Welcome to the Hometown Hoops blog!
Hard to believe we’re in the middle of football season, but college basketball is
ready to tip off. It’s big weekend in the Capital Region with both UAlbany and
Siena starting their 2010-2011 seasons at home.
First
up Friday are the Great Danes as they host Cornell, a sweet sixteen team from a
year ago. Will Brown’s squad is aiming for improvement, following a 7-25
campaign last year. The bad news for Albany…they are young, with nine freshmen
and sophomores on the roster. However,
there is plenty of hope the pups can grow up fast and mesh in well with the
talented backcourt of senior guard Tim Ambrose, a former All-American East
selection and American East All-Rookie performer Mike Black.
Saturday
Siena will get their shot to open the season with a win hosting Vermont. This
year’s edition of the Saints has a lot of differences compared to last year’s
NCAA tournament team. Starting at the top with a new head coach, Fran McCaffrey
is gone to Iowa and assistant Mitch Buonaguro will lead Siena this year. On the
court, the Saints return only two starters from last year but one of those is
MAAC Player of the Year candidate Ryan Rossiter. Rossiter, who averaged a double double (13.8
ppg & 11.1 rpg) last season, will pair with shooter Clarence Jackson on a
team that should once again compete for a conference championship.
Comments
from the crowd are always welcomed here at Hometown Hoops. Don’t forget to
check in throughout the season as we try to keep our finger on the pulse of the
Great Danes and Saints.
Image credits: UAlbanySports.com & Sienasaints.com