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Monday, November 19, 2007

Hawks do it again in the Jam (Much longer story here than will appear in Tuesday Press!!) MU finishes ahead of Notre Dame in the tournament.

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) -Matt Causey scored 11 points, including a 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining, and Georgia Tech beat Notre Dame 70-69 on Monday night.

This means UND went 1-2 in the Jam and finishes behind Monmouth. Amazing!






Also...kudos to the four people out of 52 on the Poll who picked MU to go 2-1 in the tournament...


By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

Monmouth University guard Whitney Coleman made just two baskets in Monday's Paradise Jam
fourth-place game in the Virgin Islands.
But they were big ones. The 6-2 junior tied the score with a layup with 18 seconds left in
regulation, then swished a 3-point basket with 10 seconds left in overtime to send the Hawks
to their second consecutive upset victory in the event, 58-56 over the University of
Charlotte.
Coleman was just one-for-nine from the floor in the game and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc
before connecting from the top of the circle.

""I always have to stay confident,'' said Coleman. ""The coaches always say, "Keep shooting,
that was a good shot.' ''


Coleman said Monmouth used a five-guard alignment on both baskets. ""They put Alex (guard
Alex Nunner at center (on the game-tying layup,'' said Coleman. ""He set a perfect screen, I
was wide open and Jhamar (Youngblood) made a good pass.''

Coleman said Nunner made another good screen freeing him for the game-winner. ""I thought
it was going in and it went in,'' said Coleman. "'It was amazing.''


Coleman also sank a game winning jump shot in the final seconds last season to defeat
Rider.

""I was more excited about this one than the Rider game,'' said Coleman. ""The group of
guys we have, everybody works so hard. I had a feeling we were going to pull it out.'

The triumph marked just the second in 13 tries for Monmouth against a member of the
Atlantic-10 Conference and followed Saturday night's 59-50 upset of Wichita State of the
Missouri Valley Conference.

Such outcomes seemed remote after Monmouth lost to Notre Dame by 43 points in the
opening round Friday night.
""We're young and all we want to do is prove people wrong,'' said Coleman who along with
Nunner are the only two juniors on an otherwise all freshmen-sophomore team.
""If people didn't believe in us we believe in ourselves and that's all it takes,'' Coleman
said.


Monday Monmouth (2-3) rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit and in overtime took a
a 55-52 lead over the 49ers (3-2) on a 3 by Nunner.

It fell behind 56-55 after senior guard Lee Goldwire, the top free throw shooter in the
A-10 last season (90.5 percent), sank the first of two attempts with 32 seconds showing.

Monmouth coach Dave Calloway further explained Monmouth's five-guard offense when Coleman sank his layup as well
as the game-winning 3.

""We were looking for that layup which we got and then in overtime we did the same thing,''
Calloway said.


""They kind of jammed Whitney for the layup and Alex set the screen and he (Coleman)
popped for a 3. It was a good read and a great shot.''


Following Coleman's go-ahead basket Goldwire, whose 3-point basket in the waning seconds
Saturday gave Charlotte a win over Illinois-Chicago, launched a 3 just before time ran out.


""It was on line but it was really short,'' said Calloway. ""It was a long rebound and
the shot clock ran down as Alex ran down the rebound.


""Alex had two huge 3's in the game,'' said Calloway. ""And R.J. (Rutledge) had a huge one
earlier when we were struggling and hadn't made shots.

""When that happens you need someone to step up and make the first one.'

The 3 by Rutledge cut into a 44-35 deficit with 6:35 remaining in regulation and then
Nunner connected from deep to bring Monmouth within 46-41 with 5:43 showing.

Nunner also converted a conventional 3-point play that give Monmouth a 48-47 lead with
2:51 left.


Charlotte reclaimed the lead, 50-48, on a layup by An Juan Wilderness at the 1:25 mark.

Rookie center Nick DelTufo led Monmouth with 13 points and grabbed three
rebounds. Nunner had 12 points, Youngblood 10 and Coleman nine.

Goldwire topped Charlotte with 18 points.

The 49ers dominated in the paint, outrebounding the Hawks 40-32 and beating them 17-4 on
second-chance opportunities as 6-7 junior Lamont Mack added seven points and 11 rebounds.
But Charlotte was 12-for-21 from the free throw line, compared to 9-for-9 for Monmouth. The
Hawks were 21-for-29 from the stripe vs. Wichita State.

Monmouth's only other victory over an Atlantic-10 member was over St. Joseph's in the
consolation round of the 1994 Cowboy Shootout in Casper, Wyoming.


