THE MILAN BROWN BLOG
 

FEBRUARY 3, 2012

We were able to end our losing streak at home this past Saturday with a win over Colgate. It had been a tough 2 weeks for our program so I was happy to see my guys smile again.

We have had a great week of practice. The guys are flying around to the ball on defense and continuing to share the ball on offense. There has been a positive energy in every practice. I also feel a sense of togetherness. Sometimes, that's what happens when you get to the other side of tough times. You can not have a testimony without getting through a test.

We have a few guys banged up but we should have everyone for the game on Saturday. The guys are excited about the start of the 2nd half of PL play. We are all working towards having a big month of February. I know we are still growing as a team but I know we can have positive results while we grow. That's the goal.

I want to thank everyone who came out to support us on Saturday. You guys were great! The extra juice that our fans/students bring into the Hart Center is a huge asset for our team.

Let's all have a blessed week and fun Super Bowl Sunday.

JANUARY 23, 2012

Wow, what a rough week!! We have lost 3 in a row and just flat out haven't played well. A week ago we were 2-0 in PL play and had won 4 of our last 5. In looking at our film and checking our stats, the biggest reason for our change in fortune is our offensive production. Theses numbers are shocking.

In our last 3 games (all L's) we are shooting 29% FG, 22% 3ptFG, 75% FT and averaged 46 points! In the 5 games before that (4 of 5 were W's & 2-0 in PL) we shot 50% FG, 34% 3ptFG, 78% FT and averaged 75 points!

We have to get back to sharing the ball, taking the right shots and stop pressing. When we put added pressure on ourselves to "make a shot", that's when we have poor execution, we don't make the extra pass and miss the open shots we have been making throughout the year.

With such a low offensive output this past week, it has put even more pressure on our defense. Now we almost have to pitch a shutout to win and that's really hard to do. So, we have had defensive breakdowns in the 2nd half of all 3 games this week. We have been trying to make something happen on the defensive end but we get too extended or out of position and that leads to easy baskets.

Life on the road has not been kind to us. We are shooting something like 15% lower on the road than at home. That is way too big of a gap. We are going to have to find some road confidence and fast! It's always hard to win on the road, that's why the power conferences don't go on the road if they can help it. We have to be mentally & physically tougher on the road. Really embrace the challenge that a road game brings and attack it.

I know we can and will turn things around. One week does not make a season. We will make some adjustments and get back to playing good basketball. When we started this season I told our team that we have to be about the journey, not the destination. This past week I think we were all guilty of thinking about where we would be at the end of this week (1st place, tied for 1st, 5-0, 4-1...) rather than focusing on how we need to play each and every day.

Anytime we are building something (house, relationship, business, basketball program...) you know there are going to be some setbacks. We don't like them but they can actually make us stronger if we handle them correctly. During the setbacks we also get to see who we really are. Our true character always shows its true face during tough times.

My guys are working really hard. They understand the history of our basketball program and carry the weight of bringing this program back to the top on their shoulders everyday. We all do! So, if you see one of my guys or staff I know it would mean a lot if you would give them a word of encouragement. The more positive energy they have to feed off of, the better.

I will also try to do a better job of keeping my blog updated. I get so caught up in the season its hard but I know you guys want to be connected with the program. I appreciate that and I will make sure you know what's going on with us as much as I can.

Let's all have a safe and blessed week.

DECEMBER 6, 2011

We are coming off a big win at home vs. UNH. It wasn't a pretty game at all for either team but it was great to see our guys in a fight. And win! Sometimes as a coach, you get more joy from winning an ugly game because you know your guys had to show toughness to pull out a W. This type of positive event is huge for our program because it showed that we are growing in a positive direction.

Right now we are 3-5. I would like to have a few more wins (every coach would) but I like the vibe we have as a team right now. We are locked in on the journey not the destination. Which has allowed us to learn from our failures but be excited about our (individual & team) success. The trust that is forming is what has me excited. Each day our teams trust grows for their other team members, our staff, our system and probably the most important one, themselves. Our will as a program is getting stronger and it makes me proud to see that.

Thanksgiving dinner was a hit at my house. We had half the team over and most of my staff with their families. I am so thankful to my wife Tina and her mom for all the cooking they did. It was delicious! We are always telling the guys that we are a basketball family, this is just another way express to our guys that we really mean it.

On a non-basketball note, my daughter (Nyla) will be singing with Kenny Rogers during his Christmas tour at the Foxwoods Casino in CT. I am so proud of her for being picked to sing!!! She had to audition and she did great. Proud pop here! Haha.

OCTOBER 11, 2011

Our preseason workouts have come to a close. I thought we improved each week and I liked the energy level that the guys brought each day. We made our conditioning, weight-room and individual workouts much more competitive. I wanted to put them in as many win/lose situations as possible. It was great to see how guys responded. There is a certain mentality that comes with being successful and I wanted our guys of that mind-set from day one.

We are still out on the recruiting trail, we are focused on post players. I am happy with how our recruiting has gone so far and I have to thank my staff for that. We are going after kids that fit how we are going to play and fit being a part of the Holy Cross community. If we do not find a post player now, I have no problem pocketing the scholarship and waiting until the spring. We will see how the rest of October plays out with the kids on our radar now.

I turned in my votes for the PL preseason coaches poll the other day. Last year I had a contest to see who could guess the order I picked the teams (1-7, we can't vote for our own team). The winner last year had a chance to come watch us practice with a friend. So, this year I will do the same contest but the winners will get some Holy Cross basketball gear. You get 2 chances to guess. When you email me your guess, make sure you pick 1-7 and put both of your guesses in the email. I am going to take 2 winners this year and I will let you guys know when the 1st & 2nd person wins. The quickest way to let you know who won is by twitter. So, you can follow me on twitter @coachmbrown but I will put the winners on my website as well. Good luck to everybody and basketball season is almost here!

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

It's a big week here at Holy Cross. Classes started on Wednesday and the campus is buzzing again. Our football team is also hosting their first-ever night game vs. UMass on Thursday. It should be a good game and a packed house. I am going to take the family over to the game. My daughters usually have a great time at sporting events and the excitement should mean they will be knocked out for bedtime. That's big! haha

The month of September also means that it is time for us to host some official visits for the kids we are recruiting. It looks like we will be hosting players the first 3 weekends this month so we are excited. I like the kids we have lined up and I know that our current players will do a great job with the recruits on campus. My guys understand that this is a group effort and they play a big role in making the recruits know that they will fit into our family.

