Dunne Gets His Chance at St. Peter’s by Ray Floriani JERSEY CITY, N.J. – If you knew little or nothing about John Dunne, you learned something very quickly. Minutes prior to taking the podium and being introduced as the new St. Peter’s basketball coach last week, a small group entered […]
Author: Ray Floriani
Player’s Choice Recap
Player’s Choice Recap and Notes by Ray Floriani MAHWAH, N.J. – The group is Player’s Choice. On the opening page of the coach’s packet is the guarantee: “We want you to attend the Player’s Choice Individual Showcase Event.” That statement could be applied to both players and coaches. Read on, […]
NIT Final Recap
South Carolina Makes it Two Straight by Ray Floriani NEW YORK – The seconds wound down and the Garden buzzer sounded. Instantly the “repeat” signs were raised by fans behind the South Carolina bench. The Gamecocks prevailed 76-64 to earn the championship of the 69th National Invitation Tournament. South Carolina […]
NIT Semifinal Notes
NIT Semifinal Notes by Ray Floriani NEW YORK – The NIT finals will have two familiar faces, as Michigan will tip off against South Carolna Thursday to decide the champion of the 69th National Invitation Tournament. Michigan captured the title in 2004, while South Carolina is the defending champion, edging […]
NIT Final Four Coaches
Coach’s Corner at the NIT Final Four by Ray Floriani NEW YORK – The Final Four of the National Invitation Tournament gives us an interesting group of coaches. Dave Odom of South Carolina has had a near monopoly on this event since the millennium began. In 2000 Odom led Wake […]
ODU Reaches NIT Final Four
Monarchs Top Pride, Advance to NIT Final Four by Ray Floriani HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – It is about a 35-minute ride (traffic permitting) from the Hofstra campus on Long Island to Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan. Hofstra fans wouldn’t have minded the commute next week. After Wednesday night’s tough 61-51 […]
NCAA Women’s Second Round Notes
Women’s NCAA Tournament – Second Round Notes by Ray Floriani TRENTON, N.J. – The top seeds moved on in second round action at the NCAA Women’s tournament at Sovereign Bank Arena. The nature of the two games was a bit unexpected. Scores Georgia 73, Hartford 54 Rutgers 82, TCU 48 […]
Second Round Notes From Philadelphia
Second Round Notes From Philadelphia by Ray Floriani PHILADELPHIA, PA. – The number one seeds survived. UConn and Villanova were put to the test, challenged in both rounds and responded. Given the upsets that were the norm in other parts of the country, getting the victories and moving on to […]
Big East Tournament Redux
Reflecting on the 2006 Big East Tournament by Ray Floriani NEW YORK – Many figured they were going to be “one and done.” When the smoke cleared it was more accurate to say, “Syracuse was won and done.” Syracuse finished their improbable, storybook run by capturing the Big East Tournament […]
FDU in NEC Finals
Knights Reach the Title Game, Will Play Monmouth by Ray Floriani TEANECK, N.J. – In all ways it was the closest sixteen-point game you would hope to see. With a minute to go and the verdict sealed, FDU fans began chanting “we want Monmouth.” They and their Knights will get […]
