Head coach Patrick Chambers' opening statement
Jake O'Brien on staying confident despite missing shots
O'Brien on his involvement in the offense down the stretch
O'Brien describes BU's last offensive possession
Chambers on defending Joe Zeglinski and Carlos Strong's contributions
Chambers on taking away Zeglinski's 3 and BU's improved field-goal defense
Chambers on “getting over the hump” and winning a close game
Chambers on preparing his team for important situations
Chambers on team defense and getting back to basics
Chambers on watching film
Chambers on Valdas Sirutis' 17 minutes and defensive value
Chambers on O'Brien playing well despite shooting poorly
Chambers on adjusting to John Holland's occasional drop in production
Chambers on Corey Lowe's role
Chambers on Lowe's decision-making and practice performance carrying over to games
Chambers on gaining momentum as the America East Tournament approaches
Chambers talks about a “winner's mentality”
Showing posts with label Hartford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hartford. Show all posts
Monday, February 15, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Live Blog: University of Hartford Hawks vs. Boston University Terriers
Starting lineups:
University of Hartford Hawks
F Morgan Sabia
F Anthony Minor
G Milton Burton
G Charles White
G Joe Zeglinski
Boston University Terriers
F Jake O'Brien
F John Holland
C Jeff Pelage
G Carlos Strong
G Tyler Morris
Final score: BU 58, UH 55
Team leaders:
Points
UH: Joel Barkers, 19
BU: Jake O'Brien, 16
Rebounds
UH: Joel Barkers, 13
BU: Jake O'Brien, 14
Assists
UH: Joe Zeglinski, 2
BU: Tyler Morris, 5
Links:
O'Brien's 3 in final moments beats Hartford
Terriers find way to win despite terrible shooting performance
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Nine Teams, Nine Days: Hartford
Last season: 7-26 (2-14 America East), lost in America East Quarterfinals to Binghamton.
Head coach: Dan Leibovitz, 3 seasons, 38-60 record (18-30 AE).
Departing players: Malcolm Campbell, Clint Kuban, Jaret von Rosenberg, Michael Turner, Drake U'u.
Incoming players: Ryan Baker, Joel Barkers, Milton Burton, Ross Erickson, Zack Zeglinski.
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-2009 stats):
G Andres Torres, junior, 5.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG
G Joe Zeglinski, redshirt junior, 15.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG
G/F Milton Burton, junior, 11.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG (Panola College)
F Morgan Sabia, junior, 10.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.6 BPG
F Genesis Maciel, sophomore, 5.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.8 APG
Player to watch: Joe Zeglinski. The junior guard broke out during the 2007-2008 campaign and was off to a good start last season before an ankle injury ended his season after just ten games. Zeglinski ranks among the deadliest perimeter shooters in the conference and is capable of carrying his team offensively for extended stretches. But he isn't just a shooter -- despite being a guard, Zeglinski leads all returning Hawks in rebounds per game.
Biggest strength: Pressure defense. Hidden among the numerous flaws of last year's Hawks was a single strength -- forcing turnovers on defense. Hartford's opponents surrendered the ball on 21 percent of their possessions, both overall and in conference play. That figure ranks second among America East teams. Granted, turnovers are only one of the four defensive factors, and the Hawks ranged from mediocre to miserable in each of the other three (field goal percentage defense, rebounding, and allowing free throw opportunities), but one proficiency is better than none. Jaret von Rosenberg's departure means Hartford will have one less player with a nose for the ball, but Andres Torres and Joe Zeglinski are both skilled pickpockets themselves, so expect this strength to remain intact.
Biggest weakness: Offensive rebounding. There were -- and still are -- a couple of teams in the conference that struggle to generate second-chance opportunities on offense, none more so than the Hawks. Hartford recovered just 24.4 percent of its own misses last season; UMBC was nearest at 28.3 percent, and every other team in the conference managed a rate of 31.8 percent or better. Michael Turner's rebounding skills were mostly seen on the defensive end, but losing a team's best rebounder is never a good thing. The Hawks need Genesis Maciel to become a more assertive interior presence and probably also require significant improvement from at least one other player; barring that, Hartford is likely doomed to a repeat performance on the glass.
Offseason: One year ago, Dan Leibovitz was the belle of the ball, the Hawks were considered title contenders in the AE, and everything was looking up. How a bright outlook evolves into a last-place conference finish is a complex story; more interesting is how the Hawks hope to recover.
Losing Jaret von Rosenberg and Michael Turner will undoubtedly hurt, as should be expected for any team when two of its three best players depart. However, Joe Zeglinski was far and away the best player on Hartford's team while healthy last fall -- his presence alone may be enough to keep the Hawks within striking distance in many of their games.
Guards: As detailed previously, Joe Zeglinski is the straw that stirs the drink. Need a big three to get the offense going? Joe Z can deliver. How about a few extra rebounds to supplement what your board-averse bigs can provide? Zeglinski was averaging a cool 5.5 per game before his ankle gave way. And you need him to create some opportunities for others without getting sloppy with the ball? Number 24 -- no, not Tyler Morris -- posted a sterling 2.7 A/TO. Not too shabby.
Zeglinski's injury thrust then-sophomore guard Andres Torres into a starting role. Torres made his first career start on December 14 against Brown and would be on the court for tipoff for 19 of the remaining 22 games. Torres returns for his junior season, and while he would have been expected to start this season even without last season's experience, those starts should be reflected in his performance this season. Torres has yet to display the ability to consistently knock down the 3, and he turns the ball more than would be desired, but the Puerto Rico native is disruptive on the defensive end and displayed improved skills as a distributor last season. Hartford doesn't need Torres to carry a large portion of the scoring burden. Cutting down on the turnover rate and slightly better shooting -- just enough to keep teams honest -- would go a long way toward helping Hartford climb up the conference standings.
