MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[lildave678]

I wound

For some reason that made me laugh 

[Ferraro13]

I wound

For some reason that made me laugh 

iPhone is terrible lol suppose *

[Saint-Paul]

Saints Season in Review 2014 - 15


    Back in November the discussion about the GNAC conference was that only the top two spots were secure, all the other spots were up for grabs.  That makes this past season even more disappointing to reflect upon.  The Saints started out the year with  every opportunity to grab the third or fourth conference spot and ended up limping into sixth place.   Anna Maria, St Joe, and Lasell were the teams that stepped up their level of play and grabbed the top playoff spots.   The Saints needed a  win over Suffolk on the last day of the regular season just to avoid a three way tie for eighth place.   The Saints finished the season at 10 - 16,  their sixth losing season in a row, and 109 losses in the last sixth years, the worst record of any GNAC team since November 2009.  The Saints went 1 -14  against teams with above 0.500 records, the lone win being a playoff upset over Anna Maria late in the year.  They beat zero 0.500 level teams during the regular season.  With the addition of the two JUCO big men, and returning some athletic guards, on paper the Saints had the talent to compete for a third or fourth spot, but again some poor coaching decisions held this team back.  Using 21 different starting line ups in 26 games had the players confused and looking over their shoulders every time they stepped onto the court.  How could the second best center in the conference play in all 26 games but start only 20 ? How does the team captain, and only player in the last three years not to quit the team, get benched for 8 games in the middle of the playoff hunt? Trying to press and run against more athletic opponents led to a demoralizing atmosphere during and after games.  In one game this year against an athletic team the Saints held a 9 point halftime lead and then came out of the locker room to give up a 60 point second half by trying to run with a team they should have been slowing down.  Good college teams don't give up 60 points in a whole game.  Giving the green light to non shooters to launch threes eliminated valuable post touches that again cost the Saints winnable games.  The Saints shot only 26% from behind the arc for the year but attempted 388 three point shots, why?  All the shooters who were on the team in the last four years quit because they don't run any plays.  Running wild downcourt with every rebound, outlet pass, or steal led to a whopping 448 turnovers but nobody was ever told to pull the ball out and run a play.  Again, a very negative assist to turnover ratio ( 0.7 ) for the season showed a complete lack of discipline and lack of basketball fundamentals.  Any time you are throwing the ball away more than setting up teammates for baskets, you are just not a well coached team. And when it happens six years in a row it is habit, not coincidence.  Adding nine new players to the roster again this year is nothing new, that happens every year, but it enhances the lack of team chemistry and lack of cohesive play that good teams show.  The Saints had no four year players on the roster this year,  that recruiting class from four years ago are all long gone.  If it weren't for the JUCO transfers that come in every year there wouldn't be enough players to field a team.  Have to wait until next November to see how many of these guys come back.  Like the Cubs fans always say, " wait till next year ".

[falcons2010]

Congrats to Vic and Tavon for being named to the all region team, first and second teams respectively.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I don't know if anyone is still monitoring the page, but anyone know Vic's plans for the future.  I assume he's going to try and play professionally somewhere.  He's certainly got the right game and size for it.

[falcons2010]

Hoops, I heard that a highlight film was made to send around. Not sure if it was for the all star game or for scouts.

[magicman]

Big Vic had 31 points and 10 rebounds in the All Star game on Saturday in Salem. He was the leading scorer and tied for the most rebounds.

Here's a link to the box score: https://twitter.com/d3hoops/status/579336822074953730

[Saint-Paul]

Saw the short video clips of the Albertus and the St Joe incoming recruits.  The Albertus recruit from Notre Dame HS in CT looked very athletic and intense on defense.  It was a short clip but it showed him defending passing lanes very well, stealing the ball, and finishing with a thundering dunk.  The St Joe recruit from Londonberry HS in NH looked to be a very smooth 3 point shooter, with nice form, and good size, about 6'4" or 6'5" and plays on the perimeter.  I found it very interesting that both teams try to recruit the type of player that fits into their system.  Albertus goes after the athletic defender who can dunk and St Joe goes after the long range pure shooter.  I am sure that the Emmanuel coach would also try to recruit players who fit into his system , if he had a system.  Does playing helter skelter count as a basketball system?  If it does, then I guess he does recruit players who fit into his system!! Ha, Ha, Ha.

[lildave678]

Saint Paul do you have a name? I'm assuming CJ Davidson?

[Saint-Paul]

Yes, it was the Davidson clip that was posted on You Tube. It was only 10 seconds long but he did look very athletic and intense on defense.

[lildave678]

New England Recruiting Report has him listed at 5'10 so if he's throwing down dunks, maybe we'll have Sledge 2.0 haha

[D3HoopJunkie]

LilDave,
Not quite a Sledge 2.0 but CJ Anderson in his own right is a very good young player. A really outstanding true freshman to bring in for the upcoming season.

I can't wait to see who else Oliver can bring in. I have heard rumors and I suppose we should all know at this point that he will continue to bring in JUCO talent year after year. With every successful season it only makes it easier for Coach Oliver to use his contacts and land top JUCO transfers who aren't necessarily D3 players.

Eian and Sledge were outstanding players but in my opinion the guard position for D3 is the easiest to reload with. The biggest loss is by far Big Vic. I mean players like him of his size and skillset don't come around too often at the D3 level. He was so involved in every aspect of the game and will no doubt be the toughest to replace.  I still can't wait to see what the offseason brings forward.

[Saint-Paul]

Just read that UMASS-Boston is only interviewing D-1 assistants and D-3 Head Coaches for their open position.  Hope the Saints coach is one of D-3 guys getting an interview.  Please hire him.  Please, please, please, please hire him.

[D3HoopJunkie]

Guys I am extremely nervous. The head coach at Southern CT (D2) has resigned and taken a job in Florida. I have to think that Coach Oliver will no doubt and rightfully so be on there radar. I highly doubt they would be able to find a more qualified recruiter for the area not to mention one as successful as Coach Oliver has been.

It's the offseason, I suppose I always new this day was coming.

All we can do now is wait and see!!

[Saint-Paul]

Like the juxtaposition of the last two posts.  You are afraid that your coach will bill hired away from your program and i am afraid that mine won't.  hahahaha.  we shall have to wait and see.