STANFORD - The Aggies and Cardinal are fighting for their lives in an elimination game at Sunken Diamond. Stanford is ahead 3-2 heading into the top of the fifth.
UCD pitcher Bryan Evans is laboring, but he escapes a two-on, two-out situation in the top of the inning, inducing Stanford's dangerous catcher Jason Castro to fly out to center to end the inning.
The Aggies had Stanford pitcher Jeffrey Inman on the ropes in the first inning, loading the bases with no outs. The Aggies settle for a single run and Inman seems to have settled down in the third and fourth.
Stanford's second run scored when UCD left fielder Kevin James loses Randy Molina's fly ball in the sun. Castro scored on the play and Molina wound up at second for a double.
Evans is at 91 pitches, so it will be interesting how much longer he can go.
UPDATE at 2:51 p.m. The Aggies tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth on Ryan Scoma's two-out, RBI single to right. Ryan Royster reaches on a bunt single to lead off the inning and scores from second on the single.
UPDATE at 3:03 p.m. UCD reliever Andy Suiter replaces Evans with a runner at third and one out and keeps the game tied. Jake Schlander strikes out and Cord Phelps grounds out. Evans finishes with 113 pitches in 5 1/3 innings.
UPDATE AT 3:21 p.m. Suiter works out a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh as Brandon Domarack pops up to third baseman Ty Kelly to end the inning.
UPDATE AT 3:34. Jake Jefferies, who has struggled for much of the regional, singles against Inman with one out to tie Dave Nix for the single-season school record in hits with 95. Kelly had reached on an error prior to the hit. But Inman retires Scoma to end the inning. Marco Grifantini replaces Suiter in the top of the eighth.
UPDATE AT 3:47 p.m. The Aggies summon closer Justin Fitzgerald to pitch with one on and out out in the eighth. Fitzgerald allows a single to Cord Phelps to put runners at first and third, but Joey August grounds into an inning-ending double play.
UPDATE at 4:04 p.m. The Aggies have the lead! Matt Dempsey's sacrifice fly to left scores Evan Hudson to make it 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth. UCD uses a hit-and-run single from Grant Hirnese to set up Dempsey's RBI.
UPDATE at 4:11 The lead is gone! Castro reaches on Hudson's fielding error and Brent Milleville unloads on a 1-and-0 fastball from Fitzgerald over the left-field fence. The Stanford bench is going nuts! Molina follows with a double and Trevor Fox replaces Fitzgerald, who entered the game with 15 saves. Fox strikes out Sean Ratliff but walks pinch-hitter Toby Gerhart, and Jeremy McChesney is the new UCD pitcher.
UPDATE at 4:28: Stanford continues to pile it on. The Cardinal up the lead to 7-4 with consecutive RBI singles from Zach Jones and Schlander against McChesney. Colin McCusker is UCD's seventh pitcher.
UPDATE at 4:31: Phelps' RBI single scored one more run, but Joey August hits into a double play to end the inning. Stanford leads 8-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
FINAL UPDATE at 4:44: Kelly and Jefferies each single with two outs, but Scoma grounds out to end the game. With the hit, Jefferies is the school's single-season hit leader with 96. Kelly was 8-for-13 in the regional and finishes the season at .397.
STANFORD 8, UC DAVIS 4.
The Cardinal will play Pepperdine at 5:45 p.m.
Showing posts with label live blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label live blogs. Show all posts
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
LIVE: Big West semifinal No. 2 UC Davis vs. No. 3 UC Riverside
1:30 p.m. ANAHEIM -- So this is the Big West Tournament, huh?
Not bad. The set-up is a little strange because the Arena is oblong. I think it’s probably a strange place to shoot. But we’ll see how the Aggies react to this in their first-ever Big West Tournament game. Also, we’ll see if anyone other than UC Santa Barbara fans bother to show up today.
Preamble: UCD guard Haylee Donaghe probably put it best this week when she said that every game the team played for the rest of the year would be “the most important in the history of school in women’s basketball.” That’s certainly the case for the Division I era. This tournament is the conference’s showpiece event, and for the Aggies to do what they’ve done on the first try is really impressive. UCD clinched its bye into the semifinals eight days ago with a 62-41 win over UC Riverside at The Pavilion. The Aggies outscored the Highlanders 40-15 in the second half of that game. You read that right. Riverside’s top scorer Seyram Gbewonyo missed that game through suspension. She’s here this afternoon for the rematch.
Riverside head coach John Margaritis said on the pretournament conference call that he was concerned coming into the tournament because his team simply wasn’t playing well. It couldn’t score, he said, which was casting a negative tinge over all the things it could do. The Highlanders, who have won this tournament twice in a row, scored 59 points in their quarterfinal win over Cal State Fullerton. And while that’s a considerable improvement over 41, it’s impossible to know just how much significance to attach to it. So I won’t bother to try.
The winner gets UC Santa Barbara, which is currently pummeling Cal Poly by 22 with 7 minutes, 42 seconds to play. The Mustangs’ effort even though they’ve been down big has been pretty impressive.
Dignitaries: How do you know this is a big game? The UCD sports information department has traded its usual uniform of golf shirt and khakis for a jacket and tie, that's how. UCD chancellor Larry Vanderhoef is here. So is vice chancellor for student affairs Fred Wood. Athletic Director Greg Warzecka, not surprisingly, has made the trip as well. Administrator emeritus Pam Gill-Fisher is in The Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center as well. Here in spirit is men’s soccer coach Dwyane Shaffer is here is spirit. The Big West Coach of the Year’s smiling face is peering out from an exhibit just outside the arena of current conference champions.
And it’s over: No. 1 UC Santa Barbara 77, No. 5 Cal Poly 57. The Gauchos advance to their 12th consecutive conference championship game.
UCD-UCR tip-off: Is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
The implications: A win today assures UCD of a postseason future, either in the NCAA Tournament or in the 48-team WNIT. Now that it is owned by the NCAA, the WNIT awards every regular-season conference champion an automatic berth (in the Big West that’s UCSB). If that team goes to the NCAA tournament, the WNIT spot goes to the second-place finisher (the Aggies). That would also be true, by the way, if the Aggies lost and the Gauchos beat the Highlanders tomorrow.
As we reported today in the daily fishwrap, UCD has not made a bid to host games in the WNIT because of scheduling conflicts at The Pavilion. Should the Aggies end up advancing in that tournament, the athletic department may submit a future bid.
Dramatis personae:
UCD: Starters: G-Kirsten Commins; G-Haylee Donaghe; C-Paige Mintun; F-Jessica Campbell; F-Heather Bates. Subs: G-Anna Harp; G-Genevieve Costello; C-Tatiana Armstrong; C-Monica Mertle; C-Ashley Curry.
