Coaching Prospect: Dave Leitao

Over the next 10 days WVOF will preview the coaching candidates who could possibly be the next hed coach of the Fairfield Stags. Today is Dave Leitao.

Experience: Head Coach at DePaul,Northeastern and Virginia.
Assistant Coach at UCONN during their national championship run

Awards: 2006-07 ACC Coach of the Year
2007 NABC District 5 Coach of the Year

Positives: He has experience. His first year at Virginia he only had 7 scholarship players but was able to defeat UNC and surprised everybody as they finished in seventh. He also has won a share of the ACC Regular Season title which shows that he has the ability to defeat the top teams.

Negatives: His intense coaching style. By all accounts that is what he is known for but according to the Bleacher Report this intense style could be scaring away recruits. This would be intresting for the existing players because while Cooley was intense, he was also fair.

Just Make it Right

They need to make things right. And for the last two games, things have not been quite right for the Fairfield University women’s basketball team. The Stags dropped their second straight contest as they were defeated by Siena to drop their MAAC record to 10-6 and 17-10 overall currently tied with the Saints for fifth in the conference. “[The result was] a little disappointed. Obviously it’s against Siena. It would’ve been great to have a win,” senior forward Joelle Nawrocki said.

It should’ve been a cheerful night for Nawrocki and her fellow senior Kelly Romano as they stepped on to the hardwood for the last time in the regular season as Stags. “That was awesome,” Nawrocki said. “I felt like I had a lot of support around me.” The Unionville native became a prominent piece of the Stag’s puzzle in the last couple of years after only playing 93 minutes and scoring just 18 points in her first two seasons. Her fellow classmate Kelly Romano also shares an important role for the Stags even though it might not be displayed on any box score. She can be seen on the sidelines as the vocal leader for the squad and remains the definition of a team captain. She says she wants to be remembered “just as a hard worker, a team player. Basically just a Fairfield player.”

They entered the program in head coach Joe Frager’s first year with Fairfield and he shares a special connection with his two upperclassmen. “I think those two kids epitomized the way we want our kids to conduct ourselves,” he said. “Because of the type of the people they are, the way they were raised, and the quality of education they received here at Fairfield University, they are going to go on to do outstanding things.”

But things weren’t all perfect on their senior night. “It was nice- brought back some memories. I wish we could have closed it out with a win,” Romano said. The Stags have still failed to show that they can beat a team in the ‘upper class’ in the MAAC as they have not defeated an above .500 squad this season. “Maybe [those thoughts] creep into their heads a little bit. It’s our job as a staff when those thoughts start to creep in those thoughts kind of punch them right back out,” Frager said.

The squad is now 0-2 against Siena and if the season were to end today they would oppose them in the first round match up. However Frager believes that won’t lead to a negative mindset come tournament time. “I would hope as competitors it doesn’t lead to concern,” he said. “If you’ve been beaten twice if you are a competitor you want a chance to make it right. I never use the word revenge but as an athlete you want to set things right.”

Frager thinks his team has the heart to fight through this tough stretch of games and succeed in the playoffs based on their determination and effort. “I’m sure our kids are going to bust their butts to try and make this right,” he said.

Although they have more home wins than any other team in the conference, they still have yet to win a game in the Webster Bank Arena, the very place that will decide their fate in the MAAC tournament. “I think our guys got kind of a comfort level playing at Alumni but we’ve had three times down here we got to get it right,” he said. “When the lights go out and the board goes off and the red spotlight comes on, it’s an exciting thing but it can also make you a little tense a little tight.”

The women’s basketball team aren’t the only ones who have lost out at the experience of winning at the 9,000 seat venue: the fans have too. And they are not the only people who need to make things right: the students have to also.

During the interview, Frager dropped his head and sighed with a pause before answering the question. There seemed to be a sense of desire and dejection in his tone. He said:
“
this is a direct request, plea from me that some of the students get out and support the women’s team. Our men are having a phenomenal season and we support them 100 percent. We would like to see some of the same support for the women because they’re really busting their butts. We love Coach Cooley, we love the guys and we know the students love them, we just almost want them to show a little love for our women too.”

