Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 2004-05 Recap
by Matthew Moll
Transition and mirror images defined this past season for the MAAC contenders. Transitioning out were the past victors and dominators of the league, as recently successful teams like Manhattan, Seina, and Iona all had off seasons. Individuals such as Juan Mendez, Jerry Johnson, and Deng Gai all were in the twilight of their college careers looking to make once last push for MAAC supremacy. The mirror image of these teams was the mini-turnaround Loyola underwent. Although the turnaround did not preclude a losing record, Loyola’s success cannot be ignored when it is coupled with the close contests and a win over the conference champ.
Marist proved that what goes up must come down. The Red Foxes catapulted into first place with a 7-1 start, but immediately following that run to the top was a tumble to the bottom as they dropped six straight and 10 out of the last 11. At the end of the season, which was more alarming: the fall from the top or whether or not they belonged at all?
Niagara’s season was exactly the opposite of the Red Foxes’ run. The Purple Eagles were at the bottom of the league after the first week and a half of the conference schedule. But the Eagles found a rhythm and fed the big Eagle Juan Mendez and his double-double; add that to Alex Cruz running the show equal sign, wins. Niagara won when faced with adversity and earned a spot in both school and MAAC history.
Finally, the season saw many landmark achievements for players and coaches. Mendez became the highest-scoring Canadian-born player in NCAA history. Deng Gai moved up to seventh on the all-time NCAA block list (just above Emeka Okafor). Alvin Cruz, David Brooks, and Gai each reached the 1,000-point milestone, while Keydren Clark became the highest scoring Peacock in their history. Coaches Jeff Ruland of Iona and Bobby Gonzalez of Manhattan surpassed 100 career wins during the season.
MACC Tournament Recap
For the first time in three years, the MAAC would not be sending the Manhattan Jaspers to the NCAA tournament. The Purple Eagles of Niagara staked their claim as the best MAAC team of 2004-2005 and danced for the first time in 35 years. Here is how the MAAC tournament went down.
No surprises for the first round as the top four seeds all had byes and all of the higher seeds advanced. No. 5 Iona defeated No.10 Siena 69-51; No. 7 Canisius put the No. 8 Marist Red Foxes out of their misery with a 62-60 win; and No. 6 Manhattan kept pace, outing No. 9 Loyola 88-67. The quarterfinals produced the biggest upset of the tournament when No. 4 St. Peter’s spotted No. 5 Iona 17 points and did not recover, eventually falling 97-73. No. 2 Rider easily advanced past Canisius, while No. 3 Fairfield needed defensive stops at the end of regulation to hinder Manhattan’s comeback effort and aspirations of three straight titles with a 62-60 win. The semifinals gave the MAAC audience two closely contested matches, as No.1 Niagara was able to fight off Iona 69-66 thanks to a late turnover by the Gaels, then No. 2 Rider needed a last second miss to escape with a 76-74 win over Fairfield.
The seeding and regular season proved to be an accurate representation of how the teams matched up as the two teams with identical records met in the championship game of the MAAC tournament. No. 1 Niagara and the mighty Juan Mendez sent No. 2 Rider home with an 81-59 win. The win marked the first MAAC championship in six tries for the Purple Eagles.
Big Dance Recap
Niagara’s euphoria over a 35-year wait to dance was deciduous, as the Purple Eagles were defeathered by the Oklahoma Sooners in the first round of the NCAA tournament 84-67. The No. 13 Purple Eagles received their usual contribution from Juan “Double-double” Mendez, who went for 22 points and 15 boards, but could not maintain their momentum from an 11-6 opening run. The Tucson crowd was given false hope for an upset at the 17:04 mark when the Eagles pulled within one at 44-43. The Sooners would respond with a 12-2 run to extend the lead, and not relinquish it. At one point in the second half the Eagles missed 16 consecutive shots.
The loss dropped Joe Mihalich and Niagara to 20-10 on the season, but for Mihalich the appearance in the tournament may have been enough as he fulfilled a promise to his 80-year-old mother, who is suffering from cancer, that she would see him coach in the NCAA tournament.
