What: Edinboro Fighting Scots @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University
The KU men’s basketball team will take on Edinboro on Saturday afternoon to open up the home portion of its 2008-09 PSAC schedule. The Golden Bears began this season strong, exploding to 9-0 record, before being swept at the hands of Gannon and Clarion this past weekend. KU was the pre-season pick to win the PSAC East, but there may be some questions now that they are off to a disappointing 0-2 start against teams in the conference. Gannon smoked KU 88-58 on Saturday before Clarion used a last second shot to take Sunday’s game 87-85. Fortunately for the Golden Bears, they still have Saturday’s game against Edinboro and Sunday’s contest at home against Lock Haven to gather some momentum for PSAC East play, which will begin on Jan. 14 at East Stroudsburg.
Meanwhile, the Edinboro Fighting Scots enter the contest at 10-1 and are fresh off a weekend sweep of Mansfield and Bloomsburg. EU took care of MU on Saturday by a score of 86-77 before handing BU a 94-78 loss on Sunday. Edinboro was a regional contender last season and appears to be a threat again this time around. One year ago, the Fighting Scots fell in the PSAC title game to California (Pa.) 73-65 before advancing to the NCAA East Regionals where they were eliminated by Millersville 64-61.
Speaking of last year, these teams did meet once early last season at Keystone Hall. The Golden Bears led 41-38 at the half, but the Fighting Scots battled back and overcame late-game free throw shooting woes to hold on for an 87-84 victory. Stephen Dennis was the game’s high scorer, dropping 30 points, while also hauling in 10 rebounds. Joe Jones scored 23 points to lead the Scots.
Probable Starters:
Edinboro:
F- # 13 – Vlad Kovalevsky
F- # 34 – Justin Moore
G- # 11 – Kyree Brown
G- # 5 – Joe Jones
G- # 2 – Gil Cummings
Kutztown:
C- # 44 – Mark Bower
F- # 52 – Ryan Washington
G- # 34 – Dave Ben
G- # 24 – Andre Woodlin
G- # 14 – Stephen Dennis
Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears are led by the two-headed monster of junior guard Stephen Dennis and senior guard David Ben [Pictured at top of page]. Dennis leads the team with 21.8 points per game and 55 assists and is tied with Ben for the team lead in steals with 30 a piece. Ben averages 21.2 points a game. Both players are shooting above 50% this season and both have exactly 61 rebounds in 2008-09. Sophomore Ryan Washington will start at power forward. He averages 11.8 PPG, fourth best on the team, while hauling in a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game and shooting a team-best 62.5% from the field. He is also third in assists (36), first in blocks (24), and fourth in steals (14). Senior guard Andre Woodlin averages just less than 13 points and just under 4 rebounds a game. He is fourth on the team with 34 assists and third with 25 steals. The fifth starter will be senior center Mark Bower, who replaced junior Jeremy Coombs in the lineup earlier this season. Bower plays just under 19 minutes a game, averaging 5.2 PPG and 3.7 RPG.
Freshman guard Julius Gray is the top reserve for KU this season, playing 22.5 minutes per game. The rookie is scoring 6.5 points a game, has 22 assists, and 12 steals. Sophomore guard Steve Coffey and freshman guard Omar Ford-Bey are also likely to see a few minutes of work in backcourt.
Although he has played sparingly while recovering from injury, Coombs is the top reserve in the frontcourt. Freshman forward Ryan White should see about 10 minutes of action, while freshmen forwards Jordan Wenner and Chris Vrabel could see a few minutes as well.
Edinboro is led by senior guard and PSAC leading scorer Joe Jones, who scores just over 23 points a game. He shoots 52.9% from the field, 37% from long range, and leads the team with 28 steals and 49 assists. Senior guard Gil Cummings is second on the team, averaging 15.7 PPG, while fellow starters junior forwards Vlad Kovalevsky and Justin Moore each contribute 8.3 PPG. Kovalevsky has 18 blocks and averages 6 RPG, both of which lead the team, while Moore hauls in a 5.7 boards a game, which is good for second best. Senior guard Kyree Brown has started the last few games for EU and will likely be the fifth starter. Junior guard/forward Chris Bess and senior guard Larry Bryant are likely to see significant minutes off the bench.
Prediction:
This game should be pretty evenly matched, as both teams are expected to contend for the PSAC title. The Fighting Scots have already proved they are for real this season, while KU disappointed this past weekend against Gannon and Clarion. That said, The Golden Bears are too good to drop three straight against the PSAC West. Expect the Dennis-Ben duo to come up big at home on Saturday en route to a relatively slim victory against a tough Edinboro squad.
Edinboro 81
Kutztown 86
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Men look to rebound at home
Monday, October 20, 2008
A look ahead: 2008-09 Men's Basketball
The 2008-09 Men’s Basketball team will return all of its starters and all but two players from last year’s PSAC contending squad. Here is a look at this year’s team, which should be a serious threat in the conference and could be a regional contender.
Returners:
Andre Woodlin (Senior Guard) – When considering the Golden Bears t
op scorers, Woodlin [Pictured to the right] might not be the first name that comes to mind. That, of course, is only because he playing on a team with the likes of David Ben and Stephen Dennis. Those two led KU in scoring one year ago, but Woodlin was the most consistent of the three throughout the season and was third on the team in scoring, notching 13.7 points per game. Compared to Ben and Dennis, he had less fouls, less turnovers, a higher shooting percentage, and a better three point shooting percentage. Furthermore, he had a better free throw percentage than Ben and more rebounds than Ben and one less than Dennis. So, while Ben and Dennis are the flashiest of the three, don’t forget about Mr. Woodlin, who will return to the starting lineup for his senior season.