Hartford has several guards on its bench and will most likely spend the first several games settling on a sensible rotation. Clayton Brothers is the player most likely to see significant playing time, as he averaged nearly 18 minutes per game during conference play last season and started five games. Brothers' value primarily lies as an experienced, serviceable guard coming off the bench. As an offensive player Brothers' use is rather limited -- an eFG% under 40 with poor free throw shooting, mediocre rebounding and an 0.6 A/TO ratio is the definition of marginal value at the guard position. The Hawks recruited Brothers in large part because of his defensive skills; while he isn't an elite player on that end of the floor, defense is certainly his strong suit. As long as Brothers does a decent job of slowing down the opponent's primary scoring guard, the Hawks can live with his offensive limitations.
Freshman Charles White should also see some time on the floor after redshirting last season. White will likely see most of his minutes come at the point, given Hartford's need to get as much out of Joe Zeglinski as possible. Although White has some scoring ability, his skills as a distributor are more noteworthy. White will have the opportunity to be the fourth guard in Hartford's rotation and possibly earn additional minutes if effective, most likely at the expense of Brothers.
The Hawks also bring in three new guards, one of whom has a familiar last name. Zack Zeglinski is a senior, Joe's older brother and arrives in Connecticut by way of Penn State and Temple. The older brother played football at Penn State and baseball at Temple; Zeglinski is certainly a Division-I caliber athlete and fielded scholarship offers while in high school, but it's difficult to forecast what impact he could have after so much time spent away from competitive, organized basketball.
Ryan Baker and Ross Erickson are both tall for the position at 6-foot-5. With Joe Zeglinski at the two-guard position, Baker and Erickson will most likely see their best chances for minutes coming at the three rather than the two. Neither player is billed as an excellent passer (something Hartford doesn't particularly need) or rebounder (something Hartford desperately needs), but both are reputed to be talented shooters.
The last guard on the roster, Anthony Panebianco, was a walk-on last year and does not figure to play significant minutes.
Forwards: Morgan Sabia had a wonderful freshman year two seasons ago. As a legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year prior to John Holland's late-season surge, Sabia was a major factor in Hartford's second-place finish and conference finals appearance; his subsequent regression in nearly every important statistical category was and is a major concern. Don't let the 10 points per game and slight uptick in rebounds per game fool you -- after adjusting for minutes played, Sabia's productivity took a noticeable hit last season. Joe Zeglinski's return will help, but Sabia has yet to prove himself as a reliable second option. The Hawks need Sabia to become an impact player this season, either by significantly increasing his scoring output while becoming more efficient or adding another dimension to his game, either as a rebounder or a defender. Doing so would go a long way toward easing the burden placed on Hartford's star in the backcourt.
Genesis Maciel was a serviceable forward for Hartford as a freshman. Like Sabia, Maciel has a relatively atypical skillset for someone standing 6-foot-8 or taller, shooting nearly as well from outside the arc as he does from inside. For a team lacking an interior presence, Maciel offers more of the same -- a proclivity for the outside shot when his body would be best put to use in the paint. It doesn't help matters that Maciel's eFG% was less than 45 percent last season. Sophomores frequently experience an efficiency boost; that, coupled with more aggressive play near the rim, would make Maciel a valuable asset.
Hartford could benefit greatly from the addition of another offensive weapon. The most likely candidate is Milton Burton, a junior transfer from Panola College. The ex-Pony has a versatile game, including range that extends beyond the arc as well as effective shooting from closer to the basket. Burton didn't excel in any individual area at Panola and isn't likely to offer much help in the rebounding department, but he did put up solid totals throughout the stat sheet. If Burton can fill it up for the Hawks and take some offensive pressure off Joe Zeglinski and Sabia, a lack of rebounding from the wing may be forgivable.
Anthony Minor started 33 games as a freshman in 2007-08 but averaged less than 15 minutes per game. Last year Minor started only occasionally and saw a small drop in his numbers but was essentially the same player. The 6-foot-6 junior shoots well over 50 percent from the field and can get to the free throw line, although he doesn't shoot particularly well from the charity stripe. Like the rest of the Hawks, Minor's glaring flaw is his defensive rebounding ability, or lack thereof -- a defensive rebounding percentage (DR%) below 10 is unacceptable for a player who spends so much of his time near the basket. Minor has value due to his ability to provide offense at the forward position, but his lack of secondary skills and tendency to get into foul trouble (he had an FC/40 of 7.7 last year) make him a rotation player at best.
Kevin Estes, also a junior, has 24 career starts to his name and has overall value similar in magnitude to Minor's. Estes' extra inch of height and additional 30 pounds of mass are better put to use on the defensive end, where he posted a DR% of 11.5 last season -- not particularly impressive, but acceptable. However, Estes has a minimal impact on the offensive glass (4.8 OR%) and, like Minor, offers relatively little in the way of secondary skills. Estes and Minor will likely see minutes based on matchups and have more value against teams ill-equipped to take advantage of poor rebounding, but both players are poorly suited to playing significant minutes on a regular basis.
David Bookman, a senior, is the final returning Hawk forward. In three seasons of play, Bookman has one noteworthy performance to his name, a 17-point effort in a 80-63 loss at UMBC last February. There isn't a whole lot to say about Bookman, who has rarely seen opportunities for extended play -- the UMBC game also marked the only time Bookman has played more than 20 minutes -- and hasn't done much in limited playing time to warrant more opportunities other than that one scoring outburst. With two new forwards on the roster, don't expect Bookman's playing time to increase significantly.
If the Hawks are going to improve on the boards this year, the most likely bet is Joel Barkers. Barkers averaged a double-double in junior college before arriving in Hartford and is likely to be the team's best rebounder from the moment he steps on the court. While it's often difficult to project how much forwards junior college forwards will be able to provide, Barkers' rebounding ability should be enough to get him playing time even if the scoring ability never translates to the Division-I level. If Barkers can score he should challenge Maciel for a starting role.
