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Thursday, March 31, 2011
Chasing Swagger, One Win at a Time (Stony Brook Press)
By Vincent Barone 
Across Steve Pikiell’s desk hang two pictures that serve as a paradigm of Stony Brook athletics.
One is a photo of Pikiell’s first home game as head coach of the men’s basketball team against Navy in the 2005-2006 season. Visible in the frame are perhaps three or four fans scattered in the largely empty bleachers of Pritchard Gymnasium. The Seawolves finished 4-24 overall that year, dead last in the America East Conference.
“That picture right there, that was my first game. It’s kind of, eh. I think 95 people were there,” said Pikiell.
“And then that’s when we played Illinois,” Pikiell admired, pointing to the picture that hangs directly above, a shot taken from Stony Brook’s first round game of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament against Illinois on March 17, 2010. This time the focus was on a thronging student section, just a fraction of the 4,423 fans that sold out Stony Brook Arena for the game, which was televised on ESPNU. With a final record of 22-10, it was Stony Brook’s first ever postseason bid as a Division I school.
Men’s basketball is coming off another historic season. For the first time in the program’s history, 11 games were televised, four of which were aired nationally by ESPN. It was also the first time that the team competed in the America East Conference Championship, where the Seawolves fell to Boston University, 56-54. Stony Brook came up just two points away from their first ever NCAA tournament bid.
“When I first took over the program we never had a sell out. Now we sell out the arena; we sell out Pritchard,” said Pikiell. “There’s a little buzz here. People are excited about what’s going on.”
Along with men’s basketball, attendance for men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, baseball and football have all risen over the past four years. This growth and exposure is far cry from the athletic department of eight years ago, when an exuberant 34-year-old Jim Fiore took the role as Athletic Director of the university.
The position opened up in the spring of 2003, while Fiore worked as the Senior Associate Athletic Director of Princeton University. When a search firm hired by Stony Brook contacted Fiore, a Long Island native, about the job, he thought “Stony Brook? I can’t go to Stony Brook, dude. Seawolf? What’s a seawolf?” He grew up on Long Island, and Stony Brook, athletically, would never have been an option, he said.
After some cajoling by the firm, he agreed to meet a university committee at LaGuardia Airport. With a youthful blithe, Fiore presented the committee with bold demands and lofty standards for university athletics. He came out of the meeting thinking that there was no chance of getting the job.
Instead his cavalier attitude worked to his advantage. Stony Brook expressed interest. Fiore decided to come to campus to meet with erstwhile President Shirley Strum Kenny.
“I met with the president alone, and I loved her. I’ll never forget it. I called my wife on my cell phone on the way home and said, ‘Hey, uh, we got a problem.’ She said, ‘What?’ and I said, ‘This president is great.’” Fiore, who believes that one’s job is only as good as one’s boss, was on board.
Fiore took the helm of athletics just four years after the Seawolves moved to Division I in 1999—and he was well aware of the work needed to make the fledgling program shine.
“We didn’t have a school color eight years ago. Wolfie was half dead. Now, Wolfie is an icon for this place,” said Fiore. “We won one conference championship when I got here–in our history. One. We had six last year alone.
Still, Wolfie has a long way to go.
Fiore’s grand mission is to one day have Stony Brook sit not only as a top research school, but a leader in athletics in the northeastern region—competing right there with the likes of athletic powerhouses Penn State and Rugters University, both fellow state schools. It’s a tall order that even Fiore admits probably will not happen while he’s at the university. But the potential, he says, is undeniable.
With a premiere men’s lacrosse team that ranks as one of the nation’s best, a budding men’s basketball team that is competing on a national level, Stony Brook has garnered an impressive amount of attention for such a comparatively young university.
“There’s a little mystery here to Stony Brook because these other schools have been around longer,” said Pikiell. “We played [Boston University] in the final. That was there 15th final. They have 107 years of basketball, while we’re in year 46th of basketball. So there’s a little newness to us, which I think excites TV.
Yet, the New York State budget crisis is challenging the recent growth of the athletic department. The question of where athletics fit in a traditionally academic-minded university is becoming more and more relevant.
Does Stony Brook University have the financial and cultural means to rival the athletics department of a Rutgers, a Penn State or even a University of Florida.
The department is suffering cutbacks in state funding just like every other at Stony Brook. And compared to the $65,297,785 athletic budget at Penn State, Stony Brook’s 2009-2010 athletic budget of $18,097,141 is pocket change.
Thirty percent of that athletic budget came from New York State. That number, which is mostly appropriated to coaches’ salaries, has dropped from 34 percent in 2009, and Fiore expects that number to fall again in 2011.
Despite the drop in state funding from 2009 to 2010, the overall athletic budget has managed to rise to $2,982,640. This growth is possible through a plethora of revenue sources, from self-generating streams (ticket sales, facility rentals, concessions, sponsorships and sports camps), to donations, institutional support, and student fees. All together, these streams account for the large majority of the yearly athletic funds.
But while state funding wanes during the most salient point of Stony Brook’s athletic program, its self-sufficiency is anchoring it through these trying financial times.
“We rent everything; we’ll rent this piece of carpet if you’re going to give us money,” said Fiore, who leases out sports facilities to high school championships, commencements, I-CON, the annual science fiction convention which brings thousands of people to the Arena, and the Undergraduate Student Government’s end-of-the-year concerts. “We rent the hell out of this place.”
Now students will have to wait and see where President Samuel Stanley draws the line for future institutional support. His predecessor, President Kenny was a staunch supporter of the athletic program who helped lift the program to Division I. Last month, administration at Stony Brook announced, much to the ire of students, that there would be an increase in broad-based fees, which includes athletic services, among others.
After the fee increase announcement, the Undergraduate Student Government surveyed 800 students to prioritize what students are willing to pay more to prevent. The results show athletics falling low on students’ concerns. Just more than 20 percent of the participants said that they were willing to pay more to prevent the elimination of their favorite sports team.
According to the USG survey, which was published on its website, only “campus events” fell lower on students’ priorities, with just less than 20 percent saying that they are willing to pay more to prevent their elimination.
The questions, though, failed to include the cost of preventing these cuts in services, which, in actuality, is as small as $5 per student. For example, the sports-related question reads: “How do you feel about the following fee-based services? [Eliminating your favorite athletic team on campus.]” And many answers read something like, “As long as fees don’t go up, I can deal with it.”
It is also worth mentioning that USG surveyed just 4.8 percent of undergraduates. Taking the survey with a grain of salt, the top priorities of participants prioritized academics. Preventing the discontinuing of their major, delaying their graduation, and discontinuing other majors in general were recorded as the chief issues.
The survey relates to the long-posed question of t he role of athletics at Stony Brook University and why the department is getting the funding and attention that it is.
“I think people that [ask] that are uninformed. They don’t know the facts,” said Fiore, who noted that SAT scores and out-of-state enrollment have both gone up in the past eight years, coinciding with the athletic department’s growth. “They can’t argue with the school spirit and the fact that the academic profile of the campus has risen since we’ve gone Division I. It hasn’t had any ill effect on [the university.]”
To put state funding of university athletics into perspective, over the past three years $15,924,123 has been pumped into athletics, while $31,272,035 of state funding has been allocated to university research, one of the primary focuses of Stony Brook.
Like the invaluable exposure garnered through the research, the national coverage of Stony Brook athletics is equally beneficial to non-athletic services. During nationally televised games on the ESPN network, the athletics department partners with the medical center to air commercials for Stony Brook Hospital.
Despite the national coverage, Fiore is still challenged to cultivate a sports culture here at Stony Brook’s more isolated campus.
“The college town thing is a big piece. Stony brook is fragmented. You kind of need a downtown,” said Fiore. “It’s a big challenge for us in recruiting, because there is a perception issue that you have to overcome.”
The University of Connecticut, an athletic force, has the same problem, but they are in a sense building an artificial “college town” with restaurants and retail outlets right on campus. For that, Stony Brook simply does not have the capital.
Infrastructure, including Stony Brook’s athletic facilities, is also proving to be an impediment to the program’s growth.
“Academically, we cast shadows on those guys (Rutgers, Connecticut, Penn State), said Fiore. “If we had Big Ten facilities, we would be in the Big Ten, because academically, we’re there.”
Fiore admitted that the 1,700-capacity Pritchard Gymnasium, where the men’s basketball team played the majority of their games this past season, is too small. “I’m concerned that students are going to get shut out. We can get 400 students in there, and then I have a problem.”
Stony Brook Arena has a capacity of 4,000 plus, but it is in dire need of renovations. Structural liabilities have rendered the arena largely unusable. The men’s basketball team played once in the arena, against Maine, which was aired on ESPNU. More than half of the sell-out crowd would have been turned away had that game been played in Prichard Gym.