Stephen Dennis (Junior Guard) – A Street & Smith’s pre-season All-American, Dennis [Pictured to the left] will return as K
U’s starting point guard in 2008-09. The junior is the team’s leading scorer from one year ago and also paced the team in blocks (yes, blocks) and steals. If you’ve seen him play, you know Dennis is anything but your typical point man. He really can do it all and, when he is in the zone, can basically take over the game and score at will from anywhere on the court. His only weakness seems to be from beyond the arc, where he was just 10-of-54 (18.5%) last season. Dennis should only be better in his third year at KU. Just like a year ago, expect him and Ben to lead the way in scoring.
Steve Coffey (Sophomore Guard) – Coffey was a serviceable backup point guard in his rookie season a year ago and will likely serve the same role this year. He averaged just under nine minutes a game, did a nice job taking care of the ball, and was a very high percentage shooter. With Edwards now officially a redshirt for the 2008-09 season, Coffey will likely play a larger role in the backcourt.
Mike Connolly (Sophomore Guard) – Connolly quickly earned himself a reputation as sharpshooter last season when he entered games unafraid to fire up shots from beyond the arc. The backup shooting guard hit 15 three pointers, fourth best on the team, despite averaging just over 8 minutes a game. Another solid reserve guard, Connolly’s is unlikely to change with the entire backcourt back from last season.
Ryan Nemetz (Sophomore Guard) – Nemetz saw just 27 minutes of work in 2007-08 as a reserve guard and will likely not see significant time again this season with the entire backcourt back.
Dave Ben (Senior Guard/Forward) – One of the best players in the PSAC 
since his arrival in 2005, Ben [Pictured to the right] will head into his senior season attempting to lead his talented squad of veterans to a PSAC championship. Ben isn’t the best example of consistency, but, when he is hot, there is nobody better in the PSAC (just ask East Stroudsburg what happened on February 6). Ben averaged 17 points per game last season and played more minutes than anyone on the roster. The senior shot over 40 percent from the field, over 30 percent from long range, and 70 percent from the charity stripe. Furthermore, Ben snagged 5.3 rebounds per game, led the team with 88 assists, had 12 blocks, and was third best on the team with 46 steals. His team-high 73 personal fouls and 86 turnovers are partially a product of a ton more playing time than everyone else, but also an indicator of his sometimes erratic play. That said, sometimes erratic can be explosive—and explosive is a great word for Ben’s game. Ben will start, of course, and will once again be one of the most feared players in the PSAC.
Mark Bower (Senior Forward) – A candidate to start at center, Bower will have to unseat the incumbent Jeremy Coombs, who saw a majority of the starts at center one year ago. Regardless of if he starts or not, Bower will see significant minutes off the bench with fellow backup forward Kevin Hafera off to the real world. Bower averaged just under 11 minutes a game last year, so pencil him in for 11 a game this year plus a portion of Hafera’s 14 minutes a game as well.
Ryan Washington (Sophomore Forward) – Washington was a pleasant surprise for head coach Bernie Driscoll last season following the premature departure of center Sean McKeon. A redshirt freshman at the time, Washington stepped into the power forward position and made an impact throughout the entire season. He shot over 51 percent from the floor and averaged just over nine points per game, fifth best on the team. Washington was the team’s leading rebounder, hauling in 7.7 a game. He was second on the team with 38 blocks. Now in his second year of eligibility, Washington will be expected to continue his strong play on the block as the team’s starting power forward.
Jeremy Coombs (Junior Center) – As mentioned, Coombs is the incumbent starting center, but will need a strong preseason to hold off senior center Mark Bower. Coombs had nice chemistry with fellow big man Ryan Washington a season ago, but often gave way to Hafera and Bower after only a few minutes of action. With Hafera gone, Coombs will likely see an increase from the 15 minutes a game he worked a year ago…even if he loses the starting job to Bower.
Newcomers:
Julius Gray (Sophomore Guard) - Junior College transfer
Omar Ford-Bey (Freshman Guard) – Reserve guard. Check him out on Youtube.
Jordan Wenner (Freshman Center) – Reserve center
Ryan White (Freshman Forward) – Reserve forward
Subtractions:
Nate Edwards (Junior Guard) – UPDATE: Edwards was hurt during the summer and will redshirt for the 2008-09 campaign. He will return for his junior season next year. If this were the NBA, Edwards would’ve been a candidate for the “Sixth Man of the Year” award for his contributions off the bench for KU one year ago. Edwards appeared in 25 games, averaging just over 24 minutes a game, and scored just under 11 points per game. A playmaker, Edwards was second on the team in steals and led the team with a three point shooting percentage just above 37 percent. With all five starters back, Edwards would've returned to his role as the team’s sixth man…although he could easily start for just about any other team in the PSAC. He will likely get the opportunity to start next season when Ben and Woodlin graduate.
Forward Kevin Hafera - Graduation
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Marauders end Golden Bears' season
Recap:
Coming off a regular season in which they won a share of the PSAC East with a 10-2 divisional record, the Golden Bears expectations were much higher than to simply make the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the defending PSAC champion Marauders were on top of their game in Tuesday night’s playoff contest at Keystone Hall, upending the Golden Bears by a score of 99-88. The loss drops KU’s overall record to 19-9 and brings their season to a close. Of the eight playoff games played yesterday (men’s and women’s), the MU win over KU was the only upset.
