Drake Fans' Perspectives on DeVries

[Pryght]

I went to the Drake message board in order to get their perspective on DeVries strengths and weaknesses. I wish they had gone into a bit more detail, but this is what they had to say:

Weaknesses:
1. His most glaring weakness is that when he gets the lead, he ALWAYS slows things down and runs the clock too early, leading his teams to lose (led to NCAA Tournament losses to Miami & Washington State)
2. Some felt that he is not approachable/engaging and not interesting to listen to, while others said he was always approachable and willing to chat
3. Struggled in postseason, mainly due to injuries and late game changing of pace (running clock too early), leading his teams to lose offensive rhythm

Postseason Results:
-1st season, lost at first round CIT/CBI game to Southern Utah (only had 6-7 healthy players)
-2nd season, COVID year
-3rd season, won a game in the first four, lost to USC in first round (Drake was playing without two injured all-conference players)
-4th season, they blew a 20+ lead in CBI quarterfinals and lost
-5th season, had an 8-point lead late in the game vs Miami and lost
-6th season, hadn't an 8-point lead late in the game vs. Washington State and lost

Interestingly, he interviewed at Drake 3 different times (job openings) before he got the job

Strengths:
1. Great guy
2. Great recruiter
3. Great at identifying talent that other coaches may not see
4. Built Drake from nothing; viewed as completing a "borderline miracle"
5. Great at putting a team together (even with limited resources)
6. His teams compete at a high level
7. He's a winner that builds consistent teams (Osterman mentioned how he spoke with several MVC coaches who always felt that DeVries's teams were VERY consistent and fundamentally sound)
8. Offensive-minded coach, viewed as a "tactician"
9. Values intensity on defense

 

[Al Bino]

Those post season results and the reasons are concerning.
I hope he is willing to modify some things!

 

[Spirito76]

What is this "post season" you speak of ?

 

[WhyisIUBBcursed]

What is this "post season" you speak of ?

Yes. He GETS to the post season

 

[BA47591]

I just read the espn article on Chris Beard, so I'm back sliding a bit on my pivot to positivity. I think he'll be a massive improvement over what we've had. He was a great hire for WVU. A good one for us after what we've become.

 

[Pryght]

I just read the espn article on Chris Beard, so I'm back sliding a bit on my pivot to positivity.

 

[Harry Hondo]

I went to the Drake message board in order to get their perspective on DeVries strengths and weaknesses. I wish they had gone into a bit more detail, but this is what they had to say:

Weaknesses:
1. His most glaring weakness is that when he gets the lead, he ALWAYS slows things down and runs the clock too early, leading his teams to lose (led to NCAA Tournament losses to Miami & Washington State)
2. Some felt that he is not approachable/engaging and not interesting to listen to, while others said he was always approachable and willing to chat
3. Struggled in postseason, mainly due to injuries and late game changing of pace (running clock too early), leading his teams to lose offensive rhythm

Postseason Results:
-1st season, lost at first round CIT/CBI game to Southern Utah (only had 6-7 healthy players)
-2nd season, COVID year
-3rd season, won a game in the first four, lost to USC in first round (Drake was playing without two injured all-conference players)
-4th season, they blew a 20+ lead in CBI quarterfinals and lost
-5th season, had an 8-point lead late in the game vs Miami and lost
-6th season, hadn't an 8-point lead late in the game vs. Washington State and lost

Interestingly, he interviewed at Drake 3 different times (job openings) before he got the job

Strengths:
1. Great guy
2. Great recruiter
3. Great at identifying talent that other coaches may not see
4. Built Drake from nothing; viewed as completing a "borderline miracle"
5. Great at putting a team together (even with limited resources)
6. His teams compete at a high level
7. He's a winner that builds consistent teams (Osterman mentioned how he spoke with several MVC coaches who always felt that DeVries's teams were VERY consistent and fundamentally sound)
8. Offensive-minded coach, viewed as a "tactician"
9. Values intensity on defense

I think it’s impressive that his Drake team gave that Miami final four team a run for their money. That same Miami team manhandled Woody’s best IU team that had TJD and JHS. It’s also impressive what he did in the Battle for Atlantis last November with an entirely new WVU team. Again his team was tough and ours was manhandled by the competition. I’m very happy with all I’m hearing about his credentials. He’ll do great here.,

