I've been posting on here for 10 years so once I saw Ohio was playing Albany I had to comment. It's not like any single statement I made about Albany was inaccurate. The only relevant player I didn't mention was Hooley who is basically a mediocre talent with slightly above average shooting ability. He is an Albany legend because he managed to pull a rabbit out of his hat a few times but I stand by not including him in my report on your team in its current state. Singletary not playing is the most important factor in this game for Albany.
As for the UB2020 debacle, what your school did to us will always burn but what doesn't burn is the fact that my Bulls are playing Miami in the NCAA tourney in 3 days with an insanely young team, while you missed the tourney with a team that graduates its top 3 scorers. Enjoy your time in the Convo. If you win, I'll be severely impressed, but I'm imagining it will be a house of horrors for you just like it is for us.
OZone, good luck!
I won't get involved in the other part of this argument but to say that this team is Singletary only is just flat out incorrect. One thing Albany does well is play as a team and have three guys who can score. Singletary, Sanders and Hooley all averaged 12 pts a game but Singletary led the team with 12.8 as opposed to 12.6 and 12.0 for the others. Sanders was on the All-Defensive team two years in a row and first team All Conference player so he is a solid player for Albany. Hooley was a first team all-conference player and two time conference tourney MVP who admittedly had a bad season this year scoring the ball. He can however go for 20 and is a slasher who does a great job of drawing contact and getting to the line. Saying he is a mediocre talent and above average shooter shows me you don't really know the player. He is a slasher and creates plays for himself and his team. Albany also has the America East Freshman of the Year in Joe Cremo who averaged 10 pts a game with limited minutes playing behind three seniors.
As for the front court, they are average to above average but outrebounded the opponents by almost 200 boards for the season. Stire, a sophomore, is smaller but strong and late in the season started to come on strong offensively. Rowley is also a solid player but is and was never the focal point of the offense but can rebound and plays good D.
With all that said, and I know next to nothing about Ohio, if Albany does not have Singletary and Ennema then winning this game on the road will be a tall task. I just couldn't sit back and watch someone disparage our teams players without defending them a little bit.
Best of luck in the tourney UB fan and to the Ohio fans, we'll see you on Wednesday and hopefully put up a good fight!
Quick analysis on Ohio: efficient on offense, not so much on defense. Bobcats try to feed MAC POTY Tony Campbell early and often. When he's doubled, he's looking for shooters Kenny Kaminski, Jordan Dartis, Gavin Block, Jaaron Simmons and Treg Setty on the outside.
Campbell can also step out and shoot the three, and may have been the percentage leader in that category for the year if I'm not mistaken. He was in the top ten in efficiency nationally along with that kid from Stony Brook. He averaged a double-double in MAC play.
Simmons is the point and was 3rd in the nation in assists, but crunch time is where he really excels attacking the tin and hitting step back 15 footers.
Kaminski and Dartis are shooters and look for the three before anything else.
Setty wants to drive, but can shoot from the outside if need be. The most improved Bobcat depending on who you talk to. Also the most vocal on the court.
Block is a tough freshman and usually first off the bench unless Campbell is in foul trouble. Look for Doug Taylor, Mike Laster and Wadley Mompremier to possibly provide some minutes as well.
Defensively they play straight man and it's been both an adventure and talking point all season. While they've gotten better throughout the year, it's still not a strong point and even Saul Phillips admits it.