LIU Blackbirds: Flatbush Hoops Win Third Straight NEC Title

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Long Island University/Brooklyn Blackbirds

 

2012-2013

Northeast Conference

CHAMPIONS

 

FINAL

Mount St. Mary's  70

LIU/Brooklyn         91 

LIU/BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS - The Old Gang Did It Again.  C.J. Garner Scores A Game High Thirty-One Points; Jamal Olasewere Leads All Players In Rebounding; Jason Brickman Leads Everyone In Assists.

Blackbirds Win Third Consecutive NEC Title

 

Heading Back To The NCAA Tournament

With 1:46 left in the second half, NEC Player of the Year, senior, Jamal Olasewere, punctuated Tuesday night's title game at the Wellness Center with a thunderous reverse dunk that put the Blackbirds ahead 86-67 over Mount St. Mary's.  The ignited crowd stayed on their feet from then on.  As time expired, the WRAC turned to revelry.  The Hoops of Flatbush became three time repeat champions of the Northeast Conference.

 

 

Head Coach Jack Perri wins the NEC title in his first season at the helm.  The way back to the title game was not a road easily travelled.  The Blackbirds had quite a bit of adversity to overcome.  However, LIU's overwhelming experience prevailed.  Minus injured senior Julian Boyd, LIU's starting line-up stepped onto their home court replete with four returning champion players from last season.  Some congratulations should perhaps be sent former coach Jim Ferry's way for the program he built, and left behind.  This third championship is a testament to superior effort he put into the university.

 

 

Against the Mountaineers, the Blackbirds were led by senior guard, C.J. Garner.  He led all scorers with thirty-one points with a stellar 13/17 shooting performance from the floor.  Jamal Olasewere was second high for the Blackbirds with fifteen points.  He led all players with ten rebounds; nine came on the defensive end.  And junior, Jason Brickman; the nations leading ball distributor; led all players with eight assists.  Also returning from last season, Kenny Onyechi added eleven points, and seven boards.  Back-up guard, Gerrell Martin contributed twelve points off the bench.

 

 

The Mountaineers actually had five players score in double digits.  Guard, Sam Prescott, led The Mount with twenty-one points.

 

 

Brooklyn shot 61.4% from the floor on 35/57 shooting.  Mount St. Mary's struggled to shoot 39.7% from the floor.  Perhaps born of desperation, the Mountaineers hoisted up thirty-one three-point attempts, only converting on nine for a 29% mark.  Brooklyn only put up nine shots from behind the arch, converting on five.  LIU nearly doubled Mount St. Mary's efforts at the foul line.  Brooklyn took twenty-one shots from the stripe, making sixteen for a 76% mark.  The Mountaineers, spending most of their time behind the three point line, didn't drive the lane much, and as a result, only took eleven shots from the free throw line.  Brooklyn also won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Mount St. Mary's by a 36-27 margin.

 

 

Next - Selection Sunday; March 17th.

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ The WRAC Attack is Back in the NEC Finals

From the desl of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU-BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS:   A Late Second Half Surge Overtakes Quinnipiac 78-75 in Semifinals.   Robert Morris Outplays #2 Wagner to Set Up Rematch of Last Season's NEC Championship Game.




The LIU Blackbirds did what the Wagner Seahawks couldn't.  They won at home, and if only barely, staved off a big tournament upset.  And so, there will be no highly anticipated showdown like so many predicted between Coach Danny Hurley's Seahawks, who had the Conference's best overall record, and Coach Jim Ferry's Blackbirds, who led the Conference and won their second consecutive regular season title.



Many prognosticators predicted a Wagner victory over LIU in the Conference Tournament finals assuming both teams advanced, of course.  But that will all have to wait for another time now.  Robert Morris pulled off a 71-64 upset of the number two seeded Wagner Seahawks in Sunday's early game in Staten Island.  The LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds will now face the Colonials in a rematch of last season's NEC Championship game.  As we know, LIU came out on top last season, and will try to defend that title on Wednesday, March 7th, at the WRAC.



