Date Posted:10:11:43 03/11/04 Thu Author: Pressing and other issues Subject: Coach W at NJ Catholic Playoffs
Was at St Peter's in Jersey City last night for Catholic H.S. Playoffs. Two great games saw Willard in stands and between games ran up tp chat.
Quick rundown of our conversation.
Why not press and run with this group?
RW: said that people don't understand that the universal use of the 3 has made pressing teams (he mentioned GTown,Providence,BC under Davis,Gillen at Xavier,Arkansas, and his teams at WKU) of the late 80's, early 90s's a thing of the past. He said look at the scores of in conference games, conference tournament games and NCAA playoff games and you will see they are in the 60's and 70's with few exceptions. That's because if you press and trap you give up open 3's and basically are rolling the dice every time you play.
I asked about creating offense off the defense and he explained that the shots you get off turnovers in the press are overwhelmingly jumper's and 3's, so teams that have multiple 3 pt shooters are the teams that benefit the most from turnover's in the press. If you get more than 2 or 3 layups you are playing a bad team.
He said he deceided to press Bucknell (only avg. 4 3'spg) in the home game and in playoffs. Result was 28 t.o.'s by Bucknell but HC only scored 60pts,was in foul trouble ,was outscored by 17pts from f.t. line and Bucknell shot 61% from floor because of mismatches coming out of traps. He said he rolled the dice and lost after holding Bucknell to 38% shooting in home win.
He challenged me to name one team that presses and runs as their main style of play. He told me don't name Louisville because they avg.68 pts per game in conference and hardly ever trap out of their press. Said HC has to trap not play to wear people down because of some physical problems on the team especially with Hurley and Hamilton, and Simmons.
I also asked him about the statements made on this board by a poster who said that RW was "intensely looking for other jobs during the open period" last year.
RW: 'That is an absolute lie. I have never contacted another school directly or through another party to inquire about a job at another school." He said that the internet is flooded with people who make statments as fact that are deliberate lies or complete fabrications. He said Fr. McFarland , Dick Regan, and his team and staff know the truth and that's all he can really be concerned about.
We talked about some other issues but I need to get back to work. BTW two great HS games.
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Re: poi-do you know whom rw was scouting? -- Rick, 18:20:04 03/11/04 Thu
Certainly not anyone from St. Anthony's or Paterson Catholic....would you agree '64 ?
I saw both Seton Hall Prep and Don Bosco play last December at a holiday tourney in South Carolina. SHP's entire starting 5 are underclassmen and they are now 24-2 and ranked #2 in NJ and I believe #8 in the Northeast region. One of their losses was by 4 or 5 to St. Anthony's in early January. Their top player is a 6'8" 230lb. C/PF named Costner who is definitely NOT interested in the Patriot. He has firm offers from UCLA, Kansas, etcetera. Their 2nd best kid is a 6'2" SG named Pusar who I'm told is being heavily recruited by and leaning toward the Ivies but now getting attention of several major programs. From what I saw of him, he would be a dominate player at the Patriot level....relentless kid on O & D who scored about 26 in the game I attended. Don Bosco I think is #5 in NJ ( season finished ) and has 2 6'8"/6'9" kids ( one named Biggs ) up front who appeared to have ability above the Patriot level.
Both teams are in the top A state division and as evidenced by each's performance in South Carolina, can compete nationally. SHP is a long-time powerhouse in NJ....recent grads being Brandon Knight ( Pitt AA ), Marcus Toney-El ( SHU starter ), Anthony Drehaj ( St. Louis starter ) and Tyrone Barley ( St. Joe's starter/6th man ).
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Re: poi-do you know whom rw was scouting? -- NTKHC64, 20:27:06 03/11/04 Thu
Rick:
I really haven't had enough time to follow NJ HS hoops as much as I would've liked this season. I've seen one game.
I do have my sleeper pick for HC that they know about but he didn't play in the game at St. Peter's.
