Clickclack

In other news... #leftinthedust

On 5/12/2023 at 6:36 PM, UA1882 said:

Delaware transfer Gianmarco Arletti has committed to Albany.

 

Yawn. 

36% from the field, 28% from 3...junior guard...WHY? Who recruits a kid that shoots 36% from the field and 28% from three. Brutal!

EDIT: He did shoot it much better year prior to this. And appears to be a bit of a freak athlete. 

It's mid-may...hopefully they are on schedule. Looks like a TON of work to do. 

4 hours ago, cwdickens said:

My question of the day: How do we balance fans' passion for analytics and the passion of just being fan of the team and one of its players, in particular when it comes to Marcus Jackson?  Our passion (dslyank and me) comes from the fact that he grew up in the area, played for a highly respected local high school program, Albany Academy, coached by the father of a former UAlbany player and chose to come here without a scholarship.

Yes, he deserves a scholarship, and yes, Marcus deserves opportunities to prove himself,  Just thinking about how Killings has thrown around scholarships in the past has always worried me.

You are advocating for giving a guy a scholarship because he grew up in the area and a father of a former player coached his HS team? LOL....

Again, he seems like a good kid, works hard, is an asset to the UAlbany community, I get all that. But Killings if he doesn't win is staring at unemployment. He better not be handing out scholarships because a kid is local. 

I'm on record as saying that while he may eventually develop into a rotation player, him playing as much as he did as a walkon is a testament to how poorly last years team was constructed and not because he was very good. I wish him luck. I don't have any animus towards the kid, hey if he balls out that's better for UA. 

1 hour ago, dslyank said:

For what it's worth: I did not say he should be the starting point guard; just that he should receive one of the open scholarships. Not sure if this Thomas guy is the answer either? Let them compete for time, with Little and Amica and see if any of them stand out? Not that I have any say in the matter.🤐

LIttle is even more lost out there then Jackson...but at least he looks like a D1 guard and pretty athletic. He just can't shoot, or really do anything on offense and you can't put him out there and play 4 on 5. He is absolutely not a PG. But I'm actually "higher" on him then Jackson. I can see Little growing into a rotation guy off the bench. If he can figure out how to finish around the rim and make an occasional 3. 

2 hours ago, cwdickens said:

I have to respectively disagree if Marcus Jackson is a starting point and UAlbany MBB finishes at the bottom of the AE standings i 2023-2024, there are bigger issues then one ball player.  That being said, I see Marcus's role as the 2nd or 3rd player off the bench.  I highly suspect that two of three portal players are slotted as starters. 

This team had a ton of issues...PG play was one of the biggest. There was no one to get them into their sets, no one to distribute the ball or organize an offense or get anyone easy shots. I really don't get the fascination with Jackson. If he's anywhere near starter minutes because we need him, we are screwed. Fringe rotation player, on a team like UVM he would never see the court. Ever! Maybe spot minutes when he's a junior or senior. He tries hard...I get people love that but come on. 

4 hours ago, dslyank said:

I do not have any inside information; but Hutch has said he was moving on {I guess he could always change his mind?}. Jackson deserves a schollie {even for those who question his skill set (which I DON'T) & poor outside shooting--IMHO for effort minimally and for how well he played for a very sub par team.} Like his brother, surround him with people who can shoot, and he would be more than capable of running the offense. Good passer and can get to the hoop.

But still think you are correct 2 more schollie's are/will be available. Hutch & Ketner {NO WAY DK keeps Ketner on scholarship--he is/will be off the team unless Gatusso hold the schollie, which I doubt.

I respectfully and strongly disagree. If Jackson is anywhere near a starting PG position this team will be bottom of the AE again. His turnover rate is more than DOUBLE his assist rate (11.9/24.7). He has no business being anywhere near a starting point guard role on a competent team. Granted, he's only a freshman so maybe that improves but other than a few minutes of energy from the bench he's a marginal D1 player. We'll see if that changes this year. But no, he's not even an adequate passer let alone a god one. 

