Fairfield – Manhattan Early Edition Game Notes ♫ - Round 3

[reindeerfan]

Early Edition Game Notes is intended to be fun, informative and sometime irreverent way to look at the numbers, but if you take this stuff too seriously you are cautioned against reading any further. Please proceed at your own risk!
PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR! .
Fairfield – Manhattan Early Edition Game Notes ♫
Fairfield University (12-19, 8-12 MAAC) VS Manhattan (12-17, 8-12 MAAC)
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 • 5:00 PM EST
Atlantic City, NJ
LAST TIME OUT
Fairfield beat Manhattan on the road by a score of 66-50
MIRACLE AT MANHATTAN
Jesus Cruz made another miracle shot this time versus Manhattan. Cruz got in a scruffle for the ball with a Manhattan player with the shot clock winding down; Cruz grabbed the ball while seated on the floor and hurled a 40 foot prayer that went into the basket. The play was featured as a sportcenter top 10 play.
100% Man
Jesus Cruz is shooting 100% from the floor this season.
SECOND MIRACLE AT MANHATTAN
As amazing as Cruz’s “floor show” was, later in the Manhattan game he made a basket that seemed even more impossible. Double teamed with the shot clock expiring, Cruz split two defenders and pitched the ball one handed over his head banking it off the backboard and into the basket.
Video can be viewed at:

www.facebook.com/FairfieldMensBasketball/videos/254280905586026/

www.facebook.com/FairfieldMensBasketball/videos/254280905586026/?v=254280905586026
DON’T BET AGAINST THESE STAGS
The Stags covered the spread versus Manhattan improving to 17-14 against the spread this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Fairfield beat Manhattan in the first meeting this season 68-60 in a game where the Stags never trailed. Fairfield came ready to play staking a 16-2 lead early in the contest. The Stags also won the season finale with the Jaspers Friday night by a score of 66-50 With the win the Stags narrowed the Jaspers lead in the all-time series to 55-51 in a series which began during the 1954-53 season.
MAAC TOURNAMENT SERIES HISTORY
Fairfield's first ever MAAC Tournament appearance was against the Jaspers, in a game that the Stags won 61-55.  They did not meet again in conference tournament play for more than 10 years with Manhattan besting Fairfield 82-69 in the semi-finals of the 1995 tournament. Perhaps the most memorable game between the programs came in the 2003 Championship game when the Jaspers beat the Stags by a score of 69-54. Overall Fairfield has faced Manhattan 10 times in conference tourney play with the Stags holding a 6-4 series advantage. The only team the Stags have faced more in MAAC tourney play is Saint Peters who Fairfield has faced 12 times. Manhattan ended Fairfield's 2019 season defeating the Stags by a score of 57–53.
Series Recap
2019 - #7 Manhattan 57, #10 Fairfield 53
2013 - #6 Manhattan 60, #7 Fairfield 42
2009 - #5 Fairfield 68, #4 Manhattan 61
2005 - #3 Fairfield 62, #6 Manhattan 60
2003 - #1 Manhattan 69, #2 Fairfield 54
2002 - #6 Fairfield 81, #3 Manhattan 74
2000 - #3 Fairfield 67, #6 Manhattan 50
1995 - #1 Manhattan 82, #4 Fairfield 69
1986 - #1 Fairfield 80, #8 Manhattan 56
1982 - #4 Fairfield 61, #5 Manhattan 55
COMIC OF THE DAY
Jasper the bear by James Simpkins'
Jasper first appeared in the November 15, 1948 in Maclean's magazine and ran for over 20 years and became a popular comic. The cartoon ran as a regular feature until 1968. It was then syndicated by Canada Wide Features running in newspapers across Canada for four more years until Simpkins retired in 1972. Jasper was also featured in several books.

