GMAC and Siena are going to the NCAAT!

[Orangefizz]

What makes him qualified is in year one he improved Siena’s win total by 10. Year two he improved on year one by 9 wins and a conference championship. Oh and he did all of this with seven scholarship players. He also has that determination and drive that is not seen in many people. I’m so tired of the lame ass excuse not to hire him because we need to get away from Boeheim shadow. He needs to be seriously looked at and hired cause he has proven he’s a man of his word and WILL turn this train wreck of a program around.

I would seriously entertain the thought except we’re coming off the worst stretch in program history. I don’t think we can take the chance with GMAC right now. Give him five years of success at a school like Providence and then he’d be a great choice.

Timing is just not right with Cuse hoops in 2026

 

[SuFTW]

People just need to look at the Net Rankings.

USF 49
Cuse 83
Siena 189

Gerry is doing great, and we all love him, but he really needs more experience and further success to guarantee he would be successful in the ACC. Can anyone guarantee that Gerry could bring Cuse to the promise land?

Well there is no actual guarantee for any hire. Sure Hodgson or Schertz are good bets though.

 

[Newhouser]

He can stay and be fine. They have the PG from Chittenango coming in with a more well rounded roster. Let’s not forget Hurley waited multiple years before UConn came open and he jumped at it.

Yeah he doesn't have to do anything this year. IF a good job opens go if not there will be others. Guys have gone from the MAAC to big jobs. Pick the right one.

 

[Newhouser]

Have to laugh, he has now equaled Hops NCAAT appearances while at Washington

He's also, at least for a day or so, has more than Sherz and Hodgson.

 

[Blanko97]

Would you rather have BC or Providence get him over us?

I think hodgson is a better coach, so I want him. At the end of the day they both are going somewhere so you lose one of these guys to another open job. The difference is GMac will come home whenever we come calling

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Gerry pretty happy. He will be media's darling between now and Monday.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

5.7K views · 367 reactions | A nice shower after a long, successful day 😎 #MarchOn x #SienaSaints | Siena Men's Basketball

A nice shower after a long, successful day 😎 #MarchOn x #SienaSaints

www.facebook.com

 

[cliftonparksufan]

This sums it up. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

 

[elimunelson]

I think hodgson is a better coach, so I want him. At the end of the day they both are going somewhere so you lose one of these guys to another open job. The difference is GMac will come home whenever we come calling

Timing can be unhelpful. I wouldn’t guarantee that. If gerry ended up at pc and had success he could lever it into a real job w funding.

 

[MSOrange]

Yep, I mean it’s become a no-brainer. Look at the facts, put the emotions aside. Seven players in the active roster, and he still accomplished what they just did.

Kids entire life he has been a winner. Now he’s mature and know longer a kid as that post game interview showed.

He would go to the ends of the Earth, working his arse off to make this place a winner again with the emotion/connection/history and legacy associated with it all, some people have the “it” quality, this guy obviously has “it” in spades

It has become a no-brainer. MAKE. IT. HAPPEN SYRACUSE.

Put emotions aside? That's exactly what you're not doing Doc! Gosh I hope adults are going to be making this decision based on reasons other emotion, but it's SU so I doubt it.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

And that is why I am such an advocate.
Worked his ass off as a player - won the national championship as a freshman and won the most memorable big east tournament championship as a 9 seed as a senior
Literally willed that team to the big east championship
And took over a dumpster fire 4 win team in Siena and 2 years later has them in position to make the NCAAT.
The guy is a flat out winner.
The guy called his shot and delivered.
Mark my words - he will be a great coach.
He may never coach at SU but he will make himself his own winning coaching legacy.

Weren’t there complaints on this very same message board that Gerry didn’t work very hard as a player that he spent all summer fishing instead of getting more physically in shape.
That said, well done GMac.

 

[PhatOrange]

The dude can coach! I loved watching him on the sideline last night, the littlest mistakes he was letting guys know it's not OK, it's not OKto throw the ball out of bounds. he holds kids accountable ,he's fiery, he's gonna have a great future.

