Random notes on a basketball season
By Chris Granozio
It is with a heavy heart that I commence this edition of ATR with a tribute to a regional legend, whose time on our planet came to an end over the summer, two days shy of his 89th birthday. Ernie Greenberg was the public address announcer for Southern New Hampshire beginning in 1980 (when the small school was known as New Hampshire College and wasn’t advertising on national television) and continuing through the pandemic-canceled 2020-21 season. I had the pleasure of hearing Ernie’s dulcet tones, masterful inflections and playful Penmen nicknames since my first-ever visit to what is now known as the Stan Spirou Field House in 1993. Each time I entered that building, I made it a point to stop by and see Ernie first – even if it were during a women’s game – just to hang with the gold standard in the business. Not only was Ernie the consummate professional, he was one of the kindest, friendliest, most affable chaps ever to grace a scorer’s table. A true gentleman.
Tom McDermott was the school’s sports information director for 17 years and had nothing but fond memories of Greenberg: “It’s really hard to think about the fieldhouse and penmen basketball without Ernie,” he said. He was the voice of every home game and every tournament game. He was just a nice guy… no other way to put it. We would talk about everything before a game. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a part of penmen basketball forever.
Among Greenberg’s signature player calls were: “Wayman Booooone,” “Beanooo Ransom,” “Stick” Wood and “The Rippah” for sharpshooter Matt Ripaldi.
When it comes to current regional PA announcers, there are many I truly appreciate, including St. Michael’s Rich Green really impresses me. Killer voice, spot-on articulation and perfect inflections. Ernie Greenberg would approve!
Patrick Gardner’s game reminds me a little of onetime Adelphi big man Manny Suarez, particularly his ability to face-up and bang a 3-pointer. If the new Purple Knights’ big man wants it badly enough, he could be the most dominant player in the region this side of one Andrew Sischo.
Some very intriguing results over the season’s opening month, including SNHU’s surprise win at #14 Dominican. Then the Chargers shook off the loss and knocked off Adelphi on the road. I’ve seen 33 of the 37 East teams to date and Dominican has impressed me most thus far. But stay tuned… something tells me there will be several more chapters to the story this winter.
I love almost everything about the game experience at East Stroudsburg – feels like a D1 gym most nights I’m there with a rockin’ band, terrific video board show, a super-hospitable staff and an exciting team on the court – but what’s with all the players wearing masks below their chins? What possible purpose does that serve?
In the game I saw at the Koehler Fieldhouse, sensational redshirt junior forward Carlos Pepin had outscored the entire Georgian Court team by halftime, 17-16. In their defense, the GCU Lions had just welcomed back eight of their 10 suspended players for that game and were clearly not ready to compete at that level. The talent on that roster should produce better results once conference play kicks into full gear.
Saw a blowout earlier this season during which a timeout was called strictly for bench-clearing substitutions. One player leaving the court turned to his coach and, pantomiming the referee’s signal for subs, asked his coach: “what does this mean?”
If Holy Family rookie guard Vernon Johnson can learn to play with a little more discipline, he shows signs of being the best on-the-ball defender in the region.
USciences is the little engine that could. Watching this group of athletes that has no business playing hard in its final season gives an inspirational effort from the opening tip to the final horn. That’s a testament to head coach Mike Connors and on-court quarterback Austin Kennedy, whose instincts are impeccable.
Herb Magee to longtime assistant Jimmy Reilly after a Rams player who made a bad and near-costly decision: “Is this the only time he’s ever played college basketball?”
Goldey-Beacom’s front line of 6-8 twin towers Juran Ligonde and freshman Ese Efekodo are a handful, and play pretty well off each other.
All three Western New York teams do the whole pregame light-show NBA lineup production, and I’m seeing similar opens across D2 now. But the first time I ever saw it done in our region was at SNHU several years ago, with Clint Mansell’s haunting “Lux Aeterna” theme from the film “Requiem for a Dream.”
My new favorite player name in the region is Menggeer – a freshman forward for D’Youville by way of Beijing, China.
There have been rumors floating around regarding a change among the East Region’s schools, and the rumors are true. Look out for an announcement tomorrow regarding one of the schools switching conferences. And I will have more on the story in Thursday’s Around the Rim.
Until then, Happy Hooping to All!