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Thursday, September 07, 2006
Word from Worcester
A few notes from an interview yesterday with Ralph Willard for the upcoming Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook:

  • Last season's injury woes are still a worry. Pat Doherty's foot problems seem better, but until practice starts, Willard is not sure how he will hold up to the constant pounding.

  • Torey Thomas had knee surgery in the offseason to remove the bone chip suffered in the league final. Despite his showing in the Empire State Games, where Thomas led Hudson Valley to gold, he is not fully recovered. Willard would have preferred Thomas skip the Empire games, which actually set back his rehab.

  • A new doc and new meds for Lawrence Dixon have Willard optimistic about being able to control Dixon's asthma problems that severely limited him last season.

  • Colin Cunningham's nose is healed, but he came back to school with a severe ankle sprain suffered in a pickup game back home in Memphis. Cunningham probably will not be back on the floor until November.

  • Keister and Meister are being counted on for minutes up front, but if they have to play more than 5-10 minutes each, "we are in trouble," Willard said.

    Like every coach we have spoked to thus far (still need to interview Billy Taylor), Willard expects the league to be stronger and more balanced this season. "The bottom half will be better," Willard said.

    Thus far, the consensus of the coaches we have interviewed is that Bucknell remains the favorite as long as they have Chris McNaughton, but nobody expects the Bison to dominate the way they did last season.

    Everybody points to American as a team that could be much better ("They have about 100 seniors on that team," Willard said.") Most also agree that Colgate has the talent to contend ("If they can put it together, they will have the opportunity to be pretty good," Willard said.)

    To be the first on your block to read our full previews of all eight league teams, order your copy of the Blue Ribbon Yearbook now. The book will ship in October.
    • Published at 7:54 AM by Hoop Time.
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