Monday, June 30, 2003
Remember That Episode of the Simpsons Where Apu Had 8 Kids?
Cleveland Plain Dealer
June 28, 2003 Saturday, Final / All
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D13
Chones triplets to head east
The Chones triplets, who boosted Orange to basketball prominence from 1999 to 2002, have made their college decisions.
Kendall and Kyle Chones, who were Plain Dealer seven-county all-stars as Orange seniors, will play basketball at Colgate of the Patriot League in Hamilton, N.Y. Kameron, also an Orange standout, will play basketball and run track for Ivy League school Brown in Providence, R.I.
Kendall plans to major in computer engineering; Kyle in business management and administration; Kameron in engineering.
Kameron, 6-5, averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds and excelled in track during the last school year at Western Reserve Academy. Kendall, 6-7, and Kyle, 6-6, led Fort Union (Va.) Military Academy to a 28-2 record. Kendall averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds; Kyle averaged 12 points and eight rebounds.
The triplets are the sons of former Cavaliers and Lakers standout Jim Chones.
***
Could there be any more annoying way to name your kids than Kendall Chones, Kyle Chones, and Kameron (for god's sake, this is too much) Chones? It's too easy to come up with the sign for when Kameron visits your gym, thank goodness he won't be coming to Bender.
Possible Chones children derogatory signs and things to say:
Kameron is Krappy
Together, you are the KKK
I didn't know that people lost cognitive function after they had triplets. That's interesting.
If there were any more of you, you'd be called a litter. (yeah, I know it's too obvious)
and one which you can probably use on all the kids at Colgate:
You may be smarter and more athletic than me, but at least I won't have people asking me "Like the toothpaste?" the rest of my life.
@ 9:31 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Cleveland Plain Dealer
June 28, 2003 Saturday, Final / All
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D13
Chones triplets to head east
The Chones triplets, who boosted Orange to basketball prominence from 1999 to 2002, have made their college decisions.
Kendall and Kyle Chones, who were Plain Dealer seven-county all-stars as Orange seniors, will play basketball at Colgate of the Patriot League in Hamilton, N.Y. Kameron, also an Orange standout, will play basketball and run track for Ivy League school Brown in Providence, R.I.
Kendall plans to major in computer engineering; Kyle in business management and administration; Kameron in engineering.
Kameron, 6-5, averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds and excelled in track during the last school year at Western Reserve Academy. Kendall, 6-7, and Kyle, 6-6, led Fort Union (Va.) Military Academy to a 28-2 record. Kendall averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds; Kyle averaged 12 points and eight rebounds.
The triplets are the sons of former Cavaliers and Lakers standout Jim Chones.
***
Could there be any more annoying way to name your kids than Kendall Chones, Kyle Chones, and Kameron (for god's sake, this is too much) Chones? It's too easy to come up with the sign for when Kameron visits your gym, thank goodness he won't be coming to Bender.
Possible Chones children derogatory signs and things to say:
Kameron is Krappy
Together, you are the KKK
I didn't know that people lost cognitive function after they had triplets. That's interesting.
If there were any more of you, you'd be called a litter. (yeah, I know it's too obvious)
and one which you can probably use on all the kids at Colgate:
You may be smarter and more athletic than me, but at least I won't have people asking me "Like the toothpaste?" the rest of my life.
@ 9:31 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Friday, June 27, 2003
Travis sez: Brooklyn Friends/Lehigh
My former roommate, who actually attended Brooklyn Friends for a bit, re: Lehigh's recruit Kyle Neptune:
>The kid is probably pretty good is my guess.. but know that all his stats came from a week division that is mostly private schools that are rather small
Also, the MSG player designation isn't much to be considered either, Travis says that he knows a number of folks who got it multiple times, but didn't get recruited anywhere.
On an ironic note, my boy was recruited to Lehigh while he was at Brooklyn Tech. Guess they have some connections to the Brooklyn area. @ 3:09 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
My former roommate, who actually attended Brooklyn Friends for a bit, re: Lehigh's recruit Kyle Neptune:
>The kid is probably pretty good is my guess.. but know that all his stats came from a week division that is mostly private schools that are rather small
Also, the MSG player designation isn't much to be considered either, Travis says that he knows a number of folks who got it multiple times, but didn't get recruited anywhere.
