I know even the Iona brass gets pissed at me when I'm overly negative. I will clarify that the losses themselves are not the issue as I picked us to start 0-2. The manner of the defeats is what has my panties in a bunch.
I thought vs Valpo we didn't play our game enough, we didn't dictate tempo. Last night we did a better job of that but we shot too many 3s. We have 3 guys on the floor at any given time who can go to the basket and draw easy fouls from whistle-happy refs, but we bombed too much. AJ got the idea after a while, but too late.
Defense has been poor--we need to mix in some different looks or throw junk defense's at them or something. Can't allow 50% every game and win. Even 45% is acceptable.
We should handle Delaware, though that won't cure all our ails. I want to see us vs URI and Tulsa, and compete. No more blowouts--this team is too good for that. Once, that's a bad night. Repeated smokings, and you have to ask what's up.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
I was going to give a player by player quick review but after reading several posts I have decided against it. Let's see them in person at home against a team that is not better than us and then we should have a little bit better of an idea of what we have here.
It just doesn't make sense with all the Gaels have returning the team will continue to play as bad as the first two games. I will go against my nature and not over react to 2 games against quality teams on the road. Hoping to see much improvement Friday and going forward and it starts with our known commodities: AJ, Sed and IW.
Last Edit: Nov 18, 2015 20:27:35 GMT -5 by Joebird
Post by chelseadal on Nov 18, 2015 20:32:45 GMT -5
It's reasonable and for the most part what 90% + of the Board is saying in some way. Very disappointed that were were blown out by 2 teams but we feel we have the talent to be very good.
I know even the Iona brass gets pissed at me when I'm overly negative. I will clarify that the losses themselves are not the issue as I picked us to start 0-2. The manner of the defeats is what has my panties in a bunch.
I thought vs Valpo we didn't play our game enough, we didn't dictate tempo. Last night we did a better job of that but we shot too many 3s. We have 3 guys on the floor at any given time who can go to the basket and draw easy fouls from whistle-happy refs, but we bombed too much. AJ got the idea after a while, but too late.
Defense has been poor--we need to mix in some different looks or throw junk defense's at them or something. Can't allow 50% every game and win. Even 45% is acceptable.
We should handle Delaware, though that won't cure all our ails. I want to see us vs URI and Tulsa, and compete. No more blowouts--this team is too good for that. Once, that's a bad night. Repeated smokings, and you have to ask what's up.
I think you want to play Valpo and Ore. St. on the road in December. Its no mystery why Power 5 schools play cupcakes at home early on, with some but not a lot of exceptions. Hell we know Syracuse doesn't even play a road game until January every year. Iona of course doesn't have that luxury.
One player observation I want to make is on Isiah Williams. His play concerns me. He wasn't just missing 3's but didn't seem to have the same energy and intangibles he brought last year before he was hurt. I am worried he is either still hurt or something else is bothering or affecting him and resulting in a sub par performance. Hopefully he will erase these fears after seeing his play Friday night.
In the first week of the season, we don't know much. Much of the analyses and critiques -- the praise, too -- registers as premature or imprudent.
Call a team "great" and the social media trolls will attack, unless you're referencing their team. Ask a coach if his squad should panic after an unexpected loss and he'll tell you that it's a long, long season. Ask a coach if his team should celebrate after a big win and he'll unveil a list of concerns.
Those around college basketball preach patience because teams and players often unravel and rebuild in a perpetual process that reveals reality and truth at a gradual pace.
Traveled with the team and am as disappointed and shocked by the results as most here--but that includes the players and coaches. All left the hotel for the airport at 3:30 AM after a nap after the game, heads down.
Some factors--not EXCUSES: --Still figuring out how to replace the MAAC POY and all the elements he brought to the team
--Trying to incorporate a key ingredient (Much) with one day's notice
--Trying to replace an early season injury of a key player (Amayo)
--Using various lineups to attempt to see what works
--Learning to incorporate some "bigs"
--Figuring out the reason behind 29% and 35% shooting results--many were open--too many on the board attributing it to defense.
--Playing initial 2 games on the road (nine never having traveled together) at locales where 2 likely top 50 teams went 15-1 & 15-2 last year
--Grueling travel schedule: SaturdayNY to Chicago (2 hour delay arriving at 7:30 PM)); 90 minute bus ride to Valpo; Sunday 7:00 AM practice; 2:30 game; 90 minute bus trip to Chicago; 4 hour flight to Portland, OR--arrive 10:30 PM; 90 minute bus ride to Corvallis arriving at midnight; Monday 10:00 AM video session: 2:00-4:30 practice; 2nd video session; Tuesday shoot around 10:00-12:00; game @ 7:00; return to hotel @ 10:00-supper; Wednesday 2:45 AM wake-up; 45 minute bus ride to Eugene Airport: 5:45 AM flight to NY with layover in Denver; arrive at campus @ 6:00 PM Travel schedule developed to allow for maximum practice, class, and study time.
After a good practice today and with some pride, I expect team to be very focused for Friday's game.
In the first week of the season, we don't know much. Much of the analyses and critiques -- the praise, too -- registers as premature or imprudent.
Call a team "great" and the social media trolls will attack, unless you're referencing their team. Ask a coach if his squad should panic after an unexpected loss and he'll tell you that it's a long, long season. Ask a coach if his team should celebrate after a big win and he'll unveil a list of concerns.
Those around college basketball preach patience because teams and players often unravel and rebuild in a perpetual process that reveals reality and truth at a gradual pace.
