Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio

Previews

East Region Men's Teams

1999-2000 Season

Alfred
Hard work.

Commitment to the team.

Chemistry.

This is the blueprint that head coach Jay Murphy will be looking for as he tries to send the Alfred University men’s basketball team to the postseason for the third time in the last four years. The Saxons will need this commitment from the entire team this season after losing their top two offensive players, Brian Quinlan and Steve Filosa, to graduation.

"For our team to be a success this season all of our players must push aside their egos and do what is best for the team, maybe even play roles that were not asked of them previously," Murphy said. "I am looking at our six returnees to show all of our newcomers what it means to be a part of the men’s basketball program here at Alfred."

AU will also have to play a stingier defense in order to return to the postseason. They were outrebounded by 4.4 boards a game last season, something that Murphy says must change. "We could have won 20 games last season if we had a better defense. We have to give our opponents tougher shots and rebound better for us to be successful. One major goal is to get on the positive side of rebounds and reduce the other team’s field goal percentage. I am looking for everyone to be a complete player, be committed both defensively and offensively."

This season will also mark a return to conference play for the Saxons, as they play their first season in the Empire Eight. The champion of the Empire Eight will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. "We have to make a concentrated effort against our seven conference teams. We will have a total of 14 games against conference rivals," Murphy said. "We can’t overlook our nonconference opponents either. The team has to put their best effort forward for all of the games. If so, I can see a 20-win season as a possibility."

Murphy will look to his four captains, juniors Willie Smith (Fulton/Fulton), Kareem McKinnon (Brooklyn/Kingsborough), and Rob Stedman (Perry/Perry) and sophomore E.J. Docteur (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy) to show the way to a large group of newcomers. Smith, a 6-1 point guard, will be looked at to build on a successful 1998-99 campaign which saw him lead AU with 131 assists and finish third in team scoring with 10.6 points per game. He is aggressive on defense, and is rarely beaten by the opposition's point guard.

McKinnon will be the big man down low this year. The 6-9 center made huge strides last season, and has the capability to be in double figures in both scoring and rebounding every night. Opponents will also have to be fearful of his solid passing and shot-blocking skills. Stedman, a 6-2 guard, will be looked at as a 3-point threat this year. He gained a few starts at the conclusion of last season, replacing an injured Filosa in the ECAC Playoffs. He is also the Saxons’ best free-throw shooter. Coach Murphy will be looking for Stedman to become more of a complete player this season and return to the defensive form that he had in his freshman season.

Docteur, an imposing 6-6 forward, will be dangerous both offensively and defensively. He will not only be a threat down low at the post, but he can take the ball outside and shoot the three. If he is pressured, Docteur has the ability to find the open man to set up a scoring chance. Docteur is also a strong defensive player and will be looked at, along with McKinnon, to run the defensive boards.

Two other returners should make an impact in this season’s Saxons lineup. Sophomore guards Chris Koek (Penn Yan/Penn Yan) and Jason Wheeler (Camden/Camden) will both be looked at to pick up more time this season. Koek is a good shooter who can stop players in the defensive end. Wheeler is a great leaper who can excite the crowd with his dunking ability. He could be a shooting threat as he continues to build on his range.

AU will welcome two sophomore transfers to their lineup this season. The "Newark Connection" of Tanner Webb and Brian Strait (Newark/Newark) should pay immediate dividends to the Saxons. Both come from a winning high school program and know what it takes to win. Webb, a transfer guard from Clarkson, can play either the point or the two-guard. He has a deep range on the three and is a good ball handler. He will be a major addition to the team, and will continue to improve as he learns the AU system. Strait, a transfer forward from Nazareth, joins his former high school teammate in Alfred. He has the ability to drive the ball to the hole and is also a solid passer.

Three upperclassmen will make their first appearances in Alfred purple and gold. Junior guards Todd Boyland (Sinclairville/Cassadaga) and Rob Strickland (Amherst/Sweet Home) as well as sophomore guard Kurt Larson (McKees Rock, PA/Montour) will all be members of the 1999-00 edition of the Saxons. Both Boyland and Strickland return to basketball after taking two years off, while Larson comes back after missing all of last season with an injured knee.

