This season (and likely several more after) is something I've never witnessed before. There are no "star" players, yet the team is a star. I honestly don't like saying there's "no stars", since many are capable of huge numbers. The difference is the team truly comes first and the wins are flowing in. I'm so proud to watch this product, it's refreshing. I've seen it all in the past: Mercer has had a top 10 NCAA Assist man... top rebounder... top 3 pointers.... etc,etc. Yet no banners during those years. Kennesaw has the stat leaders this year. We know how that's going.

What stat leaders does Kennesaw have?

Anderson is the #1 Rebounder in the league. Then add Cummings #3 scorer, plus Dixon #8 scoring. That's some talent across 3 guys to go winless.

I predicted you all to be cellar dwellers this year, Mercerfan. Bob Hoffman should get Coach of the Year for the construction of this team.

What's the best Mercer team you've ever seen Mercerfan? I don't know a lot about your history.

(01-28-2012 10:27 PM)Bucfaithful Wrote:  I predicted you all to be cellar dwellers this year, Mercerfan. Bob Hoffman should get Coach of the Year for the construction of this team.

What's the best Mercer team you've ever seen Mercerfan? I don't know a lot about your history.

THIS current team is the best I've seen! When I was a freshman in '02 I saw the 23-6 regular season championship. They got blown out in the tournament. So that is the best win total I've seen, and this current team is on track to approach that total. Coaching makes such a difference.. I really enjoyed the teams when I was there, and the players. They had great talent, but the coaching was lacking.

P.S. - I do remember you saying MU would struggle! Gold said for a long time that MU didn't have the heart/killer instinct to win. I think they've finally found it.

I am going to defend the 2002 team. The present always seems better than the past. Scott Emerson was a better player than anyone on this current team by miles(behind Sam Mitchell as best player in school history). Bobby Hanson(6'10) would have been the best big man in the league this year, and he was the 4th big man on that team behind Justin Howard(7'1"), and Wesley Duke(6'6" played in NFL). Aleem Muhammad was one of the best leaders and players to come through Mercer as well. That team was as complete a team as you will see. Had unbelievable size and good guards. Back-up guard depth was only real weakness. They lost one game (when Emerson was sick) in the two months of January and February. They also didn't get blown out of the tournament. They beat a Jacksonville team who was the 8 seed that year that would probably would have challenged for the league title in this current league. They lost to a 20 win UCF team in the semifinals by 11 when Aleem Muhammad had his first subpar game in 2 months and Clarence Baker tried to pick up the scoring that night and failed. Also, that UCF team with that same nuclues went on to play in 2 straight NCAA tournaments. Also, that coach we had went on to win a NATIONAL Coach of the Year award out of the A-Sun. Also, you have no idea the amount of resources (THANK GOODNESS) our new president has given athletics vs the amount President Godsey gave. Resources matter.

Two things to remember about that year.
1. The league was at its strongest ever with 4 20 win teams. Troy and UCF were better that year than any team in league currently. Belmont was as good and talented and as well coached as they are now and finished fourth. Mercer beat UCF by 20 twice that year before falling to them in the conference tourney. The bottom of that league had an NBA player(the Bell kid at FAU) and Stetson had three really good players and didn't even make the tourney. The bottom of the league that year would be contenders this year.

2. The league is as far down as it has ever been. Do Upstate, Stetson and FGCU actually look good or does someone just have to win games?? The teams are far improved but the talent level isn't near as high as the league back then. We need ETSU and Kennesaw to be good and they are down. Jacksonville has been really good last few years and just fell off. They will be back. Perfect storm for this current Mercer team.


That being said, Hoffman has been outstanding this year. They are playing together and it is a great way to play. Gollon seems as well liked by his teammates as any Mercer player I have ever seen (and I go back to early 90's). I knew Langston Hall was going to be special. He would be the only player on this current team that would have started for 02 team.

This team is going to finish strong. Hoffman deserves COY (will be interesting if other coaches in league vote for him since he doesn't seem to be well liked for sideline behavior). But when you earn it, you earn it. It has been a great season in Macon. Very proud and happy for the Bears.

PLUS to back up MUBear here a bit, that 2002 did not have the luxury of playing any tournament games on its home floor. I don't think that the previous staff ever had the luxury of playing any tournament games in front of a home crowd. That's a BIG deal!

Overall though I agree with MUBears assessment of the leagues overall strength. The league is very even top to bottom. The top isn't as strong and the bottom isn't far behind in terms of talent, just a free for all.

MUBear.. welcome back, you gotta post more often! First, I think your assessments are pretty accurate in many areas. The 02-03 team was LOADED with talent. It's not the players that were the problem, it was coaching. The coaching COULD recruit...but when the chips were down, Mercer would get embarrassed time and time again. The key stat: Mercer won only ONE tournament game (as a #1 seed over a #8) from 02-03 until Coach Hoffman arrived in 2008.

The reason I say this years TEAM is the best I've seen is because it's top to bottom complete. The President is awesome! Coaching staff is fantastic (we actually have PLAYS! Who would have thought that would work?) And for the first year we have all of Coach Hoffman's players (As long as Gollon was recruited by Hoffman?) I really believe the fact that we have all (or most) of his players is why the TEAM is working so well together. I can see that they just purely want to win. These players are talented and fun to watch. Most are young, this team will be great for years.

Yes the old ASUN was oozing with talent. This current version has a lot of teams that don't compare.

Statman... Yes the former staff didn't have homecourt, but that 23-6 team played in Atlanta. A little closer to Macon than Orlando. No excuses.

The bottom line here is we are in the PRESENT. The past is the past and it's not that glorious. We are lucky to have such great leaders from the top down to the players. We don't need to dwell on what can't be changed, and I don't disagree with much of what you said, mubear.

Coach Hoffman for COY seems like a definite possibility. Will depend on the finish and probably whoever wins the Regular Season title. Which would be awesome to not only get the title but also guarantee the NIT bid.

My question though is not proximity but did Mercer ever play in front of 3k friendlies for a tournament game until recently. Also Gollon is not a Hoffman recruit.

No they did not, can't argue that. I know former President Godsey was not into athletics (we couldn't even have a center court logo for crying out loud!!!).

Godsey wasn't stopping the former coach from running successful plays though. Talent takes you so far. It lets you knock off a Top 20 Southern Cal team and then proceed to lose 5 straight to bottom feeders. That's the hard evidence.

What we have now is great all around. The environment to thrive and encourage basketball, baseball, etc. The environment to add football! We are lucky to be along for the ride. I don't know any of these current players obviously (too old now!), but they are all "likeable". The whole team is likeable and fun to watch and support.

(01-30-2012 06:27 PM)Mike_Hunt Wrote:  Kennesaw has four players TOTAL that have ANY business playing division one

That's a sad statement!!