The guy is 104 - 50 in 41/2 years, either your trolling the board, or calling people here in the "Cult of Cluess" is the dumbest post ever made on this board!
Whoah! Touched the nerve of an acolyte! That record may be impressive for his résumé, but they play in a weak league. And I don't think many people scrolling around this board are looking for winning percentages and regular season championships. In the MAAC there is only one reliable path to the NCAA's: winning that tournament. What is his record there? Many of us think his skill and effort at recruiting has produced the most talented team in the MAAC over the past few years. That is a very positive thing, one that keeps me interested in the team - even to the point of debating people that trot out meaningless statistics and insults vs. defending the points being made. And I am not a Cluess-basher. In the big picture we Iona fans are lucky to have him as our coach making Iona basketball relevant. But come on - there are some troubling aspects of the team that don't seem to change. Defense. Timeouts. Players zoning-out on straightforward actions. Do you not see that? And by the way: I want to be wrong. I want to be shut up. But not by baseless insults. By our team's performance - Dominate the MAAC!
Interesting analysis from benviky. Like your penmanship. Would be more impressed if you didn't cut and paste from Word.
The one thing I have yet to figure out is, what exactly makes you an Iona fan?
AS for the perceived insults. It's ok to bash the coach, the team, the fans; but get thin skinned when called out. I see the pattern here.
What kind of fan am I? I am a fan of Iona basketball for over 35 years. I attended the school when Valvano was coach and Ruland was playing. I had the good fortune of being present when our team knocked off eventual National Champion Louisville in MSG. What do I want? I want Iona to get into the NCAA's. And I want them to win one game. That's it, one game. I think the last one they won was back when I was in school. And then they had a good chance to beat Georgetown in the next round, but Ruland was somewhat hurt. That is it. I have no interest in these other postseason losers' tournaments. To me, an Iona season is a success when they make the NCAA's. I think this team is good enough to do that. Certainly if they can get Isaiah back. And I pray they do. If getting pissed off if they don't make the tournament makes me spoiled, fine. I can live with that. Aren't any of you guys Yankee fans? It is kind of weird though: this is not the Duke board. I am not delusional. I dream of them winning damned game.
I don't think Cluess is a bad coach. He is obviously a good coach. And a terrific offensive coach. I do think he is a bad defensive coach. My point is if we're all going to praise him for the great offensive team Iona is, then it should be ok to criticize him for the poor defensive team they are. It goes with the territory. I don't think he cares what any of us say. He makes a lot of money. If I was him, I would not go within a mile of this board. And I am not thin skinned, I merely pointed out that a bunch of posters seem to go personal vs. offering opposing viewpoints. Lastly, I honestly do not know what the hell anybody is talking about concerning pasting from Word? I have a hard enough time typing this stuff on my IPad. But again, that gets back to the snarky personal stuff. Go Gaels!
benviky, its ok ghost and st.louis are part of the cult. even though we agree cluess is a good coach but has some flaws you aren't allowed to speak about them. we are in goods hands with the coaching staff, but we have only one the maac tournament once and we are not good in close games, in part to the system and only using 6 guys in the maac. i would to win 1 NCCA game or at least win some of the games against 50-100 teams but some are just happy and the style is fun.
benviky, its ok ghost and st.louis are part of the cult. even though we agree cluess is a good coach but has some flaws you aren't allowed to speak about them. we are in goods hands with the coaching staff, but we have only one the maac tournament once and we are not good in close games, in part to the system and only using 6 guys in the maac. i would to win 1 NCCA game or at least win some of the games against 50-100 teams but some are just happy and the style is fun.
By all means; please name the list of coaches with similar resources and facilities as Iona who are out performing Cluess.
Last Edit: Jan 17, 2015 18:23:57 GMT -5 by ghostofwillard
benviky, its ok ghost and st.louis are part of the cult. even though we agree cluess is a good coach but has some flaws you aren't allowed to speak about them. we are in goods hands with the coaching staff, but we have only one the maac tournament once and we are not good in close games, in part to the system and only using 6 guys in the maac. i would to win 1 NCCA game or at least win some of the games against 50-100 teams but some are just happy and the style is fun.
Post by hawaii bill on Jan 17, 2015 18:28:46 GMT -5
There is nothing wrong with pointing out the flaws in Cluess's style of coaching. We've discussed them here plenty. So have at it as far as I'm concerned. We all should strive to be balanced in our criticism though. As for only winning the MAAC tournament once in four tries, even for the favorite the odds to win the thing are about 33%. So Clues is about the Norm being 1/4.
