dslyank

ps. Brenton may or may not be the best defensive player in the league, but he may be the best actor. In the first half Rawley beat him on a high low pass from Iati I think and Brenton just fell down face first The stripe was right there, but from the not so good camera angle if Rawley had pushed off it had to be the softest push in history or Rawley is even stronger than I thought.

For those who say we can not compete with the big three, I do not know what you call yesterdays game AND if we play that way again {and we Will get by Maine}; I LIKE our chances against brook Sunday. I do not agree that Vermont or brook did not give it all yesterday. Any team that lays back on purpose to get a more favorable seed is ripe to get beat in the tournament; and even if the players do not know that, a coach worth his salt does. If you watched the UA brook game, and think brook was not giving 100%, well I do not know what you were watching! I obviously did not see VT, but I can not believe they wanted to lose to Hartford @ home; and if anything they had post tournament jitters, because they are a week number two seed {three if you count bu, as the TU points out constantly} and I would not be shocked to see them lose to a well coached New Hampshire team. You may say I am nuts, but a good team does not lose to a so/so Hartford team on senior night.

Coach Abe can not be "too" happy about this game [other then the results of course]. 14-26 from line; 1 for 8 from three; and down 12 @ half to a bottom dweller {I would have loved to hear her half time speech}. Anyhow congratulations ladies; let's finish off perfect--beat brook saturday and three in the tournament.

Way back; summer/pre-season someone on this blog wrote a new scoreboard had been ordered? Maybe I just hoped or dreamt this?? Anyone else remember this and if someone Did write this--What happened?

DEFENSE--------DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After two games: 35 goals scored------35goals allowed. I was @ the colgate scrimmage and the carrier dome classic and it seems our defensive strategy is let the other team score so we can get the ball back quicker. I am really just kidding, because @ times in Syracuse the defense was awesome. I do not know what happened yesterday; but it could not have been too good. We blew a six goal first half lead (7-1) and were up by 5 @ the half and still up 4 late in the third. I never played lacrosse and I have no idea what the answer is, but if this team could somehow figure out how to play defense and how to NOT get complacent when ahead, well the sky is the limit.

We competed on the road without a starter [who might have made the difference at least defensively]. I know it sucks to lose to BU again, but I am not discouraged by the loss, as much as I am by the play of our "best point guard in the league". I do not want to blame anyone for our 3/4 or 4/5 if you prefer AmEast season. But we have to be honest; Mike is a REAL nice player, but he is not the best point in the league and may not even finish first team all league. That being said, if we are to win at least two games in the tournament we need the Black to play like or even better than he did OC. This is NOT meant as a condemnation of Mike (I for one can not complain over a 20+ win season), but I think I am stating the obvious that without a superlative effort from him, I do not think this team is capable of advancing too far.

IIko, It seems to me, if guys are bigger/stronger and more jacked today [and I agree they are]; it would be less and NOT more likely that fouling and physicality would need be apparent. They should be more able to use their athleticism to compete. A stronger athlete should be able to jump and leap to block a shot cleanly without hammering the opponent. A faster stronger guard should be able to defend with speed, footwork and agility; NOT WITH HANDS AND HIPS. An offensive player, should be able to use his strength/speed/quickness/leaping to pull up for a jump shot rather than barreling through 2 or 3 guys to get to the rim. The stronger players of today, should be able to leap and out jump opponents for rebounds, not just box out and let some guard snake through and hack the ball away. It is really only my opinion: but I never watch the nba anymore, because if I wanted to watch football, I would watch the nfl. I hate to see the college game become rugby, and that is what is happening {in my opinion--no offense intended}

Comments from @ the game. It felt like our two AmEast BB championships. Parents/Fans hugging and crying. Players charging onto field running in circles/hugging/leaping/ sticks and arms in the air. Noise incredible even in spacious dome. 4200 announced attendance--felt like more; UA as loud or louder than orange. Of course, we never trailed and led by 4 & 5 on a number of occasions, which probably kept the home crowd subdued. Defense was awesome [sounds weird to say giving up 15 goals; but with new rules a lot of goals is going to be the norm I think] and they were absolutely incredible in the first OT when UA never got the ball once, yet the D for five full minutes simply would not bend or break. The offense seemed to be able to score at will. At times the Thompson's made it look easy {I never played the game and I am sure it is NOT easy to score}. but they are just so good and know each other and have such confidence; well they make it look easy. Great to get goals and assists from a number of others also. Don't forget, Syracuse is supposedly noted for their defense. AT least two in the face no call slashing penalties. One on Ty where you could not only see it but could hear the hit over the crowd noise. One on Tim Cox on a break where his head snapped back so far, I thought he was going to do a reverse back flip. Well after all, it is the dome where you could not buy a call with anything less than the state budget; but if you re-watch the game check these two no calls out. Anyhow Great Game; all around team effort.

