Co-Conspirators
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Talk Hoops
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
Official Sites
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Monday, December 04, 2006
You thought the only e-mails we get are those black market viagara spams and forwarded jokes from the brother-in-law. You thought wrong. We get lots of e-mails. The ones think you will find interesting, along with the ones we can think of a smarmy reply to, we share with you from time to time. Here's what some folks have written about since the start of the season:
Matt from Bucknell writes:
First of all, my compliments to the Bucknellian (Matt is a staffer there). The past two seasons you guys have really picked it up in terms of your coverage of the Bison. In the not so distant past, a place reserved for The Bucknellian along press row was a place you could sit your laptop case because nobody ever sat in it.
You were there Saturday, Matt. Surely you could have checked off one or two on the excuse list.
Bottom line, we don't care much for excuses. Not from the musicians in recitals or the acolyte for the candlelight service. We don't care about finals that are five days away, or papers, or studying, and neither do the folks at real basketball schools.
You don't find some Dukie saying he didn't spend the week before the Carolina game in Krzyzewskiville because they could watch the game on TV.
Bottom line (and when you get out in the real world Matt, you'll learn it is all about the bottom line): The Bucknell students (and the townie types who did not use their seats, too) left their team down when they perhaps needed them most.
This was a big game, and given the team's early season record, was one where they really needed all the support their fans could bring. And where were all those kids with the old Bison's Sixth Man" T-shirts?
I remember a game back in old Davis Gym where a Colgate player once told me it was so loud they couldn't hear their play calls. Sojka was nowhere near that level Saturday. Heck, those studious types could have brought their books to the gym to study, it was probably quieter than the library.
You are right, the ticket system at BU is broken. We've written about that before, and probably will again. But BU officials assure me all the student allotment was claimed prior to the game. All that were left Saturday were about 100 Northern Iowa returned. This time the problem was not getting tickets in the students' hands, it was getting the student to hand them back.
As for them showing up in the spring, we will see. If the Bison get on a roll and are competing for the league title, crowds will probably come, at least for perceived big games.
The true sign of being a hoops hotbed, though, is showing up even when things are not going your way.
observer@lehigh.edu writes:
A couple of observations:
1) I have my doubts about your e-mail address. I suspect most Lehigh students can spell "handicap". They probably can spell "probably" too.
2) Though I never saw the Sporting News hoops preview, I did glance at the USA Today special edition. Having been in this business a little while, let me explain to you about braintrusts at newspaper sports departments: They don't exist. At least not in the manner you seem to think they do. In all likelihood, the so-called brain trust that made their picks is one guy. More than likely one guy who has never covered a single Patriot League game. I promise you in all the years I have covered the league, I have yet to see anyone from Sporting News on the press row seating chart. Can't recall anyone from USA Today either, though it is possible they have covered a game or two somewhere along the line.
Besides, who ya gonna believe? Them or the greatest mind ever to handicap the Patriot League?
Mike from Lehigh wrote:
(In response to comments wondering about the absence of sophomore center John Gourlay and freshman forward Paul Bayer from the box score after the Swarthmore debacle.)
Even though I am the greatest mind to ever handicap the Patriot League, I am not all knowing. So I put the question to another Mike from Lehigh -- Mike Stagnitta, the Hawks' hoops contact in the sports information office. Here is what that Mike told us about Gourlay and Bayer:
Joe (who might be from D.C.) asks:
Something tells me I was just there for the Bucknell-Mason game is not the answer you are looking for. I suspect Joe is an American fan who wants to know if I am coming to see the Eagles.
The short answer to that part of the question is: yes. In addition to last week's trip to Emmittsburg, Md. to see AU take on Mount Saint Mary's, our tentative plans have us heading to D.C. for six AU games -- seven if I get my Christmas shopping done in time to get to College Park (close enough) for the Maryland game Dec. 23.
As for what games I actually see, while certainly not on a pace to break Kyle's 100-games mark, the plans for the season are pretty ambitious. I have covered eight-and-a-half so far, and expect to see over 30 more before the league tournament ends, including at least two days where we are hoping to take in two games the same day.
Basically, our strategy is to get to as many games as we can, with proximity and importance of the game as the two biggest determining factors.
Hope that answers your questions.
Thomas Walker of Atlanta, Ga. writes:
And you would say that even if he were not your son, right?
Actually, I am eager to see Walker play since this is not the first time I have heard from his dad. I recall a nice message following a post about Army's prep school last season.
Seems everybody is anxious to see Army, wondering if they are for real of playing a weak schedule.
Reality is probably in the middle, but right now, anyhow, they are making a certain preseason pundit who suggested the Black Knights would escape the basement look like the greatest mind ever to handicap the Patriot League.
