2009 did not end well for the Erie BayHawks. Sure, they won their last game, but they finished the calendar year with a 4-9 record (1-5 at home). If things don’t change in 2010, you can’t say they didn’t try.

The BayHawks shook things up in a big way on New Year’s Eve, trading their leading scorer Donell Taylor to the Idaho Stampede for Mike Gansey in an effort to bolster their outside shooting. Soon thereafter, the team cut Martin Zeno and signed a sharpshooting guard out of Creighton, Booker Woodfox. While Woodfox did not play, Gansey started both games in the D-League Showcase this week and starred in the latter. Erie won both games (over Reno and Los Angeles) to start their first winning streak of the season.

By playing well on the D-League’s big stage, in front of scouts and NBA executives, the BayHawks proved that they’re capable of bigger and better things this season. With more than half of the season schedule to go, there is still time to turnaround after a disappointing start, but there is also little room for error. And it starts this weekend against Erie’s rival, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Erie and Fort Wayne play eight times the rest of the way. That’s approximately 25 percent of their remaining games against one team. It’s the same team they played in preseason, and a team Erie knows well. I wrote about the budding rivalry earlier this season. But it’s worth a quick refresher on the common threads between these two organizations as they prepare to meet in Erie tomorrow, Sunday, and Wednesday.

On draft day, Fort Wayne sent its first-round pick Alade Aminu to Erie for the rights to Rob Kurz. The Mad Ants also signed Rod Wilmont and Oliver Lafayette after they were cut in preseason by the BayHawks. Similarly, the BayHawks recently signed a player that the Mad Ants cut in camp, Booker Woodfox. That makes five of the 20 players involved in these games with ties to both teams, plus the coaching staffs, who have been behind these moves. It will be interesting to see if any of these players take a little extra motivation from this matchup where they’ll get a chance to show the opposition that they made a mistake by not keeping them.

At 6-11, Erie is in no position to start talking playoffs, but if they can take their 2-0 finish at the D-League Showcase and build on that with 2-of-3 (or, ideally, a sweep) against the Mad Ants, the BayHawks will suddenly be in position to make a playoff push in the second half of the season. It’s going to take an improved effort at home. It’s going to take better outside shooting, which they should get from Gansey and Woodfox. And it’s going to take a more businesslike approach as they took during the Showcase.

There’s hope for the new year for the BayHawks. But like resolutions, hope can disappear quickly if they don’t pay attention to detail. The first homestand against Fort Wayne should give fans an idea whether this team’s serious about a 2010 resurrection or not.

Matt Hubert is the author of Blog Talk BayHawk.After the hectic holidays prevented him from sticking to his once-a-weekish guest post guarantee, he’s hoping to author a BayHawks post at least a once or twice a month the rest of the season.

Lakers-Celtics, Yankees-Red Sox, Michigan-Ohio State, UNC-Duke. BayHawks-Mad Ants?

That last one seems like it belongs in the old Sesame Street jingle, right? One of these things is not like the other.

Rivalries are hard to form in the D-League. The league hasn’t even been around 10 years, so fan bases don’t have much history to draw on, and player movement from year to year (and even within season) makes it challenging to develop any lasting antipathy for a particular opponent. Besides, Erie and Fort Wayne don’t have the proximity of Chapel Hill and Durham, N.C., nor the decades of championship history of the Lakers and Celtics. But the BayHawks and Mad Ants were pushed on the D-League fans as “regional rivals” to start the 2009-10 season as part of a new scheduling system. Just a week into the season, there are already reasons to believe that—if not a rivalry—a feud is developing between these two teams.

It began on draft night. At the BayHawks draft party, all in attendance were alerted to the fact that Fort Wayne was selecting 10th in name only as that selection was, in fact, being dictated by the BayHawks as part of a trade that would send Rob Kurz (who had been allocated to the BayHawks but expressed no interest in playing for Erie) to the Mad Ants for the rights to Fort Wayne’s first-round pick (10th overall), Alade Aminu.

Little did the teams know then, but Kurz’s granted wish out of Erie would be just the first of many interactions—both on and off the court—between these teams at the start of the season. When the teams met in a preseason game two weeks ago, the BayHawks suited up a 12-man roster that included Rod Wilmont, a former Mad Ant, who spoke openly about wanting to show Fort Wayne that they made a mistake by passing on him in this year’s draft (Erie selected him in the 5th round). Wilmont delivered in a big way, leading the BayHawks to victory in that preseason game with a team-high 23 points including 12-12 from the free throw line.

Then, in a surprise move, Erie cut Wilmont and Oliver Lafayette, who played for the BayHawks last year and was second behind Wilmont in scoring in that preseason game against Fort Wayne, leaving both players off the opening day 10-man roster.

Earlier this week, after the BayHawks and Mad Ants split the first two games of the season in Fort Wayne, the Mad Ants announced two additions to their roster: Wilmont and Lafayette. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise. They’re two quality players with D-League experience, and the Mad Ants had a firsthand look at what they had to offer in their preseason game. Plus, Fort Wayne made similar moves last season when they added waived BayHawks Vernon Hamilton and Taj McCullough.

The additions of Wilmont and Lafayette immediately bolster the Mad Ants scoring punch. It also may have an impact on Erie this season. The BayHawks players will have to deal with their former teammates, and the BayHawks coaches will have to scheme to stop two talented scorers who have a score to settle with them. Including the preseason game, Erie plays more games against Fort Wayne than any other D-League team (11 in all). That means the BayHawks are looking at the prospect of playing 1/6 of their remaining schedule against Wilmont, Lafayette, and the Mad Ants.

That’s right, even after playing the first two regular season games against each other, the BayHawks and Mad Ants still play eight more times this season. These teams may never have an Aaron Boone or Dave Roberts moment like Yanks-Sox or a Woody and Bo like Ohio State and Michigan. But all of a sudden, between Kurz and Aminu, Wilmont and Lafayette, the 330 miles between Erie and Fort Wayne is a lot more contentious.

Rivalries are good for sports. And no, this one’s not burning bright just yet, but we’re seeing some sparks. Just two games into the season, there’s some bad blood between these teams. Players have been traded, cut, and re-signed. After playing three times in nine days, there’s a growing familiarity between the teams, and we know that familiarity breeds contempt, especially in the confining space of the court. There will be plenty of fun basketball over the next month, but circle Jan. 9 on your calendar because that game’s bound to come with some extra fireworks free of charge. That’s when these teams next meet as Fort Wayne travels here to Tullio Arena for what promises to be the next entertaining chapter in a budding D-League rivalry.

Matt Hubert is the author of Blog Talk BayHawk. While he maintains that there is no heated rivalry between his blog and Mad Ants blogs “Potter’s New Blog” and “Martz Madness,” he’s not ruling it out before all is said and done this season. Matt will write a once-a-weekish guest post about the BayHawks here at ErieBlogs throughout the season.

Yesterday the Erie BayHawks made their final two cuts and unveiled their official opening day 10-man roster. The roster includes players from nine different states as far west as California and as far south as Florida. With the team headed to Fort Wayne for Friday night’s season opener, the players are going to miss out on home cooking this Thanksgiving. And with a cold winter in a new city looming, many of these players may be struggling to find reasons to be thankful this holiday season.

