(Cambridge, MA) – The America East has announced that the University at Albany will host the 2013 Men’s and Women’s Championships at SEFCU Arena.
“The first three years of the combined basketball championship have been a great success and we are excited to take the 2013 tournament to Albany,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen in a press release earlier today.
The tournament will run from March 7th through 10th and will follow the same joint men’s and women’s format of the previous three year’s tourneys (which were hosted by the University of Hartford). The men’s and women’s play-in games will be held Thursday, March 7, while the women’s quarterfinals will be on Friday, March 8. The men’s quarterfinals will be played on Saturday, March 9 and the men’s and women’s semifinal will be played on Sunday, March 10.
“Albany served as a great host for the 2009 men’s championship, one of our most successful in recent memory, and will no doubt be so again in 2013.”
Albany hosted the 2009 men’s tournament, and drew a decent (but not sellout) crowd during the sessions in which the host played.
Albany was one of only two America East member institutions to bid for the 2013 tournament, along with Hartford which had hosted the previous three tournaments (the first three joint-tourneys in AE history).
According to multiple sources close to the situation, the Great Danes initially bid on the tournament in the hopes of hosting the tournament on their home court during a title run; a distinct possibility considering the Danes returned their entire roster from a 4th place finish, including the three-headed back-court monster of Gerardo Suero, Logan Aronhalt, and Mike Black.
With the departures of both Suero and Aronhalt – Suero to pursue professional dreams and big money (or delusions of grandeur) and Aronhalt an advanced degree in Kinesiology – those NCAA dreams may remain just that.
Frankly, to interject my personal opinion into this, I am considerably underwhelmed by the prospects of the 2013 tournament. Albany is a terrific school with a very good athletic department and I am sure they will do a solid job hosting. (more…)
Editors Note: We are now hearing conflicting accounts from sources close to the situation, as to weather Black has indeed decided upon UNH or whether he is in fact heading elsewhere. One-Bid Wonders will continue to stay on top of the story as it develops. We are leaving up the following article, under the preface that Black may in fact be headed elsewhere.
Multiple sources trusted by One-Bid Wonders have reported that Kauri Black, a 6’7” guard/forward who played three seasons at former America East member Northeastern, will transfer to UNH for his final season of eligibility.
A native of Rialto, California, Black arrived at Northeastern with a lot of hype and seemingly a world of potential as a very long and athletic wing who could handle the rock and finish above the rim, while playing the two through four positions in the CAA.
But Black never seemed to tap his potential, battling injuries while averaging 4.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 21 minutes per game in 81 games over three seasons.
Black will graduate this year and it is being reported (but has not yet been confirmed) that he will be eligible immediately.
With the graduation of seniors Alvin Abreu and Brian Benson, the Wildcats have minutes to go around, and Black would appear in line to get every opportunity to replace Benson’s front court athleticism and some of Abreu’s offensive touches.
Despite his pedestrian play on Huntington Ave, Black’s talent remains at the upper-end of America East standards, whether he can harness it in one season in the AE after three lackluster years in the CAA is the question. (more…)
The America East braved the early storm of player departures, as while other conferences lost high-impact big-name stars, the AE sailed through the first few weeks of the off-season virtually unscathed, losing only a few minor role-players.
That all changed on Friday, as it was officially announced that Gerardo Suero, arguably the most physically-gifted raw-talent in the league will forgo his senior season at the University of Albany. In a story that One-Bid Wonders first learned of and hinted at three weeks ago, it was also reported Monday that Binghamton freshmen Ben Dickinson, Omar Richards and Chris Longoria have all been granted releases to pursue transfer options.
In a story first broken by WCDB Sports Director Jay Sanin and also reported by Andrew Santillo of the Troy record, on his 23rd birthday Suero announced that he will leave school early to pursue a professional career.
Suero arrived on campus last summer preceded by perhaps more hype and higher expectations than any recruit in Great Danes history.
A native of the Dominican Republic, he moved to the US at age 17 and enrolled at Our Savior New America School, where he exploded on the court. Suero was Originally recruited by many “Big Time” Schools, among them Pitt, Syracuse, Marquette, UCLA and Memphis, but he failed to get through the NCAA clearinghouse due largely to difficulty with the English language.
Suero made his way to Albany after two-years in the JuCo ranks, due in large part to his UA connections with former ‘Danes Jamar Wilson and Tim Ambrose, both of whom preceded him at Our Savior. (more…)
(Burlington, VT) – The University of Vermont moved quickly in replacing departing players Brendan Bald (leaving the team, remaining in school), Chris Santo and Ryan McKeaney, landing potential impact transfers Hector Harold and Ryan Pierson, as confirmed by multiple team sources.
