CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The 2009-10 college basketball season is underway and a familiar face has captured the first Player of the Week honor. University of Vermont's Marqus Blakely (Metchuen, N.J./Metchuen) earned his fifth career honor, while University of New Hampshire's Chandler Rhoads (Berryville, Va./Air Force Prep) earned the first Rookie of the Week award of the season. The accolades for the week ending Nov. 15 were announced Monday afternoon.
Blakely, the two-time America East Player of the Year, picked up where he left off last season with a pair of stellar performances to earn his fifth career weekly honor. The senior standout averaged 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.0 blocks and 3.0 steals in a pair of games last week. He recorded his 28th career double-double with 17 pts, 12 rebounds and converted the game-winning free throw to give Vermont a 58-57 victory at Buffalo Sunday. On Friday, Blakely poured in 26 points to go with seven rebounds and five blocked shots.
In his first game as a Wildcat, Rhoads offered a promising glimpse of his potential to take home the first America East Rookie of the Week honor this season. The UNH freshman guard contributed 14 points and five assists in a season-opening win against Suffolk on Saturday. A freshman guard, Rhoads also made five steals, grabbed three rebounds and committed just one turnover in 23 minutes of action.
CONFERENCE WEEKLY NOTES:
THE HONOR ROLL
Several other America East players had top performances to start the season:
• University at Albany's Tim Ambrose (Brentwood, N.Y./Our Savior New American) averaged 17.5 points last week and had a 21-point performance against Morgan St. Saturday.
• Binghamton University's Greer Wright (Lake Worth, Fla./Boca Raton Prep/CC San Francisco) tallied a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds in his Bearcat debut.
• Boston University's Tyler Morris (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) poured in 20 points for the first time since his freshman year in a season-opening loss at Iona.
• A trio of Hartford Hawks had strong showing over the week. Joel Barkers (Washington, D.C./Mr. Zion Christian/Kirkwood CC) tallied 22 points in his team debut vs. Quinnipiac Friday. Joe Zeglinski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) (23 points) and Andres Torres (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Adianez) (12 assists) nearly lifted Hartford to an upset win at Baylor Sunday.
• Unversity of Maine's Gerald McLemore (San Diego, Calif./Worcester Acad.) an All-Rookie choice a year ago, showed no signs of a sophomore slump with 26 points to lead his squad to a 76-73 win at Fordham Friday.
• University of New Hampshire's Dane DiLiegro (Lexington, Mass./Worcester Academy) had a monster game of 14 points and 15 rebounds in just 22 minutes against Suffolk.
• Stony Brook University's Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich./Holt) showed why he's a preseason all-conference choice by scoring 26 points in a win at Maryland Eastern Shore.
NEAR UPSET IN WACO
Approximately 36 hours after getting off the court in Bridgeport, Conn., University of Hartford traveled to the heart of Texas and nearly upset last year's NIT runner-up Baylor. Ekpe Udoh hit a turn-around jumper from 20-feet out at the buzzer to stop the Hawks' upset bid, 71-69. Joe Zeglinski led the way with 23 points, while Joel Barkers, Milton Burton and Morgan Sabia all had 14. Andres Torres contributed 12 assists and seven rebounds.
TOURNEY TALK
Several America East squads are participating in early-season tournaments or events. Albany kicked off the 2009-10 season by playing Syracuse in the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer in the Carrier Dome. The Great Danes will host of a sub-regional for the event this weekend at SEFCU Arena when Alcorn St., Detroit-Mercy and Robert Morris visit the Capital Region. Binghamton will particpiate in the O'Reilly Autoparts CBE Classic and take on Pittsburgh Tuesday on ESPN 2. Hartford battled Quinnipiac to the end before falling in the inaugural Connecticut 6 Classic in Bridgeport Friday night. Finally, Boston University travels to Puerto Rico for three games starting Thursday. The Terriers will face Kansas State in the opener of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
ASCENDING UP THE CHARTS
America East's three 1,000-point scorers continued their ascent up the league's all-time scoring list and should do so all season. Boston University's Corey Lowe, who came into the season 52nd and tops among active players with 1,334 points, scored 16 in his season debut to move inside the top 50. Vermont's Marqus Blakely, rose nine spots with 1,311 career points. Hartford's Joe Zeglinski, who still has two seasons of eligibility remaining, is already up to 91st all-time. Blakely also charged up the career rebounding list. With his 19 boards last week, the senior is now 26th on teh conference's all-time list and as long as he stays healthy this season could end up in the Top 5.
