Umar Shannon played the hero once again, as the graduate transfer from Saint Francis University nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift the Quinnipiac Bobcats over the Niagara Purple Eagles 90-88 Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center in Lewiston, NY. Continue reading “Quinnipiac 90, Niagara 88”
Columbia, Manhattan and Iona all captured important victories on Friday night. Here are some thoughts from each. Continue reading “Quick Thoughts on Three Wins”
When he first arrived and met with players individually, first-year head coach Chris Casey knew to task junior Antoine Mason with being a leader on this year’s team. Continue reading “Niagara Chris Casey Challenged Antoine Mason To Lead”
Junior Antoine Mason is no longer known just for his strong basketball lineage. He has been making national headlines by leading the country with 26.6 points per game. Continue reading “Niagara’s Antoine Mason Changing the Game by Getting to the Line”
An 11 point first half from Zaid Hearst helped Quinnipiac pull out to an early lead as they won comfortably over the Niagara Purple Eagles on Saturday afternoon to improve to 6-2 in MAAC play.
Niagara’s Antoine Mason, the nation’s leading scorer, was held in check for the first half, but finished with a game-high 28 points. Continue reading “Quinnipiac 85, Niagara 71”
The MAAC regular season seems to be flying by. Things are playing out quite close to expectations. There’s a troika leading the way at 5-1 and then some interesting teams chasing (and occasionally challenging) the favorites. Can in-conference efficiency margins tell us anything about these teams? Let’s take a look. Continue reading “Tempo-Free MAAC: Jan. 12”
Niagara head coach Chris Casey promised a team that would get up and down, perhaps even more than his predecessor, as the Purple Eagles lead all MAAC teams in scoring with 81.5 points per game.
For a team that has scored over 90 points four times already this season, they have been held to under 75 points in their other four games. The inconsistent play has lead to a 1-7 start despite the offensive showing.
“I think we’ve been successful at it for some games, not all of them,” Casey said of the offense he would like to play. “I would like to try to get up and down the court and I think for the most part we’ve done that. Now we have to be able to do it and handle the ball a little bit better and finish a little bit better around the basket. As a foundation I think we’re doing a pretty good job of trying to get the ball up and down the floor.”
The Purple Eagles will be formidable pushing the ball and their tempo of 75.6 possessions per game is sixth highest in the country. Junior Antoine Mason has been unleashed on the country, leading the nation with over 30 points per game.
“He’s doing some really good things and what he’ll start to learn now is, as the season goes on, he’s going to get a lot more attention,” Casey said. “He’s going to have to be able to still pick his spots and also continue to learn how to get others involved, because the more plays other guys are making, the more it’s going to even loosen up for him further. That’s something that he’s learning and that’s part of his evolution and his growth as a player.”
Mason and senior Marvin Jordan have provided the punch at the guard positions for the Purple Eagles, while freshman Wesley Myers has provided a quick scoring guard presence off the bench. However, they have yet to get consistent inside play. Graduate transfer Marcus Ware and freshman Ramone Snowden have shown off their ability in scoring, but never in the same game together.
“Some of it is youth and some of it is being new playing together,” Casey said. “We need to get consistent performances from everybody and we also need to get a consistent performances individually, but also consistent performances collectively as a team.”
“We have stretches in games where we play really well and then we’ll have a stretch where we’ll turn it over three out of five possessions, or miss two or three layups, or not get stops defensively and those are all things that we have to get better at. Our performance has to become more consistent. We’re doing some very positive things, we’re not doing them for long enough stretches or consistently.”
One issue that has defined Casey’s tenure so far has been fouling. The offense gets to the free throw line at a top 20 rate in the country, but the defense has allowed teams to get there just as much through eight games. Casey’s debut as head coach against Seton Hall saw a game that is now infamous for the new rules in college basketball: 73 total fouls and 102 free throws in a 40 minute regulation 83-72 loss on November 9.
