Dec. 7, 2002
FOR STARTERS...
The Saints begin conference play on the heels of their first loss of the season at Toledo on Tuesday night...Siena put together a stoical run at the Rockets after spotting the MAC member a 19-point lead on several occasions on the first half...Unfortunately for the Green and Gold, after carving the Toledo lead to just two points, they could not even muster a shot on their final three possessions of the game...The decisive possession culminated with a heartbreaking turnover as the Saints held the ball with under 30 seconds remaining down by a single basket...Regardless, the Saints are off to a a fast start and own three victories against the lone loss...Last season in took the team 10 games to amass its third win of the season...More impressive are the contributions Siena has received from its newcomers...Freshman Michael Haddix leads the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game and is second on the squad with 7.3 rebounds per contest...Classmates Antoine Jordan and Paul Williams have made surprisingly consistent contributions off the bench and junior college transfer Jamal Jackson has made the seamless transition to the team's floor general and is second on the Saints in minutes played...All this is crucial in that senior guard Prosper Karangwa has been able to shoulder less of the load in the early going...Karangwa was held scoreless in Siena's most recent contest and was actually on the bench when the team mounted its vicious rally...Canisius comes to town on a two-game winning streak that includes a 20-point triumph over highly regarded Niagara on their home court a week ago.
HEAD COACH ROB LANIER...
In just his first season at Siena, Head Coach Rob Lanier orchestrated one of the great comeback seasons in Siena basketball history...Lanier guided the Saints to the NCAA Tournament after beginning the season 4-10 and entering the conference championships as the #7 seed...He became the youngest coach in the NCAA Field of 64 and promptly led Siena to an Opening Round victory over Alcorn State and an impressive showing against National Champion Maryland in the Tournament's first round...It was the first time in 55 years a team with a losing record earned a tournament victory and the second team in NCAA history...Lanier has served on the coaching staffs at Niagara, St. Bonaventure, Rutgers and most recently Texas in his 11-year coaching career...Respected for his insight and vision and renowned for his recruiting and coaching tactics, Lanier has helped land some of the most heralded recruiting classes in the nation, and has coached some of the country's top teams...This marks his second season as a college head coach, though he led teams of college all-stars to back-to-back tournament championships in Greece the two summers prior to his arrival at Siena. Lanier on where the Saints stand: "We will learn a lot about our team on Saturday. The true measure of a team's character is how they respond to adversity. This is a new challenge for us--coming off our first loss of the season. We have a lot of new faces and it will be critical to see how everyone reacts. Canisius is playing great basketball and we are expecting a stiff challenge."
THE CANISIUS SERIES...
Siena leads the all-time series, which dates back to the 1940-41 season, 34-32 and holds a 29-19 advantage in Division I play...The Griffs have won three of the last five meetings, but Siena has won the last two encounters at Pepsi Arena...Siena avenged a 76-68 loss in Buffalo last year with a convincing 63-43 triumph 10 days later here at the Pepsi Arena...Dwayne Archbold scored 60 points in the two games and Prosper Karangwa was the only other Saints to reach double-figures in either affair, scoring 10 in Buffalo...Canisius was limited to just 25% shooting from the field and had just 19 points at the half in Siena's 20-point win in Albany.
KING'S OF THE MAAC...
Over the last four years Siena has won either the MAAC regular-season or the MAAC tournament championship...The Saints hold an all time 124-86 (59%) record in MAAC play and are 58-30 (66%) in league play over the last five seasons...Siena begins league play Saturday against Canisius.
BANNER CEREMONY...
Prior to tonight's game, a banner will be unveiled commemorating last season's MAAC Championship team...Each member of the 2001-2002 Saints will also receive a Championship Ring...Last year, the Saints rallied from the #7 seed to capture the conference championship in Albany for the first time in school history...Siena then advanced past Alcorn State in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament becoming the first team with a losing record to win an NCAA Tournament game in 54 years...The Saints eventually bowed out of the Championships with a 15-point loss to eventual National Champion Maryland...All graduated members of last year's team have been invited to the game and will be recognized during the ceremony.
