Bleacher Report - Articles by Ari Kramer

Virginia Commonwealth, Others Lead Surprising Group of Mid-Majors

Ari Kramer — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:26:04 -0500

As the first month of college basketball nears its end, the mid-major world has witnessed its share of surprises. Siena has faltered, Butler has struggled with Top 25 competition, and Portland cracked the AP Top 25 before falling to Portland State.

Rather than focusing on the negatives, though, let's examine three mid-majors that have unexpectedly built strong resumes in out-of-conference play.

Virginia Commonwealth

Record: 5-1

Key wins: Oklahoma, Nevada, and Rhode Island

You read correctly. The Virginia Commonwealth Rams have been more than fine following the graduation of stud point guard Eric Maynor.

Formerly a shooting guard, Joey Rodgriguez has filled Maynor's void. His 2.8 turnovers per game detract from the value of his five dimes each outing, but he's capable of running the Rams' upbeat offense.

Larry Sanders is still a beast, and the improved offensive game of Bradford Burgess has been essential.

Averaging 76 points per game, VCU also rebounds well (37 per game) and, led by Sanders, has an imposing defense (8.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game).

The Colonial Athletic Association coaches ranked the Rams No. 3 in the preseason. Considering Old Dominion and Northeastern have struggled against decent competition, VCU might have changed coaches' minds.

Missouri State

Record: 6-0

Key wins: Auburn, Tulsa

After being slated as the Missouri Valley's ninth best team, the Bears have been extremely impressive. An opening night win over Auburn was considered an anomaly until Missouri State upset the C-USA favorite Tulsa by eight points.

How do they do it? Coach Cuonzo Martin has implemented an 11-man rotation that shares the ball very well (16 assists per game). Led by Kyle Weems, the offense has been very efficient. The Bears have shot 49.5 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from long range, good for a whopping 1.38 points per shot.

A win at Arkansas on Dec. 22 could really legitimize this hot start.

William & Mary

Record: 5-2

Key wins: Richmond, @ Wake Forest

Led by the sharpshooting David Schneider, William & Mary might be the real deal. The Tribe has lost two games—a nine-point defeat at the hands of UConn and a nail-biting, two-point overtime loss at Harvard.

Many assumed William & Mary had merely gotten lucky in their first two games of the season. However, a win against Richmond in their third contest and then a 10-point victory at Wake Forest cemented the Tribe as a team capable of competing.

Their core of Schneider, Quinn McDowell, and Danny Sumner can shoot—they've combined for 50 treys on 40 percent shooting through the first seven games.

Their defense is mediocre, but their ball movement (15.4 assists per game) and shooting (41.3 percent from deep) are exceptional.

Next big game: tomorrow at VCU. It's clear that the Rams are the real deal. A Tribe victory could mean the same for William & Mary, who was picked 10th heading into the season by CAA coaches.

One Room, One Yankee Game: How Baseball Led To Bonding On School Trip

Ari Kramer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:28:09 -0500

This article was originally published in the November issue of my school's newspaper. It discusses how a Yankee game led to bonding on the Shabbaton, our school-wide overnight trip.

Top of the ninth. Bases loaded. Three balls. Two Strikes. Two outs. Down one run.

All 10 of us huddled around the television as Nick Swisher found himself in the situation every ten year old boy aspires to reach. One more ball would tie the game; a single to the outfield would put the Yankees ahead and would leave the responsibility of the final three defensive outs to baseball’s best closer, Mariano Rivera.

Until the ensuing pitch, the stars in Yankee Universe appeared to be aligned for victory and we seemed destined for a night of endless celebration.

After starting pitcher A.J. Burnett surrendered four early runs, the Yankees loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh inning. Angel manager Mike Scioscia chose reliever Darren Oliver to face Mark Teixeira, the Yankees’ star first baseman, but his decision proved ineffective.

Tex, as many fans call Teixeira, sent Oliver’s first pitch deep into left-center field. The ball bounced off the wall, three runs scored, Tex stood at second base, and the party started.

A room full of boisterous, passionate teenagers, who were disheartened only five minutes prior, shook with the excitement of returning to the World Series.

After Oliver intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui looped a pitch into shallow center field. Tex toed home plate, we erupted in cheer once again, and before we could all resurface from our dog pile, three loud bangs rapped on our door. The door opened and at least five more Yankee fans from our grade rushed in like wild dogs to join the celebration.

We jumped on beds; we hugged each other; we high-fived each other, and we shouted with joy. The scent of the World Series was becoming stronger.

Shortly thereafter, the pack of wild dogs returned to their room, but four pitches and one two-run triple later, they were back, banging on the door and pouring in to celebrate the Yankees’ new-found lead. More jumping, more high-fives, more shouts, and another dog-pile ensued.

Much to our dismay, the party fleeted away almost as quickly as a CC Sabathia fastball reaches home plate.

Up by two entering the next half inning, Yankee manager Joe Girardi kept Burnett in the game. Each of us was left in utter disbelief—Burnett had been erratic all night. Why didn’t Girardi bring in a member of the best bullpen in the playoffs?

Nine pitches later, two Angels were on base and Girardi finally brought in Phil Hughes, a young power pitcher. Unfortunately, Hughes didn’t throw like the Hughes of 2009, and the Angels regained a one run lead.

Imagine a room of students who have just been told by an intractable teacher that a ten page essay would be due the following day. Livid, stunned, possibly contentious, but aware that complaining would be of no use.

That was us. Just replace the students with die-hard Yankee fans and the teacher with a wicked Baseball God who just delivered a damaging blow.

Although it felt like our hearts, which had been beating one thousand times per minute with excitement half an inning earlier, had been ripped out and thrown on the floor, we still had hope. The Yankees’ offense had a reputation for being potent, especially against Brian Fuentes, the Angels’ closer.

Our collective frustration deepened as the Yankees went down in order in the top of the eighth and Joba Chamberlain nearly let the Angels blow the game open in the bottom half. Regardless, the Yankees trailed by one entering the ninth.

Now, back to Swisher and the situation every ten year old boy dreams of entering.

Top of the ninth. Bases loaded. Three balls. Two Strikes. Two outs. Down one run.

“Come on, Swish,” anxiously murmured one of us as Swisher asked for time and stepped out of the batter’s box.

Swisher, who was having an abysmal series offensively, was already hitless in four at-bats. We all thought he was due for a hit. Slumps never last forever, right?

“Please, Nick.” Another restless prayer.

Fuentes stepped towards home, cocked his arm, and delivered the pitch. Swisher offered at it and sent the ball high into the illuminated California night. As Jake Taylor said in the comedy film Major League , “Uh-oh, I don’t think this one’s gonna have the distance,” the ball plopped into Erick Aybar’s glove in shallow center field and the Yankees lost.

Expletives were grumbled, someone collapsed out of disappointment on the floor, and everyone eventually fell silent in a state of disbelief.

Our Yankees had lost Game Five of the American League Championship Series. With two games left in the series, the American League World Series berth was anyone’s to capture. It would be a bit of a stretch to say that our confidence level was as low as that of a freshman speaking in front of his entire high school, but you get the point.

Inevitably, our disappointment lasted the rest of the night and inhibited us from enjoying the Shabbaton to the fullest extent. But, by Friday morning, we were recuperated and were able to view the experience in a positive light despite the loss.

“It was incredible to be with so many people who I knew cared as much as I did,” commented a senior in attendance, “It was the closest I have ever felt to being in the stadium without being there.”

The goal of the Shabbaton was to strengthen bonds among friends and to form relationships between grades. Naturally, you would expect the connections to build outside—on a field, during an activity, etc. You probably would never guess that my most powerful moment on the Shabbaton occurred in an overcrowded room while watching a Yankee game.

Even though the connection was developed in an unconventional manner, my school managed to achieve its Shabbaton goal for me and likely everyone else in the room. The guys I watched with have been my friends for years now, but, as lame as it may sound, that game deepened my relationships with them.

Obviously, a win would have been nice. But, regardless of the outcome, it was a valuable experience that will be remembered for a long time.

Siena, MAAC Suffer from Saint's Losses to Temple and St. John's

Ari Kramer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:35:46 -0500

You all knew about Siena.

First, they demolished the fourth seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Then, minus Tay Fisher, the same Saints outlasted Ohio State and held a four-point lead with six minutes left against Louisville before Terrence Williams caught fire.

Despite the graduation of Kenny Hasbrouck, this year's Siena team was destined for greatness. This would be the year that the Saints would crack the top 25—some preseason publications already had them top 20. This would be the year that the Saints would reach the Sweet 16.

With a team as good as Siena, the MAAC had the opportunity to be a multi-bid league. The Saints could go undefeated in non-conference play, post another 16-2 conference record, lose the MAAC championship, and still be called on Selection Sunday.

But the Saints faltered. First, to the talons of the Temple Owls and then to the raging Red Storm of St. John's.

The rest of Siena's OOC slate is like a mine field. It's dangerous and, just like one misstep, could create an explosion. One more OOC loss could make the Saints rely on a MAAC championship, which Niagara and Rider won't surrender easily, as it's their ticket to the Big Dance.

Brown and Albany should be cupcakes even for a Siena team that has struggled recently, but wins at Georgia Tech and Northern Iowa won't come easily. Even home games against Mount St. Mary's and a rebuilding St. Joe's cannot be taken lightly.

If Siena rolls over the rest of their schedule, including conference, an at-large bid would be a possibility. Niagara or Rider could steal the MAAC title and Siena could once again go dancing.

However, reality is that the Saints are still learning how to gel without Hasbrouck. As a result, odds are that the Saints will lose another OOC game, which will terminate their at-large opportunity and the MAAC's multi-bid aspiration.

High expectations almost always lead to disappointment, and this instance is no different.

Don't Sleep on The Rider Broncs Despite Rough Stretch

Ari Kramer — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:57:14 -0500

In the eyes of the college basketball world, a 14-point opening night upset of the No. 19 Mississippi State Bulldogs transformed the Rider Broncs into a team that could legitimately threaten Siena's pursuit of a MAAC three-peat.

Five games later, the Broncs post a 3-3 record with embarrassing blowout losses at Virginia and No. 5 Kentucky, and, as a result, the win in Mississippi has been titled as a fluke by many.