In Sunday's late game, Quinnipiac shot slightly better from the field and from beyond the arch than Flatbush did.  And in most aspects, played very evenly with LIU.  But Flatbush flexed a season long strength against the Bobcats with their ability to get to the free throw line.  As they have done to many an opponent this season, the Blackbirds punished Quinnipiac from the line.  Although their touch cooled off a bit in the second half, overall, they outscored the Hawks 22-5 from the stripe.



After pushing his fellow Blackbirds passed Sacred Heart in the quarterfinals, Jamal Olasewere played in foul trouble and was limited to nineteen minutes.  Off the bench, Brandon Thompson and Kenny Onyechi were held in check as well and could to little to offset Olasewere's caution.  However, all three still figured in with key free throws down the stretch.  What LIU did have going for them Sunday was the NEC player of the Year.  Julian Boyd, punched in to lead his mates with a game high twenty-one points, to go along with a game high nine rebounds, with eight of those boards coming on the defensive end.



The lead in this game changed hands thirteen times.  LIU led by as many as ten points in the first half but settled for a 40-36 lead at the break.  Quinnipiac worked to overcome that lead over the first five minutes of the second half, and by the 7:36 mark, were up by eight points.



From then on, Julian Boyd scored eight of his twenty-one points and pulled down five rebounds.  At 4:16, Boyd nailed a jumper to get the Blackbirds to within one point, then tied the game at 69-69 on the ensuing free throw.   At 3:36, Boyd's lay-up made the score 71-69, putting the Blackbirds up again for good.  Kenny Onyechi and Jason Brickman then hit some key free throws to put LIU ahead by six.  Quinnipiac buried one last three-pointer before the buzzer sounded on a 78-75 Blackbird win.



That was the Blackbirds' twenty-sixth consecutive win inside their downtown Ashland Place gym.  The streak now ranks second in the nation only to Kentucky's current streak of fifty-two consecutive home wins.






Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ Loss to Monmouth was an Unpolished Finish

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU-BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS:  That Was Quite a Lackadaisical Way to End a Second Title Bearing Regular Season Effort.

Regular Season Final Game:

LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds   78

Monmouth Hawks   106

In the end, it's best the defending Northeast Conference champs saved their worst for last.  For had this been one road game earlier, Saturday would have provided the regular season with a far different finish.  Was that the exhale factor LIU just suffered on the heels of winning their second consecutive regular season title?  Because me? -  I wouldn't be happy if I were Coach Ferry; not when Saturday's game versus Monmouth ended up as the worst loss of the season.  Not when the Blackbirds gave up a season high 106 points to the NEC's seventh seeded team.



In light of all the good they've collectively and individually achieved so far together this season, they were all guilty; the starters and bench included; of what I like to call - apathy.  Jamal Olasewere; Julian Boyd; Jason Brickman; C.J. Garner; Michael Culpo; and their three most prominent bench players - Brandon Thompson; Kenny Onyechi; and Arnold Mayorga; all played roles in a rather sloppy and unpolished finish.  With the NEC tournament right around the corner, if I'm thinking like a coach, I'm not liking this one bit.  And I'm sure Coach Ferry didn't as well.  Saturday's effort is not the way I would have appreciated my team closing out such a successful regular season.  I'm thinking Coach Ferry taught them better than that.



Was the game itself inconsequential?  Yes, it was.  LIU clinched the regular season title in their prior game against Fairleigh Dickinson.  And Wagner lost Saturday to Central Connecticut State as well.  I guess they too exhaled, satisfied that their two seed was secure.  But no, as things went, either way the outcome of Saturday's game against Monmouth would have changed nothing.



But in this last game, particularly in the second half,  LIU's indifference was not only glaring, but backed up by the numbers.  Brooklyn had twenty-three turnovers; Monmouth fourteen.  Monmouth scored thirty-three points off turnovers to Brooklyn's thirteen.  Monmouth scored twenty-five fast break points to Brooklyn's six.  Monmouth had forty-six points off the bench.  Brooklyn had twenty three.  In a game they spent most of the time trailing, the Blackbirds were within one point of Monmouth with 17:47 left in the second half.  With 1:37 left in the game, LIU was down by thirty-three points.  So no, when you fight back to overcome a fifteen point first half lead and get it down to six by the half, then close to within one point in the opening minutes of the second half, only to wind up getting blown out, I'm forced to question one night's motivation and potential haste to end the season.



