Fairfield – Quinnipiac Early Edition Game Notes ♫ 23-24 - 22
Feb 21, 2024 20:32:11 GMT -5
FU73, stag76, and 1 more like this
Post by reindeerfan on Feb 21, 2024 20:32:11 GMT -5
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!
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Fairfield – Quinnipiac Early Edition Game Notes ♫ 23-24 - 222
Fairfield University (16-10, 10-5 MAAC) VS Quinnipiac (19-6, 11-3 MAAC)
Friday, February 23, 2024, 9:00
Hamden, CT
LAST TIME OUT
Fairfield won going away in a game where the Stags connected on 18 made baskets from deep establishing a new school record. Fairfield was lead by Caleb Fields who made 7 three point baskets and scored 26 points. Brycen Goodine also reached 20 points, including 6 of 8 made baskets from deep. Jasper Floyd(16 points) and Alexis Yetna(8 points) contributed 2 treys each, and Louie Bleechmore(6 points) added one. While not connecting from deep, Jalen Leach reached double digits with 14 points and Birmina Seck contributed 4 as the Stags scored a season-best 94 points in the victory. In addition to his scoring Jasper Floyd grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as well as five assists and two steals. Jalen Leach also had a strong line with four rebounds and a game-high six assists.
NEW RECORD
Fairfield set a new team record with 18 three point baskets made versus Mount St. Mary’s. The previous record of 2017 occurred twice during the 2015-2016 season. Here are the top 4 performances all-time:
Date Opp Result 3P 3PA 3P% PTS
1. 2024-02-18 vs Mount St. Mary's W 94-80 18 36 .500 94
2. 2015-11-24 @ Md.-East. Shore W 113-74 17 41 .415 113
3. 2015-12-27 @ Bucknell W 101-91 17 32 .531 101
4. 2019-01-05 @ Iona L 87-94 16 33 .485 87
SERIES HISTORY
Quinnipiac has owned Fairfield since joining the MAAC owning a 14-6 record versus the Stags. Overall, Fairfield is 8-14 versus Quinnipiac going 2-0 versus the Bobcats before they joined the conference. The teams split the games last season. Despite the disparity, across the series, the average margin of victory has been less than six points, meaning these games generally prove to be close ones. Two games have gone into double overtime.
HOME IS NOT SO SWEET IN THIS CASE
A strange twist in the local rivalry between Fairfield and Quinnipiac is that there has been a home court disadvantage. The visitors hold a 11-8 record in this series. There have been 3 neutral site games in the series, where the Stags hold a 2-1 advantage including winning the most important game in the series, a 74-64 win in the 2018 MAAC tournament.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS
• The Bobcats’ 19-6 start to the 2023-24 season matches the program’s best start to a year since the 1965-66 campaign (the ‘65-66 Quinnipiac squad started 21-4).
• The first-place Bobcats won 10 consecutive games from Jan. 5 – Feb. 8, which was at the time the third-longest active streak in all of Division I basketball.
• The Bobcats finished the month of January with a 7-0 record, the first perfect month in the university’s Division I history.
• QU has already defeated each MAAC opponent once through 12 league games. The last time the Bobcats downed every MAAC team in a season was in 2013-14, Quinnipiac’s first season in the league.
• Preseason All-MAAC Selection Matt Balanc has recorded 1,574 career points (11.7 PPG). Balanc averaged 12.0 PPG & 4.6 RPG in 2022-23.
• Point guard Savion Lewis is second in the nation in assists with 183. His 7.4 apg average is 3rd in the nation.
• Other key players for Quinnipiac include Big man Paula Otieno, and Armani Tice.
• Alexis Reyes, JJ Riggins, Nicholas Margetson and Quinn Guth are returning players with six other newcomers joining Tice as first year Bobcats including Richie Springs, Doug Young, Arion Lewis, Khaden Bennett, Rihards Vavers and Daemar Kelly.
TOO EARLY TO LOOK AT THE SEEDINGS?
With the win over the Mount and Quinnipiac’s loss to Niagara, the MAAC standing got even tighter as 6 teams are within 3 games of first place in the loss column and 4 teams are within 2 games of each other in the loss column. Marist is the hottest team in the conference, they are winners of 4 straight. Still Niagara, is making a claim for the top spot after defeating number 1 Quinnipiac and number 2 Fairfield on this road trip. The Purple Eagles have now won 8 straight on the road which is the longest current road winning streak in the nation. Niagara and Fairfield are now tied for 2nd in the conference at 9-5. Iona and St. Peter’s are only one game back of second place. Niagara holds the tiebreaker currently against Marist and Fairfield, so the Stags would need to finish a game ahead of Niagara to secure second or end up in a 3 or 4 way tie that included SPU or Rider. Fairfield holds tiebreaker advantages with Rider and SPU via their sweeps of those teams. In simple terms the Stags have become Rider and SPU fans the rest of the way, and Fairfield does not want to see Iona or Niagara win most games. Mathematically, Fairfield stays out of the play in game with 2 wins. The Stags can still finish in the 1 through 8 positions. However, no team with 11 or more conference wins (since the conference went to a 20-game schedule) has ever fallen into the play-in round of the MAAC Championship. Teams that finished exactly 10-10 have stayed out of the PIG on two occasions, while three times these squads have found themselves playing in (including one on a tiebreaker). With the win on Sunday Fairfield has insured that they will finish no worse than 500 in conference play. That might not seen like a big deal, but it has been 6 years since Fairfield was 500 in conference, and 7 years since the Stags were over 500 in conference. Jay Young never finished over 500 in conference at Fairfield. The Stags have recorded the most overall wins since going 17-16 en route to a MAAC Championship Game appearance in 2017-18.
