Drury Panthers

[Bballfan]

I suppose they will have to hire a couple of experienced assistant coaches. They are probably tired of being a stepping stone as they have had 3 coaches in four years. Looking for loyalty

Lewis - 3 coaches in 4 years
Quincy - 3 coaches in 4 years
Indy - 3 coaches in 4 years

And these coaches left for bad D1 jobs. Jobs where your ceiling is to make the NCAA tournament and get blasted by 30 or 40 or 50. Add to that limited NIL funds and a revolving transfer portal. A thankless job that is for sure. At least in D2 you can enjoy SOME success.

[crazznewt]

This is true, but so is the fact they are likely getting a 20 to 30,000 dollar pay raise, a bigger office, nicer university car and other perks. What set the Drury Women's program back was the departure of Amy Eagan and all of her recruits. It's understandable these schools want to hire someone they can trust and is loyal to those who hired them. If your coaches leave every two years and players leave as a result, you are constantly rebuilding.

[Bballfan]

True. But I look at schools like Lindenwood as a D1 pretender. Amy has had some success there so pretty much a guarantee she will be leaving there soon to a D1 school that actually has more cred. I do think the fascination with moving to D1 is rapidly ending though. Southern Indiana is a prime example. Their athletics are a mess.

[crazznewt]

True. But I look at schools like Lindenwood as a D1 pretender. Amy has had some success there so pretty much a guarantee she will be leaving there soon to a D1 school that actually has more cred. I do think the fascination with moving to D1 is rapidly ending though. Southern Indiana is a prime example. Their athletics are a mess.

Amy is a good coach. And I am not saying this was wrong, but she benefited at the expense of the Lady Panthers when 5 D1 caliber recruits de-commited and followed her to Lindenwood.

College sports is certainly no longer an amateur affair.

[Bballfan]

Very few schools can get multiple D1 caliber players to go D2 anymore. Even when there are a number of crappy D1 schools that couldn't beat better D2 schools in a number of sports.

[crazznewt]

A couple of quick things while waiting here. I listened to Scott Puryear interview Amy Eagan on one of his older podcasts. She confirmed many things we already knew that went into effect a couple of years ago:

*Number one is the fact D1 to D1 transfers do not sit a year anymore, so there are many less available for D2 coaches to recruit.

*Players do not have to consult their current coach before entering the portal like in the past.

*Very often, the first question a potential recruit will ask is how much they are getting paid.

*A good post player will ask for and get 50 to 80,000 dollars.

I listened to another podcast with a small college athletic director who said there is barely enough money to cover meals and transportation, let alone NIL payments and travel to early season tournaments in Florida for example.

A few more things I've learned:

*There are D2 coaches asking D1 athletes to play for them for a season or two, then transfer with blessings to D1. Also, there is a D1 program using one particular D2 program as a farm team. I'm sure there are more arrangements like this.


*There is much talk about the after effects of covid which continues to hurt attendance at sporting events all over the nation. People realize they can stay at home, watch the event on a screen, and save money.

As an athletic director, imagine having to deal with all these things combined with inflation. At least the price of oil has decreased!

Former Drury player Riek Riek is now a member of the D1 Gardner Webb basketball team. Complete nonsense Drury was unfairly disqualified from retaining Ricky solely because the Panthers are D2. D2 should consider going to litigation. This is not what they signed up for.

6'3" Avante Nichols not only has a vertical obviously above 40", apparently he is a "culture guy" who gives a 100% effort on every play. This will be a very entertaining Panther team.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8vjW...ExZWVrZTh1c2Jn

https://youtu.be/DPSa6W5Vweg?si=W4tF4QHcXEqcc_gi


I watched Brenley Hagewood from my floor seat during the prestigious Blue and Gold Tournament. This guy is a complete player who is another outstanding athlete at 6'0". His vertical leap has to be in the 40" range. I thought for sure he would sign with a D1. BTW, his HS coach is former Drury Player Tim Brown.

https://youtu.be/GaPBUy6Pj0E?si=CM3fmSJexQcLJ7dD

Houston Couger Coach Kelvin Sampson gave Drury Incoming freshman Kevin Sargent major props for his skill, athletic ability and desire. This forward gets out to defend on the perimeter better than most. This video is from Kevin's Junior season.

https://youtu.be/DN3JLk1oDqE?feature=shared

Keion Epps reminds me of former Drury All American Brandon Lockhart.

https://youtu.be/ImniuSGK2tY?si=oxN3Yg4g7i3c5rbm

The Strafford Pro-Am starts June first. Rosters are due by May 20th. It will be interesting to see the many young players on both Drury rosters.

