A10 Media Day - I'm Loving It

[spider23]

1) UD 2) URI 3) Dav 4) GW 5) VCU 6) UR 7) SJU 8) SBU 9) Las 10) Mass 11) Duq 12) SLU 13) GMU 14) FU



No Spiders on 1st or 2nd team all conference. Team picked sixth overall.


If this does not provide some motivation, not sure what will.

 

[spiderman]

I get what you're saying, but the team shouldn't need media day for any motivation. I don't want them to need any outside source for extra motivation. should they be less motivated if picked 1st with 3 first team players? no.

 

[fan2011]

I get what you're saying, but the team shouldn't need media day for any motivation. I don't want them to need any outside source for extra motivation. should they be less motivated if picked 1st with 3 first team players? no.

I agree, I always find the 'bulletin board material' theory funny. Are these kids not trying hard unless someone slights them in a poll? That is ridiculous.

 

[spider23]

I get what you're saying, but the team shouldn't need media day for any motivation. I don't want them to need any outside source for extra motivation. should they be less motivated if picked 1st with 3 first team players? no.

I completely get what you are saying Spiderman, had the argument on here with VCU fans way back about Shaka's motivational techniques: i.e. burning the calendar, etc, etc. I said if you have to provide that type of motivation to get guys to perform you are in trouble. but guess what, with 17-20 year old kids, it works. These are college kids that do pay attention to this kind of thing, and I am hoping that in addition to wanting to be great players and win lots of games this season, that this type of negative pub will motivate them. Not saying the rankings cannot be justified at this point, but still think it is and can be a source of motivation hopefully.

 

[keefusb]

I find it ridiculous that VCU is ranked above us in the preseason rankings given all that they have lost, and the overall caliber of their replacement players. Lewis and Johnson definitely good players, but not having TA at least on the preseason second team seems like a significant snub.

 

[urmite]

 

[spider23]

I think the reason for our ranking, and even VCU's ranking relative to us is this: NCAA basketball is all about the back court play. If you count Trey as more of a small forward type (which I do, and a good SF at defending, driving, rebounding), we have SDJ and no proven guards. JJ out on suspension, 2 freshman, and a red shirt freshman. VCU has a bunch of guys with experience and some positive results and Billbury, a senior that avg. 14 pts and 7 rebounds coming in. So I see the reasoning.

I guess the media is not aware of Pierre's suspension, or the other guys on Dayton are so good it does not matter?

 

[urmite]

Interesting Pierre not on any of the 3 all conference teams but Dayton first. Hedging their bets?

 

[spiderman]

yeah, Dayton and VCU win no 1st or 2nd teamers either. guess everyone gets a little extra motivation from media day.

 

[The Vault]

Disagree Spiderman. Bulletin Board motivation is great.

Here's when it's effective:
A game they might otherwise overlook and play flat. Coach notices it in practice. Great time for, "Hey... remember this?"
Road blues, during a bad stretch in the schedule. "Oh, yeah I know you are tired, but remember this..." A little fire for the belly.

The idea a team is or always should be "motivated" while a nice platitude is simply not how individuals or groups function. And no, being ranked what they deserve in preseason shouldn't make them less motivated... but a wily coach will have to use something else to inspire them during the doldrums of a season. That said it's common for teams highly ranked or heavy favorites to be less inspired. It's part of the reason huge upsets happen.

Give me a team that's disrespected with a chip on their shoulder that's as equally talented vs. a team getting all the hype.

 

[spider23]

Another A10 preview:

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports....-10-preview-can-rhode-island-unseat-davidson/

 

[spiderman]

coach can use it, but I don't think we're being disrespected. there are a lot of good player listed. and good teams. we're not better than any of them until we prove we are. (coach can put THAT on the bulletin board!).

 

[Eight Legger]

We finished ahead of VCU last year when they had all their good players and their popular coach. We will finish ahead of them again this year.

 

[MrVCU:]

Pierre is currently suspended, correct? Will only hurt them in OOC play though unfortunately. The top 6 is a "pick em" in my opinion, do feel like Rhode Island has the best nucleus. I can't stand Danny Hurley though!!

Our A10 championship banner looks pretty good from last year though....

 

[97spiderfan]

I know they can only take 15 players for the all A-10 teams, but TJ Cline should be on the an all A-10 team. And Garino and Larsen on the 2nd team, both of those guys are soft players in my opinion. Terry Allen should have been second team ahead of them. As for being 6th, I think it is low, but I am biased, I would not want to pick a winner out of the Top 6 in the league, Rhody has the most talent, but I think they also have the most implosion potential as well.

 

[spider23]

Rhody has the most talent, but I think they also have the most implosion potential as well.

I agree with this. They should win.....but could see things going south too. Lots of pressure to get to the NCAA's this year. Hurley is a good defensive coach and they have a lot of defensively abled players, quick, strong, etc. They did struggle scoring the ball at times. They have the former no. 27 recruit in the country in Kuran Iverson (still not sure why he did not have to sit out a year????). I see him as URI's wildcard, similar to Marshall Wood with the Spiders. If they get off to a bad start I could see the Hurley overbearing nature going to hell in a hanbasket. The downside with making the NCAA's will be Hurley picking up and running like Bobby did to ASU.

