2001-02 Men's Basketball Guide 2001 National Finalist 2001 Njac Champions
2200001-021-02 MEN’SMEN’S BASKETBALLBASKETBALL GUIDEGUIDE
20012001 NATIONALNATIONAL FINALISTFINALIST 20012001 NJACNJAC CHAMPIONSCHAMPIONS Pioneer Basketball Fast Facts William Paterson University Wayne, New Jersey 07470 Founded: 1855 Enrollment: 10,466 President: Arnold Speert Executive Vice President and Provost: Chernoh Sesay Athletic Director: Arthur Eason Head Coach: Jose Rebimbas (seventh year) Career Record: 133-57 (115-53 at WPU) Assistant Coaches: Brian Chapman Brian Horton Nickname: Pioneers Colors: Orange & Black Affiliation: NCAA Division III Conference: New Jersey Athletic 2000-01 Record: 26-5 Overall, 15-3 NJAC Men’s Basketball Phone: 973.720.2170 Athletic Phone: 973.720.2356 Sports Information Director: Brian Falzarano Sports Information Phone: 973.720.2705 Sports Info., Basketball Fax: 973.720.3017 Head Athletic Trainer: Toby Barboza Photographer: Steve Smith Web Site: www.wpunj.edu Pioneer Hotline: 973.720.2547 With his ability to both score and rebound, senior forward Dag Christensen is again a big part of William Paterson’s plans.
Men’s Basketball
BLAZING A TRAIL OF TRADITION
• Three consecutive NCAA Tournament invites (two Final Fours) • Two consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference titles; seven overall • The NJAC’s winningest program across the past three campaigns (68-22) • Horace Jenkins (1,940 career points) named 2001 Division III Player of the Year Pioneer Basketball
William Paterson University 2001 Men’s Basketball Guide
CONTENTS
2001-02 Roster ...... 2
Q&A With Coach Rebimbas ...... 3
2001-02 Coaching Staff ...... 5
2001-02 Pioneer Profiles ...... 7
2000-01 Recap ...... 13
2000-01 Statistics ...... 15
2000-01 Game-by-Game ...... 16
2000-01 New Jersey Athletic Conference Standings, Honors ...... 16
Horace Jenkins Highlights ...... 17
All-Time Records...... 18
Millennium Men ...... 20
Pioneer Men’s Basketball Information
The 2001-02 William Paterson University Brian Falzarano Pioneer Men’s Basketball Media Guide has been Director of Sports Information assembled to assist in your coverage of the 973.720.2705 • [email protected] Pioneers. We hope the information included in the following pages will answer any questions Sports Information Office concerning the Pioneers. If you need additional Ben Shahn Gallery, Room 022 information and photos, or would like to set up William Paterson University an interview with head coach Jose Rebimbas, his Wayne, New Jersey 07470 assistants or players, please feel free to contact Fax 973.720.3017 • Pioneer Hotline 973.720.2547 our staff and we will be happy to help you. www.wpunj.edu 1 2001-02 ROSTER
No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/HS 0 Larry Press Fr. F 6-6 215 E. Brunswick, NJ/E. Brunswick 1 Khalid Coursey Sr. G 5-9 180 Newark, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz 2 Brandon Constantine So. G 5-10 175 Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck 4 Jeff Pela So. G 6-3 200 Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East 5 Michael Everett Sr. F 6-4 190 Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep 10 Mike Schirick Sr. F 6-6 200 Middletown, NY/Steward 11 Omar Charles Fr. G 5-10 170 Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic 13 Rashaan Barner Sr. G 6-3 185 Hillside, NJ/Hillside 21 Jason Vieira Fr. G 5-9 170 Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford 22 Seth Brown Jr. F 6-6 230 Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack 24 Justin Lauer Fr. F 6-7 216 Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere 34 Taurean Fisher Jr. G/F 6-5 210 Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville 35 Terrance McNeal Jr. F 6-6 240 Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Middle Twp. 40 Keyth Hardy Jr. F 6-5 215 Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex 42 Rory Caswell So. F 6-5 225 Toms River, NJ/Toms River North
Head Coach: Jose Rebimbas (seventh season, Seton Hall ‘92) Assistant Coach: Brian Chapman, Brian Horton
Juniors Keyth Hardy (left) and Terrance McNeal will be counted upon to provide muscle and depth to the Pioneer frontcourt.
2 Pioneer Basketball
Q&A WITH COACH REBIMBAS
Over the past three seasons, Head Coach Jose Rebimbas has guided William Paterson to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Final Fours. In 2000-01, the Pio- neers finished as Division III national runners-up and won a school-record 26 games, while star guard Horace Jenkins was named the Division III Player of the Year. Now, Rebimbas looks forward to keeping the Pioneers among the nation’s elite.
Q: After finishing as national runners-up and winning the most games in school history, how do you approach this season? Also, how do you go about replacing Horace Jenkins?
A: We approach every season with the same goals: to improve every day as individuals and as a program, compete for a conference championship and to get an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
You do not replace Horace Jenkins (2001 Division III Player of the Year and three-time NJAC Player of the Year; 27.2 ppg in 2000-01), because his value goes beyond statistics. He was a quiet leader, a defensive stopper and he possessed a will to win. We will use the barometer of excellence that he set forth as a guideline of how hard we must have to work to achieve our goals.