“We have some guys who are coming off playing a lot of zone and, not that one’s better than the other, it’s just different so there’s different concepts to learn and to get good at,” Casey said of playing his style of defense while acknowledging fouling has been an issue. “We have improved. Arkansas State was a very good offensive team and we held them to 43% from the floor, I think it was 33% from 3 which those are lows for us on the season, so there has been some improvement in those areas. It has to be more consistent than awareness of in game situations defensively, so that we’re being proactive instead of reactive.”
After notching a victory over Buffalo in their home opener, the Purple Eagles were away on a six game, 14-day road trip across the country. Despite not getting the results they wanted, Casey said that he feels his group came even closer together on the trip.
“We have a very good group, a hard working group, and a very positive group,” Casey said. “I feel like we did come closer together and I think that’s a good personality trait for your team. We’re hopeful that as we continue to approach it like that, that the results are going to improve.”
Ryan Restivo covers the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and America East conference for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo or contact Ryan at rrestivo[at]nycbuckets.com.
Head coach Chris Casey had his first chance to work with his team in summer workouts, after revamping a roster that once had as many as eight spots open during the early part of his tenure.
“I think you’re always recruiting,” Casey said. “I don’t think it’s ever done. I’m anxious to get on the floor with the guys we have and see what we got. I think they’re a good group and you want to get them on the floor and coach them and see exactly what you have and that’s the point we’re at now.”
The head coach and his staff have been busy since taking over in April and added four players to the roster as late as August when the Purple Eagles officially added transfers Cameron Fowler and Marcus Ware as well as freshmen Wesley Myers and Ramone Snowden to the roster.
Casey and Fowler received good news in August when Fowler’s hardship waiver was accepted by the NCAA. For the redshirt freshman Fowler, a transfer who sat out last season at Iowa State, it will mean four immediate years of eligibility.
“He can get us up and down the floor play both guard spots,” Casey said of Fowler. “His shooting is improving daily. We’re hopeful that he can step right in and give us some minutes right away.”
Meanwhile the Purple Eagles closed in on Ware, who has battled injuries in his four year career at Monmouth, and Casey said that Ware is healthy and ready to go for his fifth-year graduate transfer season.
The Purple Eagles added freshmen Myers and Snowden late, and despite missing summer workouts, both should have an opportunity to contribute for Casey’s team.
“He can score the ball,” Casey said of Myers. “Guys that can score always make you look smart, so we’re looking forward to getting him on the floor and getting him out in transition. I think he scores the ball well especially in transition.”
Also in the late period they added Snowden who racked up 22 double-doubles in his senior season and was named the 18th best prospect in the state of Virginia.
“He’s very versatile in the forward spot for us and can guard different positions,” Casey said. “He’ll be able to play the front court for us, score the ball, guard different positions and do a good job rebounding for us so we’re looking forward to getting him on the floor too.”
For the group he did have on campus for eight weeks of summer workouts, Casey was happy with the work he was able to get out of them.
“I think the basis of anything you do is how hard you work and what your attitude is,” Casey said. “I thought that was terrific with all of them. If your attitude is good and you work hard, you’re going to continue to get better and that certainly was the case with everybody.”
Ryan Restivo covers the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo or contact Ryan at rrestivo[at]nycbuckets.com.
Chris Casey took on the job of Niagara’s head coach exactly one month ago and has seen plenty of change since then.
The head coach, coming from Division II LIU Post, has logged travel back and forth from recruiting to making the full move to Niagara. In that month his roster was dealt a blow when sophomores Juan’ya Green and Ameen Tanksley transferred from the school to Hofstra and freshman T.J. Cline left for Richmond.
Casey said that his job has gone according to plan, adding a recruiting class, while constantly adjusting in the past month.
“The best way you could describe plans at this type of the year is that they have to be adjusted constantly,” Casey said. “The only thing you have control over, at this point, is to go out and recruit as hard as you can and try and find the best players that you can to put in a Niagara uniform and I’m happy with the guys we got.”
