2009-10 Season in Review

Panthers Win Skyline, Punch First-Ever NCAA Tourney Tic 
Honors Roll in for Billups, Orgias and Charney  

Purchase, NY (Mar. 23, 2010) – When the Skyline Conference preseason projections came out, the league poll had Purchase finishing fourth this winter.

The upstart Panthers, who reached the Skyline quarterfinals in 2009, used the ranking as motivation. Sure, they had gone pretty much from worst to first a season ago, making the jump from three to 15 wins, but didn’t the conference recognize how talented and loaded this year’s roster would be, adding center Charles Thompson to a mix that included All-Skyline returnee Marvin Billups and standout Corey Orgias, not to mention star transfer Michael McNair?

Well, if the conference didn’t get the notice, they sure learned their lesson come tournament time as the Panthers won their first title since rejoining the NCAA by topping No. 1 SUNY College at Old Westbury in the championship. No. 3 Purchase, who downed No. 2 St. Joseph’s College-LI in the semifinals, took care of the rival Panthers 92-76 to grab the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament – another first for the greatest team in program history.

After all, they featured the best scoring team in the conference (77.3 ppg).

The top scorer in the league (Billups).

The conference leader in steals (Justin Walters – for the second straight season).

And the most explosive Sixth Man (McNair).

[Pictured left: 2010 SKYLINE CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR MARVIN BILLUPS -Photo by Oren Vourman]

Head coach Jeff Charney, who took over midway through the 2007-08 season, rebuilt Purchase into a championship contender, leading the squad to a 15-11 overall record and a 10-8 mark in 2008-09. This year's team finished third in the conference at 14-6 and went 20-9 overall after falling to St. Mary’s of Maryland 88-59 in the first round of the NCAA tourney. The Panthers led regional host St. May’s early, but fell to the team that for a second straight season would have a return trip to the “Sweet 16.”

The Panthers enjoyed a season filled with memorable moments. They traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts to participate in a holiday tournament, reaching the championship game before falling to host Springfield 66-61 in the final. Billups became the first to win the tournament MVP from a losing team.

Purchase also defeated all of its Skyline opponents through the course of the season, spending some time in first place. The Panthers clinched the No. 3 seed and went on to down rival Yeshiva in the quarterfinals at home, setting the stage for upset wins in the semifinals and championship.

The Panthers became one of 61 teams dancing in March, when the DIII Men’s Basketball Committee announced the field for the hoops tourney on March 1.

The No. 14 St. Mary’s of Maryland Seahawks, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Middle Atlantic Regional poll, won the 2010 Capital Athletic Conference championship title in an 80-76 victory over Wesley College on Feb. 27.  

No championship season would be complete without the honors that follow. At the end of the season, Billups was named Skyline Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, while fellow co-captain Orgias garnered an All-Skyline 2nd Team selection. Billups was later named to D3Hoops.com All-Atlantic 1st Team, and Charney was named D3Hoops All-Atlantic Coach of the Year.   

Championship hardware, postseason accolades and a roster with no seniors have the confident Panthers poised for a repeat run in 2010-11. Purchase returns the “Big Three” of Billups, Orgias and Thompson as well as standout guards McNair and Walters, and underclassmen John Simmons, Angel Gonzalez, Andre Nixon, Kevin Major, Jr. , Maurice Richardson, Joseph Ray and Marc Baclija.   

-Bobby Ciafardini, SID

NCAA DIII TOURNAMENT BRACKET

2009-10 Recaps:
Curtain Falls on 'Greatest Season' in NCAA DIII Tourney
Panthers Win Skyline Crown, Coast into NCAAs
Orgias Powers Purchase in Skyline Quarters
Panthers Scorch FSC
Panthers Win 2nd Straight, Outlast Maritime in Double OT
OW Steals Win in Double OT Thriller
Team Effort Lifts Panthers Over Bard
Billups Enters Record Books, Scores 1,000-Point
Make it Eight Straight for Blazing Panthers
Panthers Steamroll to 7th Straight Win
Surging Panthers Redeem Early Season Loss to MSMC
Purchase Downs FSC, Climbs League Standings 
Streaking Panthers Roll to 4th Straight Win
Dominant Panthers Sink Dolphins
Panthers Storm Back, Down SJC
Well-rounded Effort Lifts Purchase Past Maritime
Comeback Falls Short at Old Westbury
Behind Billups, Panthers Reach Finals in Springfield
'Five Star' Performance at Lehman
Offense Shines at Bard
Gator Control: Panthers Cruise Past Sage
MSMC Staves Off Scare, Nips Purchase, 55-54
Panthers Finish 3rd at ECS Tip-Off Tourney
Macs Hold Off Panther Comeback

2009-10 News: 
Charney All-Met Coach of the Year, Billups First Team
More Honors for Billups; Star Grabs ECAC All-Star Nod
Charney Named D3Hoops Coach of Year; Billups 1st Team
Billups Wins Player of the Year; Orgias All-Skyline
'Big Three' Dominate Conference Weekly Honors
Orgias Concludes Regular Season on HR
Fifth HR Appearance for Billups
Orgias Grabs 2nd HR Mention
Billups Tops Honor Roll Again
Third Straight HR for Billups
Consecutive HR Nods for Billups
Billups Earns 2nd Honor Roll Mention
Tourney MVP Named League Player of the Week
Billups Rolls to Skyline, ECAC POW Honors
Billups Named to Honor Roll
Orgias Grabs League Weekly Honor

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2008-09 Season in Review

Panthers Make Stunning Turnaround in '08-09
Billups, Lewis Named to All-Skyline Team 

Purchase, NY (Feb. 26, 2009) – To steal from the old cliché, “What a difference a year makes.”