Q: Horace and Ray Ortiz, a regional All-American, shouldered much of the scoring load last season. Should we expect more of a balanced offen- sive team this year?
A: Horace and Ray Ortiz (11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) were a great one-two punch. They complemented one another so well. We will now depend on the whole team to contribute scoring. All of our players possess the triple threat: the ability to shoot, pass and dribble.
Q: That said, what players should people watch out for this season when watching your team play?
A: Senior guard Rashaan Barner (left; 9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg) will step up and be our go-to guy. We also look to our other seniors – forward Dag Christensen (7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg), swingman Michael Everett (right) and forward Mike Schirick – to increase their scoring load. The same with sophomore forward Rory Caswell and sophomore guard Jeff Pela.
Q: How about the newcomers? Which ones figure to contribute on a significant basis?
A: We are excited about the additions of junior swingman Tory Fisher, junior forward Seth Brown, sophomore point guard Bran- don Constantine, senior guard Khalid Coursey and freshman forward Larry Press. All five will see significant minutes. Tory brings depth and scoring to our wing players. Khalid is a point guard who is quick and explosive. Seth is a physical specimen who
3 will dominate the boards every night. Larry will remind us of Ray with his ability to shoot from “3”. And Brandon will take over the leadership roll of this team. He is quick, fiesty, physical and strokes the “3” all night. As he goes, we go.
Q: What do you see as this team’s trademarks?
A: We will always be a defensive team first. We want to be physical and we want to be quick. We will hustle, play hard and with a purpose. Offensively, you will see on most nights 5-6 double-figure scorers.
Q: Last question coach: How does William Paterson stack up in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and on the national scene?
A: We obviously play in one of the top conference s in the country. This is going to be a very balanced league from 1-10. There are going to be a lot of new faces on the top teams of the last two years. I think it will be fun, intense and very well coached. I hope we can weather the storm the first couple of weeks as we try to jell the new and old.
Nationally, we will find out based on how we do early in the season with an opening-night tipoff against defending national champion Catholic and then our first four conference games. That will tell the story. Mike Schirick provides the Pioneers with defensive intensity and heady play.
After winning a school-record 26 games, Head Coach Jose Rebimbas (center) is depending upon a combination of tested talent and fresh faces to make another NCAA Tournament run.
4 Pioneer Basketball
COACHING STAFF
Jose Rebimbas Head Coach Seventh Season
Since taking the reins in 1995-96, the Pioneers have enjoyed their greatest successes with Rebimbas running the show. In the past three seasons alone, the program has made two Final Four appearances (1999 and 2001) and has set a school record for victories (26 in 2001). For his career, he owns a record of 133-57 across eight seasons. In addition to going 18-4 as the interim coach at Montclair State in 1994-95, he is 115-53 with the Pioneers.
Rebimbas learned coaching during his playing days at Seton Hall University, where he played for the 1989 Final Four team. He observed head coach P.J. Carlesimo closely, incorporating some of his mentor’s methods into his own coaching style, which he first displayed as an assistant at Montclair State from 1991-93. When he took over as interim coach during the 1994-95 season, he helped the Red Hawks reach the NCAA Tournament.
Soon after, he took the post at William Paterson, where he has made the postseason an annual tradition. In 1996- 97, he piloted the Pioneers to a 20-8 record and the program’s first NCAA appearance since 1984-85. William Paterson earned return trips to the Big Dance the past three seasons, going 68-22 during that stretch. He was named the 1999 New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year after leading the Pioneers to the Final Four despite having just a 15-10 record entering the tournament.
Besides being one of the most respected coaches on the Division III level, Rebimbas is also active in the commu- nity and is a founder and organzier of the successful William Paterson men’s basketball camp.
Rebimbas lives in South Plainfield with his wife, Lisa, and his one-year-old son, JP.
YEAR RECORD NJAC 2000-01 @& 26-5 15-3 1999-00 %& 23-5 15-3 1998-99 @ 19-12 11-7 1997-98 15-11 10-8 1996-97 # 20-8 12-6 1995-96 12-12 8-10
Overall 133-57 71-37
@ - NCAA Final Four # - NCAA Sweet 16 % - NCAA Tournament Appearance & - NJAC Champions * - At Montclair State 5 Brian Chapman Assistant Coach Seventh Season
When Rebimbas arrived at William Paterson in 1995, he brought Chapman along with him. Since then, Chapman has complemented Rebimbas’ ability as a tactician and also earned plenty of respect himself, both from opposing coaching staffs and the Pioneer players.
Before taking his current post, Chapman enjoyed a career on Wall Street. Prior to his arrival at William Paterson, he served as the head coach at Hudson Prep for two years (1993-95) and also was the junior varsity coach and a varsity assistant at Don Bosco Prep (1991-93).
Chapman, who graduated from Ramapo College in 1986 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He is actively involved with the Metro Tournament at Seton Hall University, the ABCD camp at Fairleigh Dickinson and the Pioneer Basketball Camps.
Brian Horton Assistant Coach First Season
Having coached at Rutgers-Newark the past two seasons, Horton will coach the Pioneers’ perimeter players. He knows guard play, having been a solid performer at Fairleigh Dickinson-Teaneck. During his coaching tenure at Rutgers-Newark, the Scarlet Raiders’ greatest strength was their guards. Besides working with the backcourt, Horton will also scout future William Paterson opponents.
