For Chuck Martin and the Red Foxes, an ugly win beats a good-looking loss any day of the week.
Marist cruised through most of the game and led by as many as 17 points in the second half, but New Hampshire clawed back and made a game of it. Tyrece Gibbs' 40-foot three-point attempt missed wide left and the Red Foxes held on to win 63-61.
Chuck Martin won his first career home game as Marist head coach, and David Devezin led the Red Foxes in scoring for the second straight game. Devezin scored 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting and forced UNH Coach Bill Herrion to switch to a 2-3 zone midway through the second half.
With 11:11 left to play and Marist leading 54-37, an irate Herrion called timeout and reassembled his defensive alignment. The Red Foxes scored only nine points from that point on.
Following the game, Coach Martin took responsibility for not preparing his team for the 2-3 zone in the pre-game walk-through.
With the win, Marist moved to 2-3 on the season while UNH dropped to 1-3. The Red Foxes will travel to Memphis to take on the No. 18 Tigers on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The game is a homecoming for Chuck Martin and assistant coach Tyrone Weeks. Both coaches were on John Calipari's staff that reached the national championship game last season. The game will also pose a stern test for the undermanned and inexperienced Red Foxes. MAAC play begins on Friday, Dec. 5 against Iona. MORE TO COME.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Up Next: UNH
On Saturday, Nov. 29, the University of New Hampshire Wildcats will travel to Poughkeepsie to take on the Marist Red Foxes. UNH sits at 1-2 on the season and comes to the McCann Center following a 70-50 rout at the hands of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
New Hampshire hails from the America East conference, and this game marks the first of two that Marist will play against the league. Marist clashes with Binghamton on Dec. 30 in Vestal, N.Y. UNH was picked to finish seventh in the nine team conference. Maine and Stony Brook were predicted to finish eighth and ninth, respectively, while Boston University was picked to finish first.
Marist has only faced UNH once in the school's history. The lone meeting came on Jan. 2, 1983 and ended in a Wildcats' win, 70-60.
This match-up looks to be a battle of the guards. New Hampshire's three highest scoring players are all starting guards and all average over 13 points per game (ppg). Tyrece Gibbs leads the Wildcats in scoring with 14.7 ppg while Eric Gilchrese and Tyrone Conley average 13.7 and 13.0 ppg, respectively. Gibbs led the Wildcats against Penn State with 14 points. Gibbs three-pointer with 4:45 remaining in the first half gave UNH its last lead of the game. Penn State subsequently embarked on a 10-2 run and controlled the rest of the game. UNH maintained a lead for the first 12:25 of the game, the longest of any Penn State opponent this year. Penn State is 4-0.
Both teams will look to rebound from tough losses. While UNH lost by 20 to Penn State, Delaware squeezed by Marist in overtime, 88-83. Marist held a 72-70 lead late in regulation but could not secure the victory.
Marist will return home for the second time this season. The home opener did not go as planned as Saint Bonaventure stormed into the McCann Center and dominated Marist en route to a 77-54 blowout win. Marist head coach Chuck Martin will also attempt to win his first game in front of the Poughkeepsie faithful. His first win as a head coach came against Robert Morris in the Garden State Tip-Off Classic hosted by Rutgers University. Marist handled Robert Morris, 72-55.
With New Hampshire featuring a trio of talented guards, look for David Devezin and R.J. Hall to factor into this game prominently. Also don't be surprised to see Dejuan Goodwin receive more minutes. Goodwin has started the last two games but an into early foul trouble against Delaware. Devezin and Hall are currently two of the red Foxes' leading scorers. Devezin averages 13.3 ppg while dishing out 4.3 assists per game. Devezin is currently tied for third in the MAAC with 4.3 assists per game (apg) with Siena point guard Ronald Moore. Fairfield's Jonathan Han ranks first with 6.4 apg.
Schneider leaving his mark on the MAAC
Although the Red Foxes have yet to play a conference game, Marist senior forward leads the MAAC in several key categories early in the season. Schneider ranks seventh in the MAAC in scoring with 14.3 ppg and third in total rebounding with 9.5 rebounds per game. Schneider leads the MAAC in defensive rebounding with 8 per game. Schneider leads the Red Foxes in scoring, rebounding, and minutes played. Schneider also leads the MAAC in minutes played with 151 in four games. The senior represents a stabilizing force on a Marist team featuring youth and inexperience. Schneider will not be a new face to New Hampshire. Schneider transferred to Marist from Vermont, an America East foe of New Hampshire.
Monday, November 24, 2008
UPDATE: New recruits signed
Marist made the signings of Alexis and Prescott official today. The Red Foxes also announced the signing of Candon Rusin, a 6-foot-3 guard from Hampstead, N.C. Rusin caught Martin's eye while playing in the AAU league over the summer. All three players have signed national letters of intent. When making my earlier post, an official announcement had not yet been made.
Looking ahead: 2009 recruits
Since the Red Foxes do not play again until Nov. 29, I figured now was as good a time as any to look at Marist's future. At this time, the Red Foxes only have nine players on scholarship. In addition, freshman Dorvell Carter tore his ACL and will likely miss the rest of the season.
Matt Brady's late and unexpected departure handcuffed current head coach Chuck Martin as far as recruiting goes. Give Martin and his staff credit for acquiring the recruits they did so late in the signing period. His signing of R.J. Hall has genius written all over it. The 5-foot-10 point guard from Bloomfield, N.J. has averaged 10 points and nearly 18 minutes per game. Martin also brought current starter Javon Parris with him. Parris began his collegiate career at the College of Charleston before transferring to a JuCo in Kansas. Finally, Martin lured Daye Kaba from Boston College. Kaba is currently serving his year in residency following his transfer.
Martin fortunately will not have to wait until April and May to start recruiting. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, wing guard Sam Prescott has verbally committed to Marist. Prescott is currently a senior at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia. Prescott did not expect to have this opportunity. "It's an honor and a privilege to get a scholarship," Prescott said in his interview with the Philadelphia Daily News' Ted Silary. "In the back of my mind, I never thought this would happen. I'm being very humble about this. I didn't think I was a very good basketball player until I started getting calls from a couple of schools."
