First off apologies to all of you who have come to expect more consistent posting out of this site.
Secondly, I'd like to congratulate my father, a Mount graduate, for selling his accounting practice of 35 years. He has worked so very hard through the years to build the firm. I'm extremely proud of what he has accomplished and grateful for the opportunity to work with two of my closest business associates in continuing the firm. My father will be still be active in the firm, but his hours can be reduced and allow him to spend more time traveling and playing golf. Something that he greatly deserves. We're all excited for the changes.
Finally, I haven't seen the Mount play since the loss to Loyola back in mid-December. And with things going the way they were going, there wasn't much to post, especially when I didn't have a personal view to put a spin on it.
I was extremely glad to see the Mount get a good win against American on Thursday. But I was very disappointed in the starting time. With the students away on break, I can't see how that helps to increase attendance. Anyway it was great to see the game end up on the right side of the ledger - and it's always nice to beat American and a Patriot League team.
As we draw to a close of the non-conference season today, I think it has become extremely obvious that this team is going to have to work extremely hard for everything they get and that lapses during games are going to be tough to overcome. Hoping that the mistakes of the early parts of the season have helped the players grow and that 2012 - starting at 3pm this afternoon, brings continued improvement.
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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Penn State Basketball Drops Another One - Onward State
Penn State Basketball Drops Another One - Onward State:
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Louisville roughs of FDU
Louisville 80, Fairleigh Dickinson 58 - Card Chronicle:
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Trick Shots
You've got to check out this Trick Shot Video from Mount walk-ons Dan Kenny, Oliver Brown and starter Kristijan Krajina.
It is some great stuff
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It is some great stuff
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
It's Loyola
A long time ago when they hired Jim Phelan at the Mount, they told him one thing.
Beat Loyola.
That is the type of rivalry that today's game is. And despite the disappointing start to the season, the play of the Mountaineers in recent days has made me believe that today's renewal of that rivalry may well be one of the more entertaining games we've seen at the Knott in recent years.
Couple that with the fact that the Greyhounds enter on a bit of a high. They haven't lost since opening night, when they traveled to ACC Country and almost got a win in Winston-Salem against the Demon Deacons.
But since then the Hounds have been perfect. Rolling up seven straight wins, including Wednesday night's impressive 10-point defeat of George Washington and a MAAC win last weekend over Siena. The same Siena squad that dropped this Mount bunch in the home opener in November. It's the best start for the school in their Division I history.
This will be the 167th meeting between the two schools and you can be certain that the Green and Gray will bring a few fans with them from Baltimore for the encounter. Those that don't get to the game can watch on MASN or YES at 2pm. Johnny Holliday and former Georgetown coach Craig Esherick will detail the action.
Dylon Cormier leads the Hounds in scoring. He's at 18.3 for a team that averages four players in double figures and plays an up tempo style that sees them score 70+ per night. Erik Etherly, Shane Walker, and Justin Drummond are also in double figures for Jimmy Patsos' crew.
The Mount, as we all know, is incredibly balanced. A different guy seems to be the leading scorer each night. Julian Norfleet made four trifectas in the narrow defeat to Maryland (where Patsos was an assistant under Gary Williams) on Wednesday night and leads the Mount with 11.0 per game. Raven Barber has been in double figures the last three games and freshman Kelvin Parker has been a consistent offensive threat since moving into the starting lineup.
The Mount has won 96 of the previous 166 encounters with Loyola. It is in search of 97 today as it looks to end a six-game losing streak.
Let's get it done.
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Beat Loyola.
That is the type of rivalry that today's game is. And despite the disappointing start to the season, the play of the Mountaineers in recent days has made me believe that today's renewal of that rivalry may well be one of the more entertaining games we've seen at the Knott in recent years.
Couple that with the fact that the Greyhounds enter on a bit of a high. They haven't lost since opening night, when they traveled to ACC Country and almost got a win in Winston-Salem against the Demon Deacons.
But since then the Hounds have been perfect. Rolling up seven straight wins, including Wednesday night's impressive 10-point defeat of George Washington and a MAAC win last weekend over Siena. The same Siena squad that dropped this Mount bunch in the home opener in November. It's the best start for the school in their Division I history.
This will be the 167th meeting between the two schools and you can be certain that the Green and Gray will bring a few fans with them from Baltimore for the encounter. Those that don't get to the game can watch on MASN or YES at 2pm. Johnny Holliday and former Georgetown coach Craig Esherick will detail the action.
Dylon Cormier leads the Hounds in scoring. He's at 18.3 for a team that averages four players in double figures and plays an up tempo style that sees them score 70+ per night. Erik Etherly, Shane Walker, and Justin Drummond are also in double figures for Jimmy Patsos' crew.
The Mount, as we all know, is incredibly balanced. A different guy seems to be the leading scorer each night. Julian Norfleet made four trifectas in the narrow defeat to Maryland (where Patsos was an assistant under Gary Williams) on Wednesday night and leads the Mount with 11.0 per game. Raven Barber has been in double figures the last three games and freshman Kelvin Parker has been a consistent offensive threat since moving into the starting lineup.
The Mount has won 96 of the previous 166 encounters with Loyola. It is in search of 97 today as it looks to end a six-game losing streak.
Let's get it done.
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Friday, December 09, 2011
Notes on Maryland 77, Mount St. Mary's 74 - baltimoresun.com
Notes on Maryland 77, Mount St. Mary's 74 - baltimoresun.com:
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Thursday, December 08, 2011
From the Washington Times
Maryland slips past Mount St. Mary's for 77-74 win - Washington Times:
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A ’Neer disaster - Diamondback Online
A ’Neer disaster - Sports - The Diamondback - University of Maryland:
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From Baltimore Sun's Jeff Barker
Maryland has to scramble to beat Mount St. Mary's, 77-74 - herald-mail.com:
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Washington Post Game Story
Maryland basketball holds on to beat Mount St. Mary’s - The Washington Post:
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Wednesday, December 07, 2011
The AP Wrap Up
Maryland squeezes past Mount St. Mary's 77-74 | Deseret News:
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That was fun...but just not enough
Maryland needed some last minute heroics from Terrell Stoglin and some courageous calls from the referees to down our Mounties 77-74 at the Comcast Center on Wednesday night. But that's why they call it a guarantee game, if you're the team below the red line you're guaranteed to get hosed on some calls.
But give Stoglin and the Terrapins credit. After squandering a 16 point lead the Terps did battle back at the end and some clutch shots from Stoglin with defender Josh Castellanos all over him at times made the difference. Stoglin had 23 in the victory for Maryland.
The Mount kept it close with some serious long range consistency. The Mount made 11-of-21 threes in the game but when it trailed by three late, it went inside for a Danny Thompson to close the gap to one with 2.3 seconds left. The Mount had nearly taken the lead on its previous possession, but a huge blocked shot of a Julian Norfleet layup, after Norfleet appeared clear in the lane took away one chance. Danny Thompson's follow was no good and the Mount was forced to foul. Mychal Parker, who was a 44% free throw shooter entering the contest, made both to stretch the lead to 2.
Norfleet led the Mount with 18 (4 3's), while Castellanos had 15 (3 3's) and Kelvin Parker 14 (2 3's). Raven Barber came off the bench to score double digits for the third straight game with 12.
The Catholic Clash is up next on Saturday afternoon at the Knott Arena as the Mount hosts 7-1 Loyola. Be loud Mount fans. Real loud.
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But give Stoglin and the Terrapins credit. After squandering a 16 point lead the Terps did battle back at the end and some clutch shots from Stoglin with defender Josh Castellanos all over him at times made the difference. Stoglin had 23 in the victory for Maryland.
The Mount kept it close with some serious long range consistency. The Mount made 11-of-21 threes in the game but when it trailed by three late, it went inside for a Danny Thompson to close the gap to one with 2.3 seconds left. The Mount had nearly taken the lead on its previous possession, but a huge blocked shot of a Julian Norfleet layup, after Norfleet appeared clear in the lane took away one chance. Danny Thompson's follow was no good and the Mount was forced to foul. Mychal Parker, who was a 44% free throw shooter entering the contest, made both to stretch the lead to 2.
