Basketball coaches in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tabbed Siena as their preseason No. 1 team and defending champion Niagara No. 3 at yesterday’s league media day at the Garden.
Rebuilding locals Manhattan and Iona were picked sixth and eighth, respectively, but if there is any sure thing in this wacky league, it’s that there is no sure thing.
Iona suffered through an injury-plagued 2-28 campaign that was Jeff Ruland’s last. The Gaels will get back Gary Springer (who missed all season with an knee injury), Kyle Camper (who injured his foot before the third game) and St. John’s transfer Dexter Gray (who sat out after the fourth game due to academics).
Now, new coach Kevin Willard has spent as much time healing psyches as bodies.
“We buried last year’s media guide in a big ceremony behind the gym,” Willard said. “It’s over with. This year we’re moving on, having fun and these kids are going to enjoy playing ball again.
“I noticed Milan [Prodanovic] every time he took a 3 would look over at me when he missed. I said, ‘I don’t care if you miss; just shoot it. You’re not going to do anything wrong with me as long as you work hard have fun and do your best.’ ”
The Jaspers are young as well, with 10 freshmen and sophomores. And of their three upperclassmen, junior Devon Austin (12.4 ppg) is the only one who has played significant minutes and he’s hobbling with a pulled hamstring.
They added size in 6-8, 250-pound Herve Banogle, who graduated Howard Junior College Phi Beta Kappa, but they need their six sophomores to grow up quick.
“A great New Yorker, Al McGuire, said the best thing about freshmen is next year they’re sophomores,” said coach Barry Rohrssen. “We’ll see how that plays out.”