Key Stat:
If you witnessed the game, this one will be obvious. The Golden Bears shot just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, while the Marauders were an impressive 11-of-16. MU also outrebounded KU 47-34, including 18-10 on the offensive glass. Both teams shot over 43 percent in the game, but the Marauders simply made their shots when they counted the most.
Key Moment:
Three pointers from Andre Woodlin and Nate Edwards followed by a pair of free throws from Woodlin got KU to within four points with
What we liked:
The Golden Bears offense certainly came to play, but unfortunately the MU offense was slightly better. KU shot 44 percent from the floor and hit an impressive 29-of-32 free throws. Stephen Dennis was outstanding for KU, scoring a team-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Ryan Washington had a double-double, scoring 12 and hauling in a dozen boards.
What we didn’t like:
KU had an extremely tough time on the defensive glass, allowing 18 offensive boards. The 3-of-16 from beyond the arc also proved costly. Dave Ben and Edwards combined to shoot just 6-of-25 from the field, but each managed to score double figures.
Impact:
As mentioned, the loss ends KU’s season and allows Millersville to move on to Friday’s final four in Cheyney. The Marauders will face Edinboro, while Cheyney will take on
The Golden Bears certainly were disappointed with the way this season came to a close, but they should not keep their heads down for long. The truth is that Millersville simply played their best basketball when they needed to the most. I’d still argue that KU is the more talented team, but this year, the Marauders got the best of the Golden Bears. Next season, KU returns all 5 starters and loses only one player to graduation, Kevin Hafera. This team will likely be favored to win the PSAC in 2008-09.
Monday, March 3, 2008
THIS ONE COUNTS
What: Millersville Marauders @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 @
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of
One year later, they get another chance.
The Golde
n Bears will certainly be thinking about last year’s disappointing first-round exit when they play host to the Millersville Marauders in the PSAC East Quarterfinals at Keystone Hall on Tuesday. Like one season ago, KU heads into the postseason as the number-two seed and will play at least one playoff game at home. Last year, the Cheyney Wolves came into town and knocked the Golden Bears out of the playoffs by a score of 79-63. This year, KU will hope to escape a first round collapse and will be looking for a PSAC Championship. The challenge will not be any easier, however, with a talented Marauder team looking to pull off the upset.
The teams enter the game with identical 19-8 overall records—the top record in the division. The Golden Bears went 10-2 in the East, which tied them with top-seeded Cheyney for a share of the PSAC East regular season title. Millersville held onto the three seed with an 8-4 divisional record.
The teams have already met twice this season, with each winning on their home court. On Jan. 23, KU came away with the 78-60 victory at Keystone Hall. Led by Andre Woodlin’s 17 points, KU shot just under 50-percent en route to the win. Only four different Marauders scored in the game. The game was extremely competitive and MU head coach Fred Thompson was ejected late in the second half.
The Marauders got their revenge on Feb. 20 when they knocked off KU 80-67 at Pucillo Gymnasium. Dave Ben scored 29 points, but the Golden Bears committed what would prove to be a costly 26 turnovers.
The Golden Bears enter this contest fresh off Saturday’s 82-74 home win against
After dropping back-to-back games to ESU and Cheyney, Millersville enters this game coming off a regular-season finale shellacking of
Probable Starters:
Millersville:
G - #3 - Charlie Parker – 16.1 PPG
G - #20 - Cory Bray – 6.1 PPG
G - #22 - Reggie Bates – 19.3 PPG
F - #42 - RayQuan Miles – 6.0 PPG
F - #44 - Bernard Brown – 10.1 PPG
Kutztown:
G - # 14 – Stephen Dennis – 17.1 PPG
G - # 32 - Andre Woodlin – 13.5 PPG
F - # 34 - Dave Ben – 17.0 PPG
F - # 52 - Ryan Washington – 8.9 PPG
C - # 55 - Jeremy Coombs – 6.1 PPG
Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears and Marauders enter this game as two of the top scoring—and possibly the top two most exciting offenses—in the league. You can bet that this will be an intense and fast-paced game. Both teams enjoy pushing the ball and letting their skill players make things happen. The Golden Bears sport a much deeper team than the Marauders and a bad da
y by one of KU’s top scorers generally does not mean certain loss. Meanwhile, MU relies on Bates and Parker to carry a significant workload and a poor outing from one of them is usually fatal. On the other hand, if those two have a big day, it is almost certain that the Marauders will come out on top. They are two of the most talented players in the league, but they will need to be at the top of their individual games if MU has a chance in the PSAC.
As has been the case all season, KU will continue to rely on top-off-the-line scoring threats Ben, Dennis, and Woodlin. Each has had their moments as the team leader in scoring this season, but all three will need to play stellar basketball in the postseason. Washington and Coombs have done a respectable job in the front court, but need to find ways to avoid foul trouble. Washington, only a redshirt freshman, has proved he can contribute at this level and his services in the paint will be requirement towards KU’s title run. Guard Nate Edwards and center Kevin Hafera will a significant workload off the bench. Edwards has a knack for making big plays and will be counted on to do the same in the playoffs. Hafera, the team’s lone senior, will look to man the front court in relief of Washington and Coombs. Center Mark Bower and guards Mike Connolly and Steve Coffey will each see a few minutes off the bench.
Millersville will, as mentioned, rely on Bates and Parker to make the big plays in this game. Combined, they have scored almost 1,000 points this season, recorded 117 steals, dished out 193 assists, and grabbed 10.3 rebounds per game.
