9-4 would feel much better. I don't think this team has leadership to go 17-3, especially with 1 loss already. I thought they would go 16-4 and at this point 15-5 seems more likely. At this point the goal is to win the regular season no matter the record and secure the NIT bid so the year isn't a failure and then go ahead and win the tourney and get where we all really want, and maybe just maybe a hot night from 3 with the best possible matchup, ( which will be a top 12 team) Can get us our NCAA win.
9-4 would feel much better. I don't think this team has leadership to go 17-3, especially with 1 loss already. I thought they would go 16-4 and at this point 15-5 seems more likely. At this point the goal is to win the regular season no matter the record and secure the NIT bid so the year isn't a failure and then go ahead and win the tourney and get where we all really want, and maybe just maybe a hot night from 3 with the best possible matchup, ( which will be a top 12 team) Can get us our NCAA win.
Tough to argue against any of those points. This would put us at 22-9, pretty much where I thought we'd be at the beginning of the season. The only reason to believe we can do better than 15-5 right now would be how atrocious the MAAC is. Pretty much any loss from this point forward (home or away) would be considered a bad loss. I'm sure that will change by end of season especially as teams like Manhattan (likely) get their act together, but as of now, anything that's not a "W" would be a letdown.
Ok, folks, you can slide back off from the edge of your seats. It's time for my annual game-by-game picks!
As a reminder, I've usually been pretty close on these, and I am not one to be overly optimistic about a given season, but...
11/14 vs Cleveland State. Tough opener for sure. Should be interesting. W, 1-0. 11/18 at Wofford. 7 am on ESPN2! Against a foe that knows us from last year. Bad news. L, 1-1. 11/21 at Wake Forest. I know we destroyed them a couple years back. And I know they're not expected to be good this year. But... L, 1-2. 11/23 at North Texas. Tricky game, though I admit I know little about them. 195 RPI last year. W, 2-2. 11/26 vs Delaware State. Cupcake city. W, 3-2. 11/30 at Arkansas. Tough test. Winnable, but... L, 3-3. 12/7 at Monmouth. I think the Hawks are building something--but we will have had a week off. W, 4-3, 1-0. 12/10 vs Rider. Broncs are not good on defense. W, 5-3, 2-0. 12/13 vs Indiana State. We almost won there last year, and you know they have no interest in this game. W, 6-3, 2-0. 12/20 at George Mason. GMU isn't what it was and is still trying to get back. W, 7-3, 2-0. 12/23 vs Florida Gulf Coast. Hope they enjoy their visit to Rockefeller Center! W, 8-3, 2-0. 12/28 at Drexel. Sluggish return after holiday. L, 8-4, 2-0. 12/30 at UMass. Minutemen are a MAAC team this year, playing 4 of our league foes, all at home. I think they'll go 2-2 vs MAAC. We won't be one to fall. W, 9-4, 2-0. 1/4 at Siena. Lots of mixed views on the Saints, but no question they have this one circled on the calendar. L, 9-5, 2-1. 1/6 vs Quinnipiac. Back on track and refocused. W, 10-5, 3-1. 1/10 vs Canisius. No Billy Baron. Nuff said. W, 11-5, 4-1. 1/13 vs Fairfield. Stags trending downward. W, 12-5, 5-1. 1/16 at Niagara. My hunch is that the Purps will exceed expectations--but they're not ready to win a game like this. W, 13-5, 6-1. 1/18 at Canisius. With both Buffalo teams down, a rare sweep! W, 14-5, 7-1. 1/22 at Rider. Broncs always pretty good at home, so no cakewalk. But... W, 15-5, 8-1. 1/25 vs Niagara. Let's get those bench guys some run, Coach Cluess. W, 16-5, 9-1. 1/31 vs St. Peter's. First look at the rising Cocks. Wait, what? W, 17-5, 10-1. 2/2 at Fairfield. Stags will ugly it up and keep it interesting, but... W, 18-5, 11-1. 2/6 vs Siena. Send those whiny hayseeds home with an L. W, 19-5, 12-1. 2/8 vs Marist. Can't gauge the Foxes just yet, but they don't defend much. W, 20-5, 13-1. 2/13 at Manhattan. Friday the 13th in Riverdale? Can't be good. L, 20-6, 13-2. 2/15 at Quinnipiac. No easy game for sure, but... W, 21-6, 14-2. 2/20 at Marist. This game could be a shootout. Which we like. W, 22-6, 15-2. 2/22 vs Monmouth. Momentum builder for stretch run. W, 23-6, 16-2. 2/27 vs Manhattan. Jaspers won't sweep. W, 24-6, 17-2. 3/1 at St. Peter's. Cocks might be the most dangerous team in Albany. L, 24-7, 17-3.
