Drury Panthers

[crazznewt]

Former NBA player Elden Campbell passed away Tuesday at 57 years old. He became the all time leading scorer in Clemson Tiger history before playing 15 years in the NBA.
His 6'9, older, look alike brother Elwayne, played a couple of years at Drury before being dismissed from the squad midway during his junior season. He was by far the most athletic big man to ever play college ball for any school in Springfield.

[crazznewt]

Eldon Campbell's former LA Laker teammate, Byron Scott, posted this on Instagram: "Your nickname in Inglewood was 'Easy E'. We were just 2 Inglewood guys from Morningside High School who made it to the NBA."
• "I played on the varsity team with your older brother Elwayne Campbell. You were a little kid that I used to say 'Go sit down' to at our basketball practices."
Scott remembered Elden as a "good dude" who was "just so cool, nothing speeding him up", which led to his nickname "Easy E". Elden Campbell died at the age of 57 due to accidental drowning after a medical emergency while fishing.

[crazznewt]

I like how coach Bailey managed this game for the Lady Panthers against Quincy as a couple freshmen played some meaningful minutes. The 18 minutes Taliah Norman played were huge for her to gain experience going forward. They will have no chance in the conference tournament If she does not develop consistency by then IMO. Drury just gets bullied inside.

This being said, there is still upside going forward as they played 6 underclassmen and two other starters today who missed a lot of opportunity for growth last season due to injuries.

I thought the officials let Quincy's Danzo get away with offensive fouls that they called Drury's Norman for.

The inexperience really shows in the fourth quarter of every game. I think the tough trip out east next week is good timing for growth potential in this area...as long as Halliday stays healthy, and Mendel stays out of foul trouble.

[panthersclawz1]

Good week for the women. Abysmal one for the men. Against Quincy, the Drury men shot 18-60 for an even 30% from the field. Their worst shooting performance since 2020. That caps off an 0-3 week for the same mark in conference play. Still early, but hard to see this team getting a lot better.

[crazznewt]

. I believe the downfall began before covid, when Hesser started having to replace a truckload of players every season. Bailey has dealt with a similar turnover issue, but with better results, despite the consensus believing Foster recruits better than Bailey.

Every team Bailey has coached showed improvement as the season progressed. She has won even with mismatched players.That has not been the case for the men, with the possible exception of last season's team.

[crazznewt]

Earlier today, I watched the kansas Lady Jayhawks defeat the Missouri State Lady Bears in overtime at the Great Southern Bank Arena. The PA announcer repeatedly tried to get the fans excited, the last time when the Lady Bears were up by two with seconds left in regulation. It was pathetic. Every crowd cam shot was dominated by old, spoiled, Lady Bear fans who won't accept anything less than the old magic the home team used to produce.

It inspired me and Grok to write a little poem:

The arena used to shake when the dynasty was rolling— seven thousand voices, one throat, red seas parting for every three pointer, confetti already in the air before the buzzer.
Now the same seats wear half-smiles and expensive silence. A layup draws the same applause as a missed free throw: none. Phones stay brighter than the scoreboard.
Down on the floor the kids still sprint until their lungs burn, dive for loose balls that bruise ribs for a week, just to hear the echo of sneakers instead of the echo of glory.
Coaches pace in pressed shirts, drawing up the same plays that once won titles, now greeted by yawns and the soft click of Instagram stories.
The school still pays the bills— new practice court, chartered jets, tutors on speed dial— everything except the old magic that apparently retired with the banners.
The ball still bounces. The nets still swish. The spoiled gods in the stands wait for a miracle they no longer believe in and refuse to cheer for until it arrives gift-wrapped like the old days when winning was their birthright and gratitude was optional.

[crazznewt]

Molly Miller's Arizona State team is now 11-0 after defeating 6 - 2 Penn State in College Park, 74-60. Their biggest lead was 21 points early in the fourth quarter. Miller is proving her defensive philosophy will work at this level as ASU turned PSU over 36 times.
Yes, this is the non-conference part of the season, but after finishing 10 and 22 last season with a similar schedule, they already have more wins than they had the entire 2024- 2025 season.

This is year one for her, wait until the roster is full of her players.

