NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Raiquan Clark, LIU Brooklyn
6’6”, 195 lbs.
Sr., G/F, New Haven, CT/Hillhouse
Clark, a preseason All-NEC selection, put LIU Brooklyn on his back to lead a comeback from a 12-point second half deficit in the Blackbirds’ 60-57 win at Fordham on Sunday. Clark recorded 19 of his 23 points after intermission and 10 points in the final 5:03 in LIU’s 14-4 run to close out the game. With the Blackbirds trailing by one, he scored the last four points of the contest, including two free throws with four seconds left to ice it. Clark scored his 23 points on just nine shots, making 5-9 from the floor to go along with seven boards and an assist. The win evened LIU’s non-conference record at 6-6, and gave the Blackbids their third true road win and fourth victory away from home. Clark, who hails from New Haven, CT, paces the NEC with 20.2 ppg. He also ranks fourth in field goal accuracy (.521), eighth in steals (1.4) and 11th in rebounding (5.8).
NEC MEN'S BASKETBALL CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Joe Kasperzyk, Bryant
6’1”, 185 lbs.
Fr., G, New Haven, CT/Woodstock Academy
Kasperzyk earned his second consecutive NEC Rookie of the Week nod for his performance down the stretch in Bryant’s near upset of #24 Iowa on Saturday. While his numbers off the bench were modest - 13 points on an efficient 6-12 from the field, paired with four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes - he kept the Bulldogs neck-and-neck with the Hawkeyes into the final minute of the contest. Kasperzyk sandwiched five points around an Adam Grant three-pointer in an 8-0 Bryant run that tied the score at 64, then beat his man off the dribble to once again tie the game with three minutes to play. The New Haven, CT native has now recorded six double-digit scoring games on the year and is averaging 16.0 points over his last two outings. Kasperzyk ranks fourth among NEC freshman with 9.0 ppg.
Vado Morse, Mount St. Mary’s
6’0”, 155 lbs.
Fr., G, Suitland, MD/Bullis School
Morse now holds the distinction of being the fourth Mount player to claim NEC Rookie of the Year accolades this season following a career-high 18-point outing at Minnesota on Sunday. He hit 3-5 from long range and also chipped in with two rebounds, two assists and a steal in a 29-minute stint coming off the pines. Morse kept the Mountaineers within striking distance for most of the second half with 13 points, including eight straight at one point to make it an eight-point game with under eight minutes remaining. The Suitland, MD product ranks second among NEC freshman with 11.5 ppg on the year. Morse joined Nana Opoku, Dee Barnes and Malik Jefferson as NEC Rookie of the Week award winners.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Adam Grant (BRY, Jr, G)
Grant matched a season-high with 23 points in a terrific performance as Bryant gave a scare to #24 Iowa on Saturday. He scored 12 of Bryant’s first 13 points and 20 in the first half, capped off by a three-pointer to beat the first-half buzzer. Grant, who is sixth in the NEC with 16.5 ppg, passed Nisre Zouzoua to move into fifth place on Bryant’s career scoring list in the DI era.
Joe Kasperzyk (BRY, Fr, G)
Kasperzyk put the Bulldogs in position to pull off an upset at #24 Iowa on Saturday with nine points in the last nine minutes of a five-point setback. The NEC Co-Rookie of the Week twice converted layups to tie the score late, and finished with 13 points on 6-12 shooting to go along with four rebounds and two helpers.
Jamir Coleman (CCSU, Jr, G/F)
Coleman was a bright spot for CCSU at Oregon State on Saturday with 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals, all of which were team-highs. He made 6-12 from the floor. Coleman has averaged 16.0 points over his last three games to boost his season average to 10.8 ppg.
Kaleb Bishop (FDU, Jr, F)
Bishop keyed FDU’s comeback in a near upset of South Florida on Saturday. The junior went 5-5 from the floor - including 3-3 from distance - while scoring all 13 of his points in the second half. He blocked three shots after intermission and finished with eight rebounds on the afternoon. Bishop has reached double digits in each of his last four outings, averaging 13.8 ppg in that span.
