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Post by johnnypc on Jul 2, 2015 5:57:58 GMT -5
I believe our program is in the best shape it has been in a long time. I have been very patient over my 50+ years following our Friars. Going back to our recent past we would not even attempt to recruit players we have gotten. I believe building a team is done by recruiting players that fit the puzzle. We have lost some players who did not like the fit. I want to see us play before I jump off of the bridge.
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Post by friarbrown on Jul 2, 2015 9:34:08 GMT -5
There are things to snitch about, but the U.S. Coaching gig should not be one of them. The type of players we need/want should respect that. Look at Coach K and his resume. Nobody knocks him for the time he spends and has spent with the program. I think it's part of what makes him great; It's part of what has made him a legend. I don't think it is the same to compare coach K and Duke to PC and Cooley. Duke is a national brand that has won national championships and puts players into the league every year. It's a top 5 legacy program. They don't take a backseat to anyone. Plus coach K is coaching pros who speak highly of him. Unfortunately Providence is not on that level so we have to work a little harder. I think most of us agree that its not bad exposure for Cooley but so far the benefits to the program have been minimal at best. If I'm not mistaken another live period has started and our coach is gone.
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Post by craigl79 on Jul 2, 2015 10:52:05 GMT -5
No he will be back for the live period which starts next week.
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Post by friar71 on Jul 2, 2015 11:29:13 GMT -5
I believe our program is in the best shape it has been in a long time. I have been very patient over my 50+ years following our Friars. Going back to our recent past we would not even attempt to recruit players we have gotten. I believe building a team is done by recruiting players that fit the puzzle. We have lost some players who did not like the fit. I want to see us play before I jump off of the bridge. Well said. We have made the NCAA tourney 2 years in a row and we probably have a lottery pick PG who chose to return.
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Post by pembroke04 on Jul 2, 2015 12:28:44 GMT -5
There are things to snitch about, but the U.S. Coaching gig should not be one of them. The type of players we need/want should respect that. Look at Coach K and his resume. Nobody knocks him for the time he spends and has spent with the program. I think it's part of what makes him great; It's part of what has made him a legend. I don't think it is the same to compare coach K and Duke to PC and Cooley. Duke is a national brand that has won national championships and puts players into the league every year. It's a top 5 legacy program. They don't take a backseat to anyone. Plus coach K is coaching pros who speak highly of him. Unfortunately Providence is not on that level so we have to work a little harder. I think most of us agree that its not bad exposure for Cooley but so far the benefits to the program have been minimal at best. If I'm not mistaken another live period has started and our coach is gone. I was not trying to compare the two, I was trying to defend Cooley and his commitment to the national program. Just a different angle I guess... Overall, I passed along my negative thoughts, but despite the most recent loss, I love our most recent addition and I think that when we see Kris Dunn and this team in action, we will be pleasantly surprised. I love the sound of "Q". Overall, I love the position that we are in, but curiosity makes me wonder what's going on the in the background in some recent cases. Given the overall shape of our current roster, I do not find the two most recent recruiting misses concerning. Boston, I find your posts very informative and I like seeing you post them.
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Post by wtm97 on Jul 2, 2015 13:32:34 GMT -5
"Homer" - yes. Love it Boston raise your hand sir - I mean aren't we all; well at least almost all...
Have 0 problem with Cooley's involvement with USA Basketball - actually think opposite is true as it helps our program due to that national exposure and chance to network - it simply makes PC more visible and in the conversation.
Hope he does take a vacation after coming back from Greece - he deserves one even as none of these head coaches ever really take any time "off" - and doubting Cooley's work ethic is simply dumb or at best uninformed as the man is driven.
The gossip/speculation stuff is wonderful IMHO - love that stuff and besides grinding that grist mill is good for 'business' right here so spout away; among the all time favorites over the summer months have been the reports from Alumni Hall - and hopefully we will see some of that very soon...