Traveled with the team and am as disappointed and shocked by the results as most here--but that includes the players and coaches. All left the hotel for the airport at 3:30 AM after a nap after the game, heads down.
Some factors--not EXCUSES: --Still figuring out how to replace the MAAC POY and all the elements he brought to the team
--Trying to incorporate a key ingredient (Much) with one day's notice
--Trying to replace an early season injury of a key player (Amayo)
--Using various lineups to attempt to see what works
--Learning to incorporate some "bigs"
--Figuring out the reason behind 29% and 35% shooting results--many were open--too many on the board attributing it to defense.
--Playing initial 2 games on the road (nine never having traveled together) at locales where 2 likely top 50 teams went 15-1 & 15-2 last year
--Grueling travel schedule: SaturdayNY to Chicago (2 hour delay arriving at 7:30 PM)); 90 minute bus ride to Valpo; Sunday 7:00 AM practice; 2:30 game; 90 minute bus trip to Chicago; 4 hour flight to Portland, OR--arrive 10:30 PM; 90 minute bus ride to Corvallis arriving at midnight; Monday 10:00 AM video session: 2:00-4:30 practice; 2nd video session; Tuesday shoot around 10:00-12:00; game @ 7:00; return to hotel @ 10:00-supper; Wednesday 2:45 AM wake-up; 45 minute bus ride to Eugene Airport: 5:45 AM flight to NY with layover in Denver; arrive at campus @ 6:00 PM Travel schedule developed to allow for maximum practice, class, and study time.
After a good practice today and with some pride, I expect team to be very focused for Friday's game.
In the first week of the season, we don't know much. Much of the analyses and critiques -- the praise, too -- registers as premature or imprudent.
Call a team "great" and the social media trolls will attack, unless you're referencing their team. Ask a coach if his squad should panic after an unexpected loss and he'll tell you that it's a long, long season. Ask a coach if his team should celebrate after a big win and he'll unveil a list of concerns.
Those around college basketball preach patience because teams and players often unravel and rebuild in a perpetual process that reveals reality and truth at a gradual pace.
Traveled with the team and am as disappointed and shocked by the results as most here--but that includes the players and coaches. All left the hotel for the airport at 3:30 AM after a nap after the game, heads down.
Some factors--not EXCUSES: --Still figuring out how to replace the MAAC POY and all the elements he brought to the team
--Trying to incorporate a key ingredient (Much) with one day's notice
--Trying to replace an early season injury of a key player (Amayo)
--Using various lineups to attempt to see what works
--Learning to incorporate some "bigs"
--Figuring out the reason behind 29% and 35% shooting results--many were open--too many on the board attributing it to defense.
--Playing initial 2 games on the road (nine never having traveled together) at locales where 2 likely top 50 teams went 15-1 & 15-2 last year
--Grueling travel schedule: SaturdayNY to Chicago (2 hour delay arriving at 7:30 PM)); 90 minute bus ride to Valpo; Sunday 7:00 AM practice; 2:30 game; 90 minute bus trip to Chicago; 4 hour flight to Portland, OR--arrive 10:30 PM; 90 minute bus ride to Corvallis arriving at midnight; Monday 10:00 AM video session: 2:00-4:30 practice; 2nd video session; Tuesday shoot around 10:00-12:00; game @ 7:00; return to hotel @ 10:00-supper; Wednesday 2:45 AM wake-up; 45 minute bus ride to Eugene Airport: 5:45 AM flight to NY with layover in Denver; arrive at campus @ 6:00 PM Travel schedule developed to allow for maximum practice, class, and study time.
After a good practice today and with some pride, I expect team to be very focused for Friday's game.
GOOD POST.
I agree with just about everything you said, and it explains why we lost two tough road games to start the season, BUT I don't think it explains why we looked in total disarray, unprepared, confused etc. Looked like we didn't know which foot to put the sneakers on out there. With our effort, game plan and execution, we would have lost to 90% of div 1 schools. I don't think there is any positives you can take away from either game, with the exception of Washington. AJ IW CED TC??? nowhere to be found
Super, the only thing I'll question (because I don't know the answer) and that had to do with one day notice that Much would play. On this board, about four or five days before the Valpo game, we were alerted about some good/big news. And while we didn't know what that was there was a lot of speculation that DM was cleared to play, or that KA was healthy enough to play. So I'm guessing the team knew that he'd (DM) play. But I'm guessing.
Post by hawaii bill on Nov 20, 2015 17:06:00 GMT -5
After losing to Colgate and Mercer, George Mason has beaten Ole Miss and Oklahoma St. back to back. Life is funny, skies are sunny, bees make honey . . .
Tulsa game will be key. At that point we would have had a month of new guys getting adjusted and testing out new lineups and roles, and going against an opponent along the lines of Valpo or OSU in hostile environment. That will show us how far this team can go. More important than the outcome just want to compete and show progress in that game.
Post by hawaii bill on Nov 21, 2015 17:29:18 GMT -5
I thought the Valpo game would be tough and didn't expect us to win, but in all honesty I didn't think we'd get our ass handed to us like we did. In retrospect it was kind of a perfect storm scenario, I think. A VG mid-major coif. champ returning all of its players off a 26 win team. As a mid-major there is no way they would take us lightly like a high major might, they knew it was already a bubble game, and they were way ahead of us in terms of development, having all played together last year, and of course it was in their place. The start was horrendous too as we found ourselves in a deep hole right from the get go.