Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Enjoy the Pine

The New Haven Register's headline should read: PG Chooses Bench Over Playing Time (subscription required).

After coach Ford gets back from the Final Four (with a new assistant in tow?), weshould be getting serious about filling our three scholarships with at least one point guard.

Here is my last word about Craig Austrie for awhile: I'm sure he is a nice guy and I'm sure I join the entire UMASS community in wishing him luck in his career. But I also hope he enjoys the view from the bench when the UMASS make it two in a row - on their home court.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Help Wanted: Point Guard Needed to Apprentice under Great; Run Up-Tempo Offense with Four Veterans

I know I said I would look at the hiring of Coach Ford before anything else, but this is breaking so it goes first (we will come back):

According to Craig Austrie's High School Coach, who should be taken with a grain of salt, there is little chance that Mr. Autrie will ever appear in a UMASS uniform.

Austrie hasn't spoken with Ford and has no plans to do so, but doesn't believe UMass would be as comfortable a fit, Walsh said.

From reading the article, it sounds to me like he realized that he could go Big East and the Lappas firing was a convenient reason to explore other options. Otherwise you would have to believe that an experienced, talented team with no point guard, that had just hired a famous point guard at coach, and was implementing a point gurad-friendly style just wasn't a comfortable fit for a point guard.

One more from the coach:

Because one of Walsh's assistants has familiarity with the Manhattan staff, Austrie might have considered UMass had Jaspers' coach Bobby Gonzalez been hired instead of Ford, Walsh said.

Yes, but then we would have to have had Bobby Gonzalez as our coach! Also, one of his assistants has "familiarity" with the Manhattan staff?!?!? How about because the kid thought he liked the campus? Who exactly is running this recruiting show.

Here is to hoping that Craig Austrie's High School Coach, Mike Walsh, finds the school he always wanted.

Lest I sound bitter, lets hear from Coach Ford:

UMass has three open scholarships for the 2004-05 season, no signed recruits and no returning point guards. Hired last week, Ford said there is no rush to fill the scholarships.

"Somebody is going to have to step up and lead," he said. With recruiting connections that reach into the South and Midwest, though, Ford could still bring in a new point guard for next season.

He seems unworried about the situation, and it's believed he'll attract good candidates - not only because the job is open on an otherwise experienced UMass team, but because Ford was a star point guard himself at Kentucky, and would presumably provide a good tutor.


I am not sure whether to be relieved or concerned that he is so unconcerned about our lack of point guard - I can only assume that there is a plan and we will have a quality 1 in the fold soon.

Also, 3 scholarships? Maybe we can get more than one impact player in the late recruiting for next year.

Or, I have elgibility left. Lets hope it doesnt get dire enough for me to get the call.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Welcome!

Welcome to the inaugural post of the new, unofficial, UMASS Basketball blog. This blog will be devoted to all things Minuteman - in and out of the season.

It seems like a perfect time to start an new blog devoted to UMASS Hoops - We have a new coach and most of our key players returning and seem poised to have an excellent season next year. Here's to hoping.

In the following days, I will take a look at the hiring of Travis Ford, recruiting, and the prospects for next season. I plan to post when news happens in the off season and more frequently during the basketball year.

Its an exciting time for UMASS basketball and I am glad that we are long for the ride.