SCOUTING THE JASPERS
Manhattan has lost 7 of their last 8 games, with their only win being over 10th place Marist.
SCOUTING THE STAGS
Fairfiled has lost 5 of their last 7 games, with their only wins being over the Purple Eagles and Jaspers.
TRYING TO AVOID 20 LOSSES
With a national championship run the Stags can avoid a 20 loss season.
ATLANTIC CITY LUCK
The Stags have never lost a game in Atlantic City.
DYNAMIC DUO
Jesus Cruz and Landon Taliaferro scored in double digits in the same game Friday night for the 13th time this season. The Duo accomplished this feat in 7 of the Stags first 9 contests this season. Since then, the duo has combined for double digits in the same game 6 of the last 22 games. Interestingly the Stags record when both players reach double figures is 3-10. The team’s records when one of them fails to score 10 points - 9-9.
ON THE MAAC ALL TIME LIST
Landon Taliaferro has now surpassed the minimum number of 3 point baskets made to qualify among the all time conference career leaders. His .382 shooting percentage places him 24th on the all-time list. Some may recall it took the MAAC tournament and amazing shooting performance in Mike Evanowich’s final CIT games for Mike to Qualify for 14th place on that list.
TRIVIA QUESTION
Who is the only Stag to win the MAAC Tournament MVP Award?
Answer to follow below
AT THE MOVIES WITH BEIRUT JIMMY
Fantasy Island (2020)
★
Summary: Fantasy Island is a 2020 American supernatural horror film based on the 1970’s series
Siskel gave this movie a rating of 9 and Ebert a 10. I think in both cases the movie is over-eighted.
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
Beirut Jimmy shares one of his favorite “separated at birth” images related to Manhattan’s coach…..
STEVE MASSIELLO


TRIVIA ANSWER
Greg Francis is the only Stag to ever win the MAAC tournament MVP despite the Stags winning the MAAC tourney 3 times. During the Stags first MAAC Tournament victory Jim McCaffrey of Holy Cross had an amazing tournament, and while his Crusaders lost to Fairfield in the Championship game, McCaffrey set what was then a new tournament scoring record of 99 points in 3 games. (that record was later broken by Dwayne Archbold of Siena in 2002 who put up 111 points and McCaffrey’s mark was also tied by Tyler Nelson. However Nelson and Archbold put up their scoring numbers in 4 games. In 1987 Army fell to Fairfield in the semi final round of the MAAC Tournament but Army’s Kevin Houston set a two game tournament record scoring 81 points and he also shattered the MAAC single game scoring record putting up 53 points versus Fordham in the first round game. Houston remains the only tournament MVP that did not appear in the championship game.
According to the crack Early Edition Editors
HEARD BUT PROBABLY NOT TRUE

Commercials based on MAAC Commissioners Persona Draw Harsh Criticism from Cayan Islands Government
The Cayman Islands government has written to US telecom giant AT&T calling on it to cease and desist from using an advertisement which paints the Cayman Islands in a negative light. The Commercial which is losely based on the persona of long time MAAC commissioner Richard Ensor who is an “OK MAAC Commissioner” features an accountant named Phil, who appears to be a shady tax professional who tells his customer he can get her taxes in an “OK place”.  The customer points to photos of Phil on his desk, noting that he takes a lot of trips to “the Caymans”. One photo shows Phil with a yacht in the background with the name Offshore Accounts. The tax professional then goes on to say Phil is legally dead as he fell off a boat and he is now called Dennis Celery. The tagline in the ad is “Just OK is not OK.”
“Just OK,” has been the mantra for the MAAC conference during the Rich Ensor Era, a conference that has never advanced and has reached down to the NEC whenever it wanted to expand. Cayman Island Officials feel that AT&T should have simply used the MAAC conference as an avenue to make their point and should not have painted the Cayman’s as “a place for money laundering and criminal acts.” AT&T spokesperson Jim Kimberly responded via email acknowledging the matter stating, “This ad was intended to be humorous and to remind people that we have America’s best wireless network,” Fairfield University graduate and Sprint spokesperson Paul Marcarelli disputes AT&T’s claim, however he does acknowledge that the MAAC conference is “just OK.” Meanwhile Rich Ensor is now in discussions with AT&T about starring in their next “Just OK” commericial….
With apologies to Rich Ensor, Paul Marcarelli and special thanks to Stag1983 for his contributions to this edition

