Archive for November, 2008
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Saturday, November 29th, 2008
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College Chalktalk’s 2008-09 Coaches’ Diary Series Pat Clarke, University of Rhode Island
Friday, November 28th, 2008
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
The Rhody Rams are in Philadelphia today as part of the Hoop Group Philly Classic. The final two games of the tournament will conclude an incredibly busy two week stretch that will see us play seven games in two weeks, against teams from potentially seven different leagues in four different states.
We are extremely grateful to stand at 4-1 right now, with the lone loss at Duke by 3 points. Speaking of Duke, the trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium was a great experience for the coaching staff and players.
As a competitor, you realize that playing on the road against an ACC team is going to be a huge challenge and one that you must be totally prepared for. Coach Baron did an amazing job getting the team ready to get on the court and play to win. With less than 36 hours to prepare, he had our kids feeling confident in the game plan and also emotionally secure that they could win in one of the toughest venues in sport.
The most difficult challenge to a coaching staff at this time of year is trying to figure your own team out in terms of player rotations, style of play, special situations, team chemistry and such; all while competing against a myriad of concepts.
As I mentioned earlier, we may play against seven different leagues by the time Thanksgiving weekend is over. We will also have played against many different styles of basketball.
Our immediate challenge – on Friday night - is a very good Penn State team from the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are currently 5-0 with an extremely impressive offense. They average nearly 75 points a game and have three players shooting 44% or better from the three-point line.
As with each game already played - and each game yet to be played - the game plan is totally independent for that particular opponent. With that being said, the most difficult part of coaching is also the most fun and brings out the best in competition.
I hope everybody had a great holiday and I wish continued success to everyone in the A-10. Until next time, Go Rhody!
Lutz, ‘Niners Look Forward to Thanksgiving Out West
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Charlotte’s narrow defeat to Clemson last Saturday, by a score of 71-70, marked a bitter end to a difficult first full week of the season for the ‘Niners.
After four contests, Charlotte sits at 1-3, with losses last week to Old Dominion, Appalachian State, and the Clemson Tigers.
The 49ers are struggling from the field (42%), particularly from beyond the arc where they are shooting the ball at only a shade above 30%. This percentage is even more of a surprise when considering Charlotte’s primary threat from the outside, Ian Andersen, is shooting a robust 48% from long range.
Defensive rebounding has been an area of concern as well. The ‘Niners are currently being outrebounded by a margin of four boards per contest. To top things off, Lamont Mack is pressing and others are adjusting to new and varying roles due to defections and injuries.
But the sky is not falling.
The season is only in its infancy and, despite these areas of concern, the ’Niners three losses have been by a grand total of five points.
The attitude remains positive. Coach Lutz, for one, is very much looking forward to the Anaheim Classic, which features an excellent field including Wake Forest, St. Mary’s, and the ‘Niners first round opponent, the nationally ranked Sun Devils from Arizona State (Thursday, 9:00 PM EST).
“My job is just to keep us up,” said Bobby Lutz during an exclusive post game interview with CCT after the Clemson game. “As long as we do what we did… in terms of preparation and effort, you can’t get angry with your kids when you lose a game like that.”
And Charlotte is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“This Anaheim Classic is a great opportunity to play great teams,” said Lutz. ”Arizona State is a Top 15 team, has at least one lottery pick, and probably another pro. So, we know we have our hands full, plus ASU has a great coach. Our hands are full, but we like those challenges, we have some really good teams in the Atlantic 10… and, at worst, we’re going to be prepared for the Atlantic 10… by playing this type of schedule.”
This season, the Sun Devils are off to a 3-0 start, with wins over Mississippi Valley State (0-6), San Diego State (2-1), and Pepperdine (1-4). Arizona State is led by James Harden, described by Lutz as a “lottery pick” and ”phenomenal player.” The 6-foot-4 do-everything guard is averaging 25.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game on the young season. Complementing Harden are a number of solid role players such as 6-9 Jeff Pendergraph. “They have good shooters and great balance,” according to Lutz.
The divergent starts and records of Arizona State and Charlotte notwithstanding, the ‘Niners will be the toughest team faced by the Sun Devils to date… and this one will be determined by which team can dictate tempo.
