DENVER -
A few people expressed their disappointment that yesterday's road game did not
feature a blog. So Pioneer Pete, David Kummer and anyone else looking for a
blog yesterday, this one is for you.
The normal road game for the Pioneers
features a midmorning breakfast, a light shoot around in the opponent's arena,
chicken and pasta around 3 p.m., and a whole lot of rest time in hotel rooms.
With yesterday's game being just up
the road in Greeley, Colo., the team stayed on campus until nearly 4 p.m., just
after the pregame meal, before loading the bus and riding about an hour north
to Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.
While the Pioneers did not play their
best basketball during the first half, redshirt sophomore Blake Foeman came off the bench and provided some much needed
energy to the team.
Sometimes a player makes a big contribution
to a win, even if the stat sheet doesn't necessarily show it.
That was the case with Foeman last
night, which is why he more than doubled his previous career high in minutes
played. Foeman had never played more than 11 minutes in a game. Last night, he
played 23.
Foeman had five points, a couple of
rebounds and assists, and a block. He also took a charge and did not have a
turnover, while providing good perimeter defense. Foeman works hard during
practice and keeps getting better. His contributions, especially last night,
should not go overlooked.
Something to Talk About: It's nice to see media around the state and
the country taking notice of Denver's 7-2 start.
In addition to superblogger Brendan
Loy, who writes a nice blog called Mile High Mids
and also contributes to MidMajority.com, some
of the national writers are starting to take notice.
If you missed it, Myron Medcalf had a
great story about the Pioneers on ESPN.com
last week, a few days after Jeff Eisneberg called Denver a team to watch in a
story on Yahoo! Sports.
ESPN's
Joe Lunardi published his first Bracketology
of the season, saying DU is a No. 14 seed and would face No. 3 seed Kansas in
Omaha, Neb., if the season ended today.
And
yesterday, former Pioneer great Nate
Rohnert (from his computer France) was talking to ESPN commentator Fran Fraschilla on Twitter
about this year's Denver team:
franfraschilla: My favorite stat so far: 6-2 Denver dead last (No. 345) in
Offensive Rebounding % at 20%. Good news is they rarely give up fast break
hoops!
naterohnert: @franfraschilla i think its because they never miss
franfraschilla: @naterohnert Guys like you were perfect for the
offense. You still in Estonia?
franfraschilla: Former DU Pioneer star @naterohnert retweeting my stuff. He made great use
of that Princeton offense! You still in Estonia?
naterohnert: @franfraschilla I'm in France now... DU will win the
sun belt this year
franfraschilla: They're are a solid team with 3 Dallas kids I saw in HS a lot!
Finally,
if you didn't see it, the Pioneers are ranked No. 23 in this week's Mid-Major Top 25.
Don't
forget, Denver returns to Magness Arena to face future Western Athletic
Conference rival Boise State on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are still
available for $9-$15. Single-game tickets may be
purchased in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office, by phone at 303-871-2336
or online at DenverPioneers.com. DU students are admitted to all Denver men's and women's
basketball games FREE with their Pioneer Card.
See you at Magness Arena on Saturday.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 8
Total Mileage by Air - 4,680
Total Mileage by Bus - 584
Total
Number of Hotels - 4
Total
Number of Different Airports - 6
Total
Number of Airline Delays - 3
Total
Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total
Number of Bags Lost - 0
Total
Number of Venues with Giant, Inflatable Animals -
1 (a 30-foot Bear at UNC)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Iona - 12/6/11
DENVER -
It's an exciting time to be a Pioneer.
Denver is 6-1 for the first time since returning to NCAA Division I. In fact, excluding DU's time in NAIA and Division II from 1979-98, this is the best start for the Pioneers since opening 6-0 in 1942-43. DU also started 6-1 in 1940-41, 7-1 in 1930 and enjoyed an 8-0 season in 1915 (prior to 1931-32, seasons were played starting in January).
Of course, the biggest challenge of the season might be this Wednesday, when Iona College (6-1) travels to the Mile High City.
"Iona has a rich basketball tradition. Jim Valvano was a coach there, and Jeff Ruland was a pro, and they went to the NCAA Tournament a couple of years ago," DU head coach Joe Scott said. "Most importantly, though, everyone in the country seems to be talking about them and have been since the beginning of the year. They're one of the top five - or maybe top three - mid-majors in the country. Both teams are 6-1, so you couldn't ask for a better game for our program. We're going to be ready for the challenge and embrace it."
Historically, as Coach Scott alluded to, Iona was coached by the legendary Jim Valvano before he left and eventually won the NCAA title with North Carolina State, and the Gaels have won seven MAAC championships and advanced to eight NCAA Tournaments.
It's this year's Gaels, however, that have created a buzz around New Rochelle, N.Y., just as the Pioneers have started to do around Denver.
In ESPN's Mid-Major Power 15, the Gaels are ranked No. 6 and the Pioneers are No. 7. Additionally, Iona is ranked No. 3 in the Mid-Major Top 25.
Iona's offense is leading the nation with 92.0 points per game and 22.6 assists per game. Gaels point guard Scott Machado is leading the way in that category with an eye-popping 11.4 assists per game, the best mark in the nation.
The Pioneers, on the other hand, have held opponents to just 58.4 points per game and are leading the NCAA with an 83.2 free throw percentage.
Breaking the numbers down even more, according to ESPN.com, Denver and Iona rank 18th and 20th, respectively, in adjusted field goal percentage, which gives added weight to three-pointers. According to KenPom.com, the Pioneers are the sixth-most unselfish team in the nation, racking up assists on 68.6 percent of their field goals made, while Iona is 12th at 65.8 percent of its field goals made.
Both teams are 6-1. Denver's sole loss came at then-No. 18 California, and the Gaels only defeat was a 91-90 nail-biter to Purdue in their season opener in the Puerto Rico Tip Off.
And both teams have notable wins. DU beat Saint Mary's 70-58 and snapping Utah State's 33-game home winning streak with a 67-54 victory. Iona took down Maryland 89-63 in Puerto Rico and Saint Joseph's 104-99 in double overtime.
Mike Glover leads Iona in scoring and rebounding with 19.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while Arizona transfer Lamont "MoMo" Jones is adding 14.3 points per game.
Tickets are still available for Wednesday's matchup. Men's basketball individual game tickets range from $9-$15. Single-game tickets may be purchased in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office, by phone at 303-871-2336 or online at DenverPioneers.com. DU students are admitted to all Denver men's and women's basketball games FREE with their Pioneer Card.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 8
Total Mileage by Air - 4,680
Total Mileage by Bus - 453
Total Number of Hotels - 4
Total Number of Different Airports - 6
Total Number of Airline Delays - 3
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Denver is 6-1 for the first time since returning to NCAA Division I. In fact, excluding DU's time in NAIA and Division II from 1979-98, this is the best start for the Pioneers since opening 6-0 in 1942-43. DU also started 6-1 in 1940-41, 7-1 in 1930 and enjoyed an 8-0 season in 1915 (prior to 1931-32, seasons were played starting in January).
Of course, the biggest challenge of the season might be this Wednesday, when Iona College (6-1) travels to the Mile High City.
"Iona has a rich basketball tradition. Jim Valvano was a coach there, and Jeff Ruland was a pro, and they went to the NCAA Tournament a couple of years ago," DU head coach Joe Scott said. "Most importantly, though, everyone in the country seems to be talking about them and have been since the beginning of the year. They're one of the top five - or maybe top three - mid-majors in the country. Both teams are 6-1, so you couldn't ask for a better game for our program. We're going to be ready for the challenge and embrace it."
Historically, as Coach Scott alluded to, Iona was coached by the legendary Jim Valvano before he left and eventually won the NCAA title with North Carolina State, and the Gaels have won seven MAAC championships and advanced to eight NCAA Tournaments.
It's this year's Gaels, however, that have created a buzz around New Rochelle, N.Y., just as the Pioneers have started to do around Denver.
In ESPN's Mid-Major Power 15, the Gaels are ranked No. 6 and the Pioneers are No. 7. Additionally, Iona is ranked No. 3 in the Mid-Major Top 25.
Iona's offense is leading the nation with 92.0 points per game and 22.6 assists per game. Gaels point guard Scott Machado is leading the way in that category with an eye-popping 11.4 assists per game, the best mark in the nation.
The Pioneers, on the other hand, have held opponents to just 58.4 points per game and are leading the NCAA with an 83.2 free throw percentage.
Breaking the numbers down even more, according to ESPN.com, Denver and Iona rank 18th and 20th, respectively, in adjusted field goal percentage, which gives added weight to three-pointers. According to KenPom.com, the Pioneers are the sixth-most unselfish team in the nation, racking up assists on 68.6 percent of their field goals made, while Iona is 12th at 65.8 percent of its field goals made.
Both teams are 6-1. Denver's sole loss came at then-No. 18 California, and the Gaels only defeat was a 91-90 nail-biter to Purdue in their season opener in the Puerto Rico Tip Off.
And both teams have notable wins. DU beat Saint Mary's 70-58 and snapping Utah State's 33-game home winning streak with a 67-54 victory. Iona took down Maryland 89-63 in Puerto Rico and Saint Joseph's 104-99 in double overtime.
Mike Glover leads Iona in scoring and rebounding with 19.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while Arizona transfer Lamont "MoMo" Jones is adding 14.3 points per game.
Tickets are still available for Wednesday's matchup. Men's basketball individual game tickets range from $9-$15. Single-game tickets may be purchased in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office, by phone at 303-871-2336 or online at DenverPioneers.com. DU students are admitted to all Denver men's and women's basketball games FREE with their Pioneer Card.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 8
Total Mileage by Air - 4,680
Total Mileage by Bus - 453
Total Number of Hotels - 4
Total Number of Different Airports - 6
Total Number of Airline Delays - 3
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Utah State - 11/30/11
LOGAN, Utah - It's
a cool, brisk morning in Northern Utah, but the Pioneers are warming up in the
Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, getting ready for tonight's game against Utah State.
