Long Island Blackbirds
Overall Rank: #85
Conference Rank: #1 Northeast
2010-11: 27-6, 16-2
2010-11 postseason: NCAA
Coach: Jim Ferry (125-140 at Long Island, 125-140 overall)
Not many noticed, but Long Island lost just one game between December 13th of 2010 and their first round game against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament on March 18th. And these were not all easy games. The Northeast Conference was very strong last year, and will be even stronger this year. Their 16-2 conference record was very impressive and Coach Jim Ferry has this team built to make another run at a conference title. This year the conference should get a little more respect and could get a better seed as a result.
Who’s Out:
There is some rebuilding to be done with the loss of starters David Hicks and Kyle Johnson. Those two wings fit very well into the Blackbirds balanced scoring attack. Both were very capable outside shooters and would also attack the basket. Johnson also helped out quite a bit on the glass and that may be something the new starters will have trouble duplicating.
Who’s In:
Coach Ferry brought in a couple new guards to help replace Hicks and Johnson. Brandon Thompson is the one who will make an impact right away. The 6-1 guard spent some time at Arizona State before heading off to the junior college ranks. Now he is back in Division I basketball and will make a much bigger splash for the Blackbirds than he did for the Sun Devils. He is a fine all-around scorer and his experience will be valuable off of the bench. However, this is a pretty experienced team as it is and incoming freshman Gerrell Martin will find it tough to surpass many of his elders for a spot in the regular rotation. Redshirt freshman Troy Joseph, a 6-6 forward, will face similar difficulties, but is a good athlete who can provide some rebounding help from the small forward position.
Who to Watch:
The question is who is going to replace Hicks and Johnson. The answer is actually quite simple. Michael Culpo and Jason Brickman both averaged about five minutes per game less than the usual starters and are more than ready to step into starting roles. Those two are not straight up replacements since Brickman is more of a shooter and a point guard than either Hicks or Johnson, but he can still start alongside returning point guard C.J. Garner. Brickman is just a sophomore, but he dished out 5.5 assists per game last year. Coach Ferry may just want to move him to the point, but he is also effective as a shooter off of the ball. Culpo is more reminiscent of Hicks and Johnson. He is a guard that can knock down the long ball effectively, but will also attack the basket and help out on the glass. The problem is he is just 6-1, but he is a quality rebounder so LIU should be able to play small without too much problem on the glass. Garner is a speedy point guard who will attack the basket relentlessly and play great defense. He averaged 9.5 points and 3.4 assists last year and will be the leader of this team. Players like Booker Hucks will have to step up and compete with the newcomers for minutes off of the bench. However, when this team needs to play bigger, or Thompson proves to be too valuable to leave on the bench, do not be surprised if Brickman is the sixth man this year…and that would make him the early favorite for the NEC’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Final Projection:
The Blackbirds can afford to play small in the back because they have 6-7 forwards Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere in the frontcourt. Not only is that frontcourt duo superb on the glass, but they were the top two scorers for LIU last season. Boyd has a bigger frame and is a little more of a bruiser in the paint and a better rebounder, but both are relatively similar players. They can each step outside and make the occasional three-pointer and they both try to do so a little too often. Olasewere is a better athlete, but the key to the frontcourt is the development of Olasewere, most notably his inability to stay out of foul trouble. As upperclassmen, both Boyd and Olasewere should play a little smarter on both ends of the floor. When they fail to do so, Coach Ferry always has Kenny Onyechi, yet another 6-7 junior, available to fill in for either of them. This is still a pretty young team, but the returning players, for the most part, improved as the 2010-2011 season progressed and they should keep getting better. If that happens over the next two years, there will be a new dominate team in the NEC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
C.J. Garner, Junior, Guard, 9.5 points per game
Jason Brickman, Sophomore, Guard, 6.2 points per game
Michael Culpo, Senior, Guard, 7.8 points per game
Jamal Olasewere, Junior, Forward, 12.9 points per game
Julian Boyd, Junior, Forward, 13.0 points per game
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