Dane Pound

When went D-1 a few years ago I looked at Hofstra as a future blueprint for a fairly quick successful transition. Granted they are a private school but they are similar size and started out in the same conference. They were successful in their first seven years (D-1 in 1993) in the AE and then after stumbling a bit when they joined the CAA are having sucess there as well. I think they're a top 100 team in hoop this year and have a good 1-AA football program as well as lacrosse. Not saying I want a carbon copy of what they'd done but if we are where they are 12 years after upgrading I'd be pretty happy. Coincidently they built a new stadium in their ninth or tenth year, about where we'd be if it's started in 07. Here's a photo

Maine could be a different team if Kevin Reed plays tomorrow. Haven't seen anything either way but in the fall I think they gave late December as a timeframe for his return. They've struggled without him but have won two in a row. I thought the offense looked better Weds than it has this season. Not sure if it was bad Hartford defense but I'd like to think it wasn't. Seemed like a lot better passing than I've seen before and some easy baskets off guys (especially Lou) making cuts to the basket. I'd guess some of it is from the confidence that comes from winning a few games in a row.

I was surprised to see that on the ESPN ticker last night. I'm guessing that's the first time UMBC ever beat BU. Really surprising year for them.

Admittedly I'm ripping this subject off from Steve's blog. Just wanted to second his motion to end the blindfolded shot promotion. I think I've only seen three of them and two have have nearly resulted in embarassing moments for the University. Last night where the girl almost bounced the ball off her face. Then in a previous game somebody nearly clocked someone in the huddle with the basketball. Granted the cameras are usually off when the timeouts are going on but just imagine if they're on and somebody on the coaching staff or media table gets hit in the head with the basketball. That tape will be played as much as the Milkwaukee Brewer player hitting the guy in the hot dog suit with the baseball bat. Hats off for being creative but hopefully prudence dictates it stops. BTW Attendance was not as bad as I had imagined considering it was Hartford-Albany vs. Texas-USC last night. Around 1700. Even with all the timeouts at the end of the game I still got home in time to watch the second half of the Texas game.

The impending release of "Glory Road" had us discussing basketball movies. Glory Road is about the first team with an all-black lineup to play for the National Championship. The only other specifically college basketball movie I can remember is "Blue Chips" which wasn't that great. Although I think Shaq was better in that then he was in "Shazam" or whatever that other movie he was in. Aside from of course "Hoosiers" "Hoop Dreams" and maybe "Teen Wolf" any other good basketball movies out there?

Great point 66. Earlier in the year Jamar might have tried to go to the hoop and run into two or three defenders. Last night he pulled up for the jumper and seemed to be able to get it whenever they needed it. I thought except for the alley oops he tried to throw to Lillis he made really good decisions last night. Didn't realize until I watched some of the highlights last night how well Lou moved without the ball. He made some smart plays to get himself some easy baskets. In other games I've really liked the way he's done some things with Covington on the floor. They've run some nice give and go stuff.

Danes D extends winning streak-Troy Record Danes becoming defensive hounds-TU

Conference play kicks in for Danes-Troy Record Big man awaits Danes-TU Terriers lead league chase-Burlington Free Press

I share your concerns about Adeleke. He's scoring 20 points a game while shooting about 60% from the field. Hopefully Zo + Covington can keep him from giving us Kimbe Trim flashbacks tomorrow night. Other than Adlelke and Cook I'm not sure about the rest of the Hawks. They looked great starting off 4-2 and have lost 4 of 5 since then. This game will be a good measuring stick as Hartford was picked 5th. Four of the five conferences undefeated teams play each other this week-UA and Hartoford, BU and UMBC on Thursday. Good chance to see where we stack up.

