Editor’s note: Poughkeepsie Journal sports reporter Phil Strum is in Raleigh, N.C., to cover the Marist College men’s basketball team in the National Invitation Tournament.
RALEIGH, N.C., 6:45 p.m. — Got a few little things to update for everyone from the quiet confines of the hotel before I head over to the crazed atmosphere at Reynolds Coliseum. By the way, it's Phil again.
Matt Brady on tonight's game between Niagara and Kansas: "For a while, they'll be able to hang in there with Kansas. Everybody thinks Kansas will eventually wear them down. But Niagara's had a terrific season under some stressful situations they encountered early in the year. So I'm happy to see our league represented well."
Brady on tonight's game: "They're unbelievably skillful," the coach said of N.C State. "They're terrific passers. Probably the best passing team we've played in my three years. They're a team that is extraordinarily well-coached. I would think that this is going to be close. Hopefully, we'll make the baskets at the end to put us over the top."
Here's an interesting article from Tim Peeler on the N.C. State website on the crazy few days thay have had: http://www.gopack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9200&ATCLID=827856
OK I am off to Reynolds Coliseum in a bit. Check in later!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Men shoot around
RALEIGH, N.C., 2:22 p.m. — Phil here again. I am at the Marist shootaround where the team is doing a run-through with head coach Matt Brady and his staff. It's nice to see some familiar faces finally after my long journey to get here.
The shootaround is being held at Cardinal Gibbons High School, which is somewhat near the RBC Center, where the N.C. State men normally play. Apparently, local news reports have said that the venue is somewhat historic in that it is where the Wolfpack used to play and won the national title in 1983, with head coach Sidney Lowe, who was point guard on that team
Being in a high school is a little weird as I arrived pretty much as students were changing classes for what I assume is their last period of the day.
I'm gonna talk to Coach Brady and a few of the players in a little while when they are finished and then it's game time. OK, so the game isn't until 9:30, but I am ready to go.
The shootaround is being held at Cardinal Gibbons High School, which is somewhat near the RBC Center, where the N.C. State men normally play. Apparently, local news reports have said that the venue is somewhat historic in that it is where the Wolfpack used to play and won the national title in 1983, with head coach Sidney Lowe, who was point guard on that team
Being in a high school is a little weird as I arrived pretty much as students were changing classes for what I assume is their last period of the day.
I'm gonna talk to Coach Brady and a few of the players in a little while when they are finished and then it's game time. OK, so the game isn't until 9:30, but I am ready to go.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Marist tidbits
RALEIGH, N.C., 11:07 — The men's team will be ready tomorrow night. At least that's what I've heard.
Marist College sports information director Jason Corriher contacted me a little while ago. The Red Foxes practiced at 5 p.m. today at Reynolds Coliseum and spent most of their time pouring over the video of North Carolina State.
Matt Brady's crew plans to shoot around at a local high school in Raleigh early tomorrow afternoon and will arrive at Reynolds at around 7:15 p.m. for the 9:30 tip-off.
Corriher wanted me to be sure to give a shout-out to the N.C. State women's gymnastics team, who moved their senior day to 4 p.m. to make room for the basketball game tomorrow. Obviously, it will be quite a busy day in Raleigh on Friday.
According to the Marist fact guru Corriher, Reynolds Coliseum (12,000), if it isn't already, will be close to a sellout.
Corriher informed me that himself, along with Marist athletics director Tim Murray and
Senior Associate AD Colin Sullivan will likely be flying out on Saturday morning to catch the women's basketball team playing Ohio State in the NCAA tournament.
Speaking of California, Sean McMann arrived safely in San Jose, CA.
Well it's time to call it a night, I hope to give you readers some early info tomorrow if there is anything going on.
Marist College sports information director Jason Corriher contacted me a little while ago. The Red Foxes practiced at 5 p.m. today at Reynolds Coliseum and spent most of their time pouring over the video of North Carolina State.
Matt Brady's crew plans to shoot around at a local high school in Raleigh early tomorrow afternoon and will arrive at Reynolds at around 7:15 p.m. for the 9:30 tip-off.
