Mid Major Woes: Inconsistency Continues To Plague The Jaspers

The majority of mid major conferences usually send only one team to the Big Dance each March, and the key to getting there is consistency.  The former bread and butter of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the Manhattan Jaspers, have been incredibly inconsistent over the past few seasons to fall back to mediocrity. 

This season has been no different as Barry Rohrssen's Jaspers have solid victories over Canisus and Fordham coupled with ugly losses to Hofstra and Saint Francis.  Manhattan, tabbed to finish sixth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, has shown flashes of brilliance but also clouds of doubt with their inconsistent play.

A lot of blame has to fall on the players, but I believe it is time for Barry Rohrssen to take responsibility for his fair share of the criticism.  I have heard many people exclaim that Devon Austin has not lived up to the hype that he created throughout his outstanding freshman season.  Arturo Dubois transferred so the Jaspers lost their best low post scoring option.  As well as many other excuses for why Manhattan has not played well.

While these things may be true and they have contributed to the lack of success, the majority of the blame should land squarely on Rohrssen's shoulders.  As a Manhattan College student I pretty much get a free ticket and a front row seat to every single game in Draddy Gymnasium.  The way Rohrssen handles his bench is ludicrous. 

While the majority of the starting lineup has gone unchanged thus far this season, star guard and Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection, Antioine Pearson has only started two games. 

Rumors have been swirling around on campus that there is tension between player and coach, but perhaps that is the reason three players have transferred since Rohrssen's arrival in Riverdale three years ago?  Dubois, Rashad Green, and Christian Jackson have all left Manhattan in the past few years and all have had issues with Rohrssen.

Rohrssen also substitutes players on a whim for simple miscues and mistakes.  In the home opener against Morgan State Pearson stepped out of bounds on one play and was immediately taken out of the game in favor of reserve guard Patrick Bouli.  Forward Brandon Adams missed a rebound and was also quickly substituted for.  The way Rohrssen handles his bench, he is putting extreme pressure on his players to execute flawless basketball.

Also, Rohrssen gives minutes to guys who should be riding the bench instead of taking up room in the rotation.  Patrick Bouli has been given a significant amount of Pearson's minutes early this season. 

I understand Pearson is not superhuman and needs rest but he not Bouli should be in the game during crucial stretches of the second half.  Sixth man Darryl Crawford and forward Andrew Gabriel should be receiving more than twenty minutes each game.  At least Rohrssen has learned this season that Jamel Ferguson and Laurence Jolicoeur should play less minutes.

Rohrssen has hid behind his team's moniker of the "Baby Jaspers" the past two seasons as the young team has struggled.  But now as the majority of the team are juniors there are no excuses for poor play. 

I give Rohrssen until after next season when the current junior class graduates.  If there has not been improvement and success by that time, a new era in Manhattan Jaspers basketball needs to begin.  One that does not include Barry Rohrssen.