Marist was one of several schools reaching out to Prescott. According to Rivals.com, the 6-foot-3 guard received interest from Howard, Stony Brook, and Saint Francis (PA).
Prescott will not be the first Imhotep Charter product to grace the MAAC. Niagara's freshman forward Kashief Edwards also hails from Imhotep Charter. The MAAC named Edwards the conference's rookie of the week on Nov. 17 based on his performance against Towson.
Prescott is not the only high school senior to commit to Marist though. Anell Alexis verbally agreed to j
oin in the Red Foxes in 2009 as well. The 6-foot-5 guard/forward chose Marist over Penn and Elon. Alexis played his high school basketball at N.J. powerhouse Saint Benedict's and is spending this year at Saint Thomas More Prep School. There's no doubt that Marist assistant coach Bashir Mason played a large role in Alexis' recruitment. Mason coached at Saint Benedict's Prep prior to joining Martin's staff. According to an interview with CAA Insider Bill Martin, Mason played a large role in Alexis' choice. "Coach Mason played a part in my decision because of the fact that we came from the same high school program [and that] makes it easier for me to know what to expect in terms of the program," Alexis said. "He's someone that I can work out with and talk to at the same time and help me go in the right direction."
Elon and Penn offered Alexis a scholarship outright, but he was also being looked at by Buffalo, Tulane, and Boston University. Coach Martin made Alexis one of his top priorities and according to Alexis, Martin attended a vast number of the player's games. "Coach Martin made Marist feel like the right place for me, in that it would be an ideal situation for me to develop as a player and a person," Alexis said. "The school community and the coaching staff would help me in doing that. I feel that over the next four years at Marist, my skill level and overall game is going to improve significantly. The fact that Coach Martin came to almost all of my games showed that he really wanted me there as a part of his program."
Marist will need a solid recruiting class to keep pace with top MAAC schools Siena and Niagara. Siena has already signed 6-foot-8 power forward OD Anosike to a letter of intent. Anosike is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and received interest from Fordham, Temple, George Mason, and Delaware. The Staten Island native played his AAU ball with the N.J. Shoreshots.
Niagara also has a three-star recruit of its own. Rivals.com reports that Niagara has a solid verbal commitment from And
re Gillette (pictured below), a 6-foot-8, 220-pound power forward from Philadelphia. Gillette has received interest from Pittsburgh, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Xavier. It's obvious that Siena and Niagara are bulking up on the front line, something that Marist will need to do as well.
It's still way too early to predict which prospects will attend where, but the process is interesting to follow. Marist is loading up on faster players that can shoot while the other MAAC schools seem to be targeting big men. This fits right into Martin's dribble-drive motion offense. It is also important to note that nothing is final until a national letter of intent is signed, and even then nothing is certain. Former Marist head coach Matt Brady is the prime example. Highly touted recruits Julius Wells and Andrey Semenov were expected to show up in Red Fox uniforms this season, but they chose to forgo the opportunity and follow Brady to James Madison. Wells currently leads James Madison in scoring with 14 ppg.
Matt Brady's late and unexpected departure handcuffed current head coach Chuck Martin as far as recruiting goes. Give Martin and his staff credit for acquiring the recruits they did so late in the signing period. His signing of R.J. Hall has genius written all over it. The 5-foot-10 point guard from Bloomfield, N.J. has averaged 10 points and nearly 18 minutes per game. Martin also brought current starter Javon Parris with him. Parris began his collegiate career at the College of Charleston before transferring to a JuCo in Kansas. Finally, Martin lured Daye Kaba from Boston College. Kaba is currently serving his year in residency following his transfer.
Martin fortunately will not have to wait until April and May to start recruiting. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, wing guard Sam Prescott has verbally committed to Marist. Prescott is currently a senior at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia. Prescott did not expect to have this opportunity. "It's an honor and a privilege to get a scholarship," Prescott said in his interview with the Philadelphia Daily News' Ted Silary. "In the back of my mind, I never thought this would happen. I'm being very humble about this. I didn't think I was a very good basketball player until I started getting calls from a couple of schools."
Marist was one of several schools reaching out to Prescott. According to Rivals.com, the 6-foot-3 guard received interest from Howard, Stony Brook, and Saint Francis (PA).
Prescott will not be the first Imhotep Charter product to grace the MAAC. Niagara's freshman forward Kashief Edwards also hails from Imhotep Charter. The MAAC named Edwards the conference's rookie of the week on Nov. 17 based on his performance against Towson.
Prescott is not the only high school senior to commit to Marist though. Anell Alexis verbally agreed to j
oin in the Red Foxes in 2009 as well. The 6-foot-5 guard/forward chose Marist over Penn and Elon. Alexis played his high school basketball at N.J. powerhouse Saint Benedict's and is spending this year at Saint Thomas More Prep School. There's no doubt that Marist assistant coach Bashir Mason played a large role in Alexis' recruitment. Mason coached at Saint Benedict's Prep prior to joining Martin's staff. According to an interview with CAA Insider Bill Martin, Mason played a large role in Alexis' choice. "Coach Mason played a part in my decision because of the fact that we came from the same high school program [and that] makes it easier for me to know what to expect in terms of the program," Alexis said. "He's someone that I can work out with and talk to at the same time and help me go in the right direction."Elon and Penn offered Alexis a scholarship outright, but he was also being looked at by Buffalo, Tulane, and Boston University. Coach Martin made Alexis one of his top priorities and according to Alexis, Martin attended a vast number of the player's games. "Coach Martin made Marist feel like the right place for me, in that it would be an ideal situation for me to develop as a player and a person," Alexis said. "The school community and the coaching staff would help me in doing that. I feel that over the next four years at Marist, my skill level and overall game is going to improve significantly. The fact that Coach Martin came to almost all of my games showed that he really wanted me there as a part of his program."