 

[swish7]

I mean how do you not hire this guy

I think his competition definitely needs to do better in the NCAAT if they want to beat him for the job. Maybe 1-2 games better. Gets interesting if Siena wins a 1st round game. But, thats just me making stuff up.

That said, I expect a national search and hope assistants at national powers are being considered too.

 

[BomberOrange]

He's also, at least for a day or so, has more than Sherz and Hodgson.

Sherz has made the tournament before

 

[Newhouser]

Sherz has made the tournament before

Um where - 3 years at ISU - losing season, CBI, NIT.
2 years at St Louis NIT and TBD.

 

[Niastri]

Weren’t there complaints on this very same message board that Gerry didn’t work very hard as a player that he spent all summer fishing instead of getting more physically in shape.
That said, well done GMac.

Good thing he doesn't have to work out to be a coach... GMAC played right at the end of the era where you could just show up to play basketball if you were good enough.

Looking at vintage basketball video is a lot like watching a different sport. Guys like Betsey would have played as 200 lb small forwards, now he's bulked himself into a 230lb monster, and it may have cost him some athleticism, but the alternative is to be physically unable to compete.

Even back in the day, they were giving McNamara kevlar sewn into his uniform to help fight off all the elbows and knees he took every single time he came off a screen.

Ultimately, I am very happy for GMAC and I would have mixed feelings if he became our new coach. I also would point out that he is 42 years old, and just took a mid major to the NCAA tournament, playing a kind of basketball that is actually fun to watch.

I would welcome him with open arms, even if I am not sure he is the right hire...

 

[BomberOrange]

Um where - 3 years at ISU - losing season, CBI, NIT.
2 years at St Louis NIT and TBD.

Shoot you’re right. Thought he took ISU. Anyway he’s better than Gerry

 

[Cuseregular]

Put emotions aside? That's exactly what you're not doing Doc! Gosh I hope adults are going to be making this decision based on reasons other emotion, but it's SU so I doubt it.

that take/post IS putting emotions aside.

Forget for a minute its gerry and place a generic name in there. With what just went down there over the two years, we'd at least be giving that type guy a serious look. I'd hope at the very least he's in the mix and interviewed.

Let him win it there in that setting too, let the suits figure it out but if he's not in the mix front and center than thats a mistake.

 

[Cuseregular]

Good thing he doesn't have to work out to be a coach... GMAC played right at the end of the era where you could just show up to play basketball if you were good enough.

Looking at vintage basketball video is a lot like watching a different sport. Guys like Betsey would have played as 200 lb small forwards, now he's bulked himself into a 230lb monster, and it may have cost him some athleticism, but the alternative is to be physically unable to compete.

Even back in the day, they were giving McNamara kevlar sewn into his uniform to help fight off all the elbows and knees he took every single time he came off a screen.

Ultimately, I am very happy for GMAC and I would have mixed feelings if he became our new coach. I also would point out that he is 42 years old, and just took a mid major to the NCAA tournament, playing a kind of basketball that is actually fun to watch.

I would welcome him with open arms, even if I am not sure he is the right hire...

This is the best take on all of it yet

 

[CuseFaninVT]

that take/post IS putting emotions aside.

Forget for a minute its gerry and place a generic name in there. With what just went down there over the two years, we'd at least be giving that type guy a serious look. I'd hope at the very least he's in the mix and interviewed.

Let him win it there in that setting too, let the suits figure it out but if he's not in the mix front and center than thats a mistake.

That’s simply not true. He’s three steps down in terms of competition. The higher ups would be keeping an eye on him, but they wouldn’t make a serious offer until they saw sustained success at this level or more likely a step or two up.

