Fairfield Mirror 11-7-12 Sports B-Section

Basketball preview 2012-2013

Sports

DEREK NEEDHAM

BRITTANY MACFARLANE

DESMOND WADE

KATELYN LINNEY

COLIN NICKERSON

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LAURA VETRA

AND

YOUR FAIRFIELD STAGS

MAAC AVENGERS

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH FAIRFIELD ATHLETICS A FAIRFIELD BASKETBALL PRODUCTION A SYDNEY JOHNSON AND JOE FRAGER FILM “MAAC AVENGERS” DEREK NEEDHAM, BRITTANY MACFARLANE, DESMOND WADE, KATELYN LINNEY, COLIN NICKERSON, LAURA VETRA AND YOUR FARIFIELD STAGS.

ON COURT NOVEMBER 2ND

AND NOVEMBER 9TH

Photo illustration Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

A Look Inside The Issue:

“Three-Point Sharp Shooters” pg 10

“The Ins and Outs of Men’s Basketball” pg 3

Pull-out poster on page 6!!

2012-2013 Basketball Season Preview Brought to you by:

- Jennifer Calhoun: Sports Editor -Thomas Shea: Assistant Sports Editor Cover design Jennifer Calhoun/The Mirror Right/middle photos: Aryanne Pereira/The Mirror Left photo: Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror

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Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Stags begin fight to avenge MAAC

By Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

“The goal is to win a MAAC Championship.”

Short and simply stated, but still repeated by every single member of the Fairfield University Men’s Basketball Team, including Coach Sydney Johnson.

Last year the Stags came close to winning the MAAC Tournament, but their efforts were not enough to earn them the hardware they so desperately wanted. And this season, they are ready to avenge their loss.

In a hard fought battle at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA, the Stags fell to Loyola Maryland 48-44 in the finals of the MAAC Tournament. Fairfield held the lead going into the half, but under the pressure of the Greyhound attack, they surrendered their lead and ultimately lost the game.

In the regular season, the Stags finished in fourth, behind Iona, Loyola and Manhattan. They ended the season with a record of 22-15 overall and 12-6 in conference play.

“I would say [last season] was a success, because we had so many injuries and still made it to the championship with a lot of players down. We did good with a new coach and some new players,” said Derek Needham ’13.

There were several obstacles the Stags had to overcome to end up with the successful season they had. It was Head Coach Sydney Johnson’s first year in charge of the team, after joining the coaching staff from Princeton University.

Also, right before the MAAC Tournament was set to begin, Needham, who was poised to be one of the best players in the tournament, broke his foot and was out for the rest of the year.

After the loss in the MAAC Tournament, the Stags accepted an invitation to the College Insider Tournament. Hosting all the games at Alumni Hall, the Stags took down Yale University, Manhattan College, and Robert Morris University in succession.

Their postseason run was eventually put to an end

by Mercer University, who defeated the Stags 59-64 in the semi-finals of the tournament. The run in the CIT gave Sydney Johnson and the 2012-2012 Stags the honor of longest postseason run in program history.

But the 2012-2013 Stags aren’t content with that.

“We have to win the conference championship to get to the NCAAs, and that’s what we want to do badly,” said coach Johnson.

The quest for the NCAA tournament berth begins with

Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror

Senior Colin Nickerson drives toward the basket during the Stags’ first preseason game against. The Stags will need Nickerson to have a big year to hope to win the MAAC.

the three seniors on the team: Needham, Colin Nickerson, and Desmond Wade.

“They’ve got to score points for us. They’ve got to control the team offensively and defensively, and they’ve got to give us experience in big nervous moments. They’ve got to be the ones who are able to show some poise,” said coach Johnson.

Needham, a guard for the team, has already been named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team after ending his 2011-2012 campaign with 342 points and 100 assists.

In the first preseason game of the year, against University of Bridgeport, Needham led the team in scoring with 15 points and hit several crucial three-point shots, including one to give the Stags their first lead of the game at 49-48. The Stags went on to win the game 54-52.

Wade, also a guard, is being favored to have a big season for the Stags after coming off of his first season playing with the Stags, where he averaged 6.3 points per game.

“I feel like my role is going to be different this year.

I’m gonna have to score a bit more, and be more of a leader because we got a lot of young players,” said Wade.

In Friday’s preseason game, Wade hit the gamewinning three with 1.9 seconds left.

Nickerson, another guard, comes off of a second half of the season, where he started

the final 13 games of the year.

During those starts, Nickerson averaged 8.1 points per game with 105 points and led the team with a .524 FG percentage.

Coach Johnson also notes that Keith Matthews ’14 and Maurice Barrow ’14 will both be important factors in the upcoming season.

Barrow had an impressive sophomore season with

“We have to win the conference championship to get to the NCAAs, and that’s exactly what we want to do badly.”

- Head Coach Sydney Johnson

9.3 points per game and 223 rebounds. He was also the only current Stag to start all 37 games last season. Barrow looks to improve on his stats ahead of the new season.

“My goal is to average 15 or more points and eight to ten rebounds per game. And I just want to do the little things that will help the team over the hump” said Barrow.

Matthews comes off of an

exceptional postseason and transferred it over already to the first game of the season, where he scored eight points and went three for three on field goals.

“I feel early in the season there was a little struggle … but late in the season I came along well, and made some strides in the MAAC Tournament and the CIT Tournament,” Matthew said.

Matthews and Barrow are the only two Stags, other than the seniors, with collegiate experience, which could hurt the Stags in the season.

