Basketball 2014-15

[scoop85]

Two of the main issues with Cornell basketball this season is lack of a true point guard and lack of another inside scorer to complement Shonn Miller.  Devin Cherry is giving his best effort out there but lacks the vision to be a good point man and unfortunately don't see any other options at the point beyond Galal Cancer.  Basically Cherry is a 2 guard playing out of position.  IMO recruiting a good point guard is harder than finding a good big man. The defense has been reasonably effective especially yesterday in the effort against Columbia which brought about the comeback (Special props to Robert Hatter for his defense on Maddie Lo).  I am yet hopeful that the team can make it to 7-7 in Ivies.  They'll go as far as Shonn can take them.

And when Miller leaves, where are we then? Probably still no point guard and no inside game, unless Stone Getting is a player.  But can't expect too much from a Freshman.

[CAS]

Miller, Cherry, and Cancer are all seniors.  Little scoring and rebounding returns for next year.

[mountainred]

This team's personality is pretty clear.  They don't give up good looks at the basket; they are #18 in the nation in defending the two point shot.  They rebound fairly well so they don't give up a ton of second shots.  And they need every bit of that defense, because statistically the offense is worse than last year.

My worry is that this is the high-water mark under Courtney.  55% of our minutes are seniors, as are three of four guys who can generate any offense.  We are very similar to Penn's team in 2012 when Zach Rosen covered up a lot of flaws. This season is a Shonn Miller production.

[Ken711]

This team's personality is pretty clear.  They don't give up good looks at the basket; they are #18 in the nation in defending the two point shot.  They rebound fairly well so they don't give up a ton of second shots.  And they need every bit of that defense, because statistically the offense is worse than last year.

My worry is that this is the high-water mark under Courtney.  55% of our minutes are seniors, as are three of four guys who can generate any offense.  We are very similar to Penn's team in 2012 when Zach Rosen covered up a lot of flaws. This season is a Shonn Miller production.

I agree, could be a steep drop-off next year in what should be Courtney's last year (I hope).

[semsox]

Being as this is the final year on Courtney's contract, I think a lot of people hope this year is his last.

[Ken711]

Being as this is the final year on Courtney's contract, I think a lot of people hope this year is his last.[/quote


That would be nice. :-D

[ugarte]

Another win. 57-49 over Brown. This season is a pleasant surprise despite the Penn State and Drexel games.

[billhoward]

Another win. 57-49 over Brown. This season is a pleasant surprise despite the Penn State and Drexel games.

Seems as if the only pleasant surprise the rest of the lynch mob wants is the coach gone. But didn't Donahue build slowly, and fans' expectations then was an Ivy title (tie) maybe every 10, 15 years?

[ugarte]

Another win. 57-49 over Brown. This season is a pleasant surprise despite the Penn State and Drexel games.

Seems as if the only pleasant surprise the rest of the lynch mob wants is the coach gone. But didn't Donahue build slowly, and fans' expectations then was an Ivy title (tie) maybe every 10, 15 years?

Donohue caught lightning in a bottle and got lucky with a freak recruiting class. Wittman was injured as a senior and his stock plummeted; Dale was undersized and unrecruited and Foote ended up here purely because of the Gant injury. I have no idea if Courtney should be back. This is a pretty good year, though.

[Al DeFlorio]

Another win. 57-49 over Brown. This season is a pleasant surprise despite the Penn State and Drexel games.

Seems as if the only pleasant surprise the rest of the lynch mob wants is the coach gone. But didn't Donahue build slowly, and fans' expectations then was an Ivy title (tie) maybe every 10, 15 years?

Donohue caught lightning in a bottle and got lucky with a freak recruiting class. Wittman was injured as a senior and his stock plummeted; Dale was undersized and unrecruited and Foote ended up here purely because of the Gant injury.

Those three guys made Donahue look good.  Until they arrived on his doorstep, he was an ordinary coach at best.  He got lucky...was offered a high-paying gig...and failed.

[CAS]

Cornell lost to a good Yale team last nite. Courtney is 47-88 in his career at Cornell, with several wins over D-3 teams.  Yes this year's 9-10 record against D-1 teams is better than last year's 1-26, but this year's team features 3 senior starters who average about 2/3 of the team's points. Not sure what next year's team will look like.

[CAS]

Donahue had winning Ivy records his last 6 years at Cornell, going a combined 63-21.  Courtney is currently 21-39 in the Ivies.

[Ken711]

Cornell lost to a good Yale team last nite. Courtney is 47-88 in his career at Cornell, with several wins over D-3 teams.  Yes this year's 9-10 record against D-1 teams is better than last year's 1-26, but this year's team features 3 senior starters who average about 2/3 of the team's points. Not sure what next year's team will look like.

That's the scary part, unless there's some outstanding freshman he's recruited that project as starters, there could be a big drop off next year.

[CAS]

This year's freshmen have played little, and have scored a combined total of 74 points in the 20 games played.

[scoop85]

This year's freshmen have played little, and have scored a combined total of 74 points in the 20 games played.

But I think the Freshmen are going to be solid players. Just stuck behind upperclassmen now.