2008 Northeast Hoops Preview

After making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade, the Mountaineers begin this season in a most unfamiliar position — the overwhelming favorites to repeat. A major reason is the return of junior Jeremy Goode, quite possibly the league’s top point guard. A year ago, Goode led The Mount in scoring (14.5), assists (5.5) and steals (2.0), guiding the team on a late-season surge that saw it win nine of 10 games, including an NCAA play-in victory over Coppin State. All told, Milan Brown’s squad returns four starters, including junior swingman Will Holland (8.6 ppg) and 6'7" seniors Sam Atupem and Markus Mitchell.

2. Central Connecticut State (14–16, 10–8)

The Blue Devils will be very talented, but also very young. Their biggest challenge will be finding a team leader to replace all-conference guard Tristan Blackwood. Two of the prime candidates will be sophomore guard Shemik Thompson (8.8 ppg, 3.2 apg), the NEC’s Rookie of the Year last season, and sophomore forward Ken Horton (12.7 ppg), a member of the All-Rookie team. Two other double-digit scorers, junior Joe Seymore (10.5 ppg) and senior Marcus Palmer (10.1 ppg), also return.

3. Robert Morris (26–8, 16–2)

Coming off one of its most successful seasons in school history, capped by a berth in the NIT, Robert Morris has to replace guard Tony Lee and forward A.J. Jackson, who combined to score nearly 3,000 career points. The Colonials, however, do return three starters, including senior guard Jeremy Chappell, their leading scorer at 14.9 points per game. Also returning are a pair of guards in defensive standout Bateko Francisco and Jimmy Langhurst, the team’s top 3-point shooter. Second-year coach Mike Rice will look to bolster his squad’s inside presence with junior college transfers Rob Robinson and Josiah Whitehead.

4. Sacred Heart (18–14, 13–5)

Despite losing three starters to graduation, the Pioneers will get a major boost with the return of power forward Joey Henley, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility after missing the 2007-08 season with an injury. Henley was named second-team all-conference as a sophomore. Also back are starting guard Chauncey Hardy (10.2 ppg) and starting forward Ryon Howard (7.9 ppg), as well as guards Corey Hassan and Ryan Litke, who each provided instant offense off the bench.

5. Long Island (15–15, 7–11)

The Blackbirds should be in the league’s upper echelon after posting their highest win total in a decade. Despite the loss of forwards Kellen Allen and Eugene Kotorobai — both double-digit scorers — coach Jim Ferry returns one of his deepest squads, led by junior point guard Jaytornah Wisseh (15.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), who ended last season by scoring at least 18 points in five of six games. Other top returners include senior swingman Ron Manigault, junior center Aurimas Adomaitis and sophomore guard David Hicks.

6. Quinnipiac (15–15, 11–7)

The Bobcats will have major holes to fill with the graduation of senior DeMario Anderson, who led the team in points (21.7), rebounds (6.5), assists (3.3) and steals (1.5), and the transfer of starting point guard Casey Cosgrove. Expectations, however, remain high with the return of NEC All-Rookie guard Evann Baker and three others who started regularly. James Johnson, a highly lauded point guard out of Brooklyn, leads a strong incoming class.

7. Wagner (23–8, 15–3)

After posting a school-record 23 wins last season, Wagner will have large shoes to fill with the graduation of three 1,000-point career scorers, including first-team All-NEC guard Mark Porter (16.3 ppg) and forward Durell Vinson (13.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg). The Seahawks, however, do return a pair of starters in fifth-year seniors Jamal Smith (11.0 ppg) and Joey Mundweiler (10.3 ppg). The team’s four-man recruiting class is headed by Tyler Murray, a 6'4" point guard out of Toronto.

8. Fairleigh Dickinson (8–20, 4–14)

Though they lost leading scorer and playmaker Manny Ubilla to graduation, the Knights return one of the best shooting guards in the league in junior Sean Baptiste (18.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Point guard Cameron Tyler, who sat out last season due to academics, also returns. A pair of young forwards, John Galvin and DeJuan Pursley, each showed potential last season as freshmen, while transfers Eric Moore (Buffalo) and Alvin Mofunanya (Saint Joseph’s) will add depth.

9. Monmouth (7–24, 4–14)

The Hawks will be young but will enter play with their entire starting lineup from the end of last season intact. Senior guard Whitney Coleman (11.9 ppg) and junior guard Yaniv Simpson (8.5 ppg) should lead the way offensively and could get help inside from George Barbour, a 6'7" redshirt freshman. A trio of incoming freshmen also could make meaningful contributions for a team that was outrebounded by an average of 8.6 boards per game last season.

10. St. Francis (N.Y.) (7–22, 4–14)

Only three returners played significant minutes last season for the Terriers, who will rely heavily on newcomers. One bright spot is the return of the team’s starting backcourt in sophomore point guard Ricky Cadell (9.3 ppg) and senior shooting guard Jamaal Womack (12.1 ppg). Athletic forward Kayode Ayeni (7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) also returns.

11. St. Francis (Pa.) (6–23, 4–14)

Don Friday, the former coach of Division III Lycoming College, takes over a program that has finished a combined 18–68 over the past three seasons. The Red Flash lose top scorers and rebounders Chris Berry (transfer to NAIA Texas Wesleyan) and Bassirou Dieng (transfer to Georgia Tech), but return three other starters.