Preseason All-Conference teams are easy to forget once the season starts. After all, it's the end result that people remember. But if nothing else, this exercise serves to identify players that we should keep an eye on throughout the season. Let's take a look at both the men's and women's preseason teams and take a look at how they've played so far.
Men's Basketball
Mike Black, Sr. G, Albany
Black has been nothing short of awesome this year for the Great Danes, playing the role of hero in their win over Washington and battling through illness to lead them to a victory over Wagner. The senior is second to only Ryan Cook of UMBC with 17.5 points per game. Another area he has really excelled at is getting to the free throw line. His 70 attempts (of which he's converted 77 percent) are nearly double the next highest total for the Great Danes.
D.J. Irving, Jr. G, Boston U.
Irving is leading Boston U. in scoring at 14.6 per game despite not finding his stroke from the field just yet. The junior is shooting just a hair under 35 percent for the season, leaving room for improvement as we head to conference play. Irving, like Black, has also been dangerous off of the dribble, getting to the line 50 times so far this year and converting on 76 percent of those chances.
Alasdair Fraser, Jr. F, Maine
Fraser has been an anchor in the middle for the Black Bears. The big man has gone back and forth with Jordan Reed of Binghamton for the conference rebounding lead and Fraser is currently second with 9.5 per game. And that's not the only way Fraser has been contributing, he's also netting 12.2 points per game and swatting nearly two shots per contest. Paired with Justin Edwards, Fraser should make Maine dangerous in conference play.
Chase Plummer, Jr. F, UMBC
Plummer, like Irving, has not caught fire from the field yet. The junior is hovering right about 35 percent shooting but is still managing 11.5 points per game. And while his shooting has been just a touch off, Plummer has found many others way to contribute including getting into the passing lanes. His 21 steals lead the Retrievers and are tied for fourth in the conference. Plummer's 6.2 boards a game have also been a big plus.
Tommy Brenton, Sr. F, Stony Brook
We talked about Brenton on the blog
yesterday as he climbs his way up the all-time America East rebounding list. While he is the third leading rebounder in the conference and tops for the Seawolves, Brenton is just their fourth leading scorer. But if you've seen this senior play, you know that's not what his game is about. The big man leads the conference in both assists and assist to turnover ratio and his effect on the Stony Brook offense is invaluable. Brenton also ranks second in the America East with 22 steals on the year.
Brian Voelkel, Jr. F, Vermont
Voelkel, much like Brenton, influences the game in a multitude of ways and isn't a frequent visitor to the top of the scoring list. However, the last three games that has changed. Voelkel has gone for double-doubles of 14 points and 10 rebounds twice in his past three contests, leading Vermont both times. The junior also leads the Catamounts on the glass with 7.4 rebounds per game and is crucial to the flow of Coach Becker's offense, dishing out 3.5 helpers per contest.
Women's Basketball
Chantell Alford, Sr. G, Boston U.
Alford also appeared in the blog
yesterday as she continues scoring points at a historic clip. The senior has been the America East Player of the Week four different times already this season as she leads the conference in scoring by a wide margin. Alford is averaging 18.9 per game and Lauren Chase of UMBC, who is second, is averaging 13.0 -- you can see how dominant she's been so far. As she also makes three-pointers at possibly a record pass, the Terriers are looking strong after some great non-conference wins, including downing St. John's.
Ruthanne Doherty, Sr. F, Hartford
Doherty recently poured in 21 points for Hartford in a victory, yet she is averaging just under 10 points for the year. This speaks to the incredible well-roundedness of the Hawks (one of the biggest reasons for their great start). But make no mistake, on any given night, opposing teams still know that Doherty could go off and have one of those nights. The senior has been incredibly efficient from the field, ranking third in the conference by converting on 50 percent of her shots.
Julie Forster, Sr. F, Albany
After scoring 16 points on opening night, Forster has yielded a bit to her teammates in the way of scoring, as she averages 9.2 per game for the season. However, she has been her usual dominant self on the boards and on defense. Forster is third in the conference with 8.5 rebounds per game and also sixth in blocked shots. An underrated part of her game? The ability to get out in the passing lanes -- Forster is second in the conference tallying three steals per game.
Morgan Frame, Jr. F, New Hampshire
Frame has been very consistent throughout the year, averaging 10.2 points and 6.3 boards per game for the Wildcats. The junior has been great from the field, hitting shots at a clip of 43.5 percent. Another area she's been fantastic? The offensive glass. Frame also seems to put in the extra effort and this is one place where that shows up, as she ranks second in the conference with 3.1 offensive boards per contest.
Ebone Henry, Jr. G/F, Albany
Henry, as always, has been a main cog as Albany has gotten off to a brilliant 8-2 start (including six straight wins). Though Henry has been solid, averaging 10.7 points per game, her touch from the three-point line hasn't yet been there. Henry is at 26.5 percent from downtown this year and if she improves that number opposing defenses could be in for a very long night.
Mo Moran, Sr. G, Boston U.
Similar to the edge Alford has over everyone in scoring, Moran is dominating the assist column. The senior has happily fed Alford and the other Terriers (who lead the conference in made three-pointers) and averages 7.1 assists per game paired with a pristine 2.5 assist to turnover ratio. She is absolutely at the core of what makes the Terriers such a dangerous offensive team. Oh and to boot, she also averages 10.8 points per game.
Linked Up
The Albany Times Union writes about the men's basketball team and
its best start ever in Division I.
Albany hoopsters Jacob Iati and Megan Craig will both be
featured on local news broadcasts.
The Binghamton Press and Sun takes a look at men's basketball player Rob Mansell
as he makes his way back from knee surgery.
The women's mid-major top 25 poll
features two America East squads and a third receiving votes.
This story about Stony Brook baseball's run to the College World Series was
the sixth most viewed story of the year on College Baseball Insider.
Ana Grace Marquez-Greene, one of the children who fell victim to the Newtown school shooting, was the daughter of two Hartford alums. You can donate to help the family
by visiting this website.
What's Next?
The Stony Brook women will host St. Francis tonight starting at 7 p.m. in what is the only game of the evening.
2012 has been a pretty awesome year for the America East. From our schools making runs in the NCAA Tournament, to a brand new social media app and everything in between. To round out the new year, we're going to run back the top 12 moments of 2012 here on the blog. We'll take Monday and Tuesday off and start up with the countdown on the 26th. AExtra will help you relive the best of the best culminating with the conference's number one moment brought to you on New Year's Eve. Be sure to let us know what you think as that series comes your way!