Norfleet led the Mount with 18 (4 3's), while Castellanos had 15 (3 3's) and Kelvin Parker 14 (2 3's). Raven Barber came off the bench to score double digits for the third straight game with 12.
The Catholic Clash is up next on Saturday afternoon at the Knott Arena as the Mount hosts 7-1 Loyola. Be loud Mount fans. Real loud.
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Down at the Half on the Road
The Mount trails Maryland by 13 at the half. Josh Castellanos leads five Mountaineer scores with 8 as the Mount plays its first game after Lamar Trice was dismissed from the team earlier today.
The Mount trails 45-32 and has made 6-of-9 three pointers. Unfortunately, the Mount has not had an answer inside for the Terrapins who have scored point after point in the paint.
Terrell Stoglin has 13 points for the Terps while Ashton Pankey has come off the bench to add 9.
A 20-10 run over about an eight minute span midway through the first half gave the Terps some seperation after the Mount held things close early.
Kelvin Parker, the freshman from York PA, has 7 points on 3-of-3 shooting. He scored the first two points of the game for the Mount and the final three before halftime.
Raven Barber has come off the bench to tally 6 points and grab 3 rebounds including two on the offensive end.
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The Mount trails 45-32 and has made 6-of-9 three pointers. Unfortunately, the Mount has not had an answer inside for the Terrapins who have scored point after point in the paint.
Terrell Stoglin has 13 points for the Terps while Ashton Pankey has come off the bench to add 9.
A 20-10 run over about an eight minute span midway through the first half gave the Terps some seperation after the Mount held things close early.
Kelvin Parker, the freshman from York PA, has 7 points on 3-of-3 shooting. He scored the first two points of the game for the Mount and the final three before halftime.
Raven Barber has come off the bench to tally 6 points and grab 3 rebounds including two on the offensive end.
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Monmouth Beat Navy
Monmouth Basketball Earns First Win of Season - Long Branch, NJ Patch:
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Senior Lamar Trice dismissed
Senior Lamar Trice, already on a tight rope after a five-game early season suspension, has been dismissed from the Mount basketball team for what University officials say is a violation of team rules.
The Mount, 1-6, plays at Maryland tonight in its first game following the full time dismissal. Trice averaged 13 points a game last season to lead the Mount in scoring.
Good Riddance.
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The Mount, 1-6, plays at Maryland tonight in its first game following the full time dismissal. Trice averaged 13 points a game last season to lead the Mount in scoring.
Good Riddance.
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Lipinski scores 20; Still Mount Target?
Roundup: No. 4 Dunbar boys win basketball opener - baltimoresun.com:
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Maryland basketball easing into ACC play | Washington Examiner
Maryland basketball easing into ACC play | Washington Examiner:
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Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Scouting report: Robert Morris basketball vs. Monmouth
Scouting report: Robert Morris basketball vs. Monmouth:
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Friday, December 02, 2011
The Mount loses; We all suffer
I make no bones about it. This blog is about sports from the perspective of a fan. No doubt I have a journalistic background, and no doubt some of the things I've done as a journalist have contributed to what I write here today. But still this blog is about my feelings as a fan.
I truly don't think I've ever rooted for a team longer or harder than I have for the Mount. And I know that despite all the sad and troubling things going on at my own alma mater right now, there is nothing in the sports world that pulls at my heartstrings like the Mount.
That's why last night, and for that matter the last few weeks and maybe even the end of last season have been so upsetting to me. The bottom line is this is not a very good basketball team right now. There isn't a ton of talent. Still they wear the blue and white and I like the guys a whole lot. They play hard and they give the effort that you want to see. Basketballstate.com describes the Mount in its team profile as has difficulty scoring baskets and defensively challenged. That's not a good combination.
It's tough right now and it's certainly easy to point figures when things are going well. There are a slew of reasons. Reasons or excuses, I guess.
When things like this go wrong as fans we tend to blame the coach. And no doubt Robert Burke has to be accountable for his actions and the play of his team. But we also need to give him time to craft to his program. As far as I'm concerned this freshman class is his real first recruiting effort - and the abilities of Kelvin Parker, Xavier Owens, Chad Holley and Taylor Danaher will fully be measured in the years to come. It's tough to win at this level with freshman.
Josh Castellanos and Julian Norfleet were both pleasant surprises in their first year last season. But both have had slow starts compared to our expectations this season.
Burke came into a tough situation - just about all the weapons were departing and the cupboards were starting to look a little bare. Graduation took a few more after last season and injuries and defections have made it even more difficult at the start of this year.
I've heard the Burke complaints. I can't argue with some of them. He obviously has a short hook - and I'm concerned about how that plays with some of the players who lack confidence right now. There also are a lot more combinations being floated around then I normally like to see. In addition, the decision to play Julian Norfleet as the lead guard last night seemed a bit odd to me. Norfleet filled in adequately at Navy and might have reduced the turnovers from that slot. But on a team that struggles so much offensively, it seemed like an odd choice to take away your best offensive option.
Still its our jobs as fans to stay the course and root for the team and the coaches that are out there. And I'm hopeful that the right things were said in the 40-minute post game chat session last night to solve some of the issues.
The defending league champ is coming to Mount St. Mary's on Saturday night. Truely it has the makings of something that could be ugly.
But I'm hoping you'll be there with me to cheer on our team. Because it's at times like these when things get tough that we as fans are needed the most. Let's keep this positive and get things going forward again.
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I truly don't think I've ever rooted for a team longer or harder than I have for the Mount. And I know that despite all the sad and troubling things going on at my own alma mater right now, there is nothing in the sports world that pulls at my heartstrings like the Mount.
That's why last night, and for that matter the last few weeks and maybe even the end of last season have been so upsetting to me. The bottom line is this is not a very good basketball team right now. There isn't a ton of talent. Still they wear the blue and white and I like the guys a whole lot. They play hard and they give the effort that you want to see. Basketballstate.com describes the Mount in its team profile as has difficulty scoring baskets and defensively challenged. That's not a good combination.
It's tough right now and it's certainly easy to point figures when things are going well. There are a slew of reasons. Reasons or excuses, I guess.
When things like this go wrong as fans we tend to blame the coach. And no doubt Robert Burke has to be accountable for his actions and the play of his team. But we also need to give him time to craft to his program. As far as I'm concerned this freshman class is his real first recruiting effort - and the abilities of Kelvin Parker, Xavier Owens, Chad Holley and Taylor Danaher will fully be measured in the years to come. It's tough to win at this level with freshman.
Josh Castellanos and Julian Norfleet were both pleasant surprises in their first year last season. But both have had slow starts compared to our expectations this season.
Burke came into a tough situation - just about all the weapons were departing and the cupboards were starting to look a little bare. Graduation took a few more after last season and injuries and defections have made it even more difficult at the start of this year.
I've heard the Burke complaints. I can't argue with some of them. He obviously has a short hook - and I'm concerned about how that plays with some of the players who lack confidence right now. There also are a lot more combinations being floated around then I normally like to see. In addition, the decision to play Julian Norfleet as the lead guard last night seemed a bit odd to me. Norfleet filled in adequately at Navy and might have reduced the turnovers from that slot. But on a team that struggles so much offensively, it seemed like an odd choice to take away your best offensive option.
Still its our jobs as fans to stay the course and root for the team and the coaches that are out there. And I'm hopeful that the right things were said in the 40-minute post game chat session last night to solve some of the issues.
The defending league champ is coming to Mount St. Mary's on Saturday night. Truely it has the makings of something that could be ugly.
But I'm hoping you'll be there with me to cheer on our team. Because it's at times like these when things get tough that we as fans are needed the most. Let's keep this positive and get things going forward again.
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Thursday, December 01, 2011
St. Francis victorious in ARCC
Ben Mockford made five of St. Francis (NY)'s ten three-pointers as the Terriers won 64-54 at the Knott Arena in the NEC opener for both teams.
Mockford led the Terriers who led from start to finish with 19 points, Stefan Perunicic had 14 for the winners.
Kelvin Parker had a career high 16 for the Mount in his first start at home. Raven Barber had 11 in 22 minutes, while Julian Norfleet scored 11 as well.
The Mount was an atrocious 4-of-15 from the charity stripe.
The Mount faces defending NEC champ Long Island on Saturday night.
