A couple of comments I'll make 1) Scott uses a phrase that appears quite a bit on the message boards, esp. the MAAC board. I hope the guys don't read these boards. I doubt any good can come of it. Most of the guys on these boards, me included, never played college hoops and have no real idea what they are talking about. 2) I hope the team doesn't feel a burden to win an NCAA game for us, the fans, and b/c the school hasn't won one in a while. No need to carry extra burdens. Play these games for yourselves fellas, if you are indeed reading this board. We'll go along for the ride. And maybe "care" a little less and have more fun.
I totally disagree. I think Scott's comments were not only in line, I think they reflect a sense of leadership and reality that will serve us well in the future. I do not take it as he feels he owes us (fans and school) anything. Rather, I see it as his realizing that we are all in this together. We (players, fans, students and school) are all part of any win and also we, together, suffer every loss.
As to his bed reference, he is just saying what, unfortunately, is the normal feeling anyone who looks back at the recent past with a realistic view must feel. The facts are that over our final 14 games, we won 12. The 2 games we lost were the 2 most important games of the 14. In both of those games we were a heavy favorite - one was against a team that we had beaten twice prior with our most recent being a blowout on their home court. The other was against a team rated some 60 or 70 RPI points behind us, which was 3,000 miles from home and which was playing at our place. There is no way to sugar-coat it - we (and I am using Scott's collective description, since we are all in this) "crapped" the bed.
Now, what WE must work on for the future is to make sure that for the 2011-2012 season, we keep that bed linen nice and fresh. I believe in our coaching staff and our players - I very much believe in the senior leadership I see next year's seniors, Scott in particular, will bring. I have faith that our staff will be able to address the personnel needs that we currently have for next season. With a healthy Kyle added to our returning players along with any new additions, I see next year as being one of Iona's best seasons ever.
I had not seen this piece posted previously. The postgame presser was never put up on ICGaels.com. This gives a little insight as to what that was like. Scott is our leader - we go as far as he takes us. I have total faith in our floor general.
Just popping in to say hello! It seems that you all are being far to hard on yourselves. My Broncos played their BEST GAME OF THE SEASON in the CIT Championship game, and we only won by 7 points. As far as talking about "crapping the bed" in winning 12 of the last 14, but losing both championship games, that is just nonsense. The championship game ostensibly pits the two best teams against each other, meaning that game probably will be the most difficult of all.
I hope that you all can come out west for a rematch! I saw someone sent a tweet to Coach Keating asking him to invite Iona to our Cable Car Classic Tournament the week between Christmas and NYE. He actually replied that he would give it a try! (I don't know if it was lip service or not).
The bottom line is that we have 3 question marks for next season:
1. The center position--can we get at least serviceable play from there next season, be it Pelch or a newbie, so that we can compete with bigger teams (and mid-majors with quality bigs)?
2. Team defense--we finished the season playing better defense than early on--can the defense improve further so that we can be considered at least a pretty good defensive team?
3. The championship hump--can we as a TEAM win the big game?
No question this was a fantastic year. If you told any of us that we would have gone 25-12 and had an RPI in the 60s at season's end, we all would have signed for it. But the NCAA trip is the goal, and always will be. The team needs to solve the three issues above if we're going to cut down the nets.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Just popping in to say hello! It seems that you all are being far to hard on yourselves. My Broncos played their BEST GAME OF THE SEASON in the CIT Championship game, and we only won by 7 points. As far as talking about "crapping the bed" in winning 12 of the last 14, but losing both championship games, that is just nonsense. The championship game ostensibly pits the two best teams against each other, meaning that game probably will be the most difficult of all.
I hope that you all can come out west for a rematch! I saw someone sent a tweet to Coach Keating asking him to invite Iona to our Cable Car Classic Tournament the week between Christmas and NYE. He actually replied that he would give it a try! (I don't know if it was lip service or not).
I hope that you all can come out west for a rematch! I saw someone sent a tweet to Coach Keating asking him to invite Iona to our Cable Car Classic Tournament the week between Christmas and NYE. He actually replied that he would give it a try! (I don't know if it was lip service or not).
Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to see that rematch also, I'm afraid Coach Keatings statement was likely lip service.
With the two teams essentially a continent apart, I believe it might prove to be too difficult to make the economics work.
Hey buckets, here's a question I can ask of you that I can't to my fellow Gael fans... What would you rather have - a CIT Championship or a one and done in the NCAA tourney?
Good having you here buckets, check in and let us know what's happening on that left coast anytime!
I hope that you all can come out west for a rematch! I saw someone sent a tweet to Coach Keating asking him to invite Iona to our Cable Car Classic Tournament the week between Christmas and NYE. He actually replied that he would give it a try! (I don't know if it was lip service or not).
Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to see that rematch also, I'm afraid Coach Keatings statement was likely lip service.
With the two teams essentially a continent apart, I believe it might prove to be too difficult to make the economics work.
Hey buckets, here's a question I can ask of you that I can't to my fellow Gael fans... What would you rather have - a CIT Championship or a one and done in the NCAA tourney?
Good having you here buckets, check in and let us know what's happening on that left coast anytime!
I don't think its just lip service...over the last several years, most of the teams in the Cable Car Classic are from the East. For example, in Dec 2010 we had American University, Delaware, and Fordham.
The answer to your question: it depends. If I have a relatively young mid-major team that is on the upswing, I'll take the CIT Championship. The extra five games for us was incredible growth (especially having to win three straight on the road). It seems to be a good stepping stone for the future.
However, if I have a team that consists of 4 or 5 senior starters, I would rather be one-and-done in the NCAAs.
By the way, my buddies and I made a pact after our 1993 opening round upset over #2 Arizona: every time we made it into the NCAA tourney, we committed to traveling every step of the way. 1995 we were one-and-done in Boise; 1996 (Nash's senior year) was fun, though, as we went down to Tempe and upset Maryland in the opening round (remember X-Ray Booth?) before getting trounced by Kansas.
Let's just say, since then, I have saved a lot of $$ in travel (meaning we haven't been to the big dance since!).
Thanks for the kind words. And please, inundate your coach and athletic department and demand an entry into the Cable Car Classic in December! Don't you want a rematch? ;-)
Thanks Buckets, You make a good point. Our team is sort of in-between- a bunch of Juniors & Seniors, but also a number of younger players. Also a first year head coach. I truly believe with the right matchup we might have won a game in the tournament. Going forward, I think the CIT was great for this team. My hope is that losing the final is used as motivation. Mayve if the Gaels win a few post season games next year, we will look back at losing that final as a turning point.
A couple of comments I'll make 1) Scott uses a phrase that appears quite a bit on the message boards, esp. the MAAC board. I hope the guys don't read these boards. I doubt any good can come of it. Most of the guys on these boards, me included, never played college hoops and have no real idea what they are talking about. 2) I hope the team doesn't feel a burden to win an NCAA game for us, the fans, and b/c the school hasn't won one in a while. No need to carry extra burdens. Play these games for yourselves fellas, if you are indeed reading this board. We'll go along for the ride. And maybe "care" a little less and have more fun.
Bill,
A similar post by you from 2011. Some things never change.
A couple of comments I'll make 1) Scott uses a phrase that appears quite a bit on the message boards, esp. the MAAC board. I hope the guys don't read these boards. I doubt any good can come of it. Most of the guys on these boards, me included, never played college hoops and have no real idea what they are talking about. 2) I hope the team doesn't feel a burden to win an NCAA game for us, the fans, and b/c the school hasn't won one in a while. No need to carry extra burdens. Play these games for yourselves fellas, if you are indeed reading this board. We'll go along for the ride. And maybe "care" a little less and have more fun.
Bill,
A similar post by you from 2011. Some things never change.
