Today's TU Story

[Dane Pound]

Story in today's TU about tonight's game against UMBC. According to the story Hughes can't play until his first semester grades are posted which could be as late as Jan. 21. St. Hillaire is listed as "questionable."

[statefan]

This has been my question all along re: Jamal Hughes. How can he even have grades other than incomplete? Didn't he miss 6 to 8 weeks of classes including finals?

[AlbanyObserver]

I say you close the Hughes chapter right now ... redshirt him or release him from his scholarship at Albany. We need to load up our weapons for next year. Even if he returns in three weeks, he will not be in game shape and have no clue on the court. Give him a fresh start next year, if he is even given that option.

[Patch]

I am sure if he returns he will work out with the team until his grades are recorded. I assume he did some school work while away.

 

I don't believe he can redshirt he sat out his first year of JC and has 3 years eligibility so if he plays or not he will have 2 years following this season. We might as well get 1/2 a season out of him.

 

If they were to cut him loose I don't believe that would open a scholarship. That's why the 5/8 rule was put in so schools couldn't run kids out so they could replace them with better kids ( this isn't necessarily the case here but that's how it appears to the NCAA).

 

With 7 or 8 kids available we need an extra body "Just in case".

[professor]

Have some common sense! He has to play even if he is not in shape. He's strong and athletic and can help!

[Dane Pound]

I'm with the Prof on this although I'll believe it when I see it. I don't understand any part of this story-why he's been out so long or how he could even have grades for the fall semester when he's been in Rochester since November. That said, I don't think you can cut a guy loose for missing time for "family reasons" that are actually family reasons no matter if I understand them or not.

[statefan]

There is also a game day story on the front page of the Gazette Sports section by Bob Weiner, headlined "Great Danes must be physical" It is mostly similar to the Times Union story, although does not mention the Jamal Hughes situation and has a little more of a UMBC scouting report. There is also an article in the Gazette by Steve Amedio, the Siena beat reporter entitled "Last 12 months left memories" in which he outlines his version of the top 10 local college basketball stories. #1 is Syracuse winning the regional at the Pepsi. #5 is "Incoming local talent", in which he talks about Siena and UAlbany recruiting players he considers to be program building blocks. He talks about Haddix and Jordan for Siena and Jamar Wilson and Jon Iati for the Danes. #10 is "Ray of Hope for Danes", in which he discusses how it looks like the 2004-05 season will be the first in which the Great Danes can truly compete at the D-1 level. He discusses Jamar's return, and the eligibility of Lucious Jordan and Kirsten Zoellner. All in all, a very fair commentary.

Edited January 2, 2004 by statefan