The players have a sour taste in their mouths after the Cal loss, but they've got another big challenge tonight.
The Aggies have been one of the best teams in the nation over the last 10 years, and when they play at home, they've been nearly unstoppable. USU has won 33-straight games at the Spectrum, trailing only Duke (40) and Kentucky (37) for the longest home winning streaks in the NCAA. Utah State's last home loss was against Saint Mary's on Dec. 5, 2009, and the only other home loss in the Aggies' last 87 games was against Fresno State on March 3, 2007.
Overall, USU is one of only three teams in the nation to win at least 23 games in each of the last 12 seasons, matching only Gonzaga and Kansas, and averaging 25.8 wins per season.
However, the Aggies return only four letterwinners and one starter from last year, and this Denver team is ready.
They haven't played often in recent years, aside from last year's meeting at Magness Arena, but DU has played Utah State 88 times. Only Colorado State (158), Wyoming (143), Northern Colorado (113) and Colorado School of Mines (97) have played Denver more than the Aggies.
The guys better get used to this place, though, since DU will be joining Utah State in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) next season. Essentially, this marks the first unofficial road trip in the WAC.
Since none of the DU players have been to this arena before, they probably won't notice, but the Spectrum will likely be without one of the most well-known fans in college basketball. According to sources close to the Utah State athletic department, it seems that "Wild Bill" has hung up his hula skirt and will no longer be distracting opposing free throw shooters in the second half.
That, of course, is not to say the Aggies fans will be any more hospitable to the Pioneers this evening. When Brigham Young rolled into town, this is what the welcoming committee looked like:
Once the Pioneers finish shootaround this morning, they will head back to the hotel to rest up, eat a pregame meal of chicken and pasta, and rest a little more before heading back for tonight's game. Should be an exciting one.
About Utah State - USU is located in Logan, which is about two hours north of Salt Lake City. The campus is on a hill, giving spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains in almost every direction.
National Football League Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1962 but opted to play his entire 15-year career with the Rams, is probably the most notable alumni of Utah State.
On the political front, United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also went to college in Logan.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 7
Total Mileage by Air - 4,300
Total Mileage by Bus - 347
Total Number of Hotels - 3
Total Number of Different Airports - 6
Total Number of Airline Delays - 3
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
The players have a sour taste in their mouths after the Cal loss, but they've got another big challenge tonight.
The Aggies have been one of the best teams in the nation over the last 10 years, and when they play at home, they've been nearly unstoppable. USU has won 33-straight games at the Spectrum, trailing only Duke (40) and Kentucky (37) for the longest home winning streaks in the NCAA. Utah State's last home loss was against Saint Mary's on Dec. 5, 2009, and the only other home loss in the Aggies' last 87 games was against Fresno State on March 3, 2007.
Overall, USU is one of only three teams in the nation to win at least 23 games in each of the last 12 seasons, matching only Gonzaga and Kansas, and averaging 25.8 wins per season.
However, the Aggies return only four letterwinners and one starter from last year, and this Denver team is ready.
They haven't played often in recent years, aside from last year's meeting at Magness Arena, but DU has played Utah State 88 times. Only Colorado State (158), Wyoming (143), Northern Colorado (113) and Colorado School of Mines (97) have played Denver more than the Aggies.
The guys better get used to this place, though, since DU will be joining Utah State in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) next season. Essentially, this marks the first unofficial road trip in the WAC.
Since none of the DU players have been to this arena before, they probably won't notice, but the Spectrum will likely be without one of the most well-known fans in college basketball. According to sources close to the Utah State athletic department, it seems that "Wild Bill" has hung up his hula skirt and will no longer be distracting opposing free throw shooters in the second half.
That, of course, is not to say the Aggies fans will be any more hospitable to the Pioneers this evening. When Brigham Young rolled into town, this is what the welcoming committee looked like:
Once the Pioneers finish shootaround this morning, they will head back to the hotel to rest up, eat a pregame meal of chicken and pasta, and rest a little more before heading back for tonight's game. Should be an exciting one.
About Utah State - USU is located in Logan, which is about two hours north of Salt Lake City. The campus is on a hill, giving spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains in almost every direction.
National Football League Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1962 but opted to play his entire 15-year career with the Rams, is probably the most notable alumni of Utah State.
On the political front, United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also went to college in Logan.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 7
Total Mileage by Air - 4,300
Total Mileage by Bus - 347
Total Number of Hotels - 3
Total Number of Different Airports - 6
Total Number of Airline Delays - 3
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Saturday, November 26, 2011
California - 11/26/11
BERKELEY, Calif. -
The Pioneers celebrated Thanksgiving with a 4-0 record, which certainly gave
the players, coaches and fans plenty to be thankful for.
The team has a challenge in front of them today, heading to Haas Pavilion to take on Cal, which is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Poll. This is just the second time that DU has faced a ranked opponent since returning to NCAA Division I in 1998-99. The Pioneers faced No. 10 Gonzaga on Nov. 24, 2003.
Today's game is especially exciting for a couple of senior from this area. Brian Stafford is from just up the road in Walnut Creek, Calif., and Alex Pickert grew up about 90 minutes southwest of here in Carmel, Calif.
Both players have a contingent coming, but Stafford's group of around 30 could be a little bit torn. Stafford's dad, Pete, was Cal's backup quarterback during the "Band Game," when the Golden Bears beat John Elway-led Stanford with the Cardinal's band on the field. Sally, his mother, was an All-American hurdler on the Cal track and field team. His grandfather, Dave, was a member of Cal's 1959 NCAA champion basketball team, which beat Jerry West and West Virginia in the title game.
When asked whether his family was cheering for the Pioneers today, Stafford just smiled sheepishly.
The team flew in Friday afternoon. It was an easy flight into Oakland, and everyone had a couple hours to relax before dinner across the street from the hotel.
There are a few significant differences from the usual routine when playing an afternoon game. The most noticeable today was that the team did not go to the gym to shoot around this morning, meaning the first time most of these players will ever put up a shot at Haas Pavilion will be when the team arrives around 12:30 p.m.
The other major difference is the pregame meal. Generally, the Pioneers dine on what former guard Kyle Lewis used to lovingly refer to as "Coach Scott's chicken and pasta," consisting of, surprisingly, chicken and pasta, about four hours before every game.
However, since today's pregame was midmorning, the players and coaches ate scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes.
About Cal - Obviously, Cal is pretty well know, whether it be as the top public university or fairly well known protests over the years.
As mentioned before, the Golden Bears won the 1959 national title in basketball under the guidance of legendary head coach Pete Newell.
Not surprisingly, this campus just north of Oakland has drawn a number of notable alumni. The basketball team has turned out a few standout point guards named Kevin Johnson (currently the mayor of Sacramento, Calif.) and Jason Kidd, as well as Tony Gonzalez, who is known better as an All-Pro tight end but also played just after Kidd on the Golden Bears basketball team.
Olympians Matt Biondi, Natalie Coughlin and Jonny Moseley were Golden Bears, as were authors Jack London and Beverly Cleary.
From the music industry, Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz and Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh all attended Cal.
Since we're in California, we can't ignore Hollywood. Cal can boast stars such as Gregory Peck, Jerry Mathers and Bill Bixby. Perhaps not as well known, but John Cho from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle; Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in Goonies; and American Idol contestant William Hung also went to Cal.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 5
Total Mileage by Air - 2,953
Total Mileage by Bus - 157
Total Number of Hotels - 2
Total Number of Different Airports - 4
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Total Number of Stafford and Pickert's Friends & Family at the Game - 40+
The team has a challenge in front of them today, heading to Haas Pavilion to take on Cal, which is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Poll. This is just the second time that DU has faced a ranked opponent since returning to NCAA Division I in 1998-99. The Pioneers faced No. 10 Gonzaga on Nov. 24, 2003.
Today's game is especially exciting for a couple of senior from this area. Brian Stafford is from just up the road in Walnut Creek, Calif., and Alex Pickert grew up about 90 minutes southwest of here in Carmel, Calif.
Both players have a contingent coming, but Stafford's group of around 30 could be a little bit torn. Stafford's dad, Pete, was Cal's backup quarterback during the "Band Game," when the Golden Bears beat John Elway-led Stanford with the Cardinal's band on the field. Sally, his mother, was an All-American hurdler on the Cal track and field team. His grandfather, Dave, was a member of Cal's 1959 NCAA champion basketball team, which beat Jerry West and West Virginia in the title game.
When asked whether his family was cheering for the Pioneers today, Stafford just smiled sheepishly.
The team flew in Friday afternoon. It was an easy flight into Oakland, and everyone had a couple hours to relax before dinner across the street from the hotel.
There are a few significant differences from the usual routine when playing an afternoon game. The most noticeable today was that the team did not go to the gym to shoot around this morning, meaning the first time most of these players will ever put up a shot at Haas Pavilion will be when the team arrives around 12:30 p.m.
The other major difference is the pregame meal. Generally, the Pioneers dine on what former guard Kyle Lewis used to lovingly refer to as "Coach Scott's chicken and pasta," consisting of, surprisingly, chicken and pasta, about four hours before every game.
However, since today's pregame was midmorning, the players and coaches ate scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and potatoes.
About Cal - Obviously, Cal is pretty well know, whether it be as the top public university or fairly well known protests over the years.
As mentioned before, the Golden Bears won the 1959 national title in basketball under the guidance of legendary head coach Pete Newell.
Not surprisingly, this campus just north of Oakland has drawn a number of notable alumni. The basketball team has turned out a few standout point guards named Kevin Johnson (currently the mayor of Sacramento, Calif.) and Jason Kidd, as well as Tony Gonzalez, who is known better as an All-Pro tight end but also played just after Kidd on the Golden Bears basketball team.
Olympians Matt Biondi, Natalie Coughlin and Jonny Moseley were Golden Bears, as were authors Jack London and Beverly Cleary.