Brown leads the team’s rebounding effort, hauling in seven boards a game. He also chips in just over 10 points a game, making him a serious double-double threat. Bray and Miles will both play near 30 minutes, assuming they stay out of foul trouble. Bray is a threat from beyond the arc, while Miles averages near seven boards a game and will keep the KU forwards busy.
In conclusion, KU head coach Bernie Driscoll will no doubt be focusing on stopping Parker and Bates in this game. The Golden Bears struggled the last time this team’s met, but it is a very rare occurrence for the entire team to struggle. With that said, there is no reason to doubt the Golden Bear offense will show up. That means stoppi
ng the Parker-Bates duo is the key to the game. Can they do it? We’ll see.
Prediction:
What fun is a preview without a prediction? I feel like this game will either be a dogfight until the finish or a complete blowout. Millersville tends to be Jekyll and Hyde and a poor day from a top scorer will make their chances to win almost impossible. KU sports and great defense and will give the Marauders their share of problems. There is also no reason to believe that the big time players in this game will come to play on Tuesday. With all that said, I think Bates and Parker will have decent days for Millersville, but they won’t get quite enough help to upset the much deeper Golden Bears. It will be close until the late stages, but KU will take care of business.
Millersville 70
Kutztown 79
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Golden Bears win share of PSAC East
Kutztown Golden Bears 82
Recap:
The KU men’s basketball team is the PSAC East champion! The Golden Bears defeated
Key Stat:
The Golden Bears hit 15 more free throws than the Warriors, which proved to be the difference in the gam
e. KU was 35-of-51 from the charity stripe, while ESU was 20-of-26. There were a total of 61 personal fouls and 41 turnovers in the game
Key Moment:
ESU’s Josh Wentz hit a three pointer with 40 seconds to play in the game, cutting his team’s deficit to five. That would be as close as the Warriors would get, as KU outscored them 5-2 in the final seconds to close out the game.
Golden Performance:
Andre Woodlin was in the zone—to say the least. He was 8-of-13 from the floor and scored a career-high 28 points. The junior was also 12-of-16 from the free throw line, grabbed 10 rebounds, recorded two steals, and dished out a pair of assists.
Not-So-Golden Performance:
If you were at this game, you should already know where I’m going with this. The refereeing was abysmal at best. Okay, fine. It sucked. My partner on the air Jason Ogle and I could not believe our eyes on several occasions and vehemently voiced our displeasure to the listening audience. I lost count of how many phantom calls were made, how many incorrect calls were made, and how many easy calls were missed. I suppose even referees have their bad days, and this was sure one of them. 61 fouls were whistled and seven players fouled out. Ridiculous.
Impact:
The Golden Bears win means that Millersville will be in town for Tuesday’s playoff game. Meanwhile, Cheyney will host
If Cheyney wins, the rest of the PSAC playoffs will be held at Cope Hall. If Cheyney falls and KU wins, the rest of the tournament will be at Keystone Hall. If both KU and CU fall, the remainder of the playoffs will be at Pucillo Gymnasium in Millersville. In the PSAC West, Edinboro will be the top seed and will play either IUP or Slippery Rock in the first round. Meanwhile,
Check back in the next two days for a full playoff preview.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Share of PSAC East title in view for men
What:
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 @
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of
The Golden Bears and Warriors will head into Saturday’s affair for what could be a preview of Tuesday’s playoff action. An ESU (6-5) win coupled with a Millersville (7-4) loss to West Chester (3-8) would mean that ESU will return to Keystone Hall on Tuesday for a first round playoff game. If Millers
ville wins or ESU falls to KU, Millersville will come to town on Tuesday, while ESU would head to Cheyney (10-2). The Golden Bears will be the number-two seed in the East regardless of what happens on Saturday, but will win a share of the PSAC East regular season title with a win. KU, ESU, CU, and MU all head into Saturday’s action with identical 18-8 overall records.
The Golden Bears enter this game fresh off a 112-96 win over Columbia Union on Wednesday at Keystone Hall. KU’s latest PSAC East action was a 79-71 upset win at Cheyney on Saturday.
The Warriors have won four straight games and 5-of-6 since falling to KU 78-56 on Feb. 6. ESU has ripped off consecutive wins against WCU, Bloomsburg, Millersville, and Mansfield, which has positioned them for a chance at the third or fourth playoff seed.
The first meeting between the two teams this season was a memorable one for KU and a forgettable one for the Warriors. The Golden Bears trailed 37-26 at the half, but stormed to 52 second half points, while holding ESU to 4-of-30 from the field, and won the game handily 78-56.
Dave Ben was 12-of-20 from the field and scored a career high 32 points. Andre Woodlin and Stephen Dennis also reached double digits with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Channon Easley was the only Warrior in double figures, notching 12.
Probable Starters:
G- # 24 - Andy Heimbach
G- # 31 - Pat Fleury
F- # 25 – Channon Easley
F- # 22 - Josh Wentz
F- # 40 - Chris Bach
Kutztown:
G- # 14 – Stephen Dennis
G- # 32 - Andre Woodlin
F- # 34 - Dave Ben
F- # 52 - Ryan Washington
C- # 55 - Jeremy Coombs
Scouting Report:
KU will need to focus on Easley and Bach. Bach (11.7 PPG) has carried the team’s scoring load over the last month, while Easley (13.7 PPG) still leads the team in scoring. Heimbach (12.0 PPG) and Wentz (10.8 PPG) also average double figures in scoring this season.
Bach and Easley are both big men and ESU will try to feed them the ball inside. Each averages near 8 rebounds a game this season and they have combined for 98 blocks.
