Over the past few seasons, the NEC and their athletic directors have done an excellent job promoting their basketball league. There’s been the wonderful advent of NEC Front Row, a free online streaming service that Big Apple Buckets recently profiled. Using social media, the NEC has been aggressive in successfully promoting its product. Thanks to league initiatives, the technology in all NEC gyms has improved as well. Overall, you’d be hard pressed to find someone upset with the recent decision-making of the NEC. Continue reading “Unbalanced NEC Schedule Garners Mixed Reaction Among Coaches”
Category: NEC
LIU Brooklyn Continues to Garner Little Respect From the National Media
On Wednesday, USA Today began its series of profiling every team they project will make the 2014 NCAA tournament. And wouldn’t you know it, team #68 is the NEC’s own Robert Morris Colonials!
Continue reading “LIU Brooklyn Continues to Garner Little Respect From the National Media”
Shivaughn Wiggins Released of His Scholarship at Mount St. Mary’s
Shivaughn Wiggins, the reigning NEC rookie of the year has been granted his release from Mount St. Mary’s. The 5’10” combo guard averaged 9.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game during his rookie campaign. Continue reading “Shivaughn Wiggins Released of His Scholarship at Mount St. Mary’s”
Christian Bolsters Backcourt in Mount St. Mary’s Latest Recruiting Class
When Jamion Christian accepted the head coaching position at Mount St. Mary’s last March, he saw that only one scholarship was available for his 2013-14 roster. With this in mind, Christian scooped up Khalid Nwandu last November to occupy the scholarship vacated by a soon to be graduating Raven Barber. Still, Christian and his staff continued to scour the landscape for 2013 recruits, just in case. Continue reading “Christian Bolsters Backcourt in Mount St. Mary’s Latest Recruiting Class”
Best Coaches Never to Make the NCAA Tournament
Two Sundays ago, as I was watching Lee Westwood essentially choke away an opportunity to shed the label of “best golfer never to win a major”, it dawned upon me to create this post. Locally on the East Coast, there are a few bright, young coaches that haven’t been able to break through and get to the NCAA tournament, so I decided to comprise a list of the best active coaches never to qualify for the Big Dance.
With most, if not all, of these coaches, they likely won’t find themselves on a list like this for too long. But for now, these coaches must continue to forge ahead without that elusive “NCAA appearance” etched on their resume. John and I present to you our top 10.
10) Mitch Henderson, Princeton
Career record: 37-23
Henderson’s body of work as the main man in Princeton isn’t robust with only 60 career games. But after back-to-back 10-4 seasons in the Ivy League, it’s becoming clear this guy can flat out coach. Season number three will be quite interesting without the services of Ian Hummer, but it wouldn’t surprise us if the long time Northwestern assistant someday follows the career path of his predecessors Sydney Johnson and John Thompson III. If only mid-major powerhouse Harvard didn’t stand in the way, things could be a little easier for the Tigers.
9) Tom Moore, Quinnipiac
Career record: 108-81 (1 NEC regular season championship, 1 NIT, CIT, and CBI appearance)
At the mid-major level, no one has gotten his team to play better in the month of February than Moore. Since becoming Quinnipiac’s head coach in 2007, the Bobcats have posted a splendid 36-12 record in February. The following month, on the other hand, has given Moore a healthy dose of disappointment. In their last four NEC tournaments, the Bobcats have fallen to the eventual champion – Robert Morris and LIU Brooklyn each twice – by a combined scoring margin of 15 points. It’ll only get more difficult for Moore and company next season as the newest members of the MAAC, but the relentless former Jim Calhoun assistant may be cutting down the nets someday soon.
8) Michael White, Louisiana Tech
Career record: 45-23 (1 WAC regular season championship, 1 NIT appearance)
After White guided Louisiana Tech to the most regular season victories (26) in school history, the Bulldogs were stunned in the first round of the WAC tournament, falling to the #9 seed Texas – San Antonio. The Bulldogs recovered nicely by upsetting Florida State in the first round of the NIT, yet White fell short of getting his program to the NCAAs for the first time since 1991. He’s since signed an extension, and the Bulldogs return eight of their top nine players from last season. In other words, Louisiana Tech and White should make some noise in the more competitive Conference USA.
