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Post by hc17 on Apr 28, 2020 19:08:00 GMT -5
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Post by hchoops on Apr 28, 2020 19:11:41 GMT -5
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Post by WorcesterGray on Apr 28, 2020 19:13:54 GMT -5
"Nelson still has a couple scholarships available for the coming season."
If so, need to re-think Reilly's status
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Post by WorcesterGray on Apr 28, 2020 19:15:16 GMT -5
The 2020-21 Holy Cross men’s basketball roster continues to evolve.
Joe Pridgen, the reigning Patriot League and ECAC Rookie of the Year, recently entered the NCAA transfer portal, and eight players on last season’s roster — Pridgen, Connor Niego, Kyle Copeland, Drew Lowder, Marlon Hargis, Lincoln Yeutter, Blake Verbeek and Ciaran Sandy — have left the team.
The Crusaders will have seven new players next season — six freshmen, including former Worcester Academy stars Judson Martindale and Mike Rabinovich, and junior Malcolm Townsel, a transfer from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri.
“The seven newcomers I’m really excited about,” Holy Cross coach Brett Nelson said Tuesday. “They come from winning backgrounds. In the recruiting process, you’re able to build some relationships and find out about them. We needed upgrades in different areas, but I think they’re competitors. They have the humility where they want to grow.
“They really love the game. They have a joy to work. They’re good people, they’re high character, and they’re going to represent our program on and off the floor in a high-class way, so I’m excited about it.”
The Crusaders finished 3-29 last year, Nelson’s first at HC, set the program mark for most losses in a season and tied the 1934-35 team for fewest wins.
Pridgen, of Winchendon, was a bright spot during the difficulties. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound forward led HC in scoring (17.4 ppg), field goal percentage (55.8) and rebounding (6.8 rpg). His 521 points were the second-most by a freshman in Holy Cross and Patriot League history.
Pridgen was just the third ECAC Rookie of the Year selection in program history, along with Ronnie Perry (1976-77) and Ernie Floyd (1979-80).
Returning from last year’s team are seniors Austin Butler, a guard, and Matt Faw, a forward, junior forward D.J. Hart, a walk-on in 2018, and sophomore guards Ryan Wade and Joey Reilly.
Butler, HC’s spirited leader, averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 2019-20. Faw averaged 8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds (11.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg in Patriot League games). Wade played in all 32 games.
“We’re going to need those guys to continue to grow in leadership roles,” Nelson said.
Martindale, a 6-6 guard/forward, and Rabinovich, a 6-10 forward, along with DaJion “Bubba” Humphrey, a 6-4 guard, signed with the Crusaders last November.
Townsel, and freshmen Louth Coulibaly, a 6-8 forward, Randy Johnson, a 6-1 guard, and Bo Montgomery, a 6-5 guard, joined the incoming class earlier this month. Nelson likes the athleticism and versatility of the group.
“Having seven new guys,” Nelson said, “it’s going to be new for them. It’s going to be new for our staff having that many new faces, but it’s exciting. With that being said, I’m excited about our returning guys as well. We’re building it the right way with the right people. We’re on the right path. I really feel that way.”
Nelson still has a couple scholarships available for the upcoming season.
“There are still some good players out there,” Nelson said. “I want to get the right fit.”
In mid-March, Holy Cross, in response to the coronavirus crisis, shifted to distance learning and required students to move off campus. The NCAA recently extended the Division 1 recruiting dead period through May 31. In-person recruiting is not allowed during the dead period.
“We’re used to being out there right now, seeing kids and interacting with them,” Nelson said. “It’s been unique and different. We’ve had to adjust and adapt. The ’20-21 class, luckily we spent a lot of time going to see them during the year.”
Nelson is holding weekly Zoom meetings with his team, and last week they had a lively, one-hour discussion about “The Last Dance,” the excellent Michael Jordan documentary on ESPN.
Nelson remains positive and enthusiastic about rebuilding the Holy Cross program. HC has had just two winning seasons (15-14 in 2011-12 and 20-14 in 2013-14, both under coach Milan Brown) in the last 11 years.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of our program,” Nelson said. “I want to build a program and I want to build a program in a way that it will sustain success, a transformational program where it’s not just about how many points did you score or did you win or lose a basketball game. It’s transformational in the aspect that we’re making an impact on these players’ lives and helping them grow as people just as much as players.
