A weekly round-up of Atlantic 10 men’s basketball.
This house is freakin’ sweet: NCAA First Four to return to Dayton in 2012 &2013
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has announced that the Road to the Final Four will begin once again at the University of Dayton Arena this year.
In fact, it will begin in Dayton for at least the next two years as the NCAA announced that the tournament’s “First Four” event will be held in at the Arena March 13-14, 2012 and March 20-21, 2013.
The University of Dayton served as the host for the inaugural First Four March 15-16. The games drew more than 10,000 fans each night to UD Arena, and a national viewing audience of over five million people. VCU emerged from the 2011 First Four to reach the 2011 Final Four.
“This is fantastic news, and a genuine representation of how important the support of the region is to the Basketball Committee,” UD Vice President and Director of Athletics Tim Wabler said. “As excited as we were last year when we were awarded the very first First Four, I am more excited by the fact that we have it in 2012 and 2013.
“This gives us a real opportunity to cement the First Four in Dayton for years to come. The Division I Baseball Championship is going on right now, and it’s our goal to make Dayton as synonymous with the First Four as Omaha is with the College World Series. I’m confident the collaborative effort and hard work by our First Four Local Organizing Committee, our hotel partners, and our staff will be first-rate, but the feedback from the teams about how welcoming the city was and the electric atmosphere in the Arena made it clear that our fans and the support of the community will be as critical in keeping the First Four in Dayton as it was in bringing it back.”
Not too big. Not too small. The UD Arena is …well let Peter Griffin explain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfsFPEP4z3E&feature=related
UD nets first 2012 commitment
Columbus Northland High School, which finished runner-up in the boys Division I state basketball tournament last season, won all three of its games in the University of Dayton team camp last weekend, and coach Sean Taylor said senior-to-be Jalen Robinson was a big reason behind that dominant run.
Asked what got into his 6-foot-9 forward, Taylor said: “He looked like he wanted a scholarship offer. That’s what it was. He was really aggressive and showed his skills.”
UD’s Wright not giving up on NBA goal
Chris Wright had a difficult time after not being picked during the NBA draft on Thursday, but he didn’t need long to shake his disappointment.
The University of Dayton star said he actually had a dream about the draft as he slept that night. And while that version didn’t turn out any better — he was overlooked again — he woke up with a renewed attitude.
“It was cool,” he said. “It was God basically telling me it’s real, but don’t give up. You still have a chance.
Basketball ties run deep for GW’s Chandler
This past season Erica Chandler wore the Buff and Blue of the GW women’s basketball team, but during the past few weeks she donned different colors while cheering her brother on to an NBA Championship.
Erica, the 6-foot-4 center for the Colonials, is the younger sister of Tyson Chandler, the 7-foot-1 center for the blue and silver-clad Dallas Mavericks, who defeated the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals.
“I feel great that my brother was able to accomplish his goal of winning the world championship this year. He is so excited and so are we,” Chandler said of her family’s excitement.
La Salle to take on 7-time Canadian national champion, Carleton
PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men’s basketball team will play two contests against seven-time Canadian National Champion Carleton University during its August foreign tour to Ottawa, head coach Dr. John Giannini announced today. The Explorers will also take on the University of Ottawa and a team of Carleton alumni in the four-game northern swing from August 6-9.
“This is the perfect time for us to get extra teaching, practice and competition,” Giannini said. “We have three freshmen who will greatly benefit from the experience. It is equally important for the new core group of players to develop winning chemistry and we are counting on new leaders to emerge. This experience will help us progress in the critical areas of experience, chemistry and leadership.”
Larry Harris joins URI staff
KINGSTON, R.I. — Head coach Jim Baron announced that Larry Harris has joined the Rhode Island men’s basketball coaching staff. In his 27th year as a Division I assistant coach, Harris arrives in Kingston after having spent the last 15 years as an assistant coach on the NC State staff, serving under two different head coaches – Herb Sendek and Sidney Lowe.
“Larry Harris is a very well-respected basketball coach. He has been at some prominent schools – Washington State, Oregon State and N.C. State most recently – working with some excellent coaches,” said Baron. “I have known him for a while – he was a great player and is an even better person. He will do an excellent job for us at Rhode Island.”
Prior to his tenure at NC State, Harris served as an assistant coach at Washington State during the 1995-96 campaign, helping the Cougars to a 17-12 record. Prior to his stop at WSU, he spent three years on the staff at Oregon State.
Harris happy to be newest member of Rams’ staff
KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND – Earlier this afternoon, the University of Rhode Island issued a press release that former NC State assistant Larry Harris is the newest member of Jim Baron’s coaching staff at Rhody, joining Pat Clarke and Preston Murphy. Chris DiSano of College Chalktalk and Cox Sports caught up with Harris to get his thoughts about the new gig at URI:
CD: What made the University of Rhode Island a good fit for you?
Harris: Jim Baron. He and I have known eachother for 30 years. He’s a hard worker day-in and day-out and that’s the type of guy I want to be around and environment I want to be a part of.