Hoopville MAAC Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Juan Mendez, 23.6 ppg (2nd), 10.3 rpg (1st), 21 double-doubles (1st)
Newcomer of the Year
C.J. Anderson, Fr., Manhattan, 16.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg (second in the MAAC)
Defensive Player of the Year
Deng Gai, Sr., Fairfield, 5.5 bpg., 3rd in the league in defensive rebounds
First Team
Juan Mendez, Sr., F, Niagara
Deng Gai, Sr., C, Fairfield
Greg Jenkins, Sr., F/C, Iona
Peter Mulligan, Sr., F, Manhattan
Jerry Johnson, Sr., G, Rider
Keydren Clark, Jr., G, St. Peter’s
Second Team
David Brooks, Sr., G, Niagara
C.J. Anderson, F, G, Manhattan
Will Whittington, So., G, Marist
Alvin Cruz, Sr., G, Niagara
Terrence Todd, Jr., G, Fairfield
MAAC Team Recaps
Niagara Purple Eagles – (20-10, 13-5 MAAC)
Thirty-five years of waiting in one paragraph:
Calvin Murphy was the last Eagles’ star to sour in the NCAA Tournament. That was in 1970; 35 years later, a new set of Purples made school history and danced in the ultimate postseason. Niagara did not breeze through the MAAC regular season and at times looked as if they were a vulnerable middle-tier team in the conference. The Eagles’ first MAAC defeat of the season was a setback loss to the once laughable Loyola Greyhounds. The season did not improve for Niagara until they lost two straight MAAC games to Manhattan and Marist. Then, the slumbering upstarts awoke and reeled off six straight wins and would put the destiny of the conference regular season in their hands. Joe Mihalich’s team earned the MAAC’s number one seed for their efforts, using the two-round bye as their ally and winning easily to advance to the field of 65.
Team MVP: Juan Mendez
Top Scorer: Mendez, 23.6 ppg
Top Rebounder: Mendez, 10.3 rpg
Top Assists: Alvin Cruz, 6.4 apg
Eagles leaving the nest
Mendez, Cruz, David Brooks (Graduating, losing 53.8 ppg)
Key returns
Lorenzo Miles, sophomore guard, 8.9 ppg
J.R. Duffy, sophomore forward, 8.4 ppg
James Mathis, junior guard, 7.9 ppg
News
Alvin Cruz signed a pro contract with Bayamon Vaqueros of the Superior League in Puerto Rico, his native country. Juan Mendez averaged 22 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 72.7 percent from the foul line in the Portsmouth Invitational in front of NBA scouts.
2005-06 Outlook
Not only do the Purple Eagles lose their school’s leading assist man (Cruz), the most prolific Canadian player and MAAC POY (you know who) and their leading three-point shooter (Brooks); they also lose their senior leadership. Mihalich will need to regroup if he plans to compete next season.
Rider Broncos (19-11, 13-5)
A season of almost in one paragraph:
The best record in the conference, but lost the tie breaker. Almost. Jerry Johnson almost the best player in the conference. Almost. Advanced to the MAAC finals, but was for the second time this season overmatched by Niagara. Almost an NCAA birth. Rider’s season of impressive wins followed by headshaking losses doomed the fate of a team looking to amend its image as the bridesmaid all season. The Broncos’ efforts were euthanized by Niagara in the MAAC tournament finals.
Team MVP: Jerry Johnson
Top Scorer: Johnson, 18.4 ppg
Top Rebounder: Jason Thompson, 7.4 rpg
Top Assists: Johnson, 4.5 apg
Players Leaving
Johnson, Steve Castleberry, Armel Minyem, Andre Pereira, Robert Taylor (Graduating)
Key Players returning
Edwin Muniz, Jr., Forward 11.6 ppg
Thompson, Fr., Forward 9.1 ppg
Terrance Mouton, So., Guard 8.6 ppg
News
Johnson was among the 64 college seniors invited to Portsmouth and played with Niagara’s Juan Mendez.
2005-06 Outlook
The loss of Jerry Johnson’s points and floor leadership do not look so bleak with Mouton, the Broncos’ sixth man, as a starter. Still, Rider will need to find a new source of points and assists. Mouton is a MAAC star in the making and still has two years of eligibility at Rider’s disposal. Don Harnum’s team should be among the favorites next season despite the loss of their All-MAAC selection.
