Taking a look back (Men)

Its been over a week since our beloved Canisius Golden Griffins ended their season in Albany. (Hey just like Eliot Spitzer!) The mens team had a rough go of it this year, being embarrassed several times and just not being able to win, while rolling through the lineup to find the right combination. The womens team had a building year for a young squad, but both their best players are back next year and I see a bright future for the ladies. So lets take a look at the numbers and see who did what and what future lies ahead for the Men first. The women's review will be later in the day.

Team Stats

Final Record 6-25 (Yikes) 0-15 on the road.
Points per game: 62 the other team: 73.2
Rebounds per game: 34.8 the other team: 37.2
Outscored on the season 2269 to 1923.

Player stats

Best scorer: Frank Turner with 12.9 ppg.
Most time on the Floor: Frank Turner-- 33.7 mpg
Best Shooter (taking in all stats) Greg Logins-- 47% Fg, 41% 3pt, and 71 FT%
Best rebounder: Greg Logins 5.5 Rebounds per game
Best in the paint: Tomas Vazquez-Simmons 5.3 rebounds a game and 84 blocks.

Individual awards

MVP: Tie Frank Turner and Greg Logins. Frank is the engine, but Logins came on very strong at the end of the year, so without him, they wouldn't been in the Tournament games.

Diamond in the rough: Bob Bevilacqua. A kid who was a walk on intermural player to starter at the end of the year averaging 26 minutes a game and 6.8 points per game. Canisius got better when Bob came into the lineup.

Rookie of the year: Greg Logins on a team that was filled with freshman and new players. Mr Logins was way ahead of everyone else, of course it took him till the end of the year to prove it, but should be a force for years to come for the Griffs.

Next years prediction

The team will be very young still. Frank Turner will be a junior and will be better after struggling without senior leadership he had in his freshman year. Greg Logins will be better and Jovan Robinson. Tom Parrotta will have more recruits, though with a last place team, it might be hard for them to come and plus they have to wear yellow shoes. Next year won't be a total success, but hovering around .500 isn't hard to see. By tournament time, if the team stays healthy and grow like they should. A possible deep run could be had, in what isn't a strong conference. 2 years from now is where the Griffs will be dangerous. Well at least this Canisius alum hopes.

MAAC Tourney Time!!!!!!(Move over ladies, time for the Men)

Well I have fond memories of the MAAC tournament, from the magical Canisius run of 2001. Celebrating the next year in my dorm room with my friends as they beat the #1 seed. Then going by myself to the tourney, when they were in Buffalo last. Going to the MAAC tournament alone, is maybe one of the saddest things to do in the world. Then last year taking a trip out to see my best friend and hanging out in Bridgeport watching crappy basketball. Especially the second game, where the Griffs got stomped.

I wasn't the only one to head to Bridgeport for the Canisius game. But I was one of the few.

Well this time the Tourney is closer in Albany. But I will not attend since I have better plans, like go see the Drowsy Chaperone at Shea's on Saturday night, it was for my girlfriends birthday, and yes I'm excited to go. Well it doesn't matter that much, since the Griffs are awful this year and have zero chance of winning the thing. And people around here are pumping up Niagara, but they ain't winning it either. Nor will I let them. So who will win the MAAC on the Men's side this year? I have come up with a check list.

1. Did they lose to Canisius, if yes, they will not win the MAAC.
This knocks out Niagara and Fairfield. You lose to the Griffs, you suck.

2. Can they score? Anyone below top 6, you're gone.
This knocks out Canisius (obviously), Iona, St Peters and Manhattan.

3. Can they stop people? Anyone below top 5, you're gone.
Good night Siena. I know they are the #1 seed and at home. The numbers are adding up to them being a little suspect.

4. Who's Left?
Rider, Loyola and Marist.

5. Who is better at Free throws?
Rider and Marist are tied for last, this means Loyola gets in the championship game.

6. Between Rider and Marist, who is better from the Floor?
Rider is first in field goal % and 3 point %. They get into the Championship game.

7. Who wins Rider or Loyola?
We go to the most obvious way to tell, who beat Canisius by the most points combined. Loyola beat Canisius by only 23 points in two games. Rider beat Canisius by a combined 82 points this year. This is a blowout.

Your 2008 MAAC Champions The Rider Broncs!