It's very likely that Rider won't match up against another top 25 team this year—unless, of course, Siena cracks the poll or the Broncs upset the Saints in the MAAC tournament—so the Broncs might not earn a chance to prove doubters wrong. However, I'm not quitting on Rider and you shouldn't either.

Ryan Thompson is the most consummate player in the MAAC. He scores, he shoots for high percentages from all over the floor—his 43.8 percent field-goal percentage is a result of a 1-10 shooting night at Kentucky but will rise to its 2008-09 level—he distributes, and he rebounds. Capable of playing three positions, his versatility is a nightmare for opposing coaches.

Although the graduation of sharp-shooting Harris Mansell detracts from Rider's perimeter game, the immense development of junior Mike Ringgold and sophomore Novar Gadson improve the Broncs' overall attack. Rider has a balanced inside game between Ringgold and Gadson, who can also play the perimeter and slash to the hoop.

Justin Robinson hasn't been the best point guard, but he has averaged 12.2 points per game and has added to Rider's offensive potency. Ask Siena coach Fran McCaffery about the point guard from London, and he'll tell you about the offensive numbers he can post.

In comparison to Siena, Rider lacks depth. However, the Saints out-manned the Broncs last year but fell in a last-second thriller at Alumni Gymnasium.

The duo of Ringgold and Gadson could potentially lead the Broncs past Niagara, who lacks an inside presence.

Rider is a tough team and, although the chances are slim because of conference competition, it has the pieces to bring a MAAC championship back to Lawrenceville, NJ. Don't let this early rough stretch make you sleep on the Broncs.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Manhattan-Florida Atlantic: Jaspers' Fluid Attack Sinks Owls

Ari Kramer — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:07:01 -0500

Florida Atlantic 66, Manhattan 73

Finally!

The lethargic "pass...dribble...dribble...pass...dribble...dribble" motion set vanished and Barry Rohrssen finally let his Manhattan College Jaspers play a fluid up-tempo offense fueled by constant movement and screens.

It's much easier, as the Jaspers proved, to put points on the board when you spend less time standing around on the perimeter.

Also, it's not a coincidence that Manhattan's free-throw attempts skyrocketed in this game plan. Fouls will be drawn when players attack the basket. The Jaspers hit 23-of-31 foul shots.

Florida Atlantic had some pesky guards who suffocated Manhattan defensively at points, but the new-look offense helped the Jaspers prevail.

Defensively, Manhattan still struggled on the perimeter, but they didn't surrender as many open looks as they did in Saturday's game. The Owls shot 8-of-23 from long range.

Individual Player Analysis

Rohrssen chose Antoine Pearson as his primary point guard tonight, and the senior produced his second straight stellar game offensively.

Pearson only took eight shots from the floor, but he converted on four. He didn't tally any treys after connecting on 5-of-6 in Saturday's match, but he was just as effective on offense by penetrating the lane and either getting fouled or making a flashy pass to a teammate.

Pearson only had four assists, but a combination of fouls and mishandles detracted from his potentially high total. With phenomenal court vision, quickness, and handles, Pearson should run the point even when Rico Pickett—who should move to the two—returns from his suspension. His 18 points and nine boards tonight helped his cause.

Andrew Gabriel still should not be anywhere other than the low post, but because of the fast pace of the offense, his presence on the perimeter was not detrimental. Manhattan would benefit from a more active Gabriel—he's there to corral rebounds, yet his meager total of 17 rebounds in four games is insufficient.

Darryl Crawford might have forced a few too many shots en route to his second straight bad game from the field (4-of-15). That being said, Crawford took many good shots, but simply got unlucky with the roll. He's probably Manhattan's best scorer—Pickett hasn't shown much yet—and the Jaspers can expect him to be resilient.

Patrick Bouli is Manhattan's best defender and continued to be more aggressive on the offensive end tonight. The guard has a great stroke on his jumper, which the Jaspers would love to see six or seven times per game.

The "King of the O-Board" had a relatively quiet night on the offensive glass until his second half tip-slam. Plagued by foul trouble, Laurence Jolicoeur played a solid game. The 6'9" center scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed six rebounds, two of which were offensive.

Manhattan's best hustler, Brandon Adams, received his first minutes of the season tonight and played very well. He was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe and, as usual, provided defensive intensity.

One suggestion for Adams: he forces too many shots—yes, he only took four shots and hit two of them, but the two misses and even the one make were forced—and should look to kick to a shooter when he has two defenders on him.

The Owls subdued the sharp-shooting Nick Walsh tonight, but the 5'9" guard helped the Jaspers by grabbing five rebounds.

George Beamon is very athletic. He was a prolific scorer in high school. Although he hasn't shown much statistically, it is clear that he is talented and will be a reliable contributor in years to come. He just needs to be more assertive on offense.

Other

Raymond Taylor's only 5'6" but he is a player. A very good, quick player. Manhattan didn't have an answer for Taylor's speed, and if the Owls could hit their open shots, Taylor would have recorded a double-double.

Mike Jarvis has a really, really, really, really, really shiny head.

Jarvis always looks angry—maybe the fact that his Owls never possessed a lead tonight could account for that.

Photo from Stockton Photo

What Manhattan Jaspers Can Learn From Loss to William & Mary

Ari Kramer — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:57:12 -0500

William & Mary 75, Manhattan 70

Game Analysis

The motion set that head coach Barry Rohrssen prefers rarely leads to anything better than a forced jumper as the shot clock winds down.

In the motion offense, the Jaspers lack fluidity. It's always pass...dribble...dribble...pass...dribble...dribble (times seven)...shot. The lethargy expressed by Manhattan in this offense completely defeats the purpose of implementing it; it's called MOTION for a reason!

However, when the Jaspers improvise—think Antoine Pearson or Darryl Crawford driving and either finishing or dishing to an open big or shooter—they put points on the board.

The two best plays Manhattan ran today involved a Pearson crossover, which fooled the defender, forced the defense to shift, and enabled a wide-open Jasper to receive Pearson's pass under the basket for a layup.

If Rohrssen continues to insist on using his motion offense, the Jaspers need to move quicker in order for it to be effective.

It's clear that Manhattan does not have confidence in its big men, who combined for 13 of the team's 57 field-goal attempts. Today, the Jaspers flourished from the perimeter (11-of-25), but their hands won't always be this hot.

Manhattan's perimeter defense was beyond abysmal this afternoon. When the Jaspers allowed 32 three-point attempts against N.J.I.T., they did not suffer. Unfortunately for Manhattan, William & Mary was a much better shooting team than N.J.I.T. and connected on 12-of-26 treys.

In order to prevent so many open threes, Manhattan needs to become more organized defensively. There were too many unnecessary double teams and switches, leading to a countless number of uncontested treys.

The full-court press was worse than ineffective. The Tribe had no difficulty breaking the press, which led to plenty of fast-break points. When Manhattan didn't let William & Mary pervade the press, the Jaspers committed foolish fouls. The Jaspers need to work on the press because an effective—at least not ineffective—one could have reversed today's outcome.

Individual Player Analysis

The suspended Rico Pickett is deeply missed. Yes, he did not play well in his first two regular season games, but his passing and shooting ability are desperately needed in order for the Jaspers to be successful. Dressed in a black warmup suit, Pickett was enthusiastic while sitting out. Hopefully his suspension will be lifted soon.

Knocking down 5-of-8 threes and scoring 24 points, Antoine Pearson was the star for Manhattan. There aren't many—if any—MAAC guards quicker than the 6'2" Pearson.

Nick Walsh provided a hot hand off the bench. In 29 minutes, the Riverdale native established career highs in three-pointers made (four) and points (16). His defense cost the Jaspers some points, but he's a much needed instant scorer with Pickett out.

Entering the contest averaging 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, Darryl Crawford struggled immensely today. He shot 2-of-11 from the floor before receiving a double technical foul, which ejected him from the game. Hopefully, the senior won't be suspended—he is an essential part to the Jaspers' offense.

Patrick Bouli, who scored nine points on 3-of-7 shooting, is slowly becoming more aggressive on the offensive end. The Cameroon native has a pretty soft stroke from beyond the arc, and Manhattan will need him for consistent offense while Pickett endures his suspension.

Defensively, there is no Jasper better than Bouli. He was the lone tenacious defender on the perimeter today.

After corralling six of his 10 rebounds off the offensive glass, Laurence Jolicoeur is still the King of the O-Board. The 6'9" center's foul trouble limited his playing time, but he managed to contribute eight points and recorded a key block down the stretch.

Andrew Gabriel needs to become more active on offense by asserting himself as a low-post presence. His defense was hampered by a combination of laziness and foul trouble—he eventually fouled out—and cost Manhattan some points.

Djibril Coulibaly was a non-factor on offense and his defense was relatively mediocre today. Like the rest of his team, he was occasionally responsible for leaving a member of the Tribe wide open.

Other

Crawford's ejection ignited the Jasper Jungle, which was inappropriate and hilarious as usual.

Bizarrely, the cheerleaders did not realize that Manhattan wore its home white uniform and William & Mary wore green, so they still chanted, "Let's go Green." I'm not saying that was the reason for the loss, but come on.

Photo from GoJaspers.com

Rico Pickett Suspended: Another Reason Manhattan Should Fire Barry Rohrssen

Ari Kramer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:22:33 -0500

Six days.

Junior college transfer Rico Pickett couldn't even make it through a week of the regular season at Manhattan without "violating a team rule."

Pathetic.

Jasper coach Barry Rohrssen knew he wasn't signing a saint when he beat out Jim Calhoun and Billy Donovan for Pickett, who endured two suspensions as a freshman at Alabama, but, although Rohrssen never verbalized the following statement, the coach embraced the point guard as his last life-line.

Rohrssen knew his back was against the wall.

After three full seasons at the helm, his team still fit the mold of a rebuilding squad, which was an acceptable label in 2006-07 and 2007-08, but definitely not in 2008-09 or the present.

He struggled to live up to recruiting expectations, and, when he did sign highly-rated high school seniors, they transferred after a year or two.

Pickett was Rohrssen's last chance to prove that he was the recruiter Manhattan thought he would be. From April until November, the "Fire Barry" sentiments evaporated into the Riverdale air because Jasper fans hoped Pickett, who was ranked No. 46 in ESPN's 2007 recruiting class, could revive the program.