Marist will need a solid recruiting class to keep pace with top MAAC schools Siena and Niagara. Siena has already signed 6-foot-8 power forward OD Anosike to a letter of intent. Anosike is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and received interest from Fordham, Temple, George Mason, and Delaware. The Staten Island native played his AAU ball with the N.J. Shoreshots.
Niagara also has a three-star recruit of its own. Rivals.com reports that Niagara has a solid verbal commitment from And
re Gillette (pictured below), a 6-foot-8, 220-pound power forward from Philadelphia. Gillette has received interest from Pittsburgh, Saint Joseph's, Temple, and Xavier. It's obvious that Siena and Niagara are bulking up on the front line, something that Marist will need to do as well.It's still way too early to predict which prospects will attend where, but the process is interesting to follow. Marist is loading up on faster players that can shoot while the other MAAC schools seem to be targeting big men. This fits right into Martin's dribble-drive motion offense. It is also important to note that nothing is final until a national letter of intent is signed, and even then nothing is certain. Former Marist head coach Matt Brady is the prime example. Highly touted recruits Julius Wells and Andrey Semenov were expected to show up in Red Fox uniforms this season, but they chose to forgo the opportunity and follow Brady to James Madison. Wells currently leads James Madison in scoring with 14 ppg.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Marist loses heartbreaker in overtime
After dropping a heartbreaker in overtime, the Marist Red Foxes will now have six days to ponder what might have been.
Marist held several leads late in regulation, but
Despite the dominant performances from
The Red Foxes led by as many as 11 in the first half. Every time Marist made a run,
Despite the loss, Marist head coach Chuck Martin lauded the effort of his players after playing their second game in two days, especially the guards.
“It was a good effort by the kids tonight,” Martin said. “[Devezin and Hall] did a great job. R.J. Hall is learning every day and he’s getting better. We’re really excited to have him and we think he has a bright future at Marist.”
The Marist offense continued to make strides. Four players scored in double figures, including sophomore forward Korey Bauer. Bauer scored a career-high 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Bauer also hauled in seven rebounds.
After struggling to score in the first two games, the Red Foxes averaged 77.5 points in the last two games.
Korey Bauer believes all the guys are starting to gel on offense.
“I think everything’s coming more smoothly now and guys are getting more comfortable [in the offense],” Bauer said.
Marist led by six points at halftime but
The teams remained close for most of the half, but Marist almost pulled away with seven minutes remaining in regulation. Javon Parris hit the first of his two three-pointers with
If Parris can get going offensively, the Marist offense will have another weapon going down the stretch.
“He’s done some great things defensively,” Martin said. “He hasn’t knocked down shots until this point, but we’re excited that he’s been able to hit shots.”
The loss drops Marist to 1-3. The Red Foxes’ lone win in the Garden State Classic came on Nov. 22 against Robert Morris. Saint Bonaventure and
Marist returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 29, against
Marist will not open up conference play until Dec. 5 when the team takes on
Korey Bauer feels the tough early season schedule will prepare the team for the MAAC games.
“I think we’ll be alright in MAAC play,” Bauer said confidently. “We’re obviously young and stuff like that, I mean obviously I’m young too, but we’re coming together pretty well.”
Marist vs. Delaware LIVE; Marist falls to Delaware in OT, 88-83
Marc Egerson carried the Blue Hens and the Red Foxes offense couldn't respond. Delaware prevailed,88-83, in overtime to move to 2-2 on the year. The Red Foxes fall to 1-3. DJ Boney hit a critical three to push Delaware's lead up six and Marist could not recover.
*****
David Devezin's fall-away jumper with time expiring failed and the game heads to overtime. Korey Bauer had a last-ditch three but that failed as well after an out-of-bounds in-bounds attempt by Delaware.
The game's down to the wire and Marist clings to a 72-70 lead. Delaware ball with 1:11 left.
Devezin knocked down a three coming out of the timeout to give Marist a 63-60 lead. Javon Parris backed it up with another three. Devezin just stopped a 4-0 Delaware run with a driving lay-up. He was fouled on the play. Marist is up by three with 3:52 remaining.
Delaware has gotten hot again and connected on its last three threes. Korey Bauer has been a huge presence for Marist. He has 13 points. The game is tied at 60 with 7:35 left.
Korey Bauer may be growing up before our eyes. Bauer has seven points and will head to the line to attempt to make it eight. He just posted up and scored a lay-up while getting the foul call. 50-46 Marist.
RJ Hall knocked down a three-pointer following the official timeout to get Marist's offense going. He has seven points so far in the second half. Hall is quickly becoming one of Marist's best players and will be an impact in the MAAC for years to come.
Ever since Marist opened up its 11 point lead in the first half, the team has gone ice cold. Delaware has not. Delaware has taken a 41-36 lead with 15:46 remaining in the game. Marist's only points in the half come courtesy of a Dejaun Goodwin three-pointer.
Delaware has come out firing in the second half. They have connected on four of their first five attempts and erased the Marist lead. Marist led by 6 coming out of the half and by as many as 11 in the first half. The game is tied at 36 with 17:24 remaining.
The second half is about to start. Marc Egerson leads all scorers with 13. Devezin is the high-scorer for Marist and Kaylen Gregory has a game-high seven rebounds at the half.
*****
Marist led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Delaware cut into the lead as Marist went cold in the final minutes. Marist led 28-17, but leads 33-27 at the half. RJ Hall ended Marist's field-goal drought with a late corner three-pointer.
Schneider has been hot so far from behind the arc. He has six points so far on two three-pointers. RJ Hall is making another big impact on this game. He is seeing significant minutes after his performance yesterday. At the last official timeout, Marist leads by eight points with Devezin heading to the line for two.
Marist led by as many as eight, but Delaware has cut into the lead. Marc Egerson drove for a basket and got fouled. His three-point play cut the lead to 14-11. Korey Bauer stopped the Blue Hens runs with a three. The only Blue Hen to impress so far has been Marc Egerson. Korey Bauer has been extremely impressive on both ends of the floor after being a non-factor in the first three games.
