VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 123[4]5678910 ]


[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: Friday, January 23, 01:17:35pm
Author: jajk
Subject: Re: It's about time...
In reply to: oldtimer#1 's message, "It's about time..." on Friday, January 23, 11:01:56am

As one who has criticized JD's coaching strongly at times ( though one who has applauded his recruiting efforts - Oldtimer , the point of my recruiting post a few days ago was not that it is ever easy at SPC but just that it not quite as difficult as some would paint it and that the last two classes show that JD and staff did a job worthy of praise ), I would like to also explicitly second your motion that the last six or so games merit giving John and staff a lot of credit for their coaching .

It didn't happen by magic ,and despite the players' outstanding effort and play , it absolutely takes coaching leadership in college basketball .

During the worst of times this season , it was not the losses that so much disheartened me as a long-time Peacock fan . It was attending two games where the confusion at times on both ends of the court and even more so the players' slumping shoulders and appearance that they were just going through the motions that was disturbing . There is the legacy of the Kennedy , Fiore , and Dukiet teams , all probably too long ago for these kids to identify with tho they should be aware of it . But in the immediate past , there is the legacy of KeeKee , that these playes should identify with. When you are stepping on the court at Yanitelli , you are playing on the same court that KeeKee did it on for the Peacocks . My memories of KeeKee include all the points that made him the sixth leading scorer in college bb and all the shots where you said " wow how did he do that " . But my most cherished memories of him were the efforts game after game for 38 minutes on both ends . He would get beat one on one on defense from time to time , but never for the lack of effort . A lot of the great offensive players in college basketball have the luxury of taking some time "off" on the defensive end . KeeKee never had that . Well , the guys have now stepped up and done it . Win or lose , it is the point of the game in my view . Competing is its essence . And the wins will come with it given patience by the fans and the players .

But I have digressed at length from your point . When the other team beats your press or trap , it leads to easy baskets , unless your kids give maximum effort AND the staff has taught them how to regain position in the half-court defense . I thought that with few exceptions last night , we were outstanding at this . It is not easy to maintain defensive intensity for the full 35 seconds without effort and coaching . Again we were solid at it with few exceptions . Gooding got beat easily by Barney last night twice when Akeem didn't get weak side help . Not unlike KeeKee getting beat fro time to time . But Barney is a helluva player and Akeem did a great job holding him to 17 and forcing him into 7 TOs . A few times we played solid for the 35 (not easy those last five seconds or so ) but luck or really good plays or shots by the Loyola kids made it all for naught . I'll take it and be happy with it . While the defensive efforts of Akeem , Wesley , Ryan and Brandon played a big part , it doesn't happen unless the coaching staff is starting to do their job in getting the players in the right place . It has been gratifying to see Ryan staying out of foul trouble . Again partly a tribute to a great guy , but the coaching staff has probably played a big part in it .

I go at length here from my enthusiasm about the game , but I just would like to speak again to the point some of the fans of other schools keep harping on about our games being ugly . You have to wonder how much basketball these posters actually played . We almost did it against two teams on their courts that both have quite talented guys at the MAAC level . These fans who overdo "ugly' ,denigrate their own guys . It is never easy stopping a Barney without Harvey , Sullivan or their good point stepping up and make you pay the price .

And on the offensive end , the staff also deserves a lot of credit for recent games . I just love to see the pushing the ball off steals and rebounds that we saw almost nothing of early this year . Hey maybe we don't quite finish yet , but it can come only if allow the guys to make mistakes . They have Brandon playing much more vertically , and only good things will come from that . And getting the ball into Ryan in the post has improved also . This young man is still in the very early stages of developing this part of his game . But the more opportunites , mistakes be damned , give him the chance to become an offensive force at the post that we rarely see in the MAAC . As he keeps getting better and more comfortable at it , i.e. slowing himself down a bit , he will also help us develop that in-out game that is rare in the MAAC . So kudos to Ryan and the staff for letting this start to happen .

And how about Ryan and Wesley joining Nick at the 80% level from the free throw line in conference play . Again credit to the players here but the staff may have had big part also . We knock them when guys don't make foul shots so I guess it is fair to give them credit when they do . Way to go ,players AND coaches .

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]


Replies:

[> [> Re: It's about time... -- oldtimer#1, Friday, January 23, 02:04:34pm [1]

jajk, we've always been on almost the same page with only some minor disagreements. Glad to read your post and see that we are almost totally in agreement.Even when I disagreed with you I've respected your basketball insight. We both played the game at some level, no matter how poorly.

I especially liked to read your early posts (last year) because you saw the guys you talked about.As an aside I enjoy your tweaking of the Siena posters. I posted on their "Board" once and had the timerity to mention Conley and Anosike in the same breath. One idiot poster took offense to these guys ever being mentioned in the same sentence. I blasted that poster and have never posted there again. FYI Anosike plays for my old high school. I've seen him play well over twenty times as I watched his sister when she played at Tennessee. He's a very good get for Siena but he'll be another freshman project. Needs to put on weight as he makes Bacon look like a weight lifter. Also is having a poor season where he just went 4/11 from the line and was stuffed by an opposing 6'4" player. But if these guys want to read the clippings they should try reading Tom K's report on O.D. The acknowledged northeast evaluator echoed my feelings i.e. large upside but a work in practice. Siena's other big man Rossiter also played on Staten Island against Anosike. Nice player but I would take Ryan Bacon over him in a heart beat.


Getting back on topic, I have the advantage of occassionally observing our players in practice. Doesn't make me right but does give me some insight. That's why I liked Nick from day #1. Can't tell you how long and hard JD and staff have been working on positioning (defensively) and spacing (offensively). Some of it is beginning to payoff but we should remember that we are dealing with freshmen and sophomores. Takes awhile to get it. Some players (Wesley, Ryan, Nick, Akheem and Costner) learn faster than others. Brandon seems to be getting it as is Hill but it will take a while. Take it from me a lot of teaching and discussion goes on in practice.
Not trying to build up JD but I've gotten tried of criticism without the recognition when good things happen.


So as not to be misintrepreted, I understand that some fans think that John Dunne might not be the guy to coach our resurgence. I can understand and respect that opinion. They pose some valid points. I just feel otherwise and would ask if not JD then who? Finally, not much has been said about John Morton. He seems to be a low key guy who pulls players aside and gives them the wealth of his experience. Talks with Wesley a lot. What an asset this guy is to any program - and he never gets a mention!


[ Edit | View ]



[ Contact Forum Admin ]


Forum timezone: GMT-5
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.