If you google "second half collapse" it will be obvious that the phenomenon is common in all sports. If you are having a great first half, you have no reason to assume that you will be just as good in the second ("law of averages") and even subtle overconfidence works against you. If the opponent is below par in the first half you can expect him to improve through 1) motivation, 2) adjustments, 3) "evening out" his performance. Invariably there is no consensus explanation. Those are general statements. With respect to Iona, I suspect that there is something going on but I don't know enough to speculate about what it is, but any general effects apply to Iona as they do to everyone else. Now, what I want for Christmas is for the OTHER guys to suffer second half collapses!
Tiger and Guy, thanks for your input. Guy, I understand your take, but am not sure if it addresses the scrimmage vs. exhibitions question.
What do you hope to gain from the exhibition, other than seeing the team in person?
For the record, the report that we blew a lead late to St Joes in the scrimmage is accurate. I know I said this a million times last year, and it bears repeating--this system is not built to win a tight game. It doesn't make it a bad system--the win total and overall results prove that. But every system is flawed and this is this one's flaw. The goal for Iona in any game is to be up by more than 2 possessions with a minute to play, then keep the ball in the hands of the FT shooters as much as possible. We know we're not making stops to secure the win.
While we are all used to the pattern of second-half collapses, the program has survived them to reach levels no other MAAC team is even sniffing. We will blow more leads this season, but we're also going to win at least a dozen games by 10+ points.
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My question has to do with our opening game in each of the four years that TC has been head coach. I know in his first year and this year we've played Cleveland State, but don't remember who we played in his second and third years. Does anyone know?
And my crazy idea is this. The Saturday loss to CSU brings to mind the BYU game and the Manhattan home game two years back. And I know there have been others where we've blown a big half time lead, but I can't think of any specifics. Well here's my crazy idea: Instead of starting the second half with the same five who started the game we put in five players who didn't get into the first half, and if they did, they played sparingly. So this past Saturday we would have sent out Gomez, Ellis, Scott, Hines and Robinson. The goal would have been to play them for four minutes, and then return the 'starters'. I feel this MIGHT accomplish the following-The guys who started the second half would give maximum effort, sensing that they are a real part of the game plan. And when the starters do return, assuming that the lead would have been shrunk, they would see themselves as saviours, and would also put out maximum effort. And at the very least no real early fouls would have been incurred by the starters. Does anyone like the idea?
Your loco. This is division one basketball and a team that has made the ncaa tournament two out of the last three years. These coaches get paid to win and get paid very well for wins and appearances. Save that strategy for the youth leagues or playstation.
I'm not sure why, but I LOLed.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Or maybe based on Tim's approach to recruiting we have several new bodies each year that need game time to adjust and learn the system?
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...And stay with the system when the other guy makes a run, and they will make a run.
MoMo went outside "the system" a lot last year because he could pull it off. I don't see "that guy" on this year's team. Maybe David, but you have to clear the lane for him to be "that guy", which takes us right back to the system to clear the lane. HUH??
I can't tell whether this post agrees or disagrees with me. SLG hitting the Guinness hard?
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Guy good post but this is the exact reason we won't be able to make the jump to the next level anytime soon -- i.e. winning a tourney game or a meaningful BCS upset -- yes, the system works well overall and we can all celebrate winning seasons, but how can we expect to beat the big boys even once when the expectation is that "we know we're not making stops to secure the win"? We can get away with that weakness in MAAC games, but not when the lights are shining brightest against the big boys.
Last season we blew a lot of leads but Cluess managed to get the team to the point where they won tight games when they counted most, so one game into this season, I'm optimistic. We have a lot of talent, and the late game problems will improve as one or more players steps up as a late game leader.
Guy, I agree with most of your post about the Cluess system. It's an understatement to say that it will not generate a lot of defensive stops. Just not built that way. That said, however, there is nothing inherent in the system that would prevent Iona from adopting a (very) late game defensive set, if the coach wanted to do so, and if he thought he had the personnel to execute situational defense for a very limited portion of the game. This is a matter of coaching preference, and Cluess may well believe that the answer to the blown lead problem will be found in better second half offense overall (especially half court), and not in improved defense in late game situations. If we had scored 40 points in the second half against Cleveland State, we wouldn't be having this discussion now.
iona05, right now my goals for the team are pretty modest. Win 17-20 games this season and don't blow big leads on a regular basis. My hope for this team is that we are in the NCAA tourney again, but that's a real stretch and I know it. I just plan on enjoying watching this team play, and I'll hope for the best.