Raiquan Clark (LIU, Sr, G/F)
Clark earned NEC Player of the Week honors following a herculean second half effort in LIU Brooklyn’s 60-57 win over Fordham to wrap non-league play. He scored 19 of his 23 following intermission, including the game-winning free throws with four seconds to play. Clark, who shot 5-9 from the field and added seven rebounds, leads the NEC with 20.2 ppg.
Ty Flowers (LIU, So, F)
Flowers posted his second straight double-double and league-leading fourth of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds in LIU Brooklyn’s 60-57 win at Fordham. He converted 5-9 from the floor, and finished with two assists and two steals. Flowers is eighth in the league in rebouding (6.8) and 11th in scoring (14.2).
Vado Morse (MSM, Fr, G)
Morse led the Mount with a career-high 18 points off the bench at Minnesota on Sunday. The NEC Co-Rookie of the Week hit 3-5 from three-point range and added two rebounds and two assists. Morse, who scored 13 points in the second half and kept the Mountaineers within striking distance until the Gophers pulled away in the final minutes, is second on the Mountaineers with 11.5 ppg.
Malik Petteway (RMU, Sr, F)
Petteway came off the bench to record 18 points and 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes of work in RMU’s win over Hood on Saturday. He hit 8-9 from the field in his second double-double effort of the season and fifth of his career. Petteway leads the Colonials with 5.4 rpg and ranks second with 10.6 ppg.
Koreem Ozier (SHU, Fr, G)
Ozier scored 20 points for the third time in the four games he has played this season following a team-high 20-point effort in SHU’s overtime loss to UMass Lowell on Saturday. He also pitched in with four rebounds and three assists. Ozier is averaging 21.0 ppg on the year.
Romone Saunders (WC, R-Sr, G)
Saunders led Wagner with 15 points and nine rebounds, and added three assists in a 59-57 setback at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. His jumper with 1:29 to play pulled the Seahawks to within two points. Saunders has led Wagner in scoring in each of the last five games and ranks fourth in the NEC with 17.4 ppg.
TOP STORYLINES FROM AROUND #NECMBB
Here’s all you need to know from the eighth week of the 2018-19 season...
PRESS RESET, #NECNEWYEAR HAS ARRIVED
After nearly two months going toe-to-toe with the other 31, we’re all set for the #NECNewYear, a celebration of NEC hoops that will last 69 days until the crowning of the 38th NEC men’s basketball champion on March 12th.
And it all begins on Thursday.
As a refresher, here was the predicted order of finish revealed this past October at NEC Social Media Day in Brooklyn:
1. Saint Francis U (8)
2. Fairleigh Dickinson (1)
3. LIU Brooklyn (1)
4. Wagner
5. Robert Morris
6. Central Connecticut
7. St. Francis Brooklyn
8. Bryant
9. Sacred Heart
10. Mount St. Mary’s
Based on previous predictions of NEC head coaches, these rankings need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Conducted annually, NEC coaches have only managed to correctly forecast the eventual league champion two times in the last 19 years. Over the last 31 years, the coaches have proven inaccurate on 27 occasions or 87 percent of the time.
Last season, eventual NEC champion LIU Brooklyn was predicted to finish sixth. A year earlier, Mount St. Mary’s won it all after landing in the fourth spot in the poll and Fairleigh Dickinson took home the trophy in 2016 while being picked ninth in the ten-team league.
No team made a case to separate itself from the pack during non-league play, though the pre-NEC campaign did give a glimpse of those that could outperform expectations and what could be in store for the projected contenders.
Picked seventh, St. Francis Brooklyn racked up an NEC-best eight non-league wins, which were the most for the program since a nine-victory campaign back in 2013-14. As part of the 8-5 slate, the Terriers closed with six dubs over their last eight games and posted a perfect 5-0 mark at the Pope Center.