“I think they’ll be major contributors to our program, all four are good students and quality people, character people and I know they’re going to represent the basketball program and the university very well. We’re excited to get started with them and coach them.”
At the end of the spring signing period Niagara added four players. Karron Davis, Aaron Bodie, Dominique Reid will enter as freshmen and Emile Blackman will transfer from LIU Post to Niagara and sit out next season. Casey said he expects the freshmen to come in and have an impact right away with Davis having the ability to play both guard spots.
“He’s very physical,” Casey said of Davis. “[He] can score the ball or make plays for others and get them scoring opportunities. He can guard both positions on the floor.”
Casey and his staff pulled in two athletic big men in Bodie and Reid.
“We anticipate him being very good in transition,” Casey said of Bodie. “We anticipate him contributing right away, rebounding the ball and defensively around the basket. Good mid range jumper. He will put it on the floor and attack the rim.”
Niagara landed Reid in the late signing period, getting the big man who had offers from St. Joseph’s, Robert Morris, Delaware and Providence as early as his junior season.
“Dominique Reid very aggressive forward offensively,” Casey said. “He can score the ball around the basket, can put it on the floor, has a decent mid range jumper and plays very hard.”
The last part of Casey’s recruiting class will add more familiarity to the roster. Blackman, who will sit out the 2013-14 season due to NCAA transfer rules, took the next step late in the season at LIU Post. Blackman scored 102 points in his final six games with the Pioneers including a career-high 23 points in LIU Post’s 102-79 victory over Mercy.
“He’s very athletic,” Casey said. “He will be good in transition, getting to the basket and attacking the rim with his athleticism. He will play both spots on the perimeter the two and the three because he rebounds well so we’re excited about him.”
Blackman shot 47% from three point range in his first collegiate season after redshirting his first year.
When Casey inherited the job, he was unable to work out his players because NCAA rules prohibit individual workouts one week before finals begin. This week, Casey has had the first opportunity to work out his players during the university’s summer session.
“I’m anxious to get into the gym and start coaching them,” Casey said. “I’m sure they’re anxious to get in the gym and start working out again and spend a lot of time in the weight room getting stronger. It’s going to be great to get back to basketball.”
The core of the returnees are led by redshirt junior Antoine Mason. Casey, who has familiarity with Mason’s family as he was on St. John’s staff when Anthony Mason Jr. played for the Red Storm, said that Mason has taken on a leadership role with the Purple Eagles.
“He’s arelady taken on a leadership role with the team from the moment I walked through the door,” Casey said. “He has a very high character to him, which usually results in good outcomes. I’m excited to work with him and we all know what he can do on the court and obviously going to be a focal point of what we do.”
The disappointment Casey said he had in seeing Juan’ya Green, Ameen Tanksley and T.J. Cline transfer from the school in his first month is only that he won’t be able to coach them.
“The only disappointment is I don’t get to coach those guys,” Casey said. “I’m not disappointed in them. They’re all good kids and they’ve all made major contributions to this program and to Niagara university and the community.”
“They’re good kids and they made a decision, which they felt was best for them and I wish them very well. I hope they’re a big success, all of them whatever they decide to do. The only disappointment on my end is I know they were good players and good people and that I don’t get an opportunity to coach them, but no disappointment in them and certainly wish them well in their next move.”
One change since Casey took the job was his decision to join twitter @NUCoachCasey, something he joined as an assistant at St. John’s previously, but felt now was the time to give fans the opportunity to follow him and the program.
” I had been on that a little bit at St. John’s, but got away from it,” Casey said. “I felt it might be a good opportunity to involve the fans a little more in the basketball program. We will do the best we can to tweet out as much information as we can.”
Ryan Restivo covers Stony Brook, Hofstra and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo. For more on Niagara’s non-conference schedule, check out the non-conference schedule tracker.
One week after Chris Casey was hired at Niagara, sophomores Juan’ya Green and Ameen Tanksley received their releases to transfer out from the school.
