NY Sports Digest

Seton Hall, Kevin Willard Finding Success In Season Two

Leslie Monteiro — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:47:27 +0000

By Leslie Monteiro

Seton Hall fans weren’t happy with first-year head coach Kevin Willard last season. They thought the coach was overmatched against his Big East counterparts and that he wasn’t getting the most out of his players. Their belief was he was the wrong man for the job after a 13-18 season.

Even ex-Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez got into the act by saying if he was coaching the Seton Hall Pirates, they would be a playoff team.

It’s hard to find anyone complaining about Willard these days. He has the Pirates in a position to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006 after a 73-55 victory over Georgetown (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 9 AP) last night at the Prudential Center.

The magic number for the Pirates is 21 victories to qualify for the tournament. They also need to have a winning record in conference play. With 19 wins and an 8-8 conference record, it’s feasible for the Hall to achieve both objectives as they play Rutgers and DePaul to finish the regular season.

No one saw this coming from Seton Hall this season. They were picked to finish 13^th in the Big East. Now, they will represent the only local Big East team in the tourney. Even if the Pirates somehow lose to Rutgers and DePaul, they can win couple of games in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. That is a credit to Willard.

It took awhile for players to buy into Willard. That’s always the case when the upper classmen have to adapt to the new coach after working with the old coach in their first two years with the program. The players had to understand what the former Iona coach want out of them, and they had to know how to execute his offense.

He also had to convince them that he was the right coach for them. Players like Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope could have transferred to another program after Gonzalez was fired, but they stayed.

Only winning could have made all of this work, and it did this year. The Pirates were off to a good start by beating VCU, St. Joe’s, Auburn and nondescript programs. It was good enough to earn a 12-1 record before conference play.

By beating VCU, St. Joe’s and Auburn, that was a confidence booster for the Pirates. The thought was maybe they are not bad as people think. It was also clear the guys brought into Willard.

Still, the Big East is an unforgiving conference. A rough start or a funk could put the program behind that they may not recover. The Pirates had to find a way to beat some of the teams.

After a 75-49 blowout loss to Syracuse on Dec. 28^th, the Pirates knew they had to reel off wins quickly or else that good start was a distant memory. They responded by beating West Virginia and Connecticut, and it was good enough for the Pirates to be ranked 25^th as a reward for a good start and beating two good Big East teams.

The Pirates had to be thinking the possibilities were endless. They were thinking playoffs. Maybe even going far in the tournament based on who they have beaten this year. By beating good teams, they can be good enough to beat any other good program in the country.

Then, adversity hit Seton Hall, which was expected in a long season. They went on a six-game losing streak, and things were falling apart fast.

It was on Willard to get his team on track and have his players respond to him. This is where we find out what type of coach he is. Good coaches always get winning results in tough times.

The Pirates came through by winning four of five rather than falling apart altogether. That should make an impression with the committee that fills the field of 68.

The Pirates’ success should make Kevin Willard as the Big East Coach of the Year based on the lack of expectations. Yet, Mike Brey seems to be the favorite to win the award since he lost his top scorer to a season-ending knee injury in Tim Abromaitis. People fail to realize Notre Dame has enough depth to make up the loss of their scorer, so it’s hard to believe Brey is the favorite.

Willard has nothing to work with. He has gotten by with good years by Pope and Theodore, who are not considered Big East stars. If his two best scorers did not play great this season, the team would have been in trouble. There should be something to be said about a coach winning the award after the critics did not think highly of the team when the season started.

While it was fair to rip Willard last year, he deserved a chance to learn on the job and get his own players through recruiting. He should have the opportunity to grow as a coach. This year spoke volumes about him.

With Willard being 2-0 against St. John’s in his Seton Hall career and likely getting a tourney bid, he certainly has earned the benefit of the doubt as the right guy for the job.

This season will not have him thinking about his job security heading to next year. It should give him at least two more years at the job, and by then, he should have the program in place with his own players.

This winning season benefitted him in so many ways. He showed Gonzalez, recruits, upper classmen, fans and critics that he is the right man for the job.

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February 22nd – This Day in NY Sports History

James Rimmer — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:35 +0000

On this day in NY sports history…

February 22, 1888 – Scotland’s John Reid demonstrates golf to Americans.

February 22, 1929 – Birthday of Yankee pitcher Rinold “Ryne” Duren.

February 22, 1939 – Birthday of Yankee pitcher Steve Barber.

February 22, 1943 – Birthday of Knick Dick Van Arsdale.