I'll have more thoughts from tonight's game some time tomorrow after I digest it all.
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Mockford led the Terriers who led from start to finish with 19 points, Stefan Perunicic had 14 for the winners.
Kelvin Parker had a career high 16 for the Mount in his first start at home. Raven Barber had 11 in 22 minutes, while Julian Norfleet scored 11 as well.
The Mount was an atrocious 4-of-15 from the charity stripe.
The Mount faces defending NEC champ Long Island on Saturday night.
I'll have more thoughts from tonight's game some time tomorrow after I digest it all.
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The NEC starts tonight
Wagner College men's basketball gears up for NEC opener | SILive.com:
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Beidler second in weekly Finnish Award
Kelly Beidler's 24 point 8 rebound performance in Karhu's overtime win versus Nilan Bisons earned him second spot in the Eurobasket.com Korisliiga Player of the Week award.
Damon Williams won the weekly award with a 24 point, 7 rebound, 6 assist performance.
Beidler continues to be a key cog in Karhu's performance. The win over Nilan moved them into second place in the league standings. Beidler continues to have an impressive debut season in Finland after playing his rookie season in Iceland. The former Mount forward is among the league leaders in points 19.6 ppg (4th), rebounds 9.4 rpg (3rd), steals 2.4 spg (4th) and blocks 2.1 bpg (2nd).
Meanwhile, Shawn Atupem is having a tremendous rookie season in Ireland. Atupem is averaging 24.6 points per game which is good enough for 2nd in the Irish Super League. The forward also grabs 9.9 rebounds per outing, 7th overall.
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Damon Williams won the weekly award with a 24 point, 7 rebound, 6 assist performance.
Beidler continues to be a key cog in Karhu's performance. The win over Nilan moved them into second place in the league standings. Beidler continues to have an impressive debut season in Finland after playing his rookie season in Iceland. The former Mount forward is among the league leaders in points 19.6 ppg (4th), rebounds 9.4 rpg (3rd), steals 2.4 spg (4th) and blocks 2.1 bpg (2nd).
Meanwhile, Shawn Atupem is having a tremendous rookie season in Ireland. Atupem is averaging 24.6 points per game which is good enough for 2nd in the Irish Super League. The forward also grabs 9.9 rebounds per outing, 7th overall.
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Monday, November 28, 2011
Wrapping Up the Navy Loss
Here's what I saw from my seat at Alumni Hall on Sunday Night....
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- A team that was way too tentative offensively to get the job done. The Mount didn't penetrate the Navy defense nearly enough but when it did it was highly effective.
- Xavier Owens was the first Mountaineer to have real success getting into the lane. His shooting percentage on the evening won't indicate a good night, but when the freshman penetrated he scored.
- Chad Holley didn't get an opportunity until late in the game. When Josh Castellanos left with four fouls early in the second half, the Mount opted to play Julian Norfleet as the lead guard. It put Norfleet at a spot he isn't overly familiar with and took him out of the offense. Finally, when Holley was given extended playing time near the end of the game, he scored 11 points by getting into the lane drawing fouls, making the free throws and then hitting a crucial three pointer to cut the lead to three.
- The pressure defense helped get the Mount back into the game on Sunday night. But I feel like in the end it also kept them from winning. Too many easy baskets against the pressure when the Mount was getting stops in a half court set kept Navy in the lead. With that said, the dagger that Jordan Sugars threw from behind the three-point line with the Mount trailing by just three and under 3 to play, had come after the Mount settled into a half court defense.
- Kelvin Parker continues to impress offensively for the Mount. He is knocking down open jumpers and just has that look of a scorer about him. He also brings a fan club, from nearby York High, great to see. I don't think we've really seen his athleticism yet, but comparisons of Alex Watson are out there. Yes, Alex Watson. Imagine if Al could have shot it this way?
- Navy went to the zone because the Mount had success inside early. Danny Thompson, who was also plagued with fouls all night, and Raven Barber had early success that forced the defensive switch.
- I'm pretty well convinced that this community of Mount fans has more confidence in Kristijan Krajina than the big guy has in himself right now. He did some good things, but he is playing way too tentatively to be overly effective. He needs to believe in himself. Its hard, since he hasn't had real minutes in competition since December of 2009.
- Defensively they have to get better in a half court set. Thompson was in foul trouble because his teammates were getting beat. That hurts the Mount at both ends. Thompson is clearly the best rebounder, a top defender and has been a key offensive threat.
- The game was even for all but the one stretch in the first half that saw Navy go from a 14-all tie to the large margin. The Mount cut back into it to make it nine at the intermission but it got to 14 before the Mount started to rally in the second.
- St. Francis NY is next and its another winnable game. I thought the Mount played its best full 40 minutes on Sunday, but yet it was still a dead stretch that cost them. This team will continue to work on getting better, but 20 turnovers is still way too many.
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
Mount falls at Navy
The Mount cut a 14 point second half deficit to 3 before falling 64-56 at Navy on Sunday night.
A pair of freshmen Kelvin Parker and Chad Holley led the rally.
Parker finished with 14, Holley with 11. The Mount opens NEC play versus St. Francis on Thursday at the ARCC. More thoughts from me tomorrow.
A pair of freshmen Kelvin Parker and Chad Holley led the rally.
Parker finished with 14, Holley with 11. The Mount opens NEC play versus St. Francis on Thursday at the ARCC. More thoughts from me tomorrow.
Mount at Navy - What to Expect?
Ok, I'm going to admit the headline to this article isn't fair. I really have no idea what to expect from the Mount when the travel to Alumni Gym on the campus of The United States Naval Academy tonight.
The Mount has been shorthanded all season. Playing with just six scholarship players for most of the early parts of the season but Kristijan Krajina did return at Minnesota. I keep hearing that Jacolby Wells shouldn't be out much longer. Maybe he returns tonight. Almost certain that Lamar Trice will still be serving his suspension tonight.
Still the Mount has played some very good halves this season, including one in each of the last three games. The strong first half was good enough to win at Hartford, but strong second halves couldn't undo the deficits that had been accumulated at Minnesota and versus Siena.
Still I'm going to head to Annapolis and fully expect the Mount to win. My basis for this is that most of the Mount difficulties from what I've seen have either been from pressure defense (which I think Navy will attempt) and from bigger and stronger players. Yet I think the Mount may have an advantage here.
So if the Mount continues to get better guard play from Josh Castellanos, Kelvin Parker and Julian Norfleet, I think the duo of Raven Barber and Danny Thompson can control the inside.
I expect it to be a relatively low scoring game that should go down to the end. But ultimately, and hey I'm a fan, I think the Mount can pull this one out on the road, 57-55.
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The Mount has been shorthanded all season. Playing with just six scholarship players for most of the early parts of the season but Kristijan Krajina did return at Minnesota. I keep hearing that Jacolby Wells shouldn't be out much longer. Maybe he returns tonight. Almost certain that Lamar Trice will still be serving his suspension tonight.
Still the Mount has played some very good halves this season, including one in each of the last three games. The strong first half was good enough to win at Hartford, but strong second halves couldn't undo the deficits that had been accumulated at Minnesota and versus Siena.
Still I'm going to head to Annapolis and fully expect the Mount to win. My basis for this is that most of the Mount difficulties from what I've seen have either been from pressure defense (which I think Navy will attempt) and from bigger and stronger players. Yet I think the Mount may have an advantage here.
So if the Mount continues to get better guard play from Josh Castellanos, Kelvin Parker and Julian Norfleet, I think the duo of Raven Barber and Danny Thompson can control the inside.
I expect it to be a relatively low scoring game that should go down to the end. But ultimately, and hey I'm a fan, I think the Mount can pull this one out on the road, 57-55.
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Could Robert Morris be ready to upset Pitt?
Robert Morris basketball feeling confident despite mark vs. Pitt:
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Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving from the FanBlog
I'm extremely thankful that I've got this team to root for and the great folks who make up our community at TheMountFanBlog
Go Mount!
Happy Thanksgiving all!
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Go Mount!
Happy Thanksgiving all!
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Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Mids continue growing up in loss to Tulane - Washington Times
Mids continue growing up in loss to Tulane - Washington Times:
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thoughts from last night
In case you missed it, and consider yourself one of the lucky few, the Mount fell in Minnesota last night 85-56.
