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Post by Tom on Jan 18, 2021 20:51:34 GMT -5
The North certainly seems to be the most challenging Division with 2 of the top 3 teams. Strange year that the divisional opponent not in the top 3 is pre season #1
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Post by hchoops on Jan 18, 2021 21:03:38 GMT -5
Loyola, Navy, Colgate and possibly AWP are better coached. But then again it is an opinion not a fact and after all it is Monday night with not much going on Loyola’s Taveras Hardy may turn out to be a great coach with his recruited players, but after two seasons, he is 26-38 overall and 14-22 in the PL. Hard to put him with DeCellis and Langel
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 18, 2021 21:24:45 GMT -5
Not too bad at a D.O.I.N.O. (Division One in Name Only) school. It's bad. LC is no different than other PL schools when it comes to expenditures and academics. Kirby Field House, since its renovations, is at least average by PL standards. And they get better than average community support. His record since he's had scholarships is worse than Milan Brown. Would you have been happy if HC kept Milan Brown for 12 years and he won 41% of his PL games? No, I'm glad HC keeps trying to find the right fit.
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Post by efg72 on Jan 18, 2021 21:25:04 GMT -5
Not putting him in that category but above the others not mentioned. We all have different metrics for success -somd look at W-L record and call it a day, some look at other strengths and weaknesses, others more holistically
I tend to take the more holistic approach, and dont claim it is the right way, or the only way, to make the evaluation. Anyway I am good with my statement, yet appreciate and understand the perspective and insights of others
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 18, 2021 21:33:14 GMT -5
When I make up a term like DOINO and throw it out I realize HC faces a challenge of a strong athletic tradition including D-1 national championships but with a profile of a small LAC. But if there's one sport, with only five players on the court all with the same scholarship as the largest universities, that should allow a small LAC to compete it's basketball.
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Post by hceconhist on Jan 18, 2021 22:21:48 GMT -5
Loyola, Navy, Colgate and possibly AWP are better coached. But then again it is an opinion not a fact and after all it is Monday night with not much going on It's definitely a matter of opinion. For me, it's hard to ignore the fact that in the era of Mike Muscala and CJ McCollum, he led his team to the PLC in 3/4 years. He also ended our season each year I was at Mt. St. James.
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Post by rgs318 on Jan 18, 2021 22:30:15 GMT -5
I remember him Lafayette helping HC's exit for what seemed like forever. That is not a happy memory...and it taught me to hate 3 point shots.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 19, 2021 7:05:12 GMT -5
I look at FOH as a decent coach, not an overachiever. Looking at the entire body of work, when operating on a level playing field vs. the rest of the league, I don't think the record is that bad (Lafayette was late in getting up to speed with schollies, so I pull out several of those years from his overall record). I do like the team he has now; pretty well rounded, with some size and even a couple of guys that can create offense....and of course, Jaws.
With regards to Milan Brown, his teams had a lot of problems with "system" teams, like FOH and Brennan. Not going to look it up now, but I remember once looking at his league record if you extracted games against FOH and Brennan, and it was actually half decent. That PL tourney game against AU in 2014 (where they were on the verge of blowing out AU at Bender; then melted down when AU went zone), was probably the beginning of the end of his tenure at HC.
In this crazy year, I would not be shocked if just about anyone won it. I don't see any real powerhouse squad, capable of taking down a giant, but I really don't see much separation from most of the teams. Seems to be a pretty good crop of new players too......although now you have to really worry about how long they will be around.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Jan 19, 2021 7:50:58 GMT -5
In 26 years, O’Hanlon’s winning percentage is .460 with 3 league championships In the interest of full disclosure, that winning percentage includes his 26-2 record vs. D3 teams - Lafayette has scheduled one or more in 21 of O'Hanlon's 26 seasons.
His record vs. D1 competition is 321-406 (.441)
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Post by hchoops on Jan 19, 2021 8:27:04 GMT -5
His PL record % is .462
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 19, 2021 9:41:53 GMT -5
Not too bad at a D.O.I.N.O. (Division One in Name Only) school. It's bad. LC is no different than other PL schools when it comes to expenditures and academics. Kirby Field House, since its renovations, is at least average by PL standards. And they get better than average community support. His record since he's had scholarships is worse than Milan Brown. Would you have been happy if HC kept Milan Brown for 12 years and he won 41% of his PL games? In mentioning facilities at the various PL schools, I would like to see the criteria regarding the grading of each facility and game day experience by institution. Would be of interest concerning how each school can improve their facility and game day operations.
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Jan 19, 2021 9:55:38 GMT -5
A former HC DOBO once told me that the reason HC struggled to attract good recruits was due to the poor facilities.
I'd say Matt Langel has dispelled that notion.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jan 19, 2021 10:30:54 GMT -5
Lehigh won its opening game-versus Lafayette--by one point in OT- and lost its following games by 12, 8, 15, 5, and 16. That was Lafayette's only loss. Lafayette , which lives and dies by the three, shot 6/20= 30% on threes in that game. Lafayette hit at least 40% on threes in all five following games. In Lehigh's next five games its opponents shot at least 35% on threes in every game and 41% over all. Lehigh takes very few threes and at 4-8 had its highest 3 point percentage in that win. Lehigh had its lowest turnover rate and by far its highest free throw rate in that win over Lafayette. I think in that win a lot of things went Lehigh's way as far as "shots falling" and other factors go. It may have been the "perfect storm" for Lehigh. I wouldn't take Lehigh or any opponent lightly, but I do like HC's chances against Lehigh this coming weekend in the Hart Center.