Fairfield Stags (15-15, 11-7)
Stag-ing in one paragraph:
The Stags ended their season where most experts placed them, the third-best team in the conference. As their .500 record will attest, the Stags never found a groove but also did not string together losses. The key in most of their close losses (including the last-second loss to Rider in the semifinals of the MAAC tourney) and throughout the season was fruitless offensive attempts. The Stags were fifth in the league in offensive production, which forced the team to rely on their defense and lose out on tight contests. Tim O’Toole’s team hung around every game, as all defensive teams do, but in the end the Stags needed more horsepower on the offensive side of the ball.
Team MVP: Deng Gai (7th best college shot-blocker in history)
Top Scorer: Terrance Todd, 15.9 ppg
Top Rebounder: Gai, 8.5 rpg
Top Assists: Tyquawn Goode, 4.9 apg
Players Leaving
Gai, Goode, Kudjo Sogadzi, Alvin Carter, Brad Feleccia (graduating).
Key Players returning
DeWitt Maxwell, Jr., Guard, 11.3 ppg
Todd, Jr., Guard, 15.9 ppg.
News
Tim O’Toole has a new point guard and small forward signed for next season. Herbie Allen was a standout at this season’s Jordan Classic Regional game, leading the New York City team with 19 points and six broken ankles. Jeremy Reedal, a 6-6 forward from Oregon, averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game in high school.
Deng Gai participated in the Portsmouth Invitational and will vie for a spot on an NBA roster.
2005-06 Outlook
Gai spurned the NBA last season, but Fairfield will not have the same fortune of his services and return next season. This means Fairfield will struggle in the middle without their neutralizer of opposing shots. Terrance Todd will be this team’s focal point on offense, but will also have the burden of finding his own shot without Goode dropping dimes.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks (15-13, 11-7)
Six months in one paragraph:
The Peacocks’ late season run was abruptly ended by the lower-seeded Iona in the second round of the MAAC tournament. Prior to the 97-73 gashing by the Gaels, St. Peter’s went on an impressive run of winning seven out of the last eight games, including a streak of six consecutive wins. The winning streak, rather than proving to be a springboard into a title run, became a divergence from the dregs that was the rest of the regular season. St. Peter’s was sluggish at the beginning of the season, posting a 1-7 record in conference play. The recovery at season’s end took its toll on the Jersey City team, succumbing in their first tourney game despite the late surge.
Team MVP: Keydren Clark
Top Scorer: Clark, 25.8 ppg
Top Rebounder: Ron Yates, 7.0 rpg
Top Assists: Clark, 4.1 apg
Peacocks leaving
Ivan Bozovic, Mark Curry, Corey Hinnant, Derrick Hooker, Jamie Sowers, Terrance Watkins, Ron Yates (Graduating)
Key returns
Keydren Clark, leading the world in points and team in assists
2005-06 Outlook
With the MAAC stars such as Juan Mendez, Jerry Johnson, and Deng Gai all completing their collegiate matriculations, Clark will shine solo in a league that can be won with one dominant player. Clark will be in his senior season without any title other than a national scoring title. Next season, the MAAC is open and Clark could be all the Peacocks need to fill such a hole.
Iona Gaels (15-16, 9-9)
A season with a light at the end of it in one paragraph:
The Gaels began the 2004-2005 campaign with a 2-6 record and threw in a four game losing streak after it looked as if they had improved. Iona would recover enough to even their MAAC record and stir the waters with three different three consecutive win streaks, the last of which came right before their exit from the MAAC tourney compliments of one-seeded Niagara.
Team MVP: Greg Jenkins
Top Scorer: Steve Burtt, 19.3 ppg
Top Rebounder: Jenkins, 6.3 rpg
Top Assists: Ricky Soliver, 4.5 apg
Players leaving
Charles Henson and Greg Jenkins (graduating)
Key returns
Steve Burtt, 19.3 ppg
Ricky Soliver, 12.7 ppg
2005-06 Outlook
Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding. Iona hopes to rebound next year, not only from a .500 league record, but missed shots. Without Jenkins, the Gaels averaged less than 30 boards a game, which this season would put them last in the league. Next season, Burtt will be pulling the trigger with less discretion because of the loss of Jenkins and Soliver could potentially lead the league in assists. The Gaels should look to move up in the standings next season and may need to be fitted for dancing shoes.