RECOGNITION ROUNDUP
Several America East Players received national recognition prior to the season starting last week. Vermont's Marqus Blakely was named one of 25 preseason All-Americans by CollegeInsider.com. Blakely was also a first-team selection on College Hoopsnet.com's Mid-Major All-American First Team. Boston University's tandem of John Holland and Corey Lowe were honorable mention selections. Stony Brook's Bryan Dougher and Vermont's Nick Vier were tabbed candidates for the prestigous Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard.
TERRIERS THE TOP PICK
In search of its first league title since 2002, Boston University is the unanimous preseason choice of the coaches to win its sixth America East Men’s Basketball title in 2009-10. The Terriers received all eight possible first-place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their team) and 64 points, followed by University of Vermont, which received the remaining first-place vote and 56 points. University at Albany barely edged Stony Brook University for third place with 43 points, while the Seawolves came in one point behind with 42, just ahead of University of New Hampshire’s 39. University of Hartford and UMBC tied for sixth with 28 points apiece, while University of Maine (14 points) and Binghamton University (12) rounded out the poll.
THREE UNANIMOUS CHOICES HIGHLIGHT PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE
The three returning first-team all-conference selections from last season highlight the 2009-10 America East Preseason All-Conference Team. University of Vermont’s Marqus Blakely (Metchuen, N.J./Metchuen) and Boston University’s tandem of John Holland (Bronx, N.Y./St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) and Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass./West Newton) were unanimous selections. They were joined by Stony Brook University’s Muhammad El-Amin (Lansing, Mich./Holt/Lansing CC) as well as University at Albany’s Tim Ambrose (Brentwood, N.Y./Our Savior New American) and University of Hartford’s Joe Zeglinski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), who tied for the squad’s final spot.
NEWMAN'S OWN COMES ABOARD
The America East Conference, the University of Hartford and Newman’s Own, Inc. announced on Oct. 28 that Newman’s Own, Inc. will serve as the title sponsor of the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship, slated for March 4-7, 2010 at the University of Hartford. The Championship trio of America East, Hartford and Newman’s Own, Inc. will announce a plan later this year that will further cultivate the principles of community service, education and leadership among students from the nine conference campuses.
TEAM-BY-TEAM WEEKLY NOTES:
Albany (0-2) opens its schedule with three opponents who made last year’s NCAA Tournament field … the Great Danes started with No. 25 Syracuse in the 2K Sports Classic’s first round … UAlbany met a nationally-ranked team for the seventh consecutive season in the 75-43 loss … the crowd of 15,707 was the eighth largest to see UAlbany play in the program’s history … the Great Danes set the program’s Division I single-game record with 32 turnovers and shot just 27.3 percent … UAlbany responded with a much improved effort in a 69-65 loss to Morgan State, the defending MEAC champion who made their first NCAA appearance last year … Tim Ambrose (Brentwood, N.Y. / Our Savior New American) scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, as his team came from 11 down in the first half … Ambrose reached the 20-point mark for the 10th time as a collegian ... Will Harris (Queens, N.Y. / Brewster Academy) netted 18 points vs. Morgan State and has scored in double figures on 24 occasions in a UAlbany uniform … the Great Danes, who have won 7 of 11 Division I home openers, had 3,000-plus fans in its SEFCU Arena debut for the fourth year in a row … Brett Gifford (Columbia, Mo. / Rock Bridge) has moved into a tie for 12th all-time with 55 blocked shots … UAlbany has two redshirt freshmen and three true freshmen in its rotation … Derrek Tartt (Chicago, Ill. / Oak Park Fenwick) and Mike Black (Chicago, Ill. / Oak Park Fenwick) were high school teammates … the pair combined for 10 points, seven assists and four rebounds against Morgan State ... UAlbany will host the 2K Sports Classic Sub-Regional on Nov. 20-22 with Alcorn State, Detroit and Robert Morris coming to the Capital Region …
Binghamton (1-0) escaped with a five-point win over visiting Bloomsburg in the team’s season opener… Junior guard Moussa Camara (Paris, France/The Rock School/Stoneridge) scored a game-high and career-high 16 points and junior forward Greer Wright (Lake Worth, Fla./Boca Raton Prep/City College of San Francisco) added a double-double of 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds… Freshman guard Dylan Talley (Burlington, N.J./Life Center Academy) chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and a game-high three steals… Binghamton drew 3,711 in attendance – the third-highest home-opening crowd in school history… Interim head coach Mark Macon recorded his first career victory… The Bearcats now head to Pittsburgh to face a Pitt team that is 67-1 in home games against non-conference opponents at the Petersen Events Center. The game is being televised by ESPN2.
