Dane Pound

I've yet to be able to see a game there but was hoping to go on Saturday vs. The Evil Empire. I know the stands aren't up until the end of the season so is it advisable to BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) or is that not neccessary? I also was thinking about getting Michael Haddix's former favorite food and a beer at the Pub before the game. Just curious if anyone else will be there. If so, I'll buy a round of those weird red shots we had after the tournament game.

It's refreshing to see a post that's not a reaction to some drivel on the Siena board. I see Lillis and Iati at the point for the next two years. My guess would be another PG could wait until the next recruiting class unless a good one comes up. I agree we could use a SF or combo SG and forward with the last recruit. Hopefully a big-time scorer as we will be losing a lot of firepower after next year.

And boring, annoying rhetoric at that. How many ways can people dream up to say "my team is better than yours?" Let it go. The weather is warming up outside, go out and take a walk. Or better yet catch a lacrosse game.

Also...someone should wave a "BIGPURPLEFANS.COM" flag at the games...get people to find this board....start the culture in a new way. 13808[/snapback] I'm considering having some shirts printed up next year. If I do I'll have a Big Purple Fan tailgate next fall to hand them out.

The good news is Bracketology has Albany in the tournament next year. The bad news is we're in the Play-in game. Bracket

Because he's good!

Perhaps some of these shows are worthwhile but the times I've listened they have not been worth the effort to turn on the radio. Instead of asking question I'd really like to know about recruiting, how people roles are going to change next year, scheduling the radio guys generally just try to play verbal gotcha with the coach and get him to try and say something controversial. I realize the exposure is worthwhile but from my perspecitve the Q+A sessions Brown has done with the fans have been far more informative.

I'm sure everyone knows the result but a good story about the game in the Sun. UMBC edges Albany again-Baltimore Sun

A couple of letters from Siena fans in today's paper reminding us Siena is the "gold standard" of Capital District hoops. Is "gold standard" better than "crown jewel?" Siena still area's gold standard in basketball Saints' epic upset dwarfs Danes' double-digit defeat

Does he mean another chance at Division I, because he didn't play much or have a fair shot at Minn., or was there something else going on? Anyone know why he left the Gophers? just playing time? 13697[/snapback] I was thinking the same thing when I read it. I think (hope) it means another shot at Division I. With everything the coaching staff has done over the past few years there's no reason they would take on someone with a reputation. Another story (Redemption) I found on him talked about how there was a logjam in the backcourt at Minnesota when he was there. I'm guessing as a transfer he'd come in as a junior. It actually would set up pretty well for having senior guards for two seasons in a row. Jamar and Jason Siggers next year and then Iati, Lillis, Knight and maybe Webb the next year. You could bring in some freshman guards that year without having to rely on them heavily until they were sophs. If he's as good as he looks on paper can you imagine him in the mix with the backcourt players there already?

I doubt you need it but good luck 84. How about tha?t another potential teacher on the board. The ones we have now give UAlbany questions as extra credit on their tests.

I doubt there is anyone less qualified to comment on any kind of fashion sense but here's my two cents. I like the black uniforms at least compared to what was there before. Anyone remember the white ones with the purple boxes on them? Yuck.

This from Mark McGuire's column this morning: Flag Man, super fan University at Albany's memorable NCAA tournament appearance ended two weeks ago. But Great Dane's super fan Adam Thorpe is still getting face time on CBS. The 23-year-old senior and Queensbury native is a fixture at games: 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, he paints his face purple and gold, waves a giant UAlbany flag, and generally goes nuts. He caught the attention of CBS cameras, and CSTV. Thorpe will be profiled during the Final Four on CBS and its cable sister in a 30-second CSTV package highlighting rabid college basketball fans. Thorpe is one of nine fans who will be getting the mini-biography treatment in a Coke-sponsored spot. You can watch the spot now at http://www.cstv.com/coca-cola/. A side note: Former Times Union columnist (and UAlbany grad) Keith Marder is now the spokesman for CSTV.

