Colonial

You see the ACC (and other leagues) thought it would be good to schedule some of these schools to get easy wins.  That was not the case as almost all of these schools have pulled off a major upset in the last few years.  And a few of them have been in the postseason.  The funny thing is that with all of this early success, the powers that be are still not inviting more than one of these members each year to their big hoedown.  And when they do they usually get a low seed, like 14 or 15 level.  The CAA has definitely put themselves on the college road map, primarily as teams you don’t want to play, and the power schools have responded as they always do.  The almighty ACC, located in the same region as these schools, have schedule a total of 4 of these schools (Richmond twice) in their ongoing policy of avoidance to keep their brand pristine.  This conference will not the strength of schedule ratings it has in the past and thus the chance of them getting more than one team (or a higher seed) are almost nil.  But these schools will fight as til death for that one spot and whoever they draw in the Big Dance better beware.  This conference, that got as high as 14th in the conference rankings last year, is coming for revenge.  Now if the committee will just have the gumption to schedule the winner from here against a team from the ACC.  After all that league will almost assuredly get 4 or five teams but none of them want anything to do with the Colonial teams. 

Old Dominion University was not all that long ago a satellite college for William & Mary University.  They became Old Dominion College but then did the best thing a fledgling program (and University) can do.  They hired a great coach.  Sonny Allen too over the reigns of this program and immediately implemented his style of play as well as his style of player.  He recruited the first black players ever here and the Monarchs quickly ascended up the ranks of college basketball.   After becoming a dominant D-2 program, the big dogs came calling.  Well, Allen, and the administration jumped at the chance to join their brethren from this new league (ECAC then) and become a vanguard for this league.  Allen has kept ahead of the Jones’s in this league by recruiting players that got looked over but are as talented (or almost) as those kids that go to Chapel Hill or Raleigh.  This has worked extremely well but this program has had an issue with beating their opponents in this league when push comes to shove.  The Monarchs have won 2 od the initial 3 conference championship but have only been to the Big Dance once as they have been upset twice in the league tourney.  Once when they were the 1 seed and once when they were third.  This year’s plan is to get to the dancing floor and then shock the world with their inside power and their hippy, hippy shake.  Leading the way again this year will be junior Dave Twardzik.  Twardzik does not look like the best basketball player in the conference but he just might be.  This 6’1 kid from Middle town Pennsylvania is a one of a kind point guard who is adept at setting up his bigger teammates as well as being able to score going to the hoop or hitting long-range jump shots.  Twardzik is also a terrific defensive player and is the unquestioned leader of this team.  Coach Allen has to decide who will play next to him between seniors Dick Edwards (more of a pg as well) or ultra-quick Leo Anthony, who happens to be the starting shortstop on the baseball team.  The wings will decide how good this team is as the front line is by far the best and deepest in the CAA.  Juniors Joel Copeland, Wilson Washington (who left the Terps of Maryland after one year) and Ronnie Valentine form a potent front line with plenty of depth and more coming as Allen is smart enough to know you don’t go away from what makes you good. And the big men of ODU define this program.  It started with senior Randy Leddy and continues through sophomores Mark West and Kenny Gattison.  This front line could compete with most of the ACC programs but unless those wings get better the Monarchs leave the door open for the other programs of the CAA to hang with them as most of these teams have great athletes who can flat get up and down the court.  And score. 

Speaking of wings, the Spiders from Mars er Richmond have the best wing in the conference.  Sophomore Johnny Newman is the quintessential small forward who can flat light it up offensively.  Newman, a 6’7 210 pound thoroughbred from Danville Virginia, took the league by storm in his first year.  At least the second half of last year.  Newman, averaged almost 20 points a game the second half after coming off the bench the first 12 games.  He has an incredible mid-range game and can launch, though inconsistently, from behind the arc.  If his game improves from three point last, Newman (though Jerry still hates him) could be the best player in this league.  He is that good as he showed in the run to the tourney title and their huge upset of the Monarchs in the championship game.  Coach Dick Tarrant has made it almost habitual to float through the regular season and then turn things on the post season.  The Spiders have shocked the world a few times and nobody wants to play this team in March.  To compete in the regular season, though, this team must find some big guys who can at least hang with the likes of ODU.  Seniors Ken Daniel, Walt Lysaght, Wilton Ford and Tom Green rotate on the blocks but none of these guys are big or athletic enough to hang with the Monarchs.  Daniel is an undersized board guy who barely scores and the same could be said for Ford and Lysaght.  Green, who looks like Barry Manilow, is a bit better offensively but not as physical down low.  The best option might be another sophomore is 6’5 Peter Woolfolk, who like Newman, came on really strong down the stretch.  Another undersized post player, Woolfolk can run and is a terrific defender but this team could really use a couple of bigger guys and they might have them in 6’9 Bill Flye and 6’10 Jeff Pehl.  These second year guys did not play much on varsity but, like Woolfolk, played well on the JV and Tarrant will look to them in the near future.  A couple other sophomores who are both 6’5 were terrific on the wings as Mike Perry and John Davis might be opposite ends of the spectrum (offense versus defense) but they are terrific and will play, at least off the bench.  The guard play is experienced with seniors Warren Mills, Johnny Moates and Ed Harrison once again splitting time on the perimeter.  These are undersized kids who Tarrant loves and have had some incredible runs for the Spiders but might need to be supplemented with some more athletic kids who can guard and especially shoot from long-range.  That three point shot equals out a bunch of rosters, no matter how big the kids are. 

