Friday, April 30, 2010

Danes hoops add three for '10-11

ALBANY - The University at Albany men's basketball team has added three student-athletes for the 2010-11 season.

Luke Devlin (6-8, 235) from Australia and junior college transfers Theo Hatcher (6-7, 210) and Russell Moore (6-3, 200) have signed National Letters of Intent to suit up for the Great Danes next season.

I'll try to have more on these three players in a little bit.

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Brookins lands at Siena

Philly guard Rakeem Brookins has verbally committed with the Siena men's basketball team, according to numerous sources.

Brookins is a very highly rated recruit, who was originally signed to play at Tulane.

After Dave Dickerson was fired, Brookins reopened his recruiting.

Brookings is rated the 39th best point guard and was named first team All-Pennsylvania Class AAA by the Associated Press and was first team All-Philadelphia Catholic League after averaging 18.9 points per game for Roman Catholic High School.

Brookins originally chose Tulane over, La Salle, Penn, Boston U., Delaware and Niagara.

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

McCarty video

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

UAlbany's McCarty headed to Bucs camp

Gansevoort native David McCarty, the University at Albany's career rushing leader, will attend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' NFL Rookie Mini-Camp this weekend.

The Buccaneers first practice is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m.

McCarty, a La Salle Institute graduate, rushed for 4,287 yards in his four season with the Great Danes.

McCarty is also UAlbany's career leader with 24 games of 100 yards rushing.

McCarty is the second La Salle graduate to latch on with an NFL team this season, joining former teammate Scott Sicko, who signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.

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Siena's 2010-11 non-conference schedule

LOUDONVILLE - A game with national runner-up Butler highlights the Siena men's basketball non-conference schedule for the 2010-11 season.

One of the Siena coaches confirmed that just two more of the dates need to be signed off upon.

The Saints will take on the Bulldogs, who came up just short against Duke in the national championship game, on Tuesday, Nov. 23, in downtown Albany.

The Mitch Buonaguro era will begin on Nov. 13, when Siena takes on the Catamounts of Vermont.

The Saints will begin the season with a 38-game homecourt winning streak, the second longest active streak in the nation, behind only Kansas.

Some of the other highlights include games at Minnesota (Nov. 15), a home game against former coach Paul Hewitt and Georgia Tech (Dec. 22) and games at both St. Bonaventure (Dec. 28) and a New Year's Eve game at St. Joseph's.

The rest of the non-conference schedule is listed below.

Opponent, Date
VERMONT, Nov. 13
at Minnesota, Nov. 15

at Northeastern, Nov. 20
BUTLER, Nov. 23
at Mount St. Mary's, Nov. 27

UALBANY, Dec. 4
FLORIDA ATLANTIC, Dec. 13
GEORGIA TECH, Dec. 22
at St. Bonaventure, Dec. 28
at St. Joseph's, Dec. 31
BRACKETBUSTERS, TBD

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Sicko signs with Cowboys

According to numerous sources, Stillwater native Scott Sicko has changed his mind and has signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Sicko receiving national attention

While Stillwater native Scott Sicko won't be hauling in footballs anytime soon, his decision to step away from the game of football has caught the 6-foot-4 tight end a lot of national publicity.

Today, he was mentioned in Sports Illustrated's Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column, which you can find here.

Sicko's name has also popped up on Yahoo! and other nationally recognized football web sites for his decision to go back to school rather than try his hand at hooking on with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.

Some people, like this blogger for the Sporting News, don't seem to agree with Sicko's decision.

After talking with him on Sunday evening, I feel confident Sicko is making the best choice for himself.

Could he have made it in the NFL?

His nine touchdowns during the 2009 season and large size (6'4" - 251) suggest he may have been able to stick with a club.

But that's not the point.

Just as we wouldn't criticize someone's choice to pursue a football career had they not been drafted, why would we scrutinize Sicko's decision to continue his education and begin preparing for his career and his life.

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Sunday, April 25, 2010

Mondo's the Man

Rensselaer senior pitcher Andrew Mondo tied the school record with 25 wins this weekend.

"Andrew has been a successful pitcher in both HS & College because of his personal determination and work ethic," said Shenendehowa coach Jim Carrese, Mondo's high school coach. "He has great family support and Coach (Karl) Steffan was able to get a Northeast D-I pitcher to go to a nationally ranked D-III program and anchor a pitching staff that has given RPI a solid foundation for the past four years."

Here's the link to the story that ran on Saturday.

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

NCAA Tournament to 68 teams

The NCAA is looking to expand the men's basketball tournament from 65 to 68 teams beginning next season.

The NCAA also announced a new, $10.8 billion broadcasting deal with CBS and Turner Broadcasting that will allow every game to be shown live for the first time.

There were thoughts that the tournament could go increase to 80 or 96 teams.

According to the AP, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, said the proposal was "better than nothing."

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Brown staying at UAlbany

UAlbany basketball coach Will Brown has pulled his name out of consideration for the Dartmouth head coaching job.

"My family and I are very happy at the University at Albany and being active members of the Capital Region community. I am excited about the future of our program," Brown said in a relseasoned statement. "I am fortunate to be able to work for two ambitious and supportive leaders in President George Philip and Director of Athletic Lee McElroy. I would like to thank Dartmouth College for their interest and I wish them the best."

Brown and his wife Jaime celebrated the birth of their second child on Wednesday morning.

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UAlbany hoops adds Landon

Okay this isn't a story about a recruit coming in, but UAlbany men's basketball coach Will Brown and his wife, Jamie, welcomed their second child into the world today as Landon Patrick Brown was born at 8:48 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Congratulations goes out to the couple. He joins Jackson, 7, in the Brown's starting lineup.

Now all Will Brown has to figure out is if he'll remain at UAlbany or leave for Dartmouth.

