MC_2007_Spring_30
4/18/07
6:12 PM
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Live From the Quad, It’s Manhattan College Basketball Weekly
“The production of Manhattan College Basketball Weekly is a giant step forward for the College,” says Robert Byrnes ’68, director of athletics. “It provides a new venue for telling a great story about a great New York school on a weekly basis. We hope and trust it was well received by our viewers.” Featuring head coach Barry Rohrssen and host Ed Cohen, the first season included nine episodes that spanned from Jan. 12 through March 9. Fans viewed a new episode every Friday at 4:00 p.m., with a replay following on Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. In each episode, coach Rohrssen took a look back at the previous week in Manhattan hoops and forecasted what lay ahead for the Jaspers. Each show reported a cover story, basketball player profile, “Where Are They Now?” update and trivia, scholar-athlete segment and a magical moment in Manhattan history.
Men’s
In its inaugural season, the show covered the life and times of Manhattan’s legendary athletics figures, such as: Junius Kellogg ’53, the former basketball star who went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters; Jack Powers ’58, former director of athletics and men’s basketball head coach and player, and director of the NIT; John “Doc” Johnson, former head athletic trainer; and Dan Mecca, men’s and women’s cross country and track and field head coach. Other stories recalled the memorable wins and games in men’s and women’s basketball history, and the baseball team’s 2006 MAAC Championship and NCAA run. The show also looked back at the championships and amazing moments of the three most recent track and field national champions: Michael Williams ’96, Aliann Pompey ’99 and Jake Freeman ’04, as well as Brother Jasper, former director of athletics and for whom the College’s sports teams are named. Other notable alums featured in segments were Rudolph Giuliani ’65, former mayor of New York City; Jim Ryan ’60, journalist and host of the annual De La Salle Medal dinner; Walter Kane ’84, the first on-air journalist with News 12 New Jersey; and Tom Pedulla ’78, sportswriter for USA Today.
sports
In January, the television show Manhattan College Basketball Weekly premiered. Dedicated to providing fans with an inside look at Jasper basketball, as well as other areas of Manhattan athletics, the show made its debut on SportsNet New York (SNY) on Friday, Jan. 12.
Basketball
When Barry Rohrssen took over the men’s basketball program in April 2006, he was faced with a limited amount of time to assemble a staff and bring in new recruits. With the graduation or transfer of several key players, many thought the 2006-07 campaign would be a rebuilding season for the Jaspers. Instead, Rohrssen and his team accepted the challenge and accomplished more than anyone expected. The coach’s first season in Riverdale produced some impressive wins and memorable moments, as the Jaspers maintained their status among the elite in the MAAC. Returning to lead the Jaspers was junior forward/center Arturo Dubois, a Second Team All-MAAC and Second Team All-Metropolitan selection, following a sophomore season during which he broke the Manhattan single-season blocks record. Sophomore guard/forward Devon Austin, a MAAC All-Rookie pick and a MAAC Rookie of the Year finalist as a freshman, also came back. Only one four-year senior was on the roster, center Guy Ngarndi, who brought an extensive postseason résumé to the table and boasted wins in both the NCAA Tournament and NIT. The remaining core of the team featured five scholarship freshmen, who would be expected to blossom during the course of the season.
Guy Ngarndi ’07
The Jaspers won two of their first three games, including a 63-60 victory over Wagner College for Rohrssen’s first triumph. They also defeated Colonial Athletic Association heavyweight and NIT participant Hofstra University, 79-77, in overtime. Three weeks later, the Jaspers traveled to Bridgeport, Conn., to take on Fairfield in the MAAC opener for both teams, and Manhattan emerged with a hard fought 57-54 win. Manhattan spent the New Year’s holiday in California on a trip that was meant to help solidify the team first, family atmosphere preached by Rohrssen. After opening the trip with a loss to Big West Champion Long Beach State University, the Jaspers returned to the East Coast on a high note after an 89-87 win at Pepperdine University. That victory began a six-game winning streak that propelled the Jaspers to the top of the MAAC standings at the end of January. The six-game streak was the longest for a first-year Manhattan coach since Fran Fraschilla’s first season in Riverdale (1992-93) and the fourth longest in school history. The streak included Manhattan’s 200th MAAC win, as the Jaspers joined Iona College as the only two conference members with 200 or more MAAC league wins. Although they would split their next six contests, the Jaspers’ play continued to show positive signs. There was a 70-68 triumph on the road at Loyola College, a win that moved the Jaspers and Greyhounds into a tie atop the MAAC standings and avenged a loss to Loyola earlier in the year. In the contest, Dubois scored 15 points and became the 28th Manhattan men’s basketball player to accumulate at least 1,000 career points. The next win was back at Draddy Gym, and it was another nail-biter. This time the opponent was Marist College, which would go on to capture the MAAC Regular Season Championship and advance to the second round of the NIT. continued on page 26 manhattan.edu
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