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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The 2013-14 Manhattan College men's basketball team will travel to La Salle for its season opener on Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.
THE TIPOFF
It's been 243 days since March 11, the day of the MAAC championship game between Manhattan and Iona, when the Gaels captured a 60-57 victory to clinch the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. While it was a disappointing day for the Jaspers, the team has used that game as motivation throughout the offseason, having been a mere three points away from their goal of a MAAC title.
THE MATCHUP
The road to the 2014 MAAC Championships begin this Saturday, November 9 when the Jaspers travel to Philadelphia to meet La Salle, which reached the Sweet Sixteen last March and return several key players from that tournament run. La Salle owns a 38-7 record in the all-time series, which dates back to the 1912-13 season, when the Jaspers won 25-22. Manhattan and La Salle last met on New Year's Eve 2008 in Philadelphia. The Explorers claimed an 89-64 win in that game.
OPENING DISH
Manhattan is 72-35 all-time in season openers. Last season, the Jaspers opened the season at Louisville, which went on to win the 2013 national championship.
MANHATTAN ATOP MAAC POLL
The Jaspers were picked atop the 2013-14 MAAC preseason poll, as voted by the conference's 11 head coaches. Defending champion Iona was picked second, followed by Canisius, Rider, Marist, Fairfield, Quinnipiac, Niagara, Saint Peter's, Siena and Monmouth.
WELCOME BACK
The Jaspers return nine players from last year's team, including six players who have gained recognition from the conference during the past year:
Rhamel Brown: 1st team preseason All-MAAC, 2nd team All-MAAC (2013), 2nd team All-Metropolitan, MAAC Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013)
George Beamon: 1st team preseason All-MAAC (2013), 1st team All-MAAC (2012), 2nd team All-Metropolitan (2012), 2nd team NABC All-District (2012), 3rd team All-MAAC (2011), 3rd team All-Metropolitan (2011)
Michael Alvarado: 3rd team preseason All-MAAC (2013), 3rd team All-MAAC (2012), MAAC All-Rookie team (2011)
Emmy Andujar: 3rd team preseason All-MAAC (2013), MAAC All-Rookie team (2012)
RaShawn Stores: MAAC All-Rookie team (2013)
Shane Richards: MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year (2013), MAAC All-Rookie team (2013)
JASPERS ON TV IN 2013-14
Manhattan will have at least seven games on television in 2013-14. All remaining home games and select road contest will be available on JasperVision.TV in high definition.
MANHATTAN VS. THE ATLANTIC 10
The Jaspers will play three games against A-10 opponents this season, beginning with La Salle. Manhattan hosts George Washington next Saturday, Nov. 16 at Draddy Gymnasium and will also host Fordham at Draddy Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 26 in the annual Battle of the Bronx game.
NEW FACES, OLD PLACES
There are two new, but familiar faces, on the Manhattan sidelines this season. Mathiew Wilson, formerly the director of basketball operations, was promoted to an assistant coach position on Steve Masiello's staff over the summer. Masiello then brought in former colleague Mike Bramucci to fill the director of operations slot. Bramucci and Masiello coached together at Manhattan College from 2001-03.
BROWN'S BLOCK PARTY
After just three seasons, Manhattan senior Rhamel Brown is the program's career leader in blocked shots. Brown has totaled 247 blocked shots after 95 blocks last year, which set a single-season program record.
BEAMON IS BACK
Manhattan senior George Beamon returned to full health after an injury that sidelined him for the majority of the 2012-13 season. Beamon was a first team All-MAAC honoree in 2011-12 after averaging 19.0 points per game. He scored 27 points in 21 minutes in the Jaspers' 87-61 victory over Nyack on November 1.
ALL ALVARADO ALL THE TIME
Senior point guard Michael Alvarado was named to the preseason All-MAAC third team after a solid junior campaign. An 82 percent free throw shooter, Alvarado averaged 8.2 points and more than two assists per game last season.
EMMY AWARD WINNING
Junior Emmy Andujar returns for the Jaspers and will again play a key role. Named to the preseason All-MAAC third team, the versatile swingman averaged eight points and five rebounds last season and led the team in assists in 2012-13.
STORES RETURNS AFTER ALL-ROOKIE SEASON
Junior RaShawn Stores sat out his first season and as a sophomore, earned a spot on the MAAC all-rookie team after the 2012-13 season. A 37 percent shooter from three-point range, Stores saw action in all 32 of Manhattan's games a year ago.
