Looks like Andre Drummond may make his debut in a UConn uniform Wednesday night after all.
Drummond, who suffered a mild concussion and broken nose in practice on Friday, has been participating in non-contact drills. He was fitted for a mask and will try it on before the exhibition opener with AIC. If he feels comfortable with it on during UConn's 2:30 p.m. shootaround, he'll likely see some time -- though he won't be in the starting lineup.
Jim Calhoun said tomorrow's starting five will likely be Jeremy Lamb (who has clearly emerged as the team's leader, per the coach), Shabazz Napier (who has shown improvement in practice over the past few days), Alex Oriakhi, freshman DeAndre Daniels and Tyler Olander (who's been "our best overall big guy," according to Calhoun).
Here's my advance on the exhibition opener. A few other notes and quotes from today's availability:
*** Impressive walk-on Brendan Allen should see some significant playing time on Wednesday.
*** Calhoun feels very good about the team's man-to-man defense. The fast break has been better, too, now that Napier has been playing better.
*** Napier said he's been dealing with a sprained left ankle and a left knee injury, but is healthy now.
*** Kemba Walker and Kevin Ollie were complaining about not getting calls during scrimmages in practice. Ollie, apparently, even lobbied for a three-second violation.
"There has never been a call for the gray team," Calhoun said, "and there never will be."
*** When asked about Tony LaRussa's decision to retire as a world champion, Calhoun said, "Smart man." But he went on to stress how he has no desire to retire right now from a job he loves so much.
*** Jeremy Lamb apparently doesn't read his own press clippings. When asked how he felt about being named an AP Preseason First Team All-American, Lamb responded: “I think I heard about it yesterday. I can’t say it’s surprising, but I guess it’s a good accomplishment.”
*** Calhoun scored 27 points for AIC in a game at UConn on Dec. 1, 1964. His most memorable stat from that game?
"Eight stitches from Toby Kimball."
Indeed, Kimball tore down 28 rebounds that night, to go with 30 points in a 98-67 Husky win.
*** Enosch Wolf (right groin) has returned to practice and will be in uniform tomorrow night.
Below, some news and notes for Tuesday...
- From Brian Delaney of ESPN 1160 Radio on Cornell's potential starting five:
Cornell's Tarwater, Gray hope to provide rebounding answers
An extensive list of injured players means Cornell men's basketball athletic trainer Marc Chamberlain is earning his Christmas bonus (hopefully, he at least gets a one-year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club). Since that list includes three players (Errick Peck, Shonn Miller and Anthony Gatlin) capable of playing the "four" in Bill Courtney's up-tempo system, it leaves the Big Red with some serious concerns in the categories of rebounding and interior depth.
It also presents the team's healthy players with an opportunity. Two guys immediately impacted are 6-foot-3 junior guard Johnathan Gray and 6-6 sophomore forward Dwight Tarwater. At this stage, both are first-unit players who've had strong preseasons - Gray at the three and Tarwater at the four. Both separately said they're entrenched in a whatever-coach-wants-me-to-do mold.
"If coach needs me to guard some bigger guys, I'm all for it," Tarwater said. "As long as I'm contributing to the team and helping."
Tarwater played seven games a year ago before mononucleosis sidelined him for the rest of the season. If he had played one more game, he said, he would have qualified for a year of eligibility. Instead, he has four years of eligibility remaining. Like classmate Dominic Scelfo, Tarwater said he plans on playing for four years.
On the court, Tarwater is athletic, physical and tough. His perimeter shot has improved and he's mobile. His defense, though, is a work-in-progress.
"He understands that that's a big part of his game he needs to improve upon because he can be asked to guard a three-man on the perimeter and try and contain dribble penetration, or he can be asked to guard a four where he'd have to really do the job and work in the post," Courtney said.
Gray showed flashes of brilliance as a sophomore. He also showed flashes of maddening inconsistency, particularly with questionable shot selection. In short, he was a young player maturing. But he's as good a rebounding guard as Cornell has on its roster, his long wingspan can be bothersome on defensive traps and he has an unwavering confidence in his ability to score.
"(I'm looking to be) a guy who's going to contribute, on the boards, hustle, scoring," Gray said. "We need somebody that can incorporate some scoring within the offense sometimes. And also when stuff breaks down, we need a guy who can score when there's really nothing (there)."
