Now that GMac is HC, what does next year's squad look like?

[Irishsecra1]

Oddly enough a team like Iowa is exactly the kind of team you might have seen pursue Doty if he wasn’t going to follow Gerry. It will be interesting to see how he does. With that said even watching them in the tournament you can see how he’s made adjustments and leaned more on other guys. I think the signs point to him being very adaptable and he can still be successful when a guy like
Stirtz leaves.

Iowa offered Moesch last year if that matters.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Anyone saying folefac has any business in the ACC is coping. Absolute waste of money. Hell get dominated by ACC forwards

Umm, our “ACC” forwards were dominated by ACC forwards

 

[Hopkins16]

While I agree with your sentiment in the first part about taking some time to get back to where we all want to be ie rankings and tourney runs that doesn’t mean we shouldnt make the tourney next year.

Making the tourney GMacs first year is non-negotiable for me especially with tourney expansion next year again. That means at minimum 9 ACC teams should be in. So to not make it we’re talking about losing to Cal teams, VT, WF. And really there should be no reason we aren’t beating a mix of Clemson, FSU, Miami, SMU most years. Basically finishing bottom half of the ACC is not ok ever again.

And on your point about keep players. I just don’t agree. You cannot change a losing culture while bringing back so many guys. Maybe 1-2 guys you can bring back but 4-5 is madness. These guys lost to Hofstra and BC, that is just terrible effort. In the NIL era bringing them back is like rewarding guys for losing.

The only way they should be coming back is if we make extreme cuts to their NIL or tell them theyre playing an off the bench role until they prove themselves. There are going to be hundreds of guys that don’t need to be “coached” up to give effort.

I didn’t say that we should not aim to or make the tournament next year - I think our best chance will be with a mix of current and new players. White, Sadiq and Betsy, the players that I mentioned, have not been playing in a losing culture as they’ve only been with us for a year. Players have been on a losing team one year and the next year the team has a winning record (see Foleac and Doty from years 24-25 and 25-26).

The losing record and terrible effort is why Red and his staff is gone. These are very young kids who need a strong leader and coach who they can believe in and who has a game plan for them to succeed. Red wasn’t that guy.

 

[OrangeinNH]

Francis Folefac earns second MAAC Rookie of the Week honor

Sunday, the Siena men’s basketball team managed to pull out a weekend split, bouncing back from Friday’s home loss to Merrimack and defeating Mount St. Mary’s handily on the road …

www.news10.com

Cool article that highlights GMac’s thoughts on Folefac midseason. I think it is safe to say he would love to bring him with, and I’m confident he’d be a contributor. Would be nice to have a versatile frontcourt.

 

[Blanko97]

Umm, our “ACC” forwards were dominated by ACC forwards

And they were much more talented than folefac. Easy to dominate inside 6’4” forwards

 

[Orangezoo]

And they were much more talented than folefac. Easy to dominate inside 6’4” forwards

He’s 6-4 now ? Where are you seeing that? Some of the negative takes on this kid are as bad if not worse than those claiming he will start and be All ACC in year one. Cuse fan rage is a helluva drug sometimes.

 

[Blanko97]

He’s 6-4 now ? Where are you seeing that?

Not him, I was just being hyperbolic about the level of competition in the MAAC

 

[OrangeinNH]

We had all of these same arguments last year about William Kyle being too small to be our starting center. He was the least of our problems defensively. Arizona is arguably the best team in the country and plays two PF’s that are listed 6’8 255 and 6’8 235. Both are great athletes. Folefac is listed 6’7 245 and at least a solid athlete. Sign me up for a roster spot, he doesn’t have to be our star, we need a cohesive and capable and coachable team.

 

[Orangezoo]

Not him, I was just being hyperbolic about the level of competition in the MAAC

I get it. If you look at how he performed in big games including Duke, his size and physical play along with just being a freshman I mean he’s a good prospect. He just shouldn’t be oversold either. There are a lot of things he does similar to comparable P4 guys who started at smaller schools. There are not a ton of 6-6/7 250 lb dudes in cbb who are still just frosh and who can do a number of things on the court. I’m looking at the player and what he’s done. He only had one chance to play a Duke level team and impressed after a strong year where he improved.

You can bet a lot of coaches saw him step up vs Duke and use his physicality against a fellow frosh that’s going to be a top 5 pick. I almost wish people get to see what kind of interest he would get upon entering the portal to make that point and that it’s hardly just Gerry wanting him to come and everyone else wouldn’t spend a minute looking at him.

A good example of how he can help is just look at a player like Carey at Tenn…. I’m gonna eat tons of crow if I’m wrong about this kid and own it but I don’t think I am. He’s a year away from major contributions but still can absolutely help now on a good P4 team. I’m higher on his long term value than Doty honestly as Doty has to get stronger.

 

[Irishsecra1]

Francis Folefac earns second MAAC Rookie of the Week honor

Sunday, the Siena men’s basketball team managed to pull out a weekend split, bouncing back from Friday’s home loss to Merrimack and defeating Mount St. Mary’s handily on the road …

www.news10.com

Cool article that highlights GMac’s thoughts on Folefac midseason. I think it is safe to say he would love to bring him with, and I’m confident he’d be a contributor. Would be nice to have a versatile frontcourt.

It also shows what Gerry values in a player both in skill set and intangibles.

 

[GHLF]

And they were much more talented than folefac. Easy to dominate inside 6’4” forwards

OK How do you explain Duke?