From the music industry, Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz and Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh all attended Cal.
Since we're in California, we can't ignore Hollywood. Cal can boast stars such as Gregory Peck, Jerry Mathers and Bill Bixby. Perhaps not as well known, but John Cho from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle; Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in Goonies; and American Idol contestant William Hung also went to Cal.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 5
Total Mileage by Air - 2,953
Total Mileage by Bus - 157
Total Number of Hotels - 2
Total Number of Different Airports - 4
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Total Number of Stafford and Pickert's Friends & Family at the Game - 40+
Monday, November 14, 2011
Texas A&M Corpus Christi - 11/14/11
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas
- We're on the road again, and it's nice to be back out here because it
means basketball season is underway.
The Pioneers flew through Dallas yesterday before catching a connection to Corpus Christi. One of the great things about traveling together as a group of about 20-25 people is that, aside from director of basketball operations John Fitzgerald who expertly arranges just about everything, we rarely have to worry about the challenges of travel.
Yesterday, however, there was a slight concern when both senior Alex Pickert and freshman Jake Logan were standing by the ticket counter without a seat assignment, and the airline representative was adamant that someone on the flight was not going to make it to Corpus Christi last night.
Pickert remained calm and looked almost like he wouldn't mind a night to himself in Dallas (not to mention getting his hands on the travel vouchers being offered).
Logan, however, was in his first collegiate road trip and seemed more than a little uncomfortable with the thought of breaking away from his teammates.
Fortunately, everyone from the team ended up on the plane, and it was smooth sailing toward the Gulf Coast.
We arrived at the hotel around 8 p.m. and headed straight to dinner before the team turned in early for a good night's sleep.
About Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - The Pioneers are shooting around in American Bank Center this morning. It's a nice facility that opened in 2004 and holds a little more than 8,100, but seems quite a bit more intimate.
The arena is right on the edge of the water. In fact, the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier is docked just outside one of the arena entrances.
TAMUCC's actual campus is down the road a few miles, while the arena sits at the edge of downtown Corpus Christi. About 10,200 students go to the school.
While we are sure many of their past students have gone on to great things, their list of notable alumni is limited.
In fact, during the 2008 NCAA Tournament in 2008, the Louisville Courier-Journal had a mock bracket of the participating schools' most famous alumni. In the first round, Wisconsin (Tom Wopat) beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Nobody).
That's a bit of a stretch. According to sources, former TAMUCC golfer Liza Mucheru-Wisner finished third on the Apprentice last year, and Eva Longoria briefly went to the school before graduating elsewhere.
While it has little to nothing to do with TAMUCC, Corpus Christi is where Whataburger was founded in 1950. Although that fact may not excite many people in Denver, which does not have any franchises, there was a sparkle in Chase Hallam's eyes when he referred to it yesterday. There's probably a decent chance that Chase ends up with a Whataburger at some point while the team is here.
The Stars at Night are Big and Bright: It's appropriate that the Pioneers' first road trip of the year is to the Lone Star State. Five players - Cam Griffin, Chase Hallam, Travis Hallam, Royce O'Neale and Chris Udofia - all came from Texas.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 2
Total Mileage by Air - 998
Total Mileage by Bus - 49
Total Number of Hotels - 1
Total Number of Different Airports - 3
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Total Number of Bumped Passengers - 0, but barely
The Pioneers flew through Dallas yesterday before catching a connection to Corpus Christi. One of the great things about traveling together as a group of about 20-25 people is that, aside from director of basketball operations John Fitzgerald who expertly arranges just about everything, we rarely have to worry about the challenges of travel.
Yesterday, however, there was a slight concern when both senior Alex Pickert and freshman Jake Logan were standing by the ticket counter without a seat assignment, and the airline representative was adamant that someone on the flight was not going to make it to Corpus Christi last night.
Pickert remained calm and looked almost like he wouldn't mind a night to himself in Dallas (not to mention getting his hands on the travel vouchers being offered).
Logan, however, was in his first collegiate road trip and seemed more than a little uncomfortable with the thought of breaking away from his teammates.
Fortunately, everyone from the team ended up on the plane, and it was smooth sailing toward the Gulf Coast.
We arrived at the hotel around 8 p.m. and headed straight to dinner before the team turned in early for a good night's sleep.
About Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - The Pioneers are shooting around in American Bank Center this morning. It's a nice facility that opened in 2004 and holds a little more than 8,100, but seems quite a bit more intimate.
The arena is right on the edge of the water. In fact, the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier is docked just outside one of the arena entrances.
TAMUCC's actual campus is down the road a few miles, while the arena sits at the edge of downtown Corpus Christi. About 10,200 students go to the school.
While we are sure many of their past students have gone on to great things, their list of notable alumni is limited.
In fact, during the 2008 NCAA Tournament in 2008, the Louisville Courier-Journal had a mock bracket of the participating schools' most famous alumni. In the first round, Wisconsin (Tom Wopat) beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Nobody).
That's a bit of a stretch. According to sources, former TAMUCC golfer Liza Mucheru-Wisner finished third on the Apprentice last year, and Eva Longoria briefly went to the school before graduating elsewhere.
While it has little to nothing to do with TAMUCC, Corpus Christi is where Whataburger was founded in 1950. Although that fact may not excite many people in Denver, which does not have any franchises, there was a sparkle in Chase Hallam's eyes when he referred to it yesterday. There's probably a decent chance that Chase ends up with a Whataburger at some point while the team is here.
The Stars at Night are Big and Bright: It's appropriate that the Pioneers' first road trip of the year is to the Lone Star State. Five players - Cam Griffin, Chase Hallam, Travis Hallam, Royce O'Neale and Chris Udofia - all came from Texas.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights - 2
Total Mileage by Air - 998
Total Mileage by Bus - 49
Total Number of Hotels - 1
Total Number of Different Airports - 3
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost - 0
Total Number of Bumped Passengers - 0, but barely
Friday, October 14, 2011
First Practice - 10/14/11
DENVER - It's the
ides of October, which can only mean one thing. That's right, college
basketball practice started Friday at 5 p.m. MT.
The Pioneers hit the courts in Gates Fieldhouse inside the Ritchie Center. Some teams perform skits and sing songs, but Denver is all about the basketball, and there's something peaceful about just having the players, the coaches and the court. By 5:01 p.m. the team was at full speed.
The freshmen have a lot to learn, but they look as though the older guys have done a great job of preparing them for this practice. In fact, Royce O'Neale just broke down low past a couple of upperclassmen and got a layup.
Followers of the program no doubt noticed the absence of Rob Lewis in a Denver jersey last year. Well, he's back on the court tonight and looking like he's ready to make up for lost time.
After a few individual drills - layups, three-point shooting and fast breaks - the teams split into five-on-five for full court team drills.
Head coach Joe Scott appears to be in midseason form, coaching each player and making suggestions about how to perfect each cut, pass and drive. Every player and coach on this team is very upfront and vocal about wanting to improve each and every day.
The facilities at DU are outstanding. The normal practice facilities are Hamilton Gymnasium, where there are three full basketball courts. However, since there's a volleyball game tonight, the team is in Gates, which is a great alternative with two full courts. In fact, one of the actual courts used to be in Magness Arena before the team got a new one a few years ago.
A little over halfway through practice, the team is split up on both courts, so half the team is working two different aspects of the Denver offense. In a while, the players will switch sides in order to get everyone familiar with it.
One thing is clear this evening: everyone in this program is happy that practices have started, and the countdown is on for the first game on November 11.
The Pioneers hit the courts in Gates Fieldhouse inside the Ritchie Center. Some teams perform skits and sing songs, but Denver is all about the basketball, and there's something peaceful about just having the players, the coaches and the court. By 5:01 p.m. the team was at full speed.
The freshmen have a lot to learn, but they look as though the older guys have done a great job of preparing them for this practice. In fact, Royce O'Neale just broke down low past a couple of upperclassmen and got a layup.
Followers of the program no doubt noticed the absence of Rob Lewis in a Denver jersey last year. Well, he's back on the court tonight and looking like he's ready to make up for lost time.
After a few individual drills - layups, three-point shooting and fast breaks - the teams split into five-on-five for full court team drills.
Head coach Joe Scott appears to be in midseason form, coaching each player and making suggestions about how to perfect each cut, pass and drive. Every player and coach on this team is very upfront and vocal about wanting to improve each and every day.
The facilities at DU are outstanding. The normal practice facilities are Hamilton Gymnasium, where there are three full basketball courts. However, since there's a volleyball game tonight, the team is in Gates, which is a great alternative with two full courts. In fact, one of the actual courts used to be in Magness Arena before the team got a new one a few years ago.
A little over halfway through practice, the team is split up on both courts, so half the team is working two different aspects of the Denver offense. In a while, the players will switch sides in order to get everyone familiar with it.
One thing is clear this evening: everyone in this program is happy that practices have started, and the countdown is on for the first game on November 11.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Sun Belt Conference Tournament - 3/5/11
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The
Pioneers arrived in Arkansas yesterday afternoon. Getting here is
easier than most people seem to think. The team flies nonstop from
Denver to Little Rock, and then the bus ride to Hot Springs is about an
hour.
The team went straight from the airport to Fountain Lake High School in the neighboring town with a population of 504, according to the sign at the border of Fountain Lake.
When you've got 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams in a fairly small town, you have to get a little creative to make sure everyone gets a court to practice, and fortunately Fountain Lake has a nice facility, as does Lakeside High School, where the Pioneers are currently holding shootaround.
Usually, the teams would hold shootaround at the venue of that night's game, but the women's teams are using the courts at the Convention Center for this afternoon's games, meaning the men are delegated to the alternate courts.
The team is staying in a hotel that was built in 1923 after a fire destroyed the original, and it retains a lot of the charm from the roaring '20s. Denver has stayed in this same hotels every year since the tournament moved to Hot Springs.
