BracketBusters

[clenz]

Re: BracketBusters

I agree, and I apologize. I just needed one last rant.

Saints fans think it'll mean NOTHING if they win. I don't agree, and think it's a slap in the face.

For that, I hope we kick the crap out of them!

Bingo. I hate the NE, and 95-100% of the sports teams in that area.

[SteinPizza]

Re: BracketBusters

Bingo. I hate the NE, and 95-100% of the sports teams in that area.

I haven't read the Sienna website yet, but aren't you guys getting a little too bent out of shape over this? In some quick skims I haven't read anything inflamitory posted here by Sienna fans, with the possible exception of the guy who was disappointed by not getting a more prominent BBuster draw. I'm willing to bet that if we were in their shoes, many on here would've initially reacted the same way. You're entitled to hate the NE (for the record, I love the whole area), but don't paint with too broad a brush if you can help it. Again, you're entitled to your opinion.

[clenz]

Re: BracketBusters

I haven't read the Sienna website yet, but aren't you guys getting a little too bent out of shape over this? In some quick skims I haven't read anything inflamitory posted here by Sienna fans, with the possible exception of the guy who was disappointed by not getting a more prominent BBuster draw. I'm willing to bet that if we were in their shoes, many on here would've initially reacted the same way. You're entitled to hate the NE (for the record, I love the whole area), but don't paint with too broad a brush if you can help it. Again, you're entitled to your opinion.

Iowa fans give UNI more respect than some of the posters on their site.


Take that for what you will

[Apologetic Saint]

Re: BracketBusters

Hi All.

Sorry the Saints fans took over your forum. Looking forward to the game. I'm a little worried about your size and 3pt shooting but it should be a good game. I have a feeling that if the Saints win, the Saints nation will look back at this as the most impressive win to date. I wish you all the best for the rest of the season...and nice win tonight.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: BracketBusters

no worries... its not blah blah on the court. Bring your A game... you'll need it.

I won't need anything.

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

I don't think that any Panther fan is guessing that it won't take anything less than a stellar performance by our Panthers to come away with a "W" vs. Siena.

Siena is a big time program that won a game vs. Vandy in the NCAA's last season and have just about (if not everyone) back from that squad.

The Panthers will have to lock down on defense and shoot the ball well to win. That being said, if Siena can hold off UNI to earn a home win...it will be a quality win on their non-conference record. It's just not the game they hoped for. They wanted the sexy game with Davidson or Utah State.

There is no disrespect intended. Siena NEEDED a top 50 win just like UNI does. Thats what we wanted... and if we couldnt get that we wanted a game that not only offered an RPI bump but also some recruiting pop... and without the travel next year. Instead we get a TOUGH UNI team that is under the radar and have to travel next year. Its pretty much the complete opposite of what we were looking for... sans the RPI help.

we couldnt get Davidson... although we wouldve loved that. They are also a home team. (Our Centers (Rossiter) brother plays for Davidson) We were looking at Butler or Utah State as the preferred matchup and if we couldnt get those two we wanted George Mason, VCU or Northeastern (for obvious regional and recruiting reasons). MY personal preference was Butler first and George Mason second. Siena lost out on a couple of recruits the last couple of seasons to George Mason so it may have helped in recruiting circles.

I'll do a writeup on the UNI vs Siena matchup later today from a Siena perspective and we can get on to actually talking about the game

[Siena Q]

Re: BracketBusters

Another Siena fan. Please don't let a few over the top posters represent what is overall a great fanbase. Just like any fanbase, we have our share of idiots ... my guess is that you guys do as well.

As for the matchup, I love it and see it as a feather in both team's caps. For Siena, they get a game against the first place team in the best mid major conference around. For UNI, they get a winnable road game against a top 25 (by RPI) program. Both teams get to be on national TV and the game is generally accepted as the 3rd best or most important game of bracketbuster weekend Like it or not, neither UNI or Siena has the same cache as Davidson, Butler, St Marys or Utah St at this point.

The only dissapointing thing for both programs is the travel. Neither Siena or UNI are particularly easy to get to, but at least Siena gets the entire off season to plan their travel.

I haven't seen UNI yet this year, but enjoyed watching them before your prior coach moved on.

Best of luck over the next 2 1/2 weeks. Let's hope both teams keep winning to make this game even more important to both squads.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: BracketBusters

As for travel...UNI will probably just charter fly into the closest airport to Siena. It won't be more than a 4 hour flight. When you fly charter, you don't need to plan much travel times/airports, etc...

I like the matchup. It's what I wanted, if UNI were to be in one of the top 4 games. I didn't want to go to the west, and want a team that is winnable on the road and has no idea of what UNI looks like (i.e.- UNI's reputation is non-existent to much of Siena's players...probably).

[paMANther]

Re: BracketBusters

Atleast the Siena fans have not made a potato comment yet!!!!!

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

re-Potato ... Siena fans know ALL about comments like that. Siena is located just outside a city of 125,000 or so and a sprawling 250k or so people throughout Albany Schenectady Troy area. Yet because we are not from the metro area of NYC NJ Philly our own conference fans refer to us as "hayseeds" so we know all about it.

and regarding Siena-Qs comment... i dont think anyone has been over the top nor idiots.

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

now onto basketball.. here is a rundown of Siena. Perhaps one of you could do one for UNI...

PG - Jr 6' Ronald Moore - 31.9 mins, 8.6 ppg, 3.3 rbs, 5.9 asts, 1.4 stls, 2.4/1 assist to turnover ratio
- Moore is a solid point guard and one of the finalists for the Bob Cousy award. He is a tremendous defender as well as distributor. He is very fast and smoothe with the ball. Ronald has been one of/if not the best PGs in our conference each of the last 3 seasons and has yet to make an all conference team due to politics of not selecting every player from a team. This year it will be REALLY bad as he leads all PGs in every category.