 

[GHLF]

We have to be realistic that the turnaround of our program will not happen overnight. While our NIL has supposedly improved, we will still be competing against stronger programs with bigger pockets that will keep expanding. Also, we are still not a desirable destination, so we will not be getting the cream of the crop from the portal or the top incoming freshmen who will or has decommitted already. I say all that to say, we will be fortunate to be able to keep White, Kiyan, Betsy and some other players and develop them. We had a good team that was poorly coached, as many on the board acknowledged, so I do not believe we need to clear the deck and start over.

We can pick apart our roster and highlight their weaknesses, but the majority of college players are not well rounded. It’s up to coaching to make players better and to build a team that plays off strengths and weaknesses by the game plan - schemes, matchups, substitution patterns etc. I find it funny that some of the posters who are touting the Siena players as the saviors of our program are picking apart and trashing our current players. If GMAC can coach up the Siena guys, why can’t he do the same with our guys who are experienced on a higher level of play?

We are a very desirable destination, NIL has to be right. However with the right coach, vision we will be able to attract the right type of players. It is critical here.

 

[NailCreekPub]

Its easy to believe we can bring in higher skilled players than what seinna has to offer. We could.

The biggest impact of bringing a few seinna guys is culture. Whatever mojo Gerry wants to inculcate will be easier with select passengers already on the train.

 

[Blanko97]

OK How do you explain Duke?

How do you explain the Marrimack and Fairfield games before that?

 

[Orangezoo]

How do you explain the Marrimack and Fairfield games before that?

He struggled finishing around the rim both games there’s no doubt about it. Some freshman mistakes. He was also utilized both games to attract more attention in the post and went for an average of 10pts 8.5 reb 5 assists and two blocks over those two games and 14 pts 8 r 4 ast and 1.5 Blocks over the final 5 games to finish the year.

He shot over 51 pct for the year and 74 pct at the line. All this as a freshman thrown into the fire. As a depth piece that won’t be likely overly expensive there’s not a lot to dislike. How many years have we spent frustrated when someone just like this kid has a field day against us because we are too thin in our front court?

 

[tptcuse]

We had all of these same arguments last year about William Kyle being too small to be our starting center. He was the least of our problems defensively. Arizona is arguably the best team in the country and plays two PF’s that are listed 6’8 255 and 6’8 235. Both are great athletes. Folefac is listed 6’7 245 and at least a solid athlete. Sign me up for a roster spot, he doesn’t have to be our star, we need a cohesive and capable and coachable team.

He doesn't jump like Kyle (nobody does.) He would be a PF here. I suspect there are better options than him but understand why people like the idea of it.

 

[GHLF]

How do you explain the Marrimack and Fairfield games before that?

I am not interested in explaining, I look for reasons to be positive, not to doubt

 

[Blanko97]

He struggled finishing around the rim both games there’s no doubt about it. Some freshman mistakes. He was also utilized both games to attract more attention in the post and went for an average of 10pts 8.5 reb 5 assists and two blocks over those two games and 14 pts 8 r 4 ast and 1.5 Blocks over the final 5 games to finish the year.

He shot over 51 pct for the year and 74 pct at the line. All this as a freshman thrown into the fire. As a depth piece that won’t be likely overly expensive there’s not a lot to dislike. How many years have we spent frustrated when someone just like this kid has a field day against us because we are too thin in our front court?

I see what you’re saying but I got frustrated because we had inferior and undersized defenders, if GMac trots those same types of guys out there Folefac won’t make a lick of difference because we will be undersized down low once again

 

[Blanko97]

I am not interested in explaining, I look for reasons to be positive, not to doubt

Looking for reasons to be positive is what stuck us with red a year longer than appropriate

 

[ar inj]

Do I have this right based on reading this board: Gmac is bringing 5 guys from Siena to start for SU next year and Freeman and Kingz will come off the bench and they are working to get JJ an extra year? Asking for a friend.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Do I have this right based on reading this board: Gmac is bringing 5 guys from Siena to start for SU next year and Freeman and Kingz will come off the bench and they are working to get JJ an extra year? Asking for a friend.

Noah Lobdell: 32 mpg

 

[RoysRunts]

He’s 6-4 now ? Where are you seeing that? Some of the negative takes on this kid are as bad if not worse than those claiming he will start and be All ACC in year one. Cuse fan rage is a helluva drug sometimes.

AO did great with FF watched at least 6 games 1 in person hope he and AO Come

 

[Orangezoo]

Noah Lobdell: 32 mpg

That’s it???

 

[GHLF]

Looking for reasons to be positive is what stuck us with red a year longer than appropriate

Moving on, extremely happy with the hire. I am also extremely happy we did not hire BH. JS certainly would have been hard to turn down. We did good let's fight together, remain positive and support the team. Lots of believers and I am certainly one of them. Especially as it relates to people who give and support a lot more than I do. It all counts though. Thanks

 

[GHLF]

Do I have this right based on reading this board: Gmac is bringing 5 guys from Siena to start for SU next year and Freeman and Kingz will come off the bench and they are working to get JJ an extra year? Asking for a friend.

Some responses on this board are literally toxic and pathologic consistent with social media poisoning. It is almost like a very muted pack effect to the weak. I find it very cool that the quarterback for Indiana University literally shut off social media influence. It is still lent, Go ahead encourage me to stop, appreciate all the support and encouragement. I agree