Audu

[bigfan]

[OneIndian]

No surprise, best of luck to Rich.

[hoopjunkie]

Good luck Rich!! Nothing but the best!

[IndianSaint]

Wow, after asking this question in the recruiting thread this post and one deleted by Sean answered my question. That's fast.

[MTS]

Best wishes to Rich. Hit a big three against Niagara this year that helped us win that game. Hope he does well wherever he lands!

[bigfan]

Wish him the best as well. Seems like a good, smart kid.

[SIENA1971]

Once a Saint . . . Always a Saint! Best of luck to Rich wherever he lands.

[MTS]

Looking at the roster next year (assuming no more changes)

3 Seniors (Poole, Hymes, Silas)
2 Juniors (Bisping, Oliver)
6 Sophomores (Wright, Long, Cole, White, Wolfe, JO)
3 Freshmen (Paige, Brandwijk, Gottfried - WO but potentially in the rotation)

With 9 Sophomores/Freshmen we will still be one of the youngest teams in the nation. The 2014-2015 season could look a lot like the 2007-2008 season when we went 23-11 won the MAAC title (finished tied with Rider for 1st at 13-5) won the MAAC tournament at the TUC and then beat Vanderbilt in the NCAAs. The year before in 06-07 we went 20-12 and lost the MAAC title game to Niagara. This year we go 20-18 and win the CBI title. I'm not predicting a season like 07-08 but it is an eerily similar situation in a very positive way.

Also some key upperclassmen experience (07-08 Hasbrouck/Fisher/Duell - next year it will be Poole/Bisping) That is the biggest difference there is no upperclassman superstar on the team like a Kenny Hasbrouck but solid potential all-MAAC players.

Only small concern is a six man class with the sophomores. I don't think red-shirting anyone is an option...competition will make EVERYONE better and minutes will be tough to come by! There are 14 players potentially in the rotation.. only 9-10 will see major minutes barring injuries. Jimmy will have to keep everyone happy and focused. But it is not the worst problem to have either. The next three years are going to be awesome...Let's go Saints!!!

[tcbaseball]

Best of luck Rich!

[SIENA1971]

Singelais:

AUDU & HOPPER

Siena sophomore guard Richard Audu will transfer to a Division II school for more playing time, head coach Jimmy Patsos said today.

Fairmont (W. Va.) State and Gannon (Pa.) are possible landing spots for Audu, a 6-foot-3 native of Mississauga, Ontario.

The announcement doesn’t come as a surprise because Audu didn’t figure to see playing time in a crowded backcourt for Siena, which graduates no scholarship seniors this year. He played in 13 games this season, averaging four minutes, before he was sidelined by a knee injury.

Patsos said he enjoyed having Audu on the team and that the two were “on the same page” with the decision. He said Audu leaves the program in good academic standing.

Audu’s departure opens a second scholarship for the 2014-15 season, which Siena needed to sign two recruits who have already committed for next season: guard/forward Jimmy Page of Virginia Beach, Va. and forward Willem Brandwijk of Holland.

A third recruit, guard Cameron Gottfried, is expected to join the Saints as a freshman walk-on.

It’s unclear if there will be any more changes in Siena’s roster for the 2014-15 season.

In other news, Patsos said junior forward Marcus Hopper is transferring to Division II Queens College, in his hometown. Hopper redshirted this season to preserve his two years of eligibility and it was already known he was heading elsewhere

[Deleted]

The idea that college basketball is a "game" gets eclipsed on days like this. Thankfully, Siena has been on the fringes of intergalactic college hoop politics and these types of eclipses are rare or not noticed at all. It is, as is often mentioned here, a business to those that derive their living from it and a game for those of us that contribute coin to see it played. Rich was a great kid and today's announcement was probably never even considered by him when he excitedly chose a scholarship offer from Siena two plus years ago. I recall the first time I met him and saw the surprise in his eyes when I mentioned that I had been to Canada on numerous occasions, none of them for business related activities. The incoming talent is already being appraised and a pecking order established for next year's minutes. Two years ago Rich was in that mix. I feel bad for him since he was no doubt promised things that were never really envisioned for him during his freshman year. He found himself on the bottom of the pecking order around this time last year and got pigeonholed. Unavailable scholarships were being offered and it didn't take a math major to count two up from the bottom. For whatever reason, he wasn't able to make himself more visible on the court to our new head coach and the rest is history. The injury sealed his fate. Best of luck Rich, you did nothing to deserve this and I'm sure you will make the adjustment to a new school/program and have a chance to show the talent that got you your Siena scholarship to begin with.

