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Post by hawaii bill on Mar 26, 2015 9:13:51 GMT -5
From the loss in the MAAC final. I'm sure you're all relieved. I still think Cluess should have used the bench more during the tournament, like he did when IW went down. But in his defense you can also argue playing your best guys is the surest way to get to the final and then you roll the dice. I've come to the conclusion that his approach can work in the tournament, if he has sufficient depth. Either way I'm confident he'll put us in a good position to succeed next year.
Would love to hear about the facilities upgrade. Even if its modest any upgrade is a good thing. Guy I think you were going to start a thread dedicated to that? Is that still your plan? I think if I remember correctly there should be an announcement in early April about the path forward. Crossing my fingers that its good news.
Looking forward to Ricky McGill coming in and adding depth at the guard position, with Much. I think we have two open schollies and a thread dedicated to transfer news. I'm hoping we can add more depth.
Vamos Gaels!!!
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Post by tau on Mar 26, 2015 9:48:13 GMT -5
I recovered not too long after. We are in good hands, have a great staff and administration. We lost the championship game, it happens. Happened to more than a few mid majors this year. Cluess and his staff got our tiny school an at large and has us somewhat on the bubble every year. We have NBA scouts at all our games no every year we send a kid to Portsmouth
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Post by St. Louis Gael on Mar 26, 2015 11:50:03 GMT -5
My disappointment was largely framed by the fact that for what seems like forever, we got caught again with a lack of depth at the 4/5. I know we recruit hard at that position and have difficulty filling it. Circumstances (Robinson, no-shows, transfers out, tragedy) have played into the scenario. I think our coaching profile also plays into it. Take the young man, Bigby-Williams, we have offered from the UK. He looks like the second coming of Pelle, and that caliber of player pushes us over the top. It seems to me that it is either that caliber of player, or we have a limited back-up plan. Why not have an option on the bench which may be limited in the up tempo, but can protect the middle when we are forced, or opt, into the half court.
Moving on IW was not sufficiently recovered for three games in three nights. AJ was sick, and that's all Manhattan needed to finally pull the game out. David gave his all as did Kelvin (and he tried to give even more). Kelvin makes that dunk and we may be looking at a different outcome. Even with a win over Manhattan, we are woefully out gunned in the dance. I'm glad we were not there this year. I did not want "deja vue all over again".
For next year, I think our up-tempo game is too fast for Ryden, but I am hoping he can contribute in the half court. After that, we'll see.
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Post by GuyF on Mar 26, 2015 11:55:01 GMT -5
I'm glad we were not there this year. Under no circumstances should anyone ever be glad we didn't make the NCAAs. The NCAAs are the goal, whether we win 26 games beforehand or we win 10 and get hot in Albany.
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Post by husker76 on Mar 26, 2015 11:55:28 GMT -5
I was saddened by the result of the MAAC Final, but I understood the crap shoot created by the format of 3 days in a row and having to rely on Isaiah trying to play coming off a significant injury. Hopefully the reality of college basketball is sinking in with most everyone. Teams will lose games even when favored. This fact makes the games, especially tournament games, exciting. My wish would be that the MAAC changes their tournament structure to eliminate the top seeds from playing 3 days in a row to reward those team's regular season accomplishments. Coach Cluess has kept Iona basketball relevant along with bringing an exciting style of play. I feel he will get the program over the hump with a win in the NCAA Tournament. The great thing is that this program has hope based upon past accomplishments and current players. As usual we are anxiously awaiting who will complete the incoming recruiting class and who stays or goes.
My use of the term "In Cluess we trust" is intended to convey that I have faith in Tim Cluess and his staff doing their very best to make this program better. Schadrac Casimir was a very pleasant surprise and I am looking forward to who will be next years surprise. The success of the program under Coach Cluess has created very high expectations that sometimes are hard to meet. Disappointment is a fact of life in athletics. You either win or you lose. I was taught to enjoy/savor the wins and use the losses as motivation. By all counts Coach Cluess teaches this philosophy. David Laury was a great example of this in how hard he worked on his outside shot after the loss last year in the MAAC Final. I am enjoying the good times while they last.
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Post by ic59 on Mar 26, 2015 11:55:50 GMT -5
The worst part about the tourney is being there for a long time, especially the wait on Monday. And then to lose. It takes a lot out of you. Really does. But as they say, "No labor, no baby".
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Post by husker76 on Mar 26, 2015 12:11:21 GMT -5
Imagine how the Iona players felt after losing to Manhattan, especially David Laury knowing the dream was over. The players and coaches all have some much invested and losses like that hit hard. The seeds of motivation are sown for the returning players and coaches. The flip side is the joy when you win after working some hard.
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Post by hawaii bill on Mar 26, 2015 12:22:10 GMT -5
I'm glad we were not there this year. Under no circumstances should anyone ever be glad we didn't make the NCAAs. The NCAAs are the goal, whether we win 26 games beforehand or we win 10 and get hot in Albany. Guy its been over two weeks now, what's the ETA for when you're "back"
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Post by iona1970 on Mar 26, 2015 12:36:31 GMT -5
Husker, you say Cluess has raised expectations, to me its the same when we are good anytime, win the MAAC and be competitive in The Tourny and eventually win a game, is that not what you expected when Ruland was the coach?
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Post by husker76 on Mar 26, 2015 13:05:47 GMT -5
iona1970, you are correct when the team is playing well we have heightened expectations. It is completely natural for the fans of any team to want their team to win and when they do win the fans want more. But Coach Cluess in my opinion has raised the expectations for the program versus the expectations under Coach Willard.
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Post by St. Louis Gael on Mar 26, 2015 16:28:02 GMT -5
I'm glad we were not there this year. Under no circumstances should anyone ever be glad we didn't make the NCAAs. The NCAAs are the goal, whether we win 26 games beforehand or we win 10 and get hot in Albany. OK, I will clarify here. I have no interest in seeing another BYU. I have even less interest in seeing us fed to a Kentucky as their virtual bye to round 3. I have every interest in seeing Iona compete in NCAA. For all of the reasons which were well documented on this Board, we were not ready to compete in the NCAA this year. I want Cinderella to dance when Cinderella is ready to last until midnight. I don't want see her get shushed in the Dayton Parking Lot 2 days before the dance. This team had a great season. Let's regroup, restock, and see if we can find the kid with the other slipper.
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Post by St. Louis Gael on Mar 26, 2015 16:28:15 GMT -5
I'm glad we were not there this year. Under no circumstances should anyone ever be glad we didn't make the NCAAs. The NCAAs are the goal, whether we win 26 games beforehand or we win 10 and get hot in Albany. OK, I will clarify here. I have no interest in seeing another BYU. I have even less interest in seeing us fed to a Kentucky as their virtual bye to round 3. I have every interest in seeing Iona compete in NCAA. For all of the reasons which were well documented on this Board, we were not ready to compete in the NCAA this year. I want Cinderella to dance when Cinderella is ready to last until midnight. I don't want see her get shushed in the Dayton Parking Lot 2 days before the dance. This team had a great season. Let's regroup, restock, and see if we can find the kid with the other slipper.
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Post by St. Louis Gael on Mar 26, 2015 16:29:52 GMT -5
Guess I feel so strongly about it, I posted it twice.
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Post by iona1970 on Mar 26, 2015 16:38:43 GMT -5
we wouldn't have been fed to Kentucky, we would have been a 12 or 13
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Post by chelseadal on Mar 26, 2015 16:58:09 GMT -5
Guess I feel so strongly about it, I posted it twice. I just thought you wanted both slippers.
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