TC
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Post by TC on Apr 21, 2004 9:27:16 GMT -5
Schedule and media/fan interaction are the program's two biggest weaknesses? That's news to me. Here I thought it was our rapidly declining on court performance, leading to our total irrelevance on the basketball scene, aided by questionable administrative support, a University hemorraging money, and our lack of any home-court advantage. Okay, let me clarify then. Schedule and media/fan interaction are the two biggest problems that a coach can have a direct effect upon. JT3 will be able to choose his schedule and the methods in which he interacts with the media and fans. He can't solve the endowment problems in one fell swoop. Obviously, a coach isn't going to change the University's financial bottom line one way or the other. I believe that scheduling is a root cause of on-the-court performance (Esherick's teams were not ready for Big East play). It might not be as big a factor as recruiting, but it is a major factor. I believe that media and fan interaction is a root cause of the lack of home-court advantage, as well as some of the financial problems of the program. Esherick rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and it wasn't just this year, and it wasn't just because he lost. I'm not saying that JT3 will act as arrogantly as Esherick, but he needs to be more accessible than his father or Esherick because of the "irrelevance" you cite.
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Big Dog
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Post by Big Dog on Apr 21, 2004 9:29:57 GMT -5
I don't read the "alter scheduled from year-to-year based on team" to be a bad, Esherick-like thing. There's something to be said for not having a young team get blown out of the building over and over again to start a season. In a rebuilding year, you might like a weaker schedule to build a little bit of confidence. In a contending season, test the team early to get it ready for league play.
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TC
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Post by TC on Apr 21, 2004 9:31:48 GMT -5
I don't read the "alter scheduled from year-to-year based on team" to be a bad, Esherick-like thing. There's something to be said for not having a young team get blown out of the building over and over again to start a season. In a rebuilding year, you might like a weaker schedule to build a little bit of confidence. In a contending season, test the team early to get it ready for league play. I read it as "It's not going to improve." How hard is it to say that you want to schedule tougher teams, renew local rivalries, or give fans a reason to come out and watch?
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Big Dog
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Post by Big Dog on Apr 21, 2004 9:34:07 GMT -5
His dad was sitting in the front row. You want him to say implicitly that his father's way of scheduling was a mistake? Let's hold off on concern about scheduling until we see what happens. Trying to parse his answer to one question is an impossible task.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Apr 21, 2004 9:35:10 GMT -5
We can argue about what the biggest problem with the program is all day, it is clear there are plenty. I agree with TC in that my biggest concerns are related to schedule and media/fan interaction. In other words, I don't think JT3 can help but bring a better approach to coaching and teaching so long as he continues to do what got him here. That is something you do no matter what job you take. The recruiting angle I also believe is well covered with the combination of a track record at an academically rigorous school and a name that will mean something to recruits.
I think it is legitimate to worry about whether the influence he takes from his father and his ties to the past of the program cause him to be as stubborn as his predecessors in how he schedules and how he relates to the public. I only hope that is not a part of what we considers it means to say "We Are Georgetown." I will give him every opportunity to show that he can differ from his father in that important regard and recognize the changed situation he steps into versus the program his father built.
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HOYAPLAYA
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Post by HOYAPLAYA on Apr 21, 2004 9:38:22 GMT -5
I also don't want to be seen as defending the schedule that we continue to play. You could have a team of 11 freshman and should still play tougher non-conference games than we saw this year. I think it is necessary to have the one OOC game against a national power like Duke each year regardless of the age/experience of your team. I also think that getting your younger players experience in games that are competitive is more important than feeding them easy victories and a false sense of accomplishment. If you have a young team, then why not try to schedule more teams that you feel will challenge the players to understand the difference between HS and college. You can schedule all games that you should win, but I feel that there should at least be a possibility that you could lose at least half of them. This will at least show your team that showing up to play every night is important. Based on Bowman's comments in the newspaper, it appears that message never got to the current crop of players.
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angus
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Post by angus on Apr 21, 2004 9:41:23 GMT -5
His dad was sitting in the front row. You want him to say implicitly that his father's way of scheduling was a mistake? Let's hold off on concern about scheduling until we see what happens. Trying to parse his answer to one question is an impossible task. __________________ Exactly Big Dog. Therein lies the huge concern. JTIII can either pay homage to his father, who got him the job, by continuing his scheduling and media relations legacy, or he can undercut his father by providing the necessary changes in those areas. Which path do you think he will choose? Although Raleigh may be correct when he says that one not named Thompson would not face such scrutiny -- our new coach is named Thompson. Therefore, these are real questions that one named Thompson uniquely faces.
