So What's the Deal with this program?

The Maroon · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Bethlehem, PA

As I consistently preach to the 4 of you who read this thread--it's never about one game. But when winning at home is vital to being in the race and we're losing at home, that's a problem. It's highly doubtful we will match last years win total overall or in the league, despite having a lot of the team back.

Positives: We make our foulshots, we may well win. Negatives: You don't make foul shots at home, you don't deserve to win. Positive: COntinued strong play from our frosh and sophomores...Negatives: American is as young as we are.

Let's look at the Sr. classes in todays games and you tell me who has the brighter future

(8-14) Lafayette's Seniors provide: 47% of their points, 41% of the rebounds, 58% of the three pointers and 53% of the steals.

(14-7) American's Senior class provide: 21% of the points, 28% of the rebounds, 28% of the threes, and 34% of the steals.

I realize we didn't get nearly as much Alex S as we would have liked thus far this season, and I know there are lies, damn lies, and statistics, but I have a growing concern that while it's clear we have better players than we did 5 years ago---so does the rest of the league.

I really don't know what to think about this program.
_________________
I bleed Maroon

LC Fan · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 13

I've watched a few games on the network but this was the first game I've seen in person. I actually liked what I saw. In particular, our women gave a tremendous effort. In some of the games I've seen, effort has occasionally to be lacking.

American was just plain better. LaKeisha Wright is a wonderful player and Alex Serowoky will be a major presence. I also liked what I saw from Melissa Downey. If we could add a little more speed from someone willing to penetrate and aggressively defend, we could play with anyone in the league--including American.

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

This was also the first game I saw in person. The main difference to my eye was the difference in speed between the two teams. I also thought their center played the defensive boards better than we did. The effort was there and there is potential but to me( as an untrained eye) those were the major differences.

pardon me · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 11

Well I'm back and I hate to say that I was right but the numbers dont lie. I said that this team would take a step backwards and it has. The sad part is they are going to take another step backwards next year. I dont know where this team goes from here. I cant tell if scholarships have helped because I think this years senior class and last years senior class had better basketball players in it than what scholarship recruiting have netted this team. Now is that a due to losing your recruiting edge because you now have scholarships to give. You can be the judge.I think that it is time to give Tammy next year that will be 4 years of scholarship players and then if she doesn't get it done pull the plug.

carney2 · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 1174

Both programs are getting real close to being an embarrassment. The recruiting posts give no indication that help is on the way. Someone (Bruce!) needs to sit down and take a long objective look at this thing and determine what needs to be done. I honestly don't see either program all that much improved in three years unless some outside force shakes the trees. It can start with a simple question:

We're not getting competitive recruits. Why?

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

Both programs have ineffective recruitng programs, is it facilities , is it approach, lack of effective assistants( who do most of the scouting and recruiting). The other scholarship programs are doing reasonably well having started one year later than these two!!

The Maroon · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Bethlehem, PA

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

Recall that the first year of scholarships for basketball ( the junior class) was a wasted year because we got them very late in the recruiting cycle. Our first scholarshio player was Brookes Niquette, where is she?? She has played a total of 22 minutes this season. 120,000 spent so far or 2000 dollars a minute so far this season. Recruiting at the Dv 1 scholarship level starts really in the spring of a HS junior's year. We seem to be always late to the party. Turnover in our assistants I'm sure (especially for the men) have not helped. Both Bohn and Griffith (soccer and FH) have pretty much screened their class prospects for 2010 and are making sure they are arriving for this summer's camp programs. I am sure that is not happening in either basketball program.

Andy · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 859

Why did Emily play 2 mins?

Spice played 40 mins, so we have no developing PG for the future?

The Maroon · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Bethlehem, PA