Corriher wanted me to be sure to give a shout-out to the N.C. State women's gymnastics team, who moved their senior day to 4 p.m. to make room for the basketball game tomorrow. Obviously, it will be quite a busy day in Raleigh on Friday.
According to the Marist fact guru Corriher, Reynolds Coliseum (12,000), if it isn't already, will be close to a sellout.
Corriher informed me that himself, along with Marist athletics director Tim Murray and
Senior Associate AD Colin Sullivan will likely be flying out on Saturday morning to catch the women's basketball team playing Ohio State in the NCAA tournament.
Speaking of California, Sean McMann arrived safely in San Jose, CA.
Well it's time to call it a night, I hope to give you readers some early info tomorrow if there is anything going on.
Finally in Raleigh
RALEIGH, N.C., 10:02 p.m. — Ah, the words followed by a double-dash I have been itching to type for hours.
All in all, my flight to Raleigh from Philadelphia was delayed roughly 5 1/2 hours before I was even able to board. Add to that about an hour on the runway in Philly thanks to weather and air traffic issues and my estimated time of arrival in Raleigh changes from 3 p.m. to roughly about 9...
...But I'm not complaining. It's about 74 degrees under partly cloudy skies, here in North Carolina. I bid adieu to my two traveling friends (from Oklahoma and Illinois, respectively) and am raring and ready to go in Raleigh.
I've heard that this town is a sports town, so tomorrow should be an exhilarating. Hopefully, my colleague Sean T. McMann had better luck traveling than I did. We are both in store for some great basketball over the next two days with Marist signature players like Jordan and Whittington, Kresge and Dahlman...
Well, my dinner is here and I am starving..I'll check back in before bed.
All in all, my flight to Raleigh from Philadelphia was delayed roughly 5 1/2 hours before I was even able to board. Add to that about an hour on the runway in Philly thanks to weather and air traffic issues and my estimated time of arrival in Raleigh changes from 3 p.m. to roughly about 9...
...But I'm not complaining. It's about 74 degrees under partly cloudy skies, here in North Carolina. I bid adieu to my two traveling friends (from Oklahoma and Illinois, respectively) and am raring and ready to go in Raleigh.
I've heard that this town is a sports town, so tomorrow should be an exhilarating. Hopefully, my colleague Sean T. McMann had better luck traveling than I did. We are both in store for some great basketball over the next two days with Marist signature players like Jordan and Whittington, Kresge and Dahlman...
Well, my dinner is here and I am starving..I'll check back in before bed.
Marist men's hoops: Can't hardly wait
Hey everyone, this is what I posted on the Poughkeepsie Journal's website earlier today. Hope you enjoy my entries.
PHILADELPHIA — Phil Strum here. Well, I probably shouldn't say this, but before today, I kind of had a fear of heights and a fear of flying.
But as I departed New Windsor's Stewart International Airport to cover Marist College's second-round National Invitation Tournament game against North Carolina State, my fear turned to excitement. My trepidation to downright giddiness.
Yeah, I am stuck in Philadelphia International Airport right now thanks to a mechanical problem with my connecting flight. But the people here are nice. I ran into an Oral Roberts alum who couldn't wait to go watch their men's basketball team at the sports bar during the delay. And I met a mother of two who is a veterinary student at the University of Illinois. She, ironically, is headed to the N.C. State campus too. But she isn't going there to watch the Wolfpack and the Red Foxes tango. Apparently, the campus is hosting a huge three-day veterinary symposium. So I guess parking might be tough in Raleigh.
I'll have to ask the most excited N.C. State alum in the area, Marist spors information director Jason Corriher and his wife Kim for the best way to get around campus once I get there.
In the meantime, the Red Foxes are slated to practice at 5 p.m. today at Reynolds Coliseum for their game.
I'm gonna get going now, the airport terminal is filling up. Apparently, the next flight to Las Vegas is leaving from this gate...so if I wanted to visit anyone out there instead of going to the Marist game, I could...
NAH...at this time tomorrow, I'll be as set as I can be to see the Red Foxes in their uncharted territory in postseason play.
Keep in touch, readers...and enjoy the games in the NCAA and NIT tournaments.
—Phil Strum
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