I guess the loss was to be expected it was just the performance, particularly the first half one that left me so disappointed. The Mount trailed 51-18 at intermission, but true to its character it didn't quit, they played hard and won the second half 38-34. Still, I'd like to see that second half first.
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I guess the loss was to be expected it was just the performance, particularly the first half one that left me so disappointed. The Mount trailed 51-18 at intermission, but true to its character it didn't quit, they played hard and won the second half 38-34. Still, I'd like to see that second half first.
- I know the Mount is severely shorthanded right now. Last night did bring the return of Kristijan Krajina from his three game suspension. Lamar Trice will be back shortly, but don't expect to see him Annapolis.
- The problems in the first half were two fold. First off the Mount had problems against the Minnesota pressure. And secondly when the Mount did get a stop defensively they failed to rebound. And the possession doesn't end until the ball is rebounded.
- After rebounding well in the first two games, especially in the win at Hartford, that has been a real problem the last two games.
- Freshman Kelvin Parker continues to impress. The non-scholarship player made his first start last night and tallied 13 points to go along with two rebounds, an assist and a block. Parker made 3-of-5 three-pointers and has shown an ability to knock down the open jumper. I knew Parker was extremely athletic and by all accounts a scorer. But I have been surprised by his long range scoring ability.
- Danny Thompson continued to impress early this season. He scored 14 points, including the first ten for the Mount.
I still believe this team will get better as the season wears on, and better days are clearly ahead for the Mount and its basketball team. And do I give the players credit for playing hard and fighting through a lot of what has hindered things in the early going.
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Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Chatting with the Enemy - Minnesota Edition
I exchanged emails with Steve From The Barn - and we each answered each others questions about tomorrow night's game. You can read my answers on their site here
1. The Gophers have played three fairly solid mid-majors to start the season. What have they learned about themselves in those games?
1. The Gophers have played three fairly solid mid-majors to start the season. What have they learned about themselves in those games?
Minnesota has come out excruciatingly slow in each of the three games they've played so far this season. If they've learned anything it would be that they can still rely on their defense to get through slow stretches on offense. It is also apparent that they don't have a go-to shooter they can rely on to hit a clutch jump shot. Their frontcourt is overpowering but teams so far have not respected their outside game and tend to double down on the post players rather than defend the three. I can't say I blame them. It's not fancy, exciting basketball, but so far the job is getting done.
2. Williams Arena always seems to be one of the toughest places to play and the Gophers haven't messed around against the mid-majors in recent seasons. What will the atmosphere be like?
"The Barn" is roundly considered to be one of the tougher places to play in the Big Ten. The crowd is very close to the court and the raised floor can often throw visiting teams off, especially during their first visit. That said, the first three games haven't been well attended and the fanbase usually doesn't get fully engaged until conference games start. The Mount has the opportunity to deaden an already lackluster audience if they can get off to a quick start and capitalize.
3. Trevor Mbakwe is the only Gopher averaging in double figures this season. Is this what would have been expected at the start of the season? Is this a good or a bad thing thus far?
Minnesota has several newcomers this season and is still looking for that natural scorer who can carry the offense when necessary. Unfortunately, the first three games haven't unveiled a distinct offensive threat outside of Mbakwe. We know full well that the offense will revolve around getting Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson the ball down low, so having Mbakwe in double figures isn't surprising. However, the fact that he has basically been the only consistent offensive weapon so far this year is slightly concerning and the absence of output from the backcourt will need to change as the season progresses.
4. Since Tubby Smith arrived the Gophers have been one of the better defensive teams in the country. No exception early on this year allowing less than 57 per game and about .91 per possession. Both impressive numbers. What type of defense will we see?
The Gophers make no bones about making their opponents beat them with the long ball. In fact, it's such an all-or-nothing mentality that I'm surprised it doesn't backfire more often. Minnesota locks down the interior with Mbakwe and Sampson and makes sure as few points as possible are scored in the paint. Of course, this focus leaves the perimeter basically unguarded, giving teams ample open opportunities from behind the arc. If the opponent is hitting from long range then Gophers are pretty much out of luck, but they gamble (often correctly) that the deep ball won't fall. Fairfield, for instance, was only 2-16 from deep, and couldn't say "no" to the open looks, even though nothing was falling.
5. If the Mount somehow pulls off the upset, will the Minnesota faithful immediately be calling for Tubby's job?
I don't think it would be that dire. The loss would certainly hurt, but it would probably be chalked up to a mental lapse by the team rather than coaching incompetence. Tubby's job is pretty safe and he's had several successful seasons in the face of some rotten luck in terms of personnel. For instance, one of his top in-state recruits, Royce White, was caught robbing a Macy's and subsequently left the team two years ago. That said, another finish like last year could start the "who's next?" discussion.
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All About Evan Hymes :: The Mid-Majority
All About Evan Hymes :: The Mid-Majority:
Here's my contribution to the Mid-majority on last night's game at Knott Arena
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Here's my contribution to the Mid-majority on last night's game at Knott Arena
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The Home Opener - What Happened - Siena wins in ARCC
The Mount lost its home opener 65-53 to Siena on Saturday night at Knott Arena before a crowd that yearned to have a lot more to cheer for.
The bottomline was the loss came down to the fact that the Mount couldn't stop three guys for Siena. Freshman Evan Hymes dropped 30 points on the Mount, including matching the Mount's first half output of 16. Meanwhile, OD Anosike and Brandon Walters combined for 26 rebounds as the Saints held a 47-34 advantage on the boards. In addition, the pair were a big factor inside defending against the Mount's Danny Thompson and Raven Barber. Barber finished with 10 points, but the pair combined to shoot 7-of-18 from the field.
The Mount led 6-0 early on a pair of threes from Julian Norfleet. The sophomore guard would knock down 5 trifectas on the night and finish with 16 points, but he was 5-of-14 from behind the arc. However, after grabbing the early lead, the Mount went so very cold from the floor. That allowed Siena to absolutely seize control of the game no matter how much it looked like the didn't want to.
Despite scoring only three points over the next eight minutes, the Mount still trailed only 12-9 and it appeared if the open shots that weren't falling started to drop the period of ineptitude wouldn't have cost the Mount. But it got worse from there.
The Mount went nearly seven minutes without scoring and by the time Josh Castellanos rained in a three from the corner (15 points) the game was all but decided as Siena led 25-12.
The Mount played hard the entire second half and certainly never quit. The offense which shot 22% in the first half was a little better making 36% of its shots in the second half. But the closest the Mount could ever get was nine.
I can't fault the effort of the Mount, they played hard and with intensity. They did fix some of the turnover problem, although Siena sat in an effective zone most of the first half. Unfortunately it was just one of those nights where shots weren't falling. I've talked about the need for this team to have a true second option beyond Norfleet from the outside. Castellanos has taken on some of that. But his shots (1-of-4) weren't falling in the first half. He scored 11 in the second half.
And the Siena zone really seemed to baffle the Mount inside. Of course if some of the open jump shots would have fallen that zone might have softened up a bit.
It was hard to be encouraged by what you witnessed at the game on Saturday night. Yet it was difficult to really find fault with the Mount. For the most part it came down to the fact that they couldn't score in the first half, and most of that was missed open shots.
They played hard and hopefully that effort brings better results in future games.
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The bottomline was the loss came down to the fact that the Mount couldn't stop three guys for Siena. Freshman Evan Hymes dropped 30 points on the Mount, including matching the Mount's first half output of 16. Meanwhile, OD Anosike and Brandon Walters combined for 26 rebounds as the Saints held a 47-34 advantage on the boards. In addition, the pair were a big factor inside defending against the Mount's Danny Thompson and Raven Barber. Barber finished with 10 points, but the pair combined to shoot 7-of-18 from the field.
The Mount led 6-0 early on a pair of threes from Julian Norfleet. The sophomore guard would knock down 5 trifectas on the night and finish with 16 points, but he was 5-of-14 from behind the arc. However, after grabbing the early lead, the Mount went so very cold from the floor. That allowed Siena to absolutely seize control of the game no matter how much it looked like the didn't want to.
Despite scoring only three points over the next eight minutes, the Mount still trailed only 12-9 and it appeared if the open shots that weren't falling started to drop the period of ineptitude wouldn't have cost the Mount. But it got worse from there.