While on HS hoops, I remember 4 years ago going to the finals at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth. Winning one title was Red Bank Catholic with Lehigh's Jess DePalo and Brooke Tomovich, now of Bucknell after transferring from Loyola. Coach Gibbons tried to get DePalo but didn't. I don't know what if anything he did about Tomovich who came off the bench to wipe out HC in the tournament. Brittany Keil is from NJ and Red Bank Catholic has another top team this year from which we have no one. Coach Gibbons ought to come to NJ more often.
On the same program back in 2000 CBA lost to SHP on a last second miracle shot. Toney-El was a senior on that team.
Perhaps out of line a bit on the St. Anthony's/Paterson Catholic crack....but neither school known for their general academics ( IMO, Hurley is a nut ).
I have vague recall on that CBA-SHP game 4 years ago....didn't CBA have one of their better clubs that year ? Any names come to mind ?
The first one is Jason Krayl who went to Monmouth. His Hawks topped Central Connecticut last night at West Long Branch to earn the NEC tournament berth.
Coach Willard was also at Fleet Center at Walpole game to watch Tim Clifford play.
Said he thought Tim had a big "upside",was a fine young man and was well coached.
I asked him if he would ever consider suggestions made on this board. His respnse was "fans are like passengers in a jet plane flying through a thunderstorm. They all have great suggestions for the pilot flying the plane because they can look out the window and see the clouds. The problem is they can't see the radar the pilot is watching so if I'm on that plane I want the pilot to fly based on the radar he has available not on any suggestions coming from the passengers. Coaches make decisions based on their knowledge of the players and their injuries,personal crises,family crisis, exam stress, ability to follow game plans etc. that fans can't see.He said asst. coaches not fans are the people he listens to because they are watching the radar but sometimes from a different angle.
At a minimum Coach Willard has been playing or coaching basketball at every level for about 45 years...and you asked him if he'd pay attention to fans?
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Re: What about MHMD? -- Clifford Fan, 20:18:26 03/11/04 Thu
He always definitively tells this board what is wrong.Maybe Willard should listen to someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone else. He is an EX-COACH.
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Re: What about MHMD? -- Clifford Fan, 20:18:51 03/11/04 Thu
He always definitively tells this board what is wrong.Maybe Willard should listen to someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone else. He is an EX-COACH.
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Re: Coach W at Fleet Center -- Non Alum Dave, 20:47:54 03/11/04 Thu
I could never even make a decent paper airplane, so I have no aviation expertise, but let's face it, Coach Willard himself indicated in various interviews in previous years that he was looking to bring in more athletic players and increase the tempo...why not continue to bring in Szatko types if you weren't going to change?
I think it's not unreasonable to wonder why...I don't think anyone was expecting Loyola Marymount a la Westhead...in the meantime, I'll let him do the flying.
Anyone else with some names of hs juniors they are interested in?
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Re: Coach W at Fleet Center -- Non Alum Dave, 21:09:30 03/11/04 Thu
no.NTK....I should have said "why bring in players like Thomas and Simmons if the style of play wasn't going to change dramatically from the half-court style we have seen". I would have wanted a Tim Szatko or two this year had I'd known how the season was going to play out. IMO this team was put together to play one style much better than any other, mainly get up and down the floor. Course I am excluding Neil from this, which wasn't the plan, either.
At least with Clifford coming in there will be a little more balance, so perhaps next years team will be better able to adapt to different styles of play. It just seems that you look at this years team on the floor and you say "run run run!"
First, even if you're the target of RW's disdain (perhaps too strong a word), it's refreshing that he tells it like it is. That is, we all see the team and the game from a very superficial perspective.
But let's take Ralph's airline pilot metaphor one step further. I submit that all the talk here about how Holy Cross should upgrade its athletic program is just another case of folks sitting back in the coach section while McFarland, Regan and company are the ones who see the radar screen and at the controls.
And just like Ralph isn't going to listen to the passengers, neither is the administration. I'll also submit to you that running the entire institution of Holy Cross is a lot more complicated than one basketball team.
Well it's nice to see the emperor out there checking out players instead of jobs for a change. I saw Cliff play a few times this week and he's clearly a year or two away from being anything more then a fill in player. The kid from Brewster Academy going to American is much further ahead (and a year older) then Clifford at this time.