“It’s a process; we’re process-driven and we’re fighting every single day to get this program where it needs to be and where it deserves to be.”
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Apr 28, 2020 19:18:29 GMT -5
"Nelson still has a couple scholarships available for the coming season." If so, need to re-visit the status of Reilly HC92 made this post on the "lineup redux" thread. "Scholarship players by class:
2021 (2) - Butler, Faw
2022 (1) - Townsel
2023 (2) - Wade, Reilly
2024 (6) - Johnson, Humphrey, Montgomery, Martindale, Coulibaly, Rabinovich
2 left to spend before September if we wish. If we hold both, we would have a 4 person class next year. Not ideal to have 10 players combined in two consecutive classes but nothing about this is ideal. If we can’t get anyone with immediate eligibility, maybe get a sit 1, play 2 guy to pair with Wade and Reilly and make that a class of 3. Hold the other one for next year to make that a class of 3 as well. "
I am firmly convinced that Joey Reilly is on scholarship and, if so, we have 2 available for the Coach to use
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Post by WorcesterGray on Apr 28, 2020 19:18:54 GMT -5
First time Copeland's departure - long assumed - has been confirmed.
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Post by hchoops on Apr 28, 2020 19:20:58 GMT -5
Thank you for posting the article, WG
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Post by hchoops on Apr 28, 2020 19:36:02 GMT -5
Was this article by Jen Toland ? No question about why all the transfers !
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Post by A Clock Tower Purple on Apr 28, 2020 19:42:23 GMT -5
Toland is never going to ask a question that a coach won't answer.
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Post by thecrossisback on Apr 28, 2020 20:55:45 GMT -5
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com.
If you want to ask her something, send her an email.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 28, 2020 21:29:17 GMT -5
The 2020-21 Holy Cross men’s basketball roster continues to evolve. They come from winning backgrounds. I think they’re competitors. They have the humility where they want to grow. “They really love the game. They have a joy to work. They’re good people, they’re high character, and they’re going to r epresent our program on and off the floor in a high-class wayWe’re building it the right way with the right people. “I want to get the right fit.” “I want to build a program and I want to build a program in a way that it will sustain success, a transformational program where it’s not just about how many points did you score or did you win or lose a basketball game. It’s transformational in the aspect that we’re making an impact on these players’ lives and helping them grow as people just as much as players. “It’s a process; we’re process-driven Article edited down to select Nelson quotes above. Should tell you everything you need to know about how Nelson is recruiting and why there has been so much turnover. It is refreshing to have a coach who cares about more than 3-point shooting percentage.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Apr 28, 2020 21:39:05 GMT -5
You can’t possibly be that naive, can you?
This is not a criticism of the coach, but don’t you think this was standard coach speak and might have been said by any other coach at any other program?
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 28, 2020 22:29:13 GMT -5
Throw in Green and Grandy and it makes an even ten players who have left in less than a year. Actually both of Green and Grandy's replacements, DL and JP have left also. But the coach has 100% retention with his recruit, Reilly, so that is a good sign.
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Post by bfoley82 on Apr 28, 2020 22:45:36 GMT -5
The Crusaders will have seven new players next season — six freshmen, including former Worcester Academy stars Judson Martindale and Mike Rabinovich, and junior Malcolm Townsel, a transfer from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri. “The seven newcomers I’m really excited about,” Holy Cross coach Brett Nelson said Tuesday. “They come from winning backgrounds. In the recruiting process, you’re able to build some relationships and find out about them. We needed upgrades in different areas, but I think they’re competitors. They have the humility where they want to grow. “They really love the game. They have a joy to work. They’re good people, they’re high character, and they’re going to represent our program on and off the floor in a high-class way, so I’m excited about it.” Winning Culture? State Fair Community College went 16-14 this past season and 2-7 in their conference. In 2018-2019, they went 12-16 and 3-5 in conference.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Apr 28, 2020 23:48:46 GMT -5
You can’t possibly be that naive, can you? This is not a criticism of the coach, but don’t you think this was standard coach speak and might have been said by any other coach at any other program? I think the only people being naive are those who are not reading between the lines on what Nelson has emphasized adding to the program after he has just spent his first 9 months on the job dealing with deficiencies in those departments. Here’s what we know: 1) The previous regime had miscreants chucked off the team on two separate occasions for two separate criminal violations. 2) Players from the previous regime leave the program in droves. C) Nelson is being very explicit in his descriptions of what he expects from players in terms of character, behavior, mentality, etc. Your head’s in the sand if you don’t think there’s a connection between those three dots.
