In Iona's 10 losses last year, we were outrebounded in every game except one - Manhattan. The average rebounding margin in those 10 losses was -5.6.
In those 10 losses we also couldn't get out of the 50s in almost all of them. :-)
We went 21-10 despite not being a GOOD rebounding team. While I'm in agreement that rebounding is vital, if you look at the MAAC standings the past few years, the most telling stat is that, generally speaking, the teams that scored the most won the most. If we want to say that the extra rebounds will give us extra points, certainly that's possible. But I would also counter that we did a TON of fouling last year, and even just a slight reduction in that stat would have probably gotten us a couple more wins at least.
We can all throw numbers around all day to support our cases, but there's no point in that as we are all in agreement that another big needs to be added!
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
St. Louis Gael...........Was looking over last years stats, and about to post same findings when I came across your stat reference losses and rebounding....(9 of the ten losses we were out rebounded.)
Found also for for the season we...scored more points....made more field goals....made more 3 point shots...had more steals....had more assists...and had less turnovers then our opponents...
Our opponents had more rebounds amd blocked shots......
No matter how you spin them, they are "Telling" stats..We must get stronger off the boards...
St. Louis Gael...........Was looking over last years stats, and about to post same findings when I came across your stat reference losses and rebounding....(9 of the ten losses we were out rebounded.)
Found also for for the season we...scored more points....made more field goals....made more 3 point shots...had more steals....had more assists...and had less turnovers then our opponents...
Our opponents had more rebounds amd blocked shots......
No matter how you spin them, they are "Telling" stats..We must get stronger off the boards...
Go Gaels!!!!!!
I think you guys are making that stuff out to be more than it is. I have a feeling that if you look, generally, at most of the D-I teams in the country, a lot of their stats in losses would look poor in comparison to how they look in wins. ;D
And, repeat--and not to place blame on one guy per se--but if our backup center last year was a paint player rather than a perimeter player, our rebounding numbers would have been in the positives. Think about it--how many offensive rebounds did Huffman grab last season? You stick a true center in that spot--ANY true center--and he grabs more offensive rebounds than Huff did. It's really that simple. It's not that we have to "get stronger" on the boards, it's that we weren't built for it, particularly in the backup center position.
Repeat, as well--I am not knocking Huff, as oftentimes he was the best offensive player we had. But even that is not saying a whole lot when you think about it.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Guy, it is not a question of being "down" on the frontcourt. It is a question of having only one known quality rebounder. The others may or may not develop. It would have been nice to have a second guy that is proven. I think McFadden and Pelch may be very good, but unlike the guards, there is only one proven big man.
How many teams in the MAAC have "proven" big men, though? In fact, the one that would come to mine first is Rossiter--but I'm not buying it, as he played next to Franklin the past couple years. I'm not saying he's not good, but I don't think he's the superstar Hayseed Nation fans believe he is. Franklin couldn't be guarded 1 on 1, making it much easier for Rossiter to get any Franklin misses, find an open man when he had the ball and was well guarded, etc. This year, when the ball goes to Rossiter, he'll see double-teams. None of Hayseed Nation's 4s are even remotely close to Franklin in ability.
As Super noted, bigs DO take more time to develop. Even if you like Rossiter, recall that he did NOTHING his frosh season. No, there's no guarantee that Pelch and McFadden will step up and be very strong frontcourt players this year. But, at least with Pelch, the staff is very high on him, so that's good enough for me. As for McFadden, whoever said above that McFadden's game may be a great fit for Cluess' offense (Tau?) may be right on the mark.
Where do you guys see our players fitting in here? I have 1 player in mind that is going to kill it this year. Just curious if anyone else has him in mind
This is a guard-oriented offense that features spreading the floor and dribble-penetration to the rim for lay-ups or kick-out three-point shots. Coach Walberg uses the term "key or 3" meaning either a shot in the paint, or a 3-point shot. This offense uses a 4-out set (diagram A below). The post player does not look to post-up, but rather plays on the opposite block, elbow or short corner... as this creates more open lanes for dribble-penetration. The post player looks for lobs, or dump passes from penetrating perimeter players, and looks to "clean up" inside with offensive rebounding.
