Tod Howard Hawks
Freshman
Posts: 64
Age: 79
Reg: 03-17-14
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12-02-19 04:10 PM - Post#293297
Smith scored 30 against Lehigh and Columbia won by 4.
When Columbia plays against their Ivy foes, all seven of them will shut down Smith by double-teaming him doggedly. Who else on the Columbia roster can knock down 30 besides Smith? My answer is no one; hence, Columbia will be lucky to win even one Ivy game.
Re: Tape and Engles. One of the most important tasks every Head Coach has is to foster, and thereby establish, a relationship with every one of his players of mutual respect.
Engles coached Tape for three years, and it seemed by late last season Tape was coming into his own. Then a couple of days before the start of this year's season Tape tells Engles "no go." We have shared at length what this tells us about Tape's character, but what does this incredible betrayal tell us about Engles as a Head Coach?
It is virtually impossible for me to believe that Engles was not, to some appreciable degree, complicit in this unseemly debacle. Engles spent three years helping this young man develop not only into a potent player, but also, and more importantly, into an upstanding young human being. And then this young man says, in effect, screw you Engles, screw my teammates, screw all the fans of Columbia Basketball! What does Tape's ignominious behavior tell us about how Engles implicitly is failing big time to establish a relationship of mutual respect with all his other players? Engles failed with Tape. How many other players is he currently failing with? And, if so, when will we find out? My answer to the latter is too late.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32815
Reg: 11-21-04
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Re: Smith, Tape, and Engles
12-02-19 05:32 PM - Post#293305
In response to Tod Howard Hawks
If the kid had a major offer from a power school to get an all expenses paid graduate degree and vastly improve his odds of having a professional career, can you really blame him? I think the issue is an agent or recruiter coming for him that late in the cycle. And THAT is what should not be allowed.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2972
Reg: 03-02-08
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12-02-19 05:38 PM - Post#293306
In response to Tod Howard Hawks
Although I have previously indicated that I will refrain from further comments regarding Tape, I think it is not entirely fair to lay this particular dumpster fire at the feet of Engles. Dartmouth, Brown and Yale have lost outstanding players who chose not to continue their careers at their respective schools, albeit for different reasons and not three days before the start of the season. I am unaware of any evidence that Engles is at fault here. In fact, it may well have been the unseen hand of a recruiter for all we ( or at least I) know. And while I had previously expressed concerns about Engles, I have come to believe that he is actually a very good basketball coach. He lost two high end starters on the eve of the season and managed, pretty much on the fly, to recreate the offense. And while Smith is the focal point — and should be— double teaming him will open up the offense for Forrest, Stef if he returns, and hopefully others.
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hoopsfan
Masters Student
Posts: 646
Reg: 12-26-04
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12-02-19 08:58 PM - Post#293318
In response to Chet Forte
According to Verbal Commits, last year more than 1000 players transferred, hundreds of whom were immediately eligible: http://www.verbalcommits.com/transfers/2019
Columbia fans are disappointed that Stefanini is injured and Tape' is transferring. It has changed the season that we were looking forward to. But it is illogical in the absence of facts to the contrary to lay this on the coach. If this were true, hundreds of coaches would be "complicit in the unseemly debacle" which, ironically, has screwed up their teams and thus adversely impacted their careers.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2972
Reg: 03-02-08
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12-02-19 09:46 PM - Post#293321
In response to hoopsfan
Meanwhile a little too late against an undefeated Delaware team as we fall 84-76. We were much better in the second half and had momentum but could not take it over the hump. Smith had 26 and Forrest had 17. Smith missed a lot of shots and had he not missed so many three pointers we could have won on the road.
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HGA
Sophomore
Posts: 106
Loc: New York
Reg: 10-16-18
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12-02-19 09:50 PM - Post#293322
In response to Chet Forte
Smith was 4/9 on 3’s!
