Men's Basketball | College Beat: Bloggin' With Scroggin
Dec 21

Yeah, that tough loss in the FCS playoffs might have had you in a football hangover for a while, but basketball season is now in full swing.

Well… it’ll be slow this week because of Christmas, but in preparation for turning your full attention toward basketball in the new year, check out these highlights of the women’s team playing Eastern Washington on Saturday and the men taking on Portland State on Wednesday.

And let me know what you think the chances are for each team as they chase the Big West title and a shot at the NCAA Tournament.

Posted in Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball | 1 Comment »
Dec 18

According to a report in Tuscon Citizen, the Cal Poly men’s basketball team is in the running for 6-foot-10 forward Brandon Duliakis of Ironwood Ridge High in Tuscon, Ariz.  Sounds like good news for the Mustangs, who have little in the way of front-court depth this season and look to have even less next season.

Only, Duliakis — who’s averaging 15.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game this year — is hoping to raise his stock. Already being pursued by Pacific and Utah State, Duliakis could see his stock raised right out of Cal Poly’s range.

Which brings up an interesting question. If you’re head coach Kevin Bromley and the Mustangs, do you root for a recruit to develop further and improve his play? Or do you secretly wish he’d not impress so he could fly under the radar of bigger programs?

This seems certain enough: Cal Poly could use some height. With senior forward Titus Shelton running out of eligibility and former 7-foot recruit Anthony DiLoreto facing bank robbery charges, any frontcourt players looking for immediate playing time could compete for minutes right away in San Luis Obispo.

That might be the Mustangs’ best selling point right now.

Posted in Men's Basketball | 2 Comments »
Aug 28

I got the call today, and according to Alison Cone, Anthony DiLoreto — the would-be freshman from Minnesota — and his family have decided not to have him enroll in classes at Cal Poly. Check the print edition of The Tribune or SanLuisObispo.com on Friday for the full story.

It seems Bromley spoke by phone to the DiLoreto’s and the end result of the conversation led to what appears to be the end of any ties between DiLoreto and the university.

It would have been a tough P.R. sell for Cal Poly to have a student athlete on campus facing bank robbery and gun charges. It would have been tough for DiLoreto for that matter. At 7 feet tall, I imagine its pretty hard to blend in.

Posted in Men's Basketball | No Comments »
Aug 20

anthony diloreto.jpgCal Poly basketball recruit Anthony DiLoreto of Minnetonka, Min., is in jail awaiting extradition to Wisconsin on expected charges related to a bank robbery this past weekend.

According to published reports, DiLoreto, 18, is alleged to have been the getaway driver for a botched heist at a Wisconsin bank 220 miles away from his Minnesota home.

His former high school coach told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune there has to be some kind of “story inside the story.”

You’d think there has to be, right? A 7-foot tall senior with a college scholarship at a renowned academic school in the bag?

There doesn’t seem to be any logical reason to be even in a bank more than two hours drive from home — even less any reason why he’d be allegedly conspiring to commit a federal crime.

Before even stepping foot on campus this fall, DiLoreto was already the Mustangs’ tallest player by at least four inches. Now, it seems his arrival is in serious jeopardy, and his reputation possibly damaged beyond repair.

I’m continuing to chase the story. Look for more coverage soon. But for now, what are some thoughts on this tragedy and its implications for Cal Poly?

Posted in Men's Basketball | 7 Comments »