Rider to give America 6AM wake-up call
Lawrenceville, N.J. – The Rider University men’s basketball team will wake up America on Tuesday, November 15 when the Broncs host Drexel University for a 6:00 a.m. game televised nationally on ESPN.
“The 6 a.m. ESPN game with Drexel is going to be a lot of fun,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, who won a program-record 22 regular season games last year. “It seems everyone on campus is looking forward to the game. This is going to be a strong Drexel team so we will need our student body and fans to set the alarm clocks and come out and support us.”
“From an athletics marketing and branding perspective, I’m excited Rider is part of ESPN’s tip-off marathon,” said Karin Torchia, Rider’s Associate AD for External Affairs. “It will give us a chance to do some really unique pre-game programming for our students and fans, in conjunction with Rider’s Office of Campus Life, and get them excited about the 6am game. The planning for that is in the initial stages right now, but we’re looking to start the festivities at about 2am in our Student Recreation Center adjacent to Alumni Gym with all kinds of music, contests, prizes and giveaways.”
Canisius releases non-conference schedule
The Canisius College athletic department has announced the men’s basketball non-conference schedule for the 2011-12 campaign. The 107th season program history will open up Sunday, Nov. 13, when the Golden Griffins travel to Harrisonburg, Va., to meet James Madison at 2 p.m.
Canisius’ first four games of the year will be on road, starting at James Madison. The Griffs will travel to Farmville, Va., take on the Longwood Lancers on Tuesday, Nov. 15 before flying cross country to meet UNLV Thursday, Nov. 17 in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. This will mark the first time the Blue and Gold have played basketball against Longwood and the Runnin’ Rebels. Canisius is scheduled to play its first game in New York state Tuesday, Nov. 22, when the squad travels across town to meet local rival Buffalo in the Alumni Arena.
Cluess, Iona ready to run
The vision is etched in their minds like a bad scene in a horror movie.
No matter the time of the day, no matter the situation, any member of the Iona basketball team will cringe if you bring up last year’s MAAC Tournament championship game loss to St. Peter’s.
And that’s exactly why Gaels coach Tim Cluess brought it up the first time he had his players together on campus this fall.
“The first thing I did was address what happened last year,” Cluess said. “I told the guys we got to a good spot but we need to take it another step further. The best thing that I’ve noticed is how hard the guys are working. It’s night and day from when I got here.”
Cluess announces non-conference schedule
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Iona College men’s basketball head coach Tim Cluess announced his 2011-12 non-conference slate this afternoon. The Gaels will take on three opponents at the Hynes Center while embarking on an extremely demanding December non-conference slate with all six games away from home.
“We are looking forward to this very challenging schedule to start the year,” said Cluess. “Our non-conference schedule will serve to prepare us for an always tough MAAC slate and gives us the opportunity not only to see how we stack up against some of the elite programs in college basketball but also to see where our strengths and weaknesses lie before our conference games.”
Fairfield finished Italy tour with 89-73 victory over Fulgor Omegna
The Fairfield University men’s basketball team finished its Italian tour with an 89-73 victory over Fulgor Omegna. The victory improved the Stags record to 4-0 on the 10-day trip.
Once again, it was a total team effort as nearly every student-athlete put points on the board. Rakim Sanders recorded a double-double of the tour with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Derek Needham matched that point total, hitting the 20-point mark for the first time in Italy. Ryan Olander also reached double figures with 14 points.
Sweet 16: Dylon Cormier, Loyola
There were plenty of reasons why Dylon Cormierdecided to play basketball for Loyola.
Academics, proximity to home and early playing time were all factors in the Cardinal Gibbons combo guard’s choice. But Cormier’s relationship with Greyhounds coach Jimmy Patsos was perhaps the most crucial piece of the puzzle.
“Me and him, we clicked from the get-go,” Cormier said. “That’s my man right there. We think the same way. We’re the same people. … In practice, he’s just as fired up as I am about the game. Coach is one of the main reasons I came here. He cares about it just as much as I do.”
Former Jasper named Head Coach at Centenary College
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Former Manhattan College basketball star Justin Phoenix has been named head coach of the women’s team at Centenary College in New Jersey. Phoenix played for the Jaspers from 1992-96, helping Manhattan reach the postseason all four years. In 1995, the Jaspers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they upset Oklahoma in the first round.
