A weekly round-up of Atlantic 10 men’s basketball.
SJU’s Aiken and Duquesne’s McConnell get ink for defensive efforts
They don’t always score a lot and they rarely get the glory after a big win. But college basketball coaches – and diehard fans – know that blocks and steals are often as important as dunks and 3-pointers.
The presence of an imposing defender will often steer an opponent away from the paint, and a pesky perimeter player can rattle a guard and force him into a turnover that could change the game.
Standout defensive players are strewn across the college basketball landscape. Here are a few to watch in 2011-12.
GW’s Mike Lonergan names Matt Lisiewski and Maurice Joseph as directors of basketball operations
WASHINGTON, DC — Matt Lisiewski and Maurice Joseph have been hired as Director of Basketball Operations and Assistant Director of Basketball Operations, respectively, for men’s basketball at The George Washington University, head coach Mike Lonergan has announced. Lisiewski spent the last five seasons at the University of Maryland where he served as the video coordinator for men’s basketball. Joseph comes to GW after spending last year playing professionally in Israel following two successful seasons at the University of Vermont playing for Lonergan.
“Matt and Maurice are both critical additions to our staff,” Lonergan said. “There are a lot of logistical challenges involved in running a successful program and, with Maurice and Matt handling those duties, I know we’ve got two of the best.”
Lisiewski comes to GW after serving as video director for men’s basketball at Maryland for the past five years under former coach Gary Williams. His duties in College Park included responsibility for all video components of the Terrapins’ men’s basketball program, including overseeing an extensive technology upgrade in the team’s video equipment and all aspects of film exchange. A 2002 graduate of the University of Florida, Lisiewski has worked in similar capacities at SMU and USA Basketball. He assisted USA basketball in preparation for its trip to Turkey in 2010.
Meet GW recruit Jonathan Davis
WASHINGTON, DC – Incoming freshman Jonathan Davis of Simi Valley, Calif., signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play basketball at GW last November. Since then, he has been selected the Most Valuable Player in the Marmonte League near Los Angeles.
The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 18.7 points on 53 percent shooting, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game as a senior at Simi Valley High School this past season. His efforts helped the SVHS Pioneers post a 20-8 overall record under coach Christian Aurand.
GW adds John Kopriva for 2011-12
WASHINGTON, DC — George Washington men’s basketball coach Mike Lonergan has announced the addition of frontcourt standout John Kopriva. Kopriva will join the basketball team in the fall of 2011. Kopriva joins incoming freshman Jonathan Davis who signed in November.
A 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward from Wauwatosa, Wisc., Kopriva averaged 14 points, six rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 58 percent as a senior last season at Milwaukee’s Marquette High School under coach David Cooks. Kopriva helped lead the Hilltoppers to a 16-8 record last season and a combined record of 53-20 (.726) during his three seasons on the varsity.
Catching up with GW’s Chris Monroe
Colonials Basketball fans remember Chris Monroe (’03), the program’s all-time leading scorer who played for GW from 1999-03. The 6-foot-3 `power guard’ averaged 20.3 points a game during his senior season en route to scoring a four-year total of 2,249 points, the most in Colonials history.
After traveling around the globe playing professional basketball, Monroe was back on campus recently to rehab an injury and also was a guest speaker at the GW Basketball Camp.
Duquesne heads to Canada for exhibition tour
PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University head men’s basketball coach Ron Everhart announced today that the Dukes will travel to Canada in August for a four-game exhibition tour against a pair of Canadian all-star teams.
DU will play two games each against A-Game Hoops and the Phase 1 All-Stars in the Toronto area on consecutive days from August 12-15. The two opponents will be comprised of Canadian semi-pro players, many of whom have played in either the NCAA or professionally in Europe.
The trip will be the second foreign tour in school history, following a Labor Day weekend trip to Toronto in September of 2007. The NCAA allows schools to take a foreign trip once every four years.
The Dukes will be able to practice for 10 days prior to leaving on August 11. The team will return to Pittsburgh on the 16th.
Speedy Morris takes his rightful place in the Philadelphia sports hall of fame
Eaves participates in International Conference with URI’s Women’s Center
KINGSTON, R.I. — Former men’s basketball player Ben Eaves and representatives from the Women’s Center at the University of Rhode Island were invited to speak on violence against women and empowering students at an international conference in the United Kingdom earlier this month. Harvard was the only other U.S. university that participated in Northumbria University’s Feminist Activism on Campus event on June 15.
