"We wanted to play with intensity and we got the ball inside in the second half," Canisius coach Jim Baron said. "We worked the high-low and we really wanted to key on that. Manhertz ¦ he was the difference. He really was a big-time difference maker." ....
"Our frontcourt has been a strength for the most part and we have a point guard (K.J. Rose) that's given us some bright moments, but scoring in our backcourt and consistency at the two guard has been a weakness," said Johnson, who took over an hour to emerge from the locker room and speak to the media. "It's been a while since we've had some good play at that position, so I went with Steve to back up Justin (Jenkins)." If only Johnston's teammates could have brought the same energy in the second half as he did....
Later, Canisius added a 14-2 burst to open a 60-38 with 9:31 left and deflate the air from the Stags' balloon. "We wanted to press them and we wanted to keep attacking," Jim Baron said. "We did that. We got Manhertz going inside. We got Zach Lewis playing well. That's what we've done since Day 1. And we wanted to continue to do that."....
Once Canisius took command, it seemed as though the Stags, for maybe just the second time all season (Richmond was the other time), got frustrated and appeared not to give their best effort. "This was the first time in a long time where I didn't see the fight that we normally have," Johnson said. "I think our fight has been remarkable this season, but today, we didn't have it." .....
This was the seventh loss in 10 games at the WBA this season, and there are just four home games left (and nine overall) before the MAAC tournament. If the Stags don't find some secret ingredient to start winning games, this will end up being the worst season in Fairfield's Division I history.
"It's awful to go about our business the way we did in the second half," Johnson said. "They have to understand that's not what we're going to accept. We're going to fight every single game until the very last game and I wanted to make that very clear."....
Maybe we need all walk-ons. But who is going to choose them. "For MAYBE the second time all season ... the Stags got frustrated and APPEARED not to give their best effort." Did Elsberry watch the Siena game, or any of the other games where perhaps they appeared not to give their best effort? Johnson says that our fight has been remarkable all season? I thought he repeatedly was questioning the team's fight!!
SJ wouldn't let Nickerson off the bench during his (SJs) first year. He then ran off Fields & Matthews. The guys he brought in don't have the fire that that trio had. In the radio broadcast, Huessler & DeSantis weren't complimentary about the effort.
Maybe we need all walk-ons. But who is going to choose them. "For MAYBE the second time all season ... the Stags got frustrated and APPEARED not to give their best effort." Did Elsberry watch the Siena game, or any of the other games where perhaps they appeared not to give their best effort? Johnson says that our fight has been remarkable all season? I thought he repeatedly was questioning the team's fight!!
A I left the WBA yesterday, it was apparent to me this team "quit" on Sidney. That is very disturbing. I have given up, on an expectation of winning any more games this year. However, I was hoping that I could at least leave the arena pointing to some improvement in one area of the stags play. Something to build on for next year, anything. Not so yesterday and that is disturbing. There is no consistency with this team.
I agree that much of the team quit in the 2nd half. It started with our frontcourt allowing Manhertz to grab every O-board to start the 2nd half. And it was compounded, by us missing easy layups (Coleman). A Close game became a quick double digit lead, and the team seemed to give-up at that point. That is NOT standard for this years yeam. They might be young and not as talented in certain areas, but they have played hard for most of the season.
What was also disturbing is that when we then started to play fast break basketball in the Middle of the 2nd half..... and that really exposed the weaknesses of our team. The lack of Ballhandling, Passing and Quickness was a level (or 2) below Canisius. Those 3 skills/talents are the basis of a good player and a good team, and in a fast paste game all 3 skills were exposed. The good/bad news was that Rose seemed to beat every one down court..... And thats while he was dribbling. Where was everyone else. We need to really practice our ballhandling, and bring in ballhandlers.
In addition to shooting well, I thought Stevie Johnston brought good defense and the experience of knowing how to get open. He is now our 6th different option we have used at 2G (Chappell, Marcus, Davis, Grennan, Jenkins and Johnston). 5 of those 6 have been given good chaces to start and prove themselves, and the result has been inconsistency. I guess the StevieJ is our new hope.
