Around the nation

It wasn’t a good week for Missouri coach Frank Haith. First, the Tigers dropped consecutive games, first, a 10-point home loss to Kansas State and then a one-point loss at Kansas. That dropped Mizzou a full two games behind the Jayhawks for the Big 12 regular-season title with two games to play. The worst news for Haith, though, was that the Miami scandal just won’t go away. As the Associated Press reported on Monday, Miami center Reggie Johnson was suspended when it was determined his family was given improper travel benefits while Haith was still coaching at Miami. … Speaking of Kansas State, coach Frank Martin’s team is about as hard to figure as any team in America. The Wildcats got back-to-back road wins over Top 10 teams (the other team was Baylor), then returned home to lose to unranked Iowa State. On Monday, Martin questioned his team’s focus and maturity, but perhaps Iowa State deserves some credit here after sweeping the Wildcats this year. Coach Fred Hoiberg has engineered one of America’s best turn-arounds, going from 16-16 to 21-8 this year. Of course, it’s quite a different cast for Hoiberg this year: five of ISU’s top seven scorers didn’t play for the Cyclones last season. … The best turn-around, though, may belong to St. Louis and coach Rick Majerus. The Billikens are 21-6 and seem to be headed for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. St. Louis doesn’t do anything that wows you on the stat sheet, but it sits at No. 12 in Ken Pomeroy’s current ratings thanks to Pomeroy’s 11th-rated defense. … SLU hasn’t gotten as much publicity as some of the mid-major teams, partly because it wasn’t included in any of ESPN’s Bracket Buster games (none of the Atlantic 10′s teams were, perhaps because the A-10 is closer to a high-major league than a mid-major one; it’s currently the seventh-best conference in America by RPI measures). On that note, here are a couple of other “bet-you-didn’t-knows” among teams that play out of the spotlight: Oral Roberts has won 19 of its last 20 games since losing to Gonzaga on Dec. 15.; Drexel has won 17 in a row and is generating some minor buzz as a potential at-large team out of the Colonial Athletic Association (it’s probably a long-shot, since Drexel’s only really good win is over VCU); the Atlantic Sun’s Belmont is in a similar boat with Drexel, and just wrapped up the A-Sun regular-season title at 16-2. Should Belmont win the tournament, it’ll be the fifth time in the last seven years that the Bruins have represented the league in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Rick Byrd’s club would probably be one of those 14-seeds nobody wants to face, and Ken Pomeroy’s system loves BU, ranking it 22nd currently. It won’t take Belmont long to know its fate, because the A-Sun Tournament starts Thursday and ends March 3. We’ll also know the Big South and Ohio Valley winners on that day. Those three tournaments are the first to complete; the next day, we’ll have the Missouri Valley winner, and two days later, we’ll also know the Colonial, Metro Atlantic, Southern, Metro Atlantic and West Coast automatic bids.

- Chris Lee, VandySports.com

 

FDU ends long season on a positive note

Action inside Rothman Center

 

Teaneck, NJ- They had been in this situation too many times during this drawn out campaign. FDU was down 15-4 with the opposition threatening the blow the lid off the game, even prior to halftime. Today the outcome would be different. FDU hung tough, fought back and eventually earned a 45-44 victory over St. Francis(NY) Saturday at the Rothman Center.

          The win ended the FDU season at 3-26 (2-16 in Northeast Conference play). The NEC sends the top eight of its 12 teams to post season play so the 11th place Knights are on the outside with the season finished. Regardless, going out with a win is always enjoyable.

          “It was special finishing up like that,” FDU coach Greg Vetrone said. “It was nice for the young kids back in the program and it was gratifying for our three seniors.” One of those seniors, Briahn Smith, played a key role in the victory. The 6-4 guard defended St. Francis’ dangerous three point threat, Ben Mockford with excellence. Mockford finished with 12 points but was only 2 of 10 beyond the arc. The absence of a perimeter threat stifled the Terriers’ leading scorer Akeem Johnson. The 6-6 junior was limited to a 6 point, 4 rebound afternoon.

          On the FDU side, Kinu Rochford battled in the paint for a 14 point, 10 rebound showing. Melquan Bolding, the junior guard had a game high 18 points, including a key put back that gave FDU a 4 point lead in the final minute.

          “Since we moved (freshman walk-on) Dylan Moody to the point six games ago,” Vetrone said, “ Melquan has really played a lot better for us.”

          Securing a capable lead guard is a priority for FDU. There are a number of veterans returning but the Knights desperately need someone to orchestrate. Yes, the off season will be a busy one in the FDU program. For now, though, the victory was one to enjoy and savor.

          The loss dropped St. Francis to a four seed in the NEC tournament. They will host Quinnipiac in the first round. The Terriers are regarded as a dangerous team. They were without two key scorers Stefan Perunicic and Travis Nichols. Both are doubtful for NEC play which is a setback. St. Francis coach Glen Braica commented that,” not having Stefan and Travis hurt our attack. But I don’t want to take anything away from FDU they made the players and played very hard today.”

          St. Francis ended the regular season at 15-14 (12-6 NEC).

- Ray Floriani

 

Murray State finally loses; now must reinvent itself

You have to be realistic these days in any of the D-1 collegeiate basketball conferences.  No one, I mean, no one, is going to go undefeated through a league season.  The talent across the boards is at a peak in the college game, and every team has one or two players who can beat you themselves in any scenario on a given night.  Not to mention, homecourt advantage is as daunting a task for a visiting foe as sometimes the opponents themselves.

The Murray State Racers felt the wrath on Thursday night as Tennessee State took advantage of a couple of late Racers’ turnovers and made free throws to win a 72-68 Ohio Valley Conference contest, surprisingly at Murray.

The Racers could have felt the pressure of the 23-game winning streak, the No. 7 ranking in the nation, and getting the best shot of their OVC foes every night.  In the end, TSU made the plays that ended one of the 2011-12 season’s most enduring stories.

After Tennessee State’s TSU’s Patrick Miller intercepted Jeuwan Long’s inbounds pass, Robert Covington missed two free throws with seven seconds remaining. The Racers trailed by one as it seemed like the Basketball Gods might once again smile on first-year coach Steve Prohm’s team once again. 

However, leading scorer Isaiah Canaan, who has had a stellar year for the Racers, lost his dribble in the front court and turned the ball over.  Tennessee State retained the ball and MSU fouled Robert Covington, who made both free throws. In the end, the Tigers took advantage of 18 Murray State turnovers on the evening, scoring 22 points in the process.

For Murray State, going forward, the impetus is about how the Racers can reinvent their mindsets.  With a starting lineup that features three juniors and two seniors, this shouldn’t be such a tough sell for Prohm.  Sometimes a team can win an enormous string of games at the beginning of the season, then take a loss, and that appointed loss morphs into three or four more.

The backcourt of junior guard Isaiah Canaan and Donte Poole is a tough matchup for anybody.  Canaan led Murray with 31 points last night as he made 10-of-13 from the floor.  The rest of the team was 13-of-35.

The sharp-shooting back court is the catalyst for Murray State and will be the subject of game plans going into March Madness.  It has accounted for 123 threes and average about 40% of the Racers’ points. Prohm must get the usual results out of Poole and Canaan, who is beginning to pop up on NBA Draft boards, to see the Racers advance past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. 

Going forward, Murray State should have no problem soldifying that NCAA bid as a win over Southeast Missouri State on Thursday will allow the Racers to capture the OVC crown.  Then, next Saturday’s home Bracket Buster date with St. Mary’s could totally solidfy things should the Racers be upset early in the OVC Tournament, which is highly unlikely.

-Ken Cross

 

The Battle in Manhattan

LIU Brooklyn and St. Francis(NY) at the 'world's most famous arena'

NEW YORK CITY- They told us the true ‘Battle of Brooklyn’ is Sunday in Brooklyn not Manhattan. Didn’t matter. Whenever St. Francis(NY) and LIU Brooklyn tip it off, it is the ‘battle’. In this situation, the showcase was Madison Square Garden, with the Northeast Conference standings at stake.

            In the end, LIU Brooklyn had too much for their borough neighbors. The Blackbirds defeated St. Francis 86-77 Wednesday evening. LIU Brooklyn improved to 12-1 in NEC play while St. Francis dropped to 10-3, two games off the pace.