UCR:Starters: G-Brittany Waddell; G-Seyram Gbewonyo; F-Roney Friend F-Amber Cox; C-Tainoisouti Lott.
Subs G-Shynell Foree; G-Jacqueline Coble; G-Alyssa Morris; G-Courtney Good; C-Katerina Glyniadaki; G/F-Jessie Schmuckal; G-Vanessa Campillo; G-Jaleesa Connor; G-Chanel Foster.
UCD's lone injury doubt was Anna Harp (knee). She's been going through the warm-ups and my information is that she'll be available.
Around the arena: The crowd has thinned some from the opener, although there is a healthy group of UCD supporters seated on my left in one of the corners. There looks to be about a 20-person detachment from the Aggie Pack, a loud Band that has drawn a positive review from one of the ushers, Gunrock and some cheerleaders. UCSB's coaching staff is camped out behind one of the rims scouting.
20:00 1st: UCD 0, UCR 0: As Dr. Naismith intended, the game will being with a jump ball, Mintun vs. Lott. The tap goes to UCR and we’re under way.
18:39 1st: UCD 5, UCR 2: After Cox opened with a jumper, UCD fed Donaghe on back-to-back possessions, beating Waddell and getting to the foul line twice, once to complete a 3-point play.
15:58 1st: UCD 7, UCR 5: UCD’s defensive rebounding leaves a little to be desired in the early going, but the pressure is having the desired effect. Riverside opened 1-for-6 before Cox drained a 3-pointer. Highlanders have seven shot attempts to UCD’s three.
13:54 1st: UCD 9, UCR 5: Aggie pressure is causing problems. Commins’ steal leads to easy basket for Bates on the other end. UCD is generally finding its way to rim on the offensive end.
13:26 1st: UCD 9, UCR 5: Donaghe has been fouled three times, all going to the basket. She’s 3-for-5 from the line.
11:29 1st: UCD 9, UCR 8: Neither team has scored in a while. Deflection-happy UCD is removing all flow from the Riverside halfcourt offense. On the other end, the Highlanders are allowing UCD to the hoop, but the Aggies aren’t finishing. The rebounding has evened out. Cox still has all UCR’s points. That changes as Friend hits two free throws.
11:00 1st: UCD 12, UCR 8: UCD’s drought breaks with its first 3 of the game, by Costello from the elbow
9:32 1st: UCD 12, UCR 12: Lott ties the game with a layup, then picks up her second foul, a block on the other end. Lott appeared to get the worst of the exchange and had to helped off the court.
7:27 1st: UCD 16, UCR 14: UCD continues to open the back door against the Riverside defense, but its finishing is suspect. It is earning foul shots though and Bates hits two from the line. Meanwhile, the Aggies are being outrebounded 14-7, although the second-chance points aren’t really factor yet.
6:43 1st: UCD 16, UCR 14: Commins picks up her second personal, bringing in Anna Harp. Harp immediately forces a turnover along the sideline.
5:50 1st: UCD 18, UCR 14: Harp’s knee appears to give way as she fights for a rebound. She’s getting attention on the bench. Then she heads to the bike behind the Aggie bench. Porshneva hits two free throws.
3:36 1st: UCD 19, UCR 20: Lot of action, but all the scoring has been from the foul line. Riverside is being physical with UCD’s cutters and the officials aren’t being particularly generous with calls way from the ball. On the defensive end, the Aggies are tipping a lot of a passes, but then coming in second in the races to the loose ball. Donaghe has picked up her second personal on a scramble for a loose ball near halfcourt. Foster gives the Highlanders their first lead in a while. Harp has returned.
3:24 1st: UCD 19, UCR 21: Harp picks up two quick fouls and the Highlanders are in the double bonus. UCR has extended its defense, and giving the Aggies plenty of trouble.
1:29 1st: UCD 22, UCR 22: Costello fires the Aggies back into the lead from the corner. On the other end, Bates picks up her second personal. Gbewonyo splits free throws to tie it.
0:04 1st: UCD 24, UCR 22: Campbell hits a jumper to put the Aggies ahead at the intermission.
Halftime: 20 minutes of basketball, 12 total field goals. Honestly, this is a UC Davis sort of game. The Aggies have won four games in which they’ve hit 17 or fewer field goals this year. Riverside is 10-for-48 in its last 40 minutes of basketball against UCD.
The Aggies are struggling against Riverside’s defense. The Highlanders are extending pressure well beyond the NBA 3-point line and forcing UCD to initiate its offense from further away then it would like. That has created some of the trouble. Riverside is also doing a solid job of not submitting to the Aggie pressure. There have been a lot of tips, but UCD isn’t coming up them.
From the stat sheet: Donaghe and Gbewonyo lead their teams with seven points each.
UCD has five players – Harp, Commins, Bates, Donaghe and Porshneva with two fouls. Riverside had three – Friend, Lott and Campillo.
20:00 2nd: UCD 24, UCR 22: Riverside will restart play from halfcourt.
17:07 2nd: UCD 26, UCR 31: Cox hits a 3, Bates answers with a backdoor layup. Then Gbewonyo beats the shot clock with a 3. Wadell adds a 3 as Riverside threatens an honest-to-goodness run. Donaghe, who has been UCD’s most effective player offensively picks up her third foul on a charge call.
15:58 2nd: UCD 28, UCR 31: Riverside’s recent offensive outburst has brought its field-goal percentage to 25 percent (8-for-32). UCD’s two baskets this half have come off Heather Bates’ drives to the rim. UCD has attempted just 19 shots
15:18 2nd: UCD 28, UCR 31: Bates has picked up her third foul, also on a charge.
14:16 2nd: UCD 30, UCR 31: UCD has committed three offensive fouls this half. Porshneva gets her third as she tries to get position in the post.
13:28 2nd: UCD 30, UCR 34: Now Commins has her third personal, a 3-shot foul for hitting Waddell as she airballed a 3-pointer. Commins didn’t agree, but suddenly the Aggies appear to be rocking every so slightly. The fouls are mounting and the preferred rotation only goes eight deep. Waddell hits the first two, waits out a full timeout and then hits the third.
11:47 2nd: UCD 34, UCR 37: Waddell hit another 3 to extend the lead to five. UCD offers a quick answer, with a Donaghe deflection leading to a Costello layup. Simpson appears to be dialing up the defensive pressure, a dangerous game with fouls mounting.
11:02 2nd: UCD 38, UCR 37: Now it’s Riverside’s turn to almost get a key turnover. After multiple deflections Donaghe hits a layup as she’s fouled. Donaghe misses the free throw, but Bates rebounds and that leads to a Porshneva hook shot to put the Aggies back in the lead.
