reeder

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

Let's hope Brian Lillis is as good as his sister is for the University of Iowa Jenny Lillis

Dyson ranked 19th best player in Delaware according to Rivals published this weekend. 19 Joe Dyson Sanford Sr. 6'9" Power Forward, is averaging 10PPG and 9RPG with a very young team

Just found this site with pictures football, basketball... University photo website

Martin was a nominee last year as well.

Dyson is on a roll - 18 in his last game. Did he have an injury or something to start the season: SANFORD-Dyson 8 2-5 18, Bains 6 1-2 13, A. Collins 2 0-0 4, Harper 2 1-2 6, Ellegood 3 3-4 9, Norwood 2 0-0 5, Hussey 1 0-0 2, Wilson 0 0-0 0, R. Collins 0 0-0 0, Struthers 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 7-13 57.

Patch The team is not very good. Last night was the only game that I have seen in person (saw the two AE TV games) and they are anemic offensively. I think that things will improve dramatically next year - the talent in street clothes last night would put UA in the upper echelon of teams (Wilson, Jordan and Zoellner). Add Lillis, who by the way is going to make Levine work hard next year for minutes, and Brent Wilson and they will be a very good team. If Dyson is a legit 6'9" and can rebound that would be a plus as well. I spoke to McElroy last night and after I introduced myself, his first comments after thanking me for attending the game were "we are going to get better real soon" Sounded like he had said this a few times.

A few thoughts on the BPG: 1. I forget what the announced attendance was last year, but I think there were definitely more people this year 2. Pep band was good, but at times it was hard to hear them - even before the crowd became large. I guess the acoustics just aren't very good in the RACC. 3. Feast was very good especially with the kids activities 4. Good signage for this board - I must have seen a dozen signs for bigpurplefans. 5. Who will play PG next year. Iati is definitely not a PG nor is Jordan - Wilson played PG in HS. 6. Wyatt was impressive. I was critical of him this year, but he did an amazing job on the boards last night - especially the offensive boards. 7. It was neat seeing Wilson, Jordan and Zoellner congregate on the court during warm ups - next year they will be leading the team at the BPG. 8. Iati couldn't hit a think in the first 10 or 15 minutes - he must of missed 6 or 7 shots in a row. 9. Johnson seemed like he didn't want to shoot anything except layups. He did take one shot from the left wing and it had no chance at all. 10. Maple Ski Ridge was perfect - thanks for the info.

21 last night. He's clearly over his injury. DOWLING CATHOLIC (72) - Lillis 8 5-6 21, Whiteley 3 2-2 11, Flander 3 1-4 7, Finan 1 0-0 2, Seidl 0 0-0 0, Ferezy 2 3-3 7, Reichardt 3 1-2 9, McConeghey 4 2-2 10, Maahs 1 0-0 2, Wilkinson 0 0-0 0, Hedges 0 0-0 0, Hermann 0 0-2 0, Heun 1 0-0 3, Bennett 0 0-0 0, Kokemuller 0 0-0 0, Kurt 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 14-21.

Dyson will certainly help the team - difficult to get a 6'9" post player. That said, he certainly is not having a good year by anyone's standards. There are probably a lot of good reasons for that - maybe the young guards... I don't know how hoop scoop rates players, but his performance does warrant a drop in the ratings - 100 places is a lot. That said, he'll probably be good enough to start and help the team next year.

Dyson with a big game today: SANFORD-Dyson 7 2-2 16; Baines 2 4-5 8; A. Collins 3 0-2 6; Harper 6 0-0 13; Elgood 3 0-2 6; Norwood 1 0-0 3; Hussey 1 0-0 2; Wilson 1 0-0 2; R. Collins 1 0-0 2; Santiago 0 0-0 0; Struthers 0 0-0 0; Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 6-11 58. Dyson has to be a major player at player at the high school level. Maybe he can finish strong - 16 points is his high for the year.

Morehead State at 79, San Diego at 74 and Dayton at 81 - is the Pioneer League that good? Duquesne at 84 - I think UA would have beaten Duquesne as they would not have been able to stop Jones.

A couple of observations about the team picture - I just saw it in the media guide section of the website. 1. 6'7" Todd Martin appears taller than everyone but Zoellner - taller than the 6'8" Pipikis and 6'8" Hughes. Who knows - if Martin can be more aggressive defensively, he may turn into a good role player at the 4. 2. Zoellner is a big man. He should be successful in this league based purely on his height.