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Men's Basketball
GoRhody.com's Travel Blog: At the Atlantic 10 Championship
March 10, 2009
"There's Trouble Busing in from Out of State..." March 10, 12:58 p.m. -- Since travel blogs are all the rage now (this idea is stolen directly from the SID and radio voice of the La Salle Explorers, Kale Beers), I thought that Rhody's trip to Atlantic City for the A-10 championship would be a fine time to start one. (We've reached 10,000 feet and approved portable electronic devices are now ok for use in the main cabin.) We pulled out of gate 17 at Green Airport, banked hard around Rumstick Point in Barrington, and have a very nice view E. Greenwich harbor, Jamestown, and Newport and we cruise over Narragansett Bay. I think I just saw my house. As always, the folks at the Southwest Airlines ticket desk were extremely helpful and efficient getting the team checked in with our many bags. Since this is a Tuesday, and we don't plan on coming home until Sunday, everyone's got a full bag (or two). In my case, I've got three - need to transport the 100 or so A-10 Championship media guides in my rollaway. I'll post a pdf link to the book shortly. Our guys love flying Southwest out of TF Green. Other airlines tend to run regional jets, which unless you're Stevie Mejia, can be very uncomfortable. As someone on the team once described it earlier this season, those smaller planes are "mini-vans with wings." Once we get to Philly, we'll collect the bags, get a bite to eat (I'll grab another Dunkin Donuts, large hot, skim milk only), and board the bus and head to the Sheraton in Atlantic City - our home for the rest of the week. I'm not sure what this blog will bring you along the week - hopefully some Q&A sessions with the players and coaches, funny stories, inside jokes, and some insider access as the Rams try to repeat their magic from a decade ago. In case you don't know what I mean, click the video link below and enjoy: 5:00 p.m. -- After a brief stop for lunch at the Ruby Tuesday's by the Philly Airport - and for some, a brief nap as the team bus traveled down the A.C Expressway - Rhody arrived at the Sheraton Atlantic City. After dropping their bags and unpacking a bit, the team headed to one of the hotel's meeting rooms for a study hall session. Dr. Deb Cohen, the team's academic advisor, set up the study session prior to dinner. Xavier - the #1 seed in the A-10 Championship - is also staying here at the Sheraton. The top two seeds stay at the Sheraton, while seeds 3-12 stay a little bit outside .com/javascript/wysiwyg/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js">of the Atlantic City city limits at a Marriott. Personally, I like the Sheraton better. Location-wise, the hotel ls located near different stores and restaurants so there's something to do during some of the down time. We stayed at the Marriott last year and there wasn't much around. The Sheraton has a much better atmosphere. Karmatically, Rhody stayed at the Sheraton when we made our run to the championship game in 2007. So for superstition's sake, this place is on point. "We'll keep pushing till it's understood; until these badlands start treating us good." -- Bruce Springsteen, "Badlands"
March 11, 12:28 p.m. It's a valuable commodity this time of year - all the weeks and months of road trips, hotels, and buses can really cut into solid, recuperative sleep. Not to mention the 40 minutes - sometimes 45, 50, or 55 minutes - of basketball that can adversely affect the REM time. Mike Monteiro - the team's athletics trainer and strength & conditioning coach - handles team meals on the road. Many times, for convenience and nutrition-sake, the team will eat in the hotel. Last night, we had a nice buffet spread with salad, bbq chicken and beef, and mashed potatoes. Judging by the elevator trip downstairs with Jason Francis and talking to a few of the other guys at the meal, few if anybody would be pushing the 11 p.m. lights-out curfew. This morning, breakfast was at 10:30 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. study hall session with Dr. Deb Cohen. On tap for the rest of the afternoon: lunch around 1 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. film session in Coach Baron's room. Until later... 4:41 p.m. -- Blogging courtside from practice right now... We're at the Milton and Betty Katz Jewish Community Center in Margate, N.J. - the same pre-tourney practice spot as the 2007 run to the title game. Karma and superstition are riding shotgun on the Rhody Express this week. Normally, a pre-game shootaround is focused on the offensive and defensive schemes of one team. But at this time of day, with UMass and Duquesne having yet to tip off, the preparation includes elements of both teams. Add in Coach Baron's adage that "we need to focus on ourselves," and practice adds a third team to the mix. It's a blessing and a curse that our last two games have come against both teams, so there is some familiarity. Let's hope familiarity does not breed contempt. There's quite a crowd of young spectators watching the Rams go through their daily practice rituals. One of the women who works at the JCC is originally from Rhode Island and made it a point to note that to the guys as we walked in and out of the facility. Rhode Island born and Rhode Island bred...I remember hearing that in a song. After practice, the team will have dinner at the hotel and then head to Boardwalk Hall to watch the game. Once the game is over and our Thursday