Dane Pound

It's not Ambrose but you were closer than me. It's actually Blake Metcalf. It didn't make sense until I thought about the post season games. He had four postseason games this year, three the year before and one his freshman year when we upset Vermont in the AE tourney and went to the semi-finals. Scratch that part about his freshman year. We upset Vermont the year before.

in men's basketball. Any guesses on who it is? I would never have gotten it.

That probably should have been a rule before. 10 second counts will no longer be counted manually by officials (or not counted) but will go by the shot clock instead except at the end of halves and games.

Looking at the women's roster tonight and realizing I'm not going to recognize many players on Nov. 8th. A lot of new faces this year. Also, we have listed: 1 center - Megan Craig 1 forward - Shereesha Richards and then the other 11 players on the roster are listed as guards or guards/forwards. I am eager to see how the new 10 second rule will play out this year. If we defend the way we did last year in the full court I think there are some teams that might not score on us if they have to get the ball over half court in 10 seconds.

+1 on this. It took me by surprise the first time I went up Western Ave.

Great event last night. As someone said to me, the Meet and Greet seems to get better each year. Free food, basketball chat and some comedy, a good way to start the season. Mike Wells was there last night. Hard to tell how quick he is at the meet and greet. I was impressed with the quick first step some BPF posters had in the buffet line. In general, I was impressed how well a group of 18-22 year-old guys do with handed a microphone in front of a room full of people they don't know. I expected Peter Hooley to be the "most quotable Dane" but he had some tough competition last night. My "all-media" team to send out for interviews: Reese Williams - Hard to believe he's only a soph. Probably will sound smarter than the person interviewing him. Also wins the award for most jacked walk-on we've ever had. Peter Hooley (of course)- LadyDP wishes she went after hearing that Hooley said women, like wine, get better as they age. Levan Shengalia - Every team needs a big guy and Shengalia brought down the house. Anders Haas - Maybe a bit of a wiseguy but I hope the cockyiness carries over to the court. We have a scrimmage on Sunday. CB said he knew which five guys he'd start in the scrimmage but didn't say who they were.

He'll be playing fellow recruit Max Twyman at Brewster Prep a couple of times this season. From New England Recruiting Report: "Finally, Wells is a bulldog style lead guard who has both a quick first step and deep shooting range alike, along with the quickness and powerful core to harass opposing ball-handlers on the defensive end. "

Good story on the Aussies by Big Apple Buckets. Also one on the JUCOs.

I like that lineup also. Not out of the question for both Rowley brothers at the forward spot. The only thing I don't like about it is there are so many candidates at the SF spot that I liked: Hooley, GJ, Dallas and Ede. There wouldn't be much time for those guys.

I didn't really think about numbers of players in a position. I went with the guys I thought played the best and I thought DJ, Odunsi, Hooley, Sam and Puk were those guys but the next group was pretty close.

Ha, you totally stole my starting five. You said Mike Rowley... :-) I meant Sam. Mixed the two brother up. I used to do that with the Wilson brothers all the time - Jamar and Brent.

Ha, you totally stole my starting five.

"Bermed it" for the first time tonight. Fun spot to take in the game. I didn't realize how loud it was in the stands until you hear it from the other side of the field. Gratefull for the slew of Towson turnovers or this would have been a blood bath. The speed difference was on full display today. Didn't see an update on Omar Osbourne but I noticed he didn't come back after what looked like an ankle injury. Hopefully the week off can help him get healthy. Richmond lost today to Rhode Island. Is it possible to be optimistic for that game? Neither of us has won a conference game this year.

A lot front court players this year, big and talented from what I saw at the scrimmage. Despite all I've read about M. Rowley this year I thought Dallas E. played as well if not better in the scrimmage. Dallas had 10 points and a couple of blocks. Heady player if a little slight right now. The new guys: Really liked Odunsi. Got into the lane and took contact. Made plays for himself and others and really competed. Liked just about everything I saw from him. Another level as an athlete. Shengalia. More agile than I thought. I expected more of a lumbering big man but he moved well and had some nice post moves. Shot selection leaves a bit to be desired. Ede Egharevba. Like Odunsi, on another planet in terms of athleticism. Can shoot, can drive and had some nice steals (or we were sloppy with the ball?) Haas. Made a few plays off the dribble but otherwise didn't stand out much. Not sure if he got any outside looks. Returners: Puk. CB has talked a lot about Rowley but I thought Puk looked great. Defensively and with some of the midrange stuff. Hopefully he keeps confidence in those shots because he can knock them. Looked like he tried to block everything tonight. M. Rowley. Did a lot. Nothing forced just played his game. Looked quicker and much more confident. Unless I dreamt it he went coast to coast and layed the ball up in traffic. Devlin. Quicker and more fluid than I've seem him. Made some nice post entry passes. DJ Evans. Still a fan. Didn't realize he was the games leading scorer? Always seems under control. Had some steals, hit some outside shots. I liked the pairing of DJ and Odunsi in the purple team backcourt. Hooley. What we've come to expect. I thought he might try and "take over" more this year but played his game. Scoring a little, dishing a little and making everyone on the court better. Gary Johnson. Looked a little lost in the first half but settled down. I'd like to see him shoot from outside with a little more consistency to open up lanes for him to drive. Weigmann. Bigger and more aggressive than last year. I thought he tried to force some stuff tonight. It looked like there is a lot of competition for minutes and he was trying to move up. He is a skilled player and better than he was last year, I'm just afraid everyone else is better also. We will be bigger and more athletic this year by far. TBD if that translates into better basketball but I hope so. My starters: DJ Evans Odunsi Hooley M. Rowley Puk I'd like Odunsi and GJ out there at the same time but I'm not sure if there's enough shooting. Evans, Odunsi and Hooley can all make plays for other people. Minutes off the bench: Good luck. There's a huge group that played well but I'm not sure how you decide who to give minutes to.

When Sefcu is full that U-A chant has been fantastic. I will say that the UA-UKnow! is fun on the road at places like the NCAA tourney when you see a bunch of Albany fans. Like the chant or not, almost everyone knows it and allows us to make some noise in a place where we're vastly outnumbered.

It would be fun to finish the race in the BOFO. Put the racers up on the video screen when they finish.

When you come to find a big, fat envelope filled with season tickets in the mail.

I'm sure at some point it could. I thought they said they had to turn students away at the first home game would likely mean they were turned away from the berm. You're right. I forgot about that. Better try and get some tickets tomorrow. Now that we're big time we have ticket scarcity issues.

A silly question but does anyone know if the First Niagara Family Berm can "sell out?" I might bring more people than tickets on Saturday and wondered if the berm will remain an option.

I've been rooting for DJ Evans to make the starting lineup. If it is Odunsi, Hooley, GJ, Rowley and Puk though that could be an outstanding defensive team. Big guards who are long and athletic. You really wouldn't have to "hide" anyone defensively, play man and switch all the time because it doesn't matter who is guarding who.

I can't imagine Jen Rizotti from Hartford was happy that the AE Championship game will be on our floor regardless of seeding. It looks like a two team race this year with Albany and Hartford. If Hartford is the #1 seed and we're the #2 hosting the championship game I think her head might explode.

There's a lot of competition for the PG spot if that's where he was looking to play this year.

Disappointing but a major upgrade in intensity and execution over anything I've seen this year. There was some obvious differences in size and speed and there's going to be. This is going to take a while and it's going to be painful.

Their kicker missed a FG and extra point today. Then comes out and hits a 40 yard game winner. That's the way this season has gone.

That drive was a thing of beauty.