2010-2011 MAAC Basketball Previews: # 7 Niagara Purple Eagels

# 7: Niagara Purple Eagles


Head Coach: Joe Mihalic


2009-2010 Record: 18-15


2009-2010 Conference Record: 9-9


Joe Mihalic is the MAAC's version of the Godfather. This guy has been around for over a decade and has compiled an impressive 223 wins in the process. His ability to recruit at a high level and letting his players play loose has been the staple of his success.


Niagara has lost four starters including do it all guard Tyrone Louis, and hard working combo forward Billal Benn. However, Mihalic has lost superstars before and proved critics wrong when they pick him in the bottom half of the league. So will Joe prove me wrong when I pick him at # 7? My bet is he would say so.





The Low Down On The Purple Eagles:


Similar to Manhattan, Niagara has many fresh and unproven faces on their roster. A few of which will be relied heavily upon to help keep Niagara where they have developed a mainstay in the top half of the league.


What Niagara has that Manhattan doesn't is possibly the best point guard in the league not wearing a Fairfield jersey.


Anthony Nelson has stayed in the backseat to all leaguer's like Tyrone Lewis, Billal Benn, and Charron Fisher for three years. There is no doubt Nelson is ready to have the ball in his hands to take big shots. Nelson is an athletic point guard who gets to the rim at will, and has the ability to hit the three when open. Nelson also has been one of the top assist men in the league ever since he arrived on campus.


The question is, who will help him score? Nelson doesn't fit the gunner mentality of a Charron Fisher, or a Tyrone Lewis. There is no doubt that Nelson can go for twenty on any given night, but another character or two from this cast will have to be ready to score double figures every night for Niagara's wheel and deal offense to continue to be effective in the league.



Kashief Edwawrds is a ultra athletic, yet undersized forward. He rebounds above the rim, runs the floor, and swats away shots at the rim. It will be interesting to see if Edwards can be the one to give Nelson double figure efforts every night. If Edwards has improved his offensive prowess and can pace his game while still bringing the same energy that makes him an impact player, the Purple Eagles are in buisness.



Austin Cooley may be the other returner called upon to step up his game in a big way for Niagara to exceed expectations. Cooley is a smooth guard who can hit the long ball in bunches. Similar to Edwards he will need to show a more polished game to aid Nelson in the back court.


The new faces are all unproven at the Division 1 level. However, as always Mihalic boasts a freshman class that arrives with high accolades and reputations from the high school level. Mihalic will need two or three of these freshman, along with sophomore forward Scooter Gillette to be ready when the lights go on. It may take time, but expect by the start of conference play that Mihalic will have options to turn to. It is hard to believe that at least one or two of these recruits, along with Gillette, won't be ready to contribute in big ways by mid season.


The Negatives:

I'll put money down that Nelson has a big year, but who is ready to follow? Mihalic let's his players play on a long leash, which will mean Cooley and the freshman will be able to play through mistakes. Mistakes may happen early and often from these newbies. It will be intriguing to see if Mihalic and his staff can help stem the tide.



Edwards will rebound and block shots, but is undersized at 6-5. Gillette and a freshman big man or two (possibly Joe Thomas, 6-7, or 6-8 sophomore Eric Williams) will have to be ready to provide some interior girth for the Purple Eagles. Teams like Siena, Canisius, Loyola, and Saint Peters, all have big bodies down low that could present series problems for Niagara's small front line.



If any team will prove me wrong with a bottom half of the league prediction it would likely be Niagara. Mihalic has done this dance to many times to bet all my money against him. He has only had one loosing season in his twelve years at the helm. However, it is hard to believe that enough faces around Nelson will be able to provide the firepower that they need to finish in their familiar spot in the top 5 in the league.