Hobart College Head Coach Tim Sweeney and his assistants are participating in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Suits and Sneakers Weekend. Part of the NABC's Coaches vs. Cancer Initiative, Suits and Sneakers raises awareness about the fight against cancer.
 
Hobart (8-9, 4-4 Liberty League) hosts Skidmore (10-7, 5-4) on Friday, Jan. 29, and Rensselaer (9-7, 3-4) on Saturday, Jan. 30, in two key Liberty League contests. Entering the weekend, first-year Jamal Lucas leads the team in scoring (15.6 ppg), rebounding (6.3 rpg), and assists (2.2 apg). He is sixth in the conference in points per game and eighth in rebounds.
 
The Thoroughbreds come to Geneva with a half-game lead on the Statesmen in the Liberty League standings. Skidmore won the first contest between the two teams in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 71-54. Edvinas Rupkus had a game-high 21 points for the Thoroughbreds.
 
The Engineers entered the weekend a half-game behind Hobart in the standings. Rensselaer will take on Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday. On Jan. 2, the Engineers beat the Statesmen, 60-51, in Troy, N.Y. Hobart first-year Colin Dougherty led all players with a game-high 15 points.
 
Through a new initiative this year, the NABC has sent special gold laces to coaches to wear with their suits and sneakers as part of the #LaceUpforLacey campaign in memory of Lacey Holsworth, an 8-year old basketball fan who lost her battle with cancer. As a special promotion beginning this week and continuing while supplies last, fans will have the opportunity to purchase a specially-designed pair of sneaker laces online or in stores from Shoe Carnival in Lucy's memory. Funds raised will go to the American Cancer Society and Princess Lacey's Legacy, to continue the fight against pediatric cancer. 
 
The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a nationwide initiative that encourages coaches, their teams, and communities to join the fight against cancer. It seeks to increase cancer awareness and promote healty living among students, faculty and staff, fans and the community at large. Since its inception, Coaches vs. Cancer has raised more than $93 million to support the American Cancer Society's mission.