Paul Marcarelli, class of ‘92

TRACKING CAREER LEADERS
THREE POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Player Pct. Year
1. Shane Miller 0.430
2. Mike Evanovich 0.402
3. Michael Van Schaick 0.398
4. Craig Martin 0.390
5. Landon Taliaferro .382 (153-401)
6. Jonathan Han 0.381
7. Tyler Nelson 0.373
8. Michael Bell 0.369
9. Kevin George 0.367
10. Tyquawn Goode 0.366
*Based on a minimum of 100 made three point shots.
THREE POINT FIELD GOAL MADE CAREER
Player 3pts Years
1. Tyler Nelson 315 2015 2018
2. Derek Needham 281 2010 2013
3. Marcus Gilbert 242 2013 2016
4. Greg Francis 230 1994 1997
5. Jermaine Clark 167 1999 2001
6. Mike Evanovich 165 2006 2010
7. Michael Van Schaick 163 2004 2007
8. Kyle Commodore 162 1996 1999
9. Jonathan Han 157 2006 2009
10. Landon Taliaferro 153 18-pres
11. Herbie Allen 130 2006 2009
12-T. Michael Bell 123 2003 2006
12-T. Kevin George 123 1989 1993
*Based on data from Sportreference.com
BLOCKS
Complete Block Data for all seasons is not available. This list is based on the best available data and excludes most players prior to 1980.
Blocks
Player Blks Years
1. Deng Gai 442* 02-05
* – According to Official NCAA record book 442, according to Stags press guide 444.
2. Ryan Olander 206 08-12
3. Anthony Johnson 200 07-10
4. Harold Brantley 185 88-91
5. Didier Boucard 165 95-98
6. Rob Thomson 147 01-04
7. Jonathan Kasibabu 141 16-19
8. Coleman Johnson 128 13-16
9. Drew Henderson 124 90-93
10. Maurice Barrow 87 11-14
11. Greg Nero 80 07-11
12. DeWitt Maxwell 76 03-06
13. Marcus Gilbert 69 12-16
14. Malcolm Gilbert 69 13-15
15. Shannon Bowman 64 93-97
16. Wassef Methnani 63 18-pres
17. Pete DeBisschop 58* (Final 2 seasons)
* block totals not available for his first 2 seasons.
18. Peter Guarasci 55 92-94
19-T. Ajou Deng 54 01-03
20-T. Sam Spann 49 99-02
20-T. Sean Clark 49 92-96
22. John Tice 48 96-98
37-T. Chris Maidoh 25 19-Pres (tied with AJ Wynder)
63-T. Jesus Cruz 13 17-Pres
67-T. Kevin Senghore-Peterson 12 17-Pres
67-T. Vincent Eze 12 20-Present
88-T. Calvin Whipple 8 19-present
88-T. Landon Taliaferro 8 19-present
88-T. AJ Rose 8 20-Present (tied with 5 other players)
126-T. Aidas Kavaliauskas 2 17-pres
126-T. Rich Wejnert 2 80-81
This list has been updated with additional Block Data from 1980-1984 changing the rankings of some players with 8 or less blocks.
1000 CAREER POINTS IN THEIR SITES
Player Pts Years
Jesus Cruz 938 17-Pres
@stagsmensbball, #MAACHoops, #heardbutprobablynottrue ♫ ♫2019-2020♫