Boston University (0-1) began its 101st season and first under new head coach Patrick Chambers on Friday at Iona, losing 82-73 … The Terriers trailed by as many as 13 in the first half before entering the second half down by five … Tied the game after the first two possessions of the second half but could never take the lead … Trailed 76-72 with 3:42 remaining but could not hit a field goal the rest of the game … The Gaels have now evened the all-time series at three games apiece and avenge last season’s BracketBuster loss at Case Gymnasium … Senior Carlos Strong (Portland, Maine/Deering) recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, while classmate Tyler Morris (Indianapolis, Ind./Lwrence North) tallied over 20 points for the first time since his freshman season, when he earned America East Rookie of the Year honors … Junior John Holland (Bronx, N.Y./St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.)) tallied 17 points and is now 98 points shy of 1,000 … The Terriers next look to snap a 10-game losing streak to George Washington on Tuesday in Agganis Arena, a game that will be televised by NESN and RCN TV … The team will then travel to the four-day O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off, starting with 2009 NIT participant Kansas State on Thursday, followed by Indiana or Ole Miss on Friday and an opponent to be determined on Sunday.
Hartford (0-2) led for nearly the entire game Sunday at Baylor, but came up just short when the Bears' Ekpe Udoh heaved a prayer that was answered at the buzzer, downing the Hawks, 71-69 ... Led by 23 points from junior Joe Zeglinski, the Hawks never trailed by more than the two points that made up the final margin ... Andres Torres keyed a potent long-range attack by Hartford with 12 assists. The number left him just one shy of tying the school record, and made him the top assist man in the country on Sunday. Along with Zeglinski, Morgan Sabia was a large beneficiary of Torres' dishes, putting up 14 points thanks in part to a 3-for-3 performance from downtown in the first half.... The loss was the second for the Hawks to open the 2009-10 season. Hartford fell in the season debut, 86-74 to Quinnipiac in the inaugural Connecticut 6 Classic. In his Hartford debut, junior Joel Barkers dominated the low post en route to his team-high 23 points, including 11-of-18 from the charity stripe. The Hawks as a team went to the line 31 times, converting 22 attempts ... Hartford opens up its home schedule this week, welcoming Marist to the Reich Family Pavlion on Wednesday. They will follow that up with a home game against Fordham on Saturday.
Maine (1-0) played at Fordham on Friday and won 76-73…After falling behind 36-30 at halftime, Maine went on a 16-6 run to open the second half…Maine was led by sophomore guard Gerald McLemore (San Diego, Calif./Worcester Academy) who had career-highs of 26 points and eight rebounds and also added two steals while playing 40 minutes…McLemore went 7-for-12 from three-point range…Terrance Mitchell (Milton, Fla./Faulkner State Community College) had a great first game for Maine as he scored 21 points, grabbed five rebounds dished out four assists and had three steals…Mitchell made three out of four shots from behind the arc…Big man Sean McNally (Gardiner, Maine/Gardiner) had 12 points and seven rebounds…Senior guard Junior Bernal (Manhattan, N.Y./MCI) added 10 points and six rebounds…Maine shot 50 percent from behind the arc in the game…If Maine wins at Norfolk State, it would be the first time since the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons that the Black Bears will have started consecutive seasons with 2-0 starts…Maine continues action on Monday at Norfolk State at 7 p.m., plays at Delaware State on Wedneday at 7 p.m. and finishes the week at Brown on Sunday with a 1 p.m. tip-off.
UMBC (0-1) had won its last six home openers before falling, 72-57, to Morgan State on Sunday… The Bears, an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago, erased an 18-point halftime deficit, to prevail and trim UMBC’s series lead to 13-12… The Retrievers committed 28 fouls in the game… Two Retrievers, sophomore post Jake Wasco (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Learning Center) and freshman wing Shawn Grant (San Jose, Calif./St. Francis) fouled out and three other UMBC players finished the game with four fouls… Senior wing Matt Spadafora (Richboro, Pa/./Archbishop Wood), UMBC’s team captain for the second consecutive year, led the Retrievers with 12 points and sophomore wing Chauncey Gilliam (Columbia, Md./Brewster Acad.) added 11… Spadafora surpassed the 500-point mark (509) in his career… Gilliam has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 17 games… Freshman post Adrian Satchell (Windsor, Conn./Windsor) earned a start and nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds… UMBC hosts another local rival Loyola on Wednesday in a game that will be televised locally by MASN… The Retrievers’ first road game of the year is Saturday at George Washington.
