Rider 2009 CIT Tournament Preview

Rider Broncs - Metro Atlantic (19-12, 12-6)

RPI: 125

Big Wins: 2/7 Siena (90-88), 2/18 Niagara (90-87), 3/1 Fairfield (73-69)

Bad Losses: 12/3 Rutgers (62-66), 1/15 at Canisius (66-84), 2/13 St. Peter’s (64-65)

Coach: Tommy Dempsey

Probable Rider Starters:

• Justin Robinson, Sophomore, Guard, 10.5 ppg, 2.6 apg

• Harris Mansell, Senior, Guard, 12.1 ppg, 1.5 apg

• Ryan Thompson, Junior, Guard, 18.4 ppg, 3.2 apg, 6.5 rpg

• Mike Ringgold, Sophomore, Forward, 11.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg

• Jermaine Jackson, Freshman, Forward, 2.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg

Key Rider Roleplayers:

• Novar Gadson, Freshman, Guard, 10.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg

• Patrick Mansell, Sophomore, Guard, 2.4 ppg

Why Rider Can Surprise:

Rider is one of the few teams in the nation that has five players who average double-digit scoring. Four of those players are on the perimeter and Ryan Thompson leads the way. The 6-6 junior averages an impressive 18.4 points per game. He is a consistent outside shooter who can get to the basket. He also leads the team in assists with 3.2 per game and steals with 1.7. On top of all that, he is also a great rebounder and pulls down 6.5 per contest.

Harris Mansell is the pure shooter of the bunch. He is not as consistent of a shooter as Thompson, but he does knock down 2.3 per game and averages 12.1 points. Justin Robinson is another outside shooting threat who is not afraid to attack the basket and Novar Gadson will provide a spark off the bench on both ends of the floor.

Why The Broncs Can Disappoint:
The problem with this team is on the glass. Only one of the top seven minute earners is a forward. Thompson and Gadson are quality rebounders and have enough size to defend the four spot, but this is a team that does not have a lot of big bodies that hang out in the paint and that leads to a negative rebounding margin. It also means that there is not a major shot blocking threat under the basket and the opposition can easily get to the rim on occasion.

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Who To Watch:
The one big guy is Mike Ringgold. The 6-7 sophomore has developed into a consistent scorer under the basket and his presence will open up a lot of space for the shooters on the perimeter. Ringgold not only averages 11.4 points per game, but he also leads the team with 6.7 rebounds. Jermaine Jackson, a 6-8 freshman, will usually get the start beside Ringgold, but he only averages 13.0 minutes per game. Jackson is not much of a scoring threat and he needs to add some weight before he will be a good rebounder, but when Coach Tommy Dempsey needs some height on the floor, Jackson is one of his few options.

Rider By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 72.2 (99th in nation, 3rd in conference)

Scoring Defense: 70.7 (244, 9)

Field-Goal Percentage: 44.7 (119, 2)

Field-Goal Defense: 43.1 (151, 7)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.0 (93, 3)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.6 (109, 2)

Free-Throw Percentage: 67.7 (212, 3)

Rebound Margin: -0.8 (218, 6)

Assists Per Game: 13.1 (156, 4)

Turnovers Per Game: 14.0 (176, 6)

By Joel Welser
CollegeSports-fans.com Senior Basketball Writer

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