SINGLE SEASON RECORDS.
Here an update on a few single season marks that could be challenged this season:
3-Point FGs Made
Landon Taliaferro currently has 63 made three point baskets this season, however he is no longer on a pace to finish in the top 10 for 3 point baskets in a season. It will take a Texas A&M like game for hi to accomplish this. Taliaferro is also no longer in the top 10 for 3 point percentage in a season, but he is in range of the mark if he has a few high shooting percentage games.
3-Point FGs Made
Player FGs Year
1. Tyler Nelson 104 17-18
2. Ferron Flavors Jr. 95 17-18
3. Landon Taliaferro 90 18-19
4. Mike Van Schaick 88 06-07
5. Tyler Nelson 81 16-17
6. Greg Francis 80 95-96
7. Derek Needham 78 12-13
Marcus Gilbert 78 15-16
9. Derek Needham 73 10-11
Marcus Gilbert 73 13-14
11. Derek Needham 72 11-12
12. Jermaine Clark 69 98-99
13. Tyler Nelson 66 15-16
14. Mike Evanovich 65 09-10
15. Tyler Nelson 64 14-15
16. Greg Francis 63 94-95
16-T. Landon Taliaferro 63 19-20
17-T. Jerry Johnson 62 16-17
*60 or more
3-Point Attempts
Player Att. Year
1. Tyler Nelson 295 17-18
2. Ferron Flavors Jr. 283 17-18
3. Derek Needham 239 12-13
4. Derek Needham 236 10-11
5. Mike Van Schaick 222 06-07
6. Jermaine Clark 218 98-99
7. Landon Taliaferro 213 18-19
8. Marcus Gilbert 209 15-16
9. Tyler Nelson 207 16-17
Greg Francis 207 95-96
11. Marcus Gilbert 199 13-14
12. Tyler Nelson 191 15-16
13. Derek Needham 189 09-10
14. Landon Taliaferro 188 19-20
3-Point Percentage
Player Pct. Year
1. Mike Evanovich .471 09-10**
2. Shane Miller .467 95-96**
3. Marvin Walters .462 87-88
4. Craig Martin .451 93-94
5. Jonathan Han .447 06-07
6. Tyquawn Goode .446 02-03
7. Troy Bradford .443 87-88
8. Herbie Allen .436 05-06
9. Craig Martin .435 92-93
10. Mike Van Schaick .430 05-06
Free Throw Percentage
The best Free throw percentage numbers in a season follow. Both Benning (96/121 .793) and Taliaferro(57/61 .934) have a chance to finish in the top 10 this season although Taliaferro may not have enough attempts to qualify. Taliaferro will need 19 attempts in the next games to qualify among the national and league leaders.
Player Pct. Year
1. Joe DeSantis .892 76-77
2. Tyler Nelson .880 17-18
Tyler Nelson .880 15-16
4. Jeff Gromos .863 83-84
5. Mike Van Schaick .863 06-07
6. Mike Van Schaick .857 05-06
7. Tyler Nelson .856 16-17
8. A.J. Wynder .855 85-86
9. Phil Rogers .848 72-73
10. Joe DeSantis .844 77-78
George Groom .844 71-72
Bob Hutter .844 61-62

[dalydoseofhoops]

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com/2020/03/maac-monday-awards-and-all-conference.html

[reindeerfan]

Official Game notes:
fairfieldstags.com/documents/2020/3/9//2019_20_MBB_MAAC_Tournament_Game_Notes_Manhattan.pdf

[FU73]

#9 Manhattan is now a 2.5 point favorite over the #8 Stags in the MAAC Championship First Round in Atlantic City.
www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/teams/team-page.cfm/team/fairfield

[dalydoseofhoops]

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com/2020/03/fairfield-looking-to-complete-hat-trick.html

[FU73]

“This being my first season, I thought we had a lot of good moments,” Young remarked as he and the Stags descend upon Atlantic City to open the tournament Tuesday against Manhattan, a team from whom Fairfield swept both regular season meetings. “I certainly would like to have won a few more games, but I really like the group, how hard they respond and how hard they work. I think all eleven teams will head down today thinking they have a chance to win the tournament, and that’s a great thing.”

Fairfield’s defense has posed an interesting conundrum for Manhattan in recent years, something that would be noticeable on the floor regardless of who lines up against the Stags.

“I treat it like a separate game,” said Young. “You throw it out, you’ve got to execute, you’ve got to play well. It’s easier on the scout because we just played them and we kind of know who they are and they know who we are. They’re in the same boat as we are, and on Tuesday at 5, we’ll just find out. Hopefully we’ll get a couple more baskets than they do and come out on top, but we’re playing a good Manhattan team. Steve does a great job. They play so hard and they’re difficult to play against.”

“Manhattan just comes at you in waves,” Young shared. “They make every pass difficult, so to have two guys on the floor — they played together the last game and we only had 11 turnovers — it was a huge key for us going into the game. That certainly is something we’re probably going to do again, have both those guys on the floor for a considerable amount of time, and our ability to bring pressure, handle the zone and have good passers out there is certainly huge.”

