Cayo is back!

[97spiderfan]

I hope we have a really good season next year. If we do,I t will not validate moonetdog. Guys coming back does not validate. It does validate the COMFORT level. That is what concerns me. We can basically pencil in the line up now. Only question is whether Wilson eats into Gooses minutes.
The other concern is Nelson, dji, Wilson and guys that were hoping for minutes. Pandemic was a weird as hell year, but Mooney trying to manage this situation could very well turn into a major cluster you know what. Unless we have a bunch of guys that are contempt.

We played with far too much comfortability last year. Many games we played with the intensity of a wet paper sack. This is why I don't want the same line-up and playback as last year. That mixture of players, despite all of their individual talents did not work. We saw in the NIT games due to some injuries, the team play with an intensity that they didn't show much of the season.

I think every fan, whether they be a Mooney supporter or detractor, get behind that effort that was shown in the NIT. That is the effort and intensity we need next year for us to achieve what we want to achieve. So, hopefully either Gilly and Grant commit to playing with that balls to wall mentality next year or Mooney is astute enough to find a mix of players on the court that can and will. The Blake, Gilly, Burton, Cayo, and Grant line-up was NOT that though.

 

[spider23]

Yes, the comfort level for our program is off the charts. Remember I would do my guestimate on minutes every pre season?? It got boring, because barring injury it was just too easy.

 

[spiderman]

I hope we have a really good season next year. If we do,I t will not validate moonetdog. Guys coming back does not validate. It does validate the COMFORT level. That is what concerns me. We can basically pencil in the line up now. Only question is whether Wilson eats into Gooses minutes.
The other concern is Nelson, dji, Wilson and guys that were hoping for minutes. Pandemic was a weird as hell year, but Mooney trying to manage this situation could very well turn into a major cluster you know what. Unless we have a bunch of guys that are contempt.

if we fail next year you can surely blame Mooney.
if we succeed next year you can still blame Mooney. personally I'll give him credit. because these guys want to run it back.

I don't follow other teams as closely as some here do, but I see 1,231 kids in the portal. a 4 year starter at South Carolina entered yesterday to spend his 5th year somewhere else. our guys would have had plenty of options yet they want to play for him, for their teammates, and for Richmond. I'm sure that's not rare, but it feels like it these days.

who knows ... we might lose someone today. there can be repercussions to having 3 or more seniors come back. but so far so good. some of that has to be credited to the coach.

 

[SFspidur]

who knows ... we might lose someone today.

"Paul Queally has entered the transfer portal."

 

[spider23]

Agree to a certain extent sman. Also could be attributed to comfort level. I like being comfortable. Is it conducive to having a championship (A10) level basketball program. I think probably not.

 

[spider23]

"Paul Queally has entered the transfer portal."

Hope we can replace him with a Ukrops.

 

[spiderman]

Agree to a certain extent sman. Also could be attributed to comfort level. I like being comfortable. Is it conducive to having a championship (A10) level basketball program. I think probably not.

so do you see all kids who return to their programs as being "comfortable"? meaning it's a bad thing? while kids who transfer are bold and assertive?

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Stop

Probably shouldn't wade into a flame-war with a squirt gun (though it seems I missed the worst of it)...

But when you guys let absolute troll fiction like

Some posters are even happy when negative occurrences happen with the team and happy to see players transfer.

stand, what do you expect?

 

[spider23]

so do you see all kids who return to their programs as being "comfortable"? meaning it's a bad thing? while kids who transfer are bold and assertive?

Twisting words here. I just see year after year little real competition on the roster, and in many years past the back ups are very much lower level than starters. You mentioned Blake winning a spot. It was basically talked about for the entire year that he sat out that he would start over Woj once eligible. Woj was a good shooter but another last minute recruit that was not really an A10 level athlete. So to me that is a poor example.

 

[spiderman]

Twisting words here. I just see year after year little real competition on the roster, and in many years past the back ups are very much lower level than starters. You mentioned Blake winning a spot. It was basically talked about for the entire year that he sat out that he would start over Woj once eligible. Woj was a good shooter but another last minute recruit that was not really an A10 level athlete. So to me that is a poor example.

there have certainly been years where our bench was a big drop off from our starters. but a year ago at this time we appeared to have impressive depth. losing guys like Sherod and Crabtree would affect most team's depth. plus we thought Weir was going to have an impact.

Woj could have been a serviceable starter, but you're correct Blake was a clear upgrade and a pretty easy decision to supplant him. .