Side note here: Just saw Stephen A. Smith. He's friend with the Delaware head coach.
Delaware has looked extremely sloppy and uncoordinated offensively. Delaware is the only team to have beaten St. Bonaventure so far. Marist leads 10-6 with 11:43 remaining in the first half.
Delaware scored on its first possession but Marist countered with a Lawrence Williams lay-up. Ryan Schneider has been the only one who has shown anything on the offensive end. He drained a straightaway 3 to give Marist a 5-2 lead. At the first timeout, Marist leads 5-4.
*****
The game is about to start. The starting time was originally 4 p.m., but the overtime match-up between Rutgers and St. Bonaventure held up the start. St. Bonaventure prevailed in overtime, 64-63. The Bonnies only loss came against today's opponent, Delaware. Marist is expected to go with the same group of starters. The Delaware starting lineup looks like this:
G Marc Egerson
G Jawan Carter
G Brian Johnson
G Alphonso Dawson
F Jim Ledsome
*****
David Devezin's fall-away jumper with time expiring failed and the game heads to overtime. Korey Bauer had a last-ditch three but that failed as well after an out-of-bounds in-bounds attempt by Delaware.
The game's down to the wire and Marist clings to a 72-70 lead. Delaware ball with 1:11 left.
Devezin knocked down a three coming out of the timeout to give Marist a 63-60 lead. Javon Parris backed it up with another three. Devezin just stopped a 4-0 Delaware run with a driving lay-up. He was fouled on the play. Marist is up by three with 3:52 remaining.
Delaware has gotten hot again and connected on its last three threes. Korey Bauer has been a huge presence for Marist. He has 13 points. The game is tied at 60 with 7:35 left.
Korey Bauer may be growing up before our eyes. Bauer has seven points and will head to the line to attempt to make it eight. He just posted up and scored a lay-up while getting the foul call. 50-46 Marist.
RJ Hall knocked down a three-pointer following the official timeout to get Marist's offense going. He has seven points so far in the second half. Hall is quickly becoming one of Marist's best players and will be an impact in the MAAC for years to come.
Ever since Marist opened up its 11 point lead in the first half, the team has gone ice cold. Delaware has not. Delaware has taken a 41-36 lead with 15:46 remaining in the game. Marist's only points in the half come courtesy of a Dejaun Goodwin three-pointer.
Delaware has come out firing in the second half. They have connected on four of their first five attempts and erased the Marist lead. Marist led by 6 coming out of the half and by as many as 11 in the first half. The game is tied at 36 with 17:24 remaining.
The second half is about to start. Marc Egerson leads all scorers with 13. Devezin is the high-scorer for Marist and Kaylen Gregory has a game-high seven rebounds at the half.
*****
Marist led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Delaware cut into the lead as Marist went cold in the final minutes. Marist led 28-17, but leads 33-27 at the half. RJ Hall ended Marist's field-goal drought with a late corner three-pointer.
Schneider has been hot so far from behind the arc. He has six points so far on two three-pointers. RJ Hall is making another big impact on this game. He is seeing significant minutes after his performance yesterday. At the last official timeout, Marist leads by eight points with Devezin heading to the line for two.
Marist led by as many as eight, but Delaware has cut into the lead. Marc Egerson drove for a basket and got fouled. His three-point play cut the lead to 14-11. Korey Bauer stopped the Blue Hens runs with a three. The only Blue Hen to impress so far has been Marc Egerson. Korey Bauer has been extremely impressive on both ends of the floor after being a non-factor in the first three games.
Side note here: Just saw Stephen A. Smith. He's friend with the Delaware head coach.
Delaware has looked extremely sloppy and uncoordinated offensively. Delaware is the only team to have beaten St. Bonaventure so far. Marist leads 10-6 with 11:43 remaining in the first half.
Delaware scored on its first possession but Marist countered with a Lawrence Williams lay-up. Ryan Schneider has been the only one who has shown anything on the offensive end. He drained a straightaway 3 to give Marist a 5-2 lead. At the first timeout, Marist leads 5-4.
*****
The game is about to start. The starting time was originally 4 p.m., but the overtime match-up between Rutgers and St. Bonaventure held up the start. St. Bonaventure prevailed in overtime, 64-63. The Bonnies only loss came against today's opponent, Delaware. Marist is expected to go with the same group of starters. The Delaware starting lineup looks like this:
G Marc Egerson
G Jawan Carter
G Brian Johnson
G Alphonso Dawson
F Jim Ledsome
Marist-Delaware Start Delayed
The final game of the Garden State Classic is being delayed by the Rutgers-St. Bonaventure game. Mike Rosario canned a corner three with half a minute remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. Don't be surprised if this freshman phenom is playing in the NBA someday. The sound heard here in Piscataway could probably be heard in Poughkeepsie.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Freshman paying big dividends for Red Foxes
R.J. Hall may be a freshman, but he's sure not playing like one.
The 5-foot-10 guard from Bloomfield, N.J. is capitalizing on an opportunity that most freshmen don't get. With only nine players under scholarship, the Red Foxes need every player to make the most of their opportunity.
While averaging six points and 14.5 minutes in Marist's first two games, R.J. Hall exploded onto the scene on Saturday night at the RAC. The freshman point guard scored 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting in 25 minutes of game-time.
R.J. Hall was pivotal in the Red Foxes win over the Robert Morris Colonials. With Robert Morris featuring a smaller lineup, Chuck Martin gave Hall an opportunity to play. Martin utilized several three guard sets that featured David Devezin, Dejuan Goodwin, and Hall in the same backcourt. Goodwin and Hall took the minutes that Kaylen Gregory and Javin Parris have been getting in the first two games.
"He's unbelievable," Martin said of Hall. "We knew that when we recruited him. He's a winner, he's always been a winner, and tonight you got a chance to see that."
Ryan Schneider said the effort of the younger players was huge, and it will need to continue for the Red Foxes to be successful.
"We're a young team, we're going to need younger guys," Schneider said. "We have nine scholarship guys dressed, so Dejuan and R.J., they're going to be relied on heavily...They're all going to be relied on heavily to have a successful year."
R.J. Hall originally committed to attend Florida Atlantic but chose not to attend when it was announced that head coach Rex Walters was leaving to coach San Francisco. Hall was an All-Essex County selection when he played at Bloomfield Tech in N.J.
Marist’s guards deliver first win to Chuck Martin
Marist returned to the site of its first regular season game, but the result turned out differently this time.
Riding his guards’ play, Chuck Martin earned his first win as a head coach. Guards David Devezin, Dejuan Goodwin, and R.J. Hall led the Red Foxes to a 72-55 win over the Robert Morris Colonials.
Marist moved to 1-2 on the season and won its first game of the Garden State Classic. Robert Morris fell to 1-3 on the year. The Red Foxes will close out the Garden State Classic Sunday afternoon at
Point-guard David Devezin contributed a game-high 18 points while dishing out three assists. Dejuan Goodwin, a surprise starter, poured in 11 points while hauling in six rebounds in his first start of the season. Goodwin took Kaylen Gregory’s starting spot in the rotation for this game.
For Chuck Martin, his first win was more about his staff and his players than himself.
“It’s rewarding for my staff and it’s rewarding for my team more than me,” Martin said. “I think my staff did a great job, and I think the kids really did a great job of buying into it.”
Marist fell behind early and trailed for most of the first half, but after senior Ryan Schneider drained a corner three-pointer to give the Foxes a 30-27 lead, Marist never looked back.
The Red Foxes offense improved dramatically. Marist shot 50 percent from the field and 55.6 percent on three-point attempts. The shots started falling tonight.
“It makes a big difference,” Schneider said. “When you shoot 30 percent in your first two games, you’re going to have a hard time winning…It’s nice when you hit shots because you just see the energy level picks up.”
With Robert Morris presenting smaller size than Marist has seen in the first two games, Martin looked to exploit that. Dejaun Goodwin started as an extra guard in the backcourt and R.J. Hall saw extensive minutes coming off the bench. The Marist guards combined for 45 of the team’s 72 points.
“I think they did a great job just being poised, composed and playing not to lose, playing to win,” Martin said regarding the Marist guards.
Marist ended the first half with a 33-31 lead, but that is the closest that Robert Morris would get. David Devezin opened the half with a driving lay-up that prompted Robert Morris head coach Mike Rice to take an immediate timeout.
From that point on, the Marist defense smothered Robert Morris. Robert Morris only scored nine points in the first
“Certainly in the second half, we just locked down and had a lot more energy and intensity defensively,” Schneider said. “In the first half they hit some tough shots and we were kind of in their face for a couple of tough shots, but certainly in the second half we did a much better job of kind of getting up and putting some ball pressure and rebounding better.”
After moving to 1-2, Marist will take on the Delaware Blue Hens in its final game of the Garden State Classic.
Marist’s game against
“It’s a tough turnaround, but we just have to gut it out and find a way to compete and see what happens,” Martin said.
Marist vs. Robert Morris LIVE; Chuck Martin earns first win as Marist coach
The Red Foxes dominated both offensively and defensively on their way to a 72-55 win over Robert Morris. Marist had four players score in double-figures, including the game-high scorer David Devezin. Devezin scored 18 points and created havoc for the Robert Morris defense all night. Marist featured a much smaller lineup highlighted by Devezin, Dejuan Goodwin, and freshman RJ Hall. Marist moves to 1-2 on the season and Robert Morris drops to 1-3. MORE TO COME.
*****
Ryan Schneider buried a dagger into Robert Morris with 5:05 remaining. The three-pointer put the Red foxes up by 16 points. Schneider has 13 points to go along with six rebounds. The game is in the waning minutes and Marist holds a comfortable lead, 65-48. David Devezin leads all scorers with 18 points.
Marist has stepped up its effort defensively, something Coach Martin emphasized after the loss to St. Bonaventure. Through 13:28, Robert Morris has only tallied nine points. RJ Hall and Dejuan Goodwin continue to impress. Goodwin is now in double-figures with 10 points. David Devezin just picked up two quick buckets and has 13 points for the game. marist leads 55-42
Marist has extended its lead to 44-37 after a Lawrence Williams lay-up. Hall has 12 points, a game-high. This is a coming out game for Hall in his first season as a Red Fox. The freshman has made a significant impact at both ends.
Both Devezin and RJ Hall have shown success penetrating the lane and it has shown. RM has taken four quick fouls on drives to the basket. Marist clings to a 39-37 lead with 14:29 at the first official's timeout.
Robert Morris just took an immediate timeout after David Devezin drove to the basket for a layup on the opening possession. 35-31 Marist. The RM staff is asking their team for a sense of urgency.
*****
At the half, Marist leads 33-31. Chuck Martin has featured a much smaller lineup for most of the game and Javon Parris and Kaylen Gregory have seen limited action. RJ Hall is having a huge impact on the offensive end with nine points while Ryan Schneider leads all scorers with 10 points. Marist's largest lead during the half was four points at 33-29. The Colonials' Jeremy Chappell scored seven points and Mezie Nwigwe led the team with eight points in the half.
Marist and RM both feature smaller lineups so the game is much more fast-paced than most. RJ Hall and Dejuan Goodwin have made the biggest impact so far for Marist. Hall has six points thus far. Hall just drove the basket with the shot clock expiring and buried a lay-up. He was fouled in the process. Hall has nine points in the first half and the game is tied at 27 with 4:40 remaining. At the final official timeout of the half, Marist leads RM, 30-29. RJ Hall is having his best game as a Red Fox and Schneider is continuing to be a go-to option for the team. Schneider has poured in 10 points in the first half.
Robert Morris embarked on a 6-0 run after RJ Hall's free-throw put Marist ahead 19-18. Ryan Schneider's steal and streaking dunk ended the run and put the Red Foxes within four of the Colonials. It's 25-21 RM with 8:29 remaining.
The Marist offense has improved greatly over the first two games. Ryan Schneider has 5 points and leads the Red Foxes in scoring. RJ Hall just drove the basket for the hoop and the harm. At 11:25, the game's tied at 18.
Dejuan Goodwin drained a three-pointer from the corner as time ran out on the shot clock to spark Marist's offense. The three sparked a 5-0 run. Goodwin has been a presence on both ends of the floor in his first start of the season. It's currently tied at 13 with 14:15 remaining in the first half.
*****
Senior Kaylen Gregory is not in the starting lineup tonight for Marist. The Red Foxes look sloppy at both ends of the floor so far. They have turned the ball over several times on the offensive end.On the plus side, Dejuan Goodwin has injected some energy into the lineup. David Devezin's 3 moments ago cut the RM lead to 11-7. There is 15:57 remaining in the first half.
*****
The game is set to start in roughly 10 minutes. The projected starting lineups are as follows:
Marist:
G David Devezin
G Javon Parris
G Dejuan Goodwin
F Ryan Schneider
F Lawrence Williams
Robert Morris:
G Bateko Francisco
G Jimmy Langhurst
G Jeremy Chappell
G Mezie Nwigwe
F Ifeanyi Ehirim
*****
Ryan Schneider buried a dagger into Robert Morris with 5:05 remaining. The three-pointer put the Red foxes up by 16 points. Schneider has 13 points to go along with six rebounds. The game is in the waning minutes and Marist holds a comfortable lead, 65-48. David Devezin leads all scorers with 18 points.
Marist has stepped up its effort defensively, something Coach Martin emphasized after the loss to St. Bonaventure. Through 13:28, Robert Morris has only tallied nine points. RJ Hall and Dejuan Goodwin continue to impress. Goodwin is now in double-figures with 10 points. David Devezin just picked up two quick buckets and has 13 points for the game. marist leads 55-42
Marist has extended its lead to 44-37 after a Lawrence Williams lay-up. Hall has 12 points, a game-high. This is a coming out game for Hall in his first season as a Red Fox. The freshman has made a significant impact at both ends.
Both Devezin and RJ Hall have shown success penetrating the lane and it has shown. RM has taken four quick fouls on drives to the basket. Marist clings to a 39-37 lead with 14:29 at the first official's timeout.
Robert Morris just took an immediate timeout after David Devezin drove to the basket for a layup on the opening possession. 35-31 Marist. The RM staff is asking their team for a sense of urgency.
*****
At the half, Marist leads 33-31. Chuck Martin has featured a much smaller lineup for most of the game and Javon Parris and Kaylen Gregory have seen limited action. RJ Hall is having a huge impact on the offensive end with nine points while Ryan Schneider leads all scorers with 10 points. Marist's largest lead during the half was four points at 33-29. The Colonials' Jeremy Chappell scored seven points and Mezie Nwigwe led the team with eight points in the half.
Marist and RM both feature smaller lineups so the game is much more fast-paced than most. RJ Hall and Dejuan Goodwin have made the biggest impact so far for Marist. Hall has six points thus far. Hall just drove the basket with the shot clock expiring and buried a lay-up. He was fouled in the process. Hall has nine points in the first half and the game is tied at 27 with 4:40 remaining. At the final official timeout of the half, Marist leads RM, 30-29. RJ Hall is having his best game as a Red Fox and Schneider is continuing to be a go-to option for the team. Schneider has poured in 10 points in the first half.
Robert Morris embarked on a 6-0 run after RJ Hall's free-throw put Marist ahead 19-18. Ryan Schneider's steal and streaking dunk ended the run and put the Red Foxes within four of the Colonials. It's 25-21 RM with 8:29 remaining.
The Marist offense has improved greatly over the first two games. Ryan Schneider has 5 points and leads the Red Foxes in scoring. RJ Hall just drove the basket for the hoop and the harm. At 11:25, the game's tied at 18.
Dejuan Goodwin drained a three-pointer from the corner as time ran out on the shot clock to spark Marist's offense. The three sparked a 5-0 run. Goodwin has been a presence on both ends of the floor in his first start of the season. It's currently tied at 13 with 14:15 remaining in the first half.
*****
Senior Kaylen Gregory is not in the starting lineup tonight for Marist. The Red Foxes look sloppy at both ends of the floor so far. They have turned the ball over several times on the offensive end.On the plus side, Dejuan Goodwin has injected some energy into the lineup. David Devezin's 3 moments ago cut the RM lead to 11-7. There is 15:57 remaining in the first half.
*****
The game is set to start in roughly 10 minutes. The projected starting lineups are as follows:
Marist:
G David Devezin
G Javon Parris
G Dejuan Goodwin
F Ryan Schneider
F Lawrence Williams
Robert Morris:
G Bateko Francisco
G Jimmy Langhurst
G Jeremy Chappell
G Mezie Nwigwe
F Ifeanyi Ehirim
Friday, November 21, 2008
Reasons for optimism
Although it's only two games into the season, the aura surrounding this year's Marist men's basketball team is not the same as years past. The idea has been floated out there that the women's basketball team could theoretically outdraw the men's team at the McCann Center. It is a distinct possibility. That's not to say that the women don't deserve the attendance, because based on their perennial NCAA tournament runs, the house should be packed every night. The men, however, always boast a stellar attendance and atmosphere. That changed Monday against Saint Bonaventure's though. The men only drew 2,143 fans out of a possible 3,200 capacity.
The outlook is not as bleak as most might think, however. Although the team struggled against Saint Bonaventure, the Red Foxes almost upset Rutgers, a team many believe could be a dark horse in the Big East. With an inexperienced team and a new offensive philosophy, Marist is destined for highs and lows. Early in the season, there will probably be more highs than lows. As notable college basketball analyst George Rodecker pointed out, Marist has assembled a much more difficult preseason schedule than in years past under Matt Brady. Despite the difficult schedule, there are a number of reasons for optimism once the MAAC schedule starts in December.