7) Dan Hurley, Rhode Island
Career record: 46-44
Dan Hurley, a coach college basketball fans are programmed to either love or hate, was perhaps the most speculative pick of this group. Quite frankly, Hurley still has a lot to prove in the Atlantic 10 as his staff attempts to rebuild a Rams program that hasn’t qualified for the NCAA tournament since 1999. (You remember embattled head coach Jim Harrick, don’t you?) While at Wagner, Hurley elevated the program to a level no one was expecting – a 25-6 record in the 2011-12 season. That season wasn’t a fluke either – ask most NEC head coaches and they’ll privately tell you that Hurley was one of the most respected and feared coaches in the conference during his brief stay.
6) Doug Wojcik, College of Charleston
Career record: 164-103 (2 NIT appearances, 2 CBI appearances)
An offseason ago, Wojcik was run out of Tulsa for failing to propel the Golden Hurricane to the big dance, before settling at College of Charleston. (He surely won’t run into Memphis there, who Wojcik was a putrid 1-14 against.) He may be the only coach on this list who was fired, but he also owns one of the best winning percentages of this group. Five 20 win seasons and four postseason tournament appearances is nothing to scoff at, and Wojcik had Tulsa consistently ranked in the KenPom Top 100 during his tenure. One of these years, a NCAA tournament appearance is bound to happen and it may be more likely in the CAA.
5) Bob Hoffman, Mercer
Career record: 167-150 (1 Atlantic Sun regular season championship, 1 NIT and CIT appearance)
Before Hoffman appeared, Mercer basketball experienced a meager three seasons of winning basketball, in their previous 23 years. The former Texas-Pan American head coach has catapulted Mercer to an 89-53 mark since taking over, easily the best stretch of basketball in program history. Last season, his team was a great second half away from their first NCAA tournament since 1985, but Florida Gulf Coast (you may remember them as Dunk City) beat Mercer in the finals of the Atlantic Sun tournament. With only Travis Smith graduating, Hoffman could find his name in the spotlight come March, much like Andy Enfield did this past season.
4) Ed Cooley, Providence
Career record: 126-101 (2 NIT appearances, 1 CIT appearance)
You won’t find many head coaches leading a power conference squad on this list, mainly because getting to March Madness shouldn’t be all that difficult for those programs. With Cooley entering his third season at Providence, however, he’s been given the benefit of the doubt based on the degree of difficulty in elevating the Friars to the upper echelon of the Big East. Cooley is one heck of a recruiter, but he’ll need better fortune (see Ledo, Ricky) to succeed in what projects to be a brutal basketball conference. Three postseason appearances in four seasons isn’t bad, but at the Big East level, Friar fans will become antsy in a hurry if Cooley doesn’t enhance his coaching resume with a NCAA appearance very soon.
3) Andy Toole, Robert Morris
Career record: 68-36 (1 NEC regular season championship, 1 NIT and CIT appearance)
While Robert Morris received national fame with their upset victory over Kentucky in the first round of last season’s NIT, the Colonials still fell short of their ultimate goal of reaching the NCAA tournament. Toole has gotten his Colonials to the precipice in all three of his seasons, remarkably from age 29-32. Still, the young coach has endured three grueling losses in the NEC tournament, with the latest surprisingly coming at the hands of Mount St. Mary’s. Despite the early spring hardships, Toole was given a good look by Siena for their vacant position before signing Jimmy Patsos, and it certainly won’t be the last time he’s near the top of any program’s head coaching wish list.
2) Cuonzo Martin, Tennessee
Career record: 100-69 (1 MVC regular season championship, 3 NIT appearances, 1 CIT appearance)
The only other power conference coach you’ll find here is Martin, who inherited a Tennessee program that was left in the wake of Bruce Pearl’s BBQ inspired mess. Since taking over after guiding Missouri State to 26 victories in the difficult Missouri Valley Conference, Martin has stabilized the program, winning 20 games and nine of his final 12 en route to a second consecutive NIT appearance. Of course, annual NIT trips aren’t acceptable for Volunteer Nation, but with Tennessee’s top four scorers returning, we don’t expect Martin to be on this list for much longer.
