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Preview: Rider shot 62.5 percent from deep in last week’s upset of Mississippi State

62.5% from 3 point range could spell trouble for the Cats Saturday.  But the Virginia Cavaliers held to 33.3 percent shooting (17-for-51) last night, ending a fast start to the season that saw the Broncs average 87 points in beating Mississippi State and Lehigh.  Considering 's perimeter defense, or lack thereof, in it's first three games Rider's shooting from beyond the arc will definitely be a major concern for the Cats.  Perhaps Calipari will get on the phone to Virginia's head coach Tony Bennett today and find out how they managed to keep Rider from shooting the lights out.

 

Kentucky has played Rider twice previously in 1993 and 1995 winning both games.  Neither score was close.

 

 

From GoBroncs.com:

 

Rider Team Photo

Rider Team Photo

No.

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
0   Mitchell, DeShawn G 6-5 205 So. Piscataway, N.J.
2   Ringgold, Mike F 6-7 215 Jr. Philadelphia, Pa.
3   Youngblood, Jhamar G 6-1 210 Jr. Elizabeth, N.J.
5   Thompson, Ryan G 6-6 220 Sr. Mt. Laurel, N.J.
10   Johnson, Carl G 6-0 160 Fr. Philadelphia, Pa.
12   Thompson, Jonathon G 6-4 190 Fr. Orlando, Fla.
14   Mansell, Patrick G 6-1 195 Jr. Laverock, Pa.
15   Robinson, Justin G 6-2 190 Jr. London, England
21   Nd-Ezuma, Dera C 6-10 215 Fr. Nigeria
23   Gadson, Novar G 6-7 230 So. Philadelphia, Pa.
25   Jackson, Jermaine F 6-8 220 So. Reading, Pa.
31   Penn, Brandon F 6-7 205 So. Philadelphia, Pa.
33   Myers, Robbie F/C 6-9 255 Sr. Mountaintop, Pa.

 

With the return of four starters, the 2009-10 Rider University basketball team is once again expected to be one of the top teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. But that might not be good enough for head coach Tommy Dempsey, who has guided the Broncs to a program-best 58 wins over the last three seasons. “We've been to postseason tournaments the last two years (CBI, CollegeInsider), now it is time to go to the NCAA Tournament,” said Dempsey, the 2008 MAAC Coach of the Year.

 

Depth and experience are two of the biggest reasons Dempsey is excited about this year's team. “We are hoping to finally have the depth that we were looking for,” Dempsey said. “We've had good teams the past couple of years but this year's team should be deeper than those teams. There is a lot of competition for playing time and that should increase the intensity of practice on a daily basis. We don't know who is going to start this year, and that is a good thing. We are also now more of a veteran team. Last year's team had eight players in the rotation that were freshmen and sophomores. I think we have learned a lot about ourselves and what we have to do to become more successful.”

 

The returning starters from last year include All-American candidate Ryan Thompson, a 6'6″ senior point guard who last year ranked in the top 11 in the MAAC in eight categories, including second in scoring (18.0), seventh in assists (3.3) and 11th in rebounding (6.5).

 

“Ryan is the best player in the MAAC and anytime your team steps on the court with the best player you should have a chance to win,” Dempsey said. “His ability to play all over the court makes him a match up problem for people. He can shoot the three, take you off the dribble, or post you up. There are not many holes in his game right now. Ryan is also extremely unselfish. He is into winning and that makes my job as the head coach a lot easier.”

 

Other key returners include 6'7″ junior forward Mike Ringgold, 6'8″ sophomore forward Jermaine Jackson and 6'2″ junior guard Justin Robinson and last year's sixth man and MAAC All Rookie selection, 6'7″ sophomore small forward Novar Gadson.

 

Ringgold ranked seventh in the MAAC in field goal percentage last season and was ninth in rebounding, 21st in scoring. “Mike is the heart and soul of this group,” Dempsey said. “I wouldn't trade him for anybody in the league. We've won 42 games his first two years here and he's been a big reason why. He's one of those guys that doesn't get as much credit as he deserves but I really rely on him to bring his energy and his effort every day. He's tough, competitive and knows how to win. His attitude has really helped me change the culture of the program, to start holding guys more accountable to playing hard, playing good defense. If we are going to become a defensive team, which we need to do to become a championship team, guys are going to have to follow his lead.”

 

Jackson started 21 of the final 22 games last season as a rookie after a preseason knee injury. He grabbed six rebounds in his first start and blocked seven shots in the MAAC semifinals. “Jermaine's role is to defend, rebound and play hard,” Dempsey said. “His offensive numbers were modest last year but people forget he missed the entire pre-season and that is difficult especially for a freshman. He has really focused on becoming a better offensive player during the spring and summer.”

 

Robinson moved from the point guard to shooting guard position last season and led the MAAC in three-point field goal percentage (.437). He spent the summer training with the Great Britain National team. “Justin is probably the player who has taken the biggest step forward in the past year,” Dempsey said. “I expected him to have a huge sophomore year and then he had the knee surgery to start the season.  From the middle of January to the end of the season I think he was one of the better guards in the league. We were 11-4 going down the stretch and that was because Justin got healthy. He's had a terrific spring and summer competing all over the world with the Great Britain National team. I think Justin is going to break out this year and become one of the better guards in the MAAC. Over the next two years he's going to show people just how good he could be.”