Centers: Center? What's a center?
Hartford doesn't have anyone on its roster who could legitimately be termed a center, at least not in the Shaquille O'Neal sense of the word. Maciel, at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, is the closest match in terms of body type, but his skillset does not match that of a prototypical center and Hartford utilizes him appropriately.
Don't worry, Hartford. You can compete at the Division-I level without a true center. Just look at, oh, about half of your conference-mates.
Outlook: As it stands, Hartford's roster appears to be a couple of pieces short. After Joe Zeglinski, every player is miscast. Sabia looks good as a third or fourth option, but as a second option he's a notch or two below most other AE teams. As a result, Hartford will have to find significant offense from players who aren't quite prepared to provide it (Torres and Maciel) or hope White and the other incoming players can make an immediate impact. Even then, a best-case scenario for Hartford is finishing sixth or seventh.
Head coach: Dan Leibovitz, 3 seasons, 38-60 record (18-30 AE).
Departing players: Malcolm Campbell, Clint Kuban, Jaret von Rosenberg, Michael Turner, Drake U'u.
Incoming players: Ryan Baker, Joel Barkers, Milton Burton, Ross Erickson, Zack Zeglinski.
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-2009 stats):
G Andres Torres, junior, 5.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG
G Joe Zeglinski, redshirt junior, 15.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG
G/F Milton Burton, junior, 11.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG (Panola College)
F Morgan Sabia, junior, 10.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.6 BPG
F Genesis Maciel, sophomore, 5.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.8 APG
Player to watch: Joe Zeglinski. The junior guard broke out during the 2007-2008 campaign and was off to a good start last season before an ankle injury ended his season after just ten games. Zeglinski ranks among the deadliest perimeter shooters in the conference and is capable of carrying his team offensively for extended stretches. But he isn't just a shooter -- despite being a guard, Zeglinski leads all returning Hawks in rebounds per game.Biggest strength: Pressure defense. Hidden among the numerous flaws of last year's Hawks was a single strength -- forcing turnovers on defense. Hartford's opponents surrendered the ball on 21 percent of their possessions, both overall and in conference play. That figure ranks second among America East teams. Granted, turnovers are only one of the four defensive factors, and the Hawks ranged from mediocre to miserable in each of the other three (field goal percentage defense, rebounding, and allowing free throw opportunities), but one proficiency is better than none. Jaret von Rosenberg's departure means Hartford will have one less player with a nose for the ball, but Andres Torres and Joe Zeglinski are both skilled pickpockets themselves, so expect this strength to remain intact.
Biggest weakness: Offensive rebounding. There were -- and still are -- a couple of teams in the conference that struggle to generate second-chance opportunities on offense, none more so than the Hawks. Hartford recovered just 24.4 percent of its own misses last season; UMBC was nearest at 28.3 percent, and every other team in the conference managed a rate of 31.8 percent or better. Michael Turner's rebounding skills were mostly seen on the defensive end, but losing a team's best rebounder is never a good thing. The Hawks need Genesis Maciel to become a more assertive interior presence and probably also require significant improvement from at least one other player; barring that, Hartford is likely doomed to a repeat performance on the glass.
Offseason: One year ago, Dan Leibovitz was the belle of the ball, the Hawks were considered title contenders in the AE, and everything was looking up. How a bright outlook evolves into a last-place conference finish is a complex story; more interesting is how the Hawks hope to recover.
Losing Jaret von Rosenberg and Michael Turner will undoubtedly hurt, as should be expected for any team when two of its three best players depart. However, Joe Zeglinski was far and away the best player on Hartford's team while healthy last fall -- his presence alone may be enough to keep the Hawks within striking distance in many of their games.
Guards: As detailed previously, Joe Zeglinski is the straw that stirs the drink. Need a big three to get the offense going? Joe Z can deliver. How about a few extra rebounds to supplement what your board-averse bigs can provide? Zeglinski was averaging a cool 5.5 per game before his ankle gave way. And you need him to create some opportunities for others without getting sloppy with the ball? Number 24 -- no, not Tyler Morris -- posted a sterling 2.7 A/TO. Not too shabby.
Zeglinski's injury thrust then-sophomore guard Andres Torres into a starting role. Torres made his first career start on December 14 against Brown and would be on the court for tipoff for 19 of the remaining 22 games. Torres returns for his junior season, and while he would have been expected to start this season even without last season's experience, those starts should be reflected in his performance this season. Torres has yet to display the ability to consistently knock down the 3, and he turns the ball more than would be desired, but the Puerto Rico native is disruptive on the defensive end and displayed improved skills as a distributor last season. Hartford doesn't need Torres to carry a large portion of the scoring burden. Cutting down on the turnover rate and slightly better shooting -- just enough to keep teams honest -- would go a long way toward helping Hartford climb up the conference standings.
Hartford has several guards on its bench and will most likely spend the first several games settling on a sensible rotation. Clayton Brothers is the player most likely to see significant playing time, as he averaged nearly 18 minutes per game during conference play last season and started five games. Brothers' value primarily lies as an experienced, serviceable guard coming off the bench. As an offensive player Brothers' use is rather limited -- an eFG% under 40 with poor free throw shooting, mediocre rebounding and an 0.6 A/TO ratio is the definition of marginal value at the guard position. The Hawks recruited Brothers in large part because of his defensive skills; while he isn't an elite player on that end of the floor, defense is certainly his strong suit. As long as Brothers does a decent job of slowing down the opponent's primary scoring guard, the Hawks can live with his offensive limitations.
Freshman Charles White should also see some time on the floor after redshirting last season. White will likely see most of his minutes come at the point, given Hartford's need to get as much out of Joe Zeglinski as possible. Although White has some scoring ability, his skills as a distributor are more noteworthy. White will have the opportunity to be the fourth guard in Hartford's rotation and possibly earn additional minutes if effective, most likely at the expense of Brothers.