1) Steve Pikiell, Stony Brook
Career record: 120-126 (3 America East regular season championships, 3 NIT appearances)
Pikiell’s career record is misleading, after all he inherited a program badly struggling to make the transition to Division I basketball. Despite winning only 20 games in his first three seasons at the helm, Pikiell has turned the Seawolves into an America East powerhouse, going 100-59 since. In that time, Stony Brook has won three regular season championships, yet hasn’t broken though in their postseason tournament to punch their ticket. Last year seemed brutally harsh – the Seawolves fell victim to the small-conference entertainment complex, losing in the America East semifinals to #4 seeded Albany in their own building. One of these seasons, Pikiell’s transformation of the Stony Brook program will be complete, and it’s our guess Seawolf fans will see their team dancing in the NCAAs next March.
Also Considered:
Rob Senderoff, Kent State
Billy Donlon, Wright State
Steve Masiello, Manhattan
Derek Kellogg, UMass
Did we overlook a coach or do you disagree with the rankings? Feel free to let us know your feedback in the comments section!
You can follow Ryan on Twitter @pioneer_pride. You can e-mail Ryan at shupioneerpride@gmail.com.
Recruiting Recap: Robert Morris, Toole Forced to Reload Roster With Six Newcomers
After enduring a wild postseason which included a devastating loss in the NEC semifinals, only to be followed by the greatest win in program history, Robert Morris is in an unusual position. Andy Toole and his staff must reload. Three fifths of the starting lineup has moved on, along with more than 45% of their possession minutes from last season. Continue reading “Recruiting Recap: Robert Morris, Toole Forced to Reload Roster With Six Newcomers”
Recruiting Recap: Sacred Heart Adds Four to Latest Recruiting Class
This may be Anthony Latina’s first offseason as Sacred Heart’s head coach, yet this is far from his first true recruiting class. Since hired as Dave Bike’s associate head coach in 2005, Latina and assistant Johnny Kidd have spearheaded the majority, if not all, of the recruiting efforts. This four player class – five if you include red-shirt freshman Cole Walton – is critical toward determining Latina’s near-term future, given the current state of the Pioneer’s roster.
With a backcourt full of experienced upperclassmen, Latina wanted to infuse his bench with much-needed youth, hence the addition of guards Leo Vincent and Jordan Gleason. The 6’0″ Leo Vincent, in particular, has the best chance to find minutes in the backcourt thanks to his versatility as a true combo guard. Vincent compares most favorably to former Sacred Heart standout Jerrell Thompson, who as an upperclassman had a productive career in the red and white. Like Thompson, Vincent has the ability to use his athleticism and shiftiness to score from all parts of the floor. All accounts report that Vincent is a pure scorer, yet the biggest question may be how easily Vincent can get open looks at the Division I level. Nevertheless, Latina is excited about his future.
“He can really score,” said Latina. He’s a guy that can score in bunches.”
On the other hand, the accomplished Gleason profiles strictly as a shooting guard who can really stroke it from behind the arc. Playing time may be scarce in year one, but at 6’2″, Gleason compares favorably to another Sacred Heart guard you may or may not have heard of.
“He is very similar to, and believe me I don’t want to say this because he’s one of the best players in the history of Sacred Heart basketball, but (Jordan) is similar to Shane Gibson,” proclaimed Latina. “We think in time, he can be a terrific three-point shooter for us.”
These days, finding an “under the radar” recruit is near impossible, yet Latina may have one on his roster in 6’5” swingman De’Von Barnett. A Google search on Barnett will garner next to nothing (go ahead and try), both on Youtube or in online newspaper clippings.