Speaking of three point shots, Richmond’s most-hated rival, VCU is building a program based on great perimeter play including the long-range shot.  Coach J.D. Barnett has taken Richmond by storm as the Rams have quickly acclimated to the intensity of D-1 league play.  Led by a terrific all-around guard, the Rams will defend you all day (and all-court) long.  Junior Gerald Henderson is the Rams version of Twardzik without quite the ballhandling or the range but better defensively.  This combo guard sets the tone here but Barnett has integrated some old school lower levels types (this college was not even D-2 a few years back but more of a professional trade school) with his recruits.  The former Richmond Professional Institute have been one of the biggest success stories in college basketball as this urban half of the in town rivalry has ‘already’ branded themselves as a team who can compete with anyone on a given night.  Their upset of Duke last year set shock waves through the ACC and CAA and had young Blue Devil coach Mike Kryzewzski on the hot seat in Durham.  More importantly for Barnett it gave him and his coaches (especially young Shake Smart who came up with the defensive pressure called ‘chaos’ that has made this program) some validity in the ranks as they build their program.  Barnett has some athletes especially on the perimeter with junior Jesse Dark and sophomores Rolando Lamb and Calvin Duncan all bringing size, toughness and athleticism to the Rams.  Fellow sophomore Edmund Sherod is Mr. Steady at the point and had a terrific year on JV and could push to start next to Henderson depending on which way Barnett wants to go with his wings.  Junior Ren Watson took over the paint last year and though this guy is rail thin (6’9 190) he does board and he can really guard the rim.  Not much offensively though and neither is 6’10 junior Bernie Harris who has a similar game.  The best low-post option right now is 6’3 junior Jabo Wilkins, who can jump to the moon but is way too small for this league.   There is hope though as much thicker post options Kenny Stancell (6’9 220) and Phil Stinnie (6’8 240) dominated on the JV and got called up and played well in their nice stretch run.   If these two are indeed the big guys to hang down low with the ODU’s of the world, this program has a bright future. 

The first of the two teams from Carolina weighs in next and has every bit of a chance to win this league as anyone.  The program from Wilmington North Carolina has an experience team coming back with a nice combination of inside and outside players.  Coach Jerry Wainright has put together a nice roster that revolves around a senior wing’s ability to score.  Jay Neary is a 6’4 stud from New York who can fill it up from just about anywhere on the court.  Neary averaged over 18 points a game last year which led this conference in scoring and this team might even be more dependent on him this season.  In this part of the country Pistol Pete Maravich is like a deity and Neary plays much the same style.  He is nowhere near the ballhandler but this kid can flat shoot and has no limit to his range.  Wainright knows he needs an inside game around his senior stud and last year might have brought in the best big man this league has seen.  Sophomore Brian Rowsom is the real deal down low as he combines brut strength with toughness and skill on the blocks.  At 6’9 220 Rowsom from Columbia NC can flat bang in the paint and can also take his jump shot out to about 15 feet.  He is a terrific board man as well and will only get better as he develops.  If the Seahawks (yes, that’s their nickname) had three more of this type they could compete in the ACC but alas they do not have anyone else even close to these two on their returning roster.  Likely candidates to get playing time this year with some of them include three guards with the same last name, Martin.  Senior Jerry and twins Bobby and Billy will compete for the point guard slot but junior Rick Alessi is the favorite as he is a terrific passer.  Two Daves, Wulff and Prince, are a pair of juniors competing to start at the 3 with neither having a big edge.  Rowsom played center last year with no one else on the roster over 6’7 but Wainright would like to get his stud in the position that fits him best as 4.  He does have a couple of 6’11 kids coming in so there hope in Wilmington and if one of these develop to take that role away from Rowsom, this team could surprise those three top dogs who seem to be way ahead coming to the Post.

