By Chris Granozio
Just when you think you’ve got the region figured out…
The flip of the calendar to February signals the home stretch of the regular season, and it almost always proves to be a fertile hotbed for upsets. Case in point: Wednesday night in the Northeast 10 Conference, where the East Region’s top three teams all lost… each on their home floor, no less.
Say what you want about our region, it is nothing if not fiercely competitive. Long gone are the days of the runaway undefeated teams (see 2001 Adelphi, 2008 Bentley). Stiff competition from the various D1 leagues, as well as the culture-threatening transfer portal are certainly factors that present major challenges to coaches who seek to foster stable, competitive programs. Yes, the East is very much a different animal from the other seven regions across the D2 landscape (it was also the most affected by COVID as only a third of the programs in our area competed during the forgettable 2020-21 season – no disrespect to Daemen, which reached the Elite-8, surviving the smallest field ever).
Whatever the reason, our region is the college basketball version of crabs in a barrel… as soon as one or two teams ascend to the top, another one grabs them from behind and pulls them back to the pack. Exhibits A, B and C: the unusual storylines as the crabs did their crab thing Wednesday in New England:
In Waltham, the East’s alpha wolf thus far – Bentley – was leading NE10 rival Southern New Hampshire, 67-55 with 7:26 to play when the Penmen embarked on an 18-0 power run that lasted over six minutes and put them in the lead for good at 73-67 with 1:34 left. NE10 Player of the Year candidate Matt Becht fell one point shy of a career high with 34 points on the night, including a perfect 6-6 at the foul line over the final 38 seconds to cement his team’s ninth win in 10 games. Fellow MVP contender Zach Laput tossed in 25 for the Falcons, who still boast the league’s best overall record at 17-3 and is still the likely #1 seed as of this posting (the first official Regional Rankings will be released next Wednesday – more on that later).
Just up the road in New Hampshire, Pace slammed the brakes on a five-game losing streak by pounding St. Anselm – the likely #2 seed right now. It was the Hawks’ worst loss at Stoutenburgh Gym since New Haven hammered them, 85-58, in a playoff game on March 5, 2014. And it was the second time the Setters had their way with St. A’s this season after torturing them, 74-47 in Pleasantville back in November. Pace never trailed this second time around, as Bryan Powell led the charge with 24 points (7-10 FG, 2-2 from 3-point range). Sometimes, it just comes down to match-ups, and Pace is clearly a team the Hawks do not want to see a third time in March as the previous two meetings saw St. Anselm suffer its worst shooting performances of the winter.
Down in Connecticut, the team that was likely third in the regional pecking order heading into the week – New Haven – stubbed its toe for a third consecutive time, falling to last-place Saint Rose, which, to head coach Mike Perno’s credit, has stayed ultra-competitive despite key injuries (Shane O’Dell, Eric Fleming, Matt Constant) and a mid-season defection (Juran Ligonde, who is playing the second semester at D3 Framingham State, which has lost its last seven, for the record). Freshman forward Max Jusianiec has been the biggest beneficiary of the increased playing time on the Golden Knights, as he erupted for a personal-best 39 points (second most by a regional player this season behind Sean McCarthy’s 41 for similarly roster-depleted Felician, vs. Staten Island). Jusianiec – who also recorded a 30-point game vs. American International two weeks earlier – was hitting from everywhere (14-22 FG, 8-14 from deep) as he combined with Shane McGettigan and Keegan Zoller for all 45 of their team’s points by halftime. CSR’s maintained the lead over the last 32:12, and even though UNH crept within two twice down the stretch (the last time at 64-62 inside the four-minute mark), Jusianiec buried the last of his eight triples to quell the momentum and Saint Rose held on for the huge upset.
So with all that craziness in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a closer look at the regional landscape as the three conference tournaments loom in less than a month (the NE10 kicks things off with five playoff games three weeks from today – February 24). Here’s how all 35 teams stand, conference by conference, from top to bottom, with recent highlights sprinhled in:
NORTHEAST 10:
Bentley – At 17-3 and having played one of the toughest schedules to date, the Falcons are still the odds-on favorite to host the NCAA East Regional for a second straight year. Pedigree, the brilliant frontcourt play of Laput and grad student transfer Matt Leritz, as well as the outside potency of veteran shooter Mason Webb highlight the best starting five in the region.
St. Anselm – The resume is strong, and despite playing its stars more minutes than perhaps head coach Keith Dickson would like, the Hawks are formidable and capable of faring well in the postseason. Almost an NCAA lock at this juncture. Owen McGlashan (21 points & 12 rebounds at Adelphi) joins Tyler Arbuckle and Miles Tention as the NE10’s most potent offensive trio.