Central Connecticut was tabbed sixth and won six games out-of-conference, but may have showed their true ceiling in close setbacks at Georgetown (10-3 record) and Loyola Marymount (12-2).
Sacred Heart was slotted ninth in the poll, and though the high scoring Pioneers (NEC-best 82.4 ppg) went 4-9, four of the losses came by five or fewer points or in overtime, and another took place in a competitive eight-point defeat at Boston College.
How about a Bryant team tabbed eighth by the head coaches? Under first year head coach Jared Grasso, the Bulldogs showed glimpses of their potential throughout November and December, and nearly upset #24 Iowa on Saturday.
Sporting the second-youngest team in the nation, first-year head coach Dan Engelstad and Mount St. Mary’s were chosen tenth. The Mount closed strong, winning three of their last four to wrap non-conference play and hung deep into December games at St. John’s and Minnesota.
The runner-up in the preseason tabulations, Fairleigh Dickinson impressed with a double-digit win at Princeton and narrow losses at UMass and South Florida to close out their non-league slate.
Wagner and Robert Morris were picked fourth and fifth, respectively, and should be in the hunt after posting the best defensive efficiency ratings in the conference over the first two months according to KenPom.
Then there’s the case of defending NEC champion LIU Brooklyn, which picked up a solid road win at Fordham on Sunday to enter the NEC slate with some momentum. The Blackbirds, who were voted third in the conference poll, finished 6-6, but suffered last second losses to Milwaukee, Stony Brook and Binghamton along the way.
And finally, we turn to preseason favorite Saint Francis U, an experienced unit that will be battle tested heading into conference play after playing the nation’s ninth-ranked strength of schedule.
With all the uncertainty, there has been plenty of talk about the NEC’s parity, and rightfully so. KenPom has even pegged the eventual regular season champion to win just 11 games (tie between Saint Francis U and Wagner) with eight teams winning at least nine games.
But if history has any say in the matter, there will be one or more teams that eventually separate from the pack. The eventual NEC regular season champion has won at least 14 games in 13 of the last 14 years. Only in 2015-16 was the magic number less than 14 with Wagner claiming the top spot with 13 wins. Prior to that, you have to go all the way back to the 2003-04 season to find a year in which parity truly reigned in the NEC. That season, St. Francis Brooklyn and Monmouth finished tied for first with 12-6 records and only four games separated the teams in first and eighth place.
If there’s one thing that parity brings, it’s competitive games night-in and night-out and a high level of intrigue as teams battle not only for the regular season crown, but also for one of the eight NEC Tournament spots and the right to host games in the postseason.
The most intriguing game on #NECNewYear weekend pits the two top teams in the preseason poll as FDU visits preseason number one Saint Francis U on Saturday.
On opening night, look for a track meet when Sacred Heart hosts LIU Brooklyn. Both teams rank in the top-30 nationally in adjusted tempo.
Opening Weekend NEC Slate
Thur.., Jan. 3 LIU Brooklyn at Sacred Heart, 6 pm
FDU at Robert Morris, 7 pm
Wagner at CCSU, 7 pm
St. Francis Brooklyn at Bryant, 7 pm
Mount St. Mary’s at Saint Francis U, 7 pm
Sat., Jan. 5 CCSU at Sacred Heart, 3:30 pm
LIU Brooklyn at Bryant, 4 pm
St. Francis Brooklyn at Wagner, 4 pm
Mount St. Mary’s at Robert Morris, 5 pm
FDU at Saint Francis U, 7 pm
All ten games this week can be viewed at no charge on NEC Front Row or via the NEC on the Run app (also free) for iOS devices.
So as the New Year approaches, we reboot.
Let the journey begin.
BRYANT’S GRANT SHINES UNDER BRIGHT LIGHTS
It shouldn’t come as a surprise when Bryant junior Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate School) puts up big numbers against elite competition.