“I just think we’ve competed every night, for the most part,” he said. “We’ve been in every single game with a chance to win, or at least close in the last five minutes, so I like the way we’ve bought in on that end of the floor, with our defense and our rebounding. We came in and we tried to establish those two things, and for the most part, we’ve shown a lot of progress on that end of the floor. I like our fight, I like our resiliency, and we’re hoping that that travels with us down to Atlantic City.”

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com/2020/03/fairfield-looking-to-complete-hat-trick.html

[FU73]

“We’ve played good basketball this year,” a reassuring Masiello said hours before his Jaspers christen Boardwalk Hall’s three-year run as MAAC tournament host Tuesday against Fairfield, a team against whom Manhattan lost twice in the regular season, the most recent of those defeats coming this past Friday. “We’ve been a little inconsistent lately. In February, we were playing our best basketball, which is a little uncharacteristic for us. But I love our group, I love our process, I love how we come in every day, I love how these guys work. I’m encouraged by the people they are and how they’ve been performing on a day-to-day basis, and that’ll show for them.”

“I just think it’s an exciting time for everyone,” Masiello declared. “This is what you coach for, this is why you play, this is why you lace them up. It’s a fun time of year. I feel the NCAA Tournament is the greatest event in all of sports, and to be a part of that is something special. Anytime you can get into that field and be a part of it, you have the opportunity to make history. This week is what it’s all about.”

“They have our number,” Masiello conceded, with regard to the Stags. “When a team has your number twice, 72 percent of the time, that team wins the third game. We understand that. We’ve got a quick turnaround, so we’ve got to make a lot of adjustments and try to figure it out.”

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com/2020/03/manhattan-hopeful-for-reversal-of.html

[FU73]

Manhattan, Fairfield meet in MAAC tourney
By Associated Press

No. 9 seed Manhattan (12-17, 8-12) vs. No. 8 seed Fairfield (12-19, 8-12)
Metro Atlantic Conference Tourney First Round, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Tuesday, 5 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Manhattan and Fairfield are prepared to match up in the opening round of the MAAC tournament. Fairfield swept the two-game regular season series. The teams last met on March 6, when the Stags shot 61.9 percent from the field while holding Manhattan to just 29.8 percent en route to a 66-50 victory.

TEAM LEADERSHIP: The Jaspers have been led by Pauly Paulicap and Tykei Greene. Paulicap is averaging 10 points and 6.2 rebounds while Greene is putting up 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest. The Stags have been led by juniors Jesus Cruz and Taj Benning. Cruz has accounted for 11.2 points while Benning has averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing.

JUMPING FOR JESUS: Cruz has connected on 23.4 percent of the 64 3-pointers he’s attempted and has gone 2 for 4 over the last three games. He’s also made 71.1 percent of his foul shots this season.

SLIPPING AT 64: Fairfield is 0-13 this year when it allows 64 points or more and 12-6 when holding opponents to fewer than 64.

THREAT BEHIND THE ARC: Fairfield’s Landon Taliaferro has attempted 188 3-pointers and connected on 33.5 percent of them, and is 6 for 21 over his last three games.

DID YOU KNOW: The Fairfield defense has allowed only 62.9 points per game to opponents this season, ranking the Stags 22nd among Division I teams. The Manhattan offense has averaged 62.6 points through 29 games (ranked 303rd, nationally).

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/manhattan-fairfield-meet-in-maac-tourney/2020/03/09/4d340f7c-622c-11ea-8a8e-5c5336b32760_story.html

[FU73]

ESPN3:
www.espn.com/watch?id=fbd7e1db-530b-44d7-9221-2a4b24186683

Live Stats
stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=309492

2020 MAAC Men's Basketball Championship First Round Games
Game 1 - No. 8 Fairfield vs No. 9 Manhattan March 10 at 5:00 PM on ESPN3
Game 2 - No. 7 Iona vs No. 10 Canisius March 10 at 7:00 PM on ESPN3
Game 3 - No. 6 Niagara vs No. 11 Marist March 10 at 9:00 PM on ESPN3

[sgthulka]

"The Commercial which is losely based on the persona of long time MAAC commissioner Richard Ensor who is an “OK MAAC Commissioner” features an accountant named Phil, who appears to be a shady tax professional who tells his customer he can get her taxes in an “OK place”."

Product of a sick mind...and priceless.