I wish Canisius well (I have several relatives on my wife's side who graduated from there) but I will find it very distressing if they make it to the NCAA's this year. They were a PIG team for about a dozen (or more) years in a row, while Fairfield was having a very good decade. For them to make it to the tourney before we do would be a travesty.
Canisius better make the NCAA this year because they will drop to the bottom of the MAAC next year once their senior starters and Billy Baron leave. Every dog has its day and the Griffs turn is most likely this year. The stags on the other hand are at least three years away from potentially competing for a shot at the NCAA tourney. That assumes you believe Sidney can get it done by recruiting better players! I personally have not given up on Sid and the program he is trying to build. However, with every game this year and the results from the two previous years, I have my doubts? I perceived Sids' signing of players early in the recruitment cycle (more so then previous coaches)was a good sign. Not so sure anymore? Outside of KJ Rose, I am unimpressed by the this years recruits(Davis,Chapelle,Smith,Grennan,Malcolm Gilbert). Of last years recruits only Marcus Gilbert has impressed. Sidibe, Jenkins, Johnson are erratic and the European(can't remember his name) is already gone. Next years recruits includes a 6'- 10" project from a small prep-school league in CT., another midget guard (aka- Wade II) this time from Tx.,a shooting guard from boston area who several members of this board have seen play and have said will fill the gap at the #2 guard spot( we'll see), a big forward, Deegnan from pearl river , ny who I have seen play twice. I'm not impressed. Is my assessment wrong? Perhaps. I actually hope I am wrong and in three years we will be competing for a NCAA bid in the same way that the Griffs are doing this year. God willing i'll be around to see. Go stags!
Canisius better make the NCAA this year because they will drop to the bottom of the MAAC next year once their senior starters and Billy Baron leave. Every dog has its day and the Griffs turn is most likely this year. The stags on the other hand are at least three years away from potentially competing for a shot at the NCAA tourney. That assumes you believe Sidney can get it done by recruiting better players! I personally have not given up on Sid and the program he is trying to build. However, with every game this year and the results from the two previous years, I have my doubts? I perceived Sids' signing of players early in the recruitment cycle (more so then previous coaches)was a good sign. Not so sure anymore? Outside of KJ Rose, I am unimpressed by the this years recruits(Davis,Chapelle,Smith,Grennan,Malcolm Gilbert). Of last years recruits only Marcus Gilbert has impressed. Sidibe, Jenkins, Johnson are erratic and the European(can't remember his name) is already gone. Next years recruits includes a 6'- 10" project from a small prep-school league in CT., another midget guard (aka- Wade II) this time from Tx.,a shooting guard from boston area who several members of this board have seen play and have said will fill the gap at the #2 guard spot( we'll see), a big forward, Deegnan from pearl river , ny who I have seen play twice. I'm not impressed. Is my assessment wrong? Perhaps. I actually hope I am wrong and in three years we will be competing for a NCAA bid in the same way that the Griffs are doing this year. God willing i'll be around to see. Go stags!
Actually, I think Degnan is pretty good and will be an excellent player for the stags. He's a good shooter to the arc and has a really good finishing touch around the rim (something we desperately need.). Good passer too. He will be a real asset.
Outside of KJ Rose, I am unimpressed by the this years recruits(Davis,Chapelle,Smith,Grennan,Malcolm Gilbert). Of last years recruits only Marcus Gilbert has impressed. Sidibe, Jenkins, Johnson are erratic and the European(can't remember his name) is already gone. Next years recruits includes a 6'- 10" project from a small prep-school league in CT., another midget guard (aka- Wade II) this time from Tx.,a shooting guard from boston area who several members of this board have seen play and have said will fill the gap at the #2 guard spot( we'll see), a big forward, Deegnan from pearl river , ny who I have seen play twice. I'm not impressed. Is my assessment wrong? Perhaps. I actually hope I am wrong and in three years we will be competing for a NCAA bid in the same way that the Griffs are doing this year. God willing i'll be around to see. Go stags!