So this one goes out to the players. On the eve of the 2009-10 NBA Development League season, here are 10 reasons (in no particular order) for the 10 members of the team to be thankful they’re an Erie BayHawk:

1. Home Ice Advantage
   Your three returning players (Jarvis Gunter, Ivan Harris, and Jackie, Manuel) know what’s coming. As for the newcomers, just give it a few weeks. You may never fully warm up to the idea of Erie winters (at age 25, I still haven’t), but once you endure December’s fifth blizzard number, you should develop a sort of reluctant acceptance of the way it is around here. Sure, the games are played indoors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reap the benefits of Erie’s winter climate. Surviving an Erie winter is badge of honor that we natives take for granted. So don’t fight it; embrace it. And when your opponents fly in from Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and Bakersfield, California, take joy in whatever fun twists Mother Nature throws their way.
2. Filling the Void
   Since Erie doesn’t have any major league teams, we tend to gravitate toward Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh (though I personally do not). That gives us three “local” NFL teams, two MLB teams, and two NHL teams, but only one NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. And prior to the emergence of LeBron James earlier this decade, there was little fanfare coming from that organization. Therefore, very few Erie basketball fans have established their local professional basketball allegiance. Enter the BayHawks to fill that void.
3. Minor League Support
   We understand that the NBA is the end goal, but in the meantime, we’ve got your back at the D-League level. Erie has a pretty strong track record with minor league sports. Just look at the SeaWolves and Otters. Put forth effort and a winning product on the court and the fans will follow.
4. Major League Status
   In Erie you’ll be big on and off the court, especially with the kids. You’ll play in front of young people who will model their game after you in the same way you grew up emulating the moves of your favorite pros. Whether you realize it now or not, you’re already stars in their eyes.
5. More Bang For Your Buck
   We know that D-League salaries don’t compare to their NBA counterparts, but thankfully Erie’s prices don’t compare to New York City or Los Angeles either, so you’ll be able to live comfortably. Just don’t forget about our city if and when you do get that call-up.
6. Proven Coaching
   John Treloar and Ben McDonald have impressive coaching resumes, but nothing says more about them than their ability to lead Erie to the D-League playoffs last year as an expansion franchise.
7. Quality Facilities
   You get to practice and train at the world-class LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center. It’s nothing short of awesome.
8. A Committed Organization
   From ownership to the team president to the sales staff and game-day crew, the BayHawks organization is a dedicated group of people that want to see the BayHawks succeed. Moreover, they know the franchise’s success is tied into the team’s success, which depends upon your performance as players. Quite simply, when you look good, they look good, so they’ll be working to make sure you get everything you need off the court to be your best on it.
9. Post-game Fun
   There’s a bar on almost every corner and drink specials that are hard to beat. I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’…
10. Light at the End of the Tunnel
    And finally, now that you’re in Erie, the NBA really is just a phone call away. Yes, it’s true that call-ups are more D-League general than Erie specific, but the BayHawks have a great relationship with the Cavs and their new affiliate in Toronto just happens to be the team that called up Quincy Douby from the BayHawks last season.

Thanksgiving definitely cracks Matt Hubert’s list of top-10 holidays. This year he’s thankful for professional basketball in his hometown, all of his readers over at Blog Talk BayHawk, and anyone entertained enough by this post to leave a comment below. Throughout the season, Matt will write a once-a-weekish guest post about the BayHawks here at ErieBlogs.

The Erie BayHawks fly south (well, drive) to Meadville tonight for a special preseason game against the visiting Fort Wayne Mad Ants. For those familiar with professional sports, preseason is typically code for “unimportant, uninspired, and unexciting.” Professional exhibition games generally play out like exhibits at the zoo: sure, you get to see all your favorite animals, but they’re clearly not thrilled by the limitations of their anything-but-natural habitat.

Expect something different from the BayHawks and Mad Ants tonight (and not just because those are two unconventionally named species you won’t find at the zoo). When it comes to preseason competition, the NBA Development League is not the same as the NBA―or the NFL for that matter.

The players aren’t multi-millionairesses. Not even close. Sure, they’re earning a paycheck, but they earn it, and “it” isn’t much. Some of these players have passed on bigger contracts overseas to pursue their dream of an NBA call-up. Cliché as it sounds, these guys are playing for the love of the game because they don’t get much more than that. They play because basketball is what they know, and they know that the D-League gives them a shot to play in front of NBA scouts on a nightly basis. They play knowing that a shot at the big time is literally just a phone call away. And that opportunity tips off tonight at Meadville High School at 7 p.m. (Doors at 6 p.m.)

