KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

Hi everyone -

First post... in a long time. I remember being on the old Projo board as "RunningRam44" back in my late teens and early 20's. Guys like "Tony", "RamFanfromSK" and Neil, Milan, Rod and others still posting were holding down the fort then too. Great to see this place now with the work ATP and crew have put in to build it out... and as amped up as it is to start a season.

I have some standard content/coverage things in the works with outlets (more coming soon), but have been thinking about how to add an additional element this year to coverage of the program. Decided after talking with some trusted friends and program people to give my own College Chalktalk Facebook Live hit a go.

Just about everyone is on Facebook, can access the app from a smartphone whether in the arena or at home, we can engage with each other and you with the guests (more on that in a minute), and - most importantly - we can draw upon the energy and atmosphere of the live experience. For those at home/out-of-state, it should provide some nice coverage up until about the national anthem. For people in the arena, we can take advantage of the dead-time about 20 mins or so before the game where people are not likely listening to Steve and Don and bring a unique perspective. I may also explore a good suggestion from someone of seeing whether it can be streamed/piped into the Alumni Lounge.

I'm sure there will be some technical glitches so bear with these first pilot runs. I'm not a producer but am going to do my best to line it up so it works for all (though everything is reliant on wi-fi, ultimately). I welcome any thoughts from people who have technical expertise.

My first guest before the Dartmouth game is Jimmy Carr. He's fired up and looking forward to coming on and getting things underway. My guess is we'll be Live from about 6:30-6:55, but I'm still ironing out details. I'll post an event to the Facebook page soon cementing everything.

If you all would like to tune in... just download the Facebook app to your smartphones (if you haven't already) or log onto FB from your desk/laptops. I also encourage everyone to "Like" the College Chalktalk page (below), which will ensure that you get updates, etc.

https://www.facebook.com/CollegeChalktalk

If it goes well early, I'll continue it into A10 conference season, where we can start bringing on coaches from other A10 programs given my network through the league... and it could be really cool.

For now, hope you can Like the page, tune-in on Friday (exact time TBD) and help make this an engaging, social pregame show that I'm committed to filling with good content for all of us.

Thanks again for watching/reading/listening. This team, this league, this game have been my passion for as long as I can remember.

Chris
@CDiSano44 on Twitter

I look forward to it. This is the ONLY reason for me having the Facebook app on my iPhone! That's saying a lot given how I dislike (See what I did there?) Facebook.

Oh, and Chris, don't stay a Zach "1 and Done" Marbury for long, OK?

This is awesome. Really looking forward to it.

Awesome news, I'll be tuned in from 211! Go Rhody

Awesome! Thanks Chris for your great coverage of the A10 and URI basketball. You're the best.

Awesome! I just liked the Facebook page. This is great stuff and can't wait to tune in. Chris is certainly doing his part to turn this into a high level program!

I, too, just liked the page.......looking forward to participating from my seat at Ryan.....

Cool, cool, cool...

Too bad Disano doesn't cover our team full time...although he kind of does.

Giddyup

Great stuff!! Thank you Chris, I will be listening. Just liked it on FB.

Wow hope this gets views and takes off! I know I will be watching!

Not sure about streaming from my seat unless they add good WIFI in the Ryan Center. During games I have trouble even checking game stats on At&t's network . Most likely because there are so many college kids on thier phones during the game clogging up the bandwidth!

Yeah, I struggle with ATT also from my seat in 205.

This is great, will be checking it out for sure.

I will be tuning in for sure. Chris does an excellent job covering college ball. I value his opinion and the research he will put into each game.

Just liked the FB page great stuff !!

Thanks everyone... appreciate the interest in FB live and the comments about my coverage/analysis of the team. I'll be promoting it via paid social media some as the week presses on, but encourage everyone to spread the word about it to friends/relatives on social that follow the Rams -- as nothing is better than organic word of mouth reach... want it to gain some traction and see where it leads. More info on exact start time, etc. coming soon.

Will also be asking for some questions ahead of time via social also... but will start here, right now, as I'd like to dedicate 5-8 minutes of the "show" to responding to Q's. If you have any, let them fly. I'll come back and check the board before Friday.

Praying to the wi-fi gods for a strong connection on Friday and looking forward to getting things rolling.

Chris

Let's get some questions posted here for Chris to answer during Friday's show.

Questions for Chris, what does he see with the rotations and players off the bench. Any new players does he see making any immediate impact?

I would like to know Disano's guess for the prediction contest.

1. Top player in the A10
2. Top newcomer in the A10.
3. Prediction on how many A10 teams make the dance.

The League will also be utilizing Facebook Live as Bill Koch tweeted the league is going to stream the 2/15 game vs Fordham on Facebook Live

What have you heard about Dowtin so far and how much of an impact do you expect him to have as he gets comfortable throughout the year.

How do you balance the newfound depth with the need to formalize a core rotation for a huge game vs Cincy in a week? Could be one of the biggest games of the season and it comes quickly. Especially as it relates to our interior players given Cincy will be big and our front court depth is pretty green.

Chris - With 13 players available this season for the first time and a likely 9-10 play rotation at the most, would Dan think about saving a year of elgibility and focus on a development year for potentially player 12-13?

Keep hearing how relaxed Coach Hurley is and how he's even cracking jokes. Do we have to worry that he's gone soft?

Iggy1979 wrote:Keep hearing how relaxed Coach Hurley is and how he's even cracking jokes. Do we have to worry that he's gone soft?

Haha just wait until the games start and the first call goes against us

Don't forget to catch Disano on his FB Live stream pregame tonight.

Iggy1979 wrote:Keep hearing how relaxed Coach Hurley is and how he's even cracking jokes. Do we have to worry that he's gone soft?

I'm guessing he's not so relaxed with this tub stuff.

Tub-demonium! The Ballad of Mrs. A (or MRSA)....

Hate to say it...but, without details...gotta assume there are legit reasons to shut 'em down and if Dan et al could get them open, they'd spare no energy to do so.

adam914 wrote:

Iggy1979 wrote:Keep hearing how relaxed Coach Hurley is and how he's even cracking jokes. Do we have to worry that he's gone soft?

Haha just wait until the games start and the first call goes against us

Amusingly, he was loud and clear tonight when a call when against Rhody, even though it was late in the second half and the Rams were up 25.

Audio tonight was a bit of a challenge, even with the hand held microphone. Probably not top shelf equipment made available to Mr. DiSano. Also maybe limited to what he can connect to his laptop/phone.

Not sure why, but that link doesn't work for me.

Doesn't work for me either

The link worked fine, but the audio was horrible. Background noise was too strong to hear them speaking. Caught bits and pieces.

That's odd, works fine for me. Maybe you have to like/follow his page to see it. Yes volume in RC pregame is an issue

Chris will have on Thorr tomorrow pregame on Facebook Live. Make sure you like the College ChalkTalk page to access the live feed. He usually goes on around 630ish.

I liked the page I think I am good now

Question for Thorr: How are ticket sales for Mohegan, can we expect a sizable Rhody contingent for Cincy to make it a quasi home game?

Reef, you'll have to go on your FB page and if there isn't a recent post from "college chalk talk" (cct) there is an icon for everything you've liked at the mid/top of the page and cct should be on top of the list if it was most recently liked. There is also a 'follow' option, which if I'm not mistaken would insure you get all updates/posts from cct to your page wall, then you can get to cct right from one of the update posts.

Here's a question, though not basketball related: What are you doing to improve the football program?