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Post by Tommy Boy on Jan 24, 2018 10:10:03 GMT -5
I'm all in for Toole. I have doubts about his interest (already transferred from Elon), seems to be more of a Northeast connection, and might have set his sights on a bigger job, but if Blank could pull that off I would be thrilled. Agreed that money would be a major issue. Not sure what President Book's emphasis on sports will be either. That should be one of many interesting story lines to follow once she replaces Leo in March. Tools transferred to Penn. I have no problem that he left for an Ivy League program. Yes. Penn is a better school than Elon. Can’t blame him. Andrew Toole played for Elon 1999-2000 prior to my following the program. I had to ask around about him. He decided to leave Elon for Ivy league school Penn University. Penn was undefeated in the Ivy league his senior season and played in NCAA tournament. It is hard for me to accept rejection but I am glad he made it to the Big Dance. His mentor in coaching was Mike Rice Jr. at Robert Morris Univ. after Rice accepted job at Rutgers. Toole his assistant was given the job. Does everyone remember Mike Rice from Rutgers? That ordeal was going on when Elon played Canisius at Rutgers tournament. I was told by insiders Toole isn't a hot coaching prospect nationally; he is currently 30-47 at Robert Morris the past three seasons in an inferior basketball conference. He was fortunate to have coached Rodney Prior who was a graduate transfer to Georgetown from Robert Morris who beat Elon last season 77-74. Why would we want a losing coach from a weaker conference? I'll take Coach Matheny without hesitation.
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Post by A Friend on Jan 24, 2018 23:09:55 GMT -5
A ton of emotion regarding the state of the team has been expressed. Even more emotion regarding the direction the program should go in. One thing for sure, everyone would like to support a consistent winner.
IMO, some things are painfully obvious. The program has underachieved. The program has not been consistent. To date, Coach Matheny's record suggests that at best, he is an average coach. Whether or not he can be a great coach, is up for debate.
Some posters have stated that Coach Matheny does not have the right players to properly compete. I disagree. Other CAA schools have 1 and 2 star players. Occasionally the other schools get a 3 star. The other CAA schools are not getting superior athletes, they just have coaches who utilize their players better.
Why would 4 and 5 star players come to Elon? For a gym? Better players go to a school to be able to make it to the next level. Coach Matheny has not demonstrated that he can get someone to the next level. Coach Matheny has Meech and Santa Ana now. What about the Fab 4? He had a great team, but he could not get them over the hump. The class of 2013 (Eddy, Hairston and Dawkins) were all All-State performers. Each of these players was also invited to the Reebok Phenom Camp. How did Coach Matheny do with this class? Eddy got hurt, but still competed. Hairston was never properly used. Dawkins is a forward who plays center BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE CAN. Is it the player's fault that they have not been used properly?
Matheny has a "one size fits all" mentality. The system is all he can throw at other teams. The last game was a perfect example.. We are leading late in the game by 5. Matheny subs out two starters. Our opponent has two starters in foul trouble, but they stay in. When Matheny gets the starters back in, we have lost the lead and are trailing. Not once did he emphasize attacking the foul-laden players.
It has been my opinion that Coach Matheny is a poor in-game-tactician. When we should concentrate on getting good shots (lay-ups, close jumpers, etc.) the team has the green light to keep shooting. Maybe a change of philosophy would deliver better results in crunch time.
We have no defensive stopper. One will be needed in the CAA tournament. We don't have a good, steady ball-handler. One will be needed in the CAA tournament. Better substitution patterns are needed. Let's get up big, take our opponent's will away, AND THEN SUBSTITUTE SMARTLY.
I hope that Coach Matheny takes a long look in the mirror. Everyone will support him if he tried something different. Giving us the same approach has worn out. And yes, I don't think he will be replaced. Money drives everything. I hope for a better result at the season's end.
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Post by Phoenix15 on Jan 25, 2018 9:19:20 GMT -5
Agree with "Friend". My biggest issue with Matheny is inability to develop players. Outside of maybe Dawkins, who one this team had improved in their time here? Feel like Hamilton, Isenbarger, Koch, and even Troutman stalled out. Thompson, Hairston, and Blake (our athletes) never took the step from good athlete to good basketball players. It is frustrating to see players not make that next step and I attribute that to coaching - this goes for Matheny and his assistants. Very much agree that he is a poor strategy coach as well.Just like Friend said, his gameplan seems to be shoot threes and pray. We lack much of an offensive set. Also, his in-game coaching strategy is maddening. Rarely do you seem the team come out of a timeout or in a critical situation run a play. Most of the time is just ends up with Swoope dribbling out the clock and taking an ill-advised shot. This team had talent. His previous teams have talent. Recruiting can always been improved upon, but that's not where I find issues with Matt. It's the development of players, game planning, and in-game coaching which consistently fail us.
