Another week and another batch of wisdom gleaned from the greatest game ever invented. Time to look at the happenings in the Atlantic 10, Metro Atlantic Athletic and Patriot League.
My coke for gin
There’s no way around it. Fordham’s Ryan Canty is a substitute for another guy. With double-double-omatic Chris Gaston on the shelf healing from arthroscopic surgery, Canty is getting his chance. The 6-9 center is making the best of it notching double-digit scoring outings in his last four games. Saturday, in a 58-47 loss to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, Canty poured in 15 and grabbed 16 rebounds before fouling out. The sophomore scored 18 against Manhattan two weeks ago. Gaston can’t return soon enough. The Rams have slipped to 1-8, and Atlantic 10 conference play is just around the corner. That’s enough to turn a happy Michael Corleone (if there can be such a thing) into a frowning Tom Pecora.
Two for the road
Faster than you can say “there’s a new sheriff in town,” the 2012-13 Canisius Golden Griffins eclipsed the win total of the 2011-12 Golden Griffins. Jim Baron and his Griffs opened conference play on the road and came home with a pair of Ws. Canisius started MAAC play with a decisive 67-55 win at Fairfield thus snapping a 12-game conference losing skid and a nine-game losing streak to Fairfield. Canisius capped the weekend with a 94-82 triumph at Marist. The Griffs hit a school record 17 3-pointers in the win. The denizens of Main Street Buffalo are 6-1 and haven’t reached that record since 1973-74. Still, there is room for improvement. As of right now, the Griffs have a rebounding advantage under two. That should increase as Jordan Heath (6-10), Josiah Heath (6-9) and Fred Asprilla (6-10) continue to get familiar with each other. The Griffs will get a an accurate gauge of where they are this Saturday when they travel east to play Syracuse.
Think, McFly. Think!
From FDR to Obama, that’s one way to look at Lehigh’s recent success. The Mountain Hawks improved to 8-2 after they defeated St. Francis, (Pa.), 83-67. It’s Lehigh best start since 1938-39. With C.J. McCollum racking up points, the Mountain Hawks are coasting along in uncharted waters. Head coach Brett Reed is taking advantage of the success and announced an impressive incoming class that should continue Lehigh’s success into the future.
Getting in tune with the straight and narrow
If recent contests mean anything, Dayton’s Josh Benson has worked his way back into game shape. After sitting out most of last year with a knee injury, the senior front court player has found his way back into UD’s starting five. Benson hit six-of-seven from the floor on the way to scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds when the Flyers came out of Tuscaloosa with an 81-76 win over the Crimson Tide. Benson is averaging a shade under 12 points with almost six boards per game.
Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name
Highly touted in high school, Justin Martin got lost in the shuffle over the last couple of years at Xavier. He was a partial qualifier and had to sit out one season. Last year he averaged less than three points per game in 11 minutes of playing time. This season, Martin has accounted for double figures in each of the eight games he has played for the Muskies. Second on the team in scoring, Martin is hitting 59.6 percent (34-for-57) from the floor including 46.4 percent (13-for-28) from long range. The sophomore went to the floor hard and hit his head at the end of Xavier’s overtime loss to Vanderbilt.
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