Patch

NO. 2 CONNECTICUT POSTS COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN OVER UALBANY AT NCAA TOURNAMENT

Philadelphia, Pa. – Marcus Williams had 16 of his 21 points in the second half as second-ranked Connecticut rallied for a 72-59 victory over UAlbany in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 17 before 19,990 fans at the Wachovia Center.

UAlbany (21-11) trailed 33-30 early in the second half before reeling off 13 unanswered points. Lucious Jordan, who had 12 points, hit a driving layup to put his team ahead. Jason Siggers beat the shot clock with a three-pointer from the left corner to give his team a 43-33 lead with 14:26 remaining.

The Great Danes, who earned their first NCAA appearance by winning both the America East regular-season and tournament crowns, pushed out to a 50-38 advantage when Jamar Wilson hit a pull-up jumper in the lane with 11:34 left. Wilson, the America East player of the year, finished with 19 points and six assists.

Connecticut (28-3) then showed why they are one of four number one seeds in this tournament, by ripping off 17 of the game’s next 19 points. Denham Brown, who had 17 points, hit two free throws to tie the contest at 52 apiece. Williams, who made 7-of-11 shots from the field and added eight assists, then drilled one of his five three-pointers to give his team the lead for good. Williams and Brown would each make a three-pointer that increased the margin to 66-55 with 2:40 to play.

"Down the stretch UConn was patient and raised their level of play," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team forced 17 Huskie turnovers, including 11 steals. "We got tired and were frustrated when it seemed there was a lid on the rim for a couple of minutes. We kept our emotion high for 30 to 35 minutes, but just faded."

UConn’s Josh Boone had nine of his 13 points in the opening period. The Huskies, who have won two national championships in their history, shot 58.7 percent from the floor on 27-of-46 attempts. Kirsten Zoellner, a 7-foot-1 senior, was the third UAlbany player in double figures with 12.

"We made it a point to really enjoy this experience," commented Brown. "I could not have been prouder as a coach for these kids. It’s amazing where they were and where they are now. The seniors have left their mark on this program."

From everything I've read and heard Coach Brown wants to stay.

It's time for the administration to step forward and show him some RESPECT.

As I said in a post much earlier (before the AE Tourney) Brown has gone through his second trial period.

The first was his interim year.

The second was his first contract.

Now it's time to treat him like one of the top coaches in the conference which he is.

Give him a deal in length and salary equal to the top coaches in the league. He has taken us from the "Outhouse" to the "Penthouse"

We should stop treating him like a second class citizen and show him some LOVE.

He reacted tremendously under a great deal of pressure (his head on the chopping block) and has brought more positive notoriety to the school then any ad campaign the administration could ever afford to put together.

When is our next game - I'm ready to go right now. I don't want this season to end. It has been so much fun. Over the last third of the season evrything seemed to be a UA DI first.

But I have to make one reply to gkzhukov regarding his statement.....

Having attended UAlbany when the Danes were Division 3 and Doc was the coach it is my opinion Will Brown ,with advice from Doc thoroughly outcoached Calhoun. I add Doc Sauers only because the Danes performance reminded of Sauers' coached teams.

Without a doubt Doc is the greatest coach in Danes history but to give him credit for the way the Danes played vs UCONN is a slap in the face to our present coaching staff.

Will Brown and his staff took the heat when the team was struggling and they and they alone deserve the credit for the success of this team.

From OHIO PREPS......

Division I (Sweet 16) Reply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are 16 teams remaining in Division 1. Here are the match ups.

AKRON REGIONAL

Barberton vs. Canton McKinley

Mentor vs. Solon

TOLEDO REGIONAL

Toledo St. Johns vs. Mansfield

Lakewood St. Edwards vs. Strongsville

CINCINNATI REGIONAL

Lakota West vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier

Trotwood-Madison vs. Cincinnati Princeton

COLUMBUS REGIONAL

Lancaster vs. Brookhaven

Reynoldsburg vs. Cincinnati Elder

MTS - Thanks for the Heads Up

Levi has meant so much to this program. The following is something that closed an article about the championship game in a Vermont newspaper.

You talk about being good for a school's image.....

......And while the Cats' run might be over, it isn't forgotten. As the Albany players were slipping on championship T-shirts and hats in the final seconds, senior Levi Levine, a 1,000-point scorer who is now a role player off the bench, made sure the celebration didn't get out of hand.