The Stags are arguably one of the most inexperienced teams in the league, with five players returning who have seen game time and five incoming freshman, a red shirt freshman, a transfer and a walk-on.

“There are probably about seven teams who can win the league. It’s never been as strong as it is this coming year.

So, it’s not a great year for us to be less experienced,” said coach Johnson.

Regular season champions Iona College will be season after graduating Mike Glover and Scott Machado.

Glover was the conference leader in field goal percentage and was second in the conference in rebounding and scoring. Machado was first in the conference in assists.

It is also Loyola’s last year in the conference, and will be looking to get at least another tournament victory before

heading out of the MAAC. However, the players still think that there are ways to still get to the top of the MAAC. “We have to be consistent. We have to win early, and when we have bad times, we can’t let them get the best of us,” said Nickerson.

“We have to go out and play hard. We have to play like every game is our last,” Barrow said.

“We have to play good offense. We have to take good criticism from our coaches and other players. And we have to play together,” said Needham.

“We just have to take it one game at a time. Playing together and playing as a team is going to get us back to the championship,” said Wade.

“Everybody has to buy into what we’re doing. It’s a completely different team, with five freshmen. So everybody has to buy into what coach wants us to do. Everybody has to come together as a whole,” said Matthews.

The Stags have a lot to prove going into this season.

They want to prove that this is more than a rebuilding year.

They want to take bring the MAAC regular season title to Fairfield. They want to avenge their loss in the MAAC Tournament final. They want the berth into the NCAA Tournament.

If the Stags can make their wants into needs, then this could be a very interesting season indeed.

Basketball preview 2012-2013

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The Ins and Outs of Men’s Basketball

Headshots courtesy of Thomas Shea and Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror

By Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

By Vanessa Salvaggio Contributing Writer

There are many things that should be known about Fairfield University’s men’s basketball program.

As the Stags embark on their 2012-2013 season, in order to know the ins and outs of men’s basketball, you must first know the…well ins and outs of Stags men’s basketball.

The “Ins” Justin Jenkins

also has connections to Jenkins, before the came to Fairfield.

“Amadou Sidibe is a good friend of mine from back home, so he was coming here.

We could play as freshman and the coaches also made us feel like family,” Said Jenkins.

In his first outing with the Stags, where the Stags defeated Bridgeport 54-52 on Friday night, Jenkins was given ten minutes of playing time.

The Stags will look for Jenkins to show the skills that brought him to Fairfield as the season gets underway.

Fun Fact: His favorite athlete is LeBron James.

the lone freshman to start the contest. By the end of the game, Mikulic had the most rebound on the team, with eight, and the most blocks on the team, with four.

While his stats for his first outing was impressive, Mikulic, like all of his other teammates, sees the team’s goals at as the most important.

“Win the MAAC,” said Mikulic. If his stats stay strong, Mikulic may just be able to help his team achieve that goal.

Fun Fact: His role model growing up was Dirk Nowitzki.

Marcus Gilbert

Josip Mikulic

Here at Fairfield, Sidibe has been impressive. While he only played 13 minutes against the University of Bridgeport, he was one of the most effective freshmen to hit the court.

Sidibe scored seven points and went three for three on field goal attempts. While the stats were impressive, it was mostly a second half effort from Sidibe.

“The second half he came back and was absolutely terrific,” said coach Johnson.

The Stags can now only wait and see the numbers Sidibe can post when he puts together two strong halves.

Fun Fact: His favorite TV show is Breaking Bad.

Coleman Johnson

Sean Grennan

Sophomores Sean Grennan joins the Stags as a sophomore transfer from Seton Hall.

He made the transtion to Fairfield based mostly on basketball.

“The style of play [Coach Johnson] runs suits me very well” said Grennan.

Grennan has also found a great bond with his new teammates saying “I like my teammates a lot, man: they’re great.”

The “Outs”

Freshman Justin Jenkins, joining the Stags in his first season from Wings Academy in the Bronx, helped his high school team post a 26-5 record and a 16-0 mark in conference play during his senior season. In the same season, Jenkins averaged 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

The guard scored 468 points his senior year, shooting 48% from the floor. After various offers, such as Florida Atlantic and Siena, Jenkins committed to Fairfield.

“I have a good relationship with the coaches,” said Jenkins, “I like the environment that they play basketball in. And I like the teammates I have here.”

A fellow freshman Stag

Freshman Josip Mikulic, a forward and native of Croatia, came to the United States about two years ago when he enrolled at North Broward Prep in Florida. Mikulic, in his final season, averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.

Coach Sydney Johnson was anxious to have Mikulic become a Stag. His size, coming in at 7’0”, and his versatility is what initially drew Johnson to pursue Mikulic.

“He has a skill set that we like a lot. He’s very comfortable on different areas of the court, and that works well with our offense.” Coach Johnson said.

His skills were put to use on Friday, where Mikulic was

Freshman Marcus Gilbert a forward joining the Stags from Academy of the New Church, averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per game the 2011-2012 season. In his senior year, Gilbert shot 54% from the floor and 63% from inside the three-0point line.

Gilbert showed his impressive dunking skills at this year’s Red Sea Madness and the Stags are going to look for him to transfer that over to games.

In his first preseason game with the Stags, Gilbert was given 18 minutes of playing time against the University of Bridgeport.

In that 18 minutes, Gilbert scored six points, had four defensive rebounds and hit two big three-point shots to bring Fairfield back into the game.

As for how he feels the team has been his first month Gilbert said, “Pretty good.