Like most hotels, this place has doors connecting adjoining rooms. Unlike most other places, this hotel has them on both sides in some rooms, meaning most of the team has opened both doors, and is therefore staying in what amounts to one gigantic suite.
In fact, when "The Voice" Mitch Hyder and his roommate were "mistakenly" given one of the rooms that connected to that suite, seniorKyle Lewis was called upon as team captain to broker a deal that moved two more players into the Pioneer Suite.
The hotel is filled with Pioneer supporters, as was the plane yesterday. It's nice wandering through the lobby and seeing cheerleaders, pep band members and DU fans, not to mention both Denver men's and women's teams, all having a nice time talking and enjoying each other's company.
The game tonight against Florida International is set for 7:45 p.m. MT. The Sun Belt is broadcasting the games on www.SunBeltSports.org, or you can listen on Mile High Sports Radio at AM 1510 and FM 93.7, as well as Pioneer Vision. We also will offer a live blog during tonight's game right here on www.DenverPioneers.com.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 19
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 15,381
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 25,359
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,559
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,934
Total Number of Hotels - 13
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
As always, please feel free to send any questions or comments tomichael.kennedy@du.edu.
The team went straight from the airport to Fountain Lake High School in the neighboring town with a population of 504, according to the sign at the border of Fountain Lake.
When you've got 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams in a fairly small town, you have to get a little creative to make sure everyone gets a court to practice, and fortunately Fountain Lake has a nice facility, as does Lakeside High School, where the Pioneers are currently holding shootaround.
Usually, the teams would hold shootaround at the venue of that night's game, but the women's teams are using the courts at the Convention Center for this afternoon's games, meaning the men are delegated to the alternate courts.
The team is staying in a hotel that was built in 1923 after a fire destroyed the original, and it retains a lot of the charm from the roaring '20s. Denver has stayed in this same hotels every year since the tournament moved to Hot Springs.
Like most hotels, this place has doors connecting adjoining rooms. Unlike most other places, this hotel has them on both sides in some rooms, meaning most of the team has opened both doors, and is therefore staying in what amounts to one gigantic suite.
In fact, when "The Voice" Mitch Hyder and his roommate were "mistakenly" given one of the rooms that connected to that suite, seniorKyle Lewis was called upon as team captain to broker a deal that moved two more players into the Pioneer Suite.
The hotel is filled with Pioneer supporters, as was the plane yesterday. It's nice wandering through the lobby and seeing cheerleaders, pep band members and DU fans, not to mention both Denver men's and women's teams, all having a nice time talking and enjoying each other's company.
The game tonight against Florida International is set for 7:45 p.m. MT. The Sun Belt is broadcasting the games on www.SunBeltSports.org, or you can listen on Mile High Sports Radio at AM 1510 and FM 93.7, as well as Pioneer Vision. We also will offer a live blog during tonight's game right here on www.DenverPioneers.com.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 19
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 15,381
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 25,359
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,559
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,934
Total Number of Hotels - 13
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
As always, please feel free to send any questions or comments tomichael.kennedy@du.edu.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
North Texas - 2/26/11
DENTON, Texas - The
final game of the regular season is tonight, and the Pioneers need a
win and a little bit of help to get a bye in the first round of the Sun
Belt Tournament. Either Arkansas State or Louisiana-Lafayette also needs
to lose tonight for that to happen, and if both lose and DU wins the
Pioneers will win the SBC West Division.
Thursday night's game at the Cajundome was a very entertaining college basketball game, even if it did leave the Pioneers disappointed in the result. Both teams played well, and the crowd was really into it.
Normally, the team tends to leave road cities early in the morning, but because the flight from Lafayette to Dallas is short, everyone got a chance to sleep in a little and grab some breakfast before heading to the airport.
The team went straight from DFW to Texas Women's University in Denton to practice. The university, which is about three miles from North Texas, has some nice facilities, and practice went well.
There are some challenges with going straight from the airport to the practice facility, of course. Trainer Pat Hoxsey was taping players' ankles while everyone was waiting in baggage claim, but it all worked fine.
About North Texas - The Mean Green have one of the best lists of notable alumni in the Sun Belt.
You could put on a pretty good concert with the musicians who have walked this campus. Roy Orbison, Norah Jones, Don Henley, Ray Wylie Hubbard and, let's not forget, Pat Boone all attended North Texas.
To our knowledge, Mean Green is the only mascot named after a former athlete. Pittsburgh Steelers great and Coca-Cola hawker Mean Joe Greene played here, when the team was still the Eagles.
From Hollywood, you can find NT grads Thomas Haden Church from the old sitcom Wings, and Robocop himself, Peter Weller. Lonesome Doveauthor Larry McMurtry and Dr. Phil also went here.
Addition about Lafayette, La. - We got this note from Gerald Hebert, a student at Louisiana-Lafayette, in response to the last blog.
I must say that it was a pleasure hosting your team tonight in the Cajundome. It was the most exciting atmosphere we have had in a long time. But I must say that your view of the city of Lafayette is a little inaccurate. Now, I'm not typing this with any negative connotations, so please don't take it as such. First, there aren't swamps everywhere you look. The only swamps that I can think of in town is the one on campus and the one by the airport. Secondly, Lafayette is one of the fastest growing cities in the south because of the oil industry and the increase in medical research in the area. The city didn't grow by over 10,000 people because of Hurricane Katrina, even though there were some people who stayed. The city itself is a capitalist gold mine. People here cling to new things such as a new stores, restaurants, etc. This reverts back to the local culture. The Cajun culture is one that is hospitable, welcoming, and friendly. No, we don't dress like Farmer Fran and ride airboats around town. We are normal people who wear normal clothes, have normal jobs, and talk a little differently. As far has finding something to do, this place is popping. There's a reason why a good number of LSU students drive the 45 minutes from Baton Rouge on Friday and Saturday nights. The nightlife here is second best in the state next to New Orleans. As a New Orleans native myself, I was shocked by the number of events going on in town when I first arrived in Lafayette.
The swamps in the area are numerous or expansive enough to offer businesses that cater to swamp tours, but to be fair most of those swamps are outside of city limits.
I certainly meant no disrespect to the town, which is not a bad town with kind people and great food. And the crowd at the Cajundome on Thursday night was probably the most spirited the Pioneers have seen in several seasons.
A few other people took offense to the Waterboy reference. The references to the movie seemed natural in Cajun Country, and a few lines were uttered from the movie, just as Animal House references were made in Eugene, Ore., earlier this season (I suggest Dumb & Dumber, The Shining or Mork & Mindy for anyone visiting Colorado). However, most of the jokes actually came from the ULL students sitting behind the DU bench and directed at Denver trainer Pat Hoxsey, who among countless other things makes sure the players are all hydrated during games. The students simply called him "Waterboy."
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 18
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 14,611
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 24,589
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,447
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,822
Total Number of Hotels - 12
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Thursday night's game at the Cajundome was a very entertaining college basketball game, even if it did leave the Pioneers disappointed in the result. Both teams played well, and the crowd was really into it.
Normally, the team tends to leave road cities early in the morning, but because the flight from Lafayette to Dallas is short, everyone got a chance to sleep in a little and grab some breakfast before heading to the airport.
The team went straight from DFW to Texas Women's University in Denton to practice. The university, which is about three miles from North Texas, has some nice facilities, and practice went well.
There are some challenges with going straight from the airport to the practice facility, of course. Trainer Pat Hoxsey was taping players' ankles while everyone was waiting in baggage claim, but it all worked fine.
About North Texas - The Mean Green have one of the best lists of notable alumni in the Sun Belt.
You could put on a pretty good concert with the musicians who have walked this campus. Roy Orbison, Norah Jones, Don Henley, Ray Wylie Hubbard and, let's not forget, Pat Boone all attended North Texas.
To our knowledge, Mean Green is the only mascot named after a former athlete. Pittsburgh Steelers great and Coca-Cola hawker Mean Joe Greene played here, when the team was still the Eagles.
From Hollywood, you can find NT grads Thomas Haden Church from the old sitcom Wings, and Robocop himself, Peter Weller. Lonesome Doveauthor Larry McMurtry and Dr. Phil also went here.
Addition about Lafayette, La. - We got this note from Gerald Hebert, a student at Louisiana-Lafayette, in response to the last blog.
I must say that it was a pleasure hosting your team tonight in the Cajundome. It was the most exciting atmosphere we have had in a long time. But I must say that your view of the city of Lafayette is a little inaccurate. Now, I'm not typing this with any negative connotations, so please don't take it as such. First, there aren't swamps everywhere you look. The only swamps that I can think of in town is the one on campus and the one by the airport. Secondly, Lafayette is one of the fastest growing cities in the south because of the oil industry and the increase in medical research in the area. The city didn't grow by over 10,000 people because of Hurricane Katrina, even though there were some people who stayed. The city itself is a capitalist gold mine. People here cling to new things such as a new stores, restaurants, etc. This reverts back to the local culture. The Cajun culture is one that is hospitable, welcoming, and friendly. No, we don't dress like Farmer Fran and ride airboats around town. We are normal people who wear normal clothes, have normal jobs, and talk a little differently. As far has finding something to do, this place is popping. There's a reason why a good number of LSU students drive the 45 minutes from Baton Rouge on Friday and Saturday nights. The nightlife here is second best in the state next to New Orleans. As a New Orleans native myself, I was shocked by the number of events going on in town when I first arrived in Lafayette.
The swamps in the area are numerous or expansive enough to offer businesses that cater to swamp tours, but to be fair most of those swamps are outside of city limits.
I certainly meant no disrespect to the town, which is not a bad town with kind people and great food. And the crowd at the Cajundome on Thursday night was probably the most spirited the Pioneers have seen in several seasons.
A few other people took offense to the Waterboy reference. The references to the movie seemed natural in Cajun Country, and a few lines were uttered from the movie, just as Animal House references were made in Eugene, Ore., earlier this season (I suggest Dumb & Dumber, The Shining or Mork & Mindy for anyone visiting Colorado). However, most of the jokes actually came from the ULL students sitting behind the DU bench and directed at Denver trainer Pat Hoxsey, who among countless other things makes sure the players are all hydrated during games. The students simply called him "Waterboy."
