Zach Spiker, a five-year assistant coach for the men’s basketball team, was hired to the head coach position at Army, the school announced on Saturday. Spiker replaces Jeff Crews, who was fired on Sept. 24 following a confrontation with a player, according to ESPN's Andy Katz. Crews signed a three-year contract with a two-year option over the summer, but Army athletic director Kevin Anderson said there was an issue involving Crews that he “couldn't ignore.”

The two-time defending Ivy League champions will have their work cut out for them in 2009-10 — men’s basketball head coach Steve Donahue announced the team’s schedule on Friday, and it appears to be possibly the toughest non-conference schedule in Cornell history. Donahue has a history of challenging his players before the Ivy season begins — the Red has played Syracuse in four of the last five seasons, and took on powerhouses like Duke in 2007-08 and Indiana and Minnesota in 2008-09. With all five starters returning, Cornell (21-10 overall in 2008-09, 11-3 Ivy League) might just be up to the challenge.

“Announce the Princeton score,” fans yelled excitedly.

“Donahue doesn’t want it announced,” came the reply from press row.

But with less than two minutes left, men’s basketball head coach Steve Donahue’s wife decided it was time for him and his team to know what everyone else already did — the Red was mere minutes away from its second straight Ivy title.

“I guess everyone else knew [that Princeton was losing],” Donahue said, laughing. “My wife yelled something at me, and I find out I’m the only guy that didn’t know. I was thinking since I didn’t hear anything, that Princeton had won.”

Maybe they wanted to see what the new guy could do. Maybe he just happened to be standing at the front of the line. Whatever the reason, men’s basketball freshman Chris Wroblewski was the first player out in the first drill of the first basketball season of his collegiate career.

“My very first practice. My first official practice,” Wroblewski laughed at the thought.

It was a full court drill that started out as a one-on-one breakaway, then proceeded into a two-on-one breakaway, a three-on-two breakaway, etc.

“That was the first drill we did in the first practice,” he said.

And Chris was the first out, dribbling down as the offensive player. Lanky rising senior Andre Wilkins waited at the other end with five extra inches and 20 extra pounds.

Athletically speaking, Cornell may have one of the most unfortunate academic calendars.

Like many young sports fans, I grew up mesmerized by the college basketball tournament every March. I got so excited, so wrapped up in the story lines of the various schools I might not have even heard of before. I literally spent time just sitting in my living room, or lying on my bed, imagining what it would be like to be a student at any one of these Cinderella schools — wondering what it would be like to be surrounded by such energy and enthusiasm.

BOISE, Idaho — Shots did not fall fast or accurately enough for No. 14 seed Cornell as it was bounced out of the first round of the NCAA tournament by No. 3 Missouri, 78-59, Friday afternoon.

Check back at Cornellsun.com for more live coverage of the men's basketball team at the NCAA Tournament

BOISE, Idaho – The Red will look to etch its name in March Madness lore today later on this afternoon as it takes on No. 3 seed Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Red earned a 14-seed after winning the Ivy League's automatic bid while Missouri stands as one of the top teams in the nation after winning the Big 12 conference tournament.

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