MBB v. WCU

[app97]

I haven't been a student at App in 17 years, but I must say that our students (at least for bball) have become square. I was glad to see a few (very few) enthusiastic students behind one of the baskets, but the only thing they could come up with other than the "App" "State" cheer was "Western Sucks". That sounds to me like something that Western students would do, not ours. Maybe my standards/expectations are too high.

[bcoach]

I haven't seen a game this year other than Duke so I don't know.. Is this really a disastrous situation or only one game?

[SayYesToTheRock]

I haven't been a student at App in 17 years, but I must say that our students (at least for bball) have become square. I was glad to see a few (very few) enthusiastic students behind one of the baskets, but the only thing they could come up with other than the "App" "State" cheer was "Western Sucks". That sounds to me like something that Western students would do, not ours. Maybe my standards/expectations are too high.

Tough to come up with cheers when there is nothing to cheer for.

The student support at the Western game was some of the best I've seen in the past few years (that's not saying much, but still). The problem was that the team never scored baskets consistently (culminating in a 14-minute drought) which killed whatever energy the students did build up.

[app97]

I haven't been a student at App in 17 years, but I must say that our students (at least for bball) have become square. I was glad to see a few (very few) enthusiastic students behind one of the baskets, but the only thing they could come up with other than the "App" "State" cheer was "Western Sucks". That sounds to me like something that Western students would do, not ours. Maybe my standards/expectations are too high.

Tough to come up with cheers when there is nothing to cheer for.

The student support at the Western game was some of the best I've seen in the past few years (that's not saying much, but still). The problem was that the team never scored baskets consistently (culminating in a 14-minute drought) which killed whatever energy the students did build up.

My complaint is not so much about the energy and scoring droughts as it is about App students not being very clever. We can do better than WCU and Ga Southern students. If we're going to do something classless, why not something referring to WCU as a high school or a suitcase college instead "western sucks". It just seems that we need something more unified like I feel like we had in varsity gym in the mid-late 90's. I, however, will support Jim Fox and his team no matter what.

[app97]

I haven't seen a game this year other than Duke so I don't know.. Is this really a disastrous situation or only one game?

just one game, but pretty disastrous considering we were averaging about 35 points more per game before this game and out rebounding everyone. It just wasn't expected against a not very good Western team, if you're referring to the team situation.

[WVAPPeer]

I have watched only parts of the Duke game so I make this observation as someone not as partisan as some of you --- Yes, everyone wants to see improvement and that APP should beat similar or lesser teams, However, all that matters are the SB games - these other games are essentially "pre-season" games, "spring training" so to speak --- I am sure the coach and the team want to head into conference play on a good note, but a good start in conference is really the other thing that matters at this point of the season ---

[WataugaMan]

"Is this really a disastrous situation or only one game?"

The situation: At home with a fairly decent crowd and playing against a very bad team, an opportunity to spark some interest in the 16-17 season.

Outcome: True to form the very bad team performs very bad, however, we still lose. Thus, that spark goes out.

The "we are young and just jelling excuse" is not going to cut it this time. To be fair, the season is young and anything could happen. However, from what was witnessed yesterday I'm not going to hold my breath.

[app97]

[quote="WVAPPeer"]I have watched only parts of the Duke game so I make this observation as someone not as partisan as some of you --- Yes, everyone wants to see improvement and that APP should beat similar or lesser teams, However, all that matters are the SB games - these other games are essentially "pre-season" games, "spring training" so to speak --- I am sure the coach and the team want to head into conference play on a good note, but a good start in conference is really the other thing that matters at this point of the season ---[/quote

Agree about conference mattering more, but you've got to beat an in state team who is not very good when the opportunity presents itself. I'll support no matter what, but yesterday's result will not help in terms of the fan base as a whole.

[appst89]

Yesterday was a tremendous step backward. There is no other way to spin it.

[AppGrad78]

Here's my take after attending the game yesterday.

Our skinny bigs -- Isaac Johnson, Tyrell Johnson and Jake Wilson -- are much better rebounders than I expected.

Freshman Patrick Good is going to be a special player for us.

We're deeper than I expected.

And our go-to guy, Robshad Shabazz, is absolutely fearless.

Unfortunately, our one bona fide scoring threat (Shabazz) couldn't throw it in the ocean, even from inside five feet. When your scorer (and unfortunately we have just one) shoots 3-of-17, you're not going to win, even against inferior teams.

What we need going forward is better play from Griffin Kinney, who played just OK on Saturday but has a much higher upside; get more scoring production from Jake Babic, Good and Kelvin Robinson to offset those nights when Shabazz is struggling; and of course locate Shabazz's shooting touch.

But these are all within our ability to fix. I left the arena encouraged that better days are ahead.

[app97]

Here's my take after attending the game yesterday.

Our skinny bigs -- Isaac Johnson, Tyrell Johnson and Jake Wilson -- are much better rebounders than I expected.

Freshman Patrick Good is going to be a special player for us.

We're deeper than I expected.

And our go-to guy, Robshad Shabazz, is absolutely fearless
Unfortunately, our one bona fide scoring threat (Shabazz) couldn't throw it in the ocean, even from inside five feet. When your scorer (and unfortunately we have just one) shoots 3-of-17, you're not going to win, even against inferior teams.

What we need going forward is better play from Griffin Kinney, who played just OK on Saturday but has a much higher upside; get more scoring production from Jake Babic, Good and Kelvin Robinson to offset those nights when Shabazz is struggling; and of course locate Shabazz's shooting touch.

