godanesgo99

1 hour ago, cwdickens said:

Coming from someone who has repeatedly stated our MBB Team should save their best for the last game of the season against UVM for some misguided reasoning, what you have said above comes as no surprise.  Your statements have no basis in fact, vague generalization and are just made to satisfy your personal agenda.  Am I right to conclude that New Mexico State University went too far to suspend its MBB season for numerous cases of hazing by your standards and the potential victims should have tolerated their abuse.

So once again, Luke should be able to present his side of the story whether in the criminal and/or civil courts.  Killings can take the opportunity to defend him and set the record straight. 

First off, it depends on what the hazing was. I know nothing of that case, so I'll comment on your question with absolutely no knowledge. If the hazing was making kids run laps or carrying the bags of the seniors on the team, I have no issue with that. If it was physical abuse or sexual in nature, or forced drinking, or something that is illegal or has the potential to cause real harm, then it shouldn't happen and yes people should be fired or kicked off teams. My view on hazing is the newspaper test. If the full true story was on the cover of the paper, could you present it positively as team building and growth, or would it be 100% negative.

I have been pretty clear that Luke should present his case, and if what actually happened doesn't match a coach hyping up a team playing with no energy or edge, then I will join the chorus of fire DK. The story, as presented, of it being a pregame hype circle and coach trying to get players to play angry, is not a problem in my mind. Even if it included minor physical contact. Luke should have his day in court and present his case. I'm just not abandoning our coach until I hear evidence that is worse than what has been presented so far, and I urge everyone else to have the same opinion. Our school has a pretty bad history of jumping to conclusions and canceling people wrongly. Look at the bus incident a few years ago. Everyone jumped to cancel a kid and threaten him until the real story came out. So I repeat, unless you were there and can tell us all what really happened, I stay with innocent until proven guilty. If there was a case where a kid should sue the school it would be that one.

Also FYI:

I never seriously said "save their best for the end of season and the Vermont game". I made tongue in cheek jokes about that being the only meaningful game left as the season has been over for a couple weeks. Ending the year in a win is the only possible silver lining. They aren't making the AE playoffs. At this point I'll be surprised if they win another game. We have used the ending the season on a win joke for years as a way to say it's over and there are no playoffs. Lately it's been a joke used for Maine or Bing. Now it's painful to use it on our own team. You really need to check your own intelligence if you ever thought that was a serious suggestion of what the team should do. It was me joking about the only possible silver lining we could get from this dreadful season.

1 hour ago, cwdickens said:

I am of the opinion that everyone should have their day(s) in court, "let the criminal and civil cases proceed."  If the cases cannot survive the light of day in the courts hearing each of the cases, so be it.  However, once again, GoDanesGo99 blathers about the Official Report.  Unless I have missed something The University at Albany has declined comment beyond the press release last spring with Killings letter offering his regrets to everyone.  The matter was handled as a personnel matter, which keeps things secret.

So GoDanesGo99, please share the Official Report.

P.S.  The UMV Box Office is holding a couple of tickets for you for 02-28-2023

Umm, I clearly said that the official report that I know of is what has been reported in the papers. I said that unless any of us were there and know what actually happened we shouldn't be supporting one side or the other. I said with the actual info that was released I have no issue with what happened, but if we find out it wasn't just incidental contact trying to hype up a team that was playing soft, then I'd be all over calling for people's heads and to burn it all down. Until then, it was a coach trying to fire up his soft team in the locker room before a game. If some physical contact happened there, that's fine with me. It should be expected. Some pushing and shoving and trying to get adrenaline flowing. Now directly beating a kid or singling him out with contact is a different thing. In my understanding it was coach getting in multiple players faces telling them to play angry and mad, trying to get adrenaline up. The pregame hype circle can be a mosh pit environment. They hadn't won a game yet, until this one. During this game they finally got a little fired up and had their first win. Luke played 4 minutes in the game. He wasn't hurt.

It might be wrong in today's world as McFan said, but honestly that's BS. These are grown ass adults (over age 18) and should be able to take some prodding. No PC BS will change my opinion on that. The wussificiation of our youth is just continuing and people saying "that's just the way it is today" and "we need to accept that" are part of the problem. Tell our 19 year old soldiers fighting overseas that they can sue if they get some physical punishment in basic training to sue their leadership. I don't see it as all that different. It's what you sign up for as part of a team that plays a physical sport. Cry babies all of you that don't see that. Toughen up a bit. Grow some non-genderspecific proverbial balls.

If my son, in high school, comes home and tells me his coach pushed him and he hit the locker, I'm asking him what he did to deserve it long before I'm even thinking lawyer.