For those of you who still get the tu sports, an interesting article on page 2--commentary from Paul Newberry (AP--Atlanta). Briefly, he is saying college BB scoring his way down and games are brutal to watch. He blames the physicality of the current game. He sites officiating, coaching and mostly LACK of universal oversight of leagues by the NCAA. I have been saying for a number of years one of the reasons UA has "not been competitive" against the elite of the AmEast (as many of you claim). is UA recruits basketball players and athletes, while much of the league just goes after brutes or at least coaches a type of physical play that compensates for lack of 'skills". Now I am NOT saying that I am right and Newberry is right (basketball today is brutal), but just throwing it out there for anyone interested in reading the article.

For those interested and with access, Sunday's lacrosse game @ Syracuse is being broadcast live on SNY (TW hd 1866) @ 4pm.

The caa was never my first choice for football. I had hoped for some sort of yankee conference restart or AmEast football [which appears dead now???]. So I guess, I now have to get on the caa or at least a northern division split of the caa bandwagon. That being said, except for the fact that they lack football, a "state university" in mass. with a very good athletic tradition is NOT in my opinion a bad add for the AmEast. Sort of like UA a few years back [except we had football, but no stadium].

BU will have men's lacrosse next year; but I still agree with 72, BU's move will hurt them more than it does the AE. They are making a lateral/down move. The top teams in the AE (and yes I consider us a top) are well aligned for either expansion or merger or a jump to another (CAA) league.

Patch, Thanks for pointing this out. I also noticed, that in this same time period UA football has not really been the dominating team some bloggers like to constantly claim. Since 2004, UA has won outright two NEC titles and have tied for first twice. They have also had two seasons @ 4-3 and one 4-4 record in this time period. I would argue that AmEast basketball is a much more difficult conference than is NEC for football (the NEC did not even have an ncca qualifier until 2010/11?). I am not posting this to be divisive [i love both programs and have been a season ticket holder for both going back to DIII days].; but only to point out to those who seem to fail to realize how DIFFICULT it is to win at the college level.

I kind of agree with Clack that who starts is not really all that important; but agree with him 100% about player rotation and minutes. Black and Iati [even though I love them both] GET TOO MANY MINUTES. I think 30-32 minutes for Black and 25-30 for Iati max for both. Not only would they be fresher at the end with less minutes, but the bench has shown they can play and be an asset {not just fill minutes}. I feel used more consistently they would even be MORE of an asset. I think this 10-20 minutes one game and none or only a couple the next make it difficult for the bench players to get in game shape and in the flow of the game. I know sometimes it is a match-up thing deciding who gets minutes, but I still feel overall more minutes for the bench----increases their confidence, gives the opposition more to think about and react too, and keeps the "starters" fresher for a stretch run or to hold onto a lead at the end of a close game. I know the argument is that you should always want your best players on the floor, but a fresher confident sub often makes the "best players" , play better because they themselves are fresher and they feel the "PUSH". Anyhow I am not the coach but voted YES. After all what is the blog for except to play armchair QB and for staying informed? and for having "FRIENDLY" discussions/disagreements from time to time. Win or lose, I still have to go to work the next day--OH I forgot I am retired, so it better be win or win.

Don't want to be a "Debbie Downer" on what appears to be an amazing class; but the article reiterates home opener 9/14. Maybe because I have waited so long and I am so anxious to get into the new stadium, but I am still very bummed that we can not get someone/anyone there for an 8/31 or thereabout OPENER! You're always the debbie downer. We're used to it. And yes - it stinks, but it is what it is. lets pack the house on the 14th and enjoy the amazing progress. Thanks, you cheered me up; even though I've been called on this blog a Polyanna much more so than a downer. Just that when you get my age (graduated 1971--you figure it out) even a two week delay can be a downer.

Don't want to be a "Debbie Downer" on what appears to be an amazing class; but the article reiterates home opener 9/14. Maybe because I have waited so long and I am so anxious to get into the new stadium, but I am still very bummed that we can not get someone/anyone there for an 8/31 or thereabout OPENER!

Albany site article said "All 11 Great Danes, who suited for the game, recorded at least one basket." Did Chris Page not suit or did they mean all players who played? Anyone know?? Anyhow, I only listened to the second half, but It sounded like UA totally dominated and everyone who "played" contributed. Might be a good idea to sit Mike (if he is not near 100%) on Saturday and get him ready for the stretch run. Giving Gary and DJ additional minutes seems to be helping the team and they will both benefit from more minutes, experience, and confidence. I still think Page? and Wiedmann can be contributors [if not this year but next] with a little more game experience.

