Game Notes
Riverdale, NY - Manhattan will open its 113th year of intercollegiate basketball at Draddy Gymnasium against Elon on Tuesday, November 6 at 8:30 pm in a game that will be streamed through
WatchESPN. The first 250 students in attendance will receive a free Statue of Liberty Foam Headband.
Buy Online And Save
Manhattan Athletics has announced a $5 discount for fans who purchase their single-game tickets online or at the box office prior to home contests. This early-bird discount applies to all ticket-purchasers, regardless of the section in which their ticket is located. Early-bird purchases for chairback seats are $20, bleacher reserved are $15 and general admission are $10. Online ticket-purchasers may choose to print their tickets at home, have them delivered to their mobile device, or have them held at the Manhattan Athletics box office located in Draddy Gymnasium. Click
HERE to buy tickets.
Home Sweet Home
The Jaspers will be opening at home for the second-straight season.
Manhattan Madness
Last week, the college held its annual Manhattan Madness basketball kickoff event:
Series History With Elon
This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.
History
The November 6 opener is the earliest in program history.
For Starters
Manhattan is 74-38 (.661), all-time, in season openers.
Coach Masiello
Head Coach
Steve Masiello begins his eighth season at the helm of the Jaspers and is fifth in program history with 116 victories. Additionally, his next victory will be his 200th as a member of the coaching staff, having accrued 83 as an assistant from 2001-2005.
Coach Mas At Draddy
At Draddy Gymnasium, Masiello is 57-29 (.663) in eight seasons.
Getting Defensive
Masiello's teams have forced at least 10 turnovers in a game 50 times with the Jaspers going 40-10 (.800) during that time.
The Returners
Manhattan returns eight letterwinners from last year's team and welcomes 10 newcomers.
Pauly Being Pauly
Leading the returners is reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year junior
Pauly Paulicap, who averaged 10.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 2.5 bpg (16th NCAA) last year.
Additionally ...
Paulicap ranked third in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.558) while adding four double-doubles.
Defensive State Of Mind
The Jaspers have claimed four of the last eight MAAC Defensive Players of the Year awards under Masiello as Paulicap joined three-time Defensive Player of the Year
Rhamel Brown in being cited
as the league's top defensive force.
Paulicap Earns Preseason All-MAAC Honors
Paulicap was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team and rejected at least three shots on 14 different occasions last season.
Not Too Bad
His 78 total blocks were the fourth-most in school history and more than 52 schools had all of last season.
Setting The Tone
Thanks in large part to Paulicap, Manhattan ranked among the top-three in the MAAC in six defensive categories: turnovers forced (14.8-3rd; 48th NCAA), rebounding defense (33.7-1st), scoring defense (70.2 ppg-2nd), blocks (3.9 bpg-2nd), field goal percentage defense (.437-3rd) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.345-3rd).
O Captain, My Captain
Paulicap, senior
Thomas Capuano and sophomore
Nehemiah Mack will serve as team captains for the upcoming year.
From Long Range
Capuano paced the MAAC during league play with a 53.7 percent conversion rate from long distance.
In The Backcourt
Mack posted a 1.81 assist/turnover ratio last year and played in 30 games.
Deja Vu?
Manhattan was tabbed eighth in the MAAC Preseason Poll. The Jaspers were slated eighth prior to the 2011-2012 season and finished with 21 victories.
Welcome Back
Senior
Samson Usilo returns after missing all of last season while sophomore
Ebube Ebube and graduate student
Ibrahima Diallo are back for their second seasons as Jaspers.
Newcomers
Jasper Nation will see 10 new faces on the sidelines this year, including a pair of student-athletes that redshirted last season.
If You Ain't First,You're Last
Manhattan was the first-ever NCAA Division I team to win a game in Europe besting Holy Cross 70-54 on December 1, 2017 as part of the inaugural Belfast Classic in Northern Ireland before dropping a 56-55 thriller to Towson in the Championship.
Manhattan Madness
The Jaspers have paced the MAAC in turnovers forced in three of the last five years (2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014) and are 24-13 under Masiello when turning the opposition over at least 20 times.
Last Year ...
58.1 percent of Manhattan's games (18-of-31) were decided by 10 points or less. Additionally, in the last five minutes/OT of 10-point games, the Jaspers shot 78.6 percent (92-of-117) from the line, including 86.7 percent (65-of-75) during MAAC play, and 43.4 percent (59-of-136) from the floor, including 42.0 percent (21-of-50) from deep.
60-Point Club
The Jaspers are 43-5 under Masiello when holding teams to less than 60 points.
Coach Masiello At Manhattan
Masiello has led Manhattan to a 116-110 (.513) record, including going 72-62 (.537) during MAAC play, and 57-29 (.663) at Draddy Gymnasium over his seven seasons, including 44-22 vs. league opposition. He has won two MAAC Titles, advanced to title game three times, claimed two Metropolitan Coach of the Year awards with a pair of 20-win campaigns. Masiello has also participated in the NCAA Tournament in 13 of his first 21 seasons as a player or coach, including being a part of eight conference champions and one National Title.
About Elon
Elon (14-18; 6-12 CAA) returns 11 letterwinners, including starters Tyler Seibring, Dainan Swoope and Steven Santa Ana. Seibring paced the Phoenix with 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.(15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg).
Up Next
The Jaspers will be at UMBC on Monday, November 12 at 7:00 pm.
