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Post by Tom on Sept 27, 2022 13:22:45 GMT -5
I had speculated on another thread that official practice would start yesterday, but today is the first day of full practice
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 27, 2022 13:55:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the update...now I can start "officially" worrying about basketball. 
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Post by mm67 on Sept 27, 2022 14:02:20 GMT -5
The comments on the podcast were not encouraging. Nevertheless, let's hope our long basketball nightmare will soon come to an end. GoCrossGo
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Post by longsuffering on Sept 27, 2022 14:20:03 GMT -5
With a turn around year.
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Post by hc17 on Sept 27, 2022 14:21:53 GMT -5
With practice getting started, there are reasons for optimism with the season quickly approaching:
1.) Gates & Bo are back. 2 of your top 3 leading scorers from a year ago are returning. We know Gates is giving you All-PL level play. Can Bo rise to the occasion in year 3 after amassing over 1000+ minutes in his HC career already? Perhaps, this is the biggest question this year. 2.) Octave has arrived. Can the former Air Force Guard impact the team has much as Gates did when he arrived a few seasons ago? I fully expect Octave to be a top-3 player on this team with potential of becoming a top 15 player in the conference. 3.) Who is this year's impact freshman? All eyes on Batch & his ability to shoot the outside shot. 4.) How does Nelson manage his size? We have plenty of big bodies....Lewis, Rab, Louth, Kenney and Wilbar. Who spells Gates off the bench? Who complements him in the Frontcourt? Louth and Kenney are the two favorites in my opinion. Either way, I believe we should protect the rim at the best rate since Jehyve Floyd occupied the paint in the Hart.
Overall, if Gates, Bo, Octave can create enough offense (10+ PPG each) & the Bigs provide sturdy defense down-low, I think we have a path to competitiveness and the best season under Nelson.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Sept 27, 2022 14:33:46 GMT -5
Unfortunately the “best season under Nelson” is a very low bar to clear.
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Post by newfieguy74 on Sept 27, 2022 15:40:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the update...now I can start "officially" worrying about basketball.  Or as a friend of mine says: Why worry when you can obsess?
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Post by newfieguy74 on Sept 27, 2022 15:42:48 GMT -5
With practice getting started, there are reasons for optimism with the season quickly approaching: 1.) Gates & Bo are back. 2 of your top 3 leading scorers from a year ago are returning. We know Gates is giving you All-PL level play. Can Bo rise to the occasion in year 3 after amassing over 1000+ minutes in his HC career already? Perhaps, this is the biggest question this year. 2.) Octave has arrived. Can the former Air Force Guard impact the team has much as Gates did when he arrived a few seasons ago? I fully expect Octave to be a top-3 player on this team with potential of becoming a top 15 player in the conference. 3.) Who is this year's impact freshman? All eyes on Batch & his ability to shoot the outside shot. 4.) How does Nelson manage his size? We have plenty of big bodies....Lewis, Rab, Louth, Kenney and Wilbar. Who spells Gates off the bench? Who complements him in the Frontcourt? Louth and Kenney are the two favorites in my opinion. Either way, I believe we should protect the rim at the best rate since Jehyve Floyd occupied the paint in the Hart. Overall, if Gates, Bo, Octave can create enough offense (10+ PPG each) & the Bigs provide sturdy defense down-low, I think we have a path to competitiveness and the best season under Nelson. Yes, the bigs are the key. We need consistent average to above average play from them: taking up room in the paint, rebounding, solid defending, the occasional basket.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 27, 2022 15:58:56 GMT -5
Maybe who plays the all important point guard position and how he/they play(s) it should be included. Also team defense needs a mention.
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Post by efg72 on Sept 27, 2022 16:04:50 GMT -5
Bigs are important but we can play bigs by committee. Agree with hoops that significantly improved team defense is required— support defense is rarely experienced so if this gets better the team gets better. PG leadership is required, and as well as Gates plays I would rather see much more balance and a talented point can make that happen.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 27, 2022 16:16:32 GMT -5
Photos and bios are up for the newbies, including Ben Capron, except Simon Wilbar.(no photo) Also new DOBO Isaiah Tate Tse’s bio could have mentioned that he graduated from Archbishop Molloy in Queens, NY, home of former Crusaders Kevin Hamilton and Jim Gooch(RIP).
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Post by efg72 on Sept 27, 2022 16:48:44 GMT -5
Requires institutional knowledge and that is missing
We should let Kit know his team should make sure the info sections are complete as it continues to build on our strengths of history and tradition
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Post by Tom on Sept 28, 2022 7:51:12 GMT -5
Maybe who plays the all important point guard position and how he/they play(s) it should be included. Also team defense needs a mention. Pre season rumor mill says Batchelder will play the point
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Post by hchoops on Sept 28, 2022 8:39:28 GMT -5
Maybe who plays the all important point guard position and how he/they play(s) it should be included. Also team defense needs a mention. Pre season rumor mill says Batchelder will play the point Thanks. Then how he does as a freshman at the most important position should be question #1.