Both Harold (6’7” wing/forward) and Pierson (6’10” center) give the Catamounts length and size, and both are transferring into the program from a higher level; Harold from Pepperdine (West Coast Conference) and Pierson from Northeastern (CAA).
Harold, a 6’7” 205 pounder who can play the three and four is billed as an athletic shooter who can run the floor and finish above the rim, and who could be a potential match-up problem in the America East. As a sophomore, he played in 27 games, averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game.
Listed at 6’10” 260, Pierson came to Northeastern with tremendous promise and hype, and was billed as being the first dominant rebounder to lace them up on Huntington Ave since America East alumn Sylbrin Robinson (2004). A legit 6’9”, he has the size and talent to make a significant impact at the America East level.
In his freshman season, Pierson earned CAA All-Rookie honors, averaging 7.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in just under 26 minutes per game. However, during his sophomore campaign, the St. Louis native appeared to fall out of favor with the Huskies staff, and saw his minutes and production drop dramatically; averaging just 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.7 points per game.
Both players must sit out the 2012-2013 season as transfers, but will have two years remaining of eligibility. Both have the potential to make a significant impact in the AE, but both have yet to tap their potential at the collegiate level.
(Vestal, NY) – Binghamton University head coach Mark Macon has confirmed that the contracts of assistant coaches Rob Brown and Julius Smith have not been renewed for next season.
“I have just chosen to go in a different direction with the staff. I wish them both well,” Macon wrote in an e-mail to the Press and Sun Bulletin on Tuesday.
One-Bid Wonders originally learned of the shakeup 26 days ago, hinting at the move via Twitter, but waited to break the story until receiving official confirmation, which came today from the school’s athletic department.
While Macon has stated that the decision was his to make, the word from several sources close to the situation has remained that the decision to turnover the coaching staff came from significantly higher up in the athletic department and was not the head coach’s to make.
The Bearcats are fresh off a 2-29 season which included a 26 game losing streak; made national news; and was not only the worst record in program history, but also the worst season in the history of the America East Conference.
Several sources close to the situation have also indicated that originally, Macon’s entire staff including retained assistant Don Anderson were to be let go, but that Anderson was retained in an attempt to appease the current roster, among whom Anderson is highly popular (several former players have credited Anderson with running the team and holding the program together).
If the decision was not made by Macon, it is an interesting indication of where the head coach stands with new Athletic Director Patrick Elliott. Elliott, who was hired in October, has publicly thrown his support behind Macon — who, along with Anderson, are the last remnants from the Kevin Broadus era scandal. Macon’s contract was extended in February of 2011 through 2014, however, removing a coaches ability to stock his own staff is hardly a vote of confidence.
Word is that the Athletic Department has already reached out to — and received and application from — at least one former Bearcat.
(Burlington, VT) – Forward Chris Santo has been granted a release from the Vermont men’s basketball team and will transfer, as confirmed by Vermont head coach John Becker.
Santo, a 6’5” freshman from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, appeared in 15 games, mostly in garbage time, averaging 2.7 minutes and 0.5 points per contest.
A power forward in high school, Santo was projected to transition to the wing in college, but with his tenacity, energy, and willingness to mix it up in the post, seemed more natural as an undersized power forward.
A four-year starter at Cherry Hill High School East, Santo was unaccustomed to spending time on the bench. When reached by phone, Becker cited uncertain playing time as the major factor in Santo’s decision to transfer.
Santo is the third player to leave Vermont following the Catamounts NCAA tournament run, joining wing Brendan Bald, who will stay in school to focus on academics, and seldom used reserve Ryan McKeaney.
Billy Collins wore the Terriers’ scarlet and white for three seasons, from 2000 through 2003, earning First Team All-Conference honors as a junior in 2002 and Second Team honors as a senior the following season.
Collins career numbers, 10.3 points and 7 rebounds per game, are solid but hardly eye-popping, but they don’t tell half the story. Collins was the best player on the Terriers 2002 NCAA Tournament team, and (in the eyes of Sam Perkins) one of the top 15 America East players of the past decade.
Listed at 6’7” but much closer to 6’5”, he did it all on the court, playing the two-through-five positions (spending most of his time at small forward and shooting guard).
A high-flying athlete, he got off the ground in a hurry, attacking the hoop off the dribble while establishing himself as one of the best dunkers in the league (earning a spot on the OBW All-Decade All-Dunkers 2nd Team). He was a ferocious rebounder, finishing third in the conference in boards as a junior and fifth as a senior, despite spending much of his time at the small forward position.