Now, the hope is gone.

Pickett's violation had not been disclosed to the public as of Friday night. As a result, Manhattan fans are speculating the worst—the vagueness of his suspension implies an offense much worse than a late arrival to practice.

Given Pickett's history, it is fair to assume he brought the suspension on himself. However, Rohrssen knew he would need to monitor Pickett's lack of discipline, yet he failed to do so. Therefore, this violation is, ultimately, the coach's fault.

The suspension joins Rohrssen's poor recruiting, limited player development, and ineffective coaching on the growing list of reasons for Manhattan to fire its coach.

There is no doubt that Rohrssen is a nice, moral person. Unfortunately, though, he was never cut out to be a mid-major head coach.

This is his fourth year at the helm. He was given a chance to rebuild, but his players, under his reign, have not carried Manhattan back to the top of the MAAC.

If firing a coach in-season was acceptable in college basketball, you know what I'd say. But, it isn't.

Regardless, Rohrssen should not be walking the sidelines at Draddy Gymnasium come November 2010.

Foul Shooting: A Prevalent Difficulty in College Basketball

Ari Kramer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:14:32 -0500

It's called the charity stripe for a reason.

Obviously, the points are not handed out—as charity might imply—at the foul line, but the concept is that hitting an unobstructed shot from 15 feet away should be a "gimme" for anyone. However, every college basketball fan knows foul shooting is simply not as easy as it should be for way too many players.

Syracuse's Arinze Onuaku has a better chance of not hitting water when he falls out of a boat than of draining a foul shot. Onuaku, who connected on 29.8 percent of his free throws in 2008-09, is the archetype of a terrible foul shooter, but teammate Rick Jackson (48.1), Delvon Roe (45.5), and Dallas Lauderdale (45.8) are not many steps behind.

Forget the game's worst, though. Instead, examine last year's top 100 foul shooters on ESPN.com and you'll notice that only 91 Division I basketball players converted more than 70 percent of their foul shots.

Do the math: 347 teams multiplied by eight (the average number of players used in the typical college rotation) equals 2,776 players.

Yes, there is probably a minimum amount of free throw attempts required to crack the top 100 list on ESPN.com, but, regardless, good foul shooters in Division I are about as scarce as loyal fans of N.J.I.T. in America.

Miserable foul shooting has been the bane of many teams.

The college basketball world witnessed Memphis inexplicably squander a nine-point lead with 2:12 remaining in the thrilling 2008 NCAA Championship after only nailing three of its seven foul shots down the stretch.

Today, No. 6 Villanova reached the stripe 39 times. Meagerly, the Wildcats only totaled 23 conversions. The result, a one-point win over a rebuilding George Mason squad.

A week ago, Saint Peter's held a one point lead with three seconds remaining in a sloppy contest against Seton Hall. But, Eugene Harvey nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to doom the Peacocks, who shot an abysmal 4-of-10 from the line. Not only would Saint Peter's have reached 70 percent had it hit three more foul shots, but it also would have left the Prudential Center with an upset victory.

There are, of course, multitudes of other examples, begging the question: why do so many players struggle with something that should be so easy?

The most obvious answer is that too many players lack a productive work ethic—taking 100 foul shots a day is time consuming and boring, so many players don't take their time at the line seriously.

However, devoting a significant portion of practice to foul shooting is 100 percent necessary because it facilitates the process of muscle memory. The more one repeats a certain activity in a certain style or form, the easier it is for one's muscles to remember how to reproduce the action.

By that method, the more a player practices a specific form at the line, the more successful he will be. The more successful he will be, the more successful his team will be.

It's called the charity stripe for a reason, and it's time for players to take advantage.

Rider, Other MAAC Teams Exceed Expectations, Show Depth This Weekend

Ari Kramer — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:48:17 -0500

With two games to be played tomorrow, the MAAC has already exceeded expectations this weekend, posting a 6-3 record. Of the nine games, five are more signifcant than the rest.

1) Of course, Rider's 14-point upset of No. 19 Mississippi State is the most impressive. The Bulldogs might have been without Renardo Sidney and John Riek, but the odds of the Broncs exiting the Humphrey Coliseum as victors were still low.

With the win, coach Tommy Dempsey has people thinking that his blasphemous pick—he tabbed Rider over Siena as the No. 1 MAAC team—isn't so implausible.

Also, it looks like Ryan Thompson has an improved supporting cast this year—Mike Ringgold and Novar Gadson each dropped 21 points.

2) A loss is a loss and relinquishing a late seven-point lead is embarrassing. However, Niagara outmatched Auburn the entire game despite losing Tyrone Lewis to an injury in the first half.

Lacking a true big man, the Purple Eagles out-rebounded the Tigers, 38-37. They out-hustled the Tigers and out-shot them.

The loss doesn't bolster the Purple Eagles' resume, but they managed to keep the game close without Lewis. With their leading scorer and strongest defender in the game, Niagara would have flown back to New York 1-0.

3) Again, a loss is a loss. But, Saint Peter's was three seconds away from defeating a Seton Hall team that is supposed to advance a few rungs on the ladder of the Big East.

Unfortunately, Eugene Harvey connected on a prayer and the Peacocks, who were picked to finish sixth in the MAAC, could not pull off the upset.

Saint Peter's out-rebounded a bigger Seton Hall squad by six and showed that the MAAC will be a deep league this year.

4) One might say that Iona's victory over Boston University is meaningless. However, the Gaels were picked to finish ninth in the MAAC while the Terriers were the No. 1 selection in the America East.

Like the St. Peter's game, this win proves the depth of the MAAC—even the bottom of the conference can beat legitimate teams.

5) Marist's seven-point loss to Rutgers this afternoon had the same meaning as the St. Peter's effort and the Iona win.

Yes, Rutgers will finish near the bottom of the Big East once again, but, nonetheless, they are a Big East team and they have Mike Rosario. Marist was picked tenth in the MAAC—points for the league's depth.

Photo from gobroncs.com

Game Analysis: Manhattan's Undefeated, Enjoy It While It Lasts, Jaspers

Ari Kramer — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:40:48 -0500

N.J.I.T. 58 Manhattan 70 Game Analysis

Dating back to Barry Rohrssen's first year at Manhattan, the Jaspers play an ineffective motion offense in the opening stanza.

Among other factors, the utilization of Andrew Gabriel in this offense is partially culpable for the unproductivity. Too often, Gabriel receives the ball on the perimeter, where he has absolutely no skill—he can't shoot, he can't dribble, he can't pass. In order to have any chance of being effective, Gabriel needs to be in the post, where he can turn and lay the ball in off the glass—something he did very efficiently today.

Laurence Jolicoeur looked decent in the post today, but, let's face it, he was guarded by a Highlander. Against teams with better big men—think Siena and Rider—Joli will be a non-factor with his back to the basket. Instead, if Rohrssen insists on running this motion offense, he should have Joli and Gabriel switch. Joli is a shooter and a better passer than Gabriel.

In reality, though, swapping Joli and Gabriel won't improve the motion offense. This style does not allow Manhattan to play to its strength, which is to have Darryl Crawford or Antoine Pearson—possibly Rico Pickett, but he didn't show us what he can do today—drive to the hoop.

In order for Manhattan to maximize the amount of points it puts on the board, the offense needs to revolve around Crawford and Pearson. Crawford's athleticism enables him to pervade traffic, while Pearson's quick crossover can make a great defender hit the deck.

Either one can take the ball into the lane and score off the drive or find an open teammate when the defense shifts. More than likely, Manhattan's bigs would flourish in this system because they would receive open layups. Also, the Jaspers have plenty of shooters who can knock down open threes, which would be abundant in this offense.

Manhattan ran its best offensive sets with four guards and either Gabriel or Joli in the game. While it will be risky to implement a four guard system against bigger teams, there will be certain matchups—Niagara, Saint Peter's, and Iona, among others—where it must be used. A four guard lineup enabled the Jaspers to run this afternoon and led to a much more productive second half.

Two more gripes about today's offensive performance: 1) Manhattan's inefficiency from the charity stripe, where the Jaspers shot 7-of-18, is simply inexcusable; 2) The Jaspers were careless with the ball today, turning it over 14 times against a weak N.J.I.T. defense.

Defensively, the numbers look pretty nice, but do not let them deceive you. N.J.I.T shot 31.7 percent from the floor and 18.8 percent from deep, but the dreadful percentages are more a result of the Highlanders' lack of skill than of the Jaspers' defensive prowess.

Rohrssen started the game with a man-to-man set, but the Jaspers surrendered a handful of layups and a few treys. Naturally, Rohrssen chose to shake up the defense.

Against N.J.I.T., it's fine to switch to a 2-3 zone in that situation. Let their ineffective shooters launch 23 footers instead of letting their center draw fouls in the post. However, Rohrssen will not be able to implement this defense against shooting teams, which make up the bulk of Manhattan's schedule. Of the 32 threes, at least 20 of them were uncontested. You think Siena, Niagara, or Rider will miss open threes?

The Jaspers only pressed a few times against a slower, less athletic Highlander team. Rohrssen's reasoning? Who knows.

Player Notes

It's always hard to evaluate players for the first time of a season against N.J.I.T., but Crawford looked really good. He has continued to improve his ability to score off the drive, which he did efficiently today. Nine rebounds, four assists, and 17 points on 8-17 shooting is a pretty solid statline for game one.

Gabriel still had his head in the clouds, but his defense was strong against N.J.I.T.'s 260 pound Ryan Regis. An 0-2 performance at the line implied that his foul shooting has not made any progress.

Pearson is so quick and has continued to build upper body muscle. The Jaspers really need him to bounce back from a disappointing 2008-09.

Turning the ball over four times and fouling out, Pickett had a rough debut. He's a legitimate player, though, and will be crucial to the Jaspers' success this season. Pickett displayed his athleticism and passing skills today, but the rim was small for the Alabama native.

Nick Walsh is a marksman from deep, but his defense is a liability against any opponent other than N.J.I.T.

Djibril Coulibaly logged more minutes this afternoon than he did all of last season. The 6'9" center seemed a bit uncoordinated as he chased down a deflected pass for a layup, but at least he can rebound.

Joli is the king of the offensive glass. All three of his rebounds came on the offensive end, and he contributed an emphatic tip-slam in the second half.

