2012-13

RIC MEN'S Basketball Preview

The year that was

The 2011-12 Rhode Island College men’s basketball team went 23-7 on the season and 10-4 in the Little East Conference. For the sixth straight year, the Anchormen had a 20 win season and made it to the NCAA III tournament. They are only one of five programs in the nation to do this. The Anchormen made it through the first round of the tournament, but lost in the second to Staten Island 77-67.

For the first time since the 1970-71 season, the Anchormen started off the season 9-0. It wasn’t until Dec. 10 that the Eastern Connecituct Warriors would hold the Anchormen’s first loss. The Warriors would prove to be a tough team against RIC all season long.

At the end of the regular season, the Anchormen were tied for second place in the LEC and ended in third due to a tie breaker. The Anchormen dominated in the first round of the playoffs, defeating Plymouth State 79-48. The second game of the Little East Tournament wasn’t as easy of a game for the Anchormen. With only 1:30 left, RIC was down nine points. Thanks to a pair of free throws from senior Mason Choice with 8.6 seconds left, the Anchormen took the lead and won the game, sending them to the LEC finals.

The Anchormen were set to face top seed Eastern Connecitcut, whom held their first lose of the season. Choice’s 21 points were not enough to bring home another LEC, and the Anchormen lost 82-60 on the Warriors home turf. The game was driven by the Warriors bench, who scored 29 points, while RIC’s bench only had 10 points.

This year, the Anchormen look to improve and replace top scor-ers Mason Choice and Mike Akinrola. Winning the Little East title is in their eyes once again.

2012-13 ROSTER

Samantha AllenSports Editor

Additional reporting by Eddie Pannone and Maggie Masse

The year that was 2012-13 ROSTER

#1 Trevor Morgera Fr. Guard/Fwd#2 Alex Cruz So. Guard/Fwd#3 Tahrike Carter Sr. Guard#4 Kadeem Francis Jr. Guard#5 Randy Casey Sr. Guard#12 Tom DeCiantis Jr. Guard/Fwd#15 Grant Thomas So. Guard#21 Nyheem Sanders Jr. Guard#22 Jazz Robinson Fr. Guard#23 Mike Neal Fr. Center#24 Michael Palumbo Jr. Guard#35 Chris Burton So. Forward#41 Jacob Page So. Forward

Who's Missing

Last year’s top scorer and member of the 1,000 point club, Mike Akinrola, has graduated from the team. He had 543 points last season alone, averaging 18.1 points per game. Second leading scorer Mason Choice has also graduated. Choice averaged 13.1 points per game and had 381 points on the season. Despite only starting one game, Avery King had 163 points during his senior year. He averaged 14.9 minutes per game and 6.8 points per game.

Who's Back

Tahrike Carter looks to be a shooting star for the Anchormen this upcoming season. Last year, he was the third leading scorer on the team, with 290 points, and with the two top scorers gone, Carter will have to step up. Mike Palumbo, who can drain three pointers from any position, will be coming off the bench this season and contributing a fair amount of points. Last year, Palumbo got 138 points. Tom DeCiantis had 207 points last season, right behind Tahrike Carter. He’ll be another player to watch step it up this season.

#3 Tahrike CarterCarter will be the starting point guard this year for the Anchormen, and is coming off a very good campaign last season. He was named Second Team All-Little East and was also named to the league’s All-Defensive Team. The tough Carter will be the team leader in 2012, and can hurt opposers in many different ways. Not only is he an outstanding defender, but will score both inside and outside.

#1 Trevor MorgeraThe freshman swinger Morgera will see action at the guard and forward positions this season. The Newport native is a tough player that will show off great defense. He will be fighting for some playing time on the perimeter for the Anchormen, and is one of the numerous freshmen that will look to make an immediate impact for the team this year.

#2 Alex CruzCruz is a sophomore who is going to play both guard and forward in 2012. The winger is a very athletic player and will show off his versatility for the Anchormen this season. He is not afraid to play the inside game and is also able to play outside as well. One of the biggest aspects of his game that poses a threat for opposing teams is his ability to slash to the rim.

MEE

T TH

E TE

AM

#5 Randy CaseyCasey transferred to RIC a season ago from Division II Dean College. The native of Attleboro, Massachusetts, is a great defensive player for the Anchormen, and will see action at point guard and wing this season. This tough combination guard plays on the ball and off the ball effectively, and is also a dynamic slasher who is able to drive through the lane offensively.

#4 Kadeem FrancisFrancis, a native of White Plains, New York, is an athletic combination guard for the team. He plays both perimeter spots on the floor, and makes smart decisions with the basketball. He will play solid defense off the bench while setting up his teammates for success. Overall, he is a smooth and solid guard to have on the bench.

