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Username Post: The Steve Donahue Era
UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts 1117
UPIA1968
05-09-18 10:25 PM - Post#256633    

As we consider 2018-2019 prospects it is obvious that Harvard is the pre-season favorite. Only two buckets in their two away games with Penn separated them from a championship and a trip to the dance. Penn was the better team in 2017-2018, they lost two of their top six while Harvard lost no one and regains their excellent point guard from 2016-2017. Yale will clearly be improved, losing nobody important and brining into two good recruits. Princeton did lose Amir Bell, but they also have a good recruit. However, neither are close enough to challenge Harvard seriously, if things go according to form.

As to the Quackers – they will need significant help from first year players to content – always a chancy thing. So, they are not a good bet – still likely to be in the tournament, but no 12-2 Ivy record, especially with the improved status of most of the teams. That said, this year could be a ground-breaking year for the Donahue program. Due to injuries only one of last year’s strong recruiting class played much. This means that the three injured people involved, Williams, Scott and Jackson will join this year’s strong recruiting class to provide six credible players joining the team. Assuming that the last year’s trio qualify for an extra year, Steve will have them together for four full years. This class on paper is one of the very best Ivy classes in many years, rivaled only by the Harvard class of two years ago. If lightening strikes and we get two difference markers as freshmen, as we did with Brodeur and Betley a year ago, this group could win four consecutive titles. Here’s the point. With the two strong adds to this year’s recruits, Steve has pushed the incoming talent well beyond Ivy norms. There is reason from strong hopes looking ahead, even if they don’t top Harvard in the coming season.

Beyond that, 2019-2020 should be a very strong year with Brodeur and Betley as seniors, Simmons contributing as a Junior, two or three from this group as Sophs, and perhaps one from next year’s recruits. 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 could easily be a repeat of 1972 when the Corky bunch kept winning even after Wohl, Bilsky and Wolf left. What a change in prospects after the recent lost decade!

Here’s another way to look at it. There are three ways to win in the Ivy’s: The rarest way is to get one or two extraordinary recruits like Havard did two years ago. But that is a blue snow, even for Harvard not matter how much anguish is on this board. Amaker has done it once during his tenure and is unlikely to do it again. Oh, bye the way, his super class is 0-2 so far, including finishing second to a Penn team with a decidedly patch-work recruiting profile.

The second way is available to Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Penn. That is to bring in one or two 3-star recruits each year and hope that one turns into an Ivy-caliber star. It might not fly in the Dance, but Franny rode that horse to dominance within the league. I write this piece primarily to point out that Penn adds four three-star talents this year.

The final way is available to all programs who feature excellent coaching. That is to recruit a bunch of two-star talent knowing that one has a sleeper or two each year. Penn won last year due to star level play from two such players in Betley and Foreman. Good coaching also develops a player or two from each such class into useful players – I give you Max from this year’s champs. So, Steve appears ready to move into the same exalted class as the sainted Francis as an Ivy recruiter and talent developer.

Three years ago, I accepted his appointment as a safe, practical bet, but was disappointed that they didn’t find a more interesting, even risky choice. Well, here we are still giddy from an unexpected championship, at least a year early, and with incoming talent well above the norms for Ivy benches. Okay, maybe the return of Aiken will send Lewis, Towns et al. into the stratosphere. But the talent on the Penn bench should make us very happy puppies for the foreseeable future. One can’t expect more from a non-scholarship league where the players actually are students. I for one am very satisfied.


P.S. My son, DPerry on this board had cancer surgery today. It went well and his prospects look good. Please keep him in your prayers.
palestra38
Professor
Posts 32685
05-10-18 07:15 AM - Post#256635    

Give David the best from everyone here. That is a shock and kind of puts the rest of what you said in deep background.
TheLine
Professor
Posts 5597
05-10-18 07:53 AM - Post#256637    

My prayers are with you, David.


91Quake
PhD Student
Posts 1124
05-10-18 08:11 AM - Post#256638    

Best wishes to your son. The rest of this stuff is not so important. Hopes for a speedy and full recovery.
rbg
Postdoc
Posts 3044
05-10-18 08:15 AM - Post#256639    

Dear UPIA1968 -

It was shocking to read the end of your post, but I'm glad that David's procedure went well and that the prognosis is positive.

You both are valued members of this community and it would not be the same without both of your passionate and informed comments about the men's and women's teams.

I will certainly keep David in my thoughts and prayers.

Please keep us informed on his recovery.
weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts 2125
05-10-18 09:19 AM - Post#256642    

UPIA, please pass on my hope that David's recovery is swift and uneventful as well.
penn nation
Professor
Posts 21086
05-10-18 09:28 AM - Post#256643    

Same. Life is too short.
AsiaSunset
Postdoc
Posts 4350
05-10-18 10:15 AM - Post#256649    

Get well David. We are all family.
Penn7277
PhD Student
Posts 1365
05-10-18 10:33 AM - Post#256651    

Get well soon, David.
AsiaSunset
Postdoc
Posts 4350
05-10-18 11:36 AM - Post#256654    

Responding to the other issues raised by UPIA, I think it's too early to make judgements about the coming season. Certainly we saw a different season last year than one might have predicted. Dartmouth got hit with the transfer out of its star player, Yale was heavily impacted by injuries to two key pieces and Princeton had some front court and team chemistry issues that were not easy to foresee. And then of course there was our team which performed better than expected.

As for Harvard, I thought they were a disappointment even before Bryce Aiken got hurt and he clearly provided no guarantee that they lost the league because he wasn't there based on his early season stats. But - it's definitely a possibility. And what about Towns, their returning MVP. We don't know yet what kind of recovery he'll make from that injury. On paper they should be the league favorite and will likely be projected as such. But then again - were they not projected to kick our butt last year?

