MBB: Liberty League

[mrhoopfan]

Watched Vassar vs Yale exhibition match. A pretty much expected blowout by Yale (Vassar lost a ton from last year), but I left impressed with Vassar's two freshman guards from California, Fitzgerald and Lee. Both kids can should have an impact this year.

[stlawus]

If my math is correct, first post after a 13 year absence?  The more the merrier on here!     And agree w/r to Vassar. 

[mrhoopfan]

Returning players who I think will take a leap/more prominent role this year and be among the better players in the league:

Gavin Schauder- Ithaca
Dylan Matchett- RPI
Kenny Wilburn- RIT
Finn Cork- Clarkson

[Jersey42]

With several teams in action tonight and all of the rosters finally posted, here is a list of newcomers I found.  I included anyone listed as a freshman and a couple of sophomores who did not play last year due to injury and a few transfers I found.  If anyone knows of others, I will be happy to update the list.  Good luck to all.

* Updated with a few transfers and players who missed last season as a freshman.

Bard
Azikiwe Cuffy-Scott, Fr, G, 6-1, Brooklyn, N.Y. / Eastside Community
Misha Pryshchepa, Fr, F, 6-4, Kyiv, Ukraine / Dzherelo

Clarkson
Matt Toscano, Fr, G, 6-0, Katonah, NY / Fox Lane
Steve DeRegis, Fr, G, 6-0, Jamesville, NY / Christian Brothers Academy
Casey Montesano, Fr, G, 6-1, Penfield, NY / McQuaid Jesuit
Mark Munro, Fr, G, 6-1, Lisbon, Portugal / Hoosac School
Tyler Sanders, Fr, G, 6-1, Woodcliff Lake, NJ / Pascack Hills
Braeden Burns, Fr, F, 6-4, Jamesville, NY / Christian Brothers Academy
Ben Phillips, Fr, F, 6-7, Ballston Spa, NY / Ballston Spa

Hobart
Sam Pisanelli, Fr, G, 6-0, Pittsford, N.Y. / Pittsford Sutherland
Alex Moesch, Fr, G, 6-3, Chittenango, N.Y. / Chittenango
Jean Marc Togodgue, So, F, 6-5, Salisbury, Conn. / Salisbury School *
Dorian Paki, Fr, F, 6-7, Staten Island, N.Y. / St. Joseph by-the-Sea

Ithaca
Jaylon O'Neal, Fr, G, 6-1, Ilion, N.Y. / Central Valley
Jose Padilla, Fr, G, 6-1, Newton, Mass. / Newton
Evan Cabral, Fr, G, 6-2, Hackensack, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep
Alex Penders, Fr, F, 6-5, Foxborough, Mass. / Foxborough
Yoav Regev, Fr, G, 6-6, Tenafly, N.J. / Tenafly

RIT
Luke Granto, Fr, G, 6-0, Buffalo, NY / Canisius
Brody Brown, Fr, G, 6-3, Lowville, NY / Lowville
Zac Ditzel, Fr, G, 6-4, Rochester, NY / Fairport
Mihail Bossev, Fr, F, 6-5, Sofia, Bulgaria / Anglo-American School of Sofia
Nolan Smith, Fr, F, 6-6, Honeoye Falls, NY / Honeoye Falls-Lima

RPI
Yechiel Stewart, Fr, G, 6-2, Loganville, GA / Millbrook School
PJ Scalisi, Fr, G, 6-3, Staten Island, NY / Monsignor Farrell
TJ Halloran, Fr, G, 6-3, Westfield, NJ / Westfield
Chris Faughnan, So, F, 6-5, Hopewell Junction, NY / Our Lady of Lourdes
Harrison Neil, Fr, F, 6-5, Warwick, NJ / Warwick Valley
Andrew Deppe, Fr, F, 6-6, Hopedale, MA / Hopedale
Pat White, Fr, F, 6-6, Lakeville, MA / Tabor Academy
Nate Tawiah-Boateng, So, F, 6-7, Bronx, NY / Fordham Prep.

