MBB: State University of New York Athletic Conference

[magicman]

  Not sure the Bengals long, but willowy front line will have an answer.  Bulls are a Top 100 team in Massey, Coming off competitive games at BYU and Temple & and will prove to be a formidable challenge for the Bengals.

hey bear...I know that Seth Runge is looking forward to this 1! He's ready to bang with their bigs. I really believe that the BENGAL guards may have something to say about this 1! McCrea will get his (he's a beast)! Let's hope that the other Bulls (my Alma Mater) can be kept in check!

Hey Champ,
I know you're skyhigh after that weekend in Washington, and I'd like nothing better than to see a nice showing by the Bengals against UB, but the reality of the situation is the Bulls will be too tough to handle. To put it in horseracing perspective, the Bengals are jumping up in class by two levels. It'd be like a 25K claimer from Finger Lakes moving into Stakes company over at Saratoga Flats. Now every once in a while those Finger Lake horses get lucky at Saratoga but they usually don't get lucky in a Stakes race. Bengals will need a whole lotta luck to take down the Bulls. I'll be happy if the Bengals keep it respectable. The Bulls have scored 82,80,78,and 85 points in their last 4 games against some decent D-I teams. I expect them to hit 90+ against Buff State. I hope I'm wrong and the Bengals keep it close or better yet pull off the impossible and win. Think "Chaminade against Virginia".   D-3 has played a D-1 team 36 times so far this season and we're 0-36. And one more thing, Bulls are your Alma Mater?  I thought you went to Texas A&M.    



Here's what I posted on the LL board last week in response to a question asked of me by our friend "with age" who wanted to know what I thought about the Bengals-Bulls match-up:

"Buffalo State will be in for a long night against the Bulls. This will be the third time in the past 12 years the two teams have met. The last time was December of '09 and UB won 93-65. The time before that was November of '05 and the Bulls won 96-61. I think this one coming up on January 4th will be more of the same and the Bulls will win 94-63. Best showing of a D3 against a D1 program could be on January 3rd when your favorite team of last year, Oswego State, takes on Texas-Pan American. I think the Lakers might hang with those guys."

[magicman]

Geneseo is the only YAC team in action tonight as they host D'Youville College (3-6) at 7 PM. Posted line has the Blue Knights favored by 9 points. Geneseo is a better team than their 2-7 record would imply. Defensively, D'Youville, can't stop anybody. The Spartans have given up an average of 101 points in their 6 losses this season. I don't think the Blue Knights will break the century mark but I do think they'll win by more than 9. Geneseo takes this one 91-69.   

[thebear]

To put it in horseracing perspective, the Bengals are jumping up in class by two levels. It'd be like a 25K claimer from Finger Lakes moving into Stakes company over at Saratoga Flats. Now every once in a while those Finger Lake horses get lucky at Saratoga but they usually don't get lucky in a Stakes race.

But Magic - don't forget my favorite horse (and alternate namesake) fourstardave, who was a perennial winner at both Finger Lakes and Saratoga flats.  That's why they play the games...

[magicman]

To put it in horseracing perspective, the Bengals are jumping up in class by two levels. It'd be like a 25K claimer from Finger Lakes moving into Stakes company over at Saratoga Flats. Now every once in a while those Finger Lake horses get lucky at Saratoga but they usually don't get lucky in a Stakes race.

But Magic - don't forget my favorite horse (and alternate namesake) fourstardave, who was a perennial winner at both Finger Lakes and Saratoga flats.  That's why they play the games...

I actually saw Fourstardave "The Sulton of Saratoga" in action on several occasions, but of course it was at Saratoga.  One of the all time great NY breds, along with Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. But Dave, wasn't a Finger Lakes horse who made good at Saratoga, he just happened to go to Finger Lakes and win some of their better stakes races. He raced at a bunch of other tracks as well but Saratoga was his home. Died at Belmont park, buried at Saratoga. His brother Fourstars Allstar was a pretty fair horse as well.

Bengalsrule, (and you to ) must be drinking that orange kool-aid if you think the Bengals have a chance against the Bulls. But hey, I hope you both can tell me, "I told you so"  around 9 PM  on January 4th.    

[magicman]

Geneseo with an 84-72 lead over D'Youville with 1:55 left to play.