KU will continue to look to Dave Ben and Stephen Dennis to carry the scoring load with Andre Woodlin as a top-notch secondary option. Ryan Washington, Jeremy Coombs, and Kevin Hafera will be relied on to contain the inside presence of Easley and Bach. Nate Edwards will see significant action off the bench and will need to make a few big plays on both ends.
Prediction:
First I need to determine which KU team will come to play. The Golden Bears have played some inconsistent basketball this season, but then other times they’ve played excellent throughout the game (see Cheyney a week ago). Secondly, I need to determine if KU will be motivated to play with nothing to lose. Finally, I need to decide if ESU’s hot streak has proved that they are contenders in the PSAC or if KU is still the more talented team.
My answer to those three questions: “What’s with all the questions? Enough with the questions, Question Man!”
No, but really, it actually is hard to say.
Since that is no fun, however, I’ll make a prediction anyways. KU will come out and play a decent tune up game for the playoffs. They won’t lay back and they’ll play to win against a team that is slightly less talented. ESU will hang in there, but KU will be hungry for that share of the division title and will hold off the Warrior charge.
Kutztown 73
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Home court advantage at stake for KU men
What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Wednesday, February 20 @ 8 p.m.
Where: Puscillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University
Last season, the KU men's basketball team made history by hosting their first ever PSAC playoff game. This year's squad has a chance to make history repeat itself. If KU defeats M
U it will allow the Golden Bears to host a first round playoff game. KU is still in the running for the top spot in the PSAC East as it is tied with Cheyney for first place. KU is coming off of a 97-68 blowout against Bloomsburg. Andre Woodlin had a career high 22 points, while Dave Ben and Nate Edwards added 17 points a piece. Stephen Dennis chipped in with 13 points. For the game, KU shot 49.3 percent from the floor and it was the team's fourth straight win.
MU comes into this game with a 17-6 overall record and is 6-2 in PSAC East play. The Marauders have only lost one conference game since losing to KU last month. CU defeated MU by 30 points on January 30. MU's last victim was also BU as they won 76-67. Charlie Parker led MU with 23 points, while Cory Bray added 22 points, including six three-pointers. MU is led by Reggie Bates, who averages 19.4 points per game and five rebounds. Parker adds 15. 3 points per game. MU as a team only shoots 26.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The last time these two teams met was back on January 23. KU won 78-60 and defeated MU for the sixth straight time. KU was led by Woodlin who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Dennis had 14 points, and left for part of the game with hip and tailbone injuries. Jeremy Coombs added 13 points and eight rebounds. Bates led MU with 21 points and eight rebounds. Parker added 18 points and eight boards, while Bernard Brown added 14 points. MU's head coach Fred Thompson was ejected with 57.8 seconds left in the game after picking up his second technical foul of the evening. MU was 1-of-18 from beyond the arc, while KU was 4-of-9. KU also outrebounded MU 46-35.
Probable Starters:
Kutztown:
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs
Millersville:
G- #3 Charlie Parker
G- #20 Cory Bray
G/F- #22 Reggie Bates
F- #42 RayQuan Miles
F- #44 Bernard Brown
Prediction:
KU has turned the tide lately in its series with MU, and has shown that its not intimated when playing at Puscillo Gymnasium. KU won their last year 67-64. MU is 10-1 overall at home this year, and will be looking to prove that KU's 18-point win last month was a fluke. KU proved that it had more talent than MU last time, and with a home playoff game on the line, the Golden Bears will find a way to win a close one.
Kutztown 75
Millersville 71
Men's team shellacks Huskies
Bloomsburg Huskies 68
Kutztown Golden Bears 97
Recap: The Golden Bears stumbled out of the gate and allowed the Huskies to take the early lead, but it was only a matter of time before the more-talented KU squad ran away with the convin
cing victory. Four Golden Bears scored double figures in a game that saw the home team shoot an impressive 49 percent from the field. It was KU’s highest scoring game of the season and their second straight 90-plus point game in a row.
Telling Stat: There really wasn’t one stat that stood out in this game. Rather, it was a bunch of categories that, when viewed as one, show why KU dominated the game. The Golden Bears outrebounded BU 46-37, had a 22-8 advantage in assists, had 8 more blocks, and, most importantly, made 12 more shots.
Key series: KU led by as many as 17 in the first half, but the Huskies clawed to within 11 early on in the second half. The Golden Bears would answer with 7 straight points and the Huskies would get no closer than 15 the rest of the way. With KU ahead 48-37 and 18:35 to play, Andre Woodlin hit two free throws and a layup, Dave Ben nailed a free throw, and Jeremy Coombs dropped in a layup to extend the lead to 18.
Most Valuable Golden Bear: Of the 4 Golden Bears in double figures, Woodlin was certainly the most prolific on Saturday. The sophomore was 9-of-13 from the field and scored a team-high 22 points. He failed to convert each of his two three point attempts, but was 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He also chipped in with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
Least Valuable Golden Bear: Throughout this game, the arena had some severe and some minor technical issues. The music was muffled for the Dance Team routine, there was no sound between the action, there was loud obnoxious noises coming out of the speakers during play, and at one point, the power went out on the scoreboards and shot clocks. The LVGB goes to whoever’s fault that was…even if it was me accidently kicking an electrical outlet.