Skidmore
Nick Padilla, Fr, G, 5-8, Harlem, NY / Dwight School
Aidan Roy, Fr, G, 6-2, Larchmont, NY / Mamaroneck
Hakeem Daphnis, Fr, C, 6-3, Randolph, MA / Noble and Greenough School
Dillon McCafferty, Fr, G, 6-4, Chapel Hill, NC / East Chapel Hill
Siraj Saker, Fr, G/F, 6-4, San Francisco, CA / Urban School of San Francisco
Charlie Fantom, Fr, G, 6-5, Norwell, MA / Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Ethan Madeiros, Fr, F, 6-5, Hamilton, Bermuda / Millbrook School
Jack LaGarde, Fr, F/C, 6-8, Stow, MA / Nashoba Regional

SLU
Brayden Shepardson, Fr, G, 6-0, Little Falls, N.Y. / West Canada Valley
Troy McPherson, Fr, G, 6-0, Rochester, N.Y. / Brighton
Caden Mirliani, Fr, G, 6-1, Canton, Mass. / Canton
Lenny Buddington III, So, G, 6-2, Albany, N.Y. / Christian Brothers *
Colton Suriano, Fr, F, 6-5, New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford
Adam Dudzinski, So, F, 6-8, Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee *
Gop Arop, Sr, , 6-8, Syracuse, N.Y. / Bishop Grimes *

Union
Sam O'Toole, So, G, 6-1, Grafton, Mass. / The Winchendon School *
Tanner Tedesco, Fr, G, 6-1, Voorheesville, N.Y. / Cheshire Academy
Cameron Perez, Fr, G, 6-2, Bethel, Conn. / Immaculate
Jaden Jauregui, Fr, G, 6-2, Wallingford, Pa. / Strath Haven
Matthew Garside, Fr, G, 6-3, Kings Park, N.Y. / Kings Park
Christian Dufort, So, F, 6-5, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs *
Jack Plesser, Fr, F, 6-5, Fairfield, Conn. / Fairfield Warde
Aidan Duffy, Fr, F, 6-7, North Kingstown, R.I. / Portsmouth Abbey
Brendan Reid, Fr, F, 6-7, Hamburg, N.Y. / St. Francis

Vassar
Avery Lee, Fr, G, 6-1, Los Angeles, CA / Palisades Charter
Shea Fitzgerald, Fr, G, 6-1, San Diego, CA / Cathedral Catholic
Kreekor Karageuzian, Fr, G, 6-2, San Francisco, CA / Saint Ignatius College Prep
Myles Stewart, Fr, G, 6-2, Chicago, IL / Depaul College Prep
Eric Zhang, Fr, G, 6-3, Lutherville-Timonium, MD / Dulaney
Collin France, Fr, G, 6-4, Brentwood, TN / University School of Nashville
Kale Elmhorst, Fr, F, 6-4, Lakeland, FL / Lakeland
Sebastian Medina, Fr, F, 6-4, Rye, NY / Rye

[stlawus]

As for SLU Adam Dudzinski is a sophomore transfer from D2 Saint Rose and senior Gop Arop is a transfer from OCC who didn't play last year.

[Jersey42]

As for SLU Adam Dudzinski is a sophomore transfer from D2 Saint Rose and senior Gop Arop is a transfer from OCC who didn't play last year.

Thanks.  I found a few more from other schools too.  Before I post a revised list, I have two questions on St. Lawrence.

   
• Gop Arop is listed as a sophomore on the roster.  Do you know if he is a Senior or Sophomore as far as eligibility?
• Lenny Buddington III is listed as a sophomore on the roster.   He appears to be a Lehigh transfer.  Is he also another newcomer?

