MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[bamm]

You think you might be adding Paul Harris to that list of pros you were proud to see at Glens Falls?  I watched his Niagara Falls team take apart Nottingham in last year's A semi-final.  He really was a man among boys out there.

[thebear]

I had that exact discussion one day with the former supt of schools in Glens Falls, who as it happens is a member, along with his father, (a lengendary coach) of the Indiana basketball Hall of Fame.  He says as great as Glens Falls is, it isn't anything like the Indiana state championships.

He was playing for his dad at the time Milan Ind won the game immortalized in Hoosiers. 

Still, Glens Falls is a great venue.  & This year they have the new indoor waterpark at the Great Escape, so the wife & kiddies can go an not have to go to the games.

[bearnation]

Doing some on line research to jog my memory.
Peekskill won class C title in 95 Poughkeepsie won Class B both schools are now Class A schools and play some great games
Peekskill moved to class B in 1996 and won both state and federation titles.If my math is correct Brand won state titles his soph and junior years and lost his senior year.
Brand went to Duke 2 years and was drafted #1 by Chicago in 1999.
I remember when Chris Mullen was a senior and he single handed beat the McCrary brothers for Mount Vernon they both went on to play at Louisville.

[cstate19]

only had 1 trip to glens falls.....went to watch the Beacon Bulldogs led by seniors Macklin and ortquist(sound familiar anyone?) who shoulda beat amityville in the finals....talent i saw was  aj price from amityville, tyler relph who was Mr. Basketball and was at WVU (anyone know what happened?) and the best of em all....greg paulus who was a soph.....

as a cuse fan im excited about everything I hear about Harris

as a cortland guy.........i wish ortquist coulda got his act together.......woulda really helped this cortland team.....also...how many years did headley play with hilton armstrong

[dewcrew88]

Hmm, that's a pretty good list of players.  I missed Elton Brand by a year. He was a senior in 96-97. The 1995-96 team won the Federation title. Peekskill beat St. Dom's in a classic. The same St. Dom's team (still now coached by Rob Pavinelli) went back to Fed's in 96-97 and broke my heart, beating Westhill in the Class B Fed Title game. Westhill went back to the Falls in 97-98, but lost to a scrappy Westhampton Beach team in the NYPHSAA title game.

Just two or three years later, Brand (I can't remember how long Brand was at Duke),  was in the NBA. The only name player I can remember seeing was from Long Island Lutheran during the Federation Championships in 96-97. A 6'6" senior on his way to St. John's. He wasn't running into the crowd or sponsoring rap albums. The listing in the program (which I still have) is Ronald Artest, Grade 12.

Reading the program, I come across a familiar name, but not one I knew at the time. Christ the King is usually one of the best women's teams in the state. And on the 1996-97 CTK team, 11th grader Sue Bird. Jeez, that makes me the same age as her.

Indiana had their come one, come all state tournament, and other places jam pack areans for basketball. But I'll take the Final Four at the Glens Falls Civic Center any day. It's a little small, and slightly chilly because it serves as a hockey rink, but there's no other atmosphere like it.

I covered the Final Four at the GFCC for the boys tournament and the Final Four for the girls tournament at HVCC, and I vote for the Civic Center hands down for a state basketball tourney.

[Maxcy Maniac]

the SUNYAC playoffs are starting tomorrow, predictions? Game previews?

[thebear]

Lets refocus on the SUNYAC thread.

First round games tomorrow

Buffalo State (13-12, 7-9) at Cortland (14-2, 22-3)
Cortland beat visiting Buffalo State 75-73 in their only meeting this year.

Tough first round game for the #1 seed.  Buff State very athletic, and if they get a lead could give the Dragons problems.

Geneseo (12-13, 7-9) at Oswego (19-6, 12-4)
Oswego won only previous meeting 67-60 at Oswego
Geneseo coming off big win vs. Cortland, Oswego vs. Brockport
Geneseo has a size advantage, and Oswego's strength has been Mims & Burridge inside, and Franze slashing to the basket.  Lakers struggling from the arc.

Plattsburgh (15-10, 8-8) at Brockport (14-11, 10-6)
Brockport swept season series 85-79 (Gibbs-Smith hurt in this game) at 'burgh, then 86-84 squeaker at 'port.

Brockport a three seed by tiebreaker.  Coming off a brutal loss at home to Oswego.  Gibbs-Smith will be in front of his homeboys, and may really be up for this game.  Cards can beat anyone when they bring their A game, but also capable of walkabouts at times.  'burgh defense may be too intense for the Eagles.  Should be some great basketball with Bellucci, Cheves, Amparo, Rother, Gibbs-Smith, Williams, Gorham, A. Miller.

Potsdam (15-10, 10-6) at SUNYIT (14-10, 10-6)
Potsdam beat SUNYIT on 2/7 85-52 in thorough dismantling of Wildcats.  Props to IT mentor Tom Murphy, as he regrouped and has won four straight and a home game.  

SUNYIT beat Potsdam on 1/31 83-71 as the 'cats went to the line 41 times at Jerry Welsh Gym.

Bears smarting from upset loss at Oneonta on Sunday, 'cats want to keep their great turnaround year going.  Should be a dandy.

Four great matchups.

Four ugly road trips (mid-week in winter)
Buff State to Cortland
Plattsburgh to Brockport
Geneseo to Oswego (send out a search party if they don't get there)
Potsdam to Utica.
Every trip through an active lake effect snow belt (or 2).

