Drury Panthers

[tuffeagle]

Drury women had been playing well of late. But they are safely in the regional tournament most likely at a 4 seed. A 3 seed might have been attainable, but I don't know now. Lewis very well could sneak in the regional, but McKendree would need to win the GLVC to get in. Definitely a down year overall for the league in women's basketball.

[crazznewt]

Schaaf should be POY. Been fantastic this year as one of the few holdovers from last year’s team.

Also, the official NCAA regional rankings come out this week for the first time. They might be similar but they also use numbers the SIDs/coaches don’t have who vote. Anything else is all for fluff and no substance, like the coaches’ polls.

Oops. Upon closer look, that information was from the D2CSC Women's Basketball Division II Media Polls.

[TSU_Mike59]

Schaaf should be POY. Been fantastic this year as one of the few holdovers from last year’s team.

Also, the official NCAA regional rankings come out this week for the first time. They might be similar but they also use numbers the SIDs/coaches don’t have who vote. Anything else is all for fluff and no substance, like the coaches’ polls.

[crazznewt]

The Lady Panthers beat Mckendree 87 to 75 for their 12th win in a row. This game featured 22 lead changes and 12 ties. This was a big game in the Midwest Region as Drury was ranked 5th and Mckendree was tied for 10th in the latest poll. BTW, there are some surprises in these regional polls, including the absence of Central Missouri's Lady Jennies from the top 10 in the Central Region.

Quickies:

*Mckendree, a very talented and well coached team, was 12-0 on the road, including a win at Lewis. This was the second big opponent streak ending with a loss to Drury (Rockhurst 10-0 home record)

*This makes win number 20 for a team that leads the conference in scoring, field goal percentage, three point percentage, scoring margin, defensive rebounds and assists.

*Considering the injuries, new surroundings, lack of experienced collegiate starters, and only three returners with significant playing time, this coaching staff has done an incredible job!

Reese Schaaf in unwatered down conference only stats;

*Number 1 in scoring
*Number 1 in field goal percentage
*Virtually tied for rebounding lead
She can post and finish impressively with either hand, makes the midrange and the three, making that field goal percentage even more impressive.

[crazznewt]

Man, he has not had an easy time. He apparently keeps having these setbacks. Just being continually healthy alone would be a blessing for this guy. From what I can tell, he had been present with the team the whole season.

[TSU_Mike59]

I heard the play by play announcer say that coach foster was out the other night. Has he been able to coach more this season? I know he has had some health issues most of his tenure there. He did great continuing what Matt Woodley started at TSU, so I’ve rooted for him at both stops since leaving.

[crazznewt]

Attendance is down obviously. I do know they ALWAYS scan every ticket at the entrance. Unfortunately, as been the norm for the last few years, the draw has been the women's game. The announcer used to ask the crowd to stay and support the men's team. It's hard to watch a team continually get beat on their home floor.
But to say this ALWAYS has been the case is ridiculous.

[TSU_Mike59]

For whatever reason, the other side of the arena is where most people sit. The concessions are closer and the student section is not seen. The area behind the visitor bench is normally where the visiting fans sit. In a normal season, more people sit behind Drury's home bench than what Truman has in their whole arena. Again, maybe 3/5 of the arena is not shown on GLVCSN.

lol. Truman actually underreports for who knows what reason. You can turn on a game and see there are more actual butts in the seats than what they report in the box score. Why? I don’t know.

But for the last 6 minutes of that game Thursday night + OT, there were maybe 50 fans on the 2/5th of the court you say you can see on the screen. My wife - who doesn’t even watch basketball - walked through and said “wow, there’s no one there.”

If there were 1,000 on the other side midway through the second half, then awesome, but the videos DU puts out + other pictures on Twitter + the GLVCSN always paint a different picture.

[crazznewt]

Watched the overtime of that game and I even let out an audible ‘oh wow’ on the Riak stick back dunk. UMSL looked out of rhythm on offense from what I saw. Nice win for the Panthers.

Also, when I looked at the box score to see how many Riak had, the attendance was listed at 1082? In the era of the GLVCSN, the times of inflating attendance should come to an end. IYKYK, say the young kids.

Otherwise, if they’re counting tickets given away/sold, then I’ll call Truman and tell them they should start counting me (who lives in St Louis) for every game because I get two tickets to every FB and BB game as part of my alumni contributions LOL.

For whatever reason, the other side of the arena is where most people sit. The concessions are closer and the student section is not seen. The area behind the visitor bench is normally where the visiting fans sit. In a normal season, more people sit behind Drury's home bench than what Truman has in their whole arena. Again, maybe 3/5 of the arena is not shown on GLVCSN.

[TSU_Mike59]

Juok Riak showed his pro potential in Drury's win against UMSL. Big three point shots, tough drives to the hoop, and a couple more very athletic dunks. One dunk was straight up while being bodied by two defenders, one defender was 6'10". The other was a two hand follow - rebound dunk which came at a huge point of the game. Juok left from the circle on that one.

The Lady Panthers won their nineteenth game with plenty of big performances: Schaaf and Daniels with double doubles- Daniels with 13 assists, Brooks with another huge shooting game-including 3 point makes while being bodied. Moxness is looking more mobile, she could be key going forward. Huge game Saturday.

Watched the overtime of that game and I even let out an audible ‘oh wow’ on the Riak stick back dunk. UMSL looked out of rhythm on offense from what I saw. Nice win for the Panthers.