We start our pre-season workouts on Monday so my staff is really excited to get back to work. It's going to feel good to get back into the gym!

I am going to do something a bit different for my next couple of updates. I will let one of my players write about how our pre-season workouts are coming along. I thought it would be a cool change up so you can hear what's going on from a player's point of view. The 1st player up will be Devin Brown.

I hope everyone has a safe Labor Day weekend!!

(I want to again thank Andy Glockner for writing a story about our program on SI.com this week).

AUGUST 12, 2011

I thought that our recruiting in July went well. I say that because we were able to follow players that we have been recruiting from 6 months to a year and we found new players who can help as well. Our main focus is the 2012 class (4 scholarships) but we also had to hunt some 2013 kids (5 scholarships). As you can see, there will be a bunch of new faces here in 2 years. I really like the kids we are involved with and have to credit my assistants for putting us in a good place with these players.

This July recruiting period was different for me than any other because "real life" did not slow down for me. On June 28th we had to put my greyhound down, he had bone cancer. His name was "Nightwind" and we had him for 8 years. It was such a hard decision we had to make but he could hardly walk and the doctor said it had spread to his lungs. Nyla (my 5 yr old daughter) took it really hard so most of her nights in July were spent crying herself to sleep. My family will miss him so much and I know its going to hit me again once the season starts. He spent many late nights listening to me talk about my team. I'm going to miss him.

Then on July 13th my grandmother, Bessie Carrington, pasted away at 88 years old. She was our last living grandparent. She was such a sweet lady and she loved her grandsons so much. We spent a bunch of great summers down in South Boston, VA with my grandparents and the highlight of each trip was how much good food she was going to cook! I had a chance to take my girls down to see her in May. She wasn't doing well but I was so happy that she had a chance to see her great grand kids one more time. She was a God fearing women and I know she is in a better place. At the funeral it was great to see family and friends reflecting on how she was such a kind woman. When my brothers and I spoke, our message was about celebrating her life, not mourning her death. So, we are all checking in with my mom daily to make sure she is doing ok. And in a typical mom response she always says " I'm fine, how are my little girls doing". Like I said, July was unlike any other I have had but we made it through with support and prayer.
It won't be long until my guys get back to campus. Each time I talk with one of them I can hear the excitement in their voice about getting started. RJ said he feels good and the doctors have cleared him to play. He can't wait to play. Phil is also cleared to play and said he is in the best shape of his life. Phil did not get his red-shirt year which was disappointing but he is excited about 2 years he has left. Everyone else is doing fine and they have been working very hard to get better. Devin and Mike told me that they like how close the team is and that the freshmen will fit right in. I'm happy to hear all of the positive talk from ALL the guys. I think pre-season workouts will have the juice I'm looking for.

JUNE 16, 2011

Today was the 1st day we as college coaches could make calls to the class of 2013. My staff has been on the phone all day and it has been good to talk to some young, talented kids. It's always interesting to find out what a 16 year old is thinking about for college even though he just finished his sophomore year! Hahaha. Usually the kids do a bunch of listening and give us the 2-3 word answers. Which is fine because we are really trying to give them as much information as possible about our program. We do want to make some type of connection with these players on the 1st call. We know that some of these kids won't be making a decision on a college for a while but you would be surprised how much that 1st phone call means to them. So, we try to make sure that I talk to the kid on the 1st call. Hearing from a head coach on day 1 carries more weight.

It looks like we are all set for July recruiting as well. There are so many tournaments we need to cover but we have to follow the kids we are recruiting. I like the kids we are on for the 2012 class. We are looking to bring in 2 guards/wings and 2 post players. I want to continue to improve our athletic ability, quickness and skill level as a team. Also, they all must compete! I would like for this recruiting class to have a certain edge or swagger about them as a group. Before we hit the road I will try to give a overall view of what type of kid we are looking for in each position. The bottom line is that we are on the hunt for good players!

Last week I had a chance to speak to the Holy Cross class of '56. I meet some really good people and so many supporters of our program. The highlight of the night was meeting Tommy Heinsohn. He spoke as well and told some great stories about his days at the Cross and with the Celtics. After the event, we sat down and talked basketball for about 45 minutes. He gave me a few drills that they used to run and talked about how they ran the fastbreak with the Celtics and Holy Cross. It was great to listen to a Hall of Fame player but even better that he was an alum. In his pep talk at the end, he told me that I had his support and he likes what he has seen/heard so far. He and Bob Cousy said the same thing, that Holy Cross is a special place and they think I will be successful here. More fuel for my fire!

Tina and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary on the 16th. Time sure goes by fast when you are having fun! She has been the backbone of our family and I appreciate all the sacrifice it takes on her part to be a coaches wife. We make a good team.

I want to give a early Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! Let's continue to have a positive impact on our children.

APRIL 19, 2011

It is April, so we have a short amount of time to get back out on the road to do some recruiting. We are not allowed to watch AAU events but we can go to the kid's high school to watch a workout. This can be tough on us because we can only see so many players in one day. We were able to hit some high school games in March but we are always at the mercy of their team. The only way we can see them play is if the kids team keeps winning in their playoffs or state championship run. I like the juniors we are recruiting. My staff has done a good job of getting us involved with some talented players.

We got the news this past week that RJ's medical redshirt was approved. So, that puts him back in the class with Phil, Jordan, Dee and Eric. That now puts us with two seniors, Devin and Mike. We already knew back in December that Steve C. was planning to transfer but then found out in March that Joe O. was also going to leave. Which means we have two scholarships now that we can fill for next season. It hasn't been easy trying to find kids late that are good academically and good players. We will not take a kid just because we have a scholarship open. If we cannot find anyone we think can help or get into school, I will just push those two scholarships into the junior class. We are looking at transfers as well. There are a few guys (HS & transfers) on our radar so we will see how they turn out. Our focus for all four of these scholarships are wings and post. If there is a combo guard out there that can be a difference maker we will look at that also.

Our guys have really been getting after it in the weight room and individual workouts. It is really nice to see guys so intent on getting better. They all seem to have a sense of urgency about them. In our individual meetings with the players, they all expressed that they couldn't wait to get started with post season workouts. My guys have a vibe about them that I have not felt from them until now. I don't know exactly what it is but I like it.

