Dane Pound

Ugh. The thing that could make this year worse is coming here and reading about politics.

Is the UAlbany Esports team still playing this year?

4 hours ago, UAalum72 said:

FWIW, Albany 24th in the preseason AGS http://thefcswedge.com/ags-poll/ags-poll-preseason-2020-top-25-results/

So, we're going to finish the year ranked again. We also hold on the Apple trophy for another year.

On 7/20/2020 at 4:29 PM, jimbo said:

So what are we gonna talk about for the next 5+ months? 

Apparently the new Danes logo. It arrived just in time.

We finally get a good quarterback and then, the zombie apocalypse.

1 hour ago, cwdickens said:

...Actually you could be right however the trend seems on my quick analysis:  Can colleges and universities get through the fall academic semester dealing with COVID-19 without dealing with the additional distractions of sports and the COVID-19.  Starting then cancelling an event(s) or a season would be frustrating for everyone, athletes, parents, coaches and fans.

I think colleges and universities know that if they announce an all-online fall semester a lot of kids are going to take a gap year and those colleges and universities will lose a lot of money. Maybe they'll come up with some kind of 50% capacity plan. Either way, it doesn't look great for sports. Honestly, that's probably the least of my concerns right now but this is a sports message board.

2 hours ago, cwdickens said:

In today's Albany Times Union, the article covering the Ivy League decision stated that fall sports may be moved to Spring 2021.  Unless the COVID-19 virus tests for participating fall sports athletes at Division 1 schools is virtually nothing, I can see this concept taking off quickly.

I have my doubts.

There's been a lot of magical thinking over the past couple of months about this virus. I don't see things going back to "normal" until summer of 2021. I'd be really, really happy to be wrong about it.

The Ivy League has cancelled all sports until 2021. Not a shock. Probably the first domino to fall in the chain.

We've offered Albany Academy center Riley Mulvey.

Our first non-animal mascot in the AE. 

I was skeptical about adding UMBC until they, you know, had the greatest upset in NCAA tournament history. I'm OK with them now.

Jarvis Doles, a 6'9 PF from Drexel has cut his list to four schools and will decide in the next few weeks. Albany, Alabama A+M, Robert Morris  and Alcorn State are the final four. Doles is a grad transfer with two years left to play.

<begin sarcasm> It's really great to see political rancor on this board. It's really hard to find that anywhere else on the internet. <end sarcasm>

This thread has tended to swerve into political nonsense that can be found on reddit, facebook or a zillion other sites that aren't about UAlbany athletics. If we could keep the topic to whether there will be a season next year or now, that would be awesome.

Thanks,

DP

1 hour ago, godanesgo99 said:

Maybe Will Brown's experience with JUCO and transfers over the last 10 years or so will give UA a headstart at adapting to the new landscape. Who knows. The 4-year Mid-Major star like Anthony Lamb is going to be rarer and rarer as time goes on. 

Funny that you mention Lamb in this thread. Kellon Taylor is basically the same height as Lamb and Andrew Garcia who were two of the better PFs in our conference. Sam Rowley was about the same size and our best post player in the D1 era.

If we bring in another big, Taylor can certainly play up front. He was recruited to some A-10 and CAA schools coming out of high school and higher offers for football. I have to wonder if Duquense was the only school who would let him play both sports. 

I don't know much about the guy, but I have to say, a guy playing two D1 sports is probably a pretty hard worker.

According to twitter, we've offered Isiah Jones, a 6'8 grad transfer from Southern Miss of Conference USA. Sounds like he'd have two years of eligibility.

23 hours ago, cwdickens said:

I am giving this update on a former UAlbany player a rating of "UGH".  As I recall, one and gone plus a helicopter 🚁 father who relocated to the Carolinas, encouraging his son to jump ship.  While an important part of Section 2 high school basketball 🏀 folklore, an insignificant contribution to UAlbany.  That said: I wish him well at FMCC. 

The AE board had a "What If" thread about recuits/players that didn't pan out.

The Gallup thing was rough because he would have played a couple of years with Jamar had he not transferred. We could have been respectable much quicker. Things didn't turn out so bad though.

Sounds like the one time waiver went from "lock" to "shaky". NCAA board of governors recommended against it today. 

If it doesn't pass, I wonder where this leaves us with Gates if he has to sit a year.

Shaker was a freshman last year so he'll only be a sophomore. Still that's a lot of juniors.

Was thinking the instant transfer rule better be a lock. Otherwise our only other incoming front court player (Gates) would have to sit a year.

Shane O'dell will be playing his college basketball at a school on Western Ave. but it will be a little further downtown. He recently committed to St. Rose.

According to Jon Rothstein, we have road games at Marquette and at Minnesota.

New Oreans PF Gerrale Gates is transferring to Albany. Played two years at New Orleans and averaged roughly 8 pts and 5 rebounds his first two years there. Was the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year last year. 

On 4/15/2020 at 8:51 AM, nysteve661 said:

If Amica gives us the career of Mike Black, we are in good hands for 4 years at PG.  I would signup for that right now.  As for giving out a scholly to a couple more HS seniors right now means those players were looked over by D1 teams and same for D2, D3 schools and we then over reached for what are non-D1 talent.  We all loved Fruscio for what he gave on the sideline and in locker room but he was not D1 player.  Just to fill out the bench with guys who ride the pine doesn't help the front court issues.  Don't think CB will find talent at this point at the HS level.  There are exceptions but those players probably have academic issues who would not qualify to play here.

Kind of funny that you mention Mike Black and late signings together. If I remember right, Mike Black was a late signing. I think he originally committed to North Florida and their coach was fired so he came to Albany instead.

That was a different time though.

1 hour ago, Eli said:

This thread title should be changed lol...

Agreed. At least, I hope it needs to be changed.

Coming off an injury is always a concern but this looks like a solid pickup. I think the Patriot League doesn't allow fifth-year seniors so he had to transfer if I'm not mistaken.

Like Click said, another veteran guard is a good addition.

JUCO guard Jaylon Homes has announced he'll make a decision on April 15th. He's down to us, Wright State, Western Michigan, Portland, and Towson.

36 minutes ago, Eli said:

But a HM miss could = good MM player (maybe not as good as the MM that goes HM). Will Harris wasn't terrible, he just wasn't Lamb or Warney.

You're right. Hartford is a good example of that this year. I kinda think that's the exception but we'll see.