The comings and goings of MAAC men’s basketball.
NBA Draft Profile: One-on-One with Scott Machado
Iona’s Scott Machado exploded onto the scene this past season, putting up big numbers: 13.6 points per game, 9.9 assists per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, and 1.6 steals per game. Yet, while Machado skyrocketed up draft projections and finally got media coverage this year, he was most certainly not a one-year performer. Instead, Machado had an extremely impressive college career.
In fact, over his four-year career, Machado averaged around 12 points and 6.5 assists per game. Even as a freshman, Machado was playing a substantial role on the team, averaging 27 minutes per game. What truly makes Machado a special player and what scouts are impressed with is his ability to improve each and every season. Machado is the ultimate workhorse, always putting in the time to improve his craft. No complacency whatsoever.
Now, Machado is projected as one of the best point guards in the nation and a likely early second, late first round draft pick.
Thus, the important question must be presented, did playing at a mid-major put Machado at a disadvantage in terms of being seen by pro scouts?
Ubiles named to NBA D-League First Team
After previously being named the NBA Developmental League Rookie of the Year, former Siena Saint Edwin Ubiles was named today to the 2012 All-NBA D-League First Team as one of the top five players overall in the league as voted by its 16 coaches. Ubiles made Siena history earlier in the year when he became the first Saint to appear in an NBA game when he checked in during the second quarter of the Wizards matchup against the Nets on March 21st. During his 10 day stay with the Wizards, Edwin saw action in four of six possible contests. His strongest performance came on the 24th vs the Hawks when Ubiles scored 10 points on 4-8 shooting to go along with 2 rebounds.
Davis joins Manhattan coaching staff
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan head men’s basketball coach Steve Masiello has officially named Rasheen Davis an assistant coach on his staff. Davis, a New York City native, returns to his hometown bringing five years of high level NCAA Division I experience to the Jaspers basketball program. Davis spent the last two years as an assistant coach at Xavier on Chris Mack’s staff helping the Musketeers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2011-12.
Jasper standout Durelle Brown named Kingswood Oxford head coach
“It is literally a dream come true,” Brown said. “Twenty years ago this year, I was applying, interviewing and touring Kingswood Oxford School, and here I am now as the coach.”
Canisius announces roster changes
Canisius College men’s basketball coach Jim Baron announced today that three players have been granted a release from their commitment to the Golden Griffin men’s basketball program and will be transferring.
Canisius junior Gaby Belardo, sophomore David Santiago and freshman Franklin Milian will not be returning to Canisius for the 2012-13 academic year.
Niagara to host alumni weekend
The main event will be the games played at the legendary ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center – the Old-Timers’ Game and the Mihalich Era Game. The Old-Timers’ game will feature legends from Buffalo State, Canisius and St. Bonaventure against Niagara’s legends, while the Mihalich Era Game will feature alums from 1999-2012. The Old-Timers’ Game will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Mihalich Era Game. Tickets for the games will be $5. After the games, there will be a postgame autograph session and a reception.
Hall-of-Famer Calvin Murphy
Pound for pound, nobody played with more heart than Calvin Murphy. This big 5-foot-9 dynamo played pressure basketball at both ends of the court. He was a penetrator supreme on offense who could stop on a dime and stick a jump shot. His aggressive, belly-to-belly style also made him a top-notch defensive player despite guarding bigger players. A scoring phenomenon in high school and college, Murphy tallied 2,548 points (33.1 ppg) at Niagara University and once torched Syracuse for 68 points.
The case for the 20-year-old age limit in the NBA
And for elite players who play one college year before turning pro, that process remains stunted. That’s the single most important part of a player’s development and we ignore it like it doesn’t totally matter — basic foundation points like learning how to commit to a team, embracing the unity of a group, trusting your teammates, and working within a larger framework. Harvard coach Tommy Amaker puts it well, saying, “We’ve become a culture of skipping steps.” So many young NBA players might be physically gifted, but they skipped crucial development steps along the way. It would help if they were forced to make one or two more of those steps within the framework of the college game.
