MAAC Preseason Interview

[Deleted]

www.maacsports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=17400

Jimmy talks about the team. Filmed 1 month ago.

He sounds enthusiastic. Calls Brett Bisping the heart and soul.

Thinks Silas could lead league in blocked shots.
Expects Oliver to be solid.
Long to come off the bench but had good summer.
Clareth to perhaps start.

Thinks Kinnon can score at this level.
Mentions Wormley and Fisher.

Talks about Javion's reasons for returning.

[saintsandeagles]

Any news on JO's eligibility? The NCAA should be deciding soon based on the timeline that Jimmy mentioned previously.

[SaintMisbehavin]

Just a few other notes from the video:

Not only was Wormley mentioned, he said he'd "be in the contention to start".

On Nico - "there's a chance he could start, maybe not until mid-year, still has to learn some things."

I'm not saying it's happening, but IF Siena starts two freshman by mid-season, would that change your expectations for this season's team at all?

Also specifically said Lavon would most likely come off the bench this year "...to save him from foul trouble, he's really good at the end of games, I need him." Said he's had a good summer, will be a 6th man that plays starter's minutes. It's been mentioned before, but reiterating that expectation.


#PatsosProjections

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2015 13:47:40 GMT -5 SaintMisbehavin said:

Just a few other notes from the video:

Not only was Wormley mentioned, he said he'd "be in the contention to start".

On Nico - "there's a chance he could start, maybe not until mid-year, still has to learn some things."

I'm not saying it's happening, but IF Siena starts two freshman by mid-season, would that change your expectations for this season's team at all?

Also specifically said Lavon would most likely come off the bench this year "...to save him from foul trouble, he's really good at the end of games, I need him." Said he's had a good summer, will be a 6th man that plays starter's minutes. It's been mentioned before, but reiterating that expectation.


#PatsosProjections

Ah I missed the Wormley on the first pass. He sort of mumbled that.
If he's impressed enough with Wormley to consider starting him, that bodes well so far.
If Siena is going to succeed, both Clareth and Wormley need to be solid.

This was a month ago now that they recorded this. It will be interesting to see what he says this week and if anything has changed after September workouts and a few practices.

[Deleted]

Patsos does seem more enthusiastic about this team. Sure, he gave the "better in March than in November" speech because of the schedule but I think he likes this team.

[hoopjunkie]

The youth of Nico and Kenny will bring growing pains, and that's why I pushed so hard for a JC/transfer eligible wing with that last scholarship.

Unfortunately I think we're still short a proven perimeter scorer from making a real run this year.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2015 15:32:50 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

The youth of Nico and Kenny will bring growing pains, and that's why I pushed so hard for a JC/transfer eligible wing with that last scholarship.

Unfortunately I think we're still short a proven perimeter scorer from making a real run this year.

If that's the case, isn't that an indictment of the coach's roster management as we've said?

I highly doubt this team is going to be built around perimeter shooting but that doesn't mean they don't have a chance to make a run. This year is going to come down to the non 3 point shooting stats.

It's going to come down to turnover margin, rebounding, FG% defense, and fouls on both sides of the ball. This team is built more for energy defense and attacking off the bounce and in transition.

The half court offense is probably not going to be pretty vs. zones but we do have more dribble drivers....and they're long and athletic...not 5-9. I think this team can win with its energy, toughness, and athleticism.

Siena both took and made the fewest 3's per game in the conference last year. I don't see that changing.
Guess who took the 2nd fewest? Monmouth.

Patsos won a ton of games with a Loyola team that shot just 29.9 % from three and averaged just 4 made 3's per game.

The common denominator for Patsos is forced turnovers, blocked shots, and drawn fouls.
This team has all that:

That year, Loyola averaged 7.14 steals per game..
Last year, Siena averaged 7.52 steals per game and are now quicker and more athletic.

Loyola averaged 4.42 blocks per game.
With Silas, Siena averaged 4.68 blocks per game.

Loyola got to the FT line 22.46 times per game.
Siena has gotten to the FT line over 23.5 times per game both of the last 2 years. (2nd to only Manhattan)

Loyola averaged 34.5 boards per game.
With Silas and Bisping, Siena averaged 37.6 boards per game.

2 years ago Siena lacked perimeter D but had the other stuff. Last year, they forced more turnovers but lost the interior guys.
This year they could combine the 2 for a team that, on paper, looks Loyola-esque.

That team only averaged 66.9 points per game.

[hoopjunkie]

What year are you referring to when talking about Loyola? The year they won the MAAC tourney?

[Tony]

Normally at MAAC level if you lean on freshmen too much, it is never a good thing. If Siena is going to have a solid year it is likely going to have to come from Wright, Long, Oliver, Brett, Imoh and JO

Like seeing Jimmy enthusiastic- he is going to need to be, if JO is ruled ineligible Saints are likely to be picked in bottom half of conference, team is going to have to exceed expectations

[Deleted]

The years of our MAAC success had coaches that ran complicated offenses with many, many sets/plays and multiple options. Kids were recruited with high basketball IQ's as a major, but not limiting, goal. Those freshmen that quickly learned and got comfortable with the big playbook found early career minutes and grew into key roles quickly. It doesn't seem that Jimmy's recruits "need" that skill set as his offense is very simple with much fewer plays to learn and master. This year's team will succeed when it is able to run, run and run some more - we've got the speed and deep bench so it can happen. We may see many of the Marc Brown transition into an open 3 trips with guys like Kenny, Nico and Marquis. Look for runs to the paint and kickbacks to Brett, Ryan, Evan (if and when he gets minutes) and even Lavon. I'm anticipating a fast paced game in the high 70's or 80's with a minimum of 10 guys that played meaningful minutes. One can only hope!

[Deleted]

Oct 6, 2015 0:22:57 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

What year are you referring to when talking about Loyola? The year they won the MAAC tourney?

The year after...when they won 23 games but lost in the tourney. It's not hard to look up these things.

[Deleted]

Oct 6, 2015 4:12:39 GMT -5 Tony said:

Normally at MAAC level if you lean on freshmen too much, it is never a good thing. If Siena is going to have a solid year it is likely going to have to come from Wright, Long, Oliver, Brett, Imoh and JO

Like seeing Jimmy enthusiastic- he is going to need to be, if JO is ruled ineligible Saints are likely to be picked in bottom half of conference, team is going to have to exceed expectations

Yeah, those guys are important but a team needs to be well rounded. Even if they do what they've done, we still need the frosh guards to have an impact or Siena isn't going anywhere.

Without their athleticism Siena is sunk.