UVM

I want to say, "Finally," but we still have 24 hours. However, this day is gonna' fly and noon tomorrow will be here before we know it.

Our last home game. We've watched the team play and we know what they have to do against Vermont, so this will be short. A few things:

Best of luck to the team.

WIN & DANCE!!!!

RIP, Kirby. One of my favorite non-Mets players of all-time. Its sad to think and what happened to him, post-baseball. As a player, though, he really was one of the best of his generation, and a lot of fun to watch. He saved his best games for the biggest ones, which is what you always want from your players.

I loved Boeheim's rant in defense of McNamara, as its great to see coaches come to the defense of their kids. Boeheim's right-- that team would not have won 10 games without him. McNamara takes a lot upon himself and has a few bad games as a result, but he does always plays hard, and its unfair to criticize him.

UVM
They are still the champs until someone beats 'em. Lonegran deserves a lot credit here. UVM's offense is an utter eyesore-- its like watching Hoosiers on quaaludes or something. However, it works and the team is playing very well, and UVM beat two very good teams up in Binghamton, so they will be ready for this one-- no matter how raucous the RACC.

Coach Brown and his staff's biggest job of the season now becomes making sure the team remains composed and relaxed throughout this game. Early in the season, the team played tight and struggled as a result. This is just like the last UNH game-- we're the more talented team and with a week to prepare, UA should be fine-- as long as the team stays focused and poised.

Of course the team turned a corner, but this is obviously unchartered territory for us, and as far as I'm concerned, UVM has an advantage in the intangibles department as a result. A quick start is key-- maybe a few plays and easy baskets to Zo down low should do the trick, along with some early defensive pressure. Combined with the noise, hopefully this pressure will rattle Trimboli, which is a big key here. We need to force Trimboli play a game like he did when he shot 4-12 against us, not 6-9 and 4-4 from 3-pt land. Let Mike get his 12, but make him have to earn each and every one of those points.

Last weekend in Binghamton, Trimboli dribbled though traffic during the entire Binghamton game, which, according to a UVM fan with whom I spoke, has been a problem for him all year. Hopefully, Lucious, Jamar and Brian will be able to put the clampdown on him and give Mike fits today.

In the first half of the Binghamton game, Vermont ran a number of plays where Trimboli would penetrate and then kick out. I'll credit Walker here-- Binghamton was ready for this was able get a couple of steals this way, which helped Binghamton get out to such a big early lead. I don't think guarding the kickout is a big key to the game, just something we might be able to capitalize on, as did Binghamton.

Obviously, a huge key here will be rebounding, as Lonegran will probably try to once again jam up the middle with his big men. Holm and Klimes are two of the better big men in the league, and that means Zo needs to stay out of foul trouble. Any minutes Connelly and Covington get are going to be that much more important, and we'll need 'em on the boards.

The last time these two teams played at the RACC was one of UAlbany's best performances of the year, and with a week off, there's no reason to think that we can't play as well, if not better.

Again, best of luck, team. Dance Contest Winners!!!