MAAC STANDINGS
Quinnipiac 11-3 .786
Fairfield 10-5 .667
Niagara 10-5 .667
Marist 9-5 .643
Saint Peter's 9-6 .600
Iona 8-6 .571
MSM 7-8 .467
Rider 7-8 .467
Canisius 5-10 .333
Siena 3-12 .200
Manhattan 2-13 .133
MIXING IT UP
The Stags have used 6 different starting line-ups this season, with 8 different players earning starts.
TRIVIA QUESTION
Savion Lewis dished off 17 assists in a MAAC contest earlier this year versus Rider. Lewis fell one short of the conference record. Do you know who holds the conference record and how many assists this player had?
COMIC OF THE DAY
The Knight Life
Keith Edgar Knight Jr. is an American cartoonist and musician known for his accessible yet subversive comic strips The K Chronicles, (Th)ink, and The Knight Life. While his work is humorous and universal in appeal, he also often deals with political, social, and racial issues.
TRIVIA ANSWER
While the Fairfield school record for assists in a game is 23, a record held by John Ryan, in the MAAC era no player has ever recorded more than 20 assists in a game. Doug Overton holds the conference record of 18 assists in a game. Here are the top 5 assist performances in the MAAC era:
18, Doug Overton, La Salle (vs. Holy Cross 2/13/1989)
17, Sean Kennedy, Marist (vs. Saint Peter’s 2/21/2002)
17, Danny Doyle, Iona (vs. Fairfield 2/19/1994)
17, Glenn Williams, Holy Cross (vs. Army 2/12/1988)
17, Savion Lewis, Quinnipiac (vs. Rider 01/05/2024)
FREE THROW LEADER AGAIN
After missing two free throws last week, Jalen Leach fell in to 20th place in the nation for free throw percentage with an 89.61 free throw percentage.
FREE THROW SINGLE SEASON ALL-TIME LEADERS AT FAIRFIELD
Source: Fairfield Record Book (min. 100 attempts)
Jalen Leach has a chance to finish the season with one of the top free throw shooting percentages in program history. Here are the current top 10 based on a minimum 100 attempts:
Player FT% Season
1. Joe DeSantis .892 1976-77
2. Tyler Nelson .880 2017-18
3. Tyler Nelson .8795 2015-16
4. Mike Van Schaick .857 2005-06
5. Tyler Nelson .856 2016-17
6. Joe DeSantis .844 1977-78
7. Taj Benning .842 2021-22
8. Kevin George .842 1991-92
9. Joe DeSantis .835 1975-76
10. AJ Wynder .832 1986-87
THREE POINTERS PER GAME
Caleb Fields had 7 three-point baskets versus MSM raising his per game average to 3.2083. Fields is 13th in the nation in 3 points baskets per game. Following his 7-10 shooting from deep on Sunday Caleb Fields has moved into 30th in the nation in 3 point percentage with a .4052 3-pt %.
RECORD SETTING PACE
Caleb Fields pace of 3.2083 three point baskets per game would be an all-time best in Stag history if Fields could maintain this pace. Only two other players averaged better than 3 triples per game:
Caleb Field 3.2083 77/24
Tyler Nelson 3.151 104/33
Landon Taliaferro 3.0 90/30
THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS
Tyler Nelson remains the only Stag to reach sink 100 three point baskets in a single season. Nelson averaged 3.2 made treys per game. Currently Caleb Fields is on a similar pace, Fields is averaging 3.1 made 3-point baskets per game and is now 13th all-time among the single season leaders in this category
1. Tyler Nelson 104 2017-18
2. Ferron Flavors Jr. 95 2017-18
3. Landon Taliaferro 90 2018-19
4. Mike Van Schaick 88 2006-07
5. Tyler Nelson 81 2016-17
6. Greg Francis 80 1995-96
7. Derek Needham 78 2012-13
Marcus Gilbert 78 2015-16
9. Caleb Fields 68 2023-24
10. Derek Needham 73 2010-11
Marcus Gilbert 73 2013-14
12. Derek Needham 72 2011-12
13. Jermaine Clark 69 1998-99
….
24. Brycen Goodine 56
HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOOTERS
With his 6-8 three point shooting performance versus MSM, Brycen Goodine is now 56-120 from deep on the season giving him a 3 point shooting percentage of .4666. That would be second in the nation behind Koby O’Brea except that Goodine is 2 makes short of qualifying. Brycen needs at least 4 made three versus Quinnipiac Friday night to return to the leader board.