New Hamsphire (1-0) went 1-0 last week, winning its season opener against Suffolk, 91-45, at Lundholm Gymnasium on Nov. 14 … senior Dane DiLiegro (Lexington, Mass./Worcester Academy) was named America East Player of the Game after recording his sixth career double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds in 22 minutes … DiLiegro was 4 of 7 from the floor and a career-best 6 of 8 at the line … freshman Chandler Rhoads (Berryville, Va./Air Force Prep) shined for the Wildcats in the first collegiate game of his career … Rhoads scored a game-high 14 points and added five assists, four steals and three rebounds in 23 minutes of action … junior Alvin Abreu (Lynn, Mass./Boys to Men Academy) finished with 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 27 minutes, while classmate Tyrone Conley (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) filled the stat line with 11 points, a rebound, two assists, a block and a steal in 27 minutes … senior Colbey Santos (Onset, Mass./Tabor Academy) picked up where he left off last season in the America East semifinal game against Binghamton as he scored 10 points in 14 minutes … sophomore Brian Benson (Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Athena) tallied a career-high nine points to go along with six rebounds and two blocks … senior Radar Onguetou (Yaounde, Cameroon/New Hampton School) tallied eight points on 2 of 2 shooting from behind the arc and at the line to go along with eight boards … sophomore Russell Graham (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) tallied two points, two rebounds and six assists, and was dogged on the defensive end as he constantly pressured the ball and recorded two steals … freshman Ferg Myrick (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) posted five points, three boards, an assist and a steal in seven minutes, while classmate Chris Matagrano (Sayreville, N.J./Blair Academy) tallied four points, two boards and three blocks in 16 minutes … junior James Valladares (Kaufman, Texas/Kaufman) finished with two points in six minutes … the Wildcats return to action Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. versus Maryland at the Comcast Center.
Stony Brook (1-0) opened the 2009-10 season with a 75-57 victory at Maryland-Eastern Shore on Friday night … it was the second straight season that Stony Brook has defeated Maryland Eastern Shore in its season opener … it is the third time in the last four years that SBU has won its season opener … senior Muhammad El-Amin led the Seawolves with a game-high 25 points, just two off his career high … El-Amin went 9-for-20 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line in 28 minutes of action … El-Amin scored 13 points in the opening 20 minutes including seven points in an 11-1 run to end the first half that stretched a two-point Stony Brook lead to 12 at halftime … sophomore Bryan Dougher added 11 points, all in the first half … the Seawolves had 10 different players score … Stony Brook went on a 21-4 run to end the first half, turning a five-point deficit into a 12-point halftime lead … Stony Brook held Maryland Eastern Shore to just one field goal over the final 9:57 of the first half … Stony Brook shot 77.8 percent (21-for-27) from the free throw line including 11-for-12 in the second half … sophomore Tommy Brenton grabbed a game-high nine rebounds … the Seawolves held Maryland Eastern Shore’s leading returning scorer, Neil Pitt, to no points in the first half … Stony Brook will play eight of its first 11 games on the road, its most since opening the 2001-02 campaign with 10 of its first 12 games away from home.
Vermont (1-1) opened the 2009-10 season on Friday at Loyola, falling 79-66 … Vermont was led by senior Marqus Blakely (Metuchen, N.J./Metuchen) and his game-high 26 points, but the Catamounts shot only 33.9 percent from the floor for the game … Blakely finished the night 7-for-15 from the floor and 11-for-13 from the free throw line, while he added seven rebounds, five blocks and three steals … Senior Maurice Joseph (Montreal, Quebec/Champlain-St. Lambert/Michigan St.) was the only other Catamount to reach double figures with 16 … Blakely hit only the fourth three-pointer of his career in the contest … Vermont bounced back on Sunday with a 58-57 victory over Buffalo on the road … With the game tied, Blakely hit one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left which proved to be the difference … Blakely finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists … Blakely recorded his 28th career double-double as he added three blocks and three steals … Senior Nick Vier (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Bergen Catholic) netted 12 and played 33 minutes at the point without a turnover, while Joseph also chipped in with 12 and tied a career-high with seven rebounds … Vermont is now 3-0 all-time against Buffalo … Vermont will play its first 10 games of the season on the road … Vermont returns to action next Sunday when the Cats travel to face Rutgers as part of the Legends Classic starting at 4 p.m.