12/30/2003 - Men's Basketball
Navy Men's Basketball Plays Host to SMU in a New Year's Eve Double Header
Files associated with this release:
SMU at Navy MBB Game Notes (D31)
Navy MBB Stats (D31)
Navy MBB Player Updates (D31)
Radio: 1430 WNAV (Bob Socci)
TV: None
Officials: Announced Gameday
Series History: SMU Leads, 3-2
Navy (2-8) Probable Starters
# Pos. Player PPG RPG
20 F George O'Garro, Jr., 6-6, 205 8.1 3.6
24 F Jeff Charles, Sr., 6-4, 200 11.1 5.2
32 C Matt Fannin, So., 6-6, 235 4.1 3.5
5 G David Hooper, So., 6-5, 230 9.5 4.8
22 G David Rhoiney, Fr., 5-11, 160 0.6 0.2
Navy Coach Don DeVoe: In his 12th season at the Naval Academy, DeVoe (Ohio State '64) owns a 181-146 record. In now his 31st year as a collegiate head coach, he has produced a 509-374 mark.
SMU (5-3) Probable Starters
# Pos. Player PPG RPG
1 F Patrick Simpson, Jr., 6-9, 220 10.6 6.3
24 F Kris Lowe, Sr., 6-6, 212 7.6 5.1
21 C Eric Castro, Jr., 6-8, 250 10.3 5.6
3 G Justin Isham, Jr., 6-5, 198 13.3 4.4
11 G Bryan Hopkins, So., 6-0, 195 15.6 4.0
SMU Coach Mike Dement: In his ninth season at SMU, Dement (East Carolina '76) owns a 133-108 record. In now his 18th year as a collegiate head coach, he has produced a 255-231 mark.
Navy Searches For First Div. I Win
With just two wins this season, both of which against Div. III opponents, Navy (2-8) is still searching for its first Div. I win (nine-straight Div. I losses dating back to last year). The Mids' next opportunity to achieve that feat is Wednesday, but it will not be an easy task as the 5-3 SMU Mustangs come to Alumni Hall fresh off their victory over Purdue just over a week ago. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Alumni Hall in a men's and women's double header (Navy women tip at 4 p.m. vs.St. Francis {N.Y.}). The game will be broadcast live on 1430 WNAV with Bob Socci calling the action. The game is also available via the internet at www.wnav.com(.)
SMU
2003-04 Record: 5-3
Last game: W, 60-59, at Purdue Next Game: J3 vs. Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.
Navy-SMU Series
After a one-year hiatus due to scheduling conflicts, Navy and SMU meet on the hard court once again in what will be the sixth contest between the two ball clubs.
While Navy claimed the opening two games of the series, including a 3-50 victory in Dallas in the inaugural meeting, D30, 1949, SMU has defeated the Mids in each of the last three contests. Thanks to their 81-64 victory at home in 2001, the Mustangs took a one-game advantage in the series, leading Navy, 3-2.
Navy-Mount St. Mary's
Navy Leads, 5-3
Home: 2-1 Road: 1-2 Unknown: 2-0
Date Result Site
J11, 19 W 43-8 Site Unknown
1919-20 W 31-15 Site Unknown
N28, 87 W 80-75 Emmitsburg
N28, 88 L 83-54 Annapolis
J22, 90 L 88-78 Emmitsburg
N26, 90 W 116-98 Annapolis
D30, 01 W 95-54 Annapolis
D30, 02 L 70-69 Emmitsburg
Navy Vs. the WAC
Navy has played five of the 10 members of the Western Athletic Conference and owns a 5-11 record (.313) against those teams. The Mids have played the most contests against Rice (eight) which defeated the Mids, 81-55, Dec. 22.
Opponent Navy vs. Last Mtg.
Fresno State 0-1 D29, 92; L, 66-53
Hawaii 0-1 D27, 91; L, 95-88
Rice 2-6 D22, 03; L, 81-55
SMU 2-3 N18, 01; L, 81-64
Tulsa 1-0 M14, 86; W, 87-68
Navy has not played Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, San Jose State or UTEP.
