|
Post by iona05 on Aug 23, 2014 17:26:13 GMT -5
Last week I was on the road in CA and joined a client for a Loyola Marymount alumni event. It was full of alums reminiscing about the good old days when LM was a national power and made a run to the Elite 8.
Anyhow, an interesting question was asked, "do you think the program will ever see a season as good as that again, or has it peaked already?"
Thought this was interesting, and to put an Iona spin on it...
Assuming 1980 was the best Gael team of all time, do you think we will ever experience a season like that again in our lifetime, or has the program reached its ceiling?
It's a fair question, and given the seismic changes the NCAA is going through, I think I would have to vote no.
Curious to hear what others have to say.
|
|
|
Post by iona1970 on Aug 23, 2014 17:39:45 GMT -5
05, i can't see us ever being that good. the difference in recruiting against BCS schools is night and day, between the arenas and facilities the gap has widened, and listening to everyone on the board we should recruit to win the MAAC, which doesn't go along with building to beat power schools with size, we are what we are, a team that hopefully is in the fight for best in the MAAC but with no real shot at ever making an NCAA run, maybe with the right match up we can win a game
|
|
|
Post by IONA86 on Aug 23, 2014 17:45:23 GMT -5
First... it was a very different era in sports. The recent NCAA decision to grant more power to the BCS conferences are a huge worry. The recent lawsuits to allow unionization of players is a bigger concern.
With that said, basketball is the one college sport where landing a great player or two can lead to a significant NCAA run. Look at our team right now.... if we had landed a Mike Glover and even a Tre Bowman this summer...where could we go with it? I think we would walk away with the MAAC championship and win a couple of NCAA games. To build on that we would need to have better facilities and keep the staff intact. I think we have a higher ceiling but to get there we need a good run and the full support of the school and alumni.
|
|
|
Post by iona05 on Aug 23, 2014 18:11:18 GMT -5
86...would love to be optimistic about it, but not so sure. Plus the 1980 body of work is pretty impressive - top 20 ranking, win over eventual national champion and a NCAA win. Combine that with NCAA changes you alluded to, and it's tough to fathom our program ever returning to those heights.
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Aug 23, 2014 18:32:46 GMT -5
Its a good question. When you see a Murray State getting a top ten ranking out of the Ohio Valley Conference a couple of years ago we might not be as far away as one would think. I think our ceiling, if we improve Hynes and make it a 4000 seat arena that looks good on TV, keep a good coaching staff with strong support from the administration and alumni, we can in great years achieve a top 25 ranking and a sweet sixteen, in my opinion. The same for Siena, and Manhattan if they get their arena together. I'm not sure about Quinny or Monmouth.
|
|
|
Post by sharkey on Aug 23, 2014 18:44:21 GMT -5
I look at the stipends that will be allowed in the future might actually help a program like Iona that has had great success with transfers. I am pretty sure I read in the past that the MAAC would also pay the stipend. is that correct? You are going to see BCS programs run off even more players because of the added expenses to the scholarships besides the stipends. These players are going to trickle down to programs like Iona even more than they do now. The BCS programs will be run like a minor league system with players coming and going.
Not really concerned with being ranked in the top 20. I do believe TC and staff can put together a team, with the right first round matchup, that can win a couple of games in the NCAA tourney. It seems like Iona has been 1 player short the last few years of making such a run. Just think how much more buzz the program would have around it going into the season if we were able to land Brown or Lawrence, or the BCS level player some on the board referred to that the staff had to walk away from.
Agree with I86 that the key to the future is keeping the staff as long as we can and the renovation of the facilities. Manhattan and Qpac had very good recruiting years. Qpac and Monmouth are going to be tough in years to come just because of their facilities, and other programs have followed TC'S recruiting style and have recruited transfers and JUCO players. The program is in a great position right now.
|
|
|
Post by IONA86 on Aug 23, 2014 18:54:00 GMT -5
86...would love to be optimistic about it, but not so sure. Plus the 1980 body of work is pretty impressive - top 20 ranking, win over eventual national champion and a NCAA win. Combine that with NCAA changes you alluded to, and it's tough to fathom our program ever returning to those heights. If you ask me where I think hoops will be in 20 years: 1) I think about 20% to 35% of the private colleges in the US will be closed, merged or in the process of doing one of the two. Declining high school enrollments, rising costs, a devalued dollar and the crazy taxation required to pay off the national debt will put a lot of schools out of business. 2) I think the BCS schools will push to eliminate competition by forcing a Div 1 and Div 1-A format. Div-1 athletes will be paid... guaranteeing that they will get the best players. The only thing that might stop the BCS schools are a Congressional order to exempt college arthritics from unionization and Title IX. Women's sports will be all but destroyed by these recent developments so maybe the feminists will storm the NCAA. I still say basketball is the one sport where small schools can truly compete. Landing one stud can attract other kids. We have done a great job recruiting so far... add one more stud and a few talented European kids.... you never know. As great as 79/80 was.... if Springer had stayed healthy I think 81/82 and 82/83 could have been spectacular as well. I am sure our success after landing ruland is what got us players like Burt, Springer Grimes etc... The same can happen again but you will never see the schedules of days past because of the way the BCS schools operate today.
|
|
|
Post by Joebird on Aug 23, 2014 19:20:42 GMT -5
We will never be as good as the 80 team again, they had national championship potential but we can make a longer NCAA run. A sweet sixteen spot still has possibilities. I know some think without big men we have no chance but if last years team got in and had 2 hot games from 3 they could have gotten to the sweet sixteen. I think the 98 team was one bad bounce from being in the sweet sixteen. With some luck and a very good team the sweet sixteen is not out of the question but even if that happens no team will ever be good as 80 which really was a top 10 team.
|
|
|
Post by Cjb on Aug 23, 2014 20:36:30 GMT -5
As mentioned already, the college basketball landscape has drastically changed since 1980. Specific change in this region was the formation of the Big East and Iona a Northeast power under Valvano, is suddenly on the outside looking in.
Prior to the Big East I thought Iona's best years were still to come. Afterwards, we're no longer landing top local recruits from feeder programs like All Hallows and the Riverside Church program and it became apparent that things wouldn't be the same.
Facilities improvement on the level of the Iona/Stony Brook arena posted here will be an easier reach with Tim Cluess cemented to the program the next 5-10 years. Cluess IMO has the potential of having as big an impact on Iona as Valvano.
As mentioned by others in this thread, basketball is a game where one or two major players can carry a team very far. Cluess and Grasso have demonstrated an ability to attract top talent. Though they don't successfully land everyone they recruit (only few coaches do) they're involved with players that probably wouldn't give Iona the right time of day 5-10 years ago.
I think it's possible to have a season like 1980, but we'll need Cluess at the helm, Grasso landing talent, upgraded facilities and a few lucky bounces.
|
|
|
Post by dansimms on Aug 24, 2014 18:46:18 GMT -5
I would say Iona's peak potential is to match a season like LaSalle had with Lionel Simmons in the regular season if all planets are aligned and perhaps Iona picks up a transfer or hardship case like Norvelle Pelle. If a season like that yielded a single digit seeding, Iona would be favored to win a first round game and could be in a toss up game in round 2.......so with the right match ups....a sweet 16 wouldn't be the craziest thing in the world. Look at what George Mason did recently.
|
|
|
Post by GuyF on Aug 24, 2014 19:01:31 GMT -5
A one-year run to the Elite Eight is possible. The right combination of players can do this, even if the program in and of itself is nowhere near one of the top 8 programs in the country. Look at what Florida Gulf Coast did a couple years ago, just getting to the Sweet 16. No basketball history, and no real likelihood of making it again. The right combination of players and opponents, and a few nice bounces, and you can do it. It's not easy, but if you're generally a decent NCAA mid-major, you're going to get chances.
In terms of sustained success, we are doing pretty well in terms of getting to the NCAAs, but need to win an occasional first-round game to take the next step. I would sign for this over a 1-year Elite Eight or Sweet 16 trip.
|
|
|
Post by youngguns on Aug 24, 2014 19:48:28 GMT -5
Hey guys. Ricky here. I'm new to the board. I'm going to be a sophomore at Iona this year and will be the basketball manager. Hopefully I can provide you guys with some inside info. I just want to say being on campus and involved with this team, I really think we will do big things. I made friends with a lot of the basketball guys freshman year so I really believe in them. Some people saying the program has reached it's peak to a current student is ridiculous. I completely believe this team will win an NCAA game or two this year and it's headed in the right direction. As a fan, and as a manager of the team now, it's no good for you guys to let down the team. We are Iona. Best offense in the nation. Believe that we can do this because we can. I really believe it and hope you guys do too.
|
|
|
Post by Joebird on Aug 24, 2014 20:33:15 GMT -5
Welcome and nice to have someone connected to the team as well as in school on this board.
We all probably have a million questions for you but I'll hold off for now.
Most of us here have been waiting decades for an NCAA win so hopefully you are right and this will end up being the year it happens.
|
|
|
Post by hawaii bill on Aug 24, 2014 20:43:42 GMT -5
Hey guys. Ricky here. I'm new to the board. I'm going to be a sophomore at Iona this year and will be the basketball manager. Hopefully I can provide you guys with some inside info. I just want to say being on campus and involved with this team, I really think we will do big things. I made friends with a lot of the basketball guys freshman year so I really believe in them. Some people saying the program has reached it's peak to a current student is ridiculous. I completely believe this team will win an NCAA game or two this year and it's headed in the right direction. As a fan, and as a manager of the team now, it's no good for you guys to let down the team. We are Iona. Best offense in the nation. Believe that we can do this because we can. I really believe it and hope you guys do too. Great attitude Ricky; we need more young guys/students on the Board!!!
|
|
|
Post by oldtimer on Aug 24, 2014 21:04:58 GMT -5
A warm welcome Youngun--Oldtimer here...You are probably now the youngest board member and I am without doubt the oldest... Have you not been sworn to silence yet...
|
|