On an ironic note, my boy was recruited to Lehigh while he was at Brooklyn Tech. Guess they have some connections to the Brooklyn area. @ 3:09 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Lehigh Recruits
I missed the official Lehigh release, which is hidden deep within their website-- thanks to Brad from Lehigh for finding it and pointing it out to me.
I haven't heard anything about these guys, but I'm asking a friend who knows a lot about basketball in Brooklyn what he knows about Brooklyn Friends school, where their recruit who sounds the best went. Also, as I read these I'm thinking of compiling a list of the least impressive awards that PL recruits have mentioned in their bios. Right now, All-South Puget Sound League as a junior is up there with third-team Bergen County. Look for that later.
More to come.. @ 2:38 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
I missed the official Lehigh release, which is hidden deep within their website-- thanks to Brad from Lehigh for finding it and pointing it out to me.
I haven't heard anything about these guys, but I'm asking a friend who knows a lot about basketball in Brooklyn what he knows about Brooklyn Friends school, where their recruit who sounds the best went. Also, as I read these I'm thinking of compiling a list of the least impressive awards that PL recruits have mentioned in their bios. Right now, All-South Puget Sound League as a junior is up there with third-team Bergen County. Look for that later.
More to come.. @ 2:38 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Did the PL Brass Screw Up the Most Important Event of the Year?
There's one thing this league has going for itself when it comes to March, and that's that we always put on an exciting finale, because ESPN demands that we have the final at the highest seed's gym. This means, as you have seen the last few years, sellout crowds, yelling, excitement, as much alcohol as college kids can drink before 4:30, and an atmosphere that lends itself to drama. The home court idea puts the away team at a disadvantage, sure, but as HC showed us AU folks two years ago, it isn't everything (while I'm on the topic, quit kicking yourself Steve Miles, neither of AU's playoff losses were your fault, we had other problems).
But all this might go by the wayside. The most important event in this league (please don't try to tell me the football playoffs are anywhere near) might be played in front of a half empty crowd, with no sellout, yelling, and most importantly, concealed alcohol.
AU, Bucknell, Holy Cross, and Lehigh are all on spring break during the scheduled date of the final. This means that if one of these schools was the highest seed during the tourney, they could struggle to fill the place up. I don't know if this is as much a problem for other schools, but I've been to games during winter break at AU, and it ain't pretty. I'm talking 1,500 people, no where near the 5,500 needed to fill the place. These schools would have to convice their students to come back early for the game-- maybe tougher than it sounds, since a lot of people are on weeklong trips already booked way in advance when they would have to return early to school.
If we moved the final up a week, things would work out a lot better. I understand there's concerns about having the first two rounds of the tournament on the weekend so they can draw attendance there, but what's more important, the 6 games played in a second-rate barn or the final on ESPN?
Next: Some scheduling news/thoughts & the RPI @ 2:20 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
There's one thing this league has going for itself when it comes to March, and that's that we always put on an exciting finale, because ESPN demands that we have the final at the highest seed's gym. This means, as you have seen the last few years, sellout crowds, yelling, excitement, as much alcohol as college kids can drink before 4:30, and an atmosphere that lends itself to drama. The home court idea puts the away team at a disadvantage, sure, but as HC showed us AU folks two years ago, it isn't everything (while I'm on the topic, quit kicking yourself Steve Miles, neither of AU's playoff losses were your fault, we had other problems).
But all this might go by the wayside. The most important event in this league (please don't try to tell me the football playoffs are anywhere near) might be played in front of a half empty crowd, with no sellout, yelling, and most importantly, concealed alcohol.
AU, Bucknell, Holy Cross, and Lehigh are all on spring break during the scheduled date of the final. This means that if one of these schools was the highest seed during the tourney, they could struggle to fill the place up. I don't know if this is as much a problem for other schools, but I've been to games during winter break at AU, and it ain't pretty. I'm talking 1,500 people, no where near the 5,500 needed to fill the place. These schools would have to convice their students to come back early for the game-- maybe tougher than it sounds, since a lot of people are on weeklong trips already booked way in advance when they would have to return early to school.
