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Tough crowd. I don't think celebrating getting our two best players back means we aren't skeptical of Pat and what looms in the CAAT. I believe we have all made our collective stance on that clear. Just remember that multiple things can be true at once! You can be happy with the squad we have and displeased with the coach. Pumped that we will have a strong regular season, but worried about March, etc. If none of it matters anyway, just check out and we'll see you in 10 months or so to gather the pitchforks. I'll continue to ride the turbulent wave that is Towson basketball and just enjoy the ride for what it is.

Mid Majors were feeders for big programs even before NIL but now it’s just ridiculous. I’m not necessarily anti NIL, but gone are the days of a VCU, George Mason and Butler making tournament runs. I don’t blame the players for cashing in now since most of them will never sniff the NBA but I do miss old school college basketball when players would play all 4 years at the same school.

Understandable opinions about the last transfer but my expectations were a lot less after the Maryland 7-footer went to Villanova and we were offering or showing interest in basically the same type of player. So I'm not surprised that we landed Seck. We desperately needed a seven-footer with length that could block shots. That's who we were offering and showing interest to. Most were limited offensive players. Those who can score wind up at a school with limited funds after we paid out most to two players. Right player, right price (hopefully). Seck is not a game-changer offensively, but we don't need him to be. We need him to defend the other bigs in the conference and not give up 50 pounds or a half a foot as we did at times last season against UC Irvine, Saint Mary's, Charleston, UNCW, Elon, etc. I do like 2012's point of going zone when Seck is in the game. Depends on the team and matchup but it could be used not on a full-time basis but to change things up. Or even start some games in zone. Seck had an ACL injury in late January of 2024 so he should be 100% now as it normally takes 9-12 months for a complete recovery. Either way, he's going to be a dunker and occasional hook shot on offense. Sure that sounds like Samb 2.0, but he's five inches taller and bout 15 pounds heavier. Size does matter. I think we're in good shape but: 1)At least two centers have to be competent. Not great. Not even looking at numbers. Need to rebound, protect the paint, etc. That could also include Womack, who at 6-7 with length could be around 230 by the start of the season (he's around 225). 2)Need inside scoring. Not desperate for it. CT provided some of that and we missed it. Perimeter guys can't be on every night. You need a guy to get grimy points in the paint when they are off. Not sure we have that yet. In fact, we don't on paper. A)A bulked up Tejada, Womack and Ndefeo (all around 217-225+) need to get some points in the paint to allow perimeter guys to cook. Doumbia is the middie guy and slasher that could flourish as a third option and Schmidt could play off of that if we have a decent low-post scoring option. 3)Backup point guard. Biggest needs right now aside from competent play at center. Dylan averaged 31 minutes per game last year. I can see him playing closer to 35. That doesn't take away the fact that we still need somebody to play 5-7mpg at that spot. Cole better step up this season. I know he's bigger and stronger, but has to be better with the ball. I think he's a more natural 2-guard. 4)Find a rotation. We know the starter. Seck will likely start and Embeya will play a lot depending on his progress and foul trouble. If we're playing Samb more than a 1 minute per game, Towson we have problems. 5)Backup shooting guard. Look, CMay wasn't really a two but he started there. When Tyler Schmidt sits, you can move Tejada or Dombia there because they can handle it some. Ndefo is more of a 4/3 and Womack is a 4/5 so it means Barton or Cole have to at least show they can play 5-7 minutes off the bench and not hurt the team. Barton is way ahead of Cole physically (210lbs) but he's just a freshman. 6)Summer is all about developing the freshmen (Womack, Barton, Ndefo), making sure Embeya takes steps on the court and in the weight room (he has to progress on offense and get stronger), and developing chemistry with the new guys. I don't think the off-season depends on whether Cole can play at this level or not, but it can't hurt. He could be the x-factor. We don't have a lot of options behind DWill and Schmidt. PG DWill, Cole SG Schmidt, Barton SF Doumbia, Ndefo PF/Wing Tejada, Womack C Seck, Embeya, Coleman, Samb, Holmes (rs)

Tremendous defensive effort holding Fairfield scoreless for 33 minutes while we went to work on them offensively. Also, the bronze bust of Coach Runk looks great and the athletic department put together a nice video of the ceremony.