10:00 2nd: UCD 41, UCR 39: Cox hits a jumper, but Campbell answers, converting a 3-point play to put the Aggies back in the lead. Friend misses a jumper on the next trip and Riverside takes a timeout after the rebound squirts out of bounds to UCD. It has two remaining.
7:26 2nd: UCD 46, UCR 45: Just when it feels as though UCD is danger of pulling away, Riverside hits a big shot. Down 43-39, Waddell cans a 3. Harp answers with a triple and then Gbewonyo hits another one from the elbow. UCD has tied the rebounding margin and starting to find room offensively. But Highlanders won’t go away without a fight.
6:33 2nd: UCD 49, UCR 47: Gbewonyo hits a runner to put the Highlanders in front. Then Harp converts a 3-point play. Big play by the sophomore.
6:17 2nd: UCD 50, UCR 47: Donaghe makes a steal and is fouled as she goes in for the lay up. She missed the front end, her fifth straight missed free throw, before converting the second to make a three-point game.
5:29 2nd: UCD 52, UCR 47: Lott missed a bunny on the low block. UCD answers as Donaghe finishes against the shot clock. Now Riverside is wobbling.
3:57 2nd: UCD 52, UCR 47: UCD turns the ball over, survives two open looks from outside before getting the rebound and then turns the ball over again. The Aggies are a couple of plays away, but they still haven’t made them.
2:38 2nd: UCD 55, UCR 47: Bates hits an open 3 to make it an eight-point game. Friend misses a jumper and UCD rebounds. It now has a 28-25 edge. Timeout UCD. This could make things really tricky for Riverside.
2:25 2nd: UCD 56, UCR 47: Donaghe is tripped as she drives to the hoop and is awarded two shots. She misses the first short and hits the second.
1:12 2nd: UCD 56, UCR 49: UCD was close to finishing it off, but a turnover down low led to a quick break and basket by Friend. Campbell misses the jumper, but Riverside can’t convert on the other end. Ball is out of bounds to UCD. The Aggies are within touching distance of what the English would call a famous victory.
54.3 2nd: UCD 56, UCR 49: Aggies run the shot clock down to nine seconds with the possession. Bates gets in trouble and UCD uses a time-out.
44.7 2nd: UCD 58, UCR 49: Harp hits a stunning runner against the shot clock that I can only hope Wayne Tilcock, our photographer, caught.
19.4 2nd: UCD 61, UCR 51: Campbell seals it with two from the line.
Final: UCD 63, UCR 53
Friday, November 23, 2007
NCAA College Cup Live Blog: Cal 2-1 UC Davis
Preamble: And they said UC Davis and Cal would never play football against each other. Of course this probably wasn’t the sort of football they (whoever they are) had it mind. We are here high atop ancient Edwards Stadium, for UC Davis’ first-ever Division I postseason game. It’s fitting, in a way, that it would come against the Bears from Berkeley. This is one of those in-the-family clashes UCD had in mind when it made the move to D-I. I’ve never been in Edwards before. The view from the top row is fabulous, with the Berkeley Hills, clocktower, Haas Pavilion and Bancroft Street visible without any real effort. The stadium itself is cavernous. Cal averaged 474 fans per game.
The Aggies are a fantastic story. In their first season of postseason eligibility, they reached the postseason by finishing second in a strong Big West. They did it with a direct attacking mindset, emphasizing substance over style. UCD head coach Dwayne Shaffer said he didn’t expect to make any changes from that style. Cal is a well-organized team that is difficult to break down. The best case scenario for the Aggies would be to scrape an early goal and then settle in. Easier said than done. The Bears are in their seventh straight postseason and haven’t lost in the first round since 2001.
The way this works is that I will be updating things at the top of the page as the game goes along. So the newest stuff will be up top. This format (although not my wit) is stolen from The Guardian in England, who does this sort of thing for big matches.
Anyway here’s some housekeeping: The winner gets a date on Nov. 28 at 11th-seed Virginia Tech. No. 6 Brown, No. 3 Connecticut and No. 14 Akron are the other seeded teams in this section of the draw. The College Cup will be awarded on Dec. 16 in Cary, N.C. live on ESPN2. The NCAA would also like you to know it has a website, which can be found at ncaa.org.
1:10 p.m. It looks like there will be a pretty solid crowd. I see a lot of people in UC Davis shirts. The Aggies will be in dark blue. The Bears were required to wear white by the NCAA. It's a windy day here in Berkeley, which probably will benefit the team that can keep the ball on ground.
1:15 p.m. They have run out of game programs, which suggests a fairly nice crowd.
1:25 p.m.: The teams have taken the field, and after a slight delay the national anthem starts. The PA announcer reminds everyone for the third time that no artificial noisemakers are allowed. I'd say UCD's fans are louder and more present, although we'll see what happens once the game starts.
1 min: UCD kicks off. They will be playing into the wind in the first half. The first Division I team postseason in school history is under way
2 mins: There's still a long line of people waiting to get in. UCD has tried a couple of attacks down the flanks, but so far haven't really looked dangerous
3 min: Cal gets the first set piece opportunity after a foul about 35 yards from goal. Andrew Jacobson's long serve into the UCD penalty area bounces over the end line.
5 mins: First dangerous chance goes to Cal. Jacobson is sent in on a nifty one-two, but the pass is too strong and he has no angle when he gains possession in the Aggie area. His shot goes wide on the short side.
6 mins: Quincy Amarikwa wins a long serve off a free kick from midfield, but his shot sails wide.
7 mins: Midfielder Ian Conklin saves a goal on the far post on a header after a long throw in. Cal looks the more dangerous team right now.
10 mins: Good end-to-end action here. Dylan Curtis finds some space in the middle of the penalty area, but can't get much on his shot. On the other end, Cal has some possession, before Quincy Amarikwa dispossesses.
12 mins: More danger in the UCD penalty area. A soft forward ball for Javier Ayala-Hil eluded GK Ryan McCowan, but Jake Mogelson was there to clear it. Cal has looked more dangerous going forward
15 mins: Some nifty step over action by Amarikwa creates a chance for Conklin, whose attempt is dealt with by the Bears' back line.
18 mins: UCD continues to try and hoof it forward for Amarikwa, who is doing a good job of holding the ball up against multiple defenders. As I write that. Dylan Curtis steals a lazy pass at midfield and rips off a dangerous run. Sule Anibaba is a second late and can't get to the cross.
20 mins: Great chance for UCD. Paul Cain's long throw is picked up by Amarikwa along the end line. He makes a nifty move to cut around his defender. The Cal GK can't handle the cross and it rolls out to Ahmad Hatfie, whose shot from 20 yards sails high. Still a nice opportunity.
22 mins: Amarikwa wins a corner, which is long, but turns into a shot attempt, by someone I didn't see. Cal's counter attack is ruled offside. The game is seriously picking up.