[magicman]

Geneseo wins 90-81. They were up 81-66 with 3:11 to go but missed some free throws and got a little sloppy at the end and allowed the Spartans to get it within 8 points before going back up 90-78. A D'Youville three with about 10 seconds left closed out the scoring.

[thebear]

Actually one of my good friends (His mom was our next door neighbor in Queensbury) is Mike Kane (also a Potsdam grad), who was for many years the horse racing writer for the Gazette.  Great Guy.  he wrote the book about Funny Cide, and used to kid me about my namesake "fourstardave". 

Another funny story is the year the Cide won the Kentucky Derby, my wife was singing at a jazz festival at Sackets Harbor, and the owners of Funny Cide were there, and she had to do a tune about Funny Cide sung to the music from "a fugue for tinhorns" from "Guys & Dolls"  they seemed like great guys.

All that said, quality should prevail, I would be very surprised if the Bulls dont give the Bengals the worst licking they will see all year.

[bearnation]

If we were stuck in the 80's and Buff State was playing UB then I would bet the house on Buff State. Its 2012 and the three SUNY centers have long since departed our conference for the greener pastures of D1.  That begs to question why would a D1 school ever want to play a DIII school.  There is absolutely nothing to gain from it and if its close or you lose, it will be all over the world in a second.  Good Luck and hope to see you on ESPN or the new NBCSports(Versus)!!

[magicman]

Another funny story is the year the Cide won the Kentucky Derby, my wife was singing at a jazz festival at Sackets Harbor, and the owners of Funny Cide were there, and she had to do a tune about Funny Cide sung to the music from "a fugue for tinhorns" from "Guys & Dolls"  they seemed like great guys.

Around 42 years ago I had the pleasure of playing the lead role of Nathan Detroit in "Guys & Dolls" at Potsdam State's annual Homecoming Weekend musical production.

I think that was the same year that several young ladies from Phi K (your lovely wife's sorority) came pounding on the front door of my fraternity house early one morning. I opened the door to discover a couple of frantic girls pleading with me to rescue them from a creature that had invaded their sorority house, which was across the street from my fraternity. I quickly followed them into their house and was greeted by about 15 to 20 girls still in bathrobes and pajamas all lined up and down staircase shouting, he's in there!! he's in there!! and pointing to a door to another room. I opened the door, out ran this tiny little mouse, I stomped on him, a major crisis was averted and Phi K returned to normalcy. Ask KB if she remembers that. I'm pretty sure she was living in the house at that time. It certainly gave me a good laugh as well as the boys in the frat house when they heard the story a few minutes later.     

[thebear]

+k Magic. 

Guys & Dolls is one of my favorite shows, you as Nathan Detroit sounds like typecasting

KB had already graduated, and was teaching in Skaneateles that Fall.

Your leading lady in that show, (Susan) Rachel Worby has gone onto an international career as an orchestra conductor and was at one time married to the governor of West Virginia.  She is currently the musical director for Jessye Norman.

KB did have one of her recent grads from her program, who is now in law school report a similar experience with a mouse in student housing this past fall.  Gotta love the slums many of our students live in.

I'll have to dig up a copy of "fugue for Funny Cide" I know I have one somewhere.

Bears (Eddy #309) vs. Alvernia (Eddy #61) in Allentown tonight.  Crusaders coming off quality wins vs. (6-1) Ripon and (8-2) Mary Washington.  Tough order for my Bears who struggle to score so far this year.

[Bengalsrule]

D-3 has played a D-1 team 36 times so far this season and we're 0-36. And one more thing, Bulls are your Alma Mater?  I thought you went to Texas A&M.    

Actually it was UTEP (University of Texas @ El Paso). Went to school there for 2 years,  1976-78. Got married in '76 ..divorced '78    then moved back to Buffalo and graduated from the University of Buffalo !!

  That begs to question why would a D1 school ever want to play a DIII school. 

   I think that I can answer that question....U. B. Coach Reggie Witherspoon and Buff State Coach Fajri Ansari (u. B. Class of '80) are the best of friends and have been for over 20 years! In the 90's Reggie coached Sweet Home to 4 straight Conference championships. That has never been done at Sweet Home H. S. since then. In fact "Reggie Witherspoon became the first African American to become a head coach of a varsity sports program at any Western New York suburban school" -U. B. Bulls website. During that same period, 1990's, Fajri coached Bishop Turner Carroll H. S. to  2 NYS federation Championships, 5 NY State Catholic Associations Championships and 3 Monsignor Martin Championships. That has never been done again by a Catholic/Private H. S. in Western Ny either.