All of our freshmen are doing well too. They can't wait to get up here. Each one of them has been lifting weights and working out. Sometimes, because they live close enough to each other they all workout together. I thought that said something about them as kids and where their minds are about coming here. Justin, Malcolm and Taylor should blend in well, just a matter of how long that will take.

I also wanted to thank two of my guys Devin Brown and Dee Goens. They were celebrity speed free throw shooters for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism event at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. They took time on a Friday night to help out with a worthy cause. Thanks fellas!

MARCH 5, 2011

Our season is now over after a loss to Lafayette in our PL tournament. It was a hard fought game and they made some timely baskets down the stretch that hurt us. We played hard but I thought my guys played too excited. We had some silly turnovers that led to points for them and we had some great looks that we just flat out missed. Sometimes when you play in March, you can just try too hard to win. When that happens, you end up missing the plays you usually make. We pressed a bit and it hurt us.

After the game I told our guys that I was proud of them. We continued to fight all season despite injuries and close losses. We grew as a team and fought our way to a 3rd place finish.

I told our seniors Josh, AK and AB that I really appreciated their effort and character. They had to endure so much during their career. I loved that they embraced me as their coach and worked very hard me from day 1.

Year 1 is in the books and I like the direction we can take our program. I want to thank everyone who showed us their support during the year! You guys were great. It's easy to get behind us when we are winning so I really appreciate you hanging with us while we were struggling. Like I told our players, pain and progress go hand and hand.

We were able to establish a foundation to build a strong program. That was important! Our returning players gained some valuable experience and I like our freshmen class. I have no doubt that all of our guys will work very hard this spring/summer to get better.

I am excited about putting next year's team together. The Lord has blessed me and my family with a great opportunity to be a part of Holy Cross. We will do all we can to have a positive impact on the court and off. We aren't just responsible for winning games, we also have to develop boys into productive young adults. I see a bright future ahead for all of us.

FEBRUARY 4, 2011

We are at the halfway point in league play and have a record of 3-4. There are 5 teams with that same record so I'm guessing that the 2nd half of PL play should be very interesting.

We started out 3-1 in league play then dropped 3 in a row which was disappointing. We had a opportunity to make a push to the top of the league but we couldn't capitalize. Our effort is there but we have to make more winning plays. We have lost 8 games this year by a total of 17 points so we have talked alot about playing to win the game, not trying "not to lose".

We are all excited about the 2nd half of league play. The opportunity for us to make a strong push in February is there! During our film sessions we have seen our mistakes and how good we can play. We have to go up to another level with our play and focus to be succussful. I need my upperclassmen to take us to that level. They understand that and seem ready for that responsibility.

JANUARY 8, 2011

We lost to Yale 77-76 in overtime. That's 3 straight games we lost by a total of 4 points! That's our 5th game of the season that we have lost by 3 points or less. I feel for our players because we are so close to getting over the hump. They are working very hard and I really want this group to experience success this year. The guys understand that we are a few plays away from being on the winning side of these games. They also know that it's on us to make those plays and that's why I'm excited!

The PL is the start of our 2nd season. I told our guys that all 8 teams start 0-0. I want them to be excited and positive about the opportunity we still have as a team. The past is just that, the past. We have to jump into the "now" with both feet and see where that takes us. What a great opportunity we have to write a story about getting knock down but always getting up. A story that we can share with others who are going through trials of their own. We can be an example of how hard work, faith, patience, prayer and commitment will always help bring us out of painful trials. Can we turn the corner tomorrow? Why not!!!!!

JANUARY 5, 2011

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Our first Christmas is MA was very good. Usually we have family over or we are visited family during Christmas. This year because of the distance and snow we just had a quite family Christmas. My two girls were really excited to see what Santa gave them! It was great to see their reaction to all of their toys under the tree. It was good to have a few days off and spend that time my wife and kids.

Since our win vs Marist we have hit another rough stretch and drop our last 4 games. At Hofstra I thought we did a great job on Jenkins who was avg 23-24 points a game, he only scored 13 against us. They had some other guys step up to make plays and we didn't shoot the ball great. After the game we had a few days off for Christmas. We had practice set for the 26th but because of the snow storm Dee, Phil, Steve and Josh could not get back to campus. So for the 2 days getting ready for St Joe's we only had 10 guys for practice. We had to make some adjustments on how we would prepare and practice. I knew this would make it tough to get ready for St Joe's but what else could we do. Dee and Josh made it in time for the game but i didn't know how much they could help us after 5 days off and no practice. So after we lost to St Joe's we got even more bad news, Keister's Achilles tendon was killing him. After talking with our trainer we just thought it was best to shut him down for a few weeks to let him heal a bit. His fear was that if he kept playing he probably would tear it and be done for the year. I met with Keister the next day and he said it had been bothering him for a few weeks but he was just going to try and gut it out. Now it was just to painful to continue to play on so we all just thought it was best to rest him.

We talked a bunch over the next few days about guys having to step up since we were yet again short handed. We had 2 really good practices before the GWU game. I thought they did a great job of not feeling sorry for themselves and they just got after it. I was pleased with how hard we played but we ended up losing by 1 point. Our turnovers really hurt us, we had 20. I thought we defended them pretty well but we did not shoot the ball great and we had some opportunities in transition that we did not finish that could have change the game. We jumped on a plane after the game and made it back to Boston around 1130pm. We brought in the New Year on the bus traveling back to campus. My birthday was Jan 1st, so as we saw the fireworks go off in Boston at midnight as we passed by, the players started to sing Happy Birthday. I thought that was pretty cool.

We started 2011 off with 2 point loss at Sacred Heart. It was our best offensive effort so far but we did not defend very well. They hurt us in our zone in the 1st half and they were able to drive the ball into the lane too many times in the 2nd half. Again, the thing that really hurt us was turnovers (15) and missed opportunities in transition. We clipped the game films up to show our guys all the good plays we are making and the opportunities that we missed. We have some great defensive stops but we may lose the rebound out of bounds or really get out in transition and not finish a lay-up. When we showed some of the turnovers, we saw that sometime it was just a fact of making the wrong pass. So rather than getting a open 3pt shot we may try to fit a pass into the post to get it stolen. We just wanted to show them that they are making some really good plays but we will have to convert on a few more to win.

