Drury Panthers

[Bballfan]

In D2 conference tournaments are fine because you can lose in them and still make the tournament.

The D1 conference tournaments are what is annoying. You have these crap D1 conferences. Say a school goes 27 - 4 in the regular season, has a bad night and loses in their conference tournament. Their season is done. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. So 4 months of a great season can be wiped out in one game. And the Power 4 conferences? Play 3 or 4 games in a short amount of time, and a few days later have to play in the NCAA tournament with little time for rest and recovery. I will say the Big Ten women do it right. Their conference tournament is a full week+ in advance of the NCAA tournament. So they get 10+ days off.

I do like it allows a team that otherwise would not make the tournament to do so, but I hate that the regular season is devalued so much.

[crazznewt]

There are opportunities to avoid March Sadness for a D1 team that fails to make the big dance. They might get invited to the WNIT, WBIT, WBI, or the new "Portal Playoff Purwheegnal. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHQuf...MwdjdhemcyM240

[Bballfan]

All those other post season events are the equivalent of a non-CFP bowl bid now. Purely exhibition that allows time for extra practices. But as the money dries up, meaningless bowls are calling it quits.

[DUPanther]

Don’t look now, but Coach Foster has the men Panthers in the GLVC tournament semifinals after knocking off the #1 seed Rockhurst for the second time this season.

4 freshmen played 100 of the total 200 minutes and 3 of the 4 scored in double digits.

[crazznewt]

This is what we've been waiting for with this group. In addition to the four Drury freshmen, they played a sophomore and two juniors, for the 7 total that played. Beat Rockhurst for the second time this season, scored 101 points, and turned the ball over seven times. Foster needed this.

[crazznewt]

If Drury Men win another game or even the conference championship, should Drury keep Foster? They have won four in a row and appear to be on a roll despite the loss of 2 starters (1 injury and 1 dropped) and another potential starter (preseason injury). I saw SBU athletic director Clark Sheehy sitting on the sideline of the Drury/Rockhurst game. He is looking for a head coach to replace Aaron Niven who resigned. I wonder.
At this point, if Foster staying put meant all the players return, I would hope he stays. I saw a post about Isaiah on a recruiting site, there is already interest. There has to be a good way to retain these guys who obviously have great potential.

[crazznewt]

Reese Schaaf is continuing to dominate the MIAA: "Entering the MIAA tournament, Schaaf leads the conference in field-goal percentage (54 percent), ranks second in scoring (19.2 points per game) and rebounding (9.8 rebounds per game), and is fourth in free-throw percentage (85.2 percent) and steals (1.8 steals per game).
She also leads the MIAA and ranks 11th in NCAA Division II in double-doubles with 16." She also had 23 and 9 in their first round tournament win today.

Big win for Molly Miller's Arizona
ASU team over Iowa State! Her team is now 24-9 and might have popped the tournament bubble!

[Bballfan]

I predict Central Missouri will upset Mankato in the NCAA tournament next week.

[panthersclawz1]

If Drury Men win another game or even the conference championship, should Drury keep Foster? They have won four in a row and appear to be on a roll despite the loss of 2 starters (1 injury and 1 dropped) and another potential starter (preseason injury). I saw SBU athletic director Clark Sheehy sitting on the sideline of the Drury/Rockhurst game. He is looking for a head coach to replace Aaron Niven who resigned. I wonder.
At this point, if Foster staying put meant all the players return, I would hope he stays. I saw a post about Isaiah on a recruiting site, there is already interest. There has to be a good way to retain these guys who obviously have great potential.

I stand corrected on Foster. He proved me wrong and got this group playing inspired basketball at just the right time. Regardless of what happens in the semifinals, I think he's earned the right to stay and continue to build this program. Doing this with just seven guys who play, three of them freshmen, is incredibly impressive. Both Stubbs and Howell are graduating. Both have a year left. Stubbs could play somewhere else in grad school or just stop playing. Howell could try to go D1 again. Otyaluk will get D1 looks based on his size, shooting and slashing ability. Hardrick will certainly get D1 looks too. If Foster can retain the main core of at least: Howell, Hardrick, Thomas, Sargeant and Epps, that's a strong foundation. Always a guessing game in today's landscape.