  During the 90's these 2 men were probably 2 of the 3 most respected high school coaches in Western New York (Pat Monti of Lasalle H. S. being the 3rd). Many who knew them then are not surprised by their success in the college levels now. Reggie and Fajri have never forgotten where they came from and that is probably why, with disregard to what would happen if he lost, Reggie (out of respect for Fajri and what they both have meant to the city of Buffalo), continues to gives Fajri/Buff State an opportunity, such as the 1 tommorrow night. Their relationship is bigger than wins/loses, as many, who will be in attendance tommorrow night, can attest to. 

Bengalsrule, (and you to ) must be drinking that orange kool-aid if you think the Bengals have a chance against the Bulls.

I'm mixing up a batch of that Koolaid right now. Putting it in the fridge so it can be nice and cold! I'm gonna be drinking all day tomorrow!

[magicman]

 
Guys & Dolls is one of my favorite shows, you as Nathan Detroit sounds like typecasting

You got that right!

 
Your leading lady in that show, (Susan) Rachel Worby has gone onto an international career as an orchestra conductor and was at one time married to the governor of West Virginia.  She is currently the musical director for Jessye Norman.

Glad to hear that Sue has had such a fine career. She was a perfect Miss Adelaide. Vivian Blaine had nothing on her.

Bears (Eddy #309) vs. Alvernia (Eddy #61) in Allentown tonight.  Crusaders coming off quality wins vs. (6-1) Ripon and (8-2) Mary Washington.  Tough order for my Bears who struggle to score so far this year.

Sounds like you may not have read the PM I sent you early this morning.

[magicman]

New Top 25 poll just released and both Oswego St. and Buffalo St. move up 3 spots each. Lakers check in at #20 with 148 points (a gain of 48 pts) and the Bengals move up to #21 with 120  points (a gain of 24 pts).  Rochester #25 last week dropped into the ORV category (lost 19 pts) and is #27. Hartwick received a few more points, they now have 11, and come in the #35 spot. No other East Region team was mentioned. 
 

[magicman]

Four games today involving SUNYAC teams:

New Paltz State at St John Fisher 3 PM

New Paltz (4-5) is coming off a 3 week layoff and doesn't travel very well. Their only road win was on a neutral court and St. John Fisher's court is far from neutral. The Cardinals have yet to lose at home this year. (And don't lose many there in any year.) New Paltz has trouble with teams named Cardinals. Also have trouble playing defense. Oddsmakers have made these Cardinals a 4 pt favorite. Fisher (7-3) has a win over Brockport, when Brockport was at full strength. They have an excellent big man in Jason Norsen who is averaging a double double of 17.3 ppg and 10.4 rpg. Both of their starting guards also are in double figures. Frosh forward 6'5" Optimystik Kinard (7.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) has been a pleasant surprise for the Cards. I think they win by a little more than that 4 pt. spread. Fisher takes it 77-70.   

Potsdam vs Alvernia at DeSales University  6 PM or 8 PM

D3hoops Scoreboard shows Potsdam playing Alvernia at 8 PM. Also shows DeSales playing Berkeley College (NY) at 8 PM. Unless they have two courts, one of these games is at 6 PM and the other is at 8 PM. DeSales website states their game is at 6 PM. Potsdam and Alvernia websites both show their game is at 8 PM. Usually the host school plays the second game, but it looks like that may not be the case here. So I'm guessing the Bears go on stage at 8 PM. Potsdam, coming off a three week layoff, Alvernia (6-3) from the MAC-Commonwealth conference is coming off two solid wins last week in Florida at the Land of Magic Disney Tournament. Bears (4-5) are 16 point underdogs and have struggled on the offensive end all year. Will probably do so again, especially after the layoff. Crusaders aren't a high scoring team either, with their biggest output being 74 points. I think the Bears will cover the pointspread but not by much. Alvernia will take this one 70-58.

To be continued.

[Bengalsrule]

Predictions?