Editors note: If Goodine and Fields could maintain their pace they would both finish in the top 10 all time in 3 pt percentage in Fairfield history for a single season. Goodine is on a pace to establish a new Fairfield Record. Landon Taliaferro holds the school record for 3 PT% at .423 among qualifying players. It is difficult to qualify as the leader in this category as a player must average 2.5 made 3 point baskets per game. In school history only Tyler Nelson, Marcus Gilbert, Greg Francis, Michael Van Schaick, Jermaine Clark, Ferron Flavors and Landon Taliaferro have ever made enough treys to qualify among the NCAA percentage leaders. For players with 100 attempts, Mike Evanovich holds the Stag record at.471 (2009-10) while Shane Miller is a close second at .467 (1995-96).
Single Season Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders all-time at Fairfield
Source: Fairfield Record Book (min. 100 attempts)
Player 3FG% Season
1. Mike Evanovich .471 2009-10
2. Shane Miller .467 1995-96
3. Jonathan Han .447 2006-07
4. Mike Van Schaick .430 2005-06
5. Tyler Nelson .424 2014-15
6. Landon Taliaferro .423 2018-19
7. Brent Wall .4033 1994-95
8. Mike Evanovich .4032 2007-08
9. TJ Long .4031 2021-22
10. Mike Van Schaick .396 2006-07
Three-Point Field Goals Made - Career (Only includes games for Fairfield)
Source: RDF Database
With his 7 three point baskets made on Sunday, Caleb Fields has move into 11th place on the all-time list at Fairfield passing Taj Benning, Kevin George and Michael Bell. Next in his sites - #11 Herbie Allen(130).
Three-Point Field Goals Made
Player 3FGs Years
1. Tyler Nelson 315 2014-18
2. Derek Needham 281 2009-13
3. Marcus Gilbert 242 2012-16
4. Greg Francis 230 1993-97
5. Jermaine Clark 167 1998-01
6. Mike Evanovich 165 2007-10
7. Mike Van Schaick 163 2003-07
8. Kyle Commodore 162 1995-99
9. Jonathan Han 157 2005-09
10. Landon Taliaferro 153 2018-20
11. Herbie Allen 130 2005-09
12. Caleb Fields 127 2022-present
ASSIST MAN
Jasper Floyd had 5 assists versus Mount St. Mary’s moving him to 76th in the nation with a 4.6 assist per game average. Floyd has the potential to finish among the top 10 all time in Assists per game in a single season at Fairfield.
Player Years Ast per game avg
1. John Ryan, 1973-74 11.6
2. John Ryan, 1972-73 9.1
3. Joe DeSantis, 1978-79 7.4
4. Joe DeSantis, 1977-78 6.9
5. Joe DeSantis, 1976-77 6.8
6. Danny Odums, 1974-75 6.5
7. Jonathan Han, 2007-08 6.2
8. Marvin Walters, 1988-89 6.1
9. A.J. Wynder, 1985-86 5.3
10. Johnnie Jones, 1991-92 5.2
......John Ryan, 1971-1972 5.2
Editors note: John Ryan who holds the school record for assists per game would be among the tops in NCAA history all time, however assists were not an official NCAA statistic at the time he played. The NCAA record of 13.3 belong to Avery Johnson, Southern U., 1988 (399 in 30).
Jasper Floyd has 120 Assists for the season. He still has a long way to go to reach the top 10 in a single season for a Stag. Here are the top 10 all-time assist performance in a single season at Fairfield
Assists Player Assists Season
1. John Ryan 301 1973-74
2. John Ryan 245 1972-73
3. Joe DeSantis 187 1977-78
4. Jonathan Han 186 2006-07
5. Joe DeSantis 184 1978-79
6. Derek Needham 177 2009-10
…Joe DeSantis 177 1976-77
8. Danny Odums 175 1974-75
9. Marvin Walters 172 1988-89
10. Jerome Segura 160 2015-16
STILL STEALING
Jasper Floyd secured 2 steals versus the Mount; He now has 64 for the season, good enough for 9th in the nation at the start of the week. His 2.46 SPG average also places him 10th in the nation. He chases the following single season steals leaders at Fairfield:
Steals Player Steals Season
1. Kyle Commodore 74 1998-99
2. A.J. Wynder 66 1984-85
3. Didier Boucard 64 1996-97
Jasper Floyd 64 2023-24
5. Colin Nickerson 63 2010-11
6. Derek Needham 60 2009-10
7. Colin Nickerson 56 2012-13
8. A.J. Wynder 55 1986-87
9. Kyle Commodore 54 1997-98
10. Jesus Cruz 53 2017-18
11. Rakim Sanders 52 2011-12
RECORD SETTING PACE
There are only 4 seasons where a Stag has averaged as many as 2 steals per game:
1. Kyle Commodore, 1998-99 2.7
2. A.J. Wynder, 1984-85 2.4
3. Didier Boucard, 1996-97 2.2
4. Kyle Commodore, 1997-98 2.0
Jasper has a chance to challenge Kyle Commodore’s single season mark from the 1999 season
DID YOU KNOW - WITH SJ
At one time there were only 25 letters in the alphabet. I don't know y.