20 minutes ago, dslyank said:

What I wrote on the blog are THE FACTS as we the public know it. I am sure there are facts that I/you/all "haven't seen." Until they become known/revealed and proven, IMHO it is unfair and irresponsible to ask/recommend dismissal of coach Killings.

I am no fan of Mr. Benson and have been very vocal about that on this blog. Yet based on the FACTS in the Killing's incident {that are known,} IMHO it is irresponsible and unfair to make such recommendation as the author and many on this blog are doing. There may be plenty of reasons to fire Benson and maybe coach Killings also; but the incident in question has NOT in any way been proven to be more than an inadvertent & possibly over zealous accident. And I fully support the University in its investigating the "incident" and responding APPROPRIATELY, when and IF the facts are revealed and proven; and in DEFENDING itself and its employees in the meantime.

This is exactly correct, and sounds almost like I wrote it.

I have been vocal about Gattuso as he has had almost a decade of futility. I have been vocal about Benson for a variety of reasons, some I have posted about and some are from things I would not post about here. But I have also been pretty vocal about not calling for Killing's head yet, as I think he deserves a 3-4 year window to put it together performance wise for on the court reasons, and the off-the-court stuff needs so much more information to be public before any of us should comment on it.

As the official report goes, I stand with Killings thinking that this is a case of Luke not getting a trophy for showing up and trying to get something for incidental contact that a player on a basketball team should EXPECT from their coach in trying to wake them up.   Locker room moshpit adrenaline building and coaches calling out players that don't seem to be giving it their all should be expected. I'd want Killings fired if he DIDN'T have contact with the players in trying to get them playing harder and angry.   

That said, I will quickly change my tune if more FACTS about the incident are revealed in addition to what we officially know today. If this was more than a coach trying to fire up his team that was playing lazy and uninspired ball and was singling a kid out and punching or more than just pump you up contact, then its an entirely different situation, but as far as PUBLIC FACTS are concerned, there is nothing that I see that supports this. 

13 hours ago, bob87 said:

That would be the ultimate meaningless accomplishment. That wouldn't get a mention anyway and would likely not be unique. For one thing in the ivy league there are 8 teams and 4 make their tournament so unless the last regular season matchups are all between a top 4 team and a bottom 4 team at least one of their teams will end the season with a win. I don't know how many other conferences have tournaments that not all teams qualify but if Danes end up 5-24 , 2-14 in the conference it was a bad season regardless of whether the 2nd conference win comes in the next game, the last game or any in between.

Go back and look throughout the years, there are less than 5 teams that end their season on a win every year. The National Champ, the NIT champ, the champ of the CBI, and at best 2-3 teams that weren't in one of those tournaments.

Meaningless? Definitely! 

Fun and something positive to take from a dreadful season? In my mind yes, it would be a silver lining.

2 hours ago, dslyank said:

While I pretty much agree 100%; SADLY your last line "Students chose to come here and put their futures on the line." ; IMHO not as true as it use to be. With NLI,  and the Transfer Portal being such an easy escape clause, and power 5's recruiting the best & the "brightest" from the lesser conferences; the college sports world has certainly changed the image of "student athlete." NOT saying they should be open to abuse of any kind; but as "quasi" professionals, maybe it is fair players/"kids" should get some of the blame or criticism when a "team" does not perform to expectations??

I'm honestly torn on the subject. This is why I said critique of play should be in bounds. I mean while they choose to come here and we want our players to feel our love and the purplefam, we are also paying good money through season tickets and merchandise and ESPN+ etc, while they are getting a free education and an opportunity at NLI money. 

Definitely cuts both ways. I just don't want angry fans, social media, and a message board to be the reason a player leaves or doesn't come. 

I think you are referring to this: https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/siena-basketball-coach-defends-players-online-17772311.php?IPID=Times-Union-sports-spotlight

This is partially why I try to remain as positive as possible in any posts about the players. While I truly feel we have way more talent than the record shows, and I'm fine with critiques of performances, I try to refrain from anything directly putting down someone who goes to battle with the UA logo on their chest everyday. Coaches and administration are fair game. They are paid well, supported by our taxes at SUNY and the tickets we buy.  Students chose to come here and put their futures on the line. 

The only game this team should be preparing for this year is 2/27 at UVM. We beat UML, so beating a top team is possible if the shooters get hot. This team is destined to sit the AE playoffs out as the bottom team, so a win at UVM would make us one of the only teams in the country to end their season on a win. The others would most likely be the national champs and the winners of other post season tournaments.