Southern New Hampshire – The red-hot Penmen have moved into third in the league – and my regional hierarchy, especially when taking into account their impressive victories over Bentley and New Haven. Athleticism, strong defense and Becht’s elite shooting make SNHU a second strong NCAA contender from Manchester. The Penmen’s win over Pace was its ninth straight in the series at the Stan Spirou Field House dating back to an 82-66 setback on December 2, 2006. Evan Guillory filled the stat sheet that day with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and career-high five steals.
New Haven – Despite the recent struggles and a mostly unproductive bench, the Chargers are still dangerous and boast the greatest defensive weapon in 7-footer Majur Majak. Opponents have taken to shooting threes to neutralize the Sudan native’s strengths, but New Haven is battle-tested and likely to right the ship before navigating NCAA Tournament waters.
Franklin Pierce – Along with Caldwell, is the hottest team in the East these days, having taken their last seven heading into a huge game vs. Le Moyne in Syracuse tomorrow, with both teams fighting for potential at-large NCAA berths. David Chadborne’s inserting Jarnel Snow-Guzman into the starting lineup alongside backcourt mate Mohamed Traore was the perfect tweak following a rough patch (both scored 22 in an impressive win vs. New Haven). And for the record, the Ravens and Caldwell Cougars have more in common than their recent win streaks. Both their coaches (longtime assistant Dean Johnson took the reins from Mark Corino this season) hail from Maine – and they faced off last month in New Jersey, in what may be the first such coaching match-up in regional history!
Le Moyne – The Dolphins have been riding a roller coaster with a deep but newly constructed roster. A five-game win streak was followed by a 1-6 cold spell, but now the Phins have won three in a row and are hoping for a strong finish despite having played one of the toughest schedules in the East. With several teams ahead of them, it will take some luck to play deep into March, but the talent is there as evidenced by their season-best 14-28 performance beyond the arc vs. Adelphi and recent red-hot play from grad guard Isaiah Salter (career high-tying 26 points at St. Rose) and center Xavier Wilson (21-33 FG, 4-7 from 3 the past three games, including a career-high 24 vs. the Panthers).
Southern Connecticut – Scott Burrell’s team is the feel-good story in the circuit this season, and his Owls are yet another team in the NCAA at-large mix. The non-league schedule isn’t particularly strong, and there are few eye-popping wins, but there are also no bad losses, and the team has played up to the level of the top teams. Sean James is a lethal perimeter threat (7-14 from long distance as part of a 27-point outing in a tight loss to Bentley), and lefty veteran Ulyen Coleman is finally healthy and back to his productive self (20 points vs. Georgian Court). Add Marty Silvera and his region-high 60 steals and 119 assists to the Mix, and Southern is a team to be reckoned with.
Pace – Things were going south with the Setters after a five-game skid, but the statement win at St. Anselm brings Matt Healing’s team smack back into the NCAA at-large discussion. Few teams have as many wins against what figures to be the regional Top 10 (five in total), and that makes Pace an curious case. Justin O’Neill (career bests of 14 points and 10 rebounds vs. SNHU) has added depth to a team that has struggled at times to score, but the battle-tested Powell brothers are the true linchpins for this team.
The rest of the NE10 field are teams with losing records that need to win the NE10 Tournament to go dancing – and remember, every teammakes the NE10 tourney now:
Assumption – Isiah Gaiter amassed 22 points and career-high 14 rebounds (he secured the double-double by halftime with 14 and 10, respectively) in a win over AIC, during which the dangerous Greyhounds nearly had their guests doubled up (47-24) with just over 12 minutes to go.
Adelphi – The old adage is true: the NE10 punishes youth. That is the ONLY reason why the Panthers – who start three immensely talented rookies – reside in the lower half this year as they have scared the top-level teams. There was the near-win at Bentley with three starters out sick, and another near-upset vs. St. Anselm, during which the frosh scored the last eight points in a two-point loss. Ronnie Silva is starting to surge as he sees the end of his brilliant career looming, on target to reach 2,000 points sometime next week.
St. Michael’s – Jacob Duniver has been balling lately (career-best 20 points and eight rebounds vs. AIC, then 15 & nine vs. Franklin Pierce) for the Purple Knights, who are just a couple of bounces away from having a winning record as FOUR one-point losses certainly has the faithful asking “what if?” With the zone defense and athletic roster, St. Mike’s is far from a pushover.