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2972
Reg: 03-02-08
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12-03-19 07:14 AM - Post#293330
In response to HGA
Yes, but he started off very cold and was 1 for 5 in the first half on his three pointers, and his overall shooting percentage was below his average. Don’t get me wrong—I love Smith’s game and think he is playing at the highest level he has ever reached. He just missed a lot of shots overall.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2178
Reg: 02-14-06
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12-03-19 11:57 AM - Post#293358
In response to Chet Forte
Mike Smith is a great basketball player Everyone who plays Columbia knows that and because we have no one else who comes near matching his talent opposing coaches double and even triple team him. Last night Smith was outstanding in every respect and really got going in the second half when Jack Forest started hitting his shot. By now we all know the strengths and weaknesses of this Columbia Lion team and what the players can and cannot do. If Columbia hopes to capture a playoff spot, it will need (a) Smith to score 20+ points per game, (b) Stef to return relatively healthy and score double digits, Neweke, Brumant and Smoyer to combine for 20+ ppg inside and control the boards, and (c) Forest, Killingsworth and Ellis to combine as well for 20 + points and the entire team to play strong, tough defense. Tai Bibbs and the freshmen are the X factors, meaning that this team has so little depth that it is unlikely that Columbia will make the playoffs unless they step up as well.
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Tod Howard Hawks
Freshman
Posts: 64
Age: 79
Reg: 03-17-14
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12-03-19 06:06 PM - Post#293425
In response to Columbia 37P6
If Stephanini can't come back, full strength, when Columbia begins Ivy play, I reiterate my aforementioned prediction: 1-13.
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RHunter3
Junior
Posts: 281
Reg: 12-02-14
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12-05-19 01:07 PM - Post#293804
In response to Tod Howard Hawks
Tape leaving not playing was known long before it was actually announced.
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Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2972
Reg: 03-02-08
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 12-06-19 09:57 AM - Post#293912
In response to RHunter3
So Tape was practicing with the team, his name was on the roster, all of the prognosticators anticipated he would be playing and yet it was “known†he would be bailing out on his school, his teammates, and his coaches? “Known†by whom? And if so, why was he practicing with the team? It sounds to be that a recruiter got hold of him and told him to pull the plug. Hard to believe he just had an epiphany one day.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32815
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-06-19 10:02 AM - Post#293915
In response to Chet Forte
I think there may have been knowledge that he had been contacted by recruiters, but it's beyond strange to think he already had decided to leave and Engles kept him on the team
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RHunter3
Junior
Posts: 281
Reg: 12-02-14
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12-06-19 10:41 AM - Post#293924
In response to Chet Forte
They thought he would change his mind or they could convince him to. I knew this summer. His decision was more academic related that sports relates. He looking to get a graduate degree paid for, which you can't do in Ivy league
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RHunter3
Junior
Posts: 281
Reg: 12-02-14
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12-06-19 10:45 AM - Post#293927
In response to palestra38
As far as I know there were no recruiters. It was a change to get grad school paid for. He is a kid that cares just as much about his academics as basketball and a change to have grad school paid for is a great opportunity.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32815
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-06-19 11:20 AM - Post#293933
In response to RHunter3
I agree with that, and pointed that out in another thread on the Dartmouth board, BUT, it makes no sense if the decision had been made to have him ready to go as your starter. Something is missing.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-06-19 02:17 PM - Post#293954
In response to palestra38
So, the league’s recruiting flaw appears to be that we recruit student-athletes instead of mere athletes?
Our version of the ‘one and done’ is apparently the ‘three or four and almost done.’
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32815
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-06-19 02:19 PM - Post#293955
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Someone to whom a Masters Degree has meaning
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RHunter3
Junior
Posts: 281
Reg: 12-02-14
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12-06-19 03:40 PM - Post#293972
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
The simple solution would be to allow 5th year/grad students to play. So a kid that redshirts can graduate and stay to play last year of eligibility.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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12-06-19 03:48 PM - Post#293974
In response to RHunter3
Great Idea!
Please hurry, I believe both Seth and Bryce are interested in the IOP at Harvard.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32815
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-06-19 05:21 PM - Post#293982
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Are we going to be giving scholarships? Because financial aid policies for grad schools in the Ivies are very different from those for undergrads
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