Terrible offense and horrific defense vs top level offense and terrible defense. I expected the scoring to be higher, but at least we got to see a few highlight reel dunks by the Bryant team. I hate their attitude and the majority of their team, but they do have some exciting players.

I think there were more fans at my son's last CYO game...

On 2/5/2023 at 12:41 PM, Eli said:

I might just go for the amusement. 

I went to the UVM game, and I'll go to this one just so I can see the team that might represent the AE in the tournament in person. Not because I think we have any chance of winning. I've turned the corner from overly positive fan with purple and gold glasses that keeps thinking we have a chance to win, and I'm now firmly in the overly positive fan on future possibilities, but enjoying watching the ineptitude of the current iteration. If you go expecting us to lose and look forward to see what ways we can screw it up now it becomes less frustrating and more fun. Like me rooting for Jackson taking out Sullivan last game. That made it fun!

17 hours ago, Dane Pound said:

I don't generally defend the refs and I certainly don't recommend anyone watching that game again but you should take another look at the second tech. Jackson plays tough D but that wasn't a good play although I understand the frustration.

I was giving Jackson credit. I watched the replay on my phone right after it happened, and it looked like Jackson directed him into a standing wall of another player to intentionally knock him down hard. To me it looked intentional and I now love Jackson because of it. Sullivan always seemed to be a trash talking ahole. The player you want on your team but hate if he is the opponent. Kind like it felt that Beagle was going to become when he barked at the Siena bench earlier in the year.

17 minutes ago, godanesgo99 said:

Since I'm the guy who is always too positive and I definitely have my head in the sand after this game, I won't comment on any of the game action, as there wasn't much to be positive about. That said, I can say that Marcus Jackson is now officially my favorite player on this team. Anyone who will set a play to intentionally get to Sullivan is a hero in my book. Not sure why, but I have never been able to stand that kid. I'm nice to everyone. Can normally get along with everyone. If anything I'm too positive. That kid can get hit with hard fouls all day in my book. Go Jackson!

In the spirit of this post, I'll share my all-time most hated team from the AE:

PG: Pancake Thomas

SG: Finn Sullivan

SG:  Miles Latimer

PF: Taylor Coppenwrath

C Hassan Attia

Bench: Max Twyman

😄

Since I'm the guy who is always too positive and I definitely have my head in the sand after this game, I won't comment on any of the game action, as there wasn't much to be positive about. That said, I can say that Marcus Jackson is now officially my favorite player on this team. Anyone who will set a play to intentionally get to Sullivan is a hero in my book. Not sure why, but I have never been able to stand that kid. I'm nice to everyone. Can normally get along with everyone. If anything I'm too positive. That kid can get hit with hard fouls all day in my book. Go Jackson!

1 hour ago, McFan said:

I like Neely as much as the next guy but you're starting lineup next year is the same as this year plus Neely and you're going w/ "seems like a strong starting lineup"?  That lineup (minus Neely) has produced one of the worst teams in the country.  Add to it a bench that has played how many minutes of D1 BB this year?  The light at the end of the tunnel is a train.  Sorry but that lineup is only marginally better than this years lineup which is plain awful.  Nobody in that lineup can shoot from more than 12 feet from the basket w/ any consistency (unless you count consistently poor).  We better hit the lottery w/ a transfer or a stud recruit or were in for the bottom third of the conference again next year.

Reddish is shooting 37% from 3 on the year (52% in conference games with 12-23)

Jackson is at 50% on the year from 3 in conference games. (3 for 6) and is only a freshman. He will improve. 

Beagle is at 50% as well, albeit only 1-2.

Drumgoole can shoot, but he's been killing the team this year with volume (29% / 21-72 in conference). I'd argue his performance would be significantly better if he had less minutes and wasn't forced to try to carry the team.  

I am most definitely too positive on our team based on the results,  but I don't think we are really that far off. Need to focus on getting a defensive minded guard and forward in the portal if in fact a few spots open up, and need the coaching staff to actually institute a defensive and offensive system different than whatever this is that they are playing today. Either it doesn't work, or doesn't work with the bodies we have.

3 recruits coming in that look talented, and hopefully a few spots opening from some other players moving on.

1 hour ago, Eli said:

Your perptual positivity in the face of DAMNING evidence saying otherwise is...I'm not sure if commendable or crazy lol.

You want 75% of this team back? WHY?

Not sure that's the case. I really like 5 players, and I'll give a shot to 2 that haven't played. 3 are definitely gone to graduation/eligibility. 

