If it is indeed true the game will not be available via video how does the Macc justify televising games during the regular season and leaving out the most important games like tourney action? another mess I presume--some of us live too far to get to the games---this league needs to wise up!!!
MAAC = POOR LEADERSHIP. Things won't improve without a change at the top.
I swear -- they should have a bunch of us as advisors to run stuff by us before they make these hair-brained decisions. Some people can't make Thursday and would be willing to pay a premium for viewing such an important game. Letting the fans slip away a few at a time.....
For those of you getting to Springfield early on thursday, there will be some Stag Fans at Red Rose Italian restaurant between 2-3pm. And for those Stag Fans who want to go watch the first PIG game at the arena, can go to the Student Prince early (4PM)..... then head to the arena.
This is the first time for men's PIG games on Thursday. In prior years, only the Women PIGs played on thurs and nobody was there. Expect only a few hundred fans.
I've said this for years on this board and I will continue to say it until Fairfield leaves. The MAAC is a debacle. Think about the decisions they've made.
1)Taking the tournament off MSG and going to ESPN 3 for most of the games. They completely lost the NYC market with that move and get no exposure from their tournament whatsoever.
2)Moving the tournament to a state that doesn't even have a MAAC team. Springfield as a town does a nice job, but if a tournament is played in a forest and there's no one there to see it........
3) Having the tournament in Bridgeport and doing NOTHING to promote it in lower Fairfield County, Westchester County, or NYC. No one even knew the tournament was in Bridgeport and the league did nothing to take advantage of the WBA's access via Metro North.
4) Changing the Women's Championship from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon when NO ONE watches or attends.
I could go on, but I think you all get the idea. I fervently hope that now that the Tournament is moving to Albany for three years, that Siena goes to the A-10.
I don't think the schools embrace the tournament the way they should. IMO, the presidents should schedule meetings around the tournament games. If von Arx hosted a president circle meeting or something like that, it would show that he's serious about it.
The new season starts tonight. The question is, how long will it last?
Looking to put one of the worst campaigns in Fairfield basketball history behind them, the Stags begin play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament tonight at 7 in Springfield, Mass., at the Mass Mutual Center against St. Peter's.
Simply, it boils down to Fields vs. Sydney. Can Sydney instill the fire in his team to overcome what will surely be Fields' crazed play borne in retaliation?
Sidibe has to be aggressive on offense. Malcolm also, but in a turn and shoot type of way -- no dribbling!
"This is obviously an exciting time for all of us. This is a special time of year that we're all working for," Stags coach Sydney Johnson said this week on a pre-tournament conference call. "Most everyone is healthy, so we'll be able to put our best foot forward. With us, the youth has certainly shown throughout the season, but we probably couldn't be playing any better." ....
"We've had so much fight in us the last six or seven games," Johnson said. "I'm really happy with the scoring, we've averaging over 70 points a game over those last five or six games."...
"I don't know if it's a swagger or an understanding, but we're playing 40 minutes and we're going hard the entire time," Johnson said. "Young guys sometimes, whether it's basketball or it's life, sometimes they just have to learn things for themselves no matter how much you try to tell them."....
"We're going to play a team that has gotten us twice," Johnson said. "(Coach) John (Dunne) does a great job with his team. They've hit a couple of buzzer-beaters on us, but he's really coached them up well and we know we're going to have our hands full. We just want to be with them down the stretch and have a chance to change the result. I think we're motivated but I don't think we should be too high."...
Over the last eight games, senior forward Maurice Barrow -- who did not make any of the three All-MAAC teams -- is averaging 17.3 points and has three 20-plus-point contests.
"Mo Barrow has been the heart and soul of this team," Johnson said. "He's been sharing co-captain responsibilities with Amadou (Sidibe) and he's been brilliant. He's not one to get affected by the all-conference stuff, but I personally was disappointed for him because I felt like certainly he was one of the top 15, 16 best players in the league."....
Post by reindeerfan on Mar 5, 2014 13:14:41 GMT -5
Mo still has a chance to get the last word on this and to make the all tournament team. For him the last word comes from quietly going out there and dominating on the basketball court. A deep run in the Maac tourney and a couple of statement games would make him forget about being overlooked for all Maac. Fairfield will need a lot of contributions from Mo to win any games in this tournament. Also someone will need to continue the hot outside shooting (Johnston or Gilbert).....
Elsberry pointed out (below) the stats of 4 of our 5 starters, but he left out StevieJ, who is averaging 7.5ppg in his last 10 games...... and has 11 assists and only 3 turnovers in his las 4 games. Having 5 players that are playing with confidence, is something we have not had all year until recently. And in last game vs Marist, I actually saw some chemistry being built by this unit. This is a new season, and hopefully Confidence and Chemistry can take this team to another level ...... and that would be winning 2 in row.
Over the last eight games, senior forward Maurice Barrow -- who did not make any of the three All-MAAC teams -- is averaging 17.3 points and has three 20-plus-point contests. Sidibe, a sophomore forward, is averaging 7.6 points and 8.6 rebounds in his last eight games -- posting five double-digit rebounding games. Sophomore guard Marcus Gilbert is averaging 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds freshman point guard K.J. Rose is averaging 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists in his last eight games.