CD: What will you bring that can complement this staff?
Harris: Experience. I’ve been around this game for 27 years and that’s why Jim brought me up here. I’m confident that I have a great understanding of how to deal with kids and help them maximize potential, and I’m anxious to help Jim and the staff in any way I can.
UR’s Justin Harper picked no. 32 in NBA draft; Orlando trades for Richmond native
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond senior forward Justin Harper was selected as the 32nd pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic traded for the 6-foot-10, 225-pound Richmond native later Thursday evening.
Orlando only had one of the 60 picks in the 2011 NBA Draft and that selection was not coming until 53, but the Magic clearly made Harper there man by offering Cleveland two future picks for his rights.
“You don’t do a trade unless the guy you like (is there),” President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith said. “There were two guys we liked and the guy (Harper) happened to be the top of the two, so it’s a good value pick.”
Orlando finished 52-30 in 2010-11, making the playoffs, where the Magic lost to Atlanta 4-2.
“Justin is one of those guys that is a combo can play 3, can play 4, can shoot ball really well,” Smith said. “He has good feet, good hands, he’s a good rebounder. I think he’ll fit in with our guys real well.”
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Bonnies to host NC State at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team returns to Rochester for the third straight year in 2011, as the Bonnies host ACC foe NC State at the Blue Cross Arena Tuesday, December 20 at 7 p.m.
NC State and SBU have met just once on the hardwood – during St. Bonaventure’s NCAA Final Four run in 1970. St. Bonaventure earned an 80-68 victory over the Wolfpack in the second round of that year’s NCAA Championship, led by 24 points and 19 rebounds from Bona legend Bob Lanier.
The Bonnies return senior All-America candidate Andrew Nicholson and all but one starter from last year’s squad that earned a berth into the College Basketball Invitational and finished with a winning record (16-15) for the first time since 2001-02.
NC State, now under the leadership of first-year head coach Mark Gottfried, posted a 15-16 record in 2010-11 and returns ACC All-Freshman selection C.J. Leslie.
Lavoy Allen selected in 2nd round by Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University senior forward Lavoy Allen was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 50th pick (2nd round) of the 2011 NBA Draft Thursday evening. Allen is the 32nd Temple player selected in the NBA Draft and the first since Mardy Collins was taken with the 29th pick (first round) of the 2006 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.
“I am excited to be selected and it is even more special that it is by the 76ers, where my family and friends are able to support me,” said Allen. “I can’t wait to get started with my professional career.”
“I am very happy for him,” said Temple head coach Fran Dunphy. “He accomplished so much as a college basketball player. It is a great reward to be drafted and to go to the Sixers is icing on the cake.”
Who will be the next Owl to make an NBA roster?
Now that Lavoy Allen is a 76er, who’ll be the next Temple player with a shot to make an NBA roster?
Juan Fernandez was the first person that came to my mind. However, something keeps telling me it will be Ramone Moore.
You can’t discount Moore’s drive, desire and his improvement as an Owl.
Months ago, the 6-foot-4 shooting guard considered entering his name in last week’s NBA draft. The plan was to work out for teams then withdraw his name before the deadline. He, however, opted against the draft all together.
Instead, the rising fifth-year senior began preparing for the 2012 NBA draft in April.
He recently returned from a rigorous training session in Las Vegas. Moore, Villanova point guard Maalik Wayns and Miami guard Durand Scott were the only participants that are returning to college next season.
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Temple swingman Scootie Randall had knee surgery Tuesday for a meniscus tear in his left knee.
It is unknown when the 6-foot-6 senior-to-be suffered the injury.
Randall tweeted after the surgery, “feeling better. And everything went well.”
A Temple source said the Owls don’t have a timetable for when the Communications Tech product will be ready to work out. However, another source with knowledge who said the surgery was arthroscopic, believes Randall will be able to resume off-season conditioning in three to four weeks.
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CINCINNATI — Xavier University head basketball coach Chris Mack announced today that former Towson standout Isaiah Philmore has transferred to Xavier. Philmore, a 6-7 and 230-pound forward, will practice with the Musketeers this season and have two seasons of remaining eligibility beginning with the 2012-13 campaign.
Philmore led Towson in scoring and ranked sixth in the CAA at 15.3 ppg. as a sophomore this past season. He also grabbed 7.0 rpg., which ranked second on the team. Philmore came on strong down the stretch last season, averaging 22.2 points and 8.5 rebounds over the last six regular season games.
David West to test free agency
NEW ORLEANS – Hornets leading scorer David West has decided to test free agency.
West, a two-time All-Star who was drafted by New Orleans in 2003 out of Xavier, started 70 games last season, averaging 18.9 points to go with 7.6 rebounds before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during a game on March 24.
Coming soon
Stay tuned for the first annual Pickin’ Splinters rundown of the A10′s incoming class. Fans can get an in-depth look at the new student-athletes to play next season in the Atlantic 10.
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