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.