One-Bid Wonders

Despite its small stature, the America East Conference – a veritable Little Engine that Could living in the shadows of the college basketball giants – has been known to produce some amazing college players.

The conference has produced even better parents.

I know first hand just how much of a life-changing impact a great dad make on his children. Fittingly, it was through my father that I developed my passion for America East Conference basketball.

And so, in celebrating Father’s Day, I was able to catch up with several prominent former America East players who have grown into great dad’s. One-time America East stars Ryan Stys, Matt Turner, Kevin Reed, Austin Ganly, Ryan Butt, Alvin Abreu and Stijn Dhondt each took time out of their busy Father’s Day plans and celebrations to share their own thoughts and experiences on fatherhood and on their children.

Here are their experiences in their own words: (more…)

A version of this story originally ran in the Bedford Minuteman on Thursday, June 13, 2013

Jack Perkins, 1947-2004

My father was my hero and my best friend. I lost him when I was 19 years old. I am my father’s son.

These three sentences, so simple in writing yet so unbelievably complex in life, define me.

Almost 10 years since his death, I don’t have much tangible left from my dad – old photographs, ticket stubs and programs from college basketball games we attended and postcards he wrote to me from business trips fill an old cigar tin that I treasure. As is often the case, many of his personal items, including the leather jacket I treasured when I was a kid, never made it into the hands of his next of kin.

But I have this memory from the first grade, of him playing in a pickup basketball game in inner city Washington, D.C. An errant shot ricocheting off of the rim and my father, in his 40s, the oldest player by a decade, skying above the fray. All 6-feet 6-inches of him outstretched, elbows above the rim, catching the ball in his right hand, cuffing it between his wrist and forearm, his arm cocked-back behind his head like a serpent about to strike. In one explosive motion, slamming the ball through the cylinder with such force that the basket remained shaking in his wake, from the backboard down to its support, long after he had retreated back down the court.

As cliché as it may sound, the memories locked away in my brain and the life lessons stored in my heart keep my father close to me no matter where I go.

It isn’t easy growing up as a kid when your father is in the 99th percentile for height and you spend your childhood stretching to stay above the 50 percent mark, but my father continually repeated to me “It isn’t the size of the man that counts, it’s the size of his heart. ” It’s a philosophy that has stuck with me my whole life.

I never made it past 5-foot-9, but being around my dad – a larger-than-life influence – made me stop caring about my own shortcomings (fittingly one of the last things he ever said to me, ribbing me in a way that only he could while sitting in the shade of his father’s porch off of Old Billerica Road in Bedford, MA, was “you know, I always though you’d make it to 5’10″). (more…)

Former Albany Great Dane Levi Levine (left) has followed basketball to the ends of the earth.

The legend goes that former University of Albany enforcer Levi Levine was once bitten by a Rattlesnake. After three days of intense and excruciating pain, the snake died.

It’s a story that has been told millions of times before when describing figures (both historic and fictional) whom have displayed seemingly superhuman toughness. Even when told about the immortal Chuck Norris, it’s a story that always told in tongue-and-cheek fashion.

Well, almost always.

When talking about Levine and superhuman feats of toughness and tenacity, the line between myth and man is blurred at best.

Levine’s 1,270 points, scored over a four-year career which spanned from 2002-2006, rank 4th in Albany’s Division I history and 16th all-time at the school. His 610 career rebounds rank first in among Division I Great Danes (8th in school history), while his 138 steals rank 3rd (two behind Jamar Wilson) and his 250 assists rank 5th in the school’s Division I history (8th and 19th among all divisions).

Impressive as they are, numbers don’t tell half of the story of Levine’s impact on his team and importance in Albany Basketball history and Great Danes’ lore. Listed at 6’6” but standing far closer to 6’3” and change, Levine roamed the deadwood floorboards of the America East as the ultimate teammate and the league’s ultimate warrior. (more…)

A three-time America East champion at Vermont, Taylor Coppenrath is playing for his fourth Spanish title.