 

"We still had to show our respect to Vermont because they came out and played hard and they're a respectful team," said Levine, who finished with seven points in 21 minutes. "They're a team that's built their history, too, so you've got to respect those guys."

I wonder if he gets it from his coach who made a comment during an interview that he made sure to shake all the Vermont players and coaches hands out of respect to them.

In time Jamar will be in the UA "Hall of Fame" will they retire his number and raise it to the roof of the RACC??? Possibly

DI achievements........

First UA DI "Rookie of the Year"

First UA "Player of the Year"

First UA Conference Tourney "MVP"

Captained or first team to win the Conference Regular Season and Conference Tournament Titles

Our leading DI scorer and assist man soon to be the leading scorer ever at any level at UA.

But before anything happens for Jamar I would really like to see a picture of Levi on the wall in the RACC by the start of next season.

Levi's importance to the growth of our program should never be forgotten. He is the "Ultimate Warrior" and a cornerstone of our foundation.

The AE season is now officially over.......

Does anyone actually doubt who the AE "Coach of the Year" should be???????

Just heard on Wyland's Radio Show that there are 4 or 5 tents all ready up and occupied. Coach Brown said he was already out there talking to them and handed out some "T" Shirts.

Brown is going to try to get out there a few more times today or tonight.

When in the hostory of UA can anyone recall students camping out for tickets more than a day before they were distributed.

I believe everyone should wear purple - UVM is Green & Gold.

Let's hope the student section is intelligent and comes up with creative chants unlike "the other" state school that just chants vulgarities.

Hopefully it shows up on ESPN2 as a tremendous party like atmosphere. I'll be out of town but I'll be rooting like crazy!!! GO DANES!!!!

What a great recruiting tool and great "FREE" advertising for the School and SUNY system in general. Binghamton & Stony Brook eat your hearts out - it doesn't get better than this - Well yea it does especially if/when we beat UVM.

Straight shooter

Coach Brown's frankness strikes a chord with his UAlbany players

By MARK SINGELAIS, Staff writer

Click byline for more stories by writer.

First published: Thursday, March 9, 2006

ALBANY -- Asked to describe Will Brown's coaching style, University at Albany junior guard Jamar Wilson compared his coach to one of the most successful -- and controversial -- men in college basketball.

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"I would say he's the Bob Knight of America East," Wilson answered on Wednesday.

When that comment was relayed to Brown, he responded with a hearty laugh.

"The Bobby Knight of America East?" Brown repeated. "I don't know how to take that."

Wilson didn't mean that Brown flings chairs or has temper tantrums. He was complimenting Brown's direct approach and his willingness to tell players things they don't necessarily want to hear.

"He knows I love him no matter what," Wilson said. "He doesn't use negative comments. But he's a real motivator, and sometimes he doesn't do it in a positive way just so he can get a reaction from you."

With his frank style, Brown has driven top-seeded UAlbany (20-10) into its first America East Conference championship game, against Vermont at noon Saturday at the Recreation and Convocation Center.

"The one thing with me is I challenge our kids," said Brown, in his fifth season. "I call them out when they make mistakes. I challenge them to get better every single day. When a kid does something well, I'll also let him know. It's a two-way street with me. But if you try to sugarcoat stuff, I just don't think kids are going to get any better."

Brown, 34, capably handled enormous pressure on two fronts this season. He entered the final year of his contract at the same time the Great Danes were chosen by America East coaches to finish first.

UAlbany overcame a 2-6 start to earn its first regular-season title. The Great Danes have won 18 of 22 games entering Saturday's final, where a victory would give UAlbany an automatic bid to its first NCAA Division I Tournament.

It would be the culmination of a five-year rise for a program that was in shambles when Brown took over in 2001-02 as the nation's second-youngest coach.

Brown, who has a career record of 52-82, did not win America East Coach of the Year honors. Those went to Hartford's Larry Harrison in a surprising vote.

But players and UAlbany athletic director Lee McElroy, who holds Brown's fate in his hands, said Brown should have gotten the award.

"We were picked first, and Will reflected those expectations," McElroy said. "So I was surprised he didn't win Coach of the Year."

McElroy said Brown was especially effective at getting former starters such as forward Levi Levine and guard Jon Iati to buy into lesser roles because the Great Danes are deeper than they've ever been.