Academic All-Jesuit Capsules
Ryan Olander – Fairfield (Sr., C, 7-0, Mansfield, CT)
3.58 in Marketing … Named to the MAAC All-Academic team … Selected to the Academic All-Jesuit squad for the third year (first team in 2010-2011, honorable mention in 2009-2010) … Started at center in all 37 games for the Stags, leading the team in blocks while also being among the leaders in scoring (fourth) and rebounding (third).
Kyle Koncz named Fairfield Director of Basketball Operations
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Sydney Johnson announced the addition of Kyle Koncz to his staff this afternoon. Koncz will become the program’s Director of Basketball Operations, taking over for Martin Bahar who was elevated to assistant coach earlier this month.
“I am pleased to have Kyle join our staff as the director of basketball operations,” Coach Johnson said. “His experience will be an asset to our staff as well as a valuable source for our student-athletes.”
Machado one of four O’Connell Award winners
- One of the top men’s basketball performers in Iona history
- One of five Iona performers in history to earn the Haggerty Award for New York Metropolitan Area men’s basketball player of the year
- Two-time All-MAAC and All-MBWA First Team performer was named the MAAC Player of the Year in 2012 and the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2009.
- Earned AP All-America Honorable Mention in 2012
- Named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award in 2012 given to the nation’s top point guard.
Siena set to face La Salle at Times Union Center
The Siena men’s basketball team has completed its 2012-13 schedule, nailing down a game against La Salle of the Atlantic 10 on Dec. 29 at Times Union Center.
The teams had been talking for a while, but there was some question whether La Salle might have a scheduling conflict because of a televised game. That has been resolved.
Rider report: resilient squad looks for more
Almost as many ups and downs as an elevator. A terrible start, followed by a nice mid-season turnaround, followed by some mediocre play, followed by two terrific wins to end the regular season, followed by a first-round ouster in the conference tournament. Still, an above-.500 finish in league play, which included season-ending victories over Loyola and Fairfield, the teams that competed in the MAAC tournament’s championship game. But, then, the Broncs lost to Fairfield in the tournament’s quarterfinal round when, trailing by two points with seven seconds left it failed to get a rebound on a missed Stags’ free throw. Still, Rider had a chance to tie it but a missed tip in attempt after a purposely missed free throw in the final second ended a classic of a game.
A high school senior is also a keen student of college recruiting
Kline is the 17-year-old impresario behind TheRecruitScoop.com, which in three years of existence has established itself as a highly authoritative observer of the college basketball recruiting scene. His reliable reporting has earned him 21,000 followers on Twitter, and on Monday, his upstart site will enter a new phase. That is when Kline, still in high school, will officially become a partner with Rivals.com and Yahoo Sports and take himself and his site to a new level of exposure.
Walker nabs Loyola’s Unsung Hero Award
The Men’s Unsung Hero Award went to men’s basketball senior Shane Walker. Head coach Jimmy Patsos often describes Walker as a coach among student-athletes, and his skill, willingness to accept his role and desire to win were critical for his team. Walker was the fifth-leading scorer, averaging 9.0 points and 6.3 rebounds, while helping the team to its most successful season in Division I history. Walker led the Greyhounds to a 24-9 overall record, a MAAC tournament title and the team’s first NCAA appearance since 1994.
Two sides sum up in former Marist coach’s case
Jurors will continue deliberations today in Marist College’s civil lawsuit against its former head men’s basketball coach, Matt Brady, after each side gave summations Tuesday.Attorney John Hannigan, representing Marist, said Tuesday that Brady breached his contract with the Town of Poughkeepsie school by leaving to take the same job at James Madison University in Virginia and keeping in contact with four high school players he recruited while at Marist. Brady subsequently signed scholarship offers for each player, and they played for him at James Madison.
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