside-outside duo came to school, the Red Flash has qualified for the NEC tournament. Undersized 2-guard Rahsaan Benton (11.4 ppg) is a lights-out shooter who will likely step into a major scoring role this season. In order to do this, however, he must be more consistent. Tri-Captain Garret Fahra will operate the offense once again this season. Fahra, who plays with a pass-first mentality and loves to play in transition, will need to shoot the ball a little bit more this year. According to the HoopScoop, head coach Bobby Jones has landed the top recruiting class in the NEC. Seven promising freshmen, in addition to JUCO transfer LeShawn Hammet have hopes running high for a strong season in Loretto. Hammet, a 6-0 guard, can score from anywhere and has an aptitude for getting to the bucket.

Robert Morris (14-15, 11-7 NEC)
RMU will play a brand of basketball that’s heavily reliant on the perimeter game this season. This is primarily because they have just three players on the roster over 6-foot-6. The toughest blow during the off-season was the loss of 6-6 forward Chaz McCrommon. McCrommon, who was recently drafted by the Kansas Cagerz of the United States Basketball League, averaged 16.7 points and 6.0 rebounds last season en route to becoming a first team all-conference selection. Guards Derek Coleman (8.2 ppg, 3.5 apg) and Tony Lee (7.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) are a pair of three-point assassins that will facilitate the Colonials’ long-range attack. When teams sit in a zone against the Colonials, they will be a hard group to beat. The Colonials must find chemistry with their seven newcomers. JUCO transfer Colson Senat is a long and athletic forward with a sweet outside touch.

Sacred Heart (4-23, 3-15 NEC)
The Pioneers’ ailing program finally received a boost this off-season when UMass center Jeff “Big Deli” Salovski, a native of Bristol, Conn. opted to transfer in. Savlovski is capable of doing a great deal for the program, this is evident after his 21-point, nine-rebound outburst in the minutemen’s game against Xavier last season. However, due to NCAA transfer rules, Big Deli will not be able to suit up for games during the 2005-06 season. The Pioneers bring back all five starters from last season, but their best player, Joey Henley (12.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is already out with an injury (two broken bones in his right leg) he received during a football game. Henley, expected to be the big dog scorer this season, will miss the beginning of the season. This means 6-10 Center Kibwe Trim needs to step things up in the middle.

Feldeine Commits to Quinnipiac

Feldeine to Become a Bobcat

by Zach Smart

Joe DeSantis and the Quinnipiac University men’s basketball team have received an oral commitment from New York City’s James Feldeine.

Feldeine, a sharp-shooting senior two-guard at Cardinal Hayes High in the Bronx, was impressed with the school after an official visit in early October.

Quinnipiac had actively pursued Feldeine for a long period of time, and the 6-foot-3, 165-pound combo guard recently concluded that it was the right place for him. Feldeine is looking forward to playing his first collegiate game as well as the first game ever in the Hudson United Bank Center, a 157,000 square-foot arena that is in the process of being built.

“I really liked the school, the coaches were there and interested in me from the beginning,” Feldeine said during an interview with the New York Daily news back on Oct. 3. “They were always interested in me, and I want to go where they are going to help me be successful. And after four years, I want to hang my jersey there.”

Feldeine has been playing alongside Louisville commit Edgar Sosa for the Bingo’s All-stars in Queens’ IS8 League. He is currently a member of the New Heights and New York Ravens AAU ball clubs.

The senior frequently practices with the New York City Gauchos, which has produced a plethora of pro standouts – Chris Mullin, Jamal Mashburn, and Stephon Marbury, to name a few. Throughout Feldein’s career, he’s been mentored by Sacramento Kings guard and Manhattan product Luis Flores.

Playing under Tom Murray, who’s had a legendary coaching career and has developed Cardinal Hayes into one of New York’s premier programs, Feldein has already played for a coach with D-I smarts.

As a junior last season, Feldeine averaged just over 17 points per game. He was an essential element in one of the state’s most potent offenses.

Feldeine is a pure shooter. He can also handle the rock, create his own shot off the dribble, and score around the basket. His game often draws comparisons to that of Sacramento Kings rookie Francisco Garcia.

The slender guard had been on the recruiting radar all summer long. He ended up selecting Quinnipiac over Boston University, New Hampshire, Canisius, Fordham, and Hofstra.

John Winchester

Bobcats Have High Hopes For Tennessee Transfer Winchester

by Zach Smart

HAMDEN, Conn. – At the opposite end of the Recreation Center on the campus of Quinnipiac University sits a bandbox gymnasium. Students are constantly walking by and peeping in on practices, as there is already mounting anticipation for the 2005-2006 season.

One of the primary reasons for such anticipation is the debut of junior John Winchester. Winchester, a highly-touted transfer from the University of Tennessee, is a time bomb – it’s just a matter of ticks before he explodes on the Northeast Conference.

A wiry 6-foot-4 inch guard/forward, Winchester was widely regarded as the top high school player in Connecticut as a sophomore. He then took his game to New Jersey, where he had a storied stay at Marist High. At Marist, Winchester’s 20 points and six rebounds per game earned him Parade All-America status while helping put the team on the map his junior year. He was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American finalist.

Winchester played one year at the prestigious Milford Academy, where he averaged 19 points, six rebounds, four dimes, and two steals per game and ranked among the nation’s elite. He evolved into one of the most sought-after guards on the recruiting marketplace, with major D-I programs drooling over him. He decided on Tennessee, where he would play for two years under the tutelage of head coach Buzz Peterson.

Possessing a common blend of athleticism and quickness, along with the ability to jump out of the gym, Winchester is likely to emerge as a scorer for the Bobcats. He has an aptitude for getting to the bucket, and he loves to take it to the rack on the big men. His mid-range jumper is also what the ‘Cats can rely on this season.

One of the many positives in landing a player like Winchester is that he can help cushion the loss of stud point guard Rob Monroe. Monroe, a candidate for the Bob Cousy award last season, graduated in May. Last season, Monroe averaged 22.7 points (fourth in the nation) and 6.5 assists per game. He finished his career as the school’s eighth all-time leading scorer and third all-time leader in assists with 1,685 and 541, respectively.

What attracted Winchester to Quinnipiac was the school’s proximity to his Stamford home. This of course presented him with the opportunity to perform in front of his family night in and night out.

“My family only got to see me play a couple of times and that was on ESPN,” said Winchester during a recent interview. “I just wanted to be closer to home so my family could see me play.”

Having played against a number of NBA players (Ronald Murray, Jarret Jack, and Francisco Garcia, to name a few), Winchester brings to the table a great deal of experience.

He’s versatile enough so that he can operate the offense or play as a two-guard/wing. Head Coach Joe DeSantis has already shown that he’s comfortable with Winchester anywhere from the one to the three. But it’s not a matter of where he is on the court-he’ll do whatever he can to help produce victories.

“I’m here to win,” he said. “I’m not here to participate or compete. I’m here to win.”