If we moved the final up a week, things would work out a lot better. I understand there's concerns about having the first two rounds of the tournament on the weekend so they can draw attendance there, but what's more important, the 6 games played in a second-rate barn or the final on ESPN?
Next: Some scheduling news/thoughts & the RPI @ 2:20 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Thursday, June 26, 2003
Bucknell B-Ball Gets Two New Assistants
The real question here: whose job will it be to hold Flannery back from the refs? I'm sure you all remember the 2001 PL tourney incidents.. @ 12:26 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
The real question here: whose job will it be to hold Flannery back from the refs? I'm sure you all remember the 2001 PL tourney incidents.. @ 12:26 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
SF Weekly (California)
May 14, 2003 Wednesday
Best Reason to Like the Warriors
Adonal Foyle
BODY:
Adonal Foyle is a backup center who can't shoot or dribble, but that doesn't bother us. We like him for his name, for his sound defensive technique, and especially for his social conscience. Foyle questioned the war in Iraq. He fights for campaign finance reform. He raises money for AIDS research. He shops for hybrid cars. He even tries to write poetry (which can be found on his Web site), to wit: "The evil Grenadian with communist intent/ Or Reagan social policies that's not worth a cent/ Whatever the excuse the masses accept/ The island was leveled with fighter jets ...." OK, so the poetry isn't great. But you won't find many guys like him in the NBA. He's a Colgate grad who's happy to play good D and block a few shots per game. And, what's more, he's the rare basketball player with ideas, an athlete who can get from thesis to synthesis without spraining an ankle.
***
I didn't know he had a website-- looks pretty good: www.adonalfolye.com @ 2:03 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
May 14, 2003 Wednesday
Best Reason to Like the Warriors
Adonal Foyle
BODY:
Adonal Foyle is a backup center who can't shoot or dribble, but that doesn't bother us. We like him for his name, for his sound defensive technique, and especially for his social conscience. Foyle questioned the war in Iraq. He fights for campaign finance reform. He raises money for AIDS research. He shops for hybrid cars. He even tries to write poetry (which can be found on his Web site), to wit: "The evil Grenadian with communist intent/ Or Reagan social policies that's not worth a cent/ Whatever the excuse the masses accept/ The island was leveled with fighter jets ...." OK, so the poetry isn't great. But you won't find many guys like him in the NBA. He's a Colgate grad who's happy to play good D and block a few shots per game. And, what's more, he's the rare basketball player with ideas, an athlete who can get from thesis to synthesis without spraining an ankle.
***
I didn't know he had a website-- looks pretty good: www.adonalfolye.com @ 2:03 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
From the Green Bay Press Gazette:
Odds and ends: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Coach Tom Kowalczyk plans to hold his final scholarship for next season unless a transfer becomes available. The scholarship had been offered to 6-7 forward Kendall Chones, the son of former NBA player Jim Chones. The younger Chones opted to sign with Colgate.
So he opted not to take a scholarship, from a pretty decent program.. Anyone know anything else about this kid? @ 1:45 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Odds and ends: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Coach Tom Kowalczyk plans to hold his final scholarship for next season unless a transfer becomes available. The scholarship had been offered to 6-7 forward Kendall Chones, the son of former NBA player Jim Chones. The younger Chones opted to sign with Colgate.
So he opted not to take a scholarship, from a pretty decent program.. Anyone know anything else about this kid? @ 1:45 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Not totally related, but a good story anyway...
Daily News (New York)
June 20, 2003, Friday SPORTS FINAL EDITION
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. 80
IT'S UP TO MANAGER: QUIT TALKING, OR QUIT
BY MIKE LUPICA
This is about the late Jack Donohue, a great basketball character who coached Lew Alcindor at Power Memorial, went on from there to coach at Holy Cross. One night at Holy Cross, Donohue's team lost a game at the buzzer. On his way off the court, he was confronted by an angry fan who didn't think Donohue had handled things on the bench the way someone like John Wooden would have.
