Good Season

[marceagfan5]

Well...now that the season is over as I don't believe we qualify for a post season tourney with a sub .500 record, I thought I would put in my thoughts on the season.

Overall we had a good year, great start, tough finish, but we finished 4th in the conference, won a playoff game, and had a chance to beat the 1 seed on their home court late, can't complain about any of that.

We were led all year by our seniors, both Cliff's and Laron had great years and Trumaine made an impact. The reason we were so successful was because of them. We will be losing a ton of our offense next year with the graduation of those guys, they will be tough to replace. Colimon tried to carry us last night and all 3 of our seniors played their hearts out, unfortunately they didn't have anyone else step up last night. Colimon is every bit as good as Cherry and showed it last night. Forbes did do an outstanding job on Cherry, but poured all his effort into the defensive side (which he needed to) so he wasn't a huge impact offensively.

We owe these seniors a lot, 2 straight years in the playoffs, most of them transferred in and brought success, thanks to the seniors for the year!

Moving forward I am not sure where we go. Chiverton will be a senior next year. He was fantastic to start the year, then was up and down in the middle of the season, and completely MIA to end it. Not sure if the injuries played a toll or if it was something else, but if we are going to be successful at all next year, he will need to play a big part.

Kelly was a great surprise this year. He was a little overmatched against the griz guards last night, but he'll learn, he was a true freshman and really was a bright spot this year, especially the 2nd half of the season, we probably have 2 more losses without him.

Forbes had a good year and I think will have a great year next year. He showed how competetive he really is by lighting it up against ISU in the quarterfinals and really stopping cherry in the semi's.

No one else really played a ton of minutes, Hickert can shoot it, but needs to be a better defender down low. We know winford is a good shooter, he just lost most of his minutes to chiverton/forbes/kelly this year.

I really don't know much about the incoming freshman class, a lot of international players, and a pretty highly rated kid from Arizona. If they pan out the way scouts say they should, we will be just fine.

Overall it was a good first year for Coach Hayford, a step in the right direction. We lose a ton of talent off of this years team so I am not sure we have the same kind of year next year, it may be a rebuilding year, but I think the future looks bright.

Thanks for the great year eags!

 

[WILDCAT]

It really was a good season Eags, your team had a ton of heart and athleticism. Colimon and Chiverton (sorry If I spelled thier names wrong ) were two great players. I think you guys will be a good solid club next year. You got some good players coming back.

Good season Eagles, see you in Ogden on Sept 22nd :thumb:

 

[eagle11]

I have been hard on this team at times this season but overall I'm very pleased with their play at the end of the season. They played with alot of heart last night and nearly pulled it out. It will be interesting to see the make up of this team next year with more of Coach Hayford's recruits. Hopefully we are on the rise back to the top of the conference. Congrats to the seniors (yes, Earlywine's seniors) and thanks for making the season interesting down the strecth. Go Eagles!!!

 

[Obzerver]

Pretty darn proud of this team overall and their effort last night! Good luck to seniors in their next endeavors.

 

[nwray1]

I agree. A good season, seems like progress and momentum built for the program this year. Coach Hayford seems like a keeper, and can't wait for next year to watch the new team come together. Hopefully attendance will continue to grow. Reese is such a compact venue...a full house would make it almost impossible for the visiting team!

Two questions I have for those who have watched much closer than me. Without being negative towards anyone, can someone explain what happened to Tremayne Johnson's minutes this year? A step back for him, or did others step forward? And, what would be reasonable expectations for Colin Chiverton as a senior next year.

Heartbreaking loss to Montana, but what a game. Loved the way the three seniors finished their season. They have alot to be proud of.

GO EAGS!

 

[Eagle1990]

The three seniors accounted for 58 of our 66 points last night. From what I heard on the radio, they were great. That is a lot of production walking out the door. I wish them the best. The other impression from the game was how physical it was. We had seniors in Big Cliff and Laron that could bang. Laron in particular has been a rebounding machine. They are being replaced by inexperienced inside players that will need time to adjust to the physical level of play. It will take patience on our part. Our biggest concern next year will be can we defend. The only proven defender coming back is Forbes. Hickert, though a good shooter, is not quick enough and a fouling machine. Kelly, though a great kid and good shooter, needs to be stronger. Chiverton, we all know the issue there. This year we had stoppers in the three seniors, next year will be a huge drop off IMO. Expectations should be realistic and tempered. We will be in the midst of a major transition. Shoot more, bang less. More three, less twos. Offense first, defense second. More skill, less athleticism. It will take several years.

