Drury Panthers

[DUPanther]

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.

It’s a cost savings move by Drury’s admin.

Can’t right-size the faculty, but they can save a few bucks on GA’s.

[Bballfan]

It’s a cost savings move by Drury’s admin.

Can’t right-size the faculty, but they can save a few bucks on GA’s.

That makes sense, especially if the men are not going to have one either.

Surprised they wouldn't cut an assistant coach though and keep a GA. That would save even more money. But yea, easier to cut a GA.

[crazznewt]

I can't remember being this excited about a Drury men's team since '81 when the Panthers featured an extremely athletic, D1 level front line of 6'9" Elwayne Campbell, 6'5" Marcus Peel and 6'6" Bruce Robbins.

Drury just signed 6'7" Isaiah Otyaluk, a transfer from 2025 NIT champion Chattanooga. An incoming redshirt freshman transfer, he will add to the Uber talented youth movement at Drury. Chattanooga's coach said this: "We are thrilled that Isaiah will be joining our program. He is a versatile player with tremendous upside. He is extremely athletic, has the ability to shoot from a distance, and can guard multiple positions. He is a great fit on and off the court. We look forward to having him on campus soon."
This is what Drury X'd: https://x.com/DruryMBB/status/1927758433668780043

These Drury teams combined may be the youngest to ever be on campus. It will be very interesting to see if these youthful teams can make a run at the end of the season. I'm betting yes.

[crazznewt]

Super cool that Drury players Rhi Gibbons, Sara Mendal and Kaylee King get to go to Brazil to play on a USA National Team comprised of D2 players. Equally cool is that Kaci Bailey was selected to be the head coach and Destiny Smith will be an assistant. The competition will be top and second level professional teams. The timing of this was great for the players as they will gain added experience going into their 2nd and 3rd seasons.

[crazznewt]

I'm delayed three hours in Blue Springs, had time to copy these x posts describing Drury 3 star rated, redshirt freshman transfer, Isaiah Otyaluk

*6’7 ‘24 Isaiah Otyaluk (Word of God) possesses such a smooth jumper. Fluid athlete with IQ, size, and the ability to attack closeouts. Defends with energy. Extremely reliable as an off-ball threat. Should be a great piece for Chattanooga

*6'7 2024 Isaiah Otyaluk
@otyaluk
(Word of God) has tons of upsides. Skilled, long wing. Really good in catch & shoot situations. Good feel for the game. Excited to watch him at Chattanooga.

*2024 Isaiah Otyaluk is not only looking to lead the charge at Word of God, but also be a key piece at Chattanooga in the coming years

*UT Chattanooga commit UT Chattanooga commit Isaiah Otyaluk continues to impress here at the John Wall Holiday Invitational. Great size & stroke w range, can get his shot off against smaller defenders, runs the court, plays w great energy.

*This guy is a Southern Conference nightmare. I think he has a chance to be an All-Conference type guy in year two. So versatile and natural scoring ability.

*UT Chattanooga 2024 commit ISAIAH OTYALUK (
@otyaluk
) GOES OFF for 45 PTS hitting 10-13 3FG

*https://x.com/PhenomMixtapes/status/1706764392732283366

[crazznewt]

The once thriving Strafford Pro-Am is no longer a quality league. The very short handed Drury Men scored a good win against a good, but over confident Evangel split squad. Drury then beat a team of current and former college players in the ugliest game of the year.

I going to say this generally speaking. All it takes is for one player to shoot the ball eight out of the ten times he touches it (half of those ill advised shots) for everyone else on the team to start standing around. The most unorganized open league teams in history resort to four players standing around the three point line waiting for their chance to shoot or drive while the whole gym knows the ball handler has no intention of passing. That is disrespectful and I will not attend another game this summer. All this being said, Drury freshman Keon Epps was the best player on the court last night.

This 2.8 billion dollar NIL back pay ruling known as the "House Settlement" is further proof the system is broken. I know of a former D1 end of the bench player who will collect $120,000 over the next four years. Enjoy your team while you can.

[Bballfan]

This 2.8 billion dollar NIL back pay ruling known as the "House Settlement" is further proof the system is broken. I know of a former D1 end of the bench player who will collect $120,000 over the next four years. Enjoy your team while you can.

Hence the reason women have filed a lawsuit against the House Settlement. They are kicking over a pittance to them. While like you say bench players are getting a lot.

Neither sustainable or will face legal scrutiny in my opinion. Title IX does not mean you can pay a handful of women and dozens of men, and give men about 90% of the revenue share. Good luck getting females to just say thanks and accept whatever they are thrown.

[crazznewt]

Hence the reason women have filed a lawsuit against the House Settlement. They are kicking over a pittance to them. While like you say bench players are getting a lot.

Neither sustainable or will face legal scrutiny in my opinion. Title IX does not mean you can pay a handful of women and dozens of men, and give men about 90% of the revenue share. Good luck getting females to just say thanks and accept whatever they are thrown.

A good lawyer knows the law.
A great lawyer knows the judge

[crazznewt]

I stumbled upon these basketball highlights from Tulsa versus Indiana State in 1979. I also found the box score from that game. Senior Larry Bird had 22 points and 22 rebounds. 6'5" future Drury Panther, Marcus Peel, had 14 points and 5 rebounds as a sophomore. What this video doesn't show is Marcus' outstanding quickness and strength on the defensive end.

