Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11



Recruiting updates via AEC expert Ryan Gregg.

Martell Lyons & Dallas Newsom visited UNH campus this Saturday. Were both seen on sidelines of UMass/UNH football game. #UNH #AEC

Lyons, with UNH scholly offer, is said to be deciding between Wildcats and Dartmouth. Both schools hopeful he signs in early season. #UNH #AEC

Newsom of Bronx Community College has offer from Long Island University, but rumors are Coach Rizzo sending one his way soon. #UNH #AEC

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Rumors Become Truth, Newsom Gets UNH Offer

November 14, 2010 - Just days after hearing the report from Ryan Gregg, the speculation of a scholarship offer to junior college power forward Dallas Newsom has come to fruition. When questioned about the offer, Coach Rizzo was careful with his choice of words.

I know I'm a first year coach, but I know my boundaries. You guys know the boundaries. You know I'm not allowed to talk publicly about any student-athlete that hasn't signed a Letter of Intent to play for us. With that said we are looking at both the high school and junior college ranks to find players that fit our system. Just because we may lose a year of eligibility because a kid has spent a year at a junior college doesn't mean we will shy away from a kid, especially if it is a position of need.

Recruiting insiders have Newsom still favoring Long Island University just slightly over New Hampshire as he is looking to stay close to home. Interesting thought was that AJ Rizzo went to scout and talk to Newsom rather than sending his head scout Adham Jones. Seems to us that Coach Rizzo is going all-in on Newsom.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Blue Devils Torch Wildcats

Nov 17, 2010 - UNH at CCSU
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
New Hampshire (0-2)	37	23	60
C. Connecticut (3-0)	32	46	78

New Hampshire
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. Rhoads	30	5-14	0-0	8-10	6	5	0	0	2	18
F. Myrick	31	3-10	0-3	2-2	1	0	1	1	2	8
J. Valladares	26	1-4	0-1	4-5	7	0	0	0	2	6

C. Connecticut
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
K. Horton	18	9-15	4-8	2-2	8	0	1	0	1	24
S. Thompson	20	5-12	2-5	1-1	0	0	1	0	3	13
J. Alexander	26	2-5	0-0	4-4	11	1	0	5	2	8

Another road game, another second half collapse for the UNH Wildcats. This game was eerily similar to the game against the BC Eagles as they lost a half time lead, turned the ball over 20+ times (21 tonight) and allowed a bench player to go for 20+ points (24 tonight). If that's not a recipe for disaster, what is? The field goal percentage for UNH was horrendous tonight and going 3-19 from deep isn't helping matters at all. Coach Rizzo is going to have to stress shot selection until his players start knocking down jumpers from deep.

It was encouraging to see sophomore point guard Chandler Rhoads have a sexy stat line with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, but it would look a heck of a lot better in a winning effort. Starting freshman small forward Ferg Myrick was the second leading scorer behind Rhoads with eight points, but ended up breaking a finger on his shooting hand that greatly hampered his shot. Team doctors say he will be able to play through it but speculate it could bother him for at least a month. Tough start for the youngster.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Quinnipiac Quiets Wildcats At Home In Durham

Nov 25, 2010 - QU at UNH
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Quinnipiac (3-1)	51	30	81
New Hampshire (0-3)	38	35	73

Quinnipiac
TOP PERFROMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
J. Jonson	34	10-23	4-10	8-11	8	7	2	0	5	32
E. Baker	38	6-11	4-6	0-1	6	6	1	0	1	16
R. May-Thomas	13	4-6	2-4	0-1	3	0	0	0	3	10

New Hampshire
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. Matagrano	32	6-11	0-2	1-2	8	0	0	0	1	13
D. Buckley	24	5-6	1-2	2-2	4	1	5	0	3	13
C. Rhoads	31	2-7	0-0	2-5	4	14	1	0	3	6

New Hampshire's long awaited home opener ends like the first two games of the season: a Wildcats loss. UNH got some great individual efforts, but it doesn't seem like they are gelling as a team like Coach Rizzo would like. Matagrano and Buckley led the way with 13 points a piece while Rhoads chipped in with a career-high 14 assists. For the first time of the season, the team shot over 50% from the floor and hit on eight of 18 three-pointers, but they struggled from the line a bit.

