Now what?
To be honest, if Chappell finishes the game am not sure if they win...but..he didn't..and they did..so that's all that matters.
So...now..
1. Where do you all think they end in the regular season standings. Second? Third? Fifth? Lower? Where?
2. Is a winning season again realistic? (must go 7-2 second half, or 6-3 and win two in the NECs).
3. Do you like the week off? Or would you rather they be playing again, say Monday vs. SFNY instead of Saturday?
So...now..
1. Where do you all think they end in the regular season standings. Second? Third? Fifth? Lower? Where?
2. Is a winning season again realistic? (must go 7-2 second half, or 6-3 and win two in the NECs).
3. Do you like the week off? Or would you rather they be playing again, say Monday vs. SFNY instead of Saturday?
posted by Tony Graham at 11:44 AM
16 Comments:
Hey TG
Its Tim Walker. I am glad all the nay sayers are out after 2 big wins. You can only play with who is out there. You cannot worry who is on the floor and who is not. As hot as they are right now this week off could hurt unless they have some injuries and they could use the time to heal up. My team is
15-5 and won a 2OT game last nite that was probably the biggest of the season. Take Care TG
Tim Walker
Tony:
What a great night at the WLB. Thank you all of those 7 guys who played, you all played well and played your roles.
-They were able to limit Chappel by him fouling out and A.J. Jackson's scoring was held in check. Tony Lee and Derek Coleman could not win it without the help of the other Big 2 down the stretch.
-John Bunch was a big time difference-maker and established himself in the post. Bunch, Hallet and Marques played well (although statistic don't show it all) enough and held A.J. Jackson (thought Hallet did a great job in him defensively), Freddie Harris and Senat in check for RMU's frontcourt.
-Monmouth was able to slow down RMU at the end of the 1st half and at the end of the game. Although they did not dictate pace, they did not allow RMU to score often and forced 20 turnovers with that trademark MU defense.
As for the rest of the year....let's take it game by game.
1. St. Francis NY: Should be a confidence building win at home, with John Bunch emphasizing payback on the X's postgame show Sat. night.
2. At FDU: This game can make-or-break the season possibly for both teams. I have no confidence in FDU in a big spot like this, with their team being very young overall. However, their seniors Peeples and Harris are good role players, but not at the level of Delic and Alston for MU. Senior leadership in a big road game like this; on TV, Rivalry game=MU "upset special".
3. At Wagner: MU has had Wagner's number over the last few years, including an 11 pt win this yr at WLB. Wagner has a weak home-court and their team is not much stronger, MU continues to roll.
4. FDU: see Game #2....although I could see these two games being a split, I will go with my gut and give MU the sweep.
5. CCSU: I picked MU to lose at CCSU and I will again pick CCSU to win against MU. They have three very good players in Nwadeke, Blackwood and Mojica.
6. At Mount St. Mary's: John Bunch (23 and 12) killed them earlier in the season and he will continue to do so, MU wins.
7. At LIU: This team plays well against MU, but they have been unimpressive in the other games I have watched on TV. I feel that Coach Calloway will have to play more man-to-man to neautralize their 3 point shooters. He will make the necessary changes and MU will win.
8. Sacred Heart: A big letdown as MU falls to SHU at home. :(
9. At St. Francis PA: A confidence-building win going into the NEC tournament.
That leaves 7-2 thinking positively. Although I would not be totally surprised if it was 6-3, with FDU winning one of the 2 games.
If they go 7-2 that'd be 11-7 in the NEC which would probably give them a 3 seed barring tiebreakers. If they went 6-3 it'd mean probably a 4 or 5 seed with a 10-8 NEC record. Hopefully they can seize this opportunity and win as many games as possible here in the 2nd half of their NEC slate and build momentum going into the NEC tourney, and then who knows?
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Ok..here's how I see it.
SFNY - revenge W.
At FDU - toss up.
At Wagner - win.
FDU - win. I think.
CCSU - win. MU should have won the first time.
at MSM - MU's history at the Knott Arena is enough to tie MU's fans stomachs in knotts. But I think MU eeks this one out.
at LIU - James Williams' eyes light up when he sees MU uniforms. But there has to be a reason this team struggles shooting with almost anyone except MU. Still, a loss.
S Heart - Not sold that a team of mainly shooters, that doesn't play lots of defense, can be this successful. Well, it's the NEC. But I like MU at home. They have to slow this team down as they did RMU.
at SFPA - should be a W. But MU stumbles. A loss.
That's 7-2 or 6-3..winning all the home games..but there's no one there they can't beat at home.
Keys to second half of the season..depth (solid enough seven with Shipman back), Bunch, can Deki stay hot? A little more from Marques. No injuries.
Bunch is, has to be, a difference maker, and MU has to keep the pace under control to make him effective.
And the next time Corey takes a 3 remind me to hit the aspirin bottle.
Don't get me wrong. I love Corey's energy and enthusiasm, and his dedication play defense and hustle and all that. Still, I would like to see him post up more and -
Pulueeeeeze.......no more 3's... please?
Re: Chappell. Just being realistic..has nothing to do with negativity.
We can also say (and I did!) that perhaps had Shipman played vs. CCSU, MU may well have won that game. He didn't, and they didn't.
Nobody disagreed with me on that one.
1. I would say realistically 4, with an outside chance of 3 if some teams up top slip up. Outside of CCSU right now, I dont see any team with the ability to distance itself from the pack, and for CCSU its only bc they are tough, like their coach, unlike MU, I am sad to say. Howie DEMANDS respect, intensity, and effort every day. Is he a nut job? Maybe, but he is an excellent coach and a tough SOB. I would liek to see MU's lead man be more like him to a sense.
2. A winning season is possible, perhaps likely, if MU can take 2 out of the next 3 or 3 of 4.
3. I already forget the question, but yes, make that no, wait I dont know. Corey grab some rebounds please. Bye bye.
All I can say is - come to practice some time and see if Dave demands respect, intensity, and effort every day.
I have never been to a Howie practice, however. I imagine that would be something.
I don't see CCSU's rampage maintaining its current pace, though this is not to say they won' finish first because I can't see SHU or MSM on top either. Then again, someone has to end No. 1.
In looking at CCSU's bid to run away with the the top spot, though, look at forward Jemino Sobers.
This year 8.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg.
Last year about 3 points and two rebounds per game.
CSU has a late season stretch at SHU, MU, and FDU. Then home to RMU which could send the race for No. 1 into a bit of a scramble.
MU has to avenge some of these earlier defeats. A sweep of MSM could be critical in seedings.
If MU ends 10-8 NEC it will most likely finish 4-5 in tiebreaker scenarious.
Only once ('92-93, John Giraldo's rookie year) have teams gone 10-8 (MSM won a tie-breaker with Marist) and grabbed a No. 3 seed.
Rider went 14-4 to win it and Wagner was second at 12-6.
That was the year Rider won on the Darrick Suber shot at the buzzer that defeated Wagner.
Chiera hit a very big shot - I believe - that benefited MU..a couple of years back (2004) when the NECs were at Wagner.
He hit the 3 off the play the Hawks used the other night that sent the semifinal vs. FDU into overtime that CCSU won.
MU then rolled past CCSU in the final.
Had it been FDU at MU in the 2004 final - in my opinion - it might - stress might - have been a different outcome.
But...they (FDU) weren't and CCSU was.
Yeh.. that CCSU team with Corsley Edwards and Ricardo Scott (who later transferred out) a year or so earlier was one of the best ever in the NEC.
Here's how I would rank head coaches in NEC, honestly. What does everyone else think:
1. Howie Dickenman: Tough son of a gun. He's tough, and that translates to his kids.
2. Milan Brown: This guy is new, but he gets so much out of his kids, regardless of talent. Up and comer in NEC and NCAA.
3. Mike Dean: The guy is a wizard with his shades and his classic spinning timeout calls. Seriously though, he is a great coach, and again gets a lot out of what he has.
4. Jim Ferry (LIU): Great young coach, get some big guys, and he will find his way towards the top. Was an excellent D-2 coach.
5. Dave Calloway (MU): I like Dave, but still has much to learn as coach. He could be #4, but I feel he always has good talent, and admitedly he does always win. This could be a post in and of itself.
6. Mark Schmidt (RMU): Good coach, but very annoying to me. He complains nonnnnn-stop. Never seems to get over the hump, but know many consider him a good coach.
7. Tom Green (FDU): Always given talent, seems to be squandered wayyy too much. Kenny over Crosariol, WLB you're going dancing for the 3 time in 6 years, 2 of the last 3!
8. Dave Bike (SHU): Ugh cant stand him, but he has been there longer than most buildings on campus. Wizard in his own right.
9. Brian Nash (SFNY): Young and learning still.
10. Bobby Jones? (SFPA): Who can get players in Loretto, PA? He does get some talent, but seldom wins games. Nice nice man Ive heard, but with his health, perhaps may be at the end of the road.
11. Joe DeSantis: Always has talent, never ever gets it done. One time took his team to NEC finals, and lost out. They are always one of the most talented teams. We will all witness another late season collapse by the Braves!
Any thoughts on ALL-NEC right now and All-Rookie?
ALL NEC 1
Mojica-CCSU (amazing, used to be a walk-on, there you go Tibbs!)
Lee-RMU
Williams-LIU
Frye- SHU
Jackson-RMU
ALL NEC 2
Delic-MU
Chapelle- RMU
Nwadike-CCSU
Wehye-QU
Harris-FDU
*POY- AJ Jackson
If there was 3rd Team..
Youngblood-MU
Porter-WAG
Hines-SFNY
Chapelle-RMU
Kearse-MOUNT
ALL ROOKIE
Goode-MT
Youngblood-MU
Sweetney-SFPA
Seymour-CCSU
Hardy-SHU
*I take Youngblood, but I may be biased*
Bob..that's the shot by Chiera I was referring to. And, as I stated, I think MU would have had problems in a 2004 final with FDU, even at home.
Ron Ganulin was the SFNY coach. Had them in the running every year. Got to know him a little, yes, great guy.
I actually felt bad for him after they lost to MU in the final (I was happy for MU, don't get me wrong).
His motto was "recruit to shoot" because he knew real good NEC big men are always at a premium. He always had shooters and they pressed from dusk to dawn.
Tony, how about a thread on hal way point everyones all NEC and All Rookie teams?
I think among these comments there are remarks to this effect..I'll try to throw in my own..when I get more of a chance to look at eveything...
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