But I won't make more this than it is.  It's one night.  It's just the sour taste that lingers because I believe in strong finishes.  And this game, on the outside looking in, seems like one they let get away.  That's all.  But for the moment, as long as I'm thinking like a coach, this is a great time for a complete  over-reaction, and to give these kids a figurative boot in the posterior while I reprogram their heads for tournament play.  Can I at least get a buffet table please?



LIU-BROOKLYN BLACKBIRDS:  NEC Regular Season Final Record

2nd Consecutive Regular Season Title.

Overall Record:  22-8  (Wagner finished 24-5 overall)
Conference Record:  16-2  1st
Home Record:  12-0  (24-0 last two regular seasons)*
Away Record:  8-8
Neutral Site:  2-0



* CORRECTION - See comment below.



Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ Defeat CCSU 95-80; Stay Undefeated at Home

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU BLACKBIRDS:  Turn Back Central Connecticut State to Remain a Game in First Place.



The Hoops of Flatbush turned back Central Connecticut State to improve their Wellness Center record to 9-0 this season.  Their convincing 95-80 victory makes them 17-7 overall, and 11-1 in the Northeast Conference.  They needed this third consecutive win because Wagner and St. Francis (BK) kept pace with wins of their own, and remain tied for second place with 10-2 records.


CCSU had the game's two high scorers.  Forward Ken Horton led all players with twenty-nine points.  Robby Ptacek followed with twenty-four.  However, five LIU players achieved double digit scoring in leading the Blackbirds to a big first half, and then to a fifteen point margin of victory.  Jamal Olasewere led Flatbush scorers with seventeen points.  Julian Boyd and C.J. Garner chipped in with sixteen points each.  Jason Brickman came in at fourteen points and Michael Culpo added twelve.


Brooklyn made extensive use of their bench this game.  Three players clocked in over fifteen minutes and collectively scored nineteen points.  Kenny Onyechi stepped in and spearheaded a dominant Flatbush effort on the glass.  The Blackbirds out rebounded CCSU 44-26 and in particular cleaned up on the defensive end with twenty-eight boards.  Onyechi pulled down a game high thirteen rebounds in his twenty-three minutes.


Both teams shot equally well from the floor.  But once again, LIU hammered another opponent from the line.  Brooklyn nailed twenty-nine of thirty-one free throws.  CCSU scored seventeen points off twenty-six shots.  CCSU actually led for most of the first eleven minutes of the game.  But once Brooklyn overcame them at 25-23 in the first half, CCSU never held another lead again.  The Blackbirds were up by thirteen at the half, and led by as many as twenty-four points with about eight minutes left in the game.


The Blackbirds will now take their act to a much larger stage.  Brooklyn's two downtown teams; LIU and St. Francis (NY); will start a two game series this coming Wednesday in Madison Square Garden before bringing the series home to Ashland Place in the annual Battle of Brooklyn.






Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ Bounce Back Win Keeps Flatbush in 1st

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU BLACKBIRDS:   Back on Track and Heading Home.



After suffering their first Conference defeat of the season to Robert Morris, the LIU-Brooklyn Blackbirds bounced back with an overwhelming 97-76 win Saturday against the St. Francis (PA) Red Flash.  They needed the win to stay a game ahead of a thinning second place pack as Wagner and St. Francis (NY) won their games and improved to 8-2 to keep pace.  Robert Morris couldn't maintain the momentum they gained after defeating Brooklyn and in losing their last game, forged a new tie for third place with Central Connecticut State with 7-3 records


The HOOPS of FLATBUSH improved their NEC record to 9-1, and 15-7 overall.  They still remain one game shy of the .500 mark on the road with a 6-7 record.  But they're coming back home to the Wellness Center now where they still remain undefeated (7-0) this season.  The first of two Downtown games will be Thursday against the last place Bryant Bulldogs.  Then on February 4th, they have a big match-up against Central Connecticut State.