February 22, 1950 – Birthday of Julius “Dr J” Erving.

February 22, 1957 – Dodger owner Walter O’Malley says the team will play up to 10 exhibition games in California in 1958.

February 22, 1964 – Rangers trade captain and all-time leading scorer Andy Bathgate and Don McKenny for Bill Collins, Bob Nevin, Dick Duff, Arnie Brown and Red Seiling.

February 22, 1965 – Birthday of Knick center Chris Dudley.

February 22, 1965 – Birthday of Islander and Ranger Hall-of-Fame center Pat LaFontaine.

February 22, 1966 – Birthday of Islander defenseman Brent Severlyn.

February 22, 1980 – The Miracle on Ice. US Olympic Hockey team upsets the Russians, 4-3 at Lake Placid.

February 22, 1996 – Yankees add pitcher Dwight Gooden to their roster.

February 22, 2008 – Mets lose in arbitration to Oliver Perez and have to pay him $6.5 million.

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February 21st – This Day in NY Sports History

James Rimmer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:34 +0000

On this day in NY sports history…

February 21, 1931 – Giants play in the 1st MLB night game.

February 21, 1931 – Dodgers arrive in Cuba for exhibition games.

February 21, 1946 – Lester Patrick resigns as Ranger’s GM. He is replaced by Frank Boucher.

February 21, 1961 – Birthday of Yankee catcher Joel Skinner.

February 21, 1974 – Mets make Tom Seaver the highest paid pitcher in MLB history with a $ 172,000 contract.

February 21, 1976 – Knicks coach Red Holzman wins his 500th game in a 102-98 win over New Orleans at MSG.

February 21, 1980 – Mets name Frank Cashen as GM.

February 21, 1981 – Ranger Don Maloney sets a franchise record for individual fastest 3 goals, including 2 shorthanded, in 2:30 in a 6-4 win over Washington.

February 21, 2000 - Knick Patrick Ewing gets his 23, 157th point to move him into 16th place on the all-time scoring list.

February 21, 2011 – Knicks trade for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.

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February 20th – This Day in NY Sports History

James Rimmer — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:40 +0000

On this day in NY sports history…

February 20, 1913 – Birthday of Yankee great Tommy Henrich.

February 20, 1942 – Birthday of Ranger player, coach and GM, Phil Esposito.

February 20, 1962 – Birthday of Giants center Adam Schrieber.

February 20, 1972 – Birthday of Yankee DH Shane Spencer.

February 20, 1976 – Birthday of Islanders center Dave Scatchard.

February 20, 1982 – Islander John Tonelli scores with 47 seconds left for a 3-2 win over Colorado and an NHL-record 15th consecutive win.

February 20, 1988 – Yankees and Giants broadcaster Jim Woods dies at age 71.

February 20, 1993 - Islanders retire Billy Smith’s # 31.

February 20, 1997 – Yankees and manager Joe Torre agree on a 1.05 million 2 year contract extension.

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February 19 – This Day in NY Sports History

James Rimmer — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:00:18 +0000

On this day in NY sports history…

February 19, 1894 – Birthday of Yankee Hall-of-Fame pitcher Herb Pennock.

February 19, 1935 – Yankees and Lou Gehrig agree on a $30,000 contract.

February 19, 1942 - Yankees announce that 5000 uniformed soldiers will be admitted free to their home games.

February 19, 1946 – Giants outfielder Danny Gardella is the 1st MLB player to jump to the “outlaw” Mexican League.

February 19, 1957 – Knick Richie Guerin sets a franchise record with 35 points in a 112-110 win over Boston at MSG.

February 19, 1957 – Yankees trade for pitcher Bobby Schantz.

February 19, 1962 - Birthday of Yankee and Mets shortstop Alvaro Espinoza.

February 19, 1977 – Ranger right wing Rod Gilbert gets his 100oth NHL career point but the Islanders win 5-2.

February 19, 1979 – Islander Mike Bossy scores his 100th NHL career goal in his 129th game, an 8-3 win over LA. It sets a new NHL record for fastest 100 goals breaking Maurice Richard’s 134.

February 19, 1983 – Charles Bluhdorn, the owner of MSG, dies at age 56.

February 19, 1998 – Rangers name John Muckler as head coach.

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February 18th – This Day in NY Sports History

James Rimmer — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:00:15 +0000

On this day in NY sports history…

February 18, 1915 – Birthday of Yankee infielder Joseph “Flash” Gordon.

February 18, 1927 – Birthday of Yankee pitcher Luis Arroyo.