[owen]

Well, Potsdam v Oneonta was disappointing for my boys first callege b'ball game, not very well played and not very well refereed either. Yes, it was very close throughout, Oneonta's biggest lead was 6 points I think, but the game didn't have much to recommend it . I'll leave the commentary to the guys that really know what they're talking about. I'm just a casual fan.

At least the trip was fun. I see where some of the comments about the refs on this board are coming from now. The 2 shot technical plus 3 shot foul leading to 5 consecutive made free throws for Oneonta with about 2 minutes left in the game were killer. Ouch!

Having last seen Potsdam play 24 years ago it was interesting to see how the teams compared. This Potsdam team seemed VERY inexperienced (so many freshmen) and a little sloppy/out of control at times. I guess watching Eddie Jachim, Leroy Witherspoon and Derek Rowland spoiled me. (probably butchered the spelling of the names - sorry!)  Still, there is definitely some raw talent at Potsdam that could make this a very good team next year. Good luck in the SUNYACs.


Took my two boys to the Hall of Fame this morning (baseball, not the soccer one in Oneonta). First time they've been there.  They loved that!

[bed]

Watch out for SUNY-IT.  They have the best coach in the conference.  One of the best coaches in D3.  His team won't be favored, but don't underestimate the Wildcats if they play Brockport, Cortland, etc.

[thebear]

Murphy is an excellent coach, no doubt, but the SUNYAC has a number of top notch coaches, who certainly are his equal.  T-Span, Kevin Broderick, Nelson Whitmore, Sherry Dobbs are all first rate X's & O's guys and solid recruiters.   Fajri Ansari at Buff State has a huge rep from the HS level and a number of his HS guys went on to High D-I and the NBA.

Tonight's game should be a dandy.  Potsdam last visit to IT resulted in a 33 point Potsdam victory.  Be interesting to see what changes Murphy makes in his strategy for this game. 

SUNYAC is wide open this year, no dominant team.  (Yes Cortland was 14-2 but most of their games were close, and their two league losses at home).

Anyone can beat anyone in a given game.  Will come down to defense, rebounding, making FT's, and taking care of the ball.  The team that does that best should emerge as the champion.

[cstate19]

cortland, potsdam, brockport and oswego all 1st round winners....

[thebear]

My thoughts for All-Conference and Player of the Year

First Team

Edane Barton - Potsdam
Ahmad Mims - Oswego
Ben Bellucci - Brockport
Scott Taggart - Cortland
Chris Reaves - SUNYIT

Second Team
Kris Gibbs-Smith - Plattsburgh
Mat Burridge - Oswego
Simon Skrelja - Cortland
Frank Ranieri - Cortland
Deon Mozelle - Buffalo St.

Honorable mention
Kenny Amparo - Brockport
Jaysen Murphy - Oneonta
Travis Gorham - Plattsburgh
Antoine Gilkes - SUNYIT
Chris Laboard - SUNYIT

Newcomer of the year - Chris Reaves, SUNYIT
Freshman of the year - Joe Kling, Geneseo

Player of the Year - Edane Barton.  Took a team with no returning starters,   8 freshmen & 11 first year players to a third place tie.  Despite being a marked man all year, came up with an incredible, versatile season, scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, hustle.

As the above teams indicate, most of the other POY candidates (Mims, Bellucci) had other strong players in the lineup.

Barton led his team in scoring 16 times, in rebounding 19 times, and had 12 double doubles.  His season compares to the season Brendan Mitchell had when he was named D-III POY at Potsdam.

Any other thoughts?

[Nick bigmorton]

Edane Barton has 3 of the top 6 three point shooters (as far as percentage) in the SUNYAC.  I understand your affiliation to Potsdam, Bear, but lets be a little unbiased here.  A team that can spread the floor will open the lanes for a guy like Barton.  Im not saying he isn't talented, but he isnt playing with guys with wooden legs.  Ranieri needs to be first team, taggart second.  Taggart had a great season, but Raineri is the focal point of the offense and the team leader.  Along with Si "fly high....you get the point" Skrelja. 

[thebear]

Taggart is one of the few legit post players in the SUNYAC.  When he's in the game, he's almost unstoppable.  That's why I suggested him for first team.

I used the same logic as last year, when Potsdam C Eldon Harris made first team, despite relatively modest stats.  When Taggart is in the game, you have to change your game plan to handle him.  Gilkes from IT is the same way.

Yes, Potsdam shoots the three well, but if you look those three people make a combined 4.5 3ptrs a game.  Many of which are created by Barton driving to the lane and dishing, or defenses double teaming Barton leaving open looks for the shooters.  He averages nearly three assists a game, and a large number are from him driving then kicking to the shooter at the arc.

Believe me, Barton doesn't get any free looks because of extended defenses. 

If threes really matter, Bellucci has Cheves to extend the defenses, he leads the conference in 3 FG's per game.  He also has Amparo, and Rother to complement him. 

Mims has Perioli and Burridge. 

Corts have Taggart, Ranieri, Skrelja, Maggiacomo, point being these other clubs have lots of weapons, game in and game out.

Potsdam has a lot of role players, and one special player that is the catalyst that makes it all work in what is supposed to be a rebuilding year.

As I said the post was a device to get a conversation started that was on topic.

[cstate19]

Barton is POY........

i think taggart is first and si and frank are second team...good call bear....mr bigmorton has had one to many beast lites......

Nick...any creative chants for tonight??.....or should i just continue to rag the other players appearnces and mannerisms??