Dane Pound

An entertaining interview with Nichols on Upstate Sports Edge - http://cbs6albany.com/sports/beyond-the-games/beyond-the-games-david-nichols

On just 14 shots. 9-14 from the field and 9-9 from the line. No turnovers, two assists and two steals. Campbell is really starting to come on with more playing time. Some really good production in limited minutes - 7 points, 2 steals and 5 rebounds.

I thought Nichols was just frustrated tonight also. He had the foul problems, a rough shooting night and then no matter what he did on defense the Funk kid (#30) was raining threes on him. Honestly, I took it as a good sign when you're leading scoring goes 1-10, your top two big guys are out with injuries and you still win by double digits and outrebound them. Granted it was just a Maac team (that was for you Bob.) Grayson looked pretty comfortable tonight. The Nichols foul problems might have helped him become a little more aggressive in the first half. Nice minutes by Devonte Campbell. If he can work into the rotation with Charles and Lands back, that's going to be a nice front court. Since it was discussed earlier this week, Cremo had no turnovers and 7 assists. Also, when the hell did Dallas become Dikembe Mutombo??? Blocking shots all over the place.

That sucks for Charles. Hopefully it's nothing serious. Maybe Campbell can get some minutes up front, CB was high on him during the preseason. The Marist board http://maristredfoxhoops.proboards.com/board/4/marist-men-hoops

Last year, UCF was 7-23. This year with Coach Abe they're 7-2 so far. The unbalanced American Conference schedule works out pretty well too. They only play UConn once this year, at home.

I think most of us saw this coming before the season started. The win @Penn State might have skewed that perception somewhat. Through the first few games it seemed like the staff was experimenting with Grayson at PG and Nichols off the ball. During the Yale game it seemed like Grayson was playing more off the ball. He's emblematic of the up and down ride. He's looked terrific at times when he's aggressive on the offensive end and then he just seems to disappear.

The last two games combined we are 3-21 from three. Woof. Annoying box office stat I noticed today. We shot 90% from the free throw line against Yale and only missed one. Of course it was the one that would have tied it.

I guess. When he went to the line I was wondering if we could play eight seconds of defense to preserve the win after he hit the free throws. We've just lost two games to the defending Patriot League Champions and the defending Ivy League champions. It's just that it has been in the most painful ways possible to lose basketball games. Ugh.

Did just about everything we could to lose in that minute. I'm sure Cremo would like to forget this game but I think you still have to go to him in the last minute. He and Nichols are the guys, win or lose.

Max Twyman - Hartford 4.6 mpg after transferring to the Hawks Albany plays Hartford twice Geremy McKay - Eastern Washington 3.7 min per game and 1.7 points per game Albany plays Yale who lost to Bryant who lost to Eastern Washington Richard Peters - Cal State Fullerton 9.3 min per game and 1.3 points per game Albany plays Yale who beat Washington who beat Cal State Fullerton

Maybe it's time to play Martin-Garcia in those moments. If I remember correctly, he came in against Oneonta and missed one three and then hit 2. Also had a few nice put-on-the-floor drives to the basket. Maybe he can help break that zone. I'd like to see Martin-Garcia for his shooting also but I don't think he's the answer to our issues with the zone. The guards control the game and are the ones that need to figure it out. We've shown enough talent to win games but we're also inexperienced enough to go through some growing pains. I'm still hoping to get another guard to play consistently

I'm not that upset that a young back court struggled with zone in November. If it's still happening in February it will be a different story. We weren't shooting them out of the zone, that's for sure. 0-8 from three until Dallas hit one near the end. Too much dribbling into an army of defenders. Watch the film, figuring out you did wrong, and then get better.

Hopefully we can work one or two more guys into the rotation. I think the 7 man rotation was mostly a Siena game thing and would like to see more Costa Anderson.

I agree and I think you could probably say that about Yale on Saturday too. They're much better than their record. If there is a post-Albany Cup hangover we're going to have a tough night. As Dslyank pointed out in another post, most of scoring came from four guys on Sunday. Hopefully we can work a few more other people into the mix and develop some other scoring threats. The Holy Cross board - http://crossports.freeforums.net/board/4/mens-basketball

Fixed. Retired guys never know what the date is.

Good luck with the flag. Just so you're aware, only clear flags can be brought into Casey Stadium...

Yeah I didn't quite get that. Why didn't David want Joe near Nico? You do NOT pick up an opposing player. That's what his teammates are for. That event with Cremo, Nichols and Clareth was discussed a lot in our car on the way home. I thought Joe went over to check if he was alright and Nichols either wasn't sure why he was going over there or realized nothing good could happen from it and lead him away. Either way, for starting his sixth game, I like the way Nichols takes charge. Also, Joe Girard III, the Glens Falls phenom we're recruiting, was at the game last night.

It might help them accept the loss if they admitted to themselves that we're a pretty good team (program.) That Penn State win is looking a little better as they knocked off George Washington on the road the other day.

I especially like the seats directly behind the video screens, the most-obstructed view seats in any arena I've ever seen. That's what I noticed. They're similar to the seats we've had at Albany Cup games at the TUC.

Just curious if anyone knows what the chairs on the Sefcu walkway (that surrounds the arena.) There were several yellow seats bolted to the floor in the walkway but I think they were taped off. I didn't think to take a picture of them.

This was a coaching win as far as I'm concerned. We looked like a team tonight and Siena looked like a really talented group of individual players. Credit to CB, that was good basketball with everyone playing to their max ability and not trying to go beyond it. David Nichols is relentless, wow. He seems to have figured out when to be aggressive and when to hold back and he is worth the price of admission. Unheralded award to Travis Charles who battled and won't get the headlines. That Pastos Tech was one of the worst timed techs in this series.

Where are we going to put that Imani Tate statue?

Sounds like Lands won't be playing on Sunday. Dallas reinjured his back last weekend also and sounds like he might be limited on Sunday.

Supposedly we've offered Isaiah Moll of Colonie. We probably won't be his last offer.

I'm late to this also so I'll just say Happy Mike Black Friday.