JoeStag wrote --- ...I like the schedule. 7 home games, 3 away games, and 1 nuetral court. We will be a big underdog vs Duke. Be a 9ish point favorite vs SHU, Loyola, and CentralCT...
We were 7-25 last year and our leading scorer graduated. Unless we somehow beat Duke or come really close to beating Duke, I don't think we're going to be a 9ish point favorite against anyone at the start of the '14-'15 season.
Don't know if it will be 9, but I would certainly think we would be favorites against all three listed above based on what we know at this time (things can change in 6 months obviously). Central was mediocre again last season and we have always beaten them in the past, we have always defeated SHU and they were worse than the Stags last season, and Loyola went downhill after our game last Nov. and might not be as good now. Of course these are just preliminay guesses, but the fact that 2 of the games are home (always worth 4-5 points) plus the other being neutral certainly doesn't hurt.
Nashville --- I agree with you that our coaches should spend a great deal more time preparing for CCSU and use the Duke game as a learning experience. (Unfortunately, more casual basketball fans will see that Duke game since they have a highly rated recruiting class and it'll probably be their season opener.)
Not that I think CCSU will be outstanding next season but unless something has changed with their roster since last season, their 3 leading scorers will be returning as seniors and two of those players are guards(Vinales and McMillan). CCSU will be the first D1 game for 3 of our guards (Segura, Threatt, and Nelson). So unless you think KJ and Johnston will be our starting backcourt (or KJ and Grennan? or KJ & Chappell) then CCSU should have a large experience advantage in the backcourt on us. Actually, CCSU would still have a huge experience advantage in the backcourt with any of the three experienced backcourts I've mentioned for us.
As for your comment...Central was mediocre again last season and we have always beaten them in the past... I agree we have usually beaten them in the past but we weren't usually coming off a 7-25 season. Also, CCSU beat Hartford in New Britain by 14 last year while we lost to that Hartford team by 10 at WBA when that Hartford team had played a game in Florida the previous day.
Post by nashvillestag on Jun 15, 2014 13:32:57 GMT -5
Well okay we were 7-25, and they were 11-19. Same guys back doesn't make them a trememndous team. right? But your points are well taken in that they will have more experience, and BTW Vinales is a big-time player. Certainly they could win, but I would like to think that our team with our new guys will be better in Nov. than they were last season at the same time. Stay tuned. But I will go out on the limb here and say that we will be favored (not saying by how much), but I remind you I am NOT guaranteeing a victoy on the court, at least at this time.
The main reason we started slow last year and played poor for much of the year, was that our guards were extremely inexperience. With Jenkins’s the only one with experience, but much of that was “Deer in the Headlight” experience. This year we have:
Rose with a full year experience Threatt with 2 years of JUCO experience Both StevieJ and Chappell with more experience than Jenkins Only 2 frosh guards (Nelson and Segura)
I feel we are in much better position because we got experienced guards…… about 10 times the amount of experience That does not mean we will win every game, but at least we have experience. That’s half the battle, as we need Experienced and Talented guards to win. We might not be 9 point favorites against those team, but we will be more than a couple point favorites
We might not be 9 point favorites against those team, but we will be more than a couple point favorites....
Favorite, underdogs or too close to call...the bottom line is that after last season's (1-6) start in November this team and the Stag Men's Basketball program can not start the month of November (1-5) or worse if there is any chances of rebuilding fan/alumni support.
Favorite, underdogs or too close to call...the bottom line is that after last season's (1-6) start in November this team and the Stag Men's Basketball program can not start the month of November (1-5) or worse if there is any chances of rebuilding fan/alumni support.
Correct. Winning is what is needed to get fans excited, and that is why the SHU game should be placed in early to mid-November. And what better game to play, after we play Duke. The players can play many games in a row, especially if they are at home. This year, the NCAA season is starting as late as it can. The NCAA says the regular season starts on the 2nd Friday in November. That happens to be Nov 14th. It is impossible to start any later.
The Webster Bank Arena is holding a date of Dec. 14 (Sunday) to play the men's game -- if the Pioneers can adjust their schedule accordingly. Sacred Heart's men already have a scheduled game that day with New Hampshire. The Pioneers countered with a Dec. 20 date, but the Stags have a home game scheduled with Belmont. And in both cases, the students are going to be away for Christmas break....
Playing the game on December 14 or 20 during Christmas Recess with no students is a very bad idea, especially if the goal is to make this a "rivalry event". Bob, A question to ask at the Doc's Roundtable is the status of playing SHU this season - if and when.
Duke and Loyola...Ok. I'm feeling that. But just can't get excited for teams like Central Connecticut, South Dakota, Wofford, Sam Houston State, Belmont, Bucknell or even a potential match up with Sacred Heart. Then again, the Stags weren't very exciting last season either. Hopefully this schedule translates into a bunch of early season W's.
Playing the game on December 14 or 20 during Christmas Recess with no students is a very bad idea, especially if the goal is to make this a "rivalry event". Bob, A question to ask at the Doc's Roundtable is the status of playing SHU this season - if and when.
Dec 14th is not on Christmas Break, it is a "Reading Day" right in the middle of exams. That still is not a great date. We had to reschedule SHU about 5-6 years ago during a Reading Day and only got 3,200...... while a decent crowd, not up to the high standards of a Sacred Heart game.
The SHU question is already on the list I submitted..... with 19 others for Syndey and Doris. I submitted 5 questions for Frager.
Dont sleep on Wofford (2014 tourney team) and SD State (12 and 13 tourney team). Yea they arent marquee names to come into WBA, but they arent slouches by any stretch.
Dont sleep on Wofford (2014 tourney team) and SD State (12 and 13 tourney team). Yea they arent marquee names to come into WBA, but they arent slouches by any stretch.
10, according to the report it will be So. Dakota, not SD State. BIG difference there. I certainly hope this wasn't a typo. But your point is well taken in that just because these schools are not household names to people around here, that doesn't mean they cannot play and will not be formidable competition. I look at it this way. All three who are coming to Bridgeport as part of the tournament are MAAC level squads because they come from equivalent leagues. Whether they are "good" MAAC or "poor" MAAC or somewhere in between, they should be worthy (but not unfair) competition, especially since we get all three on our home court.