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Post by hchoops on Jan 19, 2021 10:39:37 GMT -5
Good analysis, Ky
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Post by timholycross on Jan 19, 2021 11:04:42 GMT -5
A former HC DOBO once told me that the reason HC struggled to attract good recruits was due to the poor facilities. I'd say Matt Langel has dispelled that notion. Perhaps, as importantly; did said DOBO think the improvements HC made in its facilities would help the basketball program?
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Post by timholycross on Jan 19, 2021 11:14:55 GMT -5
By the way, did Blossom explain why HC and BU ended up with 6 games? I thought there would be some other 6 game series in the league, but I can't find any. Everything else is 4 versus your division and pairs against other divisions.
Perhaps simply impossible not to end up with that scenario; and other than Lehigh/Lafayette, HC/BU is the closest distance-wise.
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 19, 2021 11:26:30 GMT -5
By the way, did Blossom explain why HC and BU ended up with 6 games? I thought there would be some other 6 game series in the league, but I can't find any. Everything else is 4 versus your division and pairs against other divisions. Perhaps simply impossible not to end up with that scenario; and other than Lehigh/Lafayette, HC/BU is the closest distance-wise. Google says Baltimore to Annapolis is 32 miles and Boston to Worcester is 47 miles, although I seem to remember a sign at the intersection of Belmont and Shrewsbury Streets that said Boston 39 miles.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jan 19, 2021 11:31:49 GMT -5
Distances between cities --how are they calculated when listed on line or in a book? Is it from the center of one city to the center of the next, from the city limits of one to the other's city limits, from city hall to city hall? In the Worcester example above the 39 miles certainly begins where the sign is but where is the terminus? Not a vexing issue but one you can't help wonder about.
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 19, 2021 11:32:36 GMT -5
Google says Annapolis to Washington DC is 31.7 miles although I'd rather take the Mass Pike to Boston than any routes down in MD/DC. HC buses must head right down McKeon Rd to the rte 20/146 entrance of the pike to go to BU.
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 19, 2021 11:40:25 GMT -5
Google says Annapolis to Washington DC is 31.7 miles although I'd rather take the Mass Pike to Boston than any routes down in MD/DC. HC buses must head right down McKeon Rd to the rte 20/146 entrance of the pike to go to BU. Or perhaps Fox bus co. instructs it's drivers to take the longer, but probably safer all interstate route of backtracking on rte 290 to the Auburn entrance to the Mass Pike and then heading east to Boston. My father voluntarily increased his commute from 26 to 35 miles to avoid kids running into the street chasing a ball after interstates 495 and 290 became available.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jan 19, 2021 11:54:36 GMT -5
Google says Annapolis to Washington DC is 31.7 miles although I'd rather take the Mass Pike to Boston than any routes down in MD/DC. HC buses must head right down McKeon Rd to the rte 20/146 entrance of the pike to go to BU. Or perhaps Fox bus co. instructs it's drivers to take the longer, but probably safer all interstate route of backtracking on rte 290 to the Auburn entrance to the Mass Pike and then heading east to Boston. My father voluntarily increased his commute from 26 to 35 miles to avoid kids running into the street chasing a ball after interstates 495 and 290 became available. Couldn't he get you and your siblings to stay on the lawn until he left the driveway?
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 19, 2021 14:41:40 GMT -5
☺️
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Post by DiMarz on Jan 19, 2021 19:32:41 GMT -5
As I get older, I try to avoid traffic congestion by any means...Going South from the Worcester area, I always avoid the GW bridge, and use the Tapanzee bridge and the inland route....I stay off 95....I'd rather drive a little further and avoid sitting in traffic...Did a trip from DC to the north when I was involved in AAU hoops, left DC at about 2 in the afternoon, pulled into a motel about 10 in Trenton NJ.....That was the last time on I-95 in the Northeast corridor for me!
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Post by efg72 on Jan 19, 2021 20:02:48 GMT -5
By the way, did Blossom explain why HC and BU ended up with 6 games? I thought there would be some other 6 game series in the league, but I can't find any. Everything else is 4 versus your division and pairs against other divisions. Perhaps simply impossible not to end up with that scenario; and other than Lehigh/Lafayette, HC/BU is the closest distance-wise. We drew the short straw months ago, but might be a four leaf clover given BUs lack of performance thus far
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 19, 2021 22:01:48 GMT -5
A former HC DOBO once told me that the reason HC struggled to attract good recruits was due to the poor facilities. I'd say Matt Langel has dispelled that notion. Perhaps, as importantly; did said DOBO think the improvements HC made in its facilities would help the basketball program? businessviewmagazine.com/holy-cross-crusaders-athletics-facilities-game-changer/Would that DOBO have the same opinion now? Please see the interview in Business View Magazine with Steve Pizzi. Other than the size of the Hart Arena, which cannot be expanded due to the footprint within the complex, and the AI, what are the impediments that now prohibit HC in attracting good recruits?
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