Marist Red Foxes
Overall Rank: #28
Conference Rank: #1 Metro Atlantic
Marist Team Page
One of the premier smaller-school basketball programs along the East Coast, Marist had a spectacular regular season in 2012-13. The school, based in Poughkeepsie, New York, ran the table in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and only lost seven times. Unfortunately, that last loss knocked the Red Foxes out of the NCAA tournament in the very first round. Still, Marist is back, with four starters returning from the squad that did so well last year, and all indications are Marist is loaded for bear and ready to try for its 11th straight MAAC regular-season title.
2012-13 Record: 26-7, 18-0
2012-13 Postseason: NCAA (lost to Michigan State in first round, 55-47)
Coach: Brian Giorgis
Coach Record: 277-80 at Marist, 277-80 overall
Strengths:
Marist was in the top 10 in the nation in two categories, one of which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Its 79.1 free-throw percentage was fifth in the country, only one percent lower than Iowa State. The other top-10 statistic suggests Marist’s game is a little physical. Its 12.4 personal fouls per game were eighth in the nation. I don’t consider this a weakness so much because Marist brings back many starters and backups, so the bench is definitely deep. Its defense is also strong, having been ranked 13th in the nation in 3-point shooting defense (26.1 percent) and 15th in scoring defense (52.3 points per game).
Weaknesses:
For a team that prides itself on offense and winning games, its rebound margin and blocked shots per game were surprisingly weak. Its rebound margin was minus 2.3, which suggests that it surrendered more rebounds than it pulled down. Its 2.8 blocked shots per game put it two-thirds of the way down. Still, considering the overwhelming amount of strengths and the players on the team returning, this isn’t really a statistic where the team really has to worry much.
Final Projection:
Marist is not shying away from the competition, having scheduled Kentucky to open the season and Ohio State and Old Dominion shortly after that. Because the MAAC is so large, however, it doesn’t give Marist too many more opportunities to face non-conference foes. The Red Foxes do have enough support returning to get through another MAAC season with a championship, but the bigger question will be can the Red Foxes turn all that regular-season success into another NCAA tournament bid.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Sydney Coffey, Sophomore, Guard, 2013 MAAC All-Rookie Team (7.3 points per game)
Casey Dulin, Senior, Guard, 44.6 percent shooting and 10.2 points per game
Emma O’Connor, Senior, Forward, 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game
Leanne Ockenden, Senior, Guard, 145 career 3-point FG
Madeline Blais, Sophomore, Guard/Forward, 2.8 points per game off bench
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 63.9 (125th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 52.3 (15, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.4 (71, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 35.1 (24, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.6 (43, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.9 (130, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 79.1 (5, 1)
Rebound Margin: -2.3 (241, 7)
Assists Per Game: 15.3 (42, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.3 (48, 1)
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