The Mount went nearly seven minutes without scoring and by the time Josh Castellanos rained in a three from the corner (15 points) the game was all but decided as Siena led 25-12.
The Mount played hard the entire second half and certainly never quit. The offense which shot 22% in the first half was a little better making 36% of its shots in the second half. But the closest the Mount could ever get was nine.
I can't fault the effort of the Mount, they played hard and with intensity. They did fix some of the turnover problem, although Siena sat in an effective zone most of the first half. Unfortunately it was just one of those nights where shots weren't falling. I've talked about the need for this team to have a true second option beyond Norfleet from the outside. Castellanos has taken on some of that. But his shots (1-of-4) weren't falling in the first half. He scored 11 in the second half.
And the Siena zone really seemed to baffle the Mount inside. Of course if some of the open jump shots would have fallen that zone might have softened up a bit.
It was hard to be encouraged by what you witnessed at the game on Saturday night. Yet it was difficult to really find fault with the Mount. For the most part it came down to the fact that they couldn't score in the first half, and most of that was missed open shots.
They played hard and hopefully that effort brings better results in future games.
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
Carroll County Times Recap of Siena game
Men's College Basketball: Mount drops home opener - Carroll County Times: Mount Saint Mary's:
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Hymes scores 30 to lead Siena past Mount St. Mary’s - College Sports - Siena and University at Albany college basketball coverage - timesunion.com - Albany NY
Siena’s Hymes starts smart - College Sports - Siena and University at Albany college basketball coverage - timesunion.com - Albany NY
Siena’s Hymes starts smart - College Sports - Siena and University at Albany college basketball coverage - timesunion.com - Albany NY:
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The Home Opener - What to Expect
Mount fans and others of course, first off don't expect to see Lamar Trice or Kristijan Krajina at Knott Arena tonight. I think we're getting close with Krajina but I don't expect to see Trice for a few more weeks.
I'm excited to finally see some college basketball live and in-person. If you're not going to be at the game you can follow my insight through the twitter feed .
The Mount enters off a road win against Hartford, an impressive performance that saw them lead by as many as 29 in the second half. Siena comes in with a 1-0 record after defeating Navy midweek in Albany.
The biggest thing the Mount needs to prove to me tonight is that they can do a better job of protecting the basketball. Even in the win on Wednesday, the Mount turned the ball over 22 times.
Josh Castellanos had career highs in both points and assists in the wins over the Hawks - but must continue to limit his turnovers. Danny Thompson might be poised for a big senior season. The big guy is finally healthy and getting a chance to shine. He leads the team with 11.5 points and rebounds per game. Up front his inside partner Raven Barber who is the favorite of criticism from the commenters from TheMountFanBlog, is second on the team with 10.5 points per game which shows that the Mount wants and will go inside to get its point.
Tonight is going to be a big test for those inside players because Siena brings 6-8 forward OD Anosike with them to Knott Arena. Anosike is a third-team preseason All-MAAC selection. He averaged nearly 9 points and 7 rebounds a game. His rebounding could be a problem tonight for the Mount. He grabbed 10 rebounds in the win over Navy. But Anosike scored just one point in the opener.
The points for the Saints came from Kyle Downey. The 6-2 senior guard scored 19 in that opener. Downey isn't a typical guard in today's game. He doesn't get his points from behind the arc. He made just one three in the opener and has a career high of 3 in a game.
Brandon Walters, a 6-8 transfer from Seton Hall, also was in double figures in the opener with 12. Evan Hymes scored 10 points in his collegiate debut.
Siena also has a short bench. Only 8 players played in the win versus Navy and two of those suffered injuries. Owen Wignot played just six minutes after starting and is probable for Saturday night. Marcus Hopper played seven minutes off the bench and is questionable.
I think this is one that comes right down to the wire. Ultimately I hope the Maniacs and the rest of the Mount crowd are enough to help push this group over the top. I see the Mount winning 61-58.
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I'm excited to finally see some college basketball live and in-person. If you're not going to be at the game you can follow my insight through the twitter feed .
The Mount enters off a road win against Hartford, an impressive performance that saw them lead by as many as 29 in the second half. Siena comes in with a 1-0 record after defeating Navy midweek in Albany.
The biggest thing the Mount needs to prove to me tonight is that they can do a better job of protecting the basketball. Even in the win on Wednesday, the Mount turned the ball over 22 times.
Josh Castellanos had career highs in both points and assists in the wins over the Hawks - but must continue to limit his turnovers. Danny Thompson might be poised for a big senior season. The big guy is finally healthy and getting a chance to shine. He leads the team with 11.5 points and rebounds per game. Up front his inside partner Raven Barber who is the favorite of criticism from the commenters from TheMountFanBlog, is second on the team with 10.5 points per game which shows that the Mount wants and will go inside to get its point.
Tonight is going to be a big test for those inside players because Siena brings 6-8 forward OD Anosike with them to Knott Arena. Anosike is a third-team preseason All-MAAC selection. He averaged nearly 9 points and 7 rebounds a game. His rebounding could be a problem tonight for the Mount. He grabbed 10 rebounds in the win over Navy. But Anosike scored just one point in the opener.
The points for the Saints came from Kyle Downey. The 6-2 senior guard scored 19 in that opener. Downey isn't a typical guard in today's game. He doesn't get his points from behind the arc. He made just one three in the opener and has a career high of 3 in a game.
Brandon Walters, a 6-8 transfer from Seton Hall, also was in double figures in the opener with 12. Evan Hymes scored 10 points in his collegiate debut.
Siena also has a short bench. Only 8 players played in the win versus Navy and two of those suffered injuries. Owen Wignot played just six minutes after starting and is probable for Saturday night. Marcus Hopper played seven minutes off the bench and is questionable.
I think this is one that comes right down to the wire. Ultimately I hope the Maniacs and the rest of the Mount crowd are enough to help push this group over the top. I see the Mount winning 61-58.
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Friday, November 18, 2011
RMU flying
A November to remember for RMU hoops - Timesonline.com: Local Sports:
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Atupem drawing rave reviews in Ireland
Shawn Atupem (Ucc demons) - Other Sports, Sport - Independent.ie:
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
Chatting with the Enemy - Answering some of our Siena questions
If you are looking for a real good Siena Saints blog head on over to 4GuysinBlazers for some great stuff on the Saints. We're fortunate that Bill, one of the four guys, reached out to us for our thoughts on the Siena game from a Mount perspective. At the same time, we asked a few questions of him, so that we could get a sense of the game from Siena's view. We hope you enjoy.
1. Siena and the Mount have followed similar patterns the last few years, albeit Siena had more success during the up years, but what do the Saints have to do to turn this around this year?
The easy answer is get healthy, but unfortunately no one has any control over that. Siena presently is playing with only 8 scholarship athletes, 4 of whom are freshmen. Going into Saturday's matchup that number might be down to 7. Senior Captain Owen Wignot hit the floor hard while being fouled on a layup attempt 6 minutes into the first half vs Navy and did not return to the game. His status is in question as he was experiencing wooziness following the injury and was being monitored for a concussion.
Aside from injuries and simply developing their young roster, the Saints will stand to gain from a return to a more up-tempo style of play. Last year's squad got bogged down in an offense that centered around dumping the ball inside to MAAC Player of the Year Ryan Rossiter. This was in part because Siena's perimeter shooting was poor and Rossiter was their biggest offensive threat. This year's team features a much more dynamic perimeter game and a great deal more speed. Things looked up in this area during the Navy game.
2. The two teams played quite a game two years in Albany, what do you expect from the game this year?
I certainly hope to not find the Saints trying to scratch back from a 14 pt deficit this time around, and OT with our short bench would not be an ideal situation. I do expect this game to be close. Looking over the rosters i feel the teams are fairly evenly matched. Both teams are playing with shortened benches. Controlling the ball will be the key to this game. The Saints were able to do this vs Navy while St Mary's has had opportunities in this area, time will tell which if any trend continues.
3. What areas does Siena need to improve on from its opener against Navy to have success on Saturday and during the season?
