Drury Panthers

[crazznewt]

Definitely down. The overall level of the GLVC players is better than the overall level of coaching IMO. I have seen some major coaching blunders in the GLVC that led to some major unnecessary losses for those teams. If a team hasn't had injuries, said team should be better at season's end. That wasn't the case for every league team.

Drury did well despite losing Halliday for the whole season, Burns and Storey at inopportune times. Bailey also proved she is to be respected. With Drury leading, she benched her best player for the fourth quarter in a 6 point loss to Newman. A win would have put their record at 4-0 against MIAA teams.

I also think S and T's Kira Carter is one of the handful of good coaches in the league.

It will be VERY interesting to see how recruiting pans out for everyone this season in particular.

[Bballfan]

Drury graduates 6, including 3 all conference starters. Also, 2 who didn't play have left the program. So far, the only signees have been 6 all-state level freshmen. The Lady Panthers need at least a couple good transfers to be considered a favorite to win the league. Considering the NIL debacle, I'm sure not making any bold predictions for next season.

The GLVC has been down in women's basketball the last few years. I don't see anything changing this upcoming season. Maybe some lesser team will rise up for the first time in a long time.

[crazznewt]

Lewis women hired their coach. Just reading his hiring announcement looks like they are more interested in style versus substance. I would say Drury is going to face no real competition in the GLVC next year. Quincy - new coach. Lewis - new coach. Lewis had a very senior group, and I know some are transferring. Some Quincy players/recruits could follow their old coach too.

With Lewis having their 3rd coach in 4 years, that is a program that doesn't scream stability. Good luck to them. They will need it.

Drury graduates 6, including 3 all conference starters. Also, 2 who didn't play have left the program. So far, the only signees have been 6 all-state level freshmen. The Lady Panthers need at least a couple good transfers to be considered a favorite to win the league. Considering the NIL debacle, I'm sure not making any bold predictions for next season.

[Bballfan]

Lewis women hired their coach. Just reading his hiring announcement looks like they are more interested in style versus substance. I would say Drury is going to face no real competition in the GLVC next year. Quincy - new coach. Lewis - new coach. Lewis had a very senior group, and I know some are transferring. Some Quincy players/recruits could follow their old coach too.

With Lewis having their 3rd coach in 4 years, that is a program that doesn't scream stability. Good luck to them. They will need it.

[crazznewt]

The Miles Lester/Kelvin Sampson connection is paying big dividends for Drury on this one!

Quote from Lester
"Excited to add @kevin_sarge20
to the squad! Anyone that plays hard enough to impress Coach Sampson is going to be a steal! Athletic, High Motor, Tough and a winner!! Kevin was a top 3 finalist for Houston POY & led his team to 37-3 & the state championship game. Big time add!!"

https://x.com/TXInvitational/status/1860522941529674021

https://x.com/vypehouston/status/1910337305727868948


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGQ0F...g4emtpOTVtMmM1

Plus, the Lady Panther unannounced 6th freshman, is a 6'2" strong, athletic, first team All Stater from Illinois. Lots of very good frosh will be on campus soon! A major youth movement.

[Bballfan]

Sonny Vaccaro. The sleaziest of the sleaziest. So much illegal stuff back then. Now that would all be legal sadly.

He is portrayed in the movie Air, but they can make a movie about all his corruption in itself.

[crazznewt]

And the shoe wars. That is when the corruption really got ramped up!

Oh man, the shoe wars and under the table kick backs. This has perpetuated like all other immorality that isn't checked. Now the implosion of college sports as we know it will be fast and furious.

[Bballfan]

The whole basketball system started turning into a false balance with the AAU movement back in the '80's IMO.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."

And the shoe wars. That is when the corruption really got ramped up!

[crazznewt]

It's amazing the chaos federal judges can cause with landmark decisions and they have ruined basketball for many. Just like the wildly indiscriminate spending while in huge debt, it is not sustainable and will end up collapsing the whole system.

The whole basketball system started turning into a false balance with the AAU movement back in the '80's IMO.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."

[Bballfan]

Although Hailey had a lot of D1 offers out of high school, especially from the Illinois schools.

The difference is now Hailey would have got $$$ just do go to a D1 school, so probably never would have went to Drury in the first place. It is getting harder and harder to attract D1 talent to D2. And if you do, if they experience good success in D2, D1's are going to try and lure them away. You see this especially on the men's side where the money is even greater. And now with revenue sharing, things are only going to get worse.

[crazznewt]

Definitely was thinking about her. It was her 5th year right?

In today's environment, not sure Diestelkamp would have been around 4 years. Once you are national player of the year, you are going to get a lot of temptation from D1 schools.

Correct on Paige. Probably right on Diesltkamp also. Although Hailey had a lot of D1 offers out of high school, especially from the Illinois schools.

A couple notes of local interest: Award winning news anchor Emily Pritchard has returned to Missouri to work at Springfield's KY3 TV in the same capacity. Emily is the sister of current Waynesville HS head girls basketball coach and former Drury Lady Panther, Katie Pritchard.
Katie by the way, was another Drury national level player. She led the nation in three point percentage in each of her last three seasons of eligibility. She was an exceptional two sport athlete who could pull the rim down despite her 5'8"(?) height.

Also, Caitlynn Daniels added an academic All American award to her impressive resume. She has definitely left her mark at Drury.

[Bballfan]

Definitely was thinking about her. It was her 5th year right?

In today's environment, not sure Diestelkamp would have been around 4 years. Once you are national player of the year, you are going to get a lot of temptation from D1 schools.

[crazznewt]

That shipped has sadly sailed. While you seeing it happening more on the men's side, more women are starting to make the jump now too. Just look at Central Missouri women last year losing two starters to D1 programs. Just saw Ferris State lost their quarterback to... Ole Miss. No D2 program is going to retain an athlete if they are valued in D1 and want to chase the $$$ they can offer. And freshman are probably the biggest to hit the transfer portal. Either they are too good and want a bigger challenge, or they are not good enough and they just opt to go try somewhere else they might get a chance to play.

The Lady Panthers were one of the first to experience this trend when national player of the year Paige Robinson transferred to Illinois State, ultimately winning Missouri Valley Conference POY 3 seasons ago.

[Bballfan]

Hopefully D2 doesn't become a developmental league for D1 so we can watch this young talent develop over 4 seasons.

That shipped has sadly sailed. While you seeing it happening more on the men's side, more women are starting to make the jump now too. Just look at Central Missouri women last year losing two starters to D1 programs. Just saw Ferris State lost their quarterback to... Ole Miss. No D2 program is going to retain an athlete if they are valued in D1 and want to chase the $$$ they can offer. And freshman are probably the biggest to hit the transfer portal. Either they are too good and want a bigger challenge, or they are not good enough and they just opt to go try somewhere else they might get a chance to play.

[crazznewt]

I have a friend who doesn't like women's basketball because "the movements are different." I like both men's and women's sports for the same reason. Here is an example:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIcOy...dycWQ3YjRzbw==

I think the Drury Men have 3 freshmen and the women have 6 freshmen signed for next season. All of these made all state, and most of these were named first team. Hopefully D2 doesn't become a developmental league for D1 so we can watch this young talent develop over 4 seasons.