I told the team that 2010 was a rough year for our program. I also told them that it's no different in the real world! We are all going to have things happen to us that are great and we will all have rough spots that seem to last forever. How you respond when it's tough is what matters. I told them that we still control "us" so that's great! What we make of 2011 is up to us. So we all have to step up and do whatever we can for each other to make this program as good as we can make it. I want to thank all those who have been very supportive towards us during this tough stretch. I really appreciate it and so do my guys! One more non-conf game and then PL games around the corner!.

DECEMBER 21, 2010

We had another tough loss at home vs. Fairfield and then got our 1st win on the road at Marist. In the middle of those games was finals for my guys. So I had a chance to see the blank looks on their faces as the week went on since they were up studying every night. I thought my guys did a great job recovering from a tough loss while preparing for finals and Marist. Again, the character of my guys is tremendous. The Fairfield game was a tough one to give up at home. They are a very good team and their athletes gave us some problems. I thought we did a good job rebounding the ball and we did a pretty good job of sharing the ball. Our turnovers hurt us again! We knew that we would be fine defending them in the half court but we had to limit their opportunities in transition because of their speed. Against good teams, they make you pay for your mistakes.

The Marist game was our 1st win of the season! You could feel it in the locker room after, everyone was happy but the weight was off our shoulders too. We did a good job on the defensive end for 40 minutes. We rebounded the ball and we didn't turn it over. 7 turnovers! We took care of the ball. We also did a great job of picking our teammates up. We had to play this game without Phil, Steve and RJ who are all hurt. So we made a adjustment with our line-up to start Eric and Devin for Mike and Phil before the Fairfield game. Now we needed to put Mike back in for RJ to play Marist. We talked in scout about what great opportunity it was for us to have guys step up and make plays even if we are short handed. That nobody is going to feel sorry for us and we don't want them too! Let's just embrace the situation and become even stronger from it! I told the guys not to make excuses, make plays. And we did. We had a good feel on how we wanted to play and how we blended with each other on the court. I was really excited for the guys about the win. They have been working very hard and we are getting better every week. So to see them experience some success was great! Some of the players came up to me after the game and said congrats on my 1st win at HC. I knew they had put some extra heat on themselves to get a win for me. I didn't want them to do that but I knew it was happening. I will say that it made me feel pretty good because it let me know that they care. So here we all are wanting a W for each other, that's good stuff.

My wife told me that my little girls lost it when we won and went running around the house saying " we won, we won!" My oldest has said to me almost everyday "daddy, when are we going to win" or "daddy I'm sad when we lose". Brutal stuff! So it was great that I didn't have to explain to a 5yr old why we lost. This morning, she just walked up, gave me a hug and said "daddy we won and I was so excited". I just told her " me too sweetheart".

Now we are off to Hofstra to play another tough game. Their kid Jenkins might be a 1st NBA round draft pick so what challenge for us. I know our guys can't wait to compete.
I want to thank everyone who has sent me a kind comment or note. I appreciate all the support and I know my guys do as well. My family and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Coach Milan Brown

DECEMBER 12, 2010

From 12/4- 12/7 we have experienced some rough conditions. I thought we did a pretty good job at Wake. With about 1:30 to go we were down 6 but they hit a big 3 to push it back to 9. I liked the way we shared the ball (16 assist) but they really hurt us in transition. With the athletes that they have you can't allow them to play at the rim or they will shoot a high %. When we were able to keep them out of the paint we had success defending them.

We left after the game to catch a flight home that night so we could be rested and have more time to prepare for Stony Brook on Tuesday. Well, it was snowing in NC! So, our flight got pushed backed, then pushed back again. The problem was that we had now missed our connecting flight in Charlotte, NC. Then the fun begins! Once we get on a plane, we sit for about 2 hours because now our plane needs to be de-iced. Then they tell us that the de-ice truck does not work so they are borrowing another truck from another airline and will be there in 10 min. About 40 min later they tell us that the fluid has to heat up and that's why it's taking so long. Finally, they just send us back to the gate and tell us that there might not even be a flight to Charlotte and by the way, there are no hotels available in Raleigh. So one of the men pulls me to the side to help us get a bus so we can bus to Charlotte because there are no flights from Raleigh that could get us back home until 2 days later! So coach Robinson books us on a flight the next day in Charlotte at 9:50 am that had space for our party. The next problem, the ACC played it's championship football game in Charlotte that night so there isn't a hotel available anywhere close to where we are going. Finally, they tell us to get back on the plane, we are leaving for Charlotte. Great but we have nowhere to sleep and we will get there about 1am and everybody needs to eat. So, when we land we have to call cabs because the only place open to eat is Waffle House and a gas station across the street. Of course Waffle House was packed! So, when we finally ate and got back to the airport it was around 2:30 am it was just time to hang out. I thought it was great that we were able to be together for that amount of time. I really think it helped us get closer as a team. We played cards, talked hoop, cracked jokes... it was great to see the guys in that environment and I was able to be a part of it. We just had to make the best of a bad situation and we did.

Then we get our hearts broken at home vs Stony Brook. We lost on a last second lay up when we were up by one. After being on the road for 24 days and 5 games we were looking forward to playing in our own gym. We did a solid job on the defensive end holding them to 35% FG and out rebounded them by 11. But we had way too many turnovers and we missed some FT's. I told our guys that I thought we played "not to lose the game" rather than " playing to win the game". When you have not experienced a bunch of success that mentality can creep in. I told them that we will earn everything that we get, that I don't want anything given to us. That's where we are right now. We are developing a winning mentality again. And part of that is understanding that we have to earn the right to win... and then go win! My guys are working so hard in practice and have earned the right to believe that we will win and I told them that. Now, you have to finish the job. When the lights come on we have to go grab the game by the throat and impose our will on the game.

In film the other day I told my team that I was frustrated and angry about the losing. But that they may think I'm crazy because I'm more excited and full of energy than ever. I told them that I can't wait for the next practice, the next game or the next film session! I know it's a chance for us to get better and I 100% believe in what we are doing. The fact that we have been close in a number of games should prove that we are on the right track. But I'm so pumped because I love working for that last little bit we need to get over the hump! I can't wait to see what happens when we finally get there! Each day is an opportunity for us as a group but what we do with that opportunity is up to us. We can't control what happens to us all the time in life but when can control how we react to what happens to us in life. The only way I know how to make us better is to work hard, work smart, stay positive, learn from the past, be excited about the future and compete until you are about to pass out. During this struggle our character has come out... I like what I see.