QUICK START...
Siena got off to a 3-0 for the first time since the 1998-99 season...That year, the Green and Gold began the season with a 4-0 mark before losing to Marist...The Saints advanced to the NCAA Tournament after capturing its first conference tournament championship in a decade later that season...Last season, Siena did not pick up its third win until the 10th game of the season.
FRESH FROM THE START...
The Saints can only hope that the first four games of the season are consistent with the effort they will receive for the next four seasons from freshman power forward Michael Haddix...Despite playing just 18 minutes in the opener with Albany, Haddix scored a team-high 19 points, converting 8-of-9 field goal attempts...The 6-6 frosh also grabbed eight rebounds in his Siena debut...He followed that performance up with a 14-point, nine rebound effort in the win over Fordham...Against Northern Iowa he surpassed those lofty numbers with a 21-point, eight rebound effort...Haddix has connected on 70.6% of his field goal attempts this season...He leads the team with 15.8 points per game...A native of Philadelphia, Haddix is the son of former Philadelphia Eagle and Green Bay Packer Michael Haddix.
PAINTING THE PICTURE...
For the first time in recent memory, the Saints rely heavily on the efforts of their post players and figure to evoke a much more physical game plan...Twin towers Justin Miller (6-8/220) and Brent Sniezyk (6-10/275) start in the pivot and the front court has plenty of depth...In the win over UAlbany, Siena held a commanding 44-29 rebounding advantage and out-scored the Great Danes 44-16 in the paint...On the season, Siena has out-rebounded the opposition 159-123 and holds a 132-85 advantage in points in the paint. DISTRIBUTION AREA...
The Saints registered 21 assists in two of their four games this season...Karangwa has led the way with 22 assists on the season...The 21 assists (versus Fordham and Northern Iowa) equal the most assists Siena had in any game last season (vs. Niagara/MAAC Championship Game).
A CHECK OF THE POLLS...
In the preseason MAAC poll, the coaches picked Siena to finish fifth...The Saints finished the regular-season in a sixth place tie with Fairfield last year and earned the #7-seed in the MAAC Championships...The Green and Gold became the first team to win the Tournament Championship since the format changed--meaning the Saints had to win four games in four days...Two years ago, Siena was selected seventh in the preseason poll and earned a share of the regular-season title with a surprising 11-5 MAAC finish...Senior Prosper Karangwa was named to the 2002 All-MAAC First Team while junior center Justin Miller was selected to the conference's Third Team.
REDEFINING AUSTIN...
Junior forward Austin Andrews has broke into the starting lineup this season and provided the team with instant energy...The 6-9 forward currently leads the squad in three-point shooting converting 10-19 (52.6%) attempts from behind the arc...Against Northern Iowa, Andrews made his first four three-pointers forcing the Panthers out of their box-and-one defense...At Toledo he scored 12 points and had just one turnover in a team-high 34 minutes...Andrews is third on the team with 10.3 points per game.
A GLANCE AT THE SCHEDULE...
After experiencing perhaps the school's most ambitious schedule a year ago, the Saints partake in another rigorous slate this season...Many of the opponents remain the same, however Siena will have the fortune of playing 14 of their 27 games at home this season...During the remaining non-conference docket, the Green and Gold will renew acquaintances with Xavier and Providence...Siena has already defeated UAlbany, Fordham and Northern Iowa and suffered a setback at Toledo...Last year the Saints defeated the Great Danes in the inaugural Albany cup but suffered setbacks to Fordham, Xavier Toledo and Providence...The Friars and nationally ranked Musketeers highlight a non-league home schedule this month that also includes a visit from Delaware...Siena begins conference play this weekend against Canisius at Pepsi Arena on Saturday evening.
AY KARANGWA...
