MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

You set your best two down if:

1. They both are tired.
2. They both are in foul trouble.
3. They're not playing defense like they should.
4. They're not giving effort.

etc. etc.

I've always noticed Denison, Kenyon, Oberlin, etc. seem to have a wider recruiting berth than most of the NCAC, due to the 'name' of the school.

[smedindy]

Also, Hern came BACK, if you see. He didn't have to come back. But he did.

And in looking at last seasons stats - Hern and Hodgkinson each played 28 minutes a game - and 10 players averaged at least 10 minutes a game when they played.

Sounds like its kind of similar - just stretched a bit.

[ScotsFan]

Wasn't Denison's poor start being similar to last year already discussed in here?  I think what has happened is that last year's strong finish may have caused some expectations to be higher than they should have been.  From my vantage point, Denison's start is eerily similar to last year, with the exception of the shocker they pulled off in beating Wittenberg last year.  That win made them 3-7 through 10 games last year and they are 2-8 this year after 10 games.  Last season they did get some nice wins like  Witt and OWU,  but, they still  were swept by Wabash, they lost 2 out of 3 to Earlham, Witt came back to shell them in the rematch and they lost badly in their only meeting with Wooster.  Denison even lost to HIRAM last year in case anyone was wondering.  Personally, I just think this was a case of high expectations when the reality is, Denison is just a middle of the conference team.  I think Smeds brought it up about  how this is shaping up to be a repeat of last year for Denison.  Once they get into the meat of the conference schedule, the Big Red should win more conference games than they lose just like last year.  But they still won't get over on the top half of the league (Wabash, OWU and EC), just like last year. 

My question is, were you Denison fans this critical of Ghiloni last year at this time when the Big Red was 3-7?  Highly doubtful, because one of those 3 wins was against Witt, even though one of the 7 losses was to Hiram.  Things worked out though and Denison went on to have one of their most successful seasons in recent memory nearly matching the total number of wins Denison had accumulated over the previous 3 seasons combined!  Now the Big Red have basically the same start to last season and suddenly Ghiloni is on the hot seat?  I just don't get it...

[smedindy]

I don't think Ghiloni is on the hot seat from those that matter at Denison. I will be watching avidly at Chadwick this year to see signs of discontent, and keeping my ears open to see if there's a rogue or two in the stands.

I've covered basketball for (sigh) almost 20 years and I've known some HS fans that would always throw their coach under a bus. One HS in this area is famous for having fans and parents be coaches in the stands and big time second and third guessers.

That, of course, is not constructive.

Scots Fan - thanks for remembering last year as well. Denison could give Earlham and OWU games at home, and definitely are the class of Kenyon, Hiram, Oberlin and possibly 'Gheny.

[David Collinge]

There have been over 40 posts over the holiday weekend (12/23 through present) in this room, and my very non-scientific observation is that makes this the most active room in Posting Up during this period.

And practically all of the talk is about Denison.

Now, if I had told you in September that this is what would occur, how many of you would have thought I was around the bend? 

Now if only we can conjure a coaching "issue" in Gambier... 

[TheRed]

Okay....i can't take listening to Denisonfan any longer.  You have no idea what is going on with the team, but you continue to give your insight on everything.  You jump to conclusions about Ghiloni and the team with no understanding of what is actually going on behind closed doors.  He's not a fool and if certain guys were getting the job done there would not be any of this talk about rotation or playing time or anything.  A lot of things that have happened this year were bound to happen and not due to Ghilonis coaching this year.  I don't care that any of you know who I am and I'll make it pretty easy to figure out by telling you that I played for him for 3 years and have the upmost respect for him as a person and a coach.  I don't really like message boards, nor have I ever posted on one, but people like DenisonFan drive me nuts.  Just don't go throwing out comments just to have something to say without knowing more about the game and the issues the team faces.  Do your homework.

Also, this comment is unreal..."I THINK HE IS TRYING TO COACH THESE MEN LIKE HE DID THIS BISHOP READING (SPELLING) KIDS. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.  SUDDENLY HE HAS MEN THAT HAVE AN OPINION AND QUESTION WHAT HE IS DOING.  IF HE WANTS ROBOTS HE SHOULD GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL COACHING."  I'm sure Wooster's guys don't have a bunch of "men" questioning Coach Moore.  This is college basketball.  If everyone had a say in what was going on, Coach G would be playing 20 guys instead of 10-12.

[earlhamalum]

Article:  Special Olympians appreciate simple gift from Denison Men's Basketball Team

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051209/OPINION02/512090330/1014

Just a nice article about Coach Ghiloni.  It shows the Big Red giving back to the community and giving up their time to help others.

[smedindy]

I bet the whole team got in on that as well! That's a great story.

[CentralOH]

Kudos to TheRed for providing his perspective.  I am pleased to see that others find DenisonFan's view to be a little skewed.

It's nice to see that even through a holiday weekend, NCAC hoops is still top of mind with this crowd.

[DenisonFan]

Yeh TheRed,

Since you played and you are soooooo tight with the team.  Do me a HUGE favor and contact
Hern, Hodgkinson, and Izzo and get their take.  Because I am obviously full of crap.  I need you to hear from your x teammates about their take on what is going on this year.

Then when you are done with those three, contact Julian, Harris and Wagnor.  I am sure they will give you the "real" story of why they left the program.

Then come back here and tell be what they said.  Why do I think that you won't do this??
Because you won't like what they say??

Smed:

They are both tired at the same time???  Then you sit one down before the other.  It is all about the rotation.  They aren't playing defense???  Who is, we lose by 30 points a game.

I am sorry that I have caused such a reaction.  But guess what, isn't that what this is all about.

I really can't wait to hear back from TheRed on the "teams" veiw. 

[DenisonFan]

earlhamalum,
Thanks for the tip on the artical.  That was very nice.

[smedindy]

I remember one game on national TV and Missouri was playing. The Tigers gave up about three or four easy baskets after halftime and Stormin' Norman Stewart pulled his starters and put in three walk ons and two scrubs. That bunch kept the Tigers pretty close.

The Tigers still lost - but by gosh the message was sent to the starters and they played hard the rest of the game.

And again, when you're playing Witt, Wooster, and Akron, the studs could have played 40 minutes and still they would have lost, big time. Same with Capital, seeing the box score aftermath.

[smedindy]

Oh, and the 'why don't you call X up" is pretty weak. Unless Ghiloni got abducted by aliens and his doppleganger is now coaching, based on the numbers from last year, the results of last year and this year all seems par with the course.

Why don't YOU poll coaches around the NCAC and Ohio and ask how they think he's doing with the Big Red.

PS - Several times this year Wabash has played without Medeiros and Joseph in the lineup - and sometimes with out those two and Zimmer (who comes off the bench, funny how that is..) No one averages more than 26 minutes and they seem to be doing fine.

[DenisonFan]

Smed,

I totally agree with you!!
I certainly hope that Denison does what they did last year.  Nothing would please me more than going 10-5 or better in the second half.  And I think they can.

As far as "x".  What should I have said??  Isn't that what TheRed's teammates are??  They are his X teammates.  It has NOTHING to do with Ghiloni.

[Li'l Giant]

Anyone besides me getting the idea that DenisonFan is never going to be persuaded and this is going to continue on until the end of time?