The One-Bid Wonders America East All-Tournament team
Thursday, March 10th, 2011Before last weekend gets too far in the rear-view mirror, here’s our picks for the five best players from last weekend:
Tim Ambrose, G, Albany (24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, four rebounds, four assists vs. Stony Brook)
Albany went out in the quarterfinals, but the Seawolves’ advancement came despite a vintage performance from Ambrose. The Great Danes’ bowling ball of a guard was at his best, combining efficiency and volume in a way that few others can.
Leonard Hayes, G, Stony Brook (11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, two rebounds, one block vs. Albany; 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, six rebounds, two blocks vs. Vermont)
Hayes made 9-of-11 shots from beyond the arc on the weekend and averaged nearly two points per possession used over the course of Stony Brook’s two games. When Vermont cut the Seawolves’ lead to six midway through the second half, it was a Hayes 3 that cut the Catamounts’ momenutum. And even in the postseason, Hayes continues to add elements to his game. Before Saturday, Hayes had not recorded a blocked shot in his career. Now he has three.
John Holland, G/F, Boston University (17 points on 6-of-15 shooting, four rebounds vs. New Hampshire; 16 points on 3-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals at Hartford)
It says something about John Holland that this weekend’s performances weren’t particularly strong compared to his usual standard and he still makes our All-Tournament team. For most players, a 9-of-10 performance at the line is something noteworthy. For Holland? That’s normal. And sure, he wasn’t dominant, but BU doesn’t win without him.
Chris Martin, G, Stony Brook (18 points on 5-of-8 shooting, six rebounds, five assists vs. Albany; 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, three rebounds, three assists, one steal vs. Vermont)
You can change your defense. You can bring extra help defenders. You can wreck one of his knees. It doesn’t matter, Chris Martin will still take you off the dribble, barrel down the lane, and convert a layup or draw a foul, or both. He’s like the Terminator, both because of his refusal to quit and because he terminates teams’ seasons. Traveling Stony Brook fans, there’s your new sign idea. Thank me later.
Greer Wright, F, Binghamton (31 points on 11-of-21 shooting, nine rebounds, six assists vs. UMBC; 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, one block, one steal vs. Vermont)
Greer Wright’s Thursday night would be a nice weekend for most players. Moussa Camara had a similarly strong weekend as Binghamton broke the AE single-game record for 3-point baskets, but what separated Wright was – and this sounds so unlike everything we’ve ever said about Greer Wright – his ability to help his team beyond just scoring the basketball. Thursday’s performance wasn’t just about shooting, it was a complete game from Wright.
Honorable mentions: Moussa Camara, G, Binghamton; Genesis Maciel, F, Hartford; Anthony Minor, F, Hartford