I'm all for the Euro players, but let's wait until they set foot on campus and play in some actual games before we laud the staff for their brilliance in international recruiting. We're not the first school to recruit overseas, in fact Iona even did it themselves in the 90s when Welsh was the coach and we got some players from Scandanavia and Eastern Europe. Not saying we shouldn't be excited about it. Just saying we might want to reserve judgment for a while.
ic59, giving TC a little to much credit, it might have something to do with the team that won the NBA CHAMPIONSHIP a team called the SPURS. I don't think the NBA changed for a NCAA team that hasn't won a NCAA tourney game. All sports leagues copy the way the champs win!!!
1970, you might be right about the credit part, but I disagree with you about the NBA not being a, "spread the floor, shoot the three" league. And they were that way before the Spurs. Last year the Heat, to only focus on the champs, spread the floor and LeBron and DW would drive and, at times, pass to Ray Allen for a three. It's Iona ball. At least that's the way I see it.
I'm all for the Euro players, but let's wait until they set foot on campus and play in some actual games before we laud the staff for their brilliance in international recruiting. We're not the first school to recruit overseas, in fact Iona even did it themselves in the 90s when Welsh was the coach and we got some players from Scandanavia and Eastern Europe. Not saying we shouldn't be excited about it. Just saying we might want to reserve judgment for a while.
Maybe some of you bluehairs can answer a question for me--who invented this track meet, spread the floor style. First name to come to my mind is Paul Westhead, but I didn't see basketball in the 70s or earlier. Was anyone running and gunning in the 70s and earlier?
In looking up stuff on Westhead, I found a piece that referred to Jack McKinney as the creator of the LA Lakers "showtime" offense in the late 70s. But that's the best I can find. Here's the piece I found.
Guy, glad you asked that question. My first favorite college bb team, back in the late forties, was the St. Louis Billikins, coached by Ed Hickey, and he was famous for his pat tie-cake fast break, where the ball was not to hit the floor. Only passing, running, but no dribbling. The only name player on that team was Easy Ed Macauley, who went on to play for the Celtics. I don't know who 'invented' the fast break, but Hickey made good use of it. No one ran like Paul Westhead's teams, and their scoring was off the charts. TC's mantra seems to be, "We'll give up 90 and score 92". And judging by his first years at Iona it seems to work. The Celtics were the best team of the sixties, but I wouldn't say they were a run and gun type of team. My trouble is that I remember yesterday and the 1940's, but everything in between is kind of hazy. Guy, your question might be a good one for Tim Cluess.
Maybe some of you bluehairs can answer a question for me--who invented this track meet, spread the floor style. First name to come to my mind is Paul Westhead, but I didn't see basketball in the 70s or earlier. Was anyone running and gunning in the 70s and earlier?
In looking up stuff on Westhead, I found a piece that referred to Jack McKinney as the creator of the LA Lakers "showtime" offense in the late 70s. But that's the best I can find. Here's the piece I found.
I am a semi-bluehair I guess. I don't go back as far as IC59, but the old ABA- 60's and 70's was a run and gun league. Greats like Dr. J, George Gervin, Louie Dampier, David Thompson, etc. would race up the court and try a 3 pointer (that league had it first), beat the 30 second clock or dunk it. They played the high scoring little defense basketball you are referring to.
Post by hawaii bill on Aug 15, 2014 14:55:37 GMT -5
From Waterbury, CT. Republican-American
Former Holy Cross star lands in a hoops hotbed
By Joe Palladino Republican-American
For most of this summer, Torrington native Doug Leichner was a basketball coach in search of a team. The former Wolcott resident, and Holy Cross High and Central Connecticut basketball star had coached with the University of Maine men's team for close to a decade. But when the Black Bears sought change and cleaned out the entire staff after the 2013-14 season, Leichner was in need of a job.
This summer, Leichner, 44, returned to England for the second time to coach the United Kingdom's men's U-20 team in the A Division of the European championships in Greece. He coached, he looked for work, he waited and he hoped.
There were international offers. Leichner was no rookie there. He had coached a team in the Irish pro league in 2008-09.
But the right fit came close to home. Leichner has signed as assistant at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. in the basketball-mad Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
"It is coming home for us," said a thrilled Leichner on Monday.
His wife, Traci, a volleyball player whom he meet while at CCSU, is a New York native. While Doug coached in Greece and conducted long-distance negotiations, Traci was in charge of selling the Maine house and house-hunting in Westchester County. They settled in Harrison, N.Y., less than an hour from Leichner's Connecticut roots.