Impact: The Golden Bears win sets them up for a huge duo of road games in the next week. KU, now 8-1 in the PSAC East, heads to Millersville on Wednesday for a game with playoff implications. If KU wins, they clinch home court advantage in the first round of the PSAC playoffs. The Golden Bears then travel to Cheyney on Saturday to take on the Wolves, who are tied with KU at 8-1 atop the division.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Golden Boys Look For Fourth Straight Win
What: Bloomsburg University @ Kutztown University
When: Saturday February 16, 2008 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Arena on the campus of Kutztown University
Fresh off securing a PSAC East playoff berth, the Golden Bears' men's basketball team will look for their fourth straight win over the doormat of the PSAC East, the Bloomsburg Huskies. KU is coming off of 
a 94-91 win at Mansfield on Wednesday night. It was KU's first win there since 2004. The team was paced by Dave Ben's 25 points, including a 13-of-14 showing at the foul line. Stephen Dennis and Nate Edwards added 17 a piece, while Ryan Washington grabbed six rebounds. KU led by as many as 12 in the second half , but MU cut the lead to three with 27 seconds left. KU secured the win by going 29-of38 from the charity stripe. The win moved KU into a tie with Cheyney for first place. KU has three conference games remaining after this one, including trips to CU and Millersville.
The BU Huskies have as many wins as their field hockey team had losses this season; give or take a few. BU has an 8-14 overall record and is 0-8 in PSAC East play. They have lost nine in a row and 10 of 11. Their closest margin of defeat during that span was eight points, which occured last Wednesday night in a 64-56 loss to Mansfield. BU is led by Nick Jones, who averages 16.9 points per game (7th in PSAC). Buddy Rose averages 10 points and five boards per game. As a team, BU averages 64.7 points per game, shoots 43 percent from the floor, and 32 percent from beyond the arc.
These two teams met earlier this season on January 26 at Nelson Field House. KU won that game 67-52, even without the services of Stephen Dennis. It didn't matter for the talent-laden Golden Bears as they had four players score in double figures, led by Andre Woodlin's 14. Ben added 12 and six, while Washington added 12 and nine boards. Jeremy Coombs added 10 points and six rebounds. Nick Jones led BU with 16 points. John Allen added 12 points and nine boards. Rose was held to just six points. BU shot a dismal 34.5 percent from the floor and was 1-for-17 total (5.9 %) from beyond the arc.
Probable Starters:
Bloomsburg:
G- #33 Jon DeJesus
G- #14 Drew Jerry
G- #21 Buddy Rose
F- #34 John Allen
C- #52 Jeremiah Long
Kutztown:
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs
Prediction:
There really isn't much to predict here. KU handled BU earlier this year without Dennis, and proved that they have a solid group of core and bench players. Ben has been light's out lately and is making a late case for PSAC East Player of the Year. This one will be ugly throughout.
Bloomsburg 60
Kutztown 85
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Men’s team completes sweep of Mounties
Mansfield
by just 2 at the half before extending their lead during the second half. Unlike the ladies game, however, the men allowed the Mounties to sneak back to within 3 before the final whistle blew. Regardless, the Golden Bears took home a slim 3 point victory and all but sealed up a spot in the PSAC playoffs. The game was relatively even with both teams shooting almost exactly the same from the floor throughout the day. Both teams shot just under 36 percent in the first half, just over 57 percent for the second half, and just under 48 percent total.
Telling Stat: With both teams shooting so similarly, it was the other categories that made the difference in the game. The most notable statistic was the difference in free throw shooting. KU drew 9 more fouls than the Mounties and were 29-of-38 from the charity stripe, while MU was just 12-of-19.
Key moment: The Golden Bears led by 7 with under a minute to play, but allowed the Mounties to hang in the game until the final moments. Up just three with 27 seconds to play, Steve Coffey hit a free throw and Andre Woodlin followed with two of his own. That extended the lead to six and would prove to be the difference as MU’s Kevin Hill nailed a three pointer with 3 seconds left.
Most Valuable Golden Bear: David Ben was once again the leader of the pack for the Golden Bears. Ben was 5-of-12 from the floor for a game-high 25 points. He was 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and an extremely impressive 13-of-14 from the free throw line. As if that wasn’t already enough, he chipped in with 5 boards, 5 assists, and 2 steals.
Least Valuable Golden Bear: Kevin Hafera played 11 minutes and was 0-for-1 from the field. He had a rebound, assist, steal, and hit both of his free throws, but committed 3 personal fouls in limited action. It was not an awful day, but the least valuable day.
Impact: The Golden Bears improve to 7-1 in the PSAC East and are now a half game ahead of the Cheyney Wolves (who play Thursday). They are close to clinching a playoff berth and will likely do so following what should be an easy game on Saturday against the visiting Bloomsburg Huskies. Now that they’ve all but clinched a playoff berth, they will focus on a regular season PSAC East championship.
UPDATE: Cheyney won on Thursday which means they return to a tie with KU atop the PSAC East. Both teams have clinched playoff berths.Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Golden Bears Eye Playoff Berth
What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield Mounties
When: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: Decker Gymnasium on the campus of Mansfield University
As the PSAC East schedule draws to a close, the KU men's basketball team is in prime position to clinch a playoff berth, as well as hosting a first round game. If the Golden Bears do happen to finish first in the east, and win their quarterfinal matchup, the team
would host the PSAC Playoffs. However, there is plenty of basketball left to be played as KU has five PSAC East games left, including tomorrow night's matchup against Mansfield. KU is coming off of a 78-73 win over West Chester last Saturday which again saw the Golden Bears down by double-digits at the half only to respond with another sizzling second half. Stephen Dennis led KU with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Dave Ben chipped in with 16 points. Andre Woodlin had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Washington also had one with 10 points and 10 boards. Nate Edwards added 15 points off the bench. The win kept KU in a tie for first with Cheyney at 6-1 in the PSAC East.