You need four perimeter players who can handle the ball and attack the seams 1-on-1 with dribble-penetration and then finish, and who can also catch-and-shoot the 3-point shot effectively. On dribble-penetration, the ball-handler has three options... (1) finishing the lay-up, (2) dumping it to the post player on the opposite block, or (3) kicking it out to the three point arc for the outside shot. Perimeter players move and rotate to specific spots. Very little screening is used, as screening tends to clog the driving lanes (seams). Good spacing with two guards on top and two deep in the corners really opens up those seams for dribble-penetration.
How many teams in the MAAC have "proven" big men, though? In fact, the one that would come to mine first is Rossiter--but I'm not buying it, as he played next to Franklin the past couple years. I'm not saying he's not good, but I don't think he's the superstar Hayseed Nation fans believe he is. Franklin couldn't be guarded 1 on 1, making it much easier for Rossiter to get any Franklin misses, find an open man when he had the ball and was well guarded, etc. This year, when the ball goes to Rossiter, he'll see double-teams. None of Hayseed Nation's 4s are even remotely close to Franklin in ability.
As Super noted, bigs DO take more time to develop. Even if you like Rossiter, recall that he did NOTHING his frosh season. No, there's no guarantee that Pelch and McFadden will step up and be very strong frontcourt players this year. But, at least with Pelch, the staff is very high on him, so that's good enough for me. As for McFadden, whoever said above that McFadden's game may be a great fit for Cluess' offense (Tau?) may be right on the mark.
Where do you guys see our players fitting in here? I have 1 player in mind that is going to kill it this year. Just curious if anyone else has him in mind
This is a guard-oriented offense that features spreading the floor and dribble-penetration to the rim for lay-ups or kick-out three-point shots. Coach Walberg uses the term "key or 3" meaning either a shot in the paint, or a 3-point shot. This offense uses a 4-out set (diagram A below). The post player does not look to post-up, but rather plays on the opposite block, elbow or short corner... as this creates more open lanes for dribble-penetration. The post player looks for lobs, or dump passes from penetrating perimeter players, and looks to "clean up" inside with offensive rebounding.
You need four perimeter players who can handle the ball and attack the seams 1-on-1 with dribble-penetration and then finish, and who can also catch-and-shoot the 3-point shot effectively. On dribble-penetration, the ball-handler has three options... (1) finishing the lay-up, (2) dumping it to the post player on the opposite block, or (3) kicking it out to the three point arc for the outside shot. Perimeter players move and rotate to specific spots. Very little screening is used, as screening tends to clog the driving lanes (seams). Good spacing with two guards on top and two deep in the corners really opens up those seams for dribble-penetration.
McFadden.
Oh, re the potential of losing another player, a source indicates no one else is expected to leave at this time.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
St. Louis Gael...........Was looking over last years stats, and about to post same findings when I came across your stat reference losses and rebounding....(9 of the ten losses we were out rebounded.)
Found also for for the season we...scored more points....made more field goals....made more 3 point shots...had more steals....had more assists...and had less turnovers then our opponents...
Our opponents had more rebounds amd blocked shots......
No matter how you spin them, they are "Telling" stats..We must get stronger off the boards...
Go Gaels!!!!!!
I think you guys are making that stuff out to be more than it is. I have a feeling that if you look, generally, at most of the D-I teams in the country, a lot of their stats in losses would look poor in comparison to how they look in wins. ;D
And, repeat--and not to place blame on one guy per se--but if our backup center last year was a paint player rather than a perimeter player, our rebounding numbers would have been in the positives. Think about it--how many offensive rebounds did Huffman grab last season? You stick a true center in that spot--ANY true center--and he grabs more offensive rebounds than Huff did. It's really that simple. It's not that we have to "get stronger" on the boards, it's that we weren't built for it, particularly in the backup center position.
Repeat, as well--I am not knocking Huff, as oftentimes he was the best offensive player we had. But even that is not saying a whole lot when you think about it.
Here is my concern with how our team may be profiling.
Our last NCAA team was putting the wood to LSU, until LSU figured it out in the second half. Pound the ball inside to "Big Baby". Simply put, Wax and Gary were overpowered in the second half. On the other end, they packed in and dared Steve, Marvin and Rickie to beat them over the top.
We saw a similar result in 2001(?) when Greg broke his hand. Nakia and Courtney were overpowered by Ole Miss in the second half. Greg, as a freshmen, had been very effective in his limited minutes by moving Ole Miss out of the paint up to that point.
Like those teams, this years team has lots of talent. We just need one or two more big butts to move people out of the paint, and grab their share of rebounds.