Flanked by 2001 stars Horace Jenkins (left) and Ray Ortiz, head coach Jose Rebimbas shows off the youngest member of the Pioneer basketball family: his one- year-old son JP. Besides winning, Rebimbas follows through on his pledge to make playing at William Paterson part of a family atmosphere.
6 Pioneer Basketball
13•Rashaan Barner Senior • Guard • 6-3 • 190 Hillside, NJ • Hillside H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: After a strong debut season, Barner becomes the Pioneers’ go-to guy. He is quick, athletic and possesses a 42-inch vertical leap that enables him to throw down many crowd-pleasing dunks. Although he has yet to shoot much from beyond the 3-point arc, he has been honing his stroke. … Barner joined the team last December and immediately gave the Pioneers a scoring threat as their sixth man. He averaged 9.2 points per game (third on the team) and wowed crowds with his sharpshooting and slam dunks. He also averaged 4.2 rebounds and shot a team-best 57.2 percent from the floor. … All-time leading scorer Horace Jenkins told Coach Rebimbas about Barner, an All-American at Union County College. he is majoring in exercise and movement science. CAREER HIGHS Points: 18 (@ Rutgers-Newark, 1/13/01) Rebounds: 9 (McMurry, 3/9/01) Assists: 2 “We are looking for Rashaan to be our go-to guy. He (Richard Stockton, 1/20/01) possesses an outstanding first step, as well as being Steals: 3 (Rutgers-Camden, 2/7/01) an automatic perimeter shooter. He will excite the Blocked Shots: 2 crowd with his unbelievable 42-inch vertical leap.” (Christopher Newport, 3/10/01) Rebimbas on Barner Minutes: 29 (@ York-PA, 1/6/01)
33•Dag Christensen Senior • Forward • 6-7 • 210 Garnerville, NY • Don Bosco Prep
PIONEER PROFILE: A two-year fixture among the starting five, Christensen provides a strong perimeter game and fiery competitive nature. If healthy, he could put up his best numbers since coming to William Paterson. … Last season, Christensen started in 28 of the 30 games he played, averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 81.2 percent from the charity stripe. … His best offensive game came against Rowan on February 10, when he scored a season-high 17 points. … In his previous two seasons at WPU, he’s played on two NCAA Tournament teams. ... He averaged 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in 1999-2000. ... Overall, he has scored 490 points in two seasons. … He is majoring in business management. CAREER HIGHS Points: 18 (@ Rutgers-Newark, 1/13/01) Rebounds: 9 (Several Occasions) “Dag has been the ultimate team player the past Assists: 3 (Richard Stockton, 1/20/01) two years. He has done whatever it took to win. This Steals: 5 year, we will ask him to elevate his stats. He has (New Jersey City, 2/23/01) worked extremely hard and we expect him to make Blocked Shots: 3 a big contribution.” (@ Rutgers-Newark, 1/13/01) Minutes: 39 Rebimbas on Christensen (@ Christopher Newport, 3/10/01) 7 5•Michael Everett Senior • Guard/Forward • 6-5 • 190 Orange, NJ • Seton Hall Prep
PIONEER PROFILE: A strong role player the previous three seasons, look for Everett to claim more individual spotlight for himself this season. His athleticism and defensive capabilities make him a prime candidate to start either at shooting guard or small for- ward. … Everett started 13 games last year, averaging 14 minutes and 2.6 points. His best game in 2000-01 came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Hampden- Sydney, when he scored 14 points in 32 minutes. … He averaged 2.8 points and 1.9 rebounds during the 1999-2000 campaign, playing in 17 games and making one start. … In high school, he helped lead Seton Hall Prep to back-to-back state Parochial A and Essex County championships. … He is majoring in communication.
“Mike is an outstanding CAREER HIGHS leader on and off the Points: 14 court. He does all the little (Hampden Sydney, 3/3/01) Rebounds: 4 things that go unnoticed (Richard Stockton, 1/20/01 statistically, but not by the Assists: 5 coaching staff and his (The College of NJ, 12/9/00) teammates.” Steals: 3 (Rowan, 1/10/01) Rebimbas on Everett Blocked Shots: 1 (Several Occasions) Minutes: 32 (Hampden Sydney, 3/3/01)
10•Mike Schirick Senior • Forward • 6-5 • 200 Rock Hill, NY • Steward H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: Touted as the Pioneers’ top defender, he will see his fair share of playing time, whether as a starter or off the bench. He is one of Coach Rebimbas’ favor- ites because of his selfless approach to the game. However, the work he spent on his offensive game during the offseason should make for a better all-around performer in 2001-02. … Last season, Schirick played in 28 games (two starts), averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds. He played a career-high 52 minutes against Richard Stockton on December 2, and scored a career- best 11 points against Montclair State on November 29. … As a sophomore, he played in 13 games. ... He is majoring in history.