Mansfield is 15-7 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC East. Mansfield was 11-3 in non-conference play and has not fared well against conference foes. The Mounties currently occupy the fourth and final playoff spot in the east and are a half game ahead of East Stroudsburg. MU is coming off of a 95-92 loss in overtime against Millersville. Ryan Callahan had 30 points off the bench and Chris Greene added 24 but it wasn't enough. Greene's three-pointer with one second remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime, but his attempt to tie the game at the buzzer in OT was no good. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Mounties. MU is led by Kevin Hill who averages 13 points per game. John Hampton averages 12 points per game. Brandon Lawley averages 9.3 points per game and grabs seven rebounds per game.
The last time these two teams met was at Keystone Arena on January 16. KU won that matchup 88-75 after trailing 7-0 for the first five minutes of the game. The Golden Bears pulled away late in the first half with a 14-3 run to take a 40-27 lead into the locker room, and then staved off a couple of MU runs in the second half. Dennis led four players in double figures with 27 points. Woodlin and Ben poured in 18 a piece, while Washington added 13. Jeremy Coombs grabbed a team high 11 rebounds. MU's leading scorer Hill was held to just three points on 1-of13 shooting, including a 0-for10 night from beyond the arc. MU was led by Dhimitri Luarasi's 24 points. Greene added 18 while Hampton pitched in with 11. Lawley grabbed 11 boards for MU.
Probable Starters:
Kutztown
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs
Mansfield
G- #14 John Hampton
G- #15 Chris Greene
G/F- #23 Kevin Hill
F- #32 Brandon Lawley
F- #00 Yuseff Carr
Prediction:
Three of MU's four conference home games thus far have gone into overtime. The only game that didn't go into OT was an 82-77 loss to Cheyney. KU has not played well in the first half in the past couple of games, something they cannot afford four hours from home. The Golden Bears proved that they have more talent than MU, but KU needs to make sure that they come out with the same amount of energy as MU's speedy guards, Hampton and Greene. This one will be closer than the last meeting, but we all know what can happen when the Golden Bears play two dominant halves of basketball.
Kutztown 90
Mansfield 84
Friday, February 8, 2008
Adjusted Game Score formula in works
I'm still working on the formula you've seen me use before to come up with the Clay Player Rankings. I expect to have it perfected in a few days or weeks. Today I did a single game analysis using Wednesday's men's game at ESU. In my recap article yesterday I chose Dave Ben as the Most Valuable Golden Bear of the game (not too hard of a decision) and Jeremy Coombs as my least valuable. After plugging in the numbers today, it appears that I was pretty close to being right on the money. Take a look:
1. Ben 84.4
2. Dennis 40.7
3. Woodlin 39.9
4. Washington 25.2
5. Edwards 22.9
6. Coffey 8.6
7. Bower 3.4
8. Nemetz 0.0
9. Connolly 0.0
10. Coombs -6.4
11. Hafera -7.6
The higher score is obviously the better one. If your score is positive, you made a positive impact on the game and if your score is negative, you made a negative impact on the game. A score of 0.0 would mean that you either made no impact (good or bad) on the outcome of the game or that your good and bad plays completely offset each other.
The 84.4 points by Dave Ben is a very good score, while the 40.7 from Dennis is certainly an excellent showing.
I use a bunch of different factors in my formula, which sometimes brings me to some interesting information. For example:
On a given trip down the court, there was a:
23% chance a 2 point bucket would be made
21% chance a 2 point attempt would be missed
6% chance a 3 point bucket would be made
9% chance a 3 point attempt would be missed
15% chance a free throw would be shot and made
10% chance a free throw would be shot and missed
16% chance of a turnover
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Golden Bears look to tame Wolves
What: Cheyney Wolves vs. Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday February 2, 2008 @ 8 p.m.
Where: Keystone Arena
ver PSAC Playoff Game. The 79-63 defeat at the hands of CU was not how KU wanted to reward its faithful fans. However, the Golden Bears have made this season worthwhile thus far as they have stormed out of the gates to a 4-0 start in the PSAC East. The Wolves trail the Golden Bears by a half game in the standings.
This game could end up deciding who wins the PSAC East title, however, both teams appear to be headed for home games when the PSAC Playoffs start at the end of the month. KU has defeated
CU has also dominated throughout PSAC East play. Their only loss was at
Scouting Report:
Cheyney Wolves (11-6 overall,
Last Game: Won 72-42 vs. Millersville
The Wolves dominated the Marauders as they outscored them 41-20 in the second half. MU, the preseason favorite in the PSAC East, has been anything but, as they fell to 2-2 with the loss. CU was led by Ed Braswell (18 points) and Tyrone Smith (13 pts., 12 rbs.). MU did not have any players in double figures including superstar Charlie Parker who only attempted five shots.
The Wolves matchup well against the Golden Bears as they rely on strong guard play and establishing a dominant presence in the post. They are led by center Rob Simpson, reigning PSAC East Player of the Week, who averages 13.6 points and leads the PSAC in field goal percentage shooting 59.9 percent. In last year’s PSAC East Quarterfinal against KU, Simpson was 11-of-15 for 26 points. Braswell adds 13.2 points per game and shoots 42.5 percent from beyond the arc. Smith adds 12.7 points per game and shoots 50.6 percent from the floor. CU has four players that average double figures in points, and three players that are in the top 11 in the PSAC in field goal percentage.
