FanPost

Manhattan Jaspers 2015-16 Season Preview

Steve Masiello’s Jaspers may be one of the biggest mysteries in the MAAC heading into the 2015-2016 season. The two-time defending MAAC champions will look to make it to their fourth straight MAAC Championship game and third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. However, this season the Jaspers will have to do it without the services of Emmy Andujar, their do-it-all point/forward, and Ashton Pankey, the leagues most dominant big-man.

While the loss of Andujar and Pankey are significant, it doesn’t come close to what Masiello had to replace after the 2013-14 season when he said goodbye to George Beamon, Rahmel Brown, and Mike Alverado, three 1000-point scorers, and arguably the best trio in Manhattan history. If Masiello’s track record holds true, he should have the Jaspers right back at the top of the table this year in a position to compete for their 3rd straight MAAC crown.

While Manhattan may be seen as a mystery team this season, one thing you can be sure of is that they will be one the best defensive teams in the MAAC. Coach Masiello’s blueprint is simple, ‘Hard-nose defense wins championships’. An approach taken from his longtime mentor Rick Pitino, the high pressure trapping zone defense has paid dividends for the Jaspers, who took Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals to the wire in a first round game in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

Aside from the pressure defense, lets take a look at a few of the other ‘knowns’ and ‘unknowns’ facing the Jaspers in 2015.

‘Knowns’:

1. The court general is back.

The best news the Jaspers received in the offseason did not come in the signing of a new recruit or transfer but rather the return of a familiar face. On July 22, Head Coach Steve Masiello announced via his twitter account that RaShawn Stores (a senior who graduated after last season) was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. Stores lead the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.9) last season and ranked 5th in three-point percentage (.398)(39-98). Stats aside, Stores was Manhattan’s vocal leader and one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. His presence will not only help the Jaspers on the floor but he will also serve as a mentor to incoming transfer (and former MAC rookie of the year) Zavier Turner, from Ball State, who will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.

2. Shane Richards can hurt you from all over the floor.

Shane has completely transformed his game since his MAAC Co-Rookie of the year performance in his freshman season. As a senior, Shane is more than a just the 3-point spot-up shooter that he was in his first two years at Manhattan. His junior season showed that he can hurt you in a variety of ways. The cat is out of the bag around the MAAC, #0 on Manhattan can shoot. Richards was constantly smothered by opposing defenders towards the end of his sophomore season and spent the entire offseason developing his ‘off the dribble’ game. We saw Richards take it to the hole, drive and dish, and fire shots off the dribble last season, completely taking opponents by surprise. We expect nothing less from Richards this season. The much more vocal, confident and driven Richards will be one of the team’s leaders this season.

‘Unknowns’:

1. Will Jermaine Lawrence show up?

Lawrence was listed among the nations top overall prospects coming out of Pope John XXIII High School in NJ before signing with Cincinnati for his freshman season. After a disappointing freshman season for the Bearcats he was granted a waiver allowing him to play immediately for the Jaspers last season. We saw two different versions of Jermaine last season. He missed several games for disciplinary reasons, and a nagging toe injury. In the 21 games that he appeared in, he averaged 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds. Several games he was non-existent while others he was absolutely dominant; like his personal best, a 26 min outing at Marist where he had 19 points shooting 8-for10 from the floor including three explosive dunks. The potential is there – will he show up on a consistent basis for the Jaspers this season?

2. Who will blossom?

Playing the high-pressure defense that the Jaspers do, we saw plenty of bodies on the floor last season for the jaspers including two freshmen that made an immediate impact. Both Calvin Crawford and Zane Waterman proved that they have serious potential in this league. Masiello had no problem putting either in the game in big spots last season. In a home game against archrival Iona, Masiello drew up a play for Zane Waterman to take the final shot at the buzzer over the likes of Richards, Stores, or Williams. Aside from Waterman and Crawford, the Jaspers are also expecting big things out fellow sophomore, and highly touted recruit, Samson Usilo. Usilo missed his entire freshman season due to injury but is expected to make in immediate impact this season. If these three can stay healthy, they can make a huge difference for the jaspers on both sides of the court.

We have the Jaspers tabbed to finish the MAAC in 4th place behind only Iona, Monmouth and Rider, however come tournament time, Manhattan’s wave upon wave of pressure defense has proven to ware down the other MAAC teams. We wouldn’t count out the Jaspers for another post season run in the MAAC Tournament.


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