Joe Miko and Mike Evanovich added to 12 Hour Show

Joe Miko who scored the first two points in the varisty history of Fairfield University and Mike Evanovich who was last year's MAAC Sixth Man of the Year will be guests in the WVOF 12 Hour Show which will premiere on Thursday February 24th.

Rider Preview

Well, this weekend is one of the bigger weekends in recent memory for Stags fans. It starts Friday at 9 against the Iona Gaels. The team everyone is talking about. The Gaels are struggling of late. They have lost their last three games (all in MAAC play). However the Gaels only lost these three games by a combined seven points. Even though the Gaels are struggling many believe they stand as the biggest threat to knock off the Stags in the MAAC tournament. Then the Rider Broncs come to town on Sunday. Another dangerous opponent, and although we defeated them in Jersey earlier in the year, they are a tough team with a high powered and dangerous offense.

February 4th VS Iona- We start with the epic tale of two teams that play completely opposite styles. The Gaels come into this game averaging a MAAC leading 79 points per contest, while the Stags are giving up a MAAC best 55 points per game. Iona is lead by two dominant play makers. It all starts with junior PG Scott Machado. Machado LEADS THE NATION in assists per game with 7.8, and also puts up 14.1 ppg. Machado has caught my eye since his freshman year. He plays very similar to Needham. He is quick and tough and has the ability to make plays by himself with or without the ball. This season, he has as complete an arsenal as any mid-major point guard in the country. His main target is Junior College transfer Michael Glover. Glover has literally taken the MAAC by storm. He has been a complete game changer for the Gaels. Glover, originally a Seton Hall recruit, has put up eye popping numbers, averaging 19.1 ppg, and 10.7 rpg! Glover, against big East power Syracuse dropped 25 points and had 16 rebounds. However, in losses at Canisius and at home against Rider he only averaged 8.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg. At the beginning of the season, he seemed unstoppable. However, teams are learning to control Glover, and if you can control Glover you can control the Gaels. Lucky for first year head coach Tim Cluess, the offensive options don't stop. You have red-shirt sophomore sharpshooter Kyle Smyth who is averaging 11.6 ppg and a team leading 55 three pointers. Right behind Smyth is junior Jermel Jenkins who is putting up 10.1 points per contest and has 48 threes on the year. Slasher Rashon Dwight is averaging 7.4 ppg, and big man Alejo Rodriguez is putting up 6 points per contest along with 6.2 caroms per game. Not to be left out of the mix, freshman Sean Armand leads the team nailing 40.6 percent of his three point shots. Yea, this team can flat out score. What they cannot do is play defense. The Gaels are giving up 71.4 ppg which is 7th in the MAAC, and over their last 5 games they have only scored more than 80 points once, three of these games were loses.

Prediction- This is a very very hard game to predict. Iona is absolutely desperate for a win as they do not want to fall into 5th place in the MAAC standings. This is a team that has MAAC championship expectations. So the question is which Iona team shows up? The one that shocked Richmond on the road, or the one that lost to lowly Bryant? Hmmm, I expect the Gaels to give the Stags everything they have. However, I think the Stags offense will steal the show in this one.
Stags 74 Gaels 70

X Factor- Maurice Barrow. It is a lot to ask for a freshman to guard and all-MAAC player like Glover. However, if there is one frosh that can do it, his name is Maurice Barrow. Expect him to slow down Glover. However, he will pick up some fouls and Glover will pick up some points. That is where Keith Matthews comes in and steps up as well. I think the Stags hold Glover to 14 points and 12 rebounds, resulting in a victory. Another X Factor will be the Stags offense. Something tells me Iona will be hitting their shots,and the pressure will be on Needham and the offense. I am feeling a big game from Derek Needham and Yorel Hawkins. The Stags will show tonight that their offense can step up when needed, as they win a game that comes down to the final two minutes.