We’ve got great chemistry. I think the chemistry is there, we’re a very unified team.”

Fun Fact: His favorite song is “Wild Ones” By Flo Rida .

Freshman Coleman Johnson, a forward hailing from Oak Hill, VA comes to Fairfield after averaging 12 points and nine rebounds per game in his senior season Johnson was recruited by other schools, such as Northeastern, Robert Morris, and MAAC foe Marist, but Johnson eventually committed to join the Stags, although he admits it was an easy choice.

“I just want to help the team out any way I can, whether that’s in practice, or in a game, just to help get wins and win the MAAC,” said Johnson.

Fun Fact: His favorite performer is J.Cole

Steven Johnston

Amadou Sidibe

Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror Marcus Gilbert in action for the Stags on Friday against Bridgeport.

Freshman Amadou Sidibe, a forward coming from Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx, averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game his senior season.

Sophomore Steven Johnston, the lone walk-on on the Fairfield roster, joins the Stags as a sophomore.

About the process of joining the Stags, Johnston said “it was quite a process.”

“When I first tried out... they said we can use you in practice ... so you can do that ... and slowly worked my way onto the team. “ Fun Fact: His favorite TV show is The Walking Dead.

The Stags are coming off the loss of seven, yes, seven players.

Three Stags have left the program through graduation - Gary Martin, Ryan Olander, and arguably the biggest loss, Rakim Sanders.

Sanders ended last season with 615 points scored, 303 rebounds and a staggering 1195 minutes played.

Coach Johnson isn’t overly concerned with the loss of some key players through graduation.

“The team is first going to look to our senior guards, Derek Needham, Colin Nickerson and Desmond Wade. They’re going to lead us because of their experience,” said Coach Johnson.

The Stags also lost four players through transfers in the off-season.

Redshirt Sean Crawford ‘14, Adam Jones ‘15, Jamel Fields ‘14, and Keegan Hyland ‘14 all packed their bags and left the Stags for other programs.

Crawford and Fields were arguably the biggest losses for the Stags.

Crawford ended last season with 139 points after playing in 32 games. Fields ended his sophomore campaign with 123 points in his 35 games played.

Coach Johnson is backing his incoming freshman class to fill the void left by those who transferred out.

“We’ve got a terrific freshman class ... I’d argue that they’re the best in the league,” said Coach Johnson.

While the losses take a big toll on the Stags, the strengths coming in from the new arrivals will certainly help the Stags on their journey to a MAAC championship

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Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Wade and Needham Return from injuries

By Steven Vissichelli Contributing Writer

The Fairfield Stags men’s basketball team is very grateful to welcome back two stars that fell plague to injury last season.

Seniors Derek Needham and Desmond Wade both were essential to the team’s success last year.

Needham suffered a broken left foot right before the MAAC tournament began and Wade’s injury came before the Stags’ last game of the College Insider Tournament.

Both these injuries occurred at crucial points in the season.

The Stags were considered to be one of the favorites to win the MAAC Tournament last season before Needham broke his foot.

When asked how Needham felt when he found out he was going to miss the post season he said, “It didn’t actually hit me until I had to get surgery. But it hit me hard. It was hard to take, but my team really stepped up and did a great job.”

It was hard to replace Needham, who was not only a team leader, but was also averaging close to 12 points a game.

Wade’s injury did not happen until before the last game of the season but was still a huge loss to the team.

The Stags were without

Wade’s average of 6 points and 3 assists per game for their final CIT game, and the Stags lost to the Mercer Bears in the semi-finals.

Fortunately just like Needham, Wade has made a successful recovery.

“It feels pretty good.

I’m healthy; I’m 100 percent healthy. Everything’s good, my hand is good, my body feels real good,” said Wade.

When coach Sydney Johnson found several positives amongst the disappointment of having two crucial players out with injury.

“Certain guys stepped up.

I think certain guys who were either nervous or unsure of their abilities really understood ‘well you know we don’t have Derek and later on we didn’t have Des … somebody’s got to do it, so they stepped up.”

Both Needham and Wade have successfully bounced back from injury and are ready for a new season. But the injury has given Needham a new view on his senior season, and gave him inspiration for how to approach the last year.

“It’s just about being patient and knowing that this is my last year. I have my team supporting me to come back better,” said Needham Coach Johnson believes that both these players are in very good physical shape and should be a huge part of the team this year.

“Des really had no issues.

Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror Desmond Wade dribbled down the court in the Stags’ frist preseason game of the year. Wade is coming back from a broken hand.

Some weeks after he could have kept playing if our season had extended. And Derek’s in the best shape of his life, and physically it’s just been no issues whatsoever,” coach Johnson said.

Fairfield opens the regu-

lar season on November 10 as part of the Connecticut 6 Classic, hosted by the University of Hartford on November 10. The Stags face Central Connecticut State University at 8 pm, the final game of the tripleheader.

The Stags are going to look

to Needham and Wade to lead the team through the season, and hopefully they can stay away from injury for the year, so their talents can be utilized from start of the season to the end.

Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror Desmond Wade dribbled down the court in the Stags’ frist preseason game of the year. Wade is coming back from a broken hand.

Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Meet the upperclassmen Stags S

E N I O R S

Desmond Wade

Colin Nickerson

-Guard -Started 30 games -905 minutes played -203 points scored -Averaged 6.3 ppg -97 assists -His pregame meal is pasta

-Guard -Started 14 games -669 minutes played -46 steals -168 points scored -.524 FG percentage -His favortie Disney character is Mickey Mouse.

