MAAC report

SportsLine.com Report
April 10, 2000

Manhattan's season was all about resurrection.

Despite the preseason loss of center Ken Kavanaugh, who opted to play professionally overseas, new coach Bobby Gonzalez managed to generate nothing but positivity around a Jasper program that was mired in the dumps.

Gonzalez rebuilt a team that had won just five games the previous year and more than doubled it. He helped triple the number of conference wins as the Jaspers went 9-9, faltering down the stretch to finish as the sixth seed.

The spiral continued in the conference tournament, as Fairfield handled Manhattan easily, 71-50.

Still, the season was a resounding success, as Gonzalez managed to get the most out of the sub-six foot guard combination of Phil "Boo" Lane and Michael "Spud" Johnson, creating an up-tempo atmosphere that kept them in most games until they ran out of gas later in the season.

Durelle Brown, a junior forward, was a dominating force for most of the year, averaging over 20 points per game, and struggling only when his foot gave him problems. Another key to the turnaround was freshman Bruce Seals, a gunner who was not shy about taking his shots. In a four-overtime loss to Canisius in late January, Seals scored 41 points in the marathon loss, throwing up 29 3-point attempts, a Division I record.

A glance at 2001

Gonzalez's plan was to get Manhattan to believe in themselves in his first year, and put them in the mix for a title run in year two. The first scenario occurred, and a run at the title appears likely. Brown will be one of the best in the MAAC, if not the best, and will carry the team to the top tier by himself if healthy. Fortunately, he'll have plenty of help, as Johnson and Seals return as key contributors from last year.

The Coach

Gonzalez came to Manhattan after a stint on Pete Gillen's staff at Virginia and instantly got results. He has a great reputation as a recruiter, and his coaching ability passed its first test with flying colors. Better days are ahead for the Jaspers as long as Gonzalez is around.

Who'll Be Back

Brown is back for his senior year and will lock up the power forward slot. Seals, the shooting forward, will look to build off the big plays he enjoyed in his debut season, and Jared Johnson, who was overshadowed in the freshman mix but also had great success, also returns to round out a very talented frontcourt.

Johnson inherits the point guard duties all to himself, and proved very capable playing second fiddle to Lane, who led the league in assists in his final season. Senior-to-be Mars Mellish found himself out of the mix last year but could start at the two guard, as he'll battle swingmen Aeneas Middleton and Noah Coughlin for the job.

Who's Gone

Lane was tremendous as a senior leader and distributor and will leave the biggest hole to fill. Besides him, only big men Phillip Murray and Badou Kane depart, and a pair of freshmen were recruited to take their place.

Key Newcomers

A pair of big bodies were recruited by Gonzalez to provide depth for the Jaspers Jason Benton (6-7, 240) is out of New Haven, Connecticut and knows how to throw his weight around. Dave Holmes (6-7, 225) is the big catch, as the Washington DC recruit comes over from the prestigious Oak Hill Academy.