I've been dying to try this feature!

[Gino72]

I've been follwing the responses to your survey...and in fact voted. I think the Bonnies will have a 10 win season but your survey would have me placing my vote in 2 separate ranges (5-10, 10-15). Don't mean to be anal about this....just an observation.

[ThePhantom]

gino72 said:

I've been follwing the responses to your survey...and in fact voted. I think the Bonnies will have a 10 win season but your survey would have me placing my vote in 2 separate ranges (5-10, 10-15). Don't mean to be anal about this....just an observation.

I was just tinkering with this, as I am trying to get used to the new format. So yes, you are correct, it probably could of been set up better. I hope others can come up with some more interesting poll topics.

[bdance]

As a UMass fan I know a little bit about over estimating prospects. Still, I'm curious how so many people can think that SBU will be in the double-digits in the win column. Especially when you don't even know what your schedule looks like yet. Presumably the bulk of these anticipated wins are coming in the non-conference portion of the schedule, because every team in the A10 is returning their core, they're all improving. I can't think of one that's going to going backwards. SBU may, or even probably will, be better. But will the improvement be more significant here than at many or any other A10 program? Because it would have to be very significant indeed to garner many more conference wins than you had last year. 4-5 A10 wins , tops, and that's going to be tough. Who knows how many more to add in a non-conference slate and the mere fact that anyone would make a guess indicates a certain level of delusion.

Oh, the colors are still uglier than sin.

[blazermaniac5]

To think that St. Bona can win ten games with this regime is ridiculous. We just don't have the players, facilities or recruiting area to win 10 games. As long as SBU is in the Atlantic 10, they will be consistent doormats. If they are EVER looking for post season success, it is time to get out of the conference. You are only fooling yourselves if you think otherwise. New York State is in such pathetic shape, especially the Western Portion of it, to have players come here and believe it can turn the program around. It was 22 years between NCAA appearances from 1978-2000. It will be a lot longer than that this time around.

[bdance]

I don't know about SBU's longterm prospects, except never say never. It's the short term where I think they're starting to get the foolish sort of optimism. I suppose it's a good start, reading your board last year was depressing.

But half this team is going to be new. At UM we've had a couple of decent JUCO's in Chadwick and Jackie Rogers, and both needed a full year to adjust. We've also had our share of guys with D1 experience, but who had to sit out a year (most recently Shannon Crooks and Eric Williams) and it's the same thing - they need time.

SBU's newcomers are mostly unproven and inexperienced. They're taller, that's about all. (Which has me on the verge of bursting out into 'Big Boss Man"). It's not enough to start the crazytalk, although the 3 guys who polled 15+ wins were good for a chuckle. Can I have some of what they're smoking?

[mangham]

No team's booster's have been more optomistic than UMASS. I don't think 10 wins would be out of the question. We know a lot about our occ schedule and I feel 3-4 conference wins would be an improvement. Before the scandal UMASS was looking up at us! We will come back, I like Solomon as a recruiter!

[bdance]

Hmmm, UMass has "looked up" at SBU exactly twice in the past 20 years.

The lean Lappas years have certainly tempered our expectations quite a bit so I think I have to give you the Most Overly Optimistic Crown for the past few seasons. We'll call it ours for the bulk of the Flint era and maybe the first year of Lappas if you'd like. I wouldn't argue with that.

If I recall, Camara was going to boost SBU's fortunes, and that seemed to be based entirely on his size. We know how well that worked out. If you know what your OOC looks like and think there are 6 wins there then okay, maybe 10 wins are in reach. I just don't see more than 4 or 5 in conference. Not this coming season, with a bunch of green players.

[SyracuseBonnie]

I agree. 10 wins next season is a good goal for this team that I feel is well within their reach. Also remember that relph and williams practiced all last year, I don't consider them "new" to the team. They should have a good understanding and comfort level with the rest of the team. With upgrades or no change at every position, there is no where for this team to go but up. (unless of course relph and williams don't play b/c of their off court behavior). Also, 10 wins is nothing to be proud of, I don't know why some posters consider this a "lofty" goal. Sounds to me like Umass fans are jealous of Sol's recruiting abilities. This staff has landed some great spring recruits. Their hard work WILL pay off.

[bdance]

Oh brother. Yes, that's it, we're jealous of Solomon. Kudos Laddie, you've nailed it!