[crazznewt]

I stand corrected on Foster. He proved me wrong and got this group playing inspired basketball at just the right time. Regardless of what happens in the semifinals, I think he's earned the right to stay and continue to build this program. Doing this with just seven guys who play, three of them freshmen, is incredibly impressive. Both Stubbs and Howell are graduating. Both have a year left. Stubbs could play somewhere else in grad school or just stop playing. Howell could try to go D1 again. Otyaluk will get D1 looks based on his size, shooting and slashing ability. Hardrick will certainly get D1 looks too. If Foster can retain the main core of at least: Howell, Hardrick, Thomas, Sargeant and Epps, that's a strong foundation. Always a guessing game in today's landscape.

I like it when someone says "I stand corrected". That statement adds overall credibility to the one who says it. I hope I've said it enough. It's nice to see both programs finsh strong despite the circumstances. The women's team looks tired though.Tomorrow will be tough.

Looks like SBU has also parted ways with their Women's coach. The last three seasons has been bizarre at times for that program. Their next hire could be very interesting if they stay local.

[DUPanther]

If Drury Men win another game or even the conference championship, should Drury keep Foster? They have won four in a row and appear to be on a roll despite the loss of 2 starters (1 injury and 1 dropped) and another potential starter (preseason injury). I saw SBU athletic director Clark Sheehy sitting on the sideline of the Drury/Rockhurst game. He is looking for a head coach to replace Aaron Niven who resigned. I wonder.
At this point, if Foster staying put meant all the players return, I would hope he stays. I saw a post about Isaiah on a recruiting site, there is already interest. There has to be a good way to retain these guys who obviously have great potential.

After this run, Drury isn't moving on from Coach Foster regardless of what happens tomorrow, nor should they. This is the best freshman class Drury has had since Hall and Lockhart in 2009-10, and he's got the team playing inspired basketball at the right time. It'll still be a tall task to win 2 more, but beating a tough UMSL team (who needed that game to stay alive), then beating S&T on the road (currently ranked #10 in the region) to get into the conference tournament, then beating Rockhurst (currently tanked #2 in the region) for the second time this year wasn't luck.

[DUPanther]

I stand corrected on Foster. He proved me wrong and got this group playing inspired basketball at just the right time. Regardless of what happens in the semifinals, I think he's earned the right to stay and continue to build this program. Doing this with just seven guys who play, three of them freshmen, is incredibly impressive. Both Stubbs and Howell are graduating. Both have a year left. Stubbs could play somewhere else in grad school or just stop playing. Howell could try to go D1 again. Otyaluk will get D1 looks based on his size, shooting and slashing ability. Hardrick will certainly get D1 looks too. If Foster can retain the main core of at least: Howell, Hardrick, Thomas, Sargeant and Epps, that's a strong foundation. Always a guessing game in today's landscape.

Wondering if Stubbs will change his mind and play one more year - he's been pretty darn good the second half of this year. Efficient.

I really don't think any of these guys are going to transfer to another D2. As to whether or not a D1 comes calling for any of them, who knows. I wouldn't think so, but in today's world who knows. Last year I thought Hardrick might only have 1 more year here, but his shooting numbers were just ok this season. Howell has played his a$$ off this year and has good offensive numbers, but who would he guard at the next level and do portions of his offensive game really translate to the next level with all the additional length standing in the lane? Hoping they all want to come back and be the main pieces in building something special rather than risk spending a significant amount of time on the bench at a mediocre to bad D1. It's been fun watching them play the last few weeks.

[Bballfan]

Followed the Drury women today. Not quite enough to get over on Maryville. Maryville I think will get two GLVC teams in the tournament today.

Saw Lindenwood is playing for a berth in the big tournament today. I was always underwhelmed by their women's basketball program. But they are in a lower level D1 conference so it just takes some decent players and quality coaching to subsequently get embarrassed on the big stage in a couple weeks.

[crazznewt]

The illness and tired legs from playing a tight game yesterday came back to haunt the Lady Panthers aganst Maryville today. Rhi Gibbons played limited minutes yesterday due to foul trouble, was the only one who appeared to have energy according to the numbers (33.9% team fg). There were some great performances this season, especially from kaylee king, Rhi Gibbons, and Sara Mendel. The latter two should be at least all region in my opinion. They brought intangibles that don't show up in the box score.

There are good recruits coming in next year to hopefully join Kaylee, Sara, Reagan and the others.

Watched Missouri State get beat by Middle Tennessee to end the Bears season today.
All attention turns to the Panthers later today.

I don't know how all the line got on this, i am too lazy to change it now.

[Pantherbooster]

Here we are again, our annual do we keep Foster conversation. Question would be “How many years do we debate this?” Since we’re all thinking this way we know the overall performance is lacking. Nice run to end the season but is it enough? We should ask if the program is headed in the right direction. I don’t think so but does it matter? He is the devil we know.