Arizona State is holding foes to a paltry 52.0 points per game on 35% shooting, with their stingy match-up zone. The Sun Devils also take excellent care of the basketball and shoot the deep-ball well.
On the other hand, Charlotte scores the basketball at a clip of 74.8 points per game and owns a plus five advantage in turnover margin. While Charlotte has not rebounded the ball thus far, ASU retrieves just 6.7 offensive boards per game, so the ‘Niners have an opportunity to control the glass, break, and run provided they blanket ASU’s shooters.
Time will tell whether Charlotte can rebound, literally and figuratively, and score a big win for both their confidence and the conference. One thing is certain, however, this team - beginning with their leader - is excited for the challenge.
“We’ve just got to stay positive, keep working, demand execution to be a little better, and obviously shoot foul shots better… but we’re gonna do those things and go out there with the mindset that we’re going to upset Arizona State.”
Great Expectations; Nicholson Makes Splash in Olean
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Andrew Nicholson is anything but your typical college basketball player.
No, it’s not the wiry 6-foot-9 frame and 7-foot-4 inch wingspan that sets the Canadian apart from his first year counterparts. It’s not even the fact that he garnered back to back selections on the Toronto Star Fab Five Team during High School. This freshman is not a typical Division I basketball player; unless of course one believes that the average player is a chemistry major aspiring to pursue a career in the field after graduation. No… Andrew Nicholson is anything but normal, and Bonnies’ fans couldn’t be happier about it.
The Mississauga, Ontario (minutes from Toronto) native has quickly captured the imaginations of Bonnies fans with his incredible athleticism and fresh faced smile. He is a coach’s dream come true; a bright kid with freakish athletic ability who has set goals beyond the hardwood. Nicholson is exactly what the Bonnies have missed over the last half dozen or so years; a potential face of the program. So if the Olean faithful are asking, “Where have you been Andrew?”, you’ll have to excuse them.
Better late then never, Nicholson officially arrived last week in Poughkeepsie, New York. Against Marist, The Professor (Nicholson’s nickname in high school because of his love for science), poured in 13 points and blocked 5 shots in a mere 13 minutes of action. The numbers themselves do not give the lanky freshman his due. Simply put, The Professor was everywhere. On consecutive possessions, he blocked a shot on defense, ran the floor, and threw down a thunderous dunk. Later still, he received the ball in the post, backed down his man, then spun to his left and flushed a one handed dunk. His teammates screamed and jumped off the bench with each dunk, looking at one another as if to say, “Did you just see what the freshman did?” They witnessed the promise with their own eyes, and so did the Bona faithful who made the trip.
This past Friday, I too, was a witness to a major piece in the future of St. Bonaventure Basketball, at The RAC (Rutgers Athletic Center), in a loss to Delaware. The 85-81 defeat was a tough pill to swallow for the then 2-0 Bonnies, but the future is bright.
I witnessed Nicholson score 14 points, grab 6 boards and reject a shot in 24 minutes off the bench. I witnessed a freshman instantly raise the energy level of his team defensively. I watched as the Canadian hit a fade away from 15 feet, hit a pair of face-up jumpers, and of course threw down monster dunks in traffic.
On Sunday, SBU earned a long awaited win over a BCS school, when they beat Rutgers in overtime to capture the Garden State Challenge. Nicholson woke up as the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, and continued to impress those in Jersey with his best effort to date. The freshman scored 15 points (all in the 2nd half), grabbed 11 boards and blocked 5 shots to lead the Brown and White to a one point win.
In recent years, the Bonnies have had their share of premier guards. From pint-sized point guard Marques Green to scoring guard turned NBA player J.R. Bremer, the Bonnies have been privy to great guard play not so long ago. But exceptional forwards have been hard to find. The names Yankuba Camara, David Fox, Brian Gibbs, Lounceny Kaba and Ivan Kovacevic hit a cord with Bonnies fans; it its not a good one. Sure, Michael Lee turned in a fine senior season, but his career was a bit of a disappointment, and his breakout senior year appeared a bit too late. Lee finally tapped his potential under Mark Schmidt’s watch; lucky for Nicholson, he will have the benefit of learning from Schmidt (Who developed David West at Xavier) for four years.