MEET TH

E TEAM

#12 Tom DeCiantisThe only player to start every game last year, DeCiantis returns to the team as a junior in 2012. The North Kingston native is an athletic player that plays both guard and forward, and is a tough matchup for smaller defenders because of his size. He is a great shooter, and will also pick up some rebounds inside.

#22 Jazz RobinsonRobinson is also a walk on player for RIC in 2012. This freshman guard is a graduate of St. Rays Academy and is from Pawtucket. He will have to fight for playing time, but is a smart wing when in the game. He will show off his athletic skill and toughness on the floor for the Anchormen.

#21 Nyheem SandersThe Pawtucket native Sanders is an athletic junior who is a very solid player. He is a tough physical guard, but can play three positions for the team. He can score and he will grab some rebounds, but one of his biggest strengths is ability to make his teammates better. He is unselfish and is capable of getting the ball to the open man.

#15 Grant ThomasThomas is another new addition to the team this season. He is a native of Wingdale, New York, and graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes. The sophomore is a walk on first year player, and is a good outside shooter when left alone from beyond the ark.

MEE

T TH

E TE

AM

#24 Michael PalumboPalumbo is coming into his third season with the Anchormen, and will be fighting for a job in the starting lineup. He is a big time sharp shooter who can drain a three from anywhere on the floor. This guard may not be big in size, but he is smart, hustles and will cause some turnovers on defense.

#35 Chris BurtonBurton is an athletic, versatile forward who will be asked to step up this year for the team. He is able to play both outside and inside, scoring in many different fashions. The native of New Rochelle, New York, also can defend multiple positions well, and will be a valuable piece to this Anchormen team.

#41 Jacob PagePage hails from Brookline, Massachusetts, and will compete for a great deal of playing time this season. This versatile forward is a smart, tough player whose athleticism and size make him a good defender on the inside. He is also capable of knocking down threes if need be, and is another player to watch this year for the Anchormen.

#23 Mike NealNeal will be another exciting freshman to watch this year for the Anchormen. The Pawtucket native and graduate of Shea High School will have a chance to contend for some quality minutes at the center position. He does a great job getting rebounds while having an offensive post presence. This 6’ 6” player will be a player to watch this year.

MEET TH

E TEAM

What

to E

xpe

ct

Plymouth State

The Anchormen defeated the Panthers in all three contests last season with scores of 65-51, 61-43 and 79-48 in the fi rst round of the Little East tournament. Mike Akinrola put up 29 points in their fi rst face off of the year, and also received his 1,000 point against the Panthers. With big gaps in points in all three wins, the Anchormen look to defeat this team once again.

Eastern Connecticut StateIn three games, RIC only walked away with one win, and lost to the Warriors in the LEC Championship game by a score of 82-60. For the fi rst time since 2005-06, the Anchormen did not win the LEC regular season or tournament championship. In the one win, RIC won 66-48 with 21 points from Mike Akinrola and 12 points from Tahrike Carter.

UMASS Dartmouth

RIC walked away with a win in the fi rst contest but picked up a loss in the second, but not by much. In the 73-68 loss, Mike Palumbo had 13 points while teammate Tahrike Carter had 11 points and seven assists. Tom DeCiantis had eight points in the team’s 61-57 victory while UMD’s Alex Rodrigues had a game high 15 rebounds and is still with the corsairs as a sophomore.

Keene State

Keene State was the owner of one of the few losses the RIC team received last season. They lost by just one point in the fi rst matchup but won the next time they faced each other 65-57. Avery King had 21 points and six 3-pointers, and Ryan Martin, a mem-ber of the Owls, had a game high 28 points and is only a junior this year.

MIT

The last time these two teams met, MIT de-feated the Anchormen in the fi rst round of the NCAA tournament in the 2008-09 season. This year, MIT is ranked number one in all of Division III, and the Anchormen will host them at home on Nov. 29.

Johnson and Wales

RIC defeated cross town rivals 89-62 with three players scoring a combined 41 points. Mason Choice, Tahrike Carter and Tom DeCiantis lead the Anchormen to the victory. With only Choice not on the team, defeating the rivals shouldn’t be a problem.

What to

expect

Salve ReginaRIC defeated Salve by a score of 69-55 with Mike Akinrola leading the team with 19 points. This year’s team captain Tahrike Carter had 10 points and seven rebounds. Seahawks leading scorer Ryan Birrell, who got 14 points and six rebounds, has graduated from the team.

