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Post by Tom on Mar 1, 2024 10:30:03 GMT -5
All this talk about how low we have sunk got me in the mood to do a little research into one of my pet peeves with the program. A little premature with play-offs next week, but anyway
There are two teams every season that do not qualify for the quarter finals in the league tournament
In the last four years
HC has failed to qualify for the quarter finals 4 times
Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, and Loyola have each failed to qualify once
It has been ten years since BU and Loyola joined the PL (and not participating in the quarter finals became a bad thing)
Loyola leads the pack not getting to the round of eight 5 times
HC and Lafayette have missed the quarters 4 times each
American and Army failed twice
Navy, Bucknell, and Lehigh have each failed once
For what it's worth, I consider making the round of eight to be an incredibly low bar. The fact that HC fails so consistently at that low bar has been one of my primary whining points. Merely 10 years ago I was complaining HC couldn't win a quarter final game. Now HC doesn't even get to play. I know it's a long climb up from the abyss, but HC really could use a post season win Tuesday.
Enough looking ahead for now. On to BU
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 1, 2024 10:47:42 GMT -5
This year's nightmare will soon be over. Brighter days are ahead
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Post by Ignutz on Mar 1, 2024 11:14:42 GMT -5
Tom noted that "HC and Lafayette have missed the quarters 4 times each"
Additional detail - from 2014 through 2023, HC has made the quarterfinals five times ('14, '15' '16, '18 and '19), has missed four times ('17, '20, '22 and '23), and had their first round game cancelled once (2021). Excluding the cancelled year, which was obviously not the fault of anyone associated with the program, the head coaches of the one-and-done playoff teams were Bill Carmody, Brett Nelson, Brett Nelson and Brett Nelson.
While we've got a ways to go, I truly believe that the biggest impediment to our future success, including trips to the quarterfinals and beyond, has been removed.
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Post by DiMarz on Mar 1, 2024 11:34:51 GMT -5
This year's nightmare will soon be over. Brighter days are ahead Do you’re really see this season as a nightmare? I’ve seen a this team improve greatly from where they were at when the season started. Their D is much better, the offense is more fluid, the rebounding is better.. yes these are all my eyeball opinions, I have seen every game, home in person. I may have the purple lenses in, I still like the direction the program is heading. Seems like we have a good class coming in. I think we are a good big away from being a factor in the league. A Justin Vander Bahn or Keegan Records would vault this team up the league standings. |
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 1, 2024 11:45:17 GMT -5
This year's nightmare will soon be over. Brighter days are ahead Do you’re really see this season as a nightmare? I’ve seen a this team improve greatly from where they were at when the season started. Their D is much better, the offense is more fluid, the rebounding is better.. yes these are all my eyeball opinions, I have seen every game, home in person. I may have the purple lenses in, I still like the direction the program is heading. Seems like we have a good class coming in. I think we are a good big away from being a factor in the league. A Justin Vander Bahn or Keegan Records would vault this team up the league standings. After the Georgetown game, we reached our high-point ranking of the season at 313 by Pomeroy. Currently, we sit at 350. We rank dead last in the country in defensive efficiency (362 of 362) and are last in the PL in league-only games. I do think you have purple lenses on, which you admit. I'm not sure if I've seen a whole lot of improvement as a team. Certain players have shown that they will be nice players for us in the future though, IMO. I am still very much on board the HCDP wagon, FWIW. |
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Post by Tom on Mar 1, 2024 11:55:34 GMT -5
Tom noted that " HC and Lafayette have missed the quarters 4 times each" Additional detail - from 2014 through 2023, HC has made the quarterfinals five times ('14, '15' '16, '18 and '19), has missed four times ('17, '20, '22 and '23), and had their first round game cancelled once (2021). Excluding the cancelled year, which was obviously not the fault of anyone associated with the program, the head coaches of the one-and-done playoff teams were Bill Carmody, Brett Nelson, Brett Nelson and Brett Nelson. While we've got a ways to go, I truly believe that the biggest impediment to our future success, including trips to the quarterfinals and beyond, has been removed. HC made the quarterfinals in 2017. They played and lost to Navy. Coach Carmody's teams participated in the quarter finals every year he was at HC. The only time prior to 2020 that HC didn't play in the quarter-final was back in 2001 when top seeded HC got a first round bye in the seven team format. My counting had the 2021 team as the 4th. HC did not finish in the top 6 OR win a play in game, so they did not qualify that year. It is possible that if HC didn't forfeit the play in game, they might have beaten Loyola that season and qualified for the quarter finals, but they didn't. It was not the fault of anyone involved in the program that there was a COVID outbreak on the team causing the forfeit. One could argue that finishing in the top 6 was in the team's control and they could have qualified for the quarter finals even if COVID made them forfeit .that round On a related note 2021 was the year Loyola made that post season run all the way to the league final |
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 1, 2024 12:00:37 GMT -5