Also, when I looked at the box score to see how many Riak had, the attendance was listed at 1082? In the era of the GLVCSN, the times of inflating attendance should come to an end. IYKYK, say the young kids.

Otherwise, if they’re counting tickets given away/sold, then I’ll call Truman and tell them they should start counting me (who lives in St Louis) for every game because I get two tickets to every FB and BB game as part of my alumni contributions LOL.

[crazznewt]

Juok Riak showed his pro potential in Drury's win against UMSL. Big three point shots, tough drives to the hoop, and a couple more very athletic dunks. One dunk was straight up while being bodied by two defenders, one defender was 6'10". The other was a two hand follow - rebound dunk which came at a huge point of the game. Juok left from the circle on that one.

The Lady Panthers won their nineteenth game with plenty of big performances: Schaaf and Daniels with double doubles- Daniels with 13 assists, Brooks with another huge shooting game-including 3 point makes while being bodied. Moxness is looking more mobile, she could be key going forward. Huge game Saturday.

[crazznewt]

I was looking forward to watching Ryan Gordon play. He is a very strong and fast athlete, a real difference maker.
The Hardrick kid is another high level freshman who had to sit. A very good athlete with a good shot, can play and compete.

[DUPanther]

As for the men, Riak looked much better than Thursday but Jewell opened on a 13-0 run and never looked back. The Drury men need MUCH more talent if they are to ascend to the elite. At this point, many will ask if Foster should continue in his role. And to be honest, I don’t know the answer.

The answer is yes. The cupboard was completely bare when he got here. He had the GLVC freshman of the year last year (Applegate), and likely will this year as well (Riok). He had to redshirt a transfer that would've been a starter due to injury and 4 other guys have missed time due to injury. At times he's had more talent sitting on the bench injured than he has on the floor.

They're missing a true point guard. Put a good point with what he's got coming back this year, and already signed for next (Riok's brother) and they could be dangerous.

He put together NCAA tournament teams at both Truman and McKendree. If he could win in those places, he can win here.

[crazznewt]

Kudos to the Drury women for going 2-0 this weekend, but not a great weekend for Drury on either side. The women looked lazy both games and the men were outclassed in both as well.

For the women, the rockhurst game was a great example of what has to happen if one of the big three is off. The other two must have monster performances. And Schaaf and Daniels did so with 25 each. On the men’s side, it was the first game back for Riak and he looked like they rushed him back. Couldn’t move on the ankle well at all. Drury’s lack of depth and Rockhurst’s home court advantage did the rest. They got mauled. Plain and simple.

At Jewell, the Lady Panthers looked disinterested. None of the big three played well. Schaaf went down in the third, likely with a concussion. Credit Brooks with 18 off the bench. Against 13/15 teams in the league, the women lose that game with the performance they put forth. Their lack of depth was never more apparent. They got lucky they played Jewell.

As for the men, Riak looked much better than Thursday but Jewell opened on a 13-0 run and never looked back. The Drury men need MUCH more talent if they are to ascend to the elite. At this point, many will ask if Foster should continue in his role. And to be honest, I don’t know the answer.

Wisdom says humble minds are more focused. At some point, the smart basketball players realize they should not underestimate any opponent. Average teams that are focused, often defeat good teams that are not focused. Despite their mediocre record, Jewell's women did win at UMSL by 10 and beat Upper Iowa by 30 just two weeks ago.

Hopefully Reese doesn't have to sit. She is one of the three Lady Panthers who are likely at the top in the conference in minutes played and is the top candidate for GLVC player of the year. Her toughness is needed against two top teams this week.

Despite all the hits to the depth this season, this team has 18 wins overall and is 13-3 in the conference with six games left and sit at number 5 in the Midwest region poll.

Makaiya Brooks is starting to be a dependable player off of the bench. No one in this league has a quicker release on their shot than her. Also, looks like freshman Sara Mendel has deservedly moved up on the depth chart.


Edit: I think the Rockhurst win was impressive. Mason Halpin has always been one of the toughest home courts in GLVC women's basketball and this season is no different. After all, the Hawks were undefeated there at 10 -0, including wins against Lewis, and Illinois Springfield.
In the past, The Lady Panthers have had absolutely loaded teams that have escaped with close victories there, including single digit wins the last three seasons. Two road 18 point wins isn't terrible regardless.

[panthersclawz1]

Kudos to the Drury women for going 2-0 this weekend, but not a great weekend for Drury on either side. The women looked lazy both games and the men were outclassed in both as well.

For the women, the rockhurst game was a great example of what has to happen if one of the big three is off. The other two must have monster performances. And Schaaf and Daniels did so with 25 each. On the men’s side, it was the first game back for Riak and he looked like they rushed him back. Couldn’t move on the ankle well at all. Drury’s lack of depth and Rockhurst’s home court advantage did the rest. They got mauled. Plain and simple.

At Jewell, the Lady Panthers looked disinterested. None of the big three played well. Schaaf went down in the third, likely with a concussion. Credit Brooks with 18 off the bench. Against 13/15 teams in the league, the women lose that game with the performance they put forth. Their lack of depth was never more apparent. They got lucky they played Jewell.

As for the men, Riak looked much better than Thursday but Jewell opened on a 13-0 run and never looked back. The Drury men need MUCH more talent if they are to ascend to the elite. At this point, many will ask if Foster should continue in his role. And to be honest, I don’t know the answer.