The biggest reason for the loss was the outstanding effort of Quinnipiac's junior point guard James Johnson, who put up a LeBron James-like stat line of 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals on 10-23 shooting including 4-10 from deep and 8-11 at the line. When asked, Coach Rizzo had this to say:

"What that kid did tonight was incredible. We had no answers for him. Man-to-man, 2-3, 3-2... Didn't matter. He was scoring at will and getting everyone else involved. It was his night and we suffered because of it. I have to do a better job in putting our guys in position to stop him, but when you're knocking down contested shots with two defenders on you, there's nothing you can do about it."

Three weeks into the season, the Wildcats are now 0-3 with a tough week ahead. They have an underrated Harvard (4-2) to visit on Wednesday before busing over to undefeated Rhode Island (7-0) on Saturday, December 1st. On top of that, December 2nd is the opening for the early signing period. If UNH starts 0-5, will that dissuade some prospects from signing on early to be a Wildcat?

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Frequent flier miles for AJ Rizzo. Three in-house visits this week. Boston for Lyons, Bronx for Newsom, Hartford for Butch. All three hold #UNH scholarship offers.

Coach Rizzo is out in full force this week to try to lock up at least 1 of his top-3 targets. Feeling around the program he may miss out on all of them. #UNH #AEC

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Coach Rizzo Gets Win No. 1!

Nov 28, 2010 - UNH at HARV
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
New Hampshire (1-3)	44	27	71
Harvard (4-3)	33	35	68

New Hampshire
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. Rhoads	32	6-11	0-0	5-6	3	6	0	0	2	17
J. Valladares	26	3-9	1-3	3-4	6	1	2	0	2	10
F. Myrick	31	4-7	0-1	1-1	1	0	1	0	4	9

Harvard
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
E. Rouse	26	6-16	2-8	7-9	1	1	2	0	8	21
L. Rivard	15	3-3	1-1	2-2	2	2	0	0	1	9
K. Wright	22	3-5	0-0	1-1	6	1	3	1	0	7

In his fourth game as a Division I men's basketball coach, AJ Rizzo finally gets his first ever collegiate win! Whether it was against Kentucky, UCLA or, in this case, Harvard, it will be a game that Coach will never forget. In typical Wildcat form, they held an 11-point lead at halftime, but allowed the Crimson to claw back in and make it interesting. Leading scorer Chandler Rhoads did just enough to eke out a 3-point win by scoring 17 points and handing out six assists in the winning effort. Freshman Ferg Myrick, broken finger and all, had an efficient nine points and kept his matchup from hitting a single bucket all game.

An all-out team effort is what it took to garner up a win for Coach Rizzo. Let's hope he can parlay this into another win on the road at Rhode Island and perhaps a win on the recruiting trail this weekend.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Hard Fought Loss at Rhode Island, Herrion Lost To Injury

Dec 1, 2010 - UNH at URI
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
New Hampshire (1-4)	47	24	71
Rhode Island (9-0)	43	33	76

New Hampshire
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
F. Myrick	26	5-9	1-2	1-2	1	1	0	0	2	12
C. Matagrano	22	3-5	0-1	4-5	3	0	0	0	3	10
C. Rhoads	30	2-4	0-0	5-6	7	5	2	0	4	9

Rhode Island
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
N. Malesevic	34	6-16	6-10	2-5	6	6	1	0	4	20
A. Richmond	28	5-8	2-4	6-8	5	6	3	0	1	18
M. Jones	35	4-10	1-3	0-2	1	0	1	0	1	9

The Wildcats may have lost the game 76-71 to a still undefeated Rhode Island team, but that is not all they lost. Sharpshooter Ryan Herrion is out for the next 2-3 weeks with a lower back strain that he will not be able to play through. In what was a controversial play, Herrion was taken out by an on-coming defender. Coach Rizzo was not all too happy about it.

"Listen, I'm not going to say it was a dirty play. Ryan [Herrion] is one of the best shooters in the league. When he's about to pull an open three, the defender is going to run out at him as hard as possible. But when the defender turns to box him out before he hits the ground and there's no foul called, I have a problem with that. I mean the kid ends up in press row on his back and now won't be available for three weeks. I need to protect my players and if that means getting a technical like I did tonight, that's fine with me."

The team hasn't exactly struggled offensively this season, but to lose your best scorer off the bench is going to hurt. What has been holding this team back from taking the next step forward is their perimeter defense as opposing guards seem to have a field day against this UNH team. That will be a focus in practice in the coming weeks to try to slow down some of the marquee guards this team will see in the near future.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

America East Recruiting Update
UNH Misses Out On Two Targets

December 2, 2010 - On the very first day of the early signing period, the fears of the UNH faithful had come true. Two of the three prospects they had offered scholarships to had signed... with someone else. Their reportedly No. 1 target, Martell Lyons (3* PF from Boston) ended up signing with Dartmouth. If you are on the same page as Coach Rizzo, you believe that they got themselves an outstanding young player that could potentially be a program leader for the next four years.

Along with losing out on Lyon, junior college freshman Dallas Newsom has decided to stay at home at Long Island University. Newsom's entire package and polish was something the Wildcat coaching staff coveted, but in the end just didn't have enough ammo to bring him to Durham.

With two of their top targets now off the board, it is time to head back to the war room and re-map their whole recruiting strategy. If the sources are correct, Hartford point guard Moises Butch still holds an offer to play at UNH, but according to his high school coach, "I'd be shocked to see him sign early anywhere whether it is UConn, UNH or Northeastern." Just for the record, UConn has ZERO interest in Butch, but UNH and NE, along with Vermont, are in the running.

[hockeyplaya2724]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Very realistic, I love it! Sad to hear that your off to such a slow start, but once you find that winning touch it will be so much sweeter.

[rangerrick012]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Just want to say I appreciate you and all the other guys who do these write ups. I've always wanted to do something similar...just not enough time w/ school, school, and more school. Playing the games is time consuming enough. But much respect, good luck, and keep up the good work!

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Very realistic, I love it! Sad to hear that your off to such a slow start, but once you find that winning touch it will be so much sweeter.

Thanks and it is a slow start, but we are in games at least. Losing some of these recruiting targets really hurts, so we'll see what we can bring in to build the program.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Just want to say I appreciate you and all the other guys who do these write ups. I've always wanted to do something similar...just not enough time w/ school, school, and more school. Playing the games is time consuming enough. But much respect, good luck, and keep up the good work!

My St. John's (now SMU) dynasty is one that I play every game and that is very time consuming. With this one, I'm just simming every game and giving a write up on what's going on with the team. It allows me to get through about three games in about an hour when I could only get one game and write up done in the same time if I were to actually play the game. Plus, I had gotten too good at the game to keep it as challenging as I would like.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Struggles Continue Against Northeastern At Home

Dec 3, 2010 - NE at UNH
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Northeastern (4-3)	32	38	70
New Hampshire (1-5)	24	36	60

Northeastern
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. Allen	32	6-17	4-8	3-4	5	6	1	0	5	19
K. Black	27	7-13	2-2	2-3	7	1	1	2	3	18
A. Bates	36	3-10	0-2	3-5	5	2	1	1	3	9

New Hampshire
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Morris	31	5-10	1-1	1-2	2	0	2	0	1	12
A. Abreu	18	3-4	1-2	4-6	2	0	1	1	5	11
C. Matagrano	25	4-12	0-4	0-0	7	2	0	0	2	8

The difference in the game was the play of the big men for both teams. While Chris Matagrano did put up eight points and seven rebounds, his efficiency was poor. He shot an abysmal 4-12 from floor while missing all four attempts from three. Coach Rizzo has repeatedly told him to stop shooting so many threes and this is why. James Valladares only took (and missed) one three-point shot, but his three for ten shooting on the night helped to sink the Wildcats.

