Utah Valley

[Itiger]

Here's what Randy Rahe had to say about tomorrow's game. While he said he wasn't sure about the lineup, it seems like he'll stick with Hajek for the time being. It was nice to see him have a good game last week, hope he continues to do so.

http://www.standard.net/Sports/2014/12/19/Cats-prepared-for-physical-battle-vs-UVU.html

Thanks for the post and the comments from coach...... Although I appreciate your efforts and truly enjoy your insight, I'm disappointed that coach never gets the tough questions. Its really seems like our sports programs operates without question and it's important that the press dig deeper into what's working and what's not! The Coach speak after 9 years is getting a little old. The softball questions really doesn't provide true insight into the state of our athletic programs. I'm not saying go negative, but it would be nice to know where the program is headed and why we've had a large number of transfers! Why has Coach Rahe's team not perform well against instate competition? It's seems like there's hundreds of question and all you get is the same comments from the coaches. I do enjoy the positive articles, but think there needs to be a balance.

Mid, no one in Utah is going to ask the tough questions, that's called being Utah nice! I agree that there is a lot of questions about the team, but the Standard is not known for doing anything but reporting the news, its not their culture to ask the tough questions. There is a lot of frustration that we never seem to perform well during the OOC season. Rahe's record instate is HORRIBLE! The response is always that we do well in our conference, but our conference might be ranked the 3rd worst in D1! Its frustrating to see all the post that students don't support the team... it would help if you would schedule important games while we're actually in school!! It would also help if home games were against schools that we actually have heard of before!
We all love Coach Rahe and think that we are lucky to have him at Weber, but he runs a program thats not very open. Every interview has the same coach speak..... they play hard, they're good character kids and they play for each other. End of interview!

 

[Garsideline]

I can't speak 100% to the question of transfers, but this team is young, BYU is a veteran team that have a lot more experience. Rahe has said that good juco kids have an adjustment period before being comfortable. In a piece I did earlier this week I tried to shed some light on the current situation.

http://www.standard.net/Sports/2014/12/16/WSU-s-Rahe-It-s-going-to-come.html

Rahe holds his kids to a high standard, and if they're not willing to meet that standard, that's usually where they get the idea to transfer.

I do appreciate the candid feedback from any Wildcat faithful. I know I'm a rookie and still have plenty to learn about doing my job in a more meaningful way. Thanks again.

 

[catscratched]

I think that our coaches were guilty of seeing the grass a little greener on the other side of the fence. We gave up two good players for Golden and Johnson-Coston, thinking that they would be better. It hasn't turned out that way. Looking back at it now, it seems that we would have been better off staying with what we had. Those two JCs seem like a step backwards not forward.

I hope that this will be a lesson learned. :twocents:

 

[sapokama]

I think that our coaches were guilty of seeing the grass a little greener on the other side of the fence. We gave up two good players for Golden and Johnson-Coston, thinking that they would be better. It hasn't turned out that way. Looking back at it now, it seems that we would have been better off staying with what we had. Those two JCs seem like a step backwards not forward.

I hope that this will be a lesson learned. :twocents:

People on this board have a habit of overvaluing players on the team. I think some are also overvaluing the players that left. Watching Royce Williams during his tenure here gave me no confidence that he would have made this team better then they are right now. Same goes for Fuller. People talk about williams being a great defender. That's great, but that's' not what this team needs. The numbers show that they are already a good defensive team. They need better offensive production. I never felt that Williams made the offense better when he was in the game. Sure he could hit the three sometimes, but what else did he do?

The one player who I really think could have been great if he'd gotten his mind right is Wheelright. But i don't know if he would have ever fulfilled his potential at Weber State.

We're fans, and we want so bad for the players who are associated with the team to be the best, and that's normal. But if I look at things realistically, Williams and Fuller don't really make this team much better if they are here.

 

[oldrunner]

All good points, Paw.

However, Williams and Fuller were just as good as the two JCs and they had much more institutional knowledge. In the case of Fuller, he was taller, more athletic, and a better shooter than Johnson-Coston. I think that our coaches were expecting a better defender and rebounder. I'm just not sure that we got that.

