As Michael Ray Richardson once said: The ship be sinking. What concerns me is if Sydney made eleven mistakes, the players on the roster minus Mo, do I feel confident that the 2014 recruits can turn this ship around. Or is it going to be "We are a young team, the first half of the season will be rough, but we will compete in the MAAC Tournament."
I do not think the intent of leaving players at home was to help morale..... moreso to send a message to those players, and maybe to others, looking for more of a committment and sense of urgency.
That message generally tightens players up. It makes them walk on eggshells. They're already too tight.
Agree that it might tighten players up, but its usually tightens people up who are not pulling their weight or doing their job. The ones that are doing the right thing, sometimes welcome the act of a leader taking control and calling people out.
This again comes down to a short-term decision (Beat Rider), versus the long-term decision to reset committment and expecations for specific players and maybe the team.
I think a few of us sensed this pattern in Sydney's constantly changing line-up /indecision last year.
If Princeton offense relies on a special type of player and is this complicated to learn and execute, why bother? Where will it get us? .500 ball?
Has Syd been dealt an incredibly terrible hand or is he in over his head in the MAAC wars? How many times can everyone tolerate him replacing most of an entire year's recruits and starting over?
I think Von Arx's reaction on this will surprise people. It is on his radar. I can't see this dragging on. The Jesuits believe in action, don't they?
On the radio, Joey D is so wise, articulate and logical in laying out what needs to happen on this play or that play, what went wrong, what players need to do to improve, etc. Never repeats himself. Never coach speak, and you always learn something. Gene should be having secret conversations with him if Gene is smart.
In October ESPN picked the Stags to finish in 6th place but that ain't happenin' anytime soon. The problems that ESPN pointed out still haven't been fixed by SJ. However, they did predict the correct top 5 MAAC teams (at least so far).
2013-14 Preview: Fairfield Stags
Stags could contend in MAAC if issues on offense are corrected
The Princeton offense evokes backdoor cuts and easy 3-point ers -- teams that slow you down and then pick you apart. Well, Fairfield has part of it down, but the offense is not pretty right now. Head coach Sydney Johnson has to figure out a way to improve it if the Stags want to compete in the MAAC's upper echelon. Fairfield had the best defense in the conference last season, but poor 3-point shooting and turnovers held it back.
Fairfield shot 31 percent on 3s during conference play, worst in the MAAC. While the Stags did hit the offensive glass hard, grabbing 37 percent of their misses, it was not enough to bring the offense above middle of the pack. Now two big pieces of that offense -- Derek Needham and Desmond Wade -- have graduated, and two major-conference transfers might hold the key to Fairfield's season.
Malcolm Gilbert and Sean Grennan transferred from Pittsburgh and Seton Hall, respectively, last season. Gilbert, a former top-20 center by multiple recruiting services, transferred from Pitt to play with his brother Marcus at Fairfield. Grennan, who played for the Pirates as a freshman, has a chance to make an immediate impact on a Fairfield backcourt that was left bare thanks to graduation. Grennan is regarded as an excellent shooter and might be the cure to some of Fairfield's 3-point woes.
Another area Fairfield needs to work on is evening out its free throw deficit relative to opponents. The Stags managed to finish last in the MAAC in both offensive and defensive free throw rate last season. The Stags took 117 fewer free throws than their opponents during the MAAC regular season, about 6.5 free throws per game.
If the offense improves to reach the level of Fairfield's defense, the Stags could once again be contenders in the MAAC. Otherwise, Johnson will probably get his club to grind out enough wins on the defensive end to stay right in the middle of the pack.
I think a few of us sensed this pattern in Sydney's constantly changing line-up /indecision last year.
If Princeton offense relies on a special type of player and is this complicated to learn and execute, why bother? Where will it get us? .500 ball?
Has Syd been dealt an incredibly terrible hand or is he in over his head in the MAAC wars? How many times can everyone tolerate him replacing most of an entire year's recruits and starting over?
I think Von Arx's reaction on this will surprise people. It is on his radar. I can't see this dragging on. The Jesuits believe in action, don't they?
On the radio, Joey D is so wise, articulate and logical in laying out what needs to happen on this play or that play, what went wrong, what players need to do to improve, etc. Never repeats himself. Never coach speak, and you always learn something. Gene should be having secret conversations with him if Gene is smart.