23 mins: Another corner for UCD. Dylan Curtis' ball reaches Paul Cain at the far post, whose shot is handled well by Stefan Frei. Now's it's Cal hoofing it forward and the Aggie attack is buzzing.
25 mins: Sule Anibaba's name goes into the book after clipping Javier Ayala-Hil about 35 yards from goal. It was a scoring chance, so it makes sense. The free kick goes out for a corner, which is cleared by UCD's Nicholas Lind.
27 mins: Amarikwa wins a long ball to Nicholas Lind, who fired wide. UCD is outshooting Cal 5-2
29 mins: Things have slowed down a bit as the goalkeepers take turns booting long balls down field. Nothing much in terms of build up, but UCD wins its third corner off one of those long plays.
30 mins: And it's a dangerous one as Sule Anibaba meets Dylan Curtis's inswinger with a header that flies over the ball
GOAL 33 mins Andrew Jacobson Cal 1-0 UCD A brilliant strike from about 30 yards on a ball that looked like nothing. The senior midfielder picked out the top corner. It may be against the run of play, but now the Aggies have some work to do.
34 mins: Now the Bears are buzzing. Davis Paul has a dangerous chance and Bears have some extended possession.
35 mins: Jacobson, the goal scorer, goes into the book after clattering into Amarikwa along the sideline. The forward had gone all the way back to end Cal's run of possession. It was a late challenge after the ball had already gone out of bounds. The free kick comes to nothing.
36 mins: A nifty ball springs Cal's leading scorer, Andrew Weideman, down the left side. He dekes his way past one defender and fires a dangerous curling shot over the crossbar.
39 mins: Ahmad Hatfie wins the ball with some nifty work at midfield and Amarikwa wins a corner. It's played short to Hatfie, whose curling ball from 25 yards way is dealt with easily.
41 mins: Amarikwa continues to give the Bears defense fits. He wins a no-hope long ball then turns it into a corner. Then he's there at the far post on the inswinger, but his boot directs the ball over the bar.
43 mins: UCD's best chance of the first half goes begging. Paul Marcoux runs onto a long ball down the left channel and is alone with the keeper. His shot from a tough angle nestles into the side netting on the wrong side of the crossbar.
45 mins: One of those great moments you only see in college soccer. UCD wins a corner with 30 seconds left in the half. The ball has started to bounce away onto the track, but an Aggie tracks it down and boots it into the penalty area before time can expire. The disorder actually briefly looks promising.
Halftime: UCD goes into the half down a goal, but it seemed to me as though it had the better of the play. Cal’s goal was a nice piece of individual skill and the ball seemed to duck in under the crossbar. The Aggies will have the wind at their back in the second half, so it will be interesting to see if that changes things.
46 mins: The teams are back on the field. Cal will kick off going into the wind.
48 mins: UCD wins the ball in Cal's half, and Amarikwa leaves the ball for Lind, who runs onto it from 25 yards and the shot skips wide.
49 mins: Cal's Pat Marion steals the ball on the right wing and starts a dangerous run forward. It ends with the someone (I didn't see who) driving the ball over the UCD goal. But it was a nice chance.
50 mins: Nick Lind sprints through the Cal defense, beating a couple of defenders to win UCD's ninth corner. Wiedeman, back to defend, blocks Matt Slagle's header with his own head. Cal takes possession on the counterattack.
51 mins: Amarikwa continues to inflict trouble on Cal. Coming up the right, his through-pass finds Sule Anibaba a step offside. It appears UCD has moved moved Anibaba into a more forward position.
55 mins: Great save by UCD's McCowan. The Aggies were pushed far forward and Javier Ayala-Hill set up a great counter opportunity for Luke Sassano, alone in the middle of the penalty area. The defender's shot appears ticketed for the far corner, but the McCowan kicked it away for a corner.
58 mins: Both keepers take turns being caught out on long balls. First Cal's Stefen Frei has to punch the ball away from Amarikwa, barreling in on a bouncer. Then McCowan runs 30 yards to prevent Ayala-Hill from controlling a loose ball. UCD is holding the ball more, but Cal looks really dangerous on the counterattack.
62 mins: Cal wins a corner, which goes whizzing dangerously through the penalty area. It falls to Wiedeman, whose curling shot can’t quite tuck inside the far post. The Bears are getting closer, the Aggies appear to have hit a lull at a bad time. UCD coach Dwayne Shaffer sends in four substitutes.
64 mins: Amarikwa tries to answer with a long-range effort of his own, but the low line drive shot is not on target.
66 mins: Amarikwa wins another ball in traffic, but his from 20 yards is handled relatively easily. Cal looks fairly comfortable in defense unless Amarikwa is running at them.
67 mins: Jacobson plays Servando Carrasco into open space on the left side of the UCD penalty area, but McCowan easily handles the crossface shot.
69 mins: Cal brings on Patrick Dolan, bringing our Mohawk count to two (UCD's Sule Anibaba is the other).
72 mins: Paul Marcoux drives another long range shot that forces a diving save from Frei. Then the Aggies create a great chance down the left side, but the header attempt by Chris Leer sails just high. Two great chances, but UCD can't seem to finish.
GOAL UCD Amarikwa 75 Cal 1-1 UCD Amarikwa heads home a really, really long throw in from Paul Cain. The ball came from about 30 yards away and Amarikwa latched onto it from about four yards out and beat Frei. Now we have a game.
76 mins: And Cal nearly answers right away. A series of corner kicks leads to a couple of great opportunities. UCD doesn't look all that steady at the back. It needs to be going forward.
77 mins: The Aggies break out from Cal siege and nearly put themselves up. Paul Marcoux, make a great run down the right side and picks out Amarikwa in the penalty area. His header is caught by Frei. End-to-end stuff.
85 mins: Cal just missed going ahead. Carrasco latches onto a cross and his header just missed high. Then Carrasco hits the crossbar on a great opportunity. UCD is hanging on for dear life.
86 mins: And then the Aggies just miss. Chris Leer runs onto a long ball down the right, creates some space and fires it just wide. Leer is set in again moments later by Amarikwa and the shot goes high.
88 mins: Nice free kick from a dangerous position is lofted in by Jacobson. UCD is there.
90 mins: Cal's last chance comes to nothing and we're headed to overtime.
Overtime: This has been a thrilling second half. Here's the format for extra time, two 10-minute periods with the first goal winning. If it isn't settled then, the match will be decided by a penalty kick shoot out.
91 mins: Cal kicks off to start the first overtime period. UCD will have the wind.
92 mins: Carrasco, who has been Cal's most dangerous offensive player in the second half, is injured attempting to dispossess Amarikwa who is working in the corner. The Aggies will have throw-in in a position of genuine danger about 15 yards from goal line when the game starts again.