11 hours ago, UA1882 said:

I'm sorry it needs to be said.  They really suck.  Everyone has to leave except Beagle and Neely.  Everyone! They are laughable on offense.  They are even more laughable of defense (if that's even possible). Worse team in almost 20 years.  Disgusting.  

Partially Disagree. Reddish is having a pretty good season as well. I like the core of Reddish/Beagle/Neely/Jackson for next season assuming they all stay. 

Little and Amica deserve a shot as well. Not sure if either can be anything after all these injuries, but both profile well. Drumgoole is listed as a Sr, but I think he has a year left if he wants it. The rest of the team seems like bench/role players at the moment. 

Hutch/Patel/Davis are all definitely gone due to graduation/eligibility. There are 3 recruits already signed for next season.

That leaves: Edmead, Ketner, Kellogg, and Drumgoole to make a decision on. There is an open scholarship from when Shafer left, so if that goes to Jackson, there are those 4 potential spots to find some talent that wants to help win with a brand new SEFCU arena. Hopefully Drumgoole stays, leaving space for 3 transfers.

My mindset:

Beagle / Jackson / Reddish / Neely / Drumgoole seems like a strong starting lineup. 

Bench: Little / Amica / Adnan / Margoupis / Robinson

Questions / Open to Transfer and recruit over: Ketner / Kellogg / Edmead

I'll show loyalty to Amica and Little as neither have had a real chance to prove themselves and both took a chance on UA. 

This is so terrible is actually amusing now. I think the new point of the season is to see just how bad we can actually be.

17 minutes ago, dslyank said:

Excellent summary/assessment.

I would add Patel to the under performing list. When he's hot he's hot; when he's not he's NOT. [the later more frequent.] Also like pretty much All --NO D.

And speaking of two many minutes, a rested Beagle {God I hope he stays}, is going to be special. Right now you often see him winded/tired. As he matures physically and HOPEFULLY with some more support {so he can't be keyed on as much}; and someone to give him more rest, league MVP in his future.

 

Not sure I 100% agree. Probably 80% agree. Offensively you are right. He either has it or he doesn't. That said, he does not turn the ball over and is a ball of effort diving for loose balls and other intangibles. Maybe his D doesn't look terrible to me because the rest of the team is so bad it makes him look better, I don't see him terrible there. Lol

Why didn't Davis play? Because he just hasn't been good in conference play, which is where most of us thought he would perform well with the level of competition.

Halfway through the conference season and here are the player analytical stats for conference games only....

The things that stand out to me the most:

Drumgoole playing 92.5% of the minutes is way too much (not the DK has that much of a choice)

For all the crap he gets for his attitude, and I've given him for not playing aggressive enough, Reddish is having a pretty good season 

Edmead is fast, but he is a turnover machine that outside of a couple strong games has been a liability both offensively and defensively.

I hope Jackson gets a scholarship and stays. He seems to be getting better each game.

I haven't posted in this thread, and have nothing to say about the game, but I didn't want to point out that it was one of the more well attended games of the year. Crowd was pretty packed. Concessions didn't expect it and ran out of some key items.

5 hours ago, Clickclack said:

You can't field a decent team without a half decent point guard...what he have is $iena and no one to organize anything on the court. 

You can also stay in a lot of games if you play defense...defense is mostly IQ and effort...something else they lack. 

It's a $iena team! 

 

I'm with you on the defense bit. There isn't even a screen door on the bottom of the boat to stop the flow of water. Even Flex Seal can't stop them from sinking.

While everyone is down on them, we have the bodies at PG with Davis, Edmead, Jackson, Little, and Amica. Two of them are hurt, and while I think the other three have the talent, I don't think DK has done anything to drill an offensive system and team first "mentality" into anyone on the team. As Dane96 said, the failures all seem to stem from a lack of coaching. It's like he just hands them ball and says go shoot if you are open. My 8th grade son plays in a league that has no practices and is basically a pick up league with set teams. The coach might instruct on an in bounds play, but he's really just there to handle subs. Their offense looks similar to UAs with similar movement. I'd hope a D1 team would look more fluid than 8th grade kids thrown together without a plan.

Have any of the teams assistants ever really run a program and installed an offensive system? Were any of them point guards? I don't think so. We need to bring back our beloved free throw coach for Beagle and hire an XOs assistant that played PG to put a real system in place.

Edit: looked at the coaches backgrounds

Madhavapallil didn't play at the college level and was a team manager as a student. His background reads more of an operations guy than a system guy.

Bobby Jordan was a guard for Drexel that played under 10 minutes total in 4 years on the team, scoring 2 total points. He was then a high school coach and college assistant. His ties to Philadelphia are what got him the job. Maybe he has a playbook to use? No idea, but if he does he should speak up.