Good point about Joe DiSantis. He really does make the game more enjoyable to listen too with his insight and knowledge of the game. After all, he was a former player and coach. And it's his personality too. He's just a really good guy and loves the Stags. But there have been many times during the broadcasts where he and Heussler have literally been at a loss for words. And there is just a silence, a pregnant pause if you will. You just imagine that they are looking at each other in disbelief at some of the play they are witnessing. However, their professionalism would never permit them to state what they were REALLY thinking. I not saying that they don't offer criticism. They do, but don't lay it on as thick as they could. Both have shown remarkable constraint this season.
Last Edit: Feb 4, 2014 16:23:34 GMT -5 by HawkStag
I think a few of us sensed this pattern in Sydney's constantly changing line-up /indecision last year.
If Princeton offense relies on a special type of player and is this complicated to learn and execute, why bother? Where will it get us? .500 ball?
Has Syd been dealt an incredibly terrible hand or is he in over his head in the MAAC wars? How many times can everyone tolerate him replacing most of an entire year's recruits and starting over?
I think Von Arx's reaction on this will surprise people. It is on his radar. I can't see this dragging on. The Jesuits believe in action, don't they?
On the radio, Joey D is so wise, articulate and logical in laying out what needs to happen on this play or that play, what went wrong, what players need to do to improve, etc. Never repeats himself. Never coach speak, and you always learn something. Gene should be having secret conversations with him if Gene is smart.
Good point about Joe DiSantis. He really does make the game more enjoyable to listen too with his insight and knowledge of the game. After all, he was a former player and coach. And it's his personality too. He's just a really good guy and loves the Stags. But there have been many times during the broadcasts where he and Heussler have literally been at a loss for words. And there is just a silence, a pregnant pause if you will. You just imagine that they are looking at each other in disbelief at some of the play they are witnessing. However, their professionalism would never permit them to state what they were REALLY thinking. I not saying that they don't offer criticism. They do, but don't lay it on as thick as they could. Both have shown remarkable constraint this season.
Well if there is one thing professional and better then most about the production of Fairfield basketball, that is it, Huessler and Joey D. Certainly we are lucky to have them both! The thing about Joey and criticism of the team and program however is that he has to be very careful in what he says and how he says it in relation to how he thinks Sydney is doing in his job. For one thing, as a former coach (and one who DID NOT have trememdous success) I'm sure there is definitely a feeling of emphathy for what SJ is going through, and even if he feels everything is being handled incorrectly I'm sure he would feel it would be kind of a cheap shot if he were to constantly harp on all the things he felt SJ was doing wrong. That would be basically attacking a peer in the profession, a person who he might be a friend of, and a man who probably is well respected in the industry (if not Stag fans at the present time). Yet under those circustances I think he does of great job of indeed pointing out certain things that are being mishandled within the context of the game, which is certainly a fair thing to do. But it is a tough spot for him, and for that matter Bob as well.
We are getting pummeled by every team in this league. I will set the over under at 23 losses. Anyone here willing to take the under..? Young or not, there has to be accountability here. It's time to move in another direction and fast.
Disgusting. Temper the enthusiasm if we beat Monmouth on Friday. Keep in mind most didn't want them in the MAAC and we were supposed to be far superior. A victory does not mean improvement. Time to demand better than this. Starts with a coaching change...
Post by 01041949bob on Feb 4, 2014 20:38:13 GMT -5
For the 4th time from me, Coach must go--no ifs ands or buts--he is not the right man--anyone with an ounce of sense knows he cannot lead this team out of this mess
And its about to get.worse SJ now panicking and left davis and grennan home for no particular reason and throuvh out a bogus reason for them not playing .and the players know it.there had to be a shake up .and davis and grennan were the sheep.the players are scared.and from what has been said the team knows he looking to replace them.its a sad thing that is happening . But SJ is in trouble.