The fan got right in Donohue's face, and let him have it pretty good. The whole time he was yelling, Donohue never said anything.
Until he finally said: "We have to stop now."
"Why?" the fan said.
"Because," Jack Donohue said, "if we stand here any longer people might start to think I'm the a---."
@ 1:36 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Daily News (New York)
June 20, 2003, Friday SPORTS FINAL EDITION
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. 80
IT'S UP TO MANAGER: QUIT TALKING, OR QUIT
BY MIKE LUPICA
This is about the late Jack Donohue, a great basketball character who coached Lew Alcindor at Power Memorial, went on from there to coach at Holy Cross. One night at Holy Cross, Donohue's team lost a game at the buzzer. On his way off the court, he was confronted by an angry fan who didn't think Donohue had handled things on the bench the way someone like John Wooden would have.
The fan got right in Donohue's face, and let him have it pretty good. The whole time he was yelling, Donohue never said anything.
Until he finally said: "We have to stop now."
"Why?" the fan said.
"Because," Jack Donohue said, "if we stand here any longer people might start to think I'm the a---."
@ 1:36 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Tom Young Joins Other AU Coaches Who Have Better Jobs Now
In the strong tradition of Gary Williams and Ed Tapscott...
The Washington Post
June 21, 2003, Saturday, Final Edition
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D01
Jordan Has Busy First Day As Coach of the Wizards
Steve Wyche, Washington Post Staff Writer
Eddie Jordan spent his first full day as head coach of the Washington Wizards yesterday by meeting a surplus of issues head-on.
First, he began putting together a coaching staff. He received permission to interview his former colleague with the New Jersey Nets, assistant coach Mike O'Koren, who likely will be Jordan's top assistant. That path was cleared yesterday when lead assistant Brian James was notified he would not be retained. Jordan's former coach at Rutgers, Tom Young, who coached at American University, will probably join his staff as well. @ 1:23 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
In the strong tradition of Gary Williams and Ed Tapscott...
The Washington Post
June 21, 2003, Saturday, Final Edition
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D01
Jordan Has Busy First Day As Coach of the Wizards
Steve Wyche, Washington Post Staff Writer
Eddie Jordan spent his first full day as head coach of the Washington Wizards yesterday by meeting a surplus of issues head-on.
First, he began putting together a coaching staff. He received permission to interview his former colleague with the New Jersey Nets, assistant coach Mike O'Koren, who likely will be Jordan's top assistant. That path was cleared yesterday when lead assistant Brian James was notified he would not be retained. Jordan's former coach at Rutgers, Tom Young, who coached at American University, will probably join his staff as well. @ 1:23 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Ryan Baum Lied To
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
June 10, 2003 Tuesday Final Edition
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D3
BRIAN DOUGLAS
Right choice
Ryan Baum knew he was making a sacrifice when he chose to play in the Maccabiah Games last summer.
Baum, a sharp-shooting guard for Memphis University School, wanted to play in the Olympic-style event that took place in Israel because of the importance it held to him personally.
"It was a great personal experience," Baum said. "All the media in Israel centered on us, and they had a big opening ceremony just like the Olympics. It was a big deal."
But that participation could have been costly. While others were playing in front of potential college coaches, Baum was spending the heart of AAU basketball season overseas. It didn't help that this was the summer before his senior year, probably the most important time to be seen.
"In the year I missed of AAU, I fell off the map," Baum said. "I was told a lot that people had lost track of me. A lot of people said it would hurt me."
In the end, however, it was Baum's participation in those games that helped him land the opportunity he has now. Baum recently decided to play for Lafayette, a small Division 1 school located in Easton, Pa. His connection to the school came from one of his coaches at the Games, who was good friends with the staff at Lafayette and referred it to Baum.
"We're supposed to be the team to beat in our league (Patriot League), so hopefully we'll get a spot in the NCAA Tournament," Baum said. "It'll be an amazing story to tell people that the Maccabiah Games helped me get there."
@ 1:17 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
June 10, 2003 Tuesday Final Edition
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D3
BRIAN DOUGLAS
Right choice
Ryan Baum knew he was making a sacrifice when he chose to play in the Maccabiah Games last summer.