Judgement Week

Well, this weekend is one of the bigger weekends in recent memory for Stags fans. It starts Friday at 9 against the Iona Gaels. The team everyone is talking about. The Gaels are struggling of late. They have lost their last three games (all in MAAC play). However the Gaels only lost these three games by a combined seven points. Even though the Gaels are struggling many believe they stand as the biggest threat to knock off the Stags in the MAAC tournament. Then the Rider Broncs come to town on Sunday. Another dangerous opponent, and although we defeated them in Jersey earlier in the year, they are a tough team with a high powered and dangerous offense.

February 4th VS Iona- We start with the epic tale of two teams that play completely opposite styles. The Gaels come into this game averaging a MAAC leading 79 points per contest, while the Stags are giving up a MAAC best 55 points per game. Iona is lead by two dominant play makers. It all starts with junior PG Scott Machado. Machado LEADS THE NATION in assists per game with 7.8, and also puts up 14.1 ppg. Machado has caught my eye since his freshman year. He plays very similar to Needham. He is quick and tough and has the ability to make plays by himself with or without the ball. This season, he has as complete an arsenal as any mid-major point guard in the country. His main target is Junior College transfer Michael Glover. Glover has literally taken the MAAC by storm. He has been a complete game changer for the Gaels. Glover, originally a Seton Hall recruit, has put up eye popping numbers, averaging 19.1 ppg, and 10.7 rpg! Glover, against big East power Syracuse dropped 25 points and had 16 rebounds. However, in losses at Canisius and at home against Rider he only averaged 8.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg. At the beginning of the season, he seemed unstoppable. However, teams are learning to control Glover, and if you can control Glover you can control the Gaels. Lucky for first year head coach Tim Cluess, the offensive options don't stop. You have red-shirt sophomore sharpshooter Kyle Smyth who is averaging 11.6 ppg and a team leading 55 three pointers. Right behind Smyth is junior Jermel Jenkins who is putting up 10.1 points per contest and has 48 threes on the year. Slasher Rashon Dwight is averaging 7.4 ppg, and big man Alejo Rodriguez is putting up 6 points per contest along with 6.2 caroms per game. Not to be left out of the mix, freshman Sean Armand leads the team nailing 40.6 percent of his three point shots. Yea, this team can flat out score. What they cannot do is play defense. The Gaels are giving up 71.4 ppg which is 7th in the MAAC, and over their last 5 games they have only scored more than 80 points once, three of these games were loses.

Prediction- This is a very very hard game to predict. Iona is absolutely desperate for a win as they do not want to fall into 5th place in the MAAC standings. This is a team that has MAAC championship expectations. So the question is which Iona team shows up? The one that shocked Richmond on the road, or the one that lost to lowly Bryant? Hmmm, I expect the Gaels to give the Stags everything they have. However, I think the Stags offense will steal the show in this one.
Stags 74 Gaels 70

X Factor- Maurice Barrow. It is a lot to ask for a freshman to guard and all-MAAC player like Glover. However, if there is one frosh that can do it, his name is Maurice Barrow. Expect him to slow down Glover. However, he will pick up some fouls and Glover will pick up some points. That is where Keith Matthews comes in and steps up as well. I think the Stags hold Glover to 14 points and 12 rebounds, resulting in a victory. Another X Factor will be the Stags offense. Something tells me Iona will be hitting their shots,and the pressure will be on Needham and the offense. I am feeling a big game from Derek Needham and Yorel Hawkins. The Stags will show tonight that their offense can step up when needed, as they win a game that comes down to the final two minutes.

Weekend Preview

The Stags are off to a hot 15-4 start that included an 8-1 record in MAAC play. On Friday the stags embark on a 4 game home stand. Today we preview the first two of the stags next four opponents.

