GETTING INSIDE

Tom Parrotta thinks it's time.

"When you start to rebuild a program, the blueprint is three years," the Canisius coach says as he starts his fourth year on the job. "With this group now, we have guys who have played together for the last two seasons."

The Golden Griffs won 11 games last year. There were signs things were getting better. Just not enough of them.

For this team to get better, it has to get better in the fundamentals department.

For instance, Canisius turned the ball over 509 times last year, 16.4 per game. And the Griffs shot .616 from the foul line, and .287 from 3-point range.

Their best player, Frank Turner, one of the better players in the conference, had 124 assists and 126 turnovers, shot just 18-for-64 from behind the arc and .646 from the line.

That is how you score just 62.6 points per game.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Canisius team prepared for practice with a three-day ROTC minicamp.

"It was more than just a mini-boot camp, it was a team-building experience," said junior captain Robert Goldsberry. "Each day, we had to fight and pull together as a team to get through the morning's challenges. I could tell that my teammates and I were starting to communicate a lot more and helped us to push each other through the tasks that were in front of us."

--The Griffs had a late signing, adding 6-foot-3 local guard Reggie Groves over the summer. He was projected as a part of the main rotation.

--The team was healthy entering fall practice.

--Desmond Oliver joined the coaching staff and Rob Norris was elevated to associate head coach.

--Canisius will be part of this year's BracketBuster series.

LAST YEAR: 11-20 overall, 4-14 in the MAAC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Tom Parrotta (career 29-64); fourth year at Canisius (2-64).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's been a good flow to practice early on. In the past we had to stop a lot and teach because we had so many new guys. Now this year, we have only a few new guys and things flow much better. Hopefully the steps we take this year will pay off for all the hard work we've put in over the past few seasons." -- Canisius coach Tom Parrotta on his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Griffs have a pair of freshman guards, one who signed late, and both Reggie Groves and Rob Gagliardi should be key players off the bench.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: With two Loyola (Md.) games built into the schedule, the Griffs open the season at another Loyola, just north of downtown Chicago, on Nov. 17. Canisius is in the Southern Mississippi Christmas Tournament Dec. 21-23, playing North Florida, the host team and New Orleans.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Still stalled, but Tom Parrotta is hoping for better things in Year 3, after going from six to 11 wins in his first two seasons.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Frank Turner, SG Julius Coles, G Robert Goldsberry, F Greg Logins, F Tomas Vasquez Simmons.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Frank Turner averaged 15.6 points a game last year and remains the player other teams have to try to stop in this Canisius lineup. He was named third team All-MAAC after last season.

--G Bob Bevilacqua is doing a season-long blog on the program's website. "Since I have been here, this has been the best first week of practice by far," he says. "Guys are competing and playing hard and our practices have run smoothly. Still, we know that we have a long way to go if we are to reach our goal."

--G Gaby Belardo, a transfer from South Florida, is sitting out this season.

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FAIRFIELD

GETTING INSIDE

It's tough enough navigating your way through any conference schedule. But when your team is hammered by injury and illness, and when you have to kick your point guard off the team, it goes without saying that makes it tougher.

That's what Ed Cooley and Fairfield went through last season.

Still, the Stags wound up at 17-15, losing to eventual champion Siena in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament.

"Truthfully, this has been one of the most grueling six-week stretches in my young coaching career," Cooley said after being eliminated from the MAAC Tournament. "Not just losing one of the best players in the league (Jonathan Han, to a disciplinary issue) but an entire frontcourt changing your entire system of play. You can really write a story about it."

That was last year. This year is different.

"I like my team," Cooley said after the start of camp. "I feel like there's a different attitude. I feel a team that's hungry and wants to prove themselves every day."

The Stags finished over .500 for the first time in Cooley's three-year run, also winning a league tournament game for the first time, all in the midst of incredible turmoil.

