|
Post by Peacock on May 23, 2011 11:17:21 GMT -5
Still puzzling that Fall remains open. Don't wish to disparage Wing's but just might be another case of academic shortfall. Teal not coming per above. Fall said to be going Prep per a Post tweet. Another one who seems to have a financial holding is Scout's, M. Hopper, is also going Prep. Generally this is because of academics. While the Parks issue is still open, he could be the one, and don't forget Anema. Wonder what the eport comment was about.
|
|
|
Post by JohnGalt on May 23, 2011 11:48:19 GMT -5
Don't believe Teal was ever on the short list. Academics could have been an issue with Florida A&M living by a different standard. Did not see the Post tweet although Marist, which needs a big even more than we do, passed on him sometime back. Fall has strong upside and likely would have gone higher, save the grades. Likewise, no understanding of the Park circumstance. Maybe standing by for us to make the call. Please, no Anema. Don't need a suburban-type who has the perfuntory high bb I.Q. and understands the game. Think the eport comment merely mirrors our deliberation.
|
|
|
Post by Peacock on May 23, 2011 12:27:26 GMT -5
Must remeber that Teal only surfaced because he made a visit with no other indication. Front Court recruiting certainly appears to be Dunne's Achilles heel. One thing to remember about Prep is that many of these kids change their minds before Sept if made an offer and qualified. Parks fits that mode. No knowledge on Fall.
|
|
|
Post by JohnGalt on May 23, 2011 12:54:21 GMT -5
If you choose to cite Dunne for front court imperfections you might as well add the rest of his MAAC counterparts. What coach in the last several years has successfully recruited a talented big? McCaffrey signed a lightely regarded kid in Rossiter who had few legitimate offers. Iona picked up the much-traveled Glover when all others were reluctant to challege their Admission's Dept, enabling Cleuss to circumvent the school's historically lax standards for bb. John has worked hard, seeking to overcome some of the internal obstacles that I have repeatedly offered in his defense.
|
|
|
Post by Peacock on May 23, 2011 13:40:13 GMT -5
No one questioned his work ethic, but you can chose to ignore the many targets that choose other schools that are not much higher. One that comes to mind is Abif who will compete with more than one other over 6'7" at his higher level inner city school.
You also do a dis-service to many in the MAAC that had decent front courts. How about Fairfield, Rider and Iona. Others have some who we would love to have. Not impact but decent over the last five years but superior to ours. Rather than trying to prove your fake impartiality, tell me how our recruits for the front court have compared with the other schools since the dream team recruits of four years ago. After Conley, who.
|
|
|
Post by jajk on May 23, 2011 13:52:58 GMT -5
While I am concerned as many ( ? ) here are about no word on additional player , I am optimistic about next season with what we now have . While the video on Furgeson is brief and all such highlights can be misleading , I am extremely optimistic from what I see on it that he can indeed supply a big missing piece for us . He has hops and I like the way he rebounds the ball . Also the entry pass is a nice play for a young big , and he seems to look immediately for the outlet pass when he gets the ball off the boards . If he buys into JDs defense , he is an important addition . Lamin has all the tools and the attitude to be groomed as a MAAC pg behind Brandon next year . He will be at a disad to some of the league's guards on the D because of his size so it will be crucial that he learns quickly and well the fundamentals on D . Admittedly we lost four really talented guys including two of my favorite Peacocks of all time in Wes and Ryan , but I am extremely positive about Steve and Darius and Brandon and Yvon . Steve has the size and talent to be a special MAAC player in his last two years .
And for those who say we don't recruit bigs , following Ryan up with Darius makes that just silly . Darius has the potential to be an outstanding MAAC big on the offensive end . I'll take him over any returning MAAC big including Glover with Darius's potential in his two more years . Tough and smart - and that J and baby hook will just get better and better if we can get him the rock in good positions . Reminds me a whole lot of the Loyola big who killed us five or six years ago with similar offensive skills but Darius has the potential to be a lot better than he was . Burke reminds me a lot of Poole of RU bringing a lot to the court , and I am hopeful that Jack will give us some valuable minutes in his fial season . Stay with him a little longer this season , JD . Those on this board who underrated us last year , fail to see how vital the defensive end of the game is . I expect it to keep us competitive for being at least near the top of the MAAC again . If the guys are willing to play D FOR 40 like we did in the tourney and for a lot of last season , there are very , very few conference games that we won't be highly competitive in .
|
|
|
Post by oldtimer1 on May 23, 2011 14:05:50 GMT -5
"After Conley , who"....Jeron Belin, nice recruit. Give appropriate credit to Marlon but it is the head coach who seals the deal.