MILESTONES
Chris Casey became the 33rd MAAC coach to win 80 or more games. Next in his sites on the MAAC career wins list are Fran Friscilla, Baker Dunleavy and Paul Cormier who each won 86 games piloting a MAAC squad.
STREAKS
Jasper Floyd continued his streak of 25 straight games with a made basket, rebound and an assist.
MAGIC NUMBERS
1 – The number of rebounds Peyton Smith needs to reach 100 as a Stag.
3 – Number of points Birima Seck needs to pass the 100 career point mark
5 – Wins needed to get to 20. The Stags have not surpassed 20 wins in more than 10 years (2011-12 season).
6 – The number of rebounds Jalen Leach needs to reach 250 as a Stag.
7 – The number of wins Chris Casey will need to surpass Paul Cormier for 30th place all-time in MAAC coaching victories.
12 – Number of rebounds Caleb Fields needs to reach 400 in his career.
19 – Number of days until the MAAC Tournament begins
127 – The number of points Alexis Yetna needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
283 – The number of points Jalen Leach needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
552 - The number of points Brycen Goodine needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
772 – The number of points Louie Bleechmore needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
739 – The number of points Jasper Floyd needs to reach the 1000 career point mark
781 – The number of points James Johns needs to reach the 1000 career point mark
825 – The number of points Peyton Smith needs to reach the 1000 career point mark
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
HEARD BUT PROBABLY NOT TRUE
MULTIPLE RECRUITES VISIT
To generate more interest in the program, Chris Casey invited basketball recruits on campus for a hide-and-seek tournament, but it was a complete failure. According to Casey, good players are hard to find.
NEW BROADCASTERS NAMED FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON
Fairfield continues a series of bold moves in an effort to freshen up the program, the latest of which is the announcement of a new broadcasting team for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Up until this point, the “bold moves” have strictly been superficial and have not included anything meaningful like a change in the conference or improved marketing, but this time things seem different. Changing the broadcast team signals a whole new direction for Fairfield. This move is even bolder than the decision last year to change the logo. The university has decided to abandon the beloved long time announcing duo of Joe DeSantis and Bob Heussler, replacing them with former coaches Jimmy Patsos and Bobby Gonzalez. As much as Joe and Bob are loved by the fans, its hard to imagine they will be missed given the Patsos’s sweet personality and Gonalez’s inexpressible charm. Despite Jimmy and Bobby’s undeniable appeal, some say if not for the offer from Fairfield, Patsos and Gonzalez would never find employment again. Still, others realize this might be a move that foreshadows a pending offseason move to make Patsos, the new Head coach and Gonzo his assistant. Following this change, Heussler plans to apply to a lesser job like announcing for the UConn Huskies while DeSantis pledges to spend more time on his floundering Presidential Campaign…….
With apologies to Joe DeSantis and Bob Heussler
CONFERENCE LEADERS
Scoring Leaders
1) Mervin James, Rider (18.6 PPG)
2) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (18.5)
3) Dakota Leffew, Mount St. Mary’s (17.4)
4) Caleb Fields, Fairfield (16.0)
5) Greg Gordon, Iona (15.4)
6) Jalen Leach, Fairfield (15.8)
7) Tre Dinkins, Canisius (15.2)
8) Siem Uijtendaal, Canisius (13.7)
9) Idan Tretout, Iona (13.7)
10) Brycen Goodine, Fairfield (13.4)
Rebounding Leaders
1) Frank Mitchell, Canisius (11.3 RPG)
2) Seydou Traore, Manhattan (8.3)
3) Harlan Obioha, Niagara (7.8)
4) Greg Gordon, Iona (7.3)
5) Amarri Tice, Quinnipiac (7.1)
6) Paul Otieno, Quinnipiac (6.9)
7) Tariq Ingraham, Rider (6.4)
8) Giovanni Emejuru, Siena (6.3)
9) Mervin James, Rider (6.2)
10) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (6.2)
Assist Leaders
1) Savion Lewis, Quinnipiac (7.3 APG)
2) Jaden Winston, Manhattan (4.8)
3) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (4.6)
4) Latrell Reid, Saint Peter’s (4.2)
5) Dakota Leffew, Mount St. Mary's (3.8)
Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Paul Otieno, Quinnipiac (.617)
2) Harlan Obioha, Niagara (.600)
3) Frank Mitchell, Canisius (.576)
4) Giovanni Emejuru, Siena (.555)
5) Greg Gordon, Iona (.545)
Free Throw Percentage Leaders
1) Jalen Leach, Fairfield (.896)
2) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.882)
3) Braxton Bayless, Niagara (.857)
4) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (.838)
5) Siem Uijtendaal, Canisius (.836)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Brycen Goodine, Fairfield (.467)
2) Javon Cooley, Marist (.444)
3) Caleb Fields, Fairfield (.405)
4) Siem Uijtendaal, Canisius (.385)
5) Luke Bumbalough, Niagara (.381)
Steal Leaders
1) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (2.5 SPG)
2) Jaden Winston, Manhattan (2.2)
3) Joel Brown, Iona (2.1)
4) Amarri Tice, Quinnipiac (1.9)
5) De’Shayne Montgomery, Mount St. Mary’s (1.8)
PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!