A solid group of freshmen are also expected to be strong contributors, led by guard Neil Burley (Rushville/Marcus Whitman) and forward Jeff Hopkins (York/York). Burley, 6-4, is a talented 3-point shooter who can drive to the hoop. Hopkins will be another tall presence in the AU lineup, standing at 6-6. He is strong fundamentally and has a solid hook shot. AU will also welcome local hero, 6-4 forward Bryan Crandall (Canisteo/Canisteo) to their lineup. He is the all-time leading scorer at Canisteo High School. Crandall can post and go outside. He is a hard worker who should blossom into a good player.

D'Youville
The D'Youville College Spartans will have a different look this season as a new head coach and 12 new players attempt to post the school's first winning season in 15 years. Brian Miller takes over the coaching duties from Troy Tucker, hoping to improve on the team's 0-24 showing last year. Miller arrived from Canisius in July, where he was an assistant the past three years under John Beilein and Mike MacDonald.

"It's going to be a great challenge to get things turned around here," Miller said. "The support around campus has been great and I am really looking forward to it. The kids can't wait to get started."

Since his arrival, Miller has virtually turned over the entire roster. As many as 12 new players will suit up for the Spartans this season. Three junior college transfers will anchor the backcourt. Kenny Duck (Pitt-Titusville), Phil Harlow (Alfred State) and D.J. Motley (Erie Community College) are experienced players who should make an immediate impact. In addition, Mike McCarthy, a former Division I player at Canisius, has reunited with his former coach and is hoping to rejuvinate his career.

"I am really hoping Mike can get it going here at D'Youville," Miller said. "He has been given another opportunity, and he needs to make the most of it. He is a very talented player who should help us if he is willing to work hard both on the court and in the classroom." McCarthy, at 6-7, has the ability to play any position on the floor. He may be joined in the frontcourt by athletic freshmen James Hunt and Ian Morris. In addition, 6-5 Dan Ghirsig and rugged 6-3 forward Jeremy Lindstrom, who bench presses 350 pounds, will man the low blocks.

Returning for their senior seasons are holdovers Jason Cwiklinski and Todd Zeilinski. The co-captains were the top two scorers last year. The 6-3 Cwiklinski averaged 21.2 ppg. and 12 rebounds, while Zeilinski scored 18.9 ppg. and shot 44% from three-point range.

The schedule is demanding, as the Spartans will face quality teams like the University of Rochester, Buffalo State and Penn State-Behrend.

"We didn't win any games last year and there is no guarantee we'll win any this year," Miller said. "But the talent level here is definitely higher ... it just comes down to how hard these guys want to work and how hungry we are to win."

Hartwick
New faces, more height and added depth should add up to more wins for the Hartwick College men's basketball team this season.

Head coach Tim McGraw, back for his second season as head coach, and his coaching staff have brought in some promising newcomers after going 6-18 last year. The Hawks have a roster with no seniors.

Junior small forward Josh Brown (Oneonta/Oneonta, NY) transferred in from Cobleskill College after leading the Fighting Tigers to nearly 30 wins a year ago. He was named Male Athlete of the Year at Cobleskill last year. Brown, at 6-foot-3, also could play the off guard spot.

"With his college experience at Cobleskill, Josh is going to bring a lot of leadership on the court for us," said McGraw, a 1988 graduate of Hartwick and the school's all-time leading scorer. "He has the ability to post up smaller guards and score inside. He also can shoot the three."

Brown's only problem could be his health. He has had nagging back and knee injuries during his basketball career.

Brown will be part of a solid forward line for the Hawks. Junior 6-9 center Tim Staniels (Bethlehem/Delmar, NY) returns after averaging 13 points and 6.3 rebounds a game last season. Meanwhile, 6-7 freshman power forward Shawn Osbey (Danbury/Danbury, CT) should be a force in the paint offensively and on the boards.

"(Staniels) is going to see some traps in the post because of his size and his ability to score in there," McGraw said. "He needs to work at throwing it out and hitting some open guys when they trap him.

"(Osbey) is a different type of player than Staniels. He's quicker inside to the ball and could be a good shot blocker as time rolls on."

Junior Greg Balcavage (Delaware Academy/Franklin, NY) and junior Jared Carr (Gray-New Gloucester/Gray, ME) will both come off the bench and see quality minutes up front. Balcavage, who just finished the football season as the starting tight end, averaged 7.9 points and was second on the team at 6.7 rebounds a contest. Carr (2.7 ppg) showed much improvement over the course of last season.

Four freshmen -- Daymyen Layne (Albany High/Albany, NY), Luke Sinwell (Ponaganset/Foster, RI), Nate Cramer (Cortland/Ithaca, NY), Mike Shultis (Delaware Academy/Delhi, NY) -- and junior Mike Marschner (Walter Panas/Putnam Valley) also will play somewhere on the forward line. Marschner will be out to January after hurting his shoulder playing on the football team.

Another freshman -- Joel Blackwell (Monument Mt. Regional/Great Barrington, MA) -- will start at the shooting guard spot.

"He moves well without the ball and has a quick release on his shot," McGraw said. "He's a smooth player who has a good feel for the game. He will be one of our better offensive rebounders."

Blackwell will play alongside sophomore point guard James Altman (South Side/Rockville Centre, NY), who has gotten stronger with off-season weight lifting. Altman averaged six points a game and hit 44 percent of his 3-point shots.

"I think he came back and realized he had to get a little quicker," McGraw said. "With our size, we can hopefully get some advantages where they have to double and he can get some open looks. He has great range."

Junior Brian Huber (Kellenberg Memorial/Seaford, NY) and freshman Ira Wiley (Cambridge/Cambridge, NY) will look for minutes behind Altman.

Meanwhile, junior Luke Urtz (Ilion/Ilion, NY), who was third on the team in scoring at 10.2 points a game, and sophomore Rich Stewart (Melbourne Catholic/Malabar, FL), who averaged 5.6 points, could play the off guard or small forward spots.

Sophomore Kevin Ahern (Troy/Wynantskill, NY), freshman Brant Bussey (Santa Fe/High Springs, FL) and freshman Craig McClain (Tampa Preparatory/Tampa, FL) also are capable of playing the two and three spots.

After the tough NYU Tournament, Hartwick plays at No. 9 Cortland State on Tuesday. The Hawks also face a difficult conference schedule in the Empire Eight, which now features eight teams with the addition of St. John Fisher and Alfred.

Hartwick's added depth should keep the Hawks in games this season.

"We were in a lot of games last year, but we got worn down because of our size and lack of depth," McGraw said. "We're really deep at a lot of positions. We won't fall off that much by bringing in substitutions."

Penn State-Behrend
Penn State Behrend will have a solid mix of experienced upperclassmen and a talented but unproven group of young players. "Our group of returning players work exceptionally hard, provide great leadership, and will provide the foundation for our success," said sixth-year head coach Dave Niland. "The development of the underclassmen, however, could be the key to the season."

In 1998-99, the Lions set a school record for wins with 21, and also captured its first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southern Region Championship. In addition, the program earned a national ranking of No. 17 during the season in the NABC poll.

This year’s team has a tough act to follow, but pursuing a sixth consecutive winning season, and making the postseason for the fourth consecutive year is a goal for which this team appears to be ready.

The Behrend Lions will be led by senior tri-captains that have been major factors in the program’s recent success. Andy Lawrence (Saegertown/Saegertown) has been an outstanding front court performer. He was a first-team AMCC pick in 1998-99 and is set to eclipse the 1,000 points scored in a career this year. Lawrence is expected to be an offensive force. Joining Lawrence will be 6-8 center Chris Hughes (Brockway/Brockway) and forward John Park (Erie/McDowell). Hughes, the MVP of the ECAC Tournament, is considered to be one of the top big men in the East. Park has been a key performer since his freshman year and adds great defense and intensity. These three seniors are looking to leave Penn State-Behrend as the most successful class in terms of all-time victories.

