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January 6, 2007 – Patriot League play begins

From December 22 to January 15 Lehigh University’s students are on winter break.  For most of that time the winter sports stay at school to train and play games.  For the men's basketball team this is a very important part of the season because it is the start of league play.

There are three parts to a college basketball season; non league play, league play, and post season play.

Ending non league play with a 5-11 record, I would say that we have definitely not played as well as we would have liked in the first part of the season.

However we have played quality opponents that will prepare us for the start of league play

Despite our slow start we have a chance to redeem ourselves.

In league play everyone is now 0 - 0.  Our challenge is to put some early season loses behind us and find a way to get on a roll.

Looking around the league we feel that we can beat anyone we play on any given night. The difference between this year and in past years, is that we know that we can also lose to any team if we don't come out ready to play.

We play American University this Saturday.  They were picked to finish third in the Patriot League and have played well in non league play.

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Game Time! – November 10

It’s five in the morning and I am writing a blog.  Why? Because I can't sleep. Why? Because we play our first game in less than 24 hours. Finally time to lace ‘em up for real and show everyone and ourselves what we got.

The only bad part about this trip and every trip is the travel.  We left Lehigh at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday for Newark Airport, which is an hour and 15 minute drive, so the team could catch a 6:30 flight.

We didn't get there until 5:45 because of traffic.  Then we rushed to the gate only to realize that the flight was delayed.

When we finally got on the plane (which was not made for people over 6-feet tall), not only were we uncomfortable, everyone's electronics ran out because of the long flight.  I sat across the aisle from our seven foot center John Gourlay.  He could barely get his legs into his seat! 

By the time we landed, got our bags and drove to the hotel it was one in the morning eastern time.

As you can see, being a student athlete at Lehigh University is not always easy. At Lehigh, student athletes are pushed just as hard on the court as other programs.  The difference is that we are pushed twice as hard in the class room. This upcoming week I have a test and three papers to worry about even though I'm not going to be in the same time zone as Lehigh this weekend.

Well I'm going to try and get some sleep.  We have three games in three days, so I'm going to need my energy. We open up against Oregon, and also play Cal-State Northridge and Portland State.  I’ll let you know how it goes....

TO RETURN TO THE LEHIGH STUDENT-ATHLETE BLOGS HOME, CLICK HERE.

Practice Begins – October 24

Conditioning is finally over!!! First week of practice is done. Jay-z has announced that he is coming out with a new album. This has been a great week for me.

As I told you before we have a very competitive schedule. At the same time we feel that every game we are going to play is winnable.

In order for us to do well, practice is key. Every practice we have, there is intense competition. Players go as hard as they possibly can for a few reasons.  Well a few reasons that all boil down into one major reason. 

1. If you don't go hard, coach will see that you are slacking and you will in turn get less playing time.

2. If you don't go hard and your team loses a specific drill, coach will see that, and you will in turn get less playing time.

3. If you don't go hard and the person at your position out works you, coach will see that and you will in turn get less playing time.

U guys notice a trend here? I think you get the point.

Preseason practices are all about earning minutes.  Every player knows that.  It makes every possession an all out war!

You really can never tell how your team is going to be until the bright lights turn on and you play your first game but I have to say that we are looking pretty good.  The freshmen have grown up quick, which is key and everyone else has been very competitive. 

With all the competition you might think that players would be fighting or not getting along, however when the whistle blows and practice is over we are still like family.

We have less than a month to get our act together before we start scrapping with other teams.  I’ll keep you posted.....

Pick up wars – September 22

Last time I told you guys about preseason and how tough it was going to be.  Well guess what? It is.  This morning we had one of the hardest workouts I have done since I have been at Lehigh. 

With all of the running and waking up early, there is one part of preseason that is fun.  There is a lot of competition. 

We try and play five on five as much as possible. When we do, we go hard.  It is not unusual for guys to get pushed, scratched, or even elbowed if it means getting a win.  The thing we do the most however is talk.  If someone calls a foul and it isn’t a foul people let him know, if one player is out-playing another player people definitely let them know.  The trash talking even starts when we pick teams.  

Normally Jose Olivero and I play on separate teams. Going back to even last year after the season, when the seniors left, we had always played on different teams for the simple reason that we both create a lot of offense for the team we are on.

