Red Foxes Set To 'Storm' MSG

With Marist set to take on St. Johns tomorrow night from the Worlds Most Famous Arena, it is important for head coach Matt Brady and his team to close out 2007 on a strong note.

Having lost their last two games to UMass and MAAC defending champion Niagara on Christmas Eve,Eve... the Red Foxes could very well find themselves in a 4-game skid heading into 2008.

With tough match-ups against the Red Storm and either Hoftstra or V-Tech in the Aeropostale Holiday Tournament at the Garden, the Red Foxes are faced with their toughest competition since they were swept in the O'Reilly Auto-Parts tourney in November.

However, the Red Foxes have come a long way since being overwhelmed in Puerto Rico and have put together very impressive wins against Richmond, Bucknell, Wright State and Canisius...with the key to those wins being a swarming defense and a well balanced scoring attack.

In the last two games the Red Foxes (6-5) have gotten away from this winning formula and been sloppy with the ball and have shown their inexperience; not being able to sustain runs, take care of the ball, keep leads to close out games or score late in the game.

Against Niagara, Marist blew a 12 point second half lead because of turnovers and the inability to score down the stretch. 8 combined turnovers from Devezin and Goodwin( 4 in only 15 minutes), hurt the Red Foxes as a 7 minute scoring drought down the stretch killed them.

With Marist set for the big stage of Broadway, Coach Brady can ill-afford to have his inexperience hurt the team again.

The Solution......Play Ryan Schneider

Schneider a Red Shirt Junior, played for two seasons at the University of Vermont proving to be a staple in their success. He has the kind of big game experience the the Red Foxes deeply need, especially down the stretch. Schneider can rebound and shoot the lights out from downtown, and he has the big game experience that Goodwin does not have.

At Vermont Schneider recorded 10 double-doubles, with his leadership and ability to hit the big 3 driving Vermont to a American East Conference championship and a berth into the NCAA Tournament, where they knocked off Syracuse.

If the Red Foxes are to have any chance at the Garden this weekend, they need to stop the second half melt-downs, they need to protect the ball, they need to score down the stretch, they need experienced players in the game....they need what Schneider brings to the table, and most of all... they need Coach Brady to realize that.

Ex-Fox Lane Player Joins Marist Hoops Beat

By JOE LOMBARDI THE JOURNAL NEWS
Original publication: December 25, 2007

The Fox Lane boys basketball team's unlikely run to the state semifinals in Glens Falls in 2004 was an unforgettable
journey for Jon White.
It also proved to be an educational one.

"It was kind of surreal," said White, who was a starting guard and the team's top defensive player. "It was an amazing thing to get caught up in that run.

"Looking back, it wasn't just our team or school. The whole community rallied around it. Every game was sold out. If you walked into a deli, people were talking about it."

Now a junior in college, White is immersed in another community that has a strong bond to its local basketball team whose nickname is Foxes: Marist College.

Though not a member of the men's team at Marist, White is closely identified with it. And when the Red Foxes play in the Holiday Festival this Friday and Saturday at Madison Square Garden, White will share his thoughts on their efforts with members of the team's loyal following.

White is the author of a blog on Marist men's basketball that appears on the Poughkeepsie Journal's Web site. In addition, he co-hosts a weekly two-hour sports-talk show on WMAR 1630, the student radio station, and writes for the student newspaper, The Circle.
"It's good that I'm doing all of them," said White, a Bedford resident.

The sports communication major said he's still getting acclimated to the blogosphere.
"The whole blog thing, I don't really get," he said. "I'm not crazy about the format. It's too informal for me. I pretend it's a sports column."

White's adjustment to broadcasting was much easier - and aided by the fact that the first show he co-hosted in September 2005 was alongside a former Fox Lane teammate, Dustin Aglietti. The two are now roommates.

"At the first meeting for the radio station freshman year, we said, 'Let's do this show together,' " Aglietti said. "It helped us adapt pretty quickly. We kind of got out there and talked about things we were comfortable with - like in Jon's case, the Yankees - and some NFL, too."

