Flying Dutchmen Fans

I am in agreement with the passionate criticism and disappointment. We all knew they weren't going anywhere this year but most of us thought they would be playing today instead of finishing 9th (UD is 8th as far as I'm concerned). 9th is not slightly lower than the prediction, is almost last. That's not acceptable in year 4!!!

Change is needed by this staff - that is obvious. Need to be bigger, deeper and tougher - we all know that. The question is can JM change? I seem to remember a coach coming to NY over a decade ago who was very set in his ways and believed his way was the only way. He wasn't having a lot of success at the level he was coaching at and then something clicked and he FINALLY tried something different. Lo and behold, he ended up winning two championships and a big reason for that was his willingness to adapt. He has been very open about it ever since. Any way we can get JM on the phone with Tom Coughlin?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

dutchiedoright wrote:Because the program was DOA

Because no recruit would ever sign with a lame duck coach

Because 70 wins in 3 years

Because he got us a home game with Kentucky

Because he got us a home game with Villanova

He's the Skip Prosser Award winner

Because, because, because....

You are wearing me out with this nonesense

Touché! Be careful what you wish for...

Pride97 wrote:I am in agreement with the passionate criticism and disappointment. We all knew they weren't going anywhere this year but most of us thought they would be playing today instead of finishing 9th (UD is 8th as far as I'm concerned). 9th is not slightly lower than the prediction, is almost last. That's not acceptable in year 4!!!

Change is needed by this staff - that is obvious. Need to be bigger, deeper and tougher - we all know that. The question is can JM change? I seem to remember a coach coming to NY over a decade ago who was very set in his ways and believed his way was the only way. He wasn't having a lot of success at the level he was coaching at and then something clicked and he FINALLY tried something different. Lo and behold, he ended up winning two championships and a big reason for that was his willingness to adapt. He has been very open about it ever since. Any way we can get JM on the phone with Tom Coughlin?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tom Coughlin was exactly who I was thinking about when I talked about soul searching. If he was able to change, why not Joe?

I think Joe is overall a good coach, slightly above-average. We have enough data to draw these conclusions, and I think Joe's about what you can reasonably expect from a mid-major team. Jay Wright ain't walking through that door. He also seems like a great guy, which is a plus.

That said, it's frustrating that the issues that pestered Joe's teams at Niagara have resurfaced so obviously at Hofstra. Issues in depth, almost total defensive incompetence regardless of personnel, a propensity to get content at chucking threes at the basket--I hoped that Joe, having overachieved at Niagara, would do even better at Hofstra given the resources, but so far that hasn't really been true. The team has had some great moments, but largely propelled by the Niagara transfers.

I am not in the "Fire Joe" column by any means, and it's silly to think you can cut a coach for a bad, injury-riddled year after two excellent ones. We aren't Kansas and we can't pick up any coach we want. Joe offers competence and stability because we know he isn't going to bolt, and overall he produces decent results. That said, I would be greatly relieved if Joe just re-examined some things in the offseason from an X's and O's standpoint, especially on the defensive end.

dutchiedoright wrote:
Because 70 wins in 3 years

Not sure where you are getting that from. He won 20 (against one of the weakest D-1 schedules in the country) in 2014, 24 wins last year and 15 this year. 70 would be impressive, but it's really 59. And if we take out non D-1 wins, it's probably 56.

RollPride15 wrote:I think Joe is overall a good coach, slightly above-average. We have enough data to draw these conclusions, and I think Joe's about what you can reasonably expect from a mid-major team. Jay Wright ain't walking through that door. He also seems like a great guy, which is a plus.

That said, it's frustrating that the issues that pestered Joe's teams at Niagara have resurfaced so obviously at Hofstra. Issues in depth, almost total defensive incompetence regardless of personnel, a propensity to get content at chucking threes at the basket--I hoped that Joe, having overachieved at Niagara, would do even better at Hofstra given the resources, but so far that hasn't really been true. The team has had some great moments, but largely propelled by the Niagara transfers.

I am not in the "Fire Joe" column by any means, and it's silly to think you can cut a coach for a bad, injury-riddled year after two excellent ones. We aren't Kansas and we can't pick up any coach we want. Joe offers competence and stability because we know he isn't going to bolt, and overall he produces decent results. That said, I would be greatly relieved if Joe just re-examined some things in the offseason from an X's and O's standpoint, especially on the defensive end.

