The problem with any comparison to the “Eastern 8” days is that the model is so fundamentally different now that it makes that comparison useless.

GWRising wrote:

View #2 today. Pretty much confirmed my earlier thoughts on Aranguren. Marshall stepped up today (as compared to last time). And it was nice to see Rougier-Roane out there and participating for the first time (for me). The other notable performers of the newcomers were Hunger and Benjamin. Both are going to help in big ways in my opinion. Benjamin is long and athletic and Hunger is the powerful post player we haven't had in awhile.

CJ was also better today. Garrett still working his way back to good health - won't be long I am told. The other returners were all solid.

Caveat: I am looking at single practices in isolation so I could have missed, for example, Dinkins lighting it up on Monday. But I am really impressed with the newcomers - all will contribute. But damn, I am a huge Aranguren, Hunger and Benjamin fan already.

To me, the biggest challenge for CC is trying to figure out how best to play everyone. I've been watching GW basketball for more than 35 years and this is going to be a team that has enough talent to win and contend if it can continue to jell and the right lineups can be figured out. You can see the pieces and versatility. CC the GM did a great job acquiring and maintaining talent, now CC the coach has to manage and organize that talent..

 
This is starting to sound real. As in…..we have a chance to be playing some interesting games come March. Keep the updates coming Rising.

Free Quebec wrote:

Alum1 wrote:

Joel Joseph wrote:

Free Quebec, I couldn't disagree with you more.
After 3 seasons, nothing to show for it. Excuses are many - NIL, transfers, lack of school support, etc, etc, etc.
Funny how we are no different from 300+ other D-1 schools.
We will be saying the same things about the next hire.

 
Way too tough on CC. He’s brought respectability back to the program, even though I think his scheduling philosophy was wrong - Lipsitz put an end to that mercifully. CC also beat the odds keeping a core group together in an era where that doesn’t happen often. Big props for that.

That said, anybody who calls him a great game manager is just an idiot. Improving, maybe, but long way to go to get to competent, much less great. Or maybe they missed the 75% of losses where CC ran the same strategy over and over and failed to adjust or have any consequences for repeated mistakes. How many times did we see him adjust too late after relying on a fire up the threes game plan and fail to change it when it was clear it was tanking? Or seeing him tolerate the repeated sprint down the court and haul up an ill-advised three with no consequences? 

I felt like he improved in this regard by the end of the year, but to call him a great game manager is comical and smacks of hoops ignorance.

Just because you can’t see the adjustments doesn’t make me an idiot.  It might be a you problem.

Nah….I’m gonna go with you’re an idiot.  Was going to be charitable and downsize to dummy, but changed my mind.

Nicky Santoro wrote:

Looks like we will be facing D3 St. Mary's College of Maryland on Dec. 22.

All things considered, I'm okay with this given the overall strength of the schedule. Also, while I'm as optimistic as possible about the Florida game, scheduling an easy opponent before A10 play, and after we might have a rough night vs. Florida, isn't a bad idea. 

https://gounitedeast.com/standings.aspx?path=mbball

 
I got zero problem with this. Three days before Christmas, coming off FL this is a glorified practice, but a good guard against a letdown vs a better team, especially in front of what will likely be a minuscule and low energy crowd. Keeps them warmed up vs marginal competition and allows them to get past the FL game without too much time off.  Pretty smart in my book.

Worst broadcasts I have ever had the misfortune to witness last year. From the mindless broadcasters who made Patsos look like Mike Breen, to the failure to even have basic replay capabilities- just horrible. And yes, I wasted too much time trying to cancel.

As I said last year, I think for them it is as much about getting in the sports data game as it is about tv rights. They probably make more money hooking up,with the online gambling companies than they do from people tuning in….so to that extent they could give two shits about what we think about their lame broadcasts.

This year’s schedule is great to me (tip of the cap to Lipitz). We’ll take a few more L’s in the OOC than Caputo probably would like, but this will be outweighed by reengaging the fan base and having the team tested and ready ahead of A-10 play.  I’m pretty enthusiastic about this year.

Think some credit here goes to Lipitz.  He knew the fan base wasn’t going to endure the lineup of cupcakes of the last few years. It’s easier to tolerate the gimme games now with something more credible on the schedule, even if on neutral courts. As many of us said, this was never something we had to just “accept,” it was a choice. Glad to see the change.  Very pleased with the OOC that is coming together.

Will reserve judgement on the big guy.. Not a great free throw shooter but also doesn’t appear to turn the ball over a lot (albeit limited minutes). Hopefully more of a ceiling than Stretch.  Fills a gap at least.

Could the guard possibly be Providence’s Jabari Abdul-Rahim who just entered the portal?  Maybe Castro reeling him in?

G-Dubber wrote:

Jacoi to Longwood. Best of luck.


@portal_updates·16m  George Washington transfer Jacoi Hutchinson has committed to Longwood. The 6’3” sophomore appeared in 33 games, averaging 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

 
This is a solid, smart move for him.  He’s essentially taking a couple of steps down in League talent vs A-10  to reset himself and give himself a chance to show what he can do on a more consistent basis. He does his job and he can move back up if he wants to. To me this is a better strategy than Jun going to Rutgers where (in my opinion) he will have a struggle and not have the same chance to regroup.

Good for Jacoi. Longwood obviously got a good up close look at him in the Virgin Islands.

I love the way they coordinated this announcement. Made a much bigger impact.