Marcus never dunked in pregame warmups, but would wow the fans with an unexpected dunk in a crowded lane or with a very athletic and accurate jumper. Tulsa started Bob Stevenson instead of Marcus, which sealed Peel's decision to leave his hometown and move to Springfield for 2 years.

One of his best games was in 1981 against D1 Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State), when he scored 27 points, leading Drury to a win in front of 9000 fans.

https://youtu.be/3ED4m9yy9QM?si=HHGGoSEClukpjPmE

[crazznewt]

My guess at the Drury starting lineups for the upcoming season:

*6'2" sophomore and league mvp candidate, Colin Hardrick solidly at the point.

*6'3" elite athlete, junior Avante Nichols

*6'5" Houston top three player, freshman Kevin Sargeant

*6'7" 3 star recruit, freshman Isaiah Otyaluk

*6'6" record breaking rebounder, freshman Keshaun Thomas

Keion Epps, Zach Howell, Elijah Whitley and Brenley Hagewood individually could crack the starting lineup.

9 players of 17 are underclassmen, 6 are freshmen.

It's a little more certain for the women:

*Junior Rhi Gibbons has emerged as the best athlete on the team IMO.

*Sophomore Kaylee King continues to work and has become Drury's top offensive threat.

*Junior Sara Mendal is a very mobile frontcourt player.

*6'2" Freshman Talia Norman because of Sara's mobility. (I'm reaching)

*Senior Josie Storey has needed size and experience at guard.

Ultra quick Jazz Gray, Forward Audra Pasakarnis and transfer Flora Lukow might crack the starting lineup.

12 of 17 on the Lady Panther's roster are underclassmen. 8 of these are freshmen.

Side note: Evangel (NAIA) Women have 25 players on their roster for next season.

[crazznewt]

Former Drury Panther Dalton Gayman has taken advantage of the rule that grants a fifth season of eligibility if you have played a season of JUCO. That fifth year of eligibility must be used at a D1 school only. D1 North Florida is Dalton's next destination. He ended up being a better player than his brother, even grabbing 20 rebounds in a game for D2 Purdue NW. Good luck to him.

[Bballfan]

I saw at least Drury women have their schedule posted. It shows the continuation of forgetting about playing teams in the Midwest region (this is not unique to Drury either). Ferris State and Saginaw Valley. That's it. But $$$ is increasingly impacting the ability of schools to travel longer distances to play games. With Drury being on the outer edge of the Midwest region, it is a long trip for a GLIAC or GMAC school. The closest GMAC school is Kentucky Wesleyan, and they backed out last year from Drury's tournament. The closet GLIAC school would be Purdue Northwest or Roosevelt. Neither of those schools are known for traveling far to play out-of-conference games.

[crazznewt]

On paper, the schedule looks to be a big challenge for a young Lady Panther squad and I would anticipate some early losses. However, the freshmen have shown a lot of improvement after summer workouts and have tremendous upside. I still think they will be ready by March.


In the "Pro Am", Zach Howell is showing why he was a D1 recruit 2 seasons ago and obviously has been working on his game. He has average jumping ability, but above average quickness and excellent ball handling and shooting skills. He is also a good defender. He is the best player in the summer league IMO. Former Missouri State player Kanon Gipson has also gained strength and quickness. He just needs a little polishing on his teamwork. Freshmen Brenley Hagewood and Keion Epps will get plenty of playing time.

The shorthanded Panthers are tied for first place in this seven team league. Only four months before yet another season!

Edit: Incoming transfer, 6'3" Avante Nichols in open gym.


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLmsg...R4bXZhMXJmOW1w

[Bballfan]

On paper, the schedule looks to be a big challenge for a young Lady Panther squad and I would anticipate some early losses. However, the freshmen have shown a lot of improvement after summer workouts and have tremendous upside. I still think they will be ready by March

Not really sure who will challenge them.

• Lewis made a stupid hire. The kind that will set the program back compared to who they could have hired.
• Quincy has a new coach. One that lacks any real college coaching experience.
• Most other programs have neither the money or the resources at the level Drury does.

Don't know if you caught it but the season starts VERY late this year. The first day games can be officially played for the season starts November 14th. There are some tip-off shootouts that start the week before, but for most teams the season doesn't start until mid-November. After only four non-league matchups they will already be playing league games. IDK what the reason is for the late start, but I hate it. From the start of college around August 20th - 23rd, it will be a long pre-season. Players will definitely be anxious for some real competition.

[crazznewt]

Drury lost three all GLVC starters, play 7 early road games and have to find contributors out of eight freshmen. As far as resources, within the last couple of years Drury had to cut four million dollars off the budget. This continues with all the layoffs with the graduate assistants.

A side note and In contrast, I take a walk through Missouri State University's campus and see multiple major construction projects and remember what they are able to pay their players. It's sobering knowing what small private schools are up against.

I can be optimistic and realistic at the same time by looking at the facts on paper. The coaching staff has improved with the addition of Payton Richards. Maybe this young team can gel quickly and get some early wins like Nyla did with her team of mostly freshmen back in 2000.
If not, I will enjoy the process.