According to The New York Daily News, Kevin Willard will take over as the head coach at Seton Hall.
The former Iona head coach spent three years with the Gaels and guided them to a 21-win season in 2009-10. Iona won two games the year before Willard became coach.
This marks the second coaching change in the MAAC today. Fran McCaffery left Siena to take over at Iowa.
Two of this past season's better teams will now be looking for a new head coach.
Willard was named MAAC Coach of the Year this past season.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
McCaffery bolts Siena for Iowa
Marist rival Siena will soon find out what it's like to replace a head coach on short notice.Fran McCaffery, after signing a long-term extension last year, predictably left the Siena Saints program to join Iowa.
McCaffery, 50, will replace Todd Lickliter after Iowa suffered another mediocre season in the Big Ten.
McCaffery likely had a small window to move on to greener pastures. Siena will not be nearly as successful next season after losing Edwin Ubiles, Alex Franklin, and Ronald Moore. The Saints' bench was also a weak spot this past season.
Several Big East schools were reportedly interested in McCaffery's services. Seton Hall and St. John's had coaching vacancies after the firings of Bobby Gonzalez and Norm Roberts, respectively.
It will be interesting to see what direction Siena takes while looking for a new coach.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Marist makes a quick exit in Albany, falls 72-54
Marist exited the MAAC Tournament in familiar fashion, losing its third game of the season to Canisius. The Golden Griffs ended the Red Foxes misery as Marist closed the season with a historically low 1-29 record.Marist held a brief 18-17 lead with 6:30 left in the first half, but Canisius kicked it into gear, embarking on a 12-0 run. Canisius cruised the rest of the way home and won, 72-54.
For Canisius, it was too much size, too much speed, and too much to fall to Marist. High-flying forward Elton Frazier led the Golden Griffs with 17 points while big man Greg Logins chipped in 11.
Despite holding Frank Turner to seven points on 2-of-7 shooting, Marist's own guards struggled. Dejuan Goodwin shot 1-of-7 from the field and Candon Rusin attempted only four shots in just 23 minutes of action. Daye Kaba also missed the game due to illness.
The scoring, like it has most of the season, came from Devin Price. Price had one of his finer all-around game, scoring 17 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out two assists. The one silver lining for Marist going forward is that Price and Rusin look like the makings of a very solid backcourt going forward. The only challenge is finding some big men up front.
Menelik Watson, a 21-year old power forward, will become eligible after redshirting this season. Korey Bauer also grew up after being tossed to the wolves this year. Against Canisius, Bauer scored 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Season ends in fitting fashion
Marist played its final home game of the season Friday night, and the loss to Saint Peter's was symbolic of the way the past 27 games have gone.
Saint Peter's exploded out of the gate, burying Marist early and often. The Peacocks cruised to a 62-39 victory.
The Red Foxes' offense could not muster much against a usually stingy Peacocks' defense. Marist shot 30.2 percent from the field and scored its second-lowest amount of points on the season. Only the drubbing from 75-38 was more offensively inept.
Saint Peter's jumped out to a 20-3 lead and that was the ball game. Nick Leon scored 15 while Jeron Belin added 13 points.
Devin Price was the only Red Fox to score in double figures. The point guard scored 12 points but had six turnovers to just two assists.
Daye Kaba and Javon Parris tallied seven points apiece on Senior Day. Kaba will graduate and forgo his final season of eligibility in hopes of playing internationally.
The move makes sense for Kaba since he is set academically and the Red Foxes will not challenge for the MAAC crown. After Naofall Folahan withdrew his committal, the writing was on the wall for Kaba.
Marist plays its final game of the season at the Times Union Center on Sunday at 4 p.m. Siena has its Senior Day on Sunday. This should mark an emotional game for Alex Franklin, Edwin Ubiles, and Ronald Moore. They do play the MAAC Tournament in the same venue, however, so it is not their final home game.
Saint Peter's exploded out of the gate, burying Marist early and often. The Peacocks cruised to a 62-39 victory.