Gray certainly can be that guy. In practice, he regularly hits at-the-buzzer shots in drills that make teammates shake their heads. The key is knowing when to shoot when the shot clock isn't bearing down. Last year, that part of the game was an ongoing learning curve for Gray.
If the season started tomorrow (it starts Nov. 11), Gray and Tarwater would likely start alongside Chris Wroblewski, Drew Ferry and Eitan Chemerinski. Gray and Tarwater's rebounding responsibilities are paramount in taking pressure off Chemerinski, Josh Figini and the Big Red's thin cast of bigs.
"It's just an opportunity," Gray said. "It's an opportunity for us to stand up and show coach what he has. Of course we'd like to get Errick, Shonn and Gat back, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to stand up and show coach what he's got on the bench."
- UBBullRun.com previews the Big Red, a Buffalo opponent in 2011-2012 and writes:
Who the Heck are we playing? Cornell
The Big Red had one heck of a letdown last year after their 2009-2010 season featured some really impressive wins in the NCAA tournament. While last season they finished with a mere ten wins it should be noted that six of those were in the last nine games. The Big red were a team that found their feet late in the year who hope that some momentum will spill over into this fall.
But the media does not see it that way, in fact they are picked sixth out of eight ivy league teams. They finish just ahead of Columbia, a team that beat them twice last season. On the Harvey Birdman Warning System Cornell qualifies as a code Blue. They might be the only blue of the season but they have earned it.
In addition to a pretty bad season last year they are dealing with worse personnel problems than Buffalo and this year we have them at Alumni.
If I am wrong about Cornell it is because senior Chris Wroblewski, an He’s an All-Ivy candidate, will step up to fill a leadership gap that never quite got worked out last season. What Cornell did have last season, decent inside play, is up in the air as the team lost some major role players to graduation.
If you want to follow Cornell Hoops a little closer go [ahead] and check out "The Cornell Basketball Blog"
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 Venue Allumni Arena Opponent Cornell Conference Ivy League 2011 Record 10-18 (6-8 Ivy) All Time vs UB Buffalo 14 Cornell 27 Last Game 1/3/11 Buffalo 78 @ Cornell 66
- For those who missed the Red-White Game on October 22 and did not see the full recap, here it is below:
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior Drew Ferry scored 19 points and Chris Wroblewski finished just two rebounds shy of a triple-double to help White top Red 76-41 on Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena in Bartels Hall in the annual Red-White Scrimmage. The game was the first opportunity for fans to see the Cornell men's team in action prior to the 2011-12 regular season.
Ferry connected on five 3-pointers and had three assists and two steals without a turnover, while backcourt mate Wroblewski controleld the game with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The duo led four double figure scorers, as Dwight Tarwater chipped in with 17 points and Josh Figini notched 10. Both players also recorded five rebounds. Freshman Galal Cancer also had a strong debut with seven rebounds and five assists.The White team posted 21 assists and just six turnovers in picking up the win for assistant coach Marlon Sears.
The Red team's lone double figure scorer was Johnathan Gray with 10 points. Miles Asafo-Adjei scored nine points and had five assists and four rebounds. Jake Matthews scored eight points for assistant coach Mike Blaine's squad.
Cornell opens the 2011-12 season on Friday, Nov. 11 when it visits St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m. in Olean, N.Y. The Big Red opens its home slate three days later when it plays host to Binghamon on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at Newman Arena.
OUTLOOK: The Ancient Eight gets set to embark on another campaign, and last year's dramatic end to the season could be foreshadowing more great things to come. Princeton and Harvard shared the Ivy League title, setting up a one-game playoff to see which team would move on to the NCAA Tournament. In one of the more thrilling bouts of the season, the Tigers prevailed (63-62) thus earning a date with Kentucky in the first round of the Big Dance, and sending the Crimson to the NIT.
Regardless of records, the members of the Ivy League typically play each other hard each and every time they meet, and this year should be no different as it appears that as many as four or five teams could vie for the league crown. Harvard is clearly at the head of the class, as Tommy Amaker's club returns every player from last year's team, including a few All-Ivy performers. Perennial contenders Princeton and Penn will surely be in the mix once again, as both boast talented rosters, while Yale and Cornell could also figure into the equation if they catch some breaks.