OK, so after preaching uptempo leading up to this year he is now convinced teams shoot the ball too well to press. How about changing tempos throughout the game, trapping with quicker athletes out of time outs, creating offense from defense. You don't necessarily have to press for 40 minutes to change the tempo. Hey, don't worry NT, The Emperor doesn't read this so there is no need to run to his defense. The man had a full compiment of scholarships in a weak conference and didn't get it done. I repeat, didn't get it done. Looks like he better do something different next year- I don't see teams like Bucknell or American going away... Williams might if you don't call them again.
It will be interesting.. there will be a LOT of movement of coaches in New England this spring- let's see what the emperor does.
MHMD, I really should stop responding, but all my fans tell me they love it when we have our exchanges so I can't let them down. "Emperor"? Very nice. Designed to bring everyone rushing to the defense. Look, I'll concede without knowing that you have some coaching experience but why do you keep trying to make the case that having two interviews hurt recruiting last year when the absolute best you were able to do was "it affected one player." You know more about X's and O's than I do, but why keep harping on this? If you didn't read it, Ralph called you a liar in the post that began this thread. I know he doesn't read this and I can't defend him when he supposedly admitted he gambled and lost in Bucknell 3. While "full compliment of scholarships" doesn't mean that he had the best talent in the PL, I agree that Bucknell and American will not go away next season. So I'll just keep being a fan and you'll just keep sniping away. The fans just love it. As proof look at the post just above this one.
hmm.. a few issues to tackle.. I believe this is an open forum for which fans can comment on Holy Cross sports. This has nothing to do with either my playing or coaching experience- merely comments from a fan who follows the program (introduced a few years ago by a friend of mine)and has opinions. I don't apologize for ANYTHING I state- it is merely views, often things people directly asscociated with the college are afraid to say or don't want to be said. Am I a fan of Coach Willard?? I think he's an excellent coach whose obvious strength is making kids better. Do I think he's made a few "Pitino statements" in his tenure- absolutely- some of which I don't blame him for but others I call him on. I don't blame him for exploring other jobs- whether he makes the first call or he is called- but if you think he, like any other low D1 coach, wouldn't or didn't look for a shot at getting back to a big time program then you're foolish. HE"D BE FOOLISH NOT TO. It's poker.. he's not going to show his hand but I personally believe having a coach committed to the program as opposed to looking elsewhere is a big thing for this program- particularly at this juncture.
"X and O"s, NT???-ah.. they are very overated.. how about common sense. I sit in the stands with many fans, some of which I've met and post out here, who see the same things and ask the same questions I have.. yet out here they apologize for it will "appear negative". It's like the story of the emperor and his new clothes- he is strolling down the street bare naked as people cheer... afraid to say anything.
Nrbt, I realize you bleed purple, support the program to the Nth degree, and take comments personally. I respect that, although you know my issue with boundaries (or lack of), but truly believe the program is a better one with supporters like yourself. Ill continue to "harp" on issues as long as I continue to follow the program. Truth always emerges, doesn't it??? And the truth will emerge here as well with Willard and the future of this program. Like most people, Im not always right, but you know what... retrace my posts and I believe you'll find as far as basketball comments, I've been pretty accurate. Personally, I don't care what the Emperor says... I know what he HAS said and what transpired this year and it was clearly an underachieving year... that's more then enough for me to discuss. Hey, it could be worse.. we could all be BU Terrier fans...
enjoy the tournament
peace
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Re: MHMD: See You Next Season -- NTKHC64, 08:02:34 03/12/04 Fri
MHMD:
Actually I enjoy most of your posts and I have no personal animus against you or anyone. You are a knowledgeable basketball person it appears and you know who I am. Come over and say hello sometime next season. I realize no coach is perfect from a tactical/strategic/scouting/recruiting point of view but just as you harp on the "boundaries" thing, something that I've discussed with players and parents and have never gotten a complaint, and which was stopped after Coach Willard's post of last year even though he knew about it long before that, I have to object when you get on RW for the job search/recruiting thing because there's no merit to it. So have a good spring and summer and we'll get on this again in the fall I suppose, hopefully without these topics I've mentioned that must be wearing thin on the others.