David Devezin, the Red Foxes' lone returning starter, is the best thing going for this team right now. The MAAC named Devezin to the preseason All-MAAC third team. The one time Texas A&M product transferred to Marist prior to last season and fit right into the offense. Devezin is a prototypical point guard in Chuck Martin's dribble-drive motion offense. In Martin's first press conference as head coach, he likened Devezin to Derrick Rose in terms of his ability to penetrate the lane.
Ryan Schneider and Kaylen Gregory represent two hungry seniors that do not want their college careers to end on a sour note. Schneider is playing for his fourth Div. I head coach in five seasons while Kaylen Gregory is a fifth year senior brought to the school by Matt Brady. Both players played sparingly last season. Schneider became more of a factor after Louie McCroskey's ankle injury, but Kaylen Gregory rarely saw the floor. Gregory will start for Chuck Martin and his athleticism could be an asset to the Red Foxes. Gregory showcased his speed and strength against saint Bonaventure in the home opener. After a Ryan Schneider steal 8:01 into the first half, Gregory took the pass and streaked to the basket for a soaring dunk to cut the Bonnies' lead to one. Gregory also played for the Virgin Islands in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. In a 123-59 loss to Team USA, Gregory played 10 minutes against a team that consisted of Lebron James, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and countless others. In Schneider, the Marist coaching staff knows they have a proven veteran. The fifth year senior led the Red Foxes in the MAAC semifinals against Rider with 19 points. Schneider also led Marist in scoring in the team's loss to Saint Bonaventure. Schneider poured in 16 points to go along with eight rebounds.
The MAAC is also the weakest its been in several years. Although Siena is the consensus favorite to go back to the NCAA tournament and look to build upon its upset of Vanderbilt in the first round, there is little certain after that. Rider will undoubtedly be weaker than last season after losing Jason Thompson to the Sacramento Kings. Thompson was a lottery pick in last year's NBA Draft. Fairfield and Niagara will most likely be the most competitive teams following Siena.
Finally, the Marist coaching staff is one of the most accomplished in the MAAC. Although Jimmy Patsos won an NCAA championship with Maryland in 2002, Marist head coach Chuck Martin was an assistant with John Calipari on last year's Memphis Tigers' squad that fell in overtime to Kansas in the national championship game. Martin brings with him Paul Lee, formerly an assistant coach with Northwestern and regarded by most scouts as one of the top assistants in all of college basketball. Tyrone Weeks, a member of the Memphis coaching staff last season, also joins Chuck Martin. Weeks will primarily work with big men Alex Vouyoukas, Lawrence Williams, and Korey Bauer.
The outlook is not as bleak as most might think, however. Although the team struggled against Saint Bonaventure, the Red Foxes almost upset Rutgers, a team many believe could be a dark horse in the Big East. With an inexperienced team and a new offensive philosophy, Marist is destined for highs and lows. Early in the season, there will probably be more highs than lows. As notable college basketball analyst George Rodecker pointed out, Marist has assembled a much more difficult preseason schedule than in years past under Matt Brady. Despite the difficult schedule, there are a number of reasons for optimism once the MAAC schedule starts in December.
David Devezin, the Red Foxes' lone returning starter, is the best thing going for this team right now. The MAAC named Devezin to the preseason All-MAAC third team. The one time Texas A&M product transferred to Marist prior to last season and fit right into the offense. Devezin is a prototypical point guard in Chuck Martin's dribble-drive motion offense. In Martin's first press conference as head coach, he likened Devezin to Derrick Rose in terms of his ability to penetrate the lane.
Ryan Schneider and Kaylen Gregory represent two hungry seniors that do not want their college careers to end on a sour note. Schneider is playing for his fourth Div. I head coach in five seasons while Kaylen Gregory is a fifth year senior brought to the school by Matt Brady. Both players played sparingly last season. Schneider became more of a factor after Louie McCroskey's ankle injury, but Kaylen Gregory rarely saw the floor. Gregory will start for Chuck Martin and his athleticism could be an asset to the Red Foxes. Gregory showcased his speed and strength against saint Bonaventure in the home opener. After a Ryan Schneider steal 8:01 into the first half, Gregory took the pass and streaked to the basket for a soaring dunk to cut the Bonnies' lead to one. Gregory also played for the Virgin Islands in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. In a 123-59 loss to Team USA, Gregory played 10 minutes against a team that consisted of Lebron James, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and countless others. In Schneider, the Marist coaching staff knows they have a proven veteran. The fifth year senior led the Red Foxes in the MAAC semifinals against Rider with 19 points. Schneider also led Marist in scoring in the team's loss to Saint Bonaventure. Schneider poured in 16 points to go along with eight rebounds.The MAAC is also the weakest its been in several years. Although Siena is the consensus favorite to go back to the NCAA tournament and look to build upon its upset of Vanderbilt in the first round, there is little certain after that. Rider will undoubtedly be weaker than last season after losing Jason Thompson to the Sacramento Kings. Thompson was a lottery pick in last year's NBA Draft. Fairfield and Niagara will most likely be the most competitive teams following Siena.
Finally, the Marist coaching staff is one of the most accomplished in the MAAC. Although Jimmy Patsos won an NCAA championship with Maryland in 2002, Marist head coach Chuck Martin was an assistant with John Calipari on last year's Memphis Tigers' squad that fell in overtime to Kansas in the national championship game. Martin brings with him Paul Lee, formerly an assistant coach with Northwestern and regarded by most scouts as one of the top assistants in all of college basketball. Tyrone Weeks, a member of the Memphis coaching staff last season, also joins Chuck Martin. Weeks will primarily work with big men Alex Vouyoukas, Lawrence Williams, and Korey Bauer.
Dorvell Carter has torn ACL
Although this is probably old news by now to most, Marist freshman swingman Dorvell Carter tore his ACL in a practice last week. Although Chuck Martin and the Marist staff have not ruled Carter out for the rest of the season, it is reasonable to assume he will be redshirted and miss the season. This is a tough blow for a team with a short roster as it is. Carter was expected to be a key contributor this season as one of the first players off the bench.