Katelyn Linney

Brittany MacFarlane

-Guard -Started 32 games.

-65 three-pointers made -273 points scored -Averaged 8.3 ppg -Favorite TV show is “Say Yes to the Dress ”

-Forward -Played 32 games -169 points scored -Averaged 5.3 ppg -170 total rebounds -Her favorite food is Tim Horton’s

Maurice Barrow

Keith Matthews

-Forward -Started all 37 games -223 rebounds -345 points scored -Averaged 9.3 ppg -His favorite movie is Bad Boys 2

-Forward -34 games played -127 points scored -Averaged 3.7 ppg.

-.481 FG percentage -His pregame meal is green beans, steak, pasta, and chicken.

Derek Needham

-Guard - Started 29 games -342 points scored -Averaged 11.8 ppg -100 assists -His favorite sport besides basketball is baseball

Laura Vetra

-Forward -27 games played -.320 FG percentage -44 points scored.

-Her favorite food is sushi.

Christelle AkonAkech

-Forward -Played in 30 games -.524 FG percentage -.675 free throw percentage -Niece of Chicago Bulls Foward Luol Deng

Alexys Vasquez -Guard -28 games started -.427 three-point FG percentage -233 points scored -Averaged 7.3 ppg -Her favorite athlete is LeBron James

JUNIORS

Brittany ObiTabot

-Forward -Played in 17 games -.417 FG percentage -20 rebounds -Went to the same high school as Eliza Dushku

Katie Cizynski

-Forward -Started 26 games -186 points scored.

-19 blocks -123 rebounds -Her dad threw a no-hitter for Fairfield in 1977

S O P H OMORES Vince Van Nes

-Forward/Center -Didn’t play the 2011/2012 season with a foot injury.

-His favorite sports team is Arsenal F.C.

Women’s headshots are contributed photos Men’s headshots courtesy of Thomas Shea and Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror

Felicia DaCruz

-Guard -28 games played.

-.333 FG percentage -Only sophomore on the team.

Casey Grace

-Forward -Transfer from Dawson Community College, in Carrigaline, Ireland -Averaged 14 ppg.

-Her favorite meal is mashed potatoes, carrots and roast chicken.

Sean Grennan

-Guard -Transfer from Seton Hall University.

-Played in 18 games -His favorite 90s song is “Santeria” or “What I Got” by Sublime.

Steven Johnston

-Walk -on.

-Joins the team after being last season’s manager and practice player.

- Favorite TV show is The Walking Dead

Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Men’s Basketball Home Schedule Date

Opponent Time

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Women’s Basketball Home Schedule Date Opponent Time

Nov 2nd Universtiy of Bridge- 7 pm

Nov 13th Brown University

7 pm

Dec 7th

Canisius College*

7 pm

Nov 20th

St. Bonaventure

7 pm

Dec 12th

UW- Milwaukee

7 pm

Nov 27th

Vermont

7 pm

Dec 16th

Drexel University

4 pm

Dec 1st

St Francis (NY)

2 pm

Dec 22nd

LaSalle

2 pm

port

Jan 13th Niagara University* 1 pm Jan 21st

Loyola University*

7 pm

Jan 4th Loyola University*

7 pm

Jan 24th

Marist College*

7 pm

Jan 12th Niagara University*

2 pm

Feb 1st

Rider University*

7 pm

Jan 20th Manhattan College*

2 pm

Feb 7th

Saint Peter’s*

7 pm

Jan 25th

7 pm

Feb 9th

Manhattan College* 1 pm

Siena College*

Jan 27th Rider University*

2 pm

Feb 14th

Siena College*

8:30 pm

Feb 3rd

Iona College*

2 pm

Feb 18th

Iona College*

7 pm

Feb 16th

Saint Peter’s*

2 pm

Mar 3rd

Marist College*

2 pm

* denotes MAAC game

Sports

Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Photo by Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror Design by Artin Ghokasiyan

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Basketball preview 2012-2013

How the MAAC stacks up Canisius College Men:

-Finished 10th in the MAAC last

season.

Women:

-Finished 8th in the MAAC last season.

-Junior forward Jamie Ruttle named to Preseason All-MAAC 1st team.

Iona College Men:

-Finished 3rd in the MAAC last season.

-Had leading scorer in MAAC, George Beamon ‘13, with 626 points.

-Finished 6th in the MAAC last season.

-Finished 3rd in the MAAC last season and were first in steals.

Women:

-Finished 8th in the MAAC last season.

-Were number one in scoring of fense.

Women:

Women:

-Won the regular season and the MAAC tournament last seaon.

-First in scoring offense in the MAAC

-Finished 7th in the MAAC last season.

-Had leading scorer in the MAAC, Damika Martinez ‘15, with 497 points.

Loyola University Men:

-MAAC Tournament Champions

-First in MAAC in rebounding defense

-Finished 4th in the MAAC last season.

-Senior guard Katie Sheahin named to Preseason All-MAAC 1st team.

Manhattan College Men:

-Finished 7th in the MAAC last season.

-Had leader of steal in the MAAC, Juan’ya Green ‘15, with 63.

Marist College Men:

-Regular season champions.

Women:

Niagara University Men:

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Women:

Rider University Men:

-Finished 5th in the MAAC last season.

-Had leader in 3-point FG percentage, Jonathon Thompson ‘13, at .470 Women:

-Finished 10th in the MAAC last season.

Siena College Men:

Saint Peter’s College Men:

-Finished 6th in the MAAC last season.

-Finished 9th in the MAAC last season.