evening opponent is set, the team will load back onto their bus and head back to the Sheraton to prepare for the most important 40 minutes of the year. (on an aside, the radio station playing on the bus just started playing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." That's either more Rhody karma...or mere coincidence, being that we're in New Jersey - home of the Sopranos and the most puzzling final scene in TV series finale history...) <10:28 p.m. -- It's Duquesne. The Dukes did a very good job of dispatching UMass in the opening round game and now we know who our opponent will be. After practice, the team came back for dinner and then piled onto the bus for the quick drive over to Boardwalk Hall to watch the game. I think some of the guys were happy to get out for a bit. So far, if you read the blog entries, it seems as though all we've done is eat and meet. So after the game, in keeping with the events of the week so far, there was a team meeting and a team snack...and a quick review of the game that just occurred with a recap of the scouting report. Dan Szramowski, the team's video coordinator, does a great job in assisting the coaching staff cutting up game films for scouting and teaching sessions. The guys were able to watch the UMass/Duquesne game live and understand the flow. But to watch it again and see a key play once or twice over - with a complete scouting breakdown - it makes a big difference. After Coach Baron and the staff finished their portion of the scouting meeting, the second part began - the players only meeting. This practice began (cue up the karma) in Atlantic City in 2007. At that time, Parfait Bitee and the other team leaders thought it would be a good idea to meet as a team to make sure everyone was on the same page with the scouting report for Fordham. Rhody gets the W and another meeting was planned for the next night for the Xavier scout. And then the GW scout. And then the practice continued over the past two seasons. I'd tell you what went on, but it's players only meeting. And what happens in the players meeting stays in the players meeting. Tomorrow morning, we'll get up around 8:15 a.m., shake off the cobwebs, and then head over to Boardwalk Hall for a 28 minute shootaround. And I do mean a 28 minute shootaround. Not a 29 minute shootaround. Not a 30 minute shootaround (a 27 minute shootaround is OK, though). The clock is managed to the very second, as it would be in the NCAA Tournament. The Atlantic 10 does a great job of running their tournament. Every "I" is dotted, every "T" is crossed. Same goes for the Boardwalk Hall staff. I can't say enough good things about both entities - they run a great tourney. Can't wait for tomorrow. "Down on the boardwalk they're gettin ready for a fight; Gonna see what them racket boys can do..." -- Bruce Springsteen, "Atlantic City"
March 12, 12:16 p.m. -- After about 36 hours of waiting, today has been a relatively normal gameday. Wake-up calls for the team came at 8:15 a.m. (for yours truly, about 7:15 a.m.) and the team met in the lobby at 9 a.m. to depart for their 28 minute Boardwalk Hall shootaround. (little did I know, but there's a pretty accurate entry on Wikipedia about shootarounds - check it out) Brad Jones of the A-10 manned the shootaround clock and the guys got the best use of all 1,680 seconds. Temple, which plays the second game of the afternoon session, had the court before us. In case you're wondering, "why 28 minutes and not a full half-hour for shootaround?" Well, the league factors in two minutes for teams to have a huddle, etc and then clear the floor. When I said that the A10 has dotted every "I" crossed every "T," I meant it. Salim Makhlouf of Cox Sports Television made the trip down from Rhode Island to spend some time shooting footage of the team. Cox Sports has spent considerable time with us for an upcoming season-long documentary. There will be more info on the show later on, but rest assured that it will be terrific. For those as interested in the karma/superstition of the trip as I am - we had a new bus driver. Or an old one, depending on your view. Angel Rivera - a very charismatic and funny guy - drove us last year. But that was a one-and-done trip at the hands of Leemire Goldwire and the Charlotte 49ers. Not that it was Angel's fault, but the GoRhody.com travel blog will now officially stop talking about the karma of the bus and bus driver. After shootaround came the first official "eat then meet" session - with breakfast and then Coach Baron giving the team its schedule for the rest of the day. Deb Cohen had another brief study session set up, followed by some rest and relaxation in the rooms. Pre-game meal is set for 3 p.m. and from there, it will officially be game-time mode. "Down here its just winners and losers and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line..." -- Bruce Springsteen, "Atlantic City" March 13, 12:22 p.m. -- No, it's not result that everyone had been hoping for and we'll be heading back to Rhode Island earlier than we wanted. Our bus will be leaving here around 1:30 p.m. for what I'm sure will be a quiet trip back to South County. While the sting of the loss to Duquesne is still being felt by everyone, it's important to remember that the season is not over. Rhody will be playing basketball after Sunday. Before we leave A.C., I need to make sure I stop at the White House - home of the best cheesesteaks in the country. More from the road... |
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