Drake hires new BB Coach

[alaskaguy]

I don't know anything about Mark Phelps other than what has been reported in the link:

ASU's Phelps To Be Next Drake Men's Basketball Coach

[ISUCyclones]

Good find...

[Aaron Jacobs]

Seems like a decent find for Drake. The ACC and Pac 10 are arguably the 2 best confrences.

[rworkman83]

I'm really disapointed that Chris Davis didn't get this job. Since he won't be coaching Drake, I hope he joins Keno at Providence. Great guy and a Great coach...

[Cyclonepride]

Originally Posted by rworkman83

I'm really disapointed that Chris Davis didn't get this job. Since he won't be coaching Drake, I hope he joins Keno at Providence. Great guy and a Great coach...

I thought that might be Drake's best shot at continuing the run, but who knows? They don't have the firepower to be as good next year, but if they could string two or three tourney appearances together, it might have made a huge difference in the program. Now they might take an extra step backwards. Still, I think this year (along with the rebuilding efforts of Dr. Tom) allowed them the chance to hire someone who might not have been interested before.

[BryceC]

This hire is a total headscratcher to me. The guy has never coached (has he ever even lived?) in the midwest, and he's a Herb Sendek disciple. Unless he has a completely different offensive philosophy than Herb they are going to run a slow princeton offense and a zone defense. Didn't Drake play man last year? I mean it seems like they still have some very quality players on that team and totally changing the system might create a rebuilding project there.

Last year NC State was the 325th slowest team in the NCAA. Two years ago they were the 327th slowest team. NC State only broke the top 200 once in Tempo and that's a conference that runs.

I mean I could be wrong but it just seems weird to bring in a guy with a completely different system than what they had currently been playing.

2008 scouting report for Arizona St.

[thunderdave]

This hire doesn't make any sense to me.

[jakemcilroy]

Bryce, I agree with a lot of what you said, except that Drake played well over 50% zone this year. The difference is they usually pressed full court in some capacity back in to the zone. Herb S is a slow down coach.

[Wx4Cy]

wow, that was fast. Makes you think maybe Keno leaving wasn't such a big surprise.

[CycloneErik]

Has anyone considered that this guy could be the "floater" name, i.e. the one that "somehow" leaks out, to divert attention from the real name being hired. Seems like we work through this, because JP is a master at diverting attention in hires like this.
Just think Rob Jeter and Brian Kelly.

[clonefarmer]

Looks like the AD made not just a left turn but a complete U-turn. This would have been a time when promoting from within would have made total sense. Chris Davis was recommended by Keno and Tom and was responsible for bringing in most of the players and knew the system. If Mark Phelps really is a slowdown guy, there'll be a lot of unhappy players and recruits. This seems to be more about who the AD knew, than what was best for the continuity of the program.

[BryceC]

Originally Posted by jakemcilroy

Bryce, I agree with a lot of what you said, except that Drake played well over 50% zone this year. The difference is they usually pressed full court in some capacity back in to the zone. Herb S is a slow down coach.

My bad, that's why I asked it as a question. Regardless if they do completely revamp the offense I think that would be a mistake. They had a good thing going down there and they have the players that fit it.

[CycloneErik]

I haven't been able to find this story at the Register or CBS Sportsline. Did the other local channels pick this up, or is someone just getting excited?

[BryceC]

I think John Walters reported it last night.

[kingcy]

Dont know much about him, but until Drake hired Tom Davis they didnt have very good luck in hiring of basketball coaches.