Women:

Women:

-Finished 5th in the MAAC last season.

-Had second leading scorer in the MAAC, Lily Grenci ‘13.

-Finished 9th in the MAAC last season and were first in rebound ing offense

Contributed Photos

Sports 3x5 Because they like to talk ... basketball.

Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

Michael O'Keeffe The Mate

Tom Shea Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2012-2013 3x5 Columnists: Jen Calhoun, Tom Shea and Michael O'Keeffe.

Lets get some predictions! What’s the season look like for the Stags?

Who is your favorite basketball player of all time?

What players are you looking to to have a big season?

As this issue is Avengers themed, who’s your favorite Avenger?

It’s going to be tough after losing Taryn Johnson and Rakim Sanders, but you have to have faith that the Stags can pull it out and take the titles back to FU

I’m going to say the kid in “Luck of the Irish”. I mean he never missed a shot ever.....is it because he was a half-leprechaun?

Maybe. But can’t argue with thoses stats.

I’m looking at some of the men’s freshman to really have big seasons, with Mikulic big on blocks and rebounds. And Vasquez will have a big season for the women

I’m going to go with Hawkeye. When he shoots the arrow while falling off the building...............hear that sound? Yeah that’s me dying inside because it’s so sexy.

Hand-eye coordination is not exactly my specialty.

It’s quite embarrassnig actually. It’s only good when I play Mario Kart... and only when I’m Yoshi.

One of the hardest they’ve encountered for a long time. But the finals experience from last year will be invaluable. Both teams to do one better this year!

I was in Springfield last year and saw a particular someone drop bombs from behind the arc for fun. His name, John I-now-work-at-ESPN Tessitore

That’s easy. Vince Van Nes and Josip Mikulic for the men and Laura Vetra and Katie Cyzinski for the women. They’re the biggest players on their team.

Captain America! USA! USA! USA! Stars and stripes baby! Land of the free and home of the brave! ‘merica! Golden Arches!

Back in my glory days they used to call me the point guard. What an easy position, all you do is sit on the sideline yelling and pointing, “guard! guard!”

Women bounce back from a tough start, and get to 20 wins. Men overcome early season struggles, go 13-5 in conference en route to the MAAC tourney title.

Gotta be Scalabrine, at least when he was a Celtic. Who didn’t love that guy?

Needham has to come back better than ever, and two of the best 3-point snipers in the country (Linney and Vazquez) should light it up.+

Thor. We have like the exact same physique, right?

And Chis Hemsworth is almost as much of a bad a** as yours truly.

With such great athletes on the teams, how do you think you’d fare if you were on the team?

Honestly, I’d probably average 20 and 10. Twenty times being dunked on per game, and 10 broken ankles from Needham/ Nickerson/Wade’s moves.

Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Page 9

The Men Behind the MAAC Avengers Sydney Johnson: New season, same successful coach

By Leland Bergen Contributing Writer

Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror

After taking over as the men’s basketball Head Coach just last year, Sydney Johnson has already had tremendous success here in Stag Country.

Johnson helped the team to a 22-win season and guided the squad through the deepest postseason run in program history.

But last season was not his first run-in with success.

Johnson attended Princeton University and earned top accolades as a player. He was the Ivy league’s player of the year (1997) and the only three-time captain in school history. He achieved first-team All Ivy League selection in 1996 and 1997.

Holding the record for most steals (169), Johnson went on to hold the record for most consecutive three-point shots. By the end of his playing years at Princeton, Johnson had finished second in school history for most three-pointer shots made (162), and was the 21st player in program history to score 1,000 points in his career, finishing

with 1,044.

After graduating, Johnson went on to play for seven seasons for six different teams in Europe where he won three championships. His international career began with Gorizia Pallacanestro in Italy. There he was able to help the team capture the Italian Second division championship. After being traded Johnson went to Reggio Calabria, won another title, and finished his playing career in 2004 with a championship win for Montepaschi Siena.

After returning to the United States, Sydney Johnson was hired by Georgetown University as an assistant head coach. He spent three successful seasons with the Hoyas, helping them reach the postseason three times and capturing a Big East title.

Johnson returned to his alma mater, Princeton, and led the team to an Ivy League title and two postseason appearances.

Leaving Princeton at the end of the 2010-2011 season, Johnson was announced as the new Head Coach here at Fair-

field. On his transition to the Fairfield community he stated “The University made me and my family feel very welcomed, to such a level that I’ve never seen before.”

Following his welcome, there was still a season to be played.

Reflecting on the success of the season he said, “I would say highly successful, but a twinge of bittersweet. We won 22 games, we played in the post season for the third year in a row, and we had the greatest postseason run in school history, just the MAAC conference championship that eluded us once again.”

Johsnon went on to say: “We had the lead at halftime, and then they didn’t play that well in the second half. That was a tough blow to take, but the guys matured and developed and really made a fine season when it was all said and done.”

While the Stags are up against some tough competition in the MAAC this season, with Coach Johnson at the head of the Stags, it can be anticipated that the Stags will have relatively new, yet reliable guidance.

Coach Johnson calling out instructions to the Stags on Friday night.

Joe Frager:

Learning patience with his players

By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

As Head Coach Joe Frager briskly left practice one day, which lasted over a half hour longer than scheduled, he looked like he was a tickingtime bomb.

“Patience has never been my strong-suit,” said Frager in an interview shortly after. “If anything, my assistants have a job on their hands, and it’s to keep me patient, because sometimes that wears thin quickly.”

