Rush The Court

Ray Floriani is the RTC correspondent for the MAAC and the NEC.

Reader’s Take

The Week That Was

• The thinking coming into the MAAC season was that the conference title would be a race between Iona and Fairfield. Early returns, though, tell us not to discount Loyola (MD). Jim Patsos’ group owns a nice 8-1 record, including an upset win on the road over George Washington. Over in the Bronx, Steve Masiello is keeping his press conference promises. The Jaspers will be around for this race and have a serious impact.
• On the negative side is Rider. The Broncs expected to be heard from and have been but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons, as they are struggling at 1-10 and looking for answers. Rider is ranked #97 in offensive efficiency and #116 defensively.

Player of the Week 

• Dylon Cormier, 6’2″ So., G Loyola – Averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two Greyhound victories. Highlighted was a 26-point effort in an upset of George Washington.

Newcomer of the Week

• Emmy Andujar, 6’5″ Fr., F Manhattan – Averaged 12 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two game for the Jaspers. Won the Doc Johnson award as game MVP in the win against Fordham. Andujar had a 14-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist effort in that “Battle of the Bronx.”

Power Rankings

1. Fairfield (8-1, 2-0): Scored non-league victories over Old Dominion and New Hampshire. Derek Needham led the way with 19 points against ODU in the Basketball Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase.  Stags held ODU to an outstanding 80 efficiency on the defensive end in that victory.
2. Iona (8-2, 2-0): Gaels took to the road winning at Denver in overtime, losing to Marshall and defeating Richmond. Iona’s win at Richmond was sparked by Michael Glover’s 24 points. A fast paced team, the Gaels average 76 possessions per outing. Their offensive efficiency is outstanding at 115 with a 101 on the defensive end.
3. Loyola (8-1, 2-0): Picked up road wins at George Washington and Mount St. Mary’s. Colonials were held to an 86 offensive efficiency by Loyola. Against the Mount, three Greyhounds were in double figures led by Shane Walker with 20 points. Walker also added six rebounds and two blocks in that victory.
4. Manhattan (7-4, 2-0): Defeated Fordham at home and Hofstra on the road. In the win at Hofstra, there was good balance on the scoring end. The Jaspers’ had four players in double figures, paced by Rhamel Brown and George Beamon with 14 each.
5. Marist (4-5, 1-1): A winning week for the Red Foxes. First a conference win over Rider before a close non-MAAC victory over Army. The Red Foxes’ had an off the chart 128 offensive efficiency against Rider while holding the Broncs to a 101. Devin Price, a 6″1″ junior guard, had a big week scoring 25 against Rider and 17 in the latter win over Army.
6. St. Peter’s (2-6, 1-1): Following a conference loss at Manhattan, St. Peter’s only other action saw them travel to Big Ten country only come out with a loss at Minnesota. Darius Conley scored 20 points and added 7 rebounds for the Peacocks in the Minnesota matchup.
7. Niagara (4-7, 0-2): Edged Hartford on the road prior to a home loss to Drexel. Junior guard Juan’ya Green had a big week with a 25-point game at Hartford and 22 against Drexel. Marvin Jordan, a sophomore guard, added 20 points in the win at Hartford.
8. Siena (3-7, 0-2): The Saints dropped two games at the hands of Atlantic-10 competitors. UMass edged Siena, 82-78, in the Basketball Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase in Springfield, Mass. Back home, Siena dropped a 74-59 contest to Fordham. OD Anosike had an 18-point, 12-rebound effort against the improved Fordham club.
9. Canisius (1-7, 0-2): Lost at home to South Dakota and at St. Bonaventure. A pair of junior guards had good showing for the Griffs. Harold Washington scored 16 points against South Dakota and 19 in the Bonaventure game. Alshwan Hymes added 18 and 17 against the respective opponents.
10. Rider (1-10, 0-2): A 0-3 week with a conference loss at Marist and non-league setbacks at Florida and at home against Princeton. Hard luck continued in the latter game as Mack Darrow hit a buzzer beating 3-pointer to give Princeton the victory in overtime. It was Darrow’s only field goal of the game. Loss ruined the career-high effort of Rider’s Jonathan Thompson, who tallied 17 points.

Upcoming Games:

• Sunday, Dec. 18 – Loyola at St. Bonaventure – A great test on the road for Loyola.
• Tuesday, Dec. 22 – Loyola at Kentucky – A win is probably out of the question, but we’ll see how close Loyola can keep the contest.
• Tuesday, Dec. 22 – Rider at Monmouth – An outstanding opportunity for Rider to get back in the win column here.
• Tuesday, Dec. 22 – Niagara at Quinnipiac – A battle between two teams that are trying to stay around in their respective conference races.
• Tuesday, Dec. 22 – Fairfield at UConn – What an early holiday present this would be for Fairfield fans if they could somehow shock the country here?