Ouch!!

[bballfan03]

We'll agree to disagree on that.

Perfectly fine.

[IUPalum]

As a HS coach, i understand what you're saying but disagree to an extent. He does stay very close to the big Dawgs, but he does a lot for the no names, too. If scores aren't reported, he does everything he can to hunt down scores and stats. He hunts down coaches for end of season award voting. He posts snippets of as many games as he can on X. He does a good amount of articles on no name schools that accomplish something or gave some cool story. And more.

So yes he most Def kisses the asses of Prep, McDowell and the likes... but he does a lot for HS sports in general

We'll agree to disagree on that.

[bballfan03]

He's not even good for HS sports. He focuses on the same handful of teams and kisses their asses! That's not good for ALL high schools.

As a HS coach, i understand what you're saying but disagree to an extent. He does stay very close to the big Dawgs, but he does a lot for the no names, too. If scores aren't reported, he does everything he can to hunt down scores and stats. He hunts down coaches for end of season award voting. He posts snippets of as many games as he can on X. He does a good amount of articles on no name schools that accomplish something or gave some cool story. And more.

So yes he most Def kisses the asses of Prep, McDowell and the likes... but he does a lot for HS sports in general

[Columbuseer]

I'm not going to pretend to be a basketball savant as it relates to the X's and O's. I understand the premise of "the system" and that it's unique in terms of how it's deployed. But I've always believed it was shallow from all of us to believe that Jim Crutchfield was the first coach to ever decide playing a pressure filled basketball game was a good way to play. He just created a very lasting approach to that style at our level.

Rick Pitino's greatest teams at Louisville pressed constantly. They were run and gun. They threw up a ton of three pointers. They were polar opposite to how most teams in the old Big East were constructed. Bob Huggins had some really, really good "Press Virginia" teams that got in your face defensively, played fast, were elite from beyond the arc, etc. Heck... When Ron Everheart was coaching Duquesne, he believed pressed and had the goal of 100+ shots per game.

I know West Liberty fans are sprinting to their keyboards right now to argue my point, but all I'm saying is that Jim Crutchfield didn't invent fast paced, pressure filled basketball. He took variations of what other coaches did, adapted their systems, and created his own. There's many different unique approaches to playing a press and playing fast faced basketball. West Liberty has their own version of that, but so do other coaches too. Film junkies could tell you that Crutchfield, Howlett, Fee, and Bazzoli all actually have different versions of said "system."

Overall, Chuck, I agree with your point. What's made Gannon and Nova SE successful isn't necessarily because of the system, it's that they've brought in very, very elite individual players and the system was somewhat tweaked to allow those individual players to take over. I know Howlett was kind of up against this year in terms of the situation he took over. Time will certainly tell how he is able to fare. Like you and others have said, you won't be successful doing it in the current D1 environment because all those players have eyes on bigger spots and bigger payouts, which likely doesn't come by just being part of a committee. So you need to tweak the system to somewhat allow individuals to have the freedom to take over.

Good points.
some additional info
- I have confirmed from coaches that Huggins had wlu team down at one of his camps and talked at length with Crutchfield before he implemented Press Virginia ( although he publicly credited the Cleveland State coach).
- In interviews Crutchfield has said that Pitino at providence was an influence due the unique pursuit angles in the press.
- before 2015-2016, when media timeouts were required in all d2 games, allowing opponents more rest, the effect of wlu pressure was brutal.

Being the highest winning % coach in ncaa history without elite talent speaks for itself. He was years ahead of the science on the effects of basketball fatigue as well as the role of data analytics. He also promoted the ideal of running no set plays if possible, giving players freedom to make real time decisions. After all, he was a math major.

[IUP24]

I think as it continues to adapt and evolve, some version of that system can work at the D1 level. The original model, with a bunch of lightly recruited “gym rats” running around chucking up threes doesn’t even really exist at the D2 level anymore. Crutchfield started landing a different caliber of athlete to run it at Nova and now Gannon is doing the same. If Fee, Bazzoli and Howlett can land some dudes and make a few more tweaks here and there I think they can succeed with Crutchball at the core of what they are doing.

I'm not going to pretend to be a basketball savant as it relates to the X's and O's. I understand the premise of "the system" and that it's unique in terms of how it's deployed. But I've always believed it was shallow from all of us to believe that Jim Crutchfield was the first coach to ever decide playing a pressure filled basketball game was a good way to play. He just created a very lasting approach to that style at our level.