Northeastern's big men seemed to dominate the paint as they combined for 27 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks while getting UNH into foul trouble early and often. If you control the paint, you control the game and that's exactly what Northeastern did tonight.

Recruit Moises Butch was not in attendance, but Coach Rizzo happens to be on his way to Hartford, CT to visit him tomorrow night. They know he is high on Northeastern's list and hope that this loss won't persuade him to head to Boston rather than Durham.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Wildcats Downed By Brown

Dec 6, 2010 - UNH at BRWN
TEAM	1ST	2ND	SCORE
New Hampshire (1-6)	40	39	79
Brown (3-5)	46	38	84

New Hampshire
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
C. Matagrano	29	6-10	1-2	5-6	6	0	2	0	2	18
D. Buckley	23	6-8	2-4	1-1	3	0	1	1	1	15
J. Valladares	24	4-6	1-2	3-3	5	0	1	1	5	12

Brown
TOP PERFORMERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
M. Sullivan	16	10-14	1-3	3-3	5	0	0	0	0	24
S. McGonigil	28	4-9	2-3	6-8	7	4	3	0	0	16
D. Walker	25	4-8	1-3	0-1	3	2	0	1	3	9

Defense wins championships. Before you can win championships, you need to win games. At this rate, the Wildcats won't be doing much of that any time soon. Defensively, New Hampshire struggles to stop the other team from scoring, especially the opposing bench. The Wildcats have a formidable starting five to go up against the teams from small conferences, but when the bench comes in, that's when the struggles begin. Sure, the loss of Ryan Herrion off the bench doesn't help the situation, but the rest of the team needs to step up while the sophomore sharp-shooter is out.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Career Legacy of AJ Rizzo - CH2k11

Recruiting Woes Continue for UNH

December 9, 2010

Durham, NH - The Wildcats are losing a lot lately, and it is not sitting well with the fan base. Not only is it frustrating to watch them constantly lose close games to teams they are very capable of beating, but the coaching staff is mourning the losses of local talent that would certainly help out the program. The final day of the early signing period was cruel to the Wildcats.

First one to sign else where was three-star junior college sophomore Jesse Cummings of Bristol, CT. Coach Rizzo went to visit the power forward at home just days before and it clearly wasn't enough to convince him from signing with Marist. New Hampshire got in the race for Cummings later than they would have liked it likely cost them a chance at the defensive big man. Jesse would have been a great anchor in the paint for two seasons.

Another junior college sophomore got away and once again, it was to Dartmouth. After losing out on Martell Lyons on the first day of the signing period, the last day they lost power forward Carson Buggs. Buggs looks to be an athletic freak 6'10" with great speed, power and vertical leap. He finishes strong around the rim which is something the Wildcats desperately lack. Maybe Coach Rizzo should have considered the Dartmouth job a bit harder...

America East's Best Signing

There wasn't much action for America East teams in terms of recruits signing on to play in the conference, but the Vermont Catamounts landed the best recruit in the early signing period. Jave Rost, a 6'0" three-star point guard from Portland, ME joined UVM after a season at junior college.

Nation's Best Recruiting Class.... So Far

As if it wasn't going to be tough enough to recruit in the northeast, the nation's best recruiting class of the year so far isn't too far away from the UNH campus. Coach Rizzo's home town BC Eagles have signed three top-tier recruits already. Before this season, the Eagles have never signed a McDonald's All-American. That dramatically changed this week.

All three recruits the Eagles signed are All-Americans ranked in the top-25 by most recruiting services. The three are Alfred Fuller (PF from Jersey City, NJ), Francis Wrenn (PF from Queens, NY) and Kory Massie (C from Newark, NJ). They are nationally ranked 11th, 14th and 23rd, respectively. All three may be a tad undersized for their positions, but their athleticism is all off the charts and should lead to an up-and-down offensive onslaught by Boston College.