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Post by cmo on Feb 27, 2022 10:12:03 GMT -5
Let’s add a grad school and go that route. 🤷♂️
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Post by trimster on Feb 27, 2022 10:30:13 GMT -5
I think Nelson probably saved his job by winning five of six games midway through the PL schedule. If we had won fewer than five games, I think there was a really good chance Kit would pull the plug. The question I ask myself is, even if Nelson has bought himself another year, have we learned enough about him as a coach to know that he's never going to get this program to where it needs to be (top three in the PL and top 150 nationally)? If the answer is no, that I see no reason to delay the inevitable. Also, while I'm not sure how long Nelson's contract is (four years or five years?), but let's just say it's four years...how is he supposed to recruit next year? The PL was, perhaps, the worst it has been in the history of the league. Six of ten teams rank 292nd or worse as of this posting. The league ranks 28 of 32 conferences. Despite all of that, we finished 8th. I'm still mad, by the way, DJ Hart didn't see the court yesterday. I think that's absolutely awful by Nelson. I agree that Nelson will be back for another year. I also feel strongly that Hart should have been in the starting lineup yesterday. Bad decision by BN. I know Colgate is in a different situation but two seniors who rarely play were starters yesterday. The Army sophomore big started every game but one according to Kevin Gehl. The one he didn’t, Senior Day.
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Post by thecrossisback on Feb 27, 2022 10:35:11 GMT -5
That said, how much better can this team be a year from now given our inconsistent offense? This is what I am worried about. Especially out of conference play. We have to start much better. The coach has to have the team prepared better.
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Post by dadominate on Feb 27, 2022 10:35:54 GMT -5
absolutely pathetic not to play hart yesterday for a minute or two on senior day.
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Post by efg72 on Feb 27, 2022 10:41:03 GMT -5
absolutely pathetic not to play hart yesterday for a minute or two on senior day. Nelson must have been confused and thought we were playing for the PL title yesterday and Hart or any player in a similar role was going to cost us the game- insane Just another reason he should be replaced.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Feb 27, 2022 10:42:26 GMT -5
He could have put him for a moment during the endgame just to foul someone (when they needed to do that).
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 27, 2022 10:44:28 GMT -5
Haven’t had a chance to read all the recent posts but another poster reminded me Ash Wednesday is fast approaching for my annual Lenten Crossports hiatus so I better get my posts done quickly.
I may get a head start on Lent so let me just say, if I was Kit I would tell Nelson if you want to stay another year, at minimum you must publicly explain what the hell “attack and serve” means. Perhaps that is Nelson’s own standard of success and, since we have no idea what it means, maybe if we knew, perhaps we’d agree that he’s successful- just not the winning part.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 27, 2022 10:48:18 GMT -5
absolutely pathetic not to play hart yesterday for a minute or two on senior day. Did his parents come to the game --have a picture taken at some mid court ceremony--and then have to sit there and watch as he sat on the bench the entire game? He should have started
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 27, 2022 12:37:29 GMT -5
Yup. Based on the Senior Day picture, D.J. had a clanfull of family there. This is just typical of Nelson's tone deafness and basic lack of humanity. Forget how alums and fans are ignored. As I've said before, even Milan and Sean made outreach to HC basketball supporters. Carmody had his beloved Barbara working the fans. I'd buy, "he's too busy working hard with the team in order to win," if his teams actually won. They don't. Maybe he's 180 degrees different in the locker room with the players?
Holy Cross is not Duke, Florida, even Marquette. There's a small, hard-core group of supporters that should be at least acknowledged by the head coach. Crickets.
He'll probably get another season but IMHO, he doesn't deserve one.
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Post by hc80 on Feb 27, 2022 14:59:21 GMT -5
If you were the AD and Coach Chesney said he had another opportunity, I suggest that you would be disappointed and would try and figure out if there were anyway to save him - salary, incentive, conditions... Now, if it were CBN that walked in and said he had another opportunity - I suggest you would probably say thank you and let me know where to send your belongings. I have always believed if you had team members on your staff that if they left you would not try and keep them, you should have transitioned them out long ago. The upside we have with CBN is so remote - move on. if he resigned, no one would be disappointed. And the transfer portal is not a reason to keep him - no guarantee that the guys don't transfer out regardless.
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Post by Crosser on Feb 27, 2022 16:27:49 GMT -5
Isn’t it possible that all the players like being at Holy Cross more than they’d be upset about having to play for a new coach?