Tom noted that " HC and Lafayette have missed the quarters 4 times each" Additional detail - from 2014 through 2023, HC has made the quarterfinals five times ('14, '15' '16, '18 and '19), has missed four times ('17, '20, '22 and '23), and had their first round game cancelled once (2021). Excluding the cancelled year, which was obviously not the fault of anyone associated with the program, the head coaches of the one-and-done playoff teams were Bill Carmody, Brett Nelson, Brett Nelson and Brett Nelson. While we've got a ways to go, I truly believe that the biggest impediment to our future success, including trips to the quarterfinals and beyond, has been removed. On a related note 2021 was the year Loyola made that post season run all the way to the league final Speaking of Loyola, this has got to be the final season for Tavaras Hardy, right? I was a little surprised he was brought back for this season. Going, potentially, 6-26, should be the nail in the coffin. |
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Post by newfieguy74 on Mar 1, 2024 12:22:03 GMT -5
This year's nightmare will soon be over. Brighter days are ahead Do you’re really see this season as a nightmare? I’ve seen a this team improve greatly from where they were at when the season started. Their D is much better, the offense is more fluid, the rebounding is better.. yes these are all my eyeball opinions, I have seen every game, home in person. I may have the purple lenses in, I still like the direction the program is heading. Seems like we have a good class coming in. I think we are a good big away from being a factor in the league. A Justin Vander Bahn or Keegan Records would vault this team up the league standings. I pretty much agree with this. My worry is that the big man situation will be worse next year. You can't win without a decent big man. I love Caleb Kenney, but he's not a center. |
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Mar 1, 2024 12:24:00 GMT -5
Do you’re really see this season as a nightmare? I’ve seen a this team improve greatly from where they were at when the season started. Their D is much better, the offense is more fluid, the rebounding is better.. yes these are all my eyeball opinions, I have seen every game, home in person. I may have the purple lenses in, I still like the direction the program is heading. Seems like we have a good class coming in. I think we are a good big away from being a factor in the league. A Justin Vander Bahn or Keegan Records would vault this team up the league standings. I pretty much agree with this. My worry is that the big man situation will be worse next year. You can't win without a decent big man. I love Caleb Kenney, but he's not a center. Declan Ryan is further along with how skilled he is for a big man, IMO, than many other bigs we've had this century. If he can shed some weight, I think he'll be more than serviceable for his next three years. |
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Post by hchoops on Mar 1, 2024 12:41:19 GMT -5
Chuck Hare could be serviceable at some point in his freshman year.
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Post by bison137 on Mar 1, 2024 13:16:07 GMT -5
This year's nightmare will soon be over. Brighter days are ahead Do you’re really see this season as a nightmare? I’ve seen a this team improve greatly from where they were at when the season started. Their D is much better, the offense is more fluid, the rebounding is better.. yes these are all my eyeball opinions, I have seen every game, home in person. I may have the purple lenses in, I still like the direction the program is heading. Seems like we have a good class coming in. I think we are a good big away from being a factor in the league. A Justin Vander Bahn or Keegan Records would vault this team up the league standings. Keegan Records yes. But Vander Baan is at best an average PL center. He's a good shot blocker but not above average in any other category. Lafayette btw currently ranks #315 in the nation and has a 10-19 record. VDB was helpless against Bucknell's Williamson and had to be benched on several occasions. And Williamson is still very much a work in progress. Very little experience and lacks strength. |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 1, 2024 14:09:26 GMT -5
This year's nightmare will soon be over. Brighter days are ahead Do you’re really see this season as a nightmare? I’ve seen a this team improve greatly from where they were at when the season started. Their D is much better, the offense is more fluid, the rebounding is better.. yes these are all my eyeball opinions, I have seen every game, home in person. I may have the purple lenses in, I still like the direction the program is heading. Seems like we have a good class coming in. I think we are a good big away from being a factor in the league. A Justin Vander Bahn or Keegan Records would vault this team up the league standings. I'm a big fan of Coach Paulsen and have demonstrated that with my wallet. Note that I said "Brighter days are ahead"--as I believe the players he recruited , both on the team and incoming, are higher potential than the players that we will be losing. |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 1, 2024 14:22:47 GMT -5
Chuck Hare could be serviceable at some point in his freshman year. I like what I, a non-expert, saw in the highlight reel. He's big but not a lummox or a string bean, and he seems to run the floor well. |
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Post by newfieguy74 on Mar 1, 2024 14:34:56 GMT -5
Chuck Hare could be serviceable at some point in his freshman year. I like what I, a non-expert, saw in the highlight reel. He's big but not a lummox or a string bean, and he seems to run the floor well. I like Declan Ryan and think he will continue to get better. He seems willing to mix it up. But he's only 6' 8" and strikes me as more of a power forward. As for Chuck I'm not going to predict how he will do, and hope he has a long and illustrious career playing center at HC, but we've had a number of very tall young men in recent years who simply weren't cut out to be D1 centers. I recall one young man, about 6' 11" from the midwest who stayed one year, didn't play much, and transferred. |
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Post by Tom on Mar 1, 2024 15:49:29 GMT -5
I like what I, a non-expert, saw in the highlight reel. He's big but not a lummox or a string bean, and he seems to run the floor well. I recall one young man, about 6' 11" from the midwest who stayed one year, didn't play much, and transferred. We had two kids on the team last year who kind of fit that bill. 6'11 and went to school in Indiana |
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Post by hchoops on Mar 1, 2024 17:33:27 GMT -5
Hare may not be ready immediately, but I have far more confidence in Paulsen as a judge of prospects than that of Nelson.
