Massey Rank (as of 1/19)

Analogy to old Westerns where the cavalry charges to the rescue. Little bearing here, since we are not speaking about the current players as helpless settlers.

I am afraid that an away playoff game is almost automatic this year. But, I agree that a home game could be special.

This conversation was going on on the Davidson message board back in 1989 (oh wait, no internet back then).

Seriously, if we are winning 18-20 games 2 years from now, will this be forgiven/forgotten?

I think the "issue" at hand is not a PL thing as much as it is the overall D-1 world these days. Not a good time to be low D-1 imho with the current transfer process (and I felt this way before I had even heard of Drew Lowder). More and more, it's looking like low D-1 is being looked at like a group of prep schools by many prospects, just part of the path on the way to the top. I think some kind of reform is needed, but since it's not hurting the big boys, nothing will be done. It just seems like either the top of D-! needs to break off and become the pro organization it has become, or the bottom needs to break away from it and exist in a world where their concerns are addressed.

Back to our situation. I looked around at schools that have a first year coach (who is a first year head coach, like CBN), and found about 15 or so schools. Many are floundering, some are doing ok, and a couple are even doing quite well. One is W&M under Dane Fischer (at least I think this is his first gig; I'm sure bison will be on me in a nanosecond if I'm wrong). If I'm not mistaken, he had to deal with some defections right off the bat, but has them at something like 14-6. Why couldn't we do that? Well, just a quick look at their roster shows they have 2 seniors averaging around 30 minutes a game (one being CAA POY candidate Nathan Knight), and 2 grad students both averaging over 20 minutes a game. Looking at a lot of the other teams' rosters, you see quite a few jucos sprinkled around.

HC? Well, we are now feeling the short term effects of the dismissals of former players, with just 1 senior. Grad transfers? Wasn't possible. Jucos? You tell me.

HC just wasn't set up for a quick fix. I too feel like CBN could have possibly squeezed out a couple of more victories if that trumped the long term goal, but hopefully his strategy is the right one. I do think it's on him to improve the D going forward.

Let me stipulate right out of the gate that while I don’t live in the past, i do have a memory and it bothers me to hear the words “mid major” and “Holy Cross” in the same sentence and absolutely pains me to hear “LOW mid major” and “Holy Cross.”

I can certainly accept, even embrace, being in the Patriot League. I cannot accept an even less than mediocre results.

As I have posted elsewhere, the blame goes far and wide. Just totally unacceptable.

I would certainly give serious consideration to withholding my contributions to the CAF for basketball but that might make me one of the many factors contributing to this failed program. And, it IS failing and has been for some time.

Whether Nelson, his assistants, the players, administration can get their act together and win is not a given.

Make that four if you include Lovisolo, who is currently playing for Union.

I agree regarding vetting. Too many recruits have left in the last four years. A culture and recruiting focus change is needed with the Basketball programs.

Good point on three recent transfers.  I should have been clearer in pointing out I don’t think we have had many kids “use” their first year or two at HC to move up to a high level D 1 program.  It seems to me many of our transfers have been the result of a coaching change and have involved making a lateral move.  The obvious exception is Grandison transferring to Illinois.

No, probably just a misspelled word or typographical error. I wouldn’t nitpick for any deeper meaning.

To get back to the low ranking......I ask again, if the waters settle down, and in 2 years we are a legit contender, will that make things cool for everyone? Maybe year 1 in CBN's eyes is just a boot camp of sorts....you know, to achieve The Full Nelson you must first make it through Camp Nelson.

Yes, I would say so.....

I did say 2 years from now, but at least for me, I never like to be shackled by some rigid timeline. I think some people think in year 1 you win X games, in year 2 you win X+Y games, in year 3 X+Y+Z, etc. For me, I just want to see signs that consistent improvement in the overall program is being made.

I know it's not showing up in the W-L record, but I do think some small strides are being made, in terms of transition into what CBN wants. The big bugaboo, of course, is defense. He is going to have to figure that out at some point, or it could derail all of his plans.

Hopefully not diverting from the subject here, but I also find most interesting the way CBN is coaching the very end of these "no longer in doubt" games, meaning, his steadfast refusal to empty what's left of the bench (even after the other team does so). Not saying it's wrong, but I don't recall another coach so consistently coaching it that way. I also wonder if it will be his normal SOP, or if it is some chapter of "Camp Nelson" (you either earn minutes or not, no such thing as garbage time(?)).

I´m still cautiously optimistic. I think / hope BN is building a culture.

But there were those still believing in Carmody last year and preaching patience........ and Milan before that. If it doesn´t work this time, I can´t promise patience next time.