Once again, Patrick Bouli played solid defense but was primarily absent on offense.

Freshman George Beamon looked extremely nervous and it was difficult to grasp his style.

The one-armed Kevin Laue played three minutes near the end of the first half. He drew a foul but missed both free throws. Despite being at a disadvantage against his two-armed opponents, Laue looked comfortable and confident on the floor.

Other

Today marked the inception of the "Jasper Jungle," the new student section at Draddy Gymnasium. Rowdy and loud, the students in attendance caused N.J.I.T. to miss seven foul shots—play along with it.

Photo from PrestoSports

Early Preview of NIT Season Tip-Off: Who Wins in the Big Apple?

Ari Kramer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:39:29 -0500

The NIT Season Tip-Off might not start for another few days, but it's never too early to preview a tournament.

East Region (At Duke)

Coastal Carolina vs. Duke—Even though Mason Plumlee is out with a broken wrist, Duke is Duke and will run away with this first-round match. The Blue Devils will dominate the perimeter against the small Chanticleers, who allowed opponents to connect on 33.9 percent of their three-pointers in 2008-09. Expect a margin of victory to be in the vicinity of 20 points in Duke's favor.

Charlotte vs. Elon—Both teams are young and inexperienced, but the edge goes to Charlotte, who returns enough scoring from last year.

Charlotte vs. Duke—There's really no chance of the 49ers pulling off the upset in Cameron Indoor. Duke will advance to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

West Region (At Arizona State)

Texas State vs. Arizona State—Although both teams lost significant members either to graduation or the NBA Draft, Arizona State did a better job stocking up on talented freshmen this offseason. Put them in the game with Rihards Kuksiks, Derek Glasser, and Ty Abbott and the Sun Devils should have an easy victory at home.

Texas Christian vs. Cal-State Northridge—You might remember last year's Matadors, who gave Memphis a scare in the first round of the Big Dance. These Matadors, though, only return one starter from that team and will be speared by the Horned Frogs, who have much more experience.

Texas Christian vs. Arizona State—The Sun Devils posted an imposing 14-3 home record in 2008-09. While these Sun Devils are without James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph, they will not lose to Texas Christian on their own floor.

South Region (At LSU)

Indiana State vs. LSU—Somehow Tasmin Mitchell is still in college. Unfortunately for the Tigers, though, Mitchell is only joined by one player who logged more than 10 minutes per game for LSU last year. Experience is crucial, but the Tigers should still be able to eliminate the Sycamores at home.

Western Kentucky vs. UW-Milwaukee—The Hilltoppers return all but one key player from last year's tournament team. Combine the experience with one of the best mid-major recruiting classes and WKU will defeat the Panthers, whose 39.7 percent field-goal percentage is beyond terrible.

Western Kentucky vs. LSU—Finally, an opportunity for an upset. Even at home, the Tigers won't reach the top of the hill (get it?), as WKU's hot shooting and fast pace will deny them of a trip to the Big Apple.

North Region (At UConn)

Colgate vs. UConn—Stanley Robinson, Jerome Dyson, and Kemba Walker will thwart any Raider who steps in their way.

Hofstra vs. Yale—Although this is almost a home game for Yale, Charles Jenkins and the glass-dominating Pride will make Bulldogs fans wish they'd stayed in the classroom instead of watching.

Hofstra vs. UConn—UConn will own the glass, Hofstra's greatest strength, and will head south for New York City after dominating the Pride.

Semifinals (At Madison Square Garden)

Duke vs. Arizona State—Duke's outstanding shooting and experience will outlast the efforts of the immature Sun Devils.

Western Kentucky vs. UConn—There's no doubt that the impartial Garden crowd will eventually become filled with emotion as the Hilltoppers stay close with the Huskies. It will come down to the wire, and WKU, behind A.J. Slaughter's clutch shooting, will spoil the scheduling committee's coveted championship.

Championship (At Madison Square Garden)

Duke vs. Western Kentucky—This is where Western Kentucky's magical run comes to an end. Duke's plethora of perimeter options will be too much for the Hilltoppers to handle, and the Blue Devils will take home the Tip-Off's trophy.

Ball Overseas: Manhattan's Devon Austin Carves Out a New Life in Portugal

Ari Kramer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:49:34 -0500

It is 10 o’clock on a brisk morning in Figueira da Foz, Portugal, and Devon Austin’s alarm clock wakes him from a tranquil night’s sleep. After getting out of bed, he heads to the kitchen of his two-bedroom apartment to prepare a sandwich of bacon and eggs for breakfast.

A member of Portugal’s Casino Figueira Ginasio basketball team, Austin needs to arrive at the Pavilhão Galamba Marques, Portuguese for the Galamba Marques Pavilion, by noon for practice.

For now, though, he relaxes and enjoys the pleasant view of the Atlantic Ocean from his eighth story window.

Eventually, Austin, who spent the last four years of his life as a Manhattan College Jasper, departs on his five-minute walk to the arena. Throughout the next two hours, the hard-working small forward lifts weights and works with coaches on individual skills—ranging from shooting to rebounding to ball-handling.

Famished after practice, Austin and some teammates enjoy lunch at Figueira da Foz Restaurant, which is located inside the arena. There, the former Jasper encounters the most prevalent difficulty among Americans who play basketball overseas: the language barrier.

“There’s not much of a variety [of food]. I mostly eat pork, fish, and chicken here,” Austin commented via email. Regardless, ordering food is still complicated. He also has had trouble shopping and needed his native teammates to help him create a bank account.

Although it’s difficult to relate to non-English-speaking teammates off the court, the New Yorker really likes his teammates and says, “They are all really nice people.”

After lunch, Austin still has a few free hours before his next practice, so he goes home to rest. He usually takes an hour-long nap, but sometimes he watches television and hangs out with Brandon Dagans, his roommate and the only other American on Ginasio.

Also adjusting to his first year of professional basketball overseas, Dagans, a graduate of Division II Lewis University in Illinois, is a perfect companion for Austin.

Of course, they have basketball in common, but more importantly, they share the same language and the same apartment and have become extremely close as a result. They do almost everything together, whether it’s hanging out, dining, watching television, or playing ball.

Rest is brief, and the duo heads back to the arena for a five o’clock practice in which Ginasio reviews plays and works on defense while scrimmaging. It might be professional basketball, but Austin says the practices are less intense than they were in college because the coaching staff doesn’t want to fatigue the team for its weekly game—teams of the Portuguese Basketball Premier League only play on Saturdays or Sundays.

Practice concludes after 90 minutes, and the native New Yorker returns with a few teammates to the same restaurant for dinner.

Afterwards, he and Dagans return to their apartment. With an opportunity to catch up on life in America, Austin equips himself with his laptop. It is only the middle of the afternoon back home, but the former Jasper uses Skype and AOL Instant Messenger to converse with family and friends, whom he acknowledges he deeply misses.

A good son, Austin makes sure to speak with his parents every day. “My parents are proud of me, but they miss me being home. I talk to them every day and let them know I’m okay,” emailed Austin.

Understandably, it has been a difficult transition for Austin’s parents, who used to attend most Jasper home games while their son donned Manhattan’s green and white uniform. Now, they can only hear Austin’s personal recaps and analyze Ginasio’s box score, which is not immediately updated online. It’s very different than seeing the games in person.

While Austin types away, he also has the television on because he loves his TV shows. “I've been watching Flash Forward , Modern Family , and Cougar Town . But I really like to watch reality shows like the new season of For the Love of Ray J and that kind of stuff that comes on MTV, VH1, or E!,” Austin said.

As the night wears on, Austin and Dagans generally leave their apartment for the casino, which the small forward characterizes as “not anything special.” For Austin, it’s really just a chance to get out and to meet new people—people other than his teammates.

When they return, the duo will occasionally find an NBA game on television. Austin is a fan of the New York Knicks, but he also enjoys watching the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics because they represent the best of professional basketball. A rare simultaneous Kobe and LeBron admirer, Austin admits, “Sometimes I find myself up at three in the morning watching NBA games.”

He might be 3,000 miles away, but Austin still follows the situation at his alma mater. “I saw that Manhattan was picked eighth in the preseason [MAAC coaches poll], but,” continued Austin, “I think that they will surprise people. I definitely think that they have one of the most talented [MAAC] teams, and they also have experience.

“I believe that they will be one of the top teams in the MAAC this season and have a good shot at winning [the conference championship] in March if they play together.”

Basketball is Austin’s greatest passion. Every hoop lover’s dream is to reach the NBA, but for now, European basketball is adequate for Austin, who can see himself playing overseas in various countries over the next few years. “I've always wanted to travel the world,” said Austin, “and basketball is a good way for me to do that.”

For the next few months, though, he'll be in Figueira da Foz, playing ball, adjusting to Europe, and enjoying the overall experience.

Around The MAAC: Where Are Last Year's Seniors?

Ari Kramer — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:04:21 -0500

In the spring of 2009, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference witnessed the graduation of a handful of talented seniors, many of whom were fan favorites.

Now, with the help of the Internet, fans can follow their favorite MAAC stars as they continue their careers overseas.

Ryan Schneider, who finished his five-year tenure at Marist with 1,002 points, signed with Portugal's CAB Madeira . While Portugal is an ocean away from Schneider's New York, he'll encounter a familiar face on Nov. 29 when his squad opposes Casino Figueira Ginasio , who signed Manhattan's Devon Austin.

Niagara's Benson Egemonye will spend his 2009-10 in Turkey with Optimum TED Kolejliler Ankara . Four games into the season, Egemonye is off to a hot start. The center is averaging 13.5 points and 12 rebounds per game and has already posted two 20-point games.

One graduate you'd expect to see in this article is Siena's Kenny Hasbrouck. However, the shooting guard has been plagued by injuries and, as a result, has been unable to sign.

The Miami Heat showed serious interest in Hasbrouck, but he fractured his wrist one week before training camp and recently broke his foot. There's no way that Hasbrouck, if he recovers quickly enough from his latest injury, will spend this season without a team.

Another surprise absence is Gary Springer Jr. The reason could not be found on the Internet.

Although he left the MAAC for the Big East after his sophomore season, Jeff Xavier is still adored by many Manhattan fans. The former Jasper signed with Spain's Leche Rio Breogan in August and will play alongside UConn's Jeff Adrien.