Manhattan Jaspers (15-14, 9-9)
No longer the champs in one paragraph:
For the Jaspers, this is unfamiliar territory; looking up and seeing other teams in the standings. The Jaspers could not retool after key losses in personnel, but Manhattan remained a respectable .500 team and showed resolve throughout the season, much like a defending champion would. Manhattan began the season with two loses against MAAC opponents, but would recuperate from the damage only to lose five in six games at the end of January and start of February. The Jaspers would put behind the season of oscillating abilities to make an appearance in the MAAC semifinals after defeating Loyola. Manhattan would fall short against Fairfield, but only by a margin of two points did the life of the reign breathe its last.
Team MVP: Peter Mulligan
Top Scorer: Mulligan, 19.3 ppg
Top Rebounder: C.J. Anderson, 8.6 rpg
Top Assists: Jason Wingate, 3.1 apg
Jaspers leaving
Peter Mulligan and Justin Gating (graduating).
Key returns
C.J. Anderson, best freshman in the MAAC
Jason Wingate, G, 3.1 apg.
News
The Jaspers will open their quest for retrieval of the MAAC throne in the Pre-Season NIT.
Coach Bobby Gonzalez will be an assistant coach under Villanova’s Jay Wright for the USA Basketball World University Games.
2005-06 Outlook
The Jaspers will be missing points and a hold over from titles of yesteryear in Peter Mulligan. But C.J. Anderson is a MAAC star in the making and can absorb the scoring burden left by the departure of Mulligan. Wingate will continue to run the Jasper offense, but should look to pile on the assists in his final season. Ultimately, Manhattan goes as Anderson goes.
Canisius Golden Griffins (11-18, 8-10)
Needing some alchemy in one paragraph:
Losing the eight out of your first nine games of the season is not what one would consider a solid start, and for the Griffs there would be some glimpses, but no recovery from the unsultry start. Canisius still had some impressive MAAC games despite the less-than-salubrious seat in the standings. But as their record indicates, these games may have been competitive, but ended with the Griffins with their heads bowed. Two such games came in succession against the teams with the best records in the MAAC, Rider and Niagara. Canisius forced overtime with the Broncos on February 13, but were overtaken in the extra session 81-74. The Griffs would take Niagara to an additional frame later that week and held a slim lead during regulation and overtime, but the game ended with Niagara prevailing 113-101. These games were two of the eight overtime sessions the Griffs participated in, including a triple overtime tilt with Iona where Canisius was victorious.
Team MVP: Kevin Downey
Top Scorer: Downey, 16.5 ppg
Top Rebounder: Darnell Wilson, 6.6 rpg
Top Assists: Downey, 3.6 apg
Griffs leaving
Andrew Spitler (graduation)
Key returns
Kevin Downey, redshirt junior, 16.5 ppg
2005-06 Outlook
The Griffs do not lose much for next season, but the question is if it will be enough. Mike MacDonald’s crew played several close games last season, but struggled to finish. With a year more of experience and a slew of MAAC upper echelons graduating the Griffs have a chance, but will need more production from current players if the new wide open league will benefit the Griffs.
Marist Red Foxes (11-17, 8-10)
The precipitous decline in one paragraph:
At one point in late January, the Red Foxes looked poised to have a storybook season. During Marist’s meteoric rise to the zenith of the MAAC hierarchy under rookie coach Matt Brady, the Foxes cast aside challengers and sent anticipated superiors reeling. Hitting their stride with six straight wins, the MAAC was theirs and theirs alone with a 7-1 mark. What transpired next was a sharp fall out of contention for the automatic bid and out of the conversation of MAAC heavyweights. Rather than a reprise of how surprising the rise to the top was, the new surprise was the sudden inability to win. Marist would go on to lose 10 of their last 11 games, including a six game losing streak followed shortly by a four game losing streak culminating with a MAAC tournament loss to Canisius. The single defining event which the Foxes keep going back to was the five-game suspension of Will McClurkin for administrative violations. Although not solely responsible for the deterioration, the Red Foxes lost the man in the middle and focus, and Marist did not recover, taking with it the most compelling story of the season.
Team MVP: Will Whittington
Top Scorer: Whittington, 16.1 ppg
Top Rebounder: Will McClurkin, 7.6 rpg
Top Assists: Jared Jordan, 6.6 apg
Foxes leaving
Pierre Monagan, Brandon Ellerbee, and Will McClurkin (graduating)
Key returns
Will Whittington, G/F, 16.1 ppg
Jared Jordan, G, 6.6 apg
2005-06 Outlook
One of the best three-point shooters in the country will return and one of the best dime droppers in the MAAC will be back as well. Which team will return though is suspect. McClurkin is gone, so no man in the middle leading to the assertion that the second half team will return and Matt Brady will return to scratching the back of his head. But Marist will be starting fresh and perhaps that is all they need for a Travolta-type comeback to their dominance of earlier this season.