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Post by efg72 on Feb 27, 2022 16:30:31 GMT -5
I wonder if his departure would have any impact on the players?
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 27, 2022 16:35:09 GMT -5
They might have to figure out a way to get used to winning more than they lose.
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Post by longsuffering on Feb 27, 2022 17:18:04 GMT -5
How functional is the portal for any HC player other than GG, KL or Bo? I suppose only in the case of other teams suffering a large loss of players and needing to back fill.
I suspect Coaches think they can do better with HS recruits or grad transfers than veterans from losing teams in weak leagues with low production. Perhaps MT will get a look as a grad transfer because that option has limited commitment by the new school, only one scholarship year.
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Post by hc87 on Feb 27, 2022 17:42:41 GMT -5
Nelson saved his job with the mid-season resurgence but he's not the long-term "answer" imo....probably, really not anyone is sadly....this league is cratering basketball-wise in this world of the transfer portal etc.
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Post by hchoops on Feb 27, 2022 18:15:35 GMT -5
How functional is the portal for any HC player other than GG, KL or Bo? Based on the last wave of transfers going to not only D1 schools, there could be more to many more Crusaders in the portal
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Post by longsuffering on Feb 27, 2022 18:40:11 GMT -5
I thought only Carmody recruited non-D-1 players. I could see Malcolm accepting a grad transfer to a D-2 school with a good grad program in an area of study he wanted to pursue and it being a positive for all involved.
For our other players, I hope Kit takes charge more than MB did and makes absolutely sure each and every player knows they are fully supported, welcomed and wanted as Holy Cross Crusaders for life. And if I was him, I would be proactive because once the player files for the portal the cycle of disruption has begun even if the player never leaves.
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 27, 2022 18:52:44 GMT -5
1. Not necessarily at all 2. totally agree except he isn't the short-term answer either.
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 27, 2022 18:59:13 GMT -5
This would be absolutely correct but based on a couple of assumptions. 1. That the players don't feel the same way that many on this board feel about him. We've had no "inside" feedback as to how the players get along with him. The possibilities run the full spectrum from they love this guy and will walk through a brick wall for him to they can't stand him and can't get far enough away, fast enough. 2. That Nelson is leaving vs. staying. Again, no "inside" information what Kit/Vince feel about him and what he's accomplished or hasn't accomplished. Neither the AD nor president have tipped their hands. At least not that I am aware.
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Post by longsuffering on Feb 27, 2022 19:02:40 GMT -5
1. Not necessarily at all 2. totally agree except he isn't the short-term answer either. What are the resume entries of a new coach that would make you most confident you are getting a transformational leader other than just shuffling the deck?
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 27, 2022 19:11:21 GMT -5
Short answer, the "Chesney model." That is, a successful head coach of a D2 or even D3 team with proven experience, preferably in a high academic environment.
While I don't follow them, maybe really take the Chesney model and steal from another Worcester school as the WPI head coach it's been posted has a phenomenal record. WPI may not be M.I.T. but they are an excellent school and perhaps like Chesney will bring along some local fans. I'd say even possibly the Nichols head coach but I understand they are on their 4 +/- coach in 6 years because they've been so successful and all the prior coaches have gone on to higher level coaching gigs. R.J. Evans was an assistant coach at Nichols from 2014-15. That said, I wouldn't think R.J. would be a right successor for Brett. If Brett was successful and moved on, then sure, but that wouldn't be the case.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 27, 2022 19:37:13 GMT -5
Short answer, the "Chesney model." That is, a successful head coach of a D2 or even D3 team with proven experience, preferably in a high academic environment. Christopher Newport University (24-2) punched its ticket into the D3 Dance last night, winning its conference tournament. The Captains are ranked 4th in the country, and are coached by Auburn native, John Krikorian.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 27, 2022 19:51:40 GMT -5
This guy is coaching at NJCAA D2 Chesapeake College in Maryland. He inherited an 8-18 team, went 18-9 his first season, then 23-2 this year.. They are headed to their first Dance next week. He just wins everywhere. I'm assuming that's a goal here. www.letsgoskipjacks.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/Andrew_Sachs
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 27, 2022 19:58:28 GMT -5
Josh Loeffler at John’s Hopkins is another interesting name.
Has been around PL circles for pretty much his entire career and certainly knows how to recruit high-academic kids in the northeast (predominantly Mid-Atlantic / DMV).
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Post by WorcesterGray on Feb 27, 2022 20:04:15 GMT -5
John's Hopkins beat Landry Kosmalski's Swarthmore team in the Centennial Conference final last night.
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