Everyone in the America East seems to take their shots at each other--Players, coaches and most especially fans.

With that, the AE fan's favorite basketball team and coach to poke fun of is clearly UAlbany and fearless leader Will Brown.  This is one thing for certain in a conference of surprises (see: risky players that Broadus brings in).  However, nothing is as certain as Will Brown choosing Boston University as pre-season #1 every year for the past "eight years."  Nothing.

I digress.

Granted the Danes have had some success in recent years, but why is it that the UAlbany's 'Brown-ies' get so upset when people show disdain for their beloved, yet contraversial head coach?

It's very simple.  To make up for the fact that one of their school colors is PURPLE, UAlbany fans have to do something to get their 'manliness' on, right? 

Well, why not use this 'hot spot' to your advantage and grab ahold of a Dane by the tail..  In good fun of course and not too hard!

If you want to have a UA fan gettin' all up in your grill, shaking off slobber in your face, and what have you--do one of the following (give it about 30 minutes):

--  Make fun of their Scooby mascot and purple school color.

--  Call UA a second-rate state school. I personally LOVE Suny Binghamton.. great academics I tell ya.

-- Lastly, but most impactful--on your favorite blog, message board, in an email, letter to the editor of the Times Union,  poster on the RAC, etc--call coach Will Brown any of the following: egotistical, D-Bag, Willard, Mr. St. Bonnie, or whatever else you can think of.  The Danes fans will come after you like.. um.. well.. um... a rabbid dog on a piece of meat.

Here's to you UA dawgs.  No one can take away your animalistic instinct.  Good luck this season.  Woof... Woof...

The Game

It's that time of the year.  Basketball season is almost here, and coach Lonergan and his University of Vermont  Catamounts are gearing up for a season that highlights the usual competitive America East games as well as some tough out of conference games featuring George Mason, Virginia, Loyola (Md.) and the two-time defending NCAA champion Florida Gators.  

In our traditional fashion and in preparation for another exciting and extremely challenging season, we have put together our position preview for the Catamounts.  We hope you enjoy our predictions--if you would like to discuss or make a comment, please feel free to drop in on the message board.

Point Guard:

The Starter:
Vermont will not have to worry about its point guard play this season barring injury. Junior Mike Trimboli will return for his third year at the helm for the Catamounts and he is the pre-season favorite for conference player of the year. Trimboli burst onto the America East scene from the start of his college career, taking home the conference Rookie of the Year award two seasons ago. Last year he built on his freshman campaign and was named to the all-conference first team and took home the Fan’s Choice Conference Player of the Year honors. While his numbers were very similar to his freshman year, Trimboli’s play took a step up last year. The improvement was especially noticeable during conference play where he averaged 17.9 points and 4 assists a game while shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range. While he is a bit streaky at times, Trimboli is one of the most talented shooters in the conference. He will be counted on to take over games for the Catamounts, which he has the experience, talent and mindset to thrive. With a smaller but more athletic team around him, look for the team to start running more. This could lead to more assists for Trimboli and more highlight real plays from his teammates.

Seven Days recently featured an article titled "Basket Case," written by Mike Ives. 

The article highlights the momentum of the basketball following in Vermont, but also questions it.  It mentions some of the most recent basketball events (UVM losing to Albany, Frost Heaves great success) supported by quotes from Bernie Sanders, Rich Tarrant and Mike Lonergan. 

Ives makes the following statement; "Indeed: If March Madness qualifies as a psychological condition, then the Green Mountain State is certifiably bipolar."  He continues, "With UVM, Middlebury and Norwich consistently ranked among the top skaters in the country, ice hockey poses a serious threat to hoops-induced insanity. I needed to find out — just how neurotic could Vermont really get over its hoops?"  Pretty neurotic! [have you read the message board??]