"He did a masterful job of saying to our guys, 'You've been playing X minutes; now your minutes are reduced, and your roles are going to change. But it's in the best interest of the team,' " McElroy said.

While Brown still is awaiting a contract extension, the sides have been negotiating since midseason. McElroy made it sound like a mere formality.

"The basic premise is that Will wants to be there and we want Will," McElroy said. "Whenever we're finished playing, we're going to cross the T's and dot the I's."

Brown said he didn't panic over his own future when the team started poorly.

"Do you think about it once in a while? Yeah, I'd be lying if you didn't," Brown said. "It's not something that consumes me. I thought I would be fine."

Brown said he felt his team was "complacent" during its slow start because of all the predictions of greatness.

But Brown made a key change in the starting lineup, inserting senior guard Lucious Jordan and sophomore guard Brian Lillis. And he called one-on-one meetings with players.

"If he doesn't like something you're doing, he's going to let you know," sophomore forward Brent Wilson said. "I think a lot of us respect that because for us to be good -- and for us to get to this point -- you need someone who's at times going to be brutally honest with you, even though sometimes it's tough to hear."

The RACC is the only place for this game!!!!!!!

I've been here when we had 150 - 250 in attendance and I want to see the RACC sold out consistently.

When demand is greater than supply on an everyday basis then expand or move to another site.

Hopefully this is our second of many sell outs.

When we have 3,000 season ticket holders then it's time to consider our options until then lets pack the RACC!!!!

I think with Lillis and Wilson & Iati able to give us minutes at the point.

I would like to see a 6'6"/6'7" athletic foward who is a bigtime athletic rebounder and a slasher can take it strong to the hoop from the perimeter.

That's asking alot but with our recent surge - UA may be more attractive than in the past.

bob87 - Please post some info following the event.

While we catch our breath - it's nice to play with some numbers.

2004 - RPI 309 (Thanks too Boston U 84 & UVM 115)

2005 - RPI 195 ( Thanks to UVM 26, Northeastern 55 & Boston U 85)

2006 - RPI 128 ( No one in the AE to help inflate the RPI)

This year there were 334 DI teams rated in 2004 there were 326 teams.

Also last year we had a jump of 8 games in the win column and we followed it up with a 7 game increase this year and we're still playing.

olddog71 - great post.

We on this site get big into hoop but we are open to discussion on all our sports and in my travels not only do other athletes support hoop but I've also seen our Men's and Women's player in attendance at other sporting events.

From my vantage point we have an extremely well rounded and solid Athletic Program. We are definitely not a "one trick" pony like some other school.

Should be interesting to see if anyone camps out to be on line early for student tickets or tickets in general.

Charlie V. said probably all tickets to be gone by sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Corporate sponsors have purchased the student tickets that why they will be free.

If this repeats earlier posts I apologize.

From a New Hampshire paper........

Wildcats ousted by Albany

 

By Mike Zhe

mzhe@seacoaastonline.com

Complete Sports Index

 

 

 

 

VESTAL, N.Y. - Bill Herrion’s been about straight talk since the day he took over as the University of New Hampshire basketball coach nine months ago. He didn’t change that Sunday.

His Wildcats were overmatched by top-seeded Albany in the semifinals of the America East tournament at Binghamton University. The final was 67-54, and looked nothing like the two regular-season meetings between the two teams - both UNH wins in overtime.

 

[COLOR=purple]"We got beat by a much better basketball team today," Herrion said. "They had a lot to do with how we played." [/color]

Classy comments from a veteran coach - no wonder they had a turn around year at UNH

From the Siena site

"Re: McCaffery says he's here for long haul"In response to message #2

     

 

 

This means alot...

 

"He's done such a great job," D'Argenio said. "We want to make sure he knows that. Obviously, I tell him that, but sometimes you have to do something a little more than words, and I'm sure we'll be willing to do that."

On a day when we should be in the Limelight the Times Useless and Siena trump the Danes with an article of appreciation for their Coach.

I read nothing today from our AD regarding Coach Brown and the job he's done.

Hell, he's guided us from 5 wins to 20 in two year!!!!!!! Add to that an AE Regular season Championship, 2 Nationally televised games in 1 year ( how much free national adverting does that add up to), a guaranteed post season tourney bid and he's done it with good kids.

