Ouch... -- Fairfield Stags Message Board

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[> [> Re: Kudos to Manhattan -- Old-timer, 11:11:31 03/11/03 Tue

I also disagree with Oscar, the better team won but the fact is these two teams were very evenly matched. The difference was Flores, and at least in this championship game, the all-around play and rotation of the Manhattan big men who combined played a smart tough game.

Congrats to TOT for a very good year and the possible NIT bid and of course hats off to Jasper coach, Gonzo, who is most likely to be gone zo soon.

Next year, in my opinion, the Stags will have to find quality recruits to replace Oscar and Delfico, two tough leaders on the court. If the coaching staff can replace these two the Stags will again contend for the MAAC championship. If not the MAAC will be much improved next year. The Stags will have to compete against a Jasper team that only loses Johnson, the Purple Eagles who are all back and an Iona who's only loss is a guard and he's being replaced with two Big East transfers one who averaged 16 point per game and another who is 6'10" and a former Connecticut state player of the year. Siena is always tough and even St. Peters will be vastly improved.

Let's hope TOT armed with his long term contract, 3-5 years, is able to recruit strong replacements for Oscar, Deng and Delfico, because winning basketball at Fairfield is fun to watch and great for the MAAC. Next year the MAAC will be even more competitive and fun to watch but I can't wait for the NIT game in the arena.

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[> [> [> Re: Kudos to Manhattan -- jenningsbeach, 14:34:25 03/11/03 Tue

Obviously, Oscar was frustrated. Manhattan is the better team, more talented than Fairfield, and deserves to move on.

The problem last night was the same as always: Fairfield can't shoot. We had lots of open looks, lots of chances, but no one hit a big shot. I thought Bell might get it going, or Ajou, or Todd, or Maxwell. Nothing. No counterpunch. A couple of clutch baskets would have made it interesting, but I suspect Manhattan still finds a way to win. A double-digit deficit to those guys is almost insurmountable; there's just no margin for error. You might stop the Jaspers two or three times in a row, but Flores kills you the fourth time down the floor. That fall-away jumper he hit over Delfico with 6 minutes to go was the prettiest shot I've seen all year.

I think the Stags are a lock for the NIT, with a great chance to host a game next week. Good thing, too. I'm not ready to pack away my Fairfield sweatshirt. I don't want to let go of this wonderful season.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Kudos to Manhattan -- Fair Play, 16:47:04 03/11/03 Tue

I think you all are looking at the world through rose colored glasses. True, the players should take some of the blame for not playing up to their potential, but I think Garcia is 100% on the mark. The fact that one of his own players would come out and say that deoen't make me too confident in TOT. There were many questionable moves he made during that game last night. First, why change up a team that has you up 7-5 in the first few minutes. Second Garcia made back to back and 1 plays and TOT benches him. Look at the stats Garcia played for 20 minutes and scored 11, Gai played 30 minutes and scored 5. I don't understand why Garcia was on the bench for most of the second half, he wasn't in foul trouble. I want to thank the stags for a great year, wish they could have won for the seniors but the NIT is still to come.

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Kudos to Manhattan -- champ, 17:52:50 03/11/03 Tue

Garcia is frustrated and making excuses for the players' own failures. He's simply repeating what's been discussed here and elsewhere ad nauseum, because it might resonate with some people and deflect the criticism away from him and other players. Fact is guys...you looked like a sorry lot out there.

How about OG doing his speaking on the court? His charge and fouls came at momentum killing times. And what about his turnovers; 0 assists. But the box score will never tell the story about this one. The intensity was not simply there. There were one blown opportunity after another and defensive lapses that just don't get factored in.

TOT was desperate to find the spark plug and no one came through. The substitutions only prove the point that everyone had an opportunity to lead the way and no one did.
If I were the coach, I also would have been substituting like crazy to find somone who wasn't going to sleep-walk through the game!

About the only thing TOT didn't try was inserting Paul Brown and Alvin Carter.

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Kudos to Manhattan -- Menzies, 21:53:25 03/11/03 Tue

The move I didn't understand was Thompson in the game when we needed offense the get back in it (6-9 min left). Robbie was playing hard and pretty well, but IMO we needed OFFENSE and hope like hell those guys could give you "D" also.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Congrats to Manhattan - They took us out of our game -- JoeStag, 22:20:34 03/11/03 Tue

I thought the biggest aspect of this game was that Minor was giving Goode some problems, and Goode was not able interrupt the offensive flow of the Jaspers. Without Goode's energy, and Gai's intimidating blocks, our offense did not have its jump start.

I was OK with Thomson in the line-up, cause we needed someone to give us an emotional boost..... I thought he did, but I do agree that we needed more offesnive weapons at that time.

We NEVER scored more than 4 points in a row..... never made a run..... Manhattan deserves credit for that.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Congrats to Manhattan - They took us out of our game -- GOSTAGS, 22:28:54 03/11/03 Tue

good points - we never seem to play the press very well..it always seems to take us out of any kind of offensive sync...it sure did last night

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Congrats to Manhattan - They took us out of our game -- Menzies, 21:51:03 03/12/03 Wed

I am looking at it in a very academic, statistical manner. Clearly nobody had answers for MC. That being said maybe you could get some help from an unexpected direction. Nothing else worked any better.

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[> [> Guards -- The Naut, 18:56:55 03/11/03 Tue

Agree that their guard play was better, and that Manhattan deserved to win, but did anyone else want to shove a basketball down Kenny Minor's throat after the taunting and laughing in Terrance Todd's face? He should take a look at how Flores plays the game - he should have T'd up for how he acted on the court. Good luck to Manhattan in the tournament - they deserve to be there.

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[> [> Re: Kudos to Manhattan -- Stag 92, 21:00:55 03/11/03 Tue

Stagman - couldn't agree more with your point. Oscar, shut up please, TOT coached very well this season, and I hate to get to this, but you didn't do anything to help. We aren't more talented than Manhattan. They have a wonderful guard and are very strong down low. God, what a stupid ass comment. If you don't know how to speak to the press, keep your mouth shut.