the red c's Coaching Legacy of Phil Mariner (CH2K8)

[R1zzo23]

When starting at a very small school like you did, it's always fun to bring in your own players, especially when they end up being far and away better than the players you inherited. Hopefully Long, Moss and Mims will continue to grow and bring you guys to the top of the conference soon so you can parlay that into a new coaching position at a larger school!

Good luck with Belmont! There is no scarier trio than SG #20, SF #2 and PF #3!

[the red c]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1zzo23

When starting at a very small school like you did, it's always fun to bring in your own players, especially when they end up being far and away better than the players you inherited. Hopefully Long, Moss and Mims will continue to grow and bring you guys to the top of the conference soon so you can parlay that into a new coaching position at a larger school! Good luck with Belmont! There is no scarier trio than SG #20, SF #2 and PF #3!

You nailed it. It's hard playing with the team as it starts knowing the guys you recruit in the first couple of years are going to come in and either start or be hard to keep off the court. But these three guys I've initially brought in, especially Moss and Long, have started to grow on me. Who knows I might stick around a little longer than I originally thought.

Haha have you had experience with em? No doubt they are a nasty trio to go up against this early in the legacy.

Thanks for checking in R1zzo

[the red c]

So in a huge error I saved over the end of season file. Luckily what was saved was the start of year three. Good news is most of the rotation is either guys I've recruited or guys I've been playing with so it's time to let the Owls fly.

We beat Belmont in the first round and then went on to beat Stetson in the second round. We met Mercer once again in the championship round, and once again we came up short falling 60-59. Darn those Bears. We were ever so close. Somehow enough I got an offer from UL Lafayette but it's too soon to abandon Kennesaw State... onward we go with Phil Mariner...

[the red c]

2009-10 SEASON PREVIEW

COACHING HISTORY
Phil Mariner (33-30) - Year 3
2008-09 Kennesaw State 14-17 - Lost in the Atlantic Sun Championship Game
2007-08 Kennesaw State 19-13 - Lost in the Atlantic Sun Championship Game

COACH RATINGS
OVR - C+
OFF - C-
DEF - C-
TEA - C
SCO - C+
CHA - A+
DIS - C-

KENNESAW STATE OWLS
OVR - 74
OFF - 75
DEF - 71
SHT - 78
REB - 80

ROSTER
Point Guards
Jeffrey Moss - 68 ovr - 6'2" 171 lbs - SO
Zach Berry - 60 ovr - 6'2" 185 lbs - RS SR

Shooting Guards
Akili Davis - 68 ovr - 6'5" 214 lbs - FR
Regis Mims - 66 ovr - 6'3" 200 lbs - SO

Small Forwards
Jamie Abellard - 66 ovr - 6'8" 264 lbs - FR
Ryan Daugherty - 65 ovr - 6'5" 213 lbs - RS SR

Power Forwards
PF #12 - 65 ovr - 6'9" 247 lbs - SR
PF #30 - 61 ovr - 6'6" 231 lbs - SR
Tanner Jacobs - 61 ovr - 6'7" 235 lbs - JR

Centers
Dupree Allen - 73 ovr - 6'10" 241 lbs - JR
Tre Long - 67 ovr - 6'10" 245 lbs - SO

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG - J. Moss - SO
SG - A. Davis - FR
SF - R. Daugherty - RS SR
PF - D. Allen - JR
C - T. Long - SO
6. J. Abellard - FR
7. PF #12 - SR
8. R. Mims - SO
9. Z. Berry - RS SR

SEASON OUTLOOK
Phil Mariner will enter his third year with Kennesaw State with his best team yet and it's in large part thanks to his work on the recruiting trail. Mariner has brought in six total players, and they are all three stars to boot. The Owls have come up short in the Atlantic Sun championship game in Mariner's first two years but it looks like he's put together a team ready for a serious run in the conference.

Led by sophomore center Tre Long and the newly acquired Dupree Allen, a JUCO center now in his junior year at Kennesaw State, the Owls will boast a formidable front court. Long was a stand out player in his debut year and Allen looks to be an excellent counterpart.