“Mike brings a lot of CAREER HIGHS Points: 11 experience to the team. (Montclair State, 11/29/00) We are going to look for Rebounds: 3 Mike's leadership to help (Baldwin-Wallace, 12/28/00) the younger players realize Assists: 4 (Baldwin-Wallace, 12/28/00) their potential.” Steals: 2 Rebimbas on Schirick (Baldwin-Wallace, 12/28/00) Blocked Shots: 1 (Several Occasions) Minutes: 52 (@ Richard Stockton, 12/2/00) 8 Pioneer Basketball
40•Keyth Hardy Junior • Forward • 6-5 • 215 Middlesex, NJ • Middlesex H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: Hardy provides defense and toughness to a Pioneer team that prides itself in both aspects. Look for him to flash a little more offense this season. … He played in 29 games last season, starting two of them, while averaging 1.1 points per game. … As a freshman, he averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 25 games as the Pioneers won the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship and played in the NCAA Tourna- ment. ... Hardy is also a starting wide receiver at William Paterson, having caught 85 passes for 959 yards the past two seasons. This past season, he hauled in 35 passes for 469 yards and four touchdowns. … He is majoring in criminal justice.
“I am expecting CAREER HIGHS Keyth to elevate his Points: 6 (@ Kean, 2/14/01) individual game to a Rebounds: 3 higher level. Keyth has (Framingham, 12/27/00) been an outstanding Assists: 1 team player for us the (Several Occasions) Steals: 2 past two seasons.” (@ Kean, 2/14/01) Rebimbas on Hardy Blocked Shots: 1 (Several Occasions) Minutes: 18 (@ New Jersey City, 1/27/01)
35•Terrance McNeal Junior • Forward • 6-6 • 240 Cape May Courthouse, NJ • Middle Township H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: McNeal is a strong rebounder and physical presence who can score around the basket. He is improving his shooting touch, so you might see him score outside the paint this year. … Last season, he started five of the 10 games he played, averaging 5.2 points and 4.7 rebounds. He scored a career-high 10 points in a win over Montclair State on November 29.
“Terrance is an intimidator. CAREER HIGHS Points: 10 Great low-post moves. He (Montclair State, 11/29/00) continues to improve his Rebounds: 9 skills and we look forward (@ Richard Stockton, 12/2/00) to his contributions.” Assists: 4 (Framingham, 12/28/00) Rebimbas on McNeal Steals: 3 (@ Vassar, 11/19/00) Blocked Shots: 1 (Several Occasions) Minutes: 51 (@ Richard Stockton, 12/2/00) 9 1•Khalid Coursey Senior • Guard • 5-9 •180 Newark, NJ • Malcolm X. Shabazz H.S.
“Khalid will put pressure on PIONEER PROFILE: A transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson-Teaneck, Coursey comes on board with defenses because of his a lot of buzz. He played with Rashaan Barner and quickness. He will bring Pioneer-great Horace Jenkins in summer leagues instant leadership and around North Jersey, fine-tuning a strong all-around game. ... Prior to his physical/mental toughness.” time at FDU, Coursey played at Dixie Junior College in Idaho. ... When Rebimbas on Coursey asked to describe himself, he needed only one word: “Smooth.” ... He is majoring in physical education.
22•Seth Brown Junior • Forward • 6-6 • 230 Hackensack, NJ • Hackensack H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: Brown arrives at William “Seth is a physical Paterson after playing at Fairleigh Dickinson presence, but possesses a University-Teaneck. With his combination of size, soft shooting touch. We strength and finesse, he should help anchor the expect Seth to contribute frontline for the next two seasons. In addition to immediately.” his power game, the coaching staff loves his repertoire of finesse moves in Rebimbas on Brown the low post.
34•Taurean Fisher Junior • Guard/Forward • 6-5 • 210 Sayreville, NJ • Sayreville H.S.
“Tory is the whole package. PIONEER PROFILE: Fisher brings a wealth of He can shoot it from ‘3’, he talent with him from Ocean County College, can drive and finish, and he where he starred last season. … At OCC, he was is an outstanding on-the- named the Region 19 MVP and to the national all- ball defender. He will make tournament team. … He is majoring in marketing. an immediate impact.” … Called “Tory” by his coaches and teammates. Rebimbas on Fisher
10 Pioneer Basketball
42•Rory Caswell Sophomore • Forward • 6-5 • 220 Toms River, NJ • Toms River North H.S.
“Rory is an energy player. PIONEER PROFILE: Caswell is expected to All loose balls are his. He is provide hustle and muscle on the blocks, which a physical presence.” is no problem for a player who describes himself Rebimbas on Caswell first and foremost as a “worker.” Look for him to see consistent minutes off the bench. … He saw time in four games last season. ... He is majoring in special education.
2•Brandon Constantine Sophomore • Guard • 5-10 • 170 Teaneck, NJ • Teaneck H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: Constantine spent a “Brandon will contribute semester at Caldwell College and took some time immediately. He is an off before arriving at William Paterson. … In outstanding shooter, passer 1996, he led Teaneck (29-1) to the Group 4 state and leader.” championship game and finished among the Top Rebimbas on Constantine 5 scorers in Bergen County. … He was born a lefty, but after breaking his wrist at the age of 2, he started working on his right hand and began to feel comfortable enough to use it primarily. ... His major is undeclared.
4•Jeff Pela Sophomore • Guard • 6-3 • 200 Cherry Hill, NJ • Cherry Hill East H.S.
PIONEER PROFILE: Pela is coming off knee “Jeff is still recovering from surgery last season, so his playing time will an ACL injury. He is an progress as he rounds into shape. … He played in outstanding physical 13 games last season, averaging 0.6 points per defender and we expect him game. … On the court, his strength, intelligence to contribute this year.” and work ethic are his greatest strengths. He Rebimbas on Pela worked on his 3-point shooting in the offseason to diversify his game. … He is majoring in computer science.