Others I have found
Hobart, Jean Marc Togodgue, So. , F, 6-5, Salisbury, Conn. / Salisbury School  (injured last year)
Union, Sam O'Toole, So., G, 6-1, Grafton, Mass. / The Winchendon School (manager)
Union, Christian Dufort, So., F, 6-5, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs (transfer from Ithaca)

[stlawus]

Arop as far as I'm aware is a senior, just listed incorrectly as a sophomore. Forgot about Buddington, he is a sophomore newcomer from Lehigh.

[Jersey42]

As for SLU Adam Dudzinski is a sophomore transfer from D2 Saint Rose and senior Gop Arop is a transfer from OCC who didn't play last year.

Arop as far as I'm aware is a senior, just listed incorrectly as a sophomore. Forgot about Buddington, he is a sophomore newcomer from Lehigh.

Thanks.  I updated the original post.  Changes have an * next to them.

[stlawus]

Really solid opening win for Hobart against the defending Empire 8 champs.  SJF brought back most everyone that played a role in their 2nd half run last season, so very good W for the Statesmen who had to replace a lot of players.

Also good to see Clarkson get an opening win against Plattsburgh, their returning experience could give them a lift.

As far as I can tell, tonight was the largest margin of victory by SLU over Potsdam since at least 1968 which is how far the archive goes back on their website.  Adam Dudzinski is going to be a matchup issue for a lot of teams.


Also props to Union for starting things on the right track, doesn't feel right not having a competitive Union so hopefully they've turned things around.

[Jersey42]

RPI opened their season with an 89-70 victory of Keuka in the first round of the Oswego tournament.  I did not see the broadcast, but hopefully I will get a chance to watch a replay.  From a look at the the box score, here are a few observations:

   
• Jonny Angbozo scored a career high 31 points in 29 minutes.
• Senior Chuck Clemons who started several games last year and averaged about 22 minutes per game did not suit up.  Olu Olaniran who missed all of last season due to injury also did not suit up.
• RPI started two freshmen and one sophomore.

Tomorrow they face #6 Oswego in what will be a very tough test for a young Engineer squad.

[stlawus]

I watched the game.  RPI looked like they were going to win by 60, they were up 35-10 to start the game.  Keuka got it back within 9 at halftime, and had it within 4 early in the 2nd half before getting worn down by RPI.  Keuka had pretty much no size and RPI exploited that pretty well. 

[stlawus]

Pretty good night for the Liberty League.  Only losses were against top 25 teams, and both were competitive games.  Clarkson played Oswego tough last year for 30 minutes before running out of gas, glad to see them put up a very respectable performance against the Lakers tonight.  Vassar also was pretty competitive with Williams. 

3-1 against the SUNYAC and all wins not very close.  Looked like Hobart played a physical game against Brockport shooting 35 free throws.  SLU with the largest margin of victory over Plattsburgh since 2001.  Adam Dudzinski has been a matchup nightmare in both games so far.  Hamilton turned the ball over 19 times against Ithaca who are a somewhat surprising 2-0.  Not totally shocked given that their opponents suffered serious graduation losses but that also applied to Ithaca as well.  Their top scorer returning from last year taking a step forward with 2 straight 20 point games.

[stlawus]

SLU's hanging with Williams after a half, which is encouraging.  They had some major offensive regression against St. Joseph's yesterday, but their defense has traveled so far.   SLU is one of the few teams that can match Williams' size but the Ephs are doing well to get it into the paint for their big men who are making good shots.    Hope the Saints can stay competitive.

[stlawus]

SLU was 4 minutes away from a major upset but Williams stifled the SLU offense to force overtime and prevail.  Thought there were some absolute BS home cooking calls made against SLU that included an offensive foul at a critical moment, but you still have to put the ball in the hoop in the end.  Of course a guy off the bench goes 5 for 5 from three.  SLU proved they can hang with the best.  SLU probably wins if Syroka doesn't have an extremely uncharacteristic off game.   Doesn't get any easier having to play Oswego in 9 days.

[stlawus]

Bard beats New Paltz