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Date Posted: 08:05:15 01/19/03 Sun
Author: JoeStag
Subject: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts

This team has the ability to comeback, no matter what the adverse conditions are. Stags had every reason to fold up after Iona went a on 17-2 run changing a 11 point Stag lead with 1min to go in the half to a 4 point Iona lead. In the midst of that was a TOT technical, which he got on Deng Gais 4th personal with 14min to go. Past years the team would have hung there head...... but this team battles, and battles.

- Delfico got hot after Iona took that lead. His 3-pointers looked great and was very confident on his stroke. He also made some nice drives to the hoop. He also came up with a huge O-board with a put-back and a foul.... but in a wild call the ref said the foul was before the shot.

- Kudjo play with confidence and and his shot looked really good.... more at ease. Something has changed. Obviously it his confidence, and its great to see what type of player he can be. He showed flashes last year, but he is puttng it together.

- Garcia struggled early, but when Iona had to put Fields and Smith on the bench Oscar wanted the ball, and was difficult for Henson and Wacshman to stop.

- Classic battle of big men for both teams. Fields was difficult to stop as he combined power moves with quickness, and crafty athletic shots. Stags had a tough time containing him, especially after Gai got his second foul. It was survival of the Big Men, as Iona big men kept going to the hole. Fields and Smith probably had the advantage over Gai and Garcia, but Stags Depth up front was definitely the difference.

- Stags outside shooting was the difference in this game as Kudjo and Nick gave us an outside presence. Iona's guards scored mostly on drives, especially Steve Burtt, who took it right tothe hoop.

- Wofford only played 6 minutes. I think he was hurt as Oscar rolled over him in a loose ball scuffle. Oscar was getting beat up a little, and he batttled pretty hard, especcially on that play.

- Wofford was not there at the end to hit any Big Shots..... But Nick Delfico was, and that was the diffence in this game.

- Interesting scuffle occurred. As Stags were in a 5-man huddle befor a FT, Maculough walked into into the center of it. The Fairfield players shoved him out, but Fields and Garcia conmtinued to shve a bit, and each got a personal. A good trade for the Stags, as field eventually fouled out.

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Replies:

[> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- STAGAL, 09:15:41 01/19/03 Sun

I think this team likes living on the edge! It can't stand prosperity - takes a nice lead, then gives it back only to hold on at the end. They didn't get rattled yesterday, were cool under pressure when it counted. Our teams of the last few years would have folded. The deep bench certainly is a major asset, as I was wondering whose big men would foul out first. As it turned out, we traded Thomson for Fields, a good trade. That still left us with Garcia, Gai, and Deng, which was good enough to get the W.

Since Bell has been out Kudjo has stepped it up. When Mike comes back, that will give us added depth. Our ability to go 9-10 deep may mean the difference at Trenton. Nick is finally shooting with confidence and hitting, great game. Gai is proving to be a monster, too bad we didn't have him against the Johnnies and Crimson earlier. Garcia proving to be consistently invaluable. Ajou coming along, wonder when he will finally arrive (Siena? Manhattan?). Good floor game by Todd, wish his shooting would pick up though. Good to see we're not reliant upon any one person, different players seem to step up each game.

STAG fans were more vocal at the game than Iona fans, it was difficult to tell how many we had because we sat on opposite sides, but I would guess somewhere around 300+. Now if we could only draw students to our home games, while that may make Truth Ruth somewhat less than a happy camper, it would help us build momentum going forward. It would also bring back memories of the 60's, 70's, and 80's when we had better teams and a stronger fan base.

One last comment, I began to realize just what a difference and advantage having the Arena is instead of playing in a glorified gym of some 2-3K, like Iona and Alumni Hall. Most MAAC teams are probably envious of us, except for Siena. We may never get their large fan base, but should strive to get ours up to 4-5K. If we can do this and continue our current winning ways, we will either dominate the MAAC on a yearly basis or jump to a stronger league and be a Mid-Major power.


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[> [> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- Running Man, 10:02:00 01/19/03 Sun

Stagal, in reference to your comment about the arena, I read an article(or did I hear a comment on TV) that a major factor in most recruits' decisions about a school are the facilities it can offer, with special emphasis placed upon the venue where home games are played. Despite the attendance we've experienced, the move to the arena appears to have been a important one.


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[> [> [> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- STAGAL, 10:28:05 01/19/03 Sun

I think so and I hope it proves true well into the future!


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[> [> [> [> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- Stagman, 10:39:43 01/19/03 Sun

Let's be careful about the 'becoming a mid-major power' and 'moving to a new league'. Let us not forget our long lost brethren LaSalle and Fordham. LaSalle absolutely dominated the MAAC for a few years but LaSalle has not had a winning season since they left the MAAC. And Fordham ... well enough said about them.

It is one thing to compete against Iona and Siena. It is another thing to compete against Temple, Rhode Island and UMass.


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[> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- Bridgeport, 10:31:04 01/19/03 Sun

Shootout in the Bronx ( almost )
The big man from Africa soared into the night sky with the pellet in his hand, a whistle blew, the crowd murmured " thats his 5th " and as Cortney Fields protested and the ex pro on the Iona bench hung his head you knew that this was a special Stag team .

Later, in the Diner, a guy walked in and said " did the Fairfield team win ? Nick Delficos girl friend is a cosin of my sisters roommate.
Everyone loves a winner.


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[> Agree on Wofford. -- GuyF, 11:24:03 01/19/03 Sun

Certainly not an excuse, but it MIGHT have made a difference had Wofford been able to give us more minutes.

I just wish the game was called "realistically". 53 fouls on the two teams? Ridiculous. Let the kids play a little. Fairfield's depth edge (caused by Ruland's past recruiting blunders) might have been the difference as well, as they had more bodies to spread their fouls out.


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[> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- Menzies, 13:15:12 01/19/03 Sun

A theory on why Deng Gai struggled last night, aside from foul trouble. He is more of an incredible athlete playing basketball, than a basketball player. If he can become a player with more instinctive reactions to situations rather than having to think about it, he could be our dominant player like Fields was for Iona. He may even have some sort of professional career ahead of him. This isn't a criticism of Gai, just describing where it seems to me he is at in his development as a player. Does anyone know at what age he first played bball?


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[> [> Re: Iona Game - Sunday Morning Thoughts -- JoeStag, 14:27:12 01/19/03 Sun

Gai was the halftime guest during the Canisius broadcast. I believe he said that 4-5 years ago he started to take Basketball seriously.


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