We have lots of predictions of where the Stags will finish in the MAAC, but not many on what our regular season record will be. Vote and then give your reason why.
For OOC I see the Stags at 5-8 because of 3 reasons ......the difficulty of the opponents, only 3 home games, and our frosh will need time to get experience. Here's a breakdown
For the MAAC, I see us 12-6..... Going 2-0 vs St Peters, Marist, and Niagara, and spliting with the rest. 12-6 should put us in a tie breaker with 3 other teams for 2nd thru 5th place.
We will win the MAAC Tourney for a 20 win season.
Last Edit: Oct 25, 2012 11:09:02 GMT -5 by JoeStag
Post by nashvillestag on Oct 25, 2012 11:45:07 GMT -5
Sorry JS, I have subtracted one victory from when I last talked to you. Not sure totally why, just a bit more of a negative feeling based on what I have seen written about league teams means I now am thinking 11-7 (4th-6th) rather than 12-6. I hope you are right and I am wrong! BTW that doesn't mean I could not see the Stags peaking at the right time and winning the tournament. And while I also think 5-8 non league is attainable (I would substitute Austin Peay with Milwaukee as a likely win), I nevertheless got a bit of an uneasy feeling from you NYC report about Sydney saying his freshmen were a bit behind his anticipation that they would be ready to step in and play important minutes. I would hope that he was saying this more to motivate them to achieve a higher standard as opposed to the fact that he was genuinely concerned about their lack of progress. Indeed they will be needed quickly to help based on the early competition.
Post by stagthomas on Oct 25, 2012 14:04:58 GMT -5
JS can you provide additional color on your NYC report regarding the conservative expectations offered by Sydney? Is he just downplaying expectations after last years expectations led to disappointment or is the team/freshman really going to be that much of a work in progress?
JS can you provide additional color on your NYC report regarding the conservative expectations offered by Sydney? Is he just downplaying expectations after last years expectations led to disappointment or is the team/freshman really going to be that much of a work in progress?
Sydney was not conservative about the whole season, just the beginning of the season and OOC schedule. He said he certainly expects us to be one of the teams competing for the MAAC Championship come March. He is very happy with the upperclassmen, and that will make us a good team, but we need the Frosh to contribute to be a Championship level team. He said “all Frosh”, but it’s quite evident that we need one of the Big Guys to be a player. He also said the frosh are very talented, and they will contribute…… he just wants it to be sooner rather than later. He is challenging the Frosh, and challenging the upper classmen to work with the frosh.
Bottom line is that it’s not just the frosh, it’s just as much the tough schedule. IMO, we have got 5 returning players that are ready to have breakout years. I hope that we only play the frosh if they are ready. Those NIT games are winnable. Work in Process needs to happen in Practice, Not games...... if he is sending a message that is what it is.
Last Edit: Oct 25, 2012 14:49:34 GMT -5 by JoeStag
I'm hopeful they are playing well @ the end of the year and able to make a run in the MAAC tournament. Anything above .500 and I think SJ has done a really good job.
I reserve the right to change my opinion after seeing them play!
Post by mydadwasathappyhr on Oct 25, 2012 19:16:10 GMT -5
I'm in for 18-13. Two keys will be the guys we haven't seen yet -- Mikulic and CJ. We will need them to provide outside shooting (hopefully something we get from the former ACC recruit) and some spark.
Post by reindeerfan on Oct 25, 2012 22:17:04 GMT -5
I voted for us to be 16-15 but I think 15-16 is just as likely. My view is based on three principal factors 1) An extremely difficult OCC schedule where we could lose as many as 8-10 games, 2) a much stronger MAAC conference than last year, 3) No proven big man who can help us compete against the big line-ups we will face in the early season.
If one of the freshman big men plays really well, we'll do much better. But I haven't seen anything yet to suggest one of these three is healthy enough or good enough to help us compete during the tough OCC schedule....
15-16 if we are lucky. Too bad, because the environment at WBA will be much improved and winning would certainly get folks energized--maybe even pick up some lifetime fans or families.
The freshman will take time, and the upper class men can only carry the load so far even if they all played to their potential. Like the storm coming up the east coast right now, just buckle your chin straps and hope for the best.
I'm not sure we need a lot of offense from the freshmen, but I do think they need to provide solid rebounding and defense at the center position.
Most teams don't have a great big man, so I don't think any of them need to step in and become Wilt Chamberlain, but as someone said earlier, if they can combine for 8 ppg and 8 rpg, that might be sufficient. I think this team is better than .500 but is probably not a 20 win team. I'm guessing 17 wins.
Last Edit: Oct 26, 2012 7:12:04 GMT -5 by vastagman
Post by nashvillestag on Oct 26, 2012 11:39:33 GMT -5
Va., I'd take a Bill Russell and be satisfied. But actually I think an 8 and 8 line is attainable from the position when you consider that last year a combination of Olander playing 26 minutes and Mathews 13 minutes combined to score around 12 points and get 6.5 rebounds a game. So at least concerning straight numbers I think they will be fine. Now while many people think Ryan had a subpar year based on his previous season, I do think he was effective in blocking or altering shots quite a bit, and this was a major component in opponents only shooting 40% from the field. So although lacking the same experience, I do think the abundance of strength and height in the new players may help the team continue their good defensive effort in the paint area. I guess what I am saying is that I am not that worried concernign the performance of the center position. Instead I myself have more concern with how the dynamic scoring ( and rebounding) of Sanders is going to be replaced, and also how good will our guard depth be considering a key injuury could leave us dangerously thin in that position.
(1) We need Defense at the center position to replace the Tall and Long defense that Olander provided. When Olander came out of the game last year, our opposition had no fear to drive the lane. I feel we have many options to fill that role, and they might not be as good as Olander defensivley, but we have a variety of options that allow us to have better matchups from a 6-6 jumping jack like Gilbert, to a long 6-8 Coleman, to a strong 6-8 in Sidibe, to a mobile european style 6-11 Mikulic, to a highly skilled 7-footer Van Nes. From what I have sen, I have no doubt that Sidibe is already is very good defender, rebounder, that has strength, and is a powerfull/fast runner..... like a fullback.
(2) We do need more offense from the Perimeter, and most people equate that to guards like Jenkins, but I feel we need it to come more from the frontcourt players like Mikulic and Van Nes. A good passing and shooting Big Man opens up the entire offense...... MOS, Evanaovich and Robbie Thomson were great examples of that.
The issue is that I don't know if the Defense and Perimeter can come from the same Frosh.... Except if it comes from Mikulic or Van Nes. But, I have not seen either play in a real scrimmage yet. IMO, if either Mikulic of Van Nes can give us 20mpg of good play, we will be very good (top 2 in the MAAC). If we have to go with the CBC (Center by Committee), then its a sign that we will wallow around 3-5 in the MAAC.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding our freshmen players, a tough OOC schedule, and an extremely competitive MAAC, I went 16-15. Legendary coach Al McGuire once said, "The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores". We're going to need some of our freshmen to become "sophomores" in a hurry. If two or three frosh can get up to speed sooner (rather than later) and become productive members of the rotation, and we don't have any major injuries to our core group of players, then I would adjust the record upward to say 18 maybe 19 wins. But I don't see this team being a "20 win" team unless we make a deep run in a CIT type tourney. GO STAGS!
Last Edit: Oct 27, 2012 10:03:04 GMT -5 by HawkStag