I think Iona is the best team in this league, comfortably. I've been saying Siena will finish second all along, and I will stick with that. But they're no better than 14-6.
This should be Cluess' best team, or at least on par with the at-large team. There are two dangers in Albany--playing a "road game" in the final vs Siena, and playing a good team that we swept during the year. But when the chips are down, I think the only teams that could beat us up there are Siena (only because they're at home) and St. Peter's. And I do think these teams will finish 2-3 in the standings, so we likely would see one of them in the final.
I have never predicted such lofty results for Iona, but I don't see a reason for us to be WEAKER than last year, and if we prove to have the depth we think we've seen, we should be stronger. If Tim has to shorten the bench to 6-7 guys again, we will lose more than I have projected.
I also think the MAAC is a shade weaker as well. The teams expected to be near the top have major flaws, but Iona does not, and on every night in league play Iona will have 3 of the top 4-5 players on the floor.
Let's get this going.
Predicted: 9-5, 2-1. Actual: 9-5, 2-1.
Huh.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Ok, folks, you can slide back off from the edge of your seats. It's time for my annual game-by-game picks!
As a reminder, I've usually been pretty close on these, and I am not one to be overly optimistic about a given season, but...
11/14 vs Cleveland State. Tough opener for sure. Should be interesting. W, 1-0. 11/18 at Wofford. 7 am on ESPN2! Against a foe that knows us from last year. Bad news. L, 1-1. 11/21 at Wake Forest. I know we destroyed them a couple years back. And I know they're not expected to be good this year. But... L, 1-2. 11/23 at North Texas. Tricky game, though I admit I know little about them. 195 RPI last year. W, 2-2. 11/26 vs Delaware State. Cupcake city. W, 3-2. 11/30 at Arkansas. Tough test. Winnable, but... L, 3-3. 12/7 at Monmouth. I think the Hawks are building something--but we will have had a week off. W, 4-3, 1-0. 12/10 vs Rider. Broncs are not good on defense. W, 5-3, 2-0. 12/13 vs Indiana State. We almost won there last year, and you know they have no interest in this game. W, 6-3, 2-0. 12/20 at George Mason. GMU isn't what it was and is still trying to get back. W, 7-3, 2-0. 12/23 vs Florida Gulf Coast. Hope they enjoy their visit to Rockefeller Center! W, 8-3, 2-0. 12/28 at Drexel. Sluggish return after holiday. L, 8-4, 2-0. 12/30 at UMass. Minutemen are a MAAC team this year, playing 4 of our league foes, all at home. I think they'll go 2-2 vs MAAC. We won't be one to fall. W, 9-4, 2-0. 1/4 at Siena. Lots of mixed views on the Saints, but no question they have this one circled on the calendar. L, 9-5, 2-1. 1/6 vs Quinnipiac. Back on track and refocused. W, 10-5, 3-1. 1/10 vs Canisius. No Billy Baron. Nuff said. W, 11-5, 4-1.
Thanks. As 1970 noted, I've missed a few games, but it's impossible to get it exactly right.
I still feel strongly that we'll go 17-3 in the conference. I also feel, despite yesterday's scare, we'll run the table at home. That was the game to lose. I don't think anyone will come in and beat us now, as we've seen all the best teams here save for Manhattan.
The remaining road games really depend on what we do. We're the best team, by far. Nothing that, we shouldn't lose any games, even on the road, but the road is always an adventure and there will be a couple times where we're off our game. I think the only road game that is an absolute lock to win is Marist. That leaves, in no particular order, Fairfield, Canisius, Niagara, Manhattan, St Peter's, Quinny and Rider. 5-2 is a comfortable pick in those 7 games.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Guy, I'D put FF, road game, as a lock. And that opinion might change after Tuesday night. However, if English doesn't improve, or if CC doesn't step up (someone should remind him that this board has already put him down as a 2K point scorer), I would worry about ALL the other games.
Guy, I'D put FF, road game, as a lock. And that opinion might change after Tuesday night. However, if English doesn't improve, or if CC doesn't step up (someone should remind him that this board has already put him down as a 2K point scorer), I would worry about ALL the other games.
What is it that we need AJ to improve on in order to not have to worry about the other games?
Guy, I'D put FF, road game, as a lock. And that opinion might change after Tuesday night. However, if English doesn't improve, or if CC doesn't step up (someone should remind him that this board has already put him down as a 2K point scorer), I would worry about ALL the other games.
What is it that we need AJ to improve on in order to not have to worry about the other games?
Despite your uncanny ability to predict this stuff - I will worry about ALL other games anyway. That's not gonna change.
What is it that we need AJ to improve on in order to not have to worry about the other games?
Despite your uncanny ability to predict this stuff - I will worry about ALL other games anyway. That's not gonna change.
I agree Greg.
