The Retriever Weekly NOVEMBER 9, 2010 sports 19 Fry's return gives team hope they can bounce back

> from [1] can call on two young guards. Redshirt The “basketball junkie” who “eats, freshman Jamar Wertz, a scoring-minded sleeps, and breathes basketball” accord- guard that had to miss all of last season ing to Monroe, is going to have to con- after tearing his meniscus. Wertz, a big- tinue to score this season as four of the bodied guard, amassed over 1,700 points team’s top five scorers from last year are in his high school career. no longer on the team, including third- “You don’t put up 1,700 points in team All-AEC guard Chauncey Gilliam your high school career and not be able (13.3 p.p.g.), Robbie Jackson (8.7 p.p.g., to score,” Monroe said. “He has a scorer’s 5.0 r.p.g.), Shawn Grant (8.1 p.p.g.), and mentality...he’s another young man who’s Matt Spadafora (7.0 p.p.g.). a player you put on the floor and they De La Rosa rarely took outside shots figure out a way to get things done.” last season, primarily driving the lane Brian Neller is clearly a guy that Mon- and getting to the basket for the high per- roe is hoping to make his three-point centage shot, has been “working on his ace. He took just four shots all of last outside shooting” according to Monroe. year inside the three-point arc, and while “I’ve always said you can’t be too one- he was streaky shooting the ball, he im- dimensional and Chris knows when to proved as the season wore on. take the ball to the basket, when to kick “He is certainly a capable, very, very, it to open shooters. He knows when to very capably three-point shooter, very pull up and shoot the outside shot.” big three-point shooter,” Monroe said. “I Joining that duo of upperclassmen are want him to get in his mind that if he two transfers, Travis King (George Wash- misses a shot or two it’s not the end of the ington) and Laurence Jolicoeur (Manhat- file photos — TRW world...I think that if Brian can under- tan), neither of whom have to sit out a Senior Justin Fry, the lone remaining member from the 2008 Championship team, is back to full health this year and along stand that he has to fight through things season as they will be attending graduate with Coach Randy Monroe (bottom right) and Chris De La Rosa (bottom left) looks to regain the top spot in the AEC. in terms of missing shots, he can be one school and are in programs that their the point guard, shooting guard, or small from sophomore Adrian Satchell, who “He’s strong and hard to guard, and a of the best shooters in this league.” previous schools did not offer. forward position he helps his team be exploded in the AEC quarterfinal game very, very, good passer and he’s got a feel There is reason to believe that UMBC Like Fry and De La Rosa, King brings successful because “that’s all he knows.” against eventual champion Vermont with for the game. He’s got the intangibles that can be better than they were last year; af- NCAA tournament experience. In 2007, Jolicoeur, a long, athletic forward that 14 points and 12 rebounds. Despite be- you can’t teach.” ter all, it won’t be that hard to do. There is King led the Colonials with nine points started 39 games in three seasons ing a freshman, Satchell, Monroe’s top Over the last few years, UMBC height, experience, and solid defensive in their first-round game against Vander- and used his length as a key de- recruit in 2009 according to ESPN, was has not had much depth. Mon- players this year. But with so many bilt. While at GW King averaged fender, may have averaged only one of just three Retrievers to start every roe ran a seven-man rotation key personnel losses from a team 4.9 points per game 4.6 p.p.g. and 2.7 r.p.g. but game last year and averaged a respectable for three seasons, and on a good that won only four games last in 91 games and he possesses a solid set of 6.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. But it was night, he would call on an eighth season, most preseason rank- showed impres- offensive skills. He runs clear that he was not even close to reach- man. But this year he believes that ings don’t have much faith sive defensive the floor well, makes ing his potential. his team is much deeper. Adding that the Retrievers will ability. good decisions when he “He’s like a quiet assassin,” Monroe to the depth are Jake Wasco and Ba- improve, something that Monroe com- passes the ball, and has said. “He’s not vociferous; he’s not play- kari Smith, two players entering Monroe and his players pared King to Retriever great very good shooting ability ing worried; he’s just Adrian. There is still their third seasons with UMBC. are just using for motiva- Darryl Proctor, saying, “I don’t for his size, 6’9”, 210 pound. a whole bunch of potential oozing inside In the front court, the su- tion, saying, “There is no know what position he plays, “I don’t know if he realized of him that is going to flourish.” per athletic Matt Conway, greater feeling in the world he’s just effective,” he said. how good he is,” Monroe said. Giving UMBC a very good foundation who played at St. Thomas than proving people wrong.” “Just put him out on the “Obviously he’s learning the system, for the future, is freshman Chase Plum- More prep school last year, floor and we’ll find a but I think that the young man has a mer, who was Monroe’s top recruit this brings solid three-point ability, position for him to good basketball IQ.” season according to ESPN. but more importantly solid de- Comments can be sent play.” Monroe said no The men’s basketball team is also going “I don’t think he realizes yet how fensive ability. to [email protected]. matter if he’s playing to have to continue to see improvement strong he is right now,” Monroe said. In the back court Monroe