Mustang Bullets
- Following its 60-59 victory over Purdue D21, SMU received votes in the D22 Associated Press poll.
- SMU is 2-0 against the Big 12 (def. Texas Tech, 62-59; def. Baylor, 66-62) and 1-0 against the Big Ten this season ... it dropped a 12-point decision to Wake Forest in its only ACC meeting.
- Four of the Mustangs' five starters are averaging double-figure scoring marks, including sophomore guard Bryan Hopkins.
- Three of SMU's five wins have been by four points or fewer, while two of its three losses have been by three points.
Last Time out ...
DALLAS, Texas - Despite a career-high 17-point performance off the bench from senior forward Jamie Nero, the Mids were unable to tame the Mustangs, as SMU handed Navy an 81-64 loss in Dallas.
Navy's cold shooting hurt the Mids in the first half, hitting just 11-for-30, while SMU was smoking, hitting 63 percent of its shots to take a 40-34 lead.
In the second half, the teams shot the ball fairly even (40.7% Navy and 43.5% SMU), but the Mustangs were able to put the game away from the charity stripe. After both teams earned 12 trips to the charity stripe in the first half, SMU took 35 trips in the second half to Navy's 17. The Mustangs out-scored Navy 18-4 from the free throw line in the second half.
Three players from each team tossed in double figures. For Navy, Nero's 17 points were in part to an unstoppable performance from long range. He hit five three-pointers in a row before a miscue on his last try. Meanwhile, junior guard Jason Jeanpierre had a strong second half, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Jehiel Lewis posted double-digit scoring numbers for the second-consecutive game, tallying 13 points and six boards against the Mustangs.
Despite leaving the game in the second half because of a sprained knee, Damon Hancock came back in the game and scored a game-high 21 points. Navy had no answer for Hancock, who was taller than Navy point guard Demond Shepard and was able to hang in the air to prevent his shot from being blocked by the Mids' men in the middle. Fellow guard Quinton Ross added 17 points, while Patrick Simpson added 12 points and four blocks for the Mustangs.
Navy-Mount St. Mary's Recap
Sophomore guard Landy Thompson scored at the buzzer to lift Mount St. Mary's over Navy, 54-53, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Hall. The win marked the second-consecutive victory by the Mount over the Mids, while Navy remains winless against Div. I opponents this season.
Thompson carried the Mount on his back over the final five minutes, scoring all nine of their points.
The lead changed hands five times over the last two minutes, including when Navy senior forward Jeff Charles scored on a tough shot inside, to give the Mids a one-point lead with 18 seconds to play. Twice in the last 5.8 seconds, Navy players deflected the ball out of bounds, but as time expired, Thompson found a way to lead the Mount to victory, as his off-balanced shot bounced around the rim before rippling the net..
Notes from the Mount St. Mary's Game
- Freshman big man Carlton Baldwin shot 10-for-18 from the floor en route to a career-high 23-point performance ... he led the Mids in scoring, rebounding (9), blocks (2) and steals (2).
- The two teams combined to shoot 17-for-44 (.386) from the free throw line and Mount St. Mary's was just 4-for-17 (.235) in the second half.
- Navy freshman guard David Rhoiney made his first-career start in just the fifth game of his career.
- After missing five-straight games with a knee injury, junior guard Taj Mathews returned to Navy's bench, playing 29 minutes and dealing out a team-high five assists.
Navy
2003-04 Record: 2-8
Last game: L, 54-53, vs. Mount St. Mary's Next Game: J3 vs. Loyola, 3:30 p.m.
Baldwin Garners League Honor
Freshman paint pounder Carlton Baldwin was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week Monday after a stellar performance in games last week against Rice (D22) and Mount St. Mary's (D27). He averaged 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks between the two contests, while shooting 53.8 percent. He produced a career-high 23 points on 10-for-18 (.556) shooting in the Mids' one-point loss to Mount St. Mary's Saturday afternoon, the most points by a freshman since David Hooper's 24-point outburst against American at home last year. Baldwin, meanwhile, chipped in nine points at Rice, knocking down 50 percent of his shots. In a matter of one game, he improved his scoring average from 4.9 to 7.1 points.
