RebKell's Junkie Boards

[calbearman76]

For several years Marist was the top dog among eastern mid majors, winning the MAAC 9 consecutive years. Over the last 4 years Marist has slipped considerably, and this year they are 1-7, including losses to Navy, Northeastern and Dartmouth. Usually this kind of dropoff is occasioned by a change of coaches, but Brian Giorgis is still there. Is this just a matter of Quinnipiac stealing Marist's top recruits, or is there something else going on?

[Queenie]

Recruiting started to slip around the time Gebbia went to American, IIRC. I don't know if it's Quinnipiac that's snagging his recruits- their styles are different enough that I doubt they were going after the same targets- but they're not getting the kids. (And for a couple of years, keeping them was a problem too- didn't they lose something like half the team a couple of years ago?)

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Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[taropatch]

Haven't heard much from Marist after those post-season runs in years past. They got a couple of players on the injury list but the one problem right now is they can't shoot. Watched them a couple of weeks ago when they came to the islands. They were not shy about trying to hit the barn wall but they looked awful -- 5-29 from the arc. Hawaii, a middle of the pack Big West team beat them 70-63. As mentioned above, you would have to think the recruiting must have tailed off since they have the same coach.

As a side note, the flood of recent mass shootings, has prompted the administration to try to change the mascot's name from Shooter to Frankie. Fans of long Marist tradition oppose that. Once again, political correctness gone amok?

[Queenie]

From what you describe, I'd think they'd want more shooters, not fewer.

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Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[Nomar33]

No by end of the year you will see a more familiar Marist. It has taken a few years but they players are there now to get back to the top.

Yes they have started out 1-7 - they are also missing some top players right now.

C, Oberdorf - starting PG last 2 years - ACL
H. Hand knee - will be good to go in couple weeks
R. Hand (ROY) - also dealing with knee
G. Vander Weide - top 4 player out of Iowa eligible Dec. 16 (will be game changer)
A. Gilmer - VT transfer playing on sore ankle

They also just recruited top player from AZ - so recruiting is not an issue. Youth and injuries.

[Nomar33]

Come MAAC their starting 5 will be

Jr. - Fitzpatrick
So. - R. Hand
So. - H. Hand
So. - G. Vander Weide
So. - A. Gilmer

This year they will beat everyone in the MAAC except Quinny

NEXT year is a year that can be very special.

[calbearman76]

Thanks for the info. It is hard enough to keep track of western mid-majors in Nevada, but info on teams from the MAAC, Northeast and America East is non existent so when something doesn't quite make sense it is nice to get some input.

[Howee]

Thanks for this info. I was just thinking the same thing last week....Giorgis was (I thought) the hottest new coach a few years back, with his Cinderella antics, and then: nada. Sounds like the future is looking brighter.

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Oregon: Go Ducks!
"Inévitablement, les canards voleront"

[Nomar33]

Well if you follow the Sooners - you know the Hand twins. If nothing else you know their sister Whitney.

[calbearman76]