Southern Utah 1/19/07

[reveroo]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

We are absolutely lost on offense against a zone.

That, I think, is a coaching issue.

Filbert, were you at the game??? The Jacks did exactly what they were suppose to do against the zone, they attacked it at the high post and got some excellent high/low looks for lay-ups. A.C. had a great pass to Kai and another to Ben!! I don't know what you are talking about "coaching" issues, give me a break, Nagy had these players doing exactly what they should have been doing against SUU's zone tonight. Does it always have to come down to coaching when a team is missing some perimeter shots or not finishing shots at the glass???

[reveroo]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

I'll make the most unpopular post of 2008...maybe it's time to think that Nagy is not the coach that is going to lead this team in DI. I know he was a great DII coach and I respect the hell out of him, but maybe he's just not the guy at this point. Yeah, yeah, players leaving, young team, etc., etc...I'm just saying that maybe what the MBB team needs is something new. I know, I know...we'll never find a coach of Nagy's caliber to take this program over, blah, blah, blah...I'm not saying I have the answers I'm just tossing out the possiblity. How long does he get before someone at the top says enough is enough?

Maybe this is a topic all unto itself, moderators feel free to put this post in it's right place. This game was one that many thought we should have won going away and for whatever reason that didn't happen. Same old excuses are getting old for some fans.

It's just hard for me personally to sit here in the Twin Cities and watch Tubby Smith win with the same players that Dan Monson couldn't do squat with. And yes, I'm fully aware that Tubby Smith is an amazing coach, I'm not saying SDSU could ever land a coach of his ability. It just seems to me that there are times when a different coach may be needed to jumpstart a program.

OK, done. Good win Jacks. Hope there are more to come this year.

Coach Tubby Smith's Gophers just LOST at home against Indiana when they led by four with under 4 minutes to play. If he is such a GREAT coach, how come HIS team didn't pull it out, was it Tubby's fault???? What is it with everyone wanting to always blame the coach when their team loses????

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

I am in absolute agreement with Reveroo...I don't know what you are talking about Filbert. I saw a team that took the press and beat it. I saw a coach who changed Kai's role to the 4 spot and he got six great assists for scores and beat the zone. saw an SUU defense that absolutly shut down Garret Callahan, as I would expect a team to do that was coached by a guy who has a 34-year coaching history, including 11 years as a BYU assistant coach, and seven years as head coach, and pro experience.

So what happened while they were dogging Calllahan inside and out...Clint Sargent had a career night for a freshman. I believe that when Sargent keeps playing like he did tonight, opponents will all of a sudden not be able to key on Kai, or Garrett, because you can't guard everybody.

I also believe that Nagy is as good a coach as we will find at our level and that the transition is over, the Summit League is a lot better than a lot of our fans realized, and that no games will be easy. I also believe that NDSU is ahead of us in this game and next week will be tough but that we are progressing night to night. With Ben on the bench for a lot of the second half, our freshmen and sophomores played a great game. Cordova is coming on strong.

OK, so I had to vent a little bit after enjoying our SEVENTH win, more than last year; with seven and seven ((or was it nine -- too dang late to check) single digit losses, and believing all the moaning and groaning needs to lighten up and enjoy the moment! Way to GO JACKS. I'm proud of you!

P. S. I also saw 3733 fans in the stands, who finally started to get into the game and make some noise. Glory, HALLALUYAH!!!

[Jack4Life]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

I also believe that Nagy is as good a coach as we will find at our level and that the transition is over, the Summit League is a lot better than a lot of our fans realized, and that no games will be easy.