Still crazy that first place NE is 13-1 at home with their one loss to.. Towson. Also Richie Palacios made his season debut last night for Rays, coming off the IL. Went 3-4 with a double, stolen base and run scored

👏👏👏

Does anyone else think the "Blessed to receive an offer..then usually some blurb about religion" on Twitter is just getting so old with all the recruits? Like, clearly, I don't understand modern recruiting or college kids at this point, but it feels so inauthentic

I just want to actually be alive for a Towson NCAA Tournament appearance in its current iteration (it could go to 100 teams any year or the Power 5 could take their ball and go home). I also agree with your sentiment. Only taking big conference teams, takes away the spirit of the first two rounds. On a slightly different topic, I still always can't help but think that the goal of this program should be to play well enough to actually get a seed where we are set up for a winnable NCAA Tournament game (and may a win or two in the tournament). We have done a good job sorting through being a successful conference program (in a weaker version of the CAA than years past, but probably still better overall than the America East was when we were in it). Along, with figuring how to actually busy down the door, this team needs to be better earlier. Other than the 2021-22 (and the year we won the Ireland tournament), non-conference place has been littered with inconsistent sloppy non-conference performances. Winning good games in non-conference play is also part of being taken seriously on a higher level. I still aspire to that as well as the pipe dream of actually playing in a conference tournament final (we will cross getting to the NCAA Tournament, when we can actually get in a position to play for a bid (which we haven't done in 34 years).

I’m not going to criticize but rather suggest that it requires no great leap of logic to suggest that guys who avg’d 16 & 14ppg would be attractive to P5 programs, as well as high majors. Some of these schools have so much money, they don’t know what to do with it. DWill shot over 40% from 3. You mean to tell me that that skill set, in today’s “bombs away from 3 point land” wouldn’t be desirable to a big program? If these 2 guys had left, most of us would be wringing our hands and crying woe is me. To know turn that around and say that the fact they stayed suggests they aren’t that good is interesting, to say the least, and the epitomy of pessimism (maybe even cynicism) to say the most. To be honest, Skerry, and, perhaps even to a larger extent, Eigenbrot, deserve credit for fending off the poachers. The other thing is I think it’s safe to assume these guys got a pretty penny to stay here for another year. Not as much as I think they would have gotten elsewhere, but I don’t think they’ll have to eat Ramen Noodles after what we’re probably paying them. So it’s not like they’re stiffs who are getting some token amount of money from TU. The real issue is whether their return, combined with the new pieces around them (via the portal + incoming freshmen) will finally get us to the dance? Please don’t bother to remind me about past history in that regard. One, I’m already painfully aware of it; (2) it’s of no consequence to me when the ref throws the ball in the air to tipoff the first game next season. I’ll fret about it when next conference tournament starts. Until then, it’s of no utility to beat this issue into the ground. The point has been made. You’d have to live in a cave, on Mars, with your fingers in your ears not to have already heard about our futility/dismal record in conference tournament play under the current coach. I really agree with what another poster posted: if you’re reconciled to the fact that next season’s team will fall short, that’s fine & perfectly within your rights to feel that way, but if that’s the case maybe you’d be happier just deferring your posts until next March, when this can be rehashed, yet again. You don’t have to be a Pollyanna, but geez, sometimes enough is enough

Williamson and Tejada are back

Looks like a guy who has zero fear going to the basket and is able to handle contact on the drive. Good size for going through traffic. Almost feels like a better offensive version of Lowery. And it's fine if he doesn't shoot many 3's. If the guys we want to return do come back, that can be their job and Doumbia can potentially open up more space for them.

The first two letters of their name gives away why they will have fan support for football.

I definitely don't see an SEC player when I look at him. Maybe SC Upstate but not SC Columbia.

Too late we are already left behind. At the minimum schools are packing up while we are on the phone having trouble getting a moving company to even pick up the phone.

It does make sense and will give them a landing spot for all sports, when Charleston and uncw leave for a basketball conference. CAA football is a Frankenstein league. look at that schedule this year. Less than 5 years ago we were playing JMU Delaware, Richmond nova wm. Now we will play Bryant Maine Hampton. Campbell. North Carolina a & t. Monmouth. Those will draw the fans!! be careful with that last statement around these parts…

Positive momentum has been building which is encouraging. Dr. E seems like the real deal. Tim Leonard wasn’t doing diddly squat compared to Steve. I’m also encouraged to see we brought in a 7 footer!