From Hoopville's Phil Kasiecki: America East Notebook by Phil Kasiecki Great Danes Start to Come Around As the preseason favorite in America East, Albany figured to set the tone for the conference this season. With a 2-0 record after early wins over Binghamton and Stony Brook, the Great Danes are doing just that, but they didn't quite do it in non-conference play like one might have expected. The Great Danes have three non-conference games left, including an appearance in the Bracket Buster in February. They currently sport a 5-6 record after Wednesday night's win at struggling Brown, a game that wasn't a sterling effort but could be a sign of things to come. They didn't come into the game thinking it would be a cakewalk with the Bears, who are 2-8 and continue to struggle mightily on the season. "You never want to be that team that a team breaks out against, and that was a concern of mine," head coach Will Brown said after the game. The Great Danes' record is reflective in part of the schedule they have played, which includes road games with Florida, San Diego State and UCLA, but also of an adjustment they have had to make: depth. It was just two seasons ago that this injury-riddled team was very thin and had a walk-on in their rotation. Jon Iati, the America East Rookie of the Year that year, led the nation in minutes played at just under 40 per game. But now, depth abounds for Albany, which is the primary reason the coaches picked them to win a conference where few teams have both talent and experience. Past starters like senior Levi Levine and Iati are now reserves, which they haven't been before. Depth helped win Wednesday's game, as three players, including Kirsten Zoellner and Jamar Wilson, picked up their fourth foul in a short time in the second half. The shooting of sophomore forward Brent Wilson (17 points, including 4-7 on three-pointers) and the solid reserve play of Jason Siggers (10 points in a career-high 23 minutes) and Iati (10 points) went a long way to getting it done. Injuries also played a role. Versatile sophomore Brian Lillis missed some preseason practice time and the first two games after having surgery early in the fall to repair a stress fracture in his right foot. Lillis is expected to be the team's point guard going forward, which should only make the team better since it will allow Jamar Wilson to play off the ball and focus on scoring, which he does well. "I think we're going to start playing better and better and better, whereas I think a lot of teams in the next couple of weeks will start leveling off," Brown said. "I think in another 2-4 weeks, we'll really start to blossom as a team. "Our biggest thing right now is getting back to where we're all healthy, which we're close to, and then guys understanding and learning new roles. That's been the biggest thing for us." It wouldn't hurt if Lucious Jordan could get going as well. After Wednesday's game, the senior guard is averaging under 7 points per game, less than half of what he averaged last year. He missed the first three weeks of practice and hasn't really gotten untracked. Other America East Notes * Vermont goes into the new year with a 5-5 record after a 72-62 home win over American on Thursday. They won their only conference game thus far, and as the young team gains more confidence and starts gelling better now that they have some games under their belt, this team won't be an easy out. * Boston University went 1-1 at the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara, taking a tough 63-57 loss against Bucknell before an 80-69 win over UC Riverside in the consolation game. Leading scorer Corey Hassan is a scorching 24-46 from long range in the last seven games, where the Terriers have gone 5-2, and Kevin Gardner had a big second half in the win over UC Riverside. The Terriers' offense appears to be getting better, and that should continue with Tony Gaffney back since he is another potential scorer. * Kenny Adeleke has seven double-doubles in ten games for Hartford thus far. Freshman Chris Cole has helped improve the guard play, posting a better than 2:1 assist/turnover ratio and allowing guys like Adeleke and Aaron Cook to score. That makes the Hawks a potential contender in the wide-open conference.

Usually I'd agree that you can't have too much frontcourt depth. But with Gifford and Yocum coming in and Connelly and Covington returning that's four underclassman frontcourt players in addition to Brent who will only be a junior and likely play a ton of minutes at PF. I'd almost rather see a point guard brought in to season behind Lillis or maybe a big-conference transfer who would sit out for a year.

Don't forget Michael Knight who is having a good year at St. Petersburg College. Anderson had 11 points, 3 rebounds, a block and a steal in a loss to Mater Dei in their final game of the Beach Ball Classic. Overall his team went 2-2 in the tourney and he scored in double figures twice.

Alumni92 was all over the TW3 broadcast of the Binghamton game as well. The camera just loves him. Don't be surprised if we see a much higher turnout of female fans during the next homestand...

From today's TU. UAlbany bowling over rivals

UConn icon is no help-TU Huskies Master An Easy Job-Hartford Courant

I liked Siggers at the beginning of the season and liked him more after last night. He showed a little bit of everything he can do, hit 3s, drove into the lane and hit some pull-up jumpers and played good defense. Also after a couple of particularly grevious foul calls against us he tried to calm everyone down and get their minds off the officiating-great to see. As that stats showed Brent played a terrific game as did Iati off the bench. I realize Brown isn't a very good team but it's a good statement about your team when neither Jamar or Lou have good scoring nice and you can win fairly comfortably on the road.

A date against a former mentor -TU Danes capture third in row-TU

They might have in the past but I don't recall them doing it this year anyway. I thought one guy wore a big foam cowboy hat for a while which is why I remember him so well when I saw him at the Pepsi Arena. Some of the posters on the Siena board have mentioned seeing them in both places also.

Sorry Daneguy04. I should have said I've seen these guys with the flag a few times. You were THE Flag Guy back then. If you were the guy who used to run around the court during the timeouts you should have gotten paid. That always fired the crowd up and made the game a lot more fun. Many thanks to you, also to the current flag guy. With a bunch of home games coming up they have to get that flag fixed!

Brown wary of 2-7 Brown-TU I won't be online tonight but wanted to enourage everyone to visit the chatroom tonight once the game starts.

Reid Anderson #11 While he didn't shoot well from outside (1-5) he had 10 points as his team beat Monsignor Pace in the opening rounding. Monsignor Pace was previously undefeated at the #1 ranked team in Florida. St. Edward's plays again on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. Here's there preview from the site: St. Edward is a four-time Ohio state finalist, winning the Division I title in 1998. Players to watch | Reid Anderson, a 6-5 senior guard who signed to play at Albany next year, averaged more than 15 points a game last season. Delvon Roe, a 6-7 sophomore forward, is considered one of Ohio's top underclassmen, having averaged 16 points and eight rebounds last year. The scoop | Anderson and Roe have stepped up their games this year. Roe is averaging 26 points and Anderson 19 to lead a very young (only one senior starter) but talented squad. The Eagles play a lot of half-court man-to-man defense with an occasional matchup zone.

Probably even better that it's the coaches poll. The guys on laxpower were ripping on the Lacrosse Magazine top 20 becaue it doesn't include Albany. Lacrosse Magazine Top 20 from Lax Power

Brown Message Board

Danes survive haunted house-TU

For the first time ever in our D1 history we can say we are in first place in our conference. We had company tonight so I didn't hear the whole game but this team was gutty down the stretch. Levi really bounced back to become the fifth different player this year to lead the Danes in scoring. Free throw shooting was a little scary late in the game but a really balanced attack.