Greg Nero, who forged his way through back trouble to play when he could and as well as he could, played well enough to be named third team All-MAAC, but his return for this year was in doubt after Oct. 14 surgery. Anthony Johnson, whose season ended because of blood clots, and Warren Edney, KO'd by foot trouble, should be back, but Edney didn't practice for the first time until Oct. 23.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Fairfield went through a little coaching shuffle that involved people Ed Cooley coached under Al Skinner at Rhode Island. Director of basketball operations Antonio Reynolds-Dean left to accept an assistant's job at Northeastern, where his boss is Bill Coen, Cooley's old coaching pal at URI and Boston College. Cooley then hired former URI great Tyson Wheeler as the new operations director at Fairfield.

--Because of injury, illness and suspension, the Stags had eight players start 11 or more games last season.

--F Greg Nero, back trouble and all, made third team All-MAAC.

LAST YEAR: 17-15 overall, 9-9 in the MAAC; lost in the MAAC semifinals.

HEAD COACH: Ed Cooley (career 44-50); fourth year at Fairfield (44-50).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're untested in our backcourt and in this league we're going to be tested right away and they're going to have to earn their stripes." -- Fairfield coach Ed Cooley looking ahead at 2009-10.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Stags, who have to replace Jonathan Han's floor generalship, recruited two guards from the Chicago area, adding Colin Nickerson and Derek Needham.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Fairfield opens the season as the home team in the Connecticut 6 Classic tripleheader, playing Central Connecticut. The Stags are at Maryland, Nov. 17, the first of four straight road games and host Marist and visit Saint Peter's in the Dec. 3 and 6 early conference openers.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Ed Cooley is a quality basketball coach whose teams will always compete and they have to be happy with that in Fairfield. The Stags won 17 games last year and probably would have won more had it not been for the manpower woes.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Derek Needham, SG Jamal Turner, SF Yorel Hawkins, PF Anthony Johnson, C Greg Olander.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The Stags had seven players average between 12.5 and 7.5 points per game last year.

--F Greg Nero missed the last four regular season games with back trouble but played in the MAAC Tournament. He had back surgery Oct. 14 and his status for the season was up in the air. He led the team in free throw attempts with 144, but made just 88 of them for a .611 percentage.

--G Lyndon Jordan could challenge Turner for a starting spot.

--G Sean Grzeck was All-Academic in the conference.

--F Shimeek Johnson redshirted last year and has four years remaining.

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IONA

GETTING INSIDE

Kevin Willard's stay in New Rochelle reaches a third season, and he just keeps adding new faces.

Five players have been brought in to help try and improve last year's 12-19 team, the second year in a row Iona won 12 games under Willard.

Point guard Scott Machado, the MAAC rookie of the year, will be in charge of running the offense again. He averaged 9.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season and his assist/turnover number of 150/104 was solid.

The Gaels had only one double-figure scorer, Garry Spring (11.9 points per game) last year and he's gone, leaving Machado, the distributor, as the leading returning scorer.

Willard's new class actually includes two freshmen, Keon Williams and Kyle Smith, who were injured last year. Smyth played some but received a medical redshirt.

How the Gaels will do this season is anyone's guess, but it doesn't look like they're quite ready to battle the upper rung of this conference.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Iona comes into this season having won 12 games in each of Kevin Willard's first two seasons, Willard taking over after the two wins recorded by Jeff Ruland in his last year.

--The Gaels played 11 games decided by three points or less last year, winning only three of those games.

--Iona ended last season on a five-game losing streak, losing six of its last seven.

LAST YEAR: 12-19 overall, 7-11 in the MAAC; lost in the MAAC Tournament play-in round.

HEAD COACH: Kevin Willard (career 24-39); third year at Iona (24-39).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "First two practices have gone very well -- intensity has been great -- freshman are really showing some good signs. Vets are playing well." -- Iona coach Kevin Willard from his Twitter page.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: This is a deep class and one that has been made even better with the return of two players who missed their freshman seasons with injuries. Rashard McGill, a 6-foot-5 incoming guard, and Kyle Smyth, who missed most of last season because of injury and received a medical redshirt, figure to be the top two immediate contributors, followed by Keon Williams (injured) and Mike McFadden. Oh, and did we tell you there's a long-range bomber from England in the class? Ben Mockford has so-called "anywhere in the gym" range.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Gaels open the season at home against Boston University, Nov. 13, in the rematch of last year's BracketBuster game. Iona will play Florida State or Alabama/Baylor in the first two round of the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Nov. 26-29 and host Saint Peter's and Siena in the early conference games before the rest of the non-league slate is highlighted by a Dec. 27 game against UConn in Hartford.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Kevin Willard is a member of a coaching family and a Rick Pitino disciple who can really coach. He is New Rochelle to bring Iona back to its glory days and it's going slow.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Scott Machado, SG Milan Pradonovic, SF, Rashon Dwight PF Jonathan Huffman, C/F Alejo Rodriguez.

ROSTER REPORT:

--C/F Alejo Rodriguez was slowed by an early ankle sprain, but it wasn't considered a real problem.

--F Milan Prodanovic was 10th in the MAAC with 58 3-pointers last season, while 7-footer Jonathan Huffman was second on the team with 41 bombs.

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LOYOLA-MARYLAND

GETTING INSIDE

Loyola opened last season with four games in five nights. The Greyhounds started slowly, rebounded but never fully recovered, completely folding down the stretch to finish 12-20.

Fiery coach Jimmy Patsos, whose team was coming off two strong seasons, pointed to the schedule and the losses from the previous teams as reasons for the decline and vows to bring his team back.

"Based on what we lost from last season and the number of young players on the roster, we expected this to be a transitional season," he said after last year's finale. "We played one of the toughest schedules we have ever played, and we were in a lot of games, just missing that key stop or key basket that would have made the difference.

"With the players we have returning and the experience they have gained, we expect to return to the successes we enjoyed the previous two seasons."

League scoring leader Jamal Barney will again lead the Loyola attack.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Loyola hopes the transfer lightning strikes for the third time. First it was Gerald Brown. Then it was Jamal Barney. Now, 6-9 Maryland transfer Shane Walker joins the Greyhounds lineup.

--The Greyhounds got their record up to 11-12 in February and then lost eight of their last nine games.

--Loyola loses 1,000-point scorer Marquis Sullivan.

LAST YEAR: 12-20 overall, 7-11 in the MAAC; lost in the MAAC Tournament play-in round.

HEAD COACH: Jimmy Patsos (career 70-82); sixth year at Loyola (70-82).

BY THE NUMBERS: 1-7 -- Loyola's record over the last eight games last season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Greyhounds brought in 6-9 freshman Julius Brooks and 6-4 guard Robert Olson but also have 6-10 forward Shane Walker coming off his transfer year.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Loyola opens its season with a home game against Vermont, hardly an easy game and also has road games at West Virginia (No. 15) and Indiana (Dec. 22). They make the western New York trip for the early conference games, going to Canisius and Niagara, Dec. 4 and 6.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: One losing season does not a downturn make and Jimmy Patsos will have this program bouncing back from its 12-20 season.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Brian Rudolph, SG Brian Harvey, G Jamal Barney, F Anthony Winbush, F Shane Walker.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Jamal Barney, the MAAC scoring champion despite totaling eight points over the last three games, missing one of those games, was named second-team All-MAAC. He was sixth in the MAAC in free-throw percentage and seventh in steals His 561 points for the season were the 15th most ever by a Loyola player. He shit .797 from the foul line but just .282 (29-for-103) from 3-point range.

--F Anthony Winbush was named to the All-Rookie team.

--G Brian Rudolph finished third in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (145/78) and fourth in assists.

--G Brett Harvey led the conference in free-throw percentage. He has 896 career points heading into his senior season.