James Madison and UNCW have traveled up the ranks of college basketball together and have become rivals but also have a comradery from all of this matriculation.  The Dukes are ranked next coming in based on the same kind of one-two punch at the same positions.  Juniors Sherman Dillard and Steve ‘American Pie’ Stiepler.  Dillard is the returning scorer and a fine wing who like Neary goes 6’4.  He has a nice overall game, is a terrific athlete and is good enough defensively to dominate games.  Stiepler is the 6’8 power forward has been playing out of position far too often at center.  Coach Lou Campanelli plans on fixing that but has a limited group from which to pull from coming back.  Campanelli will count on the incoming guys more then most teams in this league as he has already kiped a stud from Maryland before he could get registered.  Steve Hood is coming in to Harrisonburg after the Terrapins (who obviously have a lot of great talent if they can let go players such as Washington and Hood) signed a similar player at the last minute named Steve Francis.  Hood is far above anyone on this roster athletically and will play immediately on the wing.  Sophomore Linton Townes is not giving up his starting role at the three so our guess is that Hood will be the sixth man, at least for awhile.  Townes had a terrific first year and deserves to keep his spot.  Junior Gary Butler and sophomore Dan Ruland split time next to Stiepler’s (Mom) last year and will probably do the same this year.  Ruland came on strong and gives the team a tough presence underneath though he is not exactly an aircraft carrier.  This 6’8 stud is not related to the kid from Iona, nowhere near as big, but at 6’8 he will bang and man would we love to see these two go at it in the paint.  Point guard is the biggest question heading into fall camp as Campanelli has an open call with many suitors but no clear favorite and no one who is going to challenge Twardzik for elite status in this league.  Not yet, at least. 

George Mason is another school named after a founding father which is obviously not uncommon in this region of the country.  Or in this conference.  The Patriots hail from Fairfax and have not exactly been a juggernaut since they were an original member of this conference.  They were not exactly juggernauts in D-2 either as they never made the national playoffs while bouncing around as an indy or even in the Mason-Dixie Conference.  The Patriots do have a good coach, young Jim Larranaga, who has a direction for this program.  Larranaga has been around for a minute coming over from Bowling Green State to lead the Patriots and has definitely learned that the three-point shot is king in modern basketball.  He intends on playing a controlled but fast-paced offense that will rely on three-point shooting and solid defense.  Now to get the players that are here to buy in and find some new ones who fit your scheme.  The first part started last year and the key was start Carlos Yates.  Larranaga had a terrific first recruiting class led by Yates who easily led the team in scoring.  More of a slasher at 6’5 then a shooter, Yates loves the scheme and took full advantage of open lanes and is developing a long-range shot.  Fellow sophomores Dave Skaff and Kenny Sanders are also 6’5 but are more inside players then out though both will hit a three.  You have to on this team in the motion offense.  If it’s your turn and you are open, let it fly.  Speaking of letting it fly, Rob Rose is another 6’5 sophomore and is the best shooter on the bunch.  He will play though right now he is stuck behind Yates, that could change if Larranaga is not satisfied with the new kids at the two.  Another pair of sophomores, Ricky Wilson and Jack Niehoff (what did you say) will battle for the point guard spot with Wilson being the clear favorite.  This Chicago kid has more size (6’3 to 5’10) and is much better defensively though Niehoff might be a little better playmaker.  The center position is wide open as Larranaga has brought in a bunch of kids to compete including a 27 year old Navy veteran.  A man amongst boys, freshmen (and we say that gingerly) George Evans at 6’7 225 will be a Patriot this year as Larranaga beats the bushes trying to find some post player who can hang down low with rival ODU.  Another sophomore Andre Gaddy, is the best returner down low and he can play.  This 6’10 200 pounder from Brooklyn was having a solid first season but his lack of girth caught up with him last year and he went down late with a knee injury.  His return is in question for this year and Larranaga has recruited all big, thick guys for the post including a 6’7 275 pound kid from Aberdeen Maryland.  Larranaga has this program moving in the right direction but as last year’s 7th place finish can attest, there is much more room to grow to be able to hang with the elite in this league. 