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Post by Ignutz on Mar 1, 2024 20:25:10 GMT -5
Hare may not be ready immediately, but I have far more confidence in Paulsen as a judge of prospects than that of Nelson. I wish I could like this comment more than just once!! |
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Mar 1, 2024 23:16:21 GMT -5
Hare may not be ready immediately, but I have far more confidence in Paulsen as a judge of prospects than that of Nelson. I wish I could like this comment more than just once!! You can't see it, but I liked on your behalf. |
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Post by bikeman on Mar 2, 2024 8:45:09 GMT -5
The only eyeballl test I’ve taken is seeing this is one of the worst teams in D1 in one of the worst leagues in D1. Can’t shoot. Can’t rebound. Can’t pass. Can’t play D. Have no size or speed. I’m sure the incoming recruits are being overrated by the regulars here because no decent D1 level player would be advised or decide to come play here. Awful. HC basketball should never again be referenced with the terms “rich tradition “ or “ storied history “. The administration and the abominable PL membership have very effectively erased that. Signed, a former diehard season ticket holder.
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Post by trimster on Mar 2, 2024 9:05:05 GMT -5
The only eyeballl test I’ve taken is seeing this is one of the worst teams in D1 in one of the worst leagues in D1. Can’t shoot. Can’t rebound. Can’t pass. Can’t play D. Have no size or speed. I’m sure the incoming recruits are being overrated by the regulars here because no decent D1 level player would be advised or decide to come play here. Awful. HC basketball should never again be referenced with the terms “rich tradition “ or “ storied history “. The administration and the abominable PL membership have very effectively erased that. Signed, a former diehard season ticket holder. Unfortunately I agree with just about everything you say here although I have maintained my season tickets but haven’t been to a game mainly due to Covid, in four years. The one hope I have is DP and his staff can convince a few good young men that HC is a great fit for them and collectively can get this program turned around. If it could be done at Colgate, I really believe it can be done at HC. |
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Post by bikeman on Mar 2, 2024 12:05:14 GMT -5
Sorry all. I’m just a bitter, old HC hoops fan. This should never have been allowed to happen.
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Post by longsuffering on Mar 2, 2024 14:42:55 GMT -5
Sorry all. I’m just a bitter, old HC hoops fan. This should never have been allowed to happen. I hear you. The downfall began with the curious hiring of Sean Kearney to replace Ralph Willard instead of perennial winner Andy Sachs who was hiding in plain sight right on the staff. FADDR didn't follow what Ron Perry Sr. did by promoting Mark Duffner when confronted with an unexpected opening. FADDR had a big budget because Ralph had a big salary, but when hiring an outsider he didn't go with a head coach who had a record of winning like Ralph did at WKU (brought a mid-major to the Sweet Sixteen) instead making a decision that has worked out with Coach Riga but has generally failed with Kearney, Nelson, Berard, LaChapelle: Hiring a non-HC career assistant to learn how to be a head coach on a Holy Cross scholarship team. As far as wins and losses, the four coaches mentioned, although fine individuals I am sure, have a combined winning percentage that is just plain shocking. The formula just doesn't have a high potential for success at Holy Cross. Kit has hired two veteran head coaches for his revenue sports openings, Paulsen and Curran so far. I support that. |
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