[crazznewt]

Another road win for Molly Miller's Arizona State team. This win came against former ASU Pac 10 foe, Oregon State. ASU's next game is Tuesday against Gonzaga in Spokane. Springfield fans can compare scores as Gonzaga plays at Missouri State in Springfield 3 days later.

Yes, tougher conference games are upcoming, but it's obvious Molly has this team headed in the right direction. Considering there are 9 new players and a whole new staff, all in new surroundings, and a completely different system, 12-0 is a great start

[crazznewt]

The big loss to Union was no surprise. A few of us expected a rough non conference part of the schedule for the Lady Panthers.

The ball handling deficiency became obvious during pre season summer scrimmages. I have brought this up a few times and Pantherclawz commented recently about this. For the first time in well over a decade, the Lady Panthers are without an All-American point guard. 25 turnovers to 10 in a game is hard to overcome. Also, they have received very little production from one forward spot. Referencing my pre-season starting 5, I had hoped Talia Norman would be ready to be a starter along side Sara Mendal. Again, like we have said all along, at least a couple freshmen have to become contributors soon.

The new favorite to win the GLVC has to be the UMSL Lady Tritons as they defeated Maryville and Central Missouri State in their last 2 games and have an 8 - 2 overall record.

[Bballfan]

I have seen Union women play a few times. Strange team. Lost to Gannon (not a surprise), but beat Ferris State (surprise). Got beat by Minnesota Mankato (not a surprise), but then lost to Ashland (surprise).

USML has some good wins, but then some losses to lower ranked GLIAC schools. But the way it is looking this year, even the worst GLIAC schools could be contenders in the GLVC or GMAC this year. Wayne State, Ferris State, Northern Michigan, and of course Grand Valley could all win either the GLVC or GMAC this season based on non-conference head to heads as both leagues have done poorly against GLIAC teams. While it is unlikely 6 GLIAC schools could make the tournament, I could see 5!

[crazznewt]

Paige Robinson's still excelling check out page two.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSR7LmXj...lydWhiYzJsYQ==

[Pantherbooster]

So was tonight’s Men’s game really on the schedule? Not how I’d imagine the pre-conference schedule to go but at least better than losing to Blackburn. Kickapoo would have beat this team. At least there is some material for the highlight reel. Sad schedule, Thanksgiving classic was a bust, can’t compete against decent schools and then schedule practice and sell that to the season ticket holders as a legit game. I want my money back!

[crazznewt]

So was tonight’s Men’s game really on the schedule? Not how I’d imagine the pre-conference schedule to go but at least better than losing to Blackburn. Kickapoo would have beat this team. At least there is some material for the highlight reel. Sad schedule, Thanksgiving classic was a bust, can’t compete against decent schools and then schedule practice and sell that to the season ticket holders as a legit game. I want my money back!

I'm sorry to say, I didn't even know they were playing tonight.

I had a conversation Tuesday night at MSU with a local media guy who knows Drury very well. He said what we already knew, that Drury Basketball will likely never be the same because of the NIL and the after effects of the covid shutdown.

MSU VS Oral Roberts was a great game Tuesday night, as MSU won on a tip-in with 3 seconds left. Man, If they had to rely on basketball revenue to maintain that arena, it would fail.The announced attendance was 1,581 that night.They could conceivably play their games in the Mcdonald Arena, the venue they used back in the sixties and early seventies. I think the capacity is three thousand in that building.

There are usually only about 25 to 30 students in MSU's student section. Pathetic.This school has 25,000 students attending the Springfield campus.

Low attendance at Drury has to be hurting their efforts to maintain. At least there is a higher level of athleticism coming in next season's freshman class for the Women.

[Bballfan]

Hey MSU plays in the XBox Bowl tonight. I am sure that game will pack the stands.

Who even knew the Xbox Bowl was a thing?!?!?!

[TSU_Mike59]

So was tonight’s Men’s game really on the schedule? Not how I’d imagine the pre-conference schedule to go but at least better than losing to Blackburn. Kickapoo would have beat this team. At least there is some material for the highlight reel. Sad schedule, Thanksgiving classic was a bust, can’t compete against decent schools and then schedule practice and sell that to the season ticket holders as a legit game. I want my money back!

I saw 137 points and immediately rolled my eyes. Didn't even need to see which Central Christian East West College of the Arts Academy Baptist Bible was on the schedule that night.