The last two teams in this league have the same issue.  Some good carryover talent that will be hard to replace but both teams needing to move into the modern age with athletic wings and bigger post players.  East Carolina, the other team from the Tar Heel State, is doing a much better job of this and could move up quick.  The Pirates are built around senior big men Bobby Hodges and Bill Otte, who both go 6’7.  Coach Howard Porter is loyal to a fault and will continue to rely on those two though neither can hang with a Wilson Washington or Brian Rowsom down low for very long.  Porter does have one 6’9 guy in junior Al Faber but it is not his turn yet and he is not all of that on the offensive end.  There is a plethora of 6’7 guys waiting in line as well and none of them are any better than Hodges though Otte might be in jeopardy.  Porter is upgrading on the wings with a couple of JC kids coming aboard who both look to play right away.  Senior Tom Miller will run the show here but even with the new philosophy of old school Porter, who never recruited JC kids before, but after a disastrous 8th place finish (in an 8 team league) last year something had to change.  This program is still far behind the Jonese’s in this league but are efforting.  Greenville North Carolina is not exactly Winston-Salem but this town loves their basketball (and tobacco) too.  I don’t know if they know they actually have a D-1 school located there but if those two stud wings work out, who knows how high these Pirates can jump.  Of course, they might just have to jump off the plank again those even if they are located far from the coastlines of the Atlantic. 

William & Mary is one of the most unique programs in the country.  The Indians or Tribe as they are now called have been in D-1 since before conferences were formed.  They were a long-time member of the Southern League where they did get to compete with the schools that are now the ACC.  During all of this time, however, this school has never been invited to the Big Dance.  You would think that after relocating to this new league (they never even got close to being invited to the ACC when it was formed) they would be able to at least compete here.  Nope.  Their best finish was last year’s 6th after two years in the basement.  Coach Barney Wilson knows he is on the hot seat and understands things have to change but it is not easy to recruit to this prestigious scholastic University.  Of course Duke and North Carolina do not seem to have a problem but they do not have the history of the Tribe.  Or lack thereof.  Wilson will turn to his stud front line once again to carry this team to contention.  Seniors Chet Germiak, Jeff Cohen and William ‘Bill’ Chambers have been playing together for three years now and seem to fit well symmetrically.  And they did perform well together back in the day.  But a front line of 6’4, 6’4 and 6’7 just does not cut it anymore.  No matter how tough you are inside and on the boards.  And this trio can board.  But blocking a shot or hitting a shot outside of 15 feet.  Not their forte.  Will Wilson be able to replace his stellar front line?  Or at least integrate some new young and bigger blood?  This will be key as this University is all about seniority and waiting for your time.  But something has to change, even if you don’t want it to.  Wilson does have a trio of wings who can play but get overshadowed in Williamsburg by their veteran front line who actually once had a game where all three got ten boards and Chambers grabbed 34.  Juniors Ron Satterthwaite and John Lowenhaupt and sophomore Keith Cieplicki are not only the three players with the most unique names (and most syllables) playing together on one court, they complement each other as well.  Lowenhaupt is a 6’5 wing who also led the team in assists and might play point guard again this year especially if Wilson does not find some cat quick recruit.  Satterhwaite is a solid all-around wing who goes 6’4 and can score and defend.  Cieplicki is the key as this kid can flat stroke it.  This 6’4 shooter has no limit to his range and might be the answer to this team’s problems.  If Wilson lets him play.  For now, the Tribe are an old school program relying on old school players that needs to change to keep up with the times.  The administration is patient to a fault but at some point this program has got to get better.  Or does it? 

The Colonial Conference has made a name for itself as Giant Killers in D-1.  Playing primarily local schools which there are plenty, the Colonial shocked a few ACC powers in the last few years enough so that the prestigious league is not scheduling these programs as much.  Only 4 times this year the ACC will play the Colonial which is a shame for this league and college basketball.  These programs will continue to battle it out with powerful inside based teams being the engine and caboose in this league.  Of course averages about 6’9 up front and the other is 6’5 but both schools will bang you in the lane.  ODU is the favorite but as this league goes, nobody is safe and anything can happen.  After all, name a league where the regular season winning team has not won the tourney title once since it’s inception.  This March will be fun once again in the Richmond Coliseum and perhaps one day soon this will be a two-team big dance league but for now only having one team go makes the competition that much healthier   And the rivalries are real!  Ask those folks from the River City about that!