Stags next two opponents:

Friday January 28th vs Manhattan Jaspers- For a team looking to make there first NCAA tournament appearance in 14 years, this is a MUST win for the Stags. Manhattan is having one of their worst years (if not the worst) in recent memory. However, they are not a team to overlook. They played a solid Georgia team to a three point loss back in late November, but since then they have really been bad. Of their nine MAAC games so far, they have one win over a struggling Niagara squad, and only three of their 8 loses were decided by 10 points or less. Ouch. However, this is a young team that is going to be playing with a purpose on Friday night. Their freshman point guard Michael Alvarado is putting up 10.6 PPG, and 3 APG, while sophomore swing-man George Beamon is quietly the seventh leading scorer in the MAAC at 15 PPG. This team does have some offensive firepower, and something to prove. However, they are very young and that offense will likely be neutralized by Fairfield's stifling defense.

Prediction: Stags: 68 Jaspers:53
Stags struggle to find their grove early on, but settle down over a pesky Manhattan squad in a game that is not as close as the score indicates. The Jaspers just do not have the man power to hang with the stags for forty minutes.

X Factor: Ryan Olander will be the X factor in this one along with the stags depth on the bench. Look for an Olander double double Friday night. I also see a big game out of Colin Nickerson in this contest. Manhattan's guards will struggle with his athleticism.

Sunday January 31st vs Canisius Golden Griffins- Ahhhhh could we be looking at the classic trap game!? Not with this years Stags team. With the huge game against Iona looming five days after this match-up some may think trap game. Think again. Canisius is a team that Fairfield has quietly dominated over the past three years. However, it seems as if every time these teams play it is close. I do not think anyone will forget when the Stags held a twenty-one point lead at the half in MAAC quarterfinals last year only to see it evaporate in the second half. Luckily, we had Derek Needham and he put up a career high 29 in that victory. Now to recent memory. The stags played against a very scrappy and athletic Griffins team in Buffalo and gutted out a 67-60 victory. Two days later, the same Canisius squad stunned Iona in Buffalo on a Gabby Belardo layup with 4 seconds left on the clock to seal the 75-73 victory, and this senior laden squad may be finding there stride. Senior Elton Frazier and sophomore point guard Belardo lead the Golden Griffins averaging 11.3 PPG. Seniors Greg Logins and Julius Coles are both averaging double figures in scoring this year, and rounding out the starting five is scrappy senior Robert Goldsberry. This is a team that has underachieved so far this year. They have 4 senior starters have all gotten pretty significant playing time since their freshman year, and this is NOT a team one wants to see in the MAAC tournament. I honestly see the Golden Griffins making a run in March, as there is simply to much talent and experience on this team not too.

Prediction: Stags 67 Golden Griffins 59

This game will be your typical Fairfield-Canisius match up where no one in the stands will be able to breath easy until the final whistle. Although Canisius is athletic enough and experienced enough to beat the Stags, I just do not think they are quite at the level of the stags just yet. This is a game that the Stags should win with their high expectations. However, LOOK OUT for this Golden Griffins team in March. I would not be surprised if this team sneaks themselves to the MAAC championship game.

X factor: In this match up, I think your X factor is Derek Needham. Balardo has filled the point guard position well for the Golden Griffins after the graduation of their all-MAAC point guard Frank Turner. However, Needham is the better PG. If the Griffs contain Needham and shut down Olander, they can win this game. But Needham has proven this year time and time again that he is a clutch performer. I think he puts up 20 points and 6 assists to lead the stags past a solid Golden Griffins squad.

Stay tuned as next week we preview two highly anticipated games as the Stags host the second place Iona Gaels on Friday February 4th at 9 PM, a game that will be televised on ESPN U. Two days later on Sunday February 6th, the Stags host the Rider Broncs at 3:30 PM. All games will be held at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard!

We're Number 1!

With the West Virginia Mountaneers giving up 65 points to #19 Georgetown, the Fairfield University women's basketball team is in a TIE with West Virginia for the best defense in the nation at 48.0 points per game.