Even worse for Fiore, the $20,000,000 arena facelift allocated by the state has been frozen as part of former New York State Governor Paterson’s order to shut down all state funding. The money is still allocated, however, and Fiore is working with President Stanley and local politicians to help free the money.
“We need an arena. We have the least aesthetically pleasing gym in the league,” said Fiore, referring to Pritchard. “The worst one in the league. And look at what Steve Pikiell has done with that program. If we ever get a facility, we can reach that higher level.”
Pikiell’s biggest plight, he says, is not Pritchard Gymnasium, but rather trying to overcome the long winter breaks at Stony Brook, which fall right in the middle of his basketball season. “You have students starting to come to games early and then they go away for break…by the time they come back there’s a month left of the season.”
The silver lining, though, is that attendance of men’s basketball games is not dipping when students go away for break. When the Seawolves faced Albany on Jan. 17, 1,630 fans came to watch the televised game on MSG Plus.
“We have more families coming to games, more of the community here,” said Pikiell. “You just have to reach your net out a little wider and find people who are involved in basketball.”
Fiore has seen much of the same and believes that the community at Stony Brook is the most untapped resource. “Fifteen thousand employees come to work here everyday,” said Fiore. “Twenty-five thousand students. Forty thousand people converged on this place today. Look at that community, the branches. So that’s why I think we can be special.”
With limited resources, Fiore will have to scrap his way to Division I acclaim—something he’s accustomed to.
“I’m a blue-collar guy. I’m Stony Brook,” said Fiore. “I was a tough blue-collar kid. Like you guys, I grinded it out, whatever you get you earn—that’s my background.”
And while a cut to state funding looms, Fiore keeps looking forward. “We’re growing—and I refuse to stop.”
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tropeano, McNitt combine on no-hitter to lead Stony Brook University baseball past Army
The Seawolves carried a perfect game into the ninth but Shaun Wixted reached on a Stony Brook error to start the ninth. Steve May then sacrificed Wixted to second but Wixted was picked off second for the second out. McNitt then got David Darnell to ground out to second to complete the no-hitter.
It was the second no-hitter in the last five games for the Seawolves, who got a no-hitter from freshman right-hander Frankie Vanderka (Levittown, N.Y.) on March 18. Tropeano (4-1) pitched the first 6.0 innings for the Seawolves, striking out seven. McNitt hurled the final 3.0 innings to earn his third save.
Stony Brook jumped on top with an unearned run in the third. Freshman Matt Hubbard (Northridge, Calif.) singled with one out and then advanced to third on an error from Wixted in right field on a ball hit by junior Pat Cantwell (West Islip, N.Y.).
Marshall followed with an RBI single to score Hubbard with the only run of the game. Marshall became the fifth player in Stony Brook history to record 200 hits with a single in the first inning. He finished with two of Seawolves five hits.
Logan took the loss for Army despite allowing just an unearned run on five hits in 7.0 innings. He also struck out six.
The teams will wrap up the quick two-game series on Monday. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Stony Brook officially welcomes Ryan Anatol
The Stony Brook Athletics family officially welcomed new head men's soccer coach Ryan Anatol during a reception in the Goldstein Center Friday. Anatol, named head coach on Feb. 18, comes to the Seawolves with 10 years of coaching experience at a high collegiate level.
In front of an audience of more than 50 people, including members of the men's soccer team, Anatol thanked the Stony Brook search committee, his family and his mentors for the opportunity he has been given. He then spoke about building a winning tradition at Stony Brook with the foundation being hard work on the field, off the field and in the classroom.
Anatol recently completed his sixth season as an assistant under head coach George Kiefer at USF, helping the Bulls to an impressive 74-33-18 (.664) record, five NCAA Tournament appearances and one BIG EAST championship. In a conference that has sent seven teams to the NCAA Tournament in four of the last six seasons, the Bulls compiled a 36-18-10 (.641) mark in BIG EAST games during his tenure. Anatol helped guide the Bulls to the Elite Eight of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the program's best-ever finish.
Anatol also served as USF's recruiting coordinator, helping bring in several top recruiting classes, all six of which were ranked in the top 25 in the nation, according to College Soccer News. Since his arrival at USF, the Bulls have had 23 All-BIG EAST selections, nine All-Region picks and two NSCAA All-Americans (Yohance Marshall and Jeff Attinella). Eight of Anatol's players have gone on to be drafted and/or currently play in Major League Soccer.
Anatol has garnered multiple honors for his efforts. He was named one of College Soccer News' Top Assistant Coaches for 2011, one of just 20 assistant coaches in the country to receive the honor. He also was one of only 12 assistants to receive the honor after the 2008 season. In 2009, he was named the NSCAA Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Glenn "Mooch" Myernick National Assistant Coach of the Year.
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In addition to his work on the field, Anatol has been a mentor to his student-athletes off the field, helping the Bulls earn the NSCAA Team Academic Award for four consecutive years from 2007-10. Two of his student-athletes, Zak Boggs and Francisco Aristeguieta, were named BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year
Seawolves men's soccer coach brings 10 years of coaching experience to Long Island.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Newsday.com - SBU's new soccer coach looks toward top
March 24, 2011 by STEVEN MARCUS
"When I had a chance to see them play in South Florida, right away I knew it was a talented team," Anatol said. "When the job opened, that's what was intriguing. It was a large sophomore class. I knew right away there was some good talent coming back."
Anatol replaced Cesar Markovic, who left after seven seasons to coach at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Stony Brook has played in Division I since 1999 and made the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2009. "My expectations are no different than for any of our other programs," athletic director Jim Fiore said. "We expect to regularly challenge for an America East Conference title, return to the NCAA Tournament and compete nationally. Along with coach Anatol, we have high expectations for the 2011 season and beyond."
Anatol, 32, shares that view, saying, "It's not just about doing OK in the conference." In his six seasons as USF's recruiting coordinator, the Bulls went 74-33-18 with five NCAA appearances. Before that, he spent two years at Akron, the 2010 NCAA champion.
"Definitely, recruiting is the life blood," Anatol said. "I have contacts in the Midwest, relationships on the East Coast, and also in soccer, you have to have international contacts. Another positive fact is that New York is a hotbed for soccer. [The formula] is to keep the best players in the state and go out, supplement talent from across the country and internationally."
Anatol has held several meetings with the team. "My first impression is that he really knows a lot about soccer," said midfielder Leonardo Fernandes, who played at North Babylon High School and was a freshman on the conference- winning team at Stony Brook in 2009. "Not everyone's spot is guaranteed. Everyone is playing like the first day of preseason. Everything is headed in the right direction. We only lost three players [to graduation]. We definitely should win the America East; that's our main goal."
Anatol's vision for Stony Brook goes way beyond an occasional appearance in the NCAAs. "The best thing about college soccer is that you don't have to be at an ACC school or Big Ten school to do very well nationally," he said. "Akron proved that, winning the whole thing as a mid-major. You can be part of a smaller conference and do very well nationally. It's not just about doing OK in the conference. Once you can consistently win the conference, that puts you in the NCAA Tournament. Once you get into the NCAA Tournament, you can have some success nationally."
Stony Brook Mens' Basketball Coach Talks Offseason Plans
The Stony Brook men's basketball team's season ended just short of an NCAA tournament berth. A couple of weeks removed from that heartbreak, Seawolves head coach Steve Pikiell spoke with Patch about the season and their future.
Patch: Since the season ended, what have you been doing this offseason?
Steve Pikiell: We have a recruit coming in tonight and I just met with all my players. You have your scheduling and you have to get your guys on the off-season plan. We're going to take a tour this summer to Europe and we have full scholarships next year for juniors, so you're never really in the offseason to be honest with you. It's good when you're busy.
Patch: You're taking a tour of Europe in the summer?
SP: As soon as we get the details ironed out we're going to take a summer tour as they call it. You get to do it once every four years and this summer seemed like a good year to do it with our guys. It's in the bid process now because in the state of New York you have to bid these things out. It'll be a great opportunity for us this summer to play some games in Europe and get our guys some practices, get together. It'll be a great experience. We've come a long way with this program. We're getting there, we're getting there.
Patch: You came two points shy of making the NCAA tournament this year, but you did take a few steps forward. Looking back what are your thoughts on the season?