American International – Justice Ellison collected 20 points and personal-best 13 rebounds and the Yellow Jackets limited St. Michael’s to 30% shooting in a series-sweeping win at Butova Gym to snap an eight-game losing streak. Jack Hall has been a bright spot in this rebuilding year with 61 triples – most ever by an AIC freshman
Saint Rose – See above. The most dangerous last-place team in the country – period.
CENTRAL ATLANTIC:
Caldwell – The pleasant surprise in the North, and quite a bit ahead of schedule considering the youth of the roster. Johnson’s Cougars have won seven in a row but are on the outside of the at-large picture due primarily to the lack of a marquee non-league win (0-5 vs. mid-level NE10 teams). Still, this young club is deep, strong and features the best shot-blocker I’ve seen in years: Jarnel Rancy, who averages 4.36 rejections a night – almost a full swat more than the next-best in all of Division 2. The sophomore’s two free throws with 34 seconds left tied a key win at Chestnut Hill as he nearly recorded a triple-double (14 points, nine rebounds, nine blocks). Freshman of the Year contender Darnell Evans was also clutch, hitting the game-winner in traffic with 1.1 seconds to go, then followed that up with a 17-point performance at Felician in a game that saw the Cougars take control with a 25-4 blitz to flip a 10-8 deficit into a 33-14 lead that was never threatened. The win streak is Caldwell’s longest since a nine-gamer in January of 2019.
Dominican – The Chargers halted a four-game slide in a 91-81 home win over Bridgeport after nearly overcoming a 41-22 halftime deficit to Jefferson the game before at the Hennessy Center. Wahaad Johnson continues to shine (28 points vs. UB, 22 last night at Queens) as Dominican is the lone CACC team with definite at-large chances now, thanks to some strong wins – chief among them: West Texas A&M and Southern New Hampshire on the road.
Bloomfield – Big man Josh Morris has been the focal point of Bloomfield’s three-game winning streak, dropping 23 vs. his former club, Holy Family, in a game that featured a bizarre finish as Andres Fulgencio made eight straight free throws (six on technical fouls as there were seven assessed throughout the whistle-happy game) with six seconds left. Izaiah Poole had banged the tiebreaking 3-pointer just 11 seconds prior. The Bears are right in the mix for one of the four playoff berths in the north. But just like everyone else not named Dominican, winning the CACC Tournament becomes mandatory for NCAA participation.
Post – The Eagles were right on the fringe of at-large consideration before a loss to Alliance in Jersey City on Tuesday. Now, nothing short of a winning streak extending deep into the CACC Tournament will turn the committee’s head on that front. Post boasts the most wins vs. Top 10 teams, including a huge out-of-region victory at Florida Southern, and has proven it is capable of beating anyone.
Bridgeport – The league’s newest member is on the outside looking in to the playoff field at this point. There are still games to be played, but the competition will be stiff. Krunch Senadhi has the biggest roster and it can rattle opponents with its swarming pressure. Six players reached double figures in a loss at Dominican, so the Purple Knights are not to be overlooked.
Alliance – Double-double machine Isayas Aris compiled 25 points and 14 rebounds, and steady veteran guard Joel Bailey pumped in 20 to fuel the upset win over Post, but the Warriors may have dug themselves too deep a hole in such a competitive division. A lengthy win streak would serve them well.
Felician – The depleted Golden Falcons have no legitimate chance to compete for a playoff spot, which is distressing since they are coming off a feel-good NCAA Tournament appearance. Ivan Lewis will be focused on getting this program back on its feet.
In the South, Jefferson has distanced itself from the competition and should have nothing but home games as long as it stays alive in the league tournament (the Gallagher Center was the pre-determined host for the semis and championship). Erik Timko (24 points, nine rebounds) iced the wacky game at Dominican with two foul shots – the Rams’ fifth straight win over the Chargers – while Ahmed Barba-Bey came up huge with 21 points (8-11 FG) and five assists.
Georgian Court – For the first time in the program’s short history, the Lions have reached double figures in the win column, knocking off Bridgeport to achieve that distinction. Jamaal Waters (career-high 29 points, 11 rebounds in that game) and Curtis Wright, Jr. (22 points, 6-12 from 3) have carried the bulk of the load for Terrence Stewart’s competitive, second-place club, while playmaker Jalen Bates also flirted with a triple-double (11 points, nine boards, eight assists).
Wilmington – Randy Rickards’ contested shot in the lane with 7.4 seconds remaining helped the Wildcats edge past Chestnut Hill in a key game in Delaware as the Wildcats now hold a slight edge on their crosstown rival below for third. The ‘Cats shot 58% in a thumping of Felician – a game that saw the hosts double up their guests 86-43 at one point. Congrats also to head coach Dan Burke, who now has 100 career wins (more on that next week)!
