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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Rider-Manhattan

DARRYL CRAWFORD

Breaking down tomorrow's game between Jaspers and Broncs:


SCOUTING MANHATTAN:
The Jaspers, losers of five straight and eight of nine, are led by junior guard Rico Pickett, who leads the MAAC in scoring at 17.2 points per game. Pickett, an Alabama transfer, scored a game-high 25 points in the Jaspers’ Jan. 4 loss to Rider and has scored 20 or more in five of his last seven games. ... Senior swingman Darryl Crawford (14.7 points, team-high 6.1 rebounds) has struggled recently. After being held under 10 points only three times through the Jaspers’ first 17 games, he’s scored only nine points in two of their last three. He also struggled in Manhattan’s first game against Rider, in which he scored only eight points in 33 minutes. ... Senior guard Antoine Pearson (9.3 points) is shooting 35 percent from 3-point range. ... Senior forward Brandon Adams (6.8 points) had 15 points and eight rebounds during the Jaspers’ last win, a 76-53 rout of Saint Peter’s on Jan. 8. ... Senior guard Patrick Bouli (4.7 points) has scored five or fewer points in six straight games.

SCOUTING RIDER: The Broncs had lost three straight and seven of nine before rallying to beat Niagara 62-61 Sunday on Novar Gadson’s tip-in with five seconds left. They’ve played seven of 10 MAAC games on the road, but haven’t taken advantage of their home court advantage when they’ve had it. In their last two league home games, they’ve been outscored by 31 points by Iona (69-49 on Jan. 9) and Saint Peter’s (77-66). Overall, they’ve lost three straight at home for the first time since 2005-06. ... Ryan Thompson remains in a season-long funk. The presesaon MAAC Player of the Year is leading the team in scoring (14.5 points per game) but scored a combined 22 points in games at Canisius and Niagara. After shooting 42 percent from 3 last season, he’s shooting 30 percent this year. ... Justin Robinson (12.8 points) leads the MAAC in 3-point shooting at 44 percent. ... Gadson (11 points, 7.8 rebounds) had 11 points and 11 rebounds against Niagara. ... Mike Ringgold (11, 7.3) scored a team-high 18 at Niagara. ... Jhamar Youngblood (8 points) is shooting 23 percent from 3.
SIDELINES: During Manhattan’s five-game skid, only one game has been decided by eight or more points, while two have been decided by two points. ... Rider’s MAAC wins against teams other than Marist have come by a combined two points.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check out mark Eckel's article in the trenton times for a sensible take on the broncs season.

January 28, 2010 9:27 AM 
Anonymous Beagle said...

Check for your balls posting that with out putting your name

January 28, 2010 10:22 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes. Because posting under a made up alias like beagle means you have onions.

January 28, 2010 10:44 AM 
Anonymous Marko said...

I just read Eckles article. I have been unhappy with Dempsey this year. Although I thought he did a great job the past few years. I think Tommy is an excellent recruiter, but this year team is not clicking at all and he has scrambled. (constantly changing line-ups and roles.) As a fan, I have no idea real idea what the problem with the team is but already twice they had to discipline two different players for breaking team rules.

I know it is not the coach's fault for guys missing open shots or if guys are distracted because they got a girl pregenant. However this is Dempsey program. He is responsibe for his players as well as to make sure his assistant coaches do their job. It is no difference than for me at work, if someone who reports to me is not preforming. I am judged on my staff's performance.

I think the biggest dissapointment I have is the lack of development of some of his players especially Jermaine Jackson and that the team lack of defense and rebounding. To the fan, they look like they are not very well coached as they are constantly out of position on defense and standing around on offense.

I am hoping they can turn it around, and make a run at the MAAC tournament.

January 28, 2010 1:05 PM 
Blogger Ben said...

Anon,

Haven't read Mark's piece yet because it isn't online and I'm not in greater Trenton.

But I'm amazed at the notion that any criticism of this team isn't "sensible."

Look, at no point have I made any effort to pile on. I wouldn't be taken seriously if I tried to put any kind of positive spin on a team already equaling its season conference loss total from last year before the end of January.

I'm impressed, though, with the vast majority of Rider fans who have been posting here for two or three years and who don't want any spin. Beagle and Marko are certainly in that group.

As far as anonymous comments go, Beagle hit the nail on the head. Criticism is always welcome, but whether you're criticizing me, Dempsey, or anyone else, leave a name.

Posters like Begle may not use their real names, but they make no secret of who they are.

January 28, 2010 1:47 PM 
Blogger Ben said...

Just found Mark's column, and I agree with the premise: People calling for Dempsey's head are way off base.

Since you seem to be implying I haven't been "sensible" in covering this team, if you find a point where I called for Dempsey to be fired, or even blamed him specifically for how this year has gone, I'll be happy to address it.

To my knowledge, I haven't done that at all.

January 28, 2010 1:56 PM 
Anonymous FAZ said...

I'm not sure if this has any relevence to the posts above, but the point that I have been making is that this blog has been harping on the season already being a failure as opposed to just reporting that they are in a bad stretch. Why not discuss the reasons for the bad play (RT, missed shots etc) instead of every article being an obit for the season.

January 28, 2010 2:52 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Think it is fair to call the MONTH of January a disappointment but most of the posts on this blog have been insane. Comments like "Dempsey can't coach" "the season is over" etc. are a joke. Can we allow Rider to at least have a disaster of a season before we put the program in the casket?

He wins tonight,which is likely, and if he picked off Fairfield Sunday you would be looking at a team 6-6 with 5 of the last 6 in their building poised to make a run. This is not Marist.

January 28, 2010 3:59 PM 
Anonymous #1 Rider Fan said...

Beagle, am I supposed to be impressed because you posted under the name "Beagle." Post your name and address if you are going to tell someone to "check for their balls" clown.

January 29, 2010 6:41 AM 

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