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MHMD:Accurate Basketball Comments? -- Let's Do as you say, 08:31:34 03/12/04 Fri
Here are just a few of your accurate "insights"
Willard sold out program to play Louisville-NOT TRUE
HC scheduled Williams because of Louisville game-NOT TRUE
It was scheduled because in late August when Providence dropped Brown-thus Brown had to go back to original date with HC and HC could not play Davidson.
Willard "intensely" sought jobs during recruiting period-NOT TRUE.
HC better watch out for the "Q" NOT TRUE" they won 8 games
HC better watch out for "Sacred Heart" NOT TRUE
BU coach "has obviuosly lost his team" after starting 0-3 NOT TRUE-they won 23 games
Willard is a "fool:" for not playing Jsh Kramer-NOT TRUE-at time statement was made Kramer had severe hip pointer and also got flu.Later had a neck injury and sprained ankle.
Willard is a fool for only playing Fingleton for more than 3 minutes. NOT TRUE .He wasn't practicing and was in terrible shape.
It's"obvious" HC would have won 3 more gamesif they had pressed.(statment made in early FEB.) Well it wasn't obviuos in Bucknell game in playoffs. They pressed whole game and forced 28 to's and still scored 60pts. Your insight crystal ball may need some cleaning.
Could sight more of your "accurate basketball" insights but
I think we can get the picture of your self proclaimed accuracy. I could see where your "accuracy" removed you from the coaching profession.
Unfortunately the Emperor chooses to play Williams instead of the Quin, Sacred Heart, VT., or any other D1 schools in New England.. Oh, that's right, "Nobody would play us"..Instead of throwing barbs, why don't you answer the questions:
1. Why is Holy Cross the ONLY, I repeat, ONLY school in New England nobody wanted to play this year??? It wasn't their foul shooting that's for sure.
2. Could the team ended up with a better record using the gifted athleticism he brought in and creating offense from defense????
3. Have other programs caught up to HC- primarily American and Bucknell (as well as Lehigh)
I must say, you do a great job making people feel awkward talking about the "other side" of the program to the point where people actually apologize for it. It's truly amazing actually. I sit in the stands.. I hear the rumblings.. I saw people literally stand and cheer when the Emperor decided to finally pressure full court... I've had more then one poster tell me they refrain form posting anything negative for the fear of getting slammed. Go ahead, slam.. in the mean time watch either American or Lehigh represent the vaunted PL in the NCAA tournament. Guess what, not only are you in one of the worst conferences in the country, your team isn't one of the 4 best teams in it. Do you think something must change???
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Accoding to Eaton and Newsome -- More of your Untruths, 16:34:12 03/12/04 Fri
This is getting tiresome but according to the asst.coaches willard had no intention of playing Williams.
And yes they called Sacred Heart,Vermont,Northeastern,UMASS,New Hampshire,Hartford,Fairfield,Sienna,Yale, and they all said NO Thanks. Willard has stated this in the papers and in his preseason booster talks.
Your BS accusations are continually refuted yet you must feel if you say them over and over someone will believe them.
You must think no one would try to find the truth.
Finally, this league and this team are so bad they are obviously not worth your ego fulfilling posts. So please try your BS and John Wooden like insights on the more worthy and the more gullible.
You've been exposed as a fraud way too many times here. The only one that doesn't recognize it is you.
MHMD, I really should stop responding, but all my fans tell me they love it when we have our exchanges so I can't let them down. "Emperor"? Very nice. Designed to bring everyone rushing to the defense. Look, I'll concede without knowing that you have some coaching experience but why do you keep trying to make the case that having two interviews hurt recruiting last year when the absolute best you were able to do was "it affected one player." You know more about X's and O's than I do, but why keep harping on this? If you didn't read it, Ralph called you a liar in the post that began this thread. I know he doesn't read this and I can't defend him when he supposedly admitted he gambled and lost in Bucknell 3. While "full compliment of scholarships" doesn't mean that he had the best talent in the PL, I agree that Bucknell and American will not go away next season. So I'll just keep being a fan and you'll just keep sniping away. The fans just love it. As proof look at the post just above this one.
