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| | Tuesday, November 7 Metro Atlantic Breakdown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ESPN.com
Senior, 6-3, Niagara Junior, 6-5, Iona Junior, 6-6, Rider Senior, 6-7, Manhattan Senior, 6-10, Canisius Player of Year ... Demond Stewart, G, Niagara Not even a stress fracture in his foot over the summer will slow down this high-scoring senior, who burst onto the MAAC scene last season and led the league with 22.9 ppg. His first game with the Purple Eagles was a 37-point, 11-rebound effort against Buffalo. He never slowed down, joining just six other players in the country with at least 50 3-pointers, 50 assists, 50 steals and 50 offensive rebounds. Introducing ... Earl Johnson, G, Iona The Gaels lose last season's player of the year, Tariq Kirksay, but add Syracuse transfer Johnson to the backcourt. Johnson was an All-Rookie selection in the Big East. He'll run the point, won't score as much as Kirksay, but he will be a tough matchup for any MAAC team. Also keep an eye on Manhattan's David Holmes, who if eligible, will be a 6-foot-6 force down low for the Jaspers. Best backcourt ... Niagara: Demond Stewart and Daryl Greene. What was thought to be a question mark for the Purple Eagles last season turned out to be their strength, as Stewart and Greene combined for 40.4 points a game. Stewart will likely be the conference's top player, while Greene brings a 17.5 average and five assists to the table for his junior run. Best frontcourt ... Canisius: Darren Fenn, Tory Jefferson and Toby Foster: While injuries depleted the Griffs last season, Fenn stayed healthy and dominated the MAAC paint. The 6-10 senior averaged 17.6 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. He's a pro prospect. Foster was a freshman thrown into duty because of Canisius' injuries a year ago and should benefit from the on-the-job training that saw him average 8.9 points and 4.5 rebounds. The 6-6 forward stepped outside to nail 54 3-pointers, as well. Jefferson (6-6) is a transfer from Rhode Island who sat out last season and should share minutes with Hodari Mallory, a 6-3 sophomore swingman, who also was hit by the injury bug last season. Team on way up ... Rider: With all five returners back and 11 returning overall, the Broncos should win more games on the road this season. Mario Porter's progression also makes Rider a team none of the top teams can overlook. Team on way down ... Siena: Paul Hewitt's recruits are still in Loudon, N.Y., but he's in Atlanta and four starters off last season's 24-victory team are gone, as well. It was a fun two-year run, but the Saints will struggle to win 20 games for a third consecutive season or defend their regular-season conference crowns. Tournament tough ... NCAA: Niagara. NIT: Iona. | ALSO SEE ESPN.com Preseason Top 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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