Oct. 11, 2006
What a difference a year makes.
As preseason works progressed in Fran McCaffery's first season in Loudonville a year ago, many of the questions he faced from the Capital Region press centered on whether or not his team could win a single game.
How could they with no player taller than 6-7 junior shooting forward David Ryan in the starting lineup? And why would they? After all, Siena was coming off a program worst 24-loss season and had lost its two leading scorers from that year to injury and transfer.
The MAAC coaches agreed, as all of them picked Siena to finish last in the annual preseason poll.
As it turned out, all of them were wrong.
Very wrong.
With a depleted roster that generally consisted of a seven-man rotation, the 2005-2006 Saints were the fifth most improved team in all of Division I, winning 15 games and finishing fourth in the MAAC with a 10-8 league mark.
Not surprisingly, unexpected success has yielded enhanced expectations. In New York's State Capital, Siena basketball reigns supreme; supporters and media alike scrutinize every detail of the program. The analysis this season has yielded a much different outlook.
McCaffery hopes this time the experts are right.
"Last year we started to lay the groundwork for the program we hope to become," McCaffery said. "I have high expectations for this season. I am excited with the players we have coming back. They have a clear sense of direction and play the game with confidence and purpose. We are also a much deeper team this year, which will allow us to accomplish more on both sides of the floor."
BACKCOURT
A major reason for last season's surprising success was the emergence of MAAC Rookie of the Year Kenny Hasbrouck. The first player signed by McCaffery after he inherited the program in April, Hasbrouck set a Siena record by capturing the league's weekly top freshman honor eight times.
Hasbrouck is the Saints top returning scorer. He averaged 12.4 points per game in his debut campaign. The Baltimore native is an explosive talent who will be asked to diversify his game this winter.
The highly publicized off-season loss of Third Team All-MAAC selection Kojo Mensah (transferred to Duquesne) has left a void at the point. Hasbrouck has been spending the majority of his time in practice as the team's chief ball handler, and seems well suited to assume the reigns. His composure and assist/turnover ratio (a team-best 3/2 in 2005-2006) indicate he should be able to protect the basketball and get the Saints into their offensive sets.
Freshman Ronald Moore is a true point guard who will add depth and likely see increased action due to the loss of Mensah. Moore has the athleticism and handle to breakdown opposing defenses while keeping defenders honest with a capable jump shot.
Sharp-shooting off guard Tay Fisher had a breakthrough sophomore campaign starting all 28 games and raising his scoring average nearly six points. Fisher is a deadly 3-point shooter and a fearless defender. He brings great energy to McCaffery's up-tempo scheme. Fisher averaged 33 minutes per game last season, often drawing the assignment of the opposition's top scoring threat.
Classmate Mike Beers gives the Saints another dimension when he is in top form. Beers extends opposing defenses with his NBA 3-point range, and has improved his defense and ball handling each season. Sophomore JG Braga struggled at times with adjusting to the Division I game last season, but showed flashes of the player he could become in the game action he did see. Classmate Justin Maxwell saw limited action a year ago, but McCaffery has credited him with one of the best pure shots on the 17-man roster.
Walk-ons Mick Doemel and Darius Haddix add depth to the backcourt and help McCaffery better utilize practice time after making due with last year's limited numbers.
FRONTCOURT
Senior captain David Ryan exemplifies perseverance and selflessness. The unquestioned leader of the 2006-2007 squad, Ryan enters his fifth year at Siena after red-shirting his freshman campaign. In his five years with the program Ryan has endured injury, coaching changes, position changes and limited team success (prior to last season). Through it all, his attitude and work ethic have been consistently upbeat and focused, allowing McCaffery to incorporate his coaching philosophies with the confidence that all players will follow Ryan's lead and buy in with no questions asked.
On the court, Ryan's maturation has been equally impressive. He averaged 9.8 points and 3.7 rebounds last season, but the numbers only tell part of the story. In each game, he was out-sized, forced into the role of center due to the lack of frontline depth. His seemingly impossible success with this assignment game in and game out allowed for the Saints to win more often than not.