--F Jawaan Wright has 49 career blocked, ninth on Loyola's all-time list.

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MANHATTAN

GETTING INSIDE

Things continue to be shaky for Barry Rohrssen at Manhattan.

The New York gym rat's team won 16 games last year, but then got hit hard in the offseason.

Already facing the loss of Devon Austin, a 1,000-point scorer, Rohrssen saw Chris Smith transfer to Louisville and Jamal Ferguson to Georgetown College (Kentucky).

Those are heavy-hitting losses, the kind that leave observers -- and Rohrssen -- wondering what to expect from the Jaspers this season.

Manhattan brings back some experience -- Darryl Crawford, who made third team All-MAAC last year is a capable scorer -- but just may not have enough talent to seriously climb the MAAC ladder.

The Jaspers also could have trouble getting back to that 16-win total, but their guards and swingmen could make them tough to play against.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Manhattan lost No. 2 scorer Chris Smith, who has transferred to Louisville, where he sits out this year and has two years left. "He asked for and we granted him his release," Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen told the New York Daily News. "We're going to change our direction. But that's all I really want to say about it at this time."

--The Jaspers drew national media attention because of the presence of 6-foot-11 freshman Kevin Laue, who has one hand.

--Rohrssen made his second trip to the Persian Gulf region to visit the troops. "It's an honor to be selected and a part of this special journey," said Rohrssen. "It (was) my second tour within the same calendar year, and having already witnessed the bravery and heroism of our courageous soldiers firsthand I am even more excited about this upcoming mission."

--One can only wonder what Manhattan's final record might have been last season had the Jaspers taken better care of the ball. They had 298 assists and 414 turnovers.

LAST YEAR: 16-14 overall, 9-9 in the MAAC; lost in the MAAC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Barry Rohrssen (career 41-50); fourth year at Manhattan (41-50).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm very happy at Manhattan and I appreciate our fine leadership. I've got a blessed life." -- Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen, to the New York Daily News, on a rumor he would be joining John Calipari at Kentucky.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Jaspers brought in junior college transfer Rico Pickett, who started his college career at Alabama and then played Juco. They also added high-scoring high school guard George Beamon, as well as 6-11 center Kevin Laue, who has one hand.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Jaspers don't have a killer non-league slate, ending their calendar year at Vanderbilt Dec. 30. They have to go to western New York for the early conference games, at Niagara and Canisius, Dec. 4 and 6.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Tough to tell. Barry Rohrssen is a quality basketball guy but his first head coaching gig keeps hitting, pardon the New York City word, potholes.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Rico Pickett, SG Antoine Pearson, G/F Darryl Crawford, F Andrew Gabriel, C Laurence Jolicoeur.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G/F Darryl Crawford, who made third team All-MAAC, averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, had 65 assists and 43 steals last season.

--G Antoine Pearson shot 40 percent from 3-point range, on a team that hit at a .315 rate from behind the arc.

--F Andrew Gabriel hit just 40 percent of his freed throws, going 32-for-80 from the line.

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MARIST

GETTING INSIDE

Given all the turmoil that led to him getting the job in the first place, you had to expect Chuck Martin would have a rough ride at Marist last year.

The Red Foxes went 10-23 last season and, after Ryan Schneider graduated and David Devezin left the program a year earlier than expected (because of an NCAA ruling), they could be in for another bumpy ride.

There will be nine new faces on the Marist roster, with only guard Javon Parris remaining from last year's opening lineup.

"I think we've got some pieces. I'm excited about all our freshmen and our transfers," Martin told the Poughkeepsie Journal. "Early on, it's going to be a challenge to get our young guys to understand how hard you have to play."

One thing Martin and his staff will have going for it in Year 2 will be time. Last year was a scramble as Martin threw a staff together in the middle of a storm.

The Foxes are also looking forward to the addition on 6-foot-10 Villanova transfer Casiem Drummond, who joins the team for second semester. They're hoping Boston College transfer Daye Kaba helps make up for the loss of Devezin.

