MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

D3HoopJunkie · September 18, 2014, 05:48:23 PM

Magicman, what a great matchup that would be for these two programs! I personally have a lot of respect for Plattsburgh after seeing them play a little in last years NCAA tourney. But I must say that even though Albertus doesn't release there schedule till almost the last minute.......I am almost certain that there schedule is complete. PJ seems to know or at least sees Coach Oliver from time to time where as I don't. Perhaps he can forward that info to him because there is no doubt that this would be a great regular season matchup for these 2 now well established programs.

Speaking of PJ welcome back!! Season will be here before we know it and I am hearing a lot of good things about this years Albertus squad. Perhaps the biggest news is that recently I was told and I cant confirm it 100% but apparently Albertus landed another transfer from D1 Iona named Tavon Sledge. An outstanding player out of NY who was recruited heavily out of high school and actually signed with Iowa State for his freshman year before transferring to Iona for both his sophomore and junior seasons. How Oliver managed to pull this off is unbelievable. This is the kinda move that just might be a game changer for this years team. I mean I cant even comprehend the backcourt that Albertus will have this year if it is true. Eian Davis and Tavon Sledge, not to mention returners like James Jennings and a healthy Julian Sanders, that's hands down the fastest and most athletic backcourt in the country. Then you add in a center like Big Vic and forwards like Lemar Larsen and JUCO star transfer Kervin Rameau along with everyone else?? This could easily be the deepest and most talented team in the country!

Just an unbelievable time right now to be a Falcon fan! Coach Oliver is a masterful recruiter and this teams once again seems to be better than the last.

magicman · September 18, 2014, 07:31:35 PM

Quote from: D3HoopJunkie on September 18, 2014, 05:48:23 PM
Magicman, what a great matchup that would be for these two programs! I personally have a lot of respect for Plattsburgh after seeing them play a little in last years NCAA tourney. But I must say that even though Albertus doesn't release there schedule till almost the last minute.......I am almost certain that there schedule is complete. PJ seems to know or at least sees Coach Oliver from time to time where as I don't. Perhaps he can forward that info to him because there is no doubt that this would be a great regular season matchup for these 2 now well established programs.

Speaking of PJ welcome back!! Season will be here before we know it and I am hearing a lot of good things about this years Albertus squad. Perhaps the biggest news is that recently I was told and I cant confirm it 100% but apparently Albertus landed another transfer from D1 Iona named Tavon Sledge. An outstanding player out of NY who was recruited heavily out of high school and actually signed with Iowa State for his freshman year before transferring to Iona for both his sophomore and junior seasons. How Oliver managed to pull this off is unbelievable. This is the kinda move that just might be a game changer for this years team. I mean I cant even comprehend the backcourt that Albertus will have this year if it is true. Eian Davis and Tavon Sledge, not to mention returners like James Jennings and a healthy Julian Sanders, that's hands down the fastest and most athletic backcourt in the country. Then you add in a center like Big Vic and forwards like Lemar Larsen and JUCO star transfer Kervin Rameau along with everyone else?? This could easily be the deepest and most talented team in the country!

Just an unbelievable time right now to be a Falcon fan! Coach Oliver is a masterful recruiter and this teams once again seems to be better than the last.

D3HJ,

This was posted by Coach Oliver on the Men's single games board just a week ago.

Quote from: Mitch Oliver on September 11, 2014, 01:05:15 PM
Albertus Magnus is still looking for one game for 2014-15!! Contact Mitch Oliver if interested at: 203-773-8575 or moliver@albertus.edu

So it may happen yet. I believe it will be on your campus however if it does take place. With only 10 home games for the Cardinals this year I was hoping any late additions would take place in Plattsburgh.

D3HoopJunkie · September 18, 2014, 08:31:36 PM

Magicman,

That's interesting!!! Maybe there is hope yet! No doubt this would be a great non conference matchup for both teams! Where exactly is that thread located?? I cant seem to find it??

magicman · September 18, 2014, 09:59:19 PM

Quote from: D3HoopJunkie on September 18, 2014, 08:31:36 PM
Magicman,

That's interesting!!! Maybe there is hope yet! No doubt this would be a great non conference matchup for both teams! Where exactly is that thread located?? I cant seem to find it??

D3HJ,

It's located on the very bottom of the Posting Up (Division III Basketball) section, under Basketball Open Dates. Click on that heading and a bunch of topics come up. The 5th one down is Men's Single Games. Click on the last page. Or you could just click on "Quote from Mitch Oliver" that was in my last post and it will take you right to it.

Or click on this link:

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?board=1469.0 and it's the 5th one down.

Or just click on this link and go to page 7:

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=3699.0

D3HoopJunkie · September 21, 2014, 09:09:37 PM

Thanks Magic..... I found it and I thank you again for providing me with a number of avenues to finding that thread!

lildave678 · September 22, 2014, 02:50:19 PM

Hey D3HJ, Sledge would be a huge get! But would you happen to have any insight on why he went from 25 mpg/6 ppg/3 apg in 2012-2013 down to barely a blip on the radar at 10 minutes a game last year? Easy to see why he'd transfer, but I'm hoping he's not just looking for a place to make it all about him -- though I don't think Mitch would allow that!