And Penn has question marks. We all have heard good things about Jelani, but we lose a lot in Darnell and Caleb Wood. Is Jelani our guy or will Devon get the majority of PG minutes?

Clearly AJ and Max will need some support up front from our young, promising, but not really tested players like Simmons, Scott and Wang. Can Bryce Washington be a first year contributor at the 2/3 and what might we expect from a returning Tyler Hamilton? Finally can this be the year Jackson Donahue fully emerges rather than being an occasional spark off the bench?

We just don't know right now.


Jeff2sf
Postdoc
Posts 4466
05-10-18 12:24 PM - Post#256669    

I disagree with a ton of what you wrote but it's not worth it given the note on dperry. good luck to him.
Streamers
Professor
Posts 8141
Streamers
05-10-18 01:01 PM - Post#256679    

Best wishes for a speedy recovery from me as well
Penndemonium
PhD Student
Posts 1878
05-10-18 03:19 PM - Post#256712    

Wishing DPerry the best in his recovery.

Before this season, I didn't think that losing Foreman and Wood would matter much for the team at all. After the season, it seems we will need to replace Foreman's leadership and will, and Wood's shooting. I don't see a clear replacement for either, but some of the other players will bring their own skills to the table. I trust Steve D. to make the most of it.
westphillywarrior
Sophomore
Posts 196
05-10-18 04:20 PM - Post#256716    

Have always enjoyed DPerry's posts. David, we'll be thinking good thoughts about you.
pennsive
Junior
Posts 200
05-10-18 05:37 PM - Post#256721    

I am very sorry to hear about your son. We all hope that he will make a complete recovery. I hope to see you this weekend at our 50th reunion, and if I do, I'll introduce myself and will convey my best wishes personally.
FlaQuaker
Junior
Posts 223
05-10-18 06:41 PM - Post#256722    

Get well soon, David!!
PennFan10
Postdoc
Posts 3580
05-10-18 06:53 PM - Post#256723    

  • Jeff2sf Said:
I disagree with a ton of what you wrote but it's not worth it given the note on dperry. good luck to him.



Only J2J could both rip someone’s thoughts and offer condolences all in one post. Impressive skill set.

Get well DP
Old Bear
Postdoc
Posts 3988
05-10-18 06:58 PM - Post#256724    

Even Brown guys are rooting for DP!
UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts 1117
UPIA1968
05-11-18 10:08 AM - Post#256733    

Thanks for the kind remarks about my remarkable son. It means a lot.

Noël Perry
Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts 3615
Mike Porter
05-11-18 11:19 AM - Post#256735    

Really sorry to hear this about your son David. Sending well wishes for a quick recovery! Get well soon!
Bill Lewis
Senior
Posts 304
05-11-18 11:34 AM - Post#256736    

David, please get well fast. I live in California. Your posts on the women's team are not only informative, but fun to read.
SteveChop
PhD Student
Posts 1150
05-11-18 11:45 AM - Post#256737    

Thanks for your interesting thoughts but was very sorry to learn of DPerry's illness. Glad that his surgery went well and I join with the others in wishing him a swift and complete recovery. You can be assured that David will be in my prayers.

Steve
UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts 1117
UPIA1968
05-11-18 10:05 PM - Post#256747    

David is home early from the hospital. Things look good as he awaits all the test results.

Noël
Penndemonium
PhD Student
Posts 1878
05-13-18 06:27 AM - Post#256755    

Very glad to hear - wishing DPerry a fast and full return to a everything that he loves!
UPIA1968
PhD Student
Posts 1117
UPIA1968
05-15-18 09:51 PM - Post#256836    

The pathology report came back negative. Woopie!!!!!!
Penn7277
PhD Student
Posts 1365
05-15-18 09:54 PM - Post#256837    

That's great! Congratulations!
SteveChop
PhD Student
Posts 1150
05-15-18 10:59 PM - Post#256838    

Excellent news! Get better David!

Quakers03
Professor
Posts 12480
05-15-18 11:21 PM - Post#256839    

Great to hear.
10Q
Professor
Posts 23199
05-15-18 11:49 PM - Post#256842    

Speedy recovery! All blessings.
rbg
Postdoc
Posts 3044
05-16-18 08:21 AM - Post#256846    

Fantastic news!! Looking forward to DPerry's recovery and return to the board!
weinhauers_ghost
Postdoc
Posts 2125
05-16-18 10:09 AM - Post#256851    

  • UPIA1968 Said:
The pathology report came back negative. Woopie!!!!!!



Ah, that is fabulous news to hear, UPIA. I hope David's recovery continues smoothly and uneventfully, and he's back here soon.
palestra38
Professor
Posts 32685
05-16-18 10:10 AM - Post#256852    

Get David to post his post-operative Report Card as soon as he is able. Great news.
Mike Porter
Postdoc
Posts 3615
Mike Porter
05-16-18 02:12 PM - Post#256865    

Great news and best wishes for a quick recovery!!!
Penndemonium
PhD Student
Posts 1878
05-16-18 03:35 PM - Post#256868    

Another (offseason) victory for Quaker fans. Best to DPerry!
penn nation
Professor
Posts 21086
05-16-18 04:01 PM - Post#256870    

Wonderful to hear. Hope the board will benefit from his renewed presence and enthusiasm in due time.
SRP
Postdoc
Posts 4894
05-18-18 02:30 PM - Post#257021    

Glad to hear it. Hope all is back to normal soon.
PennHoopsFan
Masters Student
Posts 633
05-18-18 04:14 PM - Post#257022    

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!



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