Referee Tom Lopes, a long-time NCAA official who has worked the Final Four and started his
officiating career in the Shore Conference, refereed the final game of his career in the
contest.

A former schools' superintendent in Keansburg, Lopes started his collegiate career in the
Northeast Conference and has worked the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12.


Monmouth improved to 4-2 on its two trips to the Paradise Jam. In 2003 the Hawks defeated
Appalachian State and Hampton.[PARA]


Calloway said Monmouth sophomore forward Rickie Crews, who did not play in the last two games, remains suspended indefinitely for a ""poor attitude'' as well as disrespect of a fellow
member of the program.

23 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey TG
Made it through Dec of his Sophmore year. then had a gpa of 1.7 I believe. Still this is huge 2-1 tourney for the Hawks. Tony Have you change your opinion on where the hawks will finish in the NEC??
Take Care TG

Tim Walker

8:27 PM, November 19, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

My thoughts on where the Hawks will finish...

I'm definitely wavering on the 10th place pick!!


I'll offer another ""formal'' pick after they finish the non-conference season (with that Sacred Heart game mixed in there)..overall that will be through 13 games (one in the NEC)


Tonight I could not get WMCX~ to load up on either of my computers at home (also had this problem at work the other day)...

So..at halftime I hopped in my car and drove about five miles east to a Stewart's Root Beer parking lot in Howell...

Now MU is in the Virgin Islands....and I'm in my car in a parking lot in Howell..

What's wrong with that picture???

Any how..from the one real game I saw (Seton Hall) this MU team is more athletic, faster, and plays better defense certainly than last year ...and appears to have a far, far better basketball IQ...

And it makes its foul shots and is better with the assist to turnover ratio....

Rebounding will be a problem but I guess doign well in two of those three critical areas may take you along way...

And it's four-sometimes five guard alignments should continue to cause problems ..

Who has been the real surprise so far??

I have to say DelTufo...the local recruiting guys I generally speak with did not think very highly of him at all...

MCX - which has taken some bashing here - for college radio - did a decent enough job with this game I thought...

8:47 PM, November 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another impressive MU victory. What to go Hawks.

9:03 PM, November 19, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony-

I listened to the entire second half and would like to say that WMCX did do a very good job with the game. THe play by play guy was right on and the color was pretty decent, although he sounded like he was screaming all night before the game. Great win for the Hawks, now i hope Calloway kicks Ricky to the curb and all will be well in WLB.

9:26 PM, November 19, 2007  
Blogger Unknown said...

Congrats MU, great job heading south and representing your school. Very impressed with how this team was able to respond to the very tough loss against the Irish; seeing them bounce back like that, like I said in a prior post today Tony, shows this team can be a 6-7 seed come March.

As for your surprise of the year so far? I like Hett, not many turnovers and a lot on confidence for a freshman.

As for WMCX... best in the business!

11:25 PM, November 19, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Re: Hett. From what I had heard` about him, heady, true point, etc., ..While I can't say I expected him to be doing this well as a PG (14 A, 4 TO) I am not all that surprised either.

Definitely "knows how to play."" Excellent fit for MU system...

12:13 AM, November 20, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony-
Have to quibble with today's headline, but us Hawks fans have to crow when we can. MU finished 4th, not 5th in the tournament if I'm reading the Paradise Jam web site right. Makes sense - 1. Baylor 3-0 in tournament; 2. Winthrop 2-1, lost championship game; 3. GA Tech 2-1, was a higher seed; 4. MU 2-1; 5-7. ND, Charlotte, Wichita St each 1-2; 8. Ill-Chi 0-3

Next time you have to go to Stewart's in lieu of the Vrirgin Islands, put one of those little umbrellas in the root beer -- maybe it will make you feel better.

Thanks for the coverage and Happy Thanksgiving

8:17 AM, November 20, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Crews has had about as many '2nd' chances as the old pitcher, Steve Howe. This has to be the last roundup for him.

If I were Pres. Gaffney, I'd be wanting to know why a kid with a free ride like this never is an active member of the team. The university deserves better.

10:17 AM, November 20, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Re: 4th place. As you can see below I wrote fourth place in the story.. an editor made the change. I have no control over that....



By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

Monmouth University guard Whitney Coleman made just two baskets in Monday's Paradise Jam
fourth-place game in the Virgin Islands.

11:10 AM, November 20, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Does Crews realize he has an OBLIGATION to play for this school? How about hitting him with a tuition bill any time he gets suspended in the future (if there is to be a future for him at MU)?