11 “Extremely quick, good 11•Omar Charles ballhandling skills and Freshman • Guard •5-10 •170 an outstanding shooter. Jersey City, NJ •Hudson Catholic H.S. We look forward to Omar’s contributions.” Rebimbas on Charles PIONEER PROFILE: Charles brings a solid, selfless game with him from Hudson Catholic. He came to William Paterson because he wanted to help continue the winning tradition. ... He considers his ability to drive and break down a defense his greatest strength.
“We are waiting for 24•Justin Lauer Justin to blossom. He Freshman • Forward •6-7 •216 shoots it well to 17 feet Belvidere, NJ •Belvidere H.S. and has good hands in traffic.” Rebimbas on Lauer PIONEER PROFILE: Lauer follows his older brother, Chris, who helped the Pioneers earn three NCAA Tournament invites and make two Final Four appear- ances. He is a solid perimeter threat who can hit from up to 17 feet out. ... He is majoring in physical education.
“We are very fortunate 0•Larry Press to get a player of Larry’s Freshman • Forward •6-6 •215 caliber from one of the East Brunswick, NJ •East Brunswick H.S. best boys basketball programs in the state. We look forward to PIONEER PROFILE: Press brings athleticism and court Larry being a mainstay sense that bely his status as a freshman. He is a candi- of this program.” date for consistent playing time. … His fondest high Rebimbas on Press school basketball memory: Beating Sayreville in the state semifinals.
“Jason is an outstanding 21•Jason Vieira athlete who is learning Freshman • Guard •5-9 •170 to play the point. He can Rutherford, NJ •Rutherford H.S. defend and leap with anyone.” Rebimbas on Vieira PIONEER PROFILE: Vieira provides depth and steadiness at point guard. He also possesses a 44-inch vertical leap. … He comes from a successful program at Rutherford High. … He is majoring in physical education and minoring in health.
12 Pioneer Basketball
2000-01 SEASON RECAP
13 A LOOK BACK: 2000-01 RECAP
Having started the 2000-01 season touted as the nation’s No. 1 team by Street & Smith magazine, William Paterson found opponents clamoring for the chance to knock off a potential champion. Early on, the Pioneers struggled to find their identity until a trip to Phoenix for the Desert Hoop Classic. Head coach Jose Rebimbas barely caught a few winks after a first-round loss to Baldwin Wallace and forgot to shave. From there, his players ran off 12 straight wins and would not let him shave until they lost..
WPU rarely lost the rest of the way. They ripped through the regular season, then won their second straight New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament championship with a 88-72 victory over New Jersey City on February 23. Then they earned a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament. During their second-round game against Hampden Sydney, senior guard Horace Jenkins became the Pioneers’ all-time leading scorer, dropping in 35 points in a 84-65 victory. Jenkins then helped the Pioneers score their most dramatic victory of the season with a Final Four berth on the line against Christo- pher Newport. Trailing by six in the final minute, he helped the Pioneers storm back and force overtime before moving into the Final Four with a 86-75 over- time victory.
The Pioneers returned to Virginia the following week against Illinois Wesleyan. They won by a 67-52 score, setting up a rematch against Catholic University of Washington D.C. – the team that knocked the Pioneers out of the second round in 2000. In spite of a game effort, the Pioneers fell by a 76-62 score in the national championship game.
Nonetheless, the Pioneers fashioned the best season in school history (26-5) and reached their second Final Four in three years. Jenkins was named the Division III Player of the Year and forward Ray Ortiz was named a Regional All-American.
14 Pioneer Basketball
2000-01 STATISTICS
GP/GS FG/FGA FG% 3FG/3FGA 3FG% FT/FTA FT% OREB DREB TOT AVG A BLK TO STL MIN/AVG PTS/AVG
HORACE JENKINS 31-27 255-568 44.9 74-220 33.0 257-312 82.4 49 123 174 5.6 107 14 102 120 1134/37 841/27.1