Rough Start
The last time Navy started the season 2-8 was during the 2001-02 campaign in which the Mids dropped eight of their first-10 games. That team went on to post a 10-20 mark, including a 5-9 Patriot League record. The last time a Navy squad opened the year 2-9 was in 1989-90 when the Mids started the year1-9 before capturing their second win J8 at UNC Wilmington (62-59). That team produced a 5-23 record, including a 4-10 Colonial Athletic Associate mark.
The Slide
Since appearing in the Patriot League Tournament Championship Game against Holy Cross M9, 01, Navy has produced a 20-48 (.294) record. In 2001-02, the Mids were 10-20, in 2002-03, they posted an 8-20 record and this year, Navy owns a 2-8 mark.
Upcoming Milestones
Going into the SMU contest, several Mids are on the verge of hitting milestone scoring and rebounding marks, and some are coming off milestone markers.
Junior big man Laramie Mergerson is just seven points from claiming his 100th-career point, while teammate Jason Fernandez is 18 points away from his 100th.
Coming out of a shooting slump, sophomore guard David Hooper scored 11 points Wednesday against Mount St. Mary's to eclipse the 200-point plateau.
Scoring Pt. Pts. Need for
Kwame Ofori 179 21 200
Laramie Mergerson 93 7 100
Jason Fernandez 82 18 100
Mike Higgins 64 36 100
George O'Garro 59 41 100
Carlton Baldwin 57 43 100
Rebounding Reb. Reb. Need for
David Hooper 88 12 100
Matt Fannin 81 19 100
Taj Mathews 73 27 100
Laramie Mergerson 59 41 100
Hooper Shoots His Way Out of Slump
Following his season-high 20-point afternoon at James Madison (N30), sophomore guard David Hooper connected on just 10 of his 46 shots (.217) during a five-game stretch, including a 1-for-11 shooting night against Ohio (D20). Over that same span, he was 5-for-26 (.192) from three-point range. Against Mount St. Mary's last Saturday, Hooper was 4-for-9 (.444) from the field, including 3-for-7 (.429) from long range en route to his 11 points.
Over the last six games, he has shot 25.5 percent (14-for-55) and 25.7 percent (9-for-35) from three-point range.
Injury round-Up
Injuries to guards Kwame Ofori and Taj Mathews have proven detrimental to Navy's success this season. Ofori is Navy's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 7.7 points a contest, while Mathews is the Mids' leading assist giver, dishing out 3.6 per game.
Mathews was sidelined for five-consecutive games before his return last Saturday against Mount St. Mary's (D27). He played 29 minutes and dealt out a team-best five assists, but struggled to shoot as he is getting back into playing shape.
Ofori, meanwhile, was the victim of an intentional foul against Washington (Md.) College (D18) in which he suffered a shoulder injury. His progress is slow and is considered day to day. He is doubtful for the match-up against SMU.
Don DeVoe
Career Record: 509-374 (in 31st Year) Navy Record: 181-146 (in 12th Year)
1999-00, 1996-97, 1993-94 Patriot League Coach of the Year
Don DeVoe (Ohio State '64) is in his 12th season at the helm of the Navy basketball program. During his tenure in Annapolis, he has amassed a 181-146 (.554) mark. In the process, the Mids hae not only captured at least a share of five Patriot League regular-season titles and three tournament crowns, but they have also advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times. DeVoe has been named Patriot League Coach of the Year three times, including after a record-breaking 1999-00 campaign by the Midshipmen.
One of only 29 active coaches in college basketball to lead three different teams to the NCAA Tournament, DeVoe has compiled a career record of 509-374 (.576) in now his 31st season. He claimed his 500th-career victory in last year's season opener (N22) in a 68-56 triumph over UCF. At the time, he was just the 17th active coach to achieve 500 wins and the 59th all-time.