Many feel the 2002-2003 edition of the Siena men's basketball team will depend on the contributions received by senior guard Prosper Karangwa, but so far the Saints have shown the ability to score in other ways...Karangwa has faced a box-and-one defense twice this season and in each case, has done what was needed for the team to succeed...He currently leads the Saints in assists (5.5/game) and rebounds (8.3/game) and is second on the squad in scoring with 11.5 points per game despite being held scoreless at Toledo...Karangwa has captivated audiences across the globe with his play the past two summers as part of the Canadian National Team...Karangwa was second on the team with 11.1 points per game last year, but came into his own in the postseason...During Siena's MAAC Tournament run, he averaged just under 10 assists in garnering All-Tournament honors at point guard...In the first round nationally televised win over Alcorn State, he scored a career-high 31 points...In the opener, Karangwa struggled with his jumper, but still managed to score 16 points and grab eight rebounds...In Siena's win over Fordham (11/27), Karangwa just missed a triple-double with 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME...
Siena has enjoyed tremendous success at the Pepsi Arena, winning 70-of-100 regular-seasons contests since 1990...Over the last five seasons, the Saints' success has increased as the team has posted a 57-11 regular-season mark...During the same time period the Green and Gold have also excelled in postseason play at the Pepsi, winning 8-of 9 (losing only the 2000 MAAC Championship game)...The Saints recent success has not gone unnoticed in the Capital Region... Siena ranked 80th in the nation in attendance last year, drawing 85,651 patrons over 13 openings... However, last year's achievement was nothing new as the Saints have been among the top 85 in attendance each of the last four seasons, placing 84th in 1998/99, and 83rd in both 1999/00 and 2000/01...Siena has registered 56 consecutive crowds of 5,000 or more at the Pepsi Arena.
SEEING TRIPLE...
The trey was one of the major catalysts in Siena's tournament run a year ago, but at the outset, this year's team appears content to score its baskets the easy way...The Saints combined for 250 three-pointers during the 2002 postseason--29% of their total field goal attempts...This year, Siena has just 22 three-pointers in its first three games--just 20% of their total field goals...The difference is a direct result of improved inside play as well as the team's success with offensive rebounds and second chance points.
OFFENSIVE...
Lanier emphasizes the importance of each player crashing the glass for offensive rebounds on every shot...In the early going it appears his message is getting through...Siena has amassed 64 offensive rebounds (16 per game) compared to just 40 second chances for the opposition...Last season, Siena was out-rebounded on the offensive glass 446-402.
FANtastic...
The opener with UAlbany drew 11,762 fans to Pepsi Arena-the most to watch the Saints at home since their famed 1994 postseason NIT run to Madison Square Garden...The crowd was the seventh largest in school history and the ninth largest crowd nationwide to watch a college basketball game that evening (11/22)...It also was the largest non-Tournament crowd in school history...Below is a look at the top-10 crowds in Siena basketball history...
1. 15,727 vs. Tulane (3/22/94) W, 89-79
2. 14,084 vs. UMass (3/21/91) L, 82-80 (OT)
3. 12,808 vs. Georgia Tech (3/16/94) W, 76-68
4. 12,231 vs. Canisius (3/3/90) W, 71-53
5. 12,117 vs. Pittsburgh (11/28/90) L, 82-80
6. 11,844 vs. Iona (3/6/00) L, 84-80
7. 11,762 vs. UAlbany (11/22/02) W, 79-75
8. 11,691 vs. LaSalle (3/4/90) L 106-90
9. 11,488 vs. Manhattan (1/28/94) L 98-73
10. 11,477 vs. South Carolina (3/19/91) W 63-58
HOUSES OF HORRORS...
Siena lost its first six games away from home last season and finished the regular season with a 3-10 mark in away games...The Saints play five of their first eight games at home this season and already earned have a victory to show for their first trip outside the Capital Region.
RYAN TO RED SHIRT...