Over $700,000 https://give.towson.edu/organizations/towson-university-athletics

Let him stand in the lane and protect the rim. Development really has not been this coaching staff's calling card so we are going to get what we get. One thing they can do is fix his Twitter bio and put "University" after Towson instead of before!

If Embeya improves over the summer (no guarantee) hopefully we won’t need Seck to play more than 15 mpg or so. I agree, Seck can make his bones 🦴 simply by grabbing boards and blocking shots. Any scoring beyond 5-6 ppg (assuming he’s capable of that) would be gravy.

Considering the fact we have two very good scorers returning in Tejada and Williamson, who are shaky on D, a good defender and solid scorer in Doubia and good shooter (so-so defender) in Schmidt, the biggest hole was defense in the middle. Getting a guy who can erase some defensive mistakes was crucial. I think one of the reasons, as Tejada mentioned on GCR last Friday, was getting better and stronger. From what I heard, he's lived in the weight room so that's a good thing. I don't want much from Mor Seck other than protect the rim and paint and make it tougher for the other big guys in the league. We had a short starter center last year (6-5ish) and 6-9 thin freshman backup who struggled to stay on the floor due to foul trouble. I think you'll have options to play against bigger teams with Sek and Embeya (hopefully adds 10-15lbs) and smaller lineups (Womack, Coleman, maybe Tyler). But can Seck stay on the floor for more than 15mpg?

There was a guy from California a few years back who faked his recruitment and offers and thus his signing day with Oregon for football.

"after careful consideration (my sleazy 'agent' told me to get more NIL money; which they take a %), I've decided to reopen my recruitment" #trusttheprocess I bet we could make an AI recruit and seriously get recruited at this point. 5 star QB anyone?

The ones who are 150% committed and then decommit in three weeks. #GodsPlan

Will be following and rooting for him. Had some serious offensive limitations, but he was one of the most unique and fun players to watch at Towson. We will miss having his athleticism on our team.

Thanks to everyone. I enjoyed the varying points of view.

I got it from someone who posted “I wonder if Tejada and Williamson are really all we think they are.” Some posts on here are susceptible to interpretation, but this one wasn’t. This poster has also previously pondered whether these guys returning is all that some (including me) are cracking it up to be, seeing as we came up short with them this past season, so why will this coming season be any different. Not interested in debating you or him on this subject; he’s absolutely entitled to his opinion and he may very well be proven right. What is a bit of a head scratcher is you wondering where I ever got the notion that someone had called into question whether any real tangible benefit would result from there returning. Pay more attention

Getting back to Tyler and DWill, we all know they have weaknesses and hopefully, they work on them in the off-season to get better and earn much more money at another place. You'd be surprised at what CMay was close to getting at SC and he was nowhere near as productive as the other two. Can he defend at that level and does he have decent size and athleticism for a 2-guard? Sure. Did he improve enough offensively from his freshman season to the next two years to become a Timberlake with defense? Nah. Did Lowery make the jump to become an efficient starter? Nope. But I think this summer is one of the most important in the history of the program (I know that's hyperbole). You have some variables that are known and others that aren't, where last summer, the only major question was at the 5 and it really wasn't answered. 1)Get a big man in the portal. 2)Push Embeya to get bigger and stronger, while showing more aggression on offense. 3)See how Ndefo and Womack fit in the rotation and is Chike a 3 and J. Womack a 4 or a 5? 4)Figure out who will be the backup point guard. Barton, Cole or another option. 5)How will Schmidt and Doubmia fit with DWill and Tejada?

You are thoroughly misunderstanding the post. The point is, as Seth Greenberg said on ESPN last week, Cinderellas are okay in Round 1 or 2 of the NCAA Tournament, but after that, only major conference teams should play. This does not minimize any players or coaches or AD, but rather a factual statement, that we need to understand what we are really playing for.....a chance to egt hammered in the tournament by a school that is paying their players millions of dollars. Breaking away for the Power 5 would do everyone a service and allow folks to compete at the level at which they can afford. I only mentioned the two players since, in my eyes, it made everything much clearer.

Well the 2025 Hopkins team is arguably the worst one the Jay's have fielded in over 60+ years. I can only guess the Greyhounds/Twerps game waza fluke. They're not especially common, but they can & do happen. If the Tigers' FO improvement holds up, we should be alright the rest of the regular season. I'm a bit more concerned about the upcoming Fairfield game, honestly. FU has hardly played anybody substantial. Nevertheless they are riding quite a wave. 🐅🥍 I do think the CAA men's lax is down this year. But simultaneously, I think itz clear we played a tough OOC series in early season, plus lost a key player to injury, forcing adjustments..