92 mins: Cain's long throw is handled by Frei and Cal takes over going forward.
94 mins: Wiedeman takes a long pass, but has too many Aggie defenders to get through and is dispossessed. At the other end, Anibaba wins a free kick for UCD about 40 yards away.
96 mins: For a moment it looks as though Chris Leer had been sent forward down the left side, but Leer's second touch lets him down and Cal is able to take it away.
97 mins: A long ball comes to Amarikwa, who is onside, but he’s knocked over in the penalty area as he tried to get the ball onto his right foot. UCD gives a penalty shout, but it’s not answered. Probably the right decision.
100 mins: The overtime break.
101 mins: Dylan Curtis steals a lazy cross field pass and puts the Aggies on the attack. His pass into the middle is just behind Amarikwa and the threat ends.
102 mins: Jacobson sprints down the right and his shot is directed out.
GOAL Wiedeman 102 mins Cal 2-1 UCD McCowan comes out to try and punch away Luke Sassano's long throw in and doesn't get a good shot on it. It falls to Cal's leading scorer, whose ball meanders between the two Aggies guarding the far post to end the game.
The Aggies are a fantastic story. In their first season of postseason eligibility, they reached the postseason by finishing second in a strong Big West. They did it with a direct attacking mindset, emphasizing substance over style. UCD head coach Dwayne Shaffer said he didn’t expect to make any changes from that style. Cal is a well-organized team that is difficult to break down. The best case scenario for the Aggies would be to scrape an early goal and then settle in. Easier said than done. The Bears are in their seventh straight postseason and haven’t lost in the first round since 2001.
The way this works is that I will be updating things at the top of the page as the game goes along. So the newest stuff will be up top. This format (although not my wit) is stolen from The Guardian in England, who does this sort of thing for big matches.
Anyway here’s some housekeeping: The winner gets a date on Nov. 28 at 11th-seed Virginia Tech. No. 6 Brown, No. 3 Connecticut and No. 14 Akron are the other seeded teams in this section of the draw. The College Cup will be awarded on Dec. 16 in Cary, N.C. live on ESPN2. The NCAA would also like you to know it has a website, which can be found at ncaa.org.
1:10 p.m. It looks like there will be a pretty solid crowd. I see a lot of people in UC Davis shirts. The Aggies will be in dark blue. The Bears were required to wear white by the NCAA. It's a windy day here in Berkeley, which probably will benefit the team that can keep the ball on ground.
1:15 p.m. They have run out of game programs, which suggests a fairly nice crowd.
1:25 p.m.: The teams have taken the field, and after a slight delay the national anthem starts. The PA announcer reminds everyone for the third time that no artificial noisemakers are allowed. I'd say UCD's fans are louder and more present, although we'll see what happens once the game starts.
1 min: UCD kicks off. They will be playing into the wind in the first half. The first Division I team postseason in school history is under way
2 mins: There's still a long line of people waiting to get in. UCD has tried a couple of attacks down the flanks, but so far haven't really looked dangerous
3 min: Cal gets the first set piece opportunity after a foul about 35 yards from goal. Andrew Jacobson's long serve into the UCD penalty area bounces over the end line.
5 mins: First dangerous chance goes to Cal. Jacobson is sent in on a nifty one-two, but the pass is too strong and he has no angle when he gains possession in the Aggie area. His shot goes wide on the short side.
6 mins: Quincy Amarikwa wins a long serve off a free kick from midfield, but his shot sails wide.
7 mins: Midfielder Ian Conklin saves a goal on the far post on a header after a long throw in. Cal looks the more dangerous team right now.
10 mins: Good end-to-end action here. Dylan Curtis finds some space in the middle of the penalty area, but can't get much on his shot. On the other end, Cal has some possession, before Quincy Amarikwa dispossesses.
12 mins: More danger in the UCD penalty area. A soft forward ball for Javier Ayala-Hil eluded GK Ryan McCowan, but Jake Mogelson was there to clear it. Cal has looked more dangerous going forward
15 mins: Some nifty step over action by Amarikwa creates a chance for Conklin, whose attempt is dealt with by the Bears' back line.
18 mins: UCD continues to try and hoof it forward for Amarikwa, who is doing a good job of holding the ball up against multiple defenders. As I write that. Dylan Curtis steals a lazy pass at midfield and rips off a dangerous run. Sule Anibaba is a second late and can't get to the cross.
20 mins: Great chance for UCD. Paul Cain's long throw is picked up by Amarikwa along the end line. He makes a nifty move to cut around his defender. The Cal GK can't handle the cross and it rolls out to Ahmad Hatfie, whose shot from 20 yards sails high. Still a nice opportunity.
22 mins: Amarikwa wins a corner, which is long, but turns into a shot attempt, by someone I didn't see. Cal's counter attack is ruled offside. The game is seriously picking up.
23 mins: Another corner for UCD. Dylan Curtis' ball reaches Paul Cain at the far post, whose shot is handled well by Stefan Frei. Now's it's Cal hoofing it forward and the Aggie attack is buzzing.
25 mins: Sule Anibaba's name goes into the book after clipping Javier Ayala-Hil about 35 yards from goal. It was a scoring chance, so it makes sense. The free kick goes out for a corner, which is cleared by UCD's Nicholas Lind.
27 mins: Amarikwa wins a long ball to Nicholas Lind, who fired wide. UCD is outshooting Cal 5-2
29 mins: Things have slowed down a bit as the goalkeepers take turns booting long balls down field. Nothing much in terms of build up, but UCD wins its third corner off one of those long plays.
30 mins: And it's a dangerous one as Sule Anibaba meets Dylan Curtis's inswinger with a header that flies over the ball
GOAL 33 mins Andrew Jacobson Cal 1-0 UCD A brilliant strike from about 30 yards on a ball that looked like nothing. The senior midfielder picked out the top corner. It may be against the run of play, but now the Aggies have some work to do.
34 mins: Now the Bears are buzzing. Davis Paul has a dangerous chance and Bears have some extended possession.
35 mins: Jacobson, the goal scorer, goes into the book after clattering into Amarikwa along the sideline. The forward had gone all the way back to end Cal's run of possession. It was a late challenge after the ball had already gone out of bounds. The free kick comes to nothing.
36 mins: A nifty ball springs Cal's leading scorer, Andrew Weideman, down the left side. He dekes his way past one defender and fires a dangerous curling shot over the crossbar.
39 mins: Ahmad Hatfie wins the ball with some nifty work at midfield and Amarikwa wins a corner. It's played short to Hatfie, whose curling ball from 25 yards way is dealt with easily.
41 mins: Amarikwa continues to give the Bears defense fits. He wins a no-hope long ball then turns it into a corner. Then he's there at the far post on the inswinger, but his boot directs the ball over the bar.