If that’s the case, then perhaps coach Frager may want to invest in a stress ball or a foot massage, or maybe even pick up yoga, because he has a great deal of inexperience on his team, and with inexperienced, young players, comes a lot of headaches.

“We almost play like our hair is on fire sometimes …

Right now, one or two mistakes becomes five or six,” said Frager. “We bleed a little bit, and soon it’s a full blown hemorrhage. And that’s a young team.”

“I think because they’re going so fast, it means they want to do well, they just don’t

know how to control that emotion at this point, and calm themselves down.”

Frager is heading into his sixth season with Fairfield, and for the first time in a long time (if not ever) there is no dominant player on his roster, rather a group of very skilled and evenly talented girls who want nothing more than to get him his fourth 20 win season, and more importantly, his first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Talk of an NCAA Tournament game may be premature however, as Frager is barely set on his starting five so far.

“We’ve been a little inconsistent, where certain players have had a couple good practices in a row, and then the next two days, they’re a different player … It just seems like every other day, we could have a different starting five,” said Frager.

Katelyn Linney ‘13, Alexys Vazquez, ‘14 and Brittany MacFarlane’13, when healthy, appear to have three of the starting jobs, according to Frager, with the other two as up in the air. Most coaches would be uneasy without having a certain starting lineup so close to the start of the year,

but Frager seems to like what it causes in the players.

“To me, competition is a good thing. People don’t get comfortable and kind of take their foot off the gas,” said Frager, who comes into the year with a 101-56 record at Fairfield.

And with the very tough non-conference schedule that the Stags have this season, it isn’t right to judge this team against the team from last year, as this team’s win-loss record may suffer from playing quality opponents.

“Each year is unique. I can say that I don’t think this team, unless I’m really wrong, is going to equal or exceed 24 wins,” said Frager, meaning that this team may not reach the same win total from last year. “But that doesn’t mean with this particular team that would be an unsuccessful season. I think that this team needs to get through a very tough non-conference schedule and … get a better idea of their own identity as a team.”

“I just want to see this team peak over the final third,” Frager continued, “… what that’s going to amount to by the end, is the record is not going to be as glossy, but

Contributed Photo Coach Joe Frager stands in anger in a game in a previous season for the Stags.

I think that this team, by the end of the year, could be a really good basketball team, and a real pain in the neck to have to face in the postseason.

That’s got to be the goal.”

Frager thinks that this team could be a pain to a few teams later on, which would make all the pains he is going through now with his young players even more worth it.

Basketball preview 2012-2013

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Page 10

Three- Point Sharp Shooters

Aryanne Pereira/The Mirror Alexys Vazquez sinks one of her 13 three-pointers at Red Sea Madness. Vazquez made 13 of 15 shots at the event

By Leland Bergen Contributing Writer

As a new season is set to start it is easy for one to get carried away with the hopes and expectations that come with dreaming about the possible achievements for a new season.

Traditionally this sort of thinking leads to overconfidence and eventual failure.

But given the past success by players Alexys Vazquez ‘14 and Katelyn Linney ‘13, why shouldn’t we be excited?

The pair consistently put up big numbers, especially three-pointers, on the court come game day.

By the end of last season, now guard Vazquez had set the single season record for three-point field goal percentage, with .427.

Speaking on her threepoint success, Vazquez said,

“I wouldn’t get the shots off if my teammates didn’t get me open. The screens that they set allow me to get my shots off, so it’s just dependent on me whether I make it or not.

I’m in the gym shooting extra to make sure I do make the shot when I get the chance.”

Given her mentality and humility, it’s no surprise Vazquez was the national leader in three-point field goal percentage for nearly the entire month of February and the beginning of March.

But Vazquez isn’t the only one making her mark beyond the arc.

Senior guard Linney is one of the preeminent three-point threats in the MAAC and has at least one three-pointer in 86 total games for her career.

She has started 96 of 97 games that the Stags have played during her tenure and has made 208 career threepointers.

Linney is currently ranked second in program history for career three-pointers.

On the possibility of becoming the first, Linney said, “It would mean a lot. I went into looking at schools as wanting to leave a mark on the program that I’ve been with. I think that would be a great success that I’ve had and I can leave my mark on a program that I love so much and … they’ve given me so much here.”

Linney, like Vasquez is humble about her successes.

“I’m not remotely athletic at all,” says Linney. “If you were to look at me. Everything I’ve built upon is just working hard, and I’m a person who is just dedicated to working hard.”

No matter what happens this season, plan on one thing: The team won’t be discounted due to a lack of effort.

Contributed Photo Katelyn Linney shoots a three-pointer in a game from a previous season

Quick Stats for Linney and Vazquez -Vazquez was ranked second in the MAAC for three-point FG percentage

-Her percentage was .427 -Linney was ranked second in the MAAC for three-point FG made

-She made 65

Basketball preview 2012-2013

Sports

Page 11

Grace assimilates to America and the Stags

By Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

If there is one thing Fairfield University does well, it is

recruiting international athletes. Men’s soccer is the most prolific, with eight players hailing from overseas.

Women’s basketball has a new international in the

Contributed Photo

lineup, adding Casey Grace ’14 from Carrigaline, Ireland.

Grace comes to Fairfield after averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game with Dawson Community College in Carrigaline in her sophomore year.

Grace, it already appears, is going to be a welcomed member of Head Coach Jim Frager’s squad.

“If you watch her play, she’s very uncomfortable with her back to the basket. She desperately wants to get out and face up and handle the ball and shoot some threes.

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing for us, because we really want to post up Cyzinski and Obi-Tabot,” said coach Frager.