SP: Last year we won the league regular season for the first time, then this year we get to the league conference finals for the first time. It's kind of like a ladder. We're making steps and we haven't quite gotten to the top yet, but we're getting closer and I'm excited about that. When I took over the job we weren't going anywhere and we made huge jumps in the last few years, in all areas. [We've had jumps] in academic areas, in graduation, in fan support. We 14 buses come to our game at BU, we sold out seven games this year. We've just made a lot of jumps and everyone wants to get to the NCAA tournament, but you have to get up to the plate enough times to swing at the ball before you can hit it out of the park.
Patch: What are your recruiting goals for the offseason?
SP: We only have one senior, Chris Martin, graduating and we signed a player who can really play. We have a big junior class so we're really focused on high school juniors.
Patch: Who was the early signee?
SP: Scott King, a player out of Holderness School in New Hampshire, we signed him early in Novemeber. Chris Martin is graduating this year, that's the one scholarship we have and we signed Scott King, who's in prep school this year, so he'll be here in the fall.
Patch: What position does he play?
SP: He's a 6-9 stroker, shooter, three spot.
Patch: During the BU game it looked like you were trying to dump it inside but weren't really successful. Is there any chance of scoping out a big body to take over that role?
SP: Dallis Joyner is the best big guy in the conference. He's got to have that kind of season. We have Anthony Mayo who I think is the best young big guy in the conference, can really score. We have Al Rapier, who was a first year guy this year, he shot 58 percent from the floor, who I really like. We have Tommy Brenton, arguably our best player, back next year, who's a front-court guy. I'm excited about what we have. We're as big as anybody in the conference next year and we'll have experience, we'll have shot blockers. We'll have the leading rebounder in the conference (Brenton in '09-'10). We only have one senior this year and he didn't play in half our games due to injury, so I'm excited about what we have.
Patch: So you do expect Tommy Brenton to make a full recovery, he won't lose a step?
SP: No, he's the best forward in the league.
Patch: The team was struck by the injury bug this year. Is there any little thing that can be changed to prevent that?
SP: We had broken noses, we had scratched corneas. Tommy has never missed one day or one practice in two years and then he's out for the season. I don't have the answers for the injuries, I just know we had enough of them to last the next five years.
Patch: Who do you see as a breakout performer for next season?
SP: I like a lot of our guys. I think Dave Coley is one of the more talented guards in the league, he was one of our freshman. Anthony Mayo showed signs of being real good. Eric McAlister, a freshman that I love, I think he's one of the most athletic guys in the conference. Some of these guys have to emerge. We're going to have four starters back and we're going to add Tommy Brenton back to that mix. I'm looking at all of them, they all have a chance to have a great season.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Crowley sets team mark in Seawolves' loss (Newsday)
When Kevin Crowley envisioned his record-breaking performance, he couldn't have imagined the evening going quite like this.
The senior midfielder became Stony Brook's all-time points leader, but the No. 12 Seawolves were trounced by 10th-ranked Cornell, 17-9, at home last night.
Crowley, who finished with two goals and two assists, has 202 career points, one more than 2006 graduate Jason Cappadoro. Crowley passed Cappadoro on an unassisted goal with 11:58 remaining in the fourth quarter.
"Obviously it would have been nice to come under different circumstances," the British Columbia, Canada, native said. "But all I want is to do what I can to help the team."
There wasn't much that could help the Seawolves last night. Their 20-10 loss to Virginia in the 2009 season opener was the last time they gave up more than 17 goals or lost by more than eight. After Saturday's 9-8 upset loss at Towson, Stony Brook has lost two straight in falling to 3-3.
For a team ranked as high as fourth in the country by some publications in the preseason, it's not what it would have envisioned at the midway point of the regular season.
"We're scuffling at this point," coach Rick Sowell said. "This is about as low as we can get. We're at a crossroads. Hopefully this was just an aberration."
The contest was billed as a faceoff between Tewaaraton Award candidates Crowley and Cornell's Rob Pannell, who are the nation's active career scoring leaders. Pannell, a Smithtown West alum, got the better of the matchup, tying his career high with eight points on four goals and four assists.
Pannell, a junior, has 187 career points, but this season has a 40-24 advantage over Crowley and is the NCAA leader in points per game (5.7).
"I have a lot of respect for him," Crowley said of his counterpart at Cornell (5-2). "But for me, it's not about the other team, it's about what I can do for my team."
Not exactly how Crowley drew up his record-breaking night.
Baseball rolls to 13-1 win over Fordham
Bronx, N.Y. - Eight Seawolves pitchers combined on a four-hitter and the Stony Brook University baseball team scored seven runs in the fourth inning on its way to a 13-1 win over the Fordham Rams on Tuesday at Houlihan Park. The Seawolves have won nine of 10 and are 11-5.
Freshman Brandon McNitt (Chino Hills, Calif.) started and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings for Stony Brook. McNitt allowed a hit in each of first two innings but escaped each time by inducing a ground ball double play. The Seawolves bullpen then did not give up a hit until there were two outs in the eighth.
The eight SBU pitchers combined to walk just two and allowed just an unearned run. Sophomores G.C. Yerry (West Shokan, N.Y.) and Jasvir Rakkar (Brampton, Ontario) and freshman Joshua Mason (Woodland Hills, Calif.) each pitched a perfect inning of relief for Stony Brook.
The Seawolves jumped on top with a run in the second on a run-scoring single from Mason but Fordham tied it with an unearned run in the third.
But Stony Brook exploded for the seven runs in the fourth to take control of the game. Junior Pat Cantwell (West Islip, N.Y.) and sophomores William Carmona (Hempstead, N.Y.) and Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, Ontario) each had two-run doubles in the inning.
The Seawolves tacked on three runs in the fifth, loading the bases with one out. Cantwell then scored on a wild pitch and senior Chad Marshall (Paris, Ontario) crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Tanner Nivins (Kitchener, Ontario). Tissenbaum came home with the final run of the inning on a Fordham error.
Sophomore Travis Jankowski (Lancaster, Pa.) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Seawolves. Cantwell added two hits for Stony Brook, which finished with 11 hits.
The Seawolves return to action this weekend, traveling to Army for a four-game series.
Crowley set school record in loss to Cornell
Final Stats
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, British Columbia) set a Stony Brook record for career points with 202 in a 17-9 loss to #10 Cornell in non-conference lacrosse action at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Crowley entered the game with 198, and recorded two goals and two assists, breaking the previous mark of 201, set by Jason Cappadoro in 2006.
Crowley, Division I's active leading scorer, also would become the only player in school history with at least 100 goals and 100 assists with 14 more assists.
"I definitely have to credit Cornell with their execution," coach Rick Sowell said. "We're going through some adversity now, but we still have our goals in front of us, and we're going to right this ship in the right direction."
Cornell (5-2) was led by David Lau, who totaled five goals. Rob Pannell and Steve Mock each added four goals, with Pannell chipping in with four assists.
Senior Jordan McBride (New Westminster, British Columbia) scored a goal for Stony Brook (3-3), upping his career total to 145, tops among all active Division I players. Senior Tom Compitello (Hauppauge, N.Y.) scored a season-high three goals.
The Big Red led 5-1 after the first quarter, and led by as many as eight twice in the first half. Compitello's goal at the 10:06 mark of the third quarter got the #12 Seawolves within seven, 12-5, but Cornell reeled off three straight, taking a 15-5 lead.
Junior Russ Bonanno (Seaford, N.Y.), who had two goals against Cornell, marking the fifth time in six games he's had at least two points in a game, scored a man-up goal on an assist from junior Graham Adams (Royal Oak, Mich.) with 37 seconds left in third. Crowley and Compitello scored a minute and a half apart to get Stony Brook within seven, 15-8.
Freshman Matt Bellando (Miami, Fla.) scored his second goal of the season with 1:26 left in regulation.
Stony Brook concludes non-conference play against Bryant on Saturday afternoon. Face-off is 1:00 p.m.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Vanderka honored nationally; SBU sweeps conference awards
Stony Brook, N.Y. – After hurling the first no-hitter in program history last Friday against NJIT, Stony Brook University freshman right-hander Frankie Vanderka (Levittown, N.Y.) has been named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, the publication announced on Monday.
Vanderka was also selected the America East’s Pitcher of the Week while senior Stephen Marino (Lake Grove, N.Y.) was named the conference’s player of the week. In addition, freshman Joshua Mason (Woodland Hills, Calif.) earned Rookie of the Week honors.
Making just his second career start, Vanderka dominated right from the start against NJIT as he struck out eight batters over the first 4.0 innings. He finished with 13 strikeouts while walking just two in the Seawolves 14-1 win over the Highlanders.
Vanderka (2-0) has a 0.52 ERA in 17.2 innings of work this season. In his past two appearances, both starts, he has allowed just an unearned run on four hits in 15.0 innings. He has also struck out 18 batters over that stretch.