I hope that we don't take in more JCs unless they are far, far superior to anything we already have in the program. If the coaches are not sure, then they should not pull the trigger on any JCs. If they are going to take a gamble, take it on a freshman. :twocents:

 

[sapokama]

However, Williams and Fuller were just as good as the two JCs and they had much more institutional knowledge. In the case of Fuller, he was taller, more athletic, and a better shooter than Johnson-Coston. I think that our coaches were expecting a better defender and rebounder. I'm just not sure that we got that

It think you are a right that Williams/Fuller vs Johnson-coston/golden is pretty much a wash, although I can't really speak to Fuller's athleticism and shooting touch since he hardly played last year. I think Golden played a little better off the bench tonight, but I also agree that the rhythm of the team is off offensively and a part of that is do to all the new players. Right now, the offense looks really remedial.

Nice win tonight, though.

 

[Itiger]

All good points, Paw.

However, Williams and Fuller were just as good as the two JCs and they had much more institutional knowledge. In the case of Fuller, he was taller, more athletic, and a better shooter than Johnson-Coston. I think that our coaches were expecting a better defender and rebounder. I'm just not sure that we got that.

I hope that we don't take in more JCs unless they are far, far superior to anything we already have in the program. If the coaches are not sure, then they should not pull the trigger on any JCs. If they are going to take a gamble, take it on a freshman. :twocents:

Olds give it a rest! The kid is on his third school! If he had the talent that you keep dreaming that he had.... Utah and Weber wouldn't of let him go! Dixie is where he can get playing time and be the man! Fuller was a stiff and Rahe let him seek other opportunities! Let it go! :rofl:

 

[oldrunner]

It was a very good game tonight. Both Golden and Johnson-Coston played better. Hunsaker's D was taking away the play in the paint and we were passing it back out for some good looks from the three point line. Our D was good for most of the game and we took care of the ball reasonably well. Rashaud seems to be getting better and better. Our big lineup was good most of the time. UVU, at times, had 5 guards on the floor at the same time. That made it a little hard for Hajek to stay with his man. We went to a zone a few times in the second half and it seemed to keep us out of serious foul trouble. It seems that we are getting more comfortable in playing in a zone and playing against a zone.

It all looks like progress to me. A long ways to go, but progress. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Wildcat_Fan]

I think Johnson-coston played much better tonight and has potential. I like what he brings to the floor especially when the D is in a 2-3. He catches the ball at the fouline at can drive to the basket and collapse the D much like Mook used to do so well. This brings pass out opportunities for open shots. James just immediately catches the ball and doesnt even look at the basket. I like what Johnson-Coston has the potential of he just has to get there.

 

[WeberSki]

However, Williams and Fuller were just as good as the two JCs and they had much more institutional knowledge. In the case of Fuller, he was taller, more athletic, and a better shooter than Johnson-Coston. I think that our coaches were expecting a better defender and rebounder. I'm just not sure that we got that

It think you are a right that Williams/Fuller vs Johnson-coston/golden is pretty much a wash, although I can't really speak to Fuller's athleticism and shooting touch since he hardly played last year. I think Golden played a little better off the bench tonight, but I also agree that the rhythm of the team is off offensively and a part of that is do to all the new players. Right now, the offense looks really remedial.

Nice win tonight, though.

You think Golden/J-Coston are = to Williams/Fuller? :wall:

Golden has all the potential to lead this team in scoring by next season, and J-Coston looked much better against UVU. I am more than willing to let this play out the NEXT 2 years. One of these games Golden is going to hit everything & it will be rockin from there on. I predict his play will demand back into a starters role sooner than later.

 

[sapokama]

However, Williams and Fuller were just as good as the two JCs and they had much more institutional knowledge. In the case of Fuller, he was taller, more athletic, and a better shooter than Johnson-Coston. I think that our coaches were expecting a better defender and rebounder. I'm just not sure that we got that

It think you are a right that Williams/Fuller vs Johnson-coston/golden is pretty much a wash, although I can't really speak to Fuller's athleticism and shooting touch since he hardly played last year. I think Golden played a little better off the bench tonight, but I also agree that the rhythm of the team is off offensively and a part of that is do to all the new players. Right now, the offense looks really remedial.

Nice win tonight, though.

You think Golden/J-Coston are = to Williams/Fuller? :wall:

Golden has all the potential to lead this team in scoring by next season, and J-Coston looked much better against UVU. I am more than willing to let this play out the NEXT 2 years. One of these games Golden is going to hit everything & it will be rockin from there on. I predict his play will demand back into a starters role sooner than later.

