slicky - good picks i like em... i DO like dion mozelle's game ALOT.. i saw him play a few times last year and he plays with much heart.. i also like kitson from geneseo, i believe he was a junior last year and even snaged POW early in the season... lastly downing from oswego, he really came on at the end of the year last year, he and perioli will be a tough backcourt..

i don't think there is any "drama" on the situation... when things like this happen on the news, in sports, or anywhere else, there is going to be talk and opinions... i don't think there was any bashing or derogitory comments towards players at brockport or the coaching staff.. slicky has some beefs with the brockport "higher ups".. and that is fine, to each his own.. but when there are boards like these these issues, (coaching changes, players transfering, and the general opinions of fans, coaches or players) are going to be brought about.. facts make the arguement, not the words.. i will follow suit as well in wishing hamline great sucess, as well as brockport.. however this IS a SUNYAC board and SUNYAC issues will be discussed, i would assume.. there have been some good points made on the issue, and i'm sure everyone will move on from it... not much going on basketball wise in these summer months..

on to the season -
who are the top ten players to watch for this year..
guys that can really make a difference on where their teams place in the SUNY..??

slicky - i agree with the top 2... team i like is geneseo, i am a big fan of morton and this could be the year they have their coming out.. i could also be very wrong on that one as well, i pick them for my dark horse.. i was never a fan of buff state... always loads of tallent over the past 3-4 years, never make much noise though... i do like oswego this year as well with perioli back saw him play this summer and he looked better than ever, i don't like their size.. they are a grind it out kind of team, but it's hard to grind when you don't have the muscle or size... they will be guard loaded, not much else.. i would have to say top 5 teams in SUNYAC are brockport, potsdam, plattsburg, oswego, geneseo.. any word on morrisville.. i'm curious to see how they will fare in first year SUNYAC test.

the whitmore situation seems stick, and one that doesn't make sense.. if money was the issue, (don't know how much whitmore made, or what coaches of top 10 teams make).. i can understand that.. like with any profession pay comes with production.. and brockport HAS produced over the past (172-86) over whitmores tenure with the only losing season he has had with the port was his first season 98-99 when they wen't 8-16... whitmore has gained brockport national notariaty taking the port to the national tourney 4 times in 9 seasons, some coaches don't ever get there.... 4 ecac bids.. so 8 out of 9 seasons whitmore has been at the helm brockport has advanced to post season play... so numbers wise whitmore has got the job done, and was well worthy of any kind of raise or money that a top notch division 3 program offers their coaches... i don't think one instance (players falsely claiming work study) would institute such treatment?? maybe i'm wrong but i feel like there is something missing from the equation.. not having really having a real strong knowledge of brockport, or their program besides playing against them a few times in my college days i don't feel i have the authority to probe at what whitmore has built at brockport.. does anyone know what the grad rate of the basketball program was..?? i know at some schools it is not the winning percentage but the character of athletes and the integrity they bring to the program.. i have never heard of such instances with the brockport program that's why i can't piece together the situation.. in my opinion i would say that d3 coaches have few bullets to accomplish:
- recruit quality kids to maintain the integrity of the school/program
- recruit quality athletes to maintain the athletic standards the school has set
- teach players dicipline, how to trust a system, and prepare them for the outside world (outside of basketball).
- win games
- graduate players
- repeat.

if whitmore did all of the above he is a successful coach in my eyes. hamline is lucky to have him.

good luck to the port and whitmore.

whats the SUNYAC looking like this year on paper?? since that's all we really have to go by.

going into the tournament i don't think anyone can match up with brockport the past month or 2.. Losing to 3 SUNYAC teams Potsdam who the don't have to worry about, Geneseo and Oswego (in which one will eliminate the other tonight..) I think it is safe to say these are the only 2 teams port has to worry about..

should be a battle in oswego tonight..
at home i have to give the edge to oswego, they are tough to beat on their own floor. and have made something out of their season when they could of easily thrown in the towel early on with the loss of pg.. on that topic they should have their leader back next year with a year left standing.. good news for lakers.

good last point zola. can't dwell on what you don't have and we all know that shoulda woulda coulda's don't win basketball games.. lakers sure need him this year more than any..

sunyac will be interesting i am looking forward to see how things play out.. some teams that have been out of the running for a while could come out on top..

front runners seem to be and i say seem to be..

potsdam
platts
geneseo
utica tech
cortland...

like said who knows with buff state
and can alassari lead fredonia? i question his leadrship at times.
will perioli play the year, after having acl surgery in june?? loss of mims will hurt as well.
will NP or o-state make some noise this year??
can brockport recover after monster losses, rother, belucci, cheeves?
who will step up this year?
it's almost time.

Bad news out of Oswego, Nick Perioli PG for the Lakers is awaiting ACL and MCL surgery from and injury sustained in June.. My best wishes for a speedy return.. The Lakers with out him, are in trouble..

With Pete "Lucky" Lonergan taking over the AD position you knew there was going to be some changes at Medaille.. Who better than to bring your long time friend Mike McDonald.. A move in the right direction for the Mavs..I think it's great that Coach Mac took over at Medaille... With the girls team gaining national recognition something needed to be done about this Men's team.. Do I think it is the answer to all their problems?? No... But, it can only bring good things for the program... A D1 coach at a D3 school, can't do them any harm.. I don't know what it will do for their recruiting.. I feel he was hired kind of late in the summer but he still has about a moht or so to get those players from from the Buffalo area with out a college to Medaille.. If the can build around James they might have a shot at getting into the AMCC playoffs, in 08'... Starting from the top down is a good way to do it.. It has been a rollercoaster ride for the Mavs, hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.. Best of luck to coach Hack in future endavors..

no Mims for POY?? just a consideration..