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I went to the Drake message board in order to get their perspective on DeVries strengths and weaknesses. I wish they had gone into a bit more detail, but this is what they had to say:

Weaknesses:
1. His most glaring weakness is that when he gets the lead, he ALWAYS slows things down and runs the clock too early, leading his teams to lose (led to NCAA Tournament losses to Miami & Washington State)
2. Some felt that he is not approachable/engaging and not interesting to listen to, while others said he was always approachable and willing to chat
3. Struggled in postseason, mainly due to injuries and late game changing of pace (running clock too early), leading his teams to lose offensive rhythm

Postseason Results:
-1st season, lost at first round CIT/CBI game to Southern Utah (only had 6-7 healthy players)
-2nd season, COVID year
-3rd season, won a game in the first four, lost to USC in first round (Drake was playing without two injured all-conference players)
-4th season, they blew a 20+ lead in CBI quarterfinals and lost
-5th season, had an 8-point lead late in the game vs Miami and lost
-6th season, hadn't an 8-point lead late in the game vs. Washington State and lost

Interestingly, he interviewed at Drake 3 different times (job openings) before he got the job

Strengths:
1. Great guy
2. Great recruiter
3. Great at identifying talent that other coaches may not see
4. Built Drake from nothing; viewed as completing a "borderline miracle"
5. Great at putting a team together (even with limited resources)
6. His teams compete at a high level
7. He's a winner that builds consistent teams (Osterman mentioned how he spoke with several MVC coaches who always felt that DeVries's teams were VERY consistent and fundamentally sound)
8. Offensive-minded coach, viewed as a "tactician"
9. Values intensity on defense

When McCollum leaves, they will likely produce the same kind of post mortem. It’s natural. When you lose a coach due to voluntarily moving up, fans will try to find character flaws. It’s human nature.

 

[Pryght]

When McCollum leaves, they will likely produce the same kind of post mortem. It’s natural. When you lose a coach due to voluntarily moving up, fans will try to find character flaws. It’s human nature.

The Drake fans were overwhelmingly positive and thankful for what DeVries did for their program. The truth is that DeVries, like every other coach, has flaws. Next season isn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but I'm confident it will be a whole lot better than the last eight years of misery we have experienced.

 

[ams66]

1. His most glaring weakness is that when he gets the lead, he ALWAYS slows things down and runs the clock too early, leading his teams to lose (led to NCAA Tournament losses to Miami & Washington State)

If this is true I hope he fixes it. I was hoping we might finally have a coach that knows how to hold a lead and keep the foot on the gas until the other team starts thinking they cannot win. IU has been terrible at holding a lead down the stretch for like 20 years it seems.

 

[wi_hoosier]

The Drake fans were overwhelmingly positive and thankful for what DeVries did for their program. The truth is that DeVries, like every other coach, has flaws. Next season isn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but I'm confident it will be a whole lot better than the last eight years of misery we have experienced.

Yep. I'm old enough to remember the knock on Coach K was that he couldn't win the big one.

 

[kkott]

If this is true I hope he fixes it. I was hoping we might finally have a coach that knows how to hold a lead and keep the foot on the gas until the other team starts thinking they cannot win. IU has been terrible at holding a lead down the stretch for like 20 years it seems.

You start to get overwhelmed with data, but I thought one of the things that "stood out" to Dolson about CDD was his winning % in close games, but think they were looking at this past year.

 

[bailey777]

When McCollum leaves, they will likely produce the same kind of post mortem. It’s natural. When you lose a coach due to voluntarily moving up, fans will try to find character flaws. It’s human nature.

Not likely. He walks on water

 

[Al Bino]

Not likely. He walks on water

Wow, I have no idea why you hate on BM.
He was a GREAT coach at the D2 level who brought some of those players and killed it at Drake this season.
IMO, there is every reason to believe he will kill it at a P4 level.

 

[ams66]

Wow, I have no idea why you hate on BM.
He was a GREAT coach at the D2 level who brought some of those players and killed it at Drake this season.
IMO, there is every reason to believe he will kill it at a P4 level.

One of the things he said after the Mizzou game, a reported asked him a question about lack of depth on his bench and his answer was something like "depth is overrated, if I have a group of guys that are playing well I let them roll" thought Woodson could take a lesson from that.

 

[Harpo Marxist]

Wow, I have no idea why you hate on BM.
He was a GREAT coach at the D2 level who brought some of those players and killed it at Drake this season.
IMO, there is every reason to believe he will kill it at a P4 level.

