Sweet 16
Just spoke with Dave. He said today for the first time this season everyone practiced..a total of 15 players and ex-Hawk Blake Hamilton. Yes, Rickie Crews was back at practice as was Yaniv Simpson. Calloway said practice was "intense".
Monmouth continues practice 3 p.m. Thursday, then 9am Friday, is off for the Xmas break...and then resumes practice 7 p.m. Dec. 26th.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
Monmouth continues practice 3 p.m. Thursday, then 9am Friday, is off for the Xmas break...and then resumes practice 7 p.m. Dec. 26th.
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 8:49 PM
17 Comments:
By the way..is Sacred Heart (2-0 NEC) for real?
BOSTON (AP) -Chauncey Hardy scored 21 points and Luke Granato and Brice Brooks added 14 each in Sacred Heart's 95-75 rout of Harvard Wednesday.
Jim Goffredo led the Crimson with 19 points. Evan Harris scored 15 and Brian Cusworth 13.
Sacred Heart (6-6) shot 55 percent from the field, 37-of-67, and made eight of their 18 shots from behind the arc.
Jarrod Frye chipped in 12 points for the Pioneers, who have won four of their last five games.
The loss snaps the Crimson's (7-5) two-game winning streak. They now have won six of their last eight games.
Harvard was forced into 20 turnovers, 14 in the first half, that led to 20 points. Sacred Heart made 21-of-36 shots from the field in the first half and held a 50-33 lead at intermission.
The Pioneers extended their lead to 55-35 at the 18:37 mark of the second half on Hardy's jump shot. A 10-2 run by Sacred Heart ballooned the lead to 76-53 after a pair of free throws by Liam Potter with 8:26 remaining.
Ryan Litke's 3-pointer gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the night, 85-59, with 5:22 left.
It was the first time Harvard allowed 90 or more points since Dec. 30, 2004, when they were beaten 98-93 by Tennessee Tech in overtime
MU will beat SHU if they slow the game down against them and make them play slowly...They like to run and gun with this team, and MU can negate that by slowing them down
MU is the worst team in the country. Eric Hazzard and FDU own mU!
I let this last comment ride because..while it's trash talk..at least it's hoops.
Eric Hazard is a 6-6 junior reserve, who played at CBA and St. Benedict's, who is averaging 5.1 ppg. for FDU.
He made a stop at Rutgers before ending at FDU.
I feel that the fact that this was the first day the whole team practiced and the fact that the practice was "intense", which is something we haven't said about MU hoops in awhile are both great signs. I feel that the team is ready for a "new start" and will come out energized and much more effective in the 2nd half of the year. Some major reasons this turnaround will happen:
1. Full strength: In the beginning of the season the legend Tony Graham stated that depth was this team's strength. I feel that the major rotation players getting healthy (Bunch and possibly Marques have been nicked up a bit), and getting more comfortable in their roles (Shipman and Coleman), and continuing their strong performances (Deki the MVP and the Jet) and bounce back come the NEC season (Hallett a la what happened with Chris Kenny who was struggling during the Non-Conference season last year. Corey, like Kenny is a veteran and always makes positive contributions when it comes to NEC time.
2. The development of the younger players: We have seen some good signs from Mike Shipman, Whitney Coleman, Jhamar Youngblood and Alex Nunner on the court this year. Their further development and experience will help the Hawks stabilize their guard play and more importantly their top of their matchup zone defense. Also, there are a few wildcards on the "bottom" of this roster that might develop and help either the end of this year or definitely next year. Rickie Crews and Simpson came to MU as heralded recruits. Simpson has been injured, but is a veteran 21 yr. old mature freshman and was recruited by Seton Hall; which makes me believe he can be an effective 2/3 as a shooter in MU's system. Crews: Where do I start? I was salivating reading about him on-line and when Tony Graham spoke about him. I saw him at a scrimmage and I saw him play at Seton Hall. He has athletic ability, but need to become stronger going to the basket. He can block shots and produce energy from a bigman off the bench. I feel that Calloway needs to get him in the game if he behaves himself the rest of the year. He, along with Whitney, Shipman and Youngblood are the foreseeable future for this MU team. He is an investment, that I don't want MU or he himself to give up on. Lastly, Barlow. Barlow might not ever be a star, or ever a starter for MU. However, I have watched him in warmups and he looks as if he has a nice jumper (a la Brent Wilson) from about 16 feet and has some springs in his moves to the basket. I feel that he could be a valuable back-up big if he is somewhat as athletic as he seems.
3. The coaching staff will not accept this performance or let it happen: Coach Calz and Coach Krayl work too hard and care too much. I believe they will find the right mix of players and tighten up the defense by the time the NEC tournament comes along.
MU Mystery Coach says: The 2nd half of the year will be much more exciting and positive for MU hoops and their fans. MU will be in the top 3 in the NEC standings, and I believe will definitely be in the NEC final and it is a 50/50 chance depending on home-court and matchups if they can take it home.
Is Monmouth Mens Hoops going to win any games this year honestly?
The problem here is that you believed "the legend" who has been way off so far.
As always, your views appear logical and highly analytical, though perhaps overly optimistic. It's a rarity when so many question marks are answered in the positive.
I certainly agree with you on Rickie Crews. He could be a wild card in this entire scenario.
Glad to see you're still on the case. Meanwhile, I'll be at practice next week
I only said Eric "played" at CBA which he did, and I can't use your other comment.
Dear "dave" - Nah, they're going 3-27 and next year the program will be replaced by volleyball.
Who is this MU man of mystery...Paul Gaffney?
Dave Bike?
Tony Graham's Alter Ego?
Mayor of WLB?
Geoff Billet?
Gerry Matthews?
Bill Handleman?
or could it be Mini me?
I'm guessing the Mayor of WLB.
wrong, none of the above....Howie Dickenman actually!
Uh.....don't think so. Really..I have no idea. Anyone have a serious clue?
That guy thats friends with the Coaches thats at practice basically every day. I think he's on the payroll, but he sits all practice!
FYI--Heard Crews sprained his ankle yesterday in practice, so, so much for him helping us out in the near term.
No..that's Mike..former Point Beach Garnet Gull (back in the day!) .and he has denied he is the MUMC so I've gotta take him at his word. Also, he's more critical than the MUMC.
Re Crews: Just talked with Dave. He said Rickie twisted an ankle in practice the other day and did not practice Friday but does not believe the injury to be serious.
Practice resumes Tuesday. Am gonna try and get over there Tuesday or Wednesday. But at least by Thursday, since they play Friday and Sunday.
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