Thanks, Iona1970 for reading what I wrote, not what you think that I meant. I am an Iona fan, not some nut job from St. John's trying to rile you all up. BTW: I also attended a nice game at Alumni Hall where our guys dusted the Redmen - after which it seemed SJU viewed the then recurring match-up w/ Iona as somehow beneath their prrogram Hah! What a joke. As for the other question out there about what coach is doing better w/ similar circumstances to Cluess - I don't know. I do not follow all mid-major basketball. I follow Iona. And my son's colleges' teams. Maybe you are right that Coach Cluess is doing better than all his peers. He is clearly doing well. I just want Iona to play better defense and not zone out against weak competition. Then I want them to make the NCAA's, and maybe win a game. How is that different from all of us Iona fans?
What kind of fan am I? I am a fan of Iona basketball for over 35 years. I attended the school when Valvano was coach and Ruland was playing. I had the good fortune of being present when our team knocked off eventual National Champion Louisville in MSG. What do I want? I want Iona to get into the NCAA's. And I want them to win one game. That's it, one game. I think the last one they won was back when I was in school. And then they had a good chance to beat Georgetown in the next round, but Ruland was somewhat hurt. That is it. I have no interest in these other postseason losers' tournaments. To me, an Iona season is a success when they make the NCAA's. I think this team is good enough to do that. Certainly if they can get Isaiah back. And I pray they do. If getting pissed off if they don't make the tournament makes me spoiled, fine. I can live with that. Aren't any of you guys Yankee fans? It is kind of weird though: this is not the Duke board. I am not delusional. I dream of them winning damned game.
I don't think Cluess is a bad coach. He is obviously a good coach. And a terrific offensive coach. I do think he is a bad defensive coach. My point is if we're all going to praise him for the great offensive team Iona is, then it should be ok to criticize him for the poor defensive team they are. It goes with the territory. I don't think he cares what any of us say. He makes a lot of money. If I was him, I would not go within a mile of this board. And I am not thin skinned, I merely pointed out that a bunch of posters seem to go personal vs. offering opposing viewpoints. Lastly, I honestly do not know what the hell anybody is talking about concerning pasting from Word? I have a hard enough time typing this stuff on my IPad. But again, that gets back to the snarky personal stuff. Go Gaels!
Good stuff!
Valvano and Cluess. Which one was fastest to 100 wins? I'm sure you will remember that Jeff did not walk on water, although he did pass a lot of it because of his fondness for North Avenue. I was at that game Louisville game too. In fact, I was at Saturday practice at Madison Square Garden with Valvan coaching half the squad and Kennedy the other, including lunch, before that game. To me it is interesting we are discussing Valvano and Cluess. Not a whole lot to talk about between these two eras.
I remember Jeff dominating many a big man, especially the big /Guy (pun intended) from KU at Madison Garden. David Laury just did a similar job on the Portis kid from Arkansas. Because of the changes in Hoops alignments, I don't know that we ever get back to the schedule that Valvano played. But Cluess is doing a hell of a job in moving in that direction, and it is fun to watch. The BCS schools are throwing enough marbles in his path to assure that he does not. So I think we need a different standard than Valvano for Cluess.
St. Louis U just got blown out by Dayton 61 - 45. Their broadcast team was touting SLU's defensive play in the post game show. Can't get excited about a defensive effort in a 61-45 blowout.
We did win that game last night - right?? Welcome!!
Last Edit: Jan 17, 2015 19:48:32 GMT -5 by St. Louis Gael
Thanks, Iona1970 for reading what I wrote, not what you think that I meant. I am an Iona fan, not some nut job from St. John's trying to rile you all up. BTW: I also attended a nice game at Alumni Hall where our guys dusted the Redmen - after which it seemed SJU viewed the then recurring match-up w/ Iona as somehow beneath their prrogram Hah! What a joke. As for the other question out there about what coach is doing better w/ similar circumstances to Cluess - I don't know. I do not follow all mid-major basketball. I follow Iona. And my son's colleges' teams. Maybe you are right that Coach Cluess is doing better than all his peers. He is clearly doing well. I just want Iona to play better defense and not zone out against weak competition. Then I want them to make the NCAA's, and maybe win a game. How is that different from all of us Iona fans?
You talk out of both ends, and make no sense. In 1 post your claiming they don't look like a well coached team, and your not going to blame a different 20 year old every other week, and this latest post you claim Cluess is clearly doing well? Your a troll and not even a good one at that.
I am not a troll. And you are not a very good reader. I said he was a good coach. I'll go slow: Good - means good. definitely not bad. Very good - better than good. Great - Excellent, special. I said the team did not look well coached. Do you think they look well coached on defense? Do you think they look well coached coming out of a timeout? OK, Maybe you do. That is fine. I don't. But that is one man's opinion. But do I think Cluess is a good coach? Yes, I do, He is a very good recruiter and a very good offensive coach. In some situations his team does not look "well-coached" - or at least I think so. Doesn't mean I think he is a "bad" coach. I think He is overall good, or very good for Iona. He will one day leave for greener pastures. And I will feel bad that he is gone. I don't know why thinking he is a good coach but commenting on what I see as his or the team's weaknesses is talking out of both sides of my mouth. My nephew is a good baseball player. My nephew Is not a good base runner. I don't think the two statements are mutually exclusive.
