reeder

35 wins definitely in reach - 25 with 17 regular season games to go.

For those of you on campus - what have you seen or heard about spring practice? I think they had three or four sessions this week.

Amazing offensive stats from the baseball team lead AE in batting - .343 lead AE in SB - 38 5 of top 10 hitters in conference play for UA Nick Murphy leads conf in ERA, wins and K's Schoonmaker leads conference in slugging as well as HR's and total bases UA has 5 of top 7 players in on base pct UA has 5 of top 8 leaders in RBI's Top three players in runs scored Lamb leads league in stolen bases

First, I'll acknowledge that I do not follow the SPring sports nearly as much as football and basketball. That said, I think you could argue that UA has three legitimate shots at a tourney bid - baseball, softball and lax. Thoughts?

Add two more wins for baseball as they sweep Canisius.

I'll take the Beat Siena button. I was actually rooting for Georgia Tech. I live about 20 miles north of Tech and a lot of my colleagues went there. They had a good run, but UConn was just too talented. Who knows - maybe next year, UA will get an automatic bid.

Anyone planning on attending? If so, please post the details - interested in hearing Brown's and Patterson's thoughts on next year as well as a little more about the facilities plan. Thanks

I think the ladies will beat UMBC and then beat Hartford in the quarterfinals. That said, this is why you don't talk publicly about going to the NCAA tournament. It gets embarassing when you are blown out by the second place team - after being blown out by the first place team a couple of weeks earlier. That along with the fact that you'll play Hartford at Hartford in the AE tournament.

Do we know that Jones actually attended the combine?

When UA lost to Binghamton recently, Brown said "they have two great big men, Adediran gets a lot of garbage points because the other team focuses so much attention on Nick Billings". He went on to say that Bing would be a great team if they improved their guard play. I think he then realized what he was saying and refocused his comments on UA. Last night at halftime, the announcer was interviewing the gazette writer and saying how similar these teams will be next year. I thought it was a great point. The difference is that in addition to Zoellner and Dyson, UA will start at least 2 former ROY guards. I think the other difference (after seeing Bing on television a couple of times) is that the Bing offense seems to be centered around feeding Billings in the low post. I think UA will have a much more team oriented offense.

I agree that it's not a good idea to publicly talk about an NCAA appearance given that the turnaround has been in the last 9 or 10 games. I do think it's great for them to rally around internally. The reality is that they will probably face a Maine team in the AE semi-finals that blew them out last week, they will probably also face Hartford at Hartford. It does go to show what confidence can do - also getting Hutcheson back doesn't hurt.

Heard a few minutes of the game, sounded like Levi played well. Just a blowout of Hartford and congrats to the women - they may win a tournament game in Hartford

I admit it - I'm relieved that he is starting to put up some big numbers. Think about him and Zoellner in the same front court.

I'm watching Fox Sports Pittsburgh last night hoping to see a preview of the Freeport playoff game (Fox Pittsburgh does a very good job with HS Sports). Anyway, the annoiuncer gets to the AA game and says (I'll paraphrase): Aliquippa plays Freeport and you have to keep an eye on Freeport player Dave Bauman, you may never have heard of him but he's a D1 signee. He has signed with Albany, a team you may never have heard of but they are a division 1 team. No respect - yet.

I'm not sure why everyone is saying the RACC is out. How has playing at the Pepsi helped UA? I know the team hasn't played well, but there hasn't been an increase in fan support or an increase in coverage. I think it should be treated like a conference game where teams alternate playing on their own home court (alternate annually). Playing at the RACC would help UA - if UA can get 2000 fans that would never come to the RACC to see a game there, I think it would be great for the program. I also think it would be a great way to start the season - get 4k fans to start the season and 4k fans at the BPG. If McElroy signs an agreement to continue playing at the Pepsi, then UA needs to get something for that - a real home game with the associated revenue. Siena can't back out now, they need the game for attendance reasons. Also, I would imagine that there would be political pressure to continue the game (governor's cup). My point is that in every negotiation, you strive for a win - win. I don't see the win for UA yet.

coachplayznoD, three things - 1. I don't know much about Jordan except what's been posted - it looks like he did play some 3 at Loyola. So maybe he can play the 3 here as well. Just tough to have a 6'2" kid playing the 3. 2. That said, if Zoellner and Dyson can become solid post players I think that would work. If those two don't emerge as very good players, I think the team will be to small and you will have to move someone to the bench (my guess is Iati) and start Levi. 3. JamAr will be a better player next year. Jordan will make him better - nothing like some competition. (not that he wasn't a very good player last year).