NOTES, QUOTES

--G David Devezin, who thought he had one more year left because of a medical redshirt secured during his time at Texas A&M, never got that redshirt. His college career is over.

--With Ryan Schneider (15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Devezin gone, R.J. Hall is Marist's leading returning scorer, at just 6.9 points per game.

--Marist recorded 355 assists and 513 turnovers last season.

LAST YEAR: 10-23 overall, 4-14 in the MAAC; lost in the MAAC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: Chuck Martin (career 10-23); second year at Marist (10-23).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's amazing what a difference a year makes. This year, we're going into the season and the team ... my staff, knows how to break the offense down and how to teach it." -- Marist coach Chuck Martin entering his second year at the school.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

:

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: It really is all about newcomers for the Red Foxes. Freshman Rob Johnson and transfer Daye Kaba apparently are set to start. The opening lineup could just be keeping a spot warm for 6-foot-10 transfer Casiem Drummond, eligible second semester.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: As if losing 23 games last year wasn't tough enough, the Red Foxes open with six straight on the road, starting with a Nov. 14 date at Rutgers. Marist is at Fairfield and Rider, Dec. 3 and 6 in the early conference games.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Stagnant for now, but Chuck Martin has time on his side.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Javon Parris, SG Dejuan Goodwin, G Daye Kaba, F Rob Johnson, C Korey Bauer.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Javon Parris, the only remaining starter from last year's opening starting lineup and the only senior on the Marist roster, averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last year.

--G Dejuan Goodwin was just 19-for-39 from the foul line last year.

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NIAGARA

GETTING INSIDE

A weird thing happened to Niagara the season after losing national scoring champion Charron Fisher.

The Purple Eagles won. And won a lot.

In fact, they won 26 games, the school's highest win total in 87 years. They also won 15 regular-season games away from home, the highest total in the country.

They hosted an NIT game, the program's fourth postseason trip in the last six years under Joe Mihalich.

Niagara won, among other reasons, because it had two of the best players in the conference, and both Tyrone Lewis and Bilal Benn return for their senior seasons.

Lewis is the last player left from the Purple Eagles' 2006 championship team, and could have another one in him, even though Siena is the class of the MAAC and gets to play the league tournament on its home floor.

"We can't worry about March right now," Lewis told the Niagara Gazette. "Right now we're thinking about Auburn (where the Purple Eagles open up Nov. 13).

"March is way far away. We might talk about it a little, that it comes down to one game at the end. But for that one game to happen, you've got to be ready for the first game of the season, and take it one game at a time from there. Right now, Auburn is the MAAC Championship game."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Both G Tyrone Lewis and F Bilal Benn are MAAC Player of the Year candidates entering the season. Lewis averaged 16.2 points and set school records with 91 steals and 99 treys last year, while Benn was at 13.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and had 84 steals. Both were All-MAAC selections.

--Niagara coach Joe Mihalich, who passed the 200-win mark last season, received a contract extension over the summer.

--The Purple Eagles will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1969-70 Calvin Murphy-led NCAA team, at its home opener.

--That day, Niagara hosts Drexel in the 8 a.m. game that's part of ESPN's College Basketball Tip-Off Marathons Nov. 17. "We are so proud that our team can be a part of this national television event," said Mihalich. "ESPN is synonymous with college basketball, and for the Gallagher Center to start everyone's day with a game is priceless."

LAST YEAR: 26-9 overall, 14-4 in the MAAC; lost in the first round of the NIT.