Staying out of foul trouble would be a great place to start. Kyle Downey played the final 10 minutes of Wednesday's game with 4 fouls and OD Anosike sat out most of the first half after picking up 2 quick fouls. With the limited nature of the bench, the team can ill afford to lose anyone because of fouls.
In terms of actual game play the Saints big men need to improve on their free throw shooting, poor might be an understatement in this area.
The Saints also need to work on their rotation when in zone defense. They were beaten in the middle several times in the Navy game.
4. With non-conference games like Georgia Tech, St Bonaventure, Vermont, Fordham and UMASS is there a fear that a trip to Emmitsburg might mean that Siena may not be as focused as necessary?
I don't get the sense from around the program or from fans that there is any fear this trip is a distraction from upcoming opponents. I honestly don't believe the Saints are looking more than one game ahead on the schedule at this point given their roster situation. Each game is being taken as a learning opportunity for the freshmen on the squad, with an expectation to continually improve as the season wears on. Having a road game against an evenly matched opponent provides an opportunity to build confidence before the Saints get into the Georgia Techs and Princetons on the schedule.
5. Mt. St. Mary's head coach Robert Burke was an assistant at Siena under Paul Hewitt? Any real good memories of his time there that we should know about?
Unfortunately I did not live in the Capital District during the Paul Hewitt era, originally a Jersey boy, so i don't have any personal memories of this time in Siena history.
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Mount wins in Hartford
Great bounce back win for the Mount.
A dominating performance on the glass...and some hot shooting early.
Danny Thompson and Josh Castellanos led the Mounties with career nights. Thompson had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Castellanos 16 points and a bucketful of assists (8?).
The Mount got the job done inside as Thompson and Raven Barber combined for 30 points.
Still have to find a way to protect the basketball better. They should expect to see pressure until they prove they can beat it.
Siena is going to be better. As a result, the Mount will have to improve.
But let's enjoy this for a day or two.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Mount leads Hartford at Halftime
Well if that isn't a turn of fortune, I don't know what is. After scoring just 37 points for the whole game on Friday night, the Mount tallied 40 in the first half at Hartford on Wednesday and leads the Hawks 40-18 at halftime.
Danny Thompson leads the Mount with 14 at halftime while Josh Castellanos has chipped in with 11. Thompson has 7 rebounds, while Castellanos has three assists.
The Mount made 6-of-7 three pointers including 3-of-3 shooting from Castellanos. Chad Holley, Kelvin Parker and Julian Norfleet also made trifectas.
The Mount still struggled with 12 first half turnovers, but the hot shooting has more than made up thus far.
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Danny Thompson leads the Mount with 14 at halftime while Josh Castellanos has chipped in with 11. Thompson has 7 rebounds, while Castellanos has three assists.
The Mount made 6-of-7 three pointers including 3-of-3 shooting from Castellanos. Chad Holley, Kelvin Parker and Julian Norfleet also made trifectas.
The Mount still struggled with 12 first half turnovers, but the hot shooting has more than made up thus far.
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Marquette Recap/Hartford Preview
I wanted to write this immediately following the Marquette debacle, but then I wanted to wait a day get some sleep and let a few things settle. Kept waiting for the opportunity to find something good about what happened.
Well after days of reflection, the only good I can find is that it's over and that Marquette will be (barring an NEC tournament win) the best team the Mount faces this year.
As far as excuses go, we can make a lot, but the fact remains that the Mount faced Marquette with six scholarship players + Kelvin Parker who is a recruited walkon. 3 of those 7 were playing in their first ever college basketball game.
Some things we learned.... Taylor Danaher is going to redshirt. If that wasn't obvious on Friday night nothing was. I liked what I like from him in the Blue White as far as long term development goes and I think this is a good decision.
It must mean that Jacolby Wells' injury isn't that serious. Otherwise how deep into the season can the Mount go with two interior players. Or maybe it's an indication that Kristian Krajina is going to play soon.
Speaking of the two suspended. We'd been hearing rumblings that both Krajina and Lamar Trice were in some sort of trouble that stemmed from an incident involving Pierre Brown, who left school for personal reasons. I've been told a lot of different things regarding suspension time periods. Some from a long time to others that it would be a one-game suspension. We'll see.
That means we don't know if Trice and Krajina will be in Hartford tonight. My guess. No. But it's strictly a guess at this point.
So the Mount must find a way to handle the basketball better than it did against Marquette. No doubt some of the 29 turnovers were related to Marquette, but others not so much. And I think this is going to be a recurring theme until the Mount proves it can protect the basketball. Trice was a turnover machine last year, so not sure how much that helps or not. But he has stated that he has worked hard on it and his quickness on the floor would definitely give them an option to avoid some of the pressure.
Hartford is 0-2 and much like Marquette was the best team on the schedule, I think the Hawks might be the worst. The Mount must capitalize on that on the road.
In order to do that, they will need to get Raven Barber and Danny Thompson involved inside and open up some of the perimeter play. Hartford has struggled mightily offensively and was beaten by Sacred Heart in its opener by 20.
WWW.kenpom.com has the Mount as a five-point favorite, with a final of 62-57. That score still haunts me. So I'm going with 67-61 Mount. Look for Josh Castellanos to step up and take control of the offense a bit tonight and get guys where they need to be and protect the basketball a bit more.
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Well after days of reflection, the only good I can find is that it's over and that Marquette will be (barring an NEC tournament win) the best team the Mount faces this year.
As far as excuses go, we can make a lot, but the fact remains that the Mount faced Marquette with six scholarship players + Kelvin Parker who is a recruited walkon. 3 of those 7 were playing in their first ever college basketball game.
Some things we learned.... Taylor Danaher is going to redshirt. If that wasn't obvious on Friday night nothing was. I liked what I like from him in the Blue White as far as long term development goes and I think this is a good decision.
It must mean that Jacolby Wells' injury isn't that serious. Otherwise how deep into the season can the Mount go with two interior players. Or maybe it's an indication that Kristian Krajina is going to play soon.
Speaking of the two suspended. We'd been hearing rumblings that both Krajina and Lamar Trice were in some sort of trouble that stemmed from an incident involving Pierre Brown, who left school for personal reasons. I've been told a lot of different things regarding suspension time periods. Some from a long time to others that it would be a one-game suspension. We'll see.
That means we don't know if Trice and Krajina will be in Hartford tonight. My guess. No. But it's strictly a guess at this point.
So the Mount must find a way to handle the basketball better than it did against Marquette. No doubt some of the 29 turnovers were related to Marquette, but others not so much. And I think this is going to be a recurring theme until the Mount proves it can protect the basketball. Trice was a turnover machine last year, so not sure how much that helps or not. But he has stated that he has worked hard on it and his quickness on the floor would definitely give them an option to avoid some of the pressure.
Hartford is 0-2 and much like Marquette was the best team on the schedule, I think the Hawks might be the worst. The Mount must capitalize on that on the road.
In order to do that, they will need to get Raven Barber and Danny Thompson involved inside and open up some of the perimeter play. Hartford has struggled mightily offensively and was beaten by Sacred Heart in its opener by 20.
WWW.kenpom.com has the Mount as a five-point favorite, with a final of 62-57. That score still haunts me. So I'm going with 67-61 Mount. Look for Josh Castellanos to step up and take control of the offense a bit tonight and get guys where they need to be and protect the basketball a bit more.
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Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Recruiting Report: Overview of Baltimore's 2012 hoops class - Terps, basketball, football and college recruiting news in the Baltimore area from Matt Bracken - baltimoresun.com
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
FDU drops opener
Friars win Cooley's debut - The Sun Chronicle Online - Sports:
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Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Game One: Mt. St. Mary's @ Marquette
I wish I had a better feel for this opener. For this Mount team. In so many ways I'm excited about the future that this program has. I think that from what I've seen from the incoming freshman (although limited views at this point) they can all contribute in the future, I'm very excited by the prospect of the two transfers Rashad Whack and Sam Prescott, and the two signees this week are guys I think can contribute and be factors in this league. So I'm probably the might excited I've been about the long-term future since the first time I saw Jeremy Goode, Kelly Beidler and Will Holland play.
But I'll be honest, I'm worried about this year. To me Pierre Brown was going to be a big factor for this team. Last year's team played without a lot of size on the perimeter and the wings. Brown was going to help that. Now they are back into a situation much like last season on the outside unless someone like Xavier Owens steps up immediately.
