I will agree the class of Buck, Nick and Grant was a very solid one. This past one I see gilyard as the only A10 level player of the group.
Sal updates
- Thread starter Ulla1
- Start date
I have come to the conclusion that VT is making every effort to sabotage our program. I will ignore him hereon!
I understand that course of action. I too have thought the same; however, his post make me angry. This anger makes me know that I am not dead yet. Furthermore it onfirms much of the stereotypes of VT.
2 A10 players per year keeps us at 8 solid players, that is as deep as most teams go. More is a luxury but 8 is what we need.
Why not do even more? No reason to limit ourselves. We can do it so let's be 10 deep instead of 8 deep.
Sure, it is possible to have more than 8 good players, but it is not necessaery. Most teams in the country only have 8 players that play more than 5 minutes per game. Villanova and Virginia, kenpoms top 2 teams in the country right now, each only have 8 players who play more than 5 minutes per game. 8 players, 2 per year, is all Mooney needs to consistently make the NCAAs. He has been well under the mark since 2011. Maybe he is turning things around right now, maybe not, it remains to be seen.
You act surprised. I start posting the same a few hours before you, but was distracted by something and never finished the post.
+1 SF That may have been Sal's best game of the season, with 19 points and 13 boards, and leading the team in both categories. With his wind-span he should be able to grab a few boards in the A-10 too. Maybe Sal is getting excited that UR is on a 5-game winning streak...
Looks like Sal is on another very positive "run" during his senior year. His Jan 30 game was a 19 point and 13 rebound effort, and his Feb 3 stats included 21 points and 6 boards. He has been taking turns in leading the team in scoring and boards with his teammate, Stanford-bound Bryce Willis.
I have re-attached the link for anyone interested in watching a few highlights. Definitely good stuff to watch on a slower-than-usual week, and prior to the big game here vs. our cross-town rival... As the season progresses, it is looking more and more promising that we have identified and recruited another "winner" in Sal.
http://twitter.com/ionaprepbball?lang=en
Try the link if interested...
I have re-attached the link for anyone interested in watching a few highlights. Definitely good stuff to watch on a slower-than-usual week, and prior to the big game here vs. our cross-town rival... As the season progresses, it is looking more and more promising that we have identified and recruited another "winner" in Sal.
http://twitter.com/ionaprepbball?lang=en
Try the link if interested...
Watching how Cayo impacted the game last night and then hearing Mooney say post game that he thinks Cayo will be an elite level defender in the next few years, I got excited about Sal joining the roster next year. 6-8 with over a 7 foot wing span and athletic. Love the thought of fore, gilly, buck, Cayo and sal on the court to play some lock down defense!
This core group will win quite a few games (even championship games) over the next few years, not even counting the other freshmen with the ship or our new addition coming next year..Shining Days Ahead!!!
Correct. I've said 5 all year. But Cayo's play and development over the past month, merits his inclusion on this list.
Incidentally my post was not a compliment...I'll buy on Sal when he gets here, I just can't trust the current staff until I can see next year what kind of player he is.
I would add JJ as an A-10 talent, based on the combination of his performance last year and this year. He may not be scoring at a high-level, but he has been a huge positive for our team, adding strong defense and toughness (he does not back-down from the other team's toughest players), and giving a number of our starters some time to rest-up on the bench, without losing our momentum. He does not have to score points to help us win games.
Sal should also be a guy we can add to this list, although we certainly will need to see how he closes out this season and what kind of shape he is in (and how much he weighs) when he arrives this coming summer. The best news here may be that we have 6-7 guys who will likely be strong defenders and who are athletic enough to play very solid man-to-man defense. I loved what I saw at the end of the 2nd VCU win, last night, in terms of defense, and 100% of our core players (top 7) will be back next season.
Sal should also be a guy we can add to this list, although we certainly will need to see how he closes out this season and what kind of shape he is in (and how much he weighs) when he arrives this coming summer. The best news here may be that we have 6-7 guys who will likely be strong defenders and who are athletic enough to play very solid man-to-man defense. I loved what I saw at the end of the 2nd VCU win, last night, in terms of defense, and 100% of our core players (top 7) will be back next season.