The return of 1000-point scorer Michael Haddix will allow Ryan to move back to a more natural position this year. Haddix is the wild card when one tries to forecast the Saints' upcoming campaign. At his best, he is the MAAC's top big man. A unique combination of soft hands and brute strength, Haddix has proven his merit against some of the best post players in the country throughout his career. If McCaffery is able to isolate Haddix with his back to the basket, he will find a way to score.
The only questions surrounding the creative big man concern his health. Haddix missed all of last season after tearing his Achilles' tendon while playing with the MAAC All-Stars in China. His rigorous training regiment from the time of the injury have hopes high that he will return in full health. Still it is uncertain how long it will take for him to adjust to live game action or McCaffery's system.
Mousse Diop did all the coaching staff could hope for last season after transferring to Siena from Iowa Western C.C. Diop is an active post presence who gives everything he has and is always seeking to improve his game. Despite picking up basketball late, Diop was able to offer McCaffery a viable option inside last year. His dramatic improvement as the season advanced and shot-blocking prowess will likely earn him quality minutes again this year.
McCaffery began to address the pending loss of Haddix and Ryan with the addition of several quality frontline recruits. Leading the way at the onset is Edwin Ubiles, the consensus top incoming player in the MAAC according to myriad of scouting services. Ubiles is an energetic wing who plays above the rim and drew attention from several major programs after a stellar preparatory career at St. Thomas More. He is the most skilled athlete on the team, and has the potential to crack the starting rotation.
Ubiles is flanked by Alex Franklin, a 6-5 forward who equips similar skills. Franklin comes from a winning program and is expected to contribute quickly. Physical forward Cory Magee enjoyed a standout scholastic career in Western New York and was a late addition to the roster after initially committing to MAAC member Canisius. Magee was highly thought of by the Siena staff throughout the summer of 2005 for his willingness to fight for rebounds and consistently finish around the basket. Rounding out the decorated class is 6-10 James Carr. The tallest member of this year's team arrives in Loudonville fresh off a senior campaign in which he helped Wings Academy to a 32-1 record and a final four appearance in the New York City (PSAL) Championships. He averaged seven blocked shots per game in his two years as a varsity starter.
Sophomore Erik Harris saw limited action last season, but has added strength and has a year of experience under McCaffery. The Saints anxiously await Josh Duell's eligibility. The junior transferred from Vermont this summer after averaging close to double figures as a sophomore and earning America East All-Rookie team honors participating on the Catamounts NCAA Second Round team as a freshman. He will sit out this season per NCAA regulations.
SCHEDULE
Just over 17 years ago, Siena officially arrived on the national Division I college basketball scene, upsetting national power Stanford in the first round of its initial NCAA Tournament appearance in Greensboro, N.C.
The season begins with a cross-country trip to play the Cardinal on November 11. Siena's 80-78 in the 1989 NCAA Tournament is widely regarded as the biggest win in program history. Stanford will return the game in Albany next season.
The contest starts a four-game road trip to begin the season. The Saints also travel to Holy Cross (Nov. 18), Dartmouth (Nov. 22) and NJIT (Nov. 27).
Siena's home season begins November 29 against highly regarded Hofstra. The annual UAlbany game is scheduled for Saturday, December 2 at 7 p.m. The Great Danes are one of two teams on the schedule (Iona) that qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament. Hofstra, Manhattan, Maryland and Stanford each played in the 2006 Postseason NIT.
The Saints have four of their first six MAAC games at home, including match-ups with Niagara and Rider on the initial weekend of conference play.
The calendar year concludes with three non-conference games. Road games at Buffalo and Maryland bookmark a home contest against Tennessee State on December 28.
Siena travels to Canisius and Niagara to start 2007 and then returns home (to the renamed Times Union Center) to begin a four-game home stand on January 9 against Loyola. The team's January 15 home game against Marist and January 19 home game against Fairfield are both part of the MAAC television package.
The team's remaining non-conference games include a home date with NJIT and a BracketBuster Saturday a game against an opponent yet to be determined on February 17.
The regular-season concludes with a February 24 game at Marist which will be telecast on ESPN2. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m.