Congratulations, Jacks on a good win last night. I was not able to be there, went to Hansen Classic with some buddies. Been doing it for several years. Anyway, read the thread and I agree with what #1 Fan and others have said about Coach Nagy. It has been a difficult transition, much more than anywone would have thought. There have been many things out of his control that made it tougher yet. He has a good young team with a lot of potential now. He has some good committments in the next few years. It has been tough on him too I would believe. I was very disappointed after the UMKC loss and was ready to throw in the towel and just sit back and see what happens. But after sitting back and reading the posts after that game and last nights thread, I really feel we need to get out and support the Jacks and coaches more now than ever. I think we have some real potential here and we cannot let them get down at this time. After Thursday, didn't think I would be coming back up this season, now I can't wait for next home game.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

We asked all of the players to talk about Coach Nagy in a series of interviews we did earlier this year. Several said he is like a father to them. Several talked about what a good role model he is as a family man. Several mentioned that he yells a lot but he does it because he wants them to be better players. Every one of the players we talked to mentioned how much they respect Coach Nagy, how he has amazing basketball knowledge, and that they want to win for him. It reminded me of the kinds of things our football players say about Coach Stiegelmeier.

The players we have here are very young. Spend some time with Garrett Callahan, Kai Williams, Josh Cassaday, Anthony Cordova, Michael Palarca, Dale Moss, and Clint Sargent, and you quickly realize they're just kids, 18- or 19-years-old. Try to remember what it was like to be 19. Then think about what kind of players they'll be in a couple of years. James Rader who will be here next year is about as mature and bright as an 18-year-old can be. I met Rader last year. I haven't met Griffan Callahan, but if he's half as tough as his brother, he'll be a gamer.

Coach Nagy is recruiting the right kinds of young men. Once we achieve a critical mass and those players get some more games under their belts... watch out.

It seems to me that Coach Nagy (like Stig) has operated with one hand tied behind his back. Our arena is great, but we have no 24-hour practice gym (Augie has one... and once the Wellness Center is done, Frost becomes a varsity-sports-only facility). Coach Nagy has been short on assistants (take a look at the mob of suits most of our opponents bring along). Unlike the football program, however, the basketball teams haven't had anything to play for. We're 8 games into our first year in a conference. Coach Nagy deserves the opportunity to bring his young team along and teach them what it means to win in a conference.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

I am in absolute agreement with Reveroo...I don't know what you are talking about Filbert. I saw a team that took the press and beat it. I saw a coach who changed Kai's role to the 4 spot and he got six great assists for scores and beat the zone. saw an SUU defense that absolutly shut down Garret Callahan, as I would expect a team to do that was coached by a guy who has a 34-year coaching history, including 11 years as a BYU assistant coach, and seven years as head coach, and pro experience.

So what happened while they were dogging Calllahan inside and out...Clint Sargent had a career night for a freshman. I believe that when Sargent keeps playing like he did tonight, opponents will all of a sudden not be able to key on Kai, or Garrett, because you can't guard everybody.

I also believe that Nagy is as good a coach as we will find at our level and that the transition is over, the Summit League is a lot better than a lot of our fans realized, and that no games will be easy. I also believe that NDSU is ahead of us in this game and next week will be tough but that we are progressing night to night. With Ben on the bench for a lot of the second half, our freshmen and sophomores played a great game. Cordova is coming on strong.

OK, so I had to vent a little bit after enjoying our SEVENTH win, more than last year; with seven and seven ((or was it nine -- too dang late to check) single digit losses, and believing all the moaning and groaning needs to lighten up and enjoy the moment! Way to GO JACKS. I'm proud of you!

P. S. I also saw 3733 fans in the stands, who finally started to get into the game and make some noise. Glory, HALLALUYAH!!!

This post, along with JimmyJacks post above, get some rep'age from I.

Great posts guys!

[Nidaros]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

Nagy gets a year or two to see what he can do with the young talent on the floor, and to see what he can bring in the next year or two to supplement a solid base. This is a group who have a shot, time for some patience. A 10 -11 win season this year should be considered success. If it is the JUCO route you want to go, count me out.

I would agree with the year or two assessment. With a new conference, we have no bench marks other than the NCC and thats not comparable at all

[JackJD]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

I'm in complete agreement with Jacks#1fan.