Baum, a sharp-shooting guard for Memphis University School, wanted to play in the Olympic-style event that took place in Israel because of the importance it held to him personally.
"It was a great personal experience," Baum said. "All the media in Israel centered on us, and they had a big opening ceremony just like the Olympics. It was a big deal."
But that participation could have been costly. While others were playing in front of potential college coaches, Baum was spending the heart of AAU basketball season overseas. It didn't help that this was the summer before his senior year, probably the most important time to be seen.
"In the year I missed of AAU, I fell off the map," Baum said. "I was told a lot that people had lost track of me. A lot of people said it would hurt me."
In the end, however, it was Baum's participation in those games that helped him land the opportunity he has now. Baum recently decided to play for Lafayette, a small Division 1 school located in Easton, Pa. His connection to the school came from one of his coaches at the Games, who was good friends with the staff at Lafayette and referred it to Baum.
"We're supposed to be the team to beat in our league (Patriot League), so hopefully we'll get a spot in the NCAA Tournament," Baum said. "It'll be an amazing story to tell people that the Maccabiah Games helped me get there."
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Army Goes to Alaska, Plays Other Crappy Teams
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
June 17, 2003, Tuesday, BC cycle
UAF hosts PSU, Morgan State and Army this fall
DATELINE: FAIRBANKS
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Athletics has announced teams to play in the 2003 Mt. McKinley North Star Invitational Basketball Tournament field.
This year Portland State University, Morgan State University and Army will join the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the UAF Patty Center.
Portland State was going to play in the tournament last year but ran into a scheduling conflict. PSU finished last year fourth in the Big Sky Conference after going 8-6 in conference play. PSU used to make frequent trips to Alaska as a member of the Pacific West Conference as a Division II member before making the jump to Division I.
Morgan State finished seventh in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last season. They posted a 9-10 conference record.
Army finished the season last year in sixth place in the Patriot League with a 9-10 record in conference contests.
This year's tournament runs from Nov. 28-29. Army will play MSU in the opening game Friday at 6 p.m., followed by the Nanooks facing PSU at 8 p.m. A consolation game will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. with the championship game to be played at 8 p.m.
****
So, the best team in this tourney is Portland State? Go Vikings.
This is the first really disappointing OOC news I've heard so far for the PL.. Also, the reporter should be forced to continue suffering in Alaska for citing last year's Army record. @ 1:13 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
June 17, 2003, Tuesday, BC cycle
UAF hosts PSU, Morgan State and Army this fall
DATELINE: FAIRBANKS
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Athletics has announced teams to play in the 2003 Mt. McKinley North Star Invitational Basketball Tournament field.
This year Portland State University, Morgan State University and Army will join the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the UAF Patty Center.
Portland State was going to play in the tournament last year but ran into a scheduling conflict. PSU finished last year fourth in the Big Sky Conference after going 8-6 in conference play. PSU used to make frequent trips to Alaska as a member of the Pacific West Conference as a Division II member before making the jump to Division I.
Morgan State finished seventh in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last season. They posted a 9-10 conference record.
Army finished the season last year in sixth place in the Patriot League with a 9-10 record in conference contests.
This year's tournament runs from Nov. 28-29. Army will play MSU in the opening game Friday at 6 p.m., followed by the Nanooks facing PSU at 8 p.m. A consolation game will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. with the championship game to be played at 8 p.m.
****
So, the best team in this tourney is Portland State? Go Vikings.
This is the first really disappointing OOC news I've heard so far for the PL.. Also, the reporter should be forced to continue suffering in Alaska for citing last year's Army record. @ 1:13 PM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Here's the links to the various PL recruiting profiles for the Class of 2007 (I feel so old..) You can search the OCSN database here for more info, but not everyone is listed.
Colgate
Someone from HC said it best: "THE Dan Gentile? Third team all Bergen County Dan Gentile!?" But a couple of good players here. I hope Gentile ends up dropping like 20 a game, just to prove that he should have made 2nd team. There's enough recruits here that one of them has to turn out good...right?