From 3-22 a year ago to 15 wins and a playoff berth. That was the story for the Purchase College men’s basketball team this winter. In his first full season behind the bench, head coach Jeff Charney led the Panthers from last place to the Skyline Conference Tournament.

Purchase would fall in the quarterfinal at Old Westbury, but there is no doubt that the program is on the right track to remain competitive and possibly challenge for a league crown for years to come.  

For starters, Purchase’s underclassmen are among the best in the league. Sophomore sensation Marvin Billups dominated, leading the conference in scoring (23.1 ppg) this season. Then there’s sophomore’s Justin Walters, Tyriq Harrington, Corey Orgias and maybe top recruit Chuck Thompson ready to return next fall. Walters led the league in steals and teamed with Harrington as one of the top guard duos off the bench this year.
 

 
Senior Day 2009

The Panthers will miss backcourt starters Jerrell Lewis and Chad Charney and front court standouts Kazeem Famuyide and Henry Ferrarin, but are excited about the prospects of returning such a strong core of underclassmen. Purchase will also look to replace valuable bench contributors Chris Evangelista and Owen Mann.

Lewis was named to the All-Skyline Second Team this winter. Billups garnered All-Skyline First Team honors and became the first in Purchase basketball history to be named to the D3 Hoops.com All-Atlantic Region Second Team, which would then by followed by a prestigious ECAC All-Star Second Team honor.

Six seniors might be gone from the roster next season, but with two starters returning in Billups and Orgias, and Harrington, Walters and Thompson set to fill the void in 2009-10 left by the departing seniors, the sky is the limit for the Panthers next winter.

-Bobby Ciafardini, SID

2008-09 Recaps: 
Fueled By Second Half, OW Wins Playoff Opener
Senior Day Success, Special Six Shine in Win Over Poly
Santana, Rams Halt Panthers Comeback Bid
Trio Bury CMSV
Playoff Push Begins with Win Over OW
Dunk-tacular: Orgias Slam Sinks Tech at Buzzer
Offense Stagnant at St. Joe's
Billups, Lewis Combine for 63 in Loss
Panthers Keep Bard Winless
Home Cooking: Panthers Serve Up MSM
Panthers Halt Skid at Yeshiva
Blue Knights Foil Lewis' Return
Powerful Rams Dissolve Late Panther Rally
Maritime Prevails in OT
Billups, Harrington Carry Purchase to W
Golden Eagles Hold On, 72-71
Lewis Nets 40, but Panthers Fall at OW
Panthers Bounce Back at CCNY
Lewis' 28 Lost as Lightning Stave Off Panthers
Despite Ferocious Comeback, Panthers Handed 1st Loss
Lewis' 35 Leads Purchase to Fifth Straight Win
Fourth Straight Vaults Panthers into First-place Tie
Panthers Win SUNY New Paltz Tourney
Opening Act: Panthers Dominate Pratt in Season Opener

2008-09 News:
Billups Also Named to All-Met Team
Billups Named to ECAC All-Star Team
Billups Named to D3 Hoops All-Region Team
Billups, Lewis Named to All-Skyline Team
Billups Named to Honor Roll
Billups Garners Skyline Player of the Week
Billups Back on Honor Rolls
Honor Roll Mentions fo Billups
Clean Sweep of Weekly Honors for Billups
Billups Earns a Pair of Honor Roll Mentions
Lewis Named to PrestoSports, Skyline Honor Rolls
Lewis Named to Honor Roll
Billups Named Skyline Co-Player of the Week
Harris Appointed New Assistant Coach

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^ Senior Day                                                                              
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Men's Basketball 2004 Preview

After struggling early last season with adjustments under Coach Joe Ross, the Panthers look to build on a strong second half that took them to the finals of the Hudson Valley Men’s  Athletic Conference tournament. 

While All-Conference selections Steve Sage and Marc Pierre will be missed, this year’s squad returns a solid core of experience and talent including Akantunde Henderson-Amare, Peter Tambakis, Benny Rupel, Desmond Turner, Jamal Ien, and Richie Rivera.  Coaches Ross and John McLoughlin also look for major contributions from newcomers Adam Kalker, Clinton Lowe, Jaison Correa-Spain, Chad Charney, Carlton Wilson, Mike Wimmer, Dan Minieri, and Fred Gibson.

Look for Rupel, Minieri, and Wilson to bring a strong inside presence, along with a balanced Panther attack that finds at least six student -athletes equipped to play two and three positions each.  “We learned a lot about each other last year.  These guys hung tough and it is time for them to see those efforts pay off,”  explains Coach Ross.  “People will see a core that is relentless, intense, and intelligent.  We look forward to putting it together this season.”