For Carter, this could be a blessing in disguise as he well get to sit the bench and observe the inner workings of college basketball for a season. For Red Foxes fans, this is a tough blow because Carter will not be able to help the team out this season.
For Carter, this could be a blessing in disguise as he well get to sit the bench and observe the inner workings of college basketball for a season. For Red Foxes fans, this is a tough blow because Carter will not be able to help the team out this season.
Red Foxes look for first win
After losing the first two games of the Garden State Tip-Off Classic, Marist will attempt to secure its first win tomorrow night against Robert Morris.
The game is slated for a 6 p.m. start and according to GoRedFoxes.com, admission is free. All the games this weekend will be played at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) in Piscataway, N.J.
The game should provide a formidable test for the Red Foxes. Robert Morris opened up its season against A-10 opponent Saint Bonaventure, the team that dealt Marist a 77-54 loss in the Red Foxes' home opener. The Colonials fell to the Bonnies, 72-62. Robert Morris responded after surrendering the first 16 points of the game. The Colonials finally got on the board when Jeremy Chappell drained a jumper 5:14 into the first half.
Robert Morris sits at 1-1 in the young 2008-09 campaign. After dropping their opener to Saint Bonaventure, Robert Morris rebounded to take down the Delaware Blue Hens, 86-75. Marist has beaten Delaware two straight years and will face the Blue Hens on Sunday in the final game of the Garden State Classic.
The Red Foxes need to throw away the game-tape from Monday's whitewashing and respond with a defensive effort similar to the one against Rutgers on Friday, Nov. 14. The Red Foxes held the Scarlet Knights to just 63 points and were able to contain freshman sensation Mike Rosario for most of the night.
Since Marist has only averaged 57.5 points in its first two games in the new dribble-drive motion offense, it's reasonable to expect that the Red Foxes will continue to struggle offensively in the near future. Marist returns only one starter in David Devezin. Newcomers Javon Parris and R.J. Hall will contribute heavily and seniors Kaylen Gregory and Ryan Schneider will need to be factors on the offensive end.
With Marist struggling offensively, the effort needs to show on the defensive end. This facet of the Red Foxes' game-plan was obviously missing Monday against Saint Bonaventure.
"We haven't shot the ball well at the beginning of the year, but on nights when you can't shoot the ball well, you need to have other things to win games," senior forward Ryan Schneider said following the loss to Saint Bonaventure. "Defensively, we were terrible one through 12, so that's something we need to keep working on."
****
Robert Morris Players to watch:
Jeremy Chapell, Sr., 6-foot-3
The senior shooting guard is the Colonials best scoring threat. The Cincinnati native has averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the first two games. He's shooting the ball at a 48 percent clip.
Jimmy Langhurst, Jr., 5-foot-11
Langhurst is a small point guard who has averaged 11.5 points through the first two games. He has turned the ball over eight times though, something the Red Foxes will no undoubtedly look to exploit.
Like Marist, Robert Morris features a smallish lineup built on speed. The Colonials' two biggest players measure in at 6-foot-8 but neither start. The two starters at forward measure in at 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-6. The size match-up is favorable for both Lawrence Williams and Ryan Schneider. This game could turn out to be a run-and-shoot game in the dribble-drive style Marist head coach Chuck Martin wants to play.
The game is slated for a 6 p.m. start and according to GoRedFoxes.com, admission is free. All the games this weekend will be played at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) in Piscataway, N.J.
The game should provide a formidable test for the Red Foxes. Robert Morris opened up its season against A-10 opponent Saint Bonaventure, the team that dealt Marist a 77-54 loss in the Red Foxes' home opener. The Colonials fell to the Bonnies, 72-62. Robert Morris responded after surrendering the first 16 points of the game. The Colonials finally got on the board when Jeremy Chappell drained a jumper 5:14 into the first half.
Robert Morris sits at 1-1 in the young 2008-09 campaign. After dropping their opener to Saint Bonaventure, Robert Morris rebounded to take down the Delaware Blue Hens, 86-75. Marist has beaten Delaware two straight years and will face the Blue Hens on Sunday in the final game of the Garden State Classic.
The Red Foxes need to throw away the game-tape from Monday's whitewashing and respond with a defensive effort similar to the one against Rutgers on Friday, Nov. 14. The Red Foxes held the Scarlet Knights to just 63 points and were able to contain freshman sensation Mike Rosario for most of the night.
Since Marist has only averaged 57.5 points in its first two games in the new dribble-drive motion offense, it's reasonable to expect that the Red Foxes will continue to struggle offensively in the near future. Marist returns only one starter in David Devezin. Newcomers Javon Parris and R.J. Hall will contribute heavily and seniors Kaylen Gregory and Ryan Schneider will need to be factors on the offensive end.
With Marist struggling offensively, the effort needs to show on the defensive end. This facet of the Red Foxes' game-plan was obviously missing Monday against Saint Bonaventure.
"We haven't shot the ball well at the beginning of the year, but on nights when you can't shoot the ball well, you need to have other things to win games," senior forward Ryan Schneider said following the loss to Saint Bonaventure. "Defensively, we were terrible one through 12, so that's something we need to keep working on."
****
Robert Morris Players to watch:
Jeremy Chapell, Sr., 6-foot-3
The senior shooting guard is the Colonials best scoring threat. The Cincinnati native has averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the first two games. He's shooting the ball at a 48 percent clip.
Jimmy Langhurst, Jr., 5-foot-11
Langhurst is a small point guard who has averaged 11.5 points through the first two games. He has turned the ball over eight times though, something the Red Foxes will no undoubtedly look to exploit.
Like Marist, Robert Morris features a smallish lineup built on speed. The Colonials' two biggest players measure in at 6-foot-8 but neither start. The two starters at forward measure in at 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-6. The size match-up is favorable for both Lawrence Williams and Ryan Schneider. This game could turn out to be a run-and-shoot game in the dribble-drive style Marist head coach Chuck Martin wants to play.
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