When asked to describe the freshman’s game, Schmidt says, “He brings that shot blocking ability, a great skill set, he’s someone that has so much potential. He can score the ball inside and he has a better touch then we thought he would have.” That skill set has been on display just four times so far this year, and with 26 or so games to play, it will only become more refined. Nicholson has been coming off the bench (he earned his first start against Rutgers), a great role in which he can bring energy to the game, and excite his teammates and crowd with his rejections. Through three games, Nicholson is averaging 11 pts, 6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game (which would have ranked second in A-10 last year); Andrew clearly is a quick learner.
That is not to say the 220 pound big man won’t have his share of setbacks and frustrating nights. Schmidt says that “He’s not used to getting banged around every night, playing guys who are stronger than he is.” When asked what area of his game needed the most improvement, Nicholson did not hesitate or bat an eye when he answered “get stronger.” The coach and player are on the same page.
Playing in the Atlantic 10 will provide tough competition for the freshman, and he will certainly experience growing pains playing against the likes of Ahmad Nivins, Lavoy Allen and Vernon Goodridge on a nightly basis. “For a freshman to have any success in any level of Divison I basketball is very difficult,” Schmidt said, ”and the better the conference the harder it is.” Nicholson should only improve as the year goes along, but will certainly be challenged by bigger and stronger forwards. The Bonnies coaching staff believes he’s up for the challenge.
The forward has also garnered fanfare on Internet message boards, local bars and campus residence halls. Some fans who have been around long enough make comparisons to a former Canadian Bonnie, forward Caswell Cyrus. Cyrus scored 1,121 points as a Bonnie, but made his mark in the paint. The 6-9 fellow Toronto native is the all-time leader in blocked shots with 289 (2.5 per game) and ranks thirteenth all-time in rebounds with 680. When asked if he knew about Caswell Cyrus and his career at Bonaventure, Nicholson said, “I’ve heard of him, but that’s about it.” By the end of this year, he will probably know a whole lot more because the comparisons are sure to continue.
Off the court, when he’s not working out in the Reilly Center, Nicholson can be found playing with a bunsen burner in the University’s new science building. Nicholson plans to pursue a career in the science field after basketball. And why not? Most college basketball players usually aspire to do such things. To demonstrate his sincerity towards education, Nicholson had this to say when asked about why he chose St. Bonaventure, “Coach Schmidt is a good coach and Bonaventure is a good school. But, they have a really good science program and just built a new science building. Those were big reasons why I came here.” Anything but a typical answer.
Having not made the Conference Tournament since 2005, Bonnies fans are simply looking for a light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Expectations for this year’s team are higher than recent year’s past, but optimism is guarded. The Bonaventure program is looking for a new identity, and they may have found one north of the border in a science geek.
All jokes aside, Nicholson may very well be the player who leads the Bonnies back towards the top half of the league over the next four years. For a program that has been top heavy with JUCO players over the past few seasons, it will be critical for the Bonnies to build with four year players such as Nicholson. Schmidt mirrors such a statement when he quips that, “He’s going to be, I hope, the face of our program for the next four years.”
Expectations are obviously high for the freshman and his first year will probably be filled with both great plays and head scratchers. He will have to mature physically and learn how to play at a high level each night, but as Mark Schmidt told me Friday night, “The sky is the limit” for Andrew Nicholson.
Photos courtesy of Craig Melvin.
In addition to his Contributor status with College Chalktalk, Ian Nolan is the editor of TheBonaBlog.
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St. Bonaventure/Rutgers: Game Observations - Ray Floriani
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About an hour before game time, I spoke with Rutgers assistant Darren Savino at courtside. Savino said one of the main priorities for Rutgers was cutting down on turnovers. Savino’s remark about turnovers was significant. Rutgers committed 15 for the game. Eleven of those were in the first half. Those eleven turnovers prevented Rutgers from establishing a lead. At the half Bonnies trailed by one, which was significant. As Bonaventure Coach Mark Schmidt noted, “the longer we hung around the more confidence our guys got.”