Grace believes that the adjustment from playing in Ireland to playing in America is going to take some time.

“Not only do I have to step up physically, I have to be stronger, I also have to be

smarter, and learn a lot more offense too” said Grace.

While the technical changes are a big step for Grace, the actual act of moving

She continued on to describe what she misses most about home, saying “besides my family? Definitely, definitely the food. It’s way different … I’ve already had two packages sent from my mom and grandmother with like Irish chocolate, stuff like that.”

As Grace is adjusting to America, her play has been changing, and improving as well.

“I’ve been playing the post since I came here which is new to me. The coaches have been giving me all this time, helping me learn. I’ve had a lot of one on one in preseason,” said Grace.

The Stags will have to wait to see how Grace will perform in game situations, but for the time being it appears as though the more comfortable she is, the more her inherent talents will shine.

“The coaches have been giving me all this time, helping me learn.”

-Casey Grace ‘14

to America has led to the need for major adjusting. While one might assume that a transition from Ireland to America wouldn’t be as difficult as say, Spain or China, Grace still saw many differences in culture.

“People don’t understand when I say this, but everything is just, bigger. Your cars are bigger, food is bigger, stores are bigger” Grace said.

Casey Grace ‘14 in action for her old team Dawson Community College.

Freshman class ready to fill voids

By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

One of the overwhelming themes of the election season that just ended has been change, with politicians on both sides using it as way to plead voters to join their cause.

Apparently, it was a cause that coach Frager took to heart, as there are seemingly more changes on the Fairfield women’s basketball team than there are in the Senate.

With three freshmen joining this year’s squad, in addition to junior college transfer Casey Grace, there is a different look to this year’s team overall, but according to Coach Frager, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“With this group, I don’t think you can look at a kid and say ‘Yes, you are the replacement for one of the pieces.’ The sum of our parts is going to be

the most important thing,” said Frager. “We have players that are good at one or two points in the game, and maybe a little weak in other areas … One through 12, we have a lot of kids who are similar ability wise, we don’t have two or three kids who light years ahead of other players. And that’s going to take a while to develop.”

While coach Frager may not admit it, there are similarities between this group of freshmen and players who have come and gone through Fairfield.

Take Lizzy Ball ‘16, for example. The 5’7 freshman was described by Frager as a “bulldog point guard.” She is undersized (the second smallest player on the team), but still averaged almost 13 points per game her senior season at the New Hampton School, after averaging 18.7 points per game at Manchester-Essex Regional High School for three years.

She “throws her body around without any regard for life or limb, and is just a competitive kid,” according to Frager.

All that being said, one can’t help but being reminded of Desiree Pina ‘16, who graduated last season with 1343 points to her name, again was an undersized point guard as well.

Then there’s Christa Scognamiglio ‘16, whose three-point prowess helped her average 16.7 points per game in high school. She has the ability from beyond the arc that is reminiscent of Katelyn Linney ‘13 her freshman year, and it’s something that Frager liked when he saw her, calling her a “hard-nosed scorer”.

Freshman Kristin Schatzlein is a 6’0 guard, who may not be taking over for someone directly, but perhaps carving a spot out for herself.

“We wanted to get longer and more athletic at the guard po-

sition … and she has really good instincts for the game,” said Frager, “She could be someone who could play that two or that three and score in a variety of different ways.”

The reigning Connecticut Gatorade Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year averaged over 18 points per game, and tallied over 1700 points in her time at Tolland High School.

All three players agreed that the main reason why they chose Fairfield was for the coaching staff. “The coaching staff really made my decision definite,” said Ball.

All three also agreed that the main goal is just to help in any way they can. “As a player, I just want to make my team better, put anything on the floor that I can give,” said Ball.

The players, who were also considering rival schools like Hofstra, Manhattan, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, and others, are looking to gain some valuable minutes this season,

mostly by “doing the little things.”

“Getting the rebounds, [playing] defense, the things that aren’t really noticed, playing hard,” said Scognamiglio.

The freshmen are going to see some important minutes, especially early in the season, as there are many interchangeable parts with this team, so much of their learning will have to come by doing, rather than sitting on the bench.

Coach Frager said that despite their obvious skill on the court, the reason why they went after them comes down to a personal level.

“The bottom line that I saw in a four of those kids [including Casey Grace ‘14, the transfer], is personally we really, really liked them,” said Frager.

“We thought they would fit our philosophy as a program, and all four of them will have success here at this school.”

Lizzie Ball Favorite basketball player is LeBron James

Christa Scognamiglio Favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip

Kristin Schatzlein Contributed Photos From left to right: Freshmen Lizzie Ball, Christa Scognamiglio, and Kristin Schatzlein, will be important to the Stags as they try to avenge their MAAC Tournament Final loss.

Favorite singer is Carrie Underwood

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Basketball preview 2012-2013

Page 12

Seniors vital for Stag success

By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

The three seniors on the women’s basketball team have had tremendous success while here at Fairfield with a 61-36 mark over the past three seasons, including two 20 win seasons and a trip to the WNIT last year - the second ever in Fairfield history.

This year they will look to add onto that impressive resume, with one added caveat: All eyes will be on them.

Flash back to 2009: the beginning of the collegiate basketball careers for Laura Vetra ‘13, Brittany MacFarlane ‘13, and Katelyn Linney ‘13.

Both Vetra and MacFarlane were competing for minutes as Stephanie Geehan ‘10 and Desiree Pina ‘12 led the Stags to a 20-win season, while the sharp-shooting freshman Linney burst onto the scene unexpectedly, averaging over 10 points per game.

