It must be the third cup of coffee, instead of the usual two, and I need an Iona BB fix. So I'm changing tactics. No one was more upbeat, leaving MTG, than I was yesterday. And that feeling was reenforced, after reading what others had to say. Even on the MAAC Board, the haters had to struggle even to nitpick the Gaels. So now I'm going negative, in trying to figure out my concerns for this season. In no particular order:
1. The way we try to break a full court press, is still having us move up the court, slowly, and have AJ and DL loop cross court passes, which good defensive teams are able to intercept. My hope, is that we use Cedric or Ibn, and have them "speed" dribble through the press. Is this doable? Keep in mind TC is very set in his ways, and it's tough to argue with his success. But when you have a Porsche, or two, don't keep them in the garage.
2. AJ's ball handling. When he "broke out" last year, it was his scoring that caught everyone's attention, and not his decision making or ball handling. Has it improved? Does it need to?
3. DL, for me is the hardest worker on the team. He's involved in every aspect of the game, and will it take a toll as the season goes on? The obvious answer is to give him more pine time. How will his minutes played compare to last year? Maybe we should revisit this, 10 games into the season.
4. I know we spend a lot of time on defense in practice, but the numbers always show us down near the bottom of the League in defensive rankings. I recognize that this is in part because we score quickly, and this gives our opponents many opportunities to score. There is no doubt that we have an offensive mindset, but a little better "D" would be nice. Another "10 games in" item.
5. It's one thing to say that we have great depth, it's another to use that depth. Is it in TC's DNA? A challenging OOC gives us this opportunity. Will we seize the opportunity?
6. Not wanting to appear to be an ICHoops impersonator, I'll close with the thought that these are just my concerns. Are they reasonable? And what did I miss?
Re depth, even Cluess said yesterday that he likely won't use more than 8-9 guys in the rotation. Teams that claim to run 10 deep or more rarely do. Cluess lost faith in guys down the stretch last year, and it cost us. Should not be a factor this year.
Re our D, while less than average, the biggest problem is the defensive rebounding. It was even a problem yesterday--it's a negative of the system, little can be done about it.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
I hope AJ's handle against pressure has improved, but we have other people that should be able to bring up the ball against pressure.
As to defense, sure we need to improve, but I suspect that this years team may do that. IW will be a key to this, but potentially Amayo may be as well. If he is as strong as advertised he may be the key to limit in guys like Andujar against us. That guy wore us out last season and no one had the combination of size and strength to handle him. Amayo may fill that need. Otherwise on D maybe we need less complex schemes and more emphasis on fundamentals like rotating to the ball and boxing out. That's what usually sunk the team.
Guy and 1983 both make good points about rebounding and complexity. I disagree with our deficit defensive rebounding numbers are just due to our 'system'. Last year, we often played one big and four smalls. That was great offensively, not so great defensively. Maybe going with at least two bigs should help. And no, I don't count IW as a Big. As for less complex schemes, that is one possibility, or maybe better use of practice time, working on these schemes. I've been at practice and there is no doubt the time and effort are spent on 'D' but maybe more is required.
As long as we are on Negatives...I take issued with the optimistic view that seems to prevail and accepted that ''This a team with great depth''
IMO...Our depth chart is a team spot that does not when looked at closely appear to justify that confidence....
We have lost one position due to the red shirt situation.... Robertson at this point cannot be counted on for a while to contribute more then limited playing time... We have two 5-9 players that cannot be in a game at the same time... When Laurie is in foul trouble or needs a rest we will be forced to use at the center position a 6-5 Dublin adding more woes to the height and rebound situation.. Bebis is a work in progress... Ellis remains a enigma... Hines as yet to realize that at 6-10 he needs to give rebounding more of a priority... Amayo is at times very tentative due to 2 year hiatus and injury recovery...
This realistic view may seem to some as very pessimistic, but I remain very optimistic but with the knowledge that this is a long season and the ''Best laid plans of mice and men will at times go astray''....
Guy and 1983 both make good points about rebounding and complexity. I disagree with our deficit defensive rebounding numbers are just due to our 'system'. Last year, we often played one big and four smalls. That was great offensively, not so great defensively. Maybe going with at least two bigs should help. And no, I don't count IW as a Big. As for less complex schemes, that is one possibility, or maybe better use of practice time, working on these schemes. I've been at practice and there is no doubt the time and effort are spent on 'D' but maybe more is required.
You will not see us play two bigs. That is why I attribute defensive rebound woes to the system.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
As long as we are on Negatives...I take issued with the optimistic view that seems to prevail and accepted that ''This a team with great depth''
IMO...Our depth chart is a team spot that does not when looked at closely appear to justify that confidence....
We have lost one position due to the red shirt situation.... Robertson at this point cannot be counted on for a while to contribute more then limited playing time... We have two 5-9 players that cannot be in a game at the same time... When Laurie is in foul trouble or needs a rest we will be forced to use at the center position a 6-5 Dublin adding more woes to the height and rebound situation.. Bebis is a work in progress... Ellis remains a enigma... Hines as yet to realize that at 6-10 he needs to give rebounding more of a priority... Amayo is at times very tentative due to 2 year hiatus and injury recovery...