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Grandpa
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Post by Grandpa on Apr 21, 2004 9:46:58 GMT -5
Exactly Big Dog. Therein lies the huge concern. JTIII can either pay homage to his father, who got him the job, by continuing his scheduling and media relations legacy, or he can undercut his father by providing the necessary changes in those areas. Why can't he do both? I think its entirely possible for JT III to pay homage to certain aspects of the tradition his father has set forth without necessarily adopting ALL of them. Clearly he was his own man at Princeton in regards to non-conference scheduling.
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Massholya
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Post by Massholya on Apr 21, 2004 9:54:15 GMT -5
Undercutting?!
Do you honestly think that in terms of scheduling playing weak one would be an "homage" and playing a tougher one would be "undercutting" his father. If there was one thing that defined JT jr. it was that he was definitely his own man. I don't think he expects or would want anything other than that for his son. Three will do what he wants to in terms of the schedule. If he truly wants this to be a very successful program again (and why would he leave his alma mater for our situation if that wasn't in his plan), I can't imagine that the schedule is not a part of his redesign plan, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.
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YB
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Post by YB on Apr 21, 2004 10:03:38 GMT -5
I dunno, I was AT the press conference yesterday and his expression told me he wasn't going to be as bad as his pops. Keep in mind, his non-con at PU was pretty good. He'll have us in better shape I think. Also keep in mind, the AD is pushing for a better sched so we can fill MCI and mitigate our financial woes.
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GPHoya
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Post by GPHoya on Apr 21, 2004 10:06:27 GMT -5
You do not have to be a professional Hoyaologist to read JT III's comments on schedule to mean that there will be no material change in approach from last year. For those who are looking for a clean break from his father's mindset, this is not a good sign. His father is a conservative and controlling man (for a revolutionary) who thinks he got his job because Sigholtz scheduled Magee into the 3-23 nightmare. With a weak and youthful team facing a more difficult conference schedule next year, the ooc schedule will be designed to create a fighting chance to show nominal numerical improvement over last year's debacle. No one is going to worry about RPI or NCAA selection because that is not on the radar screen for next year. The goal is to get the freshman to qualify, to build them for the future and to keep the upperclassmen with the program as they are phased out and hopefully recruited over. Look at the playbook from 1973 if you want to see the future as Matt Causey and Ashanti Cook morph into Tim Lambour and Vincent Fletcher.
The plan may not work, but it is what we are getting so we had better hope that it does. I hope his father remembers that he was friendlier and more accessible to the media (even sharing insights with the lapdog student press--Adrian Dantley was not recruiting prospect) and encourages his son to do likewise out of necessity. JT III may become his own man, but the rebuilding playbook will be the one his father wrote when he was in short pants.
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JS
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Post by JS on Apr 21, 2004 10:10:34 GMT -5
As John touched upon at the press conference yesterday, the pre-league schedule was used at Princeton to prepare the team for conference play. At Princeton, certain teams were scheduled because they ran similar offensive sets to specific League opponents. Other teams were scheduled because the environment was similar to what they might expect to see come Ivy play. It really did depend on the year and the team Princeton had going into the season. The rest of the schedule was made up of traditional opponents (Rutgers, Monmouth, Lafayette) and a few "name"/television games. It is near impossible to get quality opponents to come play at Jadwin Gym, a problem I do not expect Georgetown to face. Jon I don't read the "alter scheduled from year-to-year based on team" to be a bad, Esherick-like thing. There's something to be said for not having a young team get blown out of the building over and over again to start a season. In a rebuilding year, you might like a weaker schedule to build a little bit of confidence. In a contending season, test the team early to get it ready for league play.
