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MBB Preseason Poll - 8th Place
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J.B. Offline
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Post: #1
MBB Preseason Poll - 8th Place
https://caasports.com/news/2019/10/7/hof...-year.aspx

So in Spiker's 4th season, Drexel is predicted to finish in 8th place. Granted it's the preseason and I'm sure that Drexel's new 3 star recruits weren't factored into this. But Drexel has not shown any considerable progress in the Spiker era. I don't like playing the fire the coach game that so many seem to love. But I will say that I think that this is a critical season, and we really need to see significant improvements this year. He's a great guy and represents the program well, but it's time to start to question whether this was the right hire.
(This post was last modified: 10-10-2019 03:20 PM by J.B..)
10-10-2019 07:11 AM
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MedicSBK Offline
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Post: #2
RE: MBB Preseason Poll - 8th Place
(10-10-2019 07:11 AM)J.B. Wrote:  https://caasports.com/news/2019/10/7/hof...-year.aspx

So in Spiker's 4th season, Drexel is predicted to finish in 8th place. Granted it's the preseason and I'm sure that Drexel's new 3 star recruits weren't factored into this. But Drexel has not shown any considerable progress in the Spiker era. I don't like paying the fire the coach game that so many seem to love. But I will say that I think that this is a critical season, and we really need to see significant improvements this year. He's a great guy and represents the program well, but it's time to start to question whether this was the right hire.

Drexel has not shown any considerable progress in the Spiker era?

Huh? From a recruiting standpoint, Did you not watch Cam Wynter play last year? up until potentially this season he is one of the best recruits that we have seen in the program since Damion Lee. James Butler was a steal of a signing as a transfer. And the two that are coming in this year have real potential to do something great. Add Walton and Lee's returns to the court to the mix, and we have a considerably new look to this team.

Off the court, the Spiker coaching staff has been far more approachable than the previous regime. They are always ready to talk basketball with the fans. The basketball culture surrounding this program is a far more positive one, and that goes a long, long way with me.

Although the team might not have skyrocketed to the top of the CAA, this team has shown an improvement in their record in each season. Frankly, Charleston and Northeastern are the two best teams in the league this year. I really feel that the line between roughly third and 8th is paper thin and it will come down to a few games here and there to make the difference.

The low ranking in the polls, Dan pointed out elsewhere, is most likely due to the losses of Demir and Harper. The former, I will admit, is a relatively significant one, but Ali was certainly prone to his bad days. As game changing of a player as Harper could be, I appreciated the ability of the rest of the guys to play a more team oriented brand of ball when he was off the court, and that is going to benefit this program going forward.

We can bemoan a lack of success, similar to the generalized lack of success that saw for the 15 or so seasons prior, but to say Spiker as not made progress? Come on..
10-10-2019 12:11 PM
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jcohen42 Offline
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RE: MBB Preseason Poll - 8th Place
Year 1: 3-15 CAA, 10th place
Year 2: 6-12 CAA, 8th place
Year 3: 7-11 CAA, 6th place

I dunno, to me that sounds like progress. I've been nothing but happy with Spiker so far, with the way he conducts himself, the way his teams play, and with what he's been able to do results-wise. Firing him after this year, in the middle of Cam Wynter's career and the season after getting probably his highest-rated recruit yet in Bickerstaff, would be a massive mistake for the program and a big step back. That's how you end up in a never-ending cycle of living in the basement.

Perhaps if the team completely implodes this year, Spiker's seat will warm up. But I don't see that happening, because I think he's a good coach that can make some good things happen with the talent at his disposal. Are they going to be a conference contender this season? No, probably not. But the foundation is absolutely there for that sort of improvement in the future.
10-10-2019 12:49 PM
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J.B. Offline
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RE: MBB Preseason Poll - 8th Place
(10-10-2019 12:11 PM)MedicSBK Wrote:  
(10-10-2019 07:11 AM)J.B. Wrote:  https://caasports.com/news/2019/10/7/hof...-year.aspx

So in Spiker's 4th season, Drexel is predicted to finish in 8th place. Granted it's the preseason and I'm sure that Drexel's new 3 star recruits weren't factored into this. But Drexel has not shown any considerable progress in the Spiker era. I don't like paying the fire the coach game that so many seem to love. But I will say that I think that this is a critical season, and we really need to see significant improvements this year. He's a great guy and represents the program well, but it's time to start to question whether this was the right hire.

Drexel has not shown any considerable progress in the Spiker era?

Huh? From a recruiting standpoint, Did you not watch Cam Wynter play last year? up until potentially this season he is one of the best recruits that we have seen in the program since Damion Lee. James Butler was a steal of a signing as a transfer. And the two that are coming in this year have real potential to do something great. Add Walton and Lee's returns to the court to the mix, and we have a considerably new look to this team.

Off the court, the Spiker coaching staff has been far more approachable than the previous regime. They are always ready to talk basketball with the fans. The basketball culture surrounding this program is a far more positive one, and that goes a long, long way with me.

Although the team might not have skyrocketed to the top of the CAA, this team has shown an improvement in their record in each season. Frankly, Charleston and Northeastern are the two best teams in the league this year. I really feel that the line between roughly third and 8th is paper thin and it will come down to a few games here and there to make the difference.

The low ranking in the polls, Dan pointed out elsewhere, is most likely due to the losses of Demir and Harper. The former, I will admit, is a relatively significant one, but Ali was certainly prone to his bad days. As game changing of a player as Harper could be, I appreciated the ability of the rest of the guys to play a more team oriented brand of ball when he was off the court, and that is going to benefit this program going forward.

We can bemoan a lack of success, similar to the generalized lack of success that saw for the 15 or so seasons prior, but to say Spiker as not made progress? Come on..

Very fair analysis. And what we saw was nothing more than a poll. However, if the poll does turn out to be accurate, which I hope it's far off, then to finish in 8th place in his 4th season would not count as progress IMO. Hopefully though, this conversation turns out to be meaningless.
10-10-2019 03:23 PM
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dan10 Offline
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RE: MBB Preseason Poll - 8th Place
As stated, he has improved each year so far. I also agree this is a big year for him to see if we can make that next jump. His first year was a lost year. Late to the game and scrambled for recruits coming on a bad team. This will be his 3rd class of recruits and on paper he has done a good job. Was there an opportunity to take over this league, sure, but that was also a pipe dream. He has done well with his very different style than we were all used to. I think 8th is absolute crap projection but I understand it with a lot of "what ifs".

Fact of the matter is we look like a new team from last year. Walton and Lee were hurt most of the year. TJ and Okros are brand new. We lost Trevor, Ali and Harp. From the outside I completely understand the lack of confidence in our team. I also think they are really discrediting the impact Walton, and our freshman will make, on top of getting Lee back. I personally feel that this team is poised for a top 4 finish. But to do that we will need to make strides on defense. We will see who steps up as a leader of this team. Hopefully that is Kurk and Cam
10-11-2019 12:57 PM
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