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Was this the real MHMD?? -- KY Crusader '75, 22:36:36 03/11/04 Thu
I enjoy MHMD's posts and our responses when he goes beyond the pale. I do love NTK's thoughtful posts. I think all readers know what a polarizing fellow MHMD is. Thus, I wonder if the post above was really from MHMD or, perhaps, from some interloper trying to stir things up. "Emperor", indeed. I met Coach Willard after the Louisville game and he just didn't have that imperial demeanor as far as I could see. By the way, I've always wondered what "MHMD" means. I chose "KY Crusader '75" because I live in Kentucky and am from HC class of 1975. I have met NTKHC64 and know that to be his intials and HC class year. So is MHMD short for "Muhummad", "Mike Higgins, Medical Doctor", or perhaps his initials and MD for Maryland?????
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- NTKHC64, 22:47:50 03/11/04 Thu
Gee, KY, that bourbon tasting job should qualify you for repetitive stress syndrome or so this post would indicate. Working to the meaning of an all initial moniker? But wait, maybe we could have a contest to make up the meaning from the initials MHMD. (Just kidding KY; you are one good man and whoever wrote the post, it just gets to be fun to reply after a while. Our season's over and we're in wind down mode.)
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- NTKHC64, 22:49:07 03/11/04 Thu
Gee, KY, that bourbon tasting job should qualify you for repetitive stress syndrome or so this post would indicate. Working to the meaning of an all initial moniker? But wait, maybe we could have a contest to make up the meaning from the initials MHMD. (Just kidding KY; you are one good man and whoever wrote the post, it just gets to be fun to reply after a while. Our season's over and we're in wind down mode.)
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- MHMD is a phony?, 09:04:26 03/12/04 Fri
This guy has been preaching hoop, as a coach and expert. His coaching is probably at the 3rd grade girls club level, or similar. He makes you want to believe he coached Div II or III mens. Chances are he's not qualified to hold Willards jock. Just a frustrated fan, sitting in the stands and being overly critical. He even thinks he knows mor than Jim Boehiem, or "Jimmy B" as he so tries to imply that he knows the guy from his inner coaching circles. The joke's on us. His gig is obscene. "Fans" like him we don't need.
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- MHMD, 14:01:04 03/12/04 Fri
Just for the record, holding anyones jock is not my agenda.. but based on your post, maybe it's yours. Is it you that is feeling frustrated??? Somehow I don't think you have a shot with Ralph.sorry.
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- MHMD, 21:52:11 03/12/04 Fri
The personal attacks are interesting. Rather then get defensive and go after me, how about facing issues and addressing them. It's truly amazing.. Is there anyone out there who will address issues without apologizing??? ANYONE?????All I know is this, YOUR team is home, I repeat HOME, for the dance. Do you think its all because of youth??? Or do you think there were solveable issues that need addressing for the future. If not, you'll all be watching another representative from the PL next year too.
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You are delusional -- Ferris Bueller, 22:21:06 03/12/04 Fri
First you make up fabrications.Then you tell us we are not in the NCAA because WE did not address solveable issues as pointed out by you.
You and your agenda have been exposed over and over. Yes OUR team is home and guess what: no team at our level goes every year. We had 1 senior and two front court players who did not play because of injuries. We were 322 out of 326 in FT%.Solve that issue for us and we will be fine.
Every time you are criticized for fabrications you call it personal attacks yet youmake up stuff about Willard and call it addressing issues.
Unless you are coacing the team next year(from the bench ,not the bleachers)you won't be addressing anything.
Leave OUR team to us and rational discussion. Not your rantings about Willard.
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- NTKHC64, 09:16:52 03/13/04 Sat
I said I was through with this but I'll say for what I hope is the last time: If you look at the posts through out the year, there were many, many that offered different approaches: run more, press more, give this player more time, etc. If these weren't criticisms of the coaching staff, they were at the very least suggestions of how things should be changed. It was far from a situation that gave carte blanche without criticism to the coach(es).
As I said no coach is perfect in every phase of the game. The major point that I've had to take issue with is the allegation that Coach Willard put his own career ahead of the program and hurt the program by taking two interviews last year. That allegation has been denied by Coach in the poi post and in other places. The accuser has supplied no proof of harm.