 

[UR80sfan]

Probably shouldn't wade into a flame-war with a squirt gun (though it seems I missed the worst of it)...

But when you guys let absolute troll fiction like

stand, what do you expect?

Coppin, you need to stop your personal attacks.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

And those two guys you mentioned transferred.

 

[UR80sfan]

Coppin, As you know I have made a pledge not to make any personal attacks going forward. Will you do the same? I have asked you this questions before, but you have not answered. If you don't reply I will assume you support personal attracts and plan on continue doing them.

 

[urmite]

there have certainly been years where our bench was a big drop off from our starters. but a year ago at this time we appeared to have impressive depth. losing guys like Sherod and Crabtree would affect most team's depth. plus we thought Weir was going to have an impact.

Woj could have been a serviceable starter, but you're correct Blake was a clear upgrade and a pretty easy decision to supplant him. .

Speaking of Crabtree, anyone have any update how his injury recovery is going? Should be healthy soon I think.

 

[Spider2020]

Speaking of Crabtree, anyone have any update how his injury recovery is going? Should be healthy soon I think.

With the timeline we originally heard, he should've been healthy a month ago

 

[spiderman]

it was a fractured foot, right? wonder if he had surgery and if it's the same injury as Dji had in HS or Nelson currently has.

 

[SFspidur]

Yes, it was a fracture for Connor. Nelson's was bad turf toe, not a fracture. And Dji was a wrist frature.

 

[SpiderK]

Get these kids drinking milk and taking calcium tablets.

 

[spiderman]

Yes, it was a fracture for Connor. Nelson's was bad turf toe, not a fracture. And Dji was a wrist frature.

thanks, SF. lol, I couldn't be more off!

 

[GKiller]

if we fail next year you can surely blame Mooney.
if we succeed next year you can still blame Mooney. personally I'll give him credit. because these guys want to run it back.

I don't follow other teams as closely as some here do, but I see 1,231 kids in the portal. a 4 year starter at South Carolina entered yesterday to spend his 5th year somewhere else. our guys would have had plenty of options yet they want to play for him, for their teammates, and for Richmond. I'm sure that's not rare, but it feels like it these days.

who knows ... we might lose someone today. there can be repercussions to having 3 or more seniors come back. but so far so good. some of that has to be credited to the coach.

if we fail next year you can surely blame Mooney.
if we succeed next year you can still blame Mooney. personally I'll give him credit. because these guys want to run it back.

I don't follow other teams as closely as some here do, but I see 1,231 kids in the portal. a 4 year starter at South Carolina entered yesterday to spend his 5th year somewhere else. our guys would have had plenty of options yet they want to play for him, for their teammates, and for Richmond. I'm sure that's not rare, but it feels like it these days.

who knows ... we might lose someone today. there can be repercussions to having 3 or more seniors come back. but so far so good. some of that has to be credited to the coach.

I give him credit for player retention esp in this age of heavy transfers. It’s a positive.

but that & grad rate & nice kids u hear more about when your overall tenure is mediocrity. And btw it’s not either or. U can have a team going to NCAA & those things. While they r not unimportant u r going to have those things for most part at UR under other coaches too. We could also have NCAAs much better records vs vcu & in A10 tourney among others. But yes credit on player retention.

 

[GKiller]

Coppin, As you know I have made a pledge not to make any personal attacks going forward. Will you do the same? I have asked you this questions before, but you have not answered. If you don't reply I will assume you support personal attracts and plan on continue doing them.

I feel like I’ve missed some stuff here recently but this still funny coming from a guy who likes to label UR fans as Vcu fans. The worst personal attack imaginable. I got it but it’s ok I didn’t to run & cry to my mom about it. Nor make a pledge in blood or whatever.

 

[whampas]

I give him credit for player retention esp in this age of heavy transfers. It’s a positive.

but that & grad rate & nice kids u hear more about when your overall tenure is mediocrity. And btw it’s not either or. U can have a team going to NCAA & those things. While they r not unimportant u r going to have those things for most part at UR under other coaches too. We could also have NCAAs much better records vs vcu & in A10 tourney among others. But yes credit on player retention.

Players stay because they don't have to play defense or rebound. Every other basketball program in the country makes an effort to rebound and play defense. Our guys wouldn't survive in that unfamiliar environment.

 

[8legs]

I'm glad the 3 seniors (so far) are returning.

However, what other team in the country would be so excited to have all players returning from a team that finished EIGHTH?