The Hawks also bring in three new guards, one of whom has a familiar last name. Zack Zeglinski is a senior, Joe's older brother and arrives in Connecticut by way of Penn State and Temple. The older brother played football at Penn State and baseball at Temple; Zeglinski is certainly a Division-I caliber athlete and fielded scholarship offers while in high school, but it's difficult to forecast what impact he could have after so much time spent away from competitive, organized basketball.
Ryan Baker and Ross Erickson are both tall for the position at 6-foot-5. With Joe Zeglinski at the two-guard position, Baker and Erickson will most likely see their best chances for minutes coming at the three rather than the two. Neither player is billed as an excellent passer (something Hartford doesn't particularly need) or rebounder (something Hartford desperately needs), but both are reputed to be talented shooters.
The last guard on the roster, Anthony Panebianco, was a walk-on last year and does not figure to play significant minutes.
Forwards: Morgan Sabia had a wonderful freshman year two seasons ago. As a legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year prior to John Holland's late-season surge, Sabia was a major factor in Hartford's second-place finish and conference finals appearance; his subsequent regression in nearly every important statistical category was and is a major concern. Don't let the 10 points per game and slight uptick in rebounds per game fool you -- after adjusting for minutes played, Sabia's productivity took a noticeable hit last season. Joe Zeglinski's return will help, but Sabia has yet to prove himself as a reliable second option. The Hawks need Sabia to become an impact player this season, either by significantly increasing his scoring output while becoming more efficient or adding another dimension to his game, either as a rebounder or a defender. Doing so would go a long way toward easing the burden placed on Hartford's star in the backcourt.
Genesis Maciel was a serviceable forward for Hartford as a freshman. Like Sabia, Maciel has a relatively atypical skillset for someone standing 6-foot-8 or taller, shooting nearly as well from outside the arc as he does from inside. For a team lacking an interior presence, Maciel offers more of the same -- a proclivity for the outside shot when his body would be best put to use in the paint. It doesn't help matters that Maciel's eFG% was less than 45 percent last season. Sophomores frequently experience an efficiency boost; that, coupled with more aggressive play near the rim, would make Maciel a valuable asset.
Hartford could benefit greatly from the addition of another offensive weapon. The most likely candidate is Milton Burton, a junior transfer from Panola College. The ex-Pony has a versatile game, including range that extends beyond the arc as well as effective shooting from closer to the basket. Burton didn't excel in any individual area at Panola and isn't likely to offer much help in the rebounding department, but he did put up solid totals throughout the stat sheet. If Burton can fill it up for the Hawks and take some offensive pressure off Joe Zeglinski and Sabia, a lack of rebounding from the wing may be forgivable.
Anthony Minor started 33 games as a freshman in 2007-08 but averaged less than 15 minutes per game. Last year Minor started only occasionally and saw a small drop in his numbers but was essentially the same player. The 6-foot-6 junior shoots well over 50 percent from the field and can get to the free throw line, although he doesn't shoot particularly well from the charity stripe. Like the rest of the Hawks, Minor's glaring flaw is his defensive rebounding ability, or lack thereof -- a defensive rebounding percentage (DR%) below 10 is unacceptable for a player who spends so much of his time near the basket. Minor has value due to his ability to provide offense at the forward position, but his lack of secondary skills and tendency to get into foul trouble (he had an FC/40 of 7.7 last year) make him a rotation player at best.
Kevin Estes, also a junior, has 24 career starts to his name and has overall value similar in magnitude to Minor's. Estes' extra inch of height and additional 30 pounds of mass are better put to use on the defensive end, where he posted a DR% of 11.5 last season -- not particularly impressive, but acceptable. However, Estes has a minimal impact on the offensive glass (4.8 OR%) and, like Minor, offers relatively little in the way of secondary skills. Estes and Minor will likely see minutes based on matchups and have more value against teams ill-equipped to take advantage of poor rebounding, but both players are poorly suited to playing significant minutes on a regular basis.
David Bookman, a senior, is the final returning Hawk forward. In three seasons of play, Bookman has one noteworthy performance to his name, a 17-point effort in a 80-63 loss at UMBC last February. There isn't a whole lot to say about Bookman, who has rarely seen opportunities for extended play -- the UMBC game also marked the only time Bookman has played more than 20 minutes -- and hasn't done much in limited playing time to warrant more opportunities other than that one scoring outburst. With two new forwards on the roster, don't expect Bookman's playing time to increase significantly.
If the Hawks are going to improve on the boards this year, the most likely bet is Joel Barkers. Barkers averaged a double-double in junior college before arriving in Hartford and is likely to be the team's best rebounder from the moment he steps on the court. While it's often difficult to project how much forwards junior college forwards will be able to provide, Barkers' rebounding ability should be enough to get him playing time even if the scoring ability never translates to the Division-I level. If Barkers can score he should challenge Maciel for a starting role.
Centers: Center? What's a center?
Hartford doesn't have anyone on its roster who could legitimately be termed a center, at least not in the Shaquille O'Neal sense of the word. Maciel, at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, is the closest match in terms of body type, but his skillset does not match that of a prototypical center and Hartford utilizes him appropriately.
Don't worry, Hartford. You can compete at the Division-I level without a true center. Just look at, oh, about half of your conference-mates.