43 mins: UCD's best chance of the first half goes begging. Paul Marcoux runs onto a long ball down the left channel and is alone with the keeper. His shot from a tough angle nestles into the side netting on the wrong side of the crossbar.
45 mins: One of those great moments you only see in college soccer. UCD wins a corner with 30 seconds left in the half. The ball has started to bounce away onto the track, but an Aggie tracks it down and boots it into the penalty area before time can expire. The disorder actually briefly looks promising.
Halftime: UCD goes into the half down a goal, but it seemed to me as though it had the better of the play. Cal’s goal was a nice piece of individual skill and the ball seemed to duck in under the crossbar. The Aggies will have the wind at their back in the second half, so it will be interesting to see if that changes things.
46 mins: The teams are back on the field. Cal will kick off going into the wind.
48 mins: UCD wins the ball in Cal's half, and Amarikwa leaves the ball for Lind, who runs onto it from 25 yards and the shot skips wide.
49 mins: Cal's Pat Marion steals the ball on the right wing and starts a dangerous run forward. It ends with the someone (I didn't see who) driving the ball over the UCD goal. But it was a nice chance.
50 mins: Nick Lind sprints through the Cal defense, beating a couple of defenders to win UCD's ninth corner. Wiedeman, back to defend, blocks Matt Slagle's header with his own head. Cal takes possession on the counterattack.
51 mins: Amarikwa continues to inflict trouble on Cal. Coming up the right, his through-pass finds Sule Anibaba a step offside. It appears UCD has moved moved Anibaba into a more forward position.
55 mins: Great save by UCD's McCowan. The Aggies were pushed far forward and Javier Ayala-Hill set up a great counter opportunity for Luke Sassano, alone in the middle of the penalty area. The defender's shot appears ticketed for the far corner, but the McCowan kicked it away for a corner.
58 mins: Both keepers take turns being caught out on long balls. First Cal's Stefen Frei has to punch the ball away from Amarikwa, barreling in on a bouncer. Then McCowan runs 30 yards to prevent Ayala-Hill from controlling a loose ball. UCD is holding the ball more, but Cal looks really dangerous on the counterattack.
62 mins: Cal wins a corner, which goes whizzing dangerously through the penalty area. It falls to Wiedeman, whose curling shot can’t quite tuck inside the far post. The Bears are getting closer, the Aggies appear to have hit a lull at a bad time. UCD coach Dwayne Shaffer sends in four substitutes.
64 mins: Amarikwa tries to answer with a long-range effort of his own, but the low line drive shot is not on target.
66 mins: Amarikwa wins another ball in traffic, but his from 20 yards is handled relatively easily. Cal looks fairly comfortable in defense unless Amarikwa is running at them.
67 mins: Jacobson plays Servando Carrasco into open space on the left side of the UCD penalty area, but McCowan easily handles the crossface shot.
69 mins: Cal brings on Patrick Dolan, bringing our Mohawk count to two (UCD's Sule Anibaba is the other).
72 mins: Paul Marcoux drives another long range shot that forces a diving save from Frei. Then the Aggies create a great chance down the left side, but the header attempt by Chris Leer sails just high. Two great chances, but UCD can't seem to finish.
GOAL UCD Amarikwa 75 Cal 1-1 UCD Amarikwa heads home a really, really long throw in from Paul Cain. The ball came from about 30 yards away and Amarikwa latched onto it from about four yards out and beat Frei. Now we have a game.
76 mins: And Cal nearly answers right away. A series of corner kicks leads to a couple of great opportunities. UCD doesn't look all that steady at the back. It needs to be going forward.
77 mins: The Aggies break out from Cal siege and nearly put themselves up. Paul Marcoux, make a great run down the right side and picks out Amarikwa in the penalty area. His header is caught by Frei. End-to-end stuff.
85 mins: Cal just missed going ahead. Carrasco latches onto a cross and his header just missed high. Then Carrasco hits the crossbar on a great opportunity. UCD is hanging on for dear life.
86 mins: And then the Aggies just miss. Chris Leer runs onto a long ball down the right, creates some space and fires it just wide. Leer is set in again moments later by Amarikwa and the shot goes high.
88 mins: Nice free kick from a dangerous position is lofted in by Jacobson. UCD is there.
90 mins: Cal's last chance comes to nothing and we're headed to overtime.
Overtime: This has been a thrilling second half. Here's the format for extra time, two 10-minute periods with the first goal winning. If it isn't settled then, the match will be decided by a penalty kick shoot out.
91 mins: Cal kicks off to start the first overtime period. UCD will have the wind.
92 mins: Carrasco, who has been Cal's most dangerous offensive player in the second half, is injured attempting to dispossess Amarikwa who is working in the corner. The Aggies will have throw-in in a position of genuine danger about 15 yards from goal line when the game starts again.
92 mins: Cain's long throw is handled by Frei and Cal takes over going forward.
94 mins: Wiedeman takes a long pass, but has too many Aggie defenders to get through and is dispossessed. At the other end, Anibaba wins a free kick for UCD about 40 yards away.
96 mins: For a moment it looks as though Chris Leer had been sent forward down the left side, but Leer's second touch lets him down and Cal is able to take it away.
97 mins: A long ball comes to Amarikwa, who is onside, but he’s knocked over in the penalty area as he tried to get the ball onto his right foot. UCD gives a penalty shout, but it’s not answered. Probably the right decision.
100 mins: The overtime break.
101 mins: Dylan Curtis steals a lazy cross field pass and puts the Aggies on the attack. His pass into the middle is just behind Amarikwa and the threat ends.
102 mins: Jacobson sprints down the right and his shot is directed out.
GOAL Wiedeman 102 mins Cal 2-1 UCD McCowan comes out to try and punch away Luke Sassano's long throw in and doesn't get a good shot on it. It falls to Cal's leading scorer, whose ball meanders between the two Aggies guarding the far post to end the game.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Long Beach State at UC Davis -- LIVE BLOG
Preamble: Injuries, youth, a midseason course correction and a brutal schedule built for what is essentially a throwaway year have brought the Aggies to this point. They are 1-8 and headed into Big West play with all the momentum of a box of graham crackers. UCD coach Gary Stewart has always tailored his approach toward competing in conference play, so, even though the Aggies can't go to the Big West tournament, winning during the 16-game slate that's about to start matters quite a lot.
It's a sensible mindset. The Big West is a one-bid baskeball league. That means everything a team does should be designed to build toward the conference tournament in March. Results in November and December are mostly meaningless. The preseason is a time to experiment and challenge your team. Over the next two months, we'll see just how well the preseason travails have helped the Aggies. I'm skeptical by nature, but you should feel free to chime in with messages of optimism.
