Hartford’s Kenny Adeleke (Queens, N.Y./Paul Robeson/Hofstra) and Vermont’s Mike Trimboli (Norwalk, Conn./St. Luke’s) are both repeat America East Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week award winners, respectively. The awards were announced Monday (December 5).
Adeleke averaged 22.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg this week, while leading the Hawks to two victories, including a 76-72 win over Maine in the first conference game of the season for both squads. The 6-9 forward led the Hawks in scoring in the America East opener against Maine with 18 points and added 12 rebounds in a 76-72 victory. Earlier in the week, he scored a season-high 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting in an 85-78 victory at Canisius. He shot 80 percent from the floor for the week (16-of-20) and averaged 2.5 blocks per game as the Hawks went 2-0.
Trimboli continued to impress for the Catamounts as he tallied averages of 17.5 ppg and 5.5 apg on the week for UVM. The freshman guard has won all three Rookie of the Week awards that have been handed out this season in America East. Trimboli becomes just the third player in conference history, and the first since Boston University’s Tunji Awojjobi (1993-94), to start his career by winning three straight conference Rookie of the Week awards. The 6-1 guard averaged 17.5 ppg and 5.5 apg in two games last week against top competition. He scored a season-high 21 points with six assists in win over Holy Cross Monday. He also had five rebounds and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line, 6-for-6 in the deciding second half. Trimboli recorded team-highs of 14 points, five assists and three steals in loss at Iona Sunday as he went 3-for-6 from three-point range against the Gaels.
AMERICA EAST NOTES:
Hawks begin to soar: With the addition of senior transfer Kenny Adeleke and quality play from senior Aaron Cook, the Hartford Hawks are emerging as a solid contender in America East. The Hawks lead America East in scoring (71.2 ppg), field goal percentage (48.6 percent), rebounding margin (+3.4 rpg), assists (15.8 apg) and steals (8.4 spg). Hartford is currently riding a three-game winning streak as the Hawks most recently defeated Maine, 76-72, in the first America East game of the 2005-06 season.
Dynamic Duos: With a combined 47 games played in America East this season, several dynamic duos have emerged on different teams throughout the league. Hartford’s Kenny Adeleke (20.0 ppg) and Aaron Cook (15.2) are the conference’s top tandem as they are averaging a combined 35.2 ppg and are a tough inside-out threat to defend. Freshman Mike Trimboli (17.3) is off to a great to start to his Vermont career and combines with Martin Klimes (16.5) to form the league’s second highest scoring combination. Maine’s Ernest Turner (18.2) and Jon Sheets (11.7) together are tallying 29.9 ppg, while Albany’s Jamar Wilson (17.0) and John Iati (12.7) are close behind with 29.7 ppg between the two.
Mr. Double-Double: Hartford’s Kenny Adeleke has tallied three double-doubles (points-rebounds) through the first five games of his Hartford career. In his three seasons at Hofstra, Adeleke amassed an impressive 35 double-doubles and now has 38 in his collegiate career. The 6-9 center boasts career totals of 1,396 points and 885 rebounds.
Big man on campus: Despite Boston University’s slow start to the 2005-06 campaign, forward Kevin Gardner has shown signs of becoming one of the conference’s top big men this season. Gardner is averaging 9.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 2.0 bpg, while shooting a solid 48.9 percent from the field.
Cross-town foes meet: Boston University hosts cross-town foe Harvard on Tuesday evening at Case Gymnasium (7 p.m.) in the annual meeting between the two. The Crimson is 5-1 on the early 2005-06 campaign and is coming off their first loss of the season, an 87-79 shortcoming versus Central Connecticut. Harvard lead the all-time series 32-23, but the Terriers have won the last four meetings and eight straight contests at home between the two. The Crimson were last victorious on Boston University’s home court on December 13, 1972, 102-92.
Coaching rivalry renewed: When Boston U. hosts New Hampshire on Thursday night at Case Gymnasium (7 p.m.), two of the most successful coaches in conference history will face each other for the first time since 1999. Head coach Dennis Wolff boasts a 202-138 record (.594) in his 11-plus seasons at the helm of Boston University with five post-season appearances (two NCAA berths and three NIT appearances), including a current streak of four straight. Bill Herrion is in his first season at UNH, but made a name for himself as the Drexel head coach from 1991-99. Herrion guided the Dragons to three-straight conference championships (1994, ‘95 and ‘96), one NIT appearance (1997) and tallied a 103-27 mark (.792) over eight seasons at the former America East school. Herrion won the first four meetings versus Wolff and leads the all-time series 9-5. The two did not meet in Herrion’s six seasons (1999-2005) at East Carolina.
Three league tilts Saturday: An early glimpse of conference action will be showcased this Saturday with three America East games. Maine hosts Boston U. (1 p.m.), while Vermont welcomes UNH (1 p.m.) and Stony Brook travels to UMBC (7 p.m.).