Around the MAAC: Previewing Opening Weekend's Games

Ari Kramer — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:09:40 -0500

Vermont at Loyola (Md.), 7 PM Friday

Anthony Winbush won't have it easy against Marqus Blakely, one of the best mid-major hoopers in the country. If unconfined, Blakely is capable of controlling a game from the post.

The Catamounts lost two of their top three 2008-09 scorers to graduation, giving the offensive advantage to Jamal Barney and the Greyhounds, whose offensive attack will revolve around the perimeter, where Blakely cannot alter shots.

Expect this to be a close game, but Loyola should emerge victorious.

St. Peter's at Seton Hall, 7 PM Friday

The Peacocks are primed for a solid season, but Jeremy Hazell, Robert Mitchell, Eugene Harvey, and John Garcia will be too much for Ryan Bacon, Wesley Jenkins, and Nick Leon to handle. A Seton Hall blowout seems to be looming.

Central Connecticut State at Fairfield, 7:30 PM Friday

Both of these programs have been bitten deeply by the injury bug. Voted the MAAC's fourth-best team by conference coaches, Fairfield will be without Greg Nero and Yorel Hawkins.

CCSU's star, Ken Horton, is out for the year. Without these significant pieces, predicting the outcome of this one is difficult. However, Fairfield, at home, has the advantage.

Boston University at Iona, 7:30 PM Friday

Even at their own Mulcahy Campus Center, the Iona Gaels don't stand much of a chance against the America East favorite BU Terriers.

Scott Machado is a budding MAAC star, but Iona simply cannot match the established talent of Corey Lowe and John Holland, who should lead their squad to a double-digit victory.

Siena at Tennessee State, 8 PM Friday

Despite starting on the road, the Saints should pick up an easy win in Nashville. It'll take some time for the Tigers, who lost five of their best seven scorers from a team that was less than mediocre in 2008-09, to build chemistry. Fran McCaffery should be able to unload his bench early in this one.

Rider at No. 18 Mississippi State, 9 PM Friday

Ryan Thompson won't let this be a cupcake for the Bulldogs, but MSU's formidable frontcourt will provide a comfortable opening night win by forcing the smaller Broncs to play a perimeter game.

Rider shot 35.3 percent from deep last year, but their defense will not be able to sustain the effort when the rim shrinks.

Niagara at Auburn, 9:30 PM Friday

The Purple Eagles have incredible guard play, which will keep them in the game, but their frontcourt does not compare to that of the Tigers. In what should be the best MAAC game of opening night, Niagara's lack of size will probably lead to a loss.

Marist at Rutgers, 2 PM Saturday

There's only one reason to watch a tale of two teams known by their respective conferences as the league's laughingstock: Mike Rosario, Rutgers' star sophomore point guard. With Rosario and much better size than Marist, Rutgers should win this one by a lot.

N.J.I.T. at Manhattan, 2 PM Saturday

For the fourth straight year, the Jaspers will open their season against the Highlanders. Manhattan has averaged a 22-point margin of victory in the three previous meetings, and this year's game should not be much different.

N.J.I.T. is still terrible and the Jaspers should be able to start 2009-10 with a double-digit win.

No Jasper has ever eclipsed 20 points against N.J.I.T., but Rico Pickett will likely become the first to do so in his Jasper debut.

Loyola (Md.) at No. 8 West Virginia, 4 PM Sunday

It'll be interesting to see what Jimmy Patsos pulls out of his bag of tricks against a top team with many weapons. Whatever he tries will be a futile attempt, as the Greyhounds don't stand a chance against the powerful Mountaineers.

Fordham at Fairfield, 7 PM Sunday

Jio Fontan is the lone bright spot on the Rams and Fairfield's rookie guards will have their hands full trying to stop him. But, even without Greg Nero and Yorel Hawkins, the Stags should prevail against a weak Fordham squad.

MVC, Horizon, CAA, MAAC, WCC: Who's the Best of Mid-Major Basketball?

Ari Kramer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:29:31 -0500

Which is the best conference?

It's an intricate question that college basketball analysts quarrel over from the brisk days of November until the lamb carries March into April. A question that can rarely have a firm answer.

If I wanted to, I could bore you by providing you with claims you've already heard. Claims about the resurgence of the SEC or of the nebulous fate of the Big East. That 50 percent of the Final Four could hail from the Big 12 or that the Big Ten could rise to national supremacy.

Instead, I'll relay some fresh information to you. Information that takes a backseat on ESPN and other major sports media outlets.

It's time to think about mid-major basketball, and, to begin, we must examine College Insider's Mid-Major Top 25 , a poll taken by 31 mid-major head and assistant coaches. Like every poll, it will not precisely predict the season's outcome. But, it offers expectations.

Among those expectations is that the Missouri Valley Conference could once again be a multi-bid league.

Adam Koch, Jordan Eglseder, and Ali Farokhmanesh are all back for their senior years and reunite with every member, save Travis Brown, of the Northern Iowa squad that reached the NCAA Tournament last year. Experience is crucial at the mid-major level, and the Panthers own that quality.

Ranked No. 4 by College Insider, Northern Iowa is efficient on offense but is only average on defense. Although it seems like mid-majors defeat power teams via the hot hand, a sturdy defense is needed to fluster the opponent.

The Panthers have experience and offense on their side, two aspects of the game that can produce wins against upper-echelon teams, but they'll need to improve their defense to reach the Round of 32.

While UNI is the MVC favorite, Creighton and Illinois State both pose legitimate threats. The loss of Booker Woodfox is detrimental to Creighton's potential, but the Blue Jays still have P'Allen Stinnett and the rest of their 2008-09 core.

For the Redbirds, Champ Oguchi is no longer running the floor. But, Osiris Eldridge spurned the NBA Draft and is joined by the No. 3 mid-major recruiting class of 2009.

Inexperience can be the bane of a team's season, but Illinois State returns enough talent from last year's team to balance the immaturity of its freshmen.

Creighton and Illinois State will likely be in tournament talk come March.

Another expectation is that Butler will rule mid-major basketball. Ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 1 by College Insider, Butler is a preseason lock for the Big Dance.

Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward are special ballplayers who could be playing for premier schools. Returning the core from a team that finished 26-6 with an NCAA Tournament berth in 2008-09, the Bulldogs could go as far as the Elite Eight.

Although Butler has received early high praise, the Bulldogs cannot write off their conference foe, Wright State. The Raiders bring back the starting lineup of a team that bounced back from an 0-6 start in 2008-09 to finish the campaign with a 20-13 record.

These Raiders, especially the seniors, will not bow down to the Bulldogs. Expect Wright State to be in the mix for a tournament berth.

When you think of the Colonial Athletic Association, you think of the Cinderella George Mason team that made its magical journey to the 2006 Final Four or the clutch shot that Eric Maynor swished to defeat Duke in 2007.

Both the Patriots and the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth appear in discussions about the CAA crown, but Old Dominion and Northeastern look to dethrone the league's royalty.

George Mason is the least likely of the four to construct a tournament-worthy resume due to heavy dependence on freshmen.

However, the Patriots' youth is definitely talented and, if it molds with the mature Patriots early, Jim Larranaga could be headed to another NCAA Tournament.

The reigning champs are Eric Maynor-less, but that is not a viable reason to expect them to watch the tournament from their couches. Larry Sanders is a First Team All-Conference member and Joey Rodriguez tore up his transfer papers to return to VCU.

If you put those two on a court together, you'd have a solid chance of winning. If you have those two plus Bradford Burgess, Brandon Rozell, transfer Jay Gavin, and highly-rated freshman Darius Theus, you can be a force in any mid-major conference.

After a promising 15-6 start in 2008-09, Northeastern tanked down the home stretch.

Predicting sports is extremely difficult, but one thing I can steadfastly promise you is that seniors Matt Janning and Manny Adako will play 2009-10 with the highest degree of energy and passion to prevent another collapse.

Ranked No. 6 by College Insider, Old Dominion is the CAA's team to beat. They return every starter, including Gerald Lee, the conference's co-preseason Player of the Year, from a team that went 25-10 in 2008-09. To reiterate, experience is crucial.

The Monarchs' core has already spent two full seasons together, so you know their chemistry and confidence are at high levels to start the season.

It'll be a dogfight in the CAA. The NCAA Selection Committee will probably root for at least two of the teams to beat up on each other so the bracket formation will go smoothly. Still, don't expect decisions to come easily for the committee.

You know Siena. Out of the MAAC, the Saints have advanced to the Round of 32 in back-to-back seasons. Minus Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena returns its 2008-09 starting lineup.

Add a solid recruiting class, and you can bet that the Saints have already ordered the champagne for March 8.

However, their dominance in the MAAC is made less likely by the presences of Niagara and Rider.

The Purple Eagles also return the bulk of their team that dealt Siena one of the Saints' two conference losses last season. Tyrone Lewis and Bilal Benn will carry Niagara and will once again lead their team to the postseason. The question is, which tournament.

Rider was the culprit of Siena's other loss. With Ryan Thompson and the other key members from last year's team, Rider poses a threat to Siena's tyrannical rule of the MAAC.

Siena not winning the MAAC still seems far-fetched. But, the MAAC being a multi-bid league is definitely in the realm of possibility.

Now, it's time to go out west.

Gonzaga's core was torn apart after last season, but Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray are back. Of course, the Bulldogs would not be much of a threat with just the aforementioned two.

But, Mark Few has developed the Gonzaga program into a powerhouse that attracts the highest level of recruits , so, with the additions of Kelly Olynyk, Samuel Dower, G.J. Vilarino, and Mangisto Arop, the Bulldogs are set for another promising season.

Portland pervaded college basketball's bubble of relevancy last year and reached the inaugural College Insider Tournament. Nik Raivio and the other essential elements of last year's successful team return and could once again make the WCC a multi-bid league.

It'll be five months until the answer is crystal clear, but, for now, gazing into an imaginary crystal ball can provide you with your response to the question: which is the best mid-major conference? Just one suggestion, make sure you don't use Jimmy Rollins' crystal ball.

Fantasy College Basketball All-Stars: Who You Want on Your Team

Ari Kramer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:10:18 -0500

Yes, I know, the headline might mislead you to believe that ESPN.com has created a new fantasy game, which revolves around college basketball.