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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Hasbrouck facing DWI charge

Just days after his former teammate Ronald Moore was charged with a DWI, former Siena star and current member of the NBA's Miami Heat Kenny Hasbrouck has also been cited for drinking and driving.

WTEN is reporting that Hasbrouck was cited for Aggravated DWI and Stopping on the Highway back on Feb. 5.

An officer apparently reported that Hasbrouck smelled of alcohol and was slurring his words and a breathalyzer revealed his blood alcohol was 0.19%, more than twice the legal limit.

Hasbrouck is currently with the Miami Heat as they play the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs.

Moore went before a Town of Colonie judge on Monday, after he was pulled over early Sunday morning for apparently rolling through a red light.

Moore said he had one beer and his BAC was 0.12%.

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Burdine chooses Siena.....again

According to this article in the Reading Eagle, Siena recruit Trenity Burdine will honor his Letter of Intent and join the Saints next season.

Burdine said he has been in contact with (Fran) McCaffery, but that the Hawkeyes coach urged him to maintain his commitment to Siena.

"He said the best thing (for me) was go to Siena," Burdine said. "He and Coach Mitch (Buonaguro) are best friends, and he didn't want to step on his toes. It was a hard position for him."

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Monday, April 19, 2010

Siena's Moore charged with DWI

Former Siena point guard Ronald Moore has been charged with DWI early Sunday morning.

From the AP

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Siena senior guard Ronald Moore, who helped lead the Saints to the NCAA tournament the past three seasons, has been charged with drunken driving after being pulled over near campus.

Police in Colonie, N.Y., say the 21-year-old from Conshohocken, Pa., was stopped around 3 a.m. Sunday after running a red light. The officer said he smelled alcohol and that Moore had blood shot eyes and slurred speech.

Moore was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated.

A Siena spokesman says the school won't comment and doesn't know if Moore has a lawyer.

Moore led the nation in assists this past season. He hit the game-winning shot in Siena's double overtime win over Ohio State in the 2009 NCAA tournament.

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Friday, April 16, 2010

"Big Shot" Burdine

Trenity Burdine has been named All-Berks boys basketball Player of the Year by the Reading Eagle.

Burdine is committed to play next season at Siena College.

Here's what the Eagle said about the 6-foot-5 wing who led Reading High School to the district championship.

The 6-5 senior earned his nickname "Big Shot" with a series of clutch shots and buzzer-beaters in leading the Red Knights to 28 wins and division, league and district championships.

He was at his best in the District 3-AAAA title game against unbeaten Hempfield, scoring 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second-half points.

"He hit some big-time, like, 'Wow-is-he-good' shots," Hempfield coach Warren Goodling said.

Burdine finished with 1,281 career points, eighth-best in Reading history.

He averaged 17.7 points per game overall, and shot 63.4 percent from the field and made 14-of-15 free throws in the four-game district run.

Burdine's long arms and athletic ability were a key in Reading's fullcourt trapping defense.

Click here for a link to the article.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Brown a candidate at Dartmouth?

Now that Mitch Buonaguro is in place at Siena, replacing Fran McCaffery, the coaching carousel has finished.

Right?

Apparently wrong.

CBS Sports' Gary Parrish is reporting that University at Albany coach Will Brown has "developed" into a candidate at Dartmouth and spent Wednesday visiting the campus.

The Big Green are looking to replace Terry Dunn, who resigned in the middle of the season.

Brown has been at UAlbany for nine season and made two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 & 2007.

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hartford bball coach resigns

According to ESPN reports, Hartford coach Dan Leibovitz has resigned his post as the head men's basketball coach with four years still remaining on his contract.

Leibovtiz indicated that he will work as an assistant at his alma mater, Penn.

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Siena a "dream job"

New Siena men's basketball coach Mitch Buonaguro talks about why he considers the position his "dream job" and why it's a perfect fit for him.
“I think I’m really prepared for this chance, this opportunity,” Buonguaro said Monday.

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Siena welcomes Coach B

I was away on vacation last week, but here are some videos shot by our chief photographer Mike McMahon when Siena announced Mitch Buonaguro the head men's basketball coach on Thursday.



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Monday, April 5, 2010

Franklin to Portsmouth

In the first blog entry not about Fran McCaffery in about two weeks, Siena senior forward Alex Franklin will replace West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler at the Portsmouth Invitational this weekend.

Franklin will join former teammate Edwin Ubiles as one of the 64 seniors invited to the three-day workout.

Here's part of the press release from Siena.

Each year for 57 years the P.I.T has invited 64 of the best college basketball players (seniors) from across the nation to participate in a four-day, twelve game tournament in front of representatives from every NBA team. The tournament drew the attention of NBA Scouts and General Managers in the mid-70’s when players like Dave Cowens, John Lucas, Walt Szczerbiak and Bobby Cremins came to Portsmouth to play. Soon the word spread and approximately 200 Scouts, General Managers and Representatives of all 30 NBA teams began to come to see players like John Stockton, Dennis Rodman, Tim Hardaway, Scottie Pippen and others. Today scouts from numerous international leagues have joined in on the annual April pilgrimage to Portsmouth. Over the years the P.I.T. has been a showcase for five of the 50 greatest players in NBA History (Rick Barry, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Dave Cowens, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen) and for many others who have gone on to NBA stardom.

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Friday, April 2, 2010

Ubiles scores four in all-star game

Siena senior Edwin Ubiles shot 2-for-5, scored four points and grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists at the senior all-star game today at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Ubiles' Hershey team was beaten by the Reese team 106-101.

Former Albany City Rocks player Lazar Hayward (Marquette) scored a game-high 23 points for Hershey.

Houston's Aubrey Coleman led the Resse team with 14 points.

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Slideshow: Siena's '09-10 season