I suspect DK is well aware that he couldn't go into next season with Jackson as the PG and recruited Thomas who not only played at a much higher level but also has an assist to turnover rate of 26.9/22.7. He's a bit of a turnover machine but his a/t rate is positive at least. 

13 minutes ago, UA1882 said:

Sebastian Thomas, a 6-1 sophomore guard from the University of Rhode Island just committed.  

There is your point guard. The positive note is that he started the last 7 games and averaged 9 points. The negative, he cant shoot, at all. We will see. 

Yep, on the plus side, very good assist rate. Maybe he can develop even a bit of stroke to keep defense honest. 

On 4/21/2023 at 10:34 AM, cwdickens said:

Considering the need for an assistant coach with a strong X's and O's skill set, if Killings cannot accept direction or recommendations from his bosses, Killings knows where the door is (or perhaps not.)  As I have said in the past, the days of "the deer in the headlights" looks for the past two season must end.  Further, Benson and Cegles need to demonstrate to the fans that they care and will do what it takes to improve our situation without regard to Killings feelings.  

That's not how this works...that's not how any of this works. 

On 4/17/2023 at 7:47 PM, UA1882 said:

From Twitter a couple of hours ago 

PG Joel Brown @jabrown_1 , who started 93 games for Cal, has heard from Iona, George Mason, Bakersfield, Albany, & South Dakota. One year remaining

Averaged 7 points and 3 assists for a bad Cal team (but still the Pac 12). Also 93 starts is a ton of experience for the AE. 

This would be a nice pick up. Could be a point guard that I guy like Little can learn behind.  

Looking at his stats, turn over machine, can't shoot from the outside, offensive efficiency isn't good. Not sure someone that can help but dropping down to the AE is a big step down. 

22 minutes ago, godanesgo99 said:

I know he was forced into it, but kid started almost every conference game, and showed more hustle than almost any player I've seen in years of following the team. If he will stay with the team as a PWO, then that is awesome, but I like the energy he brings, and I've give him a ship before watching him transfer somewhere. He just watched his brother win a national championship, and I am sure he is motivated to improve and play on a tournament bound team. Hopefully he can achieve that here.

Being forced to start because the rest of the roster is bad doesn't mean a scholarship is warranted. The question with him isn't his heart or his effort but his talent with all due respect. I'd like to see him stay and develop. His in-conference analytics were pretty good. ORating over 100, high FG% from inside the arc. It would help him immensely if he could be more consistent from 3. He's pretty poor for a guard but he's a freshman. His turnover rate is also extremely high for a guard. 

19 hours ago, godanesgo99 said:

Anyone know if Hutch is coming back for his last year of eligibility? Anyone know if Jackson is returning and if he is getting a scholarship? Anyone know if Ketner is returning to the team, or just moving to Football full-time?

Those questions will determine if the team is set for next year, or if we have two more scholarships remaining.

Returning Scholarships: Beagle, Neely, Little, Amica, Reddish

Incoming Freshman: Robinson, Adnan, Margoupis

Incoming Transfers: Betram, Marshall

That's 10 Scholarships of 13 maximum

Questions:

• Jackson - did he get a scholarship or will he continue as a PWO?
• Ketner - Returning to the Basketball team after playing football?
• Hutchinson - Graduating with a year of eligibility remaining. Haven't seen his name entering into the portal

Neither Jackson or Ketner should get a scholarship. Ketner should be the last big off the bench if he's even on the team. Hopefully he moves over to football. Jackson on a good team is an 8 or 9th guy in the rotation. Maybe Jackson turns into a solid rotation player as an upper-classman. Good kid tries very hard but there's a reason he's a PWO. 

This school has no vision, $iena leadership, everyone is lapping them. They keep losers around for a decade like Gattuso and Benson, 20 years trying to fundraise 15mill to redo SEFCU. It's sad to see and watch...

Indoor facility...lol...child please! You won't see one in your lifetime. Again, took near 2 decades to get SEFCU upgraded, and this is with a "fund-raising" guy at the helm. In fact, I don't expect any further facility upgrades for another decade+. 

Kellog has hit the portal...

Kellog in the portal...

Genuinely surprised more of this awful roster hasn't transferred out. The only kids that have left early are those that can play and Edmead. Early returns are not promising in terms of talent acquisition, we are probably looking at another awful year. This coach, can't coach, the few kids that are pretty good are leaving, tons of open scholarships and crickets. 

Amica, Ketner, Little, Kellog and Jackson are still all here...kind of mind-boggling as these kids appear to be fringe D1 players. Still some time left to put together a more talented roster but starting to get a feeling of dread. Hopefully something changes soon. I wonder how much of a headwind a coach that can't coach, a staff that is inexperienced and dreadful at their job and legal proceedings is having on recruiting. Can't be helping. 

5 hours ago, Eli said:

It's effectively collegiate free agency. I wish there were some guard rails around it though because right now it's basically a free for all.

Like, play 2 years to get 1 transfer portal chance. Play 3 to get something.

Except it's every single year...it's insane. 

11 hours ago, godanesgo99 said:

Please don't take what I said the wrong way. I was clear that there are issues that need to be fixed. Our complaints are warranted and I am as pissed off as anyone. My interest has faded. I didn't renew my football seats last season, and I loved where I sat. I kept basketball tix because I am addicted, but haven't made a GDAC donation yet for this season. I feel I have to make one to help ensure I get a decent shot at getting seats similar to where I am now in the renovated arena, but when/if I do make one, it will be under protest. I haven't felt this much shame over our athletics since before we went D1. 

My post was in reference to the silence on social media from the athletic department. Every post they make has trolls commenting on it, especially the "Fire DK," "Fire Gattuso," and "Luke Matters" guys. I have to assume that the school decided to just stop posting, as that stuff is extremely visible to the public and recruits and there is no good way to block the trolls. Obviously a quick google search will bring up the issues. Any recruit with a shred of intelligence is going to be looking everywhere they can before the choose a school and the stuff will come out, but I'd rather they have a better first impression, then uncover the issues when they dig deeper. Hopefully the recruiting staff has prepared them for what they will find at that point, and can use the: "You will be a big centerpiece in helping to turn everything around" type talking point to overcome all us fans pointing out how bad all the players are and how we don't think they are D1 material (even if they really aren't D1 material).  Every school and program has their trolls, but most of the big schools have longer traditions or bigger boosters and positive fans to balance it out. We have alienated pretty much all of our stupidly tiny fanbase. Still blows my mind how big of a school we have, but how apathetic the students and alumni are. The only way to fix that is through more consistent winning. 

My suggestions was merely that we, as fans, try to help recruiting with positive comments or at least no comments instead of negative ones when there are social media posts in the most public of places - namely instagram and twitter. Bring back the #purplefam narrative for our kids. A lot needs to change here, and it starts at the top, but being a little smarter about where we share those thoughts could help. Or maybe it does nothing, but it has to be better than the constant negativity and bitc&ing. 

Win...Brown didn't win, Gattuso has been stealing money for a decade...a decade of sucking at football and you're worried the fans are too mean? When this program led by losers does something that warrants praise, they will get it. I will not lay off them!

4 hours ago, dslyank said:

OK Ketner now gone--sort off.

Signed onto football team as a tight-end; Gattuso immediately moved him to defensive end. 

From the fire into a frying pan...dude literally managed to find the two biggest losers to play for. LOL...absolutely hilarious. 

1 hour ago, godanesgo99 said:

Congrats. I'll get it one of these years. I think that's 3 years in a row of it looking like I'll win, only to lose at the last second. Call me SBU ... Blah

BURN!!!!

Maybe DK will start recruiting...teams recruiting kids left and right...crickets from this program. A program that needs all the help they can get. 

I was doing 'aight until Murder U got eliminated...

1 minute ago, nysteve661 said:

Where in NC are you?  Moved here 5 1/2 years ago and live in Southport.

Charlotte metro

One giant downside to moving to NC...I can't be there opening night

I'm a little surprised that DK has not made a move to get rid of some of the inexperience on his bench.