DeVoe's teams have certainly established a well-balanced attack over the years. Since the 1994-95 season, Navy is 115-22 (.839) when it scores at least 70 points in a game and 41-92 (.308) when it doesn't.
Prior to his arrival at the Naval Academy, DeVoe served as the head coach at Virginia Tech, Wyoming, Tennessee and Florida. He began his coaching career as an assistant to Bob Knight at Army in 1965.
Several of DeVoe's former players and assistant coaches have moved on to become Division I head coaches. Tom Asbury (Pepperdine and Kansas State), Allan Bristow (Charlotte Hornets and Richmond Rhythm), Coleman Crawford (Akron), Emmett Davis (Colgate), Tom Deaton (Tennessee Tech), Jim Hallihan (East Tennessee State), Tom Marryott (Navy-women), Mack McCarthy (Tennessee-Chattanooga and VCU), Sonny Smith (VCU and Auburn) and Charlie Thomas (San Francisco State) all either worked or played for DeVoe.
DeVoe is married to the former Ana Garcia and they have three children -Donna Lee Roberts, Elliott Dean, and Ana Lise.
Struggling To Score
Only three times this season has Navy scored more than 60 points (71 vs. Belmont, 61 vs. Gettysburg, 95 vs. Washington College), thus its 58.5 points per game. Navy ranks 313th out of 326 in scoring average, as Bethune-Cookman stands last in scoring offense, averaging 46.2 points a game.
Free Throw Woes
Navy has been outscored 159-71 (87 pts.) from the free throw line this season. The Mids' opponents have made more free throws (159) than Navy has taken (140). Adding insult to injury, Navy is shooting a dismal 51.4 percent from the charity stripe. In the last four outings, the Mids have gotten to the line a respectable number of times, but have shot a combined 49.3 percent (37-for-75).
Perhaps it's no surprise, but the Mids are last in the nation in free throw percentage with Central Connecticut the closest to Navy, shooting 53.6 percent.
Oh Those Turnovers
Navy ranks second to last in turnovers per game, committing 22.9 TOs per contest. North Carolina A&T is last, posting 25.3 turnovers a game.
The Mids turned the ball over 32 times against Washington (Md.) College (D18), not only the most this season, but the most since their 33-blemish match-up at Lafayette, F11, 2001.
In its season opener at South Carolina N21, Navy turned the ball over 30 times and at UCF (D6), the Mids posted 31 TOs.
Nonleague Ledger
In 12 years of coaching the Midshipmen, Don DeVoe has led his Navy squads to a 76-87 (.466) record against non-Patriot League competition. After a disappointing 3-9 mark his first campaign, Navy has produced eight or more nonconference victories in five of the last 11 seasons. The Mids have struggled the last three campaigns, producing a combined 11-27 (.289) record in nonconference action.
Year-By-Year Nonconference Record Under Devoe
Yr. W L Pct.
1992-93 3 9 25.0
1993-94 5 8 38.5
1994-95 8 4 66.7
1995-96 6 8 42.9
1996-97 8 7 53.3
1997-98 6 9 66.7
1998-99 11 3 78.6
1999-00 10 4 71.4
2000-01 8 8 50.0
2001-02 5 10 33.3
2002-03 4 9 30.8
2003-04 2 8 20.0
Overall 76 87 46.6
Who Is Going To Step Up?
That's the question Navy head coach Don DeVoe has been asking - hence the nine different lineups in 10 games.
Two common factors in the lineup frenzy have been senior Jeff Charles, who can literally play any position, and second-leading scorer David Hooper.
Navy used the same lineup against Gettysburg (D13) and Washington (Md.) College (D18), however, an injury suffered by Kwame Ofori against the Shoremen has sidelined the senior guard the last three outings.
Last year, DeVoe put together 13 different starting combinations, including 10 in the last 16 contests. The previous season, there were 12 different lineups in 30 games, including changing lineups in the last-nine outings.