Ryan Daly has a fairly impressive background as a player, but he played the 3.  Had some impressive years and played in the G league. I didn't realize he was as accomplished as he was. Seems like a great hire there. Should be a good recruiter and coach on the staff, but it doesn't read like he's your design the offense guy though.

Anyway, none of them seem to be coaches with a history of designing an offensive system. I go back to the above and say if DK is ever going to become the coach we all wish he could be, he needs to hire a XO guy to design the system and get the most out of what he has.

11 hours ago, Dane Pound said:

Once we got the full roster of guys, Jamar was clearly better, but there wasn't such a huge gulf between him and the rest of the team like at the beginning of his career. This team is a little more like those early years where it's Drumgoole and Beagle and then there's a dropoff (in my opinion.)

We can debate the talent level of the rest of the team all day, but even though he is injured you have to include Neely in the list of players that are clearly talented enough to be D1 starters or even stars at the mid-major level. 

I've already said my opinion on the rest of the team in this thread, and I'm higher on almost everyone than it seems the rest of the world is, but my purple and gold glasses are pretty damn thick. 

A team should be able to compete for at least the middle of the pack with just those 3 and a team of "average" or "developing"  players with the right coach. DK is clearly not that guy yet. Although I've lost my positivity on this team, I still think DK can do it. I keep telling myself... Have patience it takes 3 years to get it right. It took Brown 5.

Also, it looks like February 28 is the date the team should be focused on and circle on their calendars. If they can steal a win at UVM, they could be one of the only teams in the country to end their season on a win since the playoffs aren't happening.

51 minutes ago, Eli said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Beagle bounces. In fact I'd say that's the more likely scenario regardless of what happens with the coach. I would if I was in his shoes. 

Isn't Beagle friends with one of the commits for next year?  I'd think that might keep him here for at least one more season.

Pay attention to the shooters, especially Drumgoole, Davis, and Patel. All three of them are solid if not excellent AE players when they are playing within themselves. When they try to force it, try to do too much, or are tired: you will notice that they are drifting or fading away on every shot. Doing that cuts your make percentage at least in half, if not 75%. . Get your motion straight up and down or moving towards the hoop and you make WAY more of your shots. I'm not saying they should be catch and shoot guys - all three have strong jump shots, I'm saying someone needs to work with them to figure out how to get them straight - it's so evident watching the film. They make a ton when they are straight, miss almost everything when they aren't. 

What happened to Reddish attacking the basket? It's like he's become content with being a shooter. He is best when he is using his athleticism, going around guys and attacking the rim. He was doing that a lot early, but got Ts when he couldn't shut his mouth after dunking on people. He needs some of that energy back, as it will open up his outside shot when people respect the drive.

Edmead is a complete enigma. Fastest player I have seen in a long time and is capable of taking over a game defensively and with his speed, and facilitating a fast pace offence. He seemed to break through from a terrible start, then he's lost it since the injury.

Hutch has been bad all year shooting wise, but his energy and willingness to sacrifice his body was important to any success. Kind of a glue guy that won't fill up the stat sheet, but makes the team better. The team misses him more than anyone will say.

Jackson has been more than I thought he would be as a walk-on. If he gets a scholarship and stays, I see a bright future.

Beagle is a monster. Still making some freshman mistakes, but is really the biggest bright side of the season so far. Pair him with a healthy Neely and the team would rebound better, force the opponents to pack in the inside to protect against them and open up the outside shot. 

Haven't seen enough of Little or Amica to know how much they would have helped. Both were quick and talented, but both seemed lost on the court at times. Being out with injuries will hurt the team more in the future than this lost season as they both need time to practice to learn the D1 game and the system (if DK even has a system).

That leaves Kellogg and Ketner. I really like Ketner. He has some strong moves and is a big body. Just not sure he is anything more than a fill in at this point. Kellogg hasn't gotten much of a chance yet, and considering how light the team is with big men beyond Beagle with Neely hurt and that says a lot. He kind of reminds me of Xavier Cochran from back in the day. Tons of talent, but not able to put anything together. Could be a force in a few years, but who knows, might be better off in the NEC or D2. 

So if you take my assessment of the team above, it really doesn't sound like a last place team in the AE. There is more than enough talent in my eyes. That leaves coaching as the problem. How do you take a group of talented players and make them a team that is more than the sum of the parts? That's what this staff hasn't figured out yet. Right now they are a collection of athlete's that together just don't meld. They are way less than he sum of the parts. Something has to give.

Guess it's time to feel like Mets/Jets fans. There is always next year!