Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused.
AJ is a ridiculously talented player, but often goes into cruise control. I said it yesterday, I think in the game thread--part of me thinks it's by design. He can't push hard and fast when he's expected to play 40 minutes every night. He definitely has to take "trips off", as does Laury. And I agree with this 100%--play within yourself the first 20 minutes, let loose in the second.
However, that approach must change when things are going ill. Iona was absolutely awful offensively in the first half at Quinny--they NEEDED more from AJ. And yesterday, Monmouth was just absolutely pasting us. He cannot stay in idle when an opponent is opening up a double-digit lead on us.
I think, with a few days off now and then another week off after these next 2 games, you'll see more aggressive play earlier on from AJ. It won't take any prodding to come out with energy for Manhattan. As for SPC, I sorta expect him to put it back into cruise control to keep out of trouble against Desi and his big mouth, and we'll see where we are as that game progresses. Iona knows it cannot afford a loss to maintain any miniscule--and I do mean miniscule--hope of an at-large.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused.
AJ is a ridiculously talented player, but often goes into cruise control. I said it yesterday, I think in the game thread--part of me thinks it's by design. He can't push hard and fast when he's expected to play 40 minutes every night. He definitely has to take "trips off", as does Laury. And I agree with this 100%--play within yourself the first 20 minutes, let loose in the second.
However, that approach must change when things are going ill. Iona was absolutely awful offensively in the first half at Quinny--they NEEDED more from AJ. And yesterday, Monmouth was just absolutely pasting us. He cannot stay in idle when an opponent is opening up a double-digit lead on us.
I think, with a few days off now and then another week off after these next 2 games, you'll see more aggressive play earlier on from AJ. It won't take any prodding to come out with energy for Manhattan. As for SPC, I sorta expect him to put it back into cruise control to keep out of trouble against Desi and his big mouth, and we'll see where we are as that game progresses. Iona knows it cannot afford a loss to maintain any miniscule--and I do mean miniscule--hope of an at-large.
"Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused."
Yes Guy, you are confused. OT's post indicated that AJ should respond to his detractors on this board in that manner. OT is an AJ supporter, not one of the detractors.
"Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused."
Yes Guy, you are confused. OT's post indicated that AJ should respond to his detractors on this board in that manner. OT is an AJ supporter, not one of the detractors.
Correct. But a question. Is there is a difference in stating facts about an off game versus being a detractor???
"Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused."
Yes Guy, you are confused. OT's post indicated that AJ should respond to his detractors on this board in that manner. OT is an AJ supporter, not one of the detractors.
OK. I didn't read it that way, but reading it again I agree that makes more sense. I'm still out of whack from London. And yes, from 2 to 4 AM Friday night, I followed Iona's live stats vs Marist, as I couldn't get ESPNU or ESPN3 from my hotel room.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
"Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused."
Yes Guy, you are confused. OT's post indicated that AJ should respond to his detractors on this board in that manner. OT is an AJ supporter, not one of the detractors.
OK. I didn't read it that way, but reading it again I agree that makes more sense. I'm still out of whack from London. And yes, from 2 to 4 AM Friday night, I followed Iona's live stats vs Marist, as I couldn't get ESPNU or ESPN3 from my hotel room.
Hope you are over your jet lag before the tournament.
AJ English has given us 3years of outstanding basketball...He is considered one of the nations best college guards and is a sure fire Pro prospect...Beside averaging almost 20 PPG, he leads in assists, is a excellent rebounder, foul shooter, and team leader...He is responsible for many close call wins and we would be another mid-maac team without him....
Yet there are many on this board who are quick to criticize any and every picayune letdown he might have...This selfish attitude in contrast to all he has contributed is the height of ungratefulness...
If by chance he reads this board and feels incline to respond I offer this old fashioned 3 word post...''KISS MY ASS''
well, I don't intend to do that. But to those of you questioning why the NBA is interested, it's because he has all those tools OT just mentioned - particularly the rebounding thing, which is unique and rare at his position. Has a knack for being around the ball, and that is what they are taking note of. He's the real deal.
Wait...so you defend him, then tell him to kiss your ass? I'm confused.
AJ is a ridiculously talented player, but often goes into cruise control. I said it yesterday, I think in the game thread--part of me thinks it's by design. He can't push hard and fast when he's expected to play 40 minutes every night. He definitely has to take "trips off", as does Laury. And I agree with this 100%--play within yourself the first 20 minutes, let loose in the second.
However, that approach must change when things are going ill. Iona was absolutely awful offensively in the first half at Quinny--they NEEDED more from AJ. And yesterday, Monmouth was just absolutely pasting us. He cannot stay in idle when an opponent is opening up a double-digit lead on us.