Graduation took its toll on the backcourt. Brock Bovaird, the AMCC Player of the Year in 1998-99, and Jason Paloskey, a second-team AMCC performer, are gone. So is backup guard Matt Plizga and hardworking forward Brian Emick. Junior Ashley Orris (Union City/Union City) has been a big contributor since his freshman year and will be expected to carry a big portion of the offense early on. Sophomores Andy Berchtold (Wattsburg/Seneca), Lamar Jefferson (W. Middlesex/Kennedy Christian), Matt Keith (North East/North East), and Bill McKinney (Union City/Union City) will all need to step up. These players will all battle for time at the guard positions.

Junior Kris Lynn (Murrysville/Franklin Regional), a transfer from Division II Mercyhurst, is expected to be an impact player in the middle. Andy Strizinger (Erie/Harborcreek), a 6-8 center, gained valuable experience last year in 20 games and will contribute. A pleasant surprise could be 6-5 sharpshooter Greg Dunn (Bethlehem/Liberty), who came on strong at the end of last season. These three players are key components to the Behrend Lions front line. Top newcomers include guards Kevin Dubyak (Duquesne/Duquesne), Matt Henderson (Meadville/Meadville), and Steve Merrill (Union City/Union City). They add depth to the team and could challenge for minutes as they gain experience.

The Behrend Lions are on a roll. The program has captured 54 wins and earned regional and national attention in the last three-years under Coach Niland. Expect this year’s team to once again challenge for the AMCC title and a postseason berth.

Rochester
A year ago, the University of Rochester boasted a veteran backcourt and a young frontcourt. Three senior guards led that youthful team into the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. It was Rochester's fifth NCAA appearance in the decade of the 1990s.

Graduation claimed those three starting guards, two of whom wound up in the Top 10 in career assists. The sheepskin ceremonies also took one forward. Head coach Mike Neer must find answers to some backcourt questions as the Yellowjackets prepare for the arrival of the millennium.

A senior and two sophomores head the frontcourt candidates. Between them, they totaled 31 starts. The most experienced is 6-4 senior captain Ben Keegan. An ankle spring limited him to 10 starts, but he played in 24 of 25 games. He is the top returning scorer after getting 8.1 ppg. last season, shooting 50% from the floor. Keegan also pulled down 88 rebounds (3.7 rpg.). Six-foot-nine sophomore Ryan Kadlublowski missed a dozen games in midseason recovering from mononucleosis. He played in 14 games, nine as a starter. Kadlubowski averaged 4.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg. and blocked a dozen shots. Six-foot-five sophomore Kyle Leach (5.7 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 15 blocks) earned a dozen late-season starts at power forward. Tim Salmon, a 6-5 junior, saw the most playing time among the other returning frontcourt players.

The backcourt, particularly the point guard position, is wide open. Neer has two experienced players returning who display contrasting styles. Junior Jeff Larson (6-4) is a superior long-range shooter (42 3 PGs, 43.8% outside the stripe) who averaged 6.4 ppg. Six-one junior Ron Cole (4.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg.) relies on his quickness (12 steals, 18 assists) and driving ability to get the job done (84% foul shooter). They will battle for the off-guard slot, challenged by a large group of sophomores and Jeff Joss, a 6-3 freshman.

When it comes to the role of floor general, Neer has four freshmen looking for work: 5-11 Justin Hughes, 6-0 Tim Sweeney, 6-1 Kevin Sherry, and 6-3 David Hall. He also has 6-0 junior Jon Witmer and 6-1 sophomore Craig Hendricks among his returnees.

D3sports.com Network
D3sports.com
D3football.com
D3baseball.com
D3soccer.com
D3boards.com
D3jobs.com
News
Top 25 poll
Milestones
NCAA Stats M | W
Notables
Playoffs
Photo galleries
Press releases
Regional rankings
Scoreboard
Season previews
Standings
Strength of sched. M W
Columns
Around the Nation
Daily Dose
Hoopsville
Awards
All-Decade M | W
All-Americans
All-Region
Team of the Week
Interactive
About us
Advertise here
D3hoops on Facebook
Feedback
Message board
Open dates
Site FAQ
SID login
Weekly nominations