"Keith Fisher of Westchester is City Section player of the year" -- Eric Songheimer/Los Angeles Times
He'll be on the SJSU campus come August.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Leon Rice staying at BSU because...
"Travis Ford hired as new SLU coach" -- Stu Durando/St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Boise State fans can breathe a little easier.
The world of basketball coaching is indeed a unique one as Ford is let go by Oklahoma State for not winning enough--a 3-15 mark in conference this season-- but the powers-that-be in St. Louis think he is just dandy. He was owed for three years on his OSU contract (7.2 million) so the athletic powers there are ecstatic.
NEW NEW NEW -- St. Louis issued this late Tuesday: "Saint Louis University has not hired a men's basketball coach. The process is ongoing."
Boise State fans can breathe a little easier.
The world of basketball coaching is indeed a unique one as Ford is let go by Oklahoma State for not winning enough--a 3-15 mark in conference this season-- but the powers-that-be in St. Louis think he is just dandy. He was owed for three years on his OSU contract (7.2 million) so the athletic powers there are ecstatic.
NEW NEW NEW -- St. Louis issued this late Tuesday: "Saint Louis University has not hired a men's basketball coach. The process is ongoing."
The future of Augmon
So Stacey Augmon is unlikely to remain on the coaching staff at UNLV. Link
The pressure turns up more than a notch now on Chris Beard but recruit well, win a mess of games and all will soon not necessarily be quiet but will go underground.
The pressure turns up more than a notch now on Chris Beard but recruit well, win a mess of games and all will soon not necessarily be quiet but will go underground.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Interesting
Gary Parrish: "I reported last night that Leon Rice is in the mix at SLU. Another coach involved: Fresno State's Rodney Terry, a source told."
SJSU season wrapup /// looking at next season
Someone could probably do a graduate thesis on the San Jose State University season that recently concluded, but that won't happen. So here is a much briefer take alongside a peek at 2016-17.
The season of the missing point guard is thankfully over. Missing that particular element negatively impacted so many other elements and to such a degree that any numbers put up by anyone on the Spartans really need to be disposed of and a blank slate drawn up to begin again.
The good news is that Nai Carlisle is coming to Washington Square to fill the position. The not-so-good news is that he's a freshman so expectations need to be toned down some. He'll be a day one starter, in fact, he would have started this season for SJSU. But there will be some growing pains to be endured.
Guard Terrell Brown isn't a point but his blazing speed will be a sorely needed addition this coming season. His shooting consistency needs work but he'll create for himself and others by blowing past defenders. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and that's a plus.
Forward Keith Fisher's return-to-the-court status is unknown since he recently tore his ACL. If he can go when the season opens, he'll add a no-back-down level of toughness upfront.
The biggest question mark is who will be at center for the Spartans? Leon Bahner is not a 30-minutes-a-game answer and 6-foot-10 Ashtin Chastain has yet to take to the court in a college game. Has the latter progressed enough defensively to be an asset? Chances are he will shoot well enough but can he also provide a positive impact rebounding?
Having Carlisle on board will reduce the number of turnovers 'credited' to SJSU but others also must do their share in the reduction as progress in this area was not apparent on a team-wide basis this season.
The defensive effort, at least statistically, wasn't a doomed-to-defeat factor in 2015-16. However, two questions remain unanswered:
1) who in the backcourt and the frontcourt will take it upon themselves to become a plus defender?
2) as an entity, does the squad have the mental makeup necessary to progress towards being a tough team to score points against?
Offensively, greater scoring efficiency should come with additional experience. It's critical that freshman Jaycee Hillsman become a sniper in the vein of an Anthony Drmic, popping from outside and also getting to the foul line with frequency. He's the youngest guy who is best equipped to perform in that role. Senior Gary Williams Jr. should up his shooting accuracy once playing with a solid point. Those are two guys who need to provide a consistent amount of points without having to resort to volume shooting. Can Brandon Clarke at least become a catch-and-shoot guy? The ability to create on the bounce outside of the paint would really open up his game but we'll settle for more point production facing the basket as a sophomore.
