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Sit Down with Sydney (Week 11)This week’s edition of Sit Down with Sydney might have a few audio issues, but I’ve posted it below. Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson was heading out of town for recruiting (no, he didn’t say where) and I’m home sick, so we tried to do this by phone. Among the topics we chatted about were the improved play of Ryan Olander against Saint Peter’s, the tragedy at Marist College, the upcoming game with Iona, Jamel Fields’ ankle (probably for Friday) and the MAAC about halfway through the regular season. Cooley booblehead looks like Stags’ NickersonThe Providence Friars gave away 2,000 Ed Cooley boobleheads on Saturday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center before the team’s game against Marquette. Like most bobbleheads, this one did not quite look like Cooley.
No new date yet for Marist-Fairfield gameThe Fairfield Stags’ game at Marist College that was scheduled for Sunday will not be made up this week. Deadly fire postpones Fairfield-Marist gameThe Fairfield men’s basketball team’s game against Marist Sunday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. has been postponed. “Out of respect for the students affected by this tragedy, the College is postponing the men’s basketball game on Sunday and the women’s basketball game on Monday night,” said Deborah DiCaprio, Marist’s Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs in a prepared statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this terrible tragedy.” Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson said Saturday night he was awaiting word on when the game would be rescheduled. The Stags (10-9, 5-3 MAAC) do not play against until Friday when they host first-place Iona at the Webster Bank Arena. Fairfield Director of Athletics Gene Doris added: “I am saddened by the news of this tragedy. As a former member of the Marist athletic staff, I share in the sorrow that the entire campus feels at this time of grief. NOTE: Jamel Fields (ankle) rested on Saturday, and was expected to be a game time decision for Sunday before the contest was postponed. Sit Down with Sydney (a little bit of everything)After the Fairfield Stags ended a three-game losing skid with a 61-52 win over Rider on Monday night, coach Sydney Johnson was cautiously optimistic about his ball club. In addition to discussing that, we also chatted this week about Vince Van Nes’ future, the hard-working Keith Matthews, Ryan Olander’s foul woes of late and the use of a smaller, quicker guard-heavy lineup. Brunch with the Stags (A win is a win)Sorry for the late posting this morning but a two-plus hour commute home last night and shovel for my wife this morning hindered my postgame coverage for the Post. UPDATE: Freshman Vince Van Nes is fully healthy, according to Fairfield coach Sydney Johnson, but the Stags are awaiting word on his eligibility from the NCAA. BIG SHOT: A team struggling to close out its previous two opponents in the final minutes got a big lift from Derek Needham against Rider. The junior guard sank a fade-away 3-pointer right before the shot clock expired to give the Stags a 56-47 lead with 2:21 remaining. LITTLE GUYS SHINE: With Ryan Olander in foul trouble much of the night, the Stags relied on a smaller lineup to frustrate the Broncs, who had 19 turnovers. PLAYERS ONLY: Before the Manhattan game the Stags held a team meeting. It might not have resulted in immediate wins on the floor, but Needham said it’s benefited the team. In addition to the players’ meeting, Needham also credits Johnson and his staff for helping the Stags grow after a heartbreaking loss to Loyola on Friday. “Coach told us you can play as hard as you want but if you are making the same mistakes you will get the same results,” he said. “We tried to learn from those mistakes in the Loyola. I kept saying in the huddle ‘learn, learn – we’ve been in this situation before and can’t make the same mistakes.’” Here’s some leftover quotes from Rider coach Tom Dempsey: Overall comment on the loss to the Stags: On playing a struggling Fairfield team: On trying to take center Ryan Olander out of the game early on: On Rakim Sanders: Sit Down with Sydney chat coming tonight |
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