Niagara to visit St. Peters, aim for season sweep.
Topic: Niagara
Senior Forward Juan Mendez and the Purple Eagles of Niagara will look to sweep the series with the Peacocks on Thursday Night. A Niagara win would guarentee a share of 1st place in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Peacocks are just as hot as Niagara as they have jumped into a tie for 3rd place in the MAAC with Fairfield and look to clinch a 1st round bye with a win. Game time is 7:00.

Battle leads UB over Marshall
Topic: UB
Senior Guard Turner Battle had a game high 21 points, including 3-4 from the 3pt line as UB beat Marshall 68-55 Wednesday Night. UB also got another great team effort from the bench. Senior Forward Mark Bortz had 12 points and 8 rebounds, Junior Guard Roderick Middleton had 14 points, inclduing clutch back-to-back 3's which put Marshall away, and Junior Forward Mario Jordan had 9 points all of the bench. UB's quest for an at-large big will go through Ohio next wednesday as the Bulls have a week off before they take on the Bobcats.

Week 12 Report Card
St. Bonaventure (D)
I love the Bonnies, but they are terrible. A weak performance in Xavier, but they did play well against St. Joe's for a half. Junior Guard Ahmad Smith was co-player of the week for the Atlantic 10. But the Bonnies are horrible

UB (A-)
They certainly did'nt "wow" the Selection committee in a win over Fresno State, but let me bring out the key word in that sentence... Win. They did win in their Bracket Buster game. They looked bad, yes, but they won. That wa UB's only game, A for the win, - for the way they won.

Niagara (D+)
They didn't beat Akron, but did it really matter? Niagara needs to concentrate on one thing: beating Rider to claim 1st place, and the coveted double bye in the MAAC Tournament.

Canisius (C+)
Sorry guys, didnt catch anything on the Griffs this week, and I'm writing this at 340 in the morning while drunk so I dont feel like lookin how they did. They won on senior night, Walk-on Andrew Spitler played, good enough for me, fire McDonald and hire me!

Early look at the NCAA's
People come to me for advice, why, well I guess I know my NCAA shit. Lol well I'm going to try to give any of my readers something interesting outside of WNY to chew on.

My Final 4 (as of right now)

Illinois- I've heard rumblings about a weak Big 10 this year, and well as any normal person would say, yes I agree, but give this team some credit if not alot. The Fighting Illini have the best backcourt in the country, if not ever. I love Dee Brown, and Deron Williams is so underrated. Lets not forget who I consider to be the best player on the team... Luther Head. With so much talk about the guards, you tend to forget who they have up front, but James Augistine is as versite as they get, and with Roger Poweel joining, you cannot say anything negative about the versatiility, I'd be shocked if this team lost before the Final 4, but I still have to see the brackets.

North Carolina No surprise here, I dont feeel like re-evaluating. Felton is as good as they get at the point. Sean May is terrific, and the list goes go. So much talent on this roster, a great coach, I cannot see them not getting to the final 4, I like them more than Illinois, but I'm going to stick with pre-season pick as National Champs and go wtih Illinois still.

Arizona A little bit of a sleeper in some sense, but Salim Stoudamire is so underrated. His 3PT % is over 500. cmon now, thats incredible. I like Hassan Adams, Shakur, Frye... This is a solid team.
Wake Forest I dont really care for Wake, but Kansas is free-falling, and there's really no other clear-cut solid team. Chris Paul is my vote for best player in the country, and I like Downey and Gray. But Wake just doesn't appeal to me, this is strictly opinion, I'm not looking at any stats or anything just off my head, but Wake just does not seem like the team to get here.

Cindarella's

Pacific I'm not sure if you can call them a sleeper, but this team is incredible. The seniors this team has is unreal. David Doubley is great, a solid leader, and Christian Maraker will end up being Big West Player of the Yeear. Guillame Yango also is very good. The depth this team has makes me thing there a legit Sweet 16, Elite 8 team. But coming from the Big West could be a concern.. Tune in on Saturday as the Tigers take on Cal-State Northride on ESPN2.

more coming later this week

UB a serious NCAA contender?
Topic: UB
I love UB, I love the way Reggie Witherspoon has brought the program to life, but people have been asking me lately: is UB really going to the NCAA tournament? The answer is flat out, no. I dont want to break hearts, but the UB men's basketball team is not at that level yet. I'm not sure if any of my readers saw the Fresno State game, but it was boring! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a UB appearence in the NCAA's but this is not that type of team yet. The team lacks inside scoring (love Bortz), and does not have a serious scoring threat, I think to myself sometimes its just that Turner Battle is not in a high-scoring offense such as Niagara, but I'm wrong, I love Turner, but UB is not a prolific offensive type team, GO UB, I hope they win the MAC, or at least get in the tourney with an at-large no matter how ludacris that is. UB is currently 17-7 with 3 games remaining (@ Marshall, @ Ohio, Akron) a 3 game sweep to take us to 20-7 could land us an at-large bid, a lose anywhere would kill, keep it here, Ill have updates.