I agree that many of the targets choose other schools that are not much higher...sad but true. Only goes to prove that recruiting at SPC is extremely difficult. Perhaps the new Student Center, which will be state of the art, will improve things.
My feeling is that if JD and staff are experiencing difficulty (would not necessarily concede that they are given Conley, Steve, Raymond,Belin, Prescott, Fulton etc.) but so would ANY one else. Going back to the days when we lost Henry Finkel ,SPC has rarely been able to recruit coveted players. The exceptions are few anbd far between.
PS Sticking my neck out on a limb, I think Jack Hill will surprise. Working out on his own every day (often with Conley) and planning to play ball back home all summer. Comment to me was "this is my last year and I'm going to work my ass off this summer". Unless we recruit lighting in a bottle, Jack will get his chance. IMO his biggest obstacle is confidence in his abilities. He can contribute morte than a little,....IF
|
|
|
Post by oldtimer1 on May 23, 2011 14:11:51 GMT -5
jajk...you and I saw the same thing in the Ferguson highlight film. Yet my enthusiasm was tempered when I saw him in person. Has the skills but not the body (yet) to contribute big time.
Also I agree on Chris Burke....more talent then he was able to show last year due to limited playing time. Think he is a very good player but without a defined position (#3 or #4) yet.
|
|
|
Post by eport on May 23, 2011 17:01:47 GMT -5
Dunne has been rolling the dice to shoot higher than the norm. Personally, I like this approach. If you're in the game, play to win. Don't play not to lose or just compete.....be aggressive! Somethings did fall through for several reasons, but we will not come up empty.
|
|
|
Post by eport on May 23, 2011 18:17:15 GMT -5
I'm in agreement concerning Hill and Burke. I think they will surprise some people next year. Hill is a legitimate 6'8", who can jump and as they say, you can't teach height. I think Samuels will be ALL MAAC and feel that Conley is ready for a break out year. I also think Fulton and Tucker will become good players. Throw in Prescott, Ffrench, Raymond, Hall and you have a nice nucleus. Costner can also help if he decides to play. Add one or two good bigs and we are right back in the thick of things.
|
|
|
Post by loyal on May 23, 2011 18:51:44 GMT -5
Club needs more help up front than Ferguson is ready to give, IMO, after watching You Tube and reading OT's observations. Can't see how he will score beyond two feet away; shot form looks like the proverbial loading of a musket. If he is a skinny 6'6".....well.......I don't think we should expect much. I hope Hill becomes a 14-8 guy and Conley can play 30 minutes most nights without foul trouble.....and score......but to pin our hopes on that happening is a longshot. Simply put, there is no evidence it's likely to happen. I just don't see our current front line being competitive, even in the MAAC. I sure hope I am wrong. Personally, I had hoped the MAAC Title would give us a (temporary) recruiting boost and help us land at least one "above expectations" player. It is hard to spin these recruiting results as anything but a disappointment, so far. Let's face it.....we are competing tooth and nail with a Division II school and Florida A&M. I suspect everyone associated with the program, subsequent to a truth serum injection, would agree. Staff needs someone to "fall" to us late. I do believe the staff works hard and maybe something good will happen.
|
|
|
Post by JohnGalt on May 23, 2011 21:22:39 GMT -5
No one questioned his work ethic, but you can chose to ignore the many targets that choose other schools that are not much higher. One that comes to mind is Abif who will compete with more than one other over 6'7" at his higher level inner city school. You also do a dis-service to many in the MAAC that had decent front courts. How about Fairfield, Rider and Iona. Others have some who we would love to have. Not impact but decent over the last five years but superior to ours. Rather than trying to prove your fake impartiality, tell me how our recruits for the front court have compared with the other schools since the dream team recruits of four years ago. After Conley, who. Not sure why you have such difficulty accepting what is the obvious to most. The MAAC attracts few quality big men. I have already mentioned the case with Glover. Hell, even the Administration at St. Francis pulled the offer when his qualifications became known. If you are speaking of Johnson of FF; he was not highly recruited and only became a factor beginning in his Jr. year. Thompson of Rider was only 6'5" out of high school and thus stirred little interest. We came up short on Abif. The operative words, even as you note, a "higher level" school. He also expressed the desire to go away to school which, in his world, qualified as Philadelphia. We just won a title with three front men, two of which were recruited by Dunne, and the third developed by him. John nurtured a group that contained many weaknesses, utilized best their strengths, and schooled these over achievers into learning a very effective, team oriented, style of play. Give credit where it is due and try accepting some humble pie while you're at it.
|
|
|
Post by loyal on May 23, 2011 21:53:19 GMT -5
No denying it all came together during the first weekend in March. Kudos to JT and the staff. It was a pleasure to see the club jell and for SPC to come through in a big spot.....out-execute and rattle more talented clubs. Needham and Machado were neutered. First half vs. the Stags was one for the ages.