This realistic view may seem to some as very pessimistic, but I remain very optimistic but with the knowledge that this is a long season and the ''Best laid plans of mice and men will at times go astray''....
Dude. We have more depth. We won't be playing 6-7 guys this year, we will be playing 8-9. And calling your own view realistic is a put down to everyone else's views. I'll argue all day that my view of Iona hoops is more realistic than anyone's.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Dude calling you own view realistic is a put down to everyone else's views .
Then you post...''I'LL ARGUE ALL DAY THAT MY VIEW OF IONA HOOPS IS MORE REALISTIC THAN ANYONE'S....Quote.....GUY
Most egocentric, but not surprising post of the year......It is contradictory to its very purpose...
I make it a point to use IMO prefacing all my post that may be controversial...I failed to do so in this case because it was a thread of opinions...I will make it a point to do so in the future with the wish it becomes a habit by all...
It is obvious that your use of ''DUDE'' instead ''OT'' reveals a mindset that is annoyed with anyone that might take a view that is opposite of ''The Greatest poster in the history of the MAAC''
I'm a old codger Guy, but I still enjoy a good old fashioned 'Pissing match'....Reminds me of those days when there was not much to do, and even less money to do it with...It became a developed art that was understood but seldom taken serious.......
Don't cry because you got called out. This has nothing to do with what I said, which was in reply to your post. Are you sure you're not posting in disguise on the MAAC board? Because deflection is a common tactic when someone gets called out there, too.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Guy, I don't count IW as a BIG, but I do count Dublin as a Big,though undersized. That is why I think if we play two bigs, that we'll do a better rebounding job.
Don't cry because you got called out. This has nothing to do with what I said, which was in reply to your post. Are you sure you're not posting in disguise on the MAAC board? Because deflection is a common tactic when someone gets called out there, too.[/quote]
Guy........I've had much more to be ''CRY'' about in my life then the fact that you think you ''Called me out''......I have not visited the MAAC board in at least 2 years, when I decided it was juvenile in nature and foul in language....Also, I hope my postings have revealed that 'I speak my mind' and have never had any compulsion to disguise or to use deflection......Perhaps this type of nature is the reason for any disagreeable postings...I have felt sure for quite a while if I was not as controversial, and was more of a board ''YES'' man, I would be much more accepted...BUT...That would be a futile wait...and I am to old to change...
Don't cry because you got called out. This has nothing to do with what I said, which was in reply to your post. Are you sure you're not posting in disguise on the MAAC board? Because deflection is a common tactic when someone gets called out there, too.
I don't think OT was crying. I think OT was calling you out.
Don't cry because you got called out. This has nothing to do with what I said, which was in reply to your post. Are you sure you're not posting in disguise on the MAAC board? Because deflection is a common tactic when someone gets called out there, too.
Guy........I've had much more to be ''CRY'' about in my life then the fact that you think you ''Called me out''......I have not visited the MAAC board in at least 2 years, when I decided it was juvenile in nature and foul in language....Also, I hope my postings have revealed that 'I speak my mind' and have never had any compulsion to disguise or to use deflection......Perhaps this type of nature is the reason for any disagreeable postings...I have felt sure for quite a while if I was not as controversial, and was more of a board ''YES'' man, I would be much more accepted...BUT...That would be a futile wait...and I am to old to change... [/quote]
That's fair. Just know that your reaction to mine was MAAC board-esque in nature. We press on.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Now, to change direction, from negative to positive, in the opinion of our AD, and I believe I heard him correctly, we have two staffs (Men and Women) who work extremely hard. They are on the road all the time, and the only fear is burnout (my take). So it's not a surprise when we end up with very good players. Also, I'm disagreeing with both OT and Guy. With OT's take on depth: *Muhammed showed me, on Saturday, that he can step in and play PG. Maybe not as a starter but certainly in relief. *Amayo has about a month to get to 100%, in health, and I didn't notice him holding anything back at MTG. He just has to get used to playing within the team concept. W/o any physical setbacks, he'll be a go against Cleveland State. And b/t/w, if a RB in Seattle hadn't beaten him to it, the name Beast Mode, would have described him very well. *Bebis IS a work in progress, and probably a year away from serious PT. IMO, the talent is there, and I suggest he emulates SA's '500 a day' three point attempts. *Ryden Hines has made strides as a shooter, and while I agree with OT that he has to improve as a rebounder, the 'body' is there and we have to give him a chance to show us. *Dan Robinson is a tall guy, and about 25 pounds away from being a big guy, and it's nice to see him on the floor. Due to his 'tallness' I'm guessing that he gets some early PT, as TC wants to know early on if he can be counted on to go up against Manhattan and Quinnipac. Just a guess on my part.
*As for disagreeing with Guy, it's his use of the word, Dude. More suited for the MAAC Board. And maybe it's a generational thing, but to me it's disrespectful. And on this board/your board while we don't always agree with each other, we always (most times) seem to respect their opinions.
And I'll close with is there any way we can have a countdown to the start of the season?