 

[fan2011]

I agree with this. They should win.....but could see things going south too. Lots of pressure to get to the NCAA's this year. Hurley is a good defensive coach and they have a lot of defensively abled players, quick, strong, etc. They did struggle scoring the ball at times. They have the former no. 27 recruit in the country in Kuran Iverson (still not sure why he did not have to sit out a year????). I see him as URI's wildcard, similar to Marshall Wood with the Spiders. If they get off to a bad start I could see the Hurley overbearing nature going to hell in a hanbasket. The downside with making the NCAA's will be Hurley picking up and running like Bobby did to ASU.

According to kenpom URI had 2 top 100 wins last year, against us (when they broke ANOs eye bone and SDJ received an inexplicable technical foul among other factors) and GW. They went 2-8 against the top 100. This is the third year of hype for Hurley and URI and while they have improved they have not been living up to the hype. I will believe they are a good team when they go better than 2-8 against top 100 teams.

Of course, we only went 5-9 against top 100 kenpom teams last year, but that is almost twice as good as URI.

 

[NattyMat]

I know you guys think nothing good ever comes out of a VCU grad but I wrote my reaction piece to yesterday's rankings/awards and had a few things to say about the Spiders (naming them my biggest snub).

http://www.a10talk.com/instant-reaction-a-10-preseason-rankings-and-awards/

Also put TJ Cline on my "All-Underrated" team.

Overall the rankings are about what I expected accept I think people are being too generous with George Washington (a first place vote?...very questionable).

I think realistically VCU is probably in the right spot at No.5 because of all the uncertainty and new faces but I think Richmond fans' biggest beef should be with GW, a team that really struggled against the top-6 last season (2-7 with both wins at home and in OT). A lot of teams were punished for losing their key player (Davidson, VCU, Richmond) but it seems GW was somehow rewarded for losing Kethan Savage.

I know it's easy to hate on VCU on a Richmond board but I think people are really underrating what VCU had on their bench last year, in particular the two top-100 freshman, Tillman and Gilmore. Those guys are going to be REAL good and were just that in limited minutes last season. Also as someone mentioned Billbury is a proven D1 baller (averaged over 14 points the last two seasons). VCU takes a hit for losing Larrier, who honestly was a statistical drain on the Rams last season but gets no credit for adding Billbury.

What has me sold on Richmond is very much the same thing Dayton had going for them last year: a very good core group that will have to play serious minutes. The Flyers proved last year sometimes it's helpful having your best players on the court a lot and I think Jones, Cline and Allen are going to be a nightmare for a lot of teams this season, as they were last year really.

 

[spiderman]

thanks, Mat.
I think Cline takes a major leap forward this year even though he was very good already. I expected the same guy back ... a hustle guy who can shoot, pass and has post moves. but quickness wasn't a strength. if he's taken his conditioning to a differently level and is as quick as he looks now, watch out.

 

[AnnapSpider]

I like us being rated lower than we would expect. It gives us a lot to prove. I think CM coaches better when we're not supposed to win, too.

 

[Not-A-Homer]

Terry Allen & T.J. Cline are both better than they were rated at this media day. I do not see any 2 big men in the A-10 that I would rather have on my team.

As stated previously, the challenge is for the other Spider players to hit shots consistently (keeping the defense honest). If they do, I suspect that this will be a VERY big year for both Allen & Cline.

If the other players are not consistent threats to score, then we can expect a lot of junk defense (to make it more difficult for Allen & Cline). I think that this is the crux of the season.

 

[The Vault]

good article Matt. I think VCU's core is impressive. We'll have some epic clashes this year.

 

[spiderman]

Terry Allen & T.J. Cline are both better than they were rated at this media day. I do not see any 2 big men in the A-10 that I would rather have on my team.

As stated previously, the challenge is for the other Spider players to hit shots consistently (keeping the defense honest). If they do, I suspect that this will be a VERY big year for both Allen & Cline.

If the other players are not consistent threats to score, then we can expect a lot of junk defense (to make it more difficult for Allen & Cline). I think that this is the crux of the season.

Homer, not many teams change what they do. you're either a man to man team or a zone team or some combination, but you rarely see a team try anything they don't normally do. I doubt we'll see any triangle and 2 or anything.

 

[NattyMat]

Terry Allen & T.J. Cline are both better than they were rated at this media day. I do not see any 2 big men in the A-10 that I would rather have on my team.

As stated previously, the challenge is for the other Spider players to hit shots consistently (keeping the defense honest). If they do, I suspect that this will be a VERY big year for both Allen & Cline.

If the other players are not consistent threats to score, then we can expect a lot of junk defense (to make it more difficult for Allen & Cline). I think that this is the crux of the season.

I think one of the many things that makes those guys so impressive is their bball IQ. TJ in particular probably isn't making headlines at any NBA Draft combines, but on the court he can absolutely dice you up. I guess that's one of the benefits of being the son of a Hall-of-Famer.

As a VCU fan he annoys the hell out of me on the court (as he should), but as a basketball fan I just love his game. He's basically the frontcourt version of Tyler Kalinoski, just the perfect teammate.

 

[Rivercup]

Great article, Matt. While I can see the VCU lean, you are very fair in your assessments of all of the A-10 teams and players. Keep up the good work!

 

[Not-A-Homer]

Homer, not many teams change what they do. you're either a man to man team or a zone team or some combination, but you rarely see a team try anything they don't normally do. I doubt we'll see any triangle and 2 or anything.

If Allen & Cline are tearing opponents up and the opposing coach doesn't attempt to slow them down I will be surprised.

 

[spiderman]

they might have a player double down if they get the ball on the block, but I don't expect either to dominate on the block anyway.