...There is one person in Division I ball averaging 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. That person is English, a Delaware product whose only D-I scholarship offer coming out of prep school was a late one from Iona. Now 2 ½ seasons into his college career, the junior point guard has compiled 1,122 points, 292 rebounds and 281 assists for the Gaels. In a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference full of balky offenses, English and forward Davie Laury (21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds) make the league’s most explosive attack go...
As bad as our game play and coaching adjustments are, recruiting is a worse mess. Let's face it: Nolan was a blessing in our backyard who wanted to stay here. Nelson is the only true stand-out. I think we took a chances on everyone else. The way we offer 50-60 kids compared to 10-12 for most other MAAC schools, it makes me think again our coaches can't decide who is good or not (just like in settling on a starting 5) , and we don't have the confidence in closing the deal on a few top dogs. We probably have the wrong guys out scouting recruits. You can't get tight with 50 kids, and how the heck can they feel really targeted by us when they are 1of 50.
Post by fairfieldfan on Jan 27, 2015 20:48:35 GMT -5
100% agree about coaches ability (or inability) to scout recruits! But maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions about Nolan being a "blessing"….He is rumored to be a red shirt next year so he won't even be able to make an impact for 2 years……and, I am sure that many of the kids that are on the team right now were "stand outs" in their own high schools….Hey, I hope he is a blessing for the Stags but we need more than just one player—we need a new regime!
Enough about Nolan! Fans can praise him after his first game wearing a Fairfield university jersey in an actual college game. There are a lot of good high school players out there who get dominated in D1 basketball games. We should be focused on what we have instead of what we MIGHT have in the future. Future players can't fix the mess of a team that we have now.
Agree, Jane. Seriously, D1 basketball is a different beast. We got blessed to get Nelson. That is a true blessing.
And how many MAAC teams have 5 studs? I know the answer. NONE.
There are many roles players, and the coach have to be crafty using them.
Three hypotheticals: 1. Opposing offense dominating us inside. SOLUTION: Insert Malcolm in the Middle! 2. Opposing team has an important inbound. Solution: Insert Malcom to guard the inbound. 3. Nelson is getting face guarded. Solution: Insert Smith, another sharpshooter.
*These little adjustments which slightly improve your odds, make the difference between WINNING and losing in the MAAC.
Post by stagshoops3 on Jan 28, 2015 7:17:57 GMT -5
I'm no fan of Sydney but give him credit for landing Marcus Gilbert. The kid had been able to play in this conference since day 1. Sidibe has also been very productive.
If Tommy Nolan is as good as his fan club he might go down as Fairfield's all time leading scorer.
People are right to wait and see on Nolan, but I have seen the articles on his last minute heroics this season and last. He has brought Prep back in games that were impending losses to wins based on his sheer will to take over....steals, assists, you name it. That intensity is missing from the Stags, or if we have it, the couple of players that do have that attitude don't have the skill to put the points up. He's a top CT player and we don't get many. I don't think Nolan is a Sydney-type recruit...that's what makes him exciting.
Nelson looks very promising as the passionate leader type.
Marcus was a good one too I admit, but he disappears for long periods, and he does not show the passion of a fighter. He tends to push late, when the game is lost. Still great though.
I do feel Smith could be a nightmare when played with Nelson and Marcus....and they don't even need to be 3 pointers. Nothing wrong with good shooters hitting 15 footers.
Last Edit: Jan 28, 2015 9:15:36 GMT -5 by stagparty
Well I'm laughing now because I have been touting Tommy Nolan for quite a while and leading his 'fan club' as you call it.... I'm going to see Prep play tonight away against Cheshire (8-3). Second ranked Prep is 11-0. There is an article on them heading today's Post Sports page. Here are some of the variables about his future as a Stag: 1. Will he redshirt next year as is widely rumored? We don't know the reason for that........ gaining strength? academics? no scholarship available? etc. 2. Will Sydney still be coaching him whenever he does gets to play? As I've mentioned before, I do not think he'll thrive under the current system employed by Sydney, too restrictive! He has great court sense, but how will he be used, or benched for that matter.....? Remember where Tyler was the first few games? 3. As far as his scoring ability, he can throw up 20+ points or only 4 as one opponent held him to recently, focusing on defending him more than his other teammates, but that didn't mean Prep lost. Most wins are double digit even in light of that. Why? Because Prep has a balanced attack and Tommy is not selfish, so his floor play breaking the press, getting assists, hustling to get back on defense, stealing the ball makes him a crucial cog in the Prep machine. He is not concerned about his scoring but rather winning games. 4. Talk of being a great player or all time scorer are obviously premature. Could he be one of the best? Sure. I suspect that assuming he doesn't get injured or have some unforeseen problem arise, and if he is utilized in a similar system that he has thrived in for years, that most of us will be singing his praises down the road. 5. I am confident in saying this, that if we had a team of Tommy Nolans right now with the same heights as our current players, AND playing in the Prep system (NOT SYDNEY'S!), that the Stags would be vying for first place with Iona rather than trying to avoid last place as we find ourselves in now. No doubt in my mind!! 6. We don't know what position he would be playing when he is on the team. He's more of a combo guard, can run the point if necessary, or be the #2. He's too small to be a 3, but in a 3 guard system he could excel assuming you have 2 big men to do the rebounding. I feel that would be his bread and butter, full court press, fast breaks, etc. The question then is who will he be in the backcourt with, Rome, Tyler, or someone else? Most importantly, who will be coaching at that time? Too far into the future to project......
The way we offer 50-60 kids compared to 10-12 for most other MAAC schools, it makes me think again our coaches can't decide who is good or not (just like in settling on a starting 5) , and we don't have the confidence in closing the deal on a few top dogs. We probably have the wrong guys out scouting recruits. You can't get tight with 50 kids, and how the heck can they feel really targeted by us when they are 1of 50.
We only have 12 recruits that are listed for Verbal Commits for 2015. There really has not been any difference in the number of recruits we offer/follow compared to other schools. So there has been no difference in our past recruiting. For 2016, there has been 50 plus recruits...... that is new..... but we also need a lot of players in 2016. But most schools follow a lot of kids when its 1.5 to 2 years out. My guess 100's of kids. A kid that has an offer and his graduating class is more that 1 year out, means nothing, because the kid cannot sign an LOI in his junior year anyways.
But I do agree that we have to start recruiting the right guys. Our Recruiting has not been good under Sydney, especially for guards...... And that is the #1 REASON by far that we are in the position were are in. Its too early to give final grades on Tyler, Rome Degnan. But I would say that Sydney's recruiting for Frontcourt and Guards have been:
I do feel Tyler and Rome have the potential to be All-MAAC and they are not figured in that "F", but they certainly could be they key recruits (in addition to Tommy Nolan).
No scholarship available for Nolan for next year. Hence the potential redshirt. Maybe one will open up due to current conditions on team and player/coach happiness? But that was the only reason for expected redshirt. He could play right now as far as talent and toughness are concerned. Finally- In regards to those thinking he wasn't highly sought after--he has offers from other successful MAAC schools and other conferences as well. Just because he and other FP players of the past keep their college offers to themselves and aren't hype machines like others- doesn't mean there weren't some very unhappy coaches when decision made.
I believe we have 1 available scholarship for next year.
I'd say with Tyler that raises the backcourt grade to a D. He needs to be more aggressive in driving and shooting however, he's just too cautious and afraid to make a mistake!
Joe, guess I didn't scroll down enough on your post to see that you weren't including Rome and Tyler in that 'F' grade, so I do concur with you on that.
It says Fairfield only has 1 scholarship for next season, which is why SJ is trying to run off Smith and Chappell. I despise this practice. If you bring players in, and you either can't develop them or you missed completely, you (the coach) should be accountable. Brushing the kid off STINKS! Its also why SJ won't bring back Malcolm Gilbert. Here's the question: If all that goes according to SJ's plan, do you bring him and his ability to judge talent back to make those selections, or do you cut bait?
Marcus was a good one too I admit, but he disappears for long periods, and he does not show the passion of a fighter. He tends to push late, when the game is lost. Still great though.
Marcus basically plays 40 minutes a night if he is not in foul trouble, is our best defensive player, and on an atrocious offensive team/scheme is average almost 16 PPG. Plus, if there is one player on this team to trust in a close game with the ball it is Marcus. I'm not saying he's perfect but I can't criticize anything he does for this team.
I'm hoping that Stevie won't be brought back next year opening up that scholarship. I'd like to see the same for Malcolm as well, but guessing that he will come back in order to play with his brother another year. The unknowns would be possible transfers of players like Smith or Chappell who just don't get the playing time under Syd's system, or if Syd will still be coaching....
