Speedy Claxton an Award Finalist

[Wags]

Why does it have to be one or the other?

Why does the NCAA tournament not matter as much if they get these awards? Of course it matters, and of course we all know that's the ultimate goal.

But why can't these awards also be great, which they absolutely are, and not be completely diminished if they don't reach the NCAA tournament?

How many CAA teams, how many mid-major teams nationally, don't get receive any of those kinds of awards AND don't make the NCAA tournament or even come close?

We all know what the true goal is. No one needs to be reminded of that when we are happy to celebrate good awards for the program. We should be able to proudly celebrate different levels of success rather than diminish some levels, while remaining fully aware of what the top goal is.

[Polito]

It doesn't have to be one or the other at all, I completely agree. As usual my comment was overblown and then piled upon regardless of reality.

It is great for Speedy to have been nominated. It does nothing for HU whatsoever. Does this nomination change our season? Does it land a berth? Does this make Speedy a HOF coach? My point, which I thought this was pretty simple, is this doesn't move any needle. That shouldn't be controversial. It's not a knock or a dismissal. I acknowledge it, but I also know it's meaningless in the grand scheme of what matters.

And once again I remind all this is over a NOMINATION. Not a WIN, a nomination. I mean good grief.

If this is so important then please tell me now without looking it up who won it last year? Hm? Yeah, lol, exactly. It's a nice thing. And then what? Nothing, that's what. You can frame your "Who's Who" from the 90's too, doesn't mean you're on the CEO fast track lol.

Folks, the awards and nominations are fun - it's better than not getting them! Some of them like POY and ROY can be 'sold' on the trail. Others, really don't do much, but they're cool to see. We should absolutely acknowledge and cheer them when they happen. And then move on.

The ONLY thing that matters in the mid major world is dancing. THAT IS IT. If you don't dance, you failed that year. Period.

This concept really bothers some people - go read Extreme Ownership and get your world rocked back to reality. People today have a REALLY hard time with accepting and handling failure - that somehow they were to blame or weren't good enough. Can't be! It was someone / something else!

As we teach our girls, failing doesn't make YOU a failure, unless you accept it as final, if you stay down and don't get back up. It's just a failure of an action, not the person. It's the same here. Adults that can't navigate this need correction, not coddling. Failing is how winning is done. But pretending like it wasn't failing, not accepting it didn't work and learning from it, does nothing to help, it just perpetuates more failing.

Speedy and HU have failed thus far. And so has EVERY mid major team that doesn't dance, because that is THE ONE AND ONLY GOAL. Not the awards, not 20 wins, not an in-season classic, not selling out a game, none of that - it's the NCAAT or BUST.

[Pbdutch]

I think they didn’t like my comment Polito. But, I said those awards and everything else is good and I wasn’t knocking on them which I stated. But, I also mentioned (just like you) that those awards don’t do anything for us and they haven’t gotten us dancing. And for a mid major program, dancing is the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS!

Don’t look now boys, but Campbell is up on Wilmington. Let’s go!!!!!

[Polito]

All good Pbdutch, I'm public enemy #1 in these parts, so I'm sure it was directed at me as well lol. Happy to share the wealth with you! I'm nothing but a 'hater' to some and no matter what I do or say I can't win with certain people here. I bleed this and have for 30 years. I want the best for HU - not perfection, but excellence, and I do not see excellence. Change is needed so I call it out. People get pissy. C'est la vie. Bring it on.

This is a great place overall, the guys run a solid board, awesome place for us dutch fans to convene - everyone here shares a passion for HU in their own way, and there are plenty of good peeps. Different views are needed, there's good and there's bad - my mindset is that keeping your head in the sand is way worse than calling out misses that need to be addressed to be the best we can. Again, red vs blue pill here IMO.

I for one thank the heavens there's another voice around here who is not afraid to try and <gasp> raise the bar - that there's nothing wrong with identifying areas of needed improvement, repeatedly if needed, but to some it's like treason. We just gotta keep fighting the good fight - you seem like a real one, I'm sure we will not always agree, but it's great to have you and I encourage you to keep your objective voice and make it heard.

The W goes down, monster upset, and the door opens wide now for HU - they control their destiny, just can't choke. First test tonight. Go 1 and 0.

[Wags]

Story at Mid-Major Madness on Hofstra's Guardfather (for those interested):

https://x.com/mid_madness/status/2037568278965448862

[Wags]

https://x.com/HofstraMBB/status/2046613605315981384

Very cool! Maybe if the losing streak is still going by then, some of that championship DNA will rub off to help the Mets finally win a game again.

[cactus]

Great idea by the school/program to help fix the awareness problem. Hope he doesn't bounce it!

[Polito]

Love it! This will allow me to feel ok paying attention to them again at least for a game - brutal being a Met fan, I often wish I wasn't.

[Wags]

If Speedy throws a strike, Hofstra repeats as CAA champs next season.

[triplec2195]

If Speedy throws a strike, Hofstra repeats as CAA champs next season.

NO PRESSURE..... OF COURSE!!

[stuball888]

Speedy better be practicing now at the baseball field
Throwing off the mound
I don't want him looking like 50 Cent when he throws the first ball out

[HUSID74]

Surprised to see him throwing the ball for the MUTTS...why not the Yankees? Randy Levine is on our BOD, couldn't they work something out?

[stuball888]

The Mets have always been more open to the local colleges
When are women's softball team made a run to the super regionals?
We had our pitcher Olivia Galatti, throwing to David Wright on the field before the game

[Wags]

The Mets have always been more open to the local colleges

The first event ever at Citi Field was a college baseball game with St. John's playing Georgetown.

Similarly, the first event at MetLife Stadium wasn't for the main residents and was also college sports event - a lacrosse tripleheader including Hofstra.

[Jojogunne]

Congrats to Speedy on being named the Lou Carnesecca Co-Coach of the Year by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. He shares the honor with Seton Hall's Shaheen Holloway.

Speedy won the MBWA's Haggerty Award in 2000 and is believed to be the first Haggerty winner to later receive Coach of the Year honors. (The 2025-26 Haggerty winner will be announced tomorrow.)

MBWA voters also elected Preston Edmond Rookie of the Year and Cruz Davis to the All-Met First Team. Edmond also made the All-Met Second Team.

Read through the full release. It says a lot of nice things about Speedy and Hofstra:

https://metbasketballwriters.org/news/2 ... unced.aspx

[HUSID74]

Well done Speedy...great year for the program and Hofstra!

[Jojogunne]

No surprise: St. John's Zuby Ejiofor is the recipient of the 2026 Lt. Frank J. Haggerty Award:

https://metbasketballwriters.org/news/2 ... night.aspx

[Polito]

NOW post-NCAAT this is a nice thing to celebrate - kudos Speedy, and big ups to Preston and Cruz too - all well deserved honors for their achievements this season.

[stuball888]

So did anyone see speedy throw out the first ball?
Is there a YouTube video of it?

[ProudofPride]

So did anyone see speedy throw out the first ball?
Is there a YouTube video of it?

I saw it on instagram. The Mets also had it in their IG story.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXiJAwiD ... urce=igweb