In addition to being the first preseason game, this is the BayHawks’ only preseason game, which means it will be the players’ only chance to prove themselves against D-League competition. Moreover, it’s the coaches’ only chance to see how the 12 men fare against elite competition following this week’s training camp cuts.

Gone from the initial training camp roster are Joe Jones, Derrick Mercer, Raheem Moss, Jeff Skemp, and Ryan Troutman. And the roster is still not finalized. Of the 12 remaining players, only 10 can make the opening day roster, which must be submitted by Thursday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. So the pressure is on for the players to perform in tonight’s preseason tilt as they try to make the final cut.

There are no guaranteed roster spots, but popular belief is that returning players Jarvis Gunter (PF/C), Ivan Harris (SF), Oliver Lafayette (G), and Jackie Manuel (SG/SF), as well as first-round draft picks Donell Taylor (SG) and Alade Aminu (PF/C) are probably safe. If that’s the case, that leaves six players battling for four spots: centers John Bryant and Kyle Goldcamp and guards Cedric Jackson, Zach Sowers, Rod Wilmont, and Martin Zeno. Size is a rare luxury in the D-League, so it would be a surprise if at least one of the big men didn’t make the final roster. And it’s quite possible that both of the final cuts are guards. In any case, it’s clear everyone will be giving maximum effort tonight with their jobs potentially on the line.

Undoubtably, the BayHawks staff’s primary focus tonight will be evaluating their own players as they prepare to make the tough final decisions next week. Nonetheless, scouting tonight’s opponent is a matter of concern, especially since its Fort Wayne. Erie will play 10 of its 50 regular season games against the Mad Ants this season, including back-to-back dates in Fort Wayne Nov. 26-27 to open the season. This is a team Erie will get to know very well over the course of the season, and success in this rivalry will go a long way toward carving out a second straight playoff berth.

There’s also some interesting subplots involving the BayHawks and Mad Ants. These teams made a draft-day swap that saw Erie send the rights to former Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Rob Kurz to Fort Wayne in exchange for the rights to the Mad Ants’ first-round selection out of Georgia Tech, Alade Aminu. Notre Dame fans will also see former Irish stars Ryan Ayers and Kyle McAlarney in action tonight. On Erie’s side, BayHawks guard Rod Wilmont, who spent the 2007-08 season with the Mad Ants, will get his first opportunity to show Fort Wayne why they should have brought him back.

All in all, it should be a fun night as Meadville plays host to the D-League. There’s a lot at stake as far as preseason games go, and it should be a great environment for the local fans. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from Meadville High School or at the BayHawks office.

Matt Hubert is a diagnosed basketballaholic and author of the Blog Talk BayHawk, chronicling the Erie BayHawks and the NBA Development League. Throughout the season, he’ll write a once-a-weekish guest post here at ErieBlogs.

The start of a new season is always an exciting time, but this year’s Erie BayHawks training camp has an extra bit of sizzle for the local following. Center Kyle Goldcamp (Gannon) and guard Joe Jones (Edinboro) spent the past few seasons dazzling fans of their respective schools. Starting today, they are among an elite group of 17 players being considered for one of just 10 spots on the 2009-10 Erie BayHawks, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.

Both Goldcamp and Jones earned invites to Erie’s training camp via free agent tryouts, meaning they’ve already made strong first impressions on the BayHawks’ coaching staff. Still, both Goldcamp and Jones know that making the jump from DII to the D-League won’t be an easy one.

“It’s a lot more physical; everyone’s talented at this level,” says Goldcamp. The 6′10” Goldcamp towered over most of the competition during his tenure at Gannon, but he’s one of five players in camp listed at 6′10” or taller. “I don’t feel small too often, but there’s some really good size here. You just have to use the strengths you have and welcome the challenge.”