The Red Foxes' offense could not muster much against a usually stingy Peacocks' defense. Marist shot 30.2 percent from the field and scored its second-lowest amount of points on the season. Only the drubbing from 75-38 was more offensively inept.
Saint Peter's jumped out to a 20-3 lead and that was the ball game. Nick Leon scored 15 while Jeron Belin added 13 points.
Devin Price was the only Red Fox to score in double figures. The point guard scored 12 points but had six turnovers to just two assists.
Daye Kaba and Javon Parris tallied seven points apiece on Senior Day. Kaba will graduate and forgo his final season of eligibility in hopes of playing internationally.
The move makes sense for Kaba since he is set academically and the Red Foxes will not challenge for the MAAC crown. After Naofall Folahan withdrew his committal, the writing was on the wall for Kaba.
Marist plays its final game of the season at the Times Union Center on Sunday at 4 p.m. Siena has its Senior Day on Sunday. This should mark an emotional game for Alex Franklin, Edwin Ubiles, and Ronald Moore. They do play the MAAC Tournament in the same venue, however, so it is not their final home game.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Folahan out at Marist
This dreadful season has finally hit Marist where it hurts: in recruiting. The great hope for the future, Naofall "Ming" Folahan, has rescinded his commitment from the Red Foxes.After losing Casiem Drummond to academic ineligibility, Folahan represented the force that would free up guards Devin Price and Candon Rusin. That responsibility now lies entirely on Menelik Watson's shoulders.
Chuck Martin, suffering through a 1-and-forever season, loses a 6-foot-11, 230-pound pure center. Folahan, who apparently had better options, chose to explore those options after seeing Marist struggle to win one game this season.
Despite the circumstances, this is a hard pill to swallow for a team in dire need of good news.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Irvine edges Marist in BracketBusters
Marist came close but could not execute down the stretch in California.
UC-Irvine took a 64-62 lead after Zack Atkinson made a jump shot with 15 seconds left and held on to win, 66-65.
With Marist's ensuing possession, Dejuan Goodwin was charged with a turnover with only six seconds remaining. After a pair of free-throws, Daye Kaba converted a three-pointer as time expired that left Marist one point short.
Despite falling behind by 12 early in the second half, Marist used an extended 18-6 run to tie the game, 52-52. Devin Price scored 11 of his 18 points during that stretch.
The Red Foxes took a brief lead with 5:08 left to play when Goodwin buried a three-pointer to put Marist up, 57-56. Goodwin scored 10 points in 38 minutes of action.
Irvine went on a 6-0 from that point and closed out the game.
Forward Eric Wise scored a game-high 20 points for the 12-16 Anteaters. Marist dropped to 1-26.
Of Marist's 21 field goals, 13 were three-pointers. The Red Foxes shot 54.2 percent from behind the arc but were outrebounded, 45-26.
Four Red Foxes played over 30 minutes, with three of them scoring in double figures. In addition to Price and Goodwin, Candon Rusin scored 10 points in 31 minutes.
Daye Kaba added 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in 26 minutes off the bench.
UC-Irvine took a 64-62 lead after Zack Atkinson made a jump shot with 15 seconds left and held on to win, 66-65.
With Marist's ensuing possession, Dejuan Goodwin was charged with a turnover with only six seconds remaining. After a pair of free-throws, Daye Kaba converted a three-pointer as time expired that left Marist one point short.
Despite falling behind by 12 early in the second half, Marist used an extended 18-6 run to tie the game, 52-52. Devin Price scored 11 of his 18 points during that stretch.
The Red Foxes took a brief lead with 5:08 left to play when Goodwin buried a three-pointer to put Marist up, 57-56. Goodwin scored 10 points in 38 minutes of action.
Irvine went on a 6-0 from that point and closed out the game.
Forward Eric Wise scored a game-high 20 points for the 12-16 Anteaters. Marist dropped to 1-26.
Of Marist's 21 field goals, 13 were three-pointers. The Red Foxes shot 54.2 percent from behind the arc but were outrebounded, 45-26.