Outlook: As it stands, Hartford's roster appears to be a couple of pieces short. After Joe Zeglinski, every player is miscast. Sabia looks good as a third or fourth option, but as a second option he's a notch or two below most other AE teams. As a result, Hartford will have to find significant offense from players who aren't quite prepared to provide it (Torres and Maciel) or hope White and the other incoming players can make an immediate impact. Even then, a best-case scenario for Hartford is finishing sixth or seventh.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Post-game Audio: (America East Quarterfinals)
Post-game audio from the University at Albany's 56-52 overtime win against the University of Vermont:
Albany coach Will Brown's opening statement
Brown on finding ways to score despite poor shooting
Brown discusses the loose ball Marqus Blakely lost out of bounds
Tim Ambrose talks about trying to stay loose down the stretch
Will Harris on Albany's confidence heading into the tournament
Mike Johnson credits his coaches for improved free-throw shooting
Johnson talks about his first half and Albany's group dynamic
Check back again later for more audio!
Albany coach Will Brown's opening statement
Brown on finding ways to score despite poor shooting
Brown discusses the loose ball Marqus Blakely lost out of bounds
Tim Ambrose talks about trying to stay loose down the stretch
Will Harris on Albany's confidence heading into the tournament
Mike Johnson credits his coaches for improved free-throw shooting
Johnson talks about his first half and Albany's group dynamic
Check back again later for more audio!
Live Blog: No. 1 Binghamton University vs. No. 9 University of Hartford
Hello and welcome to the first game of the afternoon session between the play-in game winner, the No. 9 University of Hartford (7-25, 3-14) and top-seeded Binghamton University (20-8, 13-3). Tip-off is set for 6:07 p.m.
No. 9 University of Hartford Hawks
01 Jaret von Rosenberg
03 Michael Turner
11 Andres Torres
23 Morgan Sabia
25 Anthony Minor
No. 1 Binghamton University Bearcats
02 D.J. Rivera
03 Malik Alvin
25 Reggie Fuller
32 Emmanuel Mayen
34 Chretien Lukusa
Final Score: No. 1 University of Binghamton 73, No. 9 University of Hartford 65
Leading scorers:
UH -- Michael Turner, 20
BING -- Malik Alvin, 29
Leading rebounds:
UH -- Morgan Sabia, 8
BING -- D.J. Rivera, 11
Leading assists:
UH -- Andres Torres, 8
BING -- Emanuel Mayben, 5
Friday, March 6, 2009
Post-game Audio: (No. 9 Hartford 65, No. 8 Maine 56)
Here's audio clips from the press conference following No. 9 Hartford's 65-56 victory over No. 8 University of Maine. The Hawks will face top-seeded Binghamton University tomorrow at 6:07 p.m. at the start of the second session.
Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz's opening statement
Leibovitz discusses his team's guarding of Maine's Sean McNally
Jaret von Rosenberg talks about the boost Genesis Maciel gave the team
Leibovitz reflects on his teams' second-half defensive switch
Michael Turner feels his team's effort has remained constant all season
Von Rosenberg looks ahead to Saturday's matchup against Binghamton
Maine coach Ted Woodward's opening statement
Maine's Gerald McLemore and Sean McNally talk about Andres Torres' 3-pointer
McLemore attributes the game's choppiness to turnovers
Woodward attempts to rationalize the loss
Woodward speaks about stumbling upon McLemore while recruiting
Woodward wishes he had more time with this group of players and looks forward
Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz's opening statement
Leibovitz discusses his team's guarding of Maine's Sean McNally
Jaret von Rosenberg talks about the boost Genesis Maciel gave the team
Leibovitz reflects on his teams' second-half defensive switch
Michael Turner feels his team's effort has remained constant all season
Von Rosenberg looks ahead to Saturday's matchup against Binghamton
Maine coach Ted Woodward's opening statement
Maine's Gerald McLemore and Sean McNally talk about Andres Torres' 3-pointer
McLemore attributes the game's choppiness to turnovers
Woodward attempts to rationalize the loss
Woodward speaks about stumbling upon McLemore while recruiting
Woodward wishes he had more time with this group of players and looks forward
Live Blog: No. 8 University of Maine vs. No. 9 University of Hartford
Hello and welcome to your live coverage of the America East Conference Tournament. The tournament kicks off tonight with the play-in game between the No. 8 University of Maine and the No. 9 University of Hartford. The winner will face top-seeded Binghamton tomorrow evening in the first game of the afternoon session (6:07 p.m.).
For a preview of the game, check the post below.
Here are the starting lineups for tonight's game:
No. 8 University of Maine Black Bears
12 Junior Bernal
22 Mark Socoby
32 Gerald McLemore
03 Troy Barnies
21 Sean McNally
No. 9 University of Hartford Hawks
01 Jaret von Rosenberg
03 Michael Turner
11 Andres Torres
23 Morgan Sabia
25 Anthony Minor
Final Score: No. 9 University of Hartford 65, No. 8 University of Maine 56
Box Score
Leading Scorers:
UH -- Jaret von Rosenberg, 21
UM -- Gerald McLemore, 13
Leading Rebounders:
UH -- Two tied at two
UM -- Sean McNally, 7
Leading Assists:
UH -- Andres Torres, 4
UM -- Sean McNally, 4
GAMEDAY: America East Championship, Play-In and Quarterfinals Preview
The weekend that defines the America East Conference is finally here. The tournament kicks off Friday night at 7:05 p.m. between the No. 8 University of Maine and the No. 9 University of Hartford. Then Saturday features eight teams in the most exciting day of the conference's season. One NCAA bid is on the line so without wasting too much of your time, let's get right to the previews.
Friday, March 6:
No. 8 Maine (9-20, 4-12) vs. No. 9 Hartford (6-25, 2-14), 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks are coming off an emotional loss to Boston University in which they came extremely close to ending their dismal 14-game losing streak. While Hartford deserved to win the game, they couldn't make enough plays and/or 3-pointers at the end to pull it out. Maine, on the other hand, lost to Vermont sans Mike Trimboli and is probably playing the worst basketball in the conference. Troy Barnies and Gerald McLemore have been a diamonds in the rough for the Black Bears, but when Mark Socoby's not scoring, it makes things difficult. McLemore could be a difference-maker as the most athletic player on the court in the play-in game, but Hartford's newfound energy could be enough to propel them forward. The winner doesn't get much of a reward, however, as they have to take on top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday. Hartford and Maine split the season series.