I think, with a few days off now and then another week off after these next 2 games, you'll see more aggressive play earlier on from AJ. It won't take any prodding to come out with energy for Manhattan. As for SPC, I sorta expect him to put it back into cruise control to keep out of trouble against Desi and his big mouth, and we'll see where we are as that game progresses. Iona knows it cannot afford a loss to maintain any miniscule--and I do mean miniscule--hope of an at-large.
We should take the Cavs approach - Paste teams in the first half, then sit Lebron for the 4th quarter!
Last Edit: Feb 23, 2015 14:26:17 GMT -5 by gregcrow
Tough first half for AJ, who should definitely take more of the blame than the others on the team (except for DL3), since he is the star. But when the lights came on and the game was on the line he came through again, as he always does.
How many game winning shots has AJ hit in an Iona uniform? Almost too many to count at this point. And I believe his biggest ones are still yet to come. On that note, as much as I love our previous leaders, how game winners did they hit? Sean? Momo? Machado? Not taking anything away from them, just think AJ's big stage mentality often gets overlooked.
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but AJ was absolutely exhausted at points of the game yesterday. There were a few sets when he could barely catch his breath and had to hold the ball until 15 secs or so in the shotclock before starting the play just so he could catch a second wind.
In the first half, 20 minutes, we score 26 POINTS. At the 18:40 mark we were down by 16, 28-44. In the next 5:40, we outscore Monmouth, 21-4, when CC's three puts us ahead, 49-48, at the 13 minute mark. That's 21 POINTS in less than six minutes. It's that fire power that makes this team exciting to watch.
GUY......Take issue with your strong use of the word ''Minuscule'' to describe our NCAA chances if we were to suffer a loss along the way...Although I agree with the premise I will offer one of the ways to dispute the issue......
If we were to win our next 2 games and 2 more in the MAAC tourney, and then a loss in the final game, it would give us 27 wins and a 14 game winning streak...When is the last time in memory a team with those type credentials failed to get a bid? We would have surely been a prohibited MAAC tourney final game favorite before the loss of at least a estimated 65%...With the loss would it suddenly leave us without a 'minuscule' of a chance of at large bid?....That IMO is a stretch to far...
Our NCAA chances would certainly been diminished, but the odds of a bid would be far above ''Minuscule'...
It seems to me this type issue was discussed a few years ago...Have faith.........
GUY......Take issue with your strong use of the word ''Minuscule'' to describe our NCAA chances if we were to suffer a loss along the way...Although I agree with the premise I will offer one of the ways to dispute the issue......
If we were to win our next 2 games and 2 more in the MAAC tourney, and then a loss in the final game, it would give us 27 wins and a 14 game winning streak...When is the last time in memory a team with those type credentials failed to get a bid? We would have surely been a prohibited MAAC tourney final game favorite before the loss of at least a estimated 65%...With the loss would it suddenly leave us without a 'minuscule' of a chance of at large bid?....That IMO is a stretch to far...
Our NCAA chances would certainly been diminished, but the odds of a bid would be far above ''Minuscule'...
It seems to me this type issue was discussed a few years ago...Have faith.........
Oldtimer,
If Wake Forest gets a busted ass and makes a run in the ACC tourney, you may be correct in your theory of a decent chance of an at large bid. Unfortunately, without an out of conference victory of significance, we may wind up with a decent RPI but firmly placed in the NIT.
OT, this team has 0 top 100 wins, the other team had 5 Utah St a couple of years ago had 3 or 4 loses and no top 100 wins and did not get in OT. look at our resume and st johns who you believe is overrated and tell me who gets in
Truth OT. After they lost that MAAC tourney game three years ago, few gave them a chance. But if they go into the MAAC final at 27-6 this year and lose, I would say that they have about a 30% chance of getting an at-large bid. Their RPI is 47 today, and that could possibly inch up if they keep winning. Barring any upsets in certain conference tourney's, there will be, I think, 48 spaces at the top of the field that should get in. This is because the best teams in 12 different conferences are also in the top RPI 36. (the number of at-large berths). So if they can be considered one of the best 48 teams in the country, they'll get in. The thing that will hurt them, though, despite their excellent RPI, is their lack of any top 50 wins. So I put their chances at about 30%. Whether or not that can be considered miniscule is a matter of semantics.
And interestingly, that year, the committee chair said, in the interview immediately after the field was announced, that their were several other teams that made it that had worse resumes than Iona. So Iona was not even the last at-large team in that year.