Throw into the mix that you've got the toughest opponent the Mount is going to face all season on the floor tonight in the form of Marquette and it could be a rough way to start.
So I'll be watching for a few things tonight....
1) What is the starting lineup? It was tough to determine at the Blue White and I have a feeling there might be some surprises in there.
2) Do any of the freshman step up immediately? With that said will Taylor Danaher play or will he remain a redshirt possibility?
3) Can Jacolby Wells and Raven Barber continue to show the signs of improvement that we saw in the Blue White?
4) How does the backcourt do against pressure?
5) Is there going to be anyone other than Julian Norfleet who is a threat from the outside? Will the sophomore be a more consistent threat?
6) What is the offense going to look like? Are we going to see the same type of sets we saw last year - or will there be more modifications?
Let me know what questions you have going into the season.
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But I'll be honest, I'm worried about this year. To me Pierre Brown was going to be a big factor for this team. Last year's team played without a lot of size on the perimeter and the wings. Brown was going to help that. Now they are back into a situation much like last season on the outside unless someone like Xavier Owens steps up immediately.
Throw into the mix that you've got the toughest opponent the Mount is going to face all season on the floor tonight in the form of Marquette and it could be a rough way to start.
So I'll be watching for a few things tonight....
1) What is the starting lineup? It was tough to determine at the Blue White and I have a feeling there might be some surprises in there.
2) Do any of the freshman step up immediately? With that said will Taylor Danaher play or will he remain a redshirt possibility?
3) Can Jacolby Wells and Raven Barber continue to show the signs of improvement that we saw in the Blue White?
4) How does the backcourt do against pressure?
5) Is there going to be anyone other than Julian Norfleet who is a threat from the outside? Will the sophomore be a more consistent threat?
6) What is the offense going to look like? Are we going to see the same type of sets we saw last year - or will there be more modifications?
Let me know what questions you have going into the season.
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Final 4 VCU first up for Red Flash
Red Flash men start new season tonight on road » Sports » The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA:
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Rice ready to go; But will need time
Column by Stephen Edelson: Time will tell if Rice's methods work | Asbury Park Press:
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New year for QPAC
MEN'S BASKETBALL: It's a new year for Quinnipiac, with 11 new faces (video) - Sports - Post-Chronicle:
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Wagner opens at Princeton
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Henderson returns to Princeton looking to lead it to another Ivy title - trentonian.com:
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Bryant looks to take care of depleted San Diego State
SDSU could have 7 for basketball opener | SignOnSanDiego.com:
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Still working on getting better
Men's College Basketball: Mount aims to be better - Carroll County Times: Mount Saint Mary's:
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Official release from the Mount on the two signings that became official
Mount Basketball Signs Two for 2012-13 Season - Mount St. Mary's:
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Not sure what this means about Christian Crockett out of Fort Bend, Texas who had verballed last month. Perhaps his NLI hasn't arrived yet or perhaps he is pursuing other options as Jalen Washington did last year after verballing early.
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Not sure what this means about Christian Crockett out of Fort Bend, Texas who had verballed last month. Perhaps his NLI hasn't arrived yet or perhaps he is pursuing other options as Jalen Washington did last year after verballing early.
Schools are not allowed to comment on players or potential recruits until the NLI is in hand.
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Monday, November 07, 2011
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Atupem scores 21 in Irish win
Basketball Ireland review & results – SportsNews Ireland:
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Saturday, November 05, 2011
LIU ready to defend conference hoops title - NYPOST.com
LIU ready to defend conference hoops title - NYPOST.com:
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Friday, November 04, 2011
College Basketball Preview - Northeast Conference | wbir.com
College Basketball Preview - Northeast Conference | wbir.com:
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Thursday, November 03, 2011
Impressions from the Blue White Scrimmage
The big wow of the evening went to Sam Prescott. The transfer from Marist is a real scorer and he showed an ability defensively as well. Unfortunately, he has to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules but he'll make an impact as soon as he appears next year. He shoots with range, can get to the tin and has a nice ability to shoot off the dribble. I thought he was the best player on the floor tonight.
Both Raven Barber and Jacolby Wells played well. Danny Thompson also did the things that we've come to expect from Thompson. Even with the departure of Shawn Atupem, I think those three have nailed down most of the time inside - although Kristian Krajina may get some minutes in the post. I liked what I saw of the freshman Taylor Danaher - although his best days are clearly in front of him and he seems a likely redshirt candidate.
Rashad Whack is also going to be a factor for this team when he becomes eligible next year. I don't think he's as explosive offensively as Prescott but he'll be a player in this league.
I still think that this year's team will need to find a consistent second shooter behind Julian Norfleet. Freshman Kelvin Parker, who should see minutes, could become that. Obviously, Lamar Trice has the ability to knock down the open jump shot as well, and Josh Castellanos made his only three he attempted.
Still it is going to be a very small team on the floor if Coach Robert Burke has to play with three guards on the floor. The only real option on the wing - with true wing size is Xavier Owens the freshman from Florida. I thought he showed flashes during this scrimmage - however asking him to contribute this early will be a big task.
Guard play should be the strength of this team, but there is certainly still work to be done. Freshman point guard Chad Holley will likely move into the mix quickly and can be someone who can run the offense.
The Mount will scrimmage Youngstown State in a closed door event on Saturday before opening the season next Friday at Marquette.
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Both Raven Barber and Jacolby Wells played well. Danny Thompson also did the things that we've come to expect from Thompson. Even with the departure of Shawn Atupem, I think those three have nailed down most of the time inside - although Kristian Krajina may get some minutes in the post. I liked what I saw of the freshman Taylor Danaher - although his best days are clearly in front of him and he seems a likely redshirt candidate.
Rashad Whack is also going to be a factor for this team when he becomes eligible next year. I don't think he's as explosive offensively as Prescott but he'll be a player in this league.
I still think that this year's team will need to find a consistent second shooter behind Julian Norfleet. Freshman Kelvin Parker, who should see minutes, could become that. Obviously, Lamar Trice has the ability to knock down the open jump shot as well, and Josh Castellanos made his only three he attempted.
Still it is going to be a very small team on the floor if Coach Robert Burke has to play with three guards on the floor. The only real option on the wing - with true wing size is Xavier Owens the freshman from Florida. I thought he showed flashes during this scrimmage - however asking him to contribute this early will be a big task.
Guard play should be the strength of this team, but there is certainly still work to be done. Freshman point guard Chad Holley will likely move into the mix quickly and can be someone who can run the offense.
The Mount will scrimmage Youngstown State in a closed door event on Saturday before opening the season next Friday at Marquette.
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Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Blue White Scrimmage Tomorrow
The Annual Blue White Scrimmage - an intrasquad scrimmage - between the Mount men's basketball team will be held tomorrow at Knott Arena at 5pm.
Not only is this your only chance to see the Mount before the season starts next Friday at Marquette, but it is probably the only chance to see Rashad Whack and Sam Prescott all season - as the two must sit out due to NCAA transfer rules.
The FanBlog is trying to clear its schedule to attend tomorrow's open scrimmage. If that is the case we will post our impressions sometime tomorrow night.
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Not only is this your only chance to see the Mount before the season starts next Friday at Marquette, but it is probably the only chance to see Rashad Whack and Sam Prescott all season - as the two must sit out due to NCAA transfer rules.
The FanBlog is trying to clear its schedule to attend tomorrow's open scrimmage. If that is the case we will post our impressions sometime tomorrow night.
Send an email to thefanblog@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Graves latest to commit to Mount
Gregory Graves became the third verbal commitment for Mt. St. Mary's pledging to sign with the Mountaineers last weekend. The early signing period for National Letters of Intent begins November 9
Graves, a 6-7 center for Potomac Falls, averaged 15.6 points per game and 9.5 rebounds for the two-time defending state champion last season. He chose the Mount over offers from Longwood and Manhattan.
But he was continuing to get recruited by bigger schools but some may have shied away because of his size. However, Graves showed during the AAU circuit this summer that he can play on the perimeter and it is expected that he will play at either the 3 or 4 for the Mount. And if his game doesn't develop as quickly to the outside he can always go back underneath and survive quite well at 6-foot 7-inches in the Northeast Conference.