[hoopjunkie]

Apr 11, 2014 11:23:10 GMT -5 MTS said:

Looking at the roster next year (assuming no more changes)

3 Seniors (Poole, Hymes, Silas)
2 Juniors (Bisping, Oliver)
6 Sophomores (Wright, Long, Cole, White, Wolfe, JO)
3 Freshmen (Paige, Brandwijk, Gottfried - WO but potentially in the rotation)

With 9 Sophomores/Freshmen we will still be one of the youngest teams in the nation. The 2014-2015 season could look a lot like the 2007-2008 season when we went 23-11 won the MAAC title (finished tied with Rider for 1st at 13-5) won the MAAC tournament at the TUC and then beat Vanderbilt in the NCAAs. The year before in 06-07 we went 20-12 and lost the MAAC title game to Niagara. This year we go 20-18 and win the CBI title. I'm not predicting a season like 07-08 but it is an eerily similar situation in a very positive way.

Also some key upperclassmen experience (07-08 Hasbrouck/Fisher/Duell - next year it will be Poole/Bisping) That is the biggest difference there is no upperclassman superstar on the team like a Kenny Hasbrouck but solid potential all-MAAC players.

Only small concern is a six man class with the sophomores. I don't think red-shirting anyone is an option...competition will make EVERYONE better and minutes will be tough to come by! There are 14 players potentially in the rotation.. only 9-10 will see major minutes barring injuries. Jimmy will have to keep everyone happy and focused. But it is not the worst problem to have either. The next three years are going to be awesome...Let's go Saints!!!

IF Brandwijk is as ready as I think he is, Wolfe would be a good guy to consider redshirting. He needs a lot of work on his body and understanding of the game. Then we'd have 5 juniors, 4 sophomores in '15-'16

[MTS]

Apr 11, 2014 17:00:46 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

Apr 11, 2014 11:23:10 GMT -5 MTS said:

Looking at the roster next year (assuming no more changes)

3 Seniors (Poole, Hymes, Silas)
2 Juniors (Bisping, Oliver)
6 Sophomores (Wright, Long, Cole, White, Wolfe, JO)
3 Freshmen (Paige, Brandwijk, Gottfried - WO but potentially in the rotation)

With 9 Sophomores/Freshmen we will still be one of the youngest teams in the nation. The 2014-2015 season could look a lot like the 2007-2008 season when we went 23-11 won the MAAC title (finished tied with Rider for 1st at 13-5) won the MAAC tournament at the TUC and then beat Vanderbilt in the NCAAs. The year before in 06-07 we went 20-12 and lost the MAAC title game to Niagara. This year we go 20-18 and win the CBI title. I'm not predicting a season like 07-08 but it is an eerily similar situation in a very positive way.

Also some key upperclassmen experience (07-08 Hasbrouck/Fisher/Duell - next year it will be Poole/Bisping) That is the biggest difference there is no upperclassman superstar on the team like a Kenny Hasbrouck but solid potential all-MAAC players.

Only small concern is a six man class with the sophomores. I don't think red-shirting anyone is an option...competition will make EVERYONE better and minutes will be tough to come by! There are 14 players potentially in the rotation.. only 9-10 will see major minutes barring injuries. Jimmy will have to keep everyone happy and focused. But it is not the worst problem to have either. The next three years are going to be awesome...Let's go Saints!!!

IF Brandwijk is as ready as I think he is, Wolfe would be a good guy to consider redshirting. He needs a lot of work on his body and understanding of the game. Then we'd have 5 juniors, 4 sophomores in '15-'16

That would make a lot of sense. Brandwijk is 19 years old and is coming from Prep school. European players tend to be more physically ready to play. If Wolfe agreed to it then the staff should consider it. We needed Wolfe for a few minutes this past year but with Brandwijk, JO, Imoh and Bisping's emergence we should have enough up front. It also would help spread the classes around. 6 players in one class is too many. The only bad part is Wolfe could be a "free agent" and move on to another school after graduating unless he spread out his classes to graduate in 5 years instead of 4.

[boogie]

I was under the impression this was a done deal a while ago. I tend to think this had more to do with Rich's comfort level at Siena, and not being pushed out. I could be wrong. In any event, best of luck to Rich.

[hoopjunkie]

Apr 11, 2014 17:06:41 GMT -5 MTS said:

Apr 11, 2014 17:00:46 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

IF Brandwijk is as ready as I think he is, Wolfe would be a good guy to consider redshirting. He needs a lot of work on his body and understanding of the game. Then we'd have 5 juniors, 4 sophomores in '15-'16

That would make a lot of sense. Brandwijk is 19 years old and is coming from Prep school. European players tend to be more physically ready to play. If Wolfe agreed to it then the staff should consider it. We needed Wolfe for a few minutes this past year but with Brandwijk, JO, Imoh and Bisping's emergence we should have enough up front. It also would help spread the classes around. 6 players in one class is too many. The only bad part is Wolfe could be a "free agent" and move on to another school after graduating unless he spread out his classes to graduate in 5 years instead of 4.

Don't forget with Cole and Paige on board I fully expect Long to get more minutes at the 4 then this year, with Bisping even getting time at the 5.

Wolfe won't be ready to overtake any of our current bigs next year, and this move would really be beneficial in '16-'17 and '17-'18 (Wolfes junior and senior years)