Friday they finalized their decision on where they will go by joining their former head coach Joe Mihalich at Hofstra. The school officially announced Green and Tanklsey joining the Pride along with Jamall Robinson, who received a release out of his letter of intent at Niagara, who will also join Mihalich at Hofstra.
“We’re in the business where we need to get good players and that’s what we did,” Mihalich said of the additions.
Green and Tanksley will come in as juniors and will have to redshirt and sit out one season before they can play during the 2014-15 season. Robinson will be eligible to play to start the fall.
Green won the MAAC Rookie of the Year Award in 2011 and finished on the first-team All-MAAC as the Purple Eagles won the regular season championship. Tanksley averaged 11.3 points per game last season and started every game for Niagara.
Mihalich said that Green and Tanksley contacted him after receiving their release from Niagara and he ran it by Hofstra athletic director Jeff Hathaway prior to taking on the two Niagara transfers.
“He’s going to know everything that’s going to happen here just like I do that’s the way I’ve always done it,” Mihalich said of his contact with Hathaway. “I’ve always felt like the communication you got to work hand in hand with your athletic director. Believe me a big reason why I’m here is because of Jeff Hathaway he’s a terrific AD, he’s one of the best in the whole country.”
Mihalich said he has known Green and Tanksley for the last four years, having recruited them out of the Philadelphia area to play for him at Niagara for two seasons.
“You can’t help but get close to these guys,” Mihalich said. “You develop a relationship. It’s hard to put into words because it’s not just the two hours a day you’re on the practice court, it’s study hall, it’s the traveling, it’s all that stuff. It’s when there’s a special relationship there.”
Hofstra also added former Niagara commit Robinson who contacted Mihalich after he received his release from the MAAC school.
“Jamall Robinson is a winner, he’s a versatile guy,” Mihalich said. “He can play a couple of different positions. He’s physically ready to play right now even though he’s a freshman. He’s got a good body good size and strength.
“He can probably score a little bit better than people give him credit for, but he’s a good player. We’re excited about him he’s going to help us.”
Green, Tanksley and Robinson join Chris Jenkins and Eliel Gonzalez in coming to Hofstra under Mihalich. The incoming freshmen will join the team in late June for workouts during summer session.
Now with nine spots filled, seven of whom will be eligible to play next season with Green and Tanklsey sitting out per NCAA rules, Mihalich said that they will work on adding two more players, a point guard and a scoring combo guard.
“We just want to get the right guys,” Mihalich said. “Some people say it’s hard to fill up a roster, that’s not true. It’s easy to fill up a roster if you don’t really pay attention to getting the right players and the right people.”
“It’s easy to fil up a roster, but its hard to fill up a roster the right way and that’s our challenge right here is to get some good guys.”
Hofstra has had players visit campus and Mihalich said that he’s been able to sell the opportunity to play.
“We’ve had a couple kids who that were concerned about that, concerned about the lack of people here, but that’s okay,” Mihalich said. “That means that we don’t want them. We want kids that want to make an impact, kids that want to play right away. We want kids that like this situation so any kid that didn’t like it, that’s fine that’s good by us because they don’t like the situation then it’s not right for them. That’s fine they can go somewhere else.”
Having four scholarship players when Mihalich took over the job, he said he would like to make up for lost time when he gets the team together for workouts during the summer sessions.
“Can’t wait to get going,” Mihalich said. “We lost the spring. There’s everybody who was doing stuff with their guys we lost it. First of all we only have four guys here so didn’t do any team stuff, we couldn’t do anything.”
Mihalich said they will look to bring in two more players but said “it would have to be somebody pretty special” to take in another transfer.
“We’re open to anything,” Mihalich said. “We’re open to anything and everything.”
Ryan Restivo covers Stony Brook, Hofstra and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo. For more on Hofstra’s non-conference schedule, check out the non-conference schedule tracker.
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