D3HoopJunkie · September 22, 2014, 06:42:41 PM

LilDave, You said it exactly right......Mitch wouldn't allow that at all. His behind would be on the bench before you could whistle dixie. As we all know their offense is much more complex than your typical D3 offense. And with that comes a responsibility to play unselfish and get everyone involved.

As far as his decline in production I'm almost certain he was dealing with an injury for the majority of last year which would indicate why his numbers suffered. Before hearing that he was on the Albertus campus I remembered reading a few years ago about how he was going to come to Iona and be the top replacement for Scott Machado who if I recall was the MAAC player of the year. So regardless of his declining production this is a huge get for the Falcons as not too many can say that they had an offseason where a high level D1 talent tranfered into their D3 program!!

D3HoopJunkie · September 26, 2014, 05:51:18 PM

Where are all my GNAC Albertus posters?? Does anyone know if Kervin Rameau is still enrolled at Albertus?? Since he commited I havent heard a thing about him? This may be a good thing but it could also be bad?? Any insight??? Anyone???

Albertus2007 · September 28, 2014, 03:37:53 PM

I am pretty sure Kervin did not enroll for the Fall semester.

lildave678 · October 02, 2014, 10:36:38 PM

Found myself on Eian's Instagram and I noticed 2 things...

1. In a comment someone asked him how Sledge and him would play together, but that they'd make it work.

2. On a different pic, someone with a username that has nothing to do with an actual name (inkedupbros_ceo) said he'll be there in Jan and he's in the best shape of his life, to which Eian replied, "Let's go get this Ship!"

Conclusions: Tavon Sledge is on the team and someone of note at least to Eian may join the team in January. Don't think it's Rameau as I've seen him on video and he's not all tatted up like this guy lol

D3HoopJunkie · October 04, 2014, 08:10:41 PM

Thanks LilDave, social media investigating at its finest lol

I think having both Eian and Tevon together could be a deadly combination and I don't foresee the two of them having any issue playing with each other as both are truly unselfish basketball players. I think having these two together will be extremely important come GNAC tournament and hopefully NCAA tournament time. To have two true point guards with the amount of skill that they both posses in tournament play could really make for some tough match ups for any team to handle.

Basically the way I look at it is really no team can afford to put any type of full-court press on us which in turn can give Coach Oliver and the players time to set up any number of the many offensive schemes that we as Falcon fans have come accustomed to seeing!!

And on the flipside defensively ball pressure should be the last thing we have to worry about. These two together along with our other quick guards like Jennings and Sanders should force a lot of turnovers.

Wish we could find out who that kid is that you mentioned LilDave that will be coming in January??

lildave678 · October 14, 2014, 01:35:03 PM

Sledge IS on the team. Eian put up a picture of the "Big 3" and he was in it...wish Albertus wasn't the last team in America to post their roster/schedule

D3HoopJunkie · October 14, 2014, 05:35:32 PM

LilDave,

Unbelievable news about Sledge. What a combination him and Eian will be. Albertus wont be posting their schedule and roster till the night before their first game LOL but I did hear today that on Thursday (this week) Albertus will be holding there "Albertus Madness" which is the annual season kick off if you will. I'm sure all players will be attending and I know its open to the public. Not sure what time I will check on that. It's a nice event to get the players and fans in the mood for the season and also incorporates the woman's team as well. I'm sure they'll be doing a 3 point shoot out, dunk contest and other events for the fans.

Still can't understand for the life of me why Albertus doesn't just charge a dollar for an entrance fee to this event and games in the future. Don't even make it mandatory. Call it a donation and im sure 99% of Falcon Fans would glady give a dollar to see this team play. They can make so many improvements to the gym and to other areas of the team if they did something like this.

D3HoopJunkie · October 17, 2014, 03:12:05 PM

Albertus Madness took place last night and from what I hear it was unbelievable. Tevon Sledge and Eian Davis battled it out in the dunk contest with Sledge coming out on top. I heard he actually jumped over a girl on one dunk and went through his leg on another! Unbelievable stuff!

A friend of mine that was there also said he counted 23 players. That's not a typo 23!!! I'm assuming Coach Oliver may make a few cuts along the way and you also have to keep in mind on teams like this with so much talent a lot of times players will make the decision to transfer out to another program with hopes of getting more playing time.

I was also told that there was 2 true freshman who looked like great talents. A 6'9 center from NJ and a 6'7 forward from CT. There names were Marshall and Jaqwan he thinks but couldnt quite make out exaclty. (We all know how bad the sound system is at the Nest which is another reason why they should request a dollar donation at the door for attending)

This team looks deep, experienced, big, fast, athletic and has all the tools to again be a powerhouse in the national rankings! Cant wait for the seaon to start! And a schedule and roster release would be really cool too LOL!!!

lildave678 · October 21, 2014, 01:52:36 PM

Albertus schedule has been posted! They open the year with Lyndon State at the tournament hosted by Richard Stockton (wth the 2nd game TBD obviously). Besides that the schedule is basically the same as last year (as I'd imagine because of home and home obligations). Out of conference tilts include Mitchell, Purchase, NJC, West Conn, and Newbury. One difference in terms of timing is the Purchase game is early, Albertus' 4th game instead of a mid-season showdown.

No roster posted yet.

And I believe one of the two players you are referencing is Jahqwan Walters from University High School in Hartford. Max Preps had him listed at 6'5.