This from a midwest newspaper column about Miles Webb. A 6'3 shooting guard who originally went to Minnesota. Column "The season is over for the North Dakota State College of Science men’s basketball team, but the Wildcats’ six sophomores are still looking to prove themselves. Each of the players has received interest from four-year colleges, with Miles Webb, Raed Mostafa and Jessie Burton looking to make the leap to NCAA Division I. So far, only 6-foot-10 forward Thomas Dryburgh has verbally committed – to Division II University of North Dakota. Dryburgh joins former Wildcats teammate Mark Kruse, who will transfer from D-I Illinois State next year. As for the others, the former Minnesota recruit Webb is scheduled to visit UC-Irvine during the first week of April. Albany has inquired about bringing in the speedy guard, and Colorado State is also in the mix, NDSCS head coach Craig Irwin said. “He’s a good young man and he deserves another chance,” Irwin said of Webb. “He’s hungry and I hope he gets into a good situation.” Webb committed to the Gophers early and played sparingly during his only season in Minneapolis. He averaged 18.5 points and five rebounds per game this year for NDSCS." Profile from Minnesota

As always you can take these rankings with several grains of salt but hoopscoop gives both Gifford and Yocum the same ranking. 109. ALBANY (8 Points)..........3 Recruits..........2.7 Talent Rating Average Per Recruit..........America East Conference..........(3) Brett Gifford, 6'11, C, Rock Bridge (H.S.) MO; (3) Mike Yocum, 6'8, C, Merion Station (Episcopal Academy) PA; (2) Michael Knight, 6'3, 2G, St. Petersburg (JC) FL.

There's a story in today's paper about Siena's Antione Jordan being invited to the Portsmouth Invitational. Just curious what people thought the prospects were of our seniors. I'm guessing Zoellner will be able to play in Germany if he chooses.

I think if having to talk with Vandenburgh is part of his job description Brown should have asked for more money.

From the York Dispatch. Iati

It will be strange watching the first game next fall without seeing Levi out there. He and Will Brand before him seemed like they were here forever. I'm hoping since Brown will be returning that it means the coaching staff as a whole will return. I'd like to see what Fillien can do working with Gifford, Yocum, Covington and Connelly for a few years.

Those first three years might have felt like 9 when you're waiting for new recruits to come in. Some good quotes of both sides in today's TU. Top Dog to Return Deal Made on court of Equity (Ettkin)

I did too but couldn't help myself at the end. No way that game should have even gone to overtime. UConn got a gift at the end of regulation and still couldn't pull it out.

Admittedly I'm sometimes a little slow to comprehend. I've know since he was a freshman that Jamar was a very good player for this conference. The past two months of the season opened my eyes to the fact that he is a very good college basketball player at any level.

I think we actually had a lead pretty late in the second half of the UCLA game as well. I take your point about the final four and it would be terrific to have played UCLA or Florida in the year they won the championship. Despite that, I can't keep myself from rooting for George Mason.

Financial terms weren't released which is fine by me as long as the deal is done. The Times Union story did say he's now among the three highest paid coaches in the conference.

Will Brown staying at Albany Albany, NY (Sports Network) - The University of Albany has extended the contract of men's basketball coach Will Brown for five years through the 2010-11 season. Albany finished the 2005-06 campaign with a record of 21-11, winning both the America East regular season and tournament championships. The Great Danes reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I program and, as a 16th seed in the first round, led top-seeded Connecticut by 12 points midway through the second half before dropping a 72-59 decision. "Will Brown and his staff have done an excellent job of building a young Division I basketball program," said athletic director Lee McElroy in making the announcement. "The team accomplished many historical things this season. The foundation has been laid for the program to be successful for years to come, something that our students, alumni and fans can enjoy with great pride." Brown, who was appointed full-time head coach on March 13, 2002 had a contract through this season. "I am grateful to the University of Albany for the opportunity and support I have received," said Brown. "My student-athletes and assistant coaches have worked hard to get the program to where it currently stands. "I am also appreciative of the way the Capital Region and UAlbany fans have embraced the team. UAlbany basketball has entered into a new era and we are working to build on our recent success." Brown, just 34 years old, has a record of 53-83 in four-plus seasons at the helm. He took over on an interim basis in December of 2001, then was given the full-time position after the 2001-02 season. The Great Danes have won 34 games the past two seasons after winning just 19 in Brown's first two-plus years. The team will have eight players, including three starters, return for 2006-07. Brown was head coach at Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, New York for three years before joining Albany as an assistant prior to the 2001-02 season. He led the Generals to a record of 90-10.