I just don't get why these comments are often about the poster, not the opinion being posted. In other words, on this one: please tell me why you think Cluess is a great or good defensive coach. Why you think they look well-coached. And also why you think Iona had good plays being run after timeouts, Address that, not why you think I am a jerk.
So many variables go into a game's result, only one of which is whether the team is actually prepared to play.
Maybe the team didn't look "well coached" because it was their first game without the most complete player on the roster.
Maybe our defense looks like garbage because the system is geared to light you the fuck up. If Iona tried to add more consistent defense, the offense would be less consistent. This is the system. The only schools that can kick your ass both offensively and defensively are all in the AP top 10.
My gripe with all of this--and not just Benviky--is that many fans are getting awfully nit-picky out here, actually complaining about the style of victory. Would you rather be Niagara, sitting at 3-16 and really just waiting for the offseason to get here? Or how about Siena, whose fans had hopes and dreams of NCAAs and instead are losing by 35 to Canisius?
Guess what? We're not a perfect team, and we're going to have ups and downs, even in a crappy MAAC, because that's what happens to every fucking team in the country in league play. Sometimes you're gonna pull a win out of your ass against a 3-15 team. Other times, we're going to steamroll someone.
We don't know the situation with IW, but without him we're still the best team in the league. We have some work to do to prove it, though. Just find ways to keep winning--the margin is meaningless. Yeah, some of you are thinking that's not true, we have to paste people so our Pomeroy and Sagarin go through the roof, but that won't happen with this schedule--and the committee still uses RPI primarily anyway. Just win the games, win as many as possible. And hopefully IW will be back in time for Albany. And then we'll see what happens.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
So many variables go into a game's result, only one of which is whether the team is actually prepared to play.
Maybe the team didn't look "well coached" because it was their first game without the most complete player on the roster.
Maybe our defense looks like garbage because the system is geared to light you the fuck up. If Iona tried to add more consistent defense, the offense would be less consistent. This is the system. The only schools that can kick your ass both offensively and defensively are all in the AP top 10.
My gripe with all of this--and not just Benviky--is that many fans are getting awfully nit-picky out here, actually complaining about the style of victory. Would you rather be Niagara, sitting at 3-16 and really just waiting for the offseason to get here? Or how about Siena, whose fans had hopes and dreams of NCAAs and instead are losing by 35 to Canisius?
Guess what? We're not a perfect team, and we're going to have ups and downs, even in a crappy MAAC, because that's what happens to every fucking team in the country in league play. Sometimes you're gonna pull a win out of your ass against a 3-15 team. Other times, we're going to steamroll someone.
We don't know the situation with IW, but without him we're still the best team in the league. We have some work to do to prove it, though. Just find ways to keep winning--the margin is meaningless. Yeah, some of you are thinking that's not true, we have to paste people so our Pomeroy and Sagarin go through the roof, but that won't happen with this schedule--and the committee still uses RPI primarily anyway. Just win the games, win as many as possible. And hopefully IW will be back in time for Albany. And then we'll see what happens.
Post by hawaii bill on Jan 17, 2015 21:59:50 GMT -5
Here's the thing about last nights game. Our defense held Niagara to 39.7% shooting, 26.7% from 3. We out rebounded them by 1. The thing that really hurt us was that we turned the ball over 15 times, with AJ leading the way. We need to take care of the ball better. As I said, Sed had a great line, 13pts, 5 assists, 3 steals, 0 turn overs.
I am not a troll. And you are not a very good reader. I said he was a good coach. I'll go slow: Good - means good. definitely not bad. Very good - better than good. Great - Excellent, special. I said the team did not look well coached. Do you think they look well coached on defense? Do you think they look well coached coming out of a timeout? OK, Maybe you do. That is fine. I don't. But that is one man's opinion. But do I think Cluess is a good coach? Yes, I do, He is a very good recruiter and a very good offensive coach. In some situations his team does not look "well-coached" - or at least I think so. Doesn't mean I think he is a "bad" coach. I think He is overall good, or very good for Iona. He will one day leave for greener pastures. And I will feel bad that he is gone. I don't know why thinking he is a good coach but commenting on what I see as his or the team's weaknesses is talking out of both sides of my mouth. My nephew is a good baseball player. My nephew Is not a good base runner. I don't think the two statements are mutually exclusive.
I just don't get why these comments are often about the poster, not the opinion being posted. In other words, on this one: please tell me why you think Cluess is a great or good defensive coach. Why you think they look well-coached. And also why you think Iona had good plays being run after timeouts, Address that, not why you think I am a jerk.
You've posted in 4 threads on this board, George Mason Game, Umass Game, Canisius Game and Niagara game, nowhere indicating you think Cluess is a good coach. Take your agenda elsewhere!