Projected starting lineups
Saturday, March 7:
No. 2 Vermont (23-7, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Albany (14-15, 6-10), 12:07 p.m.
Almost all the talk surrounding this game has been centered on Mike Trimboli's mysterious "illness/serious viral infection" and whether or not the first-team senior guard will play on Saturday. According to the Burlington Free Press, he's already returned to practice and made the trip to Albany. It would be a complete shock to see him held out of the lineup, especially in his senior year. How effective he'll be, however, remains to be see. Even if Trimboli doesn't play, UVM still has AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely and a great supporting cast. The Great Danes are in rough shape as their rookie point guard Anthony Raffa and Louis Barraza will likely miss the game with injuries and not even a home-court advantage can help cure that. With a severe lack of depth and being losers of seven of their last eight -- as well as history (a No. 7 seed has never topped a No. 2 seed in the America East Tournament) -- things aren't looking good for the Danes. One glimmer of hope could be that Albany has beaten UVM this season, 82-77 at Patrick Gymnasium.
Projected Starting Lineups
No. 3 Boston U. (17-12, 11-5) vs. No. 6 UMBC (13-16, 7-9), 2:30 p.m.
*See Gameday post above for detailed information.
No. 1 Binghamton (20-8, 13-3) vs. Winner of No. 8/No. 9 play-in game, 6:07 p.m.
Obviously we won't know who Binghamton's playing until the play-in game is over, but it's a safe bet that the Bearcats will match up well against their opponent. Binghamton is the most athletic team in the conference and is on an eight-game winning streak (though some have been by the thinnest of margins) entering the tournament. We'll have more info on this matchup once it's determined.
(Edit: Hartford, by virtue of winning the play-in game, has advanced to the quarterfinals and will be Binghamton's opponent. The Hawks will have to improve on their regular season results against the Bearcats (two losses by seven and 18 points, respectively) while dealing with the effects of playing on short rest with a relatively short bench. Hartford's victory puts the Hawks on their first winning streak since mid-January and nine of the Bearcats' 13 conference wins were by single digits, so don't be surprised if this one stays close.)
Projected Starting Lineup
No. 4 New Hampshire (13-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 Stony Brook (16-13, 8-8), 8:30 p.m.
These two teams faced each other in a thriller at the end of the season with UNH capturing the higher seed on the strength of a 58-57 overtime victory. The Wildcats have beaten the Seawolves twice this season and have won four of their last five games, with the one loss coming to Binghamton by one point in overtime. The Seawolves have been one of the most surprising teams in the conference given their youth and inexperience, but with Tommy Brenton (second in the conference in rebounding) and Muhammad El-Amin does the bulk of the scoring. SBU presents a nice balanced scoring attack and is the best defensive team in the conference. If, however, the Wildcats begin to light it up from beyond the arc -- combined with the in-game coaching of Bill Herrion -- the Wildcats could move on. Given the matchup and the fact they just played one another, this game could turn into a first-round gem.
Projected Starting Lineups
Friday, March 6:
No. 8 Maine (9-20, 4-12) vs. No. 9 Hartford (6-25, 2-14), 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks are coming off an emotional loss to Boston University in which they came extremely close to ending their dismal 14-game losing streak. While Hartford deserved to win the game, they couldn't make enough plays and/or 3-pointers at the end to pull it out. Maine, on the other hand, lost to Vermont sans Mike Trimboli and is probably playing the worst basketball in the conference. Troy Barnies and Gerald McLemore have been a diamonds in the rough for the Black Bears, but when Mark Socoby's not scoring, it makes things difficult. McLemore could be a difference-maker as the most athletic player on the court in the play-in game, but Hartford's newfound energy could be enough to propel them forward. The winner doesn't get much of a reward, however, as they have to take on top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday. Hartford and Maine split the season series.
Projected starting lineups
Saturday, March 7:
No. 2 Vermont (23-7, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Albany (14-15, 6-10), 12:07 p.m.
Almost all the talk surrounding this game has been centered on Mike Trimboli's mysterious "illness/serious viral infection" and whether or not the first-team senior guard will play on Saturday. According to the Burlington Free Press, he's already returned to practice and made the trip to Albany. It would be a complete shock to see him held out of the lineup, especially in his senior year. How effective he'll be, however, remains to be see. Even if Trimboli doesn't play, UVM still has AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely and a great supporting cast. The Great Danes are in rough shape as their rookie point guard Anthony Raffa and Louis Barraza will likely miss the game with injuries and not even a home-court advantage can help cure that. With a severe lack of depth and being losers of seven of their last eight -- as well as history (a No. 7 seed has never topped a No. 2 seed in the America East Tournament) -- things aren't looking good for the Danes. One glimmer of hope could be that Albany has beaten UVM this season, 82-77 at Patrick Gymnasium.
Projected Starting Lineups
No. 3 Boston U. (17-12, 11-5) vs. No. 6 UMBC (13-16, 7-9), 2:30 p.m.
*See Gameday post above for detailed information.
No. 1 Binghamton (20-8, 13-3) vs. Winner of No. 8/No. 9 play-in game, 6:07 p.m.
Obviously we won't know who Binghamton's playing until the play-in game is over, but it's a safe bet that the Bearcats will match up well against their opponent. Binghamton is the most athletic team in the conference and is on an eight-game winning streak (though some have been by the thinnest of margins) entering the tournament. We'll have more info on this matchup once it's determined.
(Edit: Hartford, by virtue of winning the play-in game, has advanced to the quarterfinals and will be Binghamton's opponent. The Hawks will have to improve on their regular season results against the Bearcats (two losses by seven and 18 points, respectively) while dealing with the effects of playing on short rest with a relatively short bench. Hartford's victory puts the Hawks on their first winning streak since mid-January and nine of the Bearcats' 13 conference wins were by single digits, so don't be surprised if this one stays close.)