I have been trying to word it better myself, but you have said my exact thoughts. Hit the nail on the head and couldn't agree more.

Jordan wrote:

RollPride15 wrote:I think Joe is overall a good coach, slightly above-average. We have enough data to draw these conclusions, and I think Joe's about what you can reasonably expect from a mid-major team. Jay Wright ain't walking through that door. He also seems like a great guy, which is a plus.

That said, it's frustrating that the issues that pestered Joe's teams at Niagara have resurfaced so obviously at Hofstra. Issues in depth, almost total defensive incompetence regardless of personnel, a propensity to get content at chucking threes at the basket--I hoped that Joe, having overachieved at Niagara, would do even better at Hofstra given the resources, but so far that hasn't really been true. The team has had some great moments, but largely propelled by the Niagara transfers.

I am not in the "Fire Joe" column by any means, and it's silly to think you can cut a coach for a bad, injury-riddled year after two excellent ones. We aren't Kansas and we can't pick up any coach we want. Joe offers competence and stability because we know he isn't going to bolt, and overall he produces decent results. That said, I would be greatly relieved if Joe just re-examined some things in the offseason from an X's and O's standpoint, especially on the defensive end.

I have been trying to word it better myself, but you have said my exact thoughts. Hit the nail on the head and couldn't agree more.

This is definitely where I am at as well.

In addition I believe the coach pretty much answers any e-mail sent to him by a supporter. So anyone probably could give him some coaching advise or recommendations and I am sure he would at least read it. Granted I don't expect him to be taking advice from fans but it is at least a way to get an idea in his head.

So I guess you guys are adding King Rice of Monmouth to the "A List" of horrible coaches after Monmouth blew something like a 17 point lead in the semis against Siena, who by the way our "horrible" coach beat in December.

We have to replace 70+ minutes that we're losing from Powers and Bernardi. I think a healthy Buie and Jalen Ray could fill some of that, Trueheart in the frontcourt as well.

If Joe could bring in two more recruits, a PG and a Forward, I think we will be in good shape. I don't want to write off Greer off yet as well, he flashed some potential, but was ultimately too inconsistent to be trusted as a starter, which was the correct call, but getting cut out of the rotation was a bit too extreme in my opinion. Hopefully we can get 10-15 each from Robinson and Greer next year, as energy defenders off the bench, who could knock down a 3 and crash the boards a bit.

Joe's not on the hot seat, it's a ridiculous thought. I've been highly critical of how the Coaching Staff doesn't seem to have enough players to run the system they use properly, and how the rotation gets too tight as the season progresses and it hurts our defense. I think those are fixable issues that doesn't warrant the staff being fired, or even being put on the hot seat this year. I think what gets everybody frustrated is that these are seen as old habits, and we've had the same deficiencies in the four seasons of the Mihalich coaching staff, limited evolution. That's not particularly uncommon in mid-major basketball, but the CAA is really tough, the winner is almost always a deep, balanced team, which isn't necessarily the case in the MAAC, or NEC level conferences.

Some evolution will go a long way when you have a guy who can score 25+ every game. Get the recruits, extend the bench, don't worry about fouling out. We could be back in that title game next year.

I agree but those are a lot of IFs

HUSID80 wrote:So I guess you guys are adding King Rice of Monmouth to the "A List" of horrible coaches after Monmouth blew something like a 17 point lead in the semis against Siena, who by the way our "horrible" coach beat in December.

If Hofstra went 27-5 this year and then blew a 17 point lead in the CAA semifinals to lets say William and Mary, I think we would have a different reaction. Certainly we would be upset and heart broken, but it would be a different type of emotion because look at the big picture, that scenario versus our reality which was 17 losses, 8th place finish, lost play in game to a 9 seed. I would say the team underachieved big time whereas Monmouth had a great season and just got picked off in the tournament.

I never said I wanted Joe fired. I clearly stated I am giving him 1 more year. If next year the team underachieves this badly again, I will definitely say it is time to go. I think the team on paper is already constructed better for next year with a true PG in Buie who can run the offense correctly and play strong defense along with a 6' 8 forward who can contribute at the 4 in Trueheart. I will go under the assumption that Joe will get the most out of these 2 players and if we don't see that, it could be another long season.

