Men's Basketball Faces Vermont On NESN-TV Saturday
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
University of Vermont Catamounts (1-1)
Saturday, November 20, 2010 - 3 p.m.
TD Bank Sports Center - Hamden, Conn.
NESN-TV
Bobcats Face Vermont On NESN Saturday
The Quinnipiac University men's basketball team plays host
to Vermont in a game regionally televised by NESN, Saturday
afternoon at the TD Bank Sports Center. The Bobcats are coming off
two straight wins over Yale and Hartford to begin the season, while
the Catamounts defeated perennially-powerful Siena on the road
before leading UConn at the half but ultimately falling, 89-73. The
Catamounts lead the all-time series 4-0, including an 80-77 victory
last season.
Quinnipiac Announces 11 Game Television Package
Scouting the Vermont Catamounts
The Catamounts are led by Evan Fjeld, who's averaged 22.5
points and 2.0 blocks per game in Vermont's first two games. Matt
Glass has contributed 14.5 points per game, while Joey Accaoui has
averaged 12.5 points. Brian Voelkel has grabbed 8.0 rebounds,
dished out 6.5 assists and made 2.0 steals per game.
Last
Time Out Against Hartford
James Johnson scored a game-high 23 points and Justin
Rutty added his 32nd career double-double with 10 points and 12
rebounds as the Bobcats held on to defeat Hartford, 66-64.
Dominique Langston also added 12 points in his home debut, while
Deontay Twyman added 11 points. Morgan Sabia paced Hartford with 23
points and six rebounds.
Last
Time Against Vermont
Jeremy Baker scored 22 points and James Feldeine added 21,
but the Bobcats were edged by Vermont, 80-77, Dec. 13, at Patrick
Gym. Marqus Blakely had a game-high 32 points for Vermont and
then-Catamount, current Bobcat Garvey Young hit a three-pointer
with just over three minutes remaining to give Vermont the lead for
good. Young's fast-break lay-up on the next possession was the
final dagger. Justin Rutty had a double-double of 14 points and 10
rebounds, while James Johnson added 11 points and five assists.
Follow the Bobcats
Saturday's game can be seen live on NESN-TV and heard live
on AM 1220 WQUN and www.quinnipiacbobcats.com. The voice of the
Bobcats, Bill Schweizer, will have the TV play-by-play call, while
Bill Mecca will provide color commentary and Rich Coppola will have
sideline reports. Bob Mortali and Bob Tipson will have the radio
call. Live stats will also be available.
Movin' On Up
With 820 rebounds, Justin Rutty ranks sixth all-time at QU
and 14th all-time in the Northeast Conference. Rutty passed Frank
Lisinow '67 (809) and Lester Ayala '92 (815) on the QU list and Rik
Smits (Marist) (811) on the NEC list with 10 rebounds against
Hartford on Nov. 16.
Rutty Moves Up QU Career Scoring List
With 1,187 career points, Rutty now ranks 18th on the
Quinnipiac career scoring list and fourth on the Quinnipiac
Division I scoring list. With 19 points against Yale, Nov. 13,
Rutty leapfrogged Ed Skwara '69 (1,159), Art Leary '70 (1,159),
Mike Buscetto '93 (1,165), Rashaun Banjo '04 (1,166) and Jim Freund
'81 (1,166).
Langston Huge
Dominique Langston scored 12 points, grabbed seven
rebounds and dished out four assists, Nov. 16 against Hartford.
Takeaway 'Tay
Deontay Twyman has a team-high five steals through two
games this season, including three against Hartford.
Bo
Knows Scoring
James Johnson scored a game-high 23 points Nov. 16 against
Hartford. He also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three
assists.
Rutty Eyes Exclusive 1,000-1,000 Club
Justin Rutty currently stands at 1,187 points and 820
rebounds in his career. With at least 27 more games left in Rutty's
career, his career 8.8 rebounds per game average would leave him at
1,058 boards, while his three-year average of 10.4 boards per game
would put him at 1,101 rebounds. Just two prior Quinnipiac players
have reached both 1,000 points and rebounds.