 

[Cuseregular]

That’s simply not true. He’s three steps down in terms of competition. The higher ups would be keeping an eye on him, but they wouldn’t make a serious offer until they saw sustained success at this level or more likely a step or two up.

i get that and think its accurate. That is why I said its a 'lightning" in a bottle moment. Doesn't come often and IS indeed bad timing right now given the precarious state of Cuse hoops. In the light of day I get that but think we'll rue the day we didnt give him the shot.

If they could hire a home run like say Jay wright then no, sorry Gerry, but if there gonna essentially take a chance (granted a lesser chance on paper) say with the USF coach, then I say take the chance with Gerri.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

i get that and think its accurate. That is why I said its a 'lightning" in a bottle moment. Doesn't come often and IS indeed bad timing right now given the precarious state of Cuse hoops. In the light of day I get that but think we'll rue the day we didnt give him the shot.

If they could hire a home run like say Jay wright then no, sorry Gerry, but if there gonna essentially take a chance (granted a lesser chance on paper) say with the USF coach, then I say take the chance with Gerri.

Too many unknowns for a program that is dangerously close to being completely irrelevant.

 

[Niastri]

Siena Basketball Style of Play

Syracuse basketball is done for the year. I decided I am very excited about Siena making the NCAA tournament.

I haven't watched them play much this year, but I am intrigued by their success.

It also gives us a window into McNamara's coaching style. I think I might be trying to talk myself into wanting him to be our next coach, so beware.

Overall, Siena was 13-7 in conference, and 10-4 OOC, which leads one to believe they had an easy OOC schedule. Their 348th out of 365 Strength of Schedule confirms it. The MAAC is a weak conference at any rate, with the top 3 teams coming in 178, 181 and 182 in the current NET rankings. Depending on the rating system, the MAAC is either 21st, 25th or 26th best conference out of 31 D1 basketball conferences.

That said, McNamara put together a team that was better than most in his conference, and then performed well on the court.

His guys play good defense, with a little slow it down and grind type personality.

I saw three things I really liked about how they play.

1) Siena played to their talent. For most of the year, they played a single small guard and 3 swing men with a 6'10 Australian big playing center. They used their length to slow down the game, play good defense and win on the boards. They took only 55 shots per game and allowed 56, both among the slower paces in the game. They were terrible shooting threes, so they didn't. They shot .304 from 3, but only attempted 17.7 for the year, 348th in 3 pt attempts. They also have actual depth they used, with 10 players averaging 10 minutes or more per game.

2) They win the boards. Boxing out is a thing. Having a bunch of wings on the court most of the time makes rebounding harder, even against mid majors. They look unified in their priorities on the court, both on offense and defense. They find the open man, focusing on getting quality 2 pt shots. More than half their field goals came from assists. This is actually quite rare, but shows offensive continuity and cohesion. Especially in light of the fact that they had no single player we would trust to take a three to "spread the defense."

3) One of their starters, Antonio Chandler, a 6'6 215lb wing, was ruled ineligible right before the MAAC tournament. That could have been a crushing blow to the team. Instead they persevered and won.

I think this makes me even more excited for the team, even though they will likely have a bad matchup in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

 

[MikeSU02]

That’s simply not true. He’s three steps down in terms of competition. The higher ups would be keeping an eye on him, but they wouldn’t make a serious offer until they saw sustained success at this level or more likely a step or two up.

Yeah. All credit to GMac, but he’s still a number of rings down from where Hodgson is.

GMac should jump to a level above and keep trying to ascend.

Not knocking GMac. Kudos to him. Will root for Siena.

But Hodgson has to be the guy.

 

[DoctahLexus]

that take/post IS putting emotions aside.

Forget for a minute its gerry and place a generic name in there. With what just went down there over the two years, we'd at least be giving that type guy a serious look. I'd hope at the very least he's in the mix and interviewed.

Let him win it there in that setting too, let the suits figure it out but if he's not in the mix front and center than thats a mistake.

We would literally have no idea who the heck he is if you put a generic name in his place. Anyone who brought it up, after a round of people saying "WHO???", would be dismissed for suggesting that a two year MAAC coach could come in now for this absolutely crucial hire.