7 games down

[Tony]

And I couldn’t be happier with job Jimmy has done. He has brought in some good young talent and veterans have “bought” in to Jimmy’s game. No players making a bigger turn around than Hymes or Bisping- get off their jocks please. Wright is the real deal and will only get better. White is struggling a bit in “up” games, but he will come around. Wolfe has a huge upside,kid just needs to get stronger. Lavon has shown huge potential to be a very good player for us, another kid that is adjusting to level of competition we have been facing lately. Another player to get off their backs is Poole-- C’mon will you every team we face concentrating on shutting him down- want proof—how many wide open 3’s does Rob get- now contrast that with Oliver.. and you’ll see what I’m talking about. We really need Ryan to take those open 3’s when they present themselves. The other thing we desperately need is JO back. Silas and Bisping have done well done low- but they both are mainly junk scorers and not a true low post presence , Javion gives us that presence and we need him back desperately – to loosen things up on perimeter.

Over all one would think Siena fans would be upset with 2-5 – given the rebuilding job Jimmy faced, the demanding schedule the program wrecker handed him and I personally couldn’t be happier. We will get thru this stretch and team will be better for having gone thru it. Our young guys will continue to improve. The next two games are gravy—then it’s off for Buffalo trip.( and the end of the crazy portion of our schedule) We then get 10 of next 13 games at home, including one stretch with 6 straight home games. MAAC teams better get us this year- because it’s not going to be so easy very very soon. Program is indeed in good hands and the future is sooooo damn bright

[hooligan]

What's really giving me hope is the losses to Lasalle and Purdue. If the team can play like that I don't think it's inconceivable that they will be playing on Sunday in the maac tourney or even Monday. To say they will win it would be a stretch but a longer than expected run would be a great thing.

[yankee]

Nov 29, 2013 5:49:13 GMT -5 Tony said:

And I couldn’t be happier with job Jimmy has done. He has brought in some good young talent and veterans have “bought” in to Jimmy’s game. No players making a bigger turn around than Hymes or Bisping- get off their jocks please. Wright is the real deal and will only get better. White is struggling a bit in “up” games, but he will come around. Wolfe has a huge upside,kid just needs to get stronger. Lavon has shown huge potential to be a very good player for us, another kid that is adjusting to level of competition we have been facing lately. Another player to get off their backs is Poole-- C’mon will you every team we face concentrating on shutting him down- want proof—how many wide open 3’s does Rob get- now contrast that with Oliver.. and you’ll see what I’m talking about. We really need Ryan to take those open 3’s when they present themselves. The other thing we desperately need is JO back. Silas and Bisping have done well done low- but they both are mainly junk scorers and not a true low post presence , Javion gives us that presence and we need him back desperately – to loosen things up on perimeter.

Over all one would think Siena fans would be upset with 2-5 – given the rebuilding job Jimmy faced, the demanding schedule the program wrecker handed him and I personally couldn’t be happier. We will get thru this stretch and team will be better for having gone thru it. Our young guys will continue to improve. The next two games are gravy—then it’s off for Buffalo trip.( and the end of the crazy portion of our schedule) We then get 10 of next 13 games at home, including one stretch with 6 straight home games. MAAC teams better get us this year- because it’s not going to be so easy very very soon. Program is indeed in good hands and the future is sooooo damn bright

High, I knew you're name is Tony, but I never knew I was in the presence of Anthony Robbins.

[greenblood]

We're coming off three years of watching plsyers regress into an abyss. You more thsn most should be able to relate to that after Chuckie Boy.

[SaintsFan]

I love where it is headed. One thing I would like to see is at least two key commits.... SOON

[siena79]

Agreed. We need to upgrade the talent level/potential of some of scholarships that were awarded during the Mitch years. It's not fair to the player, the team, the coach or the program to have scholarships tied up for 4 years on players who cannot compete on the Division 1 level. I agree with "Saints Fan"; two or three additional high quality scholarship players are critical to the team being able to reach the next level in the next few years.

[bigsaintg]

They need to be able to shoot, which would open up a lot of things for others. Top two targets, Taplin and Brandweijk (as of now) can both shoot and are athletic. With the fun style of play and our fan base (couple that with dinner at Jacks or Prime) we shoujld be getting a couple good players this spring.

