PC to PC

[billyjack]

Yeah, 5 of us have our 2014 recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25...!

[dmac80]

I say this as someone who's been a fan and admirer of the PC program for a long time. Cooley has to prove that he can coach as well as he recruits. There was no excuse for losing to a depleted and hobbled UConn team in the last game of the regular season even if it was on the road. PC was the better team. And then to compound the problem by getting blown out in the BE tournament by a mediocre Cincinnati team whom PC had beaten earlier in the season was unforgivable. I realize that the kids were probably dejected after the UConn loss, realizing that they had probably blown any hopes for a tournament bid. Losing in OT probably made it all the harder to swallow. But it's the coach's job to bring the kids back after a loss like that. They did recover for the NIT where they made a good showing. Could have beaten Baylor if they didn't have to play the game on Baylor's court, but that's the NIT . . .

I'm not trying to be overly hard on Cooley because I like the guy and know that he can coach as he showed at Fairfield. I also realize that he was relying on some young kids at that point as well as the vets, but I was very disappointed in the way they finished up in those last to games after looking like they had gotten on a roll. But he's got to raise the level of his game to the level of talent that he's bringing in. He's still a young guy, only 43, so I'm sure that he's still learning on the job. Just hoping that he steps it up a notch.

Having said all of that, college coaching is 70% recruiting, so there are worse things than a coach who can recruit the best but blows a game here or there that he should have won.

A fair assessment.....but I do think the 2 NIT wins and good showing down at Baylor were a decent finish. Also watched that UCONN game, home cookin officiating near the end made it tough in my opinion ...I think prior to the season PC was picked to finish last in the BE...

[Bill Marsh]

Yeah, 5 of us have our 2014 recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25...!

Doesn't mean much right now other than they're off to a good start. With 7 of the top ten and 14 of the top 25 still uncommitted, those rankings will change when the big fish get landed.

[Noonzy]

Well it's still a great start for basically a new conference. BTW PC played sever games last year with a walk-on as a starter due to injuries. This year should be much different.

[wtm97]

Keep in mind, Cooley inherited a real mess from the disastrous "Keno Error" as we Friar Fans like to call that debacle. The strides he has made (and so quickly) to rebuild the PC program can only be called remarkable (see Frair82's post in this thread)

Overall the game coaching job Ed Cooley did with last year's short-bench and injury depleted team was very good. Your comments, Bill Marsh, are duly noted and fair - no way the Friars should have lost the two games you point out... He is now loading up the team with HIS players playing his system so look for steady improvement on the floor. I expect others will soon come to learn this guy can flat out coach.

Lots of attention right now with the amazing2014 recruiting (so far) - he is not done - there will be at least two more quality recruits coming in - could be Abu and Terrell; may be others - but they will be good ones selected to play the way he wants to play at PC.

Meanwhile, do keep an eye on the 2013-14 team picked by many as the 'sleeper' of the new Big East. Many Friar fans are quietly buzzing about our real chance to dance this year...

[Bill Marsh]

Keep in mind, Cooley inherited a real mess from the disastrous "Keno Error" as we Friar Fans like to call that debacle. The strides he has made (and so quickly) to rebuild the PC program can only be called remarkable (see Frair82's post in this thread)

Overall the game coaching job Ed Cooley did with last year's short-bench and injury depleted team was very good. Your comments, Bill Marsh, are duly noted and fair - no way the Friars should have lost the two games you point out... He is now loading up the team with HIS players playing his system so look for steady improvement on the floor. I expect others will soon come to learn this guy can flat out coach.

Lots of attention right now with the amazing2014 recruiting (so far) - he is not done - there will be at least two more quality recruits coming in - could be Abu and Terrell; may be others - but they will be good ones selected to play the way he wants to play at PC.

Meanwhile, do keep an eye on the 2013-14 team picked by many as the 'sleeper' of the new Big East. Many Friar fans are quietly buzzing about our real chance to dance this year...

Thanks for the comments. Wish you guys all the best. I see PC in the top half of the BE and going to big dance. My comments were intended as constructive criticism for a program that I really want to do well. Love the school.

[wtm97]

The Friars missed out on getting verbals fropm highly regarded 4-star rated prospects Abdul Malik Abu (NC State) and Jared Terrell (OK State) both NE Prep players from the Boston Expressions AAU program.

Breaking news for Ed Cooley's Friars is the pending transfer of Junior Lomomba, a Canadian national who led his Wisconsin HS team to the state championship . He was the key recruit of Gary Waters Cleveland State team last year. If he enrolls as expected, he will be ready to play in 2014 and will have three years of eligibility.

More here: http://friarbasketball.com/2013/09/junior-lomomba-transferring-to-providence/