HEAD COACH: Joe Mihalich (career 205-132); 12th year at Niagara (205-132).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We went into last season with a lot of unknowns, but what we really weren't confident about was our interior defense and rebounding. Now a year later, we don't have as many question marks because, quite simply, we didn't know how good Rob (Garrison) and Bilal (Benn) were. We had a pretty good idea, but they exceeded our expectations. But we still have the same general concerns about interior defense and rebounding." -- Niagara coach Joe Mihalich on his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Niagara is looking to replace center Benson Egemonye, and recruits Scooter Gillette and Eric Williams were in the mix for playing time.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Purple Eagles open the season at Auburn, Nov. 13 and then host Drexel at 8 a.m. as part of the ESPN extravaganza. Niagara goes to Daytona to play Howard, Central Florida and Austin Peay and to El Paso to tangle with Air Force and either UTEP or Norfolk State. The Eagles host Manhattan and Loyola in the Dec. 4 and 6 early conference games.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Up. The Purple Eagles won 26 games last year, the most for the program in 87 years and Joe Mihalich has built something stable.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Antony Nelson, SG Tyrone Lewis, G Rob Garrison, F Bilal Benn, F Kahief Edwards.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Tyrone Lewis is the last player left from Niagara's 2006 MAAC title team. "I thought about that last night," Lewis told the Niagara Gazette. "With everything that happened, I'm the only one from that championship team still here. I'm going to have to really drill in these guys' heads about what it's going to take to that back."

--F Demetrius Williamson was an outstanding sixth man last year, averaging 7.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

--G Anthony Nelson, now a junior, has started every game since arriving at Niagara.

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RIDER

GETTING INSIDE

Tommy Dempsey isn't shy when it comes to his expectations for his 2009-10 basketball team.

"We've been to postseason tournaments the last two years (CBI, CollegeInsider), now it is time to go to the NCAA Tournament," says the Rider coach.

He has reason for optimism, with four starters, including MAAC player of the year candidate Ryan Thompson, back.

The Broncs have matched the program record for wins in a three-year period, with 58, and there's more work to be done.

Like his brother before him, Thompson is a great player.

"Ryan is the best player in the MAAC and anytime your team steps on the court with the best player you should have a chance to win," Dempsey said. "His ability to play all over the court makes him a match up problem for people. He can shoot the three, take you off the dribble, or post you up. There are not many holes in his game right now. Ryan is also extremely unselfish. He is into winning and that makes my job as the head coach a lot easier."

He's versatile, and the arrival of transfer Jhamar Youngblood, the NEC rookie of the year two years ago (Monmouth) could slide Thompson off the ball.

Regardless, the Broncs, who won 19 games last year, are talented, deep, experienced and should be ready to make a run.

"Before you become a championship team there is a process involved," Dempsey said. "I feel we've lived the process over the past couple of years. A lot of these players have been here for both of those disappointing losses. Now there is nothing left for us to do except win it. We understand how difficult that will be this year and we are well aware that the league will be stronger than ever, but we can't hide behind that. We have to find a way to get it done. No excuses this year. It is time to raise another banner in Alumni Gym."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Rider's 58 wins the past three seasons matches the program record for wins over a three-year span.

--G Ryan Thompson averaged 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds and hit 42.2 percent of his 3-point shots.

--F Novar Gadson made the MAAC All-Rookie team last year while transfer (G) Jhamar Youngblood was NEC Rookie of the Year two seasons ago.

LAST YEAR: 19-13 overall, 12-6 in the MAAC; lost in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Tommy Dempsey (career 146-51); fourth year at Rider (58-39).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We are hoping to finally have the depth that we were looking for. We've had good teams the past couple of years but this year's team should be deeper than those teams. There is a lot of competition for playing time and that should increase the intensity of practice on a daily basis. We don't know who is going to start this year, and that is a good thing. We are also now more of a veteran team. Last year's team had eight players in the rotation that were freshmen and sophomores. I think we have learned a lot about ourselves and what we have to do to become more successful."

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Tommy Dempsey likes his incoming recruits and, don't forget, transfer guard Jhamar Youngblood is also a newcomer. "I think it is a strong class, a talented group that hopefully has another MAAC All-Rookie team member in it," said Dempsey, who has had an All-Rookie selection each of his three years. "One thing that we needed to do was add depth. We have a lot of key players back, all with extensive playing experience, so to get on the court as a freshman this year you better be pretty good. We went after kids who could come in and contribute and give us the depth we were missing last year." Johnson is considered the best of the bunch in terms of quick playing time. "Carl is going to be an important piece because he gives us some depth at the point guard position," Dempsey said.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: No one can accuse the Broncs of ducking competition. They open at Mississippi State Nov. 13, and then visit Virginia and Kentucky for the first two games of the Cancun Challenge. That ends in Mexico with games against Florida A&M and either Sam Houston or Oral Roberts. Rider hosts St. Joseph's Nov. 30 and visits Rutgers, Dec. 15, nine days after hosting Marist in the early conference opener.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Up. Tommy Dempsey was an interim coach when he took over three years ago and really has this thing on a roll.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Jhamar Youngblood, SG Ryan Thompson, SF Jermaine Jackson, PF Mike Ringgold, F Novar Gadson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Jermaine Jackson, who started 21 of the last 22 games last season, spent the summer working with the Great Britain National Team.

--F Mike Ringgold was seventh in the MAAC in field goal percentage, ninth in rebounding. "I wouldn't trade him for anybody in the league," says Rider coach Tommy Dempsey.

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SIENA

GETTING INSIDE

When Patrick Chambers took over the coaching job at Boston University, he talked about making the Terriers "the Gonzaga of the East." But when you think about it, Siena already has that title, right.

The Saints have won first-round games in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, were a No. 9 seed last year and you have the feeling the best is yet to come for Fran McCaffery's team.

"We've been very fortunate, we've gotten some very good players, but we've had some really good character on this team," McCaffery told Blue Ribbon. "The reason that we've had the success that we've had is that we've had really good people."

One of those really good people, in fact the guy many say is responsible for the surge in this program, ON the court, anyway, is Kenny Hasbrouck, and he's gone.

He will be missed. Sorely. But he left behind a team that returns the other four starters and has depth. This thing isn't going away, and people are picking the Saints in the Top 25.

Edwin Ubiles, one of the best players in the conference, leads the group coming back and there's all kinds of talent around him.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Siena won a school-record 27 games last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

--The Saints are trying to become the first MAAC team in two decades top win three league titles in a row.

--G Kenny Hasbrouck will be missed. "I've never coached a game at Siena that he didn't start," Siena coach Fran McCaffery said. "It will be a new experience, but he set an example of how to prepare and how to play, and that is going to linger for a while."

--Siena assistant Mitch Buonagaro was tabbed as the No. 3 Mid-Major assistant coach by CollegeInsider.com.

LAST YEAR: 27-8 overall, 16-2 in the MAAC; lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Fran McCaffery (career 175-131); fifth year at Siena (85-44).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "While we will have a very good team, it will be a dramatically different team. We have more depth than we have ever had, and that will present some new challenges in terms of accepting roles and playing time." -- Siena coach Fran McCaffery on this year's team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Freshmen will have a tough time cracking this lineup but guards Jonathan Breeden and Denzel Yard are set to fight for playing time.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Siena opens its season at Tennessee State Nov. 13 and also lists road games at Temple (Nov. 21) and Georgia Tech (Dec. 2), home games against St. John's (Nov. 27) and St. Joseph's (Dec. 29) and an early conference opener Dec. 7 at Iona.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Already on the rise, you wonder how much higher this Mid-Major can go. The Saints were a No. 9 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament and are being ranked this year.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Ronald Moore, SG Clarence Jackson, SF Edwin Ubiles, PF Alex Franklin, C Ryan Rossiter.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Edwin Ubiles is a legitimate candidate for MAAC player of the year honors and should make his third straight All-MAAC team. He enters the season needing 520 points to become Siena's third 2,000-point scorer. "He's got a complete game," says Siena coach Fran McCaffery. "He can dribble, pass and shoot. He can rebound, he can run and he's really consistent." Ubiles had 24 points and eight rebounds in the season-ending loss to Louisville.