His 23-point showing in Bryant’s near upset at #24 Iowa on Saturday was his latest strong effort in a growing resume against major conference opponents going back to his freshman season.
at Notre Dame (11/12/16) - 13p, 3r, 4a, 4-6 FG, 3-5 3PFG
at Gonzaga (11/18/16) - 17p, 3r, 2a, 6-12 FG, 4-7 3PFG
at Northwestern (11/25/16) - 19p, 3r, 4a, 6-10 FG, 3-6 3PFG
at Georgia (11/10/17) - 24p, 4r, 8-18 FG, 3-7 3PFG
at NC State (11/14/17) - 24p, 4r, 6a, 9-16 FG, 5-8 3P
at Iowa (12/29/18) - 23p, 2r, 1a, 9-20 FG, 5-12 3P
Grant now has five games of 20 or more points this season and he ranks sixth in the NEC with 16.5 ppg.
MOUNT ROOKIE CROP MAKES HISTORY
Talk about a bright future.
With Vado Morse’s (Suitland, MD/Bullis School) selection as NEC Co-Rookie of the Week, Mount St. Mary’s has become the first team since at least the 1997-98 season to have four different players win the ROW award. Morse joined fellow freshman Nana Opoku (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) (Nov. 26), Dee Barnes (Great Mills, MD/Great Mills) (Dec. 10) and Malik Jefferson (Hopewell, VA/Hopewell) (Dec. 24) as weekly honorees.
CCSU’S KOHL LOOKING TO REPEAT RARE FEAT
There’s no doubt that Central Connecticut junior guard/forward Tyler Kohl’s (Allentown, PA/Mineral Area College) possesses all-around skills that put him on par with any recent NEC great.
Kohl led CCSU in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals last season, and is on pace to do the same this season which puts him in rarefied air in NEC annals. The Allentown, PA native currently averages 18.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.9 apg and 1.4 spg.
The last NEC player prior to Kohl to lead his team in all four categories was RMU’s Jeremy Chappell, who averaged 16.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg and 2.5 spg back in 2008-09 en route to NEC Player of the Year honors.
Only seven NEC players have turned the trick over the last 20 years and none more than once. All were named to the All-Conference first team at season’s end aside from Kohl, who earned second team honors a year ago. Monmouth’s Rahsaan Johnson was voted the NEC Player of the Year back in 2000-01.
NEC Players Who Led Team In Scoring, Rebounding, Assists & Steals (1997-Present)
2017-18: CCSU’s Tyler Kohl (16.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.4 spg)
2008-09: RMU’s Jeremy Chappell (6.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.5 spg)
2007-08: QU’s DeMario Anderson (21.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.5 apg)
2001-02: UMBC’s Peter Mulligan (16.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.8 spg)
2000-01: MU’s Rahsaan Johnson (19.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.1 spg)
1998-99: QU’s Nate Pondexter (14.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.0 spg)
1998-99: RMU’s Gene Nabors (16.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.6 apg, 3.0 spg)
Likewise, Kohl ranks in the NEC top-10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, free throw percentage and three-point percentage. And up until this past Saturday, he ranked in the top-10 in field goal percentage as well. If he finishes the year in the top-10 in each category, he will become the first NEC player to do so since at least 1997-98. In fact, on only four occasions have NEC players ranked in the top-10 in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals (SFBK’s Akeem Bennett in 2009-10, RMU’s Tony Lee in 2007-08 and QU’s Nate Pondexter in 1998-99 and 1999-00). Similarly, just two players (RMU’s Chaz McCrommon in 2003-04 and FDU’s Elijah Allen in 1997-98) over that span have finished in the top-10 in each of the three shooting categories.
PEER PRESSURE
The NEC finished with a 26-25 record against the America East, Ivy, MAAC and Patriot, its four regional peer conferences.
GRANT, HOEHN & SAUNDERS BECOMES LATEST NEC 1K CLUB ENTRANTS
The holiday season brought three more NEC 1,000-point scorers, bringing current membership in the club to nine and the all-time roster to 228 players.