Another tough game vs Fairfield on Sunday. I can't wait!

DECEMBER 1, 2010

It was a tough week for us with a loss at BC and UMASS. I thought we took steps in both games but it's hard to build confidence from a L. In the BC game I thought we were better with our turnovers but the ones we did have killed us! They scored 13 points off of our turnovers. It was good to see AB make some shots for us. He has been struggling with his offense so it was great to see him have some success. The 1st half was pretty close throughout and I thought we missed a few opportunities that would have made it even closer. They only shot 39% FG and 26% 3pt% so I thought we did a good job of defending them in the 1st half. The 2nd half the game got away from us but we battled back to cut the lead to 8 points with 5:30 to go. I told the guys that if we could get it to 6 points with 4 minutes to go then all the pressure would be on them. The next then we know, 50 seconds later we are down 17! They make a 3, we turn it over and they get a "and 1" play, we miss then they make a 3. It's so hard to come all the way back because you almost have to be perfect on every trip down the floor. When you are playing against a power conference team you can only make a few mistakes if you want to have a chance to win. We made too many and they made us pay for them. I know BC is a little down this season but they still have some pieces there. As Texas A&M and Cal found out. If the kid Jackson keeps working he will be a pro so they have some pieces.

The UMASS game was almost a great comeback! I thought we did a good job in the 1st half of trying to handle their pressure. We were able to beat it for scores and pull it to run offense. We did a decent job on the defensive end holding them to 36% FG% in the 1st half. Our zone helped us at times and I thought it kept them from driving the ball which is what they love to do. They had some offensive rebounds that really hurt us because they were put backs! Anytime we were able to finish a stop with a clean rebound we were able to get out in transition and make plays. I really loved the heart of my team during the comeback and our emotion. We played with great energy but not so excited that we could not make plays. When AB made the "bank" 3 ball I thought we would be able to come all the way back and win. We came up a bit short but we gained some more confidence in ourselves. We took another step as a team. UMASS is yet another good team that we had to face but I'm banking on it helping us in the long run. We will need to experience some success at some point, I know that. We will need to see that W at the end of the day to kind of validate what we doing everyday in practice. As of right now, I like the vibe of our team. We understand that the season is long and we are becoming a really tight knit group. We are getting better everyday and each game we have improved in some area. If I knew a quicker way that we could do this believe me I would. Tell you the truth, I wouldn't. I want this program built on a solid foundation so we can enjoy success for years not just 1 year. The way it is happening now is painful at times but our foundation will be solid!

I want to thank everyone who has been out to support us on our road games! It means so much to the guys and our staff. Also, thank you for the kind words about my wife's health. Everything checked ok with her for all the test for her heart. (thank God)

We spent Thanksgiving at home and about 9 of the guys came over to eat. Some of our guys were able to go home or their parents flew in. My wife cooked for about 2 weeks and the guys ate everything in sight! I asked her if she wanted to just order all the food but she wanted it to do something for them. This was her way of being a part of the team, a way to let my guys know that they are family. It was a really good day.

We play Wake Forest on Saturday then finally get 2 home games vs. Stony Brook & Fairfield. It does not get any easier folks! But I love the challenge!
 

NOVEMBER 21, 2010

It was a rough week of basketball here but I do know we grew as a team this week. The loss at Harvard was rough. We didn't play well and they did. That makes for a ugly score! We could not score the basketball and had too many turnovers. We also made way too many defensive mistakes and they made us pay. I knew my guys wouldn't quit and that's why we played better in the 2nd half but the damage was already done. They are a good team and will win a bunch of games this year.

We then lost a close one @ UNH. I thought we had that one! We just didn't make enough plays to pull the win out. I thought that the 2 practices leading up to that game were great. They were tough practices but the guys responded. Our execution on the defensive end of the floor was much better. We are still a click off on the offensive end but we were better with our plays and getting the ball inside. It was a 'grind it out' game and I pleased to see the guys respond with some toughness.

We are still trying to break old habits and form new ones. We are learning a new system and new rolls. But like I told the guys, we have to pick some of these things up quickly because the games have started! That's why even in the loss to UNH I was still pleased with the progress. My staff and I met for about 4 hours on Thursday to just talk about what adjustments needed to be made. What came out of that meeting was good but also eye opening. The 2 things that we kinda over looked are probably the 2 most important things that we have to develop all over again : 1) mental & physical toughness, 2) how to win. Last season really did a # on these guys so we are back to square 1 with a bunch of things we need to develop. I know we have guys who won under Coach Willard and I was banking on that to help us to tell you the truth. But winning is a habit and once you stop, you have to develop those habits all over again. I like my team! Once we get it and have a good feel for what we want to do I know we will be successful. I'm sure somebody is saying now " well when in the world will that be"! Really... I would love to know that too! (haha) I do know that no progress is made without struggle.

On a different note my family had a scary game day. Once we finished shoot-around I called my wife and she told me that she was in the emergency room. She was driving our girls back home from dance class and started have chest pains. I went straight to the ER and sat with her while she was waiting. They thought it might be a muscle pull but they didn't know. It was lucky that her mother is up visiting us so my girls were ok. I felt terrible because once I left for the game she would be in the hospital by herself. We talked about me not going to the game but she shot that down. She felt like she was in good hands and she told me that my team needed me too. They put her through a bunch of test and she was there for about 9 hours. Everything checked out with her heart and they let her go home. I did a lot of praying on that bus ride to UNH. She will have a stress test on Tuesday and if everything is good she should be in the clear. I didn't tell my guys this was going on because I wanted them to be focused on the game and not me. Scary stuff.

If you have some people that you love or care about, let them know. Spend some time with them if you can. You just never know what the next day will bring. I know I will. BC on Monday!

NOVEMBER 15, 2010

Tough loss to the C of C. We knew going into the game that they would be tough. They were coming off a hard fought game at Maryland, a game they felt they should have won. So we knew their focus would be high when they played us. They have 2 special players in Goudelock and Simmons. The fact that one is on the perimeter and the other is a post player, just makes it tougher because they can have a balanced attack.

