Rakim Sanders is on the list... though the criteria state that you need to have "played two seasons in the decade." But, since he's on the list, I'm voting for him. Needham and Nelson are the obvious guards... can make a case for several of the other guys, but I'm going to go with Nickerson because I always felt like the Stags were better with him on the floor (and they won 89 games over his 4 years).
Sanders Kasibabu Gilbert Needham Nelson Nickerson
Last Edit: Aug 10, 2020 14:06:19 GMT -5 by typhaon
Post by reindeerfan on Aug 10, 2020 16:09:18 GMT -5
This is tough. In some other eras this would be a lot easier. In my mind there is not a huge difference between the top front court players and bottom front court players. There is not a dominant player in that group except for Sanders who only played one year.
On the backcourt, yes Needham and Nelson are the obvious choices, after that is group of good but similarly skilled players. it was tough to cast that 3rd vote, I went with a current player.
I have not seen Doctor Bob on the board in a while, I must admit I was considering casting a vote for Desmond Wade in case Dr. Bob doesn't get a chance to weigh in on this......
Front Court: Sanders, Gilbert, Kasibabu -- although Hawkins was certainly up there.
Also struggled deciding on #3 in the Back court. Needham, Nelson were easy. Then I had some thinking thinking to do.
- Cruz, Nickerson, Benning ? -- went with Benning only because as he matured, became the most consistent of the three in IMO and if he gets to play soon, I think will be one of the best.
Last Edit: Aug 10, 2020 17:10:02 GMT -5 by paulie74
Rakim Sanders is on the list... though the criteria state that you need to have "played two seasons in the decade." But, since he's on the list, I'm voting for him. Needham and Nelson are the obvious guards... can make a case for several of the other guys, but I'm going to go with Nickerson because I always felt like the Stags were better with him on the floor (and they won 89 games over his 4 years).
Sanders Kasibabu Gilbert Needham Nelson Nickerson
With regards to the criteria, actually it states that a player only had to have played at least half of his Fairfield career in the decade (as opposed to playing two seasons in the decade), thereby making him a legal candidate. So with that in mind he obviously deserves a vote IMO. Other obvious forward is Gilbert I think (and I don't mean Malcolm BTW), but after that it is certainly a toss-up among the others, something I am still thinking about as I comment here. Same way with the guards after the obvious choices of Needham and Nelson. But the fact that both the forward and guard situations are muddled after the top four surely is a reflection of the basic mediocrity of the program this past decade, something I hope will be far different if a vote is taken for the decade of the 20s ten years from now. Hope I'm around to get to participate BTW.
This is tough. In some other eras this would be a lot easier. In my mind there is not a huge difference between the top front court players and bottom front court players. There is not a dominant player in that group except for Sanders who only played one year.
On the backcourt, yes Needham and Nelson are the obvious choices, after that is group of good but similarly skilled players. it was tough to cast that 3rd vote, I went with a current player.
I have not seen Doctor Bob on the board in a while, I must admit I was considering casting a vote for Desmond Wade in case Dr. Bob doesn't get a chance to weigh in on this......
Yeah where is Bob? Maybe a vote from you and me for Wade would bring him back to protest (although actually I'm not really going with Des). But anyway, I consider Marcus Gilbert as a obvious choice for forward (along with Sanders). However the 3rd forward as well as the 3rd guard (beside Needham and Nelson) are difficult decisions. Actually I am still trying to decide those choices at this time.
I went with Sanders, Gilbert, Olander. I’d put Mo Barrow down as a third guard but went with Rome because of his MAAC finals run and the fact that he was such a good teammate and role model.
For the 6th spot, I would take Hawkins even though he is not a guard. If forced to choose another guard, I would have to take Desmond Wade because of his record in MAAC Post Season games.
Last Edit: Aug 11, 2020 10:26:59 GMT -5 by JoeStag
For the 6th spot, I would take Hawkins even though he is not a guard. If forced to choose another guard, I would have to take Desmond Wade because of his record in MAAC Post Season games.
Interesting points on Wade. Only scored double digits in 1 postseason game but did have 11 assists vs Iona in the Semis 2011-12 MAAC tourney, which IMO was our biggest win of the decade.
If this discussion moves to biggest wins of the decade next, here are my top 5:
1) vs. Iona 2011-12 MAAC Tourney Semis (Iona got a at-large bid that year) 2) @ George Mason 2009-10 CIT Quarter Finals (huge comeback with Mike E having 9 3-Pointers Made) 3) vs. Arizona State 2011-12 Orlando Classic (beating a power 5 has to be a top win) 4) vs. Boston College 2016-17 Season (beating a power 5 has to be a top win) 5) vs. Texas A&M 2019-20 Orlando Classic (beating a power 5 has to be a top win)
If this discussion moves to biggest wins of the decade next, here are my top 5:
1) vs. Iona 2011-12 MAAC Tourney Semis (Iona got a at-large bid that year) 2) @ George Mason 2009-10 CIT Quarter Finals (huge comeback with Mike E having 9 3-Pointers Made) 3) vs. Arizona State 2011-12 Orlando Classic (beating a power 5 has to be a top win) 4) vs. Boston College 2016-17 Season (beating a power 5 has to be a top win) 5) vs. Texas A&M 2019-20 Orlando Classic (beating a power 5 has to be a top win)
Well that's a pretty good list. I think that would probably be my top 5 as well. The George Mason game stands our for me as a big win because of he nature of the comeback, not something that happens very often. BC was memorable to me (it always is when we beat BC) and Texas A&M was a real bright spot last season.
I noticed you don't include on your list our dramatic first round victory over Yale in the CIT or our wins versus manhatten or Robert Morris in that tournament. I wouldn't either, and it kind of lends insight into how I view the CIT. Also we had a very nice run in the 2018 MAAC tournament but you don't include those games either. I have to agree. they don't make the top 5 in my view as exciting as they were. No mention of the big win over 9th place st. peter's in 2015 that snapped the longest losing streak in Stag's history. (I'm sure that was just an oversight ).
In all seriousness, I think you nailed the picks on these five I agree 100%. Still, I'd give the win over St Joseph's 60-57 on a last second shot an honorable mention both as an exciting win and a win against a good team from a good conference.
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