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hoopsmccan
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Post by hoopsmccan on Apr 21, 2004 10:45:33 GMT -5
You do not have to be a professional Hoyaologist to read JT III's comments on schedule to mean that there will be no material change in approach from last year. For those who are looking for a clean break from his father's mindset, this is not a good sign. His father is a conservative and controlling man (for a revolutionary) who thinks he got his job because Sigholtz scheduled Magee into the 3-23 nightmare. With a weak and youthful team facing a more difficult conference schedule next year, the ooc schedule will be designed to create a fighting chance to show nominal numerical improvement over last year's debacle. No one is going to worry about RPI or NCAA selection because that is not on the radar screen for next year. The goal is to get the freshman to qualify, to build them for the future and to keep the upperclassmen with the program as they are phased out and hopefully recruited over. Look at the playbook from 1973 if you want to see the future as Matt Causey and Ashanti Cook morph into Tim Lambour and Vincent Fletcher. The plan may not work, but it is what we are getting so we had better hope that it does. I hope his father remembers that he was friendlier and more accessible to the media (even sharing insights with the lapdog student press--Adrian Dantley was not recruiting prospect) and encourages his son to do likewise out of necessity. JT III may become his own man, but the rebuilding playbook will be the one his father wrote when he was in short pants. Sorry GP, I must not be even an amateur Hoyaologist. Please explain why its so obvious that, based on Coach's first, short press conference, you know that there will be no change in G-town's scheduling policies.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Apr 21, 2004 11:06:25 GMT -5
Apparently JT3 was on the Sports Junkies this morning, a local drive time radio show on an alternative rock station. The guys there are mostly Maryland guys, but they know a little about college hoop and occasionally talk sports, although not as often as their name would imply. I did not hear the interview, but my friend said JT3 elaborated a bit on scheduling but basically emphasized that his schedule would depend on his team and he did not want to demoralize his guys early, He also said he would want to play tougher opponents too to get his team ready. Combine his comments with the games he already is contracted for next year and I think you will not see an immediate and dramatic improvement in the schedule. The team is not that strong next year, they need to rack up non-conference wins as always, and there is probably not a great deal of flexibility to add big names to the schedule. That is fine by me. But when he does have an NCAA caliber team, I think JT3 should and will improve the schedule accordingly.
I would be interested if anyone else caught JT3's Junks appearance this morning. I must say that is already a pretty significant departure from his predecessors- neither his father or Esh would have been likely to step into that frat-boy circus. Good for him for starting to appeal to a broader base alread.
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Post by RaleighHoya on Apr 21, 2004 11:21:32 GMT -5
__________________ Exactly Big Dog. Therein lies the huge concern. JTIII can either pay homage to his father, who got him the job, by continuing his scheduling and media relations legacy, or he can undercut his father by providing the necessary changes in those areas. Which path do you think he will choose? Although Raleigh may be correct when he says that one not named Thompson would not face such scrutiny -- our new coach is named Thompson. Therefore, these are real questions that one named Thompson uniquely faces. I am going to let the man's resume speak for itself. I think he has the ability to be his own man. It is not as if he has not lived in his father's shadow for years, including being a player at Princeton. I also know that his father will not give a damn if his non conference schedule is the hardest in the country. I do not see how that is undercutting him. I think the best thing to do is to look at the non conference schedule he played at Princeton and compare it to their talent level. I have looked at it a couple of times, and I would like it if we increased it to meet the difference between talent level at the two school.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 21, 2004 11:31:28 GMT -5
However, his name is Thompson. His father is responsible for the program's two biggest weaknesses - schedule and media/fan communication in the program's culture. And yesterday he made no overtures at changing either. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and wait until we see the 2005-2006 schedule (next year's schedule probably is halfway decided). TC, He was also unlikely to publicly criticize his father. If PU's schedule is any indication, it'll improve.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Apr 21, 2004 11:32:30 GMT -5
Listen, can we ever deal with anything positive here!! I mean really, we hired a perfectly good Candidate, and now we STILL have to find something wrong about it. What kind of climate do we have here. We should be happy we have a new coach. Instead we are still in this complain mode. I don't get it. It is obvious something bigger is going on here. I will say this, if Johnny Dawkins was hired instead of JTIII, with the same process, nobody on this board would be complaining about "the search". I'm quite sure of that. I agree with the_way. I suppose I should go commit hari-kiri now.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Apr 21, 2004 11:33:12 GMT -5
DFW, I don't know why you cannot see it within yourself to issue a "rally around the flag" statement. The fact that we now have a new coach and we all want him to succeed should be paramount, even if you did not like the "how" of his being named. It's an accomplished fact and you have to live with it. It seems to me that any concerns you have about the "how" should be handled with the school rather than making it an issue on the board where it has the possibility of undermining the new coach. This is merely my opinion. I do not pretend to represent anyone but myself. We are Georgetown!
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Apr 21, 2004 11:35:33 GMT -5
Hey SFHoya99. You, agreeing with me. I think the fat lady is singing right now. ;D
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SoCalHoya
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Post by SoCalHoya on Apr 21, 2004 11:38:28 GMT -5
Just to assuage anyone's fears, GU did indeed give a lot of candidates consideration.
A trustworthy inside source (not inside GU) told me GU was heavily considering two other coaches, had talks with them, and that Dawkins (!) was the frontrunner (but committee was scared off by news which my source was not allowed to divulge). JT III didn't pop onto the hotseat until later.
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