Some Columns That Touched On Topics Of Interest

We don't often share stories that appeared elsewhere on this blog. The preference is to provide original material.

But, we'll make an exception when the material is produced by this scribe.

Several months ago I was fortunate enough to be hired as a sports columnist at The Troy (N.Y.) Record newspaper, an old stomping ground in past years.

The Record, in that way, is kind of like the newspaper buisness' version of the New York Yankees ... it's willing to hire old guys with (hopefully) something left in the proverbial tank.

On occasion, some of my recent columns have touched on some MAAC-related topics as well as general college-basketball related ones.

So, in case you missed these ...

This one is about Brian Fruscio, whose connection with the MAAC lasted just one season. He was an assistant coach with the Saints for the 2004-05 season. That was the last year of Rob Lanier's time with the program.

Fruscio is a native of New York's Capital Region, so when Lanier and staff was fired he just stayed in the area, eventually becoming the dean of students and boys' basketball coach at Albany Academy. His team captured a divisional state Federation Tournament championship last season, but Fruscio still makes an annual trip to some high-level college programs to pick the minds of some of the top coaches in the country.

http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20131207/on-the-record-brian-fruscios-never-ending-quest-for-knowledge

Siena's first-year coach Jimmy Patsos is off to a 3-8 start with the Saints with games coming up with Hofstra and Fordham. His team could easily be 4-9 or 3-10 when the New Year starts.

It's likely to be a worse 13-game start than former coach Mitch Buonaguro's 5-8 record after his first 13 games on the job four years ago.

The Siena "faithful" were calling for Buonaguro's firing long before he reached the 13th game of his time with the Saints. The opinion here is that they should exhibit a little better behavior, a little more patience, this time with Patsos.

http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20131203/on-the-record-no-denying-patsos-is-right-choice

This one isn't really MAAC related, but it's about a terrific college basketball accomplishment.

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer recently went over the 900 mark for career victories. She's currently No. 4 on the all-time list for career victories by a coach of women's teams and is likely to be No. 2 before this season ends.

She's still young enough (recently turned 60) to eventually surpass all-time victory leader Pat Summit. VanDerveer is an Albany native, attended schools in upstate New York through her freshman year at college before moving on.

http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20131130/vanderveer-we-knew-her-way-back-when