Saints look to end slide
First MAAC challenge at Manhattan tonight
First published: Thursday, December 9, 2004
LOUDONVILLE -- Nothing has changed for the Siena men's basketball team. They woke up this morning still winless but today they have reason for a sliver of optimism.
Siena has not played a game against a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival.
For a moment, the Saints can put their woeful 0-6 start behind them and look ahead. What they see, though, might not be all that appealing.
Siena starts its league season tonight at Manhattan, the two-time defending champs of the MAAC. The Jaspers, picked to finish first in the preseason MAAC coaches poll, are 3-2 (0-1 in the league) and are never an easy get for the Saints.
Over the last four seasons, Siena is 1-7 against Manhattan in the regular season and 0-4 in Riverdale. The Jaspers won last year's game at Draddy Gymnasium, 79-62.
"We're not thinking about anything that is frustrating," said Siena senior co-captain Brent Sniezyk. "We have 24 games left and that is a lot of basketball. I am still confident we can turn this around and I think the rest of the guys are, too."
However, the fact remains that after six games, the Saints have nothing to show for it and coach Rob Lanier has to beware of a group that must have fractured confidence.
"When you play a tough schedule there is always a chance that things are not going to go your way," Lanier said. "I think we have had a tough schedule but I did not think we would be 0-6 by any stretch of the imagination.
"If you would have told me we would not have a winning record at this point, I would not have believed it but I would have believed it was possible. Things don't always go the way you planned it in life. The true test is how you handle it. We truly have a test right now and I believe we will pass it."
Playing at Manhattan may not be the ideal remedy for starting the ascent out of this hole. Even though the Jaspers lost Luis Flores to the NBA (Golden State Warriors), coach Bobby Gonzalez has another potential powerhouse.
The Jaspers have two prized freshmen in 6-foot-6 CJ Anderson (13.6 ppg) and 6-8 Arturo Dubois (13.4). Their leading scorer is 6-5 senior Peter Mulligan (19.0 ppg).
"CJ Anderson really has a chance to be special," Gonzalez said. "I don't want to put pressure on the kid but there have been people already comparing him to Luis even though they play different positions. But I think CJ is the best freshman I have ever brought in here in my six years here."
Gonzalez said he doesn't expect Siena to be mired in this slump all winter. He recognizes the talent of Siena's Michael Haddix, Antoine Jordan and Tommy Mitchell and he also knows the schedule that Lanier mapped out to start the season.
"I know they are going to be good and Rob knows they are going to be good," Gonzalez said. "The identity of a team evolves over the course of a season, not the start of it."
=======
Fisher makes belated trip back
Freshman returns to campus after spending night in hospital
Freshman guard Tay Fisher finally got back to Siena College Monday, a day later than his teammates.
Fisher was held back in Charlotte, N.C. after suffering a concussion in the Saints' 67-58 loss to Winthrop Sunday afternoon. Fisher did not fly back home with the rest of the Saints Sunday night, being admitted to a Charlotte area hospital.
Siena coach Rob Lanier and trainer Greg Dashnaw stayed behind with Fisher.
"He is doing better," Lanier said from Chicago where the trio were awaiting a flight back to Albany Monday afternoon. "Tay does have some level of a concussion and he is still feeling a little banged up."
Fisher was not available for comment. He was sleeping at the airport.
Fisher was injured when he slammed into a Winthrop player who was setting a pick. He collapsed to the court and laid there for several minutes before getting up under his own power.
He made the 30-minute trip from Rock Hill, S.C. to the Charlotte Airport following the game but was taken to a hospital when he started feeling uncomfortable.
It is likely that Fisher will be held out of the Saints' Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener Thursday at Manhattan. He is averaging 5.5 points per game and leads the Saints in 3-point shots made (13).
Notes: Siena sophomore forward David Ryan didn't dress in the Winthrop game. He re-injured his right shoulder when he fell on it during practice late last week. He remains out indefinitely. ... Freshman guard Albert Fisher did dress for Sunday's game against Winthrop, but didn't play. ... Junior center Michael Haddix, who had 13 points against Winthrop, is 10 points away from 1,000 for his career.