RAY ORTIZ 31-28 134-289 46.4 44-111 39.6 34-41 82.9 61 95 156 5.0 72 18 73 34 863/28 x348/11.2
RASHAAN BARNER 23-0 87-152 57.2 2-6 33.3 35-60 58.3 54 43 97 4.2 13 9 25 29 473/21 211/9.2
DAG CHRISTENSEN 30-28 80-190 42.1 7-35 20.0 56-69 81.2 60 84 144 4.8 29 26 38 48 853/28 223/7.4
MUFFEED THOMAS 31-24 71-179 39.7 1-9 11.1 47-68 69.1 78 114 192 6.2 52 19 56 55 804/26 190/6.1
STEVE SMITH 27-17 28-68 41.2 10-28 35.7 13-20 65.0 12 20 32 1.2 31 4 26 23 372/14 79/2.9
MICHAEL EVERETT 28-13 32-78 41.0 0-4 0.0 9-12 75.0 19 16 35 1.3 27 1 24 16 393/14 73/2.6
TERRANCE McNEAL 10-5 21-42 50.0 0-0 ----- 10-18 55.6 13 34 47 4.7 11 2 16 9 228/23 52/5.2
MICHAEL SCHIRICK 28-2 19-42 45.2 1-8 12.5 11-16 68.8 10 25 35 1.3 21 2 25 9 337/12 50/1.8
CHRIS LAUER 31-4 19-54 35.2 0-2 0.0 7-13 53.8 21 41 62 2.0 6 6 8 14 283/9 45/1.5
JEFF MOGILA 26-3 11-22 50.0 0-6 0.0 13-14 92.9 5 14 19 0.7 20 0 18 6 213/8 35/1.3
KEYTH HARDY 29-2 12-30 40.0 0-2 0.0 8-14 57.1 13 17 30 1.0 2 1 11 4 208/7 32/1.1
JEFF PELA 13-0 7-12 58.3 0-0 ----- 5-7 71.4 2 6 8 0.6 1263 57/4 19/1.5
JEFF PAYOUTE 6-1 5-10 50.0 0-0 ----- 4-10 40.0 10 6 16 2.7 2143 60/10 16/2.7
BART JORDAN 13-0 5-16 31.3 0-0 ----- 2-10 20.0 5 11 16 1.2 2670 54/4 16/1.2
GREGG ANACKER 16-1 2-9 22.2 2-8 25.0 5-6 83.3 3 5 8 0.5 7052 57/4 11/0.7
RORY CASWELL 4-0 2-4 50.0 0-0 ----- 0-2 0.0 0 4 4 1.0 0021 11/3 4/1.0
WPU (TEAM) 58 55 113 18
WPU 31-31 790-1765 44.8 141-443 31.8 516-692 74.6 473 714 1187 38.3 403 111 464 376 2237/72.2
Opponents (TEAM) 82 101 183 36
Opponents 31-31 618-1556 39.7 163-483 33.7 476-743 64.1 367 621 988 31.9 335 52 610 223 1875/60.5
DEADBALL REBOUNDS: WPU 72
15 2000-01 GAME-BY-GAME Record: 26-5 (15-3 NJAC)
DATE OPPONENT W/L SCORE RECORD SCORER 11/18 Mount St. Mary’s W 72-58 1-0 Jenkins (21) 11/19 at Vassar W 75-42 2-0 Jenkins (25) 11/21 *at Ramapo L 77-80 2-1 (0-1) Jenkins (29) 11/25 *NEW JERSEY CITY W 76-73 3-1 (1-1) Jenkins (39) 11/29 *MONTCLAIR STATE W 73-62 4-1 (2-1) Jenkins (21) 12/2 *at Richard Stockton L 66-71 4-2 (2-2) Jenkins (33) 12/6 *at Rutgers-Camden W 70-49 5-2 (3-2) Jenkins (21) 12/9 *THE COLLEGE OF NJ W 81-59 6-2 (4-2) Jenkins (39) 12/27 Baldwin-Wallace L 60-66 6-3 (4-2) Jenkins (31) 12/28 Framingham State W 61-46 7-3 (4-2) Jenkins (23) 12/30 Mount Union W 66-60 8-3 (4-2) Jenkins (25) 1/6 York (NY) W 66-65 9-3 (4-2) Jenkins (25) 1/10 *ROWAN W 64-49 10-3 (5-2) 2 Players (13) 1/13 *at Rutgers-Newark W 75-56 11-3 (6-2) Jenkins (23) 1/17 *KEAN W 64-46 12-3 (7-2) Jenkins (20) 1/20 *R. STOCKTON W 78-63 13-3 (8-2) Jenkins (43) 1/24 *at Montclair State W 71-65 14-3 (9-2) Jenkins (31) 1/27 *at New Jersey City W 62-60 15-3 (10-2) Jenkins (24) 1/29 *RAMAPO W 65-64 16-3 (11-2) Jenkins (19) 2/3 *at The College of NJ W 79-50 17-3 (12-2) Jenkins (20) 2/7 *RUTGERS-CAMDEN W 77-56 18-3 (13-2) 2 Players (17) 2/10 *at Rowan L 83-88 18-4 (13-3) Jenkins (41) 2/14 *at Kean W 77-54 19-4 (14-3) Jenkins (30) 2/17 *RUTGERS-NEWARK W 75-53 20-4 (15-3) Jenkins (37) 2/21 ROWAN W 60-41 21-4 Jenkins (19) 2/23 NEW JERSEY CITY W 88-72 22-4 Jenkins (31) 3/3 #HAMPDEN-SYDNEY W 84-65 23-4 Jenkins (35) 3/9 #McMurry W 77-59 24-4 Jenkins (20) 3/10 #at C. Newport W 86-75 25-4 Jenkins (35) 3/16 #Illinois Wesleyan W 67-52 26-4 Jenkins (30) 3/17 #Catholic L 76-62 26-5 Jenkins (21)
* - New Jersey Athletic Conference game # - NCAA Tournament game
2000 NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
NJAC OVERALL WL W L WILLIAM PATERSON 15 3 26 5 New Jersey City 12 6 20 9 Kean 11 7 16 10 Rowan 10 8 14 11 Richard Stockton 10 8 15 11 Ramapo 8 10 11 13 Rutgers-Newark 8 10 14 11 The College of NJ 7 11 11 13 Montclair State 6 12 11 13 Rutgers-Camden 3 15 6 18
2000-01 HONOR ROLL HORACE JENKINS: Division III and NJAC Player of the Year RAY ORTIZ: Regional All-American, Second Team All-NJAC 16 Pioneer Basketball
HORACE’S HIGHLIGHTS Pioneers reach two Final Fours in leading scorer’s career
Under a sweltering summer sun in Newark’s Branch Brook Park, Jose Rebimbas discovered Horace Jenkins. He noticed the young man’s flashes to the basket, his ability to defend on the ball and the way he soared toward the sky for a slam dunk.