.Fairfield – Quinnipiac Early Edition Game Notes ♫ 23-24 - 222
Fairfield University (16-10, 10-5 MAAC) VS Quinnipiac (19-6, 11-3 MAAC)
Friday, February 23, 2024, 9:00
Hamden, CT
LAST TIME OUT
Fairfield won going away in a game where the Stags connected on 18 made baskets from deep establishing a new school record. Fairfield was lead by Caleb Fields who made 7 three point baskets and scored 26 points. Brycen Goodine also reached 20 points, including 6 of 8 made baskets from deep. Jasper Floyd(16 points) and Alexis Yetna(8 points) contributed 2 treys each, and Louie Bleechmore(6 points) added one. While not connecting from deep, Jalen Leach reached double digits with 14 points and Birmina Seck contributed 4 as the Stags scored a season-best 94 points in the victory. In addition to his scoring Jasper Floyd grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as well as five assists and two steals. Jalen Leach also had a strong line with four rebounds and a game-high six assists.
NEW RECORD
Fairfield set a new team record with 18 three point baskets made versus Mount St. Mary’s. The previous record of 2017 occurred twice during the 2015-2016 season. Here are the top 4 performances all-time:
Date Opp Result 3P 3PA 3P% PTS
1. 2024-02-18 vs Mount St. Mary's W 94-80 18 36 .500 94
2. 2015-11-24 @ Md.-East. Shore W 113-74 17 41 .415 113
3. 2015-12-27 @ Bucknell W 101-91 17 32 .531 101
4. 2019-01-05 @ Iona L 87-94 16 33 .485 87
SERIES HISTORY
Quinnipiac has owned Fairfield since joining the MAAC owning a 14-6 record versus the Stags. Overall, Fairfield is 8-14 versus Quinnipiac going 2-0 versus the Bobcats before they joined the conference. The teams split the games last season. Despite the disparity, across the series, the average margin of victory has been less than six points, meaning these games generally prove to be close ones. Two games have gone into double overtime.
HOME IS NOT SO SWEET IN THIS CASE
A strange twist in the local rivalry between Fairfield and Quinnipiac is that there has been a home court disadvantage. The visitors hold a 11-8 record in this series. There have been 3 neutral site games in the series, where the Stags hold a 2-1 advantage including winning the most important game in the series, a 74-64 win in the 2018 MAAC tournament.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS
• The Bobcats’ 19-6 start to the 2023-24 season matches the program’s best start to a year since the 1965-66 campaign (the ‘65-66 Quinnipiac squad started 21-4).
• The first-place Bobcats won 10 consecutive games from Jan. 5 – Feb. 8, which was at the time the third-longest active streak in all of Division I basketball.
• The Bobcats finished the month of January with a 7-0 record, the first perfect month in the university’s Division I history.
• QU has already defeated each MAAC opponent once through 12 league games. The last time the Bobcats downed every MAAC team in a season was in 2013-14, Quinnipiac’s first season in the league.
• Preseason All-MAAC Selection Matt Balanc has recorded 1,574 career points (11.7 PPG). Balanc averaged 12.0 PPG & 4.6 RPG in 2022-23.
• Point guard Savion Lewis is second in the nation in assists with 183. His 7.4 apg average is 3rd in the nation.
• Other key players for Quinnipiac include Big man Paula Otieno, and Armani Tice.
• Alexis Reyes, JJ Riggins, Nicholas Margetson and Quinn Guth are returning players with six other newcomers joining Tice as first year Bobcats including Richie Springs, Doug Young, Arion Lewis, Khaden Bennett, Rihards Vavers and Daemar Kelly.
TOO EARLY TO LOOK AT THE SEEDINGS?
With the win over the Mount and Quinnipiac’s loss to Niagara, the MAAC standing got even tighter as 6 teams are within 3 games of first place in the loss column and 4 teams are within 2 games of each other in the loss column. Marist is the hottest team in the conference, they are winners of 4 straight. Still Niagara, is making a claim for the top spot after defeating number 1 Quinnipiac and number 2 Fairfield on this road trip. The Purple Eagles have now won 8 straight on the road which is the longest current road winning streak in the nation. Niagara and Fairfield are now tied for 2nd in the conference at 9-5. Iona and St. Peter’s are only one game back of second place. Niagara holds the tiebreaker currently against Marist and Fairfield, so the Stags would need to finish a game ahead of Niagara to secure second or end up in a 3 or 4 way tie that included SPU or Rider. Fairfield holds tiebreaker advantages with Rider and SPU via their sweeps of those teams. In simple terms the Stags have become Rider and SPU fans the rest of the way, and Fairfield does not want to see Iona or Niagara win most games. Mathematically, Fairfield stays out of the play in game with 2 wins. The Stags can still finish in the 1 through 8 positions. However, no team with 11 or more conference wins (since the conference went to a 20-game schedule) has ever fallen into the play-in round of the MAAC Championship. Teams that finished exactly 10-10 have stayed out of the PIG on two occasions, while three times these squads have found themselves playing in (including one on a tiebreaker). With the win on Sunday Fairfield has insured that they will finish no worse than 500 in conference play. That might not seen like a big deal, but it has been 6 years since Fairfield was 500 in conference, and 7 years since the Stags were over 500 in conference. Jay Young never finished over 500 in conference at Fairfield. The Stags have recorded the most overall wins since going 17-16 en route to a MAAC Championship Game appearance in 2017-18.