BM will be a pain in the ass on the Wisconsin level. I don't want him in the B1G.

 

[ulrey]

BM will be a pain in the ass on the Wisconsin level. I don't want him in the B1G.

Iowa getting him?

 

[OpenWheels]

I browsed the Drake forum, after seeing this Pryght thread. Read the McCollum rumors thread.

They nearly universally praise McCollum and love DeVries. Not quite as universally many feel McCollum is better. 'Generational' was used. Interesting is they say McCollum is more outgoing in revealing ideas and engaging with the fanbase, even while they love Devries. Says McCollum loves talking hoops and strategy. Many said they had interactions with DeVries that were good though. Say he's a good guy.

Pryght's thread was good. Good on Devries according to them as he posted. Except they agree he slows down and blows leads, lol. Hope he's learned from those.

 

[YOTHN]

 

[Pazhoosier85]

Iowa getting him?

Hopefully WV gets him. Keep him out of the BIG.

 

[abraxis]

Hopefully WV gets him. Keep him out of the BIG.

I’d like to see Iowa get him. It will make for interesting matchups against IU’s Drock(?) come final judgement day.

 

[Tru2Irish]

Those post season results and the reasons are concerning.
I hope he is willing to modify some things!

A lot of that depends on quality of talent, injuries to starters and whether you overuse your rotation for an entire season and not sub enough. I think he is a mental coach. He plans and thinks as the game goes on. The only disappointment is not maintainng the leads. It shows lack of focus. Maybe here he can work on that. Knight's record at Army wasn't great but he was a cerebral coach.

 

[IndyMitchell]

I went to the Drake message board in order to get their perspective on DeVries strengths and weaknesses. I wish they had gone into a bit more detail, but this is what they had to say:

Weaknesses:
1. His most glaring weakness is that when he gets the lead, he ALWAYS slows things down and runs the clock too early, leading his teams to lose (led to NCAA Tournament losses to Miami & Washington State)
2. Some felt that he is not approachable/engaging and not interesting to listen to, while others said he was always approachable and willing to chat
3. Struggled in postseason, mainly due to injuries and late game changing of pace (running clock too early), leading his teams to lose offensive rhythm

Postseason Results:
-1st season, lost at first round CIT/CBI game to Southern Utah (only had 6-7 healthy players)
-2nd season, COVID year
-3rd season, won a game in the first four, lost to USC in first round (Drake was playing without two injured all-conference players)
-4th season, they blew a 20+ lead in CBI quarterfinals and lost
-5th season, had an 8-point lead late in the game vs Miami and lost
-6th season, hadn't an 8-point lead late in the game vs. Washington State and lost

Interestingly, he interviewed at Drake 3 different times (job openings) before he got the job

Strengths:
1. Great guy
2. Great recruiter
3. Great at identifying talent that other coaches may not see
4. Built Drake from nothing; viewed as completing a "borderline miracle"
5. Great at putting a team together (even with limited resources)
6. His teams compete at a high level
7. He's a winner that builds consistent teams (Osterman mentioned how he spoke with several MVC coaches who always felt that DeVries's teams were VERY consistent and fundamentally sound)
8. Offensive-minded coach, viewed as a "tactician"
9. Values intensity on defense

Thank for the extra research!! This points out several tough losses but that's how most most team's seasons end. Ideally he learns from each of these too. However, you can't just look at a few games and say his strategy is consistently wrong. For instance, he played a really tough ISU team for the MVC Championship last year and did everything right. He was the underdog in that game but they played extremely well and Tucker was unstoppable. His teams seem to be very consistent too.

 

[Pryght]

You start to get overwhelmed with data, but I thought one of the things that "stood out" to Dolson about CDD was his winning % in close games, but think they

Hopefully WV gets him. Keep him out of the BIG.

Seems like a good fit for Virginia…if they still need someone.

 

[ulrey]

Seems like a good fit for Virginia…if they still need someone.

Yes. Heard they like Dave Odom son.

 

[Jssanto]

Those post season results and the reasons are concerning.
I hope he is willing to modify some things!

It would be a huge weakness if you could not learn from your own mistakes.

 

[Harpo Marxist]

Iowa getting him?

He's from Iowa City of all places. I think its a pretty safe bet he's going home.