tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by tashoya on Feb 8, 2009 16:31:53 GMT -5
Man.... tough crowd. Excited to see Jessie and DaJuan leave? That's pretty harsh. I get the "what have you done for me lately" attitude but what about leaving it at "what have you done?" I'd love to see DaJuan come back after another offseason of working hard and hopefully working on the right things. I think, if he were so inclined, that he has the ability to be the leader of this squad next year. Doing so would do wonders for the team and for DaJuan individually.
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prhoya
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Post by prhoya on Feb 8, 2009 17:22:38 GMT -5
If he were so inclined, he has (had) the ability to be the leader of this squad THIS year.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by SirSaxa on Feb 8, 2009 17:50:36 GMT -5
I'd like to hear some good news about this team. Any good news. A new recruit. Anything positive! The Hoyas are in Washington DC. Where's our Stimulus plan!??!
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Gammo
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Post by Gammo on Feb 9, 2009 19:53:06 GMT -5
Sir Saxa, I was very appreciative of your shout out a few days ago; I hope life is treating you very well. I must say I would very much like the chance to visit with you and the other usual suspects some time again at Café 31.
In response to your post, here is my take on the team and my reason for optimism about next year and our “recruits”.
My perspective is that we don’t need anything beyond Hollis and the maturation of the existing players; that is our stimulus plan and it is going to work tremendously well.
We will have a strong and balanced roster of players returning next year. The difficulty of this year has been a highly valuable growth experience. I completely trust the way that the coaching staff has handled this team. IMO, all that the staff will need to do this summer is hold up the mirror to the returning players and let them realize that they still are the same talented players that have shown flashes of brilliance this year.
Actually, my guess is that they will respond positively to this rough patch even before this season is over. I think they will start to shine even between now and our last game this year. I know this is the recruiting forum so I will limit those comments here.
I think this is a great group of players, and, given the fact that they have studied this year in a tumultuous season in a stacked league, they will be more than ready to rise back to the top of the Big East next year. Our starters are great players and I would not trade our returning four for any other four starters in the conference (I am not predicting any outcomes on staying or leaving, simply writing generally assuming they all return).
But, where we have really grown this year, is in the experience of Jason, Henry, Julian, Omar and Nikita. The difficulty of this season has tempered them and they will return next year with strength and confidence. Their growth will take a lot of pressure off the others and we will be much improved. All they have to do is work harder than ever this summer to continue to improve and to push for earlier minutes next season.
It would be nice to pick up another recruit for 2009, but I am still very confident even if we don’t!!!
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 9, 2009 19:58:28 GMT -5
Building on Gammo's post, our best big man recruits for next year are the players on the roster.
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Gammo
Century (over 100 posts)
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Post by Gammo on Feb 9, 2009 20:08:21 GMT -5
Totally agree SFHoya99!!! I think it is easy to overlook how outstanding it was to secure Henry and Julian in the wake of the decommits and Macklin's departure. Onward and upward.
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kellycpcm
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
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Post by kellycpcm on Feb 9, 2009 20:29:23 GMT -5
It would be nice to pick up a guard that can dribble and really pass.
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RBHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by RBHoya on Feb 9, 2009 22:45:35 GMT -5
On Gammo's post, I just hope that we keep things together. Yes, if the only change in the roster is Jessie's graduation and Hollis' official start to playing, then yea we're in nice shape with the roster. But I think we all know it may not be that rosy and it could perhaps get much worse. Not trying to touch off a debate on any of that here, the only point is that we could end up seeing some pretty significant turnover. When you combine that with the fact that we've got AT LEAST 3 scholarships free, I wouldn't mind seeing us land one or even 2 more players in the spring. I know that pickings can be slim and most of the top players are off the board, but we might end up in a position where we just need some competent bodies. I'd be happy to hear us right now being mentioned with.... well, anyone... I mean, I'm up for a sleeper, a grinder, a diamond in the rough, a project, a JUCO guy, a prep guy, a guy who is not too well-known, a guy who is too short for his position, etc. etc. Given everything that has happened with this team in the last 6 weeks and all the bits and pieces I hear, I'm not too sure who to believe or what the problem is. But I do think that we could use a little bit of a change in organizational culture right now, and with the kind of scholarship room we're looking at, I wouldn't mind seeing us take a shot on somebody who is a little off-the-radar who is going to come in and just PLAY TOUGH and not back down from anything. I don't know if that guy is out there, maybe in a junior college or something... but if he is, I want him.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by SirSaxa on Feb 10, 2009 0:25:09 GMT -5
Gammo, good to hear from you and thanks for your very optimistic comments! If things do play out the way you suggest, I agree we would be in good shape.