“The URI Women’s Center’s violence prevention program is groundbreaking,” said URI Chief Diversity Officer Kathryn Friedman. She highlighted the rigorous peer advocate application process and the education and support that students receive while participating in the program. “This model attracts and retains excellent students and is a model that anti-violence program advocates have been lobbying for at institutions across the nation for years.”
Sylvia Ellis, a professor at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, said that when the need for a conference about violence against women was identified, along with the need for women’s centers on British campuses, she recommended that the URI Women’s Center be involved.
And now a word from our partner
Click here to find out how Flash Tags can work for you.
Ride the Pine on the go!
Sounds like an oxymoron, but use your free Microsoft Tag App to scan the image below and stay connected with Pickin’ Splinters!
Kim Lewis joins Richmond staff
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – Former Tulane star Kim Lewishas joined the Richmond men’s basketball staff as Director of Basketball Operations.
Lewis, the Metro Conference Freshman of the Year in 1990-91, brings 11 years of Division I coaching experience to the Spiders.
Marcus Jenkins, who spent four years as one of Richmond’s Directors of Basketball Operations, took a job as an assistant coach at Princeton this summer.
“We are thrilled to add Kim Lewis to our coaching staff,” Richmond head coach Chris Mooney said. “He brings a great deal of experience as a college basketball coach, which will prove to be a valuable asset for our program. Kim was a tremendous college player who led Tulane to great heights. As a coach, he has helped numerous programs to great success.”
Harper’s selection shines light on UR hoops
The University of Richmond’s Robins Center hosted high-school summer teams Friday for a basketball camp on a divided arena court. It looked like business as usual for the UR hoops operation.
But the Spiders are positioned better for continued success than they were before Thursday night, when Justin Harper was selected with the 32nd pick in the NBA draft. Harper, a 6-foot-10, 228-pounder from Meadowbrook High is UR’s first selection since Curtis Blair was a second-round choice (53rd overall) in 1992.
Harper supplies UR with national exposure — only 34 Division I schools had players taken in the two-round, 60-pick process — and presents incontrovertible evidence to prospects and current Spiders that the NBA is a realistic goal for a UR player.
Ten post-season teams highlight Temple’s non-conference schedule
PHILADELPHIA – Ten postseason teams, including perennial powerhouses Duke and Texas, are among the 14 opponents that comprise Temple’s 2011-12 men’s basketball non-conference schedule announced today by the Temple University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Besides Duke and Texas, the Owls’ schedule features two other teams that participated in the 2011 NCAA Tournament (Purdue, a possible foe in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic, and Villanova). Three of the 2011 NIT Final Four teams are on the slate – Wichita State (champion), Alabama (runner-up) and Colorado (semis), as well as three participants from the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (Buffalo, along with possible PR Tip-Off foes Iona and Western Michigan).
“Each year we strive to formulate a schedule that will challenge our team, as well as bring some of the top programs in the nation to Philadelphia,” Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said. “I believe our 2011-12 schedule accomplishes that.”
Xavier debuts Game Night: A Look Inside
CINCINNATI — Xavier University Athletics debuted today the first of a six-part webisode series that will take fans behind-the-scenes of a men’s basketball game night at Cintas Center. The series, titled “Game Night: A Look Inside”, was developed in partnership between Xavier’s Athletic Department and the Xavier Office of University Communications. The idea was hatched as Cliff Jenkins, Video Manager, was given unrivaled access to the program by Head Coach Chris Mack and was able to capture hours of high definition footage during the Atlantic 10 Conference portion of the 2010-11 season.
Each of the short stories, which will be shown exclusively online, will be launched during the first week of the next five months leading up to tip-off of the season in November. A bonus sixth webisode will conclude the series during the week of the regular season home opener on November 11. Fans can access the webisodes directly via the Xavier Musketeers YouTube page or via a launch page that is accessible on GoXavier.com.
‘X’ marks the spot…again.
If Miami was the hotspot for NBAers looking for a change of scenery last summer, then Xavier – the small Jesuit school in the Queen City of Cincinnati – is the preferred destination this year for collegians in search of a different quadrangle to call home.