Bucknell
One real good recruit from OK, a sketchy German who might pan out, and a couple of no-names. Not bad for the first pseudo-scholarship year, not great either. Another PR error: did they have to mention Badmus made FOURTH team all-state? Who goes all the way to four teams, anyway?
Holy Cross: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Looks like 2 2's and 2 3/4's. They need to keep a size advantage, not sure these guys do that. Doubt many of them get a lot of minutes, until they learn the Willard system.
American
Ingram and Lekavicius will probably play some this year, and start next. Everything I hear is excellent. You can find some articles on them here. I hear Caterina (last year's big recruit) is awesome in practice. If that doesn't translate on the floor, then the other two guys here may play some.
Lafayette
See below.
Army: nothing yet. Andy Smith is gone. I dare anyone who doesn't go there to try to name three Army players. The Jim Crews crew is in trouble. But Crews is a name in basketball, hopefully for all of us who have to watch this team at least once, his Evansville connections have not dried up. The Purple Aces could beat Army right now. Hell, the Holy Cross girls could beat them now (they're taller).
Navy: I think this guy is all they've announced as of now. They have a few young guys that are decent, they should be able to win their perpetual #4 or 5 spot this year.
Lehigh: Nothing official. Search the OCSN site, they have signed 2 guards and a 6'10" center. Hooray for scholarships.
Next: schedules for all...
@ 10:45 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Colgate
Someone from HC said it best: "THE Dan Gentile? Third team all Bergen County Dan Gentile!?" But a couple of good players here. I hope Gentile ends up dropping like 20 a game, just to prove that he should have made 2nd team. There's enough recruits here that one of them has to turn out good...right?
Bucknell
One real good recruit from OK, a sketchy German who might pan out, and a couple of no-names. Not bad for the first pseudo-scholarship year, not great either. Another PR error: did they have to mention Badmus made FOURTH team all-state? Who goes all the way to four teams, anyway?
Holy Cross: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Looks like 2 2's and 2 3/4's. They need to keep a size advantage, not sure these guys do that. Doubt many of them get a lot of minutes, until they learn the Willard system.
American
Ingram and Lekavicius will probably play some this year, and start next. Everything I hear is excellent. You can find some articles on them here. I hear Caterina (last year's big recruit) is awesome in practice. If that doesn't translate on the floor, then the other two guys here may play some.
Lafayette
See below.
Army: nothing yet. Andy Smith is gone. I dare anyone who doesn't go there to try to name three Army players. The Jim Crews crew is in trouble. But Crews is a name in basketball, hopefully for all of us who have to watch this team at least once, his Evansville connections have not dried up. The Purple Aces could beat Army right now. Hell, the Holy Cross girls could beat them now (they're taller).
Navy: I think this guy is all they've announced as of now. They have a few young guys that are decent, they should be able to win their perpetual #4 or 5 spot this year.
Lehigh: Nothing official. Search the OCSN site, they have signed 2 guards and a 6'10" center. Hooray for scholarships.
Next: schedules for all...
@ 10:45 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Here's a link to the official Lafayette "summer prospectus". Seems the SID at LU has a bit of extra time on his (her?) hands to put something like this together, but hey, I have extra time to analyze it so we're even.
The gist of the prospectus is that they're returning four starters-- not sure whether that's good or bad considering their record last year. You heard it here first -- none of these guys is the new Brian Burke. The best of them, Justin DeBerry, made the Patriot League 2nd team last year--not so great if you're the leading scorer, but it gives them some sort of hope.
The most remarkable thing is that there are eight new players on this team. AU did a similar thing its first season in the PL, putting together a roster that looked quite different than the previous year, and it worked well for them. The one guy that stands out of all the new players is Sean Knitter (6-8 260), a transfer big man from Delaware. Don't be suprised if either he or, more likely, Jamie Hughes take a lot of Rob Dill or Mike Farrell's minutes. The difference between Hughes and Dill is that Hughes is big and Dill is tall.
