Question about GMac

[Eric15]

The only Siena I watched the past two years was about half of their conference championship game this year, so it's not enough of a sample size for me to have a thoughtful opinion on this.

For people who have watched a decent volume of their games, did you observe any type of creative offensive innovation beyond JB's iso-ball style? Or did he just mostly just apply what the learned at Syracuse to Siena, and it happened to work out for him this year?

Genuinely curious about this.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

The only Siena I watched the past two years was about half of their conference championship game this year, so it's not enough of a sample size for me to have a thoughtful opinion on this.

For people who have watched a decent volume of their games, did you observe any type of creative offensive innovation beyond JB's iso-ball style? Or did he just mostly just apply what the learned at Syracuse to Siena, and it happened to work out for him this year?

Genuinely curious about this.

Yes, he's not perfect but a few times lit up his team at halftime and kicked butt.

 

[Eric15]

Yes, he's not perfect but a few times lit up his team at halftime and kicked butt.

I was looking for more Xs and Os detail about motion, back screens, offensive fluidity, etc. But I appreciate that.

 

[chadvader]

I was looking for more Xs and Os detail about motion, back screens, offensive fluidity, etc. But I appreciate that.

The adjustments count on the offensive side as well.

They moved the ball around a decent amount, and didn't have a ton of iso-ball. However, when they needed a bucket the put the ball in Gavin Doty's hands. A big issue with the team this year was 3 pt shooting. Coyle was supposed to be their big sharp shooter and really struggled. Their other 3 pt threat Reid Ducharme didn't play a single game. So the question of whether G-Mac will adopt the modern philosopher of stocking up on shooters is a big question mark.

And I know its MAAC basketball so the level of coaching isn't the same but G-Mac was rarely outcoached this year. I can count maybe 2/3 games max where the team came out flat (Indiana, Merrimack #1, Sacred Heart). Often times as Clifton Park said they made a few halftime adjustments and dominated the game. Also, don't sleep on winning the MAAC tournament with 5.5 functional players, and 2 big men. They played defense without fouling. Coaching masterclass.

 

[MadNY3]

The adjustments count on the offensive side as well.

They moved the ball around a decent amount, and didn't have a ton of iso-ball. However, when they needed a bucket the put the ball in Gavin Doty's hands. A big issue with the team this year was 3 pt shooting. Coyle was supposed to be their big sharp shooter and really struggled. Their other 3 pt threat Reid Ducharme didn't play a single game. So the question of whether G-Mac will adopt the modern philosopher of stocking up on shooters is a big question mark.

And I know its MAAC basketball so the level of coaching isn't the same but G-Mac was rarely outcoached this year. I can count maybe 2/3 games max where the team came out flat (Indiana, Merrimack #1, Sacred Heart). Often times as Clifton Park said they made a few halftime adjustments and dominated the game. Also, don't sleep on winning the MAAC tournament with 5.5 functional players, and 2 big men. They played defense without fouling. Coaching masterclass.

This is a good take, thanks.

I have zero issue with iso-ball in spot situations or down the stretch. When you have a Melo, you do it. Hell, when you have a CJ Fair you do it.

How we had far less ball movement than Judah Mintz's sophomore year blew my mind.

 

[chadvader]

This is a good take, thanks.

I have zero issue with iso-ball in spot situations or down the stretch. When you have a Melo, you do it. Hell, when you have a CJ Fair you do it.

How we had far less ball movement than Judah Mintz's sophomore year blew my mind.

Of course. The people who are anti Gerry because he’s in the family are selling him short for sure. If you want someone more experienced then i can’t argue it.

I do think it’s fair to question whether he is a true offensive innovator or not. I don’t have the answer to that, but I would hope he would hire an assistant to help if he thinks that is a shortcoming.

Another positive thing you point out is that they figured out how to attack the Joe Gallo zone that so many people struggled with. They realistically should have beaten them twice but the refs royally screwed over Siena and called 4 cheap fouls on Shoats in addition to a legit dumb 5th foul and then Siena had to play an entire game basically without their starting PG.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Of course. The people who are anti Gerry because he’s in the family are selling him short for sure. If you want someone more experienced then i can’t argue it.

I do think it’s fair to question whether he is a true offensive innovator or not. I don’t have the answer to that, but I would hope he would hire an assistant to help if he thinks that is a shortcoming.

Another positive thing you point out is that they figured out how to attack the Joe Gallo zone that so many people struggled with. They realistically should have beaten them twice but the refs royally screwed over Siena and called 4 cheap fouls on Shoats in addition to a legit dumb 5th foul and then Siena had to play an entire game basically without their starting PG.

The defensive adjustment Gerry did putting Folefac on Kennedy in the MAAC championship was brilliant.

 

[kingtidge]

The adjustments count on the offensive side as well.

They moved the ball around a decent amount, and didn't have a ton of iso-ball. However, when they needed a bucket the put the ball in Gavin Doty's hands. A big issue with the team this year was 3 pt shooting. Coyle was supposed to be their big sharp shooter and really struggled. Their other 3 pt threat Reid Ducharme didn't play a single game. So the question of whether G-Mac will adopt the modern philosopher of stocking up on shooters is a big question mark.

And I know its MAAC basketball so the level of coaching isn't the same but G-Mac was rarely outcoached this year. I can count maybe 2/3 games max where the team came out flat (Indiana, Merrimack #1, Sacred Heart). Often times as Clifton Park said they made a few halftime adjustments and dominated the game. Also, don't sleep on winning the MAAC tournament with 5.5 functional players, and 2 big men. They played defense without fouling. Coaching masterclass.

They were also top of the league in NIL spend, so while they had injury/eligibility issues to deal with, he got money to get a good stable for the MAAC.

 

[chadvader]

How close does

They were also top of the league in NIL spend, so while they had injury/eligibility issues to deal with, he got money to get a good stable for the MAAC.

Iona and Fairfield are better NIL wise. They’re also down 2 starters (Chandler/Goodrick), and they’re 6th/7th man (Ducharme).

 

[chadvader]

The defensive adjustment Gerry did putting Folefac on Kennedy in the MAAC championship was brilliant.

He gave credit to Ben Lee for that one. Also think Dunne from Marist made a similar move. Still had to have the balls to do it.

 

[Jeremy L.]

Want to add one question - who did Gerry recruits (successfully and unsuccessfully) while he was here? I remember Maliq and JT being one along with Quade Green, but not more than that

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Want to add one question - who did Gerry recruits (successfully and unsuccessfully) while he was here? I remember Maliq and JT being one along with Quade Green, but not more than that

Girard. Sidibe. I remember those two specifically.