            “It is always special to play here at the Garden,” LIU Brooklyn coach Jim Ferry said. “I am a New York guy. I watched the Knicks here, went to St. John’s games but never played here. The closest I came to that was getting called onto the Garden court at halftime with the other Daily News New York high school all stars.”

            Jamal Olasewere, a 21 point scorer who added 11 rebounds for the Blackbirds felt the same. The 6-7 junior  forward called the Garden, “a great place to play. It is a place of legends who performed here.” Olasewere was quick to remind, “our focus here had to be on St. Francis. We had to shut them down.”  They did. St. Francis was limited to 37.5% field goal shooting. They were 7 of 29 (24%) from beyond the arc.

            LIU Brooklyn led most of the half before a late Terrier run closed it to 39-38 in the Blackbirds’ favor at the half. The second half remained close yet LIU Brooklyn never gave up the lead, following the 19:05 remaining mark,  and closed out the victory.

            Following the press conference Ferry stood in the hallway outside the team locker room. “I think at this point it (the NEC Race) could come down to us and Wagner,” he said. “Don’t count that (St. Francis) team out. They are very good as is Robert Morris, another strong team.” For now, LIU Brooklyn has the upper hand. In the NEC and for all important borough bragging rights.

-Ray Floriani

 

Validating Loyola’s defense

The note said Loyola (MD) won its sixth straight, defeating St. Peter’s yesterday,  and ‘has now held six straight opponents to 57 points or less’. That is the material that makes your tempo-free pulse race. The opportunity to answer the question, is Loyola’s point total predicated on good defense, a slower pace or a combination of both? Let’s take a look

Opponent	Score	Possessions	Defensive eff.
Siena	66-57	64	86
St. Peter’s	65-54	58	93
@Niagara	69-57	62	92
@Canisius	70-52	59	88
Rider	63-46	63	73
@St.Peter’s	66-55	61	90

Call this a little of both. A slower tempo but an undeniably stingy defense. The averages of the last six games:

Points allowed                       53.5

Possessions                         61

Defensive Efficiency               87

 The scoring totals or more specific, points allowed is impressive. Each of Loyola’s games have been at more of a pedestrian pace. You hit the high sixties and venture into the seventies per possession, you are getting out to some transition. The Greyhounds’ recent opposition has not looked to engage in a ‘NASCAR’ pace with Loyola. Now, the deciding metric is defensive efficiency (points per possession times 100). Not one of the last half dozen games saw an opponent hit 1.00 points per possession. The highest mark was the .93 in the first St. Peter’s game in Baltimore. Give coach Jim Patsos and his club credit. A lot of it. The ideal for a team defensively is to hold opponents under 1.00 points per possession. The last six games Loyola has held the opponents under .90. That’s great defense. Regardless of the game pace.

-Ray Floriani

 

Three questions with Matt Langel of Colgate

Newark, NJ – Shortly after Colgate defeated NJIT 76-73 on Wednesday evening, we caught up with Colgate’s first year head  coach Matt Langel. He has a rich basketball background having played for (at Penn) and coached with (at Penn and Temple) Fran Dunphy. Young in age, Langel brings a wealth of valuable basketball experience to his present school.

CCT: Discuss the experience, how was it  playing for and later serving as an assistant to Fran Dunphy?

ML: “It was just super. Playing for coach Dunphy four years and coaching with him for seven. You could not ask for a better mentor. Someone who carries himself with excellence both on and off the court. With  coach  Dunphy there is never excuses. This year’s (Temple) team has lost 40% of personnel from last season yet they are right there. Coach’s teams always improve as the season goes on. He gets his teams to play tough and he instructs his players and coaches how to win in basketball and life. As great as coach Dunphy is as a coach, he’s even a better man.”

CCT: Can you discuss this season. This is Colgate’s seventh win. How has it been adjusting to a rebuilding situation?

ML: “It is difficult. It is something (losing games) I have not experienced much of in the recent past. You have to teach the kids the commitment of competing and winning a game at a time. You can’t even address the long term. You learn a lot ‘on the fly’. But in this situation we are able to work well because we have great kids in the program.”

CCT: Discuss the game tonight. What was the most difficult aspect of getting this win?

ML: “Anytime you can get a win on the road it is special. The crowd was several hundred but with the acoustics in here it sounded like 12,000. That’s all right, we want our kids to be able to compete in that setting. It was great in the stretch how our guys were able to weather the storm.”