In his final season at the high school level, Barnett was part of a loaded Riverdale Baptist club that included CCSU’s Brandon Peel. Due to Riverdale’s impressive depth, which included five to six Division I players, Barnett saw less playing time, and ultimately, had difficulty getting noticed by D-I coaches not named Johnny Kidd. After turning down an offer by Radford in the spring after his senior season, Barnett opted to attend junior college for a year while accepting Sacred Heart’s offer. Little may be known about Barnett, but Latina feels like they found a diamond in the rough.
“De’von is long, athletic, there are a lot of good things about him, but one of the things that excites me as much as anything, I think he’s a great team guy,” said Latina. “In a time where there’s no sleepers or under-the-radar guys, we are hoping we found one in De’von Barnett. I really am extremely excited about him. I love his mental makeup, his approach.”
As an aggressive slasher who can create around the rim, Barnett could find minutes backing up Louis Montes or Chris Evans this season. Out of this class, Latina feels Barnett could force the staff to find him minutes during the season.
Due to the sudden departure of De’Aires Tate, Latina had two more scholarships available even after signing Vincent, Gleason, and Barnett. Scholarship number twelve came straight out of the junior college ranks with the addition of Eyidome “Mofe” Edukugho. Mofe was a preseason Division II All-American who unfortunately torn his ACL in the first game of his sophomore season at Erie CC. Despite the season ending injury, Sacred Heart swooped in and offered the undersized, yet explosive 6’6″ Edukugho, who has three years of eligibility remaining. It’s likely that he would’ve ended up at a bigger DI school had he remained healthy.
When healthy, Edukugho can create havoc around the rim on both ends of the floor with his excellent athleticism. His knee is currently around 70%, yet he’s projected to be at full strength by the first jump ball in November.
Finally, there’s 6’11” prospect Cole Walton, who red-shirted last season to add some bulk to his wiry frame. Latina is expecting Walton will add depth to the center position and give the Pioneers another option to consider down low.
“He’s a skilled “5”, so he can play the high post, because he’s a very good passer and he can make a 15-footer,” said Latina. “He’s not a guy who just has to be around the rim.”
With only 53.2% of Sacred Heart’s returning possession minutes returning from last season, these five newcomers will be expected to contribute, especially if the Pioneers want to surprise in the NEC. Evan Kelley and Chris Evans return from injury after a lost 2012-13 season, so there’s clearly upside despite losing All-NEC first teamer Shane Gibson. It remains to be seen if Sacred Heart will finally return back to their glory days of the middle of the last decade.
You can follow Ryan on Twitter @pioneer_pride. You can e-mail him at shupioneerpride@gmail.com.
Shane Gibson Makes Sacramento’s NBA Summer League Roster
Shane Gibson is attempting to do something only seven other NEC basketball players have ever done – play professionally in the NBA. Gibson told Big Apple Buckets at the conclusion of last season that anything short of the NBA wasn’t acceptable, and it appears the Sacred Heart standout is now one step closer to that goal. Continue reading “Shane Gibson Makes Sacramento’s NBA Summer League Roster”
Recruiting Recap: Incoming Freshmen Give Bryant, Tim O’Shea Much Needed Depth
With the possible lone exception of Mount St. Mary’s, no team in the NEC surprised pundits more than the Bryant Bulldogs last season. A veteran lineup supplemented with two promising transfers in Dyami Starks and Joe O’Shea helped elevate Bryant to an unprecedented 19-win season.
The 17-win turnaround from the season prior made NCAA history, even though Bryant finished their 2012-13 campaign with only six victories in their final 14 games. A small rotation and average at best athleticism inevitably did Tim O’Shea’s group in, and that was no more evident than during their February road loss to the aforementioned Mountaineers. After the defeat, a candid O’Shea admitted his team’s athleticism, depth, and defensive prowess wasn’t where it needed to be.
Now, however, O’Shea could be faced with a new “problem”. The sixth Division I season in Bryant’s history may result in the most depth the program has ever seen. After struggling to find production off the bench, is it possible O’Shea has too many backup options?
