I have been quiet on here as I'm in the midst of a lull due to winter break. I have a couple weeks off from any play-by-play and about ten days between PA announcing gigs. So I've gone back and I've put together four continuous basketball play-by-play samples. 

So it's not just highlights, but a better chance to hear how I sound at any given moment during a game. I tried not to pick "the best" parts because I want to get useful feedback. If I purposely only put up my "best" work, I may not get the feedback necessary to improve. Of course I have to toe the line there, especially when I apply for jobs. 

On the air tonight with a basketball doubleheader - UMass Lowell vs. Stonehill. Women at 5:30, Men at 7:30. Watch HERE.

Back on the play-by-play mic in Lowell, but today it's just a single game, as the women host the Queens College Knights of the East Coast Conference. River Hawks are 2-1 this season and are led by Bianca Simmons. She was close to a triple-double last Wednesday against Saint Michael's. 

Queens is 2-1 this year, but the Knights were 1-25 last season. I'm going to be on Simmons triple-double watch today. I know most people will be busy watching football, but at halftime of the 1 p.m. games you should tune me in for a little a while. 

Here are today's spotting charts. Not as much time to work on these as I would like, but that's the price to pay for a busy freelance broadcaster.

After six hours on WEEI this morning, I will be on the call with Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) for a pair of Brown Bears hockey games today. First, it's the women taking on the Tigers of the RIT, which sees the puck drop at 4pm. Then it'll be the men's team on the ice against Army at 7pm. Both games can be heard live and free by clicking HERE.

For those that don't know, Adam and I are both from Sharon, Mass. He's Class of 2000, I am Class of 2004. He can be heard doing Hub Headlines on 98.5 The Sports Hub, and of course I'm on WEEI, so we are "enemies". Tonight, we must co-exist. Luckily, this isn't our first time working together. Adam also serves as a play-by-play announcer for Boston College men's hockey, and I served as his color commentator for a pair of games last year during the Eagles' run to the national championship.

Starting my fourth year of broadcasting WPI basketball tonight. The men's team is hosting Castleton State at 6:30. Live Audio - Live Video.

This game was a frantic, up-and-down contest. It certainly looked like the opener to the conference season with both teams trying to find their stride. It also did not help that Bentley was sporting new black uniforms with very small numbers that are hard to read. So I had some trouble at times ID-ing No. 32, 33 and 35 for the Falcons.

Doubleheader broadcasts are tough. End of story. But, I think for first one of the season, things went fairly well. It can only get better.

Here's the highlight package.

Making it more of a priority to cut up my audio as the season goes instead of going back at the end of the year. So here is a highlight package for Wednesday night's UMass Lowell women's game against No. 2-ranked Bentley University. Men's basketball highlights to come later.

Going on the air in about 10 minutes for River Hawk basketball doubleheader vs. the Falcons of Bentley University. Women at 5:30, Men at 7:30. Tune in HERE.

I finally had some time to relax for the last two days after a hectic start to my winter schedule. Last Wednesday was the opener of my basketball season, followed by Friday's stint as a color commentator for Brown hockey. Saturday was my football finale (as of right now) for the season. Of course Sunday, I was back on WEEI in the morning.

The last two days have been filled with mostly relaxation, but I have also been preparing for tomorrow's Northeast-10 opening doubleheader for the UMass Lowell women's and men's basketball teams. Some finishing touches tomorrow morning and I should be beyond ready.

Saturday's football game was fun and a challenge for sure. I was not TALL enough to see OVER a window rail, but not SHORT enough to see UNDER the rail. I ended up leaning forward, hunching, to see through the window most of the game. Took me some time to get comfortable but I think by the middle of the second quarter things were going very smoothly. The third quarter started with back-to-back kick returns for touchdowns. The first of which by AIC's Markell Rice, Ray's brother, that was completely surprising because no one from New Haven seemed to make any effort to tackle him. My play-by-play of it sounded, well, rather surprised. I think I made up for it when the Chargers answered back with their return.

Friday's hockey game ended up being very intense. The Bears were down 3-0 in the second period before they roared back to a 3-3 tie. Dan Rubin (@DanRubin12) proclaimed me as an "oracle" after I successfully predicted Brown's first power-play goal of the season mere seconds before it happened. It looked as if the Bears had won the game in overtime, but it was waved off due to the goaltender being bumped in the crease. Still, it was a spirited and important tie for Brown.

So, two days to rest, and back at it. Basketball doubleheader tomorrow. A single basketball game on Thursday night. Harvard women's basketball on Friday night. Brown women's hockey on Saturday. And, let's not forget, WEEI on Saturday and Sunday morning! I would not have it any other way!

Here is a look at a pair of my spotting boards for basketball tomorrow: