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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 6, 2023 7:26:35 GMT -5
Well said Lic, as always! GO HOYAS!!!
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 6, 2023 7:16:32 GMT -5
I recall a friend from high school who attended GU to play a different sport in the late 1990s. His recruiting visit involved strippers and M&Ms. Not ideal.
However, amazingly, GU basketball has stayed far away from any scandal like that. The goal should be to keep it that way. So, Pitino's history at Louisville is relevant. GU has to make its own decision, hopefully guided by a great deal of due diligence to which we are not privy, to determine whether it is disqualifying.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 3, 2023 18:15:45 GMT -5
It's been a long time since I've posted, here. There was a pretty rough end to the 2020 season -- not just for Hoya bball, of course. I managed one post since to pick at one of my scheduling pet peeves, not even bothering to exult in the 2021 BET title (a world-turned-rightside-up moment when Q found an ability to kick the ball out, Dante seemed only to take appropriately-available drives to the hoop and the defense seemed to be able to close out on the three). I've stayed on, though, watching threads. Something about the reference, above, to '07 stirred a memory (still marred by the block call on our star when it more clearly was a charge on Oden, though Conley was the more devastating to us; I'd like to have seen a rematch with the Gators in the title game), and it sparked me to recall the difference between that year and the next, when Jeff -- still playing in the NBA, even now! -- had taken the opportunity to be in the draft a year early (with kudos for returning to finish his degree, allowing me to put him in my all-time starting five, along with Ba-Ba, Sleepy, Reggie and Patrick). I can't fault Jeff for that, but we might very well have won the NCAA title had he stayed. We'd not have been out-toughed in the Calishady game, we'd not have been out-hustled in the second half of the Col. Sanders game (PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, DO NOT BRING IN THIS MAN AS OUR NEXT COACH!), we'd not have been flustered into 12 first-half turnovers leading to a lower-Canada court-storming, and, though we may have allowed the Panthers their home win, you can bet we'd not have been out-rebounded into a BET finals loss. And that woefully under-seeded and home-standing Davidson team? Even if it was we, instead of Kansas, who played them in the Elite 8, the plays that really killed us, there, were the kind that Jeff's Senior presence would have stopped; not the now-greatest-pure-shooter-in-history bombs, but the all-too-open-for-the-easy-short-jumpers/layups/putbacks by his supporting cast. I'm wondering if that split between the '07 & '08 teams marked a real changing point. We went from the refinement of Princeton on steroids to, well, something else. There was that "It's a coronation!" game against 'Nova a few years later where that fully re-emerged, but, belying Raftery's comment, it was gone pretty much as soon as that game was over. Despite periods of success based more fully in III's preferred approach, it was the beginning of a long road to mediocrity, where he just couldn't get the combination of athletic and well-trained together with consistency. The players that *might* have come to the Hilltop went elsewhere with greater regularity (I know -- long history of this -- Hill, Anderson, Noah, etc. -- but not to the exclusion of landing our own), and the one that sticks out in my mind the most is Ochefu; I'd love to have had Hart, but if there was a Hoya-prototypical player on that Wildcats championship team, it was the tough, workmanlike, unselfish big man. The lightning-in-a-bottle 2021 tourney aside, it seems to me that Ewing, likewise, had more success when he got III holdovers understanding his approach to the game, making them rounder and more capable, overall. Of course, that was brief and at a much lower level of success. The players he brought in, himself, just didn't broaden their skillsets, and I think there must be an inability to communicate well with younger players (seen years ago with the salient "Do you work on that shot?!?" remark to MD). Maybe he could have done something more unidimensional if the personnel debacle of late 2019 hadn't occurred; the first half of the contest against the Blue Devils looked promising before we fell into the typical trap of being worried about the way the refs seemed to favor them instead of keeping to our own game (seriously, this is something that predates K, and it's befuddling how coaches don't address that psychology well enough with their players). This isn't an excuse for the past few years, just an observation, and only one among many that would be relevant, I'm sure. I'll expect to see someone new in the coach's seat next year. I'll wish Patrick well. I'll hope that we find a young coach with their own unique approach to the game and an abiding interest in the development of the whole player on the court and the whole person off. I'll desire that that come with a healthy dose of the dominant defense of old and a nod to the efficient offense of not-quite-so-old. I'll prefer it if that person doesn't have strong ties to those programs I consider to be our rivals. Mostly, I'll hope that I'll be willing to re-up my kids' Hoya Kids Club memberships after a year off. I couldn't keep them in a situation of learning all the wrong approaches to the game, I needed better to be able to point things out with the assistance of replays and from the relative comfort of the living room, and I was grateful that, for the first time in their lives, they found it in themselves to wander off to something better to occupy their minds when there was little of interest to see. May they find the future of the program more compelling, whether we return to dominance or not. In the meantime, I have no interest in our losing any game. I'll be frustrated at almost every turn, I'm sure, but I'll be rooting for the Hoyas the whole way, lightning getting caught twice or no. Start things off by beating the 'Cats! This post is a great example of how someone can be upset but with program, but first and foremost, remain a fan, without going toxic or nuclear. Bravo.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 3, 2023 8:37:54 GMT -5
It sounds like there is still some level of mutual respect, if perhaps also hurt feelings or regrets. Best wishes to Dante.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 3, 2023 8:36:21 GMT -5
"Kyle 'KJ' Greene had himself a big Saturday night as he poured in 25-points and tallied three assists on his way to a win over Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade Julienne at Flyin to the Hoop. With his standout play, the 6-foot-1 guard out of Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy said his recruitment is starting to gain more traction with it... Three schools he has been in constant contact with include Clemson, South Carolina and Georgetown. He's originally from the state of South Carolina and has already been on two unofficials to both home-state teams and also took an official to Georgetown... Georgetown: "Even though it's a rough season they keep in touch up there. Coach Nickelberry and coach Ewing, I talk to them a lot. The visit was nice. It's a beautiful campus, great facilities, the coaches they had the years of experience playing and coaching the game, it's always good to be in an environment to be around guys basketball minded."... "I would like to visit on an official to Clemson, Ole Miss and Pitt maybe," said Greene. 247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/2024-four-star-guard-KJ-Greene-updates-the-latest-in-his-recruitment-203188216/“I’ve only taken the one official visit to Georgetown,” Greene said. “I’ve gone on unofficals to South Carolina and Clemson. I’m talking to Tennessee, with Julian (Phillips) there, maybe a Pittsburgh and maybe like an Ole Miss. Georgetown: “The relationship I built with Coach (Kevin) Nickelberry and Patrick Ewing himself has really stood out to me. My granddad lives up there, and that is another reason I wanted to get up there. Coach Nickelberry keeps it straight with me. It was a place I really wanted to see.” www.on3.com/news/kyle-greene-jr-speaks-on-visits-and-his-recruitment-south-carolina-clemson-pittsburgh-georgetown-ole-miss/So...sounds like the staff still is doing some recruiting?
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 2, 2023 16:06:01 GMT -5
More like 123 Fireballs shots!
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 2, 2023 11:47:51 GMT -5
I hate to catch Villanova when they are coming together. A win over the Wildcats always is nice. I hope the team shows some pride and plays their hearts out after last night's mess.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 2, 2023 8:54:09 GMT -5
71-70 Hoyas
GO HOYAS!!!
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 1, 2023 17:08:23 GMT -5
AMEN to all of the above! Although I have kept yelling to a minimum, absent the criminal changed foul call at the end of the South Carolina game. There was some table pounding and screaming there.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 1, 2023 15:47:55 GMT -5
Is there any confirmation that alumni have been tapped for this purpose? Or that their participation is tied to some particular plan going forward?
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 1, 2023 10:07:26 GMT -5
Great story! Two amazing characters. He should have made Imus pony up.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Mar 1, 2023 8:16:49 GMT -5
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Highsmith Avatar
Posts: 1,438
You would get enjoyment out of watching us lose by 100 for multiple games? I really wish I understood this idea of being a fan but not wanting the team to do everything it can to be as successful as possible (and I mean within the rules...I'm not advocating cheating, etc.). If you enjoy watching them lose every game, wouldn't you enjoy it even more if we had a season where we went 26-5 and made the Sweet 16? Or even better?
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Of course I enjoy it more when the Hoyas win. I cannot describe the emotions I had during and after the BET victory in 2021. There has been nothing remotely like that since then, and that stinks for all of us fans. But my philosophy is not that the program owes me anything. To the contrary, being a Hoya fan, through thick or thin, is an incredible privilege, period. The debt is all of my side for having the chance to watch and support the team. To me, supporting the team means supporting the team. That means supporting the leadership, players, and philosophy for how GU wants to run the program. It does not mean going on diatribes about what I would do if I was the AD or President.
I am confident that the Hoyas will find success again, sooner or later. I will be happier then in supporting the team than I am now. But today, I am pumped up that there is a Hoyas game tonight. I wish I could fly out to Omaha and be there to cheer them on in person. I will rock my Hoyas gear all over the place now, all offseason, and for the rest of my life. Now and always, I am pulling for the Hoyas.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 28, 2023 15:14:16 GMT -5
It pains me to think that there are only a few Hoya games left this year. I would love to see them get some wins in NYC but that seems like a longshot. The Hoyas have played well in Omaha at times...fingers crossed...and as always, GO HOYAS!!! I think it is merciful that there are only two more games left in the season. Asking for more games this year would be like sending your fighter out to fight another round when he is clearly outmatched. It is time to throw in the towel and start anew. I cannot imagine not wanting as many Hoya games as possible, regardless if they win by 100, lose by 100, or anything in between. To each his own.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 28, 2023 9:15:22 GMT -5
I agree that it will be very interesting to see if there are any rumblings before an announcement happens (if there is one), and if so, what is said (or leaked) and by whom.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 28, 2023 7:57:35 GMT -5
It pains me to think that there are only a few Hoya games left this year. I would love to see them get some wins in NYC but that seems like a longshot.
The Hoyas have played well in Omaha at times...fingers crossed...and as always, GO HOYAS!!!
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 27, 2023 17:21:41 GMT -5
73-69 HOYAS
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 23, 2023 14:20:49 GMT -5
Best of luck to all current and former Hoyas. I hope that we can try to enjoy Senior Day.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 23, 2023 11:36:38 GMT -5
He seems unhappy out there.
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 23, 2023 11:13:24 GMT -5
HOYAS 76-75
GO HOYAS
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Post by hoyalove4ever on Feb 23, 2023 10:50:36 GMT -5
I doubt that everyone is okay with the way the NCAA violations shook out. That aspect of this issue is and will be important.
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