Basketball 2014-15

[TimV]

I wouldn't even mind BC coming back if he actually hired an assistant coach who could bring in some structure to our offensive and defensive sets.

Hmmm.  Sounds to me an awful lot like what a head coach does. Why would you look for an assistant to do that unless you were grooming him to eventually BE the head coach?

[CAS]

And has our recruiting actually been good?  Has Courtney recruited an all-Ivy player other than Miller?  Courtney said Miller was his very first recruit, who committed in the wake of 3 consecutive Ivy titles and the Sweet Sixteen year under Donahue.

[mountainred]

Steve Donahue to be next Penn coach.  Discuss amongst yourselves.

Far from a shock. Where he wanted to be years ago.

Exactly. He wanted Philadelphia (he grew up, went to Ursinus in the suburbs), he wanted a Catholic school. Penn is one out of two. He could finish his career there. Be nice to have another Ivy be competitive again. Donahue's ideal job would be Villanova but Jay Wright has been there since 2001, since 2005 has advanced in the NCAAs most every year and if Wright hasn't succumbed to bigger money after FF and Elite 8 rounds, why would he leave now at 53 ... and why would Donahue get the Villanova job after not moving BC up the ladder? We ought to wish him well, except twice a year.

Count me as a group of 1 that has doubts he well be Penn's return to glory. It should be easier than at Cornell, and probably easier than BC. However I'm still doubting, we'll see.

He cant do worse than Allen did, they'll at least be more competitive and probably compete for the league title in a few years. I dont think they will return to the absolute dominance their alumni except as Harvard and Amaker arent going anywhere and more teams in the league have started to care since our sweet 16 run. It is just tough to see Donahue go there while we spin in circles

If it makes you feel any better, he probably would have left Cornell for this opportunity had he not gone to BC in 2010. He's a Philly guy through and through.

I don't think he'll oversea a bunch of 14-0 Penn teams because the traditional Penn advantages have been eroded by, among other things, the financial aid opportunities at the wealthier Ivies.  Yale, longtime also rans in hockey and basketball, just pulled off a rare combination: MIH & MBB Ivy titles in the same season. Ivy talent doesn't all run through the Ps anymore.

I hate Penn but I wish Coach D luck.  He's a good guy. Hopefully he can make some noise in the Big 5 and help raise the Ivy League's reputation.

I wish Steve the best and think he will do okay at Penn; there are still selling points for Penn basketball and Steve is a good, though probably not great, coach.  He'll get the Quakers out of the league cellar, but I agree he won't oversee a bunch of 14-0 Penn teams.

[mountainred]

And has our recruiting actually been good?  Has Courtney recruited an all-Ivy player other than Miller?  Courtney said Miller was his very first recruit, who committed in the wake of 3 consecutive Ivy titles and the Sweet Sixteen year under Donahue.

To answer your first question, consider that in BC's first two years, using Steve's holdovers who were ill-suited to run Courtney's system, the Big Red won 13 league games.  In his last three seasons, using mainly his recruits, there have been 11 league wins.  That's not a testament to good recruiting.

As far as your second question, Cressler was HM all-Ivy as a Soph.  My guess is that Hatter will be scoring 20+ points a night next year and will make at least HM all-Ivy, though he may set a school record for shots to get there.

[phillysportsfan]

Courtney has recruited more athletic guys than Donahue ever did but while occasionally they make amazing plays they are often inconsistent/undisciplined. He never really implemented his "system"

Annoyed seeing these "Giving Day" emails go out while Andy doesnt do his job and fire Courtney

[CAS]

Totally agree Philly.  It really is an outrage that Andy has apparently given an extension to a coach who took the basketball program from first to worst. Penn fires a coach and hires Donahue. Columbia fires a coach and hires Bagnoli. And we...

[ugarte]

And we...

Are more interested in churn than the school is.

[billhoward]

I hate Penn but I wish Coach D luck.  He's a good guy. Hopefully he can make some noise in the Big 5 and help raise the Ivy League's reputation.

If every Ivy team is more competitive in a sport - competitive meaning a chance to make the NCAAs - it's easier to recruit better players at every school.

[rss77]

Wonder if part of the reason they are keeping Courtney are the financial problems on East Hill.  The $57 million in cuts that have to be made across the board definitely affects athletics.  Doanhue will do well at Penn.  There is always an element of luck in recruiting.  Yes-Dale, Wittman, and Foote fell into his lap but he had other pieces in place in the supporting cast in players like Jon Jacques, Adam Wire, Errick Peck, etc.  He was also able to get quality transfers like Mark Coury from Kentucky who gave quality back-up minutes to Foote and Max Groebe from UMass. After the first 5 years of his reign he gradually upgraded the talent with his recruiting template.

[ugarte]

So glad Harvard lost. Whew.

[CAS]

Courtney's contract concluded. Can't understand why he's still the head coach.

[CAS]

Guess Andy doesn't care about men's hoops

[Ken711]

Courtney's contract concluded. Can't understand why he's still the head coach.

We won't be over .500 in winning games with Courtney, book it.

[Trotsky]

Courtney's contract concluded. Can't understand why he's still the head coach.

We won't be over .500 in winning games with Courtney, book it.

"Over .500?"

"I don't think I'll ever get over .500."

[Ken711]

Courtney's contract concluded. Can't understand why he's still the head coach.

We won't be over .500 in winning games with Courtney, book it.

"Over .500?"

"I don't think I'll ever get over .500."

As in win more than 50% of the games he coaches, no I don't see it. ;-)