Weight and strength are another set of critical elements. Ryan Welage, Cody Schwartz and even Ryan Singer cannot return next season at their current figures if improvement in the W-L record is to be expected. Come September, what the scale says for each of that trio will be a barometer of how serious they took their respective summers.
The season of the missing point guard is thankfully over. Missing that particular element negatively impacted so many other elements and to such a degree that any numbers put up by anyone on the Spartans really need to be disposed of and a blank slate drawn up to begin again.
The good news is that Nai Carlisle is coming to Washington Square to fill the position. The not-so-good news is that he's a freshman so expectations need to be toned down some. He'll be a day one starter, in fact, he would have started this season for SJSU. But there will be some growing pains to be endured.
Guard Terrell Brown isn't a point but his blazing speed will be a sorely needed addition this coming season. His shooting consistency needs work but he'll create for himself and others by blowing past defenders. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and that's a plus.
Forward Keith Fisher's return-to-the-court status is unknown since he recently tore his ACL. If he can go when the season opens, he'll add a no-back-down level of toughness upfront.
The biggest question mark is who will be at center for the Spartans? Leon Bahner is not a 30-minutes-a-game answer and 6-foot-10 Ashtin Chastain has yet to take to the court in a college game. Has the latter progressed enough defensively to be an asset? Chances are he will shoot well enough but can he also provide a positive impact rebounding?
Having Carlisle on board will reduce the number of turnovers 'credited' to SJSU but others also must do their share in the reduction as progress in this area was not apparent on a team-wide basis this season.
The defensive effort, at least statistically, wasn't a doomed-to-defeat factor in 2015-16. However, two questions remain unanswered:
1) who in the backcourt and the frontcourt will take it upon themselves to become a plus defender?
2) as an entity, does the squad have the mental makeup necessary to progress towards being a tough team to score points against?
Offensively, greater scoring efficiency should come with additional experience. It's critical that freshman Jaycee Hillsman become a sniper in the vein of an Anthony Drmic, popping from outside and also getting to the foul line with frequency. He's the youngest guy who is best equipped to perform in that role. Senior Gary Williams Jr. should up his shooting accuracy once playing with a solid point. Those are two guys who need to provide a consistent amount of points without having to resort to volume shooting. Can Brandon Clarke at least become a catch-and-shoot guy? The ability to create on the bounce outside of the paint would really open up his game but we'll settle for more point production facing the basket as a sophomore.
Weight and strength are another set of critical elements. Ryan Welage, Cody Schwartz and even Ryan Singer cannot return next season at their current figures if improvement in the W-L record is to be expected. Come September, what the scale says for each of that trio will be a barometer of how serious they took their respective summers.
Something to think about: Fresno Bee editorial
But our enthusiasm for the Bulldogs and their coach, Rodney Terry, is rooted in much more than the obvious successes of a 25-9 record, a Mountain West Conference Tournament championship and a nine-game winning streak to close the regular season.
This year’s trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Fresno State men’s basketball team and Coach Rodney Terry is a reminder that old-fashioned virtues are a foundation for long-term success.
He is humble, hardworking and doesn’t believe in shortcuts. He holds his players accountable for their actions on and off the court. Never, in our judgment, has he exhibited the win-at-all-costs mentality that inevitably embarrasses universities and communities – and today is threatening the integrity of college athletics.
Many college coaches, especially when visiting the homes of potential recruits, talk up character development and academics. But, when their big salaries and win-loss records are on the line, they ignore the fact that talented players aren’t hitting the books or staying out of trouble.
Terry, however, has made clear his commitment to, as he says, seeing “young men grow.” Translation: He is as much in the people business as he is in the basketball business. That’s how it should be at every level of youth, high school and college athletics
“They’re like my own sons,” Terry told The Bee’s Marek Warszawski. “I don’t have any kids myself right now, so ... every day I live for those guys and I live through those guys, and just to make a difference in their lives is the most important thing for me.”
Beyond that, it’s apparent that Terry and his assistants place extra importance on getting their players to buy into the team-first concept. On Feb. 3, the Bulldogs inexplicably lost a road game to a less-talented San Jose State team.