I thought my guys played really hard and we stayed together. We showed some flashes of the team I think we can be on both ends of the floor. After watching the film this morning I know we will have a bunch to show our guys, both good plays and things we have to improve. I thought we did a very good job of getting on the offensive boards. We were able to get multiple 2nd chance opportunites. We also made some good plays in transition by either attacking the rim or kicking out for 3's. I didn't think we were as sharp in our 1/2 court execution as we needed to be. We missed some opportunites to punish them and they were able to turn some of our mistakes into points. I think we have some pieces in place to be a good offensive team but we have to take care of the ball, be sharp running our sets and finish plays. And by finishing plays that means making shots and free throws. If we made a few more FT's in the 1st half I know we would have had a chance at a much different game. But we had a couple of trips where we went 1-2 or 0-2 from the line and then they made a 3! Getting the fouls were great but we have to make them pay for it from the line.

Defensively we were in a tough spot. We didn't want Goudelock to beat us but the other guys did in the 1st half. Our rotations were good at times but we were a half a step late on some possession. Now, we had no clue that the kid Hall would make 4 threes or the post off the bench would score 13 in the 1st half!! And neither did C of C. Coach Cremins told me after the game " keep doing what you are doing, we just played really well tonight. We shot the ball so well". So once other guys started making shots then we had to adjust a bit in who we might be able to leave if we had to help. Which means Goudelock has more space to play and that's a problem. It also allowed Simmons more space inside to work and that's a problem too. Now, we did had some possession where we looked good on the defensive end and we can build on that. Giving up that many points and that FG% can't happen again but I tip my hat to C of C. They made us pay just about every time we were in the wrong spot and when we were in the right spots... they made it anyway! They are a good team and have a good understanding about how they want to play and how to win.

Back to work on Monday and two tough test are ahead @ Harvard & @ UNH. We won't play another home game until 12/7... man that's long. I want to thank all of you who were at the game! That was my 1st home game experience in the Hart Center and the energy you guys brought was great!! I loved to fact that both student sections were packed, it can get loud in our building. That support is greatly appreciated by me and my team. There were a few times that I know you guys gave us a extra burst of energy! Two things give you a home court advantage 1) a good team 2) a good crowd. Thank you for doing your part and we will continue to work so we can do our part.

On a side note, I saw my 2 little girls in the Holy Cross cheerleader outfits. That was great! I told you... we are ALL in!

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

Well, the start of our season is almost here! We play Assumption here on Monday in our exhibition game at 7pm. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I wasn't excited. It's the 1st time I will take the sidelines as the head coach of Holy Cross! I know that the game does not count but the walk to the bench will for me. Now, I'm sure I will be even more charged up for our home opener vs. C of C on 11/13 but I have been looking forward to this moment. My wife and I talk all the time about the journey that the game of basketball has taken us on. We feel very blessed to have this opportunity to coach here at HC and can't wait to see where this new chapter in our lives will take us. My little girls can't wait for the games to start! They will have on their outfits, cheer for the players, holler my name 50 times trying to tell me "Hi daddy" during the game and make my wife miss half the game trying to play. I don't know who is more tired after a game, sometimes I think it's my wife! haha

We had some members of our Hoops Club come by and watch practice on Saturday before our football game. I really appreciate all the support from them and I'm glad they had a chance to see how we conduct practice. Sometimes I think it's good for some people to be in the gym because it gives me a chance to see how my guys will react. Can they continue to focus on what we are doing or are they more consumed with the people in the gym? Some guys may try to do things that they can't do or make plays trying to impress people. Anytime we as coaches have a chance to evaluate our team in a different setting I believe you need to take advantage of it. I thought we reacted pretty well as a team.

I have no clue what the results of our games will be but I want all the fans and alums to know that your team is working very hard! If you see our players I would ask that you give them a pat on the back. I think that all of our players will be successful in life and that is really what we are trying to develop here, successful people. But I will say this, they are going to do everything they can to put our program back on a successful track. They understand the tradition and want to make their own mark in that rich tradition.

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

On Thursday we had the Patriot League media day in PA. Of course because I was the new guy I was introduced to a bunch of new faces. It was great to talk to our executive director Carolyn Femovich. I could tell that she wants what is best for our league. It was great to see all of the coaches and just have a chance to talk for a minute. The vibe in the room was that everyone thinks this season's race to the top should be very close and balanced. I can see why since there are so many teams who have experienced players returning. I wasn't surprised that AU was picked 1st or that CJ was pre-season POY. With AU's returning frontcourt and the talented transfers, it makes since. CJ seems to be a really good kid. We had a chance to talk a little about last season and just about him in general. I had to ask him " how in world did you get out of OH"!! haha He said that he had offers from colleges but they kept taking other players before him. So he kept getting the " sorry we are now out of scholarships" call. Crazy! There is no perfect formula to this recruiting stuff, you take the kids you think can help your program and hope they can be difference makers. We all want impact kids and CJ is just that. I told him I can't wait to compete against him and just told him to keep working.

On Sunday we scrimmaged Hartford at our place. I have known their coach John Gallagher for awhile now so it was good to see him and his team. I was really excited to see what we would look like against somebody else! It was even better that Hartford has been practicing since August because they went on a trip to Australia. So they were further along as a team than we were for sure but that made the test even better us. We caught a tough break in that Phil was not able to play against them. He hurt his toe the day before in practice so he was out. He will be fine, we are hoping he will be able to play in the exhibition game. Keister was back on the floor for us! He was able to practice 2 days so he was full go for the scrimmage. He has only been able to practice 4-5 times so far so I was wondering how much he would really know. He has to get his wind back up but it was good to see him crashing around on the court. I thought we did a good job for the most part. I was able to play different combinations and really see what our guys know to this point. We still have work to do but I found out they we will compete, we are together, we will play physical and I like our depth. My guys showed me flashes of the defensive team I think we need to be if we are going to compete at a high level. Now, can we do it for 40 minutes, that's the question! We will keep pushing until that answer is yes.

Both teams really competed! We played better in 1st half and they played better in the 2nd half. We watched film on what we did right and wrong. I have told the guys that I understand that what we are doing is new and we will better with it as the year goes on. But hey... we have to pick some of these things up now! We play in 2 weeks so let's focus and make plays. AK came into my office afterwards and told my staff that the team was really feeling good about what we are doing. That they are all in and feel like they can have success the way were are playing. We were glad to hear that. We are still developing as a team but that's a big step for our group. Now, the funny thing is... they are going to do it weather they liked it or not! haha But it's good that our trust level between staff and player is high.