Where's the love?????

Congrats to Jamar - UA's first "POY" at the DI level!!!!!!

Congrats to Brent and "K" their awards show that "Hard work does pay off"

Lets go out and prove our selves AGAIN this weekend with two victories!!!

Interesting comments from AE "Coach of the Year" Larry Harrison from....

Good In Transition - Adeleke Making Most Of Second Chance (linked previously)

"He really is a model citizen and a model student athlete," Hartford coach Larry Harrison said.........

There have been some incidents. Adeleke has not started a few games this season because he was late to practice, and his temper got the best of him after a loss at Boston University earlier this season, when he broke a window in a locker room door.

I wonder what standards Harrison uses to judge his model citizens??????

Remember we have 3 new coaches in the AE and 2 coaches in their second year.

New:

UVM

UNH

Stony Brook

2nd Year:

Maine

UMBC

That changes the voting drastically - remember coaches can't vote for their own players. I expect some odd voting from this group.

These awards have less meaning for me. I'm glad for and proud of Jamar.

 

That being said, remember when this team had two Rookies of the Year? Even though those were fun years for me, our record was not so hot.

 

I'll take First Place in the AE any day over a great number of post-season awards. I'd also be very pleased if we were the last team in our conference playing in March. - olddog71

I'm with you 1000% olddog71.

Bruce Becker stated in the News last week that Coach Brown said something to the effect when he was hired he would work to get us to the top of the AE in three years - so what if it took 4 years. I like where we are now much better then where we were just a couple of years ago.

No more 4 on the floor, no more season long 40 minute players.

5 wins to 13 to 18 wins (and still playing) is reward enough for me.

As crazy as it sounds "K" should be on the third team. With him on the court we were extremely tough - without him we struggled.

His numbers aren't significant his impact was.

He did lead the league in FG% for conference play.

Award Time

Here are Hoopville's picks for the postseason awards.

Player of the Year: Jamar Wilson, Albany

This one could have gone a couple of ways among our first-team members. While Kenny Adeleke was a double-double machine for Hartford, Wilson was second in the conference in scoring and was fourth in assists for the team that won the regular season crown. He was even second on his team in rebounding, and did it all playing a lot of minutes at a position he's arguably not best suited to (point guard).

Rookie of the Year: Mike Trimboli, Vermont

This one was easy. Trimboli won most of the conference rookie of the week honors, and for good reason. He made the Catamounts' offense go, leading the team in scoring and the conference in assists. More than that, when he went to the bench, the offense looked entirely different.

Coach of the Year: Bill Herrion, New Hampshire

We could easily have picked Al Walker (Binghamton) or Dennis Wolff (Boston University), but Herrion inherited a team whose personnel was not that of a contender at all and finished fifth in the conference at 8-8. He simply got the most out of his team, and has also helped energize the fan base for the future.

First Team All-America East

Kenny Adeleke, Sr. F, Hartford

Kevin Gardner, Sr. F, Boston University

Andre Heard, Sr. G, Binghamton

Blagoj Janev, Jr. F, New Hampshire

Jamar Wilson, Jr. G, Albany

Second Team All-America East

Aaron Cook, Sr. G, Hartford

Sebastian Hermenier, Sr. F, Binghamton

Martin Klimes, Jr. F, Vermont

Ernest Turner, Sr. G, Maine

John Zito, Sr. F, UMBC

Third Team All-America East

Jermaine Anderson, Jr. G, New Hampshire

Mike Gordon, So. G, Binghamton

Corey Hassan, Fr. G, Boston University

Mike Trimboli, Fr. G, Vermont

Shaun Wynn, Sr. G, Boston University

All-Rookie Team

Philip Tchekane Bofia, Maine

Paris Carter, Hartford

Jay Greene, UMBC

Corey Hassan, Boston University

Mike Trimboli, Vermont

Interesting opinion - only Jamar and nothing else for the Danes?????????

Bing 3 All Conference players

BU 3 All Conference players

Hartfrod 2 + an All Rookie

UNH 2 All Conference players + Coach of the Year

UVM 2 All Conference players including Rookie of the Year

Maine 1 All Conference player + an All Rookie

UMBC 1 All Conference + an All Rookie

Stony Brook "Shut Out" - is the only team with less representation then the "Great Danes"