Guy good post but this is the exact reason we won't be able to make the jump to the next level anytime soon -- i.e. winning a tourney game or a meaningful BCS upset -- yes, the system works well overall and we can all celebrate winning seasons, but how can we expect to beat the big boys even once when the expectation is that "we know we're not making stops to secure the win"? We can get away with that weakness in MAAC games, but not when the lights are shining brightest against the big boys.
Conclusion is premature.
These guys will jell as a team for 40 minutes, 45 if necessary. We will find the right combo to close out the game and hit the FT's. Let me borrow from ic59 and suggest one - DG; and another TB, and so on. How do I know this? TC does not have a 75% winning record by not figuring it out. by the way, I seem to remember a couple of key stops in last year's MAAC final.
we all remember the 10-15 blown leads in the last 4 years, does anybody remember us coming back from double digits with this style, or more even better a buzzer beater victory
we all remember the 10-15 blown leads in the last 4 years, does anybody remember us coming back from double digits with this style, or more even better a buzzer beater victory
Except for Ohio State, noone was able to build a double digit lead on us.
we all remember the 10-15 blown leads in the last 4 years, does anybody remember us coming back from double digits with this style, or more even better a buzzer beater victory
Except for Ohio State, noone was able to build a double digit lead on us.
Which is truly amazing if you think about it. Stop whining everyone!
Remember guys that in last few years we had Machado and Momo to knock down those clutch free throws in the final 2 minutes of a close game.
Sean has been shaky from the line and DL's 2 misses came at a pivotal point of the game on Saturday.
I know it's only one game, but I would only feel comfortable with Tre at the line for those 'must make' free throws. Someone else will need to step up in crunch time.
Remember guys that in last few years we had Machado and Momo to knock down those clutch free throws in the final 2 minutes of a close game.
Sean has been shaky from the line and DL's 2 misses came at a pivotal point of the game on Saturday.
I know it's only one game, but I would only feel comfortable with Tre at the line for those 'must make' free throws. Someone else will need to step up in crunch time.
machado was a lot of great things, but clutch from the free throw line was never one of them.
Guy good post but this is the exact reason we won't be able to make the jump to the next level anytime soon -- i.e. winning a tourney game or a meaningful BCS upset -- yes, the system works well overall and we can all celebrate winning seasons, but how can we expect to beat the big boys even once when the expectation is that "we know we're not making stops to secure the win"? We can get away with that weakness in MAAC games, but not when the lights are shining brightest against the big boys.
If you want to see us jump to some other level, open your checkbook. Often. Compare our budget to the schools you aspire to be. Ours is miniscule in comparison.
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The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Last season we blew a lot of leads but Cluess managed to get the team to the point where they won tight games when they counted most, so one game into this season, I'm optimistic. We have a lot of talent, and the late game problems will improve as one or more players steps up as a late game leader.
Guy, I agree with most of your post about the Cluess system. It's an understatement to say that it will not generate a lot of defensive stops. Just not built that way. That said, however, there is nothing inherent in the system that would prevent Iona from adopting a (very) late game defensive set, if the coach wanted to do so, and if he thought he had the personnel to execute situational defense for a very limited portion of the game. This is a matter of coaching preference, and Cluess may well believe that the answer to the blown lead problem will be found in better second half offense overall (especially half court), and not in improved defense in late game situations. If we had scored 40 points in the second half against Cleveland State, we wouldn't be having this discussion now.
iona05, right now my goals for the team are pretty modest. Win 17-20 games this season and don't blow big leads on a regular basis. My hope for this team is that we are in the NCAA tourney again, but that's a real stretch and I know it. I just plan on enjoying watching this team play, and I'll hope for the best.
I've said similar things in the past re some sort of defensive wrinkle when the game is late. Some sort of junk defense, something unorthodox and that won't come up in scouting reports.
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The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.