We play a exhibition game vs. Assumption on 11/8 at 7pm in the Hart Center. It should be a good test for us. I hope everyone can get out to take a look.

OCTOBER 19, 2010

We are off and running with practice now. The start of the season is always exciting! We opened up with practice on October 15th and then we had two-a-day practices on the 16th & 17th. Those 5 practices are very important because we need to establish not only how we are going to play but how we are going to practice. The tempo of practice early is always slower because of the teaching that our staff is doing. We are also trying to break old habits and create new ones so we want to make sure our guys understand what we are doing. They also have to know that our practices will be physical. We have to be in great shape to get up and down the floor. Right now, my guys are in very good shape, just not in basketball shape. Each day is going to be a learning experience for not only the players but me too.

I am excited about the energy and focus that the guys have played with so far. They are trying to do what we ask of them. We will have a chance to be a physical group. I like the fact that we have guys who are not afraid of contact and that will be useful for us on both ends of the floor.

It was great to have RJ back on the floor. His knee is healed but now he has to get back into shape. Keister has been out the last few practices with a slight hamstring pull. I told him that's par for the course with him since he is always banged up. (haha) He was great early and I could see why he has been one of the better post in our league. Everyone else is sore but healthy. Eric has dunked on a few guys in our 3 on 2/ 2 on 1 drill. I won't say any names so the 2 guys won't be embarrassed but it was ugly. If they tick me off in the next few days I will absolutely name them! (haha) We have had some really good post play at times and our wings have had some explosive plays as well. It's so early, I can't tell if we are going to be a good team just yet. I do like the path we are on and I can sense the togetherness from the kids everyday.

OCTOBER 7, 2010

This week we had a meet & greet in New York with some Holy Cross alumni and fans. I had a good time and the people I met were great. Each time I talk to a Holy Cross alum, I always walk away feeling that they really love this place. They all speak very highly of how Holy Cross has helped them be successful. I was able to talk with a few former players as well like Pat Doherty & Collin Cunningham '09 and Stan Grayson '72 to name a few. I could feel the pride in the room that each individual has for the college and our basketball program.

This was also our last week of pre-season workouts. I can see it in the guys faces that they are ready to practice. The big test for us this week was could we stay focused on just getting better this week rather than focusing on just trying to get through the last week. I like what I saw. I keep talking about the process to them, there is no shortcut to success. Everything we do or go through is going to help us reach our goals. I don't want them to look too far ahead, they need to be "all in" to what is going on right now. For us to have a strong foundation we have to give each step we take our full attention.

Our 1st day of practice is October 15th. Man that got here fast! I am going to try to stay up on updating my web page. This will be a task for me at times because when the season hits I get so locked in to the team and coaching. Most of the time when I get a free moment I am trying to spend it with my family. During the season I spend so much time away from them and I hate that. I try every year to have some type of balance if at all possible... hasn't worked yet! So I will try to keep the window open for a quick look into our program for all of you who follow us. The next time you hear from me the college basketball season will be off and running. Time to get after it

OCTOBER 1, 2010

I would like to congratulate Michael Dyer, Class of '07 for winning my recent contest. He guessed the order of my pre-season Patriot League poll. How I voted will still stay in house. I'm sure the league doesn't want me to put that out there and no need to give any of the teams more fuel for the fire if they don't like where I put them. I would no doubt use that if I found out! hahaha! Anything to get my guys ready. I really appreciate everyone voting and the kind comments that followed.

This past weekend I was able to take my wife into Boston for the night and just hang out. My mother-in-law was still in town so she keep the kids so we could have one last get away. This was great and rare. Usually this is hard to do with recruiting, official visits, workouts... but the weekend was free so we jumped at the chance. On Sunday, my boy Chris Slade hooked us up with 50 yard line, row 4 tickets to the Patriots/Bills game. Chris is a former Patriot defensive end and we played high school/AAU (football & basketball) with and against each other back home. So it was a great weekend! When we got home my wife told me "see you in April" haha she knows the grind work we put in every season.

I thought we had a really good week as team. The energy was good and you can see that guys are getting get better. They know that we only have 1 week left of our pre-season workouts so the energy is high. They can't wait for practice to start and they can't wait to get conditioning over with! haha I was a player, so I can understand that. I can also see that the relationship between the players and staff is growing fast. I'm probably most proud of that. We can't get anywhere close to reaching our potential if we don't have big time trust between us. It takes time to build that but I can see it happening.

It's homecoming this weekend at Holy Cross! My family and I will be at the football game and I'm looking forward to seeing how HC looks when everybody comes out. I'm also looking forward to the meet and greet on October 6 in New York, NY and the lunch in Boston on the 13th at the Downtown Harvard Club. Should be two good events.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

This week was "hump week" for our guys! We are in our 3rd week of workouts and this is usually when your body hits the wall a bit and you have fight through it. I thought we did a great job of working through this and we did it with energy too. This was a good chance to how my guys would react when things got a little tough and I was pleased with what I saw. The goal is to get better every week and we did.

Our individual workouts have been good and you can see some improvement from week 1 to now. Here is what I've see from our guys skill set at this point in the year: Perimeter- we are faster and more athletic than I thought we would be. Devin and Andrew B can really shoot the ball. Dee, Mike, Jordan and Joe aren't far behind them. RJ has been out so its hard to speak about him, but we know he has to improve his stroke. We are faster and more athletic than I thought we would be. All of our wings have good size and each one can finish at the rim. AB can handle the ball and I'm impressed with how far Dee has come along in handling the rock. Post- all of our post can step out and make the 15-16ft jumper. It looks like Steve will be able to shoot it from 3pt range. Eric, Josh and Dave are our most athletic post. Phil, AK and Dave seem to be the most comfortable with their back to the basket. AK, Josh and Phil are our most physical post. We don't have a lot of playing experience in our post besides AK so it's been nice to see the strides they have made from last years films to now.

Each guy has shown me something that has impressed me. It's hard to see how we really look because we are not in a team setting but I can get a snap shot of how all of our pieces might fit together. It's also great to see some of the vets step up in a leadership roll. We have a lot of work to do but I do like the direction we are going.

