candyfan
Masters Student
Posts: 459
Reg: 01-10-10
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01-22-17 06:47 AM - Post#219054
Just wanted to direct some attention to Coach Nathan Davis who despite his usual "one game at a time approach", which all coaches seem to utilize, is on the verge of a 20 WIN SEASON, currently at 15-6.
With 10 Patriot League games left to play, the rarefied air of a Bucknell 20 win season is something special and far better than the so-called experts predicted (they said .500 this year, again). Davis is getting more out of his Juniors and Sophomores than we could have hoped for.
'Course, Davis still needs to show he can recruit winning players at Bucknell in the coming years, but his coaching ability is currently shining, no?
Comments welcome.
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Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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01-22-17 08:18 AM - Post#219055
In response to candyfan
Candy, if this year'a freshmen class is indicative of Coach Davis' recruiting abilities, I think that we should be very happy about the present and excited about the future. That being said, I wish that he was just slightly more animated during games. I feel that the Bison start slowly way too many times, and a little more fire from the bench might get them going.
Overall, I would give him a strong B+ and possibly an A-.
GO COACH DAVIS!
| New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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01-22-17 10:23 AM - Post#219061
In response to Bison89
Given the results, recruiting, and player development, I'd give him an A or A-. My only concern was our late season and post-season performance last year. Hopefully, this year is better. Otherwise, he's exceeded expectations.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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Re: Judging Coach Nathan Davis coaching ability
01-22-17 03:06 PM - Post#219086
In response to candyfan
Toomer? Moore? Robertson?
Probably need a 5 in next year's class, but the recruiting to date seems to be a success.
Next year is going to be a season for high expectations going in. That will be the first time the expectations are really high...this year, they were not as lofty.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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Re: Judging Coach Nathan Davis coaching ability
01-22-17 03:15 PM - Post#219087
In response to Bison54
Next year is going to be a season for high expectations going in. That will be the first time the expectations are really high...
I was thinking that same thought as I watched yesterday's post-game press conference, featuring two juniors and a sophomore (Foulland, Thomas, Mackenzie) who will be back and better next season.
Video of the presser can be found at the bottom of the game article http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCL...
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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01-22-17 04:11 PM - Post#219092
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Interesting observation from KY Crusader 75 on the Cross board:
"One thing that impresses me about this Bucknell team is its second half comebacks. Perhaps this holds true for all good teams, i.e. when they, improbably, find themselves down at the half against a team they should be beating, they storm back in the second half to win.
Maybe it's just a matter of the randomness of shooting luck reverting to the norm...or it could be that Bucknell this year has a deep team that is able to wear their opponents down in the second half as the opponents tire but Bucknell keeps going.
Bucknell has been down at the half four of eight games this season. Bucknell was outscored by Lehigh in both halves and lost, but against Navy the Bison were (9) in the first half then +13 in the second. Versus American it was (4) then +13 and yesterday against Boston U it was (7) then +18. I think Bucknell has talent in depth."
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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Judging Coach Nathan Davis coaching ability
01-22-17 04:14 PM - Post#219094
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
I think a case could be made that our team's fight-on-through-adversit y resilience may also be a product of Coach Davis's steady, reserved game-day demeanor.
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Bison54
PhD Student
Posts: 1800
Reg: 11-18-09
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Re: Judging Coach Nathan Davis coaching ability
01-22-17 05:19 PM - Post#219100
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Calm confidence is what I would call it. The fact that the team is able to come back so often has to be a reflection of coach's approach.
Used to count the empty water cups as a measure of Coach Paulsen's ire.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-22-17 06:37 PM - Post#219107
In response to Bison54
Paulsen's legacy is skewed by the presence of muscala. A guy of his talent can makes lemonade.
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BisonRoadWarrior
Professor
Posts: 5203
Loc: Where the Bison Roam
Reg: 08-16-06
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01-22-17 06:41 PM - Post#219108
In response to HuskyColonial
Paulsen's legacy is skewed by the presence of muscala. A guy of his talent can makes lemonade.
Is it appropriate to asterisk the Paulsen era because he recruited outstanding players?
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-22-17 06:54 PM - Post#219111
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Probably not but any system and coach looks great with a player of that caliber. See Adonal Foyle.
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Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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01-22-17 08:39 PM - Post#219119
In response to BisonRoadWarrior
Paulsen's legacy is skewed by the presence of muscala. A guy of his talent can makes lemonade.
Is it appropriate to asterisk the Paulsen era because he recruited outstanding players?
Coaches are only as good as their players for the most part. Sure, a good coach can take average players and teach them to be above average.
Should Coach K be considered an average coach for recruiting so many McDonald's All Americans? Of course not.
| New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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VoiceofNavySports
Freshman
Posts: 67
Age: 54
Reg: 12-17-13
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01-23-17 12:53 PM - Post#219135
In response to Bison89
Pat Flannery he is not. That man had energy, but, winner he will be. Did great work at RMC will do so for you too.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-23-17 05:38 PM - Post#219155
In response to VoiceofNavySports
If you recall he started 3-8 last year. So since then he is a solid 29-12, with the only "bad" loss in the 12 being the HC loss. His record at Randolph-Macon was not good, it was not great, it was sensational. This guy is a fantastic coach, an he may not even be the best basketball coach at Bucknell right now. I am just waiting to see what he comes up with at the 5.
Also, fwiw, I don't think you can demean DP for having had Muscala. You have to credit him for recruiting him. To say his record is skewed for having Mike makes no sense to me. BTW, there were a couple of other good players in that class too.
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jkrun80
Postdoc
Posts: 3305
Age: 65
Reg: 05-07-12
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01-23-17 07:33 PM - Post#219171
In response to bison63
Also, fwiw, I don't think you can demean DP for having had Muscala. You have to credit him for recruiting him. To say his record is skewed for having Mike makes no sense to me. BTW, there were a couple of other good players in that class too.
