umbrellaman
Sophomore
Posts: 173
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-05-12 10:33 PM - Post#124316
Tough loss for Sydney Johnson and Fairfield in the MAAC finals. Up 5 points at the half, they take about 8 minutes to score a point, and 9 minutes to get a field goal in the second half, in an ugly, defensive struggle. Only down as much as 7 or 8, they get it down to a 3 point lead and have a couple chances to tie from 3 point land.
Definitely looked like they missed their best guard, Needham.
First time I saw Fairfield all year - great defense - the refs were letting both teams play. Whatever it was offensively, it didn't resemble the Princeton Offense, except for about 2 possessions.
Interesting take for Sydney - his team - the MAAC regular season champ last year, finished 4th and knocked off the regular season champ, to get to the final. I'd have to think the game was atypical, and that both teams were gassed to explain the horrid play offensively of both teams. That's a tough way to determine an NCAA bid, 3rd game in 3 nights.
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Mike Porter
PhD Student
Posts: 1577
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-06-12 12:15 AM - Post#124348
In response to umbrellaman
Based on what they had back a disappointing season no?
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1LotteryPick1969
Masters Student
Posts: 762
Loc: Baltimore, Maryland
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Sydney and Fairfield
03-06-12 09:34 AM - Post#124400
In response to umbrellaman
Watched bits and pieces of the game, and the last two minutes. Part of me was rooting for Loyola, because we could use a good program in Baltimore, and I like Jimmy Patsos as a coach.
I agree, nothing I saw resembled Princeton. The last two shots taken in attempt to get to overtime were poor shots taken off of no particularly obvious strategy. Clearly needed their point guard.
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Dial Lodge
Sophomore
Posts: 129
Reg: 03-08-07
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Re: Sydney and Fairfield
03-06-12 12:19 PM - Post#124456
In response to umbrellaman
"I'd have to think the game was atypical, and that both teams were gassed to explain the horrid play offensively of both teams. That's a tough way to determine an NCAA bid, 3rd game in 3 nights."
You're right - league tournaments are a lousy way to choose a champion/NCAA Tournament rep. I still believe that the regular season winner should go to the NCAA, even though only the Ivy League does it that way now, and even though that means that we are out of it this year.
Edited by Dial Lodge on 03-06-12 12:21 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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umbrellaman
Sophomore
Posts: 173
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-06-12 04:41 PM - Post#124527
In response to Dial Lodge
I think it's been floated before, but these mid-major conferences might be better off awarding the bid to the regular season champion and then having a "Mid-Major Shootout - a tourney with the top teams from say, the Ivy, MAAC and Patriot League. Regular Season champs could seek to improve their seeding, and also-rans could seek to make the case for an at-large.
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T71
Sophomore
Posts: 161
Loc: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Reg: 11-23-04
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03-07-12 10:55 PM - Post#124911
In response to umbrellaman
Who cares about Faifield?
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Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts: 2148
Reg: 11-23-04
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03-08-12 02:57 PM - Post#125014
In response to T71
I watched the Patriot league final. I thought either team could have finished near, or at, the top of the IL.
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umbrellaman
Sophomore
Posts: 173
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-08-12 06:21 PM - Post#125048
In response to T71
Still bitter about Johnson leaving? Obviously, don't care that much about Fairfield, but musing about how Johnson's decision looks one year out. Even though his team underperformed expectations, and came one shot from the NCAA tournament, he might have had a better opportunity at Princeton this year. In no way knocking Henderson's coaching job this year, I've got to wonder if Princeton would have won the Ivy title if he stayed. Not that SJ is worth two Ivy wins, but perhaps the team would have found its footing earlier without the transition.
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gokinsmen
Postdoc
Posts: 2260
Reg: 02-06-10
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Sydney and Fairfield
03-08-12 07:17 PM - Post#125053
In response to umbrellaman
I have to say, I appreciate all of Solomon's hard work, but I couldn't care less about tracking the programs of former coaches. If Northwestern makes their first tourney, then I might care a little, but beyond that? Yawn.
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umbrellaman
Sophomore
Posts: 173
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Sydney and Fairfield
03-08-12 09:57 PM - Post#125068
In response to gokinsmen
Jon Solomon covers not just former Princeton coaches, but all the other branches of the tree like Richmond, Oregon State, and MCCC. It's about the System. Obviously, I'm not equally interested in all the results, but I can't fault Jon for being comprehensive.
Here, the issue is very much Princeton-related. How did Johnson do with his decision to leave? Does it look like a good move or not? Is it better for your career to make a lateral move for more money, or wait for a significant upgrade? Really trying to look at SJ from a Princeton perspective.
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SRP
Masters Student
Posts: 654
Reg: 02-04-06
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03-08-12 10:02 PM - Post#125071
In response to gokinsmen
I do root for the other programs, especially when they resemble classic Princeton basketball and they have a coaching connection to the Tiger program. I loved it when Sportscenter showed Georgetown hitting a half-dozen back doors against Notre Dame.
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T71
Sophomore
Posts: 161
Loc: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Reg: 11-23-04
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Re: Sydney and Fairfield
03-09-12 12:26 PM - Post#125126
In response to gokinsmen
ditto.
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puband09
Masters Student
Posts: 668
Reg: 12-19-09
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Re: Sydney and Fairfield
03-09-12 02:21 PM - Post#125139
In response to T71
While, I certainly don't follow, say Denver, as closely as I do the Tiger men's (or even women's) team, it's nice to have all of that family tree information in 1 place.
I take a lot of pride in knowing that more college basketball head coaches came from Princeton than any other university except for UNC (possibly tied now with the Johnson»Henderson shake-up?), and it's nice that is reflected in Jon's site.
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1LotteryPick1969
Masters Student
Posts: 762
Loc: Baltimore, Maryland
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-09-12 02:35 PM - Post#125141
In response to puband09
Agreed--I root for the coach, not the team per se. (A subtle distinction, I realize)
I think it reflects favorably on the culture of Princeton basketball, even if each coach deviates from the classic Carril system to his own preference.
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Albert08
Junior
Posts: 229
Reg: 08-21-10
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03-09-12 03:35 PM - Post#125147
In response to 1LotteryPick1969
I agree with Band and Lottery, and think that it's nice to have a quick look when you come on the site of how each of the other teams are doing in their respective conferences. And I can't explain it, but I love watching Joe Scott's post game interviews. He's reviewing the game in his Jersey accent, his voice is always hoarse, he looks like he's in a police interrogation, and he's trying so hard to display his new, more positive attitude.
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1LotteryPick1969
Masters Student
Posts: 762
Loc: Baltimore, Maryland
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-09-12 06:36 PM - Post#125171
In response to Albert08
Joe Scott's post game interviews. He's reviewing the game in his Jersey accent, his voice is always hoarse, he looks like he's in a police interrogation, and he's trying so hard to display his new, more positive attitude.
Hilarious and spot on.
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