Starting Lineups (F,F,C,G,G)
Gm. 1 Green, Fannin, Hooper, Ofori, Charles 0-1
Gm. 2 Green, Fannin, Baldwin, Hooper, Charles 0-1
Gm. 3 Green, Fannin, Hooper, Mathews, Charles 0-1
Gm. 4 Charles, Fannin, Fernandez, Hooper, Mathews 0-1
Gm. 5 Charles, O'Garro, Mergerson, Hooper, Fernandez 0-1
Gm. 6-7 Charles, O'Garro, Hooper, Green, Ofori 2-0
Gm. 8 Green, O'Garro, Mergerson, Hooper, Charles 0-1
Gm. 9 Fannin, O'Garro, Mergerson, Hooper, Charles 0-1
Gm. 10 Charles, O'Garro, Fannin, Hooper, Rhoiney 0-1
Getting Down Early
Navy has dug itself into a hole early in its 10 games this winter. Just five minutes into the game, the Mids have already been outscored by 50, and add six more on a a minute later. Navy has narrowed the gap to 35 by the 11-minute mark, but one minute elapsed and the foes are up by 46.
Opp. 15 14 13 12 11 10
S. Carolina 12-9 15-11 17-13 17-13 20-15 22-15
Belmont 15-2 20-2 20-5 20-10 20-13 21-16
Air Force 12-4 17-6 20-6 25-6 25-6 25-7
JMU 9-5 9-5 14-7 14-10 15-10 17-12
UCF 13-5 13-5 15-5 15-8 15-10 17-12
Gettysburg 2-6 5-8 8-14 8-14 11-14 11-16
Wash. College 6-8 10-8 10-10 13-14 13-17 15-17
Ohio 9-6 9-6 9-9 9-9 9-11 12-11
Rice 9-5 9-8 11-10 14-10 14-14 19-15
MSM 16-3 16-8 16-10 16-12 18-15 23-15
Total 103-53 123-67 140-89 151-106 160-125 182-136
-50 -56 -51 -45 -35 -46
Followers
Prior to the Gettysburg game (D13), Navy had owned the lead in games just seven times, three times against South Carolina (N21) and James Madison (N30) and once against Belmont (N24) on the opening bucket. The Mids never led against Air Force (N28) and tied the game just once at 4-4, while also falling behind on the opening tip at UCF (D6) and never gaining the lead.
Rhoiney Takes The Point
Still searching for the right line-up and desperately needing a point guard, the Navy coaching staff gave freshman guard David Rhoiney the starting not in the Mids' last outing against Mount St. Mary's Saturday afternoon. Rhoiney did a fine job, scoring his first-career bucket, while dealing out a pair of assists. Perhaps the only gripe from the coaching staff would be his foul problems. He collected three early fouls in the first half and tacked on his fourth early in the second and was taken out of the rotation.
On The Block
The Midshipmen swatted a season-high 10 shots against Gettysburg (D13) and followed up with a nine-block night against Washington (Md.) College. Navy's 10 blocks against the Bullets marked the most blocks by Navy since J13, 01, when the Mids blocked 10 shots at Belmont. That same season, Navy blocked 10 shots against Coast Guard and at Liberty.
Navy, meanwhile, is tied for 94th in the country in blocks per game, stuffing 3.9 shots per game.
Home Sweet Home
For the second-consecutive season, Navy will play 15 of its 27 regular-season contests in its home venue at Alumni Hall. Last season, the Mids played eight of their first-11 contests at home. This year, Navy plays eight of its first-12 games at Alumni Hall, including two sets of three-straight games - D13 Gettysburg, D18 Washington (Md.), D20 Ohio and D27 Mount St. Mary's, D31 SMU, J3 Loyola (Md.).
Road Woes
Over the last six years, the Mids have posted a 24-42 (.364) record on the road, versus a 55-25 (.688) mark in games played at Alumni Hall. Over the last two years, Navy is 1-15 (.063) on the road, while in the last three seasons, the Mids have produced a 3-25 (.107) road mark and an 0-5 neutral site record.
