March 6, 2001
The 2000-01 season was one of transition for the AU Men's Basketball team. It started in April with the hiring of new coach Jeff Jones. The 2000-2001 season also marked the Eagles' final campaign as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. The Eagles will join the Patriot League starting next season. AU finished the season with a 7-20 overall record and a 3-13 mark in the CAA in a season marred with numerous injuries and personnel changes.
Coach Jones began his AU career with a 74-62 home win against Radford on November 11, 2000, and reached a milestone on Dec. 12 when he won his 150th game as a head coach with a 54-50 victory against William & Mary in Bender Arena. On January 8, 2001, the Eagles turned in another performance for the record books when they held CAA regular-season champion UNCW to 39 points, the lowest point total allowed by an AU team since the 1973-74 season. Finally, AU ended its season on a high note as it knocked off James Madison, 63-48, at Bender on February 24 for Homecoming.
In addition, the Eagles ranked as one of the best rebounding teams in the CAA this year. AU was second in rebounding (37 rebounds per game), offensive rebounds (12.98 orpg) and rebounding margin (+2.4 rpg).
Junior forward Patrick Doctor (Brandywine, MD/Gwynn Park) was named to the All-CAA Second Team after he led the team in scoring (16.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). He also posted double-doubles against Bucknell and William & Mary and on Feb. 24, scored the 1,000th point of his collegiate career against James Madison. Doctor would have ranked third in the league in scoring and sixth in rebounding but did not play in the 75 percent of AU's games necessary to qualify for CAA statistics.
Two other key contributors for the Eagles were senior captains Ronald Hearns (G, Detroit, MI/Denby) and Saliou-Binet Telly (C, Bamako, Mali/Notre Dame (MA)). Hearns, one of the most prolific three-point shooters in AU history, averaged 11.5 ppg and lead the team with 47 three-point field goals. In only two seasons at American, after transferring from Vermillion Community College (MN), Hearns ranks fifth in Eagles' history for three-pointers made and attempted and this year was fifth in the CAA with 1.81 three-pointers made per game. Telly, meanwhile, finished his career as AU's all-time leader in blocked shots with 126. He averaged 6.1 ppg this season and lead the team in blocks with 31. Telly also ranked fifth in the league in blocks with 1.15 bpg.
In addition, AU got strong play from veterans Demek Adams (So., G, Washington, DC/Carroll) (53 assists, .733 ft), Keith Gray (Jr., Longview, TX/Pinetree) (6.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Dejuan Goodwin (Sr., G, Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights) and Hasheem Alexander (So., G, Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson). Gray ranked eighth in the CAA in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and defensive rebounds (3.93 drpg). He also led the Eagles in field goal percentage (.555).
Newcomers Vladimir Buscaglia (Jr., F/G, Geneva, Switzerland/Notre Dame (MA)) (9.3 ppg, .361 3pt-fg), Jernavis Draughn (Fr., F, Dumfries, VA/Potomac) (6.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Brian Williams (Jr., F, Richmond, VA/James River) also made important contributions. Buscaglia ranked among the league leaders in three-pointers made (1.59, 9th) and blocks per game (.91, 9th) while Williams scored a team season-high 31 points in a Dec. 21 win at Jacksonville.
Next season, AU will welcome back a strong core of players and look to compete for the Patriot League title in its first year in that conference.
-AUEAGLES.com-