It was a miserable performance that created a make-or-break point for Fresno State. Three days later, the Bulldogs gutted out a double-overtime victory over Nevada-Las Vegas and backed that up by knocking off perennial conference kingpin San Diego State, 58-57. And now they’re just the sixth Fresno State team to taste the sweet nectar of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
Senior guard Marvelle Harris, the Mountain West player of the year and conference tournament most valuable player, is the heart and soul of the Bulldogs. But a host of other players have contributed mightily to the team’s success. Indeed, you never know who will come through in the clutch – one game it’s Cullen Russo, another game it’s Karachi Edo, Julien Lewis or Cesar Guerrero. That’s the beauty of the Bulldogs. They’re a team, not a collection of individuals, as often is the case in college basketball.
It’s 100 times easier to chart a successful path for an athletic team than it is to unify a diverse region behind a political and economic plan that increases prosperity and elevates the quality of life.
But our political leaders would be wise to incorporate some of what has taken Terry and his team to the NCAA Tournament: Be humble, set high standards, be resilient and think long term.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
FYI
The Lobo Lair: "Coming from someone very close to the #UNLV search, if Chris Beard turns down UNLV, their next target is #CSU coach, Larry Eustachy."
Stop the presses, UNLV has a new coach
Mark Anderson tweeted: "UNLV picks Beard as new basketball coach."
"UNLV picks Beard as new basketball coach" -- Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review Journal
That's Chris Beard, now formerly of Arkansas Little Rock and if you predicted this happening two weeks ago, then please contact me on Monday about the direction of the stock market for this coming week.
"UNLV picks Beard as new basketball coach" -- Mark Anderson/Las Vegas Review Journal
That's Chris Beard, now formerly of Arkansas Little Rock and if you predicted this happening two weeks ago, then please contact me on Monday about the direction of the stock market for this coming week.
Rice to the Golden Arches?
Dave Southern: "Multiple sources have confirmed with me Boise State coach Leon Rice has interviewed for the Saint Louis vacancy."
Link
Link
Friday, March 25, 2016
As the world turns...
"Mick Cronin 'lied,' told Nevada-Las Vegas he wanted to be next coach, UNLV athletic director says"
Geoff Grammer: "UNLV AD: "He left saying he would be our head coach." ... In good faith, TKM thought he was going to Cincy to tell his bosses & team."
Matt Youmans: "UNLV is 0 for 2. Turned down by Dixon before a foolish courtship of Cronin. Two-plus months to get here? Continue the circus"
Dave Hall: "I'm assessing double technicals to Mick Cronin and Tina Kunzer Murphy."
Geoff Grammer: "UNLV AD: "He left saying he would be our head coach." ... In good faith, TKM thought he was going to Cincy to tell his bosses & team."
Matt Youmans: "UNLV is 0 for 2. Turned down by Dixon before a foolish courtship of Cronin. Two-plus months to get here? Continue the circus"
Dave Hall: "I'm assessing double technicals to Mick Cronin and Tina Kunzer Murphy."
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Congratulations to Sid Williams
"The Hall of Fame, founded in 1989, honors sports figures who have had an impact on the Peninsula athletic scene and beyond. The Hall of Fame induction banquet is presented annually by the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, headquartered in Burlingame. Currently, there are more than 250 members of the Hall of Fame."
Williams (1978-1981) was a ninth round pick by Portland in the 1981 NBA draft after being named the PCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player. He also played on the 1980 San Jose State University team that went to the Big Dance and faced Missouri.
The MWC coach pay scale may be getting blown up
Jeff Goodman: "UNLV making a strong push for Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin. Been told UNLV could pay in the $3 million range, plus no state tax."
$3,000,000 in the MWC?
Who are the moneybags in Vegas supporting this push? Previous coaches were earning $700k a year. Does Cronin have some incriminating pictures of the Rebel AD?
$3,000,000 in the MWC?
Who are the moneybags in Vegas supporting this push? Previous coaches were earning $700k a year. Does Cronin have some incriminating pictures of the Rebel AD?
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Doing the best you can in your assigned role with what you have
The numbers 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 41%, 32% and 68% are not overly impressive, especially as a starter. Neither is a 78/51 assist-to-turnover ratio as a point. Now 43 steals, yes, that is certainly a positive statistic.