First MAAC challenge at Manhattan tonight
First published: Thursday, December 9, 2004
LOUDONVILLE -- Nothing has changed for the Siena men's basketball team. They woke up this morning still winless but today they have reason for a sliver of optimism.
Siena has not played a game against a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival.
For a moment, the Saints can put their woeful 0-6 start behind them and look ahead. What they see, though, might not be all that appealing.
Siena starts its league season tonight at Manhattan, the two-time defending champs of the MAAC. The Jaspers, picked to finish first in the preseason MAAC coaches poll, are 3-2 (0-1 in the league) and are never an easy get for the Saints.
Over the last four seasons, Siena is 1-7 against Manhattan in the regular season and 0-4 in Riverdale. The Jaspers won last year's game at Draddy Gymnasium, 79-62.
"We're not thinking about anything that is frustrating," said Siena senior co-captain Brent Sniezyk. "We have 24 games left and that is a lot of basketball. I am still confident we can turn this around and I think the rest of the guys are, too."
However, the fact remains that after six games, the Saints have nothing to show for it and coach Rob Lanier has to beware of a group that must have fractured confidence.
"When you play a tough schedule there is always a chance that things are not going to go your way," Lanier said. "I think we have had a tough schedule but I did not think we would be 0-6 by any stretch of the imagination.
"If you would have told me we would not have a winning record at this point, I would not have believed it but I would have believed it was possible. Things don't always go the way you planned it in life. The true test is how you handle it. We truly have a test right now and I believe we will pass it."
Playing at Manhattan may not be the ideal remedy for starting the ascent out of this hole. Even though the Jaspers lost Luis Flores to the NBA (Golden State Warriors), coach Bobby Gonzalez has another potential powerhouse.
The Jaspers have two prized freshmen in 6-foot-6 CJ Anderson (13.6 ppg) and 6-8 Arturo Dubois (13.4). Their leading scorer is 6-5 senior Peter Mulligan (19.0 ppg).
"CJ Anderson really has a chance to be special," Gonzalez said. "I don't want to put pressure on the kid but there have been people already comparing him to Luis even though they play different positions. But I think CJ is the best freshman I have ever brought in here in my six years here."
Gonzalez said he doesn't expect Siena to be mired in this slump all winter. He recognizes the talent of Siena's Michael Haddix, Antoine Jordan and Tommy Mitchell and he also knows the schedule that Lanier mapped out to start the season.
"I know they are going to be good and Rob knows they are going to be good," Gonzalez said. "The identity of a team evolves over the course of a season, not the start of it."
=======
Fisher makes belated trip back
Freshman returns to campus after spending night in hospital
Freshman guard Tay Fisher finally got back to Siena College Monday, a day later than his teammates.
Fisher was held back in Charlotte, N.C. after suffering a concussion in the Saints' 67-58 loss to Winthrop Sunday afternoon. Fisher did not fly back home with the rest of the Saints Sunday night, being admitted to a Charlotte area hospital.
Siena coach Rob Lanier and trainer Greg Dashnaw stayed behind with Fisher.
"He is doing better," Lanier said from Chicago where the trio were awaiting a flight back to Albany Monday afternoon. "Tay does have some level of a concussion and he is still feeling a little banged up."
Fisher was not available for comment. He was sleeping at the airport.
Fisher was injured when he slammed into a Winthrop player who was setting a pick. He collapsed to the court and laid there for several minutes before getting up under his own power.
He made the 30-minute trip from Rock Hill, S.C. to the Charlotte Airport following the game but was taken to a hospital when he started feeling uncomfortable.
It is likely that Fisher will be held out of the Saints' Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener Thursday at Manhattan. He is averaging 5.5 points per game and leads the Saints in 3-point shots made (13).
Notes: Siena sophomore forward David Ryan didn't dress in the Winthrop game. He re-injured his right shoulder when he fell on it during practice late last week. He remains out indefinitely. ... Freshman guard Albert Fisher did dress for Sunday's game against Winthrop, but didn't play. ... Junior center Michael Haddix, who had 13 points against Winthrop, is 10 points away from 1,000 for his career.
