Anthony Papini #51
Monday, January 30, 2012
Throughout the season everyone has grown on the court and have become better players. We're just a win or two from figuring out how to win and finish games. I don't wanna say the same things as my buddy brock so..... I'm gonna say we have made some great memories this school year and basketball season. From practice, traveling, team meals, and hanging out outside of basketball and having a good time. I've made memories that will last a life time and i feel everyone else has too.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
What's going on everyone? While I have been procrastinating all afternoon I figured I'd be some what productive today and give a late season update! haha. Throughout this season we have faced some serious adversity, and as a very young team I'm extremely proud how we have handled it. Everyone has been stepping up in practice, games, and in the classroom. We have a great group of guys here who will continue to compete until the very end and I have a great feeling about these last five games. We have competed to the wire with every team in the conference, but haven't been able to pull out the close games. This could be a sign of our youth, but I truly believe that if we get that one big win we will really go. We have been improving everyday and it's extremely evident during our practices and recent games. We played both Medialle and LaRoche very tough this past week and I have been really trying to get across to the guys that we do have what it takes to be one of the top teams in the conference. I have a feeling we are going to end this season on a run and continue it into next season. With hard work we will definitely get to where we want to. I'm excited to get back on the court!
Brock Witkowski #4
Monday, January 23, 2012
Season Update: Young Team Handling Adversity
Just wanted to take a little time to share some information about our season. This season has definitely been a season of adversity for our guys and I feel for them. We had BIG expectations coming into the season, but things haven't gone according to plan.
The first part I need to take the blame for as the schedule had us playing 9 of our first 11 games on the road. Those games included competition against some of the best teams in the area, and teams that have been NCAA tournament teams over the last couple of years. We topped off the first semester with a trip to Hampden-Sydney that included a game against the home team and their All-American player. So I knew the first part of the schedule would be brutal and it was going to test our toughness as a VERY young team.
What I didn't know was that in 2 of those games we would miss FT's in the closing seconds that would cost us a few games. So instead of a respectable 5-6 at the break, we were 3-8. And I didn't know our only senior and most athletic player would go down to an ACL injury that would cost him his career. And I didn't know we would lose another one of our top players and scorers due to academics at the halfway point. Needless to say we have been scrambling since the break to overcome all this adversity. Unfortunately we lost another game after the break by going 4-11 from the FT line in overtime.....ugh!!
So here we are at 5-13 and outsiders will judge this team on that record, not knowing all the adversity they have had to face and how they have continued to fight. Each player on this team has gotten better since the start of the year, which has made us a better team. We actually just played our best game of the year at conference leading, and 34th in the nation, Medaille on Saturday. The guys played with energy, they played together, and they followed the gameplan. They truly were focused and prepared. While we walked away with a close loss, it still was a game that showed these guys have a lot more fight left in them.
Bobby Bowden once talked about the transformation of a program. First you lose big, then you lose close, then you win close, then you win big. We went through that first ugly phase last year. So far this year we are in that "lose close" phase as every game but one in the conference has come down to the last 10 minutes. This, even with all the adversity they are facing.
That's why I'm so proud of this team and love coaching them so much. They continue to improve and push the program forward despite what is being thrown at them. The only things we can control are our effort and attitude, and that's what we are focused on. Our goal is to play our best basketball these last 7 games and see where everything falls out. If we continue to give a 100% effort with a great positive attitude, I have a feeling this group is going to push us into that next phase of winning close. And we all know what happens after you start winning close games......
Coach Strickland
The first part I need to take the blame for as the schedule had us playing 9 of our first 11 games on the road. Those games included competition against some of the best teams in the area, and teams that have been NCAA tournament teams over the last couple of years. We topped off the first semester with a trip to Hampden-Sydney that included a game against the home team and their All-American player. So I knew the first part of the schedule would be brutal and it was going to test our toughness as a VERY young team.
What I didn't know was that in 2 of those games we would miss FT's in the closing seconds that would cost us a few games. So instead of a respectable 5-6 at the break, we were 3-8. And I didn't know our only senior and most athletic player would go down to an ACL injury that would cost him his career. And I didn't know we would lose another one of our top players and scorers due to academics at the halfway point. Needless to say we have been scrambling since the break to overcome all this adversity. Unfortunately we lost another game after the break by going 4-11 from the FT line in overtime.....ugh!!