If this has been discussed previously, I apologize, but: Why coouldn't the AE have football: 1. I think UA and Stony Brook would go to scholarship football once the NEC agreement expires if they could limit them to 45 (there was a recent article where the Stony Brook AD referenced that and McElroy said in an interview two weeks ago that that would help UA while not really being clear what that meant) 2. That would mean 5 teams in the AE have football - they would need one more. 3. UMass might fit as an associate member - they are close geographically and their consultants report said that D1 is a ways off and they don't want to go mid-major. This would help them reduce scholarships and also reduce travel expenses.

We liked the kids games. We arrived about 4:30 and there was no one playing golf, baskets or throwing the baseball. My son must have spent 30 minutes doing those. We also went back between games for 20 minutes and did the same thing, there were a few more kids but not that many.

I assume the women's format is the same as the mens. If so, UA has a chance to avoid the play-in game. Certainly playing Maine today won't help that. Would be good for the program to accomplish that.

I hope the new Siena contract is a home and home. UA would sell out the RACC against Siena - certainly a lot of fans would be rooting for Siena, but you'd sell it out. That would also help Siena understand the value of playing UA. They will not draw more than 7k fan for any home game except Syracuse. For UA, that would be a great way to start any year.

I think the RACC is a pretty nice facility. I have not been to a lot of mid-major facilities so I don't have much to compare it to. Also, I have only been to 5 games there (it wasn't built when I went to UA), each game was a big game - BPG or other high profile game with a big crowd... not sure if the atmosphere makes a difference. I got the fox digital sports package this year and have seen games in Hartford, BU, Niagara, Manhattan, Maine, Iona, Hofstra, Delaware, Fairfield, LIU and Fairleigh DIckinson. With the exception of Fairfield which plays in the new Bridgeport arena and Delaware and Hofstra shich seem to have arenas comparable to the RACC but have more seats and a club section, the RACC looked much better than all of the others.

Lillis' team by 1 yesterday, but he put up 23 points. DOWLING CATHOLIC (57) - Lillis 6 8-9 23, Flander 5 2-2 12, Whiteley 1 0-0 3, McConeghey 2 0-0 4, Reichardt 3 1-2 9, Ferezy 1 0-0 2, Maahs 1 0-0 2, Seidl 1 0-0 2, Wilkinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 11-13.

PG - Jamar Wilson SG - Lucious Jordan SF - Levi Levine PF - Joe Dyson C - K. Zoellner Key Reserves Iati B. Wilson B. Lillis A. St. Hilliare If Dyson is a legitimate 6'9" with good post play, I think that that will allow Brown to make some other moves potentially. 1. Levi struggles, I think Lillis can become a starter. 2. Zoellner struggles, Dyson can start at the 5 and move B. Wilson, or St. Hillaire to the 4.

Wyatt - won't transfer as he'll be a senior St. Hillaire - same as Wyatt Johnson - More likely to transfer. He may be able to get a scholarship to St. Rose or a school in their conference. Not sure if would get a scholarship to another D1 school. He will have the biggest adjustment next year as Jordan, Wilson, Iati and Lillis get big minutes. Levine - don't think he'll transfer, but he will probably see a considerable reduction in minutes UA will probably run a lot of three guard sets, Lillis will also play some 3; also with Dyson and Brent WIison rotating at the 4, there won't be a lot of time at the 4 (or 5 for that matter with Zoellner) for St. Hillaire so St. Hillaire will get some time at the 3 as well. Iati - won't transfer, but I think he'll be coming off the bench. Although some of us believe that he is a point guard, I think he is a 2 that happens to be 5'9". UA will not have a true point guard. The closest will be Jamar who played the point in HS. I think that Jamar will run the point with Jordan at the 2, Iati will run in three guard sets and to spell the starters. Iati will average 15 minutes per game (barring injuries to Wilson, Jordan or Lillis - don't know much about Bauman). Knotts - Probably should transfer. He will not get any time next year Martin - Maybe go back to CA? Would like to see him stay. If he develops some footwork he would be a good role player in his junior year.

Dyson stats from came last Saturday 18 pts, 15 rbs and 5 blks