Though they now work with different co-hosts on their respective shows, much of the content revolves around Marist basketball - both men's and women's. Aglietti, who handles the Poughkeepsie Journal's Marist women's blog, works with former Lakeland star Ryan Schneider. Though a member of Marist's men's team, Schneider, a transfer from Vermont, still finds time to do play-by-play of women's games as well as the weekly show with Aglietti.

"Jon and Ryan both have very good voices for radio," Aglietti said.

For the Foxes' sectional championship team his junior season, White routinely was assigned to guard the opponent's top scoring weapon - unless it was a post player, in which case 6-foot-8 Taj Finger, now a senior playing at Stanford, got the call. It was often a grueling role because Fox Lane's starters seldom came out of the game.

"My role was to bring defensive intensity to the team," White said.
He said watching Finger, a big-time scorer in high school, bring the defensive intensity for Stanford has been enjoyable.

"I'm very happy for him and proud of him," White said. "He learned how to play defense when we all did. Now he's taken what we did as a team to a higher level of basketball."

Though White is a natural in the broadcast booth, he's not sure if that will be the career path he pursues. He interned this past summer on the sports sales team of National Cable Communications, selling commercial advertising time for networks.

One thing is certain. His development as a writer and broadcaster will help him in whatever line of work he pursues.

"I had a big presentation for a business class the other day, and I noticed I was really speaking well and projecting," he said. "It really gives you more confidence."

Reach Joe Lombardi at jlombard@lohud.com or 914-696-8239. For an archive of stories in this series, visit lohud.com/catchingup.

Sloppy Play Ends Win Streak

The Marist Red Foxes had an unlucky night at the Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday, falling to UMass 83-68 and ending their win streak at 5. The Red Foxes had trouble taking care of the ball and effectively running the offense all night, as they marked a season high in turnovers with 22.

To add insult to injury, they shot an embarrassing 8 for 18 from the free throw line and played an undisciplined game defensively; excessively fouling the Minute Men who took advantage of their 37 free throw attempts (23-37) .... 27 attempts coming in the second half.

Perhaps the major turning point came late in the game when Marist Head Coach Matt Brady was hit with a Technical Foul for arguing with an official. The tech seemly changed the momentum of the game and could have hurt the Foxes comeback efforts....In Brady's defense, their were a lot of "unusual" calls in what was an overall poor officiating job.

Despite poor play and lack of execution, the effort was there for the Red Foxes (6-4) as this was a game they could have and probably should have won. One highlight was the continued emergence of guard Louie McCroskey who filled up the stat sheet with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals.

The Red Foxes will have a long break (if Finals Exams are considered a break) before facing MAAC rival Niagara on the road 3 days before Christmas. That game is followed by the much anticipated match-up with St. Johns at The Garden on the 28th.

High 5

The Marist Red Foxes continued their winning ways in Buffalo Wednesday defeating Canisius 63-53, marking their 5th straight victory in what was Matt Brady's 100th game as head coach(69-31). The Red Foxes started MAAC play on a strong note, knocking off their conference rivals (in a game that was closer then it should have been) and moving to 1-0 in the MAAC and 6-3 overall.

Marist starter off hot right from the opening tip, scoring the games first 11 points and never looking back. However, the Red Foxes at one point were mired in a 6 minute 40 second scoring drought, allowing Canisius to climb back and tie the game. The Red Foxes also struggled from the free throw line for much of the game shooting 3-12 before 3 clutch free throws by Senior guard Ben Farmer set the tone for Gavin, Goodwin and McCroskey who all iced their foul shots down the stretch, sealing the deal for the Red Foxes.

This victory was all about the Defense, which has been the key for the Red Foxes all season. Showing a more athletic core then last years group, the Red Foxes in this game and throughout this winning streak have played excellent half court defense, clamping down on the oppositions biggest scoring threats. Their high energy man with effective switches to zone have proven to be too much to handle for many teams and despite some troubles on the offensive end, the D on this night was way too much to handle for winless Canisius.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jordan to Play in Lithuania
Former Marist star Jared Jordan is back in the pros...but this time he will have to travel across the world to play in Lithuania, signing on with BC Lietuvos Rytas.

