One-Bid Wonders

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Season Preview Part 4: OBW Preseason America East All-Defensive Team

Thursday, November 8th, 2012

OBW Preseason America East All-Defensive Team
Mike Allison, Maine, Sr., F/C, 6’9” 210: Allison led the America East in blocked shots last season, averaging 2.2 per game. The league hasn’t had a true shot blocker since the Shawn James/Nick Billings/Justin Rowe days, but Allison is about as close as we have seen since. Allison is long, bouncy, and has good timing and instincts, and will spend the season covering the opposition’s best interior scorer.

Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook R-Sr., F, 6’5” 225: Brenton is the reigning conference Defensive Player of the Year (being selected DPOY by both the coaches and OBW). Brenton is big, athletic, and super-physical, and covers the opponent’s best offensive player no matter whether they play on the perimeter or in the post. He ranked among the league leaders in steals and defensive rebounds, and is an all-around tornado on D. After playing last season below 100 percent while recovering from a severe knee injury that required multiple surgeries, Brenton could be even better this year.

Chandler Rhoads, New Hampshire, Sr., G/F, 6’4” 195: Rhoads is a big, physical, feisty guard who plays with consistent energy and will guard the opposition’s best back-court scorer. Rhoads plays with a motor that is second to none and leaves everything he has on the court. He is the linchpin and best defensive player for one of the league’s best defensive teams.

Brett Roseboro, UMBC, R-Jr., C, 6’10” 240: Roseboro has all the tools to make a big impact around the hoop on defense. He has length and great leaping ability for a big man, and has the talent to be a true shot-blocker while also dominating the defensive glass.

Brian Voelkel, Vermont, Jr., 6’6” 230: Voelkel was the anchor of the Catamounts’ defense last season, and arguably the league’s most improved defender. He owns the defensive glass, leading the league in defensive boards, and also disrupts the passing game, using great court vision and quick hands to pick off passes and pick pockets. He’s physical, and may be the best help-defender in the league.

Tags: All-Defensive, Brett Roseboro, Brian Voelkel, Chandler Rhoads, Mike Allison, Preseason, Tommy Brenton
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OBW 2011-12 All-Defensive Team

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

There were a few AE games this year that left us wondering whether anyone was ever going to score a basket. The cynical side of us might blame the league’s offenses – and there were definitely some bad offenses in the AE in 2011-12 – but at the same time there were some AE teams and players playing some damn good defense this year. In a year with no elite shotblockers in the frontcourt, this may be the most perimeter-oriented All-Defensive team we ever name. Even the guys sitting right on the edge of the team, Brendan Bald and Clayton Brothers, were both perimeter players.

Without further ado, here’s our All-Defensive Team:

Tommy Brenton, R-Jr., F, Stony Brook: The league’s most physical and versatile defender, Brenton was handed the nightly assignment of guarding the opponent’s best scorer, regardless of position. From Chase Plummer, Darryl Partin, Gerardo Suero, Gerald McLemore, to even Andres Torres and Alasdair Fraser, Brenton defended them all – and more often than not, shut them down. Brenton ranked amongst the league-leaders in steals and defensive rebounds while using his athleticism to bottle up scorers and his guts and guile – and at times Oscar-caliber acting – to lead the league in charges taken.

Justin Edwards, Fr., G, Maine: 6’2” with insane leaping ability, Edwards was a tornado on defense, not only finishing amongst the league leaders in steals, but also in blocked-shots and defensive (as well as total) rebounds – incredible numbers considering his relatively diminutive size. Edwards was a bit of a miniature Marqus Blakely: Taking big gambles on the defensive end, but often coming up with big steals and blocks that led to even bigger dunks in transition.

D.J. Irving, Soph., G, Boston University: Perhaps the most underrated defender in the conference, Irving used his blinding speed to frustrate opposing ball-handlers and back-court scorers. Irving was particularly effective as the energy guy in the Terriers press, as well as applying on-ball pressure to opponents’ point guards, and greatly disrupted the opponent’s ability to set up and run their offenses.

Chandler Rhoads, G, Jr., New Hampshire: For America East guards, going off the dribble against Rhoads was akin to going 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, leaving them battered, bruised, and often with few points to show for it. Rhoads doesn’t defend opposing guards; he beats the bag out of them.

Brian Voelkel, F, So., Vermont: Behind the scenes, several players and coaches around the league have quietly noted Voelkel’s massive improvement year-over-year at the defensive end. Voelkel has always been a strong defensive rebounder – he led the league in defensive rebounding percentage this season after finishing second in that category as a freshman – but the difference between a freshman’s understanding of defensive role and scheme and a sophomore’s understanding of those aspects can be significant. Voelkel’s not Vermont’s best defender on an island, but neither was Marqus Blakely. What Voelkel is is Vermont’s most important defender. He makes up for his physical limitations with heady play and consistently gets his hands on the ball (Voelkel has the most steals among all AE frontcourt players). Most importantly, he’s that hard-to-find defender who makes his teammates better at the defensive end. The value in that is hard to measure, but it’s value nonetheless.