With the season just around the corner figured I’d provide you all with a few news and notes regarding the Friars.
Ryan Eaton Joins The Crier
I tweeted this out little over a week ago but excited to announce that Ryan Eaton is joining the Crier. He is a fellow Class of 2012 Friar and I have no doubt he’s going to be bringing you all great content this season.
Friars in 2019 Wooden Legacy
Tuesday it was announced that the Friars will participate in the 2019 Wooden Legacy Tournament. The other notable programs participating will be Arizona, Wake Forest and UCF. Friars played in this tournament in 2015 where the Crier had some good and bad memories.
One of the banner moments in the Cooley Era occurred at the Wooden Legacy when Kris Dunn put the team on his back en route to a victory over then #11 Arizona. The Friars ultimately fell to Denzel Valentine and Michigan St in the final but what occurred after the final whistle for me cast a black cloud over the event. Valentine is dribbling out the clock when that gap toothed shmohawk decides to hurl the basketball at Junior Lomamba’s back. The Crier remembers! I mean how could one forget such a disgusting and despicable act?
In terms of the 2019 Wooden Legacy it’s yet another early season tournament where Friars have opportunity build a great resume come March. I personally don’t love the team traveling to CA, rather them play in the Caribbean or something, but I guess that’s where the road to the Final Four will start.
Big East/Big XII Challenge
Yesterday it was announced that starting next season the Big East and Big 12 will have an 10 game series for the next 4 seasons. With the Friars already having a home and home series with Texas the Longhorns visiting the Dunk will be their first game. The game I really want to see is PC at Kansas. This game would knock off two things on my bucket list at once, that’s visiting one of the cathedrals of college hoops and renting an RV to drive through America. So Val if you’re reading this please make this happen for me. As a handicapped guy I have a My Wish that I haven’t cashed in yet, don’t make me use it on this. Also look forward to Fran Fraschilla announcing a Friar game and telling me Andrew Fonts is a year away from being a year away.
Kris Dunn Becomes a Padre, Sprains MCL
From a basketball standpoint Kris Dunn’s 3rd season in the NBA couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start. Dunn missed the first two games of the season for the Bulls because his girl friend gave birth to his first child. Congrats to Kris on becoming a dad however his return to the court didn’t last long. In his season debut Dunn sprained his MCL and will be out 4-6 weeks. You never wish injury on a player but honestly why couldn’t it have been that gap toothed shmohawk Denzel Valentine’s MCL? Luckily though he avoided a significant knee injury but I’m sure this is not how Kris envisioned his season starting. Once him and Lauri Markkanen return though expect the Bulls to be a NBA League Pass Team, not many Ws but entertaining to watch.
Big East Media Day- Diallo 1st Team BE and Duke shares ROY W/ Quinerly
Today was Big East Media Day in NYC and its about damn time the Friars got some preseason recognition. PC is predicted to finish 3rd in the standings voted by the coaches, while Alpha Diallo represents the Friars on the preseason Big East 1st Team. David Duke Jr shares the preseason rookie of the year with Villanova’s Jahvon Quinerly, aka Jelly Pham or as I like to call him FBI Jahvon.