Scholastic Roundup: Dan Lynch Jr. causes a stir

April 5, 2024 Andy Furman

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The St. John’s University basketball snub of the National Invitational Tournament highlighted by Dan Lynch Jr.’s comments here last week brought some people to the forefront with their own comments.

“So, Dan Lynch Jr. isn’t happy with the snub,” writes Leo Valenti to Scholastic Roundup. “The NIT would be a great pre-season tournament. The world of basketball has changed,” he continues, “But a New York City NIT would be a great heads-up to the season to be.”

Great idea, Leo, for New York schools — LIU, Fordham, Manhattan, Wagner, Iona, St. Peter’s, take your pick.

But there is an NIT pre-season event. The NIT Season Tip-Off is an annual tournament that takes place in November of each year, toward the beginning of the season. The first two rounds are held at campus sites, while the semifinals and the finals are held during the week of Thanksgiving in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

The 2020 tournament was to be held at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. But the COVID-19 pandemic caused the NCAA to cancel it.

The tournament which is part of the regular season for all participating colleges, began in 1985 as the Preseason NIT, so-called to distinguish it from the post-season NIT.

In 2005, the NCAA purchased the Men’s Preseason and Postseason NIT and renamed the November tournament the NIT Season Tip-Off.

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Former Tilden High basketball coach Jeff Schrier chimed in as well: “I agree with Lynch about Pitino and the New York loyalties,” he said. “However,” he added, “All credence is lost because the final four of the NIT will not even be played in the (Madison Square) Garden this year. Nowhere near The Big Apple. It will be held in Indianapolis.”

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The men’s and women’s volleyball match at Brooklyn’s St. Joseph’s University is set for Saturday (April 6, 9:30 a.m.). St. Joseph’s volleyball alumni and friends will enjoy a catered lunch with old teammates.

The day will feature a fundraiser for St. Joseph’s athletics, from 4-8 p.m. at Chipotle, 394 Myrtle Avenue.

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The St. Joseph’s University, Brooklyn men’s volleyball team defeated Yeshiva University, 3-0 last week at The Hill Center. On their senior night, the quartet of Alex Helfant, Frank Rivera, Frank Tello and Leonel Bravo combined for 37 digs, 32 kills and 10 service aces.

Helfant and Tello attended Alliance Academy International in Quito, Ecuador.

The women’s softball team at St. Joseph’s, Brooklyn collected 12-1 and 13-3 wins over Brooklyn College, last Thursday night. Vivian Garcia went three-for-four in the first game and the Bears set a new single-game record for triples – four—Payton Walker (2), Autumn Poppet and Hannah Whitson.

Amazing but true – of the 14 players on the Bears’ softball roster, nine hail from California, one each from, Brooklyn, Valley Stream, L.I., Texas. the state of Washington and Louisiana.

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Kristen Donovan of the St. Joseph’s, Brooklyn women’s basketball team was named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. She becomes the first Bear in recorded program history to garner academic honors from CSC.

Selected by CSC, Academic All-District Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.

Donovan averaged 15.6 points-per-game in 25 outings — good for second on the team and fourth in the Skyline Conference. The sophomore forward finished the season ranked fourth in the nation with 248 three-point field goals attempted and 3.24 triples per game.

Her 81 total three-pointers placed her eighth in Division III. Dropping a season-best 29 points against Mount Saint Vincent — along with 10 rebounds — to begin the 2024 calendar year, Donovan scored in double figures in 84 percent of her outings, scoring north of 20 in nine con tests.

She carries a 3.917 cumulative grade point average and is majoring in business administration.

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The LIU men’s water polo team had a successful 2023 season and not only shined in the pool, but in the classroom as well

Six student-athletes were named Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Academic All-Americas. Ethan Zaire was recognized as outstanding; Anthony Gauna, Charlie Downey, Karl Lovett and Sam Odenkirk were recognized as superior; Riyad Shehadeh was recognized as excellent.

To be eligible for consideration for Academic All-American, student-athletes must have maintained a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA. For outstanding, student-athletes must have had a GPA from 3.71-4.0, 3.41-3.70 for superior and 3.20-3.40 for excellent.

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LIU women’s lacrosse star Olivia Fantigrossi was named NEC Player of the Week after her dominant performance against LeMoyne on Alumni Day.

Fantigrossi, a senior, scored six goals on seven shots against the Dolphins during the Sharks’ 16-5 win. She has 27 goals in 12 games, as the Sharks are 5-1 in NEC play and 5-7 overall.

The LIU acrobatics and tumbling team secured its first home meet win in program history and tallied its highest score in program history, against Kutztown, Monday night.

The Sharks defeated the Golden Bears 255.075 to 248.750 to claim their third consecutive win and their inaugural victory at the Pratt Recreation Center.

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Brooklyn College junior, Ryan Sham (Brooklyn Tech), has been named the City University of New York Athletic Conference’s Men’s Tennis Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. Sham earned the award for his efforts in the Bulldogs’ two non-conference shutouts on the week.

Sham was a perfect 2-0 in both singles and doubles at the top flight. Last Tuesday, he and Craig Pazarecki scored an 8-1 win in doubles before Sham won (6-2, 6-1), in singles against Sarah Lawrence. He closed out the week, Saturday, with an 8-1 win in doubles and (6-1,6-3) win in singles against St. Joseph’s, Long Island.

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The Pratt Institute men’s tennis team rolled to an 8-1 triumph over Sarah Lawrence College, Saturday at the USTA National Tennis Center. Winners of three straight, the Cannoneers improve to 5-1 on the season.

Pratt swept the doubles session winning the top two matches, 8-2, Mikah Liu and Eagle Zhang teaming up in the lead match and Mehul Bhargava and Ryan Nelsen joining the No. 2 spot. Calder Tillinghast and Caleb Callahan posted an 8-3 win in the No. 3 match.

Pratt tries for four straight hosting Baruch College, Sunday (April 7th) in a 1:30 p.m. battle at the USTA National Tennis Center.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected]; Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR