Patroons defeat Krunk again Ex-NBA player McCaskill hopes his play earns him return to big league |
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By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Thursday, December 6, 2007 |
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Link: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=644846 ALBANY -- The Albany Patroons looked a whole lot different Wednesday night in their first home game in nearly three weeks. That's because Amal McCaskill was on the Washington Avenue Armory floor for the first time. McCaskill, a former second-round NBA draft pick, was the most dominant player in town Wednesday, scoring 37 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and handing out six assists in leading the Patroons to a 120-111 win over the Atlanta Krunk. The Patroons took 4 of the possible seven standings points. As long as McCaskill is here, the Patroons should be a contender in the Continental Basketball Association. Of course, if he keeps playing the way he did Wednesday, that won't be for too long. "That's what the goal is," said McCaskill, who played at Marquette under former Siena coach Mike Deane. "I've just got to pay my dues all over again." The 6-foot-10 McCaskill, the 49th pick overall in the 1996 NBA draft (Orlando Magic), wants to get back to the NBA. The last team he played with in the NBA was the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003-04. Since then he has been overseas, but last year was the first season he didn't play at all. At age 34, he wasn't ready to give it up yet. Going into Wednesday, he was leading the CBA in rebounding (12.3 per game). He caused the Krunk fits because he overpowered anyone who tried to guard him 1-on-1. When he was double-teamed, he found who was open. "He should play that way against us," Atlanta coach Kenny Anderson said. "Our biggest guy on him was 6-7. I didn't think he had a post game. I was wrong." "You don't think he can play somewhere?" Patroons coach Vince Askew asked. "I think there is a zero percent chance he is going to be here the whole year. He just makes things easier for everyone else out on the floor. It makes my job easier." Notes: The Patroons are 3-3; all of their wins have come against Atlanta. They are home Friday and Saturday against the East Kentucky Miners. After that, the next home game is Dec. 22, when former Patroons coach Micheal Ray Richardson brings the Oklahoma City Cavalry to town. ... The game did not have a full box score; the Patroons' stat crew quit before the game started, and the team had to scramble to find replacements. Tim Wilkin can be reached at 454-5415 or by e-mail at twilkin@timesunion.com. |