But these are all within our ability to fix. I left the arena encouraged that better days are ahead.

All of these things were happening prior to yesterday. That's the disappointing part. We had 5 or more guys averaging 8 + points and Shabazz was not the leading scorer every game. The Hartford game pushed his average up when he scored 28. Robinson was leading scorer against duke and uncc. Good has been leading scorer, as well as Ike Johnson, and Kinney and T Johnson were showing lots of improvement. We looked very balanced prior to yesterday and the Hartford game.

[RiversRunsThroughIt]

Posts are soft. Both Johnson's need to flush those o boards. Too athletic not to. Monster dunks...or at least an attempt and get fouled. Nobody can consistently score with their back to the basket. Just like Fox said after Charlotte game - some of these shots you are just expected to make at the D1 level. Right now they just are not going in. The future is still very bright but that one hurt. Keep in mind, nobody on that roster or staff understands the importance of stomping a mud hole in Western at every opportunity. The Socon kids graduated last year.

[Stonewall]

Coach's after game comments were spot on and showed his ownership of the program and issues. I'm sick of the H.F. talk , we had underachieving talent those years. Consistently . I like Jim but the clock is ticking toward a decision at the end of the 17/18 season.

[Appsolutely]

"Is this really a disastrous situation or only one game?"

The situation: At home with a fairly decent crowd and playing against a very bad team, an opportunity to spark some interest in the 16-17 season.

Outcome: True to form the very bad team performs very bad, however, we still lose. Thus, that spark goes out.

The "we are young and just jelling excuse" is not going to cut it this time. To be fair, the season is young and anything could happen. However, from what was witnessed yesterday I'm not going to hold my breath.

I agree with your assessment of the WCU game; it was embarrassing and a step backwards. I disagree with your comment about being "young." We start one freshman, three sophomores and a junior. There are times when we have three freshmen on the court at the same time. And I do think they will improve. If there is no discernible improvement during the year...then, yeah, we definitely got a problem.

[NewApp]

Coach's after game comments were spot on and showed his ownership of the program and issues. I'm sick of the H.F. talk , we had underachieving talent those years. Consistently . I like Jim but the clock is ticking toward a decision at the end of the 17/18 season.

Who do you think we could get in Fox's place. He has about as good of credentials as we've had in the past. The days of Bobby Cremins type coaches is likely past for ASU. Houston Fancher should not have been fired.

[AppDawg]

Coach's after game comments were spot on and showed his ownership of the program and issues. I'm sick of the H.F. talk , we had underachieving talent those years. Consistently . I like Jim but the clock is ticking toward a decision at the end of the 17/18 season.

Who do you think we could get in Fox's place. He has about as good of credentials as we've had in the past. The days of Bobby Cremins type coaches is likely past for ASU. Houston Fancher should not have been fired.

Cremins was a "nobody" when he was hired by App. Furthermore, as great as he turned out to be, it took him 4 seasons to turn things around. I wasn't around for those days, but from what I have heard about BC, Fox has many of the same qualities.

Also a lot of parallels between the two. For reference the year before BC's 1st season, we won all of 3 games.... similar to the Capel debacle Fox inherited.

Cremins season-by-season record:

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Appalachian State Mountaineers (Southern Conference) (1975–1981)
1975–76 Appalachian State 13–14 6–6 5th
1976–77 Appalachian State 17–12 8–4 3rd
1977–78 Appalachian State 15–13 9–3 1st
1978–79 Appalachian State 23–6 11–3 1st NCAA 1st Round
1979–80 Appalachian State 12–16 6–10 T–6th
1980–81 Appalachian State 20–9 11–5

[NewApp]

Coach's after game comments were spot on and showed his ownership of the program and issues. I'm sick of the H.F. talk , we had underachieving talent those years. Consistently . I like Jim but the clock is ticking toward a decision at the end of the 17/18 season.

Who do you think we could get in Fox's place. He has about as good of credentials as we've had in the past. The days of Bobby Cremins type coaches is likely past for ASU. Houston Fancher should not have been fired.

Cremins was a "nobody" when he was hired by App. Furthermore, as great as he turned out to be, it took him 4 seasons to turn things around. I wasn't around for those days, but from what I have heard about BC, Fox has many of the same qualities.

Also a lot of parallels between the two. For reference the year before BC's 1st season, we won all of 3 games.... similar to the Capel debacle Fox inherited.

Cremins season-by-season record:

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Appalachian State Mountaineers (Southern Conference) (1975–1981)
1975–76 Appalachian State 13–14 6–6 5th
1976–77 Appalachian State 17–12 8–4 3rd
1977–78 Appalachian State 15–13 9–3 1st
1978–79 Appalachian State 23–6 11–3 1st NCAA 1st Round
1979–80 Appalachian State 12–16 6–10 T–6th
1980–81 Appalachian State 20–9 11–5

I agree, except I don't consider Cremins to have been exactly a nobody. He had been a player for the Game Cocks and an assistant to Frank McGuire who had led the Tar Heels to a National Championship

[WataugaMan]

Note: I'm not asking for Fox to be fired! Last Saturday was a complete and total embarrassment. If the team learned nothing from that poor performance, then maybe it's time to turn on the hot plate. However, I believe they will take that loss and turn it into something positive. Nowhere else to go but up.

[Stonewall]

HF was a choker , nice guy...choker. If you want mediocrity he's your guy.

[Budman2154]

You won't beat many teams, if any, shooting 26.5% from the floor. BAD loss and really a bad team currently. Hopefully the coaching staff can turn things around going into conference play. Unfortunately, the coaches don't play the games.