 

[clawman1]

I'm not generally an "ifs and buts" guy but what do you think of this logic?
After the whoopin the Griz put on the Wildcats last night, 19 point win, and they only beat us by 8, even though the game was closer than that, are we actually the second best team in the Sky?
Wishful thinking??
What does it matter?????

 

[marceagfan5]

I'm not generally an "ifs and buts" guy but what do you think of this logic?
After the whoopin the Griz put on the Wildcats last night, 19 point win, and they only beat us by 8, even though the game was closer than that, are we actually the second best team in the Sky?
Wishful thinking??
What does it matter?????

I think if we played the way we did against the griz on Tuesday, throughout the regular season, it would have been a different season and we would have been in a 3 horse race for the 1 or 2 seed. Don't under estimate home court advantage, had the game been played in Cheney on Tuesday and not Missoula it may have been a different outcome.

The griz did earn their title though, they were the best team and I hope they do well in the big dance. Looking at next year, the Griz and Weber pretty much have everyone back and should both be really, really good. Weber will take a little hit if Lillard decides to leave early, which I think he will.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

Before the season started I had penciled your Eagles as the #3 team in the conference. The issue isn't that they weren't athletic or competitive, but that they really struggled to maintain a positive rythmn. One reason for that is the same thing that has hurt them the past couple of years, they didn't play as a team. When they played as a team, they were extremely hard to beat. You could tell there were some chemistry issues, which should be ironed out by next fall. Weber has similar issues at times, except it's more that the team won't play and expects Lillard to do all the work. Anyway, by next fall, most of the guys are now Hayford's recruits. There will still be a some Earlywine leftovers. Earlywine is a great recruiter, but very poor coach. He doesn't do a very good job of solidifying his team and promoting team chemistry. Wildcat fans know too well, since he was our associate head coach before making a stop off up in the Northwest.

As for Hayford, in my opinion, I feel he has done a adequate job of recruiting since being hired. Chiverton is the real deal. He has had some serious foot issues all season and has continued to play. He needs to stay off the court and get in a pool. He needs to be at 100%. With your two transfers, Siegfert (Sp?) and Crosgile, the Eagles should still be very competitive. The difference for the Eagles will be in the blocks. Griffin, Johnson, and Ederain will be hard to replace. Hayford is trying to stem the tide with foreign freshman and transfers. Next year might be a little rough, down low (yikes that doesn't sound good; not trying to be dirty, but thats what she said), but with the guards available and their experience, the Eagles should be fine.

I really like the Powell kid from AZ, 6-6 225 as a SR in high school. He has a really nice inside-outside game and will come into Cheney with a chip on his shoulder. He was practically ignored by DI schools. Hayford definite got a gem in him. Both Aussies look great on paper, you may have gotten a steal on the Hill kid. 5-9 is definitely something that scared college scouts. Hayford is taking a chance, but I really think he will turn out. From what I have seen, he has that "to hell with what you think" mentality. A guard at Weber had that. Kellen McCoy, former league MVP, not a bad trait to bring. He is as smooth as Dylan Garrity at Sac, but a better defender. Not sure about the two Germans, but you know with them, that they will give it their all wherever they are at.

Right now, I'm thinking Eastern has a decent chance to compete for the title. It all depends on how good your posts players are.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

On a side note, yes, I know too much about Big Sky basketball. Jon (Big Sky blogs fame) and I spend way to much time surveying the Sky. As for Sept. 22....WE OWE YOU. LOOOOOL. If there is one thing that I can depend on when Weber and Eastern meet, is that the game will be a total WAR. I love our games!! Basketball, football, even volleyball (couple years ago some of my fraternity brothers and I tried to hit on some of your volleyball players at a local eatery "The Pie." You'd be proud of your gals, only one of us got a number...ahh, good times) always end up being a lot fun to watch.