So here we are at 5-13 and outsiders will judge this team on that record, not knowing all the adversity they have had to face and how they have continued to fight. Each player on this team has gotten better since the start of the year, which has made us a better team. We actually just played our best game of the year at conference leading, and 34th in the nation, Medaille on Saturday. The guys played with energy, they played together, and they followed the gameplan. They truly were focused and prepared. While we walked away with a close loss, it still was a game that showed these guys have a lot more fight left in them.
Bobby Bowden once talked about the transformation of a program. First you lose big, then you lose close, then you win close, then you win big. We went through that first ugly phase last year. So far this year we are in that "lose close" phase as every game but one in the conference has come down to the last 10 minutes. This, even with all the adversity they are facing.
That's why I'm so proud of this team and love coaching them so much. They continue to improve and push the program forward despite what is being thrown at them. The only things we can control are our effort and attitude, and that's what we are focused on. Our goal is to play our best basketball these last 7 games and see where everything falls out. If we continue to give a 100% effort with a great positive attitude, I have a feeling this group is going to push us into that next phase of winning close. And we all know what happens after you start winning close games......
Coach Strickland
Virginia Trip.....little after the fact......
OK, so it's late January and I'm just getting to put up some info on our Holiday Tournament in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia.....oh well, at least it's going up! haha
Our trip to Virginia was highlighted by the fact that the University of Virginia let us use their facilities for our practice before going to the tournament. I know our guys liked being on a D1 practice floor. It was pretty impressive and even included a side basket with an NBA 3-point line. Of course we were all trying to show we could be NBA 3-point shooters. haha
They had the banners on the wall and then a cool montage of UVA greats.
We used the practice floor instead of the main floor because UVA had a women's basketball tournament going on. However, they walked us out through the main floor and the guys got to see what it would be like to be an ACC player walking out onto the floor.
After playing Hampden-Sydney, which was NO DOUBT the best team we play all year, we stopped at a local place, Macado's, to have some food. My Dad had been there for lunch and recommended it to us. He said they had a heated.....yes, he did say heated.....outdoor patio that we could eat at. Well, techinically there was heat coming out of the heaters, but it wasn't exactly as heated as we thought! haha But it was still good food and a good time. And we especially appreciated the support from one of the local women who was completely enjoying her birthday party, which was highlighted by a lap dance by her friend. I'm guessing if we go back to Virginia that our guys will insist on going back to Macado's and convincing someone that it is one of their birthdays : )
All in all it was a great trip for our guys as they played against some great competition and enjoyed so fun experiences along the way. Definitely a trip we would be interested in doing again. I'm a big fan of these trips regardless because they seem to bond a team even tighter than it was, and this was no exception.
Next year we are returning to Bluffton, Ohio to open up their new facility and play against one of our former assistant coaches, which should be a blast. Plus we are planning a big trip to either Vegas or San Antonio. So it should be another great year of trips next year too!
Coach Strickland
Our trip to Virginia was highlighted by the fact that the University of Virginia let us use their facilities for our practice before going to the tournament. I know our guys liked being on a D1 practice floor. It was pretty impressive and even included a side basket with an NBA 3-point line. Of course we were all trying to show we could be NBA 3-point shooters. haha
They had the banners on the wall and then a cool montage of UVA greats.
We used the practice floor instead of the main floor because UVA had a women's basketball tournament going on. However, they walked us out through the main floor and the guys got to see what it would be like to be an ACC player walking out onto the floor.
After playing Hampden-Sydney, which was NO DOUBT the best team we play all year, we stopped at a local place, Macado's, to have some food. My Dad had been there for lunch and recommended it to us. He said they had a heated.....yes, he did say heated.....outdoor patio that we could eat at. Well, techinically there was heat coming out of the heaters, but it wasn't exactly as heated as we thought! haha But it was still good food and a good time. And we especially appreciated the support from one of the local women who was completely enjoying her birthday party, which was highlighted by a lap dance by her friend. I'm guessing if we go back to Virginia that our guys will insist on going back to Macado's and convincing someone that it is one of their birthdays : )
All in all it was a great trip for our guys as they played against some great competition and enjoyed so fun experiences along the way. Definitely a trip we would be interested in doing again. I'm a big fan of these trips regardless because they seem to bond a team even tighter than it was, and this was no exception.
Next year we are returning to Bluffton, Ohio to open up their new facility and play against one of our former assistant coaches, which should be a blast. Plus we are planning a big trip to either Vegas or San Antonio. So it should be another great year of trips next year too!
Coach Strickland
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