In both 2010 and 2011, the team had a backup plan, knowing the dynamic duo of Pina and Taryn Johnson ‘12 had the ability to carry them at a moment’s notice.

This year, however, the safety net of having two 1000-point scorers on the court is gone, and while Brittany MacFarlane ’13, Linney and Vetra have played important roles in the last two years, all three realize that their roles have changed.

Seniors embrace new roles

Linney, for one, has seen her role change from a featured third option on offense, to a depended-on scorer and coach on the floor.

“I’ve come to a role where other people are looking at me now on my team, and not just looking at the other dominant players that we’ve had,” said Linney. “I think I have to take

that in stride.”

Linney also noted her progression over her years at Fairfield.

“Freshman year I was just kind of out there, trying to figure it out … I needed to play more consistent as a sophomore,” she said. “Last year, I struggled but I think I learned … to broaden my horizons, that I can bring more to the game than just shooting. I can also pass and play defense, and now this year, I’m trying to incorporate all of those things.”

Head Coach Joe Frager sees the experience of Linney as something that the team will depend on this season. “[Linney] has been through the wars for two years. In two of her three years, we’ve gotten to a MAAC championship game, and got into postseason beyond that,” said Frager.

He continued, saying “you can see the maturation in someone like her. The leadership previously … came from Desiree Pina and Taryn Johnson, so there’s a huge void.

You can actively see Katelyn try and step up.”

MacFarlane believes that her strength will come from believing in her play, and translating that into points.

“I’ve come into my role on the team. I became a leader, and I’m more confident in the way I play,” said MacFarlane. “[I’ll] be more depended on scoring, and not just be doing the little things. I have to score.”

For Vetra, the difference may not show up on the scoreboard as much, but rather in how she directs the younger and more inexperienced players while on the court.

“I’ve become more vocal on the court. Like freshman and sophomore year I was a younger player, I was quiet, scared to say something.,” said Vetra. “Junior and senior year that’s changed.”

The value of experience

Frager values the knowledge of the other veteran players will help the younger players acclimate better and learn from the experience of the upperclassmen.

“It’s one thing for a coach to say it, but if you’ve got players on the team who can tell the younger players ‘Guys, this is what it takes. These are the mistakes we made as a team the year before, we were able to make the corrections, and look at what we were able to do,’” said Frager.

“That’s hopefully what [the upperclassmen] take away from it, and it comes down to how well can our juniors and seniors convey to the young kids.”

Despite losing their top two scorers from last season, the senior Stags aren’t so much nervous as they are intrigued by the situation that is in front of them. “ … I think this year - even though we’re a very young team - I think we have more consistency. It’s almost a fresh new look,” said Linney. “We’ve always come into seasons knowing we have two dominant players, and I think it’s giving people opportunities they’ve never had before. It gives a fresh start for us.”

Vetra agreed that this year the players will have much more interchangeable roles to play each game.

“Previous years, there have been six or seven players that are the core players, who always dominate the court.

This year, I think it’s going to be more than just seven players. More people are going to see court time,” Vetra said.

Stags look for revenge

With the influx of young and new players, the experience that the three share

Contributed Photo Senior Laura Vetra holds the ball for the Stags in a game. Vetra is going to be a crucial part of the team this season.

Mirror File Photos Katelyn Linney dribbles the ball down the court in a game in a previous season.

will be invaluable in leading the team back to the MAAC Championship and possibly beyond.

“Last year … the toughest games we played, there would be five players on the court, but we wouldn’t play together,” said Vetra. “When it got tough, we would be five individuals on the court, instead of all coming together and being like ‘Listen, let’s calm down, pull it together.’

“We have to do better this year with that we have to play together. Not every game is going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenging season,” added Vetra.

MacFarlane stressed the importance of working hard in both in the preseason, and throughout the regular season.

“We have to come to play every day, we don’t have the luxury of taking days off, [saying] ‘Oh, these two players will do it,’” said Macfarlane. “I think we came so close, two of the three years. A little bit more effort and a little more hard work, I think we can get there,” MacFarlane said.

It is possible that that is all that stopped the Stags from taking the MAAC Tournament title a year ago. After rolling in the quarter and semi-finals, Fairfield ran into a wall against Marist with no Stags getting into double digits scoring.

“I think that sometimes, unfortunately, to take that next step, you have to kind of get your wind taken away a couple of times. I think that two years ago, we played ex-

tremely well in the finals, and just got beat by a better team,” said Frager.

“Last year, again, we got beat by a better team, but I don’t think we played well.

Sometimes there’s such a thing as wanting something too much … You just hope that after being through a few times, if we’re fortunate to put ourselves in a similar situation, that players who have been through that can set the tone leadership-wise.”

The only team that has stood in the way of a MAAC championship for the Stags is Marist, who have won seven straight MAAC Tournament titles, including last year’s 6135 drubbing against Fairfield in the finals.

“The goal is always to make the NCAA Tournament, short of that you’re never completely happy … The first two weeks after the season ended, no I was not happy at all,” said Frager. “But it took some time to gain some perspective on it, and look back, and really appreciate the strides they had made.”

The quest to bring a MAAC title to Fairfield is one that could take some ups and downs this season, given the incredibly difficult nonconference schedule that the Stags have ahead of them, beginning with Florida on Friday.

But one thing is certain: the leadership of Linney, MacFarlane, and Vetra will be the keys to getting them the title that has eluded them the past three years.