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Post by trimster on Sept 28, 2022 9:08:39 GMT -5
With practice getting started, there are reasons for optimism with the season quickly approaching: 1.) Gates & Bo are back. 2 of your top 3 leading scorers from a year ago are returning. We know Gates is giving you All-PL level play. Can Bo rise to the occasion in year 3 after amassing over 1000+ minutes in his HC career already? Perhaps, this is the biggest question this year. 2.) Octave has arrived. Can the former Air Force Guard impact the team has much as Gates did when he arrived a few seasons ago? I fully expect Octave to be a top-3 player on this team with potential of becoming a top 15 player in the conference. 3.) Who is this year's impact freshman? All eyes on Batch & his ability to shoot the outside shot. 4.) How does Nelson manage his size? We have plenty of big bodies....Lewis, Rab, Louth, Kenney and Wilbar. Who spells Gates off the bench? Who complements him in the Frontcourt? Louth and Kenney are the two favorites in my opinion. Either way, I believe we should protect the rim at the best rate since Jehyve Floyd occupied the paint in the Hart. Overall, if Gates, Bo, Octave can create enough offense (10+ PPG each) & the Bigs provide sturdy defense down-low, I think we have a path to competitiveness and the best season under Nelson. Yes, the bigs are the key. We need consistent average to above average play from them: taking up room in the paint, rebounding, solid defending, the occasional basket. HC is pretty small at the 4 and 5 when GG and Kenney are on the floor at the same time. We might be better off if Caleb spelled GG at the 4 and a combo of bigs, especially if they could shoot and pass to the post from up top, played the 5. Just a thought.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Sept 28, 2022 11:12:20 GMT -5
I think one of the reasons I get a little nervous about Batch potentially being thrown to the wolves is I'm subconsciously influenced by his boyish appearance........he just looks to be about 14-15! Hope he becomes the baby faced assassin!
Beyond that, I think the collective play of the 5 transfers will dictate how well (or not so well) this season goes.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 28, 2022 11:15:28 GMT -5
Primarily Gates and Octave
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Sept 28, 2022 12:27:40 GMT -5
Tse did not have scintillating stats at Houston Christian. What should we think if it turns out we brought him in and he's a backup point guard? I guess the optimist would say that that happened because Batch turned out to be even better and more broadly skilled than we could have hoped for, Of course, we are in just the first week of practice so nothing has been set in stone yet.
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Post by trimster on Sept 28, 2022 12:39:39 GMT -5
Tse did not have scintillating stats at Houston Christian. What should we think if it turns out we brought him in and he's a backup point guard? I guess the optimist would say that that happened because Batch turned out to be even better and more broadly skilled than we could have hoped for, Of course, we are in just the first week of practice so nothing has been set in stone yet. I don't have a problem if Tse is the backup pg. It's very hard to function well as a unit when you have off guards playing the point as HC has had in stretches over the last few years. No criticism of Butler and Montgomery but it hurts on multiple fronts when guys are forced to play out of position. You could even make the argument Luc was forced to play out of position as I view him as an off guard in a point guard body. I think there will be plenty of minutes for Tse.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 28, 2022 12:47:08 GMT -5
Agree, especially since we will need Batch’s scoring. It has been said he is our best shooter in some years. I can see them playing together based on matchups and situations
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Sept 28, 2022 14:18:47 GMT -5
That's kind of what I meant when speaking of the transfers. Gates and Octave have to be considered givens (heaven help us if not). But how well will the other 3 do? If they are solid, maybe the team will be deep and versatile enough to have a good PL season. But if they are more like end of the bench guys....might be starting over again in the spring.
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Post by bison137 on Sept 28, 2022 14:37:33 GMT -5
Maybe who plays the all important point guard position and how he/they play(s) it should be included. Here are some comments in the Blue Ribbon article on HC, based on an interview with Nelson last month: Of particular concern is the point guard spot. Nelson rattles off a list of names, almost every guard listed, as a possibility. But in the end he doesn’t have any one guy he can point to as the one who will run his offense. "It’s going to be point guard by committee" , Nelson says. "It’s going to be a lot of guys that will be able to man that position. But to say this guy is a true point guard there’s not many of those out there." . . .
History tells us teams that contend in the Patriot League typically have stellar guards running the point. Holy Cross has finished last in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio in two of the last three seasons. It's hard to imagine fixing that problem without strong play at the point.
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Post by hchoops on Sept 28, 2022 15:06:18 GMT -5
Agree, unfortunately Sad that he does not see Tse as a true pg Makes you wonder why we took him
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Post by trimster on Sept 28, 2022 15:24:01 GMT -5
Agree, unfortunately Sad that he does not see Tse as a true pg Makes you wonder why we took him I am more concerned that Nelson doesn't think there are many true point guards out there! Really?
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Post by hchoops on Sept 28, 2022 15:28:54 GMT -5
There are many St. John’s has two fine ones - Alexander and Curbelo
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