MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[bports]

Bport looked good in a scrimmage at RIT today. Bport fell behind 5-0 but won the 1st half 37-20. They also won the second half 26-12. The big negative for bport was brandon williams only played about 10 minutes before rolling his ankle. He was done for the day after that. Also jon rother made the trip but didnt play because of a sprained ankle. Mandalano and cheeves looked very good in the 1st 20 min. Also belluci , rubertone and harris looked very good.

[retired12]

Any word on Potsdam's scrimmage last night?

[KING]

Cortland looked solid in alumni game on sat. night.  only good things to say about new big man in the middle.  many returners will have the chance to shine now this year, and will need to if they want to contend with the fire power of bport and plats.

[KING]

here is a little pre-season action in my mind...

1. Bport
2. Cortland
3. Plats
4. Oswego
5. New Plts
6. Buff st.
7. Oneonta
8. Fradonia
9. Pots
10. Geneseo
11. SUNYIT

... tell me what you think.

[retired12]

I would not sleep on Potsdam. Dobbs will have those guys ready come league play. Remember I said this when Jan. comes around.

[thebear]

Retired 12 - I think you may have something.  9th is a little weak to be sure, but the SUNYAC is always tough.

Potsdam had enormous graduation losses, Harris, Clayton, Turner, Connolly & Brooks.  (Those five could probably make a nice contender by themselves). 

But the cupboard is not bear (pun intended).  Two time SUNYAC tourney MVP Edane Barton is back, and maybe the best athlete in the conference.  In 11 post season games over the last two years, Barton has averaged 15 pts, 8 rebounds, and three assists in about 25 minutes per game.  He will see a lot of time this year, and he has the skills and the experience to put up some big numbers.

Ernst Ducena led the conference in 3 pt shooting, and Dave Bisesi gives the Bears a scoring threat at the point, something they haven't had in about 6 years.

Dobbs and Co, know what they're doing, they have some nice recruits who are learning the differences between HS & College ball.  The speed at which they develop will be the key for Potsdam this year, as the depth beyond these three regulars is all new.

Potsdam opens against a talented Wilkes (Bo Ryan's alma mater) team in the North Country Tournament on 11/18 at Clarkson.  Wilkes features D-I transfer Chris Shovline who was one of the top players in PA HS ball in '03 & '04, and may be one of the best D-III guards anywhere.  That will be a good opening test for sure.

Scrimmages to date have been impressive, but the competition was not up to SUNYAC standards. 

T minus 9 and counting to season opener.

Can't wait.

[Hawk Backer]

Also watch out for Buff. State...

Losing the twins will be addition by subtraction, and new coach Fajri Ansari (former head coach of Buffalo HS power Turner Carroll -- Julius Page, Leonard Stokes, Loren Stokes, etc.) has plenty of returning talent.

Gregg Jones is one of the best pure scorers in the conference, and watch out for James Williams, a JUCO All-American from Brooklyn, to provide a low-post presence.

If I were anyone else in the SUNYAC, I would be very scared of Buff. State.  It has been a sleeping giant for a number of years, and Ansari has the assistants in place and the connections to get the recruiting job done.

[jdex]

CStaters scrimmaged at home vs. Hobart this evening and ruled the closing 30 minutes on heels of ragged first 10'.  Hobart in second outside scrum; Corts their first. Red Dragons will surely be a force. A deep veteran squad despite losing O'Garrow at point and wing Brian Kirchoff.

Ranieri, Jutton, Headley, Skrelja, Jankiewicz, Q. Merritt capable hands. Will probably go with soph Derrick Fish (backup a year ago) at point till a current footballer clears his fall duties.

An addition of major proportions is senior Scott Taggart at 6-6, 250. A handful to say the least. Still a project is 6-8, 260 soph J. Sargent.

Dr. Bill Williams back on coaching staff -- the onetime CState head man (directing player TSpan) an aide along with Dave Muchnick, a Geneseo starter last season.

KINGer, at first look your preseason lineup has merit. Oneonta could elevate. Plenty of work ahead in Potsdam. At least eight freshmen aboard. But Coach D. and Cortland native Cohen know their stuff

[gobombers15]

KING(aka Kirchoff), why aren't you playing this year? I thought you were two years behind me and that would make you a college senior this year, wouldn't it? Why aren't you playing ball?

[retired12]

Any thoughts on preseason 1st Team?
Heres my picks...

