EUGENE, Ore. - It's
been a great week for the University of Denver. While the men's
basketball team was traveling to Oregon for this weekend's BTI
Tournament, a few in the travel party, including head coach Joe Scott, stayed behind for the big announcement that Denver will join the Western Athletic Conference.
Afterward, Scott and company jumped on a plane and joined the team in Eugene, ready for today's season opener against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
The team is currently at shoot-around in historic McArthur Court, a.k.a. Mac Court. It's also The Pit, which is painted inside the lane, and with apologizes to our friends in Albuquerque, this place is the original, built in 1926 with the first game on Jan. 14, 1927.
McArthur Court is the second oldest on-campus arena in college basketball (bonus points if you know the oldest without the help of Google. Answer at the end of the blog.)
As we walked into the arena, the players looked high into the stands, which are comprised of seven rows in the lower bowl and three balconies. The place holds a total 9,087 fans, who create a rowdy atmosphere. The Sporting News called it the best gym in America in 2001.
All of that said, Mac Court is in its twilight with Oregon opening Matthew Knight Arena in January 2011, about 600 yards from where Denver is practicing.
The Pioneers are geared up for the games this weekend. After playing six games in Spain a couple months ago, there has been a feeling that the season started in August with an extended break between September 5 and today.
Everybody around this program has been looking forward to the start of this season since March, and nobody is more excited than the 12 players on the court.
The countdown is on. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
Lunchables: For those of you who read Kyle's Chronicles during Denver's tour of Spain, you might remember senior captain Kyle Lewis' consistent references to "Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta."
Following shootaround today, Lewis was asked what was on the lunch menu. He just smiled.
Upon returning to the hotel, the team headed immediately to a meeting room on the 12th floor to dine on, you guessed it, Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta - the first of 30-plus such pregame meals the team will enjoy.
Junior Brian Stafford decided to mix things up early, putting his chicken and part of his salad on a roll and enjoyed a chicken sandwich.
About UC Santa Barbara: The Gauchos have won the Big West Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, and they are currently ranked 12th in the Mid-Major Top 25, just behind St. Mary's.
Among the school's alumni base are actor Michael Douglas, singer Jack Johnson, sports radio host Jim Rome and 2008 Olympic hero Jason Lezak, who anchored the 4x100 freestyle with an unbelievable comeback to win the Gold. Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs played college ball with the Gauchos.
Happy Belated: We had full intentions to write a blog or two last week, but since they did not happen, we would like to send our best belated birthday wishes to Andrew Hooper, who turned 22 on Nov. 7.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 1
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 977
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 11,220
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 48
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 1,799
Total Number of Hotels - 1
Total Number of Different Airports - 2
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Trivia Answer: Rose Hill Gym at Fordham University in New York City was opened on Jan. 16, 1925.
Afterward, Scott and company jumped on a plane and joined the team in Eugene, ready for today's season opener against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
The team is currently at shoot-around in historic McArthur Court, a.k.a. Mac Court. It's also The Pit, which is painted inside the lane, and with apologizes to our friends in Albuquerque, this place is the original, built in 1926 with the first game on Jan. 14, 1927.
McArthur Court is the second oldest on-campus arena in college basketball (bonus points if you know the oldest without the help of Google. Answer at the end of the blog.)
As we walked into the arena, the players looked high into the stands, which are comprised of seven rows in the lower bowl and three balconies. The place holds a total 9,087 fans, who create a rowdy atmosphere. The Sporting News called it the best gym in America in 2001.
All of that said, Mac Court is in its twilight with Oregon opening Matthew Knight Arena in January 2011, about 600 yards from where Denver is practicing.
The Pioneers are geared up for the games this weekend. After playing six games in Spain a couple months ago, there has been a feeling that the season started in August with an extended break between September 5 and today.
Everybody around this program has been looking forward to the start of this season since March, and nobody is more excited than the 12 players on the court.
The countdown is on. The tip is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
Lunchables: For those of you who read Kyle's Chronicles during Denver's tour of Spain, you might remember senior captain Kyle Lewis' consistent references to "Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta."
Following shootaround today, Lewis was asked what was on the lunch menu. He just smiled.
Upon returning to the hotel, the team headed immediately to a meeting room on the 12th floor to dine on, you guessed it, Coach Scott's Famous Chicken and Pasta - the first of 30-plus such pregame meals the team will enjoy.
Junior Brian Stafford decided to mix things up early, putting his chicken and part of his salad on a roll and enjoyed a chicken sandwich.
About UC Santa Barbara: The Gauchos have won the Big West Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, and they are currently ranked 12th in the Mid-Major Top 25, just behind St. Mary's.
Among the school's alumni base are actor Michael Douglas, singer Jack Johnson, sports radio host Jim Rome and 2008 Olympic hero Jason Lezak, who anchored the 4x100 freestyle with an unbelievable comeback to win the Gold. Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs played college ball with the Gauchos.
Happy Belated: We had full intentions to write a blog or two last week, but since they did not happen, we would like to send our best belated birthday wishes to Andrew Hooper, who turned 22 on Nov. 7.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 1
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 977
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 11,220
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 48
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 1,799
Total Number of Hotels - 1
Total Number of Different Airports - 2
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Trivia Answer: Rose Hill Gym at Fordham University in New York City was opened on Jan. 16, 1925.
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