And I also hope he makes some changes to his coaching strategy and recruiting strategy. I think we would be helped to have a pure X's and O's coach on the staff and also recruit a defensive specialist like a Malik Nichols, who can come in and situationally attempt to shut down the opposing team's best player or hot hand on that given night, which has been a major problem for us the last 4 years.

The administration does not care whether the men's basketball team ever makes it back to the NCAA tournament.

Wow Jojo. never heard you this negative about the university. usually its myself or Polito spouting about the administration not caring.

Dooku25 wrote:

HUSID80 wrote:So I guess you guys are adding King Rice of Monmouth to the "A List" of horrible coaches after Monmouth blew something like a 17 point lead in the semis against Siena, who by the way our "horrible" coach beat in December.

If Hofstra went 27-5 this year and then blew a 17 point lead in the CAA semifinals to lets say William and Mary, I think we would have a different reaction. Certainly we would be upset and heart broken, but it would be a different type of emotion because look at the big picture, that scenario versus our reality which was 17 losses, 8th place finish, lost play in game to a 9 seed. I would say the team underachieved big time whereas Monmouth had a great season and just got picked off in the tournament.

I never said I wanted Joe fired. I clearly stated I am giving him 1 more year. If next year the team underachieves this badly again, I will definitely say it is time to go. I think the team on paper is already constructed better for next year with a true PG in Buie who can run the offense correctly and play strong defense along with a 6' 8 forward who can contribute at the 4 in Trueheart. I will go under the assumption that Joe will get the most out of these 2 players and if we don't see that, it could be another long season.

And I also hope he makes some changes to his coaching strategy and recruiting strategy. I think we would be helped to have a pure X's and O's coach on the staff and also recruit a defensive specialist like a Malik Nichols, who can come in and situationally attempt to shut down the opposing team's best player or hot hand on that given night, which has been a major problem for us the last 4 years.

Joe is going nowhere. He has demonstrated his ability to turn this program around and run a tight ship. He has recruited some outstanding young talent in the likes of JWF and Pemberton, has a top recruit on the way and knows EXACTLY what he needs to do to get us back into the thick of the CAA discussion next year. He is a veteran who has been through the wars before; the ups and downs of mid major college basketball, he has come back from losing seasons to win Conference championships, go the NCAA's and the NIT.

I, along with most, including the administration, are VERY comfortable with Joe at the helm for many years to come.

First off, what JM did at Niagara is meaningless today in the CAA, so let's please stop talking about what he did there X years ago.

Second, I never said fire him. I said he has failed and is a bust as a HC at this stage. My stance is win next year or be gone.

Third:
- King has been to the NCAAT with his current team/conf. King 1, JM 0.
- King has gained NATIONAL exposure, attention, and respect by beating the likes of UCLA, Notre Dame, USC, Georgetown, Rutgers, Army, Memphis, and Princeton in the last 2 yrs alone. King 2, JM 0.
- Monmouth will also STILL go to the NIT this year. King 3, JM 0.
- Monmouth became the first team in MAAC history to win 18 league games. King 4, JM 0 (JM's CAA history is blowing more leads than anyone else)
- King has already beaten JM head to head. King 5, JM 0.

Funny enough, I predicted Robinson and Monmouth would have a slightly tougher year - they still had a super year, but this was a failure of a loss for them, no question. And I guarentee they will be the first to say so.

Iona is sickening isn't it Stu? Once again Tim Cluess is playing for yet another trip to the dance. Man, what is it like?? Cluess is CRUSHING JM in terms of performance and value. It's a joke. Makes a lot less than JM too - most mid HC's do. You nailed it, a helluva lot of BIG 'IF's in the Mihalich corner right now.


HUSID, I am really surprised and saddened by your complete disregard for failure and acceptance of underachieving mediocrity. I thought we had higher standards around here, and esp thought you would be much more firm in what $650k a year is on the hook to produce with both your AD and business background.

This is NOT ok HUSID. Every other HU HC is literally dying financially, and this guy is held to NO expectations of winning for that salary?? Are we serious??