After a series of conversations on blacktops all around North Jersey, Rebimbas finally convinced Jenkins to give basketball the old college try. Some two-and-a-half seasons later, Jenkins established himself as William Paterson’s leading scorer while providing the school with a number of memories and a national profile.
When he finished, Jenkins established eight school records. Among them: career points (1,940), 3-point field goals (183) and free throws (498), and points HORACE’S HONORS (844) and scoring average (27.1) in a season. During his stay, the Pioneers reached three NCAA •2001 NABC Division III Player of the Year Tournaments and went to two Final Fours. Simply put, it was the most successful stretch in school history, as •Two-time NABC All-American seen by the banners decorating WPU Rec Center walls and the amount of national media attention the •Three-Time NJAC Player of the Year University attracted across that stretch. •Two-time Met Writers Player of the Year After winning the NCAA Slam Dunk Championship during Division I Final Four weekend in Minneapolis •Set Eight Pioneer Records – besting several Division I stars in the process – he received several inquiries from NBA teams. He was invited to the Orlando Magic veterans camp, but opted to sign with Italian club team Cimberio Borgomanero.
17 ALL-TIME RECORDS
INDIVIDUAL Most Points Game: 47, Tommie Patterson (vs. Medgar Evers, 11/23/91) Season: 795, Clinton Wheeler (27 games, 1979-80) Career: 1,940, Horace Jenkins (82 games, 1999-2001)
Most Field Goals Game: 21, Clinton Wheeler (vs. Ramapo, Feb. 1980) Season: 283, Clinton Wheeler (27 games, 1979-80) Career: 698, Doug Gross (93 games, 1968-72)
Most Three-Point Field Goals Season: 74, Horace Jenkins (31 games, 2000-01) Career: 183, Horace Jenkins (82 games, 1999-2001) Game: 9, Horace Jenkins (vs. Richard Stockton, 1/20/01) Tommie Patterson Most Free Throws Game: 20, Horace Jenkins (vs. Kean, 2/14/01) Season: 257, Horace Jenkins (31 games, 2000-2001) Career: 498, Horace Jenkins (82 games, 1999-2001)
Most Assists Game: 15, Clayton Morrell (vs. Kean, 12/8/82) 15, Mike Lauterhahn (vs. Stockton, 2/20/93) Season: 184, Clayton Morrell (28 games, 1982-83) Career: 502, Clayton Morrell (89 games, 1979-83)
Highest Scoring Average Season: 27.1, Horace Jenkins (31 games, 2000-01) Horace Jenkins Career: 23.9, Doug Gross (71 games, 1969-72)
Highest Field-Goal Percentage Game: 91.7, Andrew Daniels (11-12, vs Medgar Evers, 11/11/92) Season: 62.9, Clinton Wheeler (27 games, 1979-80)
Highest Free-Throw Percentage Season: 84.5, Ted Bonner (27 games, 1979-80)
TEAM Most Points Game: 129, (vs. Ramapo 2/18/80) By two teams: 225, (129-96 Ramapo/William Paterson 2/18/80) Season: 2,411, (29 games, 1986-87) Clayton Morrell 18 Pioneer Basketball
Highest scoring average (season): 84.8, (27 games, 1979-80, 2nd in nation) Fewest allowed (season): 1,552, (26 games, 1974-75, 6th in nation)
Field Goals Most attempted (game): 90, (vs. Ramapo 2/18/80) Most made (game): 57, (vs. Ramapo 2/18/80) Highest percentage (game): 72.2, (26-36, vs. Spring Garden 12/3/82) Highest percentage (season): .572, (1979-80, 2nd in Nation)
Free Throws Most attempted (game): 46, (vs. Upsala, NCAA’s 3/4/83) Most made (game): 34, (vs. Jersey City, 2/22/84) Highest percentage (game): 86.2 (25-29, vs. Baruch 1/4/80)
Victories Most one season: 26 (31 games, 2001-02) Consecutive: 14, (1983-84, 1/16-2/24) The 2001-2002 team (26-5) Fewest in one season: 1, (1962-63, 21 games) THROUGH THE YEARS YEAR RESULT NOTES YEAR RESULT NOTES 2000-01 26-5 National Finalists 1975-76 16-8 NJAC Champions 1974-75 20-6 NCAA Tournament Most Wins in a Season 1973-74 10-15 1999-00 23-5 NJAC Champions 1972-73 12-14 1971-72 15-8 NJAC Champions 1998-99 19-12 NCAA Final Four 1970-71 14-10 Atlantic Regional Champion 1969-70 15-9 1997-98 15-11 NJAC Tournament 1968-69 5-18 1996-97 20-8 NCAA Tournament 1967-68 11-12 1995-96 12-12 1966-67 9-16 1994-95 9-14 1965-66 3-19 1993-94 6-18 1964-65 2-20 1992-93 11-13 