I hope I'm wrong about Golden, but right now Bolomboy is shooting better from 3 then he is...by a lot (so is Hill, Gittens, and Senglin). Every one I just mentioned is also shooting 9% or better from the field then he is ( you can include Hajek in that group). I don't see him as the next Bamforth. In worse competition he barely shot 40% from the field and only shot 37.7% from 3. Sure he might be able to average 20 a game, but I certainly don't want him shooting 20-25 shots a night to get there (which is what he would need). I really like him coming off the bench though, and I think his production will go up from there. For me, I don't see his ceiling being much higher than a good role player.

The one advantage that I did see that Fuller had over Johnson-Coston in his limited playing time is that he had range on his shot. As mentioned previously on this board, Johnson-Coston's shot is off. He struggles to make any shot. This will probably improve with conference play since the competition will be closer to UVU rather than BYU, but as I mentioned before, this is a good defensive team that needs more offense. Fuller might have been more of a help with that.

So to answer your question, yes I think they are pretty equal.

 

[oldrunner]

I would like to clear up one myth that has been perpetuated on this site. Williams was not a good defender. In fact, it was his lack of defensive intensity that kept him from getting more minutes. Did his D get better while he was here? Yes. Did he become a good defender? No. The same could be said for Fuller. If he would have shown a little more defensive intensity, he would have seen the floor a lot more. Both of those guys could shoot, and both could handle the ball adequately.

I think that the coaches thought they were getting a better defender/rebounder in Johnson-Coston and a better shooter/ball handler in Golden. Their showing, so far, would indicate that the coaches may have been mistaken. That could change as these JC transfers become more experienced with D1 ball.

 

[WILDCAT]

There is a lot of butt hurt people on this forum

Why not just let this team continue to grow together and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Stop throwing daggers into the backs of young men playing for YOUR entertainment

 

[baller]

Nice win against UVU. The team needed it to boost their confidence a bit. But reality hits in 48 hours in Oklahoma. We always talk on this board about Weber getting to the next level. The fact is that we are no closer to being at the next level now than we were some years ago.

Coston and Golden did both look better last night against UVU but I've said it here before and I'll say it again. Neither one is capable of making a difference against "Sky" competition, they will be solid additions for conference play only. Neither is capable of competing equally against higher level competition such as Oklahoma. Coston just isn't big enough to compete on a level playing field with athletic inside players at higher level programs. Golden will make a nice drive occasionally, hit a low percentage of his three's but will not be a significant help against better competition. He will do a bit better in the Sky. That's just where their skill level stands; like it or not.

We have two, maybe three players who can compete at a higher level. Bolomboy and Senglin for sure and Gittens maybe. Hopefully we have one or two more redshirting or coming in as freshman next year. As long as the coaching staff focuses only on winning the Sky the team will not perform well against higher level competition. In state, that means that we will rarely beat USU, BYU and Utah if we ever play them again. OOC, it means that we will never beat the likes of an Oklahoma or LSU. And sometimes we might occasionally beat the likes of a Texas, Arlington or other similar level programs on their home court and will beat them virtually every time when we are playing them on our home court.

Like it or not the cookie is not going to crumble in any other direction unless, and until, Rahe ramps up his definition of success to include beating instate schools and higher level programs OOC.

Which brings me to my biggest pet peeve about our Bball program; playing teams of which I have never even heard the name of until we put them on our pre-conference schedule each year. Those games have got to go!
I asked Bovee why they schedule such teams and he answered because we don't have the funds to pay better teams their asking price for playing on our court. So, we either live with the schedule the way it is, which I think Rahe is ok with, or we figure out a way to raise the funds needed to pay better teams to come here.

I think Rahe has hit his ceiling and it isn't quite a high enough ceiling to scratch the itch we feel to compete at a higher level. I hope I am wrong about that because I think he is going to be here a long time.

 

[AlumniWSU]

Nice win against UVU. The team needed it to boost their confidence a bit. But reality hits in 48 hours in Oklahoma. We always talk on this board about Weber getting to the next level. The fact is that we are no closer to being at the next level now than we were some years ago.

Coston and Golden did both look better last night against UVU but I've said it here before and I'll say it again. Neither one is capable of making a difference against "Sky" competition, they will be solid additions for conference play only. Neither is capable of competing equally against higher level competition such as Oklahoma. Coston just isn't big enough to compete on a level playing field with athletic inside players at higher level programs. Golden will make a nice drive occasionally, hit a low percentage of his three's but will not be a significant help against better competition. He will do a bit better in the Sky. That's just where their skill level stands; like it or not.

