Our offense was completely different when we had Needham and a healthy Wade. Matter of fact Sydney's offense was very similar to Cooley's offense during the Needham years. And while Wheeler was a greater player than Needham, their role on the team was the same as you described "Wheeler was trusted to get by his man with the dribble and either hit the open man if the defense came to him or take the shot if the open shot was there"
And that exact point is why our Offense has really struggled...... we don't have a guard that takes their man off the Dribble and "Create Offense". And we haven't had it for 2 years...... and I have been repeating myself for 2 years. Wheeler made it happen, Needham made it happen. Wheeler hopefully can be that guy that can show/sell a Cobb or Dukes that they can be as successfull and important to this team as Needham was to Fairfield, and Wheeler was to Rhody. Call it a PG or a Lead guard or both...... that is what we would want from these guards, and Wheeler should be able to point to 2 good examples and say to a recruit...... "We want you at this position"
A few points: - While our offense was different, we still managed to set a school record for fewest points scored in a game with Needham at the helm. So even with a good point guard, there has not really been a time in the Johnson era where the team didn't struggle offensively. - Secondly, Needham was a star and a leader. Sydney gave him the flexibility to run some of the plays Needham liked and Needham was comfortable with. When Needham left the team moved to strictly running Sydney's offense. - This year on quite a few occassions when Segura was in the game, Segura went away from running the set play Sydney had designed and took advantage of the defense to get an easy lay-up. Everytime Segura did that, despite scoring Sydney yanked him from the game. I understand that Sydney is trying to do things offensively, but you have to let players take advantage of what the defense gives them, and of their natural athletic ability. Players that don't have that ability to to that, lose confidence and become tentative. And player don't have the ability to break from the script in this offense scheme that is micromanaging the personnel. - Despite the lack of a true point guard, another coach would have won more games with this group.
Sydney might've employed that type of offense with Needham and Wade but I don't recall ever reading or hearing anyone say the key to a Princeton offense is a PG that can get by his man to create openings. And a Princeton offense is what Sydney played under in college and most likely what was run (either entirely or in large measure) at both Georgetown and Princeton where he coached before coming to Fairfield.
I agree that the key to a Princeton offense is not just the PG being able to create opportunities off the dribble ..... but we don't play the Princeton offense. All offenses really on having multiple players being able to Penetrate and make a play. When we were Needham centric, we had 1 player that could do it...... that is not enough. Look at all the teams in the NCAA, they penetrate and make a play.
The keys to the princeton offense are constant movement without the ball, cuts and crisp passing. I have not seen a true princeton offense run at Fairfield under SJ. A Princeton offense does not rely on a point guard that can get by his man and create openings. It relies on movement and players at all 5 positions that can pass and shoot. An offense like this can help mask the lack of a true center or true point guard. That is one reason why some people feel it should have been run giving our lack of a post scorer or point guard.
I saw the same listing. He doesn't look like a small forward, seems more like a PF. Would be a very solid recruit for us. We need bigs to pair with Degnan going forward. And speaking of Degnan, I hope he can get major minutes next year.
And that exact point is why our Offense has really struggled...... we don't have a guard that takes their man off the Dribble and "Create Offense". And we haven't had it for 2 years...... and I have been repeating myself for 2 years. Wheeler made it happen, Needham made it happen. Wheeler hopefully can be that guy that can show/sell a Cobb or Dukes that they can be as successfull and important to this team as Needham was to Fairfield, and Wheeler was to Rhody. Call it a PG or a Lead guard or both...... that is what we would want from these guards, and Wheeler should be able to point to 2 good examples and say to a recruit...... "We want you at this position"
I wonder if Tyson Wheeler played a part in getting Cobb. Now maybe we can get a Kahlil Dukes too as a transfer.
And that exact point is why our Offense has really struggled...... we don't have a guard that takes their man off the Dribble and "Create Offense". And we haven't had it for 2 years...... and I have been repeating myself for 2 years. Wheeler made it happen, Needham made it happen. Wheeler hopefully can be that guy that can show/sell a Cobb or Dukes that they can be as successfull and important to this team as Needham was to Fairfield, and Wheeler was to Rhody. Call it a PG or a Lead guard or both...... that is what we would want from these guards, and Wheeler should be able to point to 2 good examples and say to a recruit...... "We want you at this position"
I wonder if Tyson Wheeler played a part in getting Cobb. Now maybe we can get a Kahlil Dukes too as a transfer.
in NERR Link above, Good to see that Tyson Wheeler and Sydney were able to have a major influence in getting Cobb. ..... along with the Nelson. Team effort
Fairfield wouldn't be deterred though as assistant coach Tyson Wheeler has pursued Cobb hard for the last eight months and that patience paid off on Sunday as they land a high level talent capable of making an immediate impact in the MAAC. "Curtis loves the school and is very excited to be coached by Coach Johnson," Wilbraham & Monson head coach Mike Mannix said. "Coach Wheeler did a great job recruiting him."
Last Edit: Mar 30, 2015 10:58:28 GMT -5 by JoeStag
As much stock as we put in these recruiting websites, it's amazing that we get a kid like this and NONE OF THE RECRUITING GURUS EVER EVEN MENTIONED US AS BEING INTERESTED.
Hopefully SJ has some other higher level recruits that aren't listed on these sites. If he can reel another one in (maybe a 3-star who can rebound and score in the paint?) it would go a long way towards erasing a very bad taste.
this kid Cobb may be why Tyson Wheeler was not "thrown under the bus" like the other two assistants. I am only guessing the kid would not committ unless Tyson was employed.
Post by stagthomas on Mar 30, 2015 17:43:09 GMT -5
I am curious to why we ended up getting him. Did other schools drop off? What was the trajectory of his recruitment? How did we out recruit these other schools given our predicament?
I am curious to why we ended up getting him. Did other schools drop off? What was the trajectory of his recruitment? How did we out recruit these other schools given our predicament?
From all accounts:
- Tyson Wheeler - Sydney - Tyler Nelson - Availability of PT - and we were on him for longtime - Some players/people want to be a part of of "building" a Championship, and not just be a piece in an existing Championship. Isn't that why people root for Mid Majors?
I would not put too much stock in Verbal commits website. It is accurrate with the tweets, but recruiting is dynamic, and information changes quickly.... i.e they did have Curtis Cobb visiting.
A question: Does a non scholarship player have to sit a year if he transfers to a school that gives him one? PG Trevor Dunbar, whom Fairfield reportedly was interested in, is leaving Washington State. He was there strictly on financial aid.