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Post by phoenix15 on Jan 29, 2019 10:31:45 GMT -5
Elon is ranked #325 in the nation via Kenpom (there are 351 teams in D1 fyi). Our best three players are seniors. Between Seibring, Sanata Ana, Eberhardt, and Kundatros we will be losing 65% of our scoring next season. If Swoope doesn't get a redshirt and return, we would lose 76% of our scoring. We are not a good team. Next year presents an opportunity for a clean slate. That is why you need to make a coaching change. No one here is denying that Elon needs to put more resources ($$$) into this program to take the next step, but it is pretty darn evident that Matheny is not the guy to take them to that next level - better coach than Nestor or not.
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Post by Voice of Reason on Jan 29, 2019 11:12:52 GMT -5
When did bottom quartile or middle of the road become acceptable? It's a joke that people are actually defending a dismal record and a bigger joke that our AD hasn't fired the entire staff yet.
You really cannot make the excuse of recruiting budget, when Greensboro / Charlotte / Durham are some of the best basketball cities. Virginia is also a great state and is in driving distance. How expensive is it to drive to Charlotte?
Also, let's be perfectly honest...could you really see Matt successfully recruiting a kid from the Bronx or South Chicago? Because that's a joke. Elon is not Duke or UNC and will never be getting a 5 star player, so we don't need the same budget.
Let's call a spade a spade - he faked his way to this point. He is a phony, that cannot recruit and his entire X & O's strategy involving shooting 30 three pointers a game. Once a team runs a zone we are doomed...
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Post by i know on Jan 29, 2019 11:22:16 GMT -5
Matheny coached in a much different Socon than Nestor. He also had a much better budget and facilities.
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Post by i know on Jan 29, 2019 11:24:49 GMT -5
Not saying who is better but that is reality
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Post by fauxphoenix on Jan 29, 2019 11:57:28 GMT -5
We're all complaining because our square peg doesn't fit in the round hole that we're given.
Given the limited budget and high academic/admission requirements, no Elon coach is going to win consistently in the CAA. Matt certainly hasn't won a lot, but the team represents the school well.
I do love the high character of the kids that he's brought into the program.
If anyone deserves fault, it's the administration for putting Elon in a conference where we simply do not fit.
They either need to pony up the money to compete in a higher conference and lower the academic/admission requirements, or move to a conference with similar resources and academics.
Personally, I strongly admire Elon's position of keeping the "Student" in "Student-Athlete".
Elon got "too big for their britches, too fast" and a conference change, if possible, would solve most of our woes.
Perhaps the Patriot League, back to the SoCon or Big South, or form a new league of similar schools who wish to keep academics at the forefront and refrain from the "Arms Wars" of big-time NCAA sports ?
Otherwise, we're going to continually be disappointed in the performance of our revenue sports.
As fans, there's not a lot that we can do, other than accept our current predicament. I don't see much hope for change on the horizon, but realistic expectations might be in order.
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Post by Guy on Jan 29, 2019 16:18:31 GMT -5
Why do folks think the CAA is materially more difficult than the SoCon? This year and in the recent past, the SoCon is ranked consistently higher than the CAA. Also, belonging to and competing in the CAA is hardly an "arms wars". Additional funding aside (which should be increased), there is nothing inherent about the school (academic requirements, facilities, geography, etc.) that would prohibit Elon from being competitive for the conference championship year in and out.
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Post by elonpride on Jan 29, 2019 17:10:56 GMT -5
This year and in the recent past, the SoCon is ranked consistently higher than the CAA. That is not a true statement. 2018: CAA 12, SoCon 16 2017: CAA 11, SoCon 16 2016: CAA 9, SoCon 19 2015: CAA 20, SoCon 24 (marginal year for both) 2014: CAA 15, SoCon 30 (Davidson's last year in the SoCon) This year, things have flipped: 2019: SoCon 11, CAA 18
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Post by Guy on Jan 30, 2019 11:49:15 GMT -5
Fine, consistently higher as a whole isn't correct. I was thinking SoCon was also better last year. But the point remains that the conference isn't the problem. Both are, and were, mid-tier on good years. Blaming Elon's lack of success on the conference change seems unfounded.
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Post by Elon Man on Jan 31, 2019 10:51:47 GMT -5
While facilities are great and money is great... you have to hit on a couple of no namers you take a chance on... win some games/ have some success to maintain anything. Facilities won't get too many kids to campus as a lot of schools have good to great facilities. We were actually far behind. Facilities might close the deal on a kid. But winning actually gets a school on their radar. It takes getting a kid to commit like a Davis Cheeks in football who can be a game changer. And Elon from a basketball side has not got that kid in a few years. If we can hit on a couple kids then maybe we can have some success... until then .500 ball is about what you are going to get.
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Post by Dougie on Jan 31, 2019 13:14:50 GMT -5
500 would be a miracle at this stage. I'd say the 2013 class was excellent and Matheny should have been able to lead them to a better SoCon finish. And last year's team certainly had enough talent to finish something better than last in the CAA with a competent coach
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