A whirlwind summer has, at last, settled into a routine.
"I can't give enough credit to my wife," Leichner added. "I'm away for two months on the island of Crete. She sold the house, packed everything up, found a house (in New York) and moved us in a matter of weeks. I'm on Crete sending her pictures, and she's selling the house. I got off the plane and everything was taken care of."
Has Iona seen Traci Leichner's résumé?
"Being here in the New York area is a great fit for us," said Leichner.
Down East was home for a decade, but you can't beat New York-style delicatessens and pizza.
Did we mention that the basketball is pretty good, too? When you coach at Maine, you coach at a hockey school. In the MAAC, one sport is king.
"The MAAC is a basketball conference, bottom line," said Leichner, with an un
See LEICHNER, Page 11B
mistakable excitement in his voice. "Fairfield, Manhattan, Marist, an old-school Catholic league known for big-time basketball. To be from the New York area and associated with this conference, I am excited about that."
Leichner's experience in European put him at the top of the list when head coach Tim Cluess searched for an assistant.
"Doug brings a wealth of experience on the International recruiting side in addition to his ability to develop post performers," said Cluess. "We're looking forward to having him come on board."
Leichner said that Cluess "wants to be a step ahead looking for international players. My name kept coming up."
With Leichner a head coach at the European A level, Iona has boots on the ground overseas.
"They understand the advantages of being out there and coaching around these players," Leichner said. "It is a great situation coaching with the (England) national team."
In an odd sort of way, being overseas brought him closer to home.
"This is a tremendous opportunity," he said. "I have a lot of friends in the Waterbury area, and they are well-versed in basketball. When you say the name Iona, they lift up their shoulders. It is a great program, with success and tradition."
Iona last made the NCAA tournament in 2012 and 2013. The Gaels lost both times in the first round.
"Coming from Torrington, Wolcott and Holy Cross, from this blue-collar area, I have had opportunities in basketball that have taken me around the world," Leichner said. "There have been many stops along the way, and I have been fortunate to have some success. At each stop, each place, I learned a ton. I have been around the world, and now I have a marquee name like Iona to add to my résumé."
GUY.......Some where deep in my memory there is a recollection of a coach who had great success using 3 5 man squads in very short spurts...Since that entailed use of 15 men, can't remember if it was even Division 1...
As you age, you will be surprised what is stored somewhere in a corner of your brain that will pop up a memory from many years past......
Although I am a believer, I sometimes question...But the function of the human brain so far superior then anything coming from this world renews my faith....
Speaking of Easy Ed, there was an English prof at Iona named Walsh who was famous for having flunked Easy Ed at St. Louis. I happened to be in a class of his that he said was the best he had in 30 years of teaching. As one of the dummies I was overjoyed to snag a B.
Speaking of Easy Ed, there was an English prof at Iona named Walsh who was famous for having flunked Easy Ed at St. Louis. I happened to be in a class of his that he said was the best he had in 30 years of teaching. As one of the dummies I was overjoyed to snag a B.
GUY.......Some where deep in my memory there is a recollection of a coach who had great success using 3 5 man squads in very short spurts...Since that entailed use of 15 men, can't remember if it was even Division 1...
As you age, you will be surprised what is stored somewhere in a corner of your brain that will pop up a memory from many years past......
Although I am a believer, I sometimes question...But the function of the human brain so far superior then anything coming from this world renews my faith....
GUY.......Some where deep in my memory there is a recollection of a coach who had great success using 3 5 man squads in very short spurts...Since that entailed use of 15 men, can't remember if it was even Division 1...
As you age, you will be surprised what is stored somewhere in a corner of your brain that will pop up a memory from many years past......
Although I am a believer, I sometimes question...But the function of the human brain so far superior then anything coming from this world renews my faith....
Grinnell College OT. D3
The coach was Dave Arseneault and it was developed in the early 90's copying Loyola Marymount.
GUY.......Some where deep in my memory there is a recollection of a coach who had great success using 3 5 man squads in very short spurts...Since that entailed use of 15 men, can't remember if it was even Division 1...
As you age, you will be surprised what is stored somewhere in a corner of your brain that will pop up a memory from many years past......
Although I am a believer, I sometimes question...But the function of the human brain so far superior then anything coming from this world renews my faith....
Grinnell College OT. D3
Isn't that the school where the kid had 120 pts a couple of years ago?