 

[spider23]

Players stay because they don't have to play defense or rebound. Every other basketball program in the country makes an effort to rebound and play defense. Our guys wouldn't survive in that unfamiliar environment.

I am coming to this same conclusion. Of course you like a coach that lets you get beat off the dribble multiple times because you are the most talented player on the roster. You think if Burton gets scorched off the dribble multiple times Chris Beard is just standing there watching.

COMFORT. That is the the program culture.

 

[Spider B]

I'm glad the 3 seniors (so far) are returning.

However, what other team in the country would be so excited to have all players returning from a team that finished EIGHTH?

Come on 8legs. It was the Covid pauses that put us in 8th place. Just ask Mooney. It was really difficult to compete.

 

[8legs1dream]

I am coming to this same conclusion. Of course you like a coach that lets you get beat off the dribble multiple times because you are the most talented player on the roster. You think if Burton gets scorched off the dribble multiple times Chris Beard is just standing there watching.

COMFORT. That is the the program culture.

the comfort thing has bled down to the fanbase as well that is why so many are getting all amped up for another ride on the Mooner coaster because they know the roster when in reality we are just pushing the same old tired blueprint back out there that we know for a fact doesn't work. I am ready to move on and see what the young guns can do but we don't seem to be able to move on from the coach or the "greatest class ever"

 

[spiderman]

Players stay because they don't have to play defense or rebound. Every other basketball program in the country makes an effort to rebound and play defense. Our guys wouldn't survive in that unfamiliar environment.

I know it's fun to push the same narrative, but this is foolish to even type much less to have 23 agree with.

 

[MrTbone]

I know it's fun to push the same narrative, but this is foolish to even type much less to have 23 agree with.

I generally agree with your sentiment. Among CMs better qualities seems to be an ability to retain his players.

I do think it’s noteworthy that we have had such a significant drop off in quality from starters to bench that it likely plays into the low transfer rate. Other than Buck and Wojcik, all of our transfers out are down to D2/D3.

My sense is a lot of our tier1 guys know they’ll get a lot of PT here and a lot of our bench guys (historically) were guys who had limited upside to a D1 school or were outright misses by staff.

So I think CM gets credit for retaining his good guys but also for not having a ton of other transfer-ready D1 talent.

 

[VT4700]

I generally agree with your sentiment. Among CMs better qualities seems to be an ability to retain his players.

I do think it’s noteworthy that we have had such a significant drop off in quality from starters to bench that it likely plays into the low transfer rate. Other than Buck and Wojcik, all of our transfers out are down to D2/D3.

My sense is a lot of our tier1 guys know they’ll get a lot of PT here and a lot of our bench guys (historically) were guys who had limited upside to a D1 school or were outright misses by staff.

So I think CM gets credit for retaining his good guys but also for not having a ton of other transfer-ready D1 talent.

Seems like this is how most programs would hope it would be. Hold onto your real good guys, and no big deal if you lose some non rotation guys. Sounds like you expect us to have 13 solid players at all times, but every program has end of the bench non rotation guys. I wouldn't call that a problem if they were not good enough to play at this level elsewhere. It happens. I mean, would you have rather lost Ford and Schneider or reserves like Andre, Sal, and Grace? Not only have we done a great job holding onto our big time starters, but a lot of our good reserves have hung around also. I can't see the negative here.

 

[wr70beh]

Why are all of these players coming back for their 5th and 6th years? Could it be that the job prospects overseas just aren't there in the age of COVID?

 

[8legs1dream]

I can't see the negative here.

you never see a negative anywhere with a CM coached team so that last bit was superfluous, rose colored pom-poms.

 

[nathanw19]

Seems like this is how most programs would hope it would be. Hold onto your real good guys, and no big deal if you lose some non rotation guys. Sounds like you expect us to have 13 solid players at all times, but every program has end of the bench non rotation guys. I wouldn't call that a problem if they were not good enough to play at this level elsewhere. It happens. I mean, would you have rather lost Ford and Schneider or reserves like Andre, Sal, and Grace? Not only have we done a great job holding onto our big time starters, but a lot of our good reserves have hung around also. I can't see the negative here.

I think the goal is definitely to have 13 solid players at all times.

Also, I think tbone’s point is that historically, Mooney’s teams have had a large drop of after the starting five to players 6-9. No one is truly upset that players 10-13 aren’t starter material. However I would hope that players 6-9 are pushing the starters and aren’t a huge drop off.

