Wichita State, Gonzaga … and Manhattan?
The Jaspers are listed among the nation’s elite mid-majors by a number of websites that rank the smaller conference schools. While they’re tabbed as high as No. 5 by CollegeInsider.com, coach Steve Masiello said rankings have nothing to do with trophies or rings, but he is pleased to see his program in such select company.
“If you’re mentioned with those teams, that’s where you want to be as a mid-major,” Masiello said in advance of the Jaspers’ game against Fairfield in Riverdale on Saturday night. “It’s a major plus to get that type of exposure and branding because postseason time, you want to be known as a team that’s one of the elite mid-majors.”
Manhattan (10-2, 3-0 MAAC) has played of late like a top-flight mid-major program, winning seven games in a row, including Thursday’s 74-62 victory over St. Peter’s in Jersey City. While Masiello feels his team can be better across the board, particularly offensively, where it is shooting a shade below 42 percent from the field, he is pleased with the strides Manhattan has made.
“The team has played terrific,” he said. “We’ve found ways to win.”
Redshirt senior George Beamon hasn’t missed a step after sitting out all of last year with a severe ankle injury, averaging 21.8 points — 19th in the nation. Point guard Michael Alvarado (11.2 points per game, 3.6 assists per game) has performed extremely well, establishing himself as a valuable playmaker. Senior forward Rhamel Brown has continued to thrive as a defensive-minded presence, blocking 4.2 shots per game, to go along with nine points and 6.5 rebounds a contest.
“I think we’re about a C or a C Plus. We’re not supposed to be at an A right now,” Masiello, the third-year coach, said. “I’m happy with where we are come Jan. 3. But there’s still a ton of room for us to get better.”
The contest against Fairfield will be a Catholic league reunion of sorts, as former rivals Maurice Barrow (Christ the King) and Amadou Sidibe (Cardinal Hayes) of Fairfield face Manhattan standouts Emmy Andujar (Rice) and Alvarado (All Hallows).
Fairfield (3-10, 0-3) is looking to turn its disappointing season around, and beating the MAAC favorite would be a good way to start. The Stags, still in search of their first league win, are coming off a dismal 75-56 loss at Marist on Thursday, though they had won two of their previous three games, including an impressive road win at Patriot League contender Bucknell. In that victory, Barrow reached the 1,000-point plateau.
“We’re a better team than when the year started,” Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson said. “The main guys in our rotation have had to learn on the job. Although that can be frustrating at times, the adversity we face is going to make our program very, very good.”
LIU’s Boyd out for season with torn ACL
LIU Brooklyn announced medical redshirt senior Julian Boyd re-tore his right ACL and will miss the remainder of the season, and ultimately his career. The 2011-12 NEC Player of the Year had yet to suit up this year after tearing the ACL for a second time over the summer. He missed all but eight games of last season after sustaining the initial injury in a game against Rice on Dec. 12, 2012.