For new LIU Brooklyn head coach Derek Kellogg, it is a fresh start with a new team in a new conference in a new state, a new city, a new borough. Continue reading “Two Eras Cross Paths In Hope Of A Special Season At LIU Brooklyn”
Some time ago, my friend Martin Kessler came to me with what he called a “crazy theory”: Pickup games in New York City are notoriously rough, featuring physical drives and slick dribbling rather than outside shooting. (At certain courts, the three-point line is even disregarded, and scoring is kept with ones only.) What if, he wondered, that permanently affects basketball skills? Are NYC-born players more likely to be bad shooters, due to the style they grew up playing?
Martin works for WBUR’s Only A Game, and this weekend he aired his story about the Big Apple playing style. Along with anecdotes from Sundiata Gaines and pickup lifers, he asked me to run the numbers on how they play at higher levels. And I found that his crazy theory wasn’t so crazy: New Yorkers indeed shoot worse and take fewer threes, and they earn more free throws instead. The differences aren’t huge, but they are consistent across the NBA and NCAA. Continue reading “You Can Take The Players Out Of New York City, But…”
Penn
Outlook: Fitting all the pieces together will be a challenge, but the Quakers have enough talent to return to the Ivy League Tournament. Continue reading “34 Teams in 34 Days: Penn”
I’m officially six for six in attending the NEC Social Media Day at the Barclays Center. There’s a reason I’m always there in attendance – it’s a great event that’s well run by the league office and unique in that there’s exclusive access to all ten head coaches. There’s no other event that comes close to acquiring as much information in the league as this one.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak candidly with nine of the leauge’s 10 coaches (sorry, Derek Kellogg) and get their reactions to how their respective preseasons have gone. While some coaches like to play it close to the vest, others will give you something if you ask the right questions. Continue reading “Notes/Observations from NEC Social Media Day”
Niagara
Outlook: Finally benefitting from stability in the offseason, the Purple Eagles have the pieces to make a jump into the upper echelon of the MAAC. Continue reading “34 Teams in 34 Days: Niagara”
Saint Francis University
Outlook: For the first time in Rob Krimmel’s coaching career, both as the head coach and as an assistant, the Red Flash are the decided favorite of the 2017-18 season. Replacing defensive stalwart Josh Nebo looms large as Krimmel boasts the deepest collection of guards and wings in the league. Continue reading “34 Previews in 34 Days: Saint Francis University”
Inside the preseason: The media poll showed little agreement as to the top contender, but it separated the Ivy League into familiar tiers. Departing seniors — even those with little hardware — got big grad transfer opportunities. Coaches gave injury updates and a few funny lines at the preseason teleconference. Continue reading “Ivy League Preseason Roundup: Familiar expectations”
This evening the MAAC will announce its preseason all-league teams and rankings. In advance of that announcement, here is the official NYC Buckets prediction and analysis for team rankings and all-league squads. All selections are provided in alphabetical order: Continue reading “2017-18 MAAC Preseason Predictions”
Fairfield
Outlook: After finishing a game over .500 last season, 2017-18 is a pivotal season for the Stags. They bring back just one player who scored over 10 ppg on a team that finished in the bottom 100 in Division I in offensive scoring efficiency. Continue reading “34 Teams in 34 Days: Fairfield”
Monmouth
Outlook: After winning the regular season title but falling short of the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons, the torch passes to Micah Seaborn and others to lead the Hawks forward after the graduation of Justin Robinson. Continue reading “34 Teams in 34 Days: Monmouth”
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