Jordan, who was drafted 45th in last years NBA draft by the LA Clippers was traded to the troubled New York Knicks over the summer and cut from their guard filled roster before the season.

Jordan, led the nation in assists in both his junior and senior year and was the first Marist player to be play in the NBA since Rik Smits. He is Marist's all- time assist leader with 813 and 6th in scoring with 1,583 points.

An undisclosed source has said that Jordan is set to make $125,000 a year.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Catch a Ride to Mohegan Sun
Hit the road with the Red Foxes this Saturday as they travel to the Mohegan Sun to face UMass.
The College Activities Office, in conjunction with the Athletics Department, will be providing a bus for students that would like to go. The cost is $5 per student and includes bus transportation along with a ticket to the game. The bus will leave the McCann Center parking lot at 3:30 p.m. and return after the game.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

McCroskey Pushes Foxes 4-ward

Bronx product Louie McCroskey led the Marist Red Foxes to their 4th straight win Saturday, putting up career highs in what was a 79-64 thumping of Wright State. The red-shirt guard by way of Syracuse had a break out performance scoring 24 points on 10-19 shooting while grabbing 8 boards and going 3-3 from downtown.

However, it was a total team effort in front of a packed crowd at the McCann Center, with 10 Marist players cracking the scoring column. Jay Gavin (10 pts), Spongy Benjamin (9 redounds), David Devezin(8 pts, 7 assists), and Shea McNamara( 8pts, 5 rebounds) all had solid games leading to what coach Matt Brady called a "great team victory."

With the win the Red Foxes move to 5-3 and avenge what was a disappointing loss to Wright State last season.

The success of this 4 game win streak has been the result of the Red Foxes intense and at times dominate defensive effort, which during this strech, has seen the Red Foxes give up their lowest point total since 1985. However, as seen on Saturday, the Red Foxes are also starting to click on the offensive end, with players up and down this deep roster contrbuting to the scoring effort.

"Everyone who got into the game played really hard, played really really well, played smart," Coach Matt Brady told the Poughkeepsie Journal. "This is really what I think our team can do, (have a high-scoring offense)...I think we can get into the high 70s."

After a slow start to the season highlighted by a 3 game losing streak in San Juan, the Red Foxes have come together over the past couple weeks and have shown their potential in this 'post-Jordan' era. With a new wave of athletic talent to complement Brady's winning system, the Red Foxes finally seem to be meshing and are becoming more confident and unitied as a team. The 4 game win streak, if anything, has proven that the Red Foxes are not rebuilding and when playing together, can be a real threat in the conference.

But they have yet to play a conference game and Wednesday's match-up against MAAC rival Canisius will be an important and telling test for the Red Foxes to see where they stand in the MAAC.

Foxes "D"-estroy Bucknell

It was all about the Defense for the Marist Red Foxes Wednesday as they shut down and dominated Bucknell in a 55-40 win, their 3rd straight.

The Red Foxes locked down Bucknell in both halves, holding them to a mere 19 points in the first and 21 in the second half, snapping the Bison's 10 game win streak at home.

In fact, the Red Foxes defensive effort was so impressive it marked Marist's fewest points allowed since 1985. The Red Fox 'D' overwhelmed the Bisons, as their uptempo man and intense zone defensive looks held all Bucknell players under double digits.

With the win the Marist Red Foxes improve to 4-3 on the young season and are over .500 for the first time since the opener.

"It was an outstanding defensive effort,"Marist head coach Matt Brady told the Poughkeepsie Journal. "For the most part, we really made them work hard."

On offense, it was a balanced attack for the Red Foxes with eight players scoring and as a team shooting 43 percent from the field. But in the end the defence was the driving force to the victory, something the Red Foxes have excelled at during this 3-game win streak.

"We won the game playing defense, obviously," Ryan Stilphen told the Journal.

Marist will next face Wright State at home Saturday where they have dominated winning 14 of their last 15 games dating back to last season.

Back on Track

Going into tomorrows match-up against Bucknell the Marist Red Foxes (3-3) find themselves back at sea level. After a 3 game skid in Puerto Rico, the Red Foxes have stormed back in the last two games with a thrilling last second win against Colgate and a thunderous 17-point comeback victory against Richmond on Saturday.