Mendez named MAAC Player of the Week
Topic: Niagara
Niagara Senior Forward Juan Mendez was named MAAC player of the week for the 5th time this year, most by any player in the MAAC. This would lead me to believe that Juan is the front-runner in the player of the year race in the MAAC

UB, Niagara prepare for Bracket Buster Saturday
Topic: UB
Two Programs. Two Big Games. UB Men's Basketball team, winners of 6 of their last 8 has this game meaning a little more to them. The bulls travel to Fresno, California (1st UB game in Cali. since 1994, Loyola Marymount) take on the Fresno State Bulldogs. For UB, a non-conference game of this magnitude hasnt been seen in this program perhaps ever. I dont count UConn earlier this year since it was a season opener, and alot could go wrong/right after that. But UB, now starting to earn some national recognition, on the verge a possible At-large big into the NCAA tournament, faces what I consider to be the School's Biggest Game ever to date. Niagara, on the other side, will travel to play Akron, a team that beat UB earlier this year. Akron, the surprise of the MAC is an average team, that UB should have beaten, and possibly will beat with their rematch, last game of the season and senior night on March 5. But, this is a team Niagara should beat, and would boost Niagara's RPI and SOS dramatically. However, win or lose I dont think Niagara has any chance at an At-large bid coming from the 20th (out of 32)ranked conference in College Hoops. So if Niagara can afford a loss, this is it, but regardless it would be a very nice win for the Purple Eagles

Bonnies win streak halted at 1
Topic: St. Bonaventure
The St. Bonaventure Men's basketball team went to Xavier fresh off their second win of the season and 1st in the Atlantic 10, only to get rocked by the Muskateers. Junior Ahmad Smith led the way for the Bonnies with 24 points and 8 rebounds, both team highs. Smith continues to be the only real threat and consistent player on the team. Leading scorers Wade Dunston and Patrick Lottin were held to a combined 4 points on just 1-11 shooting from the floor. To Dunston and Lottin's credit they finished with 3 and 4 assists, respectively. Give some credit to Xavier's defense which forced the bonnies into missing 40 shots (21-61), 12 three's (3-15), and 10 turnovers. Bonnies did however get nice efforts from Freshmen Michael Lee (9 points, 5 rebounds) and Isiah Carson (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists>. Lee and Carson were the only other Bonnies besides Smith to score more than 2 points. Xavier improved to 14-9, and 7-4 in the A-10, bonnies fell to 2-21, and 1-11 in the A-10.

Seniors get it done on Senior Night
Topic: Niagara
Senior Forward Juan Mendez scored a career high 39 points, added 13 rebounds as Niagara took care of Canisius in overtime 113-101. The Number 3 offense in America also got 20 points a piece from fellow seniors David Brooks and Alvin Cruz. Cruz also chipped in a career-trying best of 12 assists, cruz's most impressive stat however was his one turnover in 45 minutes played, ONE TURNOVER IN 45 MINUTES PLAYED! Brooks canned 5 three-pointers en route to his 20, where Cruz hit 10 of his 11 free throws to his 20. The Purple Eagles also got a great effort from Sophmores J.R Duffey and Lorenzo Miles. Duffey finished with 17 points as he hit 3 three's of his own, and Miles had 13 points as he also hit 3 of Niagara's 13 three's. Not to overlook Canisius performance, however. Senior Dewitt Doss and Junior Kevin Downey each added an incredible 30 points. And Downey's deep 3 with 1.8 seconds to go sent the game into overtime tied at 97. The Griffs gave it their all, but it the end foul trouble and poor shooting in overtime did it for Griffs. The Golden Griffins trailed 19-3 early, and 34-14, but rallied to actually take a short lead 46-45 before half-time only for Juan Mendez to knock three free throws in to take in to the locker room. Niagara next takes on Akron apart of ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday. Canisius will take on Loyola (Md.) on Sunday at home. The win was Niagara 17th in a row at home, which ties a school record, and is also 8th currently in the country.