-Ray Floriani

 

St. Francis(PA) 69 FDU 63: The Numbers

Outside Rothman Center, the area's first snowfall of the season

　Teaneck, NJ – St. Francis(PA) (PA) coach Don Friday figured his team was basically in the same situation as FDU. Young and finding the conference life anything but a breeze. In the end, Friday’s group was the better for the forty minutes as they rebounded from a loss just two days earlier and defeated FDU 69-63 at Rothman Center Saturday. The Red Flash are now at .500 (4-4) in the Northeast Conference. FDU which changed its bench location, a move in virtual desperation to end a losing streak of horrific proportions which has reached 16 straight games, last Thursday is now 0-8.

The numbers and pertinent breakdown:

“We wanted to get right into it and establish ourselves the first five minutes,” Friday said. “That was important coming off our game on Thursday (a 68-50 loss at Monmouth).”

The first five Possessions

St. Francis(PA)                  FDU

1. Missed shot                  2 point FG

2. 2 point FG                    Missed shot

3. 3 point FG                   Missed shot

4.Missed shot                 Missed shot

5. Missed shot               Two free throws (fouled in transition).

Score : St. Francis 5-4 at the 17 minute mark.

Offensive Efficiency: St. Francis 100 FDU 80

.

At the 16 minute media timeout the score was knotted at seven. St. Francis did not lead but what they accomplished was the game plan objective of attacking inside and from the perimeter as well.

FDU trailed 40-28 at the half . St, Francis led, or should we say dominated, in offensive efficiency, 129-90 for a slower 31 possession first twenty minutes.

The second half saw St. Francis struggle a bit offensively. They scored only 8 field goals (after 15 the first half). The Red Flash second half efficiency was 81, while FDU improved with a 97.

The final numbers saw a 67 possession game end with the following efficiencies:

St. Francis(PA) 103

FDU 94

The Manley Numbers:

　

	Points	Efficiency
Scott Eatherton, SFPA	25	30
Anthony Ervin, SFPA	15	14
Lonnie Robinson, FDU	15	14
Briahn Smith, FDU	14	10
Mathias Seilund, FDU	12	13
Jon Taylor, SFPA	11	10

　The Manley numbers above, considered those who hit double figures in scoring. Both teams had an identical 18% turnover rate, committing a dozen turnovers each. That was a significant improvement as both teams entered the game with over 20% rates.

FDU enjoyed a 22-15% edge in offensive rebounding percentage. St. Francis shot the ball slightly better with a 54% eFG mark contrasted to 47% of the Knights.

The big difference or differences were:

Scott Eatherton. The 6-8 sophomore St. Francis forward put up game high 25 point, 11 rebound numbers. Eatherton not only posted up but cut well from high post weak side to low strong side. A mobile center, Eatherton moves extremely well without the ball.

Poise. Nursing a two possession lead the last four minutes, St. Francis ran on opportunity but put the brakes on if the numbers were not there to finish transition. That allowed them to stay in the driver’s seat in the waning moments and ultimately, get the victory.

- Ray Floriani

 

 

Fairfield 75 St. Peter’s 63: The points of emphasis

Ryan Olander discussing Fairfield's fifth MAAC victory

Jersey City, NJ – Fairfield used a strong second half showing to end any upset bid by host St. Peter’s . The Stags improved to 5-3 in the MAAC with a 75-63 victory over St. Peter’s (3-5 MAAC), Thursday at Yanitelli Center. The points of emphasis:

1. Experience plus inside play is a plus. The veteran Fairfield club used their interior prowess against a small, young St. Peter’s team.” They kicked us in the teeth in the paint,” said St. Peter’s coach John Dunne. “The second half really hurt us.” At halftime St. Peter’s trailed 36-31 and was in striking distance. The final twenty minutes were in favor of the Stags, who enjoyed a 17 point lead with just over eight minutes to play. Seven foot Ryan Olander enjoyed a 17 point, 10 rebound outing for Fairfield. Rakim Sanders, the talented 6-5 swingman, led all scorers with 19 points while grabbing 10 boards. The Stags enjoyed a 46-32 lead in points in the paint. “They (Fairfield) did the job inside and got to the line frequently,” Dunne added.
2. Shots were there but not falling. “We had open looks but a lot did not fall,” Dunne lamented. St. Peter’s did hit 51% from the field (Fairfield checked in at an even higher 53%), but one of their main threats of late, freshman guard Lamin Fulton scored 5 points on 2 of 9 shooting from the floor. “We saw on tape what Fulton could do,” Fairfield assistant Brian Nash said. “It was a defensive priority to pressure him all over and not give him a good look.” Mission accomplished.
3. The numbers tell the story. The basic efficiency and pace metrics:

Possessions:                 Fairfield     68    St. Peter’s           65

Offensive Efficiency:     Fairfield    110   St. Peter’s           97

          Fairfield showed a high turnover rate 27% (to St. Peter’s 22%) but that inside game compensated. The Stags enjoyed a domination in offensive rebounding percentage, 44-20%. In addition, as Dunne noted, they had a big edge getting to the line with a free throw rate advantage of 33-8%. Fairfield was 17 of 23(74%) from the charity stripe to the 4 of 9 (44%) of St. Peter’s.

          Darius Conley and Chris Prescott led St. Peter’s with 16 points. Conley missed a few easy attempts the early part of the second half but the junior forward continued to work and provided offense in the stretch. “They caught him (Conley) defensively a few times inside,” Dunne said, “but he gets after it, he’s a warrior.”

-Ray Floriani

 

Three questions with Sydney Johnson

Following Fairfield’s 75-63 victory over St. Peter’s in Jersey City on Thursday, we caught up with Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson for a few general questions.

1. CCT: In your first year coaching in the MAAC what is your impression of the conference?

SJ: “It is brutal. A blood bath. There really are no nights off. The coaching and skill level of the players make it very challenging. I’ve said it before, there are a number of players in the MAAC that could play in the Big East. For us it is a grind. We have to give a full forty minute effort every night out or we lose.”

2. CCT: To date, what has your team done well?

SJ: “From day one I knew we were talented. It is a pleasure to have ‘weapons’. While we do have talent the area of improvement we need is in the togetherness. Each and everyday, we want everybody playing for each other.”

3. CCT: Rakim Sanders gave your club an impressive 19 point, 10 rebound game tonight. Can you comment on his play?

SJ: “Rakim is able to do that on a nightly basis. It is a challenge to do that but we look for him to give us the game, if his offense is off, his defense and rebounding will be there. Rakim has to give us the 19 point, 10 rebound effort (if not in numbers) every night out.”

- Ray Floriani

 

Tempo Free: MAAC Monday

 

In our Monday tempo free look at the MAAC we are focusing on not only the offensive and defensive efficiencies but the margin. The margin is very simply defense subtracted from the offense and, in this case, done sans a calculator. The numbers posted and discussed are from conference play only:

 

	Record	Offensive EFF	Defensive EFF	Eff. Margin
Iona	5-0	125	90	+35
Loyola	4-1	105	95	+10
Manhattan	3-2	100	90	+10
Fairfield	3-2	101	96	+5
Rider	3-2	108	108	0
Marist	2-3	106	113	-7
St. Peter’s	2-3	87	98	-11
Siena	2-3	97	104	-7
Niagara	1-4	96	114	-18
Canisius	0-5	89	106	-17

 

Possessions range from NASCAR paced Marist at 74 per game to St. Peter’s, Fairfield and Loyola, all checking in at a more pedestrian 65.

            If you were in another country and knew nothing about the MAAC but understood tempo free you would recognize Iona as an outstanding club at this point. Tim Cluess’ Gaels are beginning to run and hide. Beside the outstanding efficiency margin, Iona is shooting a scorching 59% eFG percentage.

            The next three, Loyola, Manhattan and Fairfield all show strong offenses and good defense but do not have Iona’s offensive explosiveness. Regardless, keep your eye on Thursday night’s Manhattan-Iona matchup from New Rochelle.

            Marist is improved but still must shore up the D. The 54% eFG percentage allowed opponents is much too generous to maintain that improvement.  St. Peter’s is young. A year ago they excelled defensively. This season that end is respectable but the offense is severely lacking.

            ‘Little Three’ rivals Niagara and Canisius , at this point, are battling to remain out of the conference basement.  

 - Ray Floriani