--F Ryan Rossiter was the only Siena starter who failed to make an all-MAAC team last year, but ended his sophomore season on a roll; like 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds against Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, his fourth double-double in six games. He had only four points and four rebounds against Louisville.

--G Ronald Moore was just what a point guard is supposed to be last season and then some. How's this for an assist/turnover ratio? 224 to 77, 10 and two in the season finale.

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ST. PETER'S

GETTING INSIDE

It has taken a great deal of patience, but John Dunne can feel it happening in Jersey City.

"Through the second half of last season we learned what it takes to give yourself a chance to win," the Saint Peter's coach said prior to the start of practice. "When you give yourself a chance in the last two minutes of a game you anything can happen.

"Everyone in the program is excited that we have our core group back and that we added talent and depth to our roster."

The Peacocks are jokes no more and Wesley Jenkins and Co. brings back last year's top seven scorers and top dour rebounders.

Jenkins averaged 15.7 points per game last year and was named third team All-MAAC. He's just a junior, as are most of his pals, at least the ones who aren't sophs and freshmen.

"We have added depth to the backcourt and the depth that we added has talent," said Dunne. "The versatility of our players gives us several options in our backcourt alignment. We can go in a number of different directions with playing time throughout the game."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Saint Peter's hosts Monmouth in a 6 a.m. game that kicks off the Nov. 17 ESPN College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon. "We are excited to be playing on ESPN in front of a national audience against Monmouth as part of their 24 hours of college basketball marathon," said Saint Peter's head coach John Dunne. "Playing this game is very big for our program as it gives Saint Peter's a chance to play in front of a worldwide audience and gives our team a big challenge early in the season."

--G Wesley Jenkins made third team All-MAAC at the end of last season.

--Saint Peter's went from six wins to 11 last year.

LAST YEAR: 11-19 overall, 8-10 in the MAAC; lost in the NEC quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH: John Dunne (career 22-68); fourth year at Saint Peter's (22-68).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think our players understand that we have a chance to be very good if we play the game the right way. If we are committed to the defensive end of the floor and are committed to selfless team play we should have significant improvement. We can't overestimate how good we are because we still have to come together as a group and have a common goal of winning, but we also can't underestimate how good we can be." -- Saint Peter's coach John Dunne on his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: John Dunne finally has a core of young veterans leading his team, but is still expected to have two newcomers, redshirt freshman Darius Conley and junior college transfer Jeron Belin, in his starting lineup.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Saint Peter's is keeping things close for their non-conference schedule, with a trip to Pennsylvania and Lafayette the longest trip. The Peacocks play Seton Hall in Newark, Nov. 13 and then host Monmouth at 6 am Nov. 17. They play the two-game early conference opener, at Iona and at home for Fairfield, Dec. 4 and 6 and visit Rutgers, Dec. 22.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: This thing is on the rise. Former Seton Hall assistant John Dunne is finally getting somewhere and things should continue to get better.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Nick Leon, SG Wesley Jenkins, F Ryan Bacon, F Darius Conley, F Jeron Belin.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Wesley Jenkins was named third-team All-MAAC. He averaged 17.4 points and shot 47.6 from 3-point range in the last 10 games of the regular season. Jenkins finished third in the conference in steals and made 3-pointers, fifth in scoring and 10th in free-throw percentage and 3-point percentage.

--F Ryan Bacon led the conference in blocked shots and offensive rebounds, was third in overall rebounding and sixth in defensive rebounds and field-goal percentage.

--G Nick Leon was third in free-throw percentage and eighth in 3-pointers made.

--F Akeem Gooding had another year of eligibility remaining but was a senior school-wise and decided to leave.

--On a team that had 297 assists and 459 turnovers, G Brandon Hall had 79 assists and coughed it up 54 times. He was the only player on the roster with more assists than turnovers.