Jeffrey Moss, sophomore point guard from the Bahamas, will look to build off of a solid freshman year. Moss averaged 6.5 ppg, 5.6 apg, and 1.5 spg. He also displayed a consistent shot from downtown. Moss hit 0.32% of 99 three-point attempts. Backing him up is Zach Berry, a senior walk on who's shown he can run the offense and control the court while Moss is on the bench.

The Owls have some talent, a lot of potential, and a lot more figuring out to do at the wing positions. Ryan Daugherty, the senior of the bunch, will look to hold down his starting spot as sophomore Regis Mims and freshman Akili Davis Jamie Abellard battle for the next spot and the minutes after that. Daugherty has shown streaks of being the number one option offensively and he's had games where he blended in with other players on the court. Mims came in with a lot of hope last year but failed to produce unlike his freshman peers. Akili Davis will initially start at the two spot. He's got a 74 rating from three point land and the Owls could use some out side scoring with their two centers clogging the paint.

And then there is Jamie Abellard, the wildcard of the group. He's a 6'8 264 lbs small forward out of Tampa, FL. He can shoot with the guards but he could also be a great back up down low. He could play either the three or the four, and at stretches he could probably hold his own at the two and the five spot. Depending on how Mariner decides to use the 6'8" freshman, and depending on where Abellard succeeds on the court could determine the team's identity.

Looking ahead to this year, the Owls are set for an Atlantic Sun championship run with this years squad. Kennesaw State has failed to win the conference tournament by a combined eight points in the last two years. That has to sting. You can bet Mariner and his group will look to finish the job this year and get the Owls to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

[R1zzo23]

I'll be very intrigued to see how you utilize Jamie Abellard if his skill set is as diverse as you have said it is. That would be quite a weapon to deploy across the lineup.

[the red c]

Kennesaw State Owls 2009-10 - Week 1 Recap
01. 11/06 - vs IPFW - W 80-69
02. 11/07 - @ #Texas - L 54-62

The Owls opened up their season competing in the Cyclone Challenge. They won their first round game rather easily against IPFW. Tre Long picked up right where he left off from last year. Long had a dominating performance tallying 29 points and pulling in 7 rebounds. But it was Jamie Allebard who might have had the most eye-opening game. The freshman went for 20, 6, and 3 in his debut. He was 9-13 from the field and scored in a variety of ways. It was a solid win for Mariner and Kennesaw State to open up the year.

The Owls would then run into #5 Texas in the championship game and another tough loss. From the tip the Longhorns established their physicality and locked down the paint. PF #5 led the for Texas with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. He was the most dominant player on the court by far, and he's also been the first player to really push Tre Long around. Long had four fouls by the end of the first half and only played for a minute and half in the second half. The Owls were able to keep it close. They never trailed by more then 11 throughout the game, and it's a loss that could end up being beneficial for Mariner and his group down the road.

The Owls are 1-1 and will play three games in the second week of the season: @ UNC Greensboro, @ William & Mary, vs New Mexico State.

Kennesaw State Owls 1-1

[the red c]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1zzo23

I'll be very intrigued to see how you utilize Jamie Abellard if his skill set is as diverse as you have said it is. That would be quite a weapon to deploy across the lineup.

I feel like he can be a bit of a swiss army knife

6'8" 264 lbs. - 66 ovr as SF; 64 ovr as PF

76 - close
71 - med
72 - lay up
81 - shoot in traffic
74 - def
78 - offense rebound
80 - speed
75 - vertical
79 - durability

Probably won't ever try him at the 2 or the 5. His handles (67) and passing (55) wouldn't be great on the outside. And while his low defense(65)/offense(61) ratings are average with our team, it's not what you'd ideally want. But his offensive rebounding (78) is good enough and he's tall enough where I'd be okay playing him at 5 if I absolutely needed to.

Really he's just a big guy who is decently fast and can shoot it. If he can end up excelling at rebounding and defense then he should end up having nice career