Agree. Look at the progress Mike made from freshman to senior year. Who would have predicted he would be an NBA player his freshman (or sophomore, or junior) year. Player development and recruiting are critical aspects of coaching.
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-23-17 09:10 PM - Post#219180
In response to jkrun80
Fair enough on my evaluation of Paulsen. I will contend though that the totality of someone's tenure is exactly. I remember on this board the frustration with his motion offense and stubbornness. Things improved with the superior play of one transcendent talent.
And those teams had some other really good players too and Coach Paulsen does deserve credit for their recruitment and development.
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MrPhillie
Postdoc
Posts: 2757
Loc: NE PA
Reg: 07-14-08
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01-24-17 12:50 AM - Post#219186
In response to HuskyColonial
I definitely see Husky's point that many on his board were critical of DP's refusal to play anything but man defense regardless of player skill set, the sometimes poor results of his offense, the fact players could rarely play for steals or take fast break opportunities, his yanking of certain players if they made but one mistake....but in the end, he did produce some very good results and developed some outstanding players.
As for Coach Davis, I cannot be critical of anything this far other than perhaps his team's sometimes slow starts and his sometimes too calm demeanor. But even with those, it is hard to argue his results to date.
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Paulie777
PhD Student
Posts: 1767
Reg: 11-11-07
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Judging Coach Nathan Davis coaching ability
01-24-17 12:55 AM - Post#219187
In response to HuskyColonial
Too early to tell about Davis. He's still got Paulsons recruits calling the shots with Foulland out there and Thomas too. Although Toomer and his other recruits are making him look like a star. So far so good in my book. We just don't know yet. Davis could be in his office looking at porn while the talented Paulson recruits cover his rear. I don't think thats the case though. Toomer really can play, and so can Moore. I think we have to wait two more years before the "have you considered how Davis is doing" question comes up. So ask this in two years please or expect stupid responses like this one to come out. Davis is slowly convincing me though and I am a harsh critic of his.
Not to toot my own horn, but I always thought Muscala would be an NBA star. Look at the old posts on this board and I did get heat for that prediction but it came to fruition. Have I considered Davis? Too early to tell.
Edited by Paulie777 on 01-24-17 01:19 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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MyOhMighty
Freshman
Posts: 16
Reg: 01-23-17
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01-24-17 12:58 PM - Post#219209
In response to Paulie777
Ah, but if Todd O'Brien doesn't transfer, does Moose develop the same way? He could have been stuck behind him in the rotation for two years. Maybe if O'Brien stays, no NBA for Moose...
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Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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01-24-17 02:18 PM - Post#219211
In response to MyOhMighty
Ah, but if Todd O'Brien doesn't transfer, does Moose develop the same way? He could have been stuck behind him in the rotation for two years. Maybe if O'Brien stays, no NBA for Moose...
MyOhMighty (LOVE THE NAME!), welcome.
You are right. There are so many variables. Maybe we should thank Todd O'Brien's girlfriend who supposedly was in the Philly Area and contributed to his transferring which in turn, allowed Muscala to develop into an NBA prospect . . . this could go on forever.
Keep the posts coming!
| New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-24-17 03:00 PM - Post#219216
In response to Bison89
Just to carry this meaningless speculation (but fun nonetheless) a little further, OB was a PF recruit and iirc, was a little disappointing that first year. In fact he never really got it going, despite some sporadic flashes, after leaving BU. We will never know, but my money says he'd be backing up Mike by his senior year. Just a combination of things makes me think that. First Todd never really lived up to expectations, second DPs predisposition was to not play Flannery guys unless they forced him to (exceptions are Cohen and Shazier) but Enoch Andoh was left to whither. DP went with his guy Willman over Andoh, and I'll bet he'd have gone with Mike over Todd.
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Paulie777
PhD Student
Posts: 1767
Reg: 11-11-07
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Judging Coach Nathan Davis coaching ability
01-24-17 03:54 PM - Post#219224
In response to Bison89
Ah, but if Todd O'Brien doesn't transfer, does Moose develop the same way? He could have been stuck behind him in the rotation for two years. Maybe if O'Brien stays, no NBA for Moose...
MyOhMighty (LOVE THE NAME!), welcome.
You are right. There are so many variables. Maybe we should thank Todd O'Brien's girlfriend who supposedly was in the Philly Area and contributed to his transferring which in turn, allowed Muscala to develop into an NBA prospect . . . this could go on forever.
Keep the posts coming!
Actually, if Todd O'Briens girlfriend doesn't contribute to him transferring then Muscala wouldn't be in the NBA and Donald Trump wouldn't be president today. Jon Bon Jovi who owns a professional football team in Philly was at the St. Joes game when Todd O'Brien had a breakout game with a few dunks. It was then he decided to go big and buy the Buffalo Bills. Well he wanted to move them to Toronto. Another bidder for the Bills was Donald Trump, who offered one billion cash for the team. Well, the Rich's who owned the team were going to take Trumps offer but became skittish when Bon Jovi had all the Toronto talk so they shied away from Trump and went with a safer offer with a buyer who promised not to move the team. If Trump had bought the Bills he would have been happy and occupied enough not to run for president. So if Todd O'Briens girlfriend does not get Todd To transfer then Bon Jovi doesn't get psyched to buy the Bills which then doesn't scare the present owners and they take Trumps offer and Trump never becomes president and Muscala never gets to the NBA. So we can blame everything on Todd O'Brien's girlfriend.
Edited by Paulie777 on 01-24-17 04:06 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Bison89
Professor
Posts: 5370
Loc: Philadelphia
Reg: 11-14