I'm sorry. There's still no such thing, as far as I know. But, if by some chance fantasy college basketball is produced this season, this article will provide you with a list of players who are irreplaceable on the fantasy spectrum.

PG Johnathon Jones, Sr., Oakland

Playing in the Summit League, Jones might be the best point guard you have not heard of. As a junior, he dished out 8.1 assists and scored 13.3 points on a nightly basis. A career 36 percent three point shooter, Jones will also provide you with treys.

SG Jeremy Hazell, Jr., Seton Hall

Seton Hall's irrelevance to the college basketball world is the only viable excuse for you to not know Hazell. A bit of a chucker, the junior connected on 105 threes last season and scored 22.7 points per game. He'll get you a few rebounds and two steals per game as well.

SF Ryan Wittman, Sr., Cornell

Simply put, Ryan Wittman is awesome. He won't woo you with flashy moves or acrobatic dunks, but neither of those are categories and are, thus, immaterial.

Wittman is a shooter. A very talented shooter. After shooting 41.6 percent from deep and knocking down 97 treys in 2008-09, Wittman has become one of the game's most renowned marksmen. The Minnesota native also averaged 18.5 points and a few rebounds and assists per game last season.

PF Luke Harangody, Sr., Notre Dame

The fact that Harangody was incapable of carrying Notre Dame last season doesn't matter to fantasy owners. After averaging 23.3 points per game, he's the nation's top returning scorer. He's a beast and averaged 11.8 boards per game. Also reliable for a block and steal on a nightly basis, Gody is a must-get for your team.

C Cole Aldrich, Jr., Kansas

He's not the scorer or hustler that Gody is, but Aldrich is still a beast. Arguably the most valuable Jayhawk, Aldrich is strongest in the fields of rebounding (11.1 rpg) and shot-blocking (2.7 bpg). But, he can also score, as evidenced by his 14.9 points per game in 2008-09.

Backup G Devan Downey, Sr., South Carolina

Only Devin Gibson of Texas-San Antonio is a better pickpocket than Downey, who recorded 2.9 steals per game in 2008-09. A fifth year senior, Downey averaged 19.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game and shot 34.7 percent from long range. If his assist average was higher, he'd be a lock in the starting lineup. For now, he remains a backup.

Backup F Kenneth Faried, Jr., Morehead State

Despite nursing knee and shoulder injuries, Faried was still voted as the Ohio Valley's Preseason Player of the Year. If you don't know who he is yet, you will when his Eagles reach the postseason in March.

Faried is an athletic 6'8" forward/center and averaged 13.9 points, 13 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game last year. A really solid option as a backup for Gody and Aldrich, Faried might start off slow due to the injuries but will find his groove shortly.

Backup F Jarvis Varnado, Sr., Mississippi State

How could Varnado and his 4.7 blocks per game not make college basketball's all-star fantasy squad? Not only has he been a force on defense, but he has also improved his scoring average into double-figures at 12.9 points per game.

Will Anyone Challenge Cornell for the 2009-10 Ivy League Hoops Title?

Ari Kramer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:34:54 -0500

It's completely unjustifiable to pick against a reigning champion that returns virtually every vital piece.

For that reason, Cornell was the unanimous No. 1 in the 2009-10 Ivy League Preseason Media Poll.

Ryan Wittman. Louis Dale. Jeff Foote. Geoff Reeves. Alex Tyler.

They're all back for one final season in Ithaca, NY and will not settle for anything less than another Ivy League championship.

It seems nearly impossible for any other Ivy to dethrone the Big Red, but there are three sturdy programs that might have what it takes to earn the Ivy League's bid to the Big Dance.

The Princeton Tigers lack the senior leadership that the Big Red possess, but they were picked as the No. 2 Ivy for a reason. They have a talented backcourt that can wreak havoc from beyond the arc and a deep frontcourt that won't woo you with loud rebounds or rejections but will still do its job.

Sophomore Douglas Davis showed tremendous potential as a freshman, when he averaged 12.3 points per game and shot 36.5 percent from long range. Junior shooting guard Dan Mavraides scored 10.3 points per game and knocked down 42.6 percent of his treys.

While Davis occasionally runs the point, senior Marcus Schroeder is coach Sydney Johnson's floor general. Schroeder is a good ballhandler and, despite a rather low assist average of three per game, is the third best returning Ivy disher. Schroeder connected on an unearthly 22-of-43 three-pointers last season

Johnson has plenty of options in his frontcourt. Pawel Buzcak, Patrick Saunders, Kareem Maddox, and Zach Finley are all solid Ivy big men. None of them compare to Jeff Foote, Cornell's 84-inch giant, but, as a group, they are arguably as deep as the Big Red's frontcourt.

Buzcak and Saunders, who earned more minutes per game in 2008-09 than Maddox and Finley, each have a proclivity towards fouling. With a deep frontcourt, made deeper by the highly touted Will Barrett, foul trouble will not be much of an issue for the Tigers.

Despite having an extremely talented well-balanced core, Penn lacks the experienced depth that Cornell and Princeton possess.

Tyler Bernardini is a great scorer, captain Zack Rosen had an awesome freshman campaign, and the multi-faceted Jack Eggleston provides stats and hustle. Unfortunately for Penn, these three alone cannot carry the Quakers to upsets of higher Ivy opponents on a regular basis.

Depth remains a question mark for the Quakers. After Harrison Gaines transferred and Kevin Egee and Brennan Votel graduated, coach Glen Miller had to find a way to re-attribute the lost 24.9 points per game. Darren Smith, back from a knee injury, and Rob Belcore are expected to help fill the voids of the departed.

Cornell buried the Quakers in both meetings last year, but Penn might pose a threat if it can find depth. If not, the Quakers will be listening to Bill Raftery come March.

Senior Jeremy Lin is the Ivy League's best all-around player and has the ability to carry his Harvard Crimson over higher ranked opponents. After filling the stat sheet with 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game in 2008-09, Lin will unite with Tommy Amaker's incredible recruiting class and might be able to squeak his team by the Big Red in one of their two matches.

Forward Keith Wright had an impressive freshman season in which he averaged eight points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Expect Lin and Wright to play an inside-outside game in 2009-10.

Although Harvard returns a fair number of players, too many are sophomores. The combination of too many sophomores and freshmen could be the bane of Harvard's season, but many of them are talented and could help make the Ivy League more competitive than it was in 2008-09.

Making It Rain: The MAAC's Most Dangerous Scorers

Ari Kramer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:20:26 -0500

Charron Fisher. Keke Clark. Andre Collins. Juan Mendez. Luis Flores. Those are five names you should recognize if you have constantly perused college basketball's scoring charts over the last five years. All five were MAAC stars who wooed fans with their scoring abilities. Fisher, who finished second in the nation with 27.6 points per game in 2007-08, is the last MAAC player to crack the top five. Last year, Jamal Barney led the MAAC with 18.1 points per game. This is a slideshow of the MAAC players most likely to finish this year as one of the country's best scorers.

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Manhattan Hoops: It's Time for the Jaspers To Run

Ari Kramer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:12:35 -0500

"I think I'd better run, run, run, run" -- Phoenix

Manhattan basketball fans have waited three years for head coach Barry "Slice" Rohrssen to think like Phoenix.

Year in and year out the Jaspers have a team built to run, yet Rohrssen consistently seems blind to the fact.

A psychologist would probably say Coach Slice has a short memory. Last year, he defeated superior teams like Binghamton and Rider by pushing the ball up the floor, but then had his Jaspers play a half-court offense against far inferior teams. As a result, the Jaspers either lost embarrassingly or narrowly won games that should have been blowouts.

Maybe Rohrssen didn't want to fatigue his center, Herve Banogle. Banogle, a bungling 6'8" rebounder, was the only starter last year who wouldn't have survived an uptempo offense.

Now, Banogle is gone. Laurence "Joli" Jolicoeur will likely fill the void. Whether or not Joli has built up his thin 6'9" frame, he will never be a force down low. He is a shooter and can run.

Joli will most likely be joined in the front court by Andrew Gabriel, a 6'6" power forward. As long as Gabriel does not put the ball on the floor, he will be a viable running big man for the Jaspers. All too often, his head drifts into the clouds and, as a result, he reacts too late to passes from his guards. Non-stop running might be able to hold his attention.

Darryl Crawford, who emerged as a scorer capable of carrying the Jaspers on his back last season, will start at either the two or three. Long, athletic, and quick, Crawford is at his best when he drives. But, he can also pull up from mid-range or deep. He is perfect for a running offense.

After choosing Manhattan over UConn and Florida, junior college transfer Rico Pickett will be the Jaspers' floor general. He flies down the court and, like Crawford, can score both in the lane and from deep. Pickett, who originally signed with Alabama as a freshman, was ranked No. 46 in the Recruiting Class of 2007.

The final starting spot will not be revealed until Nov. 14, when the Jaspers open their season against N.J.I.T. The candidates are seniors Antoine Pearson and Patrick Bouli and freshman George Beamon.

Rohrssen will likely choose against initially starting a freshman when seniors are available, so Beamon will probably start his college career on the bench.

Bouli would be incapable of running an uptempo offense, but he could contribute threes as a shooting guard.

Pearson is the best option of the three. He is lightning quick, has a crossover that makes defenders trip over themselves, and can score both in the lane and from farther out. With Pearson in the lineup, the Jasper bigs will have three strong options on outlet passes.

The Jasper bench will certainly not be the league's deepest, but it can be effective. Beamon and Bouli will spell the guards when they tire. Bouli will primarily offer defense while Beamon, a prolific high school scorer, will provide offense.

Brandon Adams will supply energy and hustle. He won't contribute much offensively, but he'll rebound and get to the line.

Kevin Laue, who has drawn lots of publicity after becoming the first one-handed Division I basketball player, will play solid defense and score on fast breaks.

After UCLA withdrew its scholarship offer, Mohamed Koita landed at Manhattan. The NCAA has not yet cleared Koita, an athletic guard, but the Jaspers will benefit immensely if Koita can play.

MAAC coaches, who picked Manhattan to finish eighth, have low expectations for Rohrssen and the Jaspers this year. However, the lack of expectations should only reduce pressure and motivate the team more.

