Numbed from the cold

Think it's too early in the winter (hell, it's not even REAL winter yet) to be suffering from the blahs?

UB and UNC Asheville hooked up at Alumni Arena Saturday afternoon in what could charitably be called a "snoozer." The two teams combined to shoot 14-for-47 (that's about 40 percent - decent high school teams shoot better) and fifteen turnovers in the first half alone. The gym was about half filled with most of the students off on break. The crowd that did show was offered lukewarm support - and the refs sleepwalked through most of the game as well (well, why should that be any different?).

I realize it's hard for schools like UB's to draw over the break. But if you're going to play it, at least provide a better draw. UNC Asheville, with perhaps the youngest starting five in the nation, is a program still in its developing stages and has been mostly nothing more than a punching bag for established ACC programs (note Wednesday's 43-point loss at Duke - Duke for God's sake!) for most of the early season.

Meanwhile across town, Navy provided Canisius with a 68-63 nail biter, which was tied at 27 at halftime before the Golden Griffins eventually prevailed.

Back at the Alumni Snooz-a-torium, Buffalo's talent advantage (such that it is) eventually prevailed. About the only highlights were schtick provided by the Toronto Raptors mascot - including the bit where the Raptor gobbled up one of the UB cheerleaders.

Provide your own punchline ... here.