Edit: Sounds like the Southern Utah Thunderbird basketball program is excited about the signing of former Drury player Juok Riak.

[Bballfan]

I will counter your Monkees with Paul Revere and the Raiders....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXa9UoYT8lo

Lewis is on what their third coach in 4 years. And based on who they hired, he won't be there long either!

[crazznewt]

I will counter your Monkees with Paul Revere and the Raiders....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXa9UoYT8lo

Lewis is on what their third coach in 4 years. And based on who they hired, he won't be there long either!

I see your Paul Revere, and raise you a Cheech and Chong, despite me not smoking since the time it was illegal, long ago when my social life was about the "Up In Smoke".
https://youtu.be/DlhWPVJNAOo?si=9xqEjavkNtG1v4Q1

[Bballfan]

Basketball Jones is a classic! Nobody under the age of 50 would get it though! They wouldn't even get Cheech and Chong!

[crazznewt]

This is relevant to women's basketball.
https://youtu.be/WikpE60kAAU?si=NWaCceIs04ERInHY
I wonder why there aren't biological women playing men's sports and winning championships like there is the other way around? Only a rebel can dispute this.
There are estimates suggesting over $2 billion was spent in funding for DEI course mandates at public universities. Some in power don't seem to understand that the people of the United States have spoken overwhelmingly concerning this. It's time to hold people accountable.

[crazznewt]

Edit:
Looks like the coaching changes at Mission and Evangel Universities contributed to a lack of interest and the cancelation of the women's side of the pro-am.The Lady Panthers will be in town for workouts though. The men's side will play with Drury taking a bye on June 1st when play begins.

Interesting that the Drury Women will not have a graduate assistant on staff this season according to a reliable source. I wonder if this is a cost saving move.

I have heard from several sources that the coaching staff for both Drury teams are very much loved by their players. In contrast:
https://www.esubulletin.com/news/you...9073d37ed.html

This article was just the tip of the iceberg for ESU.

[Bballfan]

Wild stuff for Emporia. Looking into the athlete in question she originally was at Oral Roberts. So probably shouldn't have been D1 to begin with. Had a nice career at Emporia but looked like things just boiled over to a head.

Maybe Drury women couldn't find a GA? It isn't an easy job. You are working for next to nothing. You still have to have room and board to pay for. You get help with a master's degree, but it is a pretty thankless job. If you want to get into coaching, it is where you got to start though.

[crazznewt]

Wild stuff for Emporia. Looking into the athlete in question she originally was at Oral Roberts. So probably shouldn't have been D1 to begin with. Had a nice career at Emporia but looked like things just boiled over to a head.

Maybe Drury women couldn't find a GA? It isn't an easy job. You are working for next to nothing. You still have to have room and board to pay for. You get help with a master's degree, but it is a pretty thankless job. If you want to get into coaching, it is where you got to start though.

I've never understood coaches who insist on belittling and insulting their players and player's families as a motivator. Often, level headed assistant coaches are the glue that holds a team together in a situation like this. This coach made his assistants a target too.

Highly unlikely Drury can't find a GA. They had plenty of time (several months) when this decision was made and they never have a shortage of people wanting to get their foot in the door at Drury.

[Bballfan]

Like any profession, there are bad actors. Doesn't matter what it is. Even the priesthood. So of course there are going to be some whack job coaches too. Always have been. Always will be.

Still strange on GA. That just means more work has to fall on the other coaches, taking away time from coaching.

[crazznewt]

Like any profession, there are bad actors. Doesn't matter what it is. Even the priesthood. So of course there are going to be some whack job coaches too. Always have been. Always will be.

Still strange on GA. That just means more work has to fall on the other coaches, taking away time from coaching.

True on the bad actors. Its just good to hear so many good reports about the coaches at Drury.

I have no idea about the GA situation. I heard second hand that the men may not have a GA this season. A quick websearch suggests more programs are taking this approach for budgetary reasons. Drury employs two full time assistants for each basketball team. I'm sure they have it covered.