Getting back to the topic, we've had guys sitting but practicing. Everyone I mentioned previously in fact was able to practice if I recall correctly. And it's not the same thing as live D1 action, there's an adjustment period. It's not impossible to make an immediate impact of course, it just doesn't seem to happen very often, not with A10 caliper players anyway. If you think you've got something special here then knock yourself out. But there are 13 other teams lurking who also think they've got something special. Some of them don't.

[West End Stench]

B dance brings up some great points to the argument. There is certainly a chance that SBU doesn't get to the double digit mark. But still, who's to say who's right? B Dance has his/her speculation, and SBU fans have theirs.

One can't generalize and say that next year's team is "Green", since our two biggest impact players coming in next year have already played Division 1 Basketball in recognized conferences (Relph and Williams) and have practiced with the Program for a whole season (Remember Kevin Houston?). It is also difficult to call a team "green" that is returning a 5th year senior (Lottin), an all conference selection (A. Smith), and one of the most promising frosh in the Atlantic 10 (Mike Lee). On top of this, it is likely that at least ONE newcomer will be an instant impact player (take Wade Dunston, for example)

SBU fans must also hold back optimism in suggesting that these new recruits are the new saviors. Yankuba Camara was a good example used by the UMass fan. Still, it's impossible for both SBU fans and B Dance to say how these new players will contribute. It is all speculation, take it with a grain of salt, and wait to judge a players talent until at LEAST Midnight Madness.

Still, keep the speculation coming, it's what keeps the board running and entertaining.

Go Bonas.

[GoPadres]

Given the fact that no one is 100% sure if 1/4 of the roster will play all, some or none of the season (i.e. Relph, Williams and James), I think guessing the number of wins is a shot in the dark. I will tell you that I don't think this team will be green, though. Every single player, including Hawkins (1 year of prep), has experience beyond the high school level. Aside from Hawkins, all of the newcomers have a year or two of D-1 or JUCO experience under their belt. The reason you recruit transfers and JUCO players is because presumably these type of players can have an immediate impact on your team. They should not require the same type of development as a traditional freshman player typically does. In closing, I hope all of the teams in the A-10 (including FUMASS) are improved. It would be great to see the A-10 send two teams to the elite 8 again.

[bdance]

Hey, those were good rebuttals.

I had forgotten all about Houston , most likely I was one of the scoffers on the old a10 voy board when the rave preseason reviews were coming in about him before we had seen him. He turned out to be outstanding. But he was also a rarity in not missing a beat after sitting. out.

Camara was probably a bad example for me to use in some ways, his background always seemed suspect coming in, whereas some of your new guys seem pretty solid. But still, you had some guys touting him so I won't feel that bad.

[Phantom]

I really was more curious about playing around with this new feature! Maybe somewhat curious as to what people thought for next year. Yes, I realize it is virtually impossible to predict wins/losses with no idea of our OOC schedule.

I think people tend to be much more optimistic about these recruits, and the immediate future than I. Based on some of the recent posts.

[sbu79]

Not sure Kuba's situation is at all relevant here. If I recall correctly, he was "signed" in August of 2003 by a new coach after a scandal that shook Bonas to its foundations. Of course a lot of fans hoped for the best, but there were numerous posts on the Bandwagon then warning not to get our hopes too high.

This class (if Lex holds up) is a significant one for the program in terms of apparent talent and potential, and again it's hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm. Nonetheless, I voted for less than 10 wins becuase, even if they are as billed, we are switching out the majority of the team in one year. I'm hoping I'm pleasantly surprised on the upside.

Must be a slow news day, Bill, for all this action on the Bonnies board. I do want to cite your last post for its tone of good sportmanship.

[Dunga]

Interesting debate. Assuming everyone signs (James) and shows up to play on Day 1 (Relph), I voted 10-15 wins, though I'm guessing it will be closer to 10. I think most on this board would have voted 10-12 wins if given the option. That's a reasonable expectation considering the upgrade in incoming and returning talent.

The strength of our backcourt (which will be one of the best in the A10) will get us to 10 wins. I also see talent at every position, something I haven't seen since, perhaps, Baron's last season. The biggest ? will be the center position. If Ivan is good for 20-30 minutes a game and has the same stat line as in Juco, then we'll see 10 wins.

Another huge ? will be coaching. A good coach will have these guys playing well in Feb (think St. Joes/Temple/etc). Also, remember in conference we get Duquesne, Richmond (lost their coach) and Fordham twice. 4 wins there I would guess.