Statistically, Long Beach is
unexceptional. But it is riding a five-game winning streak, during which three victories have come by five or fewer points. Fortitude in the final seconds is an acquired skill. But like just about everyone else, it has some head-scratchers. The 49ers opened the season with a 69-68 loss to Air Force, now ranked 17th in some poll. Three days later it turned around and barely beat Cal State Bakersfield. What the 49ers have is experience, with eight seniors on the roster. UC Davis is dressing 10 freshman and sophomores.
PregameTeam sheets have just been distributed. UCD is going with the same starting lineup as it used against Portland State. The Aggies lost that game, but after the struggles of the preseason, continuity is probably worth some thing. The Aggie starters: Thomas Juillerat-Kyle Brucculeri-Jesse Lopez Low-Vince Oliver-Bussey Ellis. For Long Beach: Aaron Nixon-Dominique Ricks-Sterling Byrd-Kejuan Johnson-Kevin Houston.
16:11 first half:: Two early turnovers, but it's 8-6 early thanks to Thomas Juillerat's offensive efforts. Long Beach has started looking content to shoot outside shots. It's early forays inside have been well contested.
14:45 first half: And just like that, the form that led to the poor Aggie start rears its head. Back-to-back-to-back turnovers lead to easy turnovers. It's 12-10 Long Beach, and 10 of the 49ers points have come from the Aggies' six turnovers.
11:53 first half : Michael Boone cuts an imposing figure in the middle of the Aggie zone. He's blocked three shots already. Long Beach is doing its best work inside by forcing him to commit one way or the other and then hitting a quick pass for a lay-up.
7:35 first half: A run of made shots have given the Aggies the opportunity to extend the defense, which has given the 49ers some trouble. UCD briefly took the lead on Vince Oliver's cutting layup. Long Beach has answered with an 8-0 run, extending the lead to 25-19. This is probably a key early sequence for the Aggies.
3:40 first half: The Aggies trail 34-28, but have weathered an early storm with 3-pointers. That may or may not be a sustainable strategy. But Long Beach clearly has the talent to pull away and UCD has prevented that. So that's worth something.
Halftime--Long Beach 42, UCD 29: The most impressive stat of the night so far has to be Long Beach's 26 points of turnovers. UCD has given the ball away 14 times, which means there are only 42 possible points off turnovers
and Long Beach has dropped very few of them. It's an efficient showing. Can UCD find a way back into this one? Unclear.
15:51 second half: Four minutes in and the Niners have extended by point. Every UCD mistake seems to end up in the basket. It's an issue as those problems make it impossible to sustain a run. And the Aggies desperately need a run soon to get back in this thing.
11:46 second half: Just when it appeared the momentum was beginning to turn and the pace was starting to favor the Aggies, Long Beach hits a spurt and makes it a 66-48 game. The Aggies are quickly falling out of range. Long Beach has had a good night. The sentiment in the 49ers' huddle, just to my right, "Let's bury them."
5:49 second half: Long Beach extends to 20, and Davis answers with five straight. But Long Beach, after a time out, gets to the foul line. It's 75-59 Rommel Marentez hasn't played in a while. He was sitting down by the trainers and there has been no update. He's just made his way to the scorers' table. Attendance 1,005 not bad for a game without the students in town. Maybe $2 tickets work.
Final Long Beach 89, UCD 75:
It's a sensible mindset. The Big West is a one-bid baskeball league. That means everything a team does should be designed to build toward the conference tournament in March. Results in November and December are mostly meaningless. The preseason is a time to experiment and challenge your team. Over the next two months, we'll see just how well the preseason travails have helped the Aggies. I'm skeptical by nature, but you should feel free to chime in with messages of optimism.
Statistically, Long Beach is
unexceptional. But it is riding a five-game winning streak, during which three victories have come by five or fewer points. Fortitude in the final seconds is an acquired skill. But like just about everyone else, it has some head-scratchers. The 49ers opened the season with a 69-68 loss to Air Force, now ranked 17th in some poll. Three days later it turned around and barely beat Cal State Bakersfield. What the 49ers have is experience, with eight seniors on the roster. UC Davis is dressing 10 freshman and sophomores.
PregameTeam sheets have just been distributed. UCD is going with the same starting lineup as it used against Portland State. The Aggies lost that game, but after the struggles of the preseason, continuity is probably worth some thing. The Aggie starters: Thomas Juillerat-Kyle Brucculeri-Jesse Lopez Low-Vince Oliver-Bussey Ellis. For Long Beach: Aaron Nixon-Dominique Ricks-Sterling Byrd-Kejuan Johnson-Kevin Houston.
16:11 first half:: Two early turnovers, but it's 8-6 early thanks to Thomas Juillerat's offensive efforts. Long Beach has started looking content to shoot outside shots. It's early forays inside have been well contested.
14:45 first half: And just like that, the form that led to the poor Aggie start rears its head. Back-to-back-to-back turnovers lead to easy turnovers. It's 12-10 Long Beach, and 10 of the 49ers points have come from the Aggies' six turnovers.
11:53 first half : Michael Boone cuts an imposing figure in the middle of the Aggie zone. He's blocked three shots already. Long Beach is doing its best work inside by forcing him to commit one way or the other and then hitting a quick pass for a lay-up.
7:35 first half: A run of made shots have given the Aggies the opportunity to extend the defense, which has given the 49ers some trouble. UCD briefly took the lead on Vince Oliver's cutting layup. Long Beach has answered with an 8-0 run, extending the lead to 25-19. This is probably a key early sequence for the Aggies.
3:40 first half: The Aggies trail 34-28, but have weathered an early storm with 3-pointers. That may or may not be a sustainable strategy. But Long Beach clearly has the talent to pull away and UCD has prevented that. So that's worth something.
Halftime--Long Beach 42, UCD 29: The most impressive stat of the night so far has to be Long Beach's 26 points of turnovers. UCD has given the ball away 14 times, which means there are only 42 possible points off turnovers
and Long Beach has dropped very few of them. It's an efficient showing. Can UCD find a way back into this one? Unclear.
15:51 second half: Four minutes in and the Niners have extended by point. Every UCD mistake seems to end up in the basket. It's an issue as those problems make it impossible to sustain a run. And the Aggies desperately need a run soon to get back in this thing.
11:46 second half: Just when it appeared the momentum was beginning to turn and the pace was starting to favor the Aggies, Long Beach hits a spurt and makes it a 66-48 game. The Aggies are quickly falling out of range. Long Beach has had a good night. The sentiment in the 49ers' huddle, just to my right, "Let's bury them."