Against Richmond at home, the Red Foxes overcame their first half woes and stormed back in the second rallying from 17 behind to capture a 64-62 victory against the Spiders. In front of 2,373 at McCann, the Red Foxes continued to dominate on their home floor where they have gone 21-2 since the new '6th-man' bleachers were installed 2 years ago.

The Red Foxes had a big second half performance from senior captain Ben Farmer. Farmer headed the Foxes comeback with 14 second half points, including three big 3-pointers, all in front of former teammates Jared Jordan and Will Whittington who were on hand for the game. Foul shooting, which hurt the Red Foxes in losses early in the season, was perfect as Marist shot a lights out 10-10 (Farmer alone went 5-5).

"Everybody played much better in the second half," Brady told the Poughkeepsie Journal, who also highlighted a three-point basket made by Louie McCroskey that made it 57-53. "Other than playing four guards and kind of matching up with them, I thought our kids played with a lot of character."

That character certainly showed with Marist's second half effort. On defense, after letting 6'9 forward Dan Geriot explode for 17 first half points, the Red Foxes clamped down and held him to only 4 points in the second half. On the offensive end, the Red Foxes outscored Richmond 42-39 in what was a nail-biting comeback. With Farmer on fire, Marist got huge baskets late in the game from McCroskey and Spongy which gave the Red Foxes the lead for the first time since early in the first.. and they never looked back.

Other big performances came from freshman guard Jay Gavin (MAAC co-rookie of the week) who chipped in 7 points with his career-high 7 assists and Spongy who had 12 points and 7 bounds. Marist dug- in and came together in the second half getting contributions from key players who were able to step up and made the big play when in mattered...something that seemed unlikely only a week ago.

................................................................................................

Marist Student's Memorial Tournament

Tomorrow night (Wednesday 11/28) Marist College will hold its 3rd annual Faculty vs Student Basketball Game in memory of Caitlin Boyle. The event will be at 7:00 at the McCann Center and have free food and prizes. All proceeds will go to the Meningitis Foundation.

Spongy, Foxes '1-Up' Colgate

A last second tip- in by Spongy Benjamin snapped the Red Foxes losing streak at 3, topping undefeated Colgate 61-60 in a thriller in Hamilton NY. The Benjamin putback came with 7.2 seconds left in the game, giving the Red Foxes what they so desperately needed, a big play with the game on the line.

The win gave Marist, who has struggled closing out games all season, some much needed second- half confidence.

"In my four years here, this is one of our best wins," Coach Matt Brady told the Poughkeepsie Journal. "It was a big-time play by Spongy to get that rebound."

Senior captain Ryan Stilphen led the way for the Red Foxes with a double-double performance of 17 points and 11 boards.

Tied 31-31 at the half, Marist came out firing with a 3-pointer by emerging star David Devezin, who had 12 points and a team high 5 assists. As a team, Marist shot 7-11 from downtown, with 6 different players connecting from deep.

The game was close the whole way, having 10 lead changes and 11 ties.

Foxes Swept in San Juan

To say that the Red Foxes are happy to be leaving Purto Rico would be a vast understatement. On the long road trip Marist lost 3 straight games, dropped their record to 1-3 on the season, are 2 games under .500 for the first time in two years and to top it off... finished dead last in the ESPNU O'Reilly Auto Parts Tournament.
But all-in-all it wasn't that bad.

The Good News
Looking at it rationally, the Red Foxes had a tough earned 0-3 in San Juan; they faced some legit competition in majors Miami and Temple and played hard (for the most part) in what was a tournament they probably were not ready for. For a team that is still coming together, this was an early challenge that simply proved they are not ready for the big stage yet. But make no mistake, tough losses built character and if that is the case, the Red Foxes should have plenty of it heading into Colgate on Wednesday.

