FF's bigs, Smith and Seck are averaging about a combined 12 and 7. And their announcers said that the Seton Hall transfer, Alexis Yetna, is close to making his FF debut this weekend, either Friday or Sunday. So, I'm asking sharkey and 86, how does Yetna compare to Smith and Seck?
Yetna is a 26yr old man. He's bigger, stronger and better than both. If healthy, likely best big in the MAAC.
Thing is he hasn't played a game in close to 2 years (March-2022). Tough to say what kind of shape he's in.
Guy made a good point on Twitter. Fairfield is red hot, and Casey has to be careful that he doesn't change the style of play that's won for them, guards dominating the ball and shots
We can draw a comparison to Os, when talking about Yetna.
Os practiced with the team all summer, he didn't get hurt until during the Fordham scrimmage. He rejoined the team and really he didn't play well--and we didn't play well WITH him--until the last 3-4 games. And even with the improvement, there are still issues on the defensive end that have to be resolved, as clearly Os is the only answer we have for the layup line stretches like we saw vs Niagara and at Quinny.
Meanwhile, Yetna has a decently high MAAC ceiling. As Sharkey said, he's bigger, stronger and older than most. BUT, he has not played in forever, has not had full practices with the Stags until recently, and is not necessarily the best fit for what they're running right now--a very guard-oriented system.
So, what I'm saying is that we can make a case that Os has been back for 10 games or whatever and we're STILL not quite sorted, though obviously he's shaken any rust off. To expect that Yetna is going to join the team and immediately make the Stags better is to expect too much. Yes, they don't have a lot inside and he's an upgrade, but everything changes now, too--how they rotate on defense, and especially how they run their offense.
The other variable is NIL. Yetna was given decent money to come to Fairfield. The expectation is he will see the ball. A Fairfield offense that has had tremendous, balanced guard play suddenly has an expectation to dump it inside more now. And if the Stags don't play well his first couple games back, the pressure will mount on him and the tension will grow in the locker room.
Scouting reports also change. How you prepare for Fairfield for the 2nd meeting changes with Yetna, so that is something that is in Fairfield's favor. But that only lasts 2-3 games.
All in all, it feels like a bit of a gamble to add Yetna back in. Obviously you do it with the hope that the rust and all the other stuff I mentioned earlier is sorted by Atlantic City, and that he is the piece that puts you over the top. But if the transition to playing with Yetna doesn't "take", the reverse could happen. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Great info, but it looks like FF will be the tournament favorite. Understand Guy's point, but would think that it's a good problem to have.
Honestly I don't think there will be one tournament favorite. I know, every year everyone says the MAAC Tourney is wide open, but that's pretty much not true. Usually you can pinpoint a favorite and 2-3 legit challengers. MAAC history has proven this. BUT...this year is completely different. When your conference is bad, it means no one is really that good. If Quinny and Fairfield are the 2 best teams in the MAAC, I like Iona's chances in AC. And honestly I think, depending on player health, several teams have a good chance.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
FF's bigs, Smith and Seck are averaging about a combined 12 and 7. And their announcers said that the Seton Hall transfer, Alexis Yetna, is close to making his FF debut this weekend, either Friday or Sunday. So, I'm asking sharkey and 86, how does Yetna compare to Smith and Seck?
Yetna is a 26yr old man. He's bigger, stronger and better than both. If healthy, likely best big in the MAAC.
Thing is he hasn't played a game in close to 2 years (March-2022). Tough to say what kind of shape he's in.
Guy made a good point on Twitter. Fairfield is red hot, and Casey has to be careful that he doesn't change the style of play that's won for them, guards dominating the ball and shots
Getting very excited about Friday nights game. Given our teams apparent turnaround, the Fairfield match is a real test of our chances for advancing in AC…
Great info, but it looks like FF will be the tournament favorite. Understand Guy's point, but would think that it's a good problem to have.
Honestly I don't think there will be one tournament favorite. I know, every year everyone says the MAAC Tourney is wide open, but that's pretty much not true. Usually you can pinpoint a favorite and 2-3 legit challengers. MAAC history has proven this. BUT...this year is completely different. When your conference is bad, it means no one is really that good. If Quinny and Fairfield are the 2 best teams in the MAAC, I like Iona's chances in AC. And honestly I think, depending on player health, several teams have a good chance.
Guy, after this weekend, we will be half way through the MAAC schedule. You say that several teams have a chance to win the MAAC at AC. So, how about picking three teams (not Iona) that we think will win. QU and FF, going into the weekend, will probably be on most lists, but it will be interesting to see if that's true and find if there is a surprise at #3.
Agreed with Guy. In addition to SPU, I think Niagara has a good chance this year. QU and Fairfield are at the top of league right now, but I don’t see either winning in March.
Are oranges called oranges because they are orange or is the color orange called orange because that's what color oranges are? Why are watermelon not called greens?
Honestly I don't think there will be one tournament favorite. I know, every year everyone says the MAAC Tourney is wide open, but that's pretty much not true. Usually you can pinpoint a favorite and 2-3 legit challengers. MAAC history has proven this. BUT...this year is completely different. When your conference is bad, it means no one is really that good. If Quinny and Fairfield are the 2 best teams in the MAAC, I like Iona's chances in AC. And honestly I think, depending on player health, several teams have a good chance.
Guy, after this weekend, we will be half way through the MAAC schedule. You say that several teams have a chance to win the MAAC at AC. So, how about picking three teams (not Iona) that we think will win. QU and FF, going into the weekend, will probably be on most lists, but it will be interesting to see if that's true and find if there is a surprise at #3.
Assuming all key players are healthy/active, everyone is capable of making some sort of run in AC except Siena and Manhattan.
Saw a ways back some here were critical of SPU, looking so bad vs Siena after looking so good against us. That's because they were down 2 of their best players. Marist has been wildly erratic since beating us, again due to injuries as their best player and only true big Max Allen has been in and out, and now Brickner is out. Canisius is down a couple starters from the team that looked so impressive in OOC play. And even Siena and Manhattan, though they stink anyway, weren't helped by multiple key player injuries.
Meanwhile, Quinny has generally been injury free and as such they're in first. And like I said, if they're the MAAC's best, I like our chances in AC.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Are oranges called oranges because they are orange or is the color orange called orange because that's what color oranges are? Why are watermelon not called greens?
Shouldn't we be comparing apples and oranges?
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Are oranges called oranges because they are orange or is the color orange called orange because that's what color oranges are? Why are watermelon not called greens?