The bottom tier is expected to consist of Brown, Columbia and Dartmouth, but any one of them could pull an upset or two so there will likely be plenty of dramatic moments before the 2011-12 season comes to a close.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Harvard
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. Harvard, 2. Princeton, 3. Penn, 4. Yale, 5. Cornell, 6. Brown, 7. Columbia, 8. Dartmouth
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
HARVARD: The Crimson are coming off a record-setting season, as they went 23-7 overall and 12-2 in conference to earn a share of the Ivy League title with Princeton. Unfortunately, an NCAA Tournament bid eluded the team for the 65th straight year as it lost a one-game playoff to the Tigers. Harvard did earn its first-ever invite to the postseason NIT, and coach Amaker has his team poised for another run at the Ivy crown as 12 players return to the fold, including senior co-captains Keith Wright (14.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and Oliver McNally (10.1 ppg, .926 free-throw percentage to rank second in the nation). Support is expected to come from juniors Kyle Casey (10.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Brandyn Curry (9.3 ppg, league-best 5.9 apg) and Christian Webster (13.0 ppg), and a talented crop of newcomers should also help the Crimson win significantly more games than they lose this year. Expect another special season in Cambridge.
PRINCETON: The Tigers claimed their Ivy-best 26th league title and earned their 24th NCAA Tournament bid in 2010-11, and things continue to look up for Princeton, despite the fact that it comes into this season under the tutelage of a new head coach in former alumnus Mitch Henderson. A total of four starters return, including double-digit scorers in junior forward Ian Hummer (13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and senior guard Douglas Davis (11.9 ppg). Junior center Brendan Connolly and senior forward Patrick Saunders were both regulars for the Tigers a year ago, but neither produced on a consistent basis so they will need to step up their games considerably. Harnessing the raw talent of some of the newcomers will be paramount to the team's overall success, and honing the skills of a couple of big men in 6-10 center Bobby Garbade and 6-11 forward Brian Fabrizius will be beneficial as well.
PENN: The Quakers had an up-and-down season in 2010-11, and they finished 13-15 overall and 7-7 in the Ivy. Penn coach Jerome Allen is optimistic his team can challenge for the league's top spot this time around, as three starters return, including senior guards Zack Rosen and Tyler Bernardini. Rosen (team-leading 14.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.4 apg) is a two-time First-Team All- Ivy selection, and Bernardini (12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) was the league's Rookie of the Year back in 2007-08. Sophomore guard Miles Cartwright (11.7 ppg, 3.0 apg) is the only other returnee who averaged double digits in scoring last season, and production at both ends of the court could be a concern, especially when you consider the Quakers fell into the negative in scoring differential (-1.4), rebounding (-1.6) and turnovers (-0.1) last season.
YALE: The Bulldogs went 15-13 last year, and they won eight of their 14 Ivy League bouts. The return of junior center Greg Mangano (16.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.0 bpg), who became just the sixth Ivy League player to earn a spot on a USA Basketball roster when he played in the 2011 World University Games this summer, is huge and he is just 25 blocked shots away from taking over the top spot on the school's all-time list. Last season, Mangano became the first Ivy player since 1995-96 to average a double-double. Big things are also expected from senior guard Reggie Willhite (9.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg), and last year's Yale Rookie of the Year, sophomore forward Jeremiah Kreisberg (7.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Mangano and Willhite are both seniors, so it's apparent that this is the year that coach James Jones is hoping his club climbs to the top of the Ivy League ladder.
CORNELL: The Big Red enjoyed a tremendous run in the Ivy for the three years preceding last season's disappointing 10-18 overall mark (6-8 Ivy League). Despite the poor record, it's important to note that Cornell was competitive even in defeat, dropping 10 games by five points or less. Now in his second year at the helm, coach Bill Courtney welcomes back four starters, including three double-digit scorers. Senior guard Chris Wroblewski (14.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.5 spg) is the heart and soul of the team, while supporting mates in senior guard Drew Ferry (11.9 ppg) and junior forward Errick Peck (11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) will help shoulder the burden of getting the Big Red back to the top of the Ivy standings. For that to happen however, Courtney is going to need someone, or a few guys to raise their level of play, particularly on the glass as only one player averaged as many as five rebounds per game in 2010-11.
BROWN: The Bears suffered through a rough season in 2010-11, going 11-17 overall and 4-10 in conference. Still, there were some bright spots, particularly the emergence of the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year, guard Sean McGonagill (11.8 ppg, 5.7 apg). Adding to Brown's arsenal is the return of All-Ivy junior forward Tucker Halpern (12.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), and coach Jesse Agel is hoping that guys like junior forward Andrew McCarthy (6.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and sophomore forward Dockery Walker (5.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) will elevate their games in an effort to get the Bears at least into the top half of the Ivy League standings. Brown adds six freshmen to the mix, and with just one senior on the roster it will be interesting to see if the team's relative inexperience will be a hindrance to its overall goals.