After being outclassed by Miami on Thursday, the Red Foxes lost two straight games that could have gone either way to Houston and Temple in overtime. In each successive game, the Red Foxes vastly improved, especially on Defense and showed a lot resilience and fight. With Brady changing defensive schemes using Man, Zone and even a Box-and-One at times, the Red Foxes threw off the competition with their versatility and ability to change at any time. In fact, against Temple the Red Foxes "D" held the Owls without a field goal for 12 minutes in the second half, sparking a big Red Fox run.

Another positive was the Red Foxes finally had their talented guard from Syracuse Louie McCroskey eligible, and he did not disappoint Sunday. McCroskey showed off his promise by leading the team with 18 points on 6-17 shooting (but turned the ball over 4 times).

The Bad News
The major problems on offense cannot be overlooked. Minus a couple of big runs here and there, overall the Red Foxes were extremely sloppy with the basketball. Too many possessions were wasted on broken plays, fouls and careless turnovers. They looked uncomfortable in their offensive set and could not execute plays down the stretch. Leading by 7 with 5:39 remaining against Temple Sunday, the Red Foxes offense suddenly turned anemic, only managing to score 2 points over the final 5:17 of the game, in what was an eventual overtime loss.

Time is not on the side of the Red Foxes to "adjust" because their tough out-of-conference schedule picks up where it left off later this week. As soon as they touch down back in the States they are faced with tough match-ups against Colgate on the road and Richmond at home.

In the meantime, it is important for Coach Brady to work out the 'kinks' on the offensive end and have his team cut down on mental errors and careless turnovers. And although they are still trying to figure out roles on this team, in order to win the close ones, someone is going to have to step up and make the big play late in the game...and that certainly did not happen in San Juan.

Rocked Like a Hurricane

Instead of the warm welcoming weather of Puerto Rico, the Marist Red Foxes found themselves in the eye of the storm Thursday, facing off against the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the ESPN O'ReillyAuto Parts Tip-Off from San Juan. Miami started off the game hot with a 10-1 run and outplayed the Red Foxes on both sides of the ball en route to a 85-61 victory.

"I give all the credit in the world to Miami; they have a terrific team," Coach Matt Brady told the Associated Press. "I wasn't happy with how we played, but I think Miami played a real solid game."

The Red Foxes got off to a slow start and proved that they are a team that is still in transition. Looking a lot less comfortable in their new offense then they did against Delaware in the opener on Sunday, the new look Red Foxes looked like a team who needed more experience and time playing together. The first Marist field goal did not come until a Ben Farmer 3-pointer at the 13:06 minute mark and they continued to struggled from the field all game. After the Red Foxes staged a brief comeback attempt at the end of the first half, Miami opened up the second half strong and the Red Foxes never came closer then 17.

Lead by Senior forward Anthony King's 13 point, 4 block performance and guard Eddie Rios' 8 assists, the Hurricanes were too much to handle on both ends of the floor for the Red Foxes as they advanced to 2-0 on the season. Miami had a well balanced attack as their backcourt of Jack McClinton and fellow guard James Hurdle combined to make eight 3-point shots. Miami also out rebounded the Red Foxes 37-26, with three Hurricane players grabbing 5 boards apiece.

A bright spot for the Red Foxes came from true rookie guard Jay Gavin who had a strong second game leading Marist with 19 points. While the Red Foxes came on strong in the second half shooting 50 percent from the field, all together the Red Foxes were simply too cold shooting the basketball. Marist shot 39 percent for the game while going 7-23 from downtown. But where the Red Foxes really killed themselves was from the free throw line, shooting an embarrassing 45 percent(10-22). With the loss Marist moves to 1-1 on the young season and will face the University of Houston Friday in Puerto Rico.