Lanier announced last week that freshman David Ryan will take advantage of the NCAA red-shirt policy and sit out the 2002-2003 season...Ryan (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) and the coaching staff each felt the decision was in the best interest of his future with the program: "David has a bright future here at Siena and we are extremely excited he is willing to stay with the program an extra year," Lanier said. "Both he and the coaching staff agreed that it was in his best interest to take advantage of the policy, realizing that the experience he gains will be mutually beneficial in the long run."...Ryan, a 6-7 combo guard averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds his senior season at Eastchester High School.
DEFENSIVE MINDED...
Siena ranked among the top eight teams nationally in defensive FG percentage at the end of the regular-season last year, holding opponents to just 38.6% shooting...The Saints limited opponents to just 68.9 points per game...Lanier readily states a stingy defensive field goal percentage as one of the team's goals each night...In its two wins last week, the Saints held Fordham and Northern Iowa under 30% from three-point range and lowered their field goal percentage defense to 39.6% on the season...Siena has scored 70.2 points per game this year (up from 69.9 last season) compared to 65.2 for its opposition.
BIG BUHRM TO MISS AT LEAST FIRST THREE WEEKS...
Senior Michael Buhrman, who has battled back from chronic knee problems suffered another setback in early November...Buhrman's knee collapsed when teammate Brent Sniezyk fell on him while attempting to block a shot...Fortunately, the diagnosis was just a sprain...He is expected to miss the first three-to-four weeks of the season.
FRESH FACES...
The Saints have a decidedly different look this season following the graduation of last year's established senior class...Junior College transfer Jamal Jackson has emerged as the team's starting point guard at the outset after leading Des Moines Area (Iowa) to consecutive top-5 finishes in the national junior college polls...Along with Jackson, freshmen Haddix, Antoine Jordan and Paul Williams have all season crucial minutes so far this season and each has answered the bell...In the opener with UAlbany, the three freshman combined for 33 points and 13 rebounds...Jackson dished out six assists and hauled down seven rebounds in his Siena debut...Against Northern Iowa, the fresh trio combined for half of the team's 40 rebounds.
CAN'T TEACH HEIGHT...
Siena boasts a tall and physically imposing team...The average height of the team is 6-6, with eight of the 14 members checking in at 6-7 or taller...Sophomore Brent Sniezyk is the tallest Saint at 6-10.
17'S THE MAGIC NUMBER...
Last year's late-season push, gave Siena 17 victories and their second NCAA appearance in four years...The Saints have won 17 or more games in each of the last five years...During the five-year run the Green and Gold averaged over 20 wins a season with a total record of 103-59 (64%).
BALANCED FIRST IMPRESSION...
Siena's win over UAlbany was do in large part to the distribution of the team's scoring...The Saints had five players reach double-figures in scoring for the first time since December 6, 2001...Austin Andrews (10), Sniezyk (11), Karangwa (16), Jordan (12) and Haddix (19) each reached double-digits...Much of the credit for this can be attributed to first-year point guard Jamal Jackson who registered six dimes in the victory...The team's rebounding was also spread out with six players compiling at least four boards...Against Fordham, Karangwa and Haddix combined for more than half of Siena's final tally and in the win over Northern Iowa, Andrews and Haddix accounted for 35 of Siena's 69 points...Tommy Mitchell led the team in scoring against Toledo with 14 points.
IT'S MILLER TIME...
Junior center Justin Miller played a vital role during last year's postseason run...The 6-9 center averaged nine points and six rebounds over the final seven games of the season...The highlight of Miller's season came during a 14-point, 12-rebound and four-block performance in the MAAC championship game victory over Niagara...Miller, who starts at forward, scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win over Fordham.
BREAKING THROUGH WITH BRENT...
