Brown Picked 5th In the Ivies
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
In his first season at the helm, Brown University men's basketball coach Mike Martin (Brown '04) surprised many people with ability as a motivator of men and a head coach. At age 30, it was Martin's first head coaching job which he proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he was more than ready for. He took a team that went 8-23 the season before (including a 2-12 Ivy League record) and led them to a very respectable 13-15 campaign which included a 4th place finish in the league at 7-7. Included in those 13 victories was a win over intracity rival Providence College.
Now, in year two, Martin's Bears have been tabbed to finish fifth in the Ivies according to a preseason poll of media that covers the league. And while that may not be entirely out of whack, it's not something that Martin and his Bears plan on settling for.
With 6 freshman who make up his first-ever recruiting class here at Brown, the Bears will be a young team. But they will also be a more athletic and talented team in 2013-2014. Here's a story from the school's website on brownbears.com about the Ivy League's preseason poll and the Bears as they get set to open the season November 10th against Binhamton.
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October 23, 2013
Brown Picked Fifth In Ivy League Preseason Men’s Basketball Media Poll
Providence, R.I. – The Brown’s men’s basketball team, who finished fourth in the Ivy standings a year ago, will have some bulletin board material after being picked fifth in the 2013-14 Ivy League Preseason Poll. Defending Ivy League Champion Harvard was chosen first in the poll, receiving all 17 first place votes.
Harvard’s 136 points led the Ivy League poll, followed by Penn (100), Yale (96), Princeton (93), Brown (74), Cornell (38), Dartmouth (38) and Columbia (37).
Head coach Mike Martin’s squad features several significant returning players from last year’s 13-15, 7-7 Ivy team, as the Bears look to challenge for the Ivy title with a mix of experience and youth, including six newcomers. The 13 wins were the 12th most at Brown since the Ivy League was formed in 1955. The Bears also finished in the top half of the league for the 22nd time, and the first time since 2008.
At the head of the class in Brown’s backcourt is first team All-Ivy guard Sean McGonagill, an incredibly skilled two-time All-Ivy selection, who can play the point or off the ball. McGonagill ranks 19th on Brown’s all-time scoring list with 1,113 career points.
Brown’s rugged front court was among the best in the Ivy League last season with sophomore Cedric Kuakumensah being named the Ivy League’s Defensive Player of the Year, and junior Rafael Maia, the Ivy League’s leading rebounder.
Kuakumensah, the Ivy League’s second leading rebounder, is the Ivy League’s top defensive player, who blocked a Brown record 66 shots, a mark that ranked sixth in Ivy League history, and was the most ever by a first-year player.
Maia led the Ivy League in rebounding with 7.5 per game. The rugged Brazilian, who played for Brazil at this summer’s World University Games in Russia, was recently named the Ivy League’s best rebounder by Lindy’s Sports Annuals.
Brown opens its season on November 10, hosting Binghamton at the Pizzitola Sports Center, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at brownbears.com, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or at the Box Office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
2013-14 IVY LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH First-Place Votes in Parentheses
Rank School Points
1. Harvard (17) 136
2. Penn 100
3. Yale 96
4. Princeton 93
5. Brown 74
6. Cornell 38
Dartmouth 38
8. Columbia 37