Here's last year's RPIs for their non-conference schedule, and the conferences the teams are in:
129 - Rutgers (Big East)
231 - St Peters (Metro Atlanctic Conference)
172 - LaSalle (A10)
84 - Drexel (CAA)
90000 - two d3 nothings
212 - Binghamton Kornheisers (America East)
147 - Princeton (Grass)
111 - Southern Cal (Pac-10)
325 (!) - Columbia (Should have hired Kareem, at least they'd sell tix)
292 - Cornell (Grass)
59 - Penn (during the middle of the conference schedule)
Not too shabby. If you looked at that list again, without the RPIs, would you say Drexel was their strongest OOC opponent? The RPI is weird, but it's the formula that runs everything in March. It messes up the whole league that Lafayette is playing what the RPI says is the third worst team in DI. These guys won two games last year (they beat Army, how embarrassing for the Jim Crews crew). Bucknell played them last year too--so the league's RPI took a dive. But the dates at Rutgers and LaSalle are promising -- LU could knock off either of these guys. Princeton may be tougher, but it's not unrealistic. Penn.. hey, AU took Penn to the last 2 minutes in the last two years, maybe LU can do it. Maybe the ads for American Juniors won't annoy the hell out of me next time I see them. Maybe.
Lastly, LU sounds pissed about their road schedule: "Lafayette is forced to play four-straight conference road games from Jan. 30 to Feb. 11, traveling to Navy, American, Colgate and Army." They have two weekends of road games! I'm not sympathetic.
Next: Some links, some info on recruits... @ 9:39 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
The gist of the prospectus is that they're returning four starters-- not sure whether that's good or bad considering their record last year. You heard it here first -- none of these guys is the new Brian Burke. The best of them, Justin DeBerry, made the Patriot League 2nd team last year--not so great if you're the leading scorer, but it gives them some sort of hope.
The most remarkable thing is that there are eight new players on this team. AU did a similar thing its first season in the PL, putting together a roster that looked quite different than the previous year, and it worked well for them. The one guy that stands out of all the new players is Sean Knitter (6-8 260), a transfer big man from Delaware. Don't be suprised if either he or, more likely, Jamie Hughes take a lot of Rob Dill or Mike Farrell's minutes. The difference between Hughes and Dill is that Hughes is big and Dill is tall.
Here's last year's RPIs for their non-conference schedule, and the conferences the teams are in:
129 - Rutgers (Big East)
231 - St Peters (Metro Atlanctic Conference)
172 - LaSalle (A10)
84 - Drexel (CAA)
90000 - two d3 nothings
212 - Binghamton Kornheisers (America East)
147 - Princeton (Grass)
111 - Southern Cal (Pac-10)
325 (!) - Columbia (Should have hired Kareem, at least they'd sell tix)
292 - Cornell (Grass)
59 - Penn (during the middle of the conference schedule)
Not too shabby. If you looked at that list again, without the RPIs, would you say Drexel was their strongest OOC opponent? The RPI is weird, but it's the formula that runs everything in March. It messes up the whole league that Lafayette is playing what the RPI says is the third worst team in DI. These guys won two games last year (they beat Army, how embarrassing for the Jim Crews crew). Bucknell played them last year too--so the league's RPI took a dive. But the dates at Rutgers and LaSalle are promising -- LU could knock off either of these guys. Princeton may be tougher, but it's not unrealistic. Penn.. hey, AU took Penn to the last 2 minutes in the last two years, maybe LU can do it. Maybe the ads for American Juniors won't annoy the hell out of me next time I see them. Maybe.
Lastly, LU sounds pissed about their road schedule: "Lafayette is forced to play four-straight conference road games from Jan. 30 to Feb. 11, traveling to Navy, American, Colgate and Army." They have two weekends of road games! I'm not sympathetic.
Next: Some links, some info on recruits... @ 9:39 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Welcome to Matt's Patriot League basketball blog. Here you'll find regularly updated (at least as often as my job allows me to play on the internet) links, news, insight, and info about the league. Please let me know if you have anything that ought to be posted, and feel free to just email me if you have any comments or disagree with any of it.
Thanks,
Matt B @ 8:57 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
Thanks,
Matt B @ 8:57 AM 0 HC Alums are angry about this post | Bitch about it on the PL hoops messageboard