Yr. Home Road Neutral
1998-99 12-2 6-4 1-1
1999-00 15-2 7-4 1-0
2000-01 11-3 8-9 0-0
2001-02 8-6 2-10 0-4
2002-03 7-8 1-11 0-1
2003-04 2-4 0-4 0-0
Total 55-25 24-42 2-6
The Bench Comes alive
Navy's bench accounted for 51 of its 95 points against Washington (Md.) College (D18). Big men Carlton Baldwin and Laramie Mergerson were responsible for 28 of the 51 points, overpowering their foes in the middle. Against Mount St. Mary's (D27), the bench scored 28 of the 53 points (.528) thanks to a 23-point outburst by Baldwin.
On the year, Navy's bench is averaging 22.4 points per game, 38.3 percent of the Mids' offense.
Hooper For Three
Sophomore guard David Hooper has hit at least one three-pointer in eight of the 10 games this season (UCF and Washington College) and 20 of the 29 games in which he has played. He knocked down four triples at JMU (N30) and is coming off a 3-for-7 effort against Mount St. Mary's (D27).
With 42-career triples, Hooper is chasing 1988 grad Cliff Rees who ranks 10th on the Mids' all-time three-point field goals made list with 65.
Double Vision
Three Navy players have produced double-doubles this season, including freshman forward/center Carlton Baldwin who posted a 16-point, 11-rebound effort against Washington (Md.) College (D18). The previous game, sophomore David Hooper produced his first-career double-double on an identical 16-point, 11-rebound performance against Gettysburg (D13). Senior Jeff Charles also tabbed the first double-double of his career behind a career-high 19 points, along with 12 boards at James Madison (N30).
Hey Ref, How About a Foul!
The Mids have gotten the short end of the stick so to speak when it comes to getting their fair share of trips to the free throw line this year. Navy began the year by making just five trips to the charity stripe at South Carolina (N21) in its season opener. It marked the fewest free throws taken by Navy since F3, 1996, when it was 3-for-4 against Bucknell. Perhaps the more alarming stat in that contest was the fact the Bison were 31-for-40 from the charity stripe in a 72-60 Bucknell victory in Lewisburg. In that same season, the Mids were sent to the free throw line just three times against William & Mary, while the Tribe were 11-for-19.
At James Madison (N30), Navy was sent to the line six times, while JMU was awarded 29 free throws. JMU captured the five-point win over the Mids by outscoring 19-3 from the charity stripe. In fact, 18 of the Dukes' 31 second-half points were scored off free throws. More notably, 18 of their final-21 points were scored from the free throw line.
Attacking The Offensive Boards
Navy is out-rebounding its opponents 140-103 on the offensive glass, while 38.8 percent of the Mids' rebounds have been on the offensive side of the court. Senior Jeff Charles leads the team in offensive rebounds with 22 (52 total). Meanwhile, freshman Carlton Baldwin owns more offensive rebounds (16) than defensive boards (14), and junior forward Laramie Mergerson's rebound total of 34 is split in half with 17 caroms on each side of the floor.
Navy's Secret Gun
Coming into the season, junior forward George O'Garro had seen action in just six contests. This season, he rode the bench for the first three games before head coach Don DeVoe brought O'Garro off the bench for a defensive spark at James Madison (N30). The result paid dividends and the following game at UCF (D6), he earned his first-career start. He produced then career highs in points (11), rebounds (then-3), assists (1), steals (2), field goal percentage (.556), while also making his first-career three-pointer.
Against Gettysburg (D13), he turned in a 10-point, eight-rebound effort, shooting 4-for-6 from the field. And for the third-consecutive game, he produced double-figure scoring marks with 12 against Washington (Md.) College (D18). He was flawless from the floor, knocking down all four field goals.
His performance against Ohio (D20) was the best of his career, as he turned in a career-high 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting. At one point, he had knocked down 12-straight shots dating back to the Gettysburg, before missing on his seventh shot of the game against the Bobcats.