Barton, Pdam
Jones, Buff St
Belluci, Bport
Peroli, Oswego
Simmons, Platts

[thebear]

Indication of the depth of SUNYAC, some pretty good folks that should also contend for first team honors

Heslin - Oneonta
Foluke-Henderson - New Paltz
Mims - Oswego
Sanzo - Fredonia (If healthy)
Rother - Brockport
Ranieri - Cortland

All of these folks are proven and capable of big years.

[sunyac fan]

Agree but how bout

1.Bport
2.Cort
3.Oneonta
4.Oswego
5.Pots
6.Platts
7.Buff st.
8.New paltz
9.Fredonia
10.Geneseo
11.SUNYIT

Always a tough league, and a bold prediction with Oneonta but showed promise at the end of last season under Medici and they have Heslin back along with 3 other starters.  Maybe out on a limb but....

Bport is the clear fav.  Cort always tough. Oswego has a very good pg with alot of experience.  But must say the SUNYAC's always leave me guessing so that's how I see it.

[ILOVEBALL]

I HAVE WATCHED LAST SEASON AND WAS IMPRESSED WITH ALOT OF TEAMS AND PLAYERS I THINK WITH THE LOSSES THAT A LOT OF TEAMS TOOK I THINK THE TOP FOUR MIGHT GO
BROCKPORT OR PLATTSBURGH 1 OR 2 EITHER WAY
CORTLAND
ONEONTA
BUFF STATE

AS FOR PLAYERS I WANT TO SEE IF BROCKPORT WILL HAVE ENOUGH BALL FOR EVERYONE I THINK THAT KRIS GIBBS SMITH IS THE BEST ATHLETE IN THE CONFERENCE BY FAR. HE CAN SCORE INSIDE AND OUT. I THINK HE WAS A LITTLE INCONSISTANT LAST YEAR BUT I THINK IT WAS HARD FOR HIM AND GILANI TO FIT IN ON A TEAM FULL OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SCORE TWENTY A GAME SIMMONS AND GIBBS SMITH WILL BOTH MAKE FIRST TEAM AND IN MARCH REMEMBER I SAID THAT GIBBS SMITH WILL BE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. DONT FORGET HOW HE FINISHED OUT, SCORING A LOT OF POINTS IF HE COMES BACK LIKE HE FINISHED HE WILL BE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. I DONT KNOW ABOUT PLATTSBURGH'S RECRUITS BUT I THINK THAT THEY WILL BE VERY SOLID AS WELL AS BROCKPORT. BUFF STATE HAS A VERY GOOD TRANSFER PLAYER IT WILL BE A VERY GOOD SEASON WE SHALL SEE VERY SOON. BUT FIRST TEAM I HAVE

GIBBS SMITH
BELLUCI
SIMMONS
PERROLI
JONES

WE SHALL SEE IN AROUND A WEEK HOW THE SEASON STARTS

[KING]

Although they are still my pick to win the SUNYAC tourney, Bport MIGHT have to wait for star big man Jon Rother maybe until second half of the season.  This due to rumors that bc of some fuzzy NCAA rule and grimmy actions by the Cortland coaches and AD, he might have to sit.

In response to the Gibbs-Smith player of the year post... it WONT happen.  Not bc he doesn't have the talent or skill, but bc he is not mentally tough enough to do it night in and night out in the league.  My pick might be Barton of Pots. even though not my fav. player.  This is bc he will have the O run around his game and will not have to share the ball, in return putting up big numbers. 

Chad, get a hold of me personally and i'll tell you why.

[ILOVEBALL]

YOU HAVE YOUR OPINION AND I HAVE MINE FAIR ENOUGH BUT GIBBS SMITH WILL ALSO BE IN THE SAME SITUATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST 7 PLAYERS TWO WHICH SHOT THE BALL ALOT OF TIMES SO IM SURE THE COACH OVER THERE WILL BE HAVING THE BALL IN HIS HANDS ALOT MORE THIS SEASON BUT I AM NOT ONE TO TALK REMEMBER MY COMENTS IN MARCH BUT I HOPE IT IS A GOOD SEASON AND I CANT WIAT TO SEE GIBBS SMITH MATCH UP WITH BARTON AND WE WILL SEE WHO IS THE BETTER ATHLETE AND WHO CAN KEEP  THERE HEAD AND WHO GETS THE WIN.