Olympic Fan
11-09-2009, 03:47 PM
I know Duke doesn't start until Friday, but I can't help getting excited by the fact that the 2009-10 season tips off tonight.
Admittedly, the four opening games are all dogs -- FIU at UNC; Murray State at Cal, Alcorn at Ohio State and Albany at Syracuse .... but after a long offseason, I'm Jonesing for some hoops.
The Florida International at UNC game is not without interest, thanks to first-year FIU coach Isaih Thomas. He inherits just one starter from last year's 13-20 team, but he's loaded up with jucos, including a couple of pretty good ones.
Thomas and FIU won't win in Chapel Hill tonight, but it will be interesting to see him as a college coach. He was obviously a great player, but he was also a decent NBA coach. It was as an executive that he was a disaster in the NBA -- GM Isiah Thomas didn't give Coach Isiah Thomas a chance with the Knicks.
I just wonder whether his coaching skill -- plus the name recognition he brings -- will be enough to overcome his management "skills" at FIU. He's already gotten off to a bad start with his empty (and idiotic) threat to sue the Coaches vs. Cancer event for matching FIU with UNC -- he wanted to play Ohio State.
I guess the only other game of interest tonight is Albany at Syracuse -- after the 'Cuse lost its exhibition to LeMoyne. But Albany is not expected to be nearly as good as the team Duke beat by 41 in Cameron early in the 2007-08 season. They are picked seventh in the American East.
Both the UNC game and the Syracuse games will be on ESPNU tonight.
All four games are part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but even though this is a "tournament" it is set up so the top four teams get to New York next week, even if they are upset at home this week. UNC will play Ohio State in the Garden on Nov. 19, then will play the winner of Syracuse-California on Nov. 20 no matter what happens tonight against FIU or Wednesday night in the second round against NCCU.
Just for the record, the Preseason NIT (which Duke is a part of) is not set up that way. I know it's not likely to happen, but if the Devils were to be upset by Coastal Carolina or the Elon/UNC Charlotte winner in the second round, Duke would not go to New York for the semifinals and finals on Nov. 25-27.
Admittedly, the four opening games are all dogs -- FIU at UNC; Murray State at Cal, Alcorn at Ohio State and Albany at Syracuse .... but after a long offseason, I'm Jonesing for some hoops.
The Florida International at UNC game is not without interest, thanks to first-year FIU coach Isaih Thomas. He inherits just one starter from last year's 13-20 team, but he's loaded up with jucos, including a couple of pretty good ones.
Thomas and FIU won't win in Chapel Hill tonight, but it will be interesting to see him as a college coach. He was obviously a great player, but he was also a decent NBA coach. It was as an executive that he was a disaster in the NBA -- GM Isiah Thomas didn't give Coach Isiah Thomas a chance with the Knicks.
I just wonder whether his coaching skill -- plus the name recognition he brings -- will be enough to overcome his management "skills" at FIU. He's already gotten off to a bad start with his empty (and idiotic) threat to sue the Coaches vs. Cancer event for matching FIU with UNC -- he wanted to play Ohio State.
I guess the only other game of interest tonight is Albany at Syracuse -- after the 'Cuse lost its exhibition to LeMoyne. But Albany is not expected to be nearly as good as the team Duke beat by 41 in Cameron early in the 2007-08 season. They are picked seventh in the American East.
Both the UNC game and the Syracuse games will be on ESPNU tonight.
All four games are part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but even though this is a "tournament" it is set up so the top four teams get to New York next week, even if they are upset at home this week. UNC will play Ohio State in the Garden on Nov. 19, then will play the winner of Syracuse-California on Nov. 20 no matter what happens tonight against FIU or Wednesday night in the second round against NCCU.
Just for the record, the Preseason NIT (which Duke is a part of) is not set up that way. I know it's not likely to happen, but if the Devils were to be upset by Coastal Carolina or the Elon/UNC Charlotte winner in the second round, Duke would not go to New York for the semifinals and finals on Nov. 25-27.