COLUMBIA: At 15-13 and 6-8 in the Ivy last year, the Lions weren't to be taken lightly. Still, it was another championship-free campaign for Columbia, but coach Kyle Smith hopes this new season brings a renewed sense of optimism. It's easy to think positively when you know the league's top returning scorer wears your uniform, as senior guard Noruwa Agho (16.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.3 apg) is back for his final season. Add junior guard Brian Barbour (13.3 ppg, 3.2 apg) to the mix and the Lions are likely to have as good a one-two punch as there is in the league this season. The key will be getting production from guys who haven't done it in the past. The Lions outrebounded the opposition by 3.5 rpg in 2010-11, but those same foes shot nearly 46 percent from the field. With a glaring lack of a rebounding presence this season, it will be up to a guy like junior center Mark Cisco (6.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) to make a splash right away.
DARTMOUTH: The Big Green have taken their lumps in recent years, and they are coming off a dreadful 5-23 campaign in which they won only one of their 14 Ivy League bouts. Unfortunately for Dartmouth and its fans, brighter skies don't appear to be on the horizon as this year's club will feature six freshmen and four sophomores. The Big Green didn't have one double-digit scorer last season, and a glaring lack of offensive production will likely haunt the team once again this year. Veteran leadership will come from 6-4 swingman David Rufful (8.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg), who has played in every game (66) since arriving on campus. Junior guard R.J. Griffin (9.4 ppg) and sophomore backcourt mate Tyler Melville (7.3 ppg, 54 assists) could make significant strides, and both will be integral to the team's overall success, or lack thereof depending on their level of play.
Regardless of records, the members of the Ivy League typically play each other hard each and every time they meet, and this year should be no different as it appears that as many as four or five teams could vie for the league crown. Harvard is clearly at the head of the class, as Tommy Amaker's club returns every player from last year's team, including a few All-Ivy performers. Perennial contenders Princeton and Penn will surely be in the mix once again, as both boast talented rosters, while Yale and Cornell could also figure into the equation if they catch some breaks.
The bottom tier is expected to consist of Brown, Columbia and Dartmouth, but any one of them could pull an upset or two so there will likely be plenty of dramatic moments before the 2011-12 season comes to a close.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Harvard
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. Harvard, 2. Princeton, 3. Penn, 4. Yale, 5. Cornell, 6. Brown, 7. Columbia, 8. Dartmouth
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
HARVARD: The Crimson are coming off a record-setting season, as they went 23-7 overall and 12-2 in conference to earn a share of the Ivy League title with Princeton. Unfortunately, an NCAA Tournament bid eluded the team for the 65th straight year as it lost a one-game playoff to the Tigers. Harvard did earn its first-ever invite to the postseason NIT, and coach Amaker has his team poised for another run at the Ivy crown as 12 players return to the fold, including senior co-captains Keith Wright (14.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and Oliver McNally (10.1 ppg, .926 free-throw percentage to rank second in the nation). Support is expected to come from juniors Kyle Casey (10.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Brandyn Curry (9.3 ppg, league-best 5.9 apg) and Christian Webster (13.0 ppg), and a talented crop of newcomers should also help the Crimson win significantly more games than they lose this year. Expect another special season in Cambridge.
PRINCETON: The Tigers claimed their Ivy-best 26th league title and earned their 24th NCAA Tournament bid in 2010-11, and things continue to look up for Princeton, despite the fact that it comes into this season under the tutelage of a new head coach in former alumnus Mitch Henderson. A total of four starters return, including double-digit scorers in junior forward Ian Hummer (13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and senior guard Douglas Davis (11.9 ppg). Junior center Brendan Connolly and senior forward Patrick Saunders were both regulars for the Tigers a year ago, but neither produced on a consistent basis so they will need to step up their games considerably. Harnessing the raw talent of some of the newcomers will be paramount to the team's overall success, and honing the skills of a couple of big men in 6-10 center Bobby Garbade and 6-11 forward Brian Fabrizius will be beneficial as well.
