By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The numbers are hard to ignore. Losers of three straight and four of six, the Canisius Golden Griffins have tumbled from the ranks of those teams looking for a bye in the upcoming MAAC tournament to trying to figure out who they will play in the opening round.
Canisius, which started the MAAC schedule with five wins in their first seven contests, fell to 10-10 on Sunday after a 72-65 loss to Saint Peter’s.
Coming into the contest hitting 45.7 percent from the floor, Canisius connected on just 21 of 53 shots (39.6 percent) against Saint Peter’s.
“There are some things that catch up to you when you get in conference play,” first-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “We’re all seeing each other more. You see each other so much, not just when you’re getting ready to play that team, but sometimes when you’re getting ready to play another team. After a while when you keep seeing something, then you know what it is.”
This is not the same Canisius team that won seven of eight in December and hit 50 percent or better from the floor in three of four games in mid-January.
“You get to a certain point, and it’s personnel, personnel, personnel,” Witherspoon added. “When you recognize that, you can make it more difficult for your opponent. No matter what it is they’re doing, running plays and all that. You kinda know. At some point, it’s not just the coaches that know. It’s the players that know. Everybody has a scouting report.”
Canisius didn’t lose to a bunch of chumps. Don’t be surprised if the Peacocks earn the MAAC’s automatic bid next Monday. First place Monmouth (26-5/18-2) is the favorite, but the Peacocks split the regular season series with the Hawks. Saint Peter’s took the first meeting 71-61 before losing 71-70.
On Sunday, Saint Peter’s improved to 18-12 and 14-6 in MAAC play. Of their six conference losses, five have come by a combined total of 10 points. Two of those losses came in overtime. Canisius beat the Peacocks, 72-70 on February 6th.
But it was the way Canisius lost in its final regular season game of the year.
The Griffs dug an 11-0 hole. An opening that forced Witherspoon to go with a wholesale lineup change less than four minutes into the game.
“The guys that came off the bench did a great job. Obviously, the guys who started weren’t ready, and I didn’t think the energy was very good, so I just got them all out.
“I always tell players, ‘if you don’t work on your weaknesses, your opponent will.’ So it becomes a little bit more difficult to mask those things or hide those things. You try, but certain teams get better because some guys realize ‘hey, I’m pretty good in this conference.’ Sometimes, the reverse happens.”
Canisius fought back. An Isaiah Reese pull-up jumper from the free throw line made it a one-possession game at 22-19. Four minutes later, they trailed again by double digits. The Griffs had a chance to take the lead with less than three minutes remaining in regulation but couldn’t capitalize.
Nnamdi Enechionyia and Trevis Wyche scored 12 apiece for Saint Peter’s. Nick Griffin and Antwon Portley both had 11. Quadir Welton scored 10.
Saint Peter’s converted 12 Canisius turnovers into a 22-9 advantage in points off turnovers. The Griffs (ranked sixth in the country in assist rate) had 15 helpers on 21 made field goals.
For the weekend, Canisius shot 44 of 116 (37.9 percent).
“We are constantly fighting ourselves to move the basketball,” Witherspoon explained. “It’s a constant fight. Today we moved the ball some. When we did, we got shots. We certainly didn’t make every good shot. When the ball moves, we have a better chance of scoring. It’s a constant battle to get everybody to buy into that moving the ball and moving bodies. It’s a shame because when the ball moves, guys actually play better. When it doesn’t they actually play worse. But for some reason it’s a fight.”
Jermaine Crumpton paced Canisius with 14 points.
Canisius will play Marist in the opening round of the MAAC tournament. A 7 pm tipoff is scheduled on Thursday.
Rochester Connection Celebrated
Senior Phil Valenti (Aquinas) played his final home game at Canisius on the same day Kevin Downey (current Victor High School coach and former Livonia High Player) was inducted into the Canisius Athletic Hall of Fame.
Valenti scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his last regular season performance at the Koessler Athletic Center. The senior forward recorded his eighth career double-double including a career-high 13 rebounds in Friday’s loss. Valenti is averaging 14 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He hands out 2.2 assists.
Phil Valenti takes the court on senior day. @AQBoys_Hoops @Griffs_MBB pic.twitter.com/vyFmT1y4gX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 26, 2017
Valenti was named tournament MVP when the Aquinas Li’l Irish won the 2012 Class AA1 Section Five title. Valenti combined with former former Syracuse Orange Christian White and Memphis Tiger defensive back, Jahmahl Pardner to beat Webster-Schroeder and current Providence Friar Emmitt Holt, 63-57. Aquinas advanced to the state final where it lost to Mount Vernon. The Victor, New York native was named also named MVP of the New York State tournament. Valenti was an All-Tournament performer when Aquinas took the 2011 A2 title.
Downey earned 2001 Class B Tournament MVP when Livonia beat Waterloo, 55-40. Downey was a three-time All-MAAC selection during his time on Main Street in Buffalo. Downey is one of seven players in Canisius program history with more than 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and 250 assists in his career. He scored 1,583 points, grabbed 494 rebounds and handed out 404 assists. Downey is currently the head coach of Victor High School.
Kevin Downey inducted into the Canisius Athletic Hall of Fame. @victorboysbball pic.twitter.com/yjDk4HOHGt
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) February 26, 2017
Leave a Reply