Perhaps the most improved players during the first three games has been center Brent Sniezyk...The 6-10 sophomore totaled 20 starts a year ago, averaging 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game...In the Albany victory, Sniezyk scored 11 points and registered four rebounds...He added eight against Fordham and is currently sixth on the team with 6.5 points per game...Sniezyk's playing time has been limited as a result of foul trouble through the first three games--he is averaging only 17.5 minutes per contest.
NEARLY FREE
Over the last five years Siena has ranked among the top schools in the nation at the free throw line...Siena converted on 74% of their attempts in each of the last two seasons...That success continued in the win over UAlbany as the Saints were 16-of-20 from the charity stripe...Since then, the team's free throw percentage has dropped sharply...The Saints enter today's contest shooting just 67.1% from the free-throw line.
SAINTS INK THREE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD...
Broadalbin native Mike Beers and Philadelphia's Joel Green have returned national letters of intent to attend Siena beginning next fall...Beers is a 6-2, 185-pound point guard who attends Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. after completing his high school career at nearby Broadalbin-Perth last spring. Widely recognized as one of the area's top long-range shooters during his playing days in the Capital Region, Beers orally committed to the program over a year ago..He averaged nearly 20 points per game his final two seasons at Broadalbin-Perth...Green averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and nearly four blocked shots per game at Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, last season. He currently attends Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. the prep school that produced Korleone Young, who was a second round pick (40th overall) of the Detroit Pistons in the 1998 draft...Green stands 6-8 and checks in at 190-pounds. He figures to add versatility to the Saints forwards.
SIENA IN THE MEDIA...
Aside from the gameday broadcast, the Siena coaches' show airs weekly on Today's Hit Music 88.3 "The Saint"...The voice of the Saints, Robert Lee, hosts the show, which features interviews and insight from men's coach Rob Lanier and women's coach Gina Castelli...The coaches' show airs each Wednesday barring conflicts from 6-7 p.m until the end of Tournament play...Also, the area's newest sports talk show, Siena Sports Talk, runs weekly on "The Saint" from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday's...Siena graduate Anthony Marino hosts the show, which runs Wednesday afternoons from 4-5 p.m...The Siena Basketball Television Show, Saints Alive!, will air weekly on Time Warner Cable at the beginning of the calendar year...The show features Lanier and Castelli, and provides highlights from recent games, player features and a look ahead to what is on the horizon for Siena basketball, along with other features on Siena.
SIENA ANNOUNCES TV PACKAGE...
Today's game will be telecast throughout the Capital Region to Time Warner Cable subscribers...The broadcast will be the first of five Siena basketball games to be aired throughout the Capital Region this season..."We are excited to further our partnership with Time Warner through the live telecasts of selected home games again this season," Siena's Director of Athletics John D'Argenio noted. "This partnership increases the exposure Siena athletics receives in the area and provides our supporters with another avenue by which to follow Siena basketball."...Doug Sherman, the sports anchor at WRGB-Albany and chief broadcaster for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's Television package, will again call the action alongside color commentator Tom Huerter, who regularly serves as Siena's radio commentator...The televised games will air on Channel 2 in the Albany/Troy area and Channel 14 in Schenectady and its surrounding suburbs. Each game will be telecast live and be replayed on Sunday at noon.
The following is a complete listing of this season's televised contests:
Siena Men: Saturday, December 7 vs. Canisius @ 7 p.m.
Siena Men: Saturday, December 21 vs. Delaware @ 1 p.m.
Siena Women: Saturday, January 10 vs. Manhattan @ 6 p.m.
Siena Men: Saturday, January 10 vs. Iona @ 8 p.m.
Siena Men: Saturday February 3 vs. Rider @ 7 p.m.
KEEPING UP...
The official Siena athletics website, SienaSaints.com is the one stop source for all the latest Siena basketball news...The 2002-2003 Media Guide, along with the latest game notes, box scores and statistics are all available on-line...Siena fans across the country also are able to log-on to the Siena home page and listen live to each men's and women's game...Also, fans will receive instant statistical updates during each home men's and women's basketball contest.