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 18
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 14,611
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 24,589
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,447
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,822
Total Number of Hotels - 12
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Louisiana-Lafayette - 2/24/11
LAFAYETTE, La. - It's seems strange to say, but this is the final regular season road trip of the 2010-11 season.
The team practiced in Hamilton Gym yesterday morning, boarded a bus to DIA and flew through Houston before arriving at the not-so-large Lafayette Airport around 6:30 p.m. After checking into the hotel, the team walked down the street to a restaurant.
People ask about these towns we go to, and it's always a little funny to hear the players describe them. The players spend almost all of their time at the hotel or the arena with perhaps a restaurant thrown in, if they don't just eat at the hotel. Sometimes, they wander to a nearby convenience store for snacks. Other than that, though, most of the players couldn't tell you much about Lafayette, La.
If one were to describe the polar opposite of Denver, this city might come to mind. While Denver is a Mile High, Lafayette is all of 36 feet above sea level with swamps just about everywhere you look.
There's even a swamp just outside ULL's student union, where a deck is built for students to eat while alligators swim below them. More than a few people we've told that to don't believe us, but I assure you that it's true.
The temperature outside right now is 80 degrees, and the humidity is exponentially higher than Colorado.
The growth of this town is pretty amazing. The city's population has risen nearly 10 percent in the past decade. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, more than 14,000 people took refuge in the Cajondome, right where the Pioneers are currently shooting around.
About Louisiana-Lafayette - The proper name of the school is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. People around here, including our good friend and the well respected voice of the Ragin' Cajuns Jay Walker, like to refer to it simply as the University of Louisiana, and they even tried to change the name in the 1980s. However, according to the school's own website, "A subsequent act of the Louisiana Legislature nullified that name change."
Furthermore, they prefer you not call them simply Lafayette, because they don't want to be confused with the school in the Patriot League, which used to feature Denver associate head coach Mike McKee on its coaching staff.
Generally, we try not to repeat a school's notable alumni from year to year. However, when a school can boast Richard Simmons, like Louisiana-Lafayette can do, certain bloggers would find that impossible to avoid.
Other famous graduates of this institution are Richie Cunningham (the former Cowboys kicker, not the beloved character alongside Fonzie) and Ali Landry, the former Miss America and Dorito girl.
Finally, I was informed that current ULL left-handed pitcher and team captain Taylor Hubbell is dating Heather Morris of Glee. Rumor has it that he's currently in the bullpen, but his sudden star power might catapult him to the starting rotation soon.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 17
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 14,260
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 24,238
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,379
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,754
Total Number of Hotels - 11
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Total Number of Bobby Boucher and Waterboy References Since Landing in Cajun Country - Too Many to Count
The team practiced in Hamilton Gym yesterday morning, boarded a bus to DIA and flew through Houston before arriving at the not-so-large Lafayette Airport around 6:30 p.m. After checking into the hotel, the team walked down the street to a restaurant.
People ask about these towns we go to, and it's always a little funny to hear the players describe them. The players spend almost all of their time at the hotel or the arena with perhaps a restaurant thrown in, if they don't just eat at the hotel. Sometimes, they wander to a nearby convenience store for snacks. Other than that, though, most of the players couldn't tell you much about Lafayette, La.
If one were to describe the polar opposite of Denver, this city might come to mind. While Denver is a Mile High, Lafayette is all of 36 feet above sea level with swamps just about everywhere you look.
There's even a swamp just outside ULL's student union, where a deck is built for students to eat while alligators swim below them. More than a few people we've told that to don't believe us, but I assure you that it's true.
The temperature outside right now is 80 degrees, and the humidity is exponentially higher than Colorado.
The growth of this town is pretty amazing. The city's population has risen nearly 10 percent in the past decade. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, more than 14,000 people took refuge in the Cajondome, right where the Pioneers are currently shooting around.
About Louisiana-Lafayette - The proper name of the school is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. People around here, including our good friend and the well respected voice of the Ragin' Cajuns Jay Walker, like to refer to it simply as the University of Louisiana, and they even tried to change the name in the 1980s. However, according to the school's own website, "A subsequent act of the Louisiana Legislature nullified that name change."
Furthermore, they prefer you not call them simply Lafayette, because they don't want to be confused with the school in the Patriot League, which used to feature Denver associate head coach Mike McKee on its coaching staff.
Generally, we try not to repeat a school's notable alumni from year to year. However, when a school can boast Richard Simmons, like Louisiana-Lafayette can do, certain bloggers would find that impossible to avoid.
Other famous graduates of this institution are Richie Cunningham (the former Cowboys kicker, not the beloved character alongside Fonzie) and Ali Landry, the former Miss America and Dorito girl.
Finally, I was informed that current ULL left-handed pitcher and team captain Taylor Hubbell is dating Heather Morris of Glee. Rumor has it that he's currently in the bullpen, but his sudden star power might catapult him to the starting rotation soon.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 17
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 14,260
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 24,238
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,379
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,754
Total Number of Hotels - 11
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Total Number of Bobby Boucher and Waterboy References Since Landing in Cajun Country - Too Many to Count
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Troy - 2/12/11
TROY, Ala. - There is considerably less snow here in Central Alabama. In fact, there's none. It's sunny and pretty nice outside.
Troy is not the easiest place to get in and out of, so the men's and women's teams flew one of their few charters of the year yesterday, landing around 6 p.m. in Dothan, Ala., before jumping on a bus for the hour-long drive north to drive.
As usual, the team dropped the bags off at the hotel and headed to dinner. This morning, everyone gathered in a meeting room for scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and cereal.
After shoot around, the team will head back to the hotel to clean up and rest before pregame meal. When we arrive at the hotel, everyone will walk up to their rooms, only to discover that the keys no longer work, and everyone has to get them reactivated in the lobby. Happens every time.
As Kyle Lewis mentioned a few times last summer, pregame will be "Coach Scott's famous pasta and chicken." In all likelihood, it will consist of noodles and meat sauce, salad, fresh fruit, some sort of steamed vegetable, grilled chicken and rolls.
It's a doubleheader tonight with the women starting at 4:15 p.m. MT, and the men will tip off 30 minutes after that game (scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT, but more likely a few minutes later).
About Troy - This is almost certainly DU's last trip to Troy, based on the preliminary schedules for next year, which have the Trojans heading to Denver.
That means it's unlikely that the Pioneers will ever play in Trojan Arena, which is being built nearby and is slated to open in time for next season. Based on the renderings, it looks like it will be a nice addition to this campus, which is much nicer than people might assume.
Most of the buildings are brick and very well maintained, and there is a quad area at the center of campus which leads into the main administration building.
What really makes Troy a nice place, though, is the people, who are as friendly as any place we travel.
Sure, we've been known to point out some of the obscure aspects of the school, including the extraordinary number of Survivor contestants from here (at least three, including Tocantins winner J.T. Thomas, Jr. and Marquesas winner Vecepia Towery), but Troy has had quite a bit of success in sports over the years.
Men's basketball coach Don Maestri has done a very nice job during his 30 years at Troy, including a Sun Belt regular season championship and NIT bid last season. The Troy football team won national championships in NAIA (1946) and Division II (1984 and 1987) before turning Division I in 2004. The Trojans adjusted well, upsetting No. 17 Missouri just a few weeks into that first season, and they continue to excel, winning the past five SBC championships.
As usual, we like to mention a few of the distinguished alumni from the schools we visit. In addition to the reality "stars" mentioned previously, Troy boasts DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys), Jill Dobson (Fox News) and Windham Rotunda. Who is Windham Rotunda? He's a professional wrestler in the WWE, who goes by Husky Harris and is a member of The Nexus. He has also wrestled under the names Alex Rotundo and Duke Rotundo.
Happy Birthday: For the record, Blake Foeman turned 20 back in December. Somehow that note ended up in the last blog again. Our apologizes to Blake for the error, but then again we like to treat every day like Blake's birthday.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 14
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 11,657
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 21,935
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,326
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,701
Total Number of Hotels - 10
Total Number of Different Airports - 9
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Total Number of Hotel Key Cards That Worked after Shoot Around This Season - 0
Troy is not the easiest place to get in and out of, so the men's and women's teams flew one of their few charters of the year yesterday, landing around 6 p.m. in Dothan, Ala., before jumping on a bus for the hour-long drive north to drive.
As usual, the team dropped the bags off at the hotel and headed to dinner. This morning, everyone gathered in a meeting room for scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and cereal.
After shoot around, the team will head back to the hotel to clean up and rest before pregame meal. When we arrive at the hotel, everyone will walk up to their rooms, only to discover that the keys no longer work, and everyone has to get them reactivated in the lobby. Happens every time.
As Kyle Lewis mentioned a few times last summer, pregame will be "Coach Scott's famous pasta and chicken." In all likelihood, it will consist of noodles and meat sauce, salad, fresh fruit, some sort of steamed vegetable, grilled chicken and rolls.
It's a doubleheader tonight with the women starting at 4:15 p.m. MT, and the men will tip off 30 minutes after that game (scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT, but more likely a few minutes later).
About Troy - This is almost certainly DU's last trip to Troy, based on the preliminary schedules for next year, which have the Trojans heading to Denver.
That means it's unlikely that the Pioneers will ever play in Trojan Arena, which is being built nearby and is slated to open in time for next season. Based on the renderings, it looks like it will be a nice addition to this campus, which is much nicer than people might assume.
Most of the buildings are brick and very well maintained, and there is a quad area at the center of campus which leads into the main administration building.
What really makes Troy a nice place, though, is the people, who are as friendly as any place we travel.
Sure, we've been known to point out some of the obscure aspects of the school, including the extraordinary number of Survivor contestants from here (at least three, including Tocantins winner J.T. Thomas, Jr. and Marquesas winner Vecepia Towery), but Troy has had quite a bit of success in sports over the years.
Men's basketball coach Don Maestri has done a very nice job during his 30 years at Troy, including a Sun Belt regular season championship and NIT bid last season. The Troy football team won national championships in NAIA (1946) and Division II (1984 and 1987) before turning Division I in 2004. The Trojans adjusted well, upsetting No. 17 Missouri just a few weeks into that first season, and they continue to excel, winning the past five SBC championships.
As usual, we like to mention a few of the distinguished alumni from the schools we visit. In addition to the reality "stars" mentioned previously, Troy boasts DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys), Jill Dobson (Fox News) and Windham Rotunda. Who is Windham Rotunda? He's a professional wrestler in the WWE, who goes by Husky Harris and is a member of The Nexus. He has also wrestled under the names Alex Rotundo and Duke Rotundo.
Happy Birthday: For the record, Blake Foeman turned 20 back in December. Somehow that note ended up in the last blog again. Our apologizes to Blake for the error, but then again we like to treat every day like Blake's birthday.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 14
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 11,657
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 21,935
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,326
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,701
Total Number of Hotels - 10
Total Number of Different Airports - 9
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Total Number of Hotel Key Cards That Worked after Shoot Around This Season - 0
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Arkansas State - 2/5/11
JONESBORO, Ark. - It
rarely snows in Arkansas. Unless of course the Pioneers are rolling
through town. For the second year in a row, it snowed while were in
Jonesboro, although this year was more of a dusting, compared to last year's "blizzard."
The team woke up yesterday in Little Rock, ate some breakfast and then checked out of the hotel. They practiced at Arkansas-Little Rock because the only practice time available at Arkansas State would have been pretty late. Since both UALR teams left right after the men's game on Thursday, and campus closed due to the quarter inch of snow outside, the Pioneers had the entire arena to themselves.
There was a lot of disappointment after losing the heartbreaker the night before, but the team focused that energy into regrouping and making sure they were ready for tonight's game against the Red Wolves.
Some fans might think that since the Pioneers beat ASU handily a few weeks ago, this game could be easy. However, these Denver players know better. This is a very good Red Wolves team, which is in second place in the division and has not lost in 10 home games this season. On top of that, there is always a revenge factor that makes a team want to forget about the previous bad loss by beating that same team.
The Pioneers are all too aware of the challenge tonight, and they're running a focused shoot around right now at the Convocation Center with that in mind.
About Jonesboro - Arkansas State is about two hours northeast of Little Rock. The bus drives through bigger sounding towns like Jacksonville, Austin and Newport, but it's not exactly like Florida, Texas or Oregon.
The town of Weiner won a state bowling championship, according to a few signs scattered around the town of 719.
Jonesboro is located in Craighead County and was founded on Feb. 19, 1859, when a farmer named Fergus Snoddy donated 15 acres of his land for what became downtown Jonesboro.
According to the town's website, "Jonesboro was named after William A. Jones for his support of the legislative act creating the county. The county, itself, received its name through a practical joke. Senator Thomas B. Craighead, who represented Crittenden and Mississippi counties, was against the formation of the county and campaigned actively against it. Senator Jones waited until a day when Craighead was absent to call for a vote on the act. Senator Craighead didn't know anything about it until he got back and found that the county had been named for him."
The first two courthouses in town burned to the ground, the second of which started during a barroom brawl in 1878, but the third is still used.
Arkansas State University was founded in 1909 as a regional agricultural school. Among the people who have walked the campus are 1984 Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner and Rodger Bumpass, whose voice can be heard in countless cartoons and movies, most notably SpongeBob SquarePants.
Finally, since it's been a few years since we mentioned it, and it was a favorite blog reference, here is an excerpt from the 2009 trip to Jonesboro:
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 12
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 10,417
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 20,695
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,236
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,801
Total Number of Hotels - 9
Total Number of Different Airports - 8
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
The team woke up yesterday in Little Rock, ate some breakfast and then checked out of the hotel. They practiced at Arkansas-Little Rock because the only practice time available at Arkansas State would have been pretty late. Since both UALR teams left right after the men's game on Thursday, and campus closed due to the quarter inch of snow outside, the Pioneers had the entire arena to themselves.
There was a lot of disappointment after losing the heartbreaker the night before, but the team focused that energy into regrouping and making sure they were ready for tonight's game against the Red Wolves.
Some fans might think that since the Pioneers beat ASU handily a few weeks ago, this game could be easy. However, these Denver players know better. This is a very good Red Wolves team, which is in second place in the division and has not lost in 10 home games this season. On top of that, there is always a revenge factor that makes a team want to forget about the previous bad loss by beating that same team.
The Pioneers are all too aware of the challenge tonight, and they're running a focused shoot around right now at the Convocation Center with that in mind.
About Jonesboro - Arkansas State is about two hours northeast of Little Rock. The bus drives through bigger sounding towns like Jacksonville, Austin and Newport, but it's not exactly like Florida, Texas or Oregon.
The town of Weiner won a state bowling championship, according to a few signs scattered around the town of 719.
Jonesboro is located in Craighead County and was founded on Feb. 19, 1859, when a farmer named Fergus Snoddy donated 15 acres of his land for what became downtown Jonesboro.
According to the town's website, "Jonesboro was named after William A. Jones for his support of the legislative act creating the county. The county, itself, received its name through a practical joke. Senator Thomas B. Craighead, who represented Crittenden and Mississippi counties, was against the formation of the county and campaigned actively against it. Senator Jones waited until a day when Craighead was absent to call for a vote on the act. Senator Craighead didn't know anything about it until he got back and found that the county had been named for him."
The first two courthouses in town burned to the ground, the second of which started during a barroom brawl in 1878, but the third is still used.
Arkansas State University was founded in 1909 as a regional agricultural school. Among the people who have walked the campus are 1984 Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner and Rodger Bumpass, whose voice can be heard in countless cartoons and movies, most notably SpongeBob SquarePants.
Finally, since it's been a few years since we mentioned it, and it was a favorite blog reference, here is an excerpt from the 2009 trip to Jonesboro:
Thanks
to loyal reader Steve Honda, we learned this week that Jonesboro was
once the home to Bartleby Clown College. Apparently from 1952-59, the
clown college operated in Jonesboro, which was convenient due to its
many railroad connections. According to Wikipedia, which of course is
the leading resource for clown college information, “The loss of
Arkansas [sic] only clown college disappointed many in the industry.”
There was no clarification about whether that was the clown industry or
the clown teaching industry.
Happy Birthday: It's a little early, but just so we don't forget, we'd like to send a happy birthday out to redshirt freshman Blake Foeman, who turns 20 on Wednesday.Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 12
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 10,417
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 20,695
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,236
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,801
Total Number of Hotels - 9
Total Number of Different Airports - 8
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Arkansas-Little Rock - 2/3/11
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Winter
storms are covering most of the country. Denver, which reached 70
degrees last Friday, saw temperatures drop well below zero.
It's a little chilly in Little Rock, but the team made it without too many problems, unless you count a lost bag for a certain blog writer.
In fact, as the team exited the plane onto the runway, more than one person commented that the temperature was quite nice. It was 29 degrees. I guess it's a matter of what you've been used to.
Life on the road can be funny. While everybody tries to make everything run as smoothly as possible, so that the team can prepare and play without added hurdles, sometimes things like weather prevent that ease.
Last week the day before their game with Denver, the North Texas team sat on an airplane at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport - less than 30 miles from their campus - for nearly four hours. Their plan was to check into the hotel, practice at Magness Arena and then have some dinner. After the delay, they arrived after midnight. They may have grabbed some dinner, but they definitely lost that day's practice.
The Pioneers' coaching staff decided a few years ago that it was better to avoid such risks. That's why the team practices at home and then flies out later in the afternoon.
Yesterday was a typical example. The team practiced from about 7:30-9:30 a.m., and then the players went to their classes. At 1:30 p.m., everyone grabbed box lunches and jumped on the bus for DIA. The flight landed around 7 p.m., we checked into the hotel, and we were eating dinner by 8:15 p.m.
That's pretty much life on the road.
Treasure Hunters Unite: The Pioneers are sharing a hotel with Treasure Hunters Roadshow. Based on their website, these appear to be the same people who offer to buy gold on late night television.
Since we arrived, hundreds of people have stood in line, holding stuff that they hope is worth a lot of money. According to their website, people are encouraged to bring things like silver, gold, paper money, guitars, trains and sport memorabilia.
I'm not going to try to understand whether paper money may be worth more than the amount listed on it, or how anyone might bring a train to a hotel. But it seems a lot of people are excited about the show, and sometimes the organizers buy the stuff on the spot.
We thought maybe this was a television show, like Antique Roadshow (which radio voice Mitch Hyder can't get enough of), but there is no sign on truth behind that on their website.
About Arkansas-Little Rock: The Trojans have won a handful of championships with the banners hanging in the Jack Stephens Center as proof. There's also a lone jersey hanging from the rafters.
That one is Derek Fisher, who starred for UALR from 1992-96, winning a Sun Belt championship as a senior. Since then, Fisher has been better known for winning NBA championships alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles.
If any of our loyal blog readers know of other notable alumni from UALR, please send them our way. According to the good folks who work here, they really don't have any other than Fisher.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 12
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 10,417
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 20,695
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,087
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,652
Total Number of Hotels - 8
Total Number of Different Airports - 8
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
It's a little chilly in Little Rock, but the team made it without too many problems, unless you count a lost bag for a certain blog writer.
In fact, as the team exited the plane onto the runway, more than one person commented that the temperature was quite nice. It was 29 degrees. I guess it's a matter of what you've been used to.
Life on the road can be funny. While everybody tries to make everything run as smoothly as possible, so that the team can prepare and play without added hurdles, sometimes things like weather prevent that ease.
Last week the day before their game with Denver, the North Texas team sat on an airplane at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport - less than 30 miles from their campus - for nearly four hours. Their plan was to check into the hotel, practice at Magness Arena and then have some dinner. After the delay, they arrived after midnight. They may have grabbed some dinner, but they definitely lost that day's practice.
The Pioneers' coaching staff decided a few years ago that it was better to avoid such risks. That's why the team practices at home and then flies out later in the afternoon.
Yesterday was a typical example. The team practiced from about 7:30-9:30 a.m., and then the players went to their classes. At 1:30 p.m., everyone grabbed box lunches and jumped on the bus for DIA. The flight landed around 7 p.m., we checked into the hotel, and we were eating dinner by 8:15 p.m.
That's pretty much life on the road.
Treasure Hunters Unite: The Pioneers are sharing a hotel with Treasure Hunters Roadshow. Based on their website, these appear to be the same people who offer to buy gold on late night television.
Since we arrived, hundreds of people have stood in line, holding stuff that they hope is worth a lot of money. According to their website, people are encouraged to bring things like silver, gold, paper money, guitars, trains and sport memorabilia.
I'm not going to try to understand whether paper money may be worth more than the amount listed on it, or how anyone might bring a train to a hotel. But it seems a lot of people are excited about the show, and sometimes the organizers buy the stuff on the spot.
We thought maybe this was a television show, like Antique Roadshow (which radio voice Mitch Hyder can't get enough of), but there is no sign on truth behind that on their website.
About Arkansas-Little Rock: The Trojans have won a handful of championships with the banners hanging in the Jack Stephens Center as proof. There's also a lone jersey hanging from the rafters.
That one is Derek Fisher, who starred for UALR from 1992-96, winning a Sun Belt championship as a senior. Since then, Fisher has been better known for winning NBA championships alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles.
If any of our loyal blog readers know of other notable alumni from UALR, please send them our way. According to the good folks who work here, they really don't have any other than Fisher.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 12
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 10,417
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 20,695
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,087
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,652
Total Number of Hotels - 8
Total Number of Different Airports - 8
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Thursday, January 27, 2011
In the News - 1/27/11
DENVER - As the
Pioneers made a nice run with an eight-game winning streak, more and
more people started to take notice, including some sports writers across
the country.
While the team knows it needs to continue playing well through the end of the regular season and postseason, it's nice to see these guys that work so hard get a little recognition. Here are just a few.
Tom Kensler of the Denver Post took notice of how well freshman Chris Udofia has been playing lately:
Earlier this week, ESPN senior college basketball writer Andy Katz gave his suggestions for the 11 BracketBuster games that should be televised this year, and there are some familiar teams included:
Suits and Sneakers: Don't forget to wear sneakers when you come to cheer on the Pioneers against North Texas this Saturday in support of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers.
This marks the seventh year that coaches across America will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits in an effort to spotlight the fact that while cancer remains a major health concern, everyone can take daily steps to reduce their risk of the disease. Not smoking, weight control, exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk. In the U.S., overweight and obesity contribute to 14-20 percent of all cancer-related deaths.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $60 million since 1993 to help the Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Additional information is available at coachesvscancer.org.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 11
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 9,647
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 19,925
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,051
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,611
Total Number of Hotels - 7
Total Number of Different Airports - 7
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
While the team knows it needs to continue playing well through the end of the regular season and postseason, it's nice to see these guys that work so hard get a little recognition. Here are just a few.
Tom Kensler of the Denver Post took notice of how well freshman Chris Udofia has been playing lately:
Udofia
(rhymes with utopia) offers the kind of explosive athleticism that most
programs covet. But after a so-so junior season and unimpressive
performances at summer camps - "I'm a late bloomer, I guess," Udofia
said - he began his senior year at Dallas Jesuit wondering if anybody
wanted him....Udofia is bright and humble, and he comes from a strong
family unit (his parents fled Nigeria before he was born), so Scott
figured the kid would do whatever it took to smooth out the raw, rough
spots in his game. Can you say recruiting steal?
CBSSports.com noticed basketball making its presence felt at DU:
For
now, Scott and the Pioneers are focusing on maintaining the lead
they've built. After six straight wins, Saturday brought a road loss to
Middle Tennessee State. The head coach says his kids need to focus on
winning the regular season in the Sun Belt, after which he believes
postseason success will come.
"The tournament's a crapshoot. The truth is you should be playing your best basketball rolling into March so you give yourself the best chance in those three days. We're here all year long, and sixteen regular season games are important, and over those sixteen games you can put yourself in the mix to challenge for a conference championship. That's critically important."
Baby steps are important. Asking this program to ever win an NCAA championship might be asking too much, but you can bet they'd like to shoulder aside some of those hockey banners and hang a few Sun Belt and, eventually, WAC banners in Magness Arena.
RushTheCourt.com picked
up on a story Alanna Rizzo told during the FSN broadcast of the Florida
International game - a story which caused the generous and
compassionate Kyle Lewis to shrug and claim anyone else would have done the same thing, if put in that situation:"The tournament's a crapshoot. The truth is you should be playing your best basketball rolling into March so you give yourself the best chance in those three days. We're here all year long, and sixteen regular season games are important, and over those sixteen games you can put yourself in the mix to challenge for a conference championship. That's critically important."
Baby steps are important. Asking this program to ever win an NCAA championship might be asking too much, but you can bet they'd like to shoulder aside some of those hockey banners and hang a few Sun Belt and, eventually, WAC banners in Magness Arena.
It's not often we get to relay a human interest story to our Sun Belt fans, so let's take this opportunity to recognize Denver guard Kyle Lewis for
his heroic actions this month. According to Fox Sports Rocky Mountain,
Lewis encountered a man in need of medical attention while walking on
campus and called 911. Lewis told a sideline reporter for the television
network that he actually kicked the man in the chest to resuscitate
him. Lewis, named a team captain this year, had started for three
seasons before taking on a bench role this year as a senior. So he's an
unselfish guy in more ways than one.
We have talked before
about the challenging nonconference schedule that the Pioneers faced
this season. If you hadn't noticed, St. Mary's (17-3) and Utah State
(18-2) are in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll at 24 and 25,
respectively.Earlier this week, ESPN senior college basketball writer Andy Katz gave his suggestions for the 11 BracketBuster games that should be televised this year, and there are some familiar teams included:
1. Utah State at Saint Mary's:
This has been a BracketBuster game in the past, in large part because
these two teams are the two best teams in the field. Utah State and
Saint Mary's are en route to being at-large candidates, even if neither
wins the WAC or WCC, respectively. Organizers shouldn't let anything
influence them on this decision, if either coach doesn't want to the
other again. This is important to make the event work. This game has to
happen since it is the most obvious of the 11 to occur.
11. Boise State at UC Santa Barbara:
The Broncos have been one of the surprise teams in the WAC behind
first-year coach Leon Rice. Boise State just won at rival Idaho, and
that should be enough for it to get one of the final televised games.
Rice took over an experienced team, which lacked quality wins in the
conference. But the Broncos are 5-2 in the league this season and have
matured. Santa Barbara is 3-3 in the Big West, but it does have road
wins at UNLV and at Santa Clara -- which Gonzaga couldn't get -- so that
should elevate the Gauchos ahead of Cal Poly.
The Pioneers faced all four of those teams earlier this season.Suits and Sneakers: Don't forget to wear sneakers when you come to cheer on the Pioneers against North Texas this Saturday in support of Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers.
This marks the seventh year that coaches across America will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits in an effort to spotlight the fact that while cancer remains a major health concern, everyone can take daily steps to reduce their risk of the disease. Not smoking, weight control, exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve health and reduce cancer risk. In the U.S., overweight and obesity contribute to 14-20 percent of all cancer-related deaths.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of college and high school coaches across the country, Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $60 million since 1993 to help the Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Additional information is available at coachesvscancer.org.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 11
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 9,647
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 19,925
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,051
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,611
Total Number of Hotels - 7
Total Number of Different Airports - 7
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Middle Tennessee - 1/22/11
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - It's
been a fun couple of weeks for the Pioneers. The guys are in good
spirits as they shoot around at the Murphy Center, getting ready for
tonight's game against Middle Tennessee.
There was a confidence and looseness in the players that we saw in Spain last summer, and it's made a welcome return.
The team practiced at DU yesterday morning, had some lunch and then loaded onto a bus for the airport. We always try to arrive early enough to make sure we don't run into any problems, which leaves some time at the gate for the players to hang out and make each other laugh.
When Chase Hallam was asked if he wanted to do a phone interview with a reporter so that he could get it out of the way, he said, "Let's do it later. I'm playing Family Feud here, and I'm in a zone." Sure enough, his computer screen showed a battle being waged."
Always looking to take a quality photo, Andrew Hooper roamed the area looking for unsuspecting teammates that might be napping.
The flight to Nashville was uneventful (even if it was a tad delayed), and after checking into the hotel around 8 p.m., everyone walked to a restaurant next door for a good dinner.
This is a fairly familiar arena for most of the players. In fact, Kyle Lewis is playing here for the third time in his four years. He's hoping for more favorable results tonight.
About Middle Tennessee: Murfreesboro is a town of 101,753 people about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. As the name of the university might suggest, Murfreesboro is smack dab in the middle of Tennessee.
During the Civil War, the Battle of Stone River was fought between the team hotel and campus. There is a nice greenbelt running through a couple of the battlegrounds. Oddly, a full dog team was pulling a man on a sled with wheels along the greenbelt, mushing the dogs along the way.
Middle Tennessee (or Middle Tennessee State, as the sign outside still says) has a fairly rich basketball tradition. The men's team has six NCAA Tournament banners hanging from the rafters, and the women's team has 13, including six this decade.
We always try to come up with a few notable alumni from each school we visit. For some reason, the list from MTSU always seems shorter than expected.
Albert Gore Sr., the former senator and father of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, went here. Longtime NFL quarterback Kelly Holcomb played for the Blue Raiders. And, of course, Music Row is just up the road, so there are a few country music stars. Both Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott and Nashville Star winner Chris Young went to Middle.
If any of our loyal blog readers know any more MTSU alums, please send them our way.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 10
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 8, 634
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 18,912
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 968
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,528
Total Number of Hotels - 7
Total Number of Different Airports - 7
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
There was a confidence and looseness in the players that we saw in Spain last summer, and it's made a welcome return.
The team practiced at DU yesterday morning, had some lunch and then loaded onto a bus for the airport. We always try to arrive early enough to make sure we don't run into any problems, which leaves some time at the gate for the players to hang out and make each other laugh.
When Chase Hallam was asked if he wanted to do a phone interview with a reporter so that he could get it out of the way, he said, "Let's do it later. I'm playing Family Feud here, and I'm in a zone." Sure enough, his computer screen showed a battle being waged."
Always looking to take a quality photo, Andrew Hooper roamed the area looking for unsuspecting teammates that might be napping.
The flight to Nashville was uneventful (even if it was a tad delayed), and after checking into the hotel around 8 p.m., everyone walked to a restaurant next door for a good dinner.
This is a fairly familiar arena for most of the players. In fact, Kyle Lewis is playing here for the third time in his four years. He's hoping for more favorable results tonight.
About Middle Tennessee: Murfreesboro is a town of 101,753 people about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. As the name of the university might suggest, Murfreesboro is smack dab in the middle of Tennessee.
During the Civil War, the Battle of Stone River was fought between the team hotel and campus. There is a nice greenbelt running through a couple of the battlegrounds. Oddly, a full dog team was pulling a man on a sled with wheels along the greenbelt, mushing the dogs along the way.
Middle Tennessee (or Middle Tennessee State, as the sign outside still says) has a fairly rich basketball tradition. The men's team has six NCAA Tournament banners hanging from the rafters, and the women's team has 13, including six this decade.
We always try to come up with a few notable alumni from each school we visit. For some reason, the list from MTSU always seems shorter than expected.
Albert Gore Sr., the former senator and father of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, went here. Longtime NFL quarterback Kelly Holcomb played for the Blue Raiders. And, of course, Music Row is just up the road, so there are a few country music stars. Both Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott and Nashville Star winner Chris Young went to Middle.
If any of our loyal blog readers know any more MTSU alums, please send them our way.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 10
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 8, 634
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 18,912
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 968
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,528
Total Number of Hotels - 7
Total Number of Different Airports - 7
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Louisiana-Monroe - 1/8/11
MONROE, La. -
Thursday night's game was fun. All wins are good, but when you beat the team
that's historically the best in the conference, especially in their gym, it
feels just a little bit better than usual.
That was the first time the Pioneers have ever beaten Western Kentucky at E.A. Diddle Arena, although the team did have two victories in the venue during the 2002-03 Sun Belt Tournament against Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
This win came at the right time. Because the Hilltoppers are expected to travel Denver next year in DU's final season in the Sun Belt, there's a pretty good likelihood that was the last time the Pioneers will play in Bowling Green, Ky.
Spirits were high right after the game, although everyone had to hustle and get out of the arena because we had a flight to catch. The team dined on sandwiches, chips and cookies on the bus from the arena to the Bowling Green Regional Airport.
Normally, the Pioneers travel on commercial airlines, but because there was only one day between games and it's pretty difficult to get from Southern Kentucky to Northern Louisiana, the team loaded onto a prop jet for a 90 minute flight south.
After a short ride from the Monroe Regional Airport, the team arrived at the hotel around midnight, and everyone headed to bed.
Louisiana-Monroe has been in the Sun Belt Conference since 2006-07, so the team has traveled here six times. The first year, we stayed near the local mall, but when we returned the next week for the first round of the SBC Tournament, we moved to a hotel in West Monroe. We've stayed at this hotel ever since.
There's not a whole lot around the hotel, except an agricultural convention center, a John Deere dealership, and what looks to be a nice miniature golf course. That golf course has been an on-going joke, because during all four previous trips, it's been closed. I was prepared to make a joke about it here, but when I ran by yesterday, the sign was flashing "Open." Not that there were any cars parked in front. Or that we'll be going there anywhere.
Yesterday was pretty standard for an off-day on the road. The team slept in a bit before heading to the lobby for breakfast. At 1 p.m., everyone loaded on the bus and went to the ULM Rec Center for a 2.5 hour practice after which sandwiches were available. At 7 p.m., everyone headed to dinner.
It's a 1 p.m. tip time today, so shoot around is much earlier than usual - 8 a.m. The guys were knocking some cobwebs off as they headed to the bus, but Chase Hallam said he preferred afternoon games, and Trevor Noonan added, "I just like getting home right after the game."
The Pioneers are expected to land sometime this evening.
Television: Don't forget that this afternoon's game will be shown live on the Sun Belt Network, which is available on ESPN3 and ESPN's Full Court Package.
About Louisiana-Monroe: There are eight schools in the University of Louisiana System, including ULM and Louisiana-Lafayette, which are both in the Sun Belt Conference.
Formerly named Northeast Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe has just over 9,000 students. Unfortunately, ULM doesn't have an exhaustive list of famous alumni, although I recently discovered former San Diego Charger Stan Humphries and former Denver Bronco Bubby Brister attended when it was Northeast Louisiana, so here's a repeat from a blog two years ago:
Recently Monroe, La., has found a name for itself on the HBO show "True Blood." While we have not run across any vampires, we can tell you that ULM is the alma mater of country singer Tim McGraw, baseball All-Stars Ben Sheets and Chuck Finley, and Breaux Greer. Who is Breaux Greer, you ask? That would be Hurricane from American Gladiators. According to the NBC website, "Run for cover as fast as you can whenever Hurricane blows into Gladiator Arena. Appearing without warning and striking with enough energy to blow down a mountain, those contenders unlucky enough to cross his path will experience a truly perfect storm of sheer athletic prowess and destructive Gladiator instinct." With the potential for a storm like that, the risk of vampires appears considerably less fearsome. (Thanks to former ULM sports information director Jeff Hendrix for providing that vital piece of information.)
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 8
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 6,719
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 16,962
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 872
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,432
Total Number of Hotels - 6
Total Number of Different Airports - 7
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Times the Miniature Golf Course has been open in DU's Five Trips to Monroe- 1
That was the first time the Pioneers have ever beaten Western Kentucky at E.A. Diddle Arena, although the team did have two victories in the venue during the 2002-03 Sun Belt Tournament against Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
This win came at the right time. Because the Hilltoppers are expected to travel Denver next year in DU's final season in the Sun Belt, there's a pretty good likelihood that was the last time the Pioneers will play in Bowling Green, Ky.
Spirits were high right after the game, although everyone had to hustle and get out of the arena because we had a flight to catch. The team dined on sandwiches, chips and cookies on the bus from the arena to the Bowling Green Regional Airport.
Normally, the Pioneers travel on commercial airlines, but because there was only one day between games and it's pretty difficult to get from Southern Kentucky to Northern Louisiana, the team loaded onto a prop jet for a 90 minute flight south.
After a short ride from the Monroe Regional Airport, the team arrived at the hotel around midnight, and everyone headed to bed.
Louisiana-Monroe has been in the Sun Belt Conference since 2006-07, so the team has traveled here six times. The first year, we stayed near the local mall, but when we returned the next week for the first round of the SBC Tournament, we moved to a hotel in West Monroe. We've stayed at this hotel ever since.
There's not a whole lot around the hotel, except an agricultural convention center, a John Deere dealership, and what looks to be a nice miniature golf course. That golf course has been an on-going joke, because during all four previous trips, it's been closed. I was prepared to make a joke about it here, but when I ran by yesterday, the sign was flashing "Open." Not that there were any cars parked in front. Or that we'll be going there anywhere.
Yesterday was pretty standard for an off-day on the road. The team slept in a bit before heading to the lobby for breakfast. At 1 p.m., everyone loaded on the bus and went to the ULM Rec Center for a 2.5 hour practice after which sandwiches were available. At 7 p.m., everyone headed to dinner.
It's a 1 p.m. tip time today, so shoot around is much earlier than usual - 8 a.m. The guys were knocking some cobwebs off as they headed to the bus, but Chase Hallam said he preferred afternoon games, and Trevor Noonan added, "I just like getting home right after the game."
The Pioneers are expected to land sometime this evening.
Television: Don't forget that this afternoon's game will be shown live on the Sun Belt Network, which is available on ESPN3 and ESPN's Full Court Package.
About Louisiana-Monroe: There are eight schools in the University of Louisiana System, including ULM and Louisiana-Lafayette, which are both in the Sun Belt Conference.
Formerly named Northeast Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe has just over 9,000 students. Unfortunately, ULM doesn't have an exhaustive list of famous alumni, although I recently discovered former San Diego Charger Stan Humphries and former Denver Bronco Bubby Brister attended when it was Northeast Louisiana, so here's a repeat from a blog two years ago:
Recently Monroe, La., has found a name for itself on the HBO show "True Blood." While we have not run across any vampires, we can tell you that ULM is the alma mater of country singer Tim McGraw, baseball All-Stars Ben Sheets and Chuck Finley, and Breaux Greer. Who is Breaux Greer, you ask? That would be Hurricane from American Gladiators. According to the NBC website, "Run for cover as fast as you can whenever Hurricane blows into Gladiator Arena. Appearing without warning and striking with enough energy to blow down a mountain, those contenders unlucky enough to cross his path will experience a truly perfect storm of sheer athletic prowess and destructive Gladiator instinct." With the potential for a storm like that, the risk of vampires appears considerably less fearsome. (Thanks to former ULM sports information director Jeff Hendrix for providing that vital piece of information.)
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 8
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 6,719
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 16,962
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 872
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,432
Total Number of Hotels - 6
Total Number of Different Airports - 7
Total Number of Airline Delays - 0
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 1
Total Number of Times the Miniature Golf Course has been open in DU's Five Trips to Monroe- 1
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