(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..