Nov. 22, 2000

We have improved as a team on our press and also on executing all of our options in our offences. If we keep seeing the open man, there is no reason why we shouldn't come up with a lay up each time down the floor. Today, we worked on a new 1-3-1 defense and it is going to be an asset against teams who struggle with outside shooting. If Fairfield is not hitting from the outside, our coaches may ask us to play this defense to see how well we do with it.

What is important about these tournaments is that they help us get ready for our Patriot League games. Our coaching staff wants to see what our team does well and what we need to work on. By playing these more difficult teams, the success we have in either offense or defense will be that much better when we get to our Patriot League games. Both the team and our coaches know that there are winnable games in this tournament for us and there are no excuses for why we shouldn't beat teams who aren't as talented as we are. No matter pre-conference or not, a winnable game should be won and this is stressed by our coaches. As a team, it is up to us to execute what the game plan is and to get the wins we are entitled to.

My outlook for this tournament is very good. We know that Fairfield is a good team and that we have to play very smart to beat them. However, we also know that in this tournament, no other team should beat us. We are better than every other team in this tournament and should play as such. After seeing the potential and versatile play by our team in the Vermont Tournament, I am confident, as is the rest of my team, that we will be successful in this upcoming tournament.