12:38 PM, November 20, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony , 2-3 is very good news here on the Blog.... but the better news is that the Hawks could have been 4-1..... with out question, an outstanding start. The guards are all playing well along with the surprise play of Nunner and Hett .The big guys upfront Nick George Dutch as a combo so far so good... If they go 5-5 they will be in the mix of the NEC for sure, I have them moving up to 6th from 8th as my pre season guess. Congrats on a great tourney GO HAWKS

4:50 PM, November 20, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A Wise Man Once Said: "Go Hawks - It's Ya Birthday, Go Hawks - It's Ya Birthday". Gatorade for everyone - On The House!!!!

8:43 PM, November 20, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I said it before and I'll say it again... Book your flight for Dayton in March... Monmouth is going to the Play-in game to play Alabama State.

Hook 'em Hawks

2:31 PM, November 21, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

To Hook 'em. If I book it now will you reimburse me ( the Press) if they don't make it??

3:53 PM, November 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Re: Rob you seriously think the hawks will be a 6 or 7 seed come March?

From your lips to God's ears!

that would be a miracle

4:51 PM, November 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave Calloway must be the softest coach in the history of NCAA basketball...Crews has done almost everything short of asking to be kicked off the team but he is still around. Get rid of him!

8:41 PM, November 21, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony,
It was a great trip for the Hawks!! Who would have thought they would beat teams like WSU & UNC-C being so young?!? I'm sorry to hear that RC has run out his chances!! They're very good without him!! It's too bad, he's so athletic & could be a factor for this team.

8:58 PM, November 21, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Though Rickie obviously has made some dubious decisions, as far as I know he remains academically eligible and is well liked by his teamates.

I do believe - just my opinion, no "inside knowledge" - he maybe down to or close to the bottom of the ninth inning and maybe two outs and nobody on.


At the same time I believe - my opinion - Rickie needs basketball.

To cast him aside, if indeed that transpires, may do him more harm than good.

I don't think Rickie is a "bad" kid by any means..I know Dave wouldn't put up with that ...so if he continues to give him the benefit of the doubt I find no harm in that.

At the same time right now - in my opinion - he'd be at best around No. 8 in the rotation..and the No 4 big man behind Barbour, DelTufo, and Gaitely.

1:17 AM, November 22, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I mean Tony he's a great kid...all the good kids I know steal a $30,000 education and don't earn their keep academically and athletically.

The kid doesn't play, and is barely academically eligible according to posts on this blog that YOU ran last season.

Dave shouldn't do whats best for Rickie, since that will get him nowhere as it has the past year and half. He needs to get cut in the worst way, hopefully it will teach him some responsibility.

I have nothing against the kid...I'm just saying its frustrating to hear about him get away with anything he wants. It's become apparent he doesn't want to cooperate with anyone, so why not let him off the team?

2:20 AM, November 22, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony,

Have you had a chance to see any St. Peter's games. How does MU match up against the them?

12:27 PM, November 22, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Re: Rickie (who else). Well, he IS academicially eligible and I don't recall - myself - ever saying "barely,' and if you want to believe half the stuff you read here, that's probably waaaayyyyy too much.

This statement - ""
all the good kids I know steal a $30,000 education and don't earn their keep academically and athletically.'' - exactly how many kids do you know in this category?? one, two, 22, etc.

Guess you never ""knew" of kids like Tyler Azzarelli, Chris Kenny, Blake Hamilton, Dwayne Byfield (of recent vintage), etc. Good thing you didn't "know" them because I think they would be a tad insulted at your "stealing" remarks.

Anyway..these Rickie comments are getting old and serve no benefit - especially to him - and his friends and family who may read them.


Therefore - no pun intended - I am "suspending" any more remarks about his situation until whatever future developments take place.



These conversations go nowhere and certainly do not benefit the kid, and yes, he's still - while on scholarship - a kid. That's pretty darn obvious isn't it??


Let's see what happens. You are free to e-mail me, however, for any further discussion on this subject.

4:35 PM, November 22, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

RE: St. Peter's, they are 2-1..just went to their web site


Saturday 11/10/2007 Maryland-Baltimore County (MASN) 8:00pm Baltimore, MD L 81-78


Wednesday 11/14/2007 Lehigh 7:00pm Bethlehem, PA L 60-56


Saturday 11/17/2007 Wagner 7:00pm Yanitelli Center W 72-69


Sunday 11/25/2007 Rutgers 2:00pm Jersey City Armory


Wednesday 11/28/2007 Monmouth 7:00pm Yanitelli Center

4:38 PM, November 22, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always worry about St. Peter's. No matter how good MU may be or how bad St. Pete's may be, they always seem to drill us good.

9:53 AM, November 23, 2007  

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