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Entering the contest the Rutgers frontcourt size was a concern. Schmidt noted Rutgers was +10 in rebounding edge entering the game. The final numbers saw the Bonnies win the battle of the boards 51-40. Off the offensive glass Bona had a 23-13 edge. As noted, Andrew Nicholsaon had a great game inside, posting 15 points, 11 boards and five blocks. Jonathan Hall, who led all scorers with 18 points, also was a presence on the glass, recording 9 rebounds (5 on the offensive end).
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Resiliency. Bonaventure saw a four point lead with a half-minute to play in regulation wiped out by a Mike Rosario trey. In overtime, Rutgers carried that game-tying momentum, scoring the initial four points. In that position, on the road with momentum slipping it’s tough to respond. The Bonnies calmly battled back and regained the lead. On the last possession of the game Mike Rosario was defended well when he received the ball on the wing. His pass back out to the perimeter was deflected by Ray Blackburn as the buzzer sounded. “We are a blue collar team,” Schmidt said. “We have a lot of hard nosed kids who weren’t at the top of a lot of recruiting lists.”
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Offense. Bonnies shot 37% and were an icy 2 of 19 (11%) from three. Schmidt wasn’t overly concerned because the looks, even from beyond the arc, were good ones and within the flow of the offense. Contributions from sophomore guard Malcolm Eleby were cited by Schmidt. Eleby scored six points but had six assists, one turnover and three steals in 38 minutes.
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Perspective. The win over Rutgers placed the Bonnies at 3-1 and earned them the championship of the Garden State Challenge. Schmidt, though naturally pleased, cautions that is a young team. There will be nights like Friday where the Bonnies lost despite having an eleven point first half lead. “Defense and rebounding won the game today,” Schmidt said following the Rutgers contest. And Bonaventure’s early season opponents all agree, SBU plays hard and has been tough on the defensive end. Those attributes can keep a team in a lot of games.
This Week in the A-10
Monday, November 24th, 2008
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Keith Cothran, Junior, URI. Quite simply, Keith Cothran had his best week as a collegiate player, leading URI to a 2-0 week with wins over Monmouth and Virginia Commonwealth. In back to back games, Cothran set new career highs in points, as he poured in 18 against Monmouth, and 23 against the CAA favorites, VCU. Cothran shot a blistering 17-26 (65%) from the field during the two-game stretch. On the year, the junior is averaging 14.7 points and 1.7 steals per game, while also shooting 42.9% from three point range; up 19% on the young season, from his figure last season.
HONORABLE MENTION: Aaron Jackson, (Sr.) Duquesne; Dionte Christmas, (Sr.) Temple; Rodney Green, (Jr.) La Salle.
(Note: College Chalktalk’s week runs from the previous Monday through Sunday, given the release of ‘This Week in the A-10′ each Monday morning.)
GAME OF THE WEEK: November 21st, 2008. Xavier 63, Virginia Tech 62.
In a week full of close games, this one took the cake as Xavier’s Dante Jackson nailed a half-court buzzer beater to lead the Musketeers to a one-point win in the semifinal of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Jackson had been 0-8 from the field before he let his miraculous shot fly. The win for Xavier marked the first blemish for Virginia Tech. In fact, it marked the first game any ACC team had lost this season, as the conference had gone 29-0 til Jackson’s shot banked off the glass and dropped through the net.
HONORABLE MENTION: St. Bonaventure 64, Rutgers 63 (OT).
GAME OF THE UPCOMING WEEK: Ahmad Nivins (21.0 ppg., 12.5 rpg) leads Saint Joseph’s out to Maui to face a Texas Longhorns squad in the Maui Invitational. Texas has excellent balance, led by A.J. Abrams and Damion James. The Hawks’ Tasheed Carr, formerly of the Big 12 (Iowa State) will try to contain Abrams and frustrate the Longhorn attack, as SJU would prefer to keep this contest in the sixties.
RPI BOOST OF THE WEEK: Xavier (Current RPI: No. 13)
A perfect 4-0 on the week with your lowest ranked opponent at RPI#119 (Missouri) will certainly boost team standing. The Musketeers made a final jump, leaping fifteen spots by knocking off Memphis to claim the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Championship.
