Army West Point Athletics
Friday, Nov. 12
November 12, 2010 | General
Hello hoops! Tracy Nelson with you on what is a gorgeous Friday here in the Hudson Valley. The sun is shining and it's a brisk 50 or so degrees out there in the elements.
Basketball season has arrived and both the Army men and women will open their respective 2010-11 seasons tonight. With football on the road at Kent State (a win and the Black Knights are bowl eligible for the first time since 1996!), it's going to be a skeleton crew tonight at basketball from an SID standpoint. Luckily, the skeleton crew on hand is top-notch and I'm sure will handle things without a hitch (no pressure on my colleagues Pam Flenke, Christian Anderson and Mady Salvani of course).
Before we continue on with hoops, don't forget to check out football senior captain Steve Anderson's latest blog entry. That should get folks fired up for the game! For fans looking to watch Saturday's 2 p.m. game, you're all welcome to join us at Michie Stadium for a viewing party on the gigantic ITT Knight Vision board. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. Click here for details.
Now, back to hoops ...
The Black Knights are under the direction of Zach Spiker in his second season with the program. Zach is a high-energy young coach who has really injected new life into the Black Knights program. Last year, he had a boat load of seniors and a lot of solid leadership to lean on. This year is a bit of a different story, but no doubt Zach will have his team ready for Vassar tonight at 7 p.m. Click here for the Gun Boat's notes on the game.
Prior to tonight's men's opener, those in attendance will be treated to a very special tribute ceremony to honor former Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. John Jannarone and his wife, Anna May, for their long-time service to West Point and their unwavering support of Army athletics. Prior to the start of Army's season opener on Friday, Nov. 12, two seats at Christl Arena will be unveiled in honor of Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Jannarone. The seats will commemorate the countless contests the couple cheered on the Black Knights during their association with West Point. Click here for more on tonight's big event. I know there are a bunch of old players coming back for the game and it will hopefully turn out to be a 1-0 night for the Black Knights!
While the men are opening at home, the women will be on the road at Wagner tonight at 5 p.m. I'll be boarding the bus with them in just over an hour. We'll have our usual pregame meal stop and then off to Staten Island we go. Army has played Wagner in the season opener in each of the last three years, so this is a familiar foe for fifth-year head coach Dave Magarity and his crew. Click here to read my game notes on tonight's match-up.
Army will lean heavily on the leadership of its five seniors - which is something the team did not have the advantage of without a single senior on last year's roster. Erin Anthony, Nalini Hawkins, Laura Baranek, Laura Burdick and Jessie Coiffard will start their final season at West Point tonight on Staten Island.
Speaking of basketball, you'll learn as we go through these blogs that I'm a huge fan of the Dukies and can't wait until they open against Princeton on Sunday! At least I know that will be one win for the day since I'm sure I can count on the Bills losing ... yet again. Now, there's a point to my mentioning Duke in today's blog, as I'll be seeing one of my childhood idols/crushes tonight! Former Duke great Bobby Hurley is an assistant on the Seahawks' men's staff and they will take on fellow Patriot League foe Lafayette after the women's game tonight. I'll try to contain myself ...
Okay, now it's off to make sure my bag is packed, computer is good to go and all that jazz. The first game is always a treat when you're trying to remember to do things and inevitably forget something.
GO ARMY! BEAT KENT STATE, WAGNER AND VASSAR!