It’s been almost two months since America East season came to an end when the Albany Great Danes were bounced from The Big Dance by top-seed Duke and the Stony Brook Seawolves took a tumble in the second round of the NIT at Iowa. But several America East alums are still chasing titles in some of the best leagues in the world.

Former America East Champions Taylor Coppenrath and Rashad Bell will be playing for their league championships this week in Spain and Hungary, respectively, while former two-time America East champ Jason Siggers is in hot pursuit of the chip in France.

From 2001-2005 Coppenrath flat-out owned the America East as the most statistically dominant player in league history. Over his four-year career at Vermont, the 6’9” 250 pound Coppenrath amassed 2,442 career points, good for third in the league’s all-time record book. After winning the 2002 Rookie of the Year award, Coppenrath won three straight Player of the Year awards (joining late, great Reggie Lewis as the only players in league history to win the award three times), leading the Catamounts to the NCAA tournament each time. His 14 Player of the Week awards are tied with former-NBA player Vin Baker for the most in America East history.

Coppenrath scored a combined 80 points in the league title game over his last two seasons at Vermont, earning championship MVP honors both years. His 43 points in the 2004 Championship Game (despite missing the previous three weeks and playing the entire game in a brace because of a broken wrist) remain an America East Championship Game record. Coppenrath, of course, would lead the Catamounts to their historic first-round upset of Syracuse University in the 2005 NCAA Tournament as a senior.

After turning pro, Coppernath went to training camp with the Boston Celtics in 2005 and Indiana Pacers in 2006, coming that close to making the league (according to several NBA insiders, if not for persistent back injuries that have nagged him throughout his career, Coppenrath would have been all but guaranteed at least a cup of coffee in the league).

Even though he came up short of his NBA dreams, Coppenrath has followed up one of the greatest college careers in America East history with one of the most successful professional careers of any AE alumn. In his eight years as a pro, Coppernath has played in the Euroleague (a trans-national league made up of the best teams from across Europe), as well as the top league’s in Greece (A1), Italy (SerieA), Spain (ACB – regarded as the top domestic league in the world outside of the NBA) as well as the second-division in Spain (LEB Oro) – all regarded as top domestic leagues.

After winning three league titles in college, as a professional, all Coppenrath has done is win. The LEB Oro (or LEB Gold) may be the second division in Spain, but it is widely regarded as a top-five league in Europe and Coppernath has entrenched himself as one of the league’s best players, guiding three different teams to the championship and a spot in the ACB the following season (the regular season and post season champions of the second division move up to the first division and the bottom two first division teams drop down to the following year).

Now Coppenrath has a chance to do it a fourth time, leading Lucentum Alicante (a team he has previously guided to a championship) through the playoffs and into a best-of-five championship series. Coppenrath’s eighth season of pro ball may have been his best, as he has averaged a team-best 14 points per game while shooting a robust 58.5 percent from the floor to go along with 5.8 rebounds (good for second on his team).

Coppenrath’s quest for his seventh championship (and fourth as a pro) tips off Friday, May 24, in a best-of-five game series.

Rashad Bell won the 2002 America East Championship at Boston University, now he’s playing for the Hungarian title.

If his career hadn’t coincided with Coppenrath’s, Bell would likely have been regarded as the premier America East power forward of his era. (more…)

OBW First Team All-Conference selection Alasdair Fraser is leaving Maine early (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Orono, Maine) – For three years, University of Maine center Alasdair Fraser has left the earth quaking, backboards shaking and a trail of battered opponents, bruised egos, bent rims and busted basket supports in his wake.

On Tuesday, Fraser once again shook the earth at the University of Maine, but in a very different fashion.

In a story first broken by One-Bid Wonders, the junior center and OBW All-Conference First Team selection officially requesting his release from the university, bringing to an end his Black Bear career before his senior year. Fraser will either sign an overseas contract and begin his professional career, or transfer to another Division I institution to use up his final year of eligibility.