[hoopjunkie]

Nov 29, 2013 5:49:13 GMT -5 Tony said:

And I couldn’t be happier with job Jimmy has done. He has brought in some good young talent and veterans have “bought” in to Jimmy’s game. No players making a bigger turn around than Hymes or Bisping- get off their jocks please. Wright is the real deal and will only get better. White is struggling a bit in “up” games, but he will come around. Wolfe has a huge upside,kid just needs to get stronger. Lavon has shown huge potential to be a very good player for us, another kid that is adjusting to level of competition we have been facing lately. Another player to get off their backs is Poole-- C’mon will you every team we face concentrating on shutting him down- want proof—how many wide open 3’s does Rob get- now contrast that with Oliver.. and you’ll see what I’m talking about. We really need Ryan to take those open 3’s when they present themselves. The other thing we desperately need is JO back. Silas and Bisping have done well done low- but they both are mainly junk scorers and not a true low post presence , Javion gives us that presence and we need him back desperately – to loosen things up on perimeter.

Over all one would think Siena fans would be upset with 2-5 – given the rebuilding job Jimmy faced, the demanding schedule the program wrecker handed him and I personally couldn’t be happier. We will get thru this stretch and team will be better for having gone thru it. Our young guys will continue to improve. The next two games are gravy—then it’s off for Buffalo trip.( and the end of the crazy portion of our schedule) We then get 10 of next 13 games at home, including one stretch with 6 straight home games. MAAC teams better get us this year- because it’s not going to be so easy very very soon. Program is indeed in good hands and the future is sooooo damn bright

You're dead on for 95% of this post, but you can't continue to give Poole the "pass" every game because the scouting report says, "the white kid Poole is their leading scorer, likes to shoot it a lot." That attention wanes throughout the game, and faster than you think when the opponent sees there's more dangerous kids than him out there to deal with. Somehow Brown, Bennerman, Kenny, Edwin, Ryan etc found great success while being, "the man."

He's a nice complimentary player, but the "star" talk (not from everyone) needs to stop. I think it's unfair to him, because he's not that kid. IF we're going to be successful in March we do need him to hit half of his shots, and keep rebounding so well from the wing like he does. He's a good player, not a great one.

[th24]

Hoopjunkie knock off your crap talk about Poole!!!  This Siena team has looked VERY IMPRESSIVE - considering the rough schedule and how young this team is. I will say this right now they will contending for MAAC this year-and going to come down to Iona, Quinnipiac & Siena !!  And Poole will be FIRST team ALL MAAC!!!!

[siena79]

th24, optimism and being positive are great, but your post above borders on delusional and sets up very unrealistic expectations for what is clearly a rebuilding year (if you were being "tongue in cheek", my apologies!)
We get so focused on our own players and program that we tend to overlook the fact that other MAAC schools have players also; Rob Poole is a good player who gives effort, but the odds of him ever being a 1st (or even 2nd) ALL MAAC player are very doubtful. His inability to create his own shot, lack of quickness and being marginal at setting up his teammates (assists)limit his upside.

[CellarRat]

Nov 29, 2013 10:24:07 GMT -5 th24 said:

Hoopjunkie knock off your crap talk about Poole!!!  This Siena team has looked VERY IMPRESSIVE - considering the rough schedule and how young this team is. I will say this right now they will contending for MAAC this year-and going to come down to Iona, Quinnipiac & Siena !!  And Poole will be FIRST team ALL MAAC!!!!

Let's not get hysterical, HJ comments are honest and correct. Poole is solid - very solid, and I'm glad we have him. Let's not make him more than he is.

[bigsaintg]

I agree with Junkie, I am a big Poole fan but he is not the man, more of the #2 guy - he will do well in MAAC play and probably average 15 ppg. I also still get frustrated with Evan (Sorry Tony), he holds the ball way to much and makes too many turnover. He needs to move the ball more on offense and he will still gets his shots and points.

[SIENA1971]

All Poole needs now is a good sports psychologist to get him out of his funk.

He is playing below his abilities right now.

[MTS]

Good post..Tony. This season is all about putting the foundation down for the house and changing the culture back to where Fran had it at. Our record probably isn't going to be pretty for a little while but as long as we see progress I for one will be encouraged!

Now let's kick some St. Joe's butt on ESPNU... Go Saints!!!

[Big papi]

The team is playing fine so far. If they can get shots to fall and find a three point specialist they will win more games. I think Oliver might be that guy. That also has to be where they need to recruit, I'm watching games where guys are making 7 or 8 threes a game. The three can hide alot of faults too.