Sorry 59 but there are NO locks in this league. Each game will require preparation, focus and energy.
Yeah, there will be let down games, but those games decided by a basket or two will hopefully tilt our direction and show the strength and character of our team.
Ok, folks, you can slide back off from the edge of your seats. It's time for my annual game-by-game picks!
As a reminder, I've usually been pretty close on these, and I am not one to be overly optimistic about a given season, but...
11/14 vs Cleveland State. Tough opener for sure. Should be interesting. W, 1-0. 11/18 at Wofford. 7 am on ESPN2! Against a foe that knows us from last year. Bad news. L, 1-1. 11/21 at Wake Forest. I know we destroyed them a couple years back. And I know they're not expected to be good this year. But... L, 1-2. 11/23 at North Texas. Tricky game, though I admit I know little about them. 195 RPI last year. W, 2-2. 11/26 vs Delaware State. Cupcake city. W, 3-2. 11/30 at Arkansas. Tough test. Winnable, but... L, 3-3. 12/7 at Monmouth. I think the Hawks are building something--but we will have had a week off. W, 4-3, 1-0. 12/10 vs Rider. Broncs are not good on defense. W, 5-3, 2-0. 12/13 vs Indiana State. We almost won there last year, and you know they have no interest in this game. W, 6-3, 2-0. 12/20 at George Mason. GMU isn't what it was and is still trying to get back. W, 7-3, 2-0. 12/23 vs Florida Gulf Coast. Hope they enjoy their visit to Rockefeller Center! W, 8-3, 2-0. 12/28 at Drexel. Sluggish return after holiday. L, 8-4, 2-0. 12/30 at UMass. Minutemen are a MAAC team this year, playing 4 of our league foes, all at home. I think they'll go 2-2 vs MAAC. We won't be one to fall. W, 9-4, 2-0. 1/4 at Siena. Lots of mixed views on the Saints, but no question they have this one circled on the calendar. L, 9-5, 2-1. 1/6 vs Quinnipiac. Back on track and refocused. W, 10-5, 3-1. 1/10 vs Canisius. No Billy Baron. Nuff said. W, 11-5, 4-1. 1/13 vs Fairfield. Stags trending downward. W, 12-5, 5-1. 1/16 at Niagara. My hunch is that the Purps will exceed expectations--but they're not ready to win a game like this. W, 13-5, 6-1. 1/18 at Canisius. With both Buffalo teams down, a rare sweep! W, 14-5, 7-1. 1/22 at Rider. Broncs always pretty good at home, so no cakewalk. But... W, 15-5, 8-1. 1/25 vs Niagara. Let's get those bench guys some run, Coach Cluess. W, 16-5, 9-1. 1/31 vs St. Peter's. First look at the rising Cocks. Wait, what? W, 17-5, 10-1. 2/2 at Fairfield. Stags will ugly it up and keep it interesting, but... W, 18-5, 11-1. 2/6 vs Siena. Send those whiny hayseeds home with an L. W, 19-5, 12-1. 2/8 vs Marist. Can't gauge the Foxes just yet, but they don't defend much. W, 20-5, 13-1. 2/13 at Manhattan. Friday the 13th in Riverdale? Can't be good. L, 20-6, 13-2. 2/15 at Quinnipiac. No easy game for sure, but... W, 21-6, 14-2. 2/20 at Marist. This game could be a shootout. Which we like. W, 22-6, 15-2. 2/22 vs Monmouth. Momentum builder for stretch run. W, 23-6, 16-2. 2/27 vs Manhattan. Jaspers won't sweep. W, 24-6, 17-2. 3/1 at St. Peter's. Cocks might be the most dangerous team in Albany. L, 24-7, 17-3.
I think Iona is the best team in this league, comfortably. I've been saying Siena will finish second all along, and I will stick with that. But they're no better than 14-6.
This should be Cluess' best team, or at least on par with the at-large team. There are two dangers in Albany--playing a "road game" in the final vs Siena, and playing a good team that we swept during the year. But when the chips are down, I think the only teams that could beat us up there are Siena (only because they're at home) and St. Peter's. And I do think these teams will finish 2-3 in the standings, so we likely would see one of them in the final.
I have never predicted such lofty results for Iona, but I don't see a reason for us to be WEAKER than last year, and if we prove to have the depth we think we've seen, we should be stronger. If Tim has to shorten the bench to 6-7 guys again, we will lose more than I have projected.
I also think the MAAC is a shade weaker as well. The teams expected to be near the top have major flaws, but Iona does not, and on every night in league play Iona will have 3 of the top 4-5 players on the floor.
Let's get this going.
Bump.
Yeah, I missed individual games, but I've got our exact record and even the margin over the rest of the MAAC, as Rider is really 3 games back since we swept them. Not bad.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.