Four Red Foxes played over 30 minutes, with three of them scoring in double figures. In addition to Price and Goodwin, Candon Rusin scored 10 points in 31 minutes.
Daye Kaba added 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in 26 minutes off the bench.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Marist drops a pair on Buffalo trip
Marist got blown out in a pair of MAAC contests over the weekend to drop to 1-25 on the long season.
In their annual Buffalo trip, Marist trailed Canisius by as many as 25 before falling, 71-56. The Red Foxes followed up with a clunker against the Niagara Purple Eagles.
Marist competed in the first half against Niagara before going stagnant on offense and dropping the game, 70-51.
Candon Rusin's three-pointer with 3:50 left in the first half cut Niagara's lead to 30-23, but that's the closest Marist would get. Niagara put the game away in the second half with a 12-0 run that turned a 51-40 game into a 63-40 blowout.
Devin Price finished with a team-high 15 points and Rusin added 11 points against Niagara. In the loss to Canisius, Rusin had an impressive outing, scoring 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Price scored 12 against the Golden Griffs.
While rebounding doomed Marist in the Canisius loss, turnovers plagued the Red Foxes on Sunday. Marist turned the ball over 16 times to Niagara's eight.
The argument could be made that this team is hitting the wall. Rob Johnson has struggled mightily, tallying only three points in the two combined games.
Javon Parris has assumed a portion of Johnson's minutes, but he has only shot 3-of-12 during the trip.
Dejuan Good win started against Niagara while Daya Kaba came off the bench.
Observations:
- It's not a good sign when a former major conference recruit, Daye Kaba from Boston College, is coming off the bench for a 1-25 team. While Kaba is certainly just a missing piece to Marist's puzzle this season, he needed to have larger contributions similar to the ones he had against Siena.
- Rob Johnson should probably sit the next game or two. Playing out of position in a long season has finally caught up with him. Dorvell Carter should start in his place in an attempt to showcase his skills before Anell Alexis, Menelik Watson, and Adam Kemp become eligible next season. Johnson will remain ahead of him at that position next year.
- This season can't end soon enough for Marist. With what will likely be one win in a 29-game season, next season should be a welcome relief.
In their annual Buffalo trip, Marist trailed Canisius by as many as 25 before falling, 71-56. The Red Foxes followed up with a clunker against the Niagara Purple Eagles.
Marist competed in the first half against Niagara before going stagnant on offense and dropping the game, 70-51.
Candon Rusin's three-pointer with 3:50 left in the first half cut Niagara's lead to 30-23, but that's the closest Marist would get. Niagara put the game away in the second half with a 12-0 run that turned a 51-40 game into a 63-40 blowout.
Devin Price finished with a team-high 15 points and Rusin added 11 points against Niagara. In the loss to Canisius, Rusin had an impressive outing, scoring 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Price scored 12 against the Golden Griffs.
While rebounding doomed Marist in the Canisius loss, turnovers plagued the Red Foxes on Sunday. Marist turned the ball over 16 times to Niagara's eight.
The argument could be made that this team is hitting the wall. Rob Johnson has struggled mightily, tallying only three points in the two combined games.
Javon Parris has assumed a portion of Johnson's minutes, but he has only shot 3-of-12 during the trip.
Dejuan Good win started against Niagara while Daya Kaba came off the bench.
Observations:
- It's not a good sign when a former major conference recruit, Daye Kaba from Boston College, is coming off the bench for a 1-25 team. While Kaba is certainly just a missing piece to Marist's puzzle this season, he needed to have larger contributions similar to the ones he had against Siena.
- Rob Johnson should probably sit the next game or two. Playing out of position in a long season has finally caught up with him. Dorvell Carter should start in his place in an attempt to showcase his skills before Anell Alexis, Menelik Watson, and Adam Kemp become eligible next season. Johnson will remain ahead of him at that position next year.
- This season can't end soon enough for Marist. With what will likely be one win in a 29-game season, next season should be a welcome relief.
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