I have seen enough of Gilbert, Smith and Sidibe to have reason to believe they could be key components of a championship team. I like them all. I haven't seen enough evidence that anyone else will be a key element of a championship team. and since the other recruits are all guards, it is reason for concern that we will not have all of the pieces in place during Sidibe and Gilberts senior season, which should be our next best shot to make a run.
Outside of KJ Rose, I am unimpressed by the this years recruits(Davis,Chapelle,Smith,Grennan,Malcolm Gilbert). Of last years recruits only Marcus Gilbert has impressed. Sidibe, Jenkins, Johnson are erratic and the European(can't remember his name) is already gone.
In most years, the average would be to pick up 1 player that can be an all-MAAC type of player. In good years, we could possibly get 2 (thats what makes championship teams). But all coaches recruit a lot of of "Misses". But the key is that how many All-MAAC Players we get, not the misses. Could Marcus, Mo, or Rose be All-MAAC someday?? But to review this squad, you have to look at all 4 classes:
Seniors: Barrow- Maybe All-MAAC (Fields/Matthews.... non-starters) Juniors: None (Adam Jones, Kevin Thomas, Van Nes, Keegan Hyland.... all produced zero ) Sophs: Marcus - Probably All-MAAC this year (Sidibe, Coleman, Jenkins, Grennan, Malcolm, Mikulic.... all up and down) Frosh: Rose - Potenital All-MAAC (Chappell, Davis, Smith... non-starters )
The bottom line is that Syndey has not recruited a Needhan\Han\Todd type of player, at guard.... and that is what affects us this year. But lets not ignore the fact that the Junior and Senior classes were worse that the Soph and Frosh classes.
What has Smith shown that would make him a key component of a championship team. The only threes he makes are in practice. As for Sidibe, like others, he has regressed.
Outside of KJ Rose, I am unimpressed by the this years recruits(Davis,Chapelle,Smith,Grennan,Malcolm Gilbert). Of last years recruits only Marcus Gilbert has impressed. Sidibe, Jenkins, Johnson are erratic and the European(can't remember his name) is already gone.
In most years, the average would be to pick up 1 player that can be an all-MAAC type of player. In good years, we could possibly get 2 (thats what makes championship teams). But all coaches recruit a lot of of "Misses". But the key is that how many All-MAAC Players we get, not the misses. Could Marcus, Mo, or Rose be All-MAAC someday?? But to review this squad, you have to look at all 4 classes:
Seniors: Barrow- Maybe All-MAAC (Fields/Matthews.... non-starters) Juniors: None (Adam Jones, Kevin Thomas, Van Nes, Keegan Hyland.... all produced zero ) Sophs: Marcus - Probably All-MAAC this year (Sidibe, Coleman, Jenkins, Grennan, Malcolm, Mikulic.... all up and down) Frosh: Rose - Potenital All-MAAC (Chappell, Davis, Smith... non-starters )
The bottom line is that Syndey has not recruited a Needhan\Han\Todd type of player, at guard.... and that is what affects us this year. But lets not ignore the fact that the Junior and Senior classes were worse that the Soph and Frosh classes.
Another dig at Cooley. Stop living and blaming the previous regime. This isn't politics. Sydney is in his 3RD YEAR and his team stinks. Enough about the junior ans senior classes. Sydney did not address it and that is on HIM!!!!!!!
No dig at Cooley, I was one of his biggest supporters. I am just trying to be objective. Cooley left a loaded team for Sydney for one year, and we almost won it. But in all reality Sydney had to rebuild the entire frontcourt 2 years ago because we had no player taller than Mo Barrow. And this year we had to rebuild the entire Backcourt.
That Junior and Senior class was poor, sorry if it makes you upset. And what made it worse is that some of the players that were mere images of others..... Barrow=Matthews (undersized PF's). Fields=Nickerson (no offense, aggresive defenders). Sydney did not fix the guard issue this year, and thats on him.