Also, for the record, I think next year’s team has the potential to do just that.

 

[ur2K]

Great some guys are coming back, now just make the f’in NCAA tournament

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Coppin, you need to stop your personal attacks.

That wasn't a personal attack. I was pointing out to the mods that if they let inflammatory comments like yours (which is the definition of "trolling" - it's not an "attack" to say so) go, they're going to get arguments. I didn't see whatever happened this weekend that was deleted and don't need to.

Of course, the mods are free to do what they want. Overall this board is pretty tame and the best place for Spider fans to communicate. They do a good job.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Coppin, As you know I have made a pledge not to make any personal attacks going forward. Will you do the same? I have asked you this questions before, but you have not answered. If you don't reply I will assume you support personal attracts and plan on continue doing them.

C'mon man. I don't make personal attacks. I will respond elsewhere, as this is the Cayo thread.

 

[MrTbone]

Seems like this is how most programs would hope it would be. Hold onto your real good guys, and no big deal if you lose some non rotation guys. Sounds like you expect us to have 13 solid players at all times, but every program has end of the bench non rotation guys. I wouldn't call that a problem if they were not good enough to play at this level elsewhere. It happens. I mean, would you have rather lost Ford and Schneider or reserves like Andre, Sal, and Grace? Not only have we done a great job holding onto our big time starters, but a lot of our good reserves have hung around also. I can't see the negative here.

As per usual, you’re missing the point. Some people want to give CM extra credit because he has low turnover on the team. I suspect he has probably better than average turnover with his starters to most any other coach, those guys don’t go anywhere here. Good for him.

But our bench drop off is steep (again, historically). We don’t have a lot of guys on our bench who threaten for significant time. They don’t project as likely D1 transfers up, down or sideways.

It’s not about whether I care about if we keep or lose non-rotation guys. I don’t care. I’m saying the tier2 rotation guys have been few enough in terms of time or quality that it’s not surprising they haven’t transferred.

 

[VT4700]

As per usual, you’re missing the point. Some people want to give CM extra credit because he has low turnover on the team. I suspect he has probably better than average turnover with his starters to most any other coach, those guys don’t go anywhere here. Good for him.

But our bench drop off is steep (again, historically). We don’t have a lot of guys on our bench who threaten for significant time. They don’t project as likely D1 transfers up, down or sideways.

It’s not about whether I care about if we keep or lose non-rotation guys. I don’t care. I’m saying the tier2 rotation guys have been few enough in terms of time or quality that it’s not surprising they haven’t transferred.

I know what you are saying here, I just disagree. Which is fine. We can disagree, no big deal at all. I think, at the mid major level especially, there usually will be a pretty good drop off between starters and bench guys, and I think historically many of our rotation bench guys could easily get good playing time at other D1 schools, even in our own conference. But, all good T. We can disagree.

 

[UR80sfan]

As per usual, you’re missing the point. Some people want to give CM extra credit because he has low turnover on the team. I suspect he has probably better than average turnover with his starters to most any other coach, those guys don’t go anywhere here. Good for him.

But our bench drop off is steep (again, historically). We don’t have a lot of guys on our bench who threaten for significant time. They don’t project as likely D1 transfers up, down or sideways.

It’s not about whether I care about if we keep or lose non-rotation guys. I don’t care. I’m saying the tier2 rotation guys have been few enough in terms of time or quality that it’s not surprising they haven’t transferred.

I think these comments were true up until a few years ago. There has been a significant increase in the quality of recruiting the past few years and our bench is as strong as it ever has been. We lost 4 of our top 8 players and played well in the NIT against pretty good teams.

 

[MrTbone]

I think these comments were true up until a few years ago. There has been a significant increase in the quality of recruiting the past few years and are bench is as strong as it ever has been. We lost 4 of our top 8 players and played well in the NIT against pretty good teams.

Yes, I emphasized the word “historically”multiple times. Bench depth/quality is loads better than it used to be. As a result, There’s been some small uptick in transfers out to D1 level programs where there wasn’t for many years.

That’s actually ok, it means there’s more competition from more capable players who can earn time elsewhere. We need more of that scenario.

 

[8legs1dream]

I think these comments were true up until a few years ago. There has been a significant increase in the quality of recruiting the past few years and our bench is as strong as it ever has been. We lost 4 of our top 8 players and played well in the NIT against pretty good teams.

should we hang our "played well in the NIT" banner in the east end or the west end of the RC?