MAAC Basketball 2010-2011 Preview: # 8 Canisius Golden Griffins

# 8: The Canisius College Golden Griffins


Head Coach: Tom Parrotta

2009-2010 Record: 15-17

2009-2010 Conference Record: 8-10


Frank Turner will be nowhere near Buffalo, New York this season as he has signed a professional contract in Holland. The 5"10 dynamo guard did it all for the Golden Griffins during his four years as a starter. Turner hit big shots, showed heart, dished out more assists than anyone not named Ronald Moore, and was simply the face of this program for four years.

Frank is gone now, but veterans do remain. The real question is who is going to get the ball to these veterans? Is South Florida transfer Gaby Belardo an adequate replacement for Turner? Can a veteran group of athletic and skilled forwards finally figure out their roles and stick to them?

Canisius has taken baby steps every single year under hard nosed coach Tom Parrotta. But the Canisius faithful still remembers a time when John Beilein roamed the side lines and Darrell Barely was dunking on guys left and right. Frank Turner or not, these fans want to bust through the top half of the league, and you can be sure that Parrotta and his veteran group want the same, but can it happen?


The Low Down On The Griffs:


What Canisius has is a group of veteran players who are used to loosing, but also used to getting better every single year. They have assembled some nice wins since Parrotta arrived, but have yet to solidify themselves as legitimate contenders.

Julius Coles is one of the most explosive scorers in the league, and you can bet that most of the shots coming from the perimeter will be coming from him. Coles can score, but Parrotta won't be putting all of his stock in him.

The Griffs have a group of Senior forwards who have all shown flashes of all league potential. Greg Loggins is a strong and fairly athletic power forward who can also stroke the three ball. Loggins will have to accept whatever role Parrotta gives him this year, which I believe will be more on the low block than on the perimeter. However Parrotta will let Loggins pull the trigger when left open from deep; he can get on a roll. Just don't expect for him to make a living out there.

Elton Frazier can win a dunk contest anywhere around the world, but has also struggled to maintain a consistent role since arriving in Buffalo. Frazier needs to focus his energy and athletic bounce on the glass, in transition, and on the low block against smaller defenders.

Tomas Vazquez-Simmons is the leagues best shot blocker, and the best Canisius has ever seen. If Frazier, Loggins, and Simmons can all hit the glass like they mean it, Canisius will bring nightmares to any team in the MAAC. The question is, are they all willing to go after the ball on every possession? If they are look for them to be one of the best rebounding teams in the league. Also keep an eye on 7"3 Marial Dhal. If he is able to contribute teams will have even more problems.


Rob Goldsberry is a chippy player and a capable post feeder. He is a far cry from Turner and is not the answer, but you will see him impact games. If Belardo can't stem the tied and get the ball to Coles and the Griffins forwards, Goldsberry will have to do more than just play hard and feed the post for Canisius to exceed expectations.

The Negatives:

Despite having this group of Senior forwards who seem ready to elevate their games, Turner is still gone. How do you move forward when one of the best players in program history is gone? It is hard to believe that Belardo can do everything Turner did. Parrotta will just hope he can do a little bit of what Turner did. Belardo will have to be himself and do his best to get everyone involved.

In the past Canisius's forwards have fluttered in and out of games. We will see if they have all figured out their roles on the offensive end, which will be vital. Each one of these Senior forwards is turnover prone, something that Parrotta can only hope is resolved with another year of maturity and experience.

At times, Canisius has struggled to score under Parrotta. Two or three of these forwards will have to give Coles double figure scoring support every single night for the Griffs to succeed.