NEXT GAME









WHO: Marist Red Foxes vs Houston Cougars

WHERE: ESPN O'Reilly Auto Parts, Puerto Rico

WHEN: Friday Nov. 16, 2007

TV:

Red Foxes Turn Hens 'Blue' in Season Opener

Sunday's season opener for the Marist Red Foxes saw a new look, unfamiliar Red Fox team produce a very familiar result; a win at home. In a 89-78 victory over the Delaware Blue Hens, the Red Foxes continued their dominance at the McCann Center, where they have won 14 of their last 15 games dating back to last season. Before the game, the Red Foxes lifted their 2006-07 MACC Championship and NIT Tournament banners to the rafters and the 'post-Jordan era' officially began

In front of 2,517, the 'new look Foxes' excelled past pre-season expectations, looking comfortable in their new up-tempo style on both sides of the ball. Led by senior center Spongy Benjamin's monster 21 point, 17 rebound (MAAC Player of the Week) performance, the Red Foxes had no problem filling the void left by number 23. A big reason for that was Texas A&M sophomore transfer David Devezin (MAAC Rookie of the Week), who cleared up any doubt that he could be Jordan's replacement at the point, leading the Red Foxes with 6 assists while looking comfortable running the offense and chipping in 16 points.

In fact, Marist new guard trio of Devezin, along with red-shirt freshman Dejuan Goodwin and freshman Jay Gavin (who both had 13 pts) looks be a staple in the backcourt for years to come.

"I think David Devezin's got a chance to be the best point guard in the league. I think Dejuan Goodwin's got a chance to be the best rookie in the league and I think, Jay Gavin, when it's all said and done, is going to be one of the best players in the league," Coach Matt Brady told the Poughkeepsie Journal.
The promise shown by the Red Foxes triple threat freshman guards, seemed to overshadow another new guard who was missing from the lineup. Senior 2- guard Louie McCroskey, who transfered from Syracuse, was deemed ineligible to compete due to an undisclosed NCAA rule. McCroskey who was named to the pre-season MAAC Second Team, is expected to start for the Red Foxes this season but it is unknown at this point when he will be cleared to play.

Another newcomer that was left out of Sunday's lineup was Vermont transfer Ryan Schneider, who had soreness in his right shoulder. Schneider at 6'7, who is expected to come off the bench as a small forward is deadly from outside and looks to be Marist's main 3pt threat.

While Schneider is expected to be back for Thurday's match-up against Miami in Puerto Rico, McCroskey's status is up in the air, which adds to the importance of the depth on this Red Fox roster.

NEXT GAME









WHO : Marist Red Foxes vs Miami Hurricanes

WHERE : O'Reilly Auto Parts, Puerto Rico

WHEN : Thursday Nov. 15, 2007

TV:

New Season, New Look... Marist Hoops Preview

This time last year, campus was buzzing with anticipation for Red Fox Basketball. Thoughts of one of the nations top point guards leading the Red Foxes to a MAAC crown and March Madness bid danced through the minds of Marist faithful. Now, that all seems long and far ago and on the eve of this years season opener the buzz has turned to background noise.

Who's Out
With the loss of last years senior "Big Three" of Jared Jordan (NBA), Will Wennington (all time 3's leader) and James Smith (NBDL), it will be a new look Marist team that will be on the floor in Sunday's season opener agaisnt Deleware. Living up to last years 25-win(should have been in the Big Dance) team, who defeated OK State in the first round of the NIT and brought more hype to Marist Hoops since Rik Smits rocked the rims of McCann, won't be easy. Especially considering the type of teams that Siena, Niagara and Loyola are putting out there. But don't count out this years Red Foxes just yet.

Who's In

In addition to the return of starting seniors Ryan Stilphen and Ben Farmer, the Red Foxes look to establish a new core built around fan favorite Spongy Benjamin, who will be cleaning up the boards down low and former Syracuse guard Louie McCroskey who can get the hole at will. Senior forward Shae McNamara should see some more minutes and look for the pure shooting Ryan Schneider from Vermont to pick up the slack left by Wennington from downtown, while grabbing more rebounds. The thing that Brady does so well year after year is bring in big talent, and he did so again this season with point guard David Devezin, who will help fill the void left by Jordan. Devezin played at Texas A&M two seasons ago and backed up point guard Acie Law, who is now a rookie on the Atlanta Hawks.

This years Red Fox club is revamped with more athletic talent and depth and will look utilize that that in their new system.

"We've got more players in the rotation, we're more versatile and we've got more team speed," said Coach Matt Brady. "We're going to play much faster."

