The future looked bright for Manhattan when the Jaspers left Albany after going 1-1 in the MAAC tournament.

"I feel next year we should be one of the top teams in the league," freshman guard Chris Smith said after his team beat Saint Peter's and then lost to eventual league champion Siena. "I feel we're going to be a great team in the future."

Playing this year with no senior getting serious time (only one on the roster), the Jaspers finished 12-19, 5-13 in the conference. But they showed real signs of improvement down the stretch, including a win over that same Siena team.

"We beat a very good basketball team," said Siena coach Fran McCaffery. "They weren't a very good basketball team eight weeks ago (when the teams first played) but I think Barry (Manhattan coach Rohrssen) has done a phenomenal job bringing this young team along.

"Our program has a tremendous amount of respect for Manhattan and a tremendous amount of respect for Barry and the job he's done."

Now, unless there's a problem during the game, coaches tend to say nice things about the other guys. But there are real signs the Jaspers will have to be reckoned with next season as the group, which returns intact, gains more experience.

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