Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury<em id="yiv570245927yui_3_7_2_53_1351377530023_53"><em id="yiv570245927yui_3_7_2_53_1351377530023_53">
Signifying nothing.
***
There is no doubt we've been strutting and fretting for weeks, nay months. We're desperate to erase the memory of the school with the I in it, twice. The last syllable of recorded time, of VCU basketball time, is the plink of the front rim on Rob Brandenberg's three in that game.
Last year was fun, no doubt. How much fun?
The Rams either led basketball games or were within two possessions
for the final 382:54 of last season. That's the final nine
and one-half games, dating back to the first half of the game at Old
Dominion on February 11.
I remember the kids erasing that 10-point deficit in The Ted in
about 40 seconds. That was fun, making lighted fools of those Monarchs. It's almost bizarre to think that from that point
forward, nobody had VCU down by more than six points. Or, a three, a steal, and then a
three.
In fact, over the final 32 games of the 2011-12 season, the Rams led
or were within two possessions for all but 16:04 (out of a total of
1,285 minutes). That’s good for 98.7% of the time.
But that's all a brief candle, a walking shadow. Last year.
Whither, Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles step into a Stu that's already frothing. If last week's exhibition sellout is any indication, city of Richmond inspectors should check the stability of the Siegel Center roof Friday morning. I don't think it's hyperbole to suggest the atmosphere will top last year, when we were hanging the Final Four banner.
Think about that for a moment.
Wither, Florida Gulf Coast. I remember the banner-hanging and St. Francis, a supposed non-brand season opening blowout that became a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me 63-57 nailbiter. FGCU returns five starters and adds a 6-9 transfer from Iowa State. Andy Enfield is one of the country's best young coaches. Don't buy into the off-brand opponent cakewalk. We're in for a tussle.
(Side note: an experienced, somewhat-unknown team with a good young coach adds a 6-9 BCS conference transfer. Where have I heard that before?)
Shaka Smart said two weeks ago that he'd never been at a place where the fans have such an intimate relationship with the players. The challenge is harnessing that energy, that relationship, and playing with the Power of the Stu while keeping focused.
You see, no matter the chatter every team must execute or it's beaten. Execution requires focus, and on opening night focus will be at a premium.
But forget all that. Just be excited about the start of the season, a new season that's going to be interesting and fun on many levels.
The tomorrows indeed crept at a petty pace and I, for one, nearly died a dusty death. All of the preseason banter and words, they indeed signify nothing.
Game time.
***
The A-10 has a full weekend slate. Those games are outlined below, and for the geeks like me there are links to game notes. Enjoy!
Friday
Florida Gulf Coast at VCU <a href="http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/files/2012-13_Game_Notes_-_FGCU.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Duquesne at Albany <a href="http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110612aai.html%20" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Fordham at Texas State <a href="http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110812aac.html" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Norfolk State at Rhode Island <a href="http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/files/01-Norfolk_State.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Charleston Southern at Charlotte <a href="http://www.charlotte49ers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=23200&SPID=44799&SPSID=363433" target="_blank">Hoops home page</a> 
Liberty at Richmond
Bethune-Cookman at St. Bonaventure
Fairleigh Dickinson at Xavier <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/xavi/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/release/release_20121107aaa.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
USC-Upstate at St. Louis <a href="http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205730416%2011/10" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Saturday
Elon at Butler <a href="http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/files/1213BU-Elon1110.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Arkansas St. at Dayton <a href="http://daytonflyers.com/mens/basketball/news/?article_id=9299" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Youngstown St at George Washington <a href="http://www.gwsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110612aam.html" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Delaware at La Salle <a href="http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/11/7/MBB_1107125658.aspx?path=mbball" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Sunday
Duquesne at Georgetown <a href="http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110612aai.html" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury<em id="yiv570245927yui_3_7_2_53_1351377530023_53"><em id="yiv570245927yui_3_7_2_53_1351377530023_53">
Signifying nothing.
***
There is no doubt we've been strutting and fretting for weeks, nay months. We're desperate to erase the memory of the school with the I in it, twice. The last syllable of recorded time, of VCU basketball time, is the plink of the front rim on Rob Brandenberg's three in that game.
Last year was fun, no doubt. How much fun?
The Rams either led basketball games or were within two possessions
for the final 382:54 of last season. That's the final nine
and one-half games, dating back to the first half of the game at Old
Dominion on February 11.
I remember the kids erasing that 10-point deficit in The Ted in
about 40 seconds. That was fun, making lighted fools of those Monarchs. It's almost bizarre to think that from that point
forward, nobody had VCU down by more than six points. Or, a three, a steal, and then a
three.
In fact, over the final 32 games of the 2011-12 season, the Rams led
or were within two possessions for all but 16:04 (out of a total of
1,285 minutes). That’s good for 98.7% of the time.
But that's all a brief candle, a walking shadow. Last year.
Whither, Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles step into a Stu that's already frothing. If last week's exhibition sellout is any indication, city of Richmond inspectors should check the stability of the Siegel Center roof Friday morning. I don't think it's hyperbole to suggest the atmosphere will top last year, when we were hanging the Final Four banner.
Think about that for a moment.
Wither, Florida Gulf Coast. I remember the banner-hanging and St. Francis, a supposed non-brand season opening blowout that became a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me 63-57 nailbiter. FGCU returns five starters and adds a 6-9 transfer from Iowa State. Andy Enfield is one of the country's best young coaches. Don't buy into the off-brand opponent cakewalk. We're in for a tussle.
(Side note: an experienced, somewhat-unknown team with a good young coach adds a 6-9 BCS conference transfer. Where have I heard that before?)
Shaka Smart said two weeks ago that he'd never been at a place where the fans have such an intimate relationship with the players. The challenge is harnessing that energy, that relationship, and playing with the Power of the Stu while keeping focused.
You see, no matter the chatter every team must execute or it's beaten. Execution requires focus, and on opening night focus will be at a premium.
But forget all that. Just be excited about the start of the season, a new season that's going to be interesting and fun on many levels.
The tomorrows indeed crept at a petty pace and I, for one, nearly died a dusty death. All of the preseason banter and words, they indeed signify nothing.
Game time.
***
The A-10 has a full weekend slate. Those games are outlined below, and for the geeks like me there are links to game notes. Enjoy!
Friday
Florida Gulf Coast at VCU <a href="http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/files/2012-13_Game_Notes_-_FGCU.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Duquesne at Albany <a href="http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110612aai.html%20" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Fordham at Texas State <a href="http://www.fordhamsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110812aac.html" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Norfolk State at Rhode Island <a href="http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/files/01-Norfolk_State.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Charleston Southern at Charlotte <a href="http://www.charlotte49ers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=23200&SPID=44799&SPSID=363433" target="_blank">Hoops home page</a> 
Liberty at Richmond
Bethune-Cookman at St. Bonaventure
Fairleigh Dickinson at Xavier <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/xavi/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/release/release_20121107aaa.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
USC-Upstate at St. Louis <a href="http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205730416%2011/10" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Saturday
Elon at Butler <a href="http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/files/1213BU-Elon1110.pdf" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Arkansas St. at Dayton <a href="http://daytonflyers.com/mens/basketball/news/?article_id=9299" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Youngstown St at George Washington <a href="http://www.gwsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110612aam.html" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Delaware at La Salle <a href="http://www.goexplorers.com/news/2012/11/7/MBB_1107125658.aspx?path=mbball" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>
Sunday
Duquesne at Georgetown <a href="http://www.goduquesne.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110612aai.html" target="_blank">Game Notes</a>