With Red Foxes more athletic this season you can expect a more up-tempo style of play on both sides of the ball. With the addition of two quick guards in backcourt (McCroskey and Devezin) and more playing time for the 'Energizer Spongy', look for this team to excel in transition and utilize the fast break. Also, expect a better effort on the defensive end with a high energy press and full-court trap. The perimeter defense will also improve from last season as McCroskey is a hard nose defender who can shut down the quicker guards in the MAAC.

On the flip side, inexperience and a lack of cohesion could hurt them early on. There are simply too many questions and 'what ifs' surrounding this 'post- Jordan' team and not enough experience playing together to crown them MAAC champions for the second straight year. With a tough out of conference schedule and a much improved MAAC conference across the board, the Red Foxes will have to come together quickly to have any chance of being a powerhouse once again.

After tomorrows season opener against Delaware, the Red Foxes will travel to Puerto Rico to play Miami in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Tip-Off. The Foxes will then come home and for Colgate and Richmond before heading to Bucknell. Other notable games include St. Johns and Hoftstra/ V-Tech in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. The Red Foxes will have a rematch against rival Siena with a home and home in early February and an ESPN BracketBuster game later in the month before the MAAC tournament starts up in March.

Health is the key for the Red Foxes as they depend on their athleticism to 'play fast' and out hustle their opponents. However, even when at full strength, the lack of experience playing together and the inability for the seniors to adapt to the new system right away, will hurt the Red Foxes chances. Ultimately, they'll have to wait for MAAC tournament time to make some noise in this conference.

Prediction: 19-12, 4th in the MAAC

MAAC Prediction

1. Siena

2. Loyola

3. Niagara

4. Marist

5. Manhattan

6. Rider

7. Fairfield

8. Iona

9. Canisius

10. Saint Peter’s

Brady Wants...1000 Strong

With the season opener 3 days away, the defending MAAC Champion Marist Red Foxes kicked off their season a little early with a campus rally late last night. Fresh off his contract extension, Coach Matt Brady along with several members of the team (Shooter included) served up free buffalo wings and pizza for the student body at Jazzman’s Cafe in Upper West. The event aimed to rekindle some of the excitement around Marist Basketball, which last season had all of Poughkeepsie buzzing.

Setting the goal of 1000 students to pack the bleachers of McCann for Sunday's opener against Delaware, Coach Brady asked students for a "sea of red" at the game and extended that message to Upper West's student housing. Seniors Ben Farmer, Shae McNamara and Joe Keegan along with red-shirt juniors Ryan Schneider and Kaylen Gregory knocked on every door throughout Upper West and personally told students to be there Sunday.

SEASON OPENER

WHO: Marist Red Foxes vs Delaware Blue Hens

WHEN: Sunday November 11, 4 p.m

WHERE: McCann Center

For a preview of the Marist Women’s Basketball team, tune into Marist Radio's Sports Stop hosted by Jon White and Mike Moosh tonight from 6-8 p.m for an exclusive interview with head coach Brain Giorgis. To listen click the link below http://icecast.marist.edu/wmcr-am.pls

ESPN's J.W. Stewart to talk Mens Hoops on MaristRadio.net

ESPN News anchor and Marist alum J.W. Stewart will be appearing on MaristRadio.net’s “Sports Stop” with Jon White and Mike Muschiano on Thursday November 15 between 6-8pm ET on WMAR 1630AM. Stewart graduated from Marist in 1993 with a B.A. in Communication concentrating in television, radio, and film.

“Marist taught me how to become an on air personality through the classes and activities I was involved in,” said Stewart. “The education I got at Marist was an essential investment in being successful and getting into the field.”

Upon graduating from Marist, Stewart landed a job with the Poughkeepsie Journal covering sports in the area. Stewart soon moved on to work for Cablevision in Wappingers Falls, putting together sports highlights for Army football and other local teams before getting a start with ESPN in 2000.

MaristRadio.net offers a variety of programming including Men’s and Women’s basketball coverage and interviews with top sports personalities.

Listeners will be able to tune in to “Sports Stop” by logging on to MaristRadio.net and clicking the 1630 AM link on the top of the main page.

For more on this Story Check Thursday's edition of The Circle.