In state recruiting just got tougher....

**isuno1fan** · 03-09-2008, 08:50 PM

When we hired GMac, it seemed he had the best relationship with the Iowa coaches and the best reputation as a quality person, coach etc. While that may not have changed, Keno and Licklighter are going to be tough competition moving forward. I think both are also upstanding individuals and quite honestly what player wouldn't want to play Drake's style of ball. If it is this fun to watch, it is probably twice as fun to play.

Most will probably say Keno will be gone within a couple years. That may or may not be the case. He could pull an Altman and make Drake his baby for a long time to come.

I think many in state recruits are going to put some serious thought into all of these programs. I really hope we can make some progress next year, because we do not want to be behind the eight ball as a program come 2010 or one of our wishes may not come true (if you know what I mean).

**bos** · 03-09-2008, 08:53 PM

Eh, hes having a great run. Lets see how long he can maintain it before we worry about recruiting strength.

**HandSanitizer** · 03-09-2008, 09:01 PM

Imagine what people were saying about our back to back 2 seeds in the tourney awhile ago. We found a way to go opposite. Never can tell what the future will bring. Houston, Eimenecker and Korver are the glue to that team. They will be a lot easier to defend next year with only 2 weapons.

**isucy86** · 03-09-2008, 09:03 PM

If haven't seen many kids when given a chance to play at Iowa or ISU- choose Drake, UNI, Creighton, etc. That isn't a slam at those programs- its just the way things are. Iowa/ISU has better facilities, plays better competition & are on national TV more.

If Keno keeps it up he WILL be gone. No way I see Drake paying Keno the $750k+ that will delay him from taking the next step.

G-Mac's battle with Licklighter is no different than any other coach that would have been hired at Iowa. We'll both go hard after top 150 kids and there will be an occasional battle for a kid the coach likes to fit his style.

**Jeremy** · 03-09-2008, 09:04 PM

I don't think Drake can ever have the pull of Iowa or Iowa State, period. They might be having a great year and all the props to them but no seriously legit in-state player is going to consider a MVC program with a fraction of the fanbase and perennial support on the same scale as a Big XII or Big Ten team. Drake fans are about as vocal as any when they're doing good but any other year you'd be hard pressed to see anybody wearing a Drake t-shirt.

Now you might get some players that would go to other lower D1 programs or be walk-ons at ISU or Iowa but not Barnes, Adam Haluska, etc level players.

**SplitIdentity** · 03-09-2008, 09:09 PM

Creighton can rivals Iowa/ISU with facilities. The Qwest Center is pretty amazing.

That being said, Lick + McDermott = the return of the Big Two IMO

**Wx4Cy** · 03-09-2008, 09:10 PM

do we really think that Iowa talent is going to be the difference maker? Sure there are some good players that come out of IA, some of them elite, but I don't think recruiting Iowa is our key to success.

**cybsball20** · 03-09-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I don't think Drake can ever have the pull of Iowa or Iowa State, period. They might be having a great year and all the props to them but no seriously legit in-state player is going to consider a MVC program with a fraction of the fanbase and perennial support on the same scale as a Big XII or Big Ten team. Drake fans are about as vocal as any when they're doing good but any other year you'd be hard pressed to see anybody wearing a Drake t-shirt.

Now you might get some players that would go to other lower D1 programs or be walk-ons at ISU or Iowa but not Barnes, Adam Haluska, etc level players.

I wouldn't be so sure, teams like Marquette and Gonzaga have shown they can recruit with the big boys, there is something to be said about being the only show in a bigger city. Beleive me, the staff is already using the Dwayne Wade model with Barnes and it IS working. Keno and the staff beleive they have the best recruiting class in the state coming in and they feel better even better about their recruiting in the future.

**cybsball20** · 03-09-2008, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

Imagine what people were saying about our back to back 2 seeds in the tourney awhile ago. We found a way to go opposite. Never can tell what the future will bring. Houston, Eimenecker and Korver are the glue to that team. They will be a lot easier to defend next year with only 2 weapons.

Houston, Emmenecker, and Korver are the glue but they will actually have more 'talent' on the floor next year as well as returning their two best scorers. I guess that will go a ways to see what is more important, talent or experience.

I agree with Wx4Cy though, in state recruiting is not the end all...

**Jeremy** · 03-09-2008, 09:17 PM

I believe the difference is budget and the actual fan support. Drake doesn't have the same level of dedicated fans that stay going to games when they aren't winning, and they will have periods of not winning.

I also don't think Drake has the budget to keep somebody like Davis after a good year or two. Maybe he's one of the rare coaches that will stick around regardless of pay (I believe McDermott to be that type of coach at ISU) but at his age and his current success, I'm sure he'll have some offers that he'll be very interested in. Drake can't match the budget of most average or higher programs and Davis will most likely be gone relatively soon.

**Ficklone02** · 03-09-2008, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by cybsball20

I wouldn't be so sure, teams like Marquette and Gonzaga have shown they can recruit with the big boys, there is something to be said about being the only show in a bigger city. Beleive me, the staff is already using the Dwayne Wade model with Barnes and it IS working. Keno and the staff beleive they have the best recruiting class in the state coming in and they feel better even better about their recruiting in the future.

What do you mean by the Dwayne Wade model?

I'd be interested to know about Drake's recruits...as it is, some of there bench players looked good in replacing Emmenecker, Houston throughout the year, so there is reason to believe they will be good for the foreseeable future.

**cybsball20** · 03-09-2008, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I believe the difference is budget and the actual fan support. Drake doesn't have the same level of dedicated fans that stay going to games when they aren't winning, and they will have periods of not winning.

I also don't think Drake has the budget to keep somebody like Davis after a good year or two. Maybe he's one of the rare coaches that will stick around regardless of pay (I believe McDermott to be that type of coach at ISU) but at his age and his current success, I'm sure he'll have some offers that he'll be very interested in. Drake can't match the budget of most average or higher programs and Davis will most likely be gone relatively soon.

I agree that I really don't think they can keep Davis, but he may have laid the ground work for one of the other Davis's or maybe a Woodley to take over.

Parker, Hall, and Templeton (transfer from UC Irvine) will step in nicely for the three seniors.

**CrossCyed** · 03-09-2008, 09:24 PM

Drake's academic profile may hurt them as much as anything.

**BigBake** · 03-09-2008, 09:24 PM

I think Drake will revert back in a year or two. Either:

1. Keno is going to likely be taken by a bigger school if he has another year like this. Drake won't be able to keep up $$$$ wise.

2. The other normal powerhouses in that conf will regain their foothold and place Drake about midpack again.

I like Drake and wish them success but I don't see them sustaining this run. Facilities, location and $$$ always win out.

**Jeremy** · 03-09-2008, 09:25 PM

It'll certainly be interesting. Drake is at a turning point where I think they could be competitive for the top spot in the MVC for a long time to come if Davis stays but I think they'll regress if he leaves. It's similar to the McDermott years at UNI - they did great things and had momentum but once he left, it took the wind out of the sail. They are still trying to build around Jacobson but I don't think they're going to get back to the momentum Mac had them going with.