Projected Starting Lineup
No. 4 New Hampshire (13-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 Stony Brook (16-13, 8-8), 8:30 p.m.
These two teams faced each other in a thriller at the end of the season with UNH capturing the higher seed on the strength of a 58-57 overtime victory. The Wildcats have beaten the Seawolves twice this season and have won four of their last five games, with the one loss coming to Binghamton by one point in overtime. The Seawolves have been one of the most surprising teams in the conference given their youth and inexperience, but with Tommy Brenton (second in the conference in rebounding) and Muhammad El-Amin does the bulk of the scoring. SBU presents a nice balanced scoring attack and is the best defensive team in the conference. If, however, the Wildcats begin to light it up from beyond the arc -- combined with the in-game coaching of Bill Herrion -- the Wildcats could move on. Given the matchup and the fact they just played one another, this game could turn into a first-round gem.
Projected Starting Lineups
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Day After: (BU 67, Hartford 57, OT)
While it was a lackluster finish to the regular season, the Terriers have known their destiny for three games, so not too much stock should be put into the play Sunday afternoon. Still, despite blowing a large lead against the Hawks, the Terriers pulled out a win in their fifth overtime game of the season and fourth OT win. In 2006-07, BU played in four overtime contests and lost each one, while they went to overtime once in 2007-08 and that was a first-round victory in the conference tournament against Albany.
Unfortunately for the Terriers, the most significant occurrence in the game was the severe concussion Matt Wolff suffered four minutes into the contest while fighting for a loose ball (he actually got called for a foul on the play). Wolff was hit hard in the jaw and remained in the game for a few minutes before coming out. He didn't come out of the locker room for the second half. Without him, the Terriers would be significantly shorthanded in the tournament (even though they're matched up against an equally short-handed UMBC squad). Check the blog for updates regarding his health as the tournament draws closer.
As the week draws on, we'll be publishing previews of every tournament game and we'll be live blogging every game from Albany as well, so be sure to visit us often in the coming weeks.
Pros:
-- Sherrod Smith's performance: Smith played 16 quality minutes in what was certainly his best performance since the second game of his freshman year against Harvard. If Matt Wolff isn't healthy, Smith could be called upon to once again play a role as he will almost certainly do in practice this week while Wolff is recovering.
-- Corey Lowe's shooting: After re-gaining his shooting touch in the second half against Iona, Lowe shot the ball very well again, especially for a stretch early in the first half (where he hit three consecutive 3-pointers) and late in the game where he fearlessly took the ball to the hole, and also stepped out, nailing a crucial trey from the right corner late in the game.
Cons:
-- Matt Wolff's injury: Obviously Wolff's injury is the main concern surrounding the Terriers heading into the tournament. If he isn't cleared to play by Saturday, BU's offense will take a significant hit and execute as was shown for stretches during the Hartford game.
-- Lackadaisical attitude: While it was a relatively meaningless game, it still appeared as though BU's attitude changed once it got up and the Terriers never regained a sense of urgency/passion. If that's the case this weekend, it could be a short stay in Albany for BU.
Links:
BU wins on Senior Day
Smith earns minutes and praise
Unfortunately for the Terriers, the most significant occurrence in the game was the severe concussion Matt Wolff suffered four minutes into the contest while fighting for a loose ball (he actually got called for a foul on the play). Wolff was hit hard in the jaw and remained in the game for a few minutes before coming out. He didn't come out of the locker room for the second half. Without him, the Terriers would be significantly shorthanded in the tournament (even though they're matched up against an equally short-handed UMBC squad). Check the blog for updates regarding his health as the tournament draws closer.
As the week draws on, we'll be publishing previews of every tournament game and we'll be live blogging every game from Albany as well, so be sure to visit us often in the coming weeks.
Pros:
-- Sherrod Smith's performance: Smith played 16 quality minutes in what was certainly his best performance since the second game of his freshman year against Harvard. If Matt Wolff isn't healthy, Smith could be called upon to once again play a role as he will almost certainly do in practice this week while Wolff is recovering.
-- Corey Lowe's shooting: After re-gaining his shooting touch in the second half against Iona, Lowe shot the ball very well again, especially for a stretch early in the first half (where he hit three consecutive 3-pointers) and late in the game where he fearlessly took the ball to the hole, and also stepped out, nailing a crucial trey from the right corner late in the game.
Cons:
-- Matt Wolff's injury: Obviously Wolff's injury is the main concern surrounding the Terriers heading into the tournament. If he isn't cleared to play by Saturday, BU's offense will take a significant hit and execute as was shown for stretches during the Hartford game.
-- Lackadaisical attitude: While it was a relatively meaningless game, it still appeared as though BU's attitude changed once it got up and the Terriers never regained a sense of urgency/passion. If that's the case this weekend, it could be a short stay in Albany for BU.
Links:
BU wins on Senior Day
Smith earns minutes and praise
Post-game Photos & Audio: (BU 67, Hartford 57, OT)
Audio from BU's 67-57 overtime win against the University of Hartford on Sunday.
BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement
Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz's opening statement
Wolff on Corey Lowe's play and the second half
Wolff talks about moving on to the tournament and Matt Wolff's impact
Wolff discusses BU's winning season and John Holland's performance
Wolff wanted badly to get senior Sam Tully in the game
Leibovitz reflects on the role of his underclassmen this season
Leibovitz talks about the mentality of his team during the comeback
Live Blog: University of Hartford vs. Boston University
Hello and welcome to this afternoon's live blog of the final regular season game of the year between the University of Hartford Hawks (6-24, 2-13) and the Boston University Terriers (16-12, 10-5) at Agganis Arena. It's Senior Day for Matt Wolff Marques Johnson and Sam Tully.