MAAC STANDINGS
Quinnipiac 11-3 .786
Fairfield 10-5 .667
Niagara 10-5 .667
Marist 9-5 .643
Saint Peter's 9-6 .600
Iona 8-6 .571
MSM 7-8 .467
Rider 7-8 .467
Canisius 5-10 .333
Siena 3-12 .200
Manhattan 2-13 .133
MIXING IT UP
The Stags have used 6 different starting line-ups this season, with 8 different players earning starts.
TRIVIA QUESTION
Savion Lewis dished off 17 assists in a MAAC contest earlier this year versus Rider. Lewis fell one short of the conference record. Do you know who holds the conference record and how many assists this player had?
COMIC OF THE DAY
The Knight Life
Keith Edgar Knight Jr. is an American cartoonist and musician known for his accessible yet subversive comic strips The K Chronicles, (Th)ink, and The Knight Life. While his work is humorous and universal in appeal, he also often deals with political, social, and racial issues.
TRIVIA ANSWER
While the Fairfield school record for assists in a game is 23, a record held by John Ryan, in the MAAC era no player has ever recorded more than 20 assists in a game. Doug Overton holds the conference record of 18 assists in a game. Here are the top 5 assist performances in the MAAC era:
18, Doug Overton, La Salle (vs. Holy Cross 2/13/1989)
17, Sean Kennedy, Marist (vs. Saint Peter’s 2/21/2002)
17, Danny Doyle, Iona (vs. Fairfield 2/19/1994)
17, Glenn Williams, Holy Cross (vs. Army 2/12/1988)
17, Savion Lewis, Quinnipiac (vs. Rider 01/05/2024)
FREE THROW LEADER AGAIN
After missing two free throws last week, Jalen Leach fell in to 20th place in the nation for free throw percentage with an 89.61 free throw percentage.
FREE THROW SINGLE SEASON ALL-TIME LEADERS AT FAIRFIELD
Source: Fairfield Record Book (min. 100 attempts)
Jalen Leach has a chance to finish the season with one of the top free throw shooting percentages in program history. Here are the current top 10 based on a minimum 100 attempts:
Player FT% Season
1. Joe DeSantis .892 1976-77
2. Tyler Nelson .880 2017-18
3. Tyler Nelson .8795 2015-16
4. Mike Van Schaick .857 2005-06
5. Tyler Nelson .856 2016-17
6. Joe DeSantis .844 1977-78
7. Taj Benning .842 2021-22
8. Kevin George .842 1991-92
9. Joe DeSantis .835 1975-76
10. AJ Wynder .832 1986-87
THREE POINTERS PER GAME
Caleb Fields had 7 three-point baskets versus MSM raising his per game average to 3.2083. Fields is 13th in the nation in 3 points baskets per game. Following his 7-10 shooting from deep on Sunday Caleb Fields has moved into 30th in the nation in 3 point percentage with a .4052 3-pt %.
RECORD SETTING PACE
Caleb Fields pace of 3.2083 three point baskets per game would be an all-time best in Stag history if Fields could maintain this pace. Only two other players averaged better than 3 triples per game:
Caleb Field 3.2083 77/24
Tyler Nelson 3.151 104/33
Landon Taliaferro 3.0 90/30
THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS
Tyler Nelson remains the only Stag to reach sink 100 three point baskets in a single season. Nelson averaged 3.2 made treys per game. Currently Caleb Fields is on a similar pace, Fields is averaging 3.1 made 3-point baskets per game and is now 13th all-time among the single season leaders in this category
1. Tyler Nelson 104 2017-18
2. Ferron Flavors Jr. 95 2017-18
3. Landon Taliaferro 90 2018-19
4. Mike Van Schaick 88 2006-07
5. Tyler Nelson 81 2016-17
6. Greg Francis 80 1995-96
7. Derek Needham 78 2012-13
Marcus Gilbert 78 2015-16
9. Caleb Fields 68 2023-24
10. Derek Needham 73 2010-11
Marcus Gilbert 73 2013-14
12. Derek Needham 72 2011-12
13. Jermaine Clark 69 1998-99
….
24. Brycen Goodine 56
HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOOTERS
With his 6-8 three point shooting performance versus MSM, Brycen Goodine is now 56-120 from deep on the season giving him a 3 point shooting percentage of .4666. That would be second in the nation behind Koby O’Brea except that Goodine is 2 makes short of qualifying. Brycen needs at least 4 made three versus Quinnipiac Friday night to return to the leader board.
Editors note: If Goodine and Fields could maintain their pace they would both finish in the top 10 all time in 3 pt percentage in Fairfield history for a single season. Goodine is on a pace to establish a new Fairfield Record. Landon Taliaferro holds the school record for 3 PT% at .423 among qualifying players. It is difficult to qualify as the leader in this category as a player must average 2.5 made 3 point baskets per game. In school history only Tyler Nelson, Marcus Gilbert, Greg Francis, Michael Van Schaick, Jermaine Clark, Ferron Flavors and Landon Taliaferro have ever made enough treys to qualify among the NCAA percentage leaders. For players with 100 attempts, Mike Evanovich holds the Stag record at.471 (2009-10) while Shane Miller is a close second at .467 (1995-96).