He is second on the team in field goal percentage, hitting 57.1 percent (24-for-42) of his shots, and is its third-leading scorer, averaging 8.1 points per game.
Charles In Charge
Jeff Charles has been a pivotal player for the Mids this season. In Navy's season opener at South Carolina (N21), Charles produced a then career-high 13 points, eight boards, two assists, a block and a steal. At James Madison (N30), he turned in the first double-double of his career, posting a career-high 19 points, as well as a career-high 12 boards. He was 8-for-13 (.615) from the field, the most field goals he has made in a single game in his four-year career.
Charles is Navy's leading scorer, averaging 11.1 points per game, while also leading the Mids in rebounding (5.2). He is shooting 57.3 percent (47-for-82) from the field.
Higgins Homecoming
If the name Mike Higgins sounds familiar, you are right. But if you don't recall hearing his name from PA announcer Greg Davis over the last few years, you'd be right, as well. The sophomore forward out of South Jordan, Utah, entered the Naval Academy in the fall of 2000 and should be graduating with this year's three-member senior class. But Higgins left the Academy following his freshman year to complete a two-year Mormon Mission in Eastern Europe, primarily in the region of the Czech Republic. He returned to Annapolis this past summer and has been working to get back in shape and regain his shooting touch.
Higgins has put together impressive performances as of late. He came off the bench to score four points and pitch in five boards against Gettysburg (D13). Against Washington (Md.) College (D18), he knocked down three of his four shots and added a free throw for a career-high seven points, while grabbing a personal-best six boards. At Rice (D22), he scored seven points and snatched a career-high four steals.
He has missed just five shots this season, shooting 66.7 percent.
Ofori Connects From Downtown
Before suffering his shoulder injury D18 against Washington (Md.) College, senior guard Kwame Ofori was ranked second in the Patriot League in three-point field goal percentage, knocking down half his triples (11-for-22). Having sat out the last three games, he has not averaged enough three-pointers to be ranked, but he is one of the premier three-point arsenals in the league.
Pounding The Paint
Navy went to its big men to find success against Washington (Md.) College (D18). Outside of his triple, senior Jeff Charles scored his career-high tying 19 points slashing and planting inside the paint. Meanwhile, freshman Carlton Baldwin produced a double-double with 16 points and a career-high 11 boards. Junior Laramie Mergerson also posted a then career-high 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting.
Freshmen Get Minutes
Four Navy freshmen dressed and played against Washington (Md.) College (D18). The four "plebes" combined to score 24 points. Carlton Baldwin led the first-year group with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Thom Knapp played in his varsity game and scored four points, while Calvin White also pitched in four points. David Rhoiney did not score, however, his three assists in four minutes tied for the high in assists.
Youth Exposed
The team Navy put out on the court in its opener was one of the youngest in Academy history. The Mids dressed three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.
Obviously the four freshmen had never competed in a varsity game, but neither had two of the five sophomores dressing. Leonard Green and Kelvin Boatner were members of Navy's junior varsity squad last year, while Mike Higgins played in 20 games as a freshman, but that was three years ago. He's been away from basketball for two years fulfilling a Mormon Mission.
Taj Mathews is the lone junior with experience. Classmates George O'Garro entered the year having played a combined 22 minutes in six contests, while Laramie Mergerson had played 98 minutes in 17 games.
Don DeVoe recently brought up juniors Adam Allegro and Rob Paul, along with sophomores Adam Hudson and Jason Deane. Hudson and Deane played JV ball last year, while Allegro and Paul played a combined five games going into the season.
Lack of Points
The Mids' 40 points in their season opener at South Carolina (N21) were the fewest points scored by a Navy team since Feb. 10, 1979 (729 games) when the Mids lost at Penn State, 43-40.
Tough Loss
Navy's 40-point, 86-46 loss to Academy rival Air Force (N28) marked the worst loss since F1, 1964, when the Mids were dropped 121-65 by eighth-ranked Duke.