I can see an argument for JJ, he is definitely tough and has great fire/passion/energy. Really helps on the defensive end, but its just nothing on the other side of the ball in my opinion. My thought on a full A10 caliber guy is major contributions on both sides of the ball, for Cayo I'm factoring in the youth and current level of experience.
But maybe he'll make me eat those words in the next month--I hope so.
JJ is a glue guy. Every team needs that. He is that guy in the a-10. I sometimes wonder if I am watching the same games.
Facts: JJ is our best 3 point shooter (38.8%) and nearly our best free throw shooter (80% vs Gilyard 80.3%).
Believe he is an A10 player; just my opinion.
Agree that JJ is a "glue-guy" and a very valuable player on this team.
I do very much like JJ's shooting stats, but do not agree that JJ is our "best" 3-point shooter. There are times when shooting percentages do not reflect "the whole story," and this often happens when we have small sample sizes. In those cases the guys with the small number of attempts have taken their shots mostly when they were wide open. Khwan's 3-point shooting last season may be an example.
I would personally prefer to see Nick or Jake take the decisive 3-point shot with us down by 2, and time about to run out. JJ may very well make that shot, but Nick and Jake have taken more 3s in clutch situations (including high-school), and are more likely to have experience taking that shot with a hand in their faces. I do like the idea of JJ being in the game at the end, especially if the game has turned into a free-throw shooting contest. However, again, my preference would be to have the following guys taking the FT shots that will decide the game: 1) Jake, 2) Nick, 3) Buck, 4) JJ, 5) Grant. Please note that all 5 of these guys would be GREAT to have on the floor in a free-throw shooting contest end-of-game situation. It is very good news that we have a guy like JJ who can play 25+ minutes a game and who has such positive shooting stats AND plays very hard-nosed glue-man defense. Regardless of whether JJ ranks #1 or #3 or #4 on our team, as a 3-point shooter or as a foul shooter, we are in any case very lucky to have him.
I do very much like JJ's shooting stats, but do not agree that JJ is our "best" 3-point shooter. There are times when shooting percentages do not reflect "the whole story," and this often happens when we have small sample sizes. In those cases the guys with the small number of attempts have taken their shots mostly when they were wide open. Khwan's 3-point shooting last season may be an example.
I would personally prefer to see Nick or Jake take the decisive 3-point shot with us down by 2, and time about to run out. JJ may very well make that shot, but Nick and Jake have taken more 3s in clutch situations (including high-school), and are more likely to have experience taking that shot with a hand in their faces. I do like the idea of JJ being in the game at the end, especially if the game has turned into a free-throw shooting contest. However, again, my preference would be to have the following guys taking the FT shots that will decide the game: 1) Jake, 2) Nick, 3) Buck, 4) JJ, 5) Grant. Please note that all 5 of these guys would be GREAT to have on the floor in a free-throw shooting contest end-of-game situation. It is very good news that we have a guy like JJ who can play 25+ minutes a game and who has such positive shooting stats AND plays very hard-nosed glue-man defense. Regardless of whether JJ ranks #1 or #3 or #4 on our team, as a 3-point shooter or as a foul shooter, we are in any case very lucky to have him.
I like what JJ brings to the table. It’s probably more accurate to say he’s an A10 bench player. If he was an A10 level player I think he’d be starting by now.
Part of this is founded on the roster makeup that we have a lot of 2/3 depth and someone has to come off the bench.
I just like JJ. Contagious grin, gritty player, fun to watch.
Am keeping the twitter link alive for anyone interested in checking up on Sal's latest games. Did not see anything new as of Saturday, but am hoping he still has a few games left in his season. If not am hoping that someone may have his final season stats soon...
http://twitter.com/ionaprepbball?lang=en
http://twitter.com/ionaprepbball?lang=en
Very nice last game before the playoffs, for Sal, with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It is always good to see him lead the team in scoring and boards because there is a Stanford signee on the Iona roster too. It would be really nice if he were ready to step in and play some important minutes at the 4/PF spot next fall.... Will have to follow how he does in the playoffs, because he is on a team that could win the state championship, and may be favored to do so.
Don’t see why he couldn’t get some bench minutes at the 3 or 4 (preferably 4 if he can bulk up some). It’s not like we’d have to go 10 deep for him to get minutes.
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