Ken (who we think is a BU fan) writes:
When I talked to Emmitt Davis in August for the Blue Ribbon previews, that was how he referred to Pounds (sophomore eligibility). Pounds is also listed as a sophomore on the roster in the Patriot League media guide and on the .
I thought I understood the explanation, which was similar to the Chones brothers, except Pounds left school (for one semester if memory serves) due to a personal situation at home, not due to academics.
Before typing anything authoritative, though, we decided to check in with Bob Cornell, the Raiders SID. His answer was a surprise:
Matt from Bucknell writes:
Some reasons for low attendance by the students (thought it was certainly more than half-full in their sections):Dear Matt:
1. It is the end of the semester. There is a ton of work to turn in before exams and then exams themselves start on Thursday.
2. There was a live feed of the game being broadcast around campus. People could do work and watch the game that way.
3. The ticket policy distribution by the University has not been great. It is still struggling to find the best way to do it. Also, there were was not a lot of advertisement for the game - at least not in the past week or so.
4. When it was announced that there were left over tickets, it was only posted on the athletics' Web site, which a lot of students probably don't use. It was said that there were less than 150 tickets left, and this was not announced until yesterday evening. There was no general e-mail announcement.
5. The wrestling and track teams both had events today. Both teams are large supporters of the basketball program and account for a bunch of the missing seats.
6. There were some musical recitals today, as well as the football team awards banquet. Also, the school is in the midst of having its three candlelight Christmas services. The students who participate sacrifice a lot of time for it over the last few days and the next few days. Time has to give somewhere.
That all being said, yes attendance was less than it should have been. I was sad to see it less than full, but that happens. The place will fill up again once league play gets going and the spring semester starts up.
First of all, my compliments to the Bucknellian (Matt is a staffer there). The past two seasons you guys have really picked it up in terms of your coverage of the Bison. In the not so distant past, a place reserved for The Bucknellian along press row was a place you could sit your laptop case because nobody ever sat in it.
You were there Saturday, Matt. Surely you could have checked off one or two on the excuse list.
Bottom line, we don't care much for excuses. Not from the musicians in recitals or the acolyte for the candlelight service. We don't care about finals that are five days away, or papers, or studying, and neither do the folks at real basketball schools.
You don't find some Dukie saying he didn't spend the week before the Carolina game in Krzyzewskiville because they could watch the game on TV.
Bottom line (and when you get out in the real world Matt, you'll learn it is all about the bottom line): The Bucknell students (and the townie types who did not use their seats, too) left their team down when they perhaps needed them most.
This was a big game, and given the team's early season record, was one where they really needed all the support their fans could bring. And where were all those kids with the old Bison's Sixth Man" T-shirts?
I remember a game back in old Davis Gym where a Colgate player once told me it was so loud they couldn't hear their play calls. Sojka was nowhere near that level Saturday. Heck, those studious types could have brought their books to the gym to study, it was probably quieter than the library.
You are right, the ticket system at BU is broken. We've written about that before, and probably will again. But BU officials assure me all the student allotment was claimed prior to the game. All that were left Saturday were about 100 Northern Iowa returned. This time the problem was not getting tickets in the students' hands, it was getting the student to hand them back.
As for them showing up in the spring, we will see. If the Bison get on a roll and are competing for the league title, crowds will probably come, at least for perceived big games.
The true sign of being a hoops hotbed, though, is showing up even when things are not going your way.
observer@lehigh.edu writes:
What up Big Dog?Dear Observer:
While you are proabably the greatest mind ever to handicapp the Patriot League...The brain trusts at USA Today and the Sporting News have released their own PL predictions and have a much more favorable outlook for Lehigh. I understand you have great disdain for our school's basketball program, but I still don't know why. Lose the bias, gain some respect.
A couple of observations:
1) I have my doubts about your e-mail address. I suspect most Lehigh students can spell "handicap". They probably can spell "probably" too.
2) Though I never saw the Sporting News hoops preview, I did glance at the USA Today special edition. Having been in this business a little while, let me explain to you about braintrusts at newspaper sports departments: They don't exist. At least not in the manner you seem to think they do. In all likelihood, the so-called brain trust that made their picks is one guy. More than likely one guy who has never covered a single Patriot League game. I promise you in all the years I have covered the league, I have yet to see anyone from Sporting News on the press row seating chart. Can't recall anyone from USA Today either, though it is possible they have covered a game or two somewhere along the line.
Besides, who ya gonna believe? Them or the greatest mind ever to handicap the Patriot League?
Mike from Lehigh wrote:
(In response to comments wondering about the absence of sophomore center John Gourlay and freshman forward Paul Bayer from the box score after the Swarthmore debacle.)