"Personal attacks" (if you consider them such) on the accuser are in reality statements by posters that his ad hominem attacks on the Coach are baseless. As Ferris says, tell us how to shoot free throws. Also how to recruit the player from Brewster(?) rather than rip recruit Clifford.
One thing the accuser has done successfully is drawn attention to himself. The coaches know about him and do not care. Others however do read this board and may construe the absence of a response to a baseless claim as an acceptance of its merit. That is not going to happen.
If the accuser has coaching experience and is a fan of the program, he should put up his suggestions for the problems as he sees them on the court and not launch personal baseless attacks.
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Re: Was this the real MHMD?? -- MHMD, 09:50:51 03/13/04 Sat
Well written NT, however clearly another example of how dilusional you become. Ripping Clifford?? That, in a nutshell, is why credibility is taken away. Have you seen him play or are you going just on posts and comments from the coaching staff?? I've seen him twice and in my opinion he'll be a solid player, possibly develop by the second half of the year, but in my opinion not right away. Lstoria is a year older, is a much better athlete, comes from the south side of Chicago,and is built like a brick house=he SHOULD be an impact player next year and at this point is further ahead... at this point.. Ill say it again, I respect your passion but your credibility is a joke. You are fodder for conversation at games ( your "fans" as you put it more then once have singled you out to us at games)and clearly put your heart where your head is. My comment was a simple one- rather than get defensive and have people apologize for "other side comments", talk basketball. All I know is this= if a team is having problems generating offense, they better find a way to score off defense. Forget coaching/playing experience. How about sitting with a few of the '54 team members and hearing them comment on "where has this been" all year- with regards to pressing. Not pressing because "refs don't like to go up and down the floor"?- if this was actually said by Willard (which I don't believe)that is ridiculous. As far as the "trend" not to press?? There was a "trend" of not finishing games/hitting foul shots/generating offense- better get creative and find a freekin way to do so. don't you think? And as far as scheduling- if you think ALL the D1 schools in the Northeast are blackballing HC and not playing them- well I just find that hard to believe. Again, HC plays in clearly a weak D1 league and is not one of the better teams in it.
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This team was 7th Nationally in Steals@10.7 -- UAB 1st @11.7, 13:11:19 03/13/04 Sat
How many more steals were they going to (the best in thenation got 1 more per game)by presing vs how many more fouls would they committ.
Your argument holds no water,as usual. Again they turned Bucknell over 28 times and still scored 60pts while Bucknell shot 62% from the floor and shot a lot more free throws. sometimes you score off the press and sometimes you get scored on.Free throws were still the single biggest problem for this team. shoot 70% and they win 19-20 games and you are miserable.
I used the term "my fans" once in one post and it was clearly in a jocular vein. I can't believe that "us" whoever they are actually talk about me. "Fodder for conversation"...surely you must have better things to talk about than me. In any event, I agree with your simple proposal: If you are aiming to comment on the way the game is planned and played, that's fine with me. You know, I invited you to the Bud Ryan room before the BU game. I'm pointed out to you, you say. You have no trouble in talking to me here, so why not accede to sader 70's request and get together with me for a pic next season? When the schedule comes out, I'll be in touch. Enjoy the off-season and the last word, should you desire it, is yours. Obviously the problems you cite existed and I'm hoping for solutions. There's no disagreement on that.
OK, MHMD and NTK, I'll bring my camera to the men's games next season to take a shot or two or you smiling together. We can arrange the details as we get closer to the season and the schedule is set. I'm sure the Crossports editor will make the shot a "front-pager."
One final comment/observation which is neither intended to critize nor defend MHMD. This has been a rather contentious thread with MHMD in the middle of it. He has never been hesitant to voice his opinions, just like many of us. But if you go through this thread, you'll note that MHMD was silent on this subject UNTIL a poster baited him into it with "What about MHMD?" "... who thinks he's smarter than everyone else. He is an EX-COACH."
I don't know about the rest of you but I hate really long threads with posts getting inserted in between, rather than at the end. So, let's consider just letting this one drop. I think everyone who any thoughts on the subject has had a fair chance to comment - let's move on. Hockey anyone?