In case anyone is interested, we scrimmaged Colgate the pre-season 11/12th best team in the country. They have the returning Tewaaraton winner (the Heisman trophy of Lacrosse) on their roster. Official stats were not kept, but after quickly falling behind 0-4, Albany played very well and my very unofficial results have us winning by a goal (12-11 I think). I did not stay for the extra period [#5] that the teams played--{after all it was 26-28º with a crisp breeze}, but I am pretty sure we did out score Colgate by one in the regulation four periods. Another brave fan commented that he felt Colgate went longer than UA with its regulars. I do not know for sure about that: a number of UA players wore different #s from the roster I had printed of-line. It was a little hard to figure who was who; and a particularly good looking freshman who had two nice goals near the end of period 4 was suppose to be one # but was wearing another and neither # was listed. Anyhow, it is a little early to get too excited, but I feel UA Lacrosse may be BACK. Any other brave souls who were there, your assessments will be appreciated!

Coaches pick Albany to win AmEast. http://www.ualbanysports.com . Anyone know if Saturdays scrimmage vs Colgate ON rain/COLD or shine?

There use to be an "unwritten" rule--no practice no play. I have seen/heard not only Brown, but other coaches lately holding players out of practice, so they can play in games? Brown did it last year with Logan and earlier this year with Black. He is not the only coach to do this [the Giants played Amad Bradshaw almost the entire season with him almost never practicing]. It appears to be pretty wide spread. To me the "rule" seems to be a good one; not only for the benefit of the player {get him healthy before playing him}, but for team coerciveness that practice builds. THOUGHTS??????

MsG I agree and would like to add that the lane clogging dilemma is (in my opinion) the biggest reason for our shortfall of late. The situation has been exasperated by the fact that not only are we not making 3's, but by the fact that NO ONE has been able to hit the mid range jumper [foul line extended/base line extended for example]. Luke has tried a couple and missed and than passed on a number of wide open others. Iati in the past was able to hit floaters from this range and Mike should be our best bet to pull up on the drive and hit the 10-15 foot jump shot. If we can add this shot back into our game, along with a little more normal 3pt.%, it will make driving to the lane a lot easier and more successful with less blocked. "IF" we can do this, I still think we can be a force in the tournament. Anyhow, thanks for posting those stats.

I get ripped every time I say this, but I fault the league for allowing this type of play. Brown and his staff recruit good kids who play good basketball, but most of the rest of the AmEast recruit/coach/teach/play a brand of basketball that relies on physical brutality over finesse and skill. I don't know, maybe all conferences are like this, i.e. play differently ooc than in league play. It just seems UA always has one of the best ooc records of AmEast teams {even in there bad years}, but this does not always transfer to league success.

UAMA great point. A pin balling basketball goes into the hands of BU's best shooter with 4 seconds left and he hits a desperation three; and a game where Albany makes a couple more threes themselves (normally a strength of UA) and we are looking at 2-0 going into brook. I am not saying we should have won those games [even though we should have]; but it burns me when the tu and even some on this blog say we are not competitive with the bu/vt/brook. As I commented earlier there have been only one or two blow-outs over the "bad streak" against these three and most of those games went down to the wire--I think that is competing.

You are trying to build a fan base, fill a new stadium, create some excitement, capitalize on the novelty of a new stadium and you only play 5 home games and open the season @ the dukes. I am not saying we should never travel to lesser leagues BUT NOT THIS YEAR. Bring in somebody, anybody RPI-Union, I do not care who. Beat them 77 to 0, but that stadium needs to be christened 8/31/2013 or there a bouts. Anybody in the know or with connections needs to send this entire blog thread to the administration. They can not allow us to open away from home with Bob Ford field @ XYZ stadium sitting empty. They have stumbled around with this stadium for forty years and they NEED to do something RIGHT this time.

OK bash away--but I DO. You do not go 16-6 by accident, and I think we are a tweak away from breaking the curse of the "top 3". We did not exactly get blown out by BU and VT this weak and for that matter over the 2&22 (or whatever it is) there was what one or two that were not close [VT this year and once @ BU I think]. I like many of the suggestions {Iati needs to sit some and others given more minutes}: but I unlike a lot of you, I do not feel we are inferior to BU,VT or brook. As for the "curse", it is a mental thing (probably media created) and also pure nonsense--we and they are different teams each year and sprinkle in a couple lucky bounces here and there over the years and it means 0.