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Post by timholycross on Apr 29, 2020 7:05:38 GMT -5
No question the way the article read that Reilly is on scholarship; Hart is clearly marked as a walk-on, no other returning player is.
Glad that Copeland's status has been clarified. In a perfect world, he'd still be on the team, ready and able to contribute; but that's clearly not the case. Hope at this point in his academic career, he has figured out that he's better off finishing school on Mount St. James; no one can make the case that he should scrap 3 years of work for a year of basketball.
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Post by trimster on Apr 29, 2020 7:44:59 GMT -5
The Crusaders will have seven new players next season — six freshmen, including former Worcester Academy stars Judson Martindale and Mike Rabinovich, and junior Malcolm Townsel, a transfer from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri. “The seven newcomers I’m really excited about,” Holy Cross coach Brett Nelson said Tuesday. “They come from winning backgrounds. In the recruiting process, you’re able to build some relationships and find out about them. We needed upgrades in different areas, but I think they’re competitors. They have the humility where they want to grow. “They really love the game. They have a joy to work. They’re good people, they’re high character, and they’re going to represent our program on and off the floor in a high-class way, so I’m excited about it.” Winning Culture? State Fair Community College went 16-14 this past season and 2-7 in their conference. In 2018-2019, they went 12-16 and 3-5 in conference. I believe his senior year hs team, Evanston, won the state championship and the high school he was at for his first three years in Chicago, Whitney Young, is used to winning. I think it is also fair to say the incoming frosh come from situations where they were part of teams that didn’t lose many games in high school. That doesn’t guarantee they will be part of a successful program in college but it is certainly encouraging as they begin their college careers.
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Post by Tom on Apr 29, 2020 8:08:24 GMT -5
Here’s what we know: 1) The previous regime had miscreants chucked off the team on two separate occasions for two separate crimson violations. Probably a stupid question , but what is a crimson violation?
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Post by hchoops on Apr 29, 2020 8:12:11 GMT -5
Here’s what we know: 1) The previous regime had miscreants chucked off the team on two separate occasions for two separate crimson violations. Probably a stupid question , but what is a crimson violation? A crime at Harvard ?
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Post by rgs318 on Apr 29, 2020 8:32:37 GMT -5
Perhaps a "criminal" violation and, an overaggressive spellcheck?
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Post by Tom on Apr 29, 2020 8:48:33 GMT -5
One might think that, and auto correct can get out of control sometimes.
However, since there were not two criminal violations, I am assuming this is some "young folk slang" that I am unfamiliar with. As time goes on, I find myself googling more and more phrases and anacronyms on this board to figure out that we're talking about. Sadly, I think my pop culture knowledge is stuck in the 20th century
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Post by res on Apr 29, 2020 8:48:49 GMT -5
You can’t possibly be that naive, can you? This is not a criticism of the coach, but don’t you think this was standard coach speak and might have been said by any other coach at any other program? I believe SOV posted this about six months ago:
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Post by Bleed Purple on Apr 29, 2020 9:39:33 GMT -5
Funny video but in Nelson's defense he never mentions the word culture in the interview.
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Post by longsuffering on Apr 29, 2020 10:02:15 GMT -5
One might think that, and auto correct can get out of control sometimes. However, since there were not two criminal violations, I am assuming this is some "young folk slang" that I am unfamiliar with. As time goes on, I find myself googling more and more phrases and anacronyms on this board to figure out that we're talking about. Sadly, I think my pop culture knowledge is stuck in the 20th century Right on, man.
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Post by rgs318 on Apr 29, 2020 10:10:14 GMT -5
Totally.
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