If the Jaspers push the ball up the floor, they will exceed expectations and make MAAC coaches wish they could retract their votes.

If Rohrssen chooses against an uptempo offense, he'll be the one running.

Running out of Riverdale, away from a livid Manhattan fan base.

Sacramento Kings' Omri Casspi Serves As Role Model for Israelis and Jews

Ari Kramer — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:28:45 -0400

This article originally appeared in the October issue of Helios, my school's newspaper.

If you happen to watch a Sacramento Kings basketball game this season, don’t be stunned when you hear the commentator announce, “Omri Casspi hits the shot!” You might think it’s just a coincidence that this Omri fellow has an Israeli name and wears No. 18, that there’s no way an Israeli could make it to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

However, when you hear his heavy Israeli accent during a postgame interview and read about his love for hummus, you’ll realize that he is as Israeli as can be.

Born outside of Ashdod and formerly a member of Israel’s world famous Maccabi Tel-Aviv basketball program, Casspi became the first Israeli selected in the first round of an NBA Draft when the Kings drafted him 23rd overall in 2009. All first round draft picks are guaranteed contracts; Casspi’s bestows him with $3.5 million over three years.

Other Israelis have unsuccessfully attempted the transition from the Euroleague (Europe’s professional basketball league) to the NBA. In 2006, the Orlando Magic drafted Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s Lior Eliyahu in the second round. A few picks later, the Seattle Supersonics selected Eliyahu’s teammate, Yotam Halperin.

NBA executives viewed Eliyahu and Halperin as unworthy of NBA contracts, so the two Israelis returned to the Euroleague.

Other than the country he calls home and the team he used to play for, Casspi has one major trait in common with Eliyahu and Halperin: he has not played a game in the NBA. However, unlike the two unsuccessful Israelis, Casspi has affected Israelis and American-Jews because he provides them with hope—they, too, can defy odds and reach the NBA.

Less than two months after Casspi was drafted, two Israelis chose to enroll in American colleges so they could play basketball under the American spotlight with hopes of garnering the attention and interest of NBA scouts.

Also a member of Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Nimrod Tishman, announced his commitment to the University of Florida in the beginning of August. A few weeks later, Carmel Bouchman informed Temple University coach Fran Dunphy that he would accept his scholarship offer.

Tishman and Bouchman were not allowed to comment due to NCAA regulations, so there is no firm proof that Casspi influenced their decisions. However, Casspi said in a video interview on nba.com that he expects to serve as a role-model to Israelis and Jews now that he is in the NBA.

Even Jews who don’t aspire to play in the NBA feel a connection to Casspi simply because he is Jewish. “I used to be much more heavily invested in the NBA than I currently am, but it’s likely that Casspi, being Jewish like me, will revive my interest,” commented a senior who requested anonymity. Many Jews share this sentiment and will check the Kings’ box scores every day to see how Casspi performed the night before.

In the early 1990s, when the University of Connecticut signed four Israelis within a five-year span, it appeared that Israeli basketball was making its way to America. However, none of the “Israeli Huskies” made it to the NBA, leaving Casspi without an Israeli role model at basketball’s highest level.

Now, he will provide Israeli youth with something he was not fortunate enough to have—a player they can identify with in more ways than basketball.

Around the MAAC: Some Incoming Freshmen to Keep Your Eyes on

Ari Kramer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:39:06 -0400

Some will receive playing time immediately, others were signed for the future. Either way, there is an impressive freshman class entering the MAAC.

1. Robert Olson, 6'4" SG, Loyola Md—Olson is the highest rated MAAC recruit, according to ESPN.com, and has tremendous potential. He is an athletic shooter, scorer, and dunker and will likely play both the one and two for coach Jimmy Patsos. Loyola already has a solid repertoire in the backcourt, but Olson will definitely earn minutes early in his freshman year.

2. Andre "Scooter" Gillette, 6'9" PF, Niagara—Before signing with Joe Mihalich's Purple Eagles, Gillette considered A-10 schools Xavier, Temple, and Saint Joseph's. Gillette will likely start at center, filling the void left by Benson Egemonye's graduation. If he lives up to his potential, he'll surpass the level of a typical MAAC big man.

3. O.D. Anosike, 6'8" PF, Siena—Despite being a thin 6'8" Anosike is an adept rebounder and will probably be Fran McCaffery's sixth man. I saw Anosike in the 2009 Jordan Classic and he scored the majority of his points off offensive rebounds. He runs the floor very well, which will help him fit in with Siena's uptempo style of offense.

4. Chris Pelcher, 6'9" C, Iona—Iona is not going to feed the ball into Pelcher like he is Shaquille O'Neal, but Pelcher is the big man the Gaels need to replace the likes of Gary Springer and Devon Clarke. A rebounding force and a good post defender, he should receive playing time from day one.

5. Colin Nickerson, 6'2" SG, Fairfield—After losing Jon Han and Herbie Allen, Ed Cooley needed to sign Nickerson, a combo guard who can pass, shoot, drive, and handle the ball. Nickerson might be in the starting lineup for the season opener.

6. Jonathan Breeden, 6'0" PG, Siena—Breeden adds to Siena's depth at point guard. He is quick and capable of running Siena's run-and-gun offense. A skilled passer, Breeden will compete for a starting spot at the one in 2010-11. Until then, he will be integrated into the rotation as a sub.

7. Derek Needham, 5'11" PG, Fairfield—Like Nickerson, Needham is a multi-faceted guard. He is a quick, solid ballhandler. His defense is exceptional and, above all, he is a scorer. Needham will likely compete with Nickerson for the Stags' final starting spot.

8. Kevin Laue, 6'11" C, Manhattan—On Nov. 14, Laue will become the first one-handed person to play in a Division I basketball game. Manhattan's signing of Laue came as a surprise to many, but it shouldn't have. The Jaspers were desperate for a defensive-minded big man, and that's what Laue is. He may only have one hand, but he can defend, block shots, and grab boards.

Niagara Hoops Preview: Purple Eagles to Challenge Siena For MAAC Title

Ari Kramer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:47:25 -0400

After a 26 win season and a second place finish in the MAAC, Niagara is no longer under the radar and returns all but one player from last year's successful squad.

Unfortunately, 6'10" Benson Egemonye, an imposing low-post presence, is the one graduate, leaving coach Joe Mihalich to find a replacement. The Purple Eagles don't have a single experienced player to fill Egemonye's void and the role will likely be given to either Andre "Scooter" Gillette or Eric Williams, both of whom are 6'8" freshmen.

Until Niagara works out its big man situation, analysts will have an easy time picking conference foe Siena ahead of the Purple Eagles—the Saints' frontcourt, consisting of Alex Franklin, Ryan Rossiter, and O.D. Anosike, is likely the best overall frontcourt in the league. However, Niagara has the best backcourt in the MAAC, which will enable them to compete with Siena whether or not a low-post presence is found.

Senior shooting guard Tyrone Lewis, who led the MAAC with 91 steals and also averaged 16.7 points per game as a junior, is the offensive leader. Although his shooting is sometimes erratic, Lewis is Niagara's go-to-scorer. He'll need to improve his 33.7 percent field goal percentage in order to maximize his effectiveness.

Senior Bilal Benn, a 6'5" versatile guard/forward, is Niagara's best overall player. Although his height indicates he should play the two or three, Benn spent a lot of time at power forward last season because of team needs and his tremendous rebounding ability. He averaged 13.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game and shot 43 percent from the floor. His range extends beyond the arc, as evidenced by his 31.3 percent conversion rate from deep.

On almost any other MAAC team, Lewis and Benn would be under so much pressure to perform their best every night. However, Niagara's Rob Garrison and Anthony Nelson can pick up the slack if the rim is unforgiving for either Lewis or Benn.

Garrison, a senior who transferred from UConn for his final two collegiate seasons, was essential to Niagara's success last season. The 6'2" guard averaged 10.9 points and 2.5 assists per game and proved capable of posting high scoring totals—he contributed over 15 points 11 times last season.

Second to Siena's Ronald Moore in assist-to-turnover ratio, Nelson is a skilled point guard. He typically won't impress you with point totals, but his ability to set up his teammates is rare in the MAAC. Nelson led Niagara with 5.5 assist per game.

Mihalich implemented a nine man rotation last season, but Demetrius Williamson was the only bench player to receive over 10 minutes per game. Williamson, who was the MAAC's best sixth man a year ago, will likely be Niagara's first man off the bench again.

Mihalich is arguably the best coach in the MAAC, although most would give the title to Siena's Fran McCaffery. In his 11th year at the helm of the Purple Eagles, Mihalich assembled a challenging but winnable schedule to help bolster Niagara's tournament resume.

The Purple Eagles open their season at Auburn, who is projected as one of the SEC's worst teams. However, a win at an SEC team can only help the resume. Games at Akron and Illinois State will be tough, but the Purple Eagles should come out on top. Depending on how they fare against Air Force in the Sun Bowl Tournament, the Purple Eagles might play host UTEP.

Expect Niagara to win the majority of their non-conference games and head into MAAC play with a lot of confidence. The Purple Eagles have their weaknesses down low, but they will be hard to defeat in the MAAC.

Projected Finish: 24-6, 14-4 MAAC

MAAC 2009-10 Season Preview: Siena to Threepeat?

Ari Kramer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:16:33 -0400

Not much about the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has changed between last season and today. Sure, Kenny Hasbrouck, Devon Austin, Gary Springer, Ryan Schneider, Benson Egemonye, and Marquis Sullivan all graduated. Chris Smith transferred, Fairfield dismissed Jon Han, and David Devezin is gone due to eligibility issues. But all that is normal. Seniors graduate; others leave for various reasons. It will take some time for MAAC followers to become accustomed to the absence of the Hasbroucks and Austins, but, even without the familiar faces, the general theme of the league will be almost identical to what fans are used to. Once again, Fran McCaffery's Siena Saints are slated as the obvious preseason favorite and Joe Mihalich's Niagara Purple Eagles are close behind in second. After those two, though, spots 3-10 can be taken by anyone. The order of this slideshow is based on last year's final standings.