Collins was a top-end defender, and a constant energy player. And boy could he ever shoot the rock. Collins hit 44 percent of his 3’s over the course of his career, and his 48.2 percent from three-point land during his junior season still stands as the Terriers single season record. (more…)
(Burlington, VT) – Vermont junior wing Brendan Bald, the 2011 America East Defensive Player of the Year, has left the Catamounts basketball team, but will stay in school to complete his degree.
“Brendan has decided not to play basketball his senior year and to focus on his academics,” said Vermont head coach John Becker in a press release earlier today. “He is not transferring and will stay at UVM his senior year. I want to thank Brendan for all his hard work and contributions to the men’s basketball program. He will always be a Catamount and I wish him the best in the future.”
“I have decided not to play basketball my senior year so that I can focus my time on my academics,” said Bald in a statement released by the Catamounts. “I plan on graduating a semester early and studying for the LSAT’s this fall. It is my hope to enter law school and pursue a career in law. I am thankful for my three years of being a member of the UVM basketball team and I thank the coaches, fans, and alumni for their support. I have created memories I will never forget. It is in my best interest to step away from the game of basketball and I wish the team and the coaches nothing but the best in the future.”
Bald enjoyed a breakout season as sophomore during the 2010-2011 season, averaging 11.3 points in 28.2 minutes per game, shooting an eye-popping 41 percent from behind the arc while being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, as well as earning a place on the All-Defensive and All-Conference Third teams.
Despite being named a captain last season, Bald’s game regressed significantly, as the junior’s minutes and production dropped dramatically. Bald’s averages dipped to 7.6 points and 23.9 minutes per game, and his three-point percentage fell to 26.4 percent.
Beyond sheer numbers, Bald seemed to lose his energy and edge on the court; shying away from contact on the offensive end while playing without his usual aggression on the defensive end.
Behind closed doors, the word was that Bald had lost his love of the game. According to several sources, Bald informed the coaching staff on Wednesday of is decision to leave the team and end his playing career – it was no a mutual decision, but Bald’s alone. However, the coaching staff was not surprised.
The Catamounts now have an open scholarship to use. While there is already speculation about landing a high-impact transfer, the coaching staff is still deciding which direction they will head.
(Boston, MA) – Multiple team sources have confirmed that sophomore guard Mike Terry Jr. has left the Boston University Terriers and will look to transfer at the end of the school year.
Terry, a sophomore guard from Philadelphia, played in 28 games during the past season, averaging 1.6 points in nine minutes per game.
Generously listed at six-feet, Terry played in 57 games during his two-year career on Comm. Ave., was a defensive-minded guard who was viewed by coaches and teammates a terrific practice player and top-flight teammate who brought tremendous energy every day.
Terry was not forced out the door, and, according to multiple sources, would have been welcomed back with open-arms by the current coaching staff.
However, the writing was on the wall that Terry’s role moving forward would have been of little more than a practice player, and the word is that he is looking to transfer where he will see an increased role on the court (likely to a D2 or D3).
Terry is the second member of former Terriers head coach Pat Chambers’ first full-recruiting class to leave BU, joining center Mat Piotrowski on the transfer list.
The Terriers now have two open scholarships to fill, and are reportedly looking to land at least one impact transfer.
(Baltimore, MD) – Freshman forward Chandler Thomas has left the University of Maryland-Baltimore County basketball team and plans to transfer elsewhere, as confirmed by multiple sources.
Thomas, a 6’6” forward from Indianapolis, Indiana, averaged 6 points and 3.4 rebounds in a little over 17 minutes per game during his first season of college ball.
Thomas showed brief flashes of brilliance, and solid upside as the kind of high-energy undersized four-man that plays well in the America East. In just the fourth game of his career, Thomas scored 23 points on 8-12 shooting against VMI, and also added 19 points against America East rival Albany on February first.
But Thomas’ playing time became increasingly sporadic as the season wore on; and he seemed to spend more and more time in head coach Randy Monroe’s doghouse, coinciding with a sharp drop-off in confidence on the low blocks and increasingly tentative play in the post.
There is no word on Thomas’ transfer destination (although it would seem likely that he would head go the “D2” route), but what is certain is that he is getting the heck out of dodge.
Outside of Thomas, the rest UMBC’s returning roster will be back in uniform next year. Thomas’ scholarship will be going to walk-on guard Ryan Cook, who finished second on the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game despite playing in his first season at the Division I level.