Goldey-Beacom – Two straight wins has the Lightning back in playoff position. Zayon Marsh is yet another fab freshman, who continues to average a double-double (22 and 12 vs. Alliance, 20 and eight at Holy Family) Ayshion Centeno also made his presence felt vs. Alliamce with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Chestnut Hill – Just two weeks ago, the Griffins were riding a momentum wave, but two straight excruciating two-point losses has them in fifth place at the moment. On the bright side, MJ Iraldi is healthy and contributing (18 and 20 points, respectively, in his last two games). A strong finish is needed here.
Holy Family – Times are tough these days for the Tigers, who are slumping at a bad time. Eric Esposito tallied a season-high 20 at Bloomfield for the week’s bright spot. Another team that needs to get hot and maybe receive a little help.
EAST COAST:
St. Thomas Aquinas – Hands down, the cream of the crop in a down year for the transitioning conference. The Spartans are the only team with a chance for an at-large bid right now, but that’s no fait d’accompli, as bracketologist Tim McCaffrey has “mused,” since the resume is littered with less than impressive wins. In fact, 16 of the Spartans’ region-high 20 victories have come at the expense of losing teams (early-season road wins at Le Moyne and Post are floating STAC’s boat at this juncture), meaning a landmine loss to a lesser league rival could make things complicated for the RAC. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Aquinas runs the table to assure itself of a golden ticket into the NCAAs yet again. On the court, STAC is scorching the nets from long distance (18 treys vs. Staten Island, and 20-33 in a comeback win at Roberts Wesleyan).
Molloy – Thanks to its sweep of Daemen, Molloy has positioned itself well for a potential first-round playoff bye, which would leave the Lions two wins away from the Big Dance. Charlie Marquardt’s Jeckyll & Hyde team has been solid in conference play (8-3) and virtual no-shows outside of it (1-11), but this is the best case scenario, for sure. Darren Fergus is making a strong case for Player of the Year, dropping 25 on Daemen in reaching the 1,000-point plateau, then hitting for 28 (along with 13 points and eight assists) two days later in a potential letdown game vs. D’Youville. Molloy needed a 20-7 flourish over the last 9:32 to transform a 56-49 deficit into a 69-63 victory, with Fergus nailing the icing free throws.
Daemen – All five Wildcats starters reached double figures in a win at Queens, after falling at Molloy (its first sweep since 2016-17). Daemen has won 10 of 12 and is the only ECC team outside of STAC with a winning overall record. At-large hopes are not in the cards, however, as the resume isn’t strong enough, thanks to some very tough losses.
Roberts Wesleyan – The up-and-down Redhawks have the firepower to make noise in the tournament. They had their chances to shock the world against St. Thomas Aquinas, but couldn’t hold on to two second-half leads.
District of Columbia – The Firebirds are sitting in the middle of the pack after smacking Mercy, placing all five starters in doubles and hanging 113 points on the board – its most since a 133-53 annihilation of D3 Ohio State-Marion on December 1, 2006. It was also UDC’s most points ever in a league game (the program was independent until this century).
Queens – It’s been a challenge without starting guards Sunnie Diamond and Dion Herrington, but the Knights still hold out hope for making the tournament. A revenge win vs. D’Youville in Flushing saw William Ellis toss in 16 points off the bench, while Shamar Chester totaled a career-high 21, along with five assists, in a loss to Daemen.
Staten Island – In their first year eligible for the league tournament, the Dolphins will need to play well in the closing weeks. Despite a blowout loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, Chris Velazquez made a splash with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Mercy – The Mavericks snapped a 12-game slide by blasting Cheyney in Dobbs Ferry. The 95-51 final represented the widest margin of victor since a 103-49 massacre of SUNY-Purchase on December 2, 2000 at the Nyack Tournament (I saw that one, actually). Jayden Dewaal’s 17 points and 18 caroms led the way for the Mavs, after Sean Smith, Jr. busted out for 30 (7-12 from 3) in the loss at UDC.
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In the recent NABC Top 25, Bentley moved up three spots to #11, while St. Thomas Aquinas leaped five to #18. St. Anselm is receiving votes, while Dominican and New Haven no longer are. Undefeated Indiana (PA) is still #1. The first official regional rankings will be delivered Wednesday, albeit in alphabetical order the first time around. Not sure why the NCAA wants that format, but whatever…
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