Navy Firsts
Four Navy players earned their first varsity minutes in the Mids' season opener at South Carolina (N21). Sophomore forward Leonard Green not only played in his first varsity contest, he was awarded a starting forward position. In addition to Green, freshmen Carlton Baldwin, David Rhoiney and Calvin White earned playing time.
Four more scored the first points of their careers last week at UCF (D6). Junior Adam Allegro, along with sophomore Kelvin Boatner, Jason Deane and Adam Hudson each scored in the Mids' loss.
Rookie Thom Knapp played and scored in his first varsity game D18 against Washington (Md.) College.
Happy Anniversary
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1953-54 team in which Ben Carnevale led to the NCAA Tournament East Region which claimed wins over 19th-ranked Connecticut (85-80) and Cornell (69-67) before losing to eventual National Champion La Salle (64-48).
Additionally, it's the 45th anniversary of the 1958-59 squad which also played in the NCAA Tournament East Region. That squad beat No. 9 North Carolina in the first round, 76-63, and Boston University, 62-55, in the second round before dropping a 70-56 decision to St. Joseph's.
Finally, it was 10 years ago that Don DeVoe led the Mids to the NCAA Tournament in his second year at the helm of the Navy program. After defeating Colgate in the Patriot League Tournament championship game, Navy met No. 5 Missouri in Ogden, Utah, where the Tigers defeated the Mids, 76-53. It was Navy's first NCAA Tournament bid since the 1986-87 campaign, David Robinson's senior year.
Future Officers
Navy's three seniors recently submitted their service selections for which they will fulfill upon graduation this May. Team captain Jason Fernandez will be a supply corps officer, while Jeff Charles has requested surface warfare and Kwame Ofori has selected submarines. The Mids will find out their final duties Friday, F6, the eve of Navy's home basketball contest vs. Lehigh.
Service Selections Offered
Navy
Aviation - pilot, flight officer
Nuclear Propulsion - ships, submarines
Restricted Line and Staff Corps - intelligence, cryptology, medicine, civil engineering, supply, aviation maintenance, meteorology/oceanography
Special Operations and Special Warfare - explosive ordinance disposal (EDO), mine countermeasures, operational diving and salvage, explosive ordinance management, SEALs
Surface Warfare - conventional, nuclear powered
Submarines
Marine Corps
Ground - infantry, armor, artillery, logistics, engineering, communications-information systems, financial management, military police
Aviation - pilot, flight officer, air command and control, anti-air warfare, aviation maintenance, aviation supply.
Breaking Milestones
After producing his 500th-career win in last year's season opener, Navy head coach Don DeVoe is quickly embarking on two additional milestones. He is 19 wins from recording his 200th victory at the Naval Academy, and nine wins away from 100 in Patriot League play. In doing so, he would become the first coach in Patriot League history to reach 100 conference wins.
Navy Picked Seventh In the Patriot League
The Patriot League's coaches and sports information directors picked Navy to finish seventh according to the 2003-04 Preseason Patriot League Men's Basketball Poll.
Having won three-straight Patriot League titles and boasting the preseason player of the year, Holy Cross picked up 14 of the 16 first-place votes to pace the field, while Lafayette, who has preseason all-league players Winston Davis and Justin DeBerry, grabbed the other two first-place votes and was picked second.
2003-04 Men's Basketball
Patriot League Preseason Poll
2002 2002 PL
School Pts. Record Record
1. Holy Cross (14) 98 26-5 13-1
2. Lafayette (2) 76 13-16 6-8
3. Colgate 75 14-14 9-5
4. American 70 16-14 9-5
5. Lehigh 45 16-12 8-6
6. Bucknell 42 14-15 7-7
7. Navy 25 8-20 4-10
8. Army 17 5-22 0-14
(#) - first-place votes
2003-04 Men's Basketball
Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Jave Meade, Holy Cross (Preseason Player of the Year)
Howard Blue, Colgate
Winston Davis, Lafayette
Justin DeBerry, Lafayette
Mark Linebaugh, Colgate