Like Goldcamp, Jones embraces the chance to compete against elite talent. “A lot of these guys are from D1 programs. It’s a blessing from God just to have this opportunity to go up against the cream of the crop,” Jones says. “[Edinboro University] Coach [Greg] Walcavich really helped me develop my game every year to the point where I’m now able to showcase my talent against these guys.”

Historically, when people in Erie think of basketball, the first two things that come to mind are the Gannon University men’s teams, which have made 22 NCAA Division II tournament appearances including last year’s run to the quarterfinals, and the McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic, which has brought some of the nation’s best teams and players to Erie every winter since 1983.

Now the BayHawks, the newest form and highest level of basketball in Erie, have the chance to add two players who have each experienced some of the area’s most pressure-packed games. Goldcamp made his mark on the local basketball scene at Gannon, averaging 16.7 points per game in his career, good for sixth on the Golden Knights’ all-time list. Jones, an Erie native, played in the spotlight that is the McDonald’s Classic for Cathedral Prep earlier this decade before starring for three seasons at Edinboro where he scored 16.8 points per game, seventh best in school history.

The two local college stars are looking to do their alma mater and the community proud by making the BayHawks opening day roster, but they’re aware of the additional scrutiny that comes with the local recognition. “People are always asking if you made the team, and you have to tell ‘em it’s only training camp right now,” Jones says. “A lot of these guys can fill it up in terms of scoring, so I’m here to do whatever it takes―lockdown defense, no turnovers. To me, it’s all about hard work and dedication.”

Goldcamp responded similarly to a question about feeling the added pressure of the Gannon fans rooting for his success. “There’s definitely pressure,” he says, “but I’m looking at it as added motivation inspiring me to play and represent Gannon.”

With the pleasantries of media day finished, the real work begins tonight. And the players have no time to waste. The D-League requires that rosters be trimmed down to 12 by next Wednesday, Nov. 18. Those 12 will represent the BayHawks in a preseason game in Meadville, Pa., against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Friday, Nov. 20. Then the final 10-man roster must be set by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26. The following day, Erie tips off the the regular season on the road in Fort Wayne. The BayHawks open the season with four straight road games before their home opener on Dec. 12.

For now, Jones and Goldcamp are but two of 17 trying to make that final 10. For anyone unfamiliar with the D-League, the competition is tougher than you’d imagine. The players who make the team will be a phone call away from an NBA roster. The training camp roster is loaded, featuring players with NBA experience and NCAA Division I national championship experience as well as players from the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 conference.

The point is that Goldcamp and Jones made it this far for a reason. They can flat out play. There’s no room on a 10-man roster for charity cases, no free passes just because a player is homegrown. After speaking with Goldcamp and Jones, it’s clear that they know this is a situation where they’ll have to play their way onto this team with outstanding effort and performances over the next few days. If either or both of them earn a spot, it’ll be a great day for basketball in Erie, especially the fans of Gannon, Edinboro, and Cathedral Prep. I know I’m pulling for them.

The BayHawks may not have the history of Gannon basketball or the McDonald’s Classic. But like the prospects they’ve brought into training camp, they’ve got the potential for a very bright future. Today, BayHawks Head Coach John Treloar said, “I believe this team can become the premiere D-League franchise.” To make that happen, Erie will have to make its presence felt in the stands on game nights, and if Goldcamp and Jones have their way, Erie will make its presence felt on the court as well.

When professional basketball came to Erie, Matt Hubert knew he had to get involved. Having been cut from the varsity as a high school junior, he ruled out player immediately. Long story short, he settled on blogger and now spends his free time covering the BayHawks and the NBA Development League at Blog Talk BayHawk. Throughout the season, Matt will write a once-a-weekish guest post here at ErieBlogs.