We have two, maybe three players who can compete at a higher level. Bolomboy and Senglin for sure and Gittens maybe. Hopefully we have one or two more redshirting or coming in as freshman next year. As long as the coaching staff focuses only on winning the Sky the team will not perform well against higher level competition. In state, that means that we will rarely beat USU, BYU and Utah if we ever play them again. OOC, it means that we will never beat the likes of an Oklahoma or LSU. And sometimes we might occasionally beat the likes of a Texas, Arlington or other similar level programs on their home court and will beat them virtually every time when we are playing them on our home court.

Like it or not the cookie is not going to crumble in any other direction unless, and until, Rahe ramps up his definition of success to include beating instate schools and higher level programs OOC.

Which brings me to my biggest pet peeve about our Bball program; playing teams of which I have never even heard the name of until we put them on our pre-conference schedule each year. Those games have got to go!
I asked Bovee why they schedule such teams and he answered because we don't have the funds to pay better teams their asking price for playing on our court. So, we either live with the schedule the way it is, which I think Rahe is ok with, or we figure out a way to raise the funds needed to pay better teams to come here.

I think Rahe has hit his ceiling and it isn't quite a high enough ceiling to scratch the itch we feel to compete at a higher level. I hope I am wrong about that because I think he is going to be here a long time.

:nod: Well put. Some of us just need to face the reality of it all & enjoy, cheer the Rahe era Wildcats on to achieve whatever level of success they can. Nine years of history has transpired with several yrs. more likely. NOT CRITICIZING NOR BRAGGING - JUST BEING A REALISTIC WEBER STATE FAN !!!

 

[Itiger]

Nice win against UVU. The team needed it to boost their confidence a bit. But reality hits in 48 hours in Oklahoma. We always talk on this board about Weber getting to the next level. The fact is that we are no closer to being at the next level now than we were some years ago.

Coston and Golden did both look better last night against UVU but I've said it here before and I'll say it again. Neither one is capable of making a difference against "Sky" competition, they will be solid additions for conference play only. Neither is capable of competing equally against higher level competition such as Oklahoma. Coston just isn't big enough to compete on a level playing field with athletic inside players at higher level programs. Golden will make a nice drive occasionally, hit a low percentage of his three's but will not be a significant help against better competition. He will do a bit better in the Sky. That's just where their skill level stands; like it or not.

We have two, maybe three players who can compete at a higher level. Bolomboy and Senglin for sure and Gittens maybe. Hopefully we have one or two more redshirting or coming in as freshman next year. As long as the coaching staff focuses only on winning the Sky the team will not perform well against higher level competition. In state, that means that we will rarely beat USU, BYU and Utah if we ever play them again. OOC, it means that we will never beat the likes of an Oklahoma or LSU. And sometimes we might occasionally beat the likes of a Texas, Arlington or other similar level programs on their home court and will beat them virtually every time when we are playing them on our home court.

Like it or not the cookie is not going to crumble in any other direction unless, and until, Rahe ramps up his definition of success to include beating instate schools and higher level programs OOC.

Which brings me to my biggest pet peeve about our Bball program; playing teams of which I have never even heard the name of until we put them on our pre-conference schedule each year. Those games have got to go!
I asked Bovee why they schedule such teams and he answered because we don't have the funds to pay better teams their asking price for playing on our court. So, we either live with the schedule the way it is, which I think Rahe is ok with, or we figure out a way to raise the funds needed to pay better teams to come here.

I think Rahe has hit his ceiling and it isn't quite a high enough ceiling to scratch the itch we feel to compete at a higher level. I hope I am wrong about that because I think he is going to be here a long time.

Have to admit that sounds a little depressing. I hate when others dictate our ceilings!

 

[DeeWildcatTailgater]

Coach has brought in some guys that could play in major conferences over the years but depth is the biggest issue. Why do you expect Rahe to win and recruit above the level of our program? It's unfair to expect him to recruit high major talent and consistently win high major competition when he is given midmajor resources to work with. We need to focus on winning the Big Sky along with enough nonconference games to earn a 12-14 seed come March, should we achieve our goal. Last year's 16 seed was a snub if you use RPI. Also, we had 6 conference losses and only one division-1 non conference win. Any other year in the last 5 we would have been a 12-13 seed like Montana was. Why don't we play 2-3 more road money games and use the funds to pay other D-1 programs to go on the road and eliminate the NAIA's?

 

[n.ogdencat]

Best refs ever!! Holy Moses where their last names Hunsaker?