In four games last week, Marino hit .467 (7-for-15) in addition to scoring four runs and recording four RBI. He is hitting .350 with 12 RBI and leads the conference with seven doubles.
Mason hit .636 (7-for-11) in four contests last week and also earned the win on Thursday against Iona with 2.0 innings of relief. The freshman standout is hitting .325 with seven RBI in 12 games.
Stony Brook’s 10-5 start is its best 15-game start since the 2000 squad started 12-3. The Seawolves return to action on Tuesday, traveling to take on Fordham. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
#5 Men's Lacrosse falls to Towson, 9-8
Towson, Md. - The fifth-ranked Stony Brook men's lacrosse team lost to Towson, 9-8, on Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Senior Timmy Trenkle (Commack, N.Y.) tied his career-high with three goals for his second career hat trick.
Senior Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, British Columbia) tallied two goals and three assists, adding to his Division I leading 198 points among all active players.
Matt Hughes led Towson (2-4) with three goals. Sean Maguire added two goals for the Tigers.
Stony Brook (3-2) came back from a five-goal deficit, 8-3, and trailed 9-7 after Trenkle's goal at 5:19 of the second quarter. Junior Jordan McBride (New Westminster, British Columbia) fired a shot that hit the crossbar with 1:29 left, but with 12 seconds left in regulation, McBride found Crowley for a goal. On the ensuing draw, senior Adam Rand (Niantic, Conn.) won the face-off, but was forced backwards. The Seawolves were unable to get a shot off as time expired.
"I have to give credit to Towson for executing their game plan," coach Rick Sowell said. "We probably were caught off guard in the first half, and weren't able to get our offense going. Both defenses played a great second half. As I told the guys, there's a lot of lacrosse to be played."
Towson scored six straight goals after Stony Brook led 3-2. The Seawolves trailed by as many as five in the game after Stephen Norris' first goal of the game. It was the first time in two games that the Seawolves have fallen behind since Delaware scored the game's opening goal on March 12.
Junior Robbie Campbell (Delta, British Columbia) ended a 17-minute drought, taking a cross-crease pass from Crowley to make it 8-4 with 13 seconds left in the first half. After Rand won the ensuing draw, Campbell and Crowley connected again 11 seconds later for the same exact sequence as the Seawolves trailed 8-5 after 30 minutes. After a scoreless third quarter from both teams, Towson led 9-5 after Hughes' third goal of the game.
Senior Rob Camposa (Syosset, N.Y.) finished the game with nine saves. Travis Love had 12 for Towson.
Rand won 13 face-offs, giving him 684 wins for his career, good for fifth all-time in Division I history. He added a game-high nine ground balls.
Stony Brook returns to LaValle Stadium on Tuesday for a home game against #12 Cornell at 7:00 p.m.
Vanderka No-Hitter leads baseball over NJIT
South Orange, N.J. - Making just his second career start, freshman Frankie Vanderka (Levittown, N.Y.) hurled the first no-hitter in Stony Brook baseball history to lead the Seawolves to a 14-1 victory over the NJIT Highlanders in the first game of the Seton Hall Strike Out Cancer tournament on Friday at Owen T. Carroll Field.
It was the seventh straight win for the Seawolves, the program's longest winning streak since the 2003 squad won 11 in a row. The 9-4 start is also the program's best 13-game start since the 2000 team started 10-3.
Vanderka faced just three over the minimum as he struck out 13 and walked just two. It is the first no-hitter since the program jumped to Division I in 2000 and it is believed to be the first no-hitter since the school started playing baseball in 1973.
The right-hander struck out eight and allowed just four hits in 6.0 shutout innings in his first start on Sunday at Michigan. He picked up right where he left off as he retired the first 12 batters on Friday, eight via the strikeout.
The Highlanders finally got to Vanderka in the fifth, scoring an unearned run without the benefit of a hit. Vanderka hit Matt Tomczyk to open the inning and he then moved to third on an errant pickoff throw. He eventually came home on a two-out wild pitch. Vanderka got out of the inning on an out-standing barehanded play from senior Stephen Marino (Lake Grove, N.Y.).
But Vanderka cruised through the sixth and pitched around a walk in the seventh. He then retired the side in order in the eighth which included an outstanding play on a ball up the middle from Vincent Del Vecchio.
Vanderka finished with a flourish, retiring the first two hitters of the ninth on flies to center before striking out Scott Broshman looking to complete the no-hitter. Junior Pat Cantwell (West Islip, N.Y.) caught the first 5.0 innings before junior Keith Murakami (Monterey Park, Calif.) took over for the final 4.0 innings.
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The Seawolves bats gave Vanderka plenty of run support, scoring runs in each of the first six innings as they pounded out a season-high 21 hits. SBU jumped on top with two unearned runs in the first before adding a run in the second on an RBI single from freshman Joshua Mason (Woodland Hills, Calif.).
Stony Brook put the game away with four runs in the third highlighted by a two-run single from sophomore Tanner Nivins (Kitchener, Ontario).
The Seawolves finish play in the Seton Hall Strike Out Cancer tournament with games against Fordham and Seton Hall.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Football set to start spring practice on Friday
2011 Schedule
Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook football team kicks off spring practice on Friday night with a two-and-a-half hour workout at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. Friday's practice is the first of 16 workouts this spring. All practices are free of charge and open to the public.
The annual Spring Game will be held on Sunday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m. Head Coach Chuck Priore will hold an addition practice on April 13.
2011 Spring Practice Schedule
Week One - March 18 (5:00 p.m.), March 19 (8:30 a.m.)
Week Two - March 21 (7:00 p.m.), March 23 (7:00 p.m.), March 25 (5:00 p.m.), March 26 (4:00 p.m.)
Week Three - March 28 (7:00 p.m.), March 30 (7:00 p.m.), April 1 (TBA), April 2 (8:30 a.m.)
Week Four - April 4 (7:00 p.m.), April 6 (7:00 p.m.), April 8 (5:00 p.m.), April 9 (8:30 a.m.), April 10 (Spring Game at 2:00 p.m.)
Week Five - April 13 (7:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
#5 Men's Lacrosse Tops St. John's, 9-4
 |  Rob Camposa |
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Final Stats
Queens, N.Y. - Junior Russ Bonanno (Seaford, N.Y.) and senior Jordan McBride (New Westminster, British Columbia) each had two goals but the story of the day was the Stony Brook defense, as the Seawolves defeated St. John's, 9-4.
Senior Rob Camposa (Syosset, N.Y.) was outstanding in goal, making 14 saves while allowing just one goal before being relieved by senior John Bella (Oceanside, N.Y.). Camposa and the defense held St. John's scoreless for 48:37 of game action.
It was the longest stretch that Stony Brook has held an opponent scoreless this season (Virginia - 25:54). Camposa, who finished with 14 saves two less than his career-high, made six first-half saves and seven stops in the third quarter, many of which were point blank.
The Seawolves produced eight caused turnovers, including two from junior Kyle Moeller (South Setauket, N.Y.). Sophomore JJ Laforet (Georgetown, Ontario) had a career-high three ground balls.
"I thought that Rob had a heck of a game," head coach Rick Sowell said. "Today was a good day for us. We're continuing to make solid progress, and having a four-game stretch in 11 days start with a win will help us as we move forward."
Senior Adam Rand (Niantic, Conn.) continued his solid face-off play, winning 12-of-15 draws. He also led the Seawolves with five ground balls.
Stony Brook scored three goals in each of the first three quarters. McBride now has 143 for his career, which leads all Division I active players. Senior Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, British Columbia) had a goal and two assists, and leads all active players with 193 points.
Despite committing seven penalties, Stony Brook killed off six straight before Kevin Cernuto (two goals) scored with 6:16 left in the game. Senior Tom Compitello (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior Kyle Belton (Delta, British Columbia) also scored for Stony Brook, which cleared the ball 19-of-21 times.
The Seawolves continue their road swing at Towson on Saturday. Game time is 1:00 p.m.
Queens, N.Y. - Junior Russ Bonanno (Seaford, N.Y.) and senior Jordan McBride (New Westminster, British Columbia) each had two goals but the story of the day was the Stony Brook defense, as the Seawolves defeated St. John's, 9-4.
Senior Rob Camposa (Syosset, N.Y.) was outstanding in goal, making 14 saves while allowing just one goal before being relieved by senior John Bella (Oceanside, N.Y.). Camposa and the defense held St. John's scoreless for 48:37 of game action.
It was the longest stretch that Stony Brook has held an opponent scoreless this season (Virginia - 25:54). Camposa, who finished with 14 saves two less than his career-high, made six first-half saves and seven stops in the third quarter, many of which were point blank.