WPI

RIC defeated the Engineers 57-47 to pick up their ninth win in a row last year and start the season off 9-0 for the fi rst time since the 1970-1971 season. At the time of the game, WPI was ranked 15th in the nation. Tahrike Carter had the second most points on the team with 12 behind Mason Choice with 17 points.

UMASS BostonThe Anchormen defeated the Beacon in both contests last season 88-51 and 75-51. In the fi rst matchup, 14 different Anchormen produced points, led by Tom DeCiantis with 11 points. In the second matchup, RIC led by as many as 33 points in the second half. This will be an easy team to defeat again this season.

Southern Maine

In the fi rst contest between the two last season, the Anchormen won by 33 points in a 73-40 game.Twelve different players produced points for the team while Tahrike Carter led the team with seven rebounds. RIC also won when they faced off again, by a closer score of 77-65. The Huskies top scorer in both matches is no longer with the team.

Western ConnecticutThe Anchormen lost to Western Connecticut 93-87 in their fi rst game against each other last season. Tahrike Carter and Mike Palumbo, both on the team this season, were top in points. In the second game, RIC won by just a point with a score of 79-78. Carter had 12 points in the win.

Amherst

Amherst College is ranked fi fth in the NCAA Division III and the Anchormen will host them on Jan. 29. Last year, the Anchormen lost to Amherst on the road 79-69. Tahrike Carter had 20 points on the game, leading the Anchormen. This year, it’s sure to be another heated battle.

COACH

ES

CORNER MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2012-13

Bob Walsh will enter into his eighth season as the Rhode Island College head men’s basketball coach. He has been at the helm for the Anchormen during one of the most successful periods in the program’s storied history. RIC has made seven consecutive trips to the postseason and six straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament under his watch. They are only one of fi ve teams in the nation to accomplish this feat. Coach Walsh has led RIC into the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite Eight once.

Walsh boasts a career 158-50 record (.760 winning percentage) and led the team to a 23-7 campaign last year. He has won four Little East Conference Regular Season and four Tournament Championships while at RIC. Last season, Walsh was honored with the Alumni Staff Award by Rhode Island College. The Anchormen notched their sixth consecutive 20-win campaign and earned their sixth straight NCAA Div. III Tournament appearance. RIC also played in the Little East Tournament Championship Game for the sixth straight campaign.

Walsh, 39, has experience as an assistant

coach with the Providence College basketball program, spending seven years there before coming to RIC. He joined then-Head Coach Tim Welsh’s staff in 1998 after spending the 1997-98 season as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. Walsh’s fi rst experience in college coaching came when he served as an administrative assistant on Welsh’s staff at Iona from 1994-96.

Assisting Coach Walsh, this year, will be Mike Romano and Anthony Leonelli, both in their fi rst seasons as assistants at RIC.

Romano spent the past two seasons at Marist College as a graduate manager for the men’s basketball program. From 2010-12, he assisted the coaching staff and the director of basketball operations with basketball and administrative duties. He also aided in on-campus recruiting.

Leonelli spent last season as the assistant men’s basketball coach at WPI where he was instrumental in the program’s recruiting efforts as well as skill development among the team’s post players. Leonelli was also an assistant director for WPI basketball camp during back-to-back summers.

Head Coach Bob Walsh

Assitant Coach Mike Romano

Assistant Coach Anthony Leonelli

CORNER

November 3 at Providence College (exhibition) 7 p.m.November 15 at Lasell College 8 p.m.November 17 Brandeis University 1 p.m.November 20 Bridgewater State University 7:30 p.m.November 25 at Bates College 2 p.m.November 29 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 7:30 p.m.December 1 Plymouth State University 3 p.m.December 4 at Salve Regina University 7:30 p.m.December 6 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute 7 p.m.December 8 Eastern Connecticut State Univ. 3 p.m.December 19 at Johnson & Wales University 7:30 p.m.January 3 Wheaton College 7:30 p.m.January 5 UMass Boston 3 p.m.January 8 at University of Southern Maine 7:30 p.m.January 12 Keene State College 3 p.m.January 15 at UMass Dartmouth 7:30 p.m.January 19 at Plymouth State University 3 p.m.January 22 Western Connecticut State Univ. 7:30 p.m.January 26 at Eastern Connecticut State Univ. 3 p.m.January 29 Amherst College 7 p.m.January 31 at Clark University 6 p.m.February 2 at UMass Boston 3 p.m.February 5 UMass Dartmouth 7:30 p.m.February 9 University of Southern Maine 3 p.m.February 12 at Western Connecticut State Univ. 7:30 p.m.February 16 at Keene State College 3 p.m.February 19 LEC Quarterfi nals TBAFebruary 22 LEC Semifi nals TBAFebruary 23 LEC Championship TBA

MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2012-13