Tgr4life

Matt, Very good analysis. Just as a note in regard to the fouling.......I had a chance to talk to John Wooden before the UCLA-Memphis State Championship game. I asked him how UCLA played aggressive defense, but nobody ever fouled out. He noted that the vast majority of fouls are called on the boards while rebounding. He taught his players to go to the basket with their hands in the air as opposed to raising them once they are under the basket. It was his opinion, that this drill in practice made a huge difference in fouls during the season. I found that to be very interesting. Clearly being aggressive in the open court does make a difference, but there are things that can be done to help that situation.

Without knowing anything about you other than what you post.....you are a great fan and more realistic than most. I agree with a great deal of what you post. I guess the bottom line is now that this team has posted a good season, they need to follow it up with another. Being, as you say, a flash in the pan, feels good for a minute. In reality it sucks if it is not followed up. Unfortunately, this is the world of college athletics......big bucks....but you are paid big bucks to win.....Skerry does not get extensions because his team gets a 3.0 GPA. When he wins he wants an extension. Can you imagine the extension he would have wanted if they won the conference championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When he doesn't....there are consequences. I guess the question is who is defining winning!!!!!!!!!!!!!The way of the world.

I would agree with your outlook as this being a base for future success if this were Skerry's first or second or even third year. Being here for a decade or more and JUST NOW figuring out what needs to be done to set a base is unacceptable. They played well during the regular season and many keep pointing to that. It is true, but my point has always been....that gets you nothing....it did not even get Towson fans coming to games. Winning one tournament game and "figuring out how to set up something to build on" taking a decade....does not work for me. Hope they win tomorrow...but one game does not change the past decade.

I feel bad for the players. They played hard...competed well and never gave up. I also think with a new AD there will be some additional pressure on the coaching staff next year, especially given the quality players that are returning. I hope they play a little more free wheeling and less pressure filled once the NIT starts. It is like they say on Wall Street....the first million is the hardest to make......here...the first championship is the hardest to attain

No one said that....now that we got past name calling.....one of the coaches main responsibilities is to know which buttons make each player feel comfortable enough to perform to his max. I don't know what he says or does...but whatever it is does not have the desired effect. the players make or miss the plays, but the coach has to put them in a position to succeed both physically and mentally

Without knowing what he says to players and gets them either loose or tight for a big game, that can not be answered....

That is a great point. The mindset of players going into big games can make a big difference I assume

If you get the credit when they win, you take the blame when they lose....the life of a coach...what you sign up for

You can go through Towson History and find it littered with great regular seasons and no post season recognition. You play to win the big game. I have rooted for every Towson Team for over 25 years...but i do get tired of excuses year after year for a basketball program that has won next to nothing and put the coach on a pedestal....that just bothers me. Sorry if that offends you

What does it get you....and in actuality they tied and won a tiebreaker......thre are only three games that matter .....the rest are exhibition games at this level

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but Skerry's teams are generally real good in games that don't matter. Win a big one and then we can talk about this program going in the right direction. YOU GOTTA WIN A BIG ONE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY! Otherwise you get a participation trophy

While CT injured made a difference.....Delaware's two best players were on the bench for the vast majority of the second half. If you cant win in this league against a team without their two best players, you don't deserve a post season bid

Two concerns tomorrow 1. Tigers read their own clippings 2. NE plays their usual fundamentally sound game and the Tigers 3 point shooters have an off day. Fundamentally sound basketball travels well.

I agree and feel like I am on the same page. The key now becomes following through on what was, IMHO, the biggest win during Skerry's time at Towson. This will also change the perception other teams have for Towson and may be a little more revved up once the tournament comes. I dont ever remember Towson playing with a target on n their back. It is now time to stand up and be counted. For all of the good this season has brought thus fr, the season actually will be judged by what happens from here on in. The players need to remember that.