More
Exclusive Company For Rutty
Justin Rutty connected on his 500th career field goal
against Yale, Nov. 13, becoming one of just three Quinnipiac
players at the Division I level to achieve the feat. Rutty joins
Bill Romano '02 (599) and Rob Monroe '05 (523).
Johnson's Elite Company
James Johnson's consecutive starts streak now stands at 66
games to begin his career. Johnson became just the eighth freshman
in QU Division I history to start his collegiate debut, and started
all 31 of Quinnipiac's games in 2008-09, joining just 19 other
freshmen in the nation to start every game their team played. Each
player to start his first game and complete four years at QU has
scored over 1,000 points. Rob Monroe, Bill Romano, Justin Rutty and
Jared Grasso started their first games and rank first, second,
fourth and seventh, on the Bobcats scoring list. The 66-game streak
currently ranks second in program history to begin a career and
fourth among all QU D-I starts streaks.
Sweet 16's
Deontay Twyman tied his career-high with 16 points against
Yale at the Connecticut 6 Classic, Nov. 13. James Johnson matched
Twyman's 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting and 4-for-4 from the
line.
Gabriel's Impressive QU Debut
Mike Gabriel was impressive in his Quinnipiac debut
against Yale, Nov. 13, scoring 10 points in just 13 minutes off the
bench. He was very efficient, making 3-of-4 field-goal attempts and
4-of-6 free throw attempts.
Dom
From Trey
Dominique Langston made both of his three-point attempts
in his collegiate debut against Yale, Nov. 13, to account for his
six points.
Bonding Overseas
The Bobcats took a 10-day trip to The Netherlands, Belgium
and France this past August. In four games, Quinnipiac went
3-1.
Moore of the Same
Head Coach Tom Moore has won the season opener in each of
his four years at QU, the first three coming against Hartford,
while the most recent came this season against Yale. Prior to
Moore's arrival to Hamden, no Quinnipiac team had won its first
game of the season during the school's Division I era. Teams that
have had Moore serving on the coaching staff have won 11
consecutive season openers. The last time one of Moore's teams
didn't win its first game was Nov. 11, 1999, when defending
National Champion and top-ranked UConn was upset by Iowa in the
Coaches vs. Cancer IKON Classic. None of Quinnipiac's other five
coaches all-time won their first three season openers, and only
Burt Kahn won as many as four straight at any point. Kahn won six
straight from 1967-68 through 1972-73.
Everybody's Favorite
The Northeast Conference's coaches selected the Bobcats as
the league's first unanimous favorite since 1997-98 (Long Island).
In addition, The Sporting News, Athlon, Lindy's and the Blue Ribbon
College Basketball Report also picked the Bobcats as the NEC
favorite.
QU
Picked Second In CT6 Poll
Quinnipiac was picked second in the Preseason Connecticut
6 Coaches' Poll. Fairfield claimed the top spot, while Central
Connecticut immediately followed the Bobcats in third. Sacred
Heart, Yale and Hartford rounded out the poll.
Eight Is Enough
Quinnipiac returns eight players from the 2009-10 squad,
and also welcomes eight new players in 2010-11. Only four of the
eight new players will be available for play immediately (Azotam,
Gabriel, Harrison, Langston), while Tevin Baskin is slated to be
eligible beginning second semester (Dec. 22 at Niagara). Austin
Alecxih, Lance Brown and Garvey Young each must sit the year out
due to NCAA transfer rules.
Bobcats Experience Historic 2009-10 Season
The Quinnipiac University men's basketball team
experienced a historic season of firsts in 2009-10. Jim Phelan NEC
Coach of the Year Tom Moore led the Bobcats to a program-record 23
wins, the first Northeast Conference Regular Season Championship in
team history, and a berth into the National Invitation Tournament,
the first national postseason tournament appearance in program
Division I history. Junior forward Justin Rutty was named the NEC
Player of the Year, becoming the first player in program history
earn the award. Both Rutty and senior wing James Feldeine were
named to the All-NEC First Team Moore's recognition as Coach of the
Year was also a first in program history.
Moore Wins
With 23 wins in 2009-10, including 15 NEC victories, the
Bobcats set a new program record. The marks edge the 1999-2000 QU
team (18-10, 12-6 NEC) for the most wins at D-I, and passed the
1972-73 and 1979-80 teams for the all-time program record.