Five Blackbirds ended Saturday's game in double-digit scoring and Michael Culpo almost made it six players with nine points of his own.  LIU nearly doubled St. Francis' effort on the glass, out-rebounding the Red Flash by a 45-24 margin.  Thirty-two of LIU's forty-five rebounds came on the defensive end.  However they turned the ball over nineteen times.  Ultimately, Jamal Olasewere's efforts; nearly 60% team shooting from the field; and a game high twelve assists from Jason Brickman contributed to lead the Flatbush Five over St. Francis.


Jamal Olasewere posted a game high double-double; leading all players with twenty-six points and ten rebounds.  Jason Brickman's twelve assists were also a game high and his personal career best.  Julian Boyd (17); C.J. Garner (10) were the other two starters in double points.  Off the bench, Brandon Thompson cleaned up with eleven points in twenty-three minutes.  He shot 4-4 from the line and pulled down four rebounds.  Kenny Onyechi made the most of his fourteen minutes, contributing twelve points and five rebounds.  All together they combined to get the Blackbirds over the ninety point mark for third time this season.


Eight games remain in the regular season.  And the big Battle for Brooklyn versus St. Francis (NY) still looms just over the horizon.






Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ Flatbush Wins 7th Straight; Stay Undefeated in Conference

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU BLACKBIRDS:  The Hoops of Flatbush Remain Unbeaten in Their Conference After Defeating the Monmouth Hawks. 

LIU-Brooklyn's Win Streak is up to Seven Games Now.

THURSDAY FINAL:

Fairleigh Dickinson   64

LIU Blackbirds         84

Part of becoming Conference Champs and then defending that title is winning the games you're supposed to win.  That might be a little rough with regards to Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth.   But lets be honest, they've had their troubles this season. 




And Trouble, is what the Blackbirds didn't have last Thursday night as they limited Fairleigh Dickinson to sixty-four points to win their sixth game in a row and remain unbeaten within the Conference.




Brooklyn's downtown college cagers took care of business in the Ashland Place Gym as all five starters finished with double digit scoring.  The night was a balanced effort on all counts.  C.J. Garner was high man with sixteen points.  And of the game's starters, Michael Culpo lagged behind his team mates with thirteen.




I'll tell you what else lagged behind; rebounding.  Fairleigh Dickinson won the battle of the glass 48-45; but to no avail.  They hindered their efforts with fouls and paid for it at the line.  LIU-Brooklyn  shot 27/36 from the line.  With the Blackbirds playing a cleaner game, Fairleigh Dickinson settled for 5/12 from the foul line.  Brooklyn also rained down 6/11 three pointers in the first half on their way to an eight point lead at the break.




With the win, LIU increased their NEC leading record to 5-0 with Monmouth on tap for today; Saturday.  And like Fairleigh Dickinson, the Hawks are struggling as well this season.  They entered Saturday's game with a 1-4 conference record.

SATURDAY FINAL:

Monmouth Hawks   86

LIU Blackbirds      106

Brooklyn showed no mercy and cracked the century mark in points for the second time in six games.  In securing a 106-86 win over the Hawks this afternoon, they are now the proud owners of a 6-0 Conference record.  With a 5-0 record, Central Connecticut State's game against third place Wagner is still yet to be played tonight in Staten Island.




In game two of a three game set at the Ashland Gym, the Blackbirds enjoyed their home-court advantage during a big 63-49 second half, and rode the strength of 64% shooting from the field versus just 49% for Monmouth in the game.  Julian Boyd was the game's high scorer with twenty-eight buckets.  Monmouth's Mike Myers-Keitt was the game's second high scorer with twenty-seven points.




Jamal Olasewere came in at nineteen points and led the team in rebounds with nine.  C.J. Garner added fourteen points and had a game high eight assists.  Jason Brickman added six more assists and along with Garner almost matched Monmouth who totaled just sixteen assists all game.  Michael Culpo and Kenny Onyechi had fourteen points each to place five Blackbirds in double-digit scoring.




LIU remains on par with their competition on the glass.  Unlike last game, they won this battle of the boards 35-31 this time.  But once again, the Blackbirds did their damage at the line, shooting 83% on 25/30 shooting, while Monmouth shot a sketchy 53% on 9/17 shooting from the line.  If they Hawks did anything well, the buried the Blackbirds in three-point land; shooting 45% from beyond the arch.  They nailed 9/20 shots while Brooklyn only managed 3/14 for a resounding 21% shooting percentage.