Different situation now. The 4/5 rotation of Conley, Hill and Ferguson represent a different kettle of fish than Bacon, Belin and Conley. John Wooden would be hard pressed to contend in the MAAC with our current '11-'12 front line rotation.
Need another player badly. Am 100% sure no one knows that better than JD.....he has a lot more at stake than the posters on this Board.
|
|
|
Post by Peacock on May 23, 2011 22:04:30 GMT -5
No one questioned his work ethic, but you can chose to ignore the many targets that choose other schools that are not much higher. One that comes to mind is Abif who will compete with more than one other over 6'7" at his higher level inner city school. You also do a dis-service to many in the MAAC that had decent front courts. How about Fairfield, Rider and Iona. Others have some who we would love to have. Not impact but decent over the last five years but superior to ours. Rather than trying to prove your fake impartiality, tell me how our recruits for the front court have compared with the other schools since the dream team recruits of four years ago. After Conley, who. Not sure why you have such difficulty accepting what is the obvious to most. The MAAC attracts few quality big men. I have already mentioned the case with Glover. Hell, even the Administration at St. Francis pulled the offer when his qualifications became known. If you are speaking of Johnson of FF; he was not highly recruited and only became a factor beginning in his Jr. year. Thompson of Rider was only 6'5" out of high school and thus stirred little interest. We came up short on Abif. The operative words, even as you note, a "higher level" school. He also expressed the desire to go away to school which, in his world, qualified as Philadelphia. We just won a title with three front men, two of which were recruited by Dunne, and the third developed by him. John nurtured a group that contained many weaknesses, utilized best their strengths, and schooled these over achievers into learning a very effective, team oriented, style of play. Give credit where it is due and try accepting some humble pie while you're at it. Always been amazed by your duplicity. You have stated many times about your questions of John's recruiting, and now pretend to defend them. However I think you try to promote yourself with distortions and falsehoods. The issue is serviceable big man, not necessarily quality. I put Ferguson in that category. You seem to feel he is worse than that. We still came in 4th in the regular season but did you miss that. We were competitive, won the MAAC tourney and everybody was happy, but it still doesn't alter the facts of what we were. And no where are we calling him a bad coach, that is just your implication, just one who has problems recruiting a the 6'6" level and higher. In fact almost to a man, you have criticized every on of that height that gets mentioned. Few may pick up on that but you haven't had a kind word for any potential recruit at that height. Good recruiters snag a couple away from those "higher level" schools or do you think they shouldn't or can't. One questions your motives in commenting on Glover. Where did you get your info that St Francis pulled their offer. Was it not because John Nash left the program and he was behind Glover going there. One starts to think you invent your premises. In fact you bring up academics but fail to acknowledge the SPC approach. We have now had four players enter school as non qualifiers before they could become eligible. Somehow bitching about Glover academics seems self serving to me. Just review the players at 6'6' or better we have gotten over the past six recruiting seasons. Bacon- Came to us after DE pulled offer. Costner- first one for Dunne Shumate- took up two years of scholarships Hill- sent to us by Regis Conley- good find but academic concern Belin- JUCO and was a commit before season ended Ferguson JUCO late pick up Now six recruiting seasons with few players of height and begs some issues on either his approach or targets.
|
|
|
Post by oldtimer1 on May 23, 2011 22:05:29 GMT -5
Absolutely accurate post about big men in the MAAC. There is a lot more luck in recruiting than some realize. As posted above, most MAAC coaches while they target "name" players usually wind up recruiting under the radar types and hope they catch a good one or as in the case s of Rossiter, Thompson and Johnson get a bit lucky.
Forgotten in analyzing last years team is the job JD did with Jeron Belin. Belin in his Junior year and at the start of last year was, at times, a detriment to the team. Kept taking ill advised outside shots and often played out of control. The staff constantly told him what he needed to do in order to contribute. Didn't really work until he was taken out of the starting lineup and made sixth man. Finally, everthing clickerd and the rest as they say is history. Masterful job by the head coach and entire staff.
Equally tough decisions may have to be made this year. Only Darius and Steve are really set. The rest is very much up in the air. One thing can be said, however....there is a lot of talent on the SPC roster.
|
|