Rick Pitino's greatest teams at Louisville pressed constantly. They were run and gun. They threw up a ton of three pointers. They were polar opposite to how most teams in the old Big East were constructed. Bob Huggins had some really, really good "Press Virginia" teams that got in your face defensively, played fast, were elite from beyond the arc, etc. Heck... When Ron Everheart was coaching Duquesne, he believed pressed and had the goal of 100+ shots per game.

I know West Liberty fans are sprinting to their keyboards right now to argue my point, but all I'm saying is that Jim Crutchfield didn't invent fast paced, pressure filled basketball. He took variations of what other coaches did, adapted their systems, and created his own. There's many different unique approaches to playing a press and playing fast faced basketball. West Liberty has their own version of that, but so do other coaches too. Film junkies could tell you that Crutchfield, Howlett, Fee, and Bazzoli all actually have different versions of said "system."

Overall, Chuck, I agree with your point. What's made Gannon and Nova SE successful isn't necessarily because of the system, it's that they've brought in very, very elite individual players and the system was somewhat tweaked to allow those individual players to take over. I know Howlett was kind of up against this year in terms of the situation he took over. Time will certainly tell how he is able to fare. Like you and others have said, you won't be successful doing it in the current D1 environment because all those players have eyes on bigger spots and bigger payouts, which likely doesn't come by just being part of a committee. So you need to tweak the system to somewhat allow individuals to have the freedom to take over.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Word is that gannon is going to throw a lot of cash at him and Chalas. But I agree. Itd be amazing to have him stay, but not expecting it

One thing that may help Gannon keep him is most of the more desirable jobs are filled already (although some are still open). That's the advantage of playing into April for schools worrying about losing their coach.

[IUPalum]

Tom is great for HS sports in Erie, but not college. He doesnt have the "in" with the college crowd like he does HS.

He's not even good for HS sports. He focuses on the same handful of teams and kisses their asses! That's not good for ALL high schools.

[bballfan03]

If he’s still in Erie next season.. it would be surprising.

Word is that gannon is going to throw a lot of cash at him and Chalas. But I agree. Itd be amazing to have him stay, but not expecting it

[IUPNation]

I apologize for the premature note About Bazoli leaving for Lamar. He still may leave for somewhere.
My Source was The Erie Times News article and a Local TV Sports reporter.
So .... Mea Culpa

If he’s still in Erie next season.. it would be surprising.

[bballfan03]

I think we all (or, at least I) thought you were just dropping an April Fools joke.

But, yes, he's obviously a hot commodity.

I'd be shocked if he isn't poached in the next week. In that profession you gotta strike while you're hot. It doesn't last forever.

I immediately figured it was . I said nice try lol

[bballfan03]

Don't ever listen to Tom Reisenweber! Biggest fraud in PA media! Gannon wins a natty and best article he could come with was Bazzolli is the best coached is all of D2. Get a life buddy. All the great stories with that CURRENT team and that's what he comes up with. Do better!

Tom is great for HS sports in Erie, but not college. He doesnt have the "in" with the college crowd like he does HS.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I apologize for the premature note About Bazoli leaving for Lamar. He still may leave for somewhere.
My Source was The Erie Times News article and a Local TV Sports reporter.
So .... Mea Culpa

I think we all (or, at least I) thought you were just dropping an April Fools joke.

But, yes, he's obviously a hot commodity.

I'd be shocked if he isn't poached in the next week. In that profession you gotta strike while you're hot. It doesn't last forever.

[IUPalum]

I apologize for the premature note About Bazoli leaving for Lamar. He still may leave for somewhere.
My Source was The Erie Times News article and a Local TV Sports reporter.
So .... Mea Culpa

Don't ever listen to Tom Reisenweber! Biggest fraud in PA media! Gannon wins a natty and best article he could come with was Bazzolli is the best coached is all of D2. Get a life buddy. All the great stories with that CURRENT team and that's what he comes up with. Do better!

[Sec10-A-14]

I apologize for the premature note About Bazoli leaving for Lamar. He still may leave for somewhere.
My Source was The Erie Times News article and a Local TV Sports reporter.
So .... Mea Culpa

[bballfan03]

I think as it continues to adapt and evolve, some version of that system can work at the D1 level. The original model, with a bunch of lightly recruited “gym rats” running around chucking up threes doesn’t even really exist at the D2 level anymore. Crutchfield started landing a different caliber of athlete to run it at Nova and now Gannon is doing the same. If Fee, Bazzoli and Howlett can land some dudes and make a few more tweaks here and there I think they can succeed with Crutchball at the core of what they are doing.

I can't see it working at any D1 school because kids want to play and, unless you get a kid that has no hopes of ever moving up (which i dont think exist anymore) - kids want to get 28+ mins a game consistently.