Sacred Heart senior guard Sean Hoehn (Morristown, NJ/Morristown (St. Thomas More (CT))) became the 42nd SHU player to crack the 1,000-point mark, tallying 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks against Seton Hall on December 19. He has since upped that total to 1,035 points.
Bryant junior guard Adam Grant (Franklin, VA/Norfolk Collegiate) eclipsed 1,000 points on December 21 as the Bulldogs edged Dartmouth, 68-67. In becoming the sixth Bryant player at the DI level to reach the milestone, Grant finished with 11 points. Grant stands at 1,030 points heading into NEC competition.
Wagner senior guard Romone Saunders (Temple Hills, MD/Potomac) scored his 1,000th point as part of an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 77-68 victory over Hartford on December 22. He became the 45th player in Wagner history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Saunders enters play this week with 1,032 points.
The trio joined FDU senior forward Mike Holloway (Pittsgrove, NJ/Arthur P. Schalick) (1,180), Saint Francis U senior guard Jamaal King (Salisbury, MD/Bishop O’Connell (VA)) (1,154), Saint Francis U junior guard Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea) (1,151), St. Francis Brooklyn senior guard Glenn Sanabria (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) (1,085), FDU senior guard Darnell Edge (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) (1,049) and LIU Brooklyn senior swingman Raiquan Clark (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) (1,044) as the NEC’s 1,000-point scorers.
CCSU NON-CONFERENCE WRAP
After posting seven non-conference victories in 2017-18, and six more this season, CCSU has won six or more non-league games in back-to-back years for the first time since 1998-99 (6-3) and 1999-00 (7-2).
STAT TRACKER
The top eight NEC point producers this year are all upperclassmen, including six seniors.
CCSU is shooting an NEC-best 77.5 percent and rank 11th nationally from the foul line as a team. The Blue Devils made 31-35 (.886) in a double-overtime win at Maine on December 22, the most for the program since going 30-34 against Mount St. Mary’s on February 18, 2016.
Sacred Heart sophomore EJ Anosike (East Orange, NJ/Paramus Catholic (St. Thomas More)) (15.9) and Mount St. Mary’s freshman Malik Jefferson (Hopewell, VA/Hopewell) (15.7) rank 12th and 14th in the nation, respectively, in offensive rebound percentage. Saint Francis U’s Keith Braxton (Glassboro, NJ/Delsea (Lawrenceville Prep)) is 14th in defensive rebounding percentage (29.2).
Sacred Heart freshman guard Cameron Parker (Beaverton, OR/Tilton School) ranks sixth nationally and second among DI freshman with 7.4 apg. UNCW’s Kai Towes is the only rookie averaging more dimes (7.5) on the year.
Robert Morris shot a season-high 66.2 percent (43-65) from the field in its victory against Hood on Saturday, the second-highest field goal percentage in a game in program history. The Colonials also established a new school record with 32 assists.
Robert Morris senior guard Josh Williams (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) hit four three-pointers in RMU’s win over Hood, pushing his season total to 52. Williams is the fastest player in program history to reach 50 triples, accomplishing the feat in 13 games.
St. Francis Brooklyn is 15-3 in games at the Pope Center dating back to the start of last season.
MCCONNELL’S WINNING WAYS
If you’re looking for a player who goes about his business and helps his team win without much hoopla, cue Robert Morris senior guard Matty McConnell (Oakdale, PA/Chartiers Valley).
McConnell currently leads the NEC in a pair of statistical categories. A terrific on-the-ball defender, he paces the league with 2.3 steals per game. If that number holds up, it would be the highest average for an NEC player since CCSU’s Matt Hunter swiped 2.6 per game in 2012-13. McConnell is also 33rd nationally in steals percentage (4.35).
McConnell also ranks first in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 2.40 mark. The Oakdale, PA native has turned the ball over just 20 times this season while ranking seventh on the circuit with 3.7 apg.