And with that, the dark days in Orono have turned pitch-black; the hurricane already raging has now grown into the storm of the century.

Listed at 6’7” 230 (and weighing in closer to 260) pounds of muscle, Fraser has stood tall for the Black Bears as a Scottish Wall on defense and immovable object on offense. As a junior Fraser averaged 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, ranking eighth, fourth and second in the conference, respectively. Fraser also finished fifth in scoring in America East Conference games at 14.3 points per contest.

Sheer numbers do not do Fraser justice or accurately encompass his impact: Arguably the league’s most dynamic center, Fraser displayed a brilliant and diverse arsenal of low-post moves as well as a silky-smooth jumper out to the NBA 3-point line. He also ranked as one of the most efficient players in the league using NBA-style advanced metrics, despite drawing nightly double – and often triple – teams every trip down the court while playing in a chaotic and dysfunction system in which he was criminally underused and overlooked.

He was also the rarest of rare-breeds: a Black Bear player who continued to grow, develop and improve every year in Orono. Fraser made the leap from a bruising bulldozer and America East strongman as a freshman, to a cerebral big-man with a refined low post game and automatic mid-range jumper as a sophomore, before making another stride as a junior, adding a 3-point shot and deft passing touch.

Fraser showcased the depth of his talent and abilities in a January 22nd upset over Vermont, just missing a triple-double; pouring in 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, ripping down 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists while swatting a pair of shots.

Maine was already dealing with the crippling blow of losing its top scorer, most athletic player, and best raw talent in high-flying wing Justin Edwards, who announced his decision to transfer out of the university a month ago. Edwards led league in scoring at 16.7 points per game despite only scratching the surface of his raw abilities.

While Edwards’ departure sent the Black Bears to the mat for an eight-count, it is Fraser’s that might KO the program for the upcoming season – and beyond. (more…)

(Philadelphia, PA) – At 2:28 pm Eastern Time, the clock hit 0:00 at the Wells Fargo Center and struck midnight on the Albany Great Danes’ Cinderella season.

Albany, a 15th seed in the NCAA Tournament and perhaps the biggest underdog to ever come out of the America East as the fourth seed in their own conference tournament, fell to second-seed Duke 73-61.

The Great Danes came up short in their upset bid, but walked off the hardwood and out of the bright lights of the game’s biggest stage with their heads held high: For 40 minutes, the bigger, stronger, faster Blue Devils hit Albany with everything it they had – usually in the form of a back-board shaking sledgehammer slam from Mason Plumlee, or a Seth Curry swish – and every time the Great Danes hit Duke right back.

Albany lost the game, but the Great Danes were magnificent in defeat, proving they belonged on the same court as one of the best teams in the country and arguably the most storied program in college basketball history.

“We challenged them. We made Duke work. We made Duke beat us,” said Albany head coach Will Brown.

From the opening tip until the final horn, the Great Danes played the Blue Devils as equals. And this wasn’t a Duke team looking past the Great Danes while playing at walk-through speed: this was a Duke squad still trying to swallow the bitter taste of last season’s upset by 15-seed Lehigh, squarely focused on Albany for revenge.

After spending a year stewing on the Lehigh debacle, Duke came out playing for blood. Albany played even harder.

“We didn’t quit, but we never did all season,” said redshirt freshman guard Peter Hooley. “We were right there with them. I think we are proud of ourselves. We never gave up.”

“We went down fighting against one of the best teams in the country,” said Albany senior shooting guard Jabob Iati.

Iati led the way for the Great Danes, scoring a team-high 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting including 3-of-4 from behind the arc. The smallest player on the floor, Iati was fearless driving the lane and drilling deep three’s with several long arms in his face. Iati, who would be generously listed at 5’9”, added six rebounds and six assists, leaving every last drop he had on the floor in the final game of his career. (more…)

UMBC head coach Aki Thomas served as a master motivator during his first season at the helm at UMBC, now he must become a miracle worker rebuilding the roster (Photo by Sam Perkins)

(Catonsville, MD) – When UMBC’s season came to an end in heartbreaking but heart-warming fashion in the America East Tournament, the real work began for head coach Aki Thomas and his staff: rebuilding his roster from the rubble of a devastated and dilapidated program.