The above is junior Isaac Thornton's numerical production for the 2015-16 season.
However, consider two elements:
1. He played on a team which shot just 42% overall so a number of what would have qualified as assists on better-shooting teams went for naught because of errant shots that should have been successful--of course, just how many is impossible to determine. Consider that St. Mary's, an NIT team, shot 51% this season but maybe that's cherrypicking.
2. More importantly, Thornton played out of position all season. He isn't a true point--best utilized as a situational backcourter--but who else on the team was going to fulfill that role? It's as if in a sense that Thornton took one for the team although the playing time surely was gratifying.
Some may call this is a backhanded compliment but it isn't meant as such. More simply to point out that sometimes a player is called upon to do the best he can for the team with his talents even if the role doesn't align with those skills. Thornton did just that for his teammates and should be both recognized and lauded for doing so.
The above is junior Isaac Thornton's numerical production for the 2015-16 season.
However, consider two elements:
1. He played on a team which shot just 42% overall so a number of what would have qualified as assists on better-shooting teams went for naught because of errant shots that should have been successful--of course, just how many is impossible to determine. Consider that St. Mary's, an NIT team, shot 51% this season but maybe that's cherrypicking.
2. More importantly, Thornton played out of position all season. He isn't a true point--best utilized as a situational backcourter--but who else on the team was going to fulfill that role? It's as if in a sense that Thornton took one for the team although the playing time surely was gratifying.
Some may call this is a backhanded compliment but it isn't meant as such. More simply to point out that sometimes a player is called upon to do the best he can for the team with his talents even if the role doesn't align with those skills. Thornton did just that for his teammates and should be both recognized and lauded for doing so.
This doesn't look good for Stacey Augmon
The LoboLair: "Mick Cronin will visit UNLV Monday and Tuesday. A private plane will be send to pickup the Cincinnati coach"
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Devonte Klines to Montana State
6-foot-2 Saddleback College freshman guard Devonte Klines has cast his lot with Montana State of the Big Sky Conference. SJSU offered Klines in early January.
"...Klines joined the Gauchos this winter from Santa Margarita Catholic High School and instantly jumped into the starting lineup, often being called upon to guard the No. 1 offensive threat from opposing teams. Klines averaged 7.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals-per-game, playing in all 33 contests. He was rewarded with All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team recognition..."
Klines tripped to Bozeman last month.
Saw him in the state community college tournament this past weekend (admittedly a very small viewing time). He plays for a team with a very methodical offensive style. Saddleback beat Fresno City College on Saturday and Klines enjoyed 10 points, three boards and a trio of steals while shooting 3-8, 2-3 and 2-4 in 26 minutes. The next day versus City College of San Francisco (which won the championship), he tallied zero points, two boards and one assist, shooting 0-5, 0-2 and 0-0 in 27 minutes.
It looks like he could have been a valuable asset for the Spartans defensively (which would be helpful) but his offensive game remains a work in progress. He's not a point nor a penetrating backcourter (very few free throws), at least at this point. What's promising is him having three remaining years of eligibility.
"...Klines joined the Gauchos this winter from Santa Margarita Catholic High School and instantly jumped into the starting lineup, often being called upon to guard the No. 1 offensive threat from opposing teams. Klines averaged 7.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals-per-game, playing in all 33 contests. He was rewarded with All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team recognition..."
Klines tripped to Bozeman last month.
Saw him in the state community college tournament this past weekend (admittedly a very small viewing time). He plays for a team with a very methodical offensive style. Saddleback beat Fresno City College on Saturday and Klines enjoyed 10 points, three boards and a trio of steals while shooting 3-8, 2-3 and 2-4 in 26 minutes. The next day versus City College of San Francisco (which won the championship), he tallied zero points, two boards and one assist, shooting 0-5, 0-2 and 0-0 in 27 minutes.
It looks like he could have been a valuable asset for the Spartans defensively (which would be helpful) but his offensive game remains a work in progress. He's not a point nor a penetrating backcourter (very few free throws), at least at this point. What's promising is him having three remaining years of eligibility.
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