1963-64 3-18 1991-92 6-19 1962-63 1-20 1990-91 15-11 ECAC Playoff Appearance 1961-62 6-20 1989-90 11-13 1960-61 6-16 1988-89 10-15 1959-60 12-13 1987-88 3-22 1958-59 12-11 1986-87 20-9 NJAC & ECAC 1957-58 10-12 Playoff Appearance 1956-57 13-8 1985-86 16-10 NJAC Playoff 1955-56 7-12 Appearance 1954-55 9-10 1984-85 22-7 NJAC Champions 1953-54 5-12 NCAA Tournament 1952-53 9-13 1983-84 22-6 NJAC Champions 1951-52 14-7 NCAA Tournament 1950-51 13-9 1982-83 19-8 NJAC Champions 1949-50 12-13 NCAA Tournament 1948-49 10-19 1981-82 18-8 NJAC Playoffs 1947-48 8-17 1980-81 19-6 NJAC Playoffs 1946-47 15-12 NCAA Tournament 1945-46 10-6 1979-80 20-7 NJAC Champions 1944-45 no team NCAA Tournament 1943-44 no team 1978-79 14-8 NJAC Playoffs 1942-43 10-9 1977-78 14-9 NJAC Playoffs 1941-42 no team 1976-77 22-4 NCAA South Atlantic 1940-41 15-8 Regional Champions 1939-40 13-8 1938-39 14-6 19 MILLENNIUM MEN (1,000-Point Scorers)
PLAYER YEARS POINTS
Horace Jenkins 1999-2001 1,940 Steve Clancy 1962-66 1,812 Doug Gross 1966-72 1,675 Tommie Patterson 1988-92 1,627 Clinton Wheeler 1977-81 1,624 Jack Drury 1953-57 1,532 Lou Cirangle 1954-58 1,528 Ken Brown 1974-77 1,373 Vince Moretta 1949-52 1,335 Tom Dilly 1965-68 1,325 Horace Jenkins Bob Matthews 1952-54, 1956-68 1,320 Ted Bonner 1978-82 1,251 Gerard Wilson 1993-97 1,250 Don Forster 1982-86 1,235 John Richardson 1965-68 1,214 Harry Dolan 1954-57 1,174 Andrew Daniels 1988-93 1,168 John Rice 1977-81 1,128 Al Cousins 1963-67 1,108 Leon Smith 1974-77 1,063 Leroy Lewis 1969-73 1,056 Gino Morales 1984-87 1,008 Ray Ortiz 1997-2001 1,008 Bob Planker 1971-73 1,000 Clinton Wheeler
Ted Bonner Leon Smith Gerard Wilson 20 Pioneer Basketball
Since its founding in 1855, William Paterson University has grown to become a comprehensive, public, liberal arts institution committed to academic excellence and student success. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, it offers 30 undergraduate and 18 graduate degree programs as well as professional development programs through its five colleges: Arts and Communication, the Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health.
Nearly 10,500 full- and part-time students from a diversity of back- grounds are enrolled at the University. Occupying a 370-acre, wooded hillside campus, the University is located in hills of suburban Wayne, New Jersey, within an hour of the ocean, the mountains, the Meadow- lands, and New York City.
As a state-supported institution, the University offers students the value of a first-rate education at a fraction of the cost experienced by those at private colleges and universities. It also offers a wide variety of student activities, modern on-campus housing, and the most up-to-date educa- tional facilities. 2001-02 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Day Date Opponent Site Time Fri. Nov. 16 CATHOLIC Home 8 p.m. Tues. Nov. 20 *RAMAPO Home 8 p.m. Sat. Nov. 24 *New Jersey City Away 8 p.m. Wed. Nov. 28 *Montclair State Away 8 p.m. Sat. Dec. 1 *RICHARD STOCKTON Home 4 p.m. Mon. Dec. 3 CENTENARY Home 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 5 *RUTGERS-CAMDEN Home 8 p.m. Sat. Dec. 8 *The College of NJ Away 4 p.m. Sat. Dec. 22 Lehman Away 2 p.m. Fri./Sat. Dec. 28/29 Grove City Tournament Away TBA (Adrian, Penn St.-Altoona, Grove City) Sat. Jan. 5 YORK (NY) Home 2 p.m. Mon. Jan. 7 SUNY-BROCKPORT Home 6 p.m. Wed. Jan. 9 *Rowan Away 8 p.m. Sat. Jan. 12 *RUTGERS-NEWARK Home 4 p.m. Wed. Jan. 16 *Kean Away 8 p.m. Sat. Jan. 19 *Richard Stockton Away 4 p.m. Wed. Jan. 23 *MONTCLAIR STATE Home 8 p.m. Sat. Jan. 26 *NEW JERSEY CITY Home 4 p.m. Wed. Jan. 30 *Ramapo Away 7:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 2 *THE COLLEGE OF NJ Home 4 p.m. Wed. Feb. 6 *Rutgers-Camden Away 8 p.m. Sat. Feb. 9 *ROWAN Home 4 p.m. Wed. Feb. 13 *KEAN Home 8 p.m. Sat. Feb. 16 *Rutgers-Newark Away 3 p.m. Thurs./Sat. Feb. 21/23 NJAC Playoffs TBA TBA
All HOME games played at the Rec Center * New Jersey Athletic Conference Game