So JM knows how to get HU back in the CAA 'discussion'??? That is not good enough. And who are these 'most' people you are speaking of, and for? There's 1500 people in the stands, who are you referring to that are all so ok with losing? A few of the bigger doners? No argument there. That's part of the problem. But it's definitely not MOST people.

And let's be clear, JM has not yet shown he knows how to get HU to the dance. That is not proven until he does so IN THE CAA.

He absolutely can recruit, you know I'm fully on board with that. But he has squandered every bit of it thus far.

I will continue to lead a front of higher expectations, higher ROI, and make noise as needed. And I will do so alone if necessary. Our mission is to make an IMPACT, not to blindly follow some coach because he's a good guy. Wow, this sounds so eerily familiar to lax, doesn't it? That should scare everyone here.

I think some of you misunderstand the point of DUTCH NATION: this group is to make an impact and to advance HOFSTRA ATHLETICS, and HOFSTRA BASKETBALL in particular, NOT some HC. This group is not here to advance the career of Mihalich - if that's what any of you want and care about, that's fine, but do it on your own.

HU HOOPS is WAY more important than Joe Mihalich. Just like UNC was bigger than Dean Smith, Kansas than Roy Williams, UConn than Jim Calhoun, Virginia Tech football bigger than Frank Beamer, etc. etc. etc. The PROGRAM ALWAYS TAKES PRIORITY. Any of you who put him, or ANY HC, before the program can take a hike.

#LONGLIVEHUHOOPS

PS:

I have officially updated the title of this thread to more accurately reflect my stance. Generalizing him as a bust is not exactly what was meant, and since some of you have not put your big boy D1 pants on yet, allow me to clarify:

- He has righted the ship, an admirable task that he deserves, and receives, full credit for.
- He runs a very clean program, nothing to brush over.
- He has improved SOME OOC opponents and brought a few very cool games to the schedule. Overall SOS usually stinks though.
- He recruits very strong talent IMO, never an issue there with me.

Not sure how good a guy he is, I assume pretty decent. He does come off really arrogant in interviews though. Actually find his snarky behavior very annoying and condescending to the people taking the time to speak with him. God forbid anyone ask him a question about something that's not perfect with his team - speaks to lack of accountability and feeling of untouchable-ness.

And IMO his on court antics have become an embarrassment to himself AND to this university. That sh!t needs to stop. Like watching a 4 yr old out there - and that's insulting to most 4 yr olds I know.


>>> But there is at least 1 thing for SURE, he cannot coach worth a lick. And for that, he is a bust.

And there will be no adjusting, no apologizing, and no backing down from that - and it is entirely up to JM to PROVE OTHERWISE NEXT YEAR. And he will either show he's got what it takes to adjust and WIN, or he will cement his underachieving reputation at HU.

Not up to me, so nothing to be mad at me about. All up to him. Godspeed JM, I truly hope you grow through this to something great.

Polito wrote:First off, what JM did at Niagara is meaningless today in the CAA, so let's please stop talking about what he did there X years ago.

Second, I never said fire him. I said he has failed and is a bust as a HC at this stage. My stance is win next year or be gone.

Third:
- King has been to the NCAAT with his current team/conf. King 1, JM 0.
- King has gained NATIONAL exposure, attention, and respect by beating the likes of UCLA, Notre Dame, USC, Georgetown, Rutgers, Army, Memphis, and Princeton in the last 2 yrs alone. King 2, JM 0.
- Monmouth will also STILL go to the NIT this year. King 3, JM 0.
- Monmouth became the first team in MAAC history to win 18 league games. King 4, JM 0 (JM's CAA history is blowing more leads than anyone else)
- King has already beaten JM head to head. King 5, JM 0.

Funny enough, I predicted Robinson and Monmouth would have a slightly tougher year - they still had a super year, but this was a failure of a loss for them, no question. And I guarentee they will be the first to say so.

Iona is sickening isn't it Stu? Once again Tim Cluess is playing for yet another trip to the dance. Man, what is it like?? Cluess is CRUSHING JM in terms of performance and value. It's a joke. Makes a lot less than JM too - most mid HC's do. You nailed it, a helluva lot of BIG 'IF's in the Mihalich corner right now.


HUSID, I am really surprised and saddened by your complete disregard for failure and acceptance of underachieving mediocrity. I thought we had higher standards around here, and esp thought you would be much more firm in what $650k a year is on the hook to produce with both your AD and business background.