Gourlay was wearing a suit on the bench, and Bayer was missing from the bench. However, I'm not sure what ails either player.Dear Mike:
Even though I am the greatest mind to ever handicap the Patriot League, I am not all knowing. So I put the question to another Mike from Lehigh -- Mike Stagnitta, the Hawks' hoops contact in the sports information office. Here is what that Mike told us about Gourlay and Bayer:
Gourlay is out with an injury right now (foot). He played in the Notre Dame game and re-aggravated it, so he sat out the last two games last week. He's day-to-day, and will hopefully return soon. As for Bayer, he is no longer on the team. He has asked for and has been granted permission to transfer.As they say at the day job; Now you know.
Joe (who might be from D.C.) asks:
I just wanted to ask what games do you actually see? Are you coming down to DC at all?Dear Joe:
Something tells me I was just there for the Bucknell-Mason game is not the answer you are looking for. I suspect Joe is an American fan who wants to know if I am coming to see the Eagles.
The short answer to that part of the question is: yes. In addition to last week's trip to Emmittsburg, Md. to see AU take on Mount Saint Mary's, our tentative plans have us heading to D.C. for six AU games -- seven if I get my Christmas shopping done in time to get to College Park (close enough) for the Maryland game Dec. 23.
As for what games I actually see, while certainly not on a pace to break Kyle's 100-games mark, the plans for the season are pretty ambitious. I have covered eight-and-a-half so far, and expect to see over 30 more before the league tournament ends, including at least two days where we are hoping to take in two games the same day.
Basically, our strategy is to get to as many games as we can, with proximity and importance of the game as the two biggest determining factors.
Hope that answers your questions.
Thomas Walker of Atlanta, Ga. writes:
Enjoyed your comeback and early ROY post. Bell is going to have a sensational senior season for Army, being 100% healthy now. For ROY Hall is definitely the front-runner. I submit another candidate for your consideration if the team's record significantly improves: Army s Chris Walker (7.7 ppg, 4.3 rbg through 3 games). He's not going to put up sensational numbers his freshman year, because the offense Army runs is designed to get Bell and Brown the bulk of the shots, but his inside presence will help B & B get better shots than last year, and he is a difference-maker defensively.Dear Thomas:
And you would say that even if he were not your son, right?
Actually, I am eager to see Walker play since this is not the first time I have heard from his dad. I recall a nice message following a post about Army's prep school last season.
Seems everybody is anxious to see Army, wondering if they are for real of playing a weak schedule.
Reality is probably in the middle, but right now, anyhow, they are making a certain preseason pundit who suggested the Black Knights would escape the basement look like the greatest mind ever to handicap the Patriot League.
Ken (who we think is a BU fan) writes:
Very interesting piece on the Colgate game. I do have one question. On a couple of occasions, you have mentioned that Tim Pounds has sophomore eligibility. I know he chose not to play last year and under NCAA regulations would have three more years. However, Patriot League regulations ban redshirting, so why would he still be allowed three more years if he voluntarily chose not to play? (According to some Colgate people I have talked to, it was not a case of any injury.) I'd be interested in any feedback you could provide. Thanks.Ken:
When I talked to Emmitt Davis in August for the Blue Ribbon previews, that was how he referred to Pounds (sophomore eligibility). Pounds is also listed as a sophomore on the roster in the Patriot League media guide and on the .
I thought I understood the explanation, which was similar to the Chones brothers, except Pounds left school (for one semester if memory serves) due to a personal situation at home, not due to academics.
Before typing anything authoritative, though, we decided to check in with Bob Cornell, the Raiders SID. His answer was a surprise:
He's still on schedule to graduate in Spring 2008 and therefore only has this year (06-07) and next year (07-08) of eligibility remaining.Cue the day job jingle.
Help Hoop Time
Recent Items
• Check this out• Trio on tap tonight
• Lineup change sparks Bison
• Bucknell 60, George Mason 57 FINAL (gameblog)
• Bison back at it this afternoon
• 5 UNI treys tell all
• 'Pards end skid; Army, Lehigh win
• Few students+few buckets=no win (gameblog)
• Bucknell, HC in marquee matchups
• Mids survive cold night, go to 6-2
Archive
• • November 2005
• December 2005
• January 2006
• February 2006
• March 2006
• April 2006
• May 2006
• June 2006
• July 2006
• August 2006
• September 2006
• October 2006
• November 2006
• December 2006
• January 2007
• February 2007
• March 2007
• April 2007
• May 2007
• June 2007
• July 2007
• August 2007
• September 2007
• October 2007
• November 2007
Feeds
©2006 Hoop Time. All rights reserved.