What, Then, About Recruiting?

by Adam Jacobi on Mar 10, 2008 9:14 AM CDT in Iowa Hawkeyes News

The Drake Bulldogs just put the finishing touches on their regular season with a surgical dissection of the Illinois State Redbirds, 79-49. It was the largest victory in an MVC title game ever. The 'Dawgs had been left for dead before the season even began, having lost four starting seniors and being picked to finish ninth in the conference--justifiably so. They start two walk-ons and a Korver with one good knee. Their head coach was a product of naked and blatant nepotism--Keno Davis, just 35 at the time of his hire, had spent a couple seasons at Drake under his father, whom we're mildly familiar with.

And yet here they are, runaway regular season champions of the Missouri Valley Conference, dominators of the conference tourney, and mortal locks for a 6 seed or better in the Big Dance. One of those walk-ons, Adam Emmenecker, became just the third NCAA player in the last 10 years to be named conference player of the year while averaging fewer than 10 points per game. That "Keno" kid is a heavy favorite for national coach of the year. And Dick Enberg only restated the achingly obvious as time wound down yesterday, declaring Drake the "story of the year" in college basketball.

So about recruiting. Certainly none of these players, save possibly sophomore wunderkind Josh Young, would have been on anybody's radar in high school. Actually, just checked on that. Nope. Meanwhile, everyone on the Hawkeyes' roster was offered a scholarship by multiple D-I schools--even JR Angle, who [name redacted] landed in a coup during Angle's sophomore year. Now, as we look back, not only has Iowa suffered through the worst season in school history, but you can't even blame a single player for underachieving (Jebus's hatred for Tony Freeman aside). To what, dear readers, do you attribute this massive disparity? Was [name redacted] really that poor an evaluator of talent? Was he that poor a developer of talent? Does Emmenecker's presence really make that much of a difference in Drake's play? And if so on the last front, shouldn't there be a sea change in the way point guards are emphasized, scouted, and evaluated at the high school level?

Let's hear your thoughts. And if it makes you feel better, yes, you may still blame Ken O'Keefe.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: j, drake, recruiting, r, angle

Comments

I watch a lot of MVC BB and

Emmenecker's never made a 3. He's not a strong shooter, so he just doesn't shoot them. What a novel approach! They're the most unselfish team I've seen, in years, maybe ever. They also get to every fucking loose ball through sheer determination. I think that says it all, these guys are good because they try harder.
Finally, Drake is the best MVC team I've ever seen.

by jebushchrist on Mar 10, 2008 10:08 AM CDT reply actions

Oh no

Is Jebus really abracabooya from hawkeyeforums? That would totally be uncool...

As for the question at hand, go ahead and place all blame on Hair Gel Steve. He deserves it.

by jason3kidd on Mar 10, 2008 10:45 AM CDT reply actions

I don't know what that means

and I've never commented, or visited a hawkeye forum.
Sadly, I think part of the blame must fall on Lick. The guys weren't having much fun this year, and that clearly affects their effort on the floor.

by jebushchrist on Mar 10, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Never visited www.firestevealford.com?

That's the current version of what was www.fsa.com -- now known as hawkeyeforums.com, and a dude named abracabooya frequents it only to scream profanities in the general direction of Freeman. I didn't think that was you, as 'Booya is generally a jackoff and you generally have a real good grasp of what's going on, but I had to ask. Nothing to think about. Ever.

by jason3kidd on Mar 10, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions

I see

I don't want to hate Freeman, I just do. Every game starts and I give him a clean slate, then he does what he does and I start thinking about hiring a couple crackheads to go after him with a couple pillow cases and a 6-pack of Pepsi.

by jebushchrist on Mar 10, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Freeman = Adam Shada in my world

by jason3kidd on Mar 10, 2008 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

amateurs

Once a decade it's great to see a true college team of true amateurs capture a trophy, no matter the distortions and professionalism of D-I.

Tom Davis' game depended on rebounding advantage. If you look back, Iowa usually led the Big Ten in rebounding spread, year after year. You can coach rebounding. Rebounding is about having more than good ups.

by Bellanca on Mar 10, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions

Drake does not play TD's system

There are similarities but Keno's system is quite different. Watch them.

by jebushchrist on Mar 10, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

What I find interesting...

Is that Keno and Bruce Pearl both seem to have incorporated nearly everything good about Dr. Tom's system, but eliminated everything that drove us nuts about Dr. Tom's system (never backing off the press even when it's not working, substituting ad nauseum even when a player is red hot, the bounce pass, etc.).

I wonder why Dr. Tom never did that.

Anyway, Drake is a joy to watch, and Emmenecker clearly makes it go. They never turn it over. They never miss a FT that matters. They can shoot the lights out, and when they go cold they just keep shooting until they get hot. They outwork everyone. Their ball movement and spacing on the court is as good as I've seen. They make up for their lack of size in rebounding with position and tenacity. I love watching them play.

I think Drake 2008 is a little more of a "lightning in a bottle" phenomenon then a bolder statement on recruiting philosophy, but, Keno can obviously coach, and they have a chemistry and a bball IQ the likes of which I've never seen.

With the right draw that's easily a sweet 16 team.

by DonnyDonovan on Mar 10, 2008 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

In addition to the U of I,

the other school no doubt embarrassed to claim me an alum is Creighton, and I also watch alot of MVC basketball. I just returned from St. Louis, having watched Drake dissect the Jays on Saturday. I think, more than anything, Drake is an example of the whole being more than the sum of parts. They really excel at the team elements of the game. They really guard, they identify shooters and challenge every shot, they get every loose ball, and players are rarely out of position. They remind me of the Dick Bennett Wisconsin teams, teams that looked rather ordinary and beatable come tournament time, that regularly knocked off more talented teams too impatient to play their game. Drake is dangerous, especially if they get to play here in Omaha.

by telepathetic on Mar 10, 2008 3:53 PM CDT reply actions