On the McNiel, shooting comment.. I can't blame the kid for shooting.. Any one would that is somewhat of a player, would do the same thing.. The fact of the matter is besides him I don't think anyone else on the team is capable of scoring over 10 points a game right now.. Maybe some of those players are unwilling or hesitant to shoot, or maybe they just don't get the rock because of James. The fact of the matter is: he is a good athlete, and former d2 player.. I feel if you were to stick him on a competitive team where he needed to accept a role he would, and be a solid contributor.. Do I think he would still score 20+ a game, no.. Truth being if he didn't shoot the ball 20+ times, who would put the ball in the basket for the Mavs? Hack one dementional (spot up shooter), their front line is too small and unexperienced, and they have no PG play.. Yes his percentages are low, however he is playing at the guard spot not making 6-8 lay-ups a game.. Although I'm sure a lot of his attempts are poor looks, I'm sure his options are very limited.. It is hard to score when you don't have much talent around you.. It is easy as an opposing team to designate a game play to stop one player, and let the other 4 beat you.. If there is no chance of the other 4 putting up any points.. In the past 3 years the only some what dominant player the Mavs had was Smith, until he quit.. He was strong, big, had a mid range, and most importantly had somewhat of a supporting cast (Bryant, Gioia, Perioli).. But last year struggled with the injury to Bryant.. Looking at past seasons stats Perioli looked to be their leading scorer after Smith, however I don't think he had a choice and just took the most shots because there was no one else to shoot or score.. Result 0-25.. I'm not trying to defend James, I am just simply stating that I think he knows how to play the game is just on a bad team.. And to be a good player on a horrible team is a tough transition.. Does he give his team the best chance to score?? Yes.. Do the Mavs have 3 wins with out him... I don't think they do.. Would I have a problem with my best player taking 40% of my teams shots?? No... As long as they were good shots, and not forced, which I'm sure a lot of his are based on limited talent and ability of team mates.. When your losing it's easy to point fingers at the leading scorer of the team and blame them, for shooting too much, or being selfish, not a team player etc... I am not knocking the Mavs in any way.. I am happy to see them get 3 wins so far this year.. Maybe even a few more before years end.. Every team goes through transition and turmoil, hopefully they can overcome and start to rebuild what they were on their way to rebuilding in 2003...

Once again Gibbs, it would be: My GPA for my *four* (4) years not "for"... What do they teach you up there in the North Country.. Good luck after college... 

Things starting to shape up in the AMCC or are they?? Still up in the air, except for Lake Erie who after beating Behrend, not convincingly, by 3 standing alone at the top with a 2 game lead.. Behrend forced Erie to play their style, just couldn't pull it out in the end..

Tonight

Lake Erie travels to 4-4 LaRoche

MTA looks to put some space between them and the bottom 5 as they travel to Frostburg State..

Greenburg looks too keep pace with Behrend as they travel to winless Altoona..

Hilbert travels to Behrend, in search of a HUGE win for the Hawks, moving them into a tie for 2nd place!!!

The Mavs travel to Bradford to face a struggling (Raceless??) Bradford team.. Who am I kidding the Mavs are always struggling..

Lace em' up.. 

Big game tonight in Utica, visiting OSU Lakers vs IT Wildcats.. Oswego looks to avenge their Jan 14th 88-81 loss to Reaves and Co. With a win over Cortland last Saturday, can the Lakers keep momentum and their SUNYAC lead.. IT looks to keep pace with Conference leaders C-Land and Lakers.. Also looks to keep the pressure on  Brockport and Potsdam.. Can Laboard stay hot, and will Burridge be a presence in the post.. Better guard play definitely determing the out come of this game.. IT: Bein-Aime, Reaves, Plante.. OSU:  Perioli, Franze, Downing.

Buff State needs win tonight to stay in the mix of things, good test for Geneseo to prove themselves in the conference..

Brockport trying to take care of Fredonia at their home gym.. Looking to put some space between themselves and the bottom half of the pack..

NP at O-State... Both looking for win #2...

Plattsburg vs visiting Potsdam, big game for Potsdam to keep pace with top 4..

Some surprises this past Tuesday?? Hilbert over Bradford, sorry 'Hawk' but this was a surprise to me, no offense to the Hawks and similar records... Although I do have much respect for Vandersluis who is becoming a force inside for them I question their stability..MTA over Greensburg another one.. MTA might frog jump a few teams this weekend, if they can knock off Hilbert and Medaille (which they will) this weekend.. Frostburg also throwing themselves right back in the middle of the pack, and with the way they have been playing have a high chance of knocking off Greenburg this weekend (who seems to be all over the place).. And Medaille, getting absolutely DESTROYED.. 11 pts at half are u serious.. Maybe the girls team should play both ends of the men's women double headers, because I think they could have put up a better game.. * note McChucker 0-7 from the floor 2 points, WOW!! From here on out all games in the AMCC are going to be big for these middle teams..  8)