“It’s amazing how things have changed in just a couple of seasons, because in the past I couldn’t scrap together what I thought was a credible top five, let alone a top eight,” said O’Shea. “Now I think I have good players, one through 13 on scholarship. I have a lot of options. I guess it’s a problem, but it’s a good one.”
Of course, there’s the top four of Starks, Alex Francis, Corey Maynard, and Joe O’Shea, but after that it’s an open competition for rotation spots five through ten.
The biggest question heading into the offseason is how O’Shea compensates for the loss of All-NEC third teamer Frankie Dobbs. The point guard was instrumental in Bryant’s success, so the challenge will be replacing his minutes, and superb production. Sophomore Shane McLaughin, who averaged 1.0 point and 1.3 assists per game as a freshman, will have an opportunity to make an impact. Red-shirt freshman Declan Soukup, an Australian native, should also compete for minutes at the point.
The third member of the point guard competition happens to be the most notable freshman of O’Shea’s incoming class – 5’9″ point guard Justin Brickman. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Justin’s older brother, Jason, has been terrorizing NEC opponents for the past three seasons as a member of the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds.
While it seems lazy to use Jason Brickman as a player comp to his brother, it’s likely the most suitable. Like his brother, Justin profiles as a heady floor general with excellent court vision, an impressive handle, and the ability to knock down the long-range jumper. Despite the success the Brickman family has had playing Division I basketball – older brother Jordan also played one season for Navy – O’Shea is tempering his expectations for the youngest Brickman in season number one.
“It’s so hard, when kids are going from high school to college, you never know how (their game) translates,” O’Shea cautioned.
Behind Alex Francis, there’s an impetus of high upside youth in O’Shea’s front court, highlighted by Australian native Bosko Kostur and Connecticut product Daniel Garvin. Both players, listed at 6’7″ and 6’8″ respectively, possess impressive athleticism and come advertised with unique talents.
“High skill level, and a good first step,” said O’Shea when asked to describe Kostur, his latest player from the Land Down Under. “He has a good feel for the game like all my Australians and is a tough kid. All signs point to a guy who could be a really good player in our conference.”
While Kostur has excellent perimeter skills that could make him a “stretch four” in the NEC someday, Garvin may very well be the freshman with the highest ceiling of this recruiting class. The 6’8″ power forward, who could transition into a small forward at the collegiate level, displayed tremendous above-the-rim athleticism at Bethel High. Even though the competition for the western Connecticut school wasn’t top-notch, it was impossible to ignore Garvin’s ability to rebound, defend, and create havoc around the rim.
“(Garvin) is a tremendous athlete,” said O’Shea. “He’s so gifted physically – he has great athleticism and instincts – but he played in a low-level, in terms of high school competition. Making that transition, that’s going to be the key.”
The last recruit is Ellis Williams, a 6’8″ banger down low. With a wide frame and broad shoulders, the physical Williams has an opportunity to occupy the minutes lost with the graduation of overachieving center Vlad Kondratyev. Red-shirt freshman Andrew Scocca should compete for minutes with Williams at the “5” when O’Shea isn’t implementing a small-ball type of roster. Now healthy, Scocca only played nine games in his first season as a Bulldog, due to an unusual bacterial infection.
In total, nearly half of Bryant’s scholarship players are freshmen, yet O’Shea is excited about the team’s short-term prospects. Despite the youth movement, Bryant has enough veteran leadership at the top to consider the Bulldogs a worthy challenger to the NEC title. With more athleticism now at O’Shea’s disposal, the long time head coach is certainly optimistic about the position of his program.
“I like our chances. We have the chemistry. We’re going to have a tough non-conference schedule, but if we get through that OK, then I think we’ll be fine and in the mix the whole way.”
You can follow Ryan on Twitter @pioneer_pride
Reflection as Quinnipiac Leaves the NEC for the MAAC
Note: This is Vincent Simone’s first post on Big Apple Buckets. Vincent is a new writer on the site and will be posting occasionally on Quinnipiac and beyond. Continue reading “Reflection as Quinnipiac Leaves the NEC for the MAAC”
NYC Buckets Archive 