Thomas’ burdensome load may have been lightened, slightly, by jettisoning weight in the form of early departures of four returning players; sophomores Will Wise, Nate Basalyga, Jarrel Lane and Jordan Wejnert have all left the team.

In his first season at the helm, after being named the interim head coach two days before the start of practice, Thomas injected life into a program that had barely been clinging to life support. Two days before the start of the conference tournament, Thomas was official named the head coach – dropping the interim tag – and rewarded with a contract extension.

Two days later, the same Retrievers squad that had spent the last three seasons giving up by the first media timeout, out-worked, out-hustled and out-fought third-seeded Hartford to pull off a 69-62 upset in the Quarterfinal. A day later, running on heart, the sixth-seeded Retrievers showed more grit and guts in their 85-72 semifinal loss to Vermont than they had during their previous three seasons combined.

The final horn of the semifinals marked the end of the careers of seniors Ryan Cook – the team’s heart and soul, leading scorer, best player and hardest worker all rolled into in one –Brian Neller – a long-range sniper who, along with Cook, comprised the teams lone true shooters – and forward Adrian Satchell – who enjoyed a renaissance in his one-season under Thomas.

Now Thomas and assistant coaches (and former UMBC players) Jay Greene and John Zito were faced with the daunting task of trying to overhaul an undermanned – and drastically under talented – roster. (more…)

After being relegated to the bench by injuries, Albany junior Luke Devlin took center stage in the Championship Game, scoring 12 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting to help lead Albany to the title and the NCAA Tournament (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Burlington, VT) – Dripping sweat and draped in the Australian national flag, a shy smile spread across Luke Devlin’s face.

Devlin had just played a starring role in Albany’s 53-49 championship game shocker over Vermont, punching the Great Danes’ ticket to the NCAA Tournament by swishing all six of his shots from the floor. Against the Catamounts vaunted front-line, Devlin was unstoppable on offense, leading all post players in scoring with 12 points, while adding five rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Now he was at the center of the media swarm in the post game press conference.

“He was huge today,” said Albany head coach Will Brown after the win, “he’s not bothered by the moment.”

“I just got the opportunity to play a bit more tonight, knocked down some shots and it is what it is,” said Devlin, downplaying his dominant performance.

Two years ago, starring for the conference champion was exactly where the native of Sydney, Australia was supposed to be. Two weeks ago, it seemed all but impossible.

When he arrived on campus in the summer of 2010, Devlin was a star in the making – The Man from The Land Down Under. A 6’8” 230 pound forward with a silky-smooth jumper, nose for the basketball and a knack for pulling down tough rebounds in traffic, Devlin made an impact in the paint and on the perimeter and could take over a game on both ends of the floor. As a freshman, Devlin averaged 7.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 30 minutes per game and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Two years later, Devlin was a forgotten man: recruited over and buried under a mountain of injuries. (more…)

Trey Blue’s long and winding basketball odyssey has been a long and winding road, wrought with obstacles and tragedy, but he has finally found peace as a fifth-year senior at Vermont (Photo by Sam Perkins).

Special Submission to One Bid Wonders

By: Kyle Barry

If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going.
- Winston Churchill

It wasn’t the senior day he had imagined (or could have ever predicted), but there he was, standing at center court, holding his framed Vermont jersey in one hand and his infant son in the other, posing for pictures while the Patrick Gym crowd gave him a standing ovation. The crowd was the usual greying bunch—members of the Burlington community who, while undyingly supportive, are rarely raucous, and who usually prefer to sit on Patrick Gym’s unforgiving wooden roll-out bleachers rather than stand and cheer for any length of time. But this was UVM’s annual celebration of its senior class, and, before tip-off against visiting Hartford, it was Trey Blue’s turn to be honored.

