(Photo by Yusong Shi)
By Paul Gotham
Short takes from the weekend that was in college ball.
Please to meet you, hope you guess my name...
Cue the Cheshire Cat references for UB head coach Bobby Hurley. The best kept secret in the Mid American Conference was Justin Moss. Then came this past weekend. After biding his time on the bench a year ago behind the program’s all-time leading scorer, Javon McCrea, UB’s 6-7 forward announced his presence with a 25-point, 13-rebound (both career highs) performance in the Bulls season-opening win over South Dakota State, Friday night. Moss went a perfect 11-11 from the line and found an early rhythm with UB guards combining on several occasions for drive-and-dish buckets. Sunday brought this courtesy of YAHOO! sports– (coming to a poster near you):
Mark Twain
Samuel Clemens chose the pen name Mark Twain after the days of his youth spent on a steamboat. The leadsman call of “mark twain” indicated two fathoms (12 feet) or “safe water” as a steamboat left the shore. Some Twain historians have referred to the ambiguity of the term. Twelve feet when approaching shore signaled dangerous water. Either way, the term refers to depth – a characteristic of Shaka Smart’s VCU Rams. ESPN’s Jay Bilas mentioned VCU’s depth here. How much depth? VCU opened against Tennessee ( a Sweet 16 participant in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Yes, they have a new coach.) without starting point guard and two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, Briante Weber, who was serving a one-game suspension for an off-the-court infraction. Weber’s backup, JeQuan Lewis, left the game after five minutes and did not return having suffered a concussion. The #15/16 Rams went on to defeat UT, 85-69 at the Veteran’s Classic. Nine Rams logged double-digit minutes. Four tallied double figures. Treveon Graham notched a double-double (15 points/14 rebounds). That much depth.
Embracing the “R” word
Jim Baron knows rebuilding. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native took St. Francis (Pa.) to its first and only NCAA Tournament appearance 1991. When he returned to Saint Bonaventure, his alma mater had combined for 22 wins in the three seasons prior to his arrival. Eight years later, Baron and the Bonnies took Kentucky to overtime in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Rhode Island was 12-48 the two years prior to Baron’s tenure. He led URI to five 20-win seasons and a pair of 19-win campaigns in 11 seasons. So it should come as no surprise that Baron doesn’t hide from the possibility. Baron’s first two teams at Canisius won 20 games, but they graduated four starters including Baron’s son and leading scorer, Billy (24 ppg/ fifth in the nation) from last year and starting over again is in order. He echoed his pre-season sentiments after the Golden Griffins 64-60 win over Vermont in the season opener. “It’s part of the rebuilding. That’s why I’m still here. You do it for a process.” If Saturday’s blue-collar effort is any indication, this will be a fun process to watch.
Is that Jaylen or Jalen?
Leave it to that wily ol’ Mark Schmidt. The eighth-year coach of the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies added a new wrinkle to his attack: two players with the same name. That’s right. “And now into the game for the Bonnies: Jalen Adams.” Or is that Jaylen Adams? Let me help. Two players. Two uniform numbers. One started. The other didn’t. Still confused? Get the point? Add this to the mix, the two got the mojo working and combined to go 6-6 behind the arc in the second half of Bona’s 77-57 win over Dartmouth. That’s a lot of Jalen Adams for three! in 20 minutes. Or is it Jaylen? When asked to explain how he avoids the confusion in practice Schmidt said: “This is Jay. This is Jalen.” He clarified that by explaining that one was from Baltimore, the other from Michigan. Yeah right, like that helps. Sounds like Muddy Waters to me:
‘Scuse me while I kiss the Sky(ler)
Add the name of Skyler Flatten to your radar. The silky smooth (think the car dashboard after adding a fresh coat of Armor All) redshirt freshman from South Dakota State University (yes, the school that brought us Nate Wolters) gave glimpses of potential Friday night. The 6-6 guard drilled a pull-up three in transition, then knocked down a catch-and shoot version from long range. He added a jump hook from the block and a free throw line jumper off the dribble. Will be looking for him to add some polish to his game. Finished 4-13 from the floor. “Actin’ funny, but I don’t know why…”
Staying on the radar
Another name for your radar is Dayton’s Darrell Davis. The freshman guard dropped 17 off the bench on 4-9 shooting including 3-5 behind the arc in his debut for the Flyers. Of course, off the bench for UD’s head coach Archie Miller means 28 minutes. Davis gives Miller and the Flyers another piece to the puzzle.
Down goes Frazier
Okay, okay maybe a little overstatement. But the Holy Cross Crusaders put the Patriot League on notice knocking off #25 Harvard. The Crusaders created 24 turnovers in the 58-57 win.
Fear the Beard (en)�
Safe to say Bobby Hurley knows a thing or two about guard play. So when the second-year coach of the UB Bulls spoke highly of freshman Lamonte Bearden in pre-season, it was worth noting. Bearden didn’t disappoint in UB’s opener. The pass-first guard handed out six assists while committing just one turnover in 23 minutes. He added eight points and two rebounds. AND he plays defense. Unlike an NBA player, who shall remain nameless but who is known for his beard. Bearden dished out three dimes in UB’s loss to #1 Kenutcky. Yeah, yeah, yeah he committed three turnovers.
Big Green experience
The best kept secret in New England maybe on the Dartmouth bench. Fifth-year coach Paul Cormier is a veteran of the NBA. During the 1998-99 season, Cormier was a scout and assistant video coordinator for the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks. He spent five years with the Boston Celtics, another with the Memphis Grizzlies and was later hired by the New Jersey Nets before returning to the Big Green bench. Cormier coached Dartmouth for seven seasons from 1984-91. Prior to that he served as an assistant at Villanova under Rollie Massimino for four years and helped recruit the team which won the ’85 NCAA Tournament. Cormier also coached Fairfield for seven years.
How much is that ball in the window?
Mike Brennan‘s American Eagles may have lost their opener, but the Patriot League reigning champions played within their comfort zone falling 40-37 to the Temple Owls. Yes, that’s right 40-37. AU’s deliberate style is at it again. Depending upon how you look at it, AU finished 348th or fourth with 61 possessions per game last year. Temple took just 48 shots versus AU. By comparison, Kentucky took 61 shots (UK grabbed 19 offensive rebounds to TU’s 17) yesterday in the 71-52 win over UB, yesterday. The Eagles make you grind it out. Think about being forced to run offense defense into the shot clock and then not getting the ball back for another 30 seconds or so. It’s one possession per minute when playing American. Temple took 48 shots in 40 minutes. Figure in the 17 offensive rebounds and you gain an understanding of valuing the ball.
On the docket
Monday – Bucknell at Michigan – Saddle up Dave Paulsen.
Tuesday – Marathon featuring Manhattan at UMass in the a.m.
Wednesday – Siena at St. Bonaventure. Jimmy Patsos at the Reilly Center. Get your tickets while they last.
Thursday – Texas A&M at Dayton – basketball brunch with a 10:30 a.m. tip off.
Saturday – Canisius at St. Bonaventure – The Bonnies are sure to give their former coach a not-so-warm welcome.
Sunday – Florida State at UMass – Minutemen on a quest to build another strong out-of-conference schedule.
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