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Post by Phoenix15 on Jan 25, 2018 9:26:06 GMT -5
@tommyboy - thanks for the background on Toole. I hadn't heard much about him before it was suggested by another poster on the blog. Looks like he had success his first couple years with Rice's recruits and has fallen off since. Nice that he has the Elon connection, but my preference would be a young-ish assistant from a bigger school. Someone who has aspirations to take Elon to a conference championship. Look at what Kevin Keatts was able to do at UNCW. I would love for Elon to bring in a younger assistant to get some excitement around this program especially as they move to the arena.
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It’s Time
Jan 25, 2018 10:29:23 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by fc4life on Jan 25, 2018 10:29:23 GMT -5
Remember, we hired a hot young assistant fresh off some program success at Davidson once upon a time.
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Post by euphoenix99 on Jan 25, 2018 20:45:57 GMT -5
16-7 Drexel run to end it after the under 4 timeout. Sound familiar? 3 games in a row it's played out this way.
Unfortunately I think we're stuck with this joker for as long he wants to stay.
Go Phoenix!
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It’s Time
Jan 25, 2018 20:55:10 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by fc4life on Jan 25, 2018 20:55:10 GMT -5
I thought we had a veteran team that was ready for a run to the NCAA tournament. Oops.
Nothing like losing to a team that was 1-7 in the CAA and losers of five straight in a gym we had never lost in.
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everelon
Elon Only
Posts: 223
Fan Of: Elon
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Post by everelon on Jan 25, 2018 22:22:10 GMT -5
There is something drastically wrong with this team. I’m not sure what it is but, I firmly believe it starts at the top. It seems that the “system” will not get us over the top. We may not win another conference game this season. Apparently none of the recruits are capable of any contributions. Really a poor performance and night in and night out we are terribly out coached. I was planning to see the W & M game Thursday and I’m now having second thoughts. Picked third in the conference and may finish LAST.
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It’s Time
Jan 25, 2018 22:27:18 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by fc4life on Jan 25, 2018 22:27:18 GMT -5
I seem to remember we beat Drexel by 15 in December. Wow. What a difference a month makes.
We shot nearly 50% from the field and lost. Let that sink in.
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Post by Dougie on Jan 25, 2018 23:00:06 GMT -5
It is just sad at this point because we had the potential to be much better,but it starts at the top. We keep doing what we always do so we keep getting what we always get.....9 years and counting
Even though I never believed we would be Top 3, I thought it was impossible for us to finish bottom 4 in the CAA this year and in the play-in games. Boy do I feel dumb
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It’s Time
Jan 26, 2018 6:17:07 GMT -5
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Post by Elon on Jan 26, 2018 6:17:07 GMT -5
The “system” is the equivalent of socialism in college basketball: no matter what you put into the “system”, crap or diamonds, The “system” spits out mediocrity.
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Post by elonlax01 on Jan 26, 2018 8:45:39 GMT -5
While I have great concerns, I hope somehow there is a turn around for the end of the season. Meech especially deserves it. Right now I am more concerned about how all of this will look in the Schar Center. I have this vision that everything will be exactly the same in the new building. The same dot race, the same lack of tradition, the same ....
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Post by Dougie on Jan 26, 2018 9:45:42 GMT -5
It isn't turning around and the building will change nothing. It is actually going to get worse when we lose Dawkins and Meech.
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Post by Phoenix15 on Jan 26, 2018 13:38:53 GMT -5
Agreed. Next year outlook looks bleak. Seibring can't carry a team. Swoope is a one-trick pony. Santa Ana looks too streaky and undependable as a star. After that, Koundatras isn't stepping into Dawkins' role. Eberhardt can fill in for Thompson, but what about the bench? Had high hopes for Wright, but looks like that may need to be tempered. Fuller hasn't shown anything. Not sure of anything about Priddy. Is he redshirting? Understand those three are underclassmen, but they don't look like starters. Incoming class will have at least three with potential for 4. www.verbalcommits.com/schools/elon Don't no much about the 3 verbal commits. I will say this thread has at least brought me some comfort in knowing that other Elon fans share my frustration with Matheny and this program. Change is definitely needed.
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It’s Time
Jan 27, 2018 5:18:13 GMT -5
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Post by Elon2017 on Jan 27, 2018 5:18:13 GMT -5
We have to finish in top 6 to have a chance for the tournament. We are one big man away from being a top contender.
Look at what could have been:
Guards- Eddy (played 5 mins to much for redshirt) Bryant (transferred, and playing well) Meech, Santa Ana, Swoope, Sheldon. That’s more than solid guard play for CAA...
Bigs- Brian, Tyler
(Huge Drop off)
Everybody else.
We are a back up big man from being a contender, we are also in trouble for the coming years if we don’t find a solution.
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