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Post by sharkey on Mar 24, 2019 21:09:10 GMT -5
Another season in the books, and another MAAC championship. It just never gets old. Watching so many #1 seeds lose in the LM/MM conferences, it truly is amazing to win 4 straight. While most of us get a little spoiled, the amount of work the staff and players do to accomplish these championships probably gets taken for granted at times. As crazy as it is, and mentioned in another thread, Iona will be in position next year for a 5th straight MAAC championship. So what does the staff need to do to go dancing again next year.
The staff: Cluess: Like Guy mentioned, I will feel better when there is a official announcement from St. John's on Mullin's future. Eaton: Has become Iona's main recruiter. He did interview for a HC job last summer Arnold/Johns: Arnold appears to have strong connections with JUCO programs. To be honest I don't have any idea what role he plays on the staff. Will there be any changes to the staff? Would not be shocked to see a change. Would love to see Rasheen Davis added to the staff.
The Roster: Agee: Preseason first team. His improvement from the beginning of the year was fun to see. Yeah, he can drive you crazy at times, but I love the passion he plays with and it appears to be a good teammate. Love how he protected Gist, when he took that cheap shot in the Siena game.
Crawford: Preseason first team, and potential POY. Has developed into a player that can score from all three levels.
Gist: Really played well at the end of the season. Improved three point shooting and can drive to the rim at any time he wants. No reason he can't make a All-Maac team next year. Really played well at times playing PG, and can see him playing some time at PG next season. Great that he has 2 years remaining
Perez: Up and down with his shooting this season, but he leaves it all on the court. Solid defensive player who has a really high basketball IQ. He is a legit MAAC level starter. Should be a double digit scorer next season.
Ristanovic: Really started to "get it" towards the end of the year and postseason. Arguably the highest upside on the team as he only enters his sophomore season. We finally have our 6'11'' kid that can play the Cluess system
Nikolic: Started to turn the corner and the suffers a season ending injury. My opinion of him completely flipped. Great teammate and started to play a solid role that this Iona team needs. Keeper in my mind.
Maxwell: Just never appeared to fit
Hudson: jury still out.
Still: complete mystery. Didn't appear to fit in with the rest of the team, and was just never really healthy.
Ross: Athletic G/F who shot 36% from three first 2 years in D1. Expect him to be a rotation player, hopefully has developed more of a all around game.
McNeil: JUCO recruit. Athletic kid who checks all the boxes of the type of kid who thrives in the Cluess system, though I don't see him as the answer for the PG position.
Ortale: Reported to be a tough kid and a winner and a very good perimeter shooter. Plays with a chip on his shoulder and probably a bit of a under recruited kid because of injury.
So as of today that's 12 scholarship players for next season, leaving just one open scholarship. Pretty safe to say at least 1 more will open with 2 more to open up leaving the staff with 3 scholarships to fill. Ideally, the staff can recruit a PG, athletic G/F and a big. Coming off a 4th straight MAAC championship that staff can pull at least 1 big time recruit. Interesting, and important recruiting cycle coming up. Sorry for the long post, but I was bored..lol
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Post by Gaels1997 on Mar 24, 2019 21:19:23 GMT -5
I’d be happy with 2 P.F/ & or Centers
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Post by thehat on Mar 24, 2019 23:09:52 GMT -5
Need a dependable deep threat, 40% from beyond the arc.
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Post by iona1970 on Mar 25, 2019 0:10:39 GMT -5
I can only see still leaving So if we have 2 spots I would like agee's brother and a 5th yr pt guard
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Post by iona05 on Mar 25, 2019 6:19:45 GMT -5
I can only see still leaving So if we have 2 spots I would like agee's brother and a 5th yr pt guard Would like to add an impact big to the mix as well, in addition to Agee's brother.
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Post by ic59 on Mar 25, 2019 7:12:59 GMT -5
If we get Tajuan's brother, like myself, we'll be getting better with Age(e).
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Post by maacmaniac on Mar 25, 2019 7:32:36 GMT -5
I can only see still leaving So if we have 2 spots I would like agee's brother and a 5th yr pt guard Would like to add an impact big to the mix as well, in addition to Agee's brother. getting a bit greedy 05 ...
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Post by Gaels1997 on Mar 25, 2019 7:44:23 GMT -5
Have we offered Rashaun Agee? See about 7 schools have offered but we are not one of them . Are we playing our cards right?
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Post by iona1970 on Mar 25, 2019 10:04:49 GMT -5
Have we offered Rashaun Agee? See about 7 schools have offered but we are not one of them . Are we playing our cards right? are the schools comparable to us or better?
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Post by GuyF on Mar 25, 2019 10:13:40 GMT -5
Have we offered Rashaun Agee? See about 7 schools have offered but we are not one of them . Are we playing our cards right? are the schools comparable to us or better? Generally comparable. Buffalo offered him in January, that's his "biggest" offer.
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Post by sharkey on Mar 25, 2019 10:22:16 GMT -5
Buffalo recently signed 2 JUCO PF kids, so that offer might not still be on the table
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Post by jerseygael on Mar 25, 2019 10:58:32 GMT -5
Who are the players we think are leaving and why?
The most interesting question to me is what really happened to Still. We never really found out if it was injuries or attitude that kept him from playing this year or a combination of both. I'm guessing he's gone but who knows. The only other player I cans see leaving is Maxwell and I'm not sure it would be because he wants to.
Any other thoughts on this?
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Post by GuyF on Mar 25, 2019 11:23:26 GMT -5
Who are the players we think are leaving and why? The most interesting question to me is what really happened to Still. We never really found out if it was injuries or attitude that kept him from playing this year or a combination of both. I'm guessing he's gone but who knows. The only other player I cans see leaving is Maxwell and I'm not sure it would be because he wants to. Any other thoughts on this? I thought a couple posters reported that Still was having complications from the concussion and that's why he wasn't around at all. I am curious to see what happens to Maxwell. He was very into it on the bench in the past month, and I don't think he was horrible in the spot duty he got. I don't think it's impossible that he has a similar meeting with Cluess that McGill had after his frosh year. I think if we can bring in a JUCO or grad transfer PG (more of a pure one) and another frontcourt weapon (I like the transfer from CCSU, if we can get him) we'll be in business. I also think the MAAC stinks, and we'll win the league comfortably barring injuries/transfers/Cluess departing!
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Post by brffdone on Mar 25, 2019 12:02:44 GMT -5
Who are the players we think are leaving and why? The most interesting question to me is what really happened to Still. We never really found out if it was injuries or attitude that kept him from playing this year or a combination of both. I'm guessing he's gone but who knows. The only other player I cans see leaving is Maxwell and I'm not sure it would be because he wants to. Any other thoughts on this? Hasn’t our history been one of losing players at the end of each season, often times we are surprised at who departs. I would have said Still, Maxwell and Hudson. Having said that, if Still is really the player we never saw and his time on the court was hampered by pain or discomfort, my guess is we keep him. Will say both Maxwell and Hudson showed lots of team spirit and in Maxwell’s case, Coach gave him plenty of time to prove himself. My guess on these two is that they finish their careers at a DII program where they will play.
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Post by epatrick on Mar 25, 2019 12:57:40 GMT -5
I believe Hudson has lots of potential if he is willing to work hard. He has the reputation for being a distance streak shooter.
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