Emotional Night set for Niagara
Topic: Niagara
Three Seniors have changed a Niagara program in the past 4 years. Juan Mendez is starting to recieve National honor, Alvin Cruz is top 15 in assists in the country, and David Brooks has hit countless huge shots throughout his career. So when 7:00 comes rolling around tomorrow night, expect a few tears. Thats right, its Senior Night. Three 1,000 point scorers, Mendez will finish 2nd only to NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy. Cruz is the all-time assist leader. Brooks has been the most consistent secondary scorer in school history. That would make for a pretty huge night regardless (been sold out for weeks), but how about the fact that Niagara has the 8th longest home winning streak in the country. No need to say it, but the historic Gallagher Center, the "Purple Palace" will be rockin'. Should Niagara win, it could solidfy the coveted Double-Bye into the Semi-finals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament. Should they somehow lose, it still won't destroy a great night. If your not fortunate to be in attendence, I strongly urge you to catch the game on Adelphia.

UB beats Kent with strong 2nd half
Topic: UB
The UB bulls trailed by 9 at half, but thanks to a quick 7-0 run to start the second half, the Bulls regained a lead and never looked back en route to pounding Kent by 20 in the second half. Leading the way once again was Turner Battle who could just not miss as he went 9-12 from the field for 22 points, he also chipped in 5 rebounds, 5 assists and just 2 turnovers in 38 minutes. Bortz chipped in 13, Cage added 12 including 3 three's. UB next takes on WAC perennial power Fresno State in California. The game will be aired locally on WNLO.

Battle wins MAC East Division Player of the week
UB Senior Point Guard Turner Battle won the MAC east player of the week, the Bulls went 2-0 with wins over Western Michigan and Ball State. In the two games, Turner averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists. It was Battle's third time this season with the honor.

Week 11 Review
Team of the week:St Bonaventure (A+)

2/9 @ Fordham (62-84)
2/12 Rhode Islans (70-64)

Why not? they won a game, broke the 10 game losing streak, and 9 in a row at the RC. The Rowdies rushed the court as if Bona won the National Championship, great atmosphere still, even though their 2-20.

Niagara (B+)

2/7 Siena (81-66)
2/10 @Iona (80-95)
2/12 @Fairfield (78-74)

The Iona lost was tough, but it was expected, at least I thought so. What was incredible was the win over Fairfield, although they did almost blow it. Mendez is stil great, as is Cruz and Brooks, these Seniors are going to the NCAA Tourney, and if they dont, I think they'll go far in the NIT.

UB (A)

2/8 @Western Michigan (85-79)
2/12 Ball State (67-58)

The Bulls probably deserve an A+, but Im still angry about the Ohio loss at home and embarassing collapse at Miami last week. However, UB avenged it well, beating W. Michigan was incredible, and Ball State on ESPN2 was great too, Bulls need to string together a couple more wins.

Canisius (D)

2/7 Marist (71-61)
2/11 St. Peter's (70-73)

Canisius may deserve a better grade, but someone has to have a bad one this week. A home win over Marist would have been impressive 3 weeks ago when Marist was still good, and a home loss to St. Peter's was embarassing. They lost today to Rider, but that is technically next week. Griffs still struggling, but not as bad as Bona.

Topic: Around the MAAC
Updated MAAC standings

Overall Conf
W-L W-L
Niagara 16-7 11-4
Rider 13-9 10-4
Fairfield 12-11 9-5
Iona 11-13 7-7
Marist 10-13 7-7
Manhattan 10-11 7-8
St. Peter's 11-11 6-7
Canisius 8-15 6-8
Loyola MD 6-17 5-9
Siena 4-20 2-11

Bonnies Win!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: St. Bonaventure
On Saturday, the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure took on the Rhode Island Rams at the RC, however for the first time in years, I actually forgot the Bonnies had a game. So unknowingly, i went out saturday night not thinking about what games i may be missing (caught the end of Duke-Maryland). I woke up on Sunday only to check out what was happening around the Atlantic 10, and something caught my eye..... the bonnies have two (2) wins??? Shockingly, the bonnies did have two wins as they took out former Bona coach Jim Baron for Alumni Weekend. Lottin had a big game, I still say he's terrible, Ahmad Smith chipped in 18, hes as underrated as they get. Fear not, the Bonnies take on St. Joe in Philly this week.