Well if there is one thing professional and better then most about the production of Fairfield basketball, that is it, Huessler and Joey D. Certainly we are lucky to have them both! The thing about Joey and criticism of the team and program however is that he has to be very careful in what he says and how he says it in relation to how he thinks Sydney is doing in his job. For one thing, as a former coach (and one who DID NOT have trememdous success) I'm sure there is definitely a feeling of emphathy for what SJ is going through, and even if he feels everything is being handled incorrectly I'm sure he would feel it would be kind of a cheap shot if he were to constantly harp on all the things he felt SJ was doing wrong. That would be basically attacking a peer in the profession, a person who he might be a friend of, and a man who probably is well respected in the industry (if not Stag fans at the present time). Yet under those circustances I think he does of great job of indeed pointing out certain things that are being mishandled within the context of the game, which is certainly a fair thing to do. But it is a tough spot for him, and for that matter Bob as well.
I think DeSantis has done an amazing job of supporting Sydney and being really positive in spite of the negatives he has seen. He proved he was no Joe Namath with his guarantee of a win over Niagara, but he showed enthusiasm and support for the team. I give both Bob and Joe great credit for always supporting the team, and being positive while still talking honestly about the team, the challenges and the shortcomings. Kuddos to both.
And its about to get.worse SJ now panicking and left davis and grennan home for no particular reason and throuvh out a bogus reason for them not playing .and the players know it.there had to be a shake up .and davis and grennan were the sheep.the players are scared.and from what has been said the team knows he looking to replace them.its a sad thing that is happening . But SJ is in trouble.
I hope this is not the case. My first reaction to the decision to leave Grennan and Davis back home is that there were about to become the sacrificial lambs. I realize I have no basis to have that kind of reaction, and I really hope that is not the case. But whenever there is incomplete communication, as we have had now for 3 years, people will, rightly or wrongly make assumptions given the limited information that is available. I think it is an unfortunate place the school, the players, Sydney and the team find themselves in. I hope the team can stay together, and finish the season with some positives, although I don't think it is likely that is what will happen.
Post by 01041949bob on Feb 4, 2014 22:02:15 GMT -5
RF---Just look at the PT for both Davis and Chappell and now throw in Grennan as compared to his favorite Wade clone, KJ--yes all 3 will leave because the Coach is encouraging it by reducing their PT--but he will keep Rose in there
Like everyone else, I'm in the dark as to what's going on with Grennan and Davis ----but what I find interesting is SJ devoted two years to each of these guys. Grennan sat out last year as a transfer and after committing to Fairfield Davis spent a year at a prep school.
From the espn preseason MAAC predictions 73 posted earlier in this thread, Grennan is described as an excellent shooter and a possible cure to our 3-pt shooting woes. Grennan's FG% is .282 and his 3-pt FG% is .283. Hardly the numbers you'd expect to see from an "excellent shooter".
I imagine SJ asked Davis to concentrate on certain aspects of his game at prep school (as best he could while playing for the prep school coach), but Davis' extended stay on the end of the bench while we suffered from poor guard play game after game makes me think SJ doesn't believe Davis will become the player SJ envisioned him becoming.
I saw some solid play at times against Rider. If we can get KJ and Marcus to cut down on their turnovers, we might finally see our 2nd MAAC victory this year against Monmouth. The team took two giant steps backwards with their losses at Monmouth and to Siena after beating Manhattan. Time for us to relearn how to win a game again and to play solid basketball for the full 40 minutes not just 20 or 30 minutes.
Post by 01041949bob on Feb 4, 2014 23:06:15 GMT -5
As you people have surmised, I would hope, I have no faith in Rose and you shouldn't either--it resembles another Wade mess---just like he played Wade he will play Rose till he drops or gets hurt and I hope you guys realize just like I was right about Wade, I will be right about Rose--if Wade was half of the player he was hyped to be and we kept hoping for, we would have been in the NCAA, or at minimum the NIT---Sorry guys Rose is just like the overhyped Wade--he is simply not that good!!!!!---someone please tell SJ--on second thought he won't listen or do anything about it----except run off the other players like he did Crawford and Fields
Actually Bob, you were wrong about Wade. As we've said before, KJ is having the up and down year of virtually all frosh mid-major PGs who get the minutes he gets. I assume you're actually watching the games and have seen his long stretches of very solid play followed by breakdowns, often when he tries to do too much. That's what frosh so often do. You look only at the bad stretches and ignore the good. If we listened to you all the time, only great players as frosh would get minutes. That wouldn't leave too many players.
It's nice to post anonymously on a message board that a man should be fired from his job. That's just the way it is these days. Too bad.
Good coaches have bad years. We can name dozens. And, yes, SJ is a good coach with the wins to prove it.