February 18, 1962 – Birthday of Giants linebacker Gary Reasons.

February 18, 1965 – Giants Hall-of-Famer Frank Gifford announces his retirement from football.

February 18, 1968 – Rangers play their 1st game at MSG #4, defeating Philadelphia 3-1.

February 18, 1972 – Ranger Jean Ratelle gets his 100th point for the season with a goal and an assist.

February 18, 1981 – Ranger Ulf Nilsson gets his 100th NHL career assist in an 8-3 win over Toronto at MSG.

February 18, 1984 – Knicks retire future Hall-of-Famer Bill Bradley‘s # 24 at MSG.

February 18, 1998 – Yankees sign outfielder Bernie Williams to a 1 year contract.

February 18, 1999 – Yankees trade for pitcher Roger Clemens.

February 18, 2009 – The last remaining piece of Shea Stadium is demolished.

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Remembering the Kid ~ Gary Carter 1954 – 2012

Greg Blume — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:57:50 +0000

By Greg Blume

I was four-and-a-half years old when Jesse Orosco struck out Marty Barrett to end the 1986 World Series. I don’t know whether I was watching; I probably wasn’t. It’s funny, though, how things can become so important to you in retrospect. That ’86 season is one of my most treasured sports memories, and I can’t recall any of it firsthand.

Gary Carter wasn’t my favorite Met from that team, but when I turned on the radio Thursday and heard Daryl Strawberry describing his virtues as a player and teammate, my stomach sank, because I knew what had happened. What I write here is not to ignore Carter’s life as a man. But we should remember what he was to those who were his fans: a key player and key personality in a wonderful season that is a treasured, uplifting memory. For us, Carter’s passing is sad because we have lost one of the Mets that we “knew” in that intimate way in which fans know their players.

When we lose a player, though, we never completely lose him. In fact, since most of us never met Carter, we have hardly lost him at all. He has simply changed roles, as all our athletes eventually do. Gary Carter the old Met for whom I had a fan’s affection now crystallizes into Gary Carter the championship Met, statued among his still-living 1986 teammates. I feel loss today—an admirable man who was part of a special memory has moved on. But as a fan, I continue to possess, now more clearly than ever, Gary Carter the ballplayer, as energetic and passionate a part of my thought-dreams as he was of that championship Mets squad.

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Why Carmelo Anthony & Jeremy Lin WILL Work

Eric Marmon — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:02:41 +0000

By Eric Marmon

Your New York Knicks are on a seven game “Linning” streak, and waddya know, people are trying their darndest to overreact. On one side you have the senile championship-starved die-hards, the Rex Ryan types who think that the Knicks are suddenly championship contenders, that the addition of an undrafted point guard suddenly trumps the Miami Heatles or the Chicago Bulls.

And on the other, you have the panc-stricken doom-n-gloom pessimists (like our own Leslie Monteiro) who fear that the return of Carmelo Anthony, one of the NBAs best pure scorers, if not the best, will somehow make the team worse.

My colleague Monteiro says that all Melo concerns himself with is his shots, that he cares not about winning or playoff appearances or championships unless he is the focal point of them. Pessimists like Monteiro argue that Melo’s brand of basketball won’t work in the D’Antoni system, and more importantly, can’t win championships at all.

These Debbie Downers couldn’t be more wrong.

In Lin, the Knicks now have what they previously didn’t; a true, honest-to-goodness point guard. Do you remember who was running the point before the Linsanity began? Oh right, it was Melo.

The D’Antoni offense is at its best when it has a true point guard (See: Nash, Steve). Instead, the Knicks were using a shoot-first point forward. Their best offensive talent was playing out of position, and the most important position in the system was being run by an individual unequipped for its responsibilities.

Why do you think Baron Davis’ entrance was being heralded as the saving moment for the Knicks season? This team needed a point guard. Now they have one.

And by the way, for all the haters out there who think you can’t win with Carmelo, who want to push the rewind button and bring back Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton… for all those delusional simpletons, go back and watch the 2008-09 Denver Nuggets. THAT team, with a great point guard and a great coach, won 54 games and was just two wins away from the NBA Finals. The leading scorer?

Carmelo Anthony.

Bottom line is, as wonderful as the past twelve days of Linisms have been, if you need one guy to take that final shot, there are few people on the planet you’d rather have than Carmelo Anthony. Having a point guard to run the offense is only going to help Melo be more effective, and the Knicks are going to be better for it.