Agree we have had our 'misses' and have lost some, (here), along the way but that is the nature of the business especially when you generate a lot of activity; hoping once Battle finds Newport Creamery, (there are one or two left, right?), and unpacks his bags he will prove to be a major asset going forward.
On the subject of the departed, I never diss a player's talents once gone - as former Friars, I say so long with best wishes for future success, etc. Just think if they are unhappy here then they should leave; would like the suddenness/shock to end but it wont because nowadays people spend there lives immersed in cell phones and communication has become so much less personal...raising one's hand to speak up at all - or even somehow admitting unhappiness/guilt/failure/whatever has become a thing of the past as we drift into somnolence as a nation.
Not sure we are in the "best shape" in a long time but do think we are in good shape; not expecting Owens to ever be a Friar but still we do have good, if untested, talent and hope and think Rajay Bullock will finally get un-tracked and open up many eyes.
The focus of support by most for Cooley is merited by his success so far; hey criticism is fair game, and he would agree no doubt, but let's enjoy him while we have him as our coach - who knows if he continues to succeed we will most likely lose him someday; not to the competition but probably to the pros...
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Post by friarbrown on Jul 2, 2015 13:36:48 GMT -5
Ok no problem. I guess my spin is that Cooley and Coach K are in different places in their careers and program developments. I don't think all is lost and I am excited about the season this year but the last two off seasons have taught us that we should never get comfortable because something unexpected always happens.
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Post by bostonfriar on Jul 2, 2015 15:11:27 GMT -5
Ok no problem. I guess my spin is that Cooley and Coach K are in different places in their careers and program developments. I don't think all is lost and I am excited about the season this year but the last two off seasons have taught us that we should never get comfortable because something unexpected always happens. And that is why Coach has said from day 1 he is always recruiting.
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Post by petert on Jul 2, 2015 19:01:38 GMT -5
Always be recruiting...we seem to learn this lesson every year.
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Post by friara on Jul 4, 2015 8:15:48 GMT -5
Amazing that on July 4, I look over and here and see criticism for coach wanting to wear the colors and represent our country....
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Post by drairf on Jul 4, 2015 9:13:15 GMT -5
UCONN just picked up a top 25 PG.
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Post by petert on Jul 4, 2015 9:23:06 GMT -5
Give credit to Ollie and Uconn...we need to lock in 2 impact players in this recruiting cycle, a PG and a big. We should be proud of Ed representing the U.S. and Providence College.
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Post by flyerlax06 on Jul 7, 2015 12:31:10 GMT -5
I think the larger problem is that PC is still in need of players in June when Cooley goes to his USA duties. BINGO Mike! You are being too much of a homer with that post Boston Friar. I normally like what you post, but this time I don't agree with you. It doesn't matter to me whose dime he is on. The problem is when he is not at home things aren't being done. That isn't exactly what I was saying. My point was that Cooley being at PC or in Greece shouldn't really be the thing everyone is going crazy about. People should be worried that players are leaving late in May and that Cooley has to continue trying to bring players onto the roster in June and July. I'm not saying that to kill Cooley. I don't really blame him for Fortune or Chukwu leaving. They obviously had different ideas about their roles on the team going forward and made decisions they thought were best for them. How could Cooley have changed that short of making Fortune the point guard and running the entire offense through a 7'2 stringbean? Kids leave schools all the time -- actually the average is about 2 players leaving a school each year to transfer. Where recruiting needs to get back on track is in the class of 2016 and that's what I wrote about last week before I went on a short vacation myself.
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Post by pembroke04 on Jul 7, 2015 16:18:27 GMT -5
I like players who are willing to come in and fight for playing time.
Setting expectations is challenging because it's impossible to predict what will happen after roles work themselves out. Managing transfers is a big part of the game these days. I am not saying that Cooley or the administration were directly responsible for any of our transfers, but from an outsiders perspective, the management of the transfer process can been improved upon.
I used to personally harp on the value of scheduling, but now that we and everybody else in the Big East has figured that out...
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