Extra Point: Schmidt's work-in-progress calls for patience
Charlie Specht
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Sports
Wednesday's 84-64 home loss to No. 15/13 Xavier might have disappointed fans of the men's basketball team. After watching the team put up an impressive 9-4 non-conference record going into the winter break, students were understandably hungry to see that early season success translate to conference wins.
With a win at Fordham to open the Atlantic 10 slate, followed by two disappointing losses to Duquesne and Saint Joseph's that were book-ended by a comeback victory at Richmond, Wednesday's game was the Bonnies' first chance to see how they stack up on a national level.
After a 20-point loss that seemed more like a 30-point shellacking, the Bonnies obviously had some questions to answer. Star forward Andrew Nicholson struggled to establish himself against Xavier's big men, whom Bonnies coach Mark Schmidt likened to a mountain. While Malcolm Eleby has played solid, especially in guard Ray Blackburn's absence, the team has yet to find a consistent way to get the ball into Nicholson.
It's clear it will take Schmidt time to build a program that's on the level of Xavier's. In 1999, the Bonnies and Musketeers both had a 21-12 record. Since that time, both programs have seen two head coaches come and go. The difference is that in the years after Bona's program was marked by scandal, Xavier's was marked by six 20-win seasons.
That kind of momentum, especially negative, is hard to overcome. But Schmidt is well on his way. The team's 11 wins are the most since the 2001-02 season, and for the first time in five years, the A-10 Tournament is within reach.
But more important than the 7-0 road record the team has established is the caliber of player Schmidt has attracted to Olean. Schmidt got a solid group of transfers (see: Maurice Thomas' 25 points at Richmond) his first year, followed by big-time recruits like Nicholson and Jonathan Hall.
Bona fans have been wise to get behind him and the team he's built, but patience will be their greatest virtue. Some fans criticized the team's supposed lack of effort in being out-muscled on the boards in the recent home loss to Saint Joseph's. Schmidt himself even called out his big men after he benched his best player for most of the second half. But despite being outrebounded by 20, the team lost by only 11.
That's the difference with Schmidt. While expectations have been raised, that's not enough. Schmidt and his staff expects more out of his players and they, in turn, expect more out of themselves. Losses, even ones against nationally ranked opponents, are no longer expected. Schmidt said earlier in the week that the team didn't practice and watch film all week to lose.
For players in Schmidt's program, the choice is simple.
"Either you get better or you quit," he said. "I doubt they're going to quit."
With a win at Fordham to open the Atlantic 10 slate, followed by two disappointing losses to Duquesne and Saint Joseph's that were book-ended by a comeback victory at Richmond, Wednesday's game was the Bonnies' first chance to see how they stack up on a national level.
After a 20-point loss that seemed more like a 30-point shellacking, the Bonnies obviously had some questions to answer. Star forward Andrew Nicholson struggled to establish himself against Xavier's big men, whom Bonnies coach Mark Schmidt likened to a mountain. While Malcolm Eleby has played solid, especially in guard Ray Blackburn's absence, the team has yet to find a consistent way to get the ball into Nicholson.
It's clear it will take Schmidt time to build a program that's on the level of Xavier's. In 1999, the Bonnies and Musketeers both had a 21-12 record. Since that time, both programs have seen two head coaches come and go. The difference is that in the years after Bona's program was marked by scandal, Xavier's was marked by six 20-win seasons.
That kind of momentum, especially negative, is hard to overcome. But Schmidt is well on his way. The team's 11 wins are the most since the 2001-02 season, and for the first time in five years, the A-10 Tournament is within reach.
But more important than the 7-0 road record the team has established is the caliber of player Schmidt has attracted to Olean. Schmidt got a solid group of transfers (see: Maurice Thomas' 25 points at Richmond) his first year, followed by big-time recruits like Nicholson and Jonathan Hall.
Bona fans have been wise to get behind him and the team he's built, but patience will be their greatest virtue. Some fans criticized the team's supposed lack of effort in being out-muscled on the boards in the recent home loss to Saint Joseph's. Schmidt himself even called out his big men after he benched his best player for most of the second half. But despite being outrebounded by 20, the team lost by only 11.
That's the difference with Schmidt. While expectations have been raised, that's not enough. Schmidt and his staff expects more out of his players and they, in turn, expect more out of themselves. Losses, even ones against nationally ranked opponents, are no longer expected. Schmidt said earlier in the week that the team didn't practice and watch film all week to lose.
For players in Schmidt's program, the choice is simple.
"Either you get better or you quit," he said. "I doubt they're going to quit."
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