First CAA road series win since 2021! Some improvements from last year 4-5 so far in CAA vs 5-20 and 12 wins already compared to last years 15. I do believe that they have the much tougher portion on their schedule coming up, but did win 1 at NE, who is 7-2 and in first place.

Just to clarify

Yes

Heard we’re playing Loyola. I’m sure he’s still working on the schedule and will have more time to focus after getting the last transfer.

Nicholls Bryant Bob Morris series all done. Think Duquesne was a one off. 3 locals. 1 d3. Canada. One money game and 4 others mixed in there. Does buzz know skerry?

But, the current coach is not going anywhere. I know it, you know it, we all know it. You’re free to grouse about it in perpetuity, if this somehow is cathartic for you. We just defied odds by foiling any attempt to poach our two best players. We’ve brought in a competent player through the portal, who appears to have skills we covet. We have two more spots to fill. For once, just once, can we tamp down the ceaseless negativity? If we come up short at the end of next season (notice I didn’t say when) there will be AMPLE time to wallow in negativity, and I will probably join in, as I have not hesitated to do so in the past

What else are we supposed to talk about, at this time of the year. I mean haven’t we already talked, ad nauseum, about our woeful record in conference tournament play under Skerry? Really, what other point can be made about this, that hasn’t been made a million times (including by me) already? I don’t understand why a thread about who’s staying, who’s going, and who’s coming in has to be hijacked by yet another diatribe about our futility in terms of getting back to the dance. For Christ sake, we get it!!!

We have been optimistic for the past 10 years at least. I know they were the two best players on the team last year, but what did the team do.....WHEN IT COUNTED? Just think...if the team does not make it into the NCAA next year, we would have found a new way to get to the sweet sixteen.......16 years with the same coach and never getting into the conference championship game much less the Big Dance. Not optimistic....not pessimistic....just realistic

Hopefully UNCW will be down by 1, with May at the foul line at end of the game. We played them in their house last season so, if we play them this coming season, it should be here, I would think

2012 has pushed me to a point of saying things I’d regret.

Look, last season's team was far from perfect despite the conference record and it showed in the CAAT. As good as Tejada was last season, he can certainly shoot better percentages (43%/33%), defend better and rebound (3.9rpg). Guessing, one of the reasons he's returning is to improve those factors and didn't want to end on that last game (9pts). DWill, with better scoring options around him (hopefully), will dish out more dimes and attempt to get bigger for defensive purposes. We haven't had a lead guard have that kind of impact on the program since Devin Boyd in the early nineties. Only difference is that Boyd won two ECC tournament titles. I also hope they can be a little more vocal with the young guys (Ndefo, Barton, Womack, Holmes, Cole) who might not play a ton but will be needed to contribute key minutes and will counted on a lot more after they leave in 2026-27. There wasn't a clear singular leader on last season's team though it appeared to be Sulaiman vocally. But the best thing about these guys coming back is that they are good dudes. Not just because they are good players, getting paid, and are staying, but solid representatives of the university. I'd rather have them back than the alternative.

SBB should be in it just for beating Maryland.

....my buddy who is a die hard Terps fan asked if the Terps should look at Skerry as their next Head Coach.

Here's more on Lamothe. I think we can find flaws in everyone but if we keep DWill, I think he's a very good compliment and an upgrade over May in terms of rebounding, ball handling, passing and he's not a bad defender. May is probably a better standstill three-point shooter (ok he's better) though if you look at the left corner numbers for Lamothe, he's at 43%. Playing for the Aggies with all sorts of guys getting suspended and before that, guys like Landon Glasper were all about getting shots up, he's not bad and could be much more efficient playing next to one or both of the All-CAA guys.. Not super athletic either but finishes decently off the dribble (unlike May) and he's a good FT shooter (77%). If he comes here, he's a slasher and combo guard (2.6apg), who is a better passer than his numbers show. I think he can run the team some either with DWill out or on the floor. Not saying he's coming, but I don't think we'll find a much better replacement for May or Tarke.

Busy day. Looks like a brand new team

My favorite player just never developed offensively. Now they have three ships and potentially some money whether those 2 All-CAA guys leave or stay.