Post by iona05 on May 22, 2014 11:13:57 GMT -5
Wanted to wait until the news about Lawrence was official before posting this. I think this is a good time to do a reality check on our program and put things in perspective:
1. Losing out to Manhattan in the recruiting wars should be a clear wake-up call that we need to get moving on upgrading our facilities ASAP. We have facilities that are on par w/MC, which just isn't going to cut it when you get in a situation where the other program's staff has the upper hand and an existing relationship with a recruit. Remember this before everyone goes off the deep end and blames the staff.
2. On a positive note we have held onto both Coach Cluess and Grasso, with Cluess looking like he'll be at Iona for a long time to come. We should be very thankful for this, as a year ago there was a good chance that neither would be here as of this season.
3. We should be doing back flips that the staff has been able to land some of the recruits that they have, given our lack of resources. Glover, Momo, Armand, English, Amayo, Williams. These are all BCS caliber players and examples of how the staff has punched above their weight in the past. Yes we missed out on Lawrence, but this staff has proven time and time again that it can out recruit the big fish, and that includes BOTH transfers and 4-year guys, despite the perception.
4. While things are looking bleak on the recruiting trail, let's not forget it's only May, and we can easily pull a rabbit out of their hat by September. We remain only one missing piece away from being a very special team, and while that missing piece could've (would've?) been Lawrence, there are still plenty of impact players out there that need a home.
5. Now the roles of Robinson and Hines are critical to our success or failure this season. We need them to be healthy, confident and ready to play with the big boys.
6. We still have the best starting five in the MAAC even without Lawrence, and arguably the three best players in the whole conference in AJ, DL3 and IW. We definitely lack size, but our talent remains on another level from most schools in the conference.
7. This underscores the importance of two things; (1) winning in March and (2) winning a few marquee games. I realize that neither are easy to accomplish, but had we figured out a way to knock off BYU and even be competitive against OSU it could've put us over the top with a recruit like this. Heck, even a nice run in the NIT or a few wins against high profile RPI teams would've helped. Not easy I know.
8. Our program needs to sizzle more than it does. Too traditional and not enough outside the box thinking IMO. We need to be more creative and do things that again, compensate for our lack of facilities, to make the program stand out. I heard Gtown, who is going after #1 recruit Ivan Rabb, had their student body make an impression on Rabb when he showed up to campus with signs, chants, etc. This is the kind of stuff that helps programs like Gtown land #1 recruits over the Kentucky's of the world, and we need to be thinking along these lines if we're going to beat out programs that have more to offer than ours.
9. Lawrence going to MC is the worst case scenario. Not only do we lose out on the kid but now we have to deal with him in our own conference for three years. Ouch.
10. NCAAs or bust this year. Let's get it done and retake our crown as the best team in NY Metro area. We have the horses to get it done even without Lawrence.
1. Losing out to Manhattan in the recruiting wars should be a clear wake-up call that we need to get moving on upgrading our facilities ASAP. We have facilities that are on par w/MC, which just isn't going to cut it when you get in a situation where the other program's staff has the upper hand and an existing relationship with a recruit. Remember this before everyone goes off the deep end and blames the staff.
2. On a positive note we have held onto both Coach Cluess and Grasso, with Cluess looking like he'll be at Iona for a long time to come. We should be very thankful for this, as a year ago there was a good chance that neither would be here as of this season.
3. We should be doing back flips that the staff has been able to land some of the recruits that they have, given our lack of resources. Glover, Momo, Armand, English, Amayo, Williams. These are all BCS caliber players and examples of how the staff has punched above their weight in the past. Yes we missed out on Lawrence, but this staff has proven time and time again that it can out recruit the big fish, and that includes BOTH transfers and 4-year guys, despite the perception.
4. While things are looking bleak on the recruiting trail, let's not forget it's only May, and we can easily pull a rabbit out of their hat by September. We remain only one missing piece away from being a very special team, and while that missing piece could've (would've?) been Lawrence, there are still plenty of impact players out there that need a home.
5. Now the roles of Robinson and Hines are critical to our success or failure this season. We need them to be healthy, confident and ready to play with the big boys.
6. We still have the best starting five in the MAAC even without Lawrence, and arguably the three best players in the whole conference in AJ, DL3 and IW. We definitely lack size, but our talent remains on another level from most schools in the conference.
7. This underscores the importance of two things; (1) winning in March and (2) winning a few marquee games. I realize that neither are easy to accomplish, but had we figured out a way to knock off BYU and even be competitive against OSU it could've put us over the top with a recruit like this. Heck, even a nice run in the NIT or a few wins against high profile RPI teams would've helped. Not easy I know.
8. Our program needs to sizzle more than it does. Too traditional and not enough outside the box thinking IMO. We need to be more creative and do things that again, compensate for our lack of facilities, to make the program stand out. I heard Gtown, who is going after #1 recruit Ivan Rabb, had their student body make an impression on Rabb when he showed up to campus with signs, chants, etc. This is the kind of stuff that helps programs like Gtown land #1 recruits over the Kentucky's of the world, and we need to be thinking along these lines if we're going to beat out programs that have more to offer than ours.
9. Lawrence going to MC is the worst case scenario. Not only do we lose out on the kid but now we have to deal with him in our own conference for three years. Ouch.
10. NCAAs or bust this year. Let's get it done and retake our crown as the best team in NY Metro area. We have the horses to get it done even without Lawrence.