The Seawolves produced eight caused turnovers, including two from junior Kyle Moeller (South Setauket, N.Y.). Sophomore JJ Laforet (Georgetown, Ontario) had a career-high three ground balls.
"I thought that Rob had a heck of a game," head coach Rick Sowell said. "Today was a good day for us. We're continuing to make solid progress, and having a four-game stretch in 11 days start with a win will help us as we move forward."
Senior Adam Rand (Niantic, Conn.) continued his solid face-off play, winning 12-of-15 draws. He also led the Seawolves with five ground balls.
Stony Brook scored three goals in each of the first three quarters. McBride now has 143 for his career, which leads all Division I active players. Senior Kevin Crowley (New Westminster, British Columbia) had a goal and two assists, and leads all active players with 193 points.
Despite committing seven penalties, Stony Brook killed off six straight before Kevin Cernuto (two goals) scored with 6:16 left in the game. Senior Tom Compitello (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and junior Kyle Belton (Delta, British Columbia) also scored for Stony Brook, which cleared the ball 19-of-21 times.
The Seawolves continue their road swing at Towson on Saturday. Game time is 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Compitello feels for men's hoop team, lax wins 14-9
LaValle Stadium. It was reacting to the announcement that the university's men's basketball team had been stopped short of an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by a two-point loss to Boston University in the America East championship.
The lacrosse team
empathized, relating it to a one-goal loss to Virginia in an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal last season. "Obviously, our athletic department is a very tight-knit community,'' senior midfielder Tom Compitello said. "A bunch of our buddies are on the basketball team.''
As the lacrosse game started, the players knew their basketball counterparts had a seven-point halftime lead. "You hear the score at halftime and think, 'That's great,' "
Compitello said.
The lacrosse team is looking for its own special season. Kevin Crowley (three goals, three assists) and Jordan McBride (three goals) led the way against Delaware, but this is far from a two-man show. Six others scored as sixth-ranked Stony Brook (2-1) beat Delaware (4-3) for the fifth straight time.
Delaware scored first in every period, but that only served to motivate the
Seawolves. After Sean Finegan gave Delaware a 1-0 lead in the first two minutes, Stony Brook scored the next five goals. In rapid order it was Brett Drost, Timmy Trenkle, Russ Bonanno, Crowley and Kyle Belton.
Said McBride: "Our offense is so deep that even if I'm not having a great day, I'm just trying to help those guys out.''
McBride did have a great day, and he had plenty of help. "
Jordan's a phenomenal shooter," said Compitello, who scored twice. "The defense tends to collapse to take his shot away, which opens things up for a guy like myself, Russ Bonanno [two goals], even Kevin. If [McBride's] not having a huge day, he's doing a thousand different things: occupying guys, staying busy, opening up things for other guys.''
The Blue Hens had two
comebacks in the second half, the most serious coming when they scored the first three goals of the fourth period to trim their deficit to 11-9 with 10:22 left.
But
Trenkle fed McBride, Robbie Campbell scored unassisted and Crowley flipped a pass to McBride with 5:16 left to end the scoring.
"They got on that run,'' Stony Brook
goalie Rob Camposa said of Delaware, "but our offense came up with some big goals.''
While there was disappointment for the basketball team, lacrosse hopes to bring home a banner this spring. "We feel we can play with anybody,'' coach Rick
Sowell said. "We're out there working hard to get better. Hopefully, we'll create that opportunity for ourselves where we can prove who is the best come May.''
Bright future for Stony Brook
By 
Boston University 56, Stony Brook 54 BOSTON -- Not so far removed from college basketball irrelevance, Stony Brook's players made the sport notice them again Saturday. The Seawolves lost the America East title game, and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, to Boston University on two late free throws, 56-54. But it was Stony Brook's first appearance in the conference final. BU, Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell noted, "has played in 15 conference championship games. We've been only 12 years in Division I.''
There was a nice crowd emoting over the proceedings -- 3,845 packed into BU's hockey arena because its basketball gym doesn't meet the America East edict for a minimum of 3,000 for such a showcase game. Among the fans were an estimated 1,300 from Stony Brook, according to athletic director Jim Fiore, who said the school needed 11 buses to trek its students, band and cheerleaders from Long Island.
"The first game I coached here,'' said Pikiell, just finishing his sixth season, "we had seven people at the game, I think.''
The 15-17 record this season was something of a letdown after Stony Brook won 22 games a year ago, took the America East regular-season title and gave Illinois a battle in an NIT home game. But having lost his best player, junior Tommy Brenton, to a knee injury before the season began and having dealt with other injuries all season, Pikiell is convinced "we'll be back. The program's in a good place, and it will remain that way.''
Younger players got much more playing time than expected, and among the more dramatic surprises was sophomore Leonard Hayes. After a 20-point game against Vermont in the semifinals, Hayes was a major boost in the first half Saturday, scoring all of his 14 points and hitting three of his first four three-point attempts to lift his long-distance streak to 16-for-20.
Aside from senior Chris Martin, SBU will get another shot. "This wasn't our time,'' Pikiell said. "But we'll keep trying to knock on the door, keep getting up to the plate, hit a home run next time.
Photo credit: John Tlumacki / Boston Globe | Stony Brook's Danny Carter fights off Boston U.'s D.J. Irving, right, as he tries to gather a first-half rebound during the America East championship game. (Mar. 12, 2011)
Galleries
Boston University 56, Stony Brook 54 There was a nice crowd emoting over the proceedings -- 3,845 packed into BU's hockey arena because its basketball gym doesn't meet the America East edict for a minimum of 3,000 for such a showcase game. Among the fans were an estimated 1,300 from Stony Brook, according to athletic director Jim Fiore, who said the school needed 11 buses to trek its students, band and cheerleaders from Long Island.
"The first game I coached here,'' said Pikiell, just finishing his sixth season, "we had seven people at the game, I think.''
The 15-17 record this season was something of a letdown after Stony Brook won 22 games a year ago, took the America East regular-season title and gave Illinois a battle in an NIT home game. But having lost his best player, junior Tommy Brenton, to a knee injury before the season began and having dealt with other injuries all season, Pikiell is convinced "we'll be back. The program's in a good place, and it will remain that way.''
Younger players got much more playing time than expected, and among the more dramatic surprises was sophomore Leonard Hayes. After a 20-point game against Vermont in the semifinals, Hayes was a major boost in the first half Saturday, scoring all of his 14 points and hitting three of his first four three-point attempts to lift his long-distance streak to 16-for-20.
Aside from senior Chris Martin, SBU will get another shot. "This wasn't our time,'' Pikiell said. "But we'll keep trying to knock on the door, keep getting up to the plate, hit a home run next time.
Anatomy of a crushing defeat
By 
Photo credit: John Tlumacki / Boston Globe | Stony Brook cheerleaders and fans react to the foul call that gave Boston U.'s John Holland (on the floor) two free throws to put his team ahead with 2.4 seconds left. Stony Brook's Dallis Joyner, left, throws his hands up behind BU's Matt Griffin. (Mar. 12, 2011)
Galleries
Boston University 56, Stony Brook 54 With his team leading 54-52, Stony Brook's Chris Martin backed in and barely missed a spinning bank shot. BU star John Holland rebounded it, Dallis Joyner fouled him, and Holland's two free throws with 1:03 left tied the score. (Stony Brook, which held BU to two field goals in the game's first 15 minutes-plus, had led by 15.)
After a timeout with 41.2 seconds to play, Stony Brook's Bryan Dougher had the ball on the left side of the court and Danny Carter set a pick near the top of the key. Dougher drove defender D.J. Irving into the pick, but Holland switched off Carter and tied up Dougher with 31.4 seconds to play, giving BU the crucial final possession.
Holland set up near the baseline on the right side, guarded by Preye Preboye, who tried to deny him the ball. Irving took a handoff from Matt Griffin above the top of the key with 10 seconds to play, and with six seconds left, guarded by Dougher, Irving drove at Holland to set up a classic back-door situation. When Preboye moved into denial position, Holland cut to the hoop and took Irving's bounce pass between Dougher and Preboye.
The 6-7 Joyner met him at the side of the lane, and as Holland took a dribble toward the right and squeezed past Joyner at the baseline, the Stony Brook forward -- who had his hands straight up -- made minimal contact with Holland from behind with his lower body. Referee Bob Adams called a foul with 2.4 seconds left.
"I thought he traveled, first of all. I'm not sure about that,'' Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell said. "You would like the players to decide a game, but we had our opportunities.''
Said Holland, "I don't think I traveled. I haven't seen it, so who knows? It was fortunate.''