I do understand all of the projections for this new fellow. We just need to maintain an air of patience and see what he truly brings to the table. Interviewing for a job is an art unto itself. Once you egt the job and have the authority to make department changing decisions....the interviewing answers often disappear. Hope for the best, but anything projections based on previous actions is total speculation. Everyone thought that the decency of Mike Hermann was the answer....then the aggressiveness of Mike Waddell was the answer...then the fund raising of Tim Leonard was the answer. Let's just wait and see.

Absolutely not. You are just a true loyal fan who wants the best for the Tiger programs. No need to apologize. Your efforts are appreciated. That being said, i do think this team is pretty good but not too much more than that and mediocre coaching does not help.

any time you play Northeastern, you need to be alert. Bill Coen continues to prove how you can win games being fundamentally sound, even with teams are are far less athletic than their competition. Very few mental errors and generally exceptional passing. He is an amazing coach.

This is such a difficult situation for Dan and the department as a whole that it is ahrd to imagine. As Interim, Dan has limited ability to go out on a limb. He is Interim at a time when the CAA has made itself a much weaker league by adding three team that no one really cares about. We will not draw one additional fan to SECU or Unitas Stadium by adding Stony Brook, Hampton and Monmouth. Most fans know that but it is hard to say that out loud. If Towson has any intention of being "Baltimore's College Team", the school needs to be a part of a conference that brings higher profile and more competitive teams here...year after year after year. If JMU from a one horse town of Harrisonburg, VCU from a smaller town and smaller TV Market of Richmond can move to more competitive conferences there is no reason to believe Towson can not do it with the correct leadership.....but that assumes that the goal is to be at a higher athletic level....a question that we can not answer at this point. I do think that this particular hire as AD will be the turning point in Towson Athletics for the foreseeable future. In my opinion, we need someone with Waddell's drive and foresight, but without his lunacy and lack of financial discipline, again, based on the ultimate goal of the university administration. Just a few passing thoughts.

not so sure

Maybe a call should be made to the floor manufacturer to make sure that the proper cleanser was used. Not to even suggest this was done, but sometimes when purchases are made, a generic brand is ordered as the price is generally lower. Often times the products are not precisely the same and therefore react differently to the floor on which they are applied. Certainly seems to be worth checking out. That would also be valuable in regard to any insurance claims.

I agree that this is a different type of team than most previous squads. I don't agree that Skerry is a defensive whiz. He merely focuses more on defense than offense. There is nothing unique about his defensive style, as opposed to lets say a Jim Boeheim who runs a terribly unique defense that gives folks fits. He recruited players that were defense oriented, therefore his defensive numbers were better. We will see if he knows how to coach offense. I do hope they succeed, but not yet on the bandwagon. Too many years have gone by where we thought that "this is the year"....only top have mediocre conference teams whoop them in the tournament and despite all the talk of not using the tournament as a barometer....in a one bid conference, that is the measuring stick. Again, he has had a decade to prove it and we are still waiting....many are waiting too patiently.

I appreciate your thoughts regarding building a program that is solid beyond the goal of conference championship. You talk about strong foundations, so that we can be good for years going into the future, etc. These are worthy and noble goals. You mention this is a Skerry issue because he is the coach now....which is true. I suggest you remember that he has had over a decade to get this done and he has not accomplished this goal. The team is having a very good year thus far. If any coach coaches long enough, that coach is bound to have one good year, if only by accident. I will wait for ongoing proof before acting as this is that magic moment that Towson becomes Gonzaga. It is fun to watch this squad but there is still quite a bot to prove. Skerry teams have set a low bar to get Towson fans excited about.

Sounds like you have Skerryitis....very contagious disease

Credit where it is due. The team played exceptionally well last night. Great passing, shooting and defense. As good a game as I have seen the Black and Gold play in at least a decade. Now the object is to keep it going.

After watching the game last night and seeing the totally stupid technical for unnecessary and dumb push by #55, I was left with the same thought as every year. Skerry teams always find some dumb play that cost them the game. Without that tech, they likely would not have won, but at least had a chance. Total loss of poise. History repeating itself.