Loyola (Md) Greyhounds (6-22, 5-13)
How to win six times as many games than the previous season in one paragraph:
“Thirty-one game losing streak take that,” is how Loyola matched last season’s win total by defeating Niagara early in the season. That’s right, Niagara – the team with Juan Mendez and that went to the NCAA tournament. This was not a sign of things to come for the Greyhounds, but it did change the team’s persona under new head coach Jimmy Patsos. Loyola went on to win five other games and making many other match-ups respectable. The Greyhounds even had a three-game winning streak to their credit. Finishing higher than last place was a feat few anticipated for the former laughing stock of the NCAA.
Team MVP: Charlie Bell
Top Scorer: Bell, 10.3 ppg
Top Rebounder: Freddie Stanback, 5.1 apg
Top Assists: Shane James, 2.8 apg
Who’s out
Bernard Allen, Jim Chivers, and Irakli Nijaradze (graduating)
Key returns
Entire starting five: Charlie Bell, Linton Hinds, Shane James, Freddie Stanback, and Brad Farrell
News
Signed prep school standout Skylar Khaleel
2005-06 Outlook
Patsos was a breath of fresh air and breathed life into this team and the university’s student body in a positive way. Gone are the days fans flocked to see history in the making of the losing persuasion. Now expectations are to improve with the entire starting five returning and a conference up for grabs.
Siena Saints (6-24, 4-14)
What it’s like to rebuild in one paragraph:
Not easy apparently. The Saints began the year with a seven-game losing streak and the small-inexperienced lineup did not recover. The season was highlighted by wins over Manhattan and Rider; the win over Rider was part of the Saints’ only winning streak of the season (2). The season was lowlighted by a subsequent seven-game streaks of scoring less than the other team. Siena’s last-place finish is a stark contrast to the last ten years where they earned five postseason births and two MAAC tournament championships.
Team MVP: Jack McClinton
Top Scorer: McClinton, 13.3 ppg
Top Rebounder: Antoine Jordan, 5.8 rpg
Top Assists: Mclinton, 2.7 apg
Departed Saints
Tommy Mitchell, Gary Holle, and Brent Sniezyk (graduating); Tarrance Garrison, Darryl Harris, Jack McClinton (transferred)
Key returns
Jr. F Michael Haddix, 14.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg in 12 games
Fr. G Jack McClinton, 13.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg
News
Fran McCaffery was named the 14th coach of the Saints’ basketball program. His last coaching stint was with UNC-Greensboro where he nearly led his team to the NCAA tournament. UNC-Greensboro defeated Davidson to advance to the SoCon championship where they would lose to Chattanooga. McCaffery replaces Rob Lanier who leaves the program after four seasons.
Two players asked to be released from their National Letters of Intent: Tarrance Garrison and Darryl Harris will be allowed by the school to pursue other futures.
2005-06 Outlook
McCaffery has a history of recruiting well since his days at Notre Dame and turned around a flagging UNC-Greensboro program during his tenure. Next season the MAAC will be in a bit of a transition and the Saints will benefit. But without any new talent coming in, McCaffery will need to use his recruiting skills and put them into scramble mode if they intend to finish out of last next season.
MAAC in 2005-2006
Mr. Double-double, Mr. Double-J, and Mr. Block are all trying to be pros next season leaving the respective teams of Niagara, Rider, and Fairfield without intricate pieces to their competitive puzzles. These departures will change the dynamic at the top of the league, detrimental to the most recently successful teams and advantageous to those at the bottom of the league. Niagara appears to be the team most damaged by the confines of graduation. Alex Cruz, David Brooks, and Juan Mendez, who accounted for over 50 percent of the team’s offense, are gone. So, too, will be the conference crown.
Next season, C.J. Anderson, this season’s super freshman, could alter the landscape of the league and place Manhattan back in the MAAC driver seat. Keydren Clark is the lone returning First Team All-MAAC performer and was yet to make any waves in the MAAC conference play. In the end, the automatic bid will be more up for grabs than it has been in recent years, which should result in a battle throughout the season between several teams.