I had a good time on Monday at the Mohawk Golf Club in NY for the H.C. scholarship fund. I hit the ball pretty good and had a chance to meet some more H.C. alumni and fans. My next H.C. event will be 10/6 in New York, NY at the Wachovia (21st FL) @6pm for a meet & greet. Don't ask me how you sign up for this I just know I will be there talking hoops! haha

I also turn in our votes for the pre-season Patriot League rankings and all- league team. We cannot vote for our own team so we just rank them 1-7. It's harder for me to do this because I have not seen all the teams in person. But I think I had a good enough feel from watching film on everybody. Now, I won't tell what my order was but let's have some fun! The 1st person who can guess my 1-7 order of the preseason prediction will win 2 game tickets to any non- conference game we have this season or you and a guest can come watch one of our practices between 10/18- 11/7. Just go to "contact" on my page and email me your answer. As soon as I get a right answer I will put up on my twitter:@coachmbrown and on my web page. Remember, you can't vote for Holy Cross. Good luck! (P.S. I will not be sending responses back to let you know how close you are haha) ( maybe if you get 6 out of 7).

Next up, Saturday morning soccer with my daughter. Let's go!

SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

I just got back from recruiting in the VA/MD area. I had a chance to see some good talent in the 2012 class. My staff has done a good job of putting together a list of kids/gyms we needed to see. Last week my guys were able to hit some of the local gyms and this week we were able to get down to VA,MD & DC. Next week it looks like my staff will split between MN,MI, PA,NJ & NY. This fall our objective is to see about 50-60 kids that we know will have a chance to help us as soon as they set foot on campus. Some of these kids are getting mid-major + to high major looks but if we can make a dent with them early it should help us later. We are also going to visit some schools who always have players with good academic backgrounds. Even if we don't have a name, we know it will be a productive trip.

These past few weeks I have had some people who I care about survive some close calls in their lives. My college coach, Butch Beard, went in for a check up and the docs found a virus that was attacking his heart. So he had to have open heart surgery. He was already recovering from hip surgery and they think that he got an infection and it spread to his heart. I spoke with him the other day and we are both glad that he had that check-up scheduled. And in straight "coach mode" the conversation was 90% about HC basketball. Here he is getting medicine pumped into him about 20 hours everyday and all he wants to know is "how does the team look". He has been a great mentor and I'm glad he will be around to continue to help me when I need it.

Then I find out that a former player of mine who is working towards being a police officer in NY was shot in the stomach. My heart dropped when I heard the news but thankfully I heard he has not had any life threatening complications. I had just talked to him by text a week before this happened. I am going to make a trip to NY to see how he is doing soon.

We also got a scare from RJ, one of my current players. Last week during pick-up he hurt his knee. The doctor and our trainer thought it might be his MCL but there was a outside chance it was his ACL because there was pain in the back of his knee. So they sent him to get a MRI to know for sure. Monday they told us it was ok! We will bring him back slowly but he will be ready for our first practice October 15th.

So after a few weeks of these calls and a lot of prayer, everything seems to be ok. My staff said we had a great week of workouts and the guys killed it in the weight room. We are looking to get better everyday and the guys understand that. Good luck to our football team at Harvard this week!

SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

Classes are back in session and Holy Cross is buzzing again. It's great to see all of our guys back here and ready to go. Each player stopped by the office to talk to the staff and they all had the same question, "when do we start". That was really good to hear! I know it's early and everyone is fired up but still, as a coach, you love to hear from your guys that they are ready to work.

Everyone was back on campus by Monday morning except Eric (his flight did not get in until Tuesday). Most of them were here Sunday night and the freshman had to be here by Friday to go through their orientation. By the time Wednesday classes hit, everybody had been in the gym to get some shots up own their own at least twice! Some guys like Devin, Andrew B... have been in the gym 3-4 times. I am loving the fact they we all understand that we have to get better. The only way that can happen is if we are in the gym getting after it!

I must say that the best surprise was when Eric O. walked in the office looking 15-lbs. heavier. I was out of the office so my staff saw him first. They immediately called me and said "have you seen E?!!" So it was great to see that he listened when he was told that he needed to get stronger. Now, he doesn't look like Dwight Howard, but you can see that he worked.

This past weekend I had a chance to golf with Bob Cousy. He can golf! He shot a 84 and was upset because he knows he should shoot his age, 82! I love his competitive spirit. It was great to hear him speak about Holy Cross and the Celtics. You absolutely know that he bleeds purple & green! He hit me with some wisdom, gave me his vote of confidence as the HC coach and even tried to help my golf game! I was terrible! I shot a 96, awful! I usually shoot around 87-92, I told him at least no one will excuse me of golfing instead of working. He told me that he leaves in November for FL until March so he doesn't get to the games but he does check for the scores after every game.

Big weekend for our football team. It's funny that they open against Howard University which is where I graduated from. It will be good to see a few faces that I have not seen in awhile.

We had our team meeting on Wednesday and I thought it went well. As Devin Brown said at the end "we have the talent, now we have the plan so let's go get". Enough said.

AUGUST 24, 2010

It looks like our schedule for the 2010-11 season should be done now. We have College of Charleston coming here for our home opener on 11/13 at 7pm. It was tough for a minute to find a game so I appreciate Coach Cremins agreeing to start the series here. They are going to be good again so I'm excited to get a great test for us right from the jump.

We could get one more home game on 11/30 or 12/1 but I seriously doubt that there is a team out there with that date. Especially one who wants to start on the road and is a good game for us. I spoke to some of our players about the schedule and they are excited. They know it's a tough schedule but welcome the challenge. Love to hear that they want to compete! It should definitely prepare us for PL play.

Our campus will be jumping in a few days. The freshman get here Saturday and classes start Sept 1. The start of a new year is always met with high expectations and hope for everyone. Also can't wait to get out and see our football team take the field on the 4th. They finally get to hit somebody wearing a different uniform.

AUGUST 20, 2010

The new look website is up and running! I appreciate all the hard work from Joe Dwyer and the CollegeInsider.com team. They have provided me with a vehicle to give fans a quick inside look into my basketball experiences.

During the year I will use my site to keep everyone updated on our Holy Cross basketball family. I hope that some of the information I am able to provide will give people a better feel for what our basketball program is all about. I know that we have a bunch of passionate and loyal HC supporters so I think this will help them feel even more connected.

I can't wait for my guys to get back on campus so we can get our pre-season workouts started. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us but the players really seem ready to take on any challenge I throw at them. We are all looking for a exciting 2010-11 season!

Be sure to check out the 2010-11 season preview.