This is NOT ok HUSID. Every other HU HC is literally dying financially, and this guy is held to NO expectations of winning for that salary?? Are we serious??

So JM knows how to get HU back in the CAA 'discussion'??? That is not good enough. And who are these 'most' people you are speaking of, and for? There's 1500 people in the stands, who are you referring to that are all so ok with losing? A few of the bigger doners? No argument there. That's part of the problem. But it's definitely not MOST people.

And let's be clear, JM has not yet shown he knows how to get HU to the dance. That is not proven until he does so IN THE CAA.

He absolutely can recruit, you know I'm fully on board with that. But he has squandered every bit of it thus far.

I will continue to lead a front of higher expectations, higher ROI, and make noise as needed. And I will do so alone if necessary. Our mission is to make an IMPACT, not to blindly follow some coach because he's a good guy. Wow, this sounds so eerily familiar to lax, doesn't it? That should scare everyone here.

I think some of you misunderstand the point of DUTCH NATION: this group is to make an impact and to advance HOFSTRA ATHLETICS, and HOFSTRA BASKETBALL in particular, NOT some HC. This group is not here to advance the career of Mihalich - if that's what any of you want and care about, that's fine, but do it on your own.

HU HOOPS is WAY more important than Joe Mihalich. Just like UNC was bigger than Dean Smith, Kansas than Roy Williams, UConn than Jim Calhoun, Virginia Tech football bigger than Frank Beamer, etc. etc. etc. The PROGRAM ALWAYS TAKES PRIORITY. Any of you who put him, or ANY HC, before the program can take a hike.

#LONGLIVEHUHOOPS

King Rice and Monmouth have NOT been to the NCAA Tournament...a bridesmaid the last two years in a row and sorry Polito but it DOES matter what he did at Niagara, it's called a Track Record...that is why he was hired to FIX our program, because HE HAS DONE IT BEFORE!

Ok - lets look at the Track Record. We all understand that teams have good years and bad years, but good programs with good coaches have many more good years than bad.

JM had a good string of years prior to 2010. With such a reputation, you would expect him to keep improving the program or at least continuing to be a leader in his division. So lets look at the record from 2008-2009 to the point where he left.
26 and 9 2008-2009
18 and 15 2009-2010
9 and 23 2010-2011
14 and 19 2011-2012
19 and 14 2012-2013

Record over last 5 years at Niagara was 86W and 86L. If he was so good from 2000 - 2008, how come the team was ok, at best, over his last 5 years. And lets not forget, this was in the MAAC, not a ninth or tenth rated D1 conference like the CAA.

Now I'm not totally bashing JM who has by most measures had a successful coaching career. I just have not seen him getting the most out of the talent he has on the roster and the success in coaching between tip-off and the buzzer.

Based off of what HUSID is saying, I liken that to Bruiser Flint at Drexel. He was a good coach, a great man, never danced there though.

Joe took what that idiot Cassara did here, and flipped the script. He took us from an embarrassment to respectable. For that, I am happy. I will say though, I will not be happy if he doesn't dance in the near future. This is New York City, failure to recruit top level talent on the mid major scale is unacceptable. It's his time to land a star like Rivera, Stokes, Jenkins, even Uter. Those teams were cohesive units. This years team was just a mixture of bad basketball, and no cohesion.

I am happy with JWF, he seems to be a bright light on our team. Hopefully Eli builds on the positive year he had this year. My gripe is with Bernardi and Rok. Bernardi overachieved early here. He was never a great player, but shot lights out. You don't take lemons and make lemonade all the time. With Rok though, I don't understand. How did he regress so much? What the heck happened? He sucked offensively this year, he was in foul trouble the entire year, he shot worse then the percentage of friends and family discount at Macy's, and he looked gassed every moment of the game. No leadership skills what so ever. He needs to have a GREAT senior year.

Michalich needs to stop getting T'ed up and start in game coaching a bit better. I have faith, this was a bad year, but 365 days ago, sitting in a Baltimore area bar with some of the posters from here drinking a few before the game was the bees knees.

Next year might be our year.

Roll Pride

We should know a lot more about the HU program and where it is headed over the next 90 days...it is put up or shut up for JAM and staff as they must come thru with remaining scholarships