Here are the starting lineups:
University of Hartford Hawks
01 Jaret von Rosenberg
03 Michael Turner
22 Drake U'u
23 Morgan Sabia
32 Clayton Brothers
Boston University Terriers
02 Matt Wolff
13 Corey Lowe
23 John Holland
31 Scott Brittain
32 Marques Johnson
Final Score: Boston University 67, University of Hartford 57 (OT)
Leading scorers:
UH -- Morgan Sabia, 20
BU -- Corey Lowe, 20
Leading rebounders:
UH -- Jaret von Rosenberg, 7
BU -- Jake O'Brien, 7
Leading assists:
UH -- Andres Torres, 6
BU -- Corey Lowe, 6
GAMEDAY: University of Hartford vs. Boston University
One game remains in the regular season and it's against the worst team in the conference -- the University of Hartford. The game, aside from an opportunity to honor the three seniors in the program -- Matt Wolff, Marques Johnson and Sam Tully -- will give the Terriers a chance to fine-tune their game prior to the tournament. If they win, it would be the first time since 2005-06 that BU would enter the tournament on a winning streak.Aside from honoring the seniors (Wolff and Johnson will most likely start, and we'll see if Tully does the same) the progress of two players will be particularly interesting to follow -- Corey Lowe and Jeff Pelage. Lowe, who had previously been on a nasty shooting slump, started to break out with three second-half 3s in BU's most recent win against Maine. If Lowe can continue to stay locked-in, it would be a huge advantage to the Terriers in the tournament.
Additionally, Jeff Pelage has been playing the best basketball of his young career for roughly
a week between practice and games combined. The 6-foot-9 forward has begun to use his body in a brilliant way, fighting for rebounds and finishing strong around the basket. His continued improvement could help the Terriers greatly as they make their run at a conference championship.The games prior to BU's 3:00 p.m. start time will determine who the No. 6 seed in the America East Tournament will be, so we commend your attention to them.
Also, be sure to check the blog at noon for live coverage of the women's basketball game as part of a double header at Agganis Arena.
Links:
Holland dunk highlight vs. Maine
Projected Starting Lineups
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Day After: (BU 72, Hartford 47)
Pros:
-- Closing out the game: In the past, BU has been hampered by its inability to finish games and become lackadaisical after going up big, but a key 3-pointer by Marques Johnson followed by a trey from Corey Lowe helped prevent that.
-- Bounce-back ability from a bad practice: The Terriers had a poor practice two days before the game, but were able to regroup and dismantle a Hartford squad that beat them in last years' America East Tournament.
-- Scott Brittain's blocks: Brittain had five blocks as he continues to swat more shots as conference play progresses.
Cons:
-- Even rebounding margin: There's really not much else at all to find negative about the way the Terriers won this game, but something's got to go in the "con's" spot. No?
Links:
Terriers crush Hartford
-- Closing out the game: In the past, BU has been hampered by its inability to finish games and become lackadaisical after going up big, but a key 3-pointer by Marques Johnson followed by a trey from Corey Lowe helped prevent that.
-- Bounce-back ability from a bad practice: The Terriers had a poor practice two days before the game, but were able to regroup and dismantle a Hartford squad that beat them in last years' America East Tournament.
-- Scott Brittain's blocks: Brittain had five blocks as he continues to swat more shots as conference play progresses.
Cons:
-- Even rebounding margin: There's really not much else at all to find negative about the way the Terriers won this game, but something's got to go in the "con's" spot. No?
Links:
Terriers crush Hartford
Saturday, January 31, 2009
GAMEDAY: Boston University vs. the University of Hartford
A winning streak is no easy thing to extend -- especially in the America East, where every one of the nine teams has shown the ability to beat any other on a given night. But the Terriers will look to do just that Saturday against the worst team in the conference (Hartford). The Hawks are on a five game losing streak, while BU will look to push its season-high winning streak to five games. If the Terriers win, they'll tie their longest winning streak in the last three seasons. The game is also televised nationally on ESPNU, which probably gives an added edge to Hartford and its fans as students and others who wouldn't normally attend the game will fill out the stands.While the Terriers had two days off at the beginning of the week (which undoubtedly helped them regain the strength and stamina they lost over their last trying stretch of four games in nine days) their last two practices have left something to be desired. While the time off was necessary, one wonders if it will hamper the Terriers and remove them from their steadfast groove of solid play.
If that's the case, Hartford's an ideal opponent for BU to start its newest fatigue-plagued stretch against (four games in eight days). The Hawks have the worst record in the conference and haven't lived up to
expectations. To make matters worse, they lost their best player in mid-December (junior guard Joe Zeglinski) and he won't return this season. Zeglinski was averaging 15.3 points per game. Since his departure, senior guard Jaret von Rosenberg has shouldered the load, scoring 13.7 points per game. While Hartford is a decent offensive team (63.7 points per game), their defense has been their downfall. In addition, the Hawks doesn't rebound particularly well (especially offensively), so if they're struggling from the field, they probably won't get many second chances at net.For the Terriers, John Holland and Corey Lowe have been unbelievable since the beginning of conference play. Lowe is averaging 18.2 points per game, while Holland is averaging 17.8 points per game (third and fourth in the conference respectively). In addition to BU's two biggest scoring threats, however, the Terriers will need contributions from their big men in the middle. Scott Brittain has averaged 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game since being re-inserted into the starting lineup. BU coach Dennis Wolff, however, is still looking for more out of his junior forward and much more from freshman forward Jeff Pelage. Pelage has been a bit of an enigma this season as he's shown flashes of brilliance, but hasn't been able to consistently display the proper effort necessary for a collegiate basketball player. If he does, Pelage could be an extremely dangerous weapon for the Terriers, especially given the shortened bench.
Projected starting lineups:
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