Category: Manhattan

LIU and Manhattan struggle on the road

Both LIU and Manhattan struggled on the road on Friday night. LIU lost at Maryland, 91-74. The final score isn’t actually indicative of how well the Blackbirds played in College Park. This was probably LIU’s most complete effort, although the bench didn’t score a single point. For Manhattan, the 79-45 final score in Friday’s loss to Harvard does say it all. The Jaspers need George Beamon to get healthy, because the offense is a disaster without him.

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Manhattan, minus Beamon, falls to Louisville in opener

Before the game even started it was almost an impossible situation. Manhattan was playing the No. 2 team in the country and the Jaspers’ best player walked into the KFC Yum! Center on crutches. Without George Beamon it was an incredibly difficult hill to climb and Louisville finished off a 79-51 victory.

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MAAC Preseason Top 10 and Player of the Year

During the 2006-07 season, according to kenpom.com, the MAAC has 30 of their 90 conference games determined by four points or fewer or in overtime. That stat made the MAAC that season the most competitive conference out of all 32 conferences. During that season, seven of the 10 teams finished .500 or better. At the end of the MAAC Tournament, second-seeded Niagara won the title with a win over fourth-seeded Siena 83-79, by four points.

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NYC Team Capsules: Manhattan

Last season: 21-13, (12-6 MAAC), Lost to Fairfield 69-57 in CIT
State of Program: Building a perennial contender
Key Players Lost: Kidani Brutus, Liam McCabe-Moran
Incoming Players: Shane Richards (F), C.J. Jones (G), Sky Williams (G), Adam Lacey (C), Paul Bayt (G), Ashton Pankey (So., from Maryland)

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Michael Alvarado
G: Mohamed Koita
G: George Beamon
F: Emmy Andujar
F: Rhamel Brown

Key Reserves: Roberto Colonette (F), Donovan Kates (G), Ryan McCoy (F), C.J. Jones (G), Adam Lacey (C), Paul Bayt (G), Ashton Pankey (F – if eligible)

Biggest Storylines:

1) How will Manhattan deal with being the favorite in the MAAC?
2) The Jaspers struggled a bit towards the end of last season. Did the MAAC catch up to Manhattan’s defensive system?
3) Can Emmy Andujar join George Beamon as a First Team All-MAAC level player?

Analysis: After the biggest turnaround in the country last season the Jaspers appear to be on the fast track towards being a competitive basketball program. Head coach Steve Masiello continues to bring great talent to Riverdale and it should give the Green & White the building blocks of a strong foundation moving forward. The return of a healthy Michael Alvarado is what makes this team so dangerous. His injury near the end of last season was a big blow. Alvarado, Andujar and Beamon will have to stay healthy if the Jaspers are going to put a team that can win multiple NCAA tournament games on the floor. But make no mistake, that’s definitely the goal.

Final Prediction: Manhattan looks like the favorite in the MAAC this season. The Jaspers had the best defense and second best offense in the conference in 2011-12. The defense will be even better in year two under Masiello’s unique defensive schemes. The non-conference schedule is daunting, but the Jaspers won’t have to worry about it if they show up for the MAAC tournament in March.