|
Post by orangehater on Jan 15, 2009 22:15:56 GMT -5
Amazing that so many on the board think somehow we get to skip steps after the detonation of our program 5 1/2 years ago.
Three years of complete program waste with no progress made, for the sole purpose of putting distance and time between JVBK and now. If we had simply disbanded the basketball team, and picked it up last year with Mark Schmidt, we'd be exactly where we are now.
Thus we are in year two, and I love the potential of these guys. If we had Leonard Lewis 25 juco PPG in the mix, we might be 13-3. I continue to be amazed that 2 basketball years after the scandel, we have come this far. The other 3 may as well not have happened.
|
|
|
Post by magnusbu on Jan 16, 2009 10:43:51 GMT -5
A lot of experts said right after the scandal and punishments were handed out that it would take 7 to 10 years to rebuild our program. I know a lot of people hated to hear that and felt that Solomon is the only reason why we are in such bad shape. I agree with Orange stating we are right on trach in the rebuilding process. However I still see it as year 6 of the overall rebuilding process from the scandal.
|
|
|
Post by bartmitchell on Jan 16, 2009 13:06:50 GMT -5
Don't want to slight anybody, but I don't remember any 'experts' saying anything about it taking 7-10 years. Just some posters here, and opinions ran the gamut from 2-3 years to those who wrote us off completely.
I think many, like me, who have WATCHED the last 10 games are frustrated with the performance of THIS team and THESE players, not the overall state of the program. If I say the players are not playing hard and repeatedly make the same mental mistakes I think that's a valid criticism of what I think I see happening on the court. To say we should be happy we are 10 and 6 'only' 6 years after 'the troubles' is to miss the point of the discussion.
I am very grateful we have Coach Schmidt. We have (thanks to some good recruiting by him and his staff, esp Dino) some players with ability. O.K., graded on an A-10 scale we have 'C' guards and 'B' forwards (Andrew will be an A+ by his junior year if he listens to Coach and learns) There is a ceiling on how far this team can go. But from what I have seen in the last 10 games we have been underperforming - mostly due to lack of CONSISTENT effort, repeating the same mental errors, and lack of leadership on the court. Last year, Coach talked about playing every minute with urgency. I believe the quote was "like your hair was on fire" for the entire time you are on the floor. I have seen streaks of it from many of the players, but not nearly enough. Hall seemed to have it early in the year, but I'm seeing less and less of it.
What happened to the Bonnie team that played Marist ? (and please don't address that question unless you watched that game and also saw the St. Joes game or some of our recent lackluster performances to compare the 2). Some of it has to do with our level of competition, but a lot of it seems to be strictly about us.
I agree we have the right coach and are heading in the right direction, but I reserve my right to get mad about THIS team on any given night when they repeat the same mental mistakes and play like they don't want to muss their hair, instead of like their hair is on fire. Ra Palmer, Kevin Houston, Tim Winn, Marguis Green, Ahmad Smith. They were team players and played like warriors night in and night out. I miss that.
|
|
Felca
Sophomore Member
Posts: 172
|
Post by Felca on Jan 16, 2009 13:25:49 GMT -5
Totally agree with Orangehater. It took Baron a few years before he had winning teams.
|
|
|
Post by portpasses on Jan 16, 2009 13:46:09 GMT -5
bartmitchell - best post I've read in a while! Whatever happened to that "hair on fire" theme? Although, maybe Schmidt is afraid to see what Blackburn would do playing like that...LOL!
|
|
|
Post by pete on Jan 16, 2009 13:47:03 GMT -5
the thought that it will take 7-10 years to rebuild a program is hogwash. the right coach and staff can turn any program around in under 5 years. SOL brought some stability to the program, i guess, but did squat to move it forward.
I like schmidt. I think he will do well. The point is if we made the right hire after the VBK circus, SBU would be way ahead of where we are now.
|
|
|
Post by tomangelone on Jan 16, 2009 14:30:36 GMT -5
I couldn't agree more with bartmitchell. It is by no means the state of the Bona program with which anyone is upset. In reality, it's just the disappointing play by this particular team in the last two games. Our guards seem uninspired and our big men seem frustrated with their lack of touches. Schmidt will get this team turned around, guys. Remember: just about EVERYONE on this board came into this season with the hope of winning 12-13 games and making the Atlantic 10 tournament. Given our 10-6 (1-2) record, that goal is still VERY MUCH attainable.
|
|
|
Post by magnusbu on Jan 16, 2009 16:20:31 GMT -5
I agree that with the best possible coaching hire and outstanding recruiting that same year we could have turned it around sooner, but lets be realistic here. What kind of coach would we be in the running for given the state of our program and university. President gone, Athletic Director Gone, Coach gone, players gone and the ones that returned had quit the last 2 games. We don't pay the highest coaching salaries in the country and recruiting to Olean is hard to begin with. Probation, loss of scholarships, recruiting restrictions, etc. Tell me what coach out there in the country would be willing to sign on with Bonas to get us back on track in 3 years. I don't think anybody can.
I don't have any credible sites to link to regarding the idea it would take 7-10 years but I know I heard it immediately following the scandal and the subsequent punishments and not just on here. This was close to a death sentance for our program.
|
|
|
Post by pete on Jan 16, 2009 16:29:41 GMT -5
that is a bunch of bs. Looking back, steve hopkins was a candidate for the position. Lets say he got the job and did well. I can almost guarantee you we would not have an out of control juco as apg.
schmidt had to start over after SOL left. that is 4 lost years
|
|
|
Post by OceanStateBonnie on Jan 16, 2009 16:38:23 GMT -5
External media pundits did publish opinions soon after the scandal that it takes all but the largest programs seven to ten years to recover from the type of setback our program encountered.
|
|
|
Post by pete on Jan 16, 2009 16:41:41 GMT -5
i would like to how how many coaching changes those pundits factored in
|
|
|
Post by MuttMantle on Jan 16, 2009 16:51:12 GMT -5
pete - did you mean Mike Hopkins, asst. at Syracuse??
|
|
|
Post by pete on Jan 16, 2009 17:04:46 GMT -5
yes sir!!!
|
|
|
Post by kcSBU03 on Jan 16, 2009 17:13:00 GMT -5
Too bad he took his name from consideration when he realized that he could take over Cuse when Boeheim leaves. I agree with both sides of the debate in this thread. The thing that pisses me off the most is when people say "F Schmidt" and go down the slippery slope. That is what causes people like Orange to say "hey we arent all that bad after all". Nobody is happy with the recent effort but things could be alot worse. Previous teams of ours would not have 10 wins right now. I say enjoy the ride and hope the team gets back to playing how they were.
|
|
|
Post by LumsdnA10Academc98 on Jan 16, 2009 17:25:03 GMT -5
Bartmitchell brings some excellent points to the table. It's not the 10-6 record that's the problem, it's the recent play of most of our players, primarily the guards, which leads one to realize we could very well be 10-9 and in the midst of a five-game skid before we know it.
In order to get that "hair on fire" mentality, which has been gone for at least a month, back in our players, I think Schmidt needs to shake things up a bit.
We know how fond Schmidt, for whatever reason, still is for Hall. Therefore, I won't bother suggesting cutting his minutes in favor of Benson, who we know is a capable reserve and who, in case you left early, buried three consecutive outside jumpers in the final minutes against Duquesne.
On the other hand, Schmidt hasn't been shy to sit down Matthews, who is already losing minutes to Davenport. In addition to having much better instincts, Davenport is a much better rebounder, defender and playmaker, as judged by his assists on three straight baskets on Wednesday. As an off-guard, he's ahead of his curve in terms of court awareness and playmaking abilities, and based on Matthews' last month, we won't have much of a drop-off in perimeter scoring.
Maybe the season is wearing on Matthews after a year's hiatus, and maybe the answer is to spare him a few minutes a game. For that matter, some guys play better coming off the bench. Accustomed to that role at Wazoo, maybe it's time to see if Matthews is still one of them, which could be a quick fix to our backcourt woes as well as a step ahead long-term for Davenport.
|
|