Wright....

[hoopjunkie]

....is the most important recriit we've gotten in 5 years. This kid is LEGIT, and will be the reason we start winning again in '14-'15. It all starts with the PG's attitude, on both ends of the floor. Get teammates involved and make it difficult for opposing teams to start their offense.

We're gonna take some lumps again this year because we don't have more boys than men right now, especially inside. Jimmy definitely has the ship on the right course. Needs one more impact player on the perimeter, and the interior then the '14-'15 will be a fun season.

No filler kids, but IMPACT. We need to be real picky with the 2 kids we do take this season. No settling.

[MTS]

I totally agree with that. Wright will be a really good PG for us over the next four years. We haven't had good coaching and good PG play in 3 years and now we do. I also think Lavon Long (where ever he plays) will be a very good player for us. The MAAC better get us this season because I agree in 2014-2015 we should be a serious contender to win the MAAC championship especially with the tournament back at the TUC. That said I'm not giving up on this season...the schedule is tough but I still think we can achieve a winning record which would be very important to getting the program back on track.

[bigsaintg]

Can't agree more. Guards rule at this level. I also agree if we can get a good combo guard who can shot and also releive Wright along with a stud forward will bring us to the next level over time.

[Deleted]

Let's not anoint Wright as the savior after 2 exhibition games. I really like this kid but he's got 8 assist and 12 turnovers while shooting 31%. People here have crucified Hymes for less. He gets to the line and forces turnovers but let's let this kid develop before we start crowning him too.

[hoopjunkie]

He's legit. He's just not passing the ball to Kenny, Edwin and Alex. He's EXACTLY what we've been missing, and now we need to let him develop a rapport with his fellow freshman and whatever we had left over from the Mitch era. The two kids we sign this year will be imperative to this group being a special one.

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2013 13:21:01 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

He's legit. He's just not passing the ball to Kenny, Edwin and Alex. He's EXACTLY what we've been missing, and now we need to let him develop a rapport with his fellow freshman and whatever we had left over from the Mitch era. The two kids we sign this year will be imperative to this group being a special one.

Since Siena has zero scholarships available, I'm not sure how you know they will sign exactly 2 players. Could be more or less. You have inside info from every player on the roster about where they will be next year?

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2013 13:21:01 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

He's legit. He's just not passing the ball to Kenny, Edwin and Alex.

Siena was 6-8 from 3pt land yesterday and he had 2 assists vs. 4 turnovers. The rest of the team shot 43.8%. He shot 4-18, 22%.

The issue is not that his teammates are missing shots. The issue is that he's rushing to beat the 24 sec shot clock and is taking all the shots himself.

[Sienafan]

Aug 26, 2013 13:51:52 GMT -5 @saintkk said:

Aug 26, 2013 13:21:01 GMT -5 hoopjunkie said:

He's legit. He's just not passing the ball to Kenny, Edwin and Alex.

Siena was 6-8 from 3pt land yesterday and he had 2 assists vs. 4 turnovers. The rest of the team shot 43.8%. He shot 4-18, 22%.

The issue is not that his teammates are missing shots. The issue is that he's rushing to beat the 24 sec shot clock and is taking all the shots himself.

That's the way JP explained it. Not too worried about it. It's the sort of thing that will be ironed out by the time the regular season starts. Siena is going to have a lot of freshman playing significant roles. That means there will be growing pains, so I'd temper expectations. However, this team will be significantly better and more fun to watch than anything we've seen the past 3 seasons. I just wish there were seniors so that JP could get another decent recruiting class in there quickly. Having no new recruits for the following season slows down the rebuilding process - although technically Cole will most likely be a new addition by then.

[playerparentcoach]

unless you need to replace someone what good will replacing the weakest 3 do but create a new weak 3 ?

[SaintMisbehavin]

Aug 26, 2013 14:38:50 GMT -5 playerparentcoach said:

unless you need to replace someone what good will replacing the weakest 3 do but create a new weak 3 ?

If you believe the mantra "a team is only as strong as its weakest player", then it does a lot of good.

[$cott]

Aug 26, 2013 14:38:50 GMT -5 playerparentcoach said:

unless you need to replace someone what good will replacing the weakest 3 do but create a new weak 3 ?

It often isn't going to be your weakest 3 when people leave. You could have Hopper leave for playing time, White not stay academically eligible, Oliver have another knee injury, and Hymes decide he needs to be closer to his Mom and suddenly there are four open spots just like that. I am 100% against taking away a scholarship from someone. But I am also 100% for Siena to be out there recruiting kids cause you never know when a scholarship opens up and you never know whether these kids might be looking to transfer in a few years and then you already have that relationship.

[Deleted]

The good news for Wright is that when he gets 35 sec possessions again it will seem like forever.

[bigsaintg]

PPC - its a real basic concept. You lose the worse 3 and bring in 3 much better players. If 8,9, and 10 are now 11, 12, and 13 then you are a much better team. The team will also improve in practice with a greater level of talent competing each day. We are not trying to replace 11, 12, and 13 with 3 players, we want to replace guys in the current top 1-8 with good players then we become really good. That's why we use the terms Impact Player and Difference Maker.

Oh and BTW, I am a huge Lavon fan and had hoped Mitch would have signed him in the Fall, it worked out anyway.

[DelmartianEd]

Aug 26, 2013 14:59:14 GMT -5 SaintMisbehavin said:

Aug 26, 2013 14:38:50 GMT -5 playerparentcoach said:

unless you need to replace someone what good will replacing the weakest 3 do but create a new weak 3 ?

If you believe the mantra "a team is only as strong as its weakest player", then it does a lot of good.

Well, Florida Gulf Coast played all their starters for 31+ minutes and played four bench players for 2-9 minutes in their NCAA Tournament win over Georgetown. That means they had four other scholarship players that didn't get into the game. So, no, I don't believe that mantra applies to college basketball.

[playerparentcoach]

Aug 26, 2013 15:24:48 GMT -5 bigsaintg said:

PPC - its a real basic concept. You lose the worse 3 and bring in 3 much better players. If 8,9, and 10 are now 11, 12, and 13 then you are a much better team. The team will also improve in practice with a greater level of talent competing each day. We are not trying to replace 11, 12, and 13 with 3 players, we want to replace guys in the current top 1-8 with good players then we become really good. That's why we use the terms Impact Player and Difference Maker.

Oh and BTW, I am a huge Lavon fan and had hoped Mitch would have signed him in the Fall, it worked out anyway.

Well thats good to hear ...I was beginning to wonder