RPI FALL OF THE WEEK: Charlotte (Current RPI: No. 319)
It’s difficult to fall harder than the 49ers have to start the season. Their lone win on the season came against RPI #337 UNC-Greensboro. A strength of schedule at 299 and a 1-3 record hurts the ‘Niner cause. RPI help is on the way if Charlotte can seize the opportunity in a loaded Anaheim Classic field this coming weekend.
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CHARLOTTE
Last Week Results: WINS: None. LOSSES: Nov. 16th vs. Old Dominion 69-68, Nov. 19th @ Appalachian St. 87-84 (2OT), Nov. 22nd vs. Clemson 71-70.
This Week Schedule: Nov. 27th vs. Arizona St., Nov. 28th vs. Baylor/Providence, 11/30 vs. TBA.
Summary: You know you’ve had a tough week when you lose three games by a combined five points. The Niners look to get back to their winning ways this week in some tournament action, as they face off against Top 15 ranked Arizona State - led by Sophomore James Harden - in the opening round of the Anaheim Classic.
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 19th vs. Delaware St. 62-42, Nov. 23rd vs. Bethune-Cookman 78-38. LOSSES: None.
TW Schedule: Nov. 25th vs. Mercer, Nov. 28th vs. Auburn, Nov. 29th vs. Marquette.
Summary: Coach Brian Gregory earned his 100th career win as Chris Wright (18 points, 7 rebounds) and the Flyers pasted the Hornets of Delaware State, 62-42. The Flyers continued their dominance later in the week with a 78-38 pounding of Bethune-Cookman. Dayton heads to the Windy City this week to take part in the Chicago Invitational Challenge.
DUQUESNE
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 20th vs. St. Francis (PA) 83-72, Nov. 23rd vs. Furman 85-65. LOSSES: None.
TW Schedule: Nov. 25th @ USC-Upstate, Nov. 28th @ Duke
Summary: Aaron Jackson netted 20 points and the Dukes defense took over from there, as Duquesne earned a road win at St. Francis. Against Furman, it once again was the “Aaron Jackson Show” as he led the Dukes in points (20), rebounds (10), and assists (6) en route to victory. The Dukes head South this week, headlined by a clash with the Blue Devils from Duke.
LW Results: WINS: None. LOSSES: Nov. 17th @ Villanova 107-68, Nov. 22nd vs. Manhattan 81-67.
TW Schedule: Nov. 26th vs. Princeton, Nov. 30th vs. James Madison
Summary: It’s been a tough start to the season for Dereck Whittenburg’s young squad, as they took two lopsided losses last week. Chris Bethel was able to earn his first career double-double in the Battle of the Boroughs, however. This week, the Rams look to earn their first win of the season against the Tigers or Dukes.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 19th vs. Binghamton 71-57. LOSSES: Nov. 22nd @ Auburn 83-71.
TW Schedule: November 26th vs. UMBC
Summary: The Colonials won their 20th straight home opener in their victory against Binghamton. Damian Hollis’ 16 points weren’t enough to get GW past Auburn, however, as the Tigers laid 52 second half points on GW en route to turning a fifteen-point halftime deficit into a double-digit win. This week, the Colonials have just one contest, a tilt against nearby UMBC.
LW Results: WINS: None. LOSSES: Nov. 18th vs. Florida State 65-61, Nov. 21st .vs Connecticut 89-81, Nov. 22nd vs. Southern Mississippi 76-72 (OT).
TW Schedule: 11/24 vs. TBA
Summary: Rodney Green (25 points) did all he could to keep the Explorers in the game against #2 UConn, but LaSalle fell to the Huskies in the Paradise Jam Tournament. That loss was book-ended by two four-point losses (one in overtime), making this a tough week for the Explorers. LaSalle will finish their time in the Virgin Islands this week with one more contest, as they take on Valparaiso.
MASSACHUSETTS
LW Results: WINS: None. LOSSES: Nov. 17th @ Memphis 80-58.