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Melodrama Is Just Around The Corner

Leslie Monteiro — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:06:17 +0000

By Leslie Monteiro

Not only has Carmelo Anthony been an afterthought with the fans and the media, but he is an afterthought with his own team.

No one knows when Anthony is playing. The fans are not thinking about him, thanks to Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks seven game winning streak.

The Knicks star wants to play. If he had his way, he would have played last week. It’s not like him to not play when he is at 90 percent. Thanks to a lockout-shortened season and tight schedule, the organization wants to ensure their “superstar” us at 100 percent, which is probably tough for him to swallow. If he is standing and moving, he would be playing.

Anthony has been besieged with questions on when he’s playing. He is being a team guy by saying it’s going to be soon, but deep down, he can’t be happy. He is going to be tired of answering questions soon. It was few days ago where it was mentioned that he would play against the Kings. That hasn’t been the case.

D’Antoni has been cryptic when asked about Anthony’s status. If anything, he has done his best to avoid answering questions about him. It’s clear he does not miss him by trying not to mention last year’s acquisition by name.

This is a head coach that is having fun coaching the Knicks for the first time ever. He is engaged with his players, and he is more animated than he ever was earlier in the season. This is not a coach that is begging to be fired like he was a few short weeks ago. Winning tends to do that.

It’s fair to think D’Antoni never wanted Anthony in the first place. He knows Melo’s style of play does not suit his offense well, which he needs to have the ball at all times and want his teammates to get out of the way. It hasn’t resulted in victories or good basketball.

The Knicks head coach wants to get by without Anthony as many games as possible, which is why he is in no hurry. He wants to enjoy what’s going on and keep the good vibe going. He knows this is likely his last year as Knicks coach, so he wants to enjoy the moment and use this season as a way to get another head coaching job. He has his own motivation to not play his star.

From looking at Landry Fields, Jared Jeffries, Iman Shumpert, Bill Walker, Steve Novak and Lin flourishing under D’Antoni’s offense, it’s no wonder Knicks fans are finally questioning Anthony’s ability to fit in. The former Nuggets star is not stupid. He knows what’s going on, and he is already being defensive about it by laughing at questions of how he is going to fit in. Yes, his fake laugh is a self-defensive mechanism.

If anything, Melo’s brief Knicks tenure has been a nightmare. He hasn’t admitted it while he was playing. All he cared was getting his shots. He has finally realized this is not going well for him with what has gone on last week.

It is clear D’Antoni is not ready to clear him as a message for Anthony to know how it’s done. Knicks management and ownership haven’t gone out of their way to tell their head coach to play Anthony, either.

Even when Anthony comes back, it’s hard to figure he will all of a sudden change. This offense does not suit him, and it’s hard for him to adapt when he is not that player.

Anthony has the potential to become a distraction in what has been a feel-good story for the Knicks. No one cares if he is playing or not. The Knicks don’t want to answer the question about how he is going to fit in. Even when he comes back, questions and criticism will persist if he does not play well and the team is losing.

The Knicks can enjoy this wave of winning all they want, but they can’t escape the Melodrama that will strike this team inevitably.

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February 17th – This Day in NY Sports History

James Rimmer — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:33 +0000

On this day in NY sports history…

February 17, 1893 – Birthday of Yankee 1st baseman Wally Pipp. Despite hitting .329 in 1922, Pipp is best known for being replaced in the lineup by Lou Gehrig.

February 17, 1908 – Birthday of Dodger and Yankees announcer Walter “Red” Barber.

February 17, 1931 – Birthday of former Dodger and Mets pitcher Roger Craig who is credited with popularizing the “split-finger” fastball as a coach in the 1980s.

February 17, 1937 – Yankees acquire the eventual replacement for Lou Gehrig, Babe Dahlgren.

February 17, 1943 – Yankee Joe DiMaggio enlists in the military. His salary drops from $43,000 for the season to $50/month.

February 17, 1963 - Birthday of Brooklyn native Michael Jordan.

February 17, 1966 – Birthday of Ranger left wing Luc Robitaille.

February 17, 1968 – NBA Hall-of-Fame opens.

February 17, 1987 – Yankee Don Mattingly wins an arbitration ruling for $1.975 million. It is the largest amount ever awarded to a player.

February 17, 1989 – Yankee star pitcher and MLB Hall-of-Famer Vernon “Lefty” Gomez dies at age 78.

February 17, 1990 – Islander Brent Sutter becomes the 5th player in franchise history to score 250 career goals.

February 17, 2010 – Former Giants safety Dave Duerson dies at age 50.

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