Single Season Three-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders all-time at Fairfield
Source: Fairfield Record Book (min. 100 attempts)
Player 3FG% Season
1. Mike Evanovich .471 2009-10
2. Shane Miller .467 1995-96
3. Jonathan Han .447 2006-07
4. Mike Van Schaick .430 2005-06
5. Tyler Nelson .424 2014-15
6. Landon Taliaferro .423 2018-19
7. Brent Wall .4033 1994-95
8. Mike Evanovich .4032 2007-08
9. TJ Long .4031 2021-22
10. Mike Van Schaick .396 2006-07
Three-Point Field Goals Made - Career (Only includes games for Fairfield)
Source: RDF Database
With his 7 three point baskets made on Sunday, Caleb Fields has move into 11th place on the all-time list at Fairfield passing Taj Benning, Kevin George and Michael Bell. Next in his sites - #11 Herbie Allen(130).
Three-Point Field Goals Made
Player 3FGs Years
1. Tyler Nelson 315 2014-18
2. Derek Needham 281 2009-13
3. Marcus Gilbert 242 2012-16
4. Greg Francis 230 1993-97
5. Jermaine Clark 167 1998-01
6. Mike Evanovich 165 2007-10
7. Mike Van Schaick 163 2003-07
8. Kyle Commodore 162 1995-99
9. Jonathan Han 157 2005-09
10. Landon Taliaferro 153 2018-20
11. Herbie Allen 130 2005-09
12. Caleb Fields 127 2022-present
ASSIST MAN
Jasper Floyd had 5 assists versus Mount St. Mary’s moving him to 76th in the nation with a 4.6 assist per game average. Floyd has the potential to finish among the top 10 all time in Assists per game in a single season at Fairfield.
Player Years Ast per game avg
1. John Ryan, 1973-74 11.6
2. John Ryan, 1972-73 9.1
3. Joe DeSantis, 1978-79 7.4
4. Joe DeSantis, 1977-78 6.9
5. Joe DeSantis, 1976-77 6.8
6. Danny Odums, 1974-75 6.5
7. Jonathan Han, 2007-08 6.2
8. Marvin Walters, 1988-89 6.1
9. A.J. Wynder, 1985-86 5.3
10. Johnnie Jones, 1991-92 5.2
......John Ryan, 1971-1972 5.2
Editors note: John Ryan who holds the school record for assists per game would be among the tops in NCAA history all time, however assists were not an official NCAA statistic at the time he played. The NCAA record of 13.3 belong to Avery Johnson, Southern U., 1988 (399 in 30).
Jasper Floyd has 120 Assists for the season. He still has a long way to go to reach the top 10 in a single season for a Stag. Here are the top 10 all-time assist performance in a single season at Fairfield
Assists Player Assists Season
1. John Ryan 301 1973-74
2. John Ryan 245 1972-73
3. Joe DeSantis 187 1977-78
4. Jonathan Han 186 2006-07
5. Joe DeSantis 184 1978-79
6. Derek Needham 177 2009-10
…Joe DeSantis 177 1976-77
8. Danny Odums 175 1974-75
9. Marvin Walters 172 1988-89
10. Jerome Segura 160 2015-16
STILL STEALING
Jasper Floyd secured 2 steals versus the Mount; He now has 64 for the season, good enough for 9th in the nation at the start of the week. His 2.46 SPG average also places him 10th in the nation. He chases the following single season steals leaders at Fairfield:
Steals Player Steals Season
1. Kyle Commodore 74 1998-99
2. A.J. Wynder 66 1984-85
3. Didier Boucard 64 1996-97
Jasper Floyd 64 2023-24
5. Colin Nickerson 63 2010-11
6. Derek Needham 60 2009-10
7. Colin Nickerson 56 2012-13
8. A.J. Wynder 55 1986-87
9. Kyle Commodore 54 1997-98
10. Jesus Cruz 53 2017-18
11. Rakim Sanders 52 2011-12
RECORD SETTING PACE
There are only 4 seasons where a Stag has averaged as many as 2 steals per game:
1. Kyle Commodore, 1998-99 2.7
2. A.J. Wynder, 1984-85 2.4
3. Didier Boucard, 1996-97 2.2
4. Kyle Commodore, 1997-98 2.0
Jasper has a chance to challenge Kyle Commodore’s single season mark from the 1999 season
DID YOU KNOW - WITH SJ
At one time there were only 25 letters in the alphabet. I don't know y.
MILESTONES
Chris Casey became the 33rd MAAC coach to win 80 or more games. Next in his sites on the MAAC career wins list are Fran Friscilla, Baker Dunleavy and Paul Cormier who each won 86 games piloting a MAAC squad.
STREAKS
Jasper Floyd continued his streak of 25 straight games with a made basket, rebound and an assist.