 

Gadson, a finalist for MAAC Rookie of the Year honors, was named the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Freshman of the Year for 2008-09 and was named to the Collegeinsider.com Freshman Mid-Major All-America team. “We threw Novar right into the fire last year as a freshman and he responded very well,” Dempsey said. “There were nights when he played like a freshman and there were nights when nobody in the gym could stop him. His growing process was one of the reasons why down the stretch we were a tough team to beat. He's really worked hard this summer to become a better shooter. Novar is going to be a force to be reckoned with in this league over the next three years.”

 

The key newcomer is 6'1″ junior guard Jhamar Youngblood, a transfer from Monmouth University where he was the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman and the Hawks' leading scorer as both a freshman and sophomore. “Jhamar is chomping at the bit to get out there,” Dempsey said. “It was hard on him to sit out last year but he worked hard on his game and used his time off to become a more complete player. He has gotten better and stronger and he's eager to get back out there and show people he can really make an impact in our program. Jhamar is very athletic and he knows how to score the basketball. We also think he is a guy that can go after the best guard on the other team and lock him up on defense.”

 

Other returnees include Patrick Mansell, Brandon Penn and Robbie Myers.

 

Mansell took 52 three-point field goals last year, finishing third on the team in three-point field goal percentage and went the entire season without missing a foul shot. “Pat is still probably the best shooter we have in the program,” Dempsey said. “He's a veteran who has made some big shots in the past and we'll still count on him to come in off the bench and make shots for us and be a good leader.”

 

Penn played in 31 games last year, all off the bench, after compiling 18 points and 11 rebounds in his first 45 collegiate minutes. “Brandon needs to get himself in the mix this year,” Dempsey said. “He's 20 pounds heavier and with his increased strength and understanding of the game we expect him to demand more minutes this year. He was a little disappointed in his freshman year, but it motivated him. He got after it in the weight room and did a lot more individual work outs. He didn't like sitting on the bench and that's a positive.  He's done the things he's needed to do since the season ended to put himself in position to be more of a contributor on this year's team and he'll get that opportunity.”

 

Myers is one of just two seniors on the squad and is a veteran of 54 games. “Robbie has great character and has to provide senior leadership,” Dempsey said. “Good teams have that. He's been around the program and we love having him here. You don't have to play 25 minutes a game to be a team leader, to be a good role model for the younger players. Robbie works hard, practices hard and does whatever the coaches ask of him. I am really pulling for Robbie to have a good senior year.”

 

The incoming freshmen include Carl Johnson, Jonathon Thompson and Dera Nd-Ezuma. “I think it is a strong class, a talented group that hopefully has another MAAC All-Rookie team member in it,” said Dempsey, who has produced a member of the All-Rookie team every year at Rider. “One thing that we needed to do was add depth. We have a lot of key players back, all with extensive playing experience, so to get on the court as a freshman this year you better be pretty good. We went after kids who could come in and contribute and give us the depth we were missing last year.” 

 

Johnson came to Rider from St. Thomas More Prep School in Connecticut, where he averaged 18 points, 7.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals. A 6'0″ point guard, Johnson is a 2008 graduate of Lower Merion High School, where he averaged 18 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals, leading his team to the PIAA AAAA State Championship in 2006. “Carl is going to be an important piece because he gives us some depth at the point guard position,” Dempsey said. “He won a state championship at Lower Merion, and to do that at the point guard position is pretty important, so now you are not only adding a good point guard who has a bright future in your program but also a player who has experienced winning in the past.”

 

Thompson, a 6'4″ guard, scored over 1,000 career points at Jones High School in Orlando, averaging 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals as a senior for the 28-4 Florida AAA State Runner Up. “Jonathon had a terrific senior year and is another player who has been around a lot of winning,” Dempsey said. “He is my kind of player. Jon is athletic, tough, competitive, and plays to win. If we are going to be as deep as I hope we are, it is because he can come in and contribute as a freshman, and we expect him to.”

 

Nd-Ezuma is a 6'10” center from Nigeria who just began playing basketball two years ago at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. “Dera is a presence in the lane,” Dempsey said “He's a shot blocker and a really good rebounder. He's only been playing basketball for two years so the sky is the limit for him. He just needs to get more comfortable with the game. Dera is a worker therefore his offensive skill level will advance quickly. He also has worked extremely hard in the weight room this summer. I expect Dera to eventually be a great center in the MAAC.”

 

After reaching the MAAC Championship game in 2008 and missing the 2009 MAAC Title game on a banked three-point buzzer-beater in the semifinals, Rider is ready to be a championship team in 2010.

 

“Before you become a championship team there is a process involved,” Dempsey said. “I feel we've lived the process over the past couple of years. A lot of these players have been here for both of those disappointing losses. Now there is nothing left for us to do except win it. We understand how difficult that will be this year and we are well aware that the league will be stronger than ever, but we can't hide behind that. We have to find a way to get it done. No excuses this year. It is time to raise another banner in Alumni Gym.”

On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

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