We're universally hoping this is the end. With our facilities, dedication, and history, there is no excuse for zero Sweet Sixteens in 12 years.
Like I said: "It a tricky job, as Temple has higher expectations than perhaps they should feel entitled to going forward."
No disrespect to Temple - I know it had a lot of success in the Chaney era. It just isn't a school which has all cylinders of an athletics franchise to have such huge expectations. It is similar (but inferior) to Georgetown in that respect. They both had huge success but accomplished it with superior recruiting and the personality and will of their coaches. Neither has a program that would routinely draw the very best without that.
You can blame Dunphy for that, but times have changed. Having a head coach who cares deeply about his players, runs their program ethically, and builds the trust of families to mentor and educate recruits is not as much of a differentiator as it used to be. There are so many coaches that offer that now, and I don't think any coaches in Div I have that as their iconic brand the way Chaney and Thompson did.
Philadelphia is still a talent rich area, but it isn't retaining its recruits the way it did in bygone eras. Recruiting is a national game.
Maybe Temple can become a perennial power again, but I won't predict seeing them in the top 20 very often from here - with or without Dunphy.