First, the arrival of talented Isaiah Philmore, announced officially by the school on June 23, 2011. A 6-foot-7, 230 pound forward who played at Towson (15.3ppg, 7rpg in 2010-11), Philmore led the Tigers in scoring last season as a sophomore. He’ll sit per NCAA regs before donning a jersey for Chris Mack in 2012-13.
And now, to compete for time and perhaps immediately fill the void left by the graduation of Jamel McLean (a solid former transfer from Tulsa in his own right), an immediately eligible Andre Walker.
Winners chosen for Musketeer loyalty sweepstakes
Cincinnati – After the June 3 deadline for renewing the 2011-2012 Men’s Basketball tickets, qualifying season ticket holders were entered into the Musketeer Loyalty Sweepstakes for the chance to win great prizes and experiences. Recently, the Xavier Athletic Department has selected its winners for this year’s sweepstakes.
Our Grand Prize Winner is Stephen S. of Cincinnati. He has received a trip for two (2) to a select Xavier road game during the 2011-2012 season.
The winners of the VIP Experience are William G. of Northern Kentucky and Lawrence S. of Cincinnati. The Closed Practice Prize winners include Deborah H. of Milford, Robert M. of Cleves, John K. of Cincinnati, and James S. of Cincinnati.
UD’s Hill hopes shin healing
University of Dayton forward Ralph Hill has been on crutches for a few weeks because of a stress fracture in his left shin, but you won’t hear any complaints from him about the inconvenience.
The sophomore from Westerville North High School will have an X-ray today and hopes he’s mending well enough to get by with just a protective boot. UD trainer Nate Seymour warned, though, that Hill may need to have rod inserted through surgery if the injury isn’t sufficiently healed.
“The last thing I want is surgery,” Hill said. “That’s sounds bad. That doesn’t sound like anything a basketball player wants.”
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Hill played in just seven games last season and scored 13 points.
UD’s Miller prefers recruiting to tour
The NCAA allows basketball teams to take a foreign exhibition tour once every four years, and the University of Dayton will play five games in the Netherlands, Belgium and France from Aug. 8-18.
Most coaches view the tours as beneficial because they get 10 extra practices with their squads, and the timing could be ideal for the Flyers, who will be adapting to a new system under first-year coach Archie Miller.
But UD will have just 10 scholarship players this season, and only eight of 13 full rides currently are accounted for after this season. Restocking the roster is a higher priority for Miller.
Catching up with Adrion Graves
Sitting in an overheated high school gymnasium as it began to clear out on a dark summer evening, Adrion Graves looked at the ceiling and summarized his past three years.
“I just can’t stop playing basketball,” Graves said. “That’s the only thing I know.”
Graves, 23, is on the verge of a professional career at the end of a rocky journey.
The 6-foot-4 guard first made a name for himself at Hughes High School, where he was a two-time Enquirer first team Division I all-star and the 90th-ranked player in his high school class, according to Rivals.com.
Temple vs. Butler?
Butler associate head coach basketball coach Matthew Graves said in Wednesday’s Indianapolis Star that Butler is attempting to get Temple to visit the Bulldogs’ Hinkle Fieldhouse for a nonconference game during the 2012-13 season.
If that works out, the newspaper said Butler’s 2012-13 nonleague schedule could consist of Evansville, Ball State, Gonzaga, Temple and a non-Division I program.
The creation of Twitter has broken down barriers between fans and athletes, allowing fanatics to interact with their favorite stars and to catch glimpses into the lives of professional athletes. Some stars like Donovan McNabb think athletes shouldn’t be on Twitter (maybe Rashard Mendenhall should have listened), but most use the social network effectively.
To make this list of must-follow athletes, the tweeter needed to be interactive, informative, charitable, funny and (for the most part) not oblige his or her followers’ requests for retweets because the athlete is the “fan’s favorite player.” Athletes, coaches, and owners were eligible to make the list.
Send your suggestions for the best athletes to follow to our Twitter account @CBSSports. You can follow all 140 athletes by checking out this Twitter list.
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.
A little disappointed in the first “Game Night” post from Xavier. I odn’t know if it’s because it lacked any true in-depth look or because I’m a Temple man. Hopefully the other ones will be more informative as far as game plans and what not. Nonetheless, props to Xavier for even doing something like this. Beggars can’t be choosers.
Hahaha – they might need a game for a trial run of it. 🙂
I thought these were from a game last season?
No they introduced game night in the last couple of weeks.