KATES BACK FOR JUNIOR YEAR
Junior Donovan Kates is also an experienced junior in the backcourt. The ultimate glue guy, Kates rebounds well from the guard position, knocked down 85.7 percent of his free throws and provides rock-solid defense.
RICHARDS DIALS LONG DISTANCE
Sophomore Shane Richards was named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year a season ago. The 6-6 sharpshooter knocked down more than 40 percent of his shots from long range and established himself as someone who can put points on the board in a flash.
PANKEY BACK ON THE COURT
Sophomore Ashton Pankey sat out last season after transferring from Maryland prior to the 2012-13 campaign. Pankey started 17 games during his freshman year with the Terps and is a bruising forward who can dominate the glass. The 6-10 Pankey can score around the rim and is a formidable post presence.
MR. JONES
Sophomore CJ Jones is a tenacious defender who has the ability to control the offensive flow of a game. He came off the bench in all 32 of Manhattan's games last year.
MADAM, I'M ADAM
Sophomore Adam Lacey saw action in 12 games last year and gives the Jaspers another 6-10 big man to patrol the paint.
WELCOME FRESHMEN
A pair of freshmen should also be vital contributors to the Jaspers' backcourt. Rich Williams is an explosive wing player who can score inside or outside. With a tremendous wingspan, Williams has the ability to create havoc defensively. Tyler Wilson is a cerebral point guard who is a terrific ball handler. A deft passer, Wilson can create his own shot and set up his teammates effectively. Freshman center Carlton Allen will also lend size and athleticism to the frontcourt. A Philadelphia-area product, Allen's high school coach was former NBA player Pervis Ellison. An agile athlete, Allen has the ability to alter shots near the hoop while finishing efficiently on the offensive end.
WATCH AND LISTEN ON GOJASPERS.COM
For the 16th year, Manhattan College men's basketball games will be broadcast live over the internet on GoJaspers.com. Manhattan College Hall of Famer Brian Mahoney returns as the color analyst, along side play-by-play broadcaster Christian Heimall. Each broadcast will begin with the “Steve Masiello Pre-Game Report” 15 minutes prior to tipoff.
108TH SEASON OF JASPERS BASKETBALL
In its 108th season, the Manhattan College men's basketball program boasts a 1283-1148 overall record and 243-270 MAAC mark in 33 seasons as a conference member. The Jaspers storied men's basketball team was established in 1904-05 and served a two-year hiatus during the 1943-44 and 1944-45 season due to World War II.
Roberto Colonette, a 2013 Manhattan College graduate and two-year letterwinner, is also on the staff this season as the team's strength and conditioning coach. Colonette is currently enrolled in the Manhattan College School of Continuing and Professional Studies, pursuing his Master's degree in organizational leadership.
JASPERS RANKED #18 IN FIRST MID-MAJOR POLL
In the first mid-major preseason poll released by CollegeInsider.com in October, Manhattan was ranked 18th among all mid-majors. In a vote by the nation's mid-major head coaches, Wichita State was selected first in the poll, followed by Gonzaga.
FLORES NAMED TO MAAC HONOR ROLL
Former Manhattan standout Luis Flores '04 will be part of the MAAC Honor Roll, at the Basketball Hall of Fame, joining other Jasper greats Keith Bullock '93 and Jack Powers '58, who were inducted in the last two years. Flores is recognized as one of the greatest players in Manhattan College history, and helped engineer one of the greatest wins in school history. He scored 26 points to lead 12th-seeded Manhattan to a 75-60 victory over fifth-seeded Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 18, 2004.
BROWN, MAHONEY INDUCTED INTO MC HALL OF FAME
Former Manhattan greats Durelle Brown '01 and Charles Mahoney '75 were recently inducted into the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame. Brown ranks among the top 10 in field goals made and field goal percentage in a career. Fourth on the all-time points list with 1,634, Brown was also dominant on the boards, pulling down 6.1 per game in his junior and senior years. He was named first team All-MAAC during his junior and senior years and All-Metropolitan second team in 2000-01.
Mahoney set a Manhattan career assist record of 394 in only three years. The high school New York State Tournament State Championship MVP, Mahoney scored 389 points as a freshman and added 904 during his varsity years for a total of 1,293 points. Coaches and sportswriters alike considered Charlie one of the best point guards in the metropolitan area.