So when I was picking teams with Adam Hyncik and his first pick wasn’t Jose, I told him it was going to be a long day for his team. Well maybe I said it in slightly different words, but you guys get the basic idea.

When I told Jose that we were going to be on the same team, he kind of smirked.  I could tell that he had the same thoughts that I had, which was that we were going to win every game easily. 

When we started however, it was a different story.  The other team jumped out to an early lead and beat us easily and they let us know it.  When everyone went to get water, Jose and I looked to each other and gave our “its go-time” look.  The look we always give each other to pump one another up when things are not going as planned. 

So I figured that the second game would be easy.  Wrong. This game was closer but the other team still won. 

In the end those fuzzy feelings went away, it wasn’t easy, but we won the last three or four games straight.

We told them we were just getting warmed up the first two games and they never could really beat us if we played hard.  Losing those first two games was very weird. On one hand I never enjoy losing but on the other hand, the fact that we lost is exciting because it means we have improved as a team.

Ok Lehigh, I’m out of here, but I'll keep you in the loop…..

(Speedy recovery to Kojo Mensa , Sean James and the three other players wounded in the shooting at Duquesne University this past week, my thoughts and prayers are with you.)

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August 27, 2006 – Senior Year Begins

Oh boy, senior year already, when people say college goes by quick they really don't lie. It’s Sunday night, and I just came back from a team Bar-BQ. It was the first time the entire team has spent time together. 

This summer was crazy, I am sad it is over but excited to start the year.  I spent most of the summer home in Brooklyn but I also spent time in Virginia, DC, Martha’s Vineyard, Florida, and of course Pennsylvania. 

For me, New York is always the best place to play basketball.  I spent most of the summer working out with my two close friends who also play D-I basketball at Kentucky and DePaul, respectively.  It’s always good playing with players who compete on a very high level because you have only two choices: improve or get killed. 

Even though I had fun playing at home, it was important for me to come back to Lehigh during the summer to play with the team.  Not only to improve my game but to help develop some of the younger guys. So for the second summer session I took a class three days a week at Northampton Community College.  Most of the team was there at one point or another, either taking classes or working.  It was a good experience. We definitely gelled on the court. 

The best part about being around Lehigh was getting a chance to see the freshmen play.  We have a very talented freshmen class this year.

Starting off with Paul Bayer, who is a wing from Moline, Illinois, his jump shot is automatic from anywhere on the court. I can see him being a big time scorer before his career is over.

Matt Shamis is a headsy point guard from Peoria, Illinois. He spent time this past summer working out with Michael Jordan’s old trainer so you know he is coming in more advanced than the average freshmen.

Zahir Carrington is a post player from Philly; he has all the gritty street game to go with it.  He is a high riser and a straight beast. I won't put too much of our team business out on the street, but a couple of players have already gotten dunked on. I just hope I escape the season without being one of them.  

Dave Buchberger is a wing from Cincinnati, who plays hard all of the time.  I can tell that he is going to leave it out on the court every time out.

Lastly Marquis Hall, who is a point guard from Portland, Oregon. Watch out for this kid this year, I don't want to let the cat out of the bag too soon, but we are expecting big things from him.

They are all real competitive which is very good. We lost a lot of talent and leadership with the departure of last year’s seniors so they have big shoes to fill. This year in order for us to win every player must have an impact; it’s as simple as that.

After the second summer session was over, most of the team went home. Jose Olivero, Adam Hyncik, and I decided that since we were all captains a good way to lead the team was to be in game shape at the start of the year.  So we set the week aside to do three a day workouts.  We did everything from ball handling to agility drills. I don’t know about those guys, but my body was killing me by the end of the week.

We have a challenging schedule this year.  We have Oregon, Notre Dame, and Rutgers to name a few in our non conference schedule.  Not to mention the Patriot League, which has gotten tougher every year since I've been here. 

We have a long road before the season starts but everyday counts.  For us, the start of the year is early Monday morning with a conditioning test to see who has kept themselves in shape over the summer and who has been just chillin.  Then it’s straight into preseason which is my least favorite time of the year.  Waking up early, running long distances, running short distances, doing other long torturous drills, did I mention waking up early?  Yea preseason is never fun, but it is a necessary evil.  Till next time…..

TO RETURN TO THE LEHIGH STUDENT-ATHLETE BLOGS HOME, CLICK HERE.