Astute readers might remember our big NYC College Hoops Tour from last year, in which we visited every NYC college basketball team’s home court. Well, a new season is at hand, and we thought we’d take a look and see how everyone looks for the 2010-11 season. This year, though, St. John’s is clearly worthy of its own post, so today, just like last year, we take a look at the other six programs in town. How are they gonna be this year? Let’s find out.
We love college basketball, and we can prove it: Sitting at our desk right now are three college-basketball reference books. College Basketball Prospectus, the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, and, our favorite toy, the massive ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia, which actually runs 1,213 pages.
As a service to you, and because we love leafing through all the pages and calling it “work,” we’re going to take a look at all the city teams. The big ESPN book, insanely, actually ranks all Division I-A teams historically, so we’ll do them in that order, with that rank, along with a scouting line on each team from the Blue Ribbon guide. Anyway, here goes. We’ll hit St. John’s tomorrow.
No. 131 (ESPN historic ranking), Manhattan Jaspers
Coach: Barry Rohrssen
Record Last Season: 11-20 (ninth in Metro Atlantic)
Best Player: Forward Demetrius Jemison.
Home Arena: Draddy Gymnasium, Bronx.
Blue Ribbon Forecast: “If Manhattan finds the right mix, it could be a surprise team in the MAAC this season. If not, it will be a long season in Riverdale.”
Predicted Conference Finish: Tenth (last).
No. 133, Fordham Rams
Coach: Tom Pecora
Record Last Season: 2-26 (fourteenth in Atlantic-10)
Best Player: Forward Chris Gaston.
Home Arena: Rose Hill Gym, Bronx.
Blue Ribbon Forecast: “The good news for the Rams is that it will be nearly impossible for them to be as bad as they were last year.”
Predicted Conference Finish: Fourteenth (last).
No. 175, Long Island Blackbirds
Coach: Jim Ferry
Record Last Season: 14-17 (fourth in NEC)
Best Player: Guard Kyle Johnson.
Home Arena: Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center, Brooklyn.
Blue Ribbon Forecast: “LIU just might be at the top of the pack along with Quinnipiac, at least entering the season.”
Predicted Conference Finish: Second.
No. 192, Columbia Lions
Coach: Kyle Smith
Record Last Season: 11-17 (tied for fifth in Ivy League)
Best Player: Forward Noruwa Agho.
Home Arena: Levien Gymnasium, Morningside Heights, Manhattan.
Blue Ribbon Forecast: “The Lions will find it challenging to finish in the top half of the league.”
Predicted Conference Finish: Seventh.
No. 241, St. Francis (NY) Terriers
Coach: Glenn Braica
Record Last Season: 11-18 (tied for eighth in Northeast)
Best Player: Guard Ricky Cadell.
Home Arena: Peter Aquilone Court, Brooklyn.
Blue Ribbon Forecast: “They might not be the best team in the NEC going into the year, but the Terriers could finish that way if things fall into place.”
Predicted Conference Finish: Fifth.
No. 282 Wagner Seahawks
Coach: Dan Hurley
Record Last Season: 5-26 (11th in Northeast)
Best Player: Guard Chris Martin.
Home Arena: Spiro Sports Center, Staten Island.
Blue Ribbon Forecast: “There are plenty of holes/roles to fill if the Seahawks want to be a factor this season in the NEC.”
Predicted Conference Finish: Tenth.