LIU's home-stand concludes with a visit from Mount St. Mary's next Thursday.  The Blackbirds defeated them 85-76 back on December 3rd when they last travelled to Maryland.






Hey..., if you want to be the top team, you gotta beat the top team.  Go Blackbirds.  Go Brooklyn.!







Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ Hoops of Flatbush Win Fifth Straight

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH






LIU BLACKBIRDS:   ...And Then There Were Two.


A/O  Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012



Jamal Olasewere and Jason Brickman led all first-half scorers with fifteen points and ten points respectively.  Quinnipiac dominated on the defensive boards however, which helped them remain tied 37-37 at half-time.  As a matter of fact, Quinnipiac belittled LIU on the glass out rebounding the Blackbirds 61-38 for the game.




In the second half, Jamal Olasewere dropped another ten points to finish the night with twenty-five.  And this time team mate Julian Boyd stepped in to net ten second half points.




In a game when the score was tied sixteen times; the last occurring at 45-45; LIU soon gained a measure of separation after a 7-0 run that put them up by ten with eleven and a half minutes to play.  They withstood the Bobcats' run which brought the home team to within three points.  Brooklyn then buried free throws down the stretch to secure a 79-75 tightly contested road win.




The Blackbirds had four players in double digit scoring.  Jamal led the way with twenty-five.  Julian Boyd was second with seventeen points.  Jason Brickman finished with twelve points and a game high ten assists.  Kenny Onyechi added twelve more points off the bench.  As a team however, they did a woeful job on the offensive boards as noted.




But let's not get nit-picky; after all, the Academics from Ashland Place are now riding a five game winning streak.  In their last five games, they've dispatched St. Peter's; Texas State; NJIT; Sacred Heart; and Quinnipiac by an average score of 86-78.




And then there were two.  With these most recent back-to-back wins over Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac, the defending Champs raised their NEC record to 4-0 and are now locked in a two way tie with Central Connecticut State for first place.  Robert Morris finally lost their first game to drop out of a three way Conference tie for the lead spot.

The Hoops of Flatbush are coming home now.  They take on Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday night at the Ashland Gym in the first of three home games.  The visiting Knights are having their problems this season and are supporting the weight of the NEC with a 0-4 Conference record.  They are 1-13 overall; losers of their last eleven and 0-9 on the road.  To borrow a football term, don't fall for the Trap Game fellas.




Following Thursday's game, Flatbush will welcome Monmouth and get their second look at Mount St. Mary's.  The clashes with Central Connecticut State and Robert Morris will appear on the horizon shortly there after.





Mike.BTB

LIU Blackbirds ~ One More for the Road

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

LIU BLACKBIRDS:  A Long and Winding Road Finally Ends Tonight in Norfolk, Virginia.


Things didn't go so well for the Blackbirds in their last game against Columbia.  They fell 63-53 to the Lions squad hailing out of the Manhattan college.  And in doing so, dropped their season record to five wins and five losses.  The loss also snaps a three game winning streak.


Jamal Olasewere led the Blackbirds in scoring with eighteen points and pulled down six defensive rebounds.  Kenny Onyechi followed with twelve points, and equalled Jamal's rebound totals with six of his own.  Brandon Thompson gained a team high in rebounds with seven on the night.  Arnold Mayorga was the third Blackbird to score in double digits.  He contributed eleven buckets.


The LIU back-court was held all too quiet on the night.  Jason Brickman and Michael Culpo were held to a combined eight points and a dreadful five assists.  Of the two, only Jason Brickman was able to get to the line dropping two free throws in four attempts.  Jason's team high four assists were cancelled out by five turnovers.


Next up, the Boys from Flatbush head to Virgina for a Wednesday night game versus Norfolk State.  This game will conclude a start to their season in which they will have played ten of their first eleven games on the road.  Then, they'll finally get to hang around their downtown Brooklyn campus for three consecutive, out of conference games before their NEC schedule starts-up in earnest.


The Norfolk State Spartans enter the game with a 6-4 record; fresh off a 73-60 loss to Virginia Tech.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOOPS

LIU BLACKBIRDS
vs.

Norfolk State Spartans

Mike.BTB