After Holland's two free throws gave the Terriers their first lead, BU called timeout. On the inbounds play, Dougher sprinted across the midcourt line to receive Martin's pass, took two dribbles and put up a one-hander from about 52 feet over Irving. It hit the left side of the back rim -- a few inches from a game-winning bank shot -- and SBU's season was over.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
SBU loses heartbreaker in title game
Photo credit: Faith Ninivaggi | Boston University's D.J. Irving goes up for a basket as Stony Brook's Anthony Jackson tries to defend the play during the America East championship game in Boston. (Mar. 12, 2011)
BOSTON -- Stony Brook got within seconds of an NCAA Tournament bid and, for virtually every minute of Saturday's America East Conference Tournament championship game, acted as though it belonged.
In the end, though -- the very end -- Boston University had the conference's player of the year on the free-throw line with the score tied for the first time since the game's opening minute. And John Holland, the 6-5 senior from the Bronx, made two foul shots with 2.4 seconds left to give BU the 56-54 victory and fulfill the plea on the T-shirts of the BU band members: March into Madness.
Those 2.4 seconds marked the only time Stony Brook trailed the entire game, played out with your standard primal-scream, for-all-the-marbles late-winter college basketball insanity.
But it was enough to blow a hole in the spirits of Stony Brook (15-17), which had led by 15 points early in the second half and was on the verge of turning its raggy season into the riches of NCAA Tournament participation for the first time.
After Holland's free throws, Bryan Dougher's desperation heave from 52 feet could only clip the left side of the back rim as the buzzer sounded.
"One of our keys was to keep them off the free-throw line,'' Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell said. "We knew we could defend them, but you can't defend the free-throw line. And they got to the free-throw line a lot. I hate the fact that they won from the free-throw line.''
BU (21-13) -- held to 15-for-48 shooting from the field -- made 24 of 29 foul shots to Stony Brook's 14 of 15. But it wasn't just from where BU took its final shots; it was who took them.
Holland, practically vaporized by Stony Brook's scrappy defense in the first half, when he scored four points, finished with game-high numbers in points (27), field goals (8-for-19), free throws (10-for-11), rebounds (11) and steals (three).
It was Holland who personally stopped the bleeding for BU just when Stony Brook appeared ready to administer the knockout punch. Ten consecutive Stony Brook points by Dougher dating to the final seconds of the first half and two slashing layups by Chris Martin had just given Stony Brook its biggest lead at 41-26 with 16:41 to play. Then Holland, flying to the ball repeatedly, morphed into a superhero.
A driving layup, a steal and fast-break layup, a long three-pointer, another motoring burst to the hoop, yet a second steal capped by a fast-break dunk, and a three-point play -- all by Holland -- produced 14 straight points to pull BU within 41-40 with 10:32 left. That actually gave Holland the last 16 BU points in a seven-minute span.
Up until then, Holland said, "I was just trying to stay in the moment. Not think of the score or look up at the scoreboard. It's just focusing in on every possession, boxing out, pursuing the ball. Don't think about the whole thing.''
The whole thing was starting to come apart for Stony Brook, except that the visitors were as resilient through the next 10 minutes as they had been through the final weeks of a demanding 15-17 season.
When Danny Carter dunked a loose ball on an inbounds play that apparently had gone awry, Stony Brook led 48-43. After BU crawled back within two, Martin made two free throws and Preye Preboye scored his only points of the game on a put-back to make it 52-46.
Martin's two free throws made it 54-48 with 3:31 left. But the final eight points went to BU.
Two free throws by D.J. Irving, Dom Morris' layup on Holland's perfect feed, Holland's two free throws with 1:03 left. And after Stony Brook lost possession on a held ball with 31.4 seconds left, Holland's back-door cut drew a foul from Dallis Joyner with 2.4 seconds to go. "If you foul him,'' Pikiell said, "you know he'll make 'em.'' So he did.
Heartbreak for Stony Brook in title game
AP BOSTON — John Holland hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds left to cap a 27-point performance and lift Boston University into the NCAA tournament with a 56-54 win over Stony Brook in the America East championship game Saturday.
The second-seeded Terriers never led until Holland, whose 23 second-half points led a comeback from a 15-point deficit, made both shots after being fouled by Dallis Joyner while driving along the right baseline.
The Seawolves had one last chance, but Bryan Dougher's 50-foot shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim. Leonard Hayes led No. 5 seed Stony Brook with 14 points but was scoreless in the second half.
Boston University (21-13) reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 and seventh time overall. Stony Brook (15-17) has never made it in the 12 years since it moved up to Division I.
The Terriers scored the last eight points, with Holland providing the final four on free throws. It was a stirring finish that had the big crowd at Agganis Arena on its feet after fans were quiet early as the Terriers got off to a horrible start.
They missed their first seven shots before D.J. Irving finally made a layup 6:26 into the game to cut the Seawolves' lead to 5-2. It was 30-23 at halftime, and Stony Brook had its largest lead, 41-26, with 16:47 left.
Then Holland, the conference player of the year and most outstanding player of the tournament, began to take over.
He connected on a jumper from the left baseline before Chris Martin made two layups for the Seawolves with 16:47 to go. But they didn't score again for more than 5 minutes while Holland got the next 14 points to make it a one-point game, 41-40. That included Boston University's first 3-pointer after 13 misses.
Stony Brook ended its scoreless streak of 5:34 when Joyner made a layup and a free throw with 10:13 remaining, making it 44-40.
The Terriers nearly took their first lead with 5:26 left when Holland's 3-point attempt rimmed in and out, leaving the Seawolves on top 48-46.
Stony Brook built the lead to 54-48 with 3:31 to go on two free throws by Martin and a layup by Preye Preboye before Martin sank two more free throws after Holland made a pair.
But those were the final points for a team that won the America East regular-season title last year before losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament to the Terriers.
Irving made two free throws, cutting the lead to 54-50. Then Holland drove to the basket, drawing a double team, and dished the ball to Dom Morris for an easy layup with 2:17 remaining. It was just the second, and last, assist for the Terriers.
Martin missed a layup with 1:03 to play and Holland was fouled after grabbing the rebound. His shots tied the game, but the Seawolves had the ball. But again, Holland, made a big play when Dougher dribbled into traffic near the top of the key and was tied up by Holland with 31.4 seconds left.
The Terriers had the possession arrow and ran the clock down until Irving passed to Holland on a backdoor cut for the drive that resulted in the foul and the winning points.
The second-seeded Terriers never led until Holland, whose 23 second-half points led a comeback from a 15-point deficit, made both shots after being fouled by Dallis Joyner while driving along the right baseline.
The Seawolves had one last chance, but Bryan Dougher's 50-foot shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim. Leonard Hayes led No. 5 seed Stony Brook with 14 points but was scoreless in the second half.
Boston University (21-13) reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 and seventh time overall. Stony Brook (15-17) has never made it in the 12 years since it moved up to Division I.
The Terriers scored the last eight points, with Holland providing the final four on free throws. It was a stirring finish that had the big crowd at Agganis Arena on its feet after fans were quiet early as the Terriers got off to a horrible start.
They missed their first seven shots before D.J. Irving finally made a layup 6:26 into the game to cut the Seawolves' lead to 5-2. It was 30-23 at halftime, and Stony Brook had its largest lead, 41-26, with 16:47 left.
Then Holland, the conference player of the year and most outstanding player of the tournament, began to take over.
He connected on a jumper from the left baseline before Chris Martin made two layups for the Seawolves with 16:47 to go. But they didn't score again for more than 5 minutes while Holland got the next 14 points to make it a one-point game, 41-40. That included Boston University's first 3-pointer after 13 misses.
Stony Brook ended its scoreless streak of 5:34 when Joyner made a layup and a free throw with 10:13 remaining, making it 44-40.
The Terriers nearly took their first lead with 5:26 left when Holland's 3-point attempt rimmed in and out, leaving the Seawolves on top 48-46.
Stony Brook built the lead to 54-48 with 3:31 to go on two free throws by Martin and a layup by Preye Preboye before Martin sank two more free throws after Holland made a pair.
But those were the final points for a team that won the America East regular-season title last year before losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament to the Terriers.
Irving made two free throws, cutting the lead to 54-50. Then Holland drove to the basket, drawing a double team, and dished the ball to Dom Morris for an easy layup with 2:17 remaining. It was just the second, and last, assist for the Terriers.
Martin missed a layup with 1:03 to play and Holland was fouled after grabbing the rebound. His shots tied the game, but the Seawolves had the ball. But again, Holland, made a big play when Dougher dribbled into traffic near the top of the key and was tied up by Holland with 31.4 seconds left.
The Terriers had the possession arrow and ran the clock down until Irving passed to Holland on a backdoor cut for the drive that resulted in the foul and the winning points.
Men's hoops' cinderella run stopped at BU
|  Leonard Hayes | ||||||
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March 12, 2011
The Stony Brook men's basketball team's cinderella run to the America East Championship fell two points short as John Holland scored a game-high 27 points to lead Boston University to a 56-54 win over the Seawolves to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Leonard Hayes (Voorhees, N.J.) led Stony Brook with 14 points. Chris Martin (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) and Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) each had 12 points. Hayes and Martin were both named to the America East Championship All-Tournament team.
More to follow.
The Stony Brook men's basketball team's cinderella run to the America East Championship fell two points short as John Holland scored a game-high 27 points to lead Boston University to a 56-54 win over the Seawolves to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Leonard Hayes (Voorhees, N.J.) led Stony Brook with 14 points. Chris Martin (Springfield Gardens, N.Y.) and Bryan Dougher (Scotch Plains, N.J.) each had 12 points. Hayes and Martin were both named to the America East Championship All-Tournament team.
More to follow.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Stony Brook's Hayes a shooting star
By STEVEN MARCUS steven.marcus@newsday.com
Fifth-seeded Stony Brook meets second-seeded Boston University on Saturday in Boston for the America East Conference Tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA's Big Dance.
One more breakout game that results in a victory, and sophomore guard Lenny Hayes will become Stony Brook's dancin' machine.
Every successful team has a compelling story, and for Stony Brook (15-16), it is the 6-4 Hayes. He became an overnight sensation midway through the season and extended his run into the conference tournament, scoring 20 points to ignite an upset of top-seeded Vermont.
The lefthander has scored in double figures in seven of his last nine games and nine of his last 13. He has shot 19-for-30 in his last four games -- and we're not talking layups here. He's hit 13 of his last 16 three-point attempts.
Hayes' seat-to-star tale started Jan. 22 in Maine. Two days earlier, he had played only five minutes and gone scoreless in a 67-62 loss at Boston University, so this couldn't have been predicted.
"We were down by a lot early,'' he said of the Maine game. "Coach [Steve Pikiell] said we were playing scared. When I got in, I wanted to make sure we got a shot up every time. I started coming off screens, shooting and making them. That helped a lot with my confidence.''
Hayes scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds in that game, and though Stony Brook lost, the Seawolves discovered a burgeoning star in Hayes.
He wound up averaging 12.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 30 minutes in the final 13 games, shooting 56-for-113 from the field and 34-for-68 from three-point range.
Compare that to his stats in Stony Brook's first 18 games: Hayes appeared in only 12 of them, averaging 0.8 points and 0.9 rebounds. He was 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-8 from three-point range. And he averaged only eight minutes a game.
"It does wear on you,'' Hayes said about that limited playing time. "But you also think about when you get in what you are going to do with that time. I was more thinking about 'what am I going to do with the time' rather than how little minutes I'm playing. I wasn't upset, more frustrated.''
Hayes played sparingly as a freshman, especially because he was behind conference player of the year Muhammad El-Amin. Given the talent ahead of him this season, Hayes thought he'd see about 10 minutes a game. An avalanche of injuries caused Pikiell to alter his lineup on several occasions, but Hayes, who averaged 17.5 points in his senior year of high school at Lawrenceville Prep [N.J.], wasn't really in the mix.
"He's one of those guys who just kept plugging away and found his time to shine,'' Pikiell said. "Have I seen this in practice? No. He's shooting the ball as well as you can shoot the ball. He wasn't having practices like that, no. My big thing with him has always been rebounding. He never, never rebounds. The other day he led us in rebounding.
"Even when he wasn't playing, he was in the gym and stuck to it. Then he got his opportunity in Maine and hasn't been out of the starting lineup since. He knew the system, our defensive scheme. He started bypassing the freshmen because they weren't learning those things as quickly. His persistence really put him in a great position. Opportunity happens and a guy has to be ready to take advantage of it, and that's what Lenny did.''
And now, with Hayes as a major contributor, Pikiell said, "We're 40 minutes away from what a lot of people said we couldn't do here.''
Hayes still is adjusting to his newfound fame, saying, "Nobody's really seen me play until this year. Definitely, a lot of people are surprised, but also now they see it wasn't a one-time thing. Fans come up to me and say, 'I didn't know you could shoot like that.' It's funny because I'm a shooter, so it's funny to listen to that. There's no way they could have known, because I didn't play that much. It was limited minutes.''
Hayes is not overestimating his place in the lineup. "I feel like I'm a relief guy,'' he said. "They concentrate on Bryan [Dougher] and now that he is back, Chris [Martin]. They are drawing all of the attention, kicking [the ball] to me, and I'm open.''
What seems like a very calm demeanor is really hiding a wave of excitement as the game between the Seawolves and BU (20-13) draws near, Hayes said. "There's definitely butterflies,'' he said. "It's the first championship game in Stony Brook history. Everyone is nervous but also excited.''
Hayes' biggest fans are his father, Leonard Jr., and his mother, Lateefah, both of whom played college basketball at St. Peter's, the MAAC men's qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. "That's a great story, too,'' Hayes said. "We are the fifth seed, they were the fourth.''
Hayes said his mom and dad told him they were proud regardless of how much he played, but "you kind of felt like you were disappointing them. You wanted to be out there and you weren't. Now they get to see me doing it.''
Brenton learns from the sideline
Junior forward Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook's best overall player, missed the entire season after injuring his right knee in September, but he said he used the time to focus on the game as if he were a coach.
"I finally understand what the coaches go through,'' he said, "just taking the season from a coaching point of view. As players, you think coaches don't know what they are talking about -- or something like that. Watching it, they are exactly right. We should listen to them more often . . . I feel like I'm playing, I guess, just from yelling and talking to everyone on the court. I do feel a part of this.''
Brenton recalled his injury. "I was in a pickup game and went up to block a shot. My knee went one way, my body went the other and I landed. And I heard cracking and popping. I knew it wasn't a little tweak. I dislocated my patella and I also tore a ligament at the same time. The biggest injury I had before this was a sprained ankle. I thought, 'OK, two weeks, ice it and it'll be good to go for beginning of preseason.' Then I go and get X-rays. That's when I knew it was kind of a serious thing.''
Brenton commiserated with Pikiell, who was recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. "We talked the first few weeks when we were both in a boot how you take the easy things in life for granted,'' he said. "Every day I think about how many hours I spent in the rehab room. I talked to the trainers about how they should just put me on staff.''
Pikiell knows Brenton has missed being part of the action. "These are the games he loved the most,'' the coach said. "I see his frustration; he wants to get checked into the game. He's such a team guy, he led us in steals, he was our best defender, he's the best rebounder in the league, led us in charges. He's a team guy, so he's really excited for our guys.''
With major contributions from Brenton, Stony Brook won the America East regular-season title and earned an invitation to the NIT last season. The Seawolves actually have gotten further in the conference tournament this year despite going only 8-8 in America East regular-season play, and Brenton feels a bit better emotionally because his absence did not prevent the team from doing well in the tournament.
"At first it was like, 'This is Chris [Martin's] senior year, we're real close and I'm not going to be able to help him out,' '' he said. "Now it's like a weight lifted off my shoulders. We can still have a great season. Everyone stepped up.''
Brenton is looking forward to next season, saying, "I just can't wait to get in the gym, live in there. I have a lot of time to make up for.''
Club Med
The Seawolves had plenty of down time with several players besides Brenton. Here's a look at the players and the number of games they missed because of their injuries:
Chris Martin (knee) 13 games.
Marcus Rouse (knee) 5 games.
Dave Coley (knee) 3 games.
Dallis Joyner (ankle) 2 games.
Eric McAlister (ankle) 1 game.
Also, Anthony Jackson broke his nose and to wear a mask for five games. Joyner was poked in the eye in the third game of the year and had to wear shades until two weeks ago. Preye Preboye had a hand infection after accidentally getting bitten during the game at Notre Dame, but he didn't miss any games.
Fifth-seeded Stony Brook meets second-seeded Boston University on Saturday in Boston for the America East Conference Tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA's Big Dance.
One more breakout game that results in a victory, and sophomore guard Lenny Hayes will become Stony Brook's dancin' machine.
Every successful team has a compelling story, and for Stony Brook (15-16), it is the 6-4 Hayes. He became an overnight sensation midway through the season and extended his run into the conference tournament, scoring 20 points to ignite an upset of top-seeded Vermont.
The lefthander has scored in double figures in seven of his last nine games and nine of his last 13. He has shot 19-for-30 in his last four games -- and we're not talking layups here. He's hit 13 of his last 16 three-point attempts.
