Cornell forward Ryan Wittman smiles during practice Thursday before the Big Red's first-round NCAA Tournament game in Boise, Idaho. Cornell's tip off against Missouri will be approximately at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS.By Mike Sullivan
Ithaca Journal
March 20, 2009
BOISE, Idaho - Eight minutes remained in Cornell's light shootaround session on Thursday at Taco Bell Arena when the Big Red began a buzzer-beating, half-court shot drill.
After about a half-dozen misses, Chris Wroblewski took his turn, taking a few steps and letting fly with an attempt that swished through the net.
There were only about 100 fans in Boise State's blue, orange and tan-seated facility at the time, a much calmer atmosphere than what's expected today when the Big Red takes on Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Thursday was the calm before the storm as Cornell looks to notch its first-ever NCAA tournament victory. The players got familiar with the court and handled media responsibilities before departing for what surely was a tougher practice at Boise's Timberline High.
Then it was on to dinner before returning for a relaxing night at a Doubletree hotel. Coach Steve Donahue also had to fit in time to attend a mandatory coaches' meeting to go over tournament procedures.
Cornell is scheduled for an early-morning shootaround - 7 local time - but Cornell Director of Athletic Communications Jeremy Hartigan said the team would pass on that opportunity. Tip off will be approximately six hours later.
The NCAA tournament can be a whirlwind experience, but Cornell coaches and players feel they are better prepared for all the hustle and bustle after having dealt with it 12 months ago in Anaheim, Calif., before losing to Stanford.
"We were here last year and we kind of let all the surrounding environment kind of play into that," center Jeff Foote said. "This year, we have been more focused mentally."
Foote, Louis Dale, Adam Gore and Ryan Wittman faced the typical questions Ivy League players face about being brainy players and not having the same level of athleticism as their bigger-conference opponents. But smiles and bemused looks broke out on their faces when it was mentioned that a Missouri player had said that someday the Tigers' players might be working for the Cornell players, so they better beat them while they can.
"Coming from an Ivy League school, we kind of have that label as being really nerdy kids or smart kids," Dale said. "So I'm sure that a lot of people think that or say those type of things."
After about a half-dozen misses, Chris Wroblewski took his turn, taking a few steps and letting fly with an attempt that swished through the net.
There were only about 100 fans in Boise State's blue, orange and tan-seated facility at the time, a much calmer atmosphere than what's expected today when the Big Red takes on Missouri in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Thursday was the calm before the storm as Cornell looks to notch its first-ever NCAA tournament victory. The players got familiar with the court and handled media responsibilities before departing for what surely was a tougher practice at Boise's Timberline High.
Then it was on to dinner before returning for a relaxing night at a Doubletree hotel. Coach Steve Donahue also had to fit in time to attend a mandatory coaches' meeting to go over tournament procedures.
Cornell is scheduled for an early-morning shootaround - 7 local time - but Cornell Director of Athletic Communications Jeremy Hartigan said the team would pass on that opportunity. Tip off will be approximately six hours later.
The NCAA tournament can be a whirlwind experience, but Cornell coaches and players feel they are better prepared for all the hustle and bustle after having dealt with it 12 months ago in Anaheim, Calif., before losing to Stanford.
"We were here last year and we kind of let all the surrounding environment kind of play into that," center Jeff Foote said. "This year, we have been more focused mentally."
Foote, Louis Dale, Adam Gore and Ryan Wittman faced the typical questions Ivy League players face about being brainy players and not having the same level of athleticism as their bigger-conference opponents. But smiles and bemused looks broke out on their faces when it was mentioned that a Missouri player had said that someday the Tigers' players might be working for the Cornell players, so they better beat them while they can.
"Coming from an Ivy League school, we kind of have that label as being really nerdy kids or smart kids," Dale said. "So I'm sure that a lot of people think that or say those type of things."
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