Masiello’s Coach’s Corner
August 31, 2011
As we have finished Day 2 of workouts, I am already very excited and optimistic about this upcoming season. All of our players with the exception of one are here and have reported. The guys seem to have improved from the spring.
Here is a breakdown of the roster, individually touching on our players’ strengths and weaknesses:
Marist releases non-conference schedule
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Marist Athletics Department announced the non-conference schedule for the men’s basketball team on Wednesday. Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Chuck Martin the Red Foxes will compete in 12 non-conference games during their 2011-12 campaign. Their 12 games include opponents from the SEC and Big East.
“We’re really excited with the non-conference schedule that we put together this year; the opportunity to compete against such high-level competition is outstanding for our program” said Head Coach Chuck Martin. “Starting with the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament and going through to the BracketBuster matchup, this is a strong schedule that will test us. We may have the opportunity to face four opponents who played in the postseason last year in Kentucky, Vermont, Long Island and Bucknell.”
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Bienvenue a Montreal! Niagara Blog of Montreal
The Niagara men’s basketball team’s preparation for the 2011-12 season will lead it to “north of the border”. The Purple Eagles will venture to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for a four-game preseason tour from Aug. 30-Sept. 3.
Niagara will play the following teams: the University of Quebec on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.; Concordia University on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.; Carleton University on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.; and McGill University on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. All games will be played on campus.
Junior forward Eric Williams will be the unofficial “tour guide” for the team; the Hope, B.C. native played prep basketball at Champlain St. Lambert in Quebec. Each day, Williams will provide Purple Eagles Nation a first person view of his and the team’s experience.
Broncs announce non-conference ledger
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Rider Broncs will play twice in the famed Palestra in Philadelphia, host two Philly schools, travel to Western PA for two games, play a pair of nationally ranked teams and play a pair of Garden State rivals during the first half of the 2011-12 men’s basketball season.
“Once again this year we will challenge our players with a tough non-league schedule,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, who has won a program-best 82 games over the last four seasons. “Our philosophy is that we need to play quality opponents early in the year so we can find out something about our group.”
The season begins with a two-game road trip at former Northeast Conference rival Robert Morris in Moon Township, PA and a return to the University of Pittsburgh, where the Broncs lost to the third ranked Panthers last year.
Top five underrated coaches in college basketball
5. TOMMY DEMPSEY, RIDER
Dempsey might be a surprise name to some, but not to those who are familiar with his craft. Entering his seventh season as head coach of the Broncs, Dempsey has led Rider to four postseason berths and does a good job as anyone in the MAAC at annually replenishing talent. Look for Dempsey to have the Broncs in the mix for the MAAC title again next season, along with Iona and Fairfield.
NCAA gives Siena’s Gomis one of eligibility
ESPN’s Andy Katz is reporting the NCAA has ruled that Siena freshman forward Lionel Gomis must sit out this season and then will have only one year of athletic eligibility.
In effect, Gomis can play his sophomore year, and then he’s done.
According to Katz, Gomis is affected by new legislation that “stipulates that a student-athlete must complete his or her high school core-curriculum requirements no later than the high school graduation date in a five-year period or the international equivalent.”
I can’t believe Dunphy spent so many years at Penn. He’s obviously a man of loyalty. The only thing that pulled him from Penn is the best job in Philadelphia. Rated as the #2 most underrated coach is accurate to me.
A 6am tip-off? That’s about as useful as a poopy-flavored lollipop. Seriously – midnight madness and all that is great. Colleges are nocturnal anyway. A 6am tipoff??? Can I get Jim Mora to say that for me. What’s the over/under on viewership of that game? 10? I’ll take the under.
“Tipoff?! We’re talking about a 6am tipoff?! Are you kidding me?”
Rey – “It’s late. It’s four o’clock in the morning!” 🙂
Didn’t Chaney used to run the troops at 5 in the a.m.?
I’d love to say that I am taking off the day to watch all the games, but that is NOT happening. Although, I will catch the opening tip and a few minutes of Rider-Drexel while I eat my oatmeal.
He did. I think they actually practiced at 6am every morning. I used to lift in the mornings and would always pass players dragging into the Liacourous Center in sweatsuits early. But a 6am game? That’s just silly to me…
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