PENN: The Quakers had an up-and-down season in 2010-11, and they finished 13-15 overall and 7-7 in the Ivy. Penn coach Jerome Allen is optimistic his team can challenge for the league's top spot this time around, as three starters return, including senior guards Zack Rosen and Tyler Bernardini. Rosen (team-leading 14.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.4 apg) is a two-time First-Team All- Ivy selection, and Bernardini (12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) was the league's Rookie of the Year back in 2007-08. Sophomore guard Miles Cartwright (11.7 ppg, 3.0 apg) is the only other returnee who averaged double digits in scoring last season, and production at both ends of the court could be a concern, especially when you consider the Quakers fell into the negative in scoring differential (-1.4), rebounding (-1.6) and turnovers (-0.1) last season.
YALE: The Bulldogs went 15-13 last year, and they won eight of their 14 Ivy League bouts. The return of junior center Greg Mangano (16.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.0 bpg), who became just the sixth Ivy League player to earn a spot on a USA Basketball roster when he played in the 2011 World University Games this summer, is huge and he is just 25 blocked shots away from taking over the top spot on the school's all-time list. Last season, Mangano became the first Ivy player since 1995-96 to average a double-double. Big things are also expected from senior guard Reggie Willhite (9.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg), and last year's Yale Rookie of the Year, sophomore forward Jeremiah Kreisberg (7.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Mangano and Willhite are both seniors, so it's apparent that this is the year that coach James Jones is hoping his club climbs to the top of the Ivy League ladder.
CORNELL: The Big Red enjoyed a tremendous run in the Ivy for the three years preceding last season's disappointing 10-18 overall mark (6-8 Ivy League). Despite the poor record, it's important to note that Cornell was competitive even in defeat, dropping 10 games by five points or less. Now in his second year at the helm, coach Bill Courtney welcomes back four starters, including three double-digit scorers. Senior guard Chris Wroblewski (14.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.5 spg) is the heart and soul of the team, while supporting mates in senior guard Drew Ferry (11.9 ppg) and junior forward Errick Peck (11.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) will help shoulder the burden of getting the Big Red back to the top of the Ivy standings. For that to happen however, Courtney is going to need someone, or a few guys to raise their level of play, particularly on the glass as only one player averaged as many as five rebounds per game in 2010-11.
BROWN: The Bears suffered through a rough season in 2010-11, going 11-17 overall and 4-10 in conference. Still, there were some bright spots, particularly the emergence of the Ivy League's Rookie of the Year, guard Sean McGonagill (11.8 ppg, 5.7 apg). Adding to Brown's arsenal is the return of All-Ivy junior forward Tucker Halpern (12.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), and coach Jesse Agel is hoping that guys like junior forward Andrew McCarthy (6.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and sophomore forward Dockery Walker (5.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) will elevate their games in an effort to get the Bears at least into the top half of the Ivy League standings. Brown adds six freshmen to the mix, and with just one senior on the roster it will be interesting to see if the team's relative inexperience will be a hindrance to its overall goals.
COLUMBIA: At 15-13 and 6-8 in the Ivy last year, the Lions weren't to be taken lightly. Still, it was another championship-free campaign for Columbia, but coach Kyle Smith hopes this new season brings a renewed sense of optimism. It's easy to think positively when you know the league's top returning scorer wears your uniform, as senior guard Noruwa Agho (16.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.3 apg) is back for his final season. Add junior guard Brian Barbour (13.3 ppg, 3.2 apg) to the mix and the Lions are likely to have as good a one-two punch as there is in the league this season. The key will be getting production from guys who haven't done it in the past. The Lions outrebounded the opposition by 3.5 rpg in 2010-11, but those same foes shot nearly 46 percent from the field. With a glaring lack of a rebounding presence this season, it will be up to a guy like junior center Mark Cisco (6.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) to make a splash right away.
DARTMOUTH: The Big Green have taken their lumps in recent years, and they are coming off a dreadful 5-23 campaign in which they won only one of their 14 Ivy League bouts. Unfortunately for Dartmouth and its fans, brighter skies don't appear to be on the horizon as this year's club will feature six freshmen and four sophomores. The Big Green didn't have one double-digit scorer last season, and a glaring lack of offensive production will likely haunt the team once again this year. Veteran leadership will come from 6-4 swingman David Rufful (8.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg), who has played in every game (66) since arriving on campus. Junior guard R.J. Griffin (9.4 ppg) and sophomore backcourt mate Tyler Melville (7.3 ppg, 54 assists) could make significant strides, and both will be integral to the team's overall success, or lack thereof depending on their level of play.
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