I was in the stands for both of the last two games. During the UMKC game, there was something intangible in the air...just had a bad feeling during that game. During last night's game, even though the score during much showed a margin of one or two points, the Jackrabbits had a different kind of spark. And, SUU played some very sticky defense as noted by other posters.

We had much better intensity during Saturday night's game.

Prior to the game, I thought that if we didn't win against SUU, the rest of the season had the potential to be really painful. On the other hand, I thought if we win against SUU, it's another building block and we'll get more wins as the season unfolds.

Last night, the Jackrabbits showed tremendous improvement as a program over the past years in transition. There is no question we're on the road to recovery, we're young and talented and we have a coach who can get it done.

[rabbit_boy]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

Lets see, we're 6-12 against Div I teams and you are jumping on Filbert of all people for raising a POSSIBLE concern? Holy Cow!!

[rabbit_boy]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

Further, how many years of reclassification has there been? I stand by a statement I made earlier in the year. I think every aspect of the program has to be re-evaluated at the end of the year. A two losses for every win doesnt cut it with me.

[filbert]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

Filbert, were you at the game??? The Jacks did exactly what they were suppose to do against the zone, they attacked it at the high post and got some excellent high/low looks for lay-ups. A.C. had a great pass to Kai and another to Ben!! I don't know what you are talking about "coaching" issues, give me a break, Nagy had these players doing exactly what they should have been doing against SUU's zone tonight. Does it always have to come down to coaching when a team is missing some perimeter shots or not finishing shots at the glass???

At the time I posted, Imming had the same concern on the radio broadcast. I'm pretty sure he was at the game.

This team has had a problem this year attacking a zone. Yes, as the game went on, they seemed to figure out how to attack it. That's progress.

And when you have the coach continually repeating that it's his fault for this and that and something else, then yeah, after a while I start believing him.

But it's a win, the second win in SDSU Summit League history. That's progress, too.

I said I had doubts . . . I also said I would hold off until the season is over to come to any conclusions about whether or not the program is overall going in the right direction. I think that's a rational attitude to take.

I'm usually a glass-half-full kind of guy (to the point where JackMD and others chide me for being too optimistic--hi, Doc!). I occasionally forget that we're still starting two true freshmen, two true sophomores, and a high-level-D-II center. I also forget that this year is (or should be) all about getting ready for next year, when it really counts, and the conference championship tournament is in our back yard. "When you're up to your ass in alligators it's difficult to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp."

Having the benefit of sleeping on it for a night, yeah we're making progress.

Maybe I'm expecting too much improvement too quickly. I don't know. I've never really gone through anything like this before, so it's difficult to calibrate my expectations and my disappointments appropriately, I guess.

On to Fargo, beat the Bison!

[Rabbitlivinginverm]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

Sounds like Clint Sargant has the right idea (according the TV's article):

"We're just finally starting to get to the point where we believe in ourselves," he said. "And you get to the point where you're just sick of it and we knew we had to come out and get a win."

In other words:

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. - Yogi Berra

[collegewatcher]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

Lets see, we're 6-12 against Div I teams and you are jumping on Filbert of all people for raising a POSSIBLE concern? Holy Cow!!

Plus, we beat a team with only 4 wins, and got the benefit of a turnover by a one-handed player in the final minute. I will take any win, but I hardly think this win shows that we are turning the corner.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

"SUU held NDSU’s leading scorer, Kai Williams, to 11 points, 10 below his season average, but most of his points came at crucial times, including five in the final minutes."

Apparantly Ben Woodside(?) and Kai Williams are one in the same? I believe Woodside averages 21 or 22 a game, while Kai is actually averaging 15 per game.

Seriously, it can't be that hard to remember if you're playing SDSU or NDSU, and Kai looks nothing like Ben.

The rest of the post game from SUU's page here...
http://www.suutbirds.com/ViewArticle...ATCLID=1371891

[1bunnies]

Re: Southern Utah 1/19/07

I would agree with the year or two assessment. With a new conference, we have no bench marks other than the NCC and thats not comparable at all

What was your first clue.