MAGIC NUMBERS
1 – The number of rebounds Peyton Smith needs to reach 100 as a Stag.
3 – Number of points Birima Seck needs to pass the 100 career point mark
5 – Wins needed to get to 20. The Stags have not surpassed 20 wins in more than 10 years (2011-12 season).
6 – The number of rebounds Jalen Leach needs to reach 250 as a Stag.
7 – The number of wins Chris Casey will need to surpass Paul Cormier for 30th place all-time in MAAC coaching victories.
12 – Number of rebounds Caleb Fields needs to reach 400 in his career.
19 – Number of days until the MAAC Tournament begins
127 – The number of points Alexis Yetna needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
283 – The number of points Jalen Leach needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
552 - The number of points Brycen Goodine needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
772 – The number of points Louie Bleechmore needs to reach the 1000 career point mark.
739 – The number of points Jasper Floyd needs to reach the 1000 career point mark
781 – The number of points James Johns needs to reach the 1000 career point mark
825 – The number of points Peyton Smith needs to reach the 1000 career point mark
SEPARATED AT BIRTH
HEARD BUT PROBABLY NOT TRUE
MULTIPLE RECRUITES VISIT
To generate more interest in the program, Chris Casey invited basketball recruits on campus for a hide-and-seek tournament, but it was a complete failure. According to Casey, good players are hard to find.
NEW BROADCASTERS NAMED FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON
Fairfield continues a series of bold moves in an effort to freshen up the program, the latest of which is the announcement of a new broadcasting team for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Up until this point, the “bold moves” have strictly been superficial and have not included anything meaningful like a change in the conference or improved marketing, but this time things seem different. Changing the broadcast team signals a whole new direction for Fairfield. This move is even bolder than the decision last year to change the logo. The university has decided to abandon the beloved long time announcing duo of Joe DeSantis and Bob Heussler, replacing them with former coaches Jimmy Patsos and Bobby Gonzalez. As much as Joe and Bob are loved by the fans, its hard to imagine they will be missed given the Patsos’s sweet personality and Gonalez’s inexpressible charm. Despite Jimmy and Bobby’s undeniable appeal, some say if not for the offer from Fairfield, Patsos and Gonzalez would never find employment again. Still, others realize this might be a move that foreshadows a pending offseason move to make Patsos, the new Head coach and Gonzo his assistant. Following this change, Heussler plans to apply to a lesser job like announcing for the UConn Huskies while DeSantis pledges to spend more time on his floundering Presidential Campaign…….
With apologies to Joe DeSantis and Bob Heussler
CONFERENCE LEADERS
Scoring Leaders
1) Mervin James, Rider (18.6 PPG)
2) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (18.5)
3) Dakota Leffew, Mount St. Mary’s (17.4)
4) Caleb Fields, Fairfield (16.0)
5) Greg Gordon, Iona (15.4)
6) Jalen Leach, Fairfield (15.8)
7) Tre Dinkins, Canisius (15.2)
8) Siem Uijtendaal, Canisius (13.7)
9) Idan Tretout, Iona (13.7)
10) Brycen Goodine, Fairfield (13.4)
Rebounding Leaders
1) Frank Mitchell, Canisius (11.3 RPG)
2) Seydou Traore, Manhattan (8.3)
3) Harlan Obioha, Niagara (7.8)
4) Greg Gordon, Iona (7.3)
5) Amarri Tice, Quinnipiac (7.1)
6) Paul Otieno, Quinnipiac (6.9)
7) Tariq Ingraham, Rider (6.4)
8) Giovanni Emejuru, Siena (6.3)
9) Mervin James, Rider (6.2)
10) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (6.2)
Assist Leaders
1) Savion Lewis, Quinnipiac (7.3 APG)
2) Jaden Winston, Manhattan (4.8)
3) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (4.6)
4) Latrell Reid, Saint Peter’s (4.2)
5) Dakota Leffew, Mount St. Mary's (3.8)
Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Paul Otieno, Quinnipiac (.617)
2) Harlan Obioha, Niagara (.600)
3) Frank Mitchell, Canisius (.576)
4) Giovanni Emejuru, Siena (.555)
5) Greg Gordon, Iona (.545)
Free Throw Percentage Leaders
1) Jalen Leach, Fairfield (.896)
2) Matt Balanc, Quinnipiac (.882)
3) Braxton Bayless, Niagara (.857)
4) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (.838)
5) Siem Uijtendaal, Canisius (.836)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders
1) Brycen Goodine, Fairfield (.467)
2) Javon Cooley, Marist (.444)
3) Caleb Fields, Fairfield (.405)
4) Siem Uijtendaal, Canisius (.385)
5) Luke Bumbalough, Niagara (.381)
Steal Leaders
1) Jasper Floyd, Fairfield (2.5 SPG)
2) Jaden Winston, Manhattan (2.2)
3) Joel Brown, Iona (2.1)
4) Amarri Tice, Quinnipiac (1.9)
5) De’Shayne Montgomery, Mount St. Mary’s (1.8)
Edition 222 @stagsmensbball , #stagsmensbball, #MAACHoops , #heardbutprobablynottrue , #EEGN , #HBPNT ♫2023-2024♫
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