Confidence in Solomon

[xraycat]

With the departure of the entire coaching staff within the last month or so, how does this change your feelings about coach Solomon and his job security. Do you see these departures as coaches knowing whats coming and leaving before they get the axe? Or, did all three of these coaches just happen to find a better job at the exact same time?

Either way, this kind of mass exudus does not look good to the players, to the public or to any potential recruit thinking about St. Bonaventure. Could you image the things that other schools are saying to any kids we are recruiting right now.."You're thinking about Bonaventure? They just lose then entire staff, and havent won more then ten games in the last 3 years"

I know a lot of people arent' too concerned about these events, but I think it is a huge deal to the program. It shows me that these coaches felt that they had a good chance of getting fired in the near future, or they probably wouldnt have all left....

Time will tell what the university thinks about this, but my gut feeling is nothing will happen and Solomon will be given more time just like Ron always says.

[GoPadres]

This year's team will be much deeper than the last few teams. It is premature to discuss Sols future. Let this team play the games.

[xraycat]

Go Padres,

Will next years team be much deeper then last years? No, we will be deeper but I dont know how much deeper. And I cannot understand how people really believe that we will be a better team next year, without our best player? Ahmad Smith was the only, and I mean only, player who could create for himself and score when we needed a basket. Relph simply jacked up threes, not in the flo of the offense, Lee and Williams were good, but both were very inconsistant. Hawkins is as athletic as they come, he cant shoot for his life and he cant finish at the rim via bank shot or short jumper. Diggs not only cant score, he doesnt even shoot the ball, and Fox, Ivan, and Benson are non factors. So you must have some high hopes for some low-level Juco's other then James Williams. I would be very, very suprised if this team won more then ten games next year without Smith. I really think hes that important to this team.

That being said, say we win 9 games next year; which I think would be over acheiving. That would give Solomon wins of 7,2,8 and 9...and you think it is premature to discuss the head coaches future? A combined 26 wins in four years or roughly 6 wins a year...I am not saying to fire Solomon, I am simply saying should next years time win around ten games, one would very seriously have to consider looking elsewhere. Everyone knew this was going to be a long rebuilding procress, but these results are not moving foward, they are barley crawling in the right direction. As the team continues to loose games, and the school continues to loose money with all time low enrollement, the University is going to have to make a decision as to how long they can afford to have such a dissapointing basketball team. This becomes a money issue, and as attendence drops and donors pull their money because of the team, the president and board of trustee's will have some tough decisions to make.

[magnusbu]

You really have to throw out the numbers from the first two seasons. There was no way that we would have had any success in those two seasons. It would not have helped if we had God as our coach. Its almost like now everyone is forgetting that we had the scandal and Sol really only won 9 games his first two seasons all on his own. But on a different side, if we don't win more games next season then we really should start to consider a different coach. I can see us winning 12 next season.

[Dunga]

We need better perimeter play / better 3 point shooters. Why does our 3 point shooting deteriorate under Solomon? Good shooters get worse (Green, Lottin, Relph, to name a few), and average/poor shooters never really develop (Carson). One mistake Solomon made coming in here is deemphasizing the 3 point shot. You win in this league by hitting the three (St. Joes is the best example), not by pounding it inside and driving to the hoop against bigger defenders. Sadly it's my guess that unless a miracle happens next season (12 wins? 15 wins? or he lands a huge recruit in the fall) Solomon is gone, and he ought to be gone. 4 seasons (with minimal results) is generous in terms of patience, even with the "scandal".

[donniesbu82]

I agee with Dunga. Solomans days are numbered.

[xraycat]

Dunga,

There is an answer to your question as to why good shooters become bad shooters and why bad shooters never become decent shooters. Its called running a good offense!! You poined out that St. Joes is always a team with good guards who can shoot the ball, and wouldnt you know it; they have the best coach in the conference and run one of the best offenses in the a10. Teams struggle from the 3 when their team fails to run a good offense, allowing them to get off good open looks, with their feet set. Tyler Relph does nothing but dribble. dribble, long three. Nothing comes in the flow of the offense with this team. All the outside shots are shots jacked up on a pull up. How often does this team ever swing the ball, passing the ball inside then out for a wide open three? Almost never. It all comes back to coaching and the one ligit knock on coach solomon has been he is a very poor in game coach, and bad x's and o's coach. This type of problem falls on the coaching staff, it is there responsibility to create an offense that will get good lucks and run well, we havent seen that in a while here.