SG - Sr 6'3" Kenny Hasbrouck - 30.2 mins, 14.2 ppg, 3.3 rbs, 2.6 asts, 1.8 stls - First team ALL MAAC and pre-season MAAC PoY
- Kenny was getting looks from the NBA scouts early in the season and amidst the hype really seemed to crack under pressure at the Orlando tournament. He has since turned it around and has averaged 17.5 over his last 12 games (21 and 33 in his last two). Kenny is uncanny in anticipation and gets a ton of steals and/or deflections. He is strong and gets his shot off pretty easily.

SF - Jr 6'7" Edwin Ubiles - 33.3 mins, 14.4 ppg, 5.3 rbs, 2.3 asts, 1.4 stls, 1.1 blks - First team ALL MAAC
- The enigma... Ubiles is without a doubt THE most athletic player in the conference. Edwin is capable of taking over just about any game at any time. Sometimes his mental toughness is quetioned. He is 6'7" but has the wingspan of a 7'er.. he is very long. He is the kind of player where you might see or hear little to nothing about him throughout the game and then check the box score and he had 18 pts, 7 rbs, 4 asts, 4 sts, 3 blks. There are other times where hes obviously the most talented and athletic player on the floor and just plain fun to watch.

PF - 6'5" Jr Alex Franklin - 31.6 mins, 13.3 ppg, 6.9 rbs, 1.1 asts, 1.4 stls - First team ALL MAAC
- Franklin is an undersized 4 but somehow gets it done. hes capable of taking his man off the dribble as well as drop step dunking on them. Franklin has absolutely posterized a number of defenders thoughout his career.

C - 6'9" So Ryan Rossiter - 28.3 mins, 9.2 pts, 7.0 rbs, 1.2 asts, 1.3 stls, 1.6 blks
- Rossiter filled a hole that Siena has had for the last few years. A tall Center who can block/alter shots and grab important rebounds. Hes also emerging as a capable post threat. hes young and a bit on the light side but his game is improving every time out.


BENCH

6'3" - So Clarence Jackson - 14.5 mins, 8.0 pts, 1.3 rbs
- Clarence is one of/if not my favorite player on the team. take a look at his points and theminutes he plays and you can see a glimpse of something special. Clarence is also one of the most athletic players on the team as shown by some insane dunks like the one against Pitt as he posterized Blair and almost did the same thing the very next possession (Blair got a hand on the next one). Clarence is a very capable 3pt shooter although hes still learning whats a good shot and whats a bad shot (he hasnt seen many shots he doesnt like :-) ). Clarence is shooting around .360 in Siena's last 12 games. He had a horrific start to the season shooting. This perimeter threat adds to his ability to take his man off the dribble. He has a very quick first step and could develop into a very special player. Clarence can be frustrating to watch as there are times he makes poor decisions.

6'6" - Fr Owen Wignot - 11.0 mins, 2.3 pts, 1.7 rbs, .476 fgs, .412 3pt
- Wignot was recuited and offered by Temple, Penn State among others. He is just about as athletic as anyone on the team. He has an insane vertical and over the last couple of games has really started to gain some confidence and display that leaping ability with some nasty dunks. Owen has been forced to play a bit out of position at times as Siena's front court suffered injuries to last years starter Sr Josh Duell and Jr Corey Magee. Owen's outside game makes him a multi threat on the floor at all times.

6'2" - Fr Kyle Downey - 9.9 mins, 4.5 pts, 1.1 rbs, .515 fgs, .333 3pt
- Downey is the proverbial "coaches son" he makes intelligent plays for the most part and just has that knack for being in the right place at the right time. He is slower afoot than the other guards but he makes up for it in craftiness and intelligence. Hes also rumored to be the strongest player on the team which enables him to get his shot off pretty well.

6'7" - Sr Josh Duell - 14 games 11.4 mins 1.9 pts, 1.9 rbs, .412 3pt
- Josh is a fan favorite and a favorite of mine as he graduated from my highschool. He is neither athletic nor fast. He looks overmatched until you see him on the floor. He grabs important rebounds, he leaves his feet, he draws charges, makes timely passes/shots.. what he is is a competitor and a team leader especially by example. The team really missed the intangibles he brings when they played that early season tournament in FL. It looks like he may be back in time for the BB game. He is deadly when left open from 3.

there are a few other players who may see playing time but the above are the ones who will see significant minutes

[Newsbreaker]

Re: BracketBusters

Yet because we are not from the metro area of NYC NJ Philly our own conference fans refer to us as "hayseeds" so we know all about it.

So they do that to everyone, huh?

I bust everybody's balls, but it's good to have you guys here. That should be a quality game for both teams.

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

for a small school we have a pretty rabid fanbase. I think enrollment is around 3200 or so and the team draws an avg of 6500 fans

[ceaser150]

Re: BracketBusters

Siena's quickness has me nervous given the way we turned it over last night against Bradley.

On an unrelated note, the Marty and Miller show yeterday spent most of the first hour discussing this matchup. They seem really excited about the game. They had a Siena media guy on. They hinted around that they may make the trip out to Albany and do their Friday and Saturday morning shows from out there. This was nice to hear. UNI doesn't usually get this kind of run in the Des Moines area. They are doing a good job of pumping up this game.

[JD720]

Re: BracketBusters

On an unrelated note, the Marty and Miller show yeterday spent most of the first hour discussing this matchup. They seem really excited about the game. They had a Siena media guy on. They hinted around that they may make the trip out to Albany and do their Friday and Saturday morning shows from out there. This was nice to hear. UNI doesn't usually get this kind of run in the Des Moines area. They are doing a good job of pumping up this game.

Marty probably just wants a free trip to the east coast.