Kutztown Golden Bears (12-6 overall,
Last Game: Lost 81-79 (OT) @ District of Columbia
The Golden Bears played their second straight game without leading scorer Stephen Dennis (hip and back injuries) and erased a 15-point deficit to force overtime. Junior Dave Ben had 23 points to lead KU while reigning PSAC East Rookie of the Week Ryan Washington added a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
KU hopes to have Dennis back in the lineup, but the Golden Bears still remain a legitimate threat without him due to the improved post play of Washington and Jeremy Coombs. This inside tag team has taken some of the pressure off of Ben and fellow guard Andre Woodlin. Guard Nate Edwards has seen time in the starting lineup with Dennis out and has shown no ill-effects of an ankle injury that he suffered last month. KU is led by Dennis who is third in the PSAC averaging 19 points per game. He also averages six rebounds and is in the top five in blocks per game. Ben adds 15.4 points per game (8th in PSAC) and 6.2 rebounds. Woodlin averages 11.9 points per game.
Probable Starters
Cheyney:
C- #33 Rob Simpson
F- # 4 Tyrone Smith
G- # 3 Ed Braswell
G- # 1 Dawud Morris
G- # 31 Dominique Curry
Kutztown
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs
F- #52 Ryan Washington
F- #34 Dave Ben
G- # 32 Andre Woodlin
G- # 14 Stephen Dennis
Prediction
Since this game will probably decide the PSAC East title, the Golden Bears must defend their home court. They will need another strong performance out of Washington and Coombs, who must contain Simpson. If either Washington or Coombs get into early foul trouble, it could be difficult for the Golden Bears to matchup well down low. The good news for the Golden Bears is that they should get Dennis back who should be fresh and ready to go. KU could afford to sit him against BU (PSAC East cellar dwellers) and UDC (non-conference game). There should also be a large crowd at Keystone Arena with this game being at night, and the Golden Bears are a exceptional home team. This game is too close to call, but until someone comes up with a game plan to stop KU’s well-balanced attack, I can’t pick against them.
KUTZTOWN 78
CHEYNEY 72
Pictured: Andre Woodlin
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
No surprises in Clay Rating System for men's team
Using the same complicated method (more in depth breakdown will come with time) I explained earlier today in the women's article, I plugged the stats from this season's men's team into my player rating formula. You'll notice there were no real surprises, with the big 3 (Dennis/Ben/Woodlin) taking the top 3 spots.
Dennis is the clear number one, but Ben and Woodlin are separated by just 0.3 points. Washington, Coombs, and Edwards are also very tight, which is accurate as their impact on the game has been similar (in a good way).
1. Dennis 53.7
2. Ben 37.5
3. Woodlin 37.2
4. McKeon 36.9*
5. Washington 33.3
6. Coombs 32.5
7. Edwards 31.9
8. Foye 28.7**
9. Nemetz 25.4
10. Coffey 23.0
11. Connolly 18.7
12. Bower 18.3
13. Hafera 14.3
14. Lewis 4.9
*No longer with team (personal reasons)
**Out for season (academics)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Dennis, men’s hoops team opening eyes in PSAC
The men’s basketball team might be the best in the entire PSAC.
Looking for a specific game to get to? Try Cheyney on Saturday.
One season ago, Cheyney was responsible for knocking off KU in the first round of playoffs right here at Keystone Hall. Led by superstars Dave Ben, Steve Dennis, and Sean McKeon, Kutztown was making their first legitimate run at a playoff victory in years. Unfortunately for them, Cheyney was the better team in 2007.
Now fast forward one year. McKeon is gone, but Dennis is arguably the best player in the conference and Dave Ben is just as good on most days. Andre Woodlin would be a go-to-shooter on several PSAC foes and Ryan Washington is becoming the frontcourt presence KU lost when McKeon hit the road. Toss in possibly the best supporting cast in the business and you have the real deal.
Following some major offseason hype, most people, including myself, were shocked to see the Golden Bears stumble out of the gates back in late November. A 1-3 start coupled with the departure of superstar center McKeon made it look like another year of disappointment for the KU faithful.
That certainly has not been the case.
Enter Stephen Dennis. The sophomore point guard and reigning PSAC East rookie of the year has taken the league by storm, notching 30 points on several occasions and carrying the Golden Bears to a 4-0 start in the PSAC East. Arguably the top player in the PSAC so far this season, Dennis does it all, near the conference leaders in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. That’s right—a point guard who blocks and gets rebounds. He is a phenomenal athlete and, at times, looks untouchab
le.
But, it’s not just Dennis carrying the load. David Ben is an unbelievable athlete who, when in the zone, is also a top five player in the PSAC. He can score, rebound, create turnovers, and, if you’ve seen a game, you know can he dunk. Andre Woodlin has played in the shadows of Ben and Dennis, but has played his role outstandingly and has proved just as valuable.
Little guy Nate Edwards has taken a beating, missing several games due to injury, but has been stellar when healthy, hitting three balls and making big defensive plays. Jeremy Coombs has been starting in the front court and has formed quite the dynamic duo with fellow big man Ryan Washington.
Washington, a transfer redshirt freshman, has been a pleasant surprise for KU. Since the departure of
Kevin Hafera, Steve Coffey and Mike Connolly have been stellar in their roles off the bench, hitting big shots and making big plays when KU has needed them.
This team is the real deal, already manhandling reigning PSAC East champ and pre-season favorite Millersville 78-60. Toss in thrashings of
A rematch with Cheyney on February 2 at Keystone Hall. Be there.
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