5:49 second half: Long Beach extends to 20, and Davis answers with five straight. But Long Beach, after a time out, gets to the foul line. It's 75-59 Rommel Marentez hasn't played in a while. He was sitting down by the trainers and there has been no update. He's just made his way to the scorers' table. Attendance 1,005 not bad for a game without the students in town. Maybe $2 tickets work.
Final Long Beach 89, UCD 75:
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Live from the South Bay
STANFORD -- It is 39 months to the day that UC Davis' football team rode down here for its scrimmage with the Cardinal. Remember that innocent time, when any minor whiff of anything sort of major college athletics set the whole program's heart a-twitter. That scrimmage was the first Division I milestone for the Aggie program. Since 1,000 Aggie fans watched a practice there have so many other big moments -- many of them, interestingly enough, involving Stanford -- that it's hard to work up too much extra lather for a game against the Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. UCD is in the Division I athletics business now, and sometimes that takes you into places like this for regionally televised contests. Honestly, it's probably another milestone that the entire athletic department hasn't dropped everything and hit the road for this game
Only a couple of pregame updates at the moment. Brook Lopez is expected to suit up for Stanford today. He is one two seven-foot freshman twins for the Cardinal. UCD probably won't be able to counter that sort of size, especially without 7-foot-2 Michael Boone (academics). UCD's Kyle Brucculeri is on the trip and taking shots on the court right now during the pregame, but UCD people are saying that he isn't expected to play.
Only a couple of pregame updates at the moment. Brook Lopez is expected to suit up for Stanford today. He is one two seven-foot freshman twins for the Cardinal. UCD probably won't be able to counter that sort of size, especially without 7-foot-2 Michael Boone (academics). UCD's Kyle Brucculeri is on the trip and taking shots on the court right now during the pregame, but UCD people are saying that he isn't expected to play.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Greetings from Cameron
DURHAM, N.C. -- So here's how we'll end this today. The atmosphere here at Cameron Indoor is unbelievable. Simply, the students are amazing. And while I suspect that some of them are preening for television cameras, the energy is just constant and completely hostile. I quite enjoyed it. The whole thing is a pretty convincing argument for what big time Division I athletics do for an university. There is no reason for anyone to have heard on a tiny private college in North Carolina (and, there are a few, like say, Davidson, that play D-I sports and you probably haven't heard of). Great basketball can do that for a school. Maybe great football can do that for a school too, although there aren't a whole lot of tiny schools that are really good at football.
Final: Columbia 95, UCD 90: The teams traded lulls in the second half. UCD's cost it the lead. Columbia's saw the Aggies pull to within a point with just under three minutes to go. It was a better showing, but you'd expect that against an inferior team. Columbia has a chance to be competitive in the Ivy League. Georgia Southern, based on the first part of the season, is a better right now. The game story will be in tomorrow's Enterprise. I'm going to stick around here for the Duke game.
Halftime: UCD 46, Columbia 41 UCD dialed back the fullcourt pressure as the half wore on. There are nine players dressed, but Gary Stewart appears to be using Jesse Lopez Low judiciously. UCD had a spurt before the half, but a ticky-tack foul call and Brett Loscalzo's 35-footer to end the half made it closer. We'll see if the Aggies can keep it up. The crowd is starting to fill in. Mostly, they're holding space for the Duke game tonight. A large portion of the contingent seems to have brought its homework. That might catch on at UC Davis.
1:17: UCD is trying to play uptempo without as much in the way of manpower, but having success. The pressure is causing Columbia problems. Columbia has been lights out from 3-point range to start. The most energy in the earlygoing, however, has come from the skeleton crew of Cameron Crazies, who spent the first two minutes running up-and-down the mostly empty bleachers chasing the ball. A bit of trivia: both teams lost by 43 points last night.
12:30 p.m.: Thomas Juillerat and Rommel Marentez are wearing suits today, and probably will for the foreseeable future. Both are on crutches (which is was a problem because UCD only travels with one pair of crutches). Juillerat had X-rays at Duke Medical Center, running into noteworthy Blue Devil alum Jason Williams while he was there, and those were negative. But Juillerat said it was pretty bad. I was told that Marentez's injury is a bad sprain. There are no timeframes yet, but think weeks, not days.
12:10 p.m: It is 80 minutes before tip-off and I’m sitting in the most unassuming building on earth. Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium is a small gray stone building on a campus full of gray stone buildings. About the only thing that appears to set it apart is the sign were the 10 or students already camped outside and waiting to get in. UC Davis vs. Columbia at lunch time on the West Coast probably was not the game my bosses had in mind when they green-lighted this trip. But here we are. I’ll be keeping this updated throughout the day as best as I can.
Final: Columbia 95, UCD 90: The teams traded lulls in the second half. UCD's cost it the lead. Columbia's saw the Aggies pull to within a point with just under three minutes to go. It was a better showing, but you'd expect that against an inferior team. Columbia has a chance to be competitive in the Ivy League. Georgia Southern, based on the first part of the season, is a better right now. The game story will be in tomorrow's Enterprise. I'm going to stick around here for the Duke game.
Halftime: UCD 46, Columbia 41 UCD dialed back the fullcourt pressure as the half wore on. There are nine players dressed, but Gary Stewart appears to be using Jesse Lopez Low judiciously. UCD had a spurt before the half, but a ticky-tack foul call and Brett Loscalzo's 35-footer to end the half made it closer. We'll see if the Aggies can keep it up. The crowd is starting to fill in. Mostly, they're holding space for the Duke game tonight. A large portion of the contingent seems to have brought its homework. That might catch on at UC Davis.
1:17: UCD is trying to play uptempo without as much in the way of manpower, but having success. The pressure is causing Columbia problems. Columbia has been lights out from 3-point range to start. The most energy in the earlygoing, however, has come from the skeleton crew of Cameron Crazies, who spent the first two minutes running up-and-down the mostly empty bleachers chasing the ball. A bit of trivia: both teams lost by 43 points last night.
12:30 p.m.: Thomas Juillerat and Rommel Marentez are wearing suits today, and probably will for the foreseeable future. Both are on crutches (which is was a problem because UCD only travels with one pair of crutches). Juillerat had X-rays at Duke Medical Center, running into noteworthy Blue Devil alum Jason Williams while he was there, and those were negative. But Juillerat said it was pretty bad. I was told that Marentez's injury is a bad sprain. There are no timeframes yet, but think weeks, not days.
12:10 p.m: It is 80 minutes before tip-off and I’m sitting in the most unassuming building on earth. Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium is a small gray stone building on a campus full of gray stone buildings. About the only thing that appears to set it apart is the sign were the 10 or students already camped outside and waiting to get in. UC Davis vs. Columbia at lunch time on the West Coast probably was not the game my bosses had in mind when they green-lighted this trip. But here we are. I’ll be keeping this updated throughout the day as best as I can.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)