What happened to patience?

[efsboca]

It's funny to see all of these posts with the doom and gloom. Whatever happened to the level heads several years ago that were stating that it was going to take 5 to 7 years to rebuild the program. We are only three years in, our first without sanctions, and the first year was going to be a wasted since the coaches would not be able to secure recruits that were to caliber.

Now the latest grouping of threads I read talk about how we were so good in the late 90's - early 2000's and how it must be the coaching why we are not winning, like nothing ever happened in the intervening years. Please people, contrary to certain people's beliefs, the holocaust did occur, and so did the near death of Bonaventure Basketball.

Prior to the bad times, we always saw posts that stated how hard it is to recruit to Bonas. That hasn't changed, in fact, it has been made worse by our new national news. It will take time. I am not saying coach is great, but when they were down here, I thought he did a good job from what I saw. He needs to develop a better offensive scheme. Would we have more wins with an established coach...probably a few. Would an established coach who could also recruit want our job after the "event"? Unlikely. On the other hand, Coach also needs more players and ones that can shoot.

Good times, bad times. We are going to have them. What we are going to need more of is patience.

[bonaballer09]

i grew up just down the road from UB. I went to UB basketball games for five straight years before i started going to SBU. They were in the same situation we see here. Sanctions, lack of Scholarships, lack of players. They struggled in their first few years with Reggie Witherspoon at coacch, they only one 5 games in his second year. The school allowed him patience to allow his players to develop. Last year they were in the MAC championship. Now I know that SBU is a MUCH tougher A-10 conference, it is a lot harder to win than it is in the MAC. I dont know if Solomon is the right guy or not.

[Chuck]

First time I've heard it would take 5 to 7 years for the Bonnies to recover. I remember everyone stating 4 to 5. The sanctions from the NCAA were not harsh, in fact they were self imposed. If you were to take a look at the current status of the program, you would assume the Bonnies received the infamous SMU "death penalty." The sanctions were designed to punish the Bonnies, but not to destroy the program.

I wonder how it is unreasonable to expect the Bonnies to show some progress after last year? We basically lost nothing and added 4 players, who have drastically improved the talent on the team. We have 3 starters from last year, who are now coming off the bench, because of these new players. This is Solomon's 3rd year and we are farther away from recovery than during Solomon's first year. This is not called progress.

[farmer]

I hope you have been watching PSU basketball this year....You talk about a program in the pits and for reasons far less damaging than at SBU. They now are starting to get some positive direction ( 66-65 win at Ill #6) but they have been terrible in a power conference for years. PATIENCE is a virtue we need to practice at this time and we will be rewarded!

[ripreilly755]

Are you still going to have "patience" after Hawkins, Lee, Carson and Benson all transfer after this season and asst. coaches Brannen and MCClure also leave for greener pastures ?

[efsboca]

To answer your question RIp, no I wouldn't, because that shows something much deeper is wrong. I still am not convinced that Carson and Benson are players at this level, but Carson has shown some grit this year and I like his heart. On the other hand, many things you have stated in the past have turned out to be really wrong (maybe intentionally so), so I'll believe it when I see it. As for Chuck's statement that we were better off in the first year than now, I would have expected that. Outside of Gansey leaving, the rest of the team was the one here for JVBK. That first year we still had Marques, an all league selection. I expected things to be better that year, worse the next because of the current staff's difficulty to recruit in the first year due to the scandal and limited time, and MG's graduation. This year I had figured would be the worst as the coaches pieced together a new team while their recruits started to get some seasoning, and whether you want to recognize it or not, we still have a lower level of talent and depth (as evidenced by our inability to shoot). We are adding people who are going to help, but we have historically had very few freshman who make an impact. As a result the coaching staff has tried to get some Jucos and transfers who were not good fits....that is what happens when you try to make a quick fix...it never works. AJ will be a stud here (if he stays), Mike Lee has shown in several games this year his ability (and another year will bring more consistency in his efforts). On the coaches, can someone tell me what Coach Gee record was as a head coach before he came here? I'd like to know that.

[GoPadres]

Rip - I certainly hope that the posters on this board recognize your posts for what they are, wild speculation and vindictive gossip. There is a saying that you never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction. Your posts are foolish and you are a fool.

[ripreilly755]

Jayson Gee has impeccable credentials both as a coach and a person.

As St. Bonaventure's associate head coach, Gee has a myriad of responsibilities thoughout the program. He was promoted to associate head coach following one year as an assistant coach.

Prior to coming to St. Bonaventure, Gee was the head coach at the University of Charleston in West Virginia for seven seasons. There, he assembled a remarkable record of 160-55 that included six 20-win seasons and four NCAA Division II Tournament berths.

Gee's 2002-03 club went 21-10 and reached the title game of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.

Gee led the Golden Eagles to the second round of the NCAA Div. II Tournament four straight years from 1999-2002. In 1998-99, Charleston earned the first NCAA bid in school history after winning the WVIAC title and finishing 26-6. In 1999-00, Gee was named WVIAC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for Div. II Coach of the Year honors after the Golden Eagles went 28-4 including 18-1 in the WVIAC. Charleston won both the WVIAC regular season and tournament titles in 2000-01 and went 23-7.

Among the many standout players Gee recruited and coached at Charleston were Ajamu Gaines, the 1999-00 NCAA Div. II Player of the Year, and Kalan Smith, a second team All-American in 2001. Both Gaines and Smith were WVIAC Players of the Year.

[woof]

farmer said:

I hope you have been watching PSU basketball this year....You talk about a program in the pits and for reasons far less damaging than at SBU. They now are starting to get some positive direction ( 66-65 win at Ill #6) but they have been terrible in a power conference for years. PATIENCE is a virtue we need to practice at this time and we will be rewarded!

No comparison.

Ed DeChellis was a known quantity when PSU hired him -- he had a winning record at ETSU, earned back-to-back Southern Conference Coach of the Year awards, and took the Bucs to the NCAAs for the first time in ten years. Plus, he's an alumnus who had already served as a PSU assistant coach.

[bigdobber]

I can have patience when I see progress. I don't see any progress. Also, I am 50 and am uncomfortable with Sol's rules and regulations. I can't imagine how the team feels at 20ish. His "life lessons, etc. When did someone make Sol the "Dr. Phil" of the NCAA or Olean? I think Sol is swimming in the deep end of the pool and in way over his head. I don't blame him. I think he was a bad hire. That is all.

[magnusbu]

What do you mean this team is farther away from recovery in Sol's 3rd season compared to his first. That is just plain stupid to say. Basically they are lacking 2 quality players and confidence. This can change in 1 season. In his first year they were lacking a lot more than that. I think the second season showed that. Next season I still think they will be 1-2 quality players short, but the the players we pick up in the spring could change this very quickly.