TW Schedule: Nov. 24th vs. Jacksonville St., Nov. 29th @ Wisconsin -Green Bay
Summary: Everything about UMass’s early season has been sporadic, from scheduling to tip-off times (midnight in Memphis). The Minutemen look to add a little stability starting with the home opener on the 24th.
RHODE ISLAND
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 20th @ Monmouth 85-62, Nov. 22nd vs. VCU 92-86. LOSSES: None.
TW Schedule: Nov. 25th vs. Hartford, Nov. 28th vs. Penn State, Nov. 29th vs. Villanova/Towson.
Summary: URI certainly carried over its strong play at Cameron Indoor into two wins on the week. Junior Keith Cothran led the Rams by averaging 20.5 points per game in victories over Monmouth and VCU. The Rams have three games on tap this week, with a potential showdown with Big East member Villanova looming at the Philly Hoop Group Classic.
RICHMOND
LW Results: WINS: None. LOSSES: Nov. 18th @ Syracuse 76-71.
TW Schedule: Nov. 24th @ Florida-Gulf Coast, Nov. 25th vs. UMKC, Nov. 26th vs. Bradley, Nov. 30th vs. Coppin St.
Summary: David Gonzalvez scored 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Spiders to victory against the Orange at the Dome. Richmond will be busy this week, with three contests as part of the CBE classic, played in Fort Myers, FL. They wrap up the week by returning to the Robins Center for their fourth game in a seven day span against Coppin State.
LW Results: WINS: None. LOSSES: None.
TW Schedule: Nov. 24th vs. Texas, Nov. 25th vs. TBA, November 26th TBA
Summary: The Hawks finally get back to playing some basketball this week, as they take part in the EA Sports Maui Classic. A stiff challenge awaits, as the Hawks will tangle with the Longhorns from Texas today at 3:00 PM EST.
SAINT LOUIS
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 22nd vs. Boston College 53-50. LOSSES: Nov. 19th vs. Kent State 76-74 (OT)
TW Schedule: Nov. 25th @ Nebraska, Nov. 29th @ Detroit Mercy.
Summary: The Billikens suffered their first loss at the brand new Chaifetz Arena at the hands of Kent State. SLU managed to bounce back, however, by once again playing their style of deliberate basketball and defeating Boston College in the process. The Billikens hit the road this week with a trip to Nebraska and then to the Motor City to take on Detroit Mercy.
ST. BONAVENTURE
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 17th @ Marist 77-54, Nov. 23rd @ Rutgers 64-63. LOSSES: Nov. 21 vs. Delaware 85-81.
TW Schedule: Nov. 25th vs. Mississippi St., Nov. 29th vs. Canisius
Summary: Chris Matthews played some hardball against Marist and netted a career-high 21 points, leading the Bonnies to a win. The Bonnies suffered their first loss of the season later in the week to Delaware, despite Jonathan Hall pouring in 24 points of his own. Freshman Andrew Nicholson was impressive, particularly in the Bonnies final game of the week, where he tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks against a forward/center combination registering 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-11. This week, the Brown and White stick around Upstate New York for clashes with Mississippi State and Canisius.
TEMPLE
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 21st @ Lafayette 71-55. LOSSES: None.
TW Schedule: Nov. 29th @ Buffalo.
Summary: Dionte Christmas led the Owls with a monster 29 point, 12 rebound effort in their win against Lafayette on the road. Another light week ahead, as Temple has just one contest before the calendar turns to December.
XAVIER
LW Results: WINS: Nov. 17th vs. Toledo 81-65, Nov. 20th vs. Missouri 75-71, Nov. 21st vs. Virginia Tech 63-62 (OT), Nov. 21st vs. Memphis 63-58. LOSSES: None.
TW Schedule: Nov. 29th vs. Miami (OH)
Summary: The Musketeers showed why they are predicted to be the class of the A-10, as they won the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. On their way to the championship, the Musketeers knocked off competition from the Big 12 (Missouri) and the ACC (Virginia Tech). In the title game, the Muskies showed their grit by disposing of #12 Memphis in a game where team leader Derrick Brown was in foul trouble early and not much of a factor. Look for XU to appear somewhere in the high teens in each national poll this week.
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