Albany Great Danes (7-25, 2-14 AEC) (13-18, 8-8 AEC) Terri- (8-22, 6-10 AEC) ers (21-14, 11-5 AEC) With so many upperclassmen failing to play Six players and a coach were dismissed from Joe Zeglinski (16.5 p.p.g., 5.1 r.p.g., 3.4 three's to their ability, Will Brown was forced to go into Binghamton weeks before last season but, Mark John Holland (19.2 p.p.g., 6.1 r.p.g.) and Jake per game) has been a prolific scorer in the AEC a full youth movement, a decision that will only Macon's Bearcats, led by junior college transfer O'Brien (13.8 p.p.g., 6.4 r.p.g.) may be the best the last three seasons and he's back for his final benefit them in the next few seasons. Mike Black Greer Wright (15.9 p.p.g., 6.1 r.p.g.), finished duo in the AEC. However, Boston will have their season. First-year coach John Gallagher, an as- (7.2 p.p.g., 2.4 a.p.g.) developed into a very fifth in the AEC. Reigning ROY Dylan Talley work cut out for them as they have to replace sistant in 2008 when the Hawks made it to the good point guard last season, while Logan Aron- (11.8 p.p.g.) transferred out, but Moussa Camara do-it-all point guard Corey Lowe (15.0 p.p.g., AEC Championship, is going to have a bevy of halt (6.7 p.p.g.) showed tremendous offensive (10.7 p.p.g.) was a key player on the wing while 4.5 r.p.g., 4.2 a.p.g.), defensive ace Carlos Strong other seniors as Morgan Sabia (11.7 p.p.g., 6.1 ability last season after finally getting healthy. Chretien Lukusa (7.1 p.p.g., 4.7 r.p.g.) has been (10.9 p.p.g., 4.6 r.p.g.), and the sharp-shooting r.p.g., 2.3 three's per game), Milton Burton (9.6 Senior Tim Ambrose (12.4 p.p.g., 5.2 r.p.g, 2.8 one of the most unsung players in the confer- Tyler Morris (10.3 p.p.g., 3.9 a.p.g., 3.0 r.p.g.). p.p.g., 3.2 r.p.g.), Andres Torres (6.7 p.p.g., 4.2 a.p.g.) was one of those upperclassmen taken out ence these last three years. Mahamoud Jabbi (6.3 Easing the losses for second-year coach Patrick a.p.g.), and Anthony Minor (3.2 p.p.g.) all re- of the starting lineup last season; however, he p.p.g., 6.8 r.p.g.) and Kyrie Sutton (6.2 p.p.g.) Chambers will be three transfers: Chris Kurz turn. Clayton Brothers (2.5 p.p.g.) and Charles provided Albany with a big-time impact player are expected to once again be key players inside. (Arizona State), Patrick Hazel (Marquette), and White (4.6 p.p.g.) should be major players this off the bench. Matt Griffin (Rider), as well as a very talented six- season, as well. man freshman class. (19-11, 12-4 AEC) (13-17, 6-10 AEC) (25-10, 12-4 AEC) (22-10, 13-3 AEC)

Losing star point guard Junior Bernal (8.1 Bill Herrion's teams are always good defensive- Life after Marqus Blakely (17.3 p.p.g., 9.3 The reigning AEC Player of the Year, Muham- p.p.g., 5.7 r.p.g., 3.4 a.p.g.) is going to hurt, but ly. Now he has the second part of what he thinks r.p.g., 3.7 a.p.g., 2.4 s.p.g., 1.9 b.p.g.) is going to mad El-Amin (16.7 p.p.g.), may be gone, but returning every other player on the team is going a team needs to win a championship: experience. be tough. The two-time AEC POY and three-time Bryan Dougher (13.8 p.p.g.) has developed into to make up for it. Gerald McLemore (14.6 p.p.g., Alvin Abreu (14.4 p.p.g., 3.3 r.p.g.), Tyrone Con- AEC DPOY carried the Catamounts to the NCAA one of the top players in the conference. Dallis 3.4 three's per game) has established himself as ley (11.7 p.p.g., 3.8 r.p.g.) and Dane Diliegro tournament last year. The Catamounts also lost Joyner (8.1 p.p.g., 6.5 r.p.g.) and Danny Carter one of the premier three-point shooters in the (8.9 p.p.g. 8.1 r.p.g.) are headed into their fourth three other starters, including three-point spe- (2.7 p.pg.) are two good interior defenders, and conference and Terrance Mitchell (9.9 p.p.g.) season as starters. UNH struggled to score last cialist Maurice Joseph (13.9 p.p.g., 2.2 three's both will have to step up their game even more and Andrew Rodgers (2.2 p.p.g.) are skilled season, finishing last in the league with just 60.8 per game), point guard Nick Vier (5.5 p.p.g., 2.6 as Tommy Brenton (7.6 p.p.g., 9.7 r.p.g.) is likely enough to do well in bigger roles. Sean McNal- points per game, but the trio of seniors should be a.p.g.) and defensive specialist Garvey Young (7.4 out all season with a new injury. Marcus Rouse ley (10.3 p.p.g., 7.4 r.p.g.) has been a dominant helped out by sophomore forward Ferg Myrick p.p.g.). Now it is up to Evan Fjeld (10.7 p.p.g., (4.4 p.p.g.) started 11 games as a freshman and center the last three seasons, and Murphy Bur- (7.6 p.p.g.), who showed serious offensive skill 6.1 r.p.g.) and Joey Accaoui (6.7 p.p.g.) to hold showed he has a good all-around game. natowski (6.4 p.p.g.), Mike Allison (3.5 p.p.g.), but poor decisions because his inexperience lim- the team together, as inexperienced or unproven and Troy Barnies (6.3 p.p.g., 5.5 r.p.g.) are three ited his playing time. guys will have major roles to fill. solid front-court options. Conference Preview by Corey Johns