Hayes' seat-to-star tale started Jan. 22 in Maine. Two days earlier, he had played only five minutes and gone scoreless in a 67-62 loss at Boston University, so this couldn't have been predicted.
"We were down by a lot early,'' he said of the Maine game. "Coach [Steve Pikiell] said we were playing scared. When I got in, I wanted to make sure we got a shot up every time. I started coming off screens, shooting and making them. That helped a lot with my confidence.''
Hayes scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds in that game, and though Stony Brook lost, the Seawolves discovered a burgeoning star in Hayes.
He wound up averaging 12.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 30 minutes in the final 13 games, shooting 56-for-113 from the field and 34-for-68 from three-point range.
Compare that to his stats in Stony Brook's first 18 games: Hayes appeared in only 12 of them, averaging 0.8 points and 0.9 rebounds. He was 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-8 from three-point range. And he averaged only eight minutes a game.
"It does wear on you,'' Hayes said about that limited playing time. "But you also think about when you get in what you are going to do with that time. I was more thinking about 'what am I going to do with the time' rather than how little minutes I'm playing. I wasn't upset, more frustrated.''
Hayes played sparingly as a freshman, especially because he was behind conference player of the year Muhammad El-Amin. Given the talent ahead of him this season, Hayes thought he'd see about 10 minutes a game. An avalanche of injuries caused Pikiell to alter his lineup on several occasions, but Hayes, who averaged 17.5 points in his senior year of high school at Lawrenceville Prep [N.J.], wasn't really in the mix.
"He's one of those guys who just kept plugging away and found his time to shine,'' Pikiell said. "Have I seen this in practice? No. He's shooting the ball as well as you can shoot the ball. He wasn't having practices like that, no. My big thing with him has always been rebounding. He never, never rebounds. The other day he led us in rebounding.
"Even when he wasn't playing, he was in the gym and stuck to it. Then he got his opportunity in Maine and hasn't been out of the starting lineup since. He knew the system, our defensive scheme. He started bypassing the freshmen because they weren't learning those things as quickly. His persistence really put him in a great position. Opportunity happens and a guy has to be ready to take advantage of it, and that's what Lenny did.''
And now, with Hayes as a major contributor, Pikiell said, "We're 40 minutes away from what a lot of people said we couldn't do here.''
Hayes still is adjusting to his newfound fame, saying, "Nobody's really seen me play until this year. Definitely, a lot of people are surprised, but also now they see it wasn't a one-time thing. Fans come up to me and say, 'I didn't know you could shoot like that.' It's funny because I'm a shooter, so it's funny to listen to that. There's no way they could have known, because I didn't play that much. It was limited minutes.''
Hayes is not overestimating his place in the lineup. "I feel like I'm a relief guy,'' he said. "They concentrate on Bryan [Dougher] and now that he is back, Chris [Martin]. They are drawing all of the attention, kicking [the ball] to me, and I'm open.''
What seems like a very calm demeanor is really hiding a wave of excitement as the game between the Seawolves and BU (20-13) draws near, Hayes said. "There's definitely butterflies,'' he said. "It's the first championship game in Stony Brook history. Everyone is nervous but also excited.''
Hayes' biggest fans are his father, Leonard Jr., and his mother, Lateefah, both of whom played college basketball at St. Peter's, the MAAC men's qualifier for the NCAA Tournament. "That's a great story, too,'' Hayes said. "We are the fifth seed, they were the fourth.''
Hayes said his mom and dad told him they were proud regardless of how much he played, but "you kind of felt like you were disappointing them. You wanted to be out there and you weren't. Now they get to see me doing it.''
Brenton learns from the sideline
Junior forward Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook's best overall player, missed the entire season after injuring his right knee in September, but he said he used the time to focus on the game as if he were a coach.
"I finally understand what the coaches go through,'' he said, "just taking the season from a coaching point of view. As players, you think coaches don't know what they are talking about -- or something like that. Watching it, they are exactly right. We should listen to them more often . . . I feel like I'm playing, I guess, just from yelling and talking to everyone on the court. I do feel a part of this.''
Brenton recalled his injury. "I was in a pickup game and went up to block a shot. My knee went one way, my body went the other and I landed. And I heard cracking and popping. I knew it wasn't a little tweak. I dislocated my patella and I also tore a ligament at the same time. The biggest injury I had before this was a sprained ankle. I thought, 'OK, two weeks, ice it and it'll be good to go for beginning of preseason.' Then I go and get X-rays. That's when I knew it was kind of a serious thing.''
Brenton commiserated with Pikiell, who was recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. "We talked the first few weeks when we were both in a boot how you take the easy things in life for granted,'' he said. "Every day I think about how many hours I spent in the rehab room. I talked to the trainers about how they should just put me on staff.''
Pikiell knows Brenton has missed being part of the action. "These are the games he loved the most,'' the coach said. "I see his frustration; he wants to get checked into the game. He's such a team guy, he led us in steals, he was our best defender, he's the best rebounder in the league, led us in charges. He's a team guy, so he's really excited for our guys.''
With major contributions from Brenton, Stony Brook won the America East regular-season title and earned an invitation to the NIT last season. The Seawolves actually have gotten further in the conference tournament this year despite going only 8-8 in America East regular-season play, and Brenton feels a bit better emotionally because his absence did not prevent the team from doing well in the tournament.
"At first it was like, 'This is Chris [Martin's] senior year, we're real close and I'm not going to be able to help him out,' '' he said. "Now it's like a weight lifted off my shoulders. We can still have a great season. Everyone stepped up.''
Brenton is looking forward to next season, saying, "I just can't wait to get in the gym, live in there. I have a lot of time to make up for.''
Club Med
The Seawolves had plenty of down time with several players besides Brenton. Here's a look at the players and the number of games they missed because of their injuries:
Chris Martin (knee) 13 games.
Marcus Rouse (knee) 5 games.
Dave Coley (knee) 3 games.
Dallis Joyner (ankle) 2 games.
Eric McAlister (ankle) 1 game.
Also, Anthony Jackson broke his nose and to wear a mask for five games. Joyner was poked in the eye in the third game of the year and had to wear shades until two weeks ago. Preye Preboye had a hand infection after accidentally getting bitten during the game at Notre Dame, but he didn't miss any games.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Nice ending to Martin-Stony Brook saga
Neither had a perfect past and neither had the future figured out when Chris Martin and Stony Brook's basketball team chose each other five years ago.
Martin was a nice player from a strong high school tradition at Christ the King in Queens, but he was only 6-1 and without the grades to play in the NCAA. Stony Brook still was a nascent Division I operation, just off its fifth consecutive losing season with a 4-24 record under first-year coach Steve Pikiell.
"I had two options," Martin said. "Stony Brook and Manhattan. But I just felt coach Pikiell needed me to help this program."
Pikiell, for his part, "liked the fact that he liked us. Not a lot of people were believing in our program and where we could go with this thing. He was taking a chance on us and we were taking a chance on him. But I have a saying: Success is built on taking chances."
Jumping ahead to the final chapter -- wherein Martin, already with an undergraduate degree and taking graduate courses, and Stony Brook will play at Boston University Saturday, trying to earn a first appearance in the NCAA Tournament -- would leave out a lot of drama in the intervening years. It would make everything sound so easy.
"Coach gave me a shot," Martin said, "told me I was going to come here and have a chance to go to the tournament. And here we are."
Along the way, Martin had to put in a year of prep school, at Maine Central Institute, to become academically eligible. He had to endure the death of his father, to cancer, during his sophomore year. He had to bounce back from surgery to repair cartilage in his knee -- an injury, he thought at the time, that would end his college career three months early.
The disappointment of having last year's breakthrough 22-win season end in the America East semifinals, followed by this sometimes rocky 15-16 season, was one thing. Life without basketball was something else.
"I've been thinking about that since I got hurt, since I went down," Martin said. "What am I going to do without basketball?"
He began taking graduate courses in coaching. And, after missing 13 games, he returned just in time for both the team and himself to hit their stride.
In the regular-season finale, Martin, the team's only senior, played 23 minutes -- his most since Dec. 11 -- had six assists and made it clear to teammates that he did not wish to experience another early exit from the conference tournament.
In upsets of Albany and Vermont, he was indispensable, scoring 18 and 14 points and serving as the guiding light to the conference final. "He gets to the rim," Pikiell said. "He's fearless. He's our best foul shooter. He's very athletic, dunks with ease. He's strong and he's in the right place. He gets rebounds. Not having him [for 13 games] affected our whole season.
"But, you know, life is a lot like a basketball game. Chris has had a lot thrown at him and has survived it all."
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