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The All-Billy Beane Team: Undervalued Players Who Have a Knack for Reaching Base

Ari Kramer — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:48:34 -0400

Billy Beane, the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics, revolutionized how baseball organizations evaluate talent. He and his assistant, Paul DePodesta, realized that a higher team on-base percentage would lead to more run production, so, with a blind eye to batting average, they signed players with high on-base percentages. Unfortunately for Beane, his formula for winning games proved to be so effective—he totaled 102 W's in 2001 and 103 in 2002 with payrolls just over $40 million—that other, richer teams adopted his strategy and were able to lure players who were once affordable to the A's by offering lucrative, unmatchable deals. Inside this slideshow, you will find the All-Billy Bean Team, comprised of players with high on-base percentages and low salaries.

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Introducing Baseball's Jewish All-Stars of 2009

Ari Kramer — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:16:53 -0400

For some annoying reason, a slideshow's introduction must be at least 300 characters, so I will provide you all with a fun fact to fill space. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002, Adam Greenberg spent three seasons in the minors before getting called up in July, 2005. Debuting as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning against the Marlins, Greenberg got plunked. The 5'9" outfielder never saw action again, and, to this day, has one career plate appearance and an on-base percentage of 1.000. Without further ado, Baseball's Jewish All-Stars of 2009.

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As Binghamton Goes, Boston University Is Practically a Big Dance Lock

Ari Kramer — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:42:00 -0400

Within two days, six players were released from the Binghamton basketball program.

Thursday, senior Emanuel Mayben, who averaged 11.5 points per game and led the Bearcats in assists and three-point shooting in 2008-09, was arrested for cocaine distribution and was immediately kicked off the team.

Seniors D.J. Rivera, Malik Alvin, and David Fine, and transfers Paul Crosby and Corey Chandler were released a day later because, as coach Kevin Broadus stated, when "young men in our program don't respect the decisions that have been made or the rules we have in place, then they need to move on with their lives."

Crosby and Chandler would have been required to sit out the 2009-10 season due to transfer regulations, but Rivera, who led the Bearcats with 20 points per game, Mayben, and Alvin were set to lead Binghamton back to the NCAA Tournament.

After losing four to graduation in May and four eligible contributors now, the Bearcats return an extremely meager 13.5 points per game and will be forced to rely on the likes of Chretien Lukusa, Moussa Camarra, four incoming freshmen, and at least two walk-ons.

To sum up, the Bearcats, who were slated to compete with Boston University for the America East crown, will be lucky if they don't finish in last place.

With Binghamton incapable of thwarting them, the Boston University Terriers should have a much easier path to the Big Dance.

The Terriers only lost 5.8 points per game from last season and have established America East stars John Holland and Corey Lowe and budding star Jake O'Brien to lead the team. Holland and Lowe should each appear on the preseason First Team All-Conference.

Marques Blakely and Vermont could threaten BU, but the Catamounts lost two key players to graduation last season.

Photo by BU Athletics

Chris Carpenter Is the National League Cy Young, Hands Down

Ari Kramer — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:27:15 -0400

After examining the seasons of the National League's top Cy Young candidates, one should have no qualms about granting the prestigious accolade to St. Louis' Chris Carpenter.

The tall, hard-throwing righty has never, including his Cy Young season in '05, been so dominant. Carpenter's 2.34 ERA leads the National League and his WHIP is a ludicrous 1.007.

Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and teammate Adam Wainwright are the only other qualified candidates for the award. Each pitcher must be compared to Carpenter in order to comprehend why the selection should be so painless.

To make the process easier, Cain and Lincecum should first be compared to each other. The two teammates possess nearly identical statistics across the board. However, Lincecum has close to 100 more strikeouts and an ERA 24 points higher. If the decision came down to the two Giants for Cy Young, Lincecum would win easily.

Adios, Cain.

Every Tim Lincecum fan believes that The Freak would have a better record on any other team because the Giants' 4.04 runs per game is among the worst in MLB.

I was a firm advocate of that statement until I calculated how many runs the Giants score when Lincecum takes the mound. In 30 Lincecum starts, the Giants have produced an average of 4.57 runs per game, which is 0.14 runs better than the NL average of 4.43 rpg.

Although Carpenter is teammates with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday, he only receives 4.27 rpg. In four less starts and with 0.3 less rpg than Lincecum, Carpenter is 16-4; The Freak is 14-5.

Runs per game and record are not the only categories that should be considered, obviously. Carpenter's 6.79 K/9 seem meager compared to Lincecum's imposing 10.53 K/9. However, the "K" is Lincecum's sole advantage. Carpenter's league-leading ERA is 13 points better and his WHIP is slightly lower.

Lincecum, hit the showers.

The final candidate, Wainwright, is having the year of his life, but a sharper scrutiny of his season will confirm that he is not nearly as deserving of the Cy Young as is his teammate.

Like Lincecum, the "K" is Wainwright's only advantage over the 2005 Cy Young. However, unlike Lincecum, Wainwright posts a K/9 ratio (7.77) that is only slightly better than Carpenter's. Wainwright's ERA is 25 points worse than his teammate's and his 1.212 WHIP can't be compared.

Wainwright's 18-8 record is deceiving not only because he has started five more games, but also because the Cardinals average 5.42 rpg when he starts. That's a whole run difference! Wainwright has won four games in which he surrendered four or more runs. Carpenter is 1-2 in games in which he allowed four or more runs.

Close, but no cigar, Mr. Wainwright.

Carpenter is clearly the best pitcher in the NL and, barring any ridiculously awful finish, should win Cy Young.

Rosh Hashanah: Sports Figures Who Should Take Some Time To Repent

Ari Kramer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:30:11 -0400

Tonight, Jews all over the world will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Judaism's new year. As the holiday commences, God, according to tradition, begins inscribing people into His "Book of Life." One who God judges as someone who should live will be etched in, but one who has been immoral without repenting may not be as likely to survive another year. Jews have a 10 day window between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the final day of judgment, to repent and have their name written in the "Book of Life." On Yom Kippur, the book is sealed until next Rosh Hashanah and the people who didn't get in, according to tradition, perish within the next year. In this slideshow are figures in sports who have done something worth repenting for. Some have already apologized, but the more they repent, the better.

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NCAA Worst: N.J.I.T Looks To Rise From The Depths Of College Basketball

Ari Kramer — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:29:09 -0400

Remember when ESPN quoted New Jersey's Science & Technology University's (N.J.I.T.) Jheryl Wilson saying: "We hit rock bottom. We can only go up?" You probably don't because the Highlanders were even more irrelevant on Feb.17, 2008 than Adam Morrison has been since leaving Gonzaga.

In case you missed or forgot what happened to N.J.I.T. in 2007-08, let me fill you in: the Highlanders became the seventh team to go winless for an entire season. It also took them 19 games to finally emerge as victors the following season.

Two years removed, Wilson's words have the potential to prove true. The bulk of N.J.I.T.'s production will return and a six man recruiting class will add to Coach Jim Engles' options.

Gary Garris, who averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, will be the Highlanders' senior leader. Wilson and Isaiah Wilkerson led N.J.I.T. in scoring and will likely be the go-to-guys once again.

According to ESPN.com's recruit rating system, the average rating of N.J.I.T.'s six incoming freshman is 78.

To provide some perspective, power programs like Duke, UNC, Kentucky, etc. generally average mid to high 90's; mid-majors average anywhere from low to high 80's, depending on the school. A recruiting class this deep and at the independent level of play is something that should not be overlooked.

Engles hopes these freshmen can compete immediately to help improve the Highlanders' statistics from their meager numbers last season. Just under 50 ppg on 34.2 percent field goal shooting, 63.1 percent from the stripe, and 24.8 percent from long range will not produce many W's.

The Highlanders will be a more competent team this year. Engles was a first year coach last year, and, although he had already played two years of college ball, Garris was a first year Highlander.

Now that the core is more comfortable with each other and with the coach, there should be more chemistry. The new players may take some time to fit in, but they should be able to contribute early on.

Engles will need to plan for a similar schedule to the ones the Highlanders have had in the past, mostly independent matches with games against Rutgers, Virginia, and Boston College scattered throughout.

N.J.I.T. is still hopeless against any power conference team, even Rutgers. However, the strength of the independent teams is subject to change each year, potentially providing the Highlanders with some easily winnable games.

With only a few contests scheduled against high level teams and more talent on board, N.J.I.T. should be able to, as Wilson stated, "go up" this season.

A.J. Burnett Must Figure Things Out if New York Yanks Want To Win in Postseason

Ari Kramer — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:14:00 -0400

Joe Girardi and the Yankees are praying that A.J. Burnett will be able to return to his summer form come playoff time.

After a dominant stretch from June 14 until August 7, in which he went 6-2 and posted a 2.32 ERA, the Yankees' hard-throwing righty has been dreadful on a regular basis. Entering today's game, Burnett had allowed 25 earned runs in 36.1 innings in his six starts following the gem he tossed against Boston on August 7. He was 1-3 in those starts.

The month-long disaster continued this afternoon, when Burnett surrendered six earned runs in seven innings. Known as a strikeout pitcher, Burnett only fanned four Orioles.

The former Blue Jay has struggled with his control, and, as a result, hitters are having an easy time teeing off—nine batters have sent a Burnett pitch into orbit in his last seven starts. During his hot streak of 12 outings, the righty allowed only three home runs.

With 19 games left in the regular season, Burnett has about three or four starts remaining to regain his composure and dominance; the Yankees' World Series aspirations could be denied if he can't.

When Burnett's pitching hits a skid, the Yankee rotation becomes debilitated to the point where the Detroit Tigers, their current Division Series opponent, have a more reliable top three starters.

Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in the current AL playoff field; however, teammate Edwin Jackson posts a superior ERA. Together, along with standout rookie Rick Porcello, the Tigers have a rotation capable of shutting down the Yankee offense.

A hot CC Sabathia, a cooling off Andy Pettitte, a struggling Burnett, and an erratic Joba Chamberlain might not be able to beat the Tigers' "Big Three."

Although the Tigers' offense should not be mentioned in the same breath as that of the Yankees, Detroit's pitching versus the Yankees' lack of pitching could make the series interesting.

As long as Burnett gathers himself, the Yankee rotation will be able to beat any postseason offense. However, if Burnett continues to struggle, pressure will mount on Sabathia and Pettitte to win every postseason game they start, which will likely involve outdueling Verlander and Jackson. Easier said than done.