Keeping Good Company
Quinnipiac was one of just four teams in the NCAA ranked
in the top 10 nationally in both rebound margin and rebounds per
game in 2009-10. The Bobcats ranked second in rebound margin and
10th in rebounds per game. Quinnipiac joined nationally-ranked
Kentucky (4th - rebound margin, 5th - rebounds per game) and Kansas
(9th - rebound margin, 7th - rebounds per game), as well as Radford
(7th - rebound margin, 1st - rebounds per game) in the exclusive
club. Quinnipiac also ranked 14th in offensive rebounds
(14.61).
C-T
State of Mind
Quinnipiac was 18-1 in games played in Connecticut,
including a 14-1 mark at home in 2009-10. In starting 14-0 at home,
the Bobcats established the best start at home in program
history.
Twelve In Fourteen
Justin Rutty compiled his Quinnipiac Division I record
24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th career double-doubles
in seven consecutive games, Feb. 18-Mar. 10, 2010, and had 12
double-doubles in his last 15 games of the season. Rutty began the
streak with five straight double-doubles, Jan. 24-Feb. 6. After a
two-game stretch when he missed a double-double by two rebounds
against St. Francis (N.Y.) and two points against LIU, Rutty reeled
off seven more consecutive double-doubles.
Eighty Up
The Bobcats were 11-0 when scoring at least 80 points last
season.
If
It's Free, It's For Me
The Bobcats enjoyed marked improvement from the free-throw
line in the latter portion of the 2009-10 season. After seeing its
season free-throw percentage dip to 65.1 percent through 15 games,
QU shot 76.7 percent (358-467) over the last 18 games to raise its
free-throw percentage to 72.1 percent.
Rutty Grabs Quinnipiac DI Rebound Record
With 11 rebounds against Wagner on Jan. 9, Justin Rutty
took over the Quinnipiac Division I Rebound lead from Bill Romano
'02 (580).
Rutty's Keeping Good Company
At 15.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, Justin Rutty
was one of just 20 players nationally to average a double-double in
2009-10.
Rutty Finds Free-Throw Stroke
Justin Rutty, a career 50.0 percent free-throw shooter,
shot 79.4 percent (54-68) from the charity stripe in the last 14
games of the 2009-10 season. Included in the mark were two separate
strings of at least 11 consecutive successful attempts. Rutty went
6-for-6 at Sacred Heart, the first 100 percent game of more than
three attempts in his career. He followed with a 4-for-4 effort
against SHU, and an 8-for-8 performance at Saint Francis (Pa.).
Bobcats, Rutty On NCAA Rebound Charts
Led by Justin Rutty's 10.9 rebounds per game (8th-NCAA),
the Bobcats ranked 10th in the nation in rebounds per game (40.4
rpg.).
If
At First You Don't Succeed...
41.2 percent of the Bobcats' rebounds in 2009-10 came on
the offensive end, fourth-most in the NCAA.
On
the Rebound
Quinnipiac was outrebounded just three times in 2009-10,
and owned a +8.5 rebounding margin, second-best in the
nation.
Quinnipiac, Rutty Grab Top Rankings
The Bobcats ranked 14th in the nation in offensive
rebounds per game (14.6) in 2009-10. Individually, Justin Rutty
ranked second nationally at 4.9 offensive boards per game, a year
after finishing second in the nation behind only Pittsburgh's
DeJuan Blair (5.6 oreb/game) with 4.6 offensive caroms per
game.
Sitting on Top of the NEC Stats
Quinnipiac ranked in the top three in the NEC in 12 of 19
statistical categories in 2009-10. The Bobcats were first in
scoring offense (73.2), scoring margin (+6.7), field-goal
percentage (.448), assist-to-turnover ratio (0.98), rebounding
offense (40.4), rebounding defense (31.9), rebound margin (+8.5),
offensive rebounding (14.61) and defensive rebounding (25.79). QU
ranked second in assists (13.42) and free-throw percentage (.721)
and third in field-goal percentage defense (.415).
On
Deck
The Bobcats travel to Hanover, N.H., to face Dartmouth
Tuesday. Opening tip from Leede Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