But, as RB referred to, it could easily turn out quite differently and I believe it will.
First thing we need to do is get the ship turned around and heading in the right direction THIS year. There has to be some positive progress, signs of what's to come. We've lost all momentum and confidence that was building so nicely pre-Duke.
As for RB comments about recruiting some bodies.... on the negative side, we could end up with kids who are just not D1, or certainly high level BE caliber. We know how that plays out. But RB's main comment, was get some kids who play TOUGH... I interpret that to mean kids who have heart, determination, hate-to-lose. Blue Collar guys. Bill parcells called them Lunch pail guys. He also referred to them as guys who can "hold the fort" until reinforcements arrive -- the caliber of Greg.
All of the kids on our team were happy to come to GU. They knew all about the Princeton. somehow, the mood and morale and togetherness of the team was lost. We need to get that back. I hope JT3 can get that process started this year. If he can, I would be more inclined to make the trip to NYC to meet up with Gammo, RB and all the rest of you at Cafe 31 and MSG!
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Feb 15, 2009 14:11:08 GMT -5
We have one 2009 recruit and plenty of schollies open. We know Monroe is gone the following year at the latest.
So right now, our team is as follows:
Class of 2010: Summers, Monroe (if not '09) Class of 2011: Wright, Freeman, Vaughn, Wattad Class of 2012: Mescherikov, Sims, Clark Class of 2013: Thompson Class of 2014: Lubick, Starks
There's not one 4-year period in here where we have at best more than 10 guys. I agree with RB. What are we saving these schollies for?
Grab a JuCo. Grab anyone who might help. We have at least two scholarships free if not more. We can really even try best available at this point because we're pretty balanced from a position standpoint, just not from a class standpoint.
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Post by longtimesaxa on Feb 15, 2009 14:23:08 GMT -5
Looks like Lubick may be the type of Blue Collar gut Sir Saxa is looking for - too bad he's another year off. We could really use somebody that can bang with the widebodies in the conference. Even Roy wasn't really that type of player. We haven't had one since Sweetney.
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Post by yunghoya on Feb 16, 2009 16:32:09 GMT -5
espn college bball says has brandon knight is considering us.. is this true?
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by prhoya on Feb 16, 2009 16:48:06 GMT -5
I see the G listed. Huge! We know he can score, but can he defend too?
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royski
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by royski on Mar 14, 2009 15:46:17 GMT -5
Any new information on Knight? He's still listing us according to ESPN. From his write up, it seems like he's a rich man's Chris Wright, which I certainly wouldn't mind in the slightest. I think we'd have to change our offense a little bit to take full advantage of his abilities as a drive and kick point guard. (Bob Gibbons says he has one of the "best first steps I have ever seen") But when talent like that is interested, i think you adjust to him. This is once again, just from written reports, but he's apparently an exceptional on the ball defender and is working on being more of a point guard than a 2. Said to have a good, if streaky jumper, but his greatest talent is getting in the lane and making quick, correct decisions once he's there, whether that be to score or to pass. (Gibbons specifically notes his effortless ability to find the big man under the basket when the defense comes out to meet him. That's EXACTLY the purpose of penetration within our offense.)
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alleninxis
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Post by alleninxis on Mar 14, 2009 15:54:30 GMT -5
Don't think GU has much of a shot.
He'll stay in state to Miami or UF
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Post by tpk3 on Mar 14, 2009 16:02:10 GMT -5
i would say florida is in the driver's seat. and the kid is legit
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skyhoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by skyhoya on Mar 24, 2009 17:06:19 GMT -5
How about Seth Curry at Liberty?
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