Chaz Patterson and Christian Crockett have also verbally committed to Robert Burke and the Mountaineers. Unless something would happen between now and next spring it appears the Mount has completed its recruiting for the 2012 season before the 2011-12 one has officially kicked off.
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Graves, a 6-7 center for Potomac Falls, averaged 15.6 points per game and 9.5 rebounds for the two-time defending state champion last season. He chose the Mount over offers from Longwood and Manhattan.
But he was continuing to get recruited by bigger schools but some may have shied away because of his size. However, Graves showed during the AAU circuit this summer that he can play on the perimeter and it is expected that he will play at either the 3 or 4 for the Mount. And if his game doesn't develop as quickly to the outside he can always go back underneath and survive quite well at 6-foot 7-inches in the Northeast Conference.
Chaz Patterson and Christian Crockett have also verbally committed to Robert Burke and the Mountaineers. Unless something would happen between now and next spring it appears the Mount has completed its recruiting for the 2012 season before the 2011-12 one has officially kicked off.
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Mid-Major Top 25
Collegeinsider.com's first Mid Major Top 25 is out for the season. There are no NEC teams among the group. However, you will find Long Island right there outside the bubble at 27.
Siena the home opener for the Mount also received 3 votes.
You'll also find our old friend Milan Brown and his Holy Cross crew getting votes this year. They received four. The Crusaders fared well in the Patriot League towards the end of last season and could be a team to watch up north this year.
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Siena the home opener for the Mount also received 3 votes.
You'll also find our old friend Milan Brown and his Holy Cross crew getting votes this year. They received four. The Crusaders fared well in the Patriot League towards the end of last season and could be a team to watch up north this year.
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Look what popped up in the SI vault
When Melvin Whitaker slashed a fellow student's face after - 02.22.99 - SI Vault:
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Too bad this story didn't have a real happy ending.
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Kearse keeps rolling
Mychal Kearse scores 22, plucks 8 rebounds, picks up 6 steals in Transylvania Halloween 132-72 massacre. #Mountpros
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Monday, October 31, 2011
Mount Opener to Air on MASN
Next Friday night's season opener from Marquette will air courtesy of the Big East Network on MASN at 9pm. Outside of the local area the game will also air on SNY and TWC Sports 32.
Marquette is ranked in most preseason basketball polls and enters the season off a Sweet 16 journey last year.
The game will be the second trip to the Bradley Center for the Mountaineers, although the first time they play Marquette. The Mount battled Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee.
The Mount off of an 11-21 season a year ago has a tall task at hand in the opener.
But we'll be excited to watch along from home.
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Marquette is ranked in most preseason basketball polls and enters the season off a Sweet 16 journey last year.
The game will be the second trip to the Bradley Center for the Mountaineers, although the first time they play Marquette. The Mount battled Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee.
The Mount off of an 11-21 season a year ago has a tall task at hand in the opener.
But we'll be excited to watch along from home.
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Wagner gets Michigan's Mr. Basketball
SILive.com : Wagner lands high profile basketball recruit Dwaun Anderson of Michigan
The Hurley's continue to impress. About as big a commitment as you'll see in NEC.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Carroll County Times Report from Media Day
Men's Basketball: Mount features younger squad - Carroll County Times: Mount Saint Mary's:
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Frederick News Post report from Media Day
MSM men looking to improve - The Frederick News-Post Online:
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
NEC Selections a part of this
Jon Teitel's All-Conference Picks, Part Two | College Basketball by Collegehoops.net:
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Wednesday, October 26, 2011
St Francis NY gearing up for Braica's second season
Brooklyn Eagle, Bay Ridge Eagle Brooklyn, NY :: daily paper in Brooklyn:
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Atupem named Irish Player of the Week
Eurobasket.com has nameed Shawn Atupem the Irish player of the week for his 30-point 5 rebound 2 assist performance in this week's play overseas. Atupem's effort helped lead his UCC Demons to a 72-58 win over UL Eagles in the Irish SuperLeague.
Atupem who finished a four year career at the Mount last season is enjoying great success in his debut season overseas. He leads the league in scoring at 27.0 points per game, his 7.8 rebounds per outing is 4th best and he's shooting nearly 58% from the floor.
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Atupem who finished a four year career at the Mount last season is enjoying great success in his debut season overseas. He leads the league in scoring at 27.0 points per game, his 7.8 rebounds per outing is 4th best and he's shooting nearly 58% from the floor.
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Monday, October 24, 2011
NBA Lockout cure....college Hoops New York Style
Lockout be damned, we’ve got the game - NYPOST.com:
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Official Announcement of the Bethel hiring from the Mount
Tony Bethel Named Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach - Mount St. Mary's:
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Saturday, October 22, 2011
Some info on Wagner from a UCONN perspective
Breaking down UConn's opponents: Wagner - Courant.com:
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
Pierre Brown withdraws from school for personal reasons
Mount St. Mary’s Men’s Basketball Player Pierre Brown Withdraws from School - Mount St. Mary's:
Roster now up. Brown the only one not included.
2011-12 Roster
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Roster now up. Brown the only one not included.
2011-12 Roster
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Tony Bethel to join Mount staff
Sources close to themountfanblog.com have confirmed that former NC State point guard Tony Bethel has been named the final assistant coach on Robert Burke's coaching staff.
If the name Bethel is familiar to Mount fans it should be. Tony's brother Eric was a Mount guard on the NCAA tournament team that lost to Michigan State in Milwaukee. Eric had a huge shooting night in the NEC championship game win vs Central Connecticut State to help propel the Mount to the Dance.
Bethel is a Maryland native who served on Sidney Lowe's staff at NC State and should be officially announced before November 11.
If the name Bethel is familiar to Mount fans it should be. Tony's brother Eric was a Mount guard on the NCAA tournament team that lost to Michigan State in Milwaukee. Eric had a huge shooting night in the NEC championship game win vs Central Connecticut State to help propel the Mount to the Dance.
Bethel is a Maryland native who served on Sidney Lowe's staff at NC State and should be officially announced before November 11.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Beidler has another nice performance
Kelly Beidler scores 17 and grabs nine rebounds to lead Karhu. But his Finnish team falls 89-67 on the road. #Mountpros
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Collegehoops.net picks LIU
Thirty-Two Regular Season Champions, Part Three | College Basketball by Collegehoops.net:
One thinks the Blackbirds are going to be at the top of everyone's pecking order before the NEC begins this year.
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Much Ado about Nothing?
You may have noticed that the roster that was presented on this site by a commenter recently included the name Aaron Brown, 6-6 Fr F. And you might have had one of those exciting could it really happen moments like I did. Because Aaron Brown, or at least the one I was thinking of was a highly recruited forward out of the Philadelphia area, who signed with West Virginia last November.
But sometimes, as we all know, things happen. And sometimes guys end up where they aren't supposed to. So even though I've tracked things for a moment I got a flutter that maybe this was the Aaron Brown. Based on a few searches in the last week, I think maybe some of you have thought the same thing.
But Brown is still on the West Virginia roster. So that Aaron Brown is not coming here.
It's still possible that another Aaron Brown could be part of the Mount's roster this fall, but I am not aware of it. And what a coincidence (although stranger things have happened) that would be.
UPDATED**** - It appears that there is another Aaron Brown. Still haven't gotten confirmation that he is on campus or what his status is if he's there. Below are a few videos. Looks like a good shooter from the wings. Kind of a quirky release, a little low, but looks like he knows the game and how to score.
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But sometimes, as we all know, things happen. And sometimes guys end up where they aren't supposed to. So even though I've tracked things for a moment I got a flutter that maybe this was the Aaron Brown. Based on a few searches in the last week, I think maybe some of you have thought the same thing.
But Brown is still on the West Virginia roster. So that Aaron Brown is not coming here.
It's still possible that another Aaron Brown could be part of the Mount's roster this fall, but I am not aware of it. And what a coincidence (although stranger things have happened) that would be.
UPDATED**** - It appears that there is another Aaron Brown. Still haven't gotten confirmation that he is on campus or what his status is if he's there. Below are a few videos. Looks like a good shooter from the wings. Kind of a quirky release, a little low, but looks like he knows the game and how to score.
Send an email to thefanblog@gmail.com
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