It was a long time coming.

For basketball purposes, Horace “Trey” Blue III is a one-year transfer and fifth-year senior, though technically he’s neither—he isn’t a “senior,” he’s a graduate student, and he didn’t “transfer,” he graduated from Illinois State and then enrolled, this past fall, at UVM. Trey took a rather unorthodox route to campus, first spending a year at Fordham University in the Bronx before transferring to Illinois State, where, after paying his own tuition during his transfer year, he played for two seasons and obtained his undergraduate degree. He also has an extraordinary basketball pedigree, having come of age within the City of Chicago’s ocean-deep talent pool of future NBA draft picks and college superstars. (By the time he was twelve-years-old, Trey was traveling around the country playing AAU basketball alongside future NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose. For four years, Trey and Rose played in the same backcourt, with Rose drawing defenders and feeding Trey for open jump shots, and Trey lobbing alley-oop passes to Rose.)

In his single season at Vermont, Trey has been a crucial offensive threat on a team that has twenty-one victories and is one win away from the NCAA Tournament. He’s played in all thirty-one games, scoring 8.5 points per contest, answering every call – either as energy off the bench, a glue guy holding the team together, or a shooter in the starting lineup.

In the last ten games (including two in the conference tournament), Trey started while shooting guard Candon Rusin played reduced minutes with a toe injury. During that stretch, Trey increased his scoring output to over ten points a game, and emerged as a more versatile and aggressive combo-guard—a player who will not only hit open shots but who can dependably handle the ball and attack the rim. In a non-conference game against Canisius, for example, he scored seventeen points on 6-9 shooting (2-4 from three), and picked up four assists working adroitly with freshman forward Ethan O’Day on the pick-and-roll. And late in the regular season finale against Hartford, Trey asserted himself in crunch time, getting to the rim off a quick crossover dribble and setting up a tip-in that tied the game with thirty-four seconds to play (the Cats would lose on a buzzer beater).

For the fans at Patrick Gym, it was this single season of achievement for which they stood and applauded on senior day. But for Trey the moment was about much more; it was the culmination of all he had been through, both good and bad, on his long journey from feted, sure-thing recruit to father and impact college player—and it could hardly have come at a more symbolically significant time.

One week earlier, Trey’s son Carter had turned one year-old. Two weeks before that, and after years of delay, the man who brutally murdered Carter’s aunt and baby cousin was convicted, finally, of two counts of first degree murder.
These milestones, inextricably intertwined with Trey’s trajectory as a college basketball player, reminded Trey of how fragile youthful hoop dreams can be (pedigree be damned), and how grateful he was to be there, in that moment, standing between those roll-out bleachers and waving to the standing Vermont crowd. (more…)

Vermont head coach John Becker (standing) may be quick to duck out of the limelight and deflect praise, but over his two years at the helm, he’s emerged as the league’s top coach (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Albany, New York) — It is said that teams often embody their coach. After back-to-back comebacks in the America East Tournament – a turning on the second-half jets quarterfinal win over New Hampshire, and a do-or-die 85-72 win over UMBC in the semifinals – and a punched ticket to the title game, nowhere is that more true than with the down-but-never-out Vermont Catamounts and second-year head coach John Becker,

Neither flashy nor fancy, Becker is not a hype man, self-promoter or mouthpiece – and is decidedly not a “rah-rah” guy. A soft-spoken players coach, he is a lunch-pail and hard-hat gamer, a blue-collar grinder who gets his hands dirty.

In the era of sideline theatrics where outspoken coaches pander to the camera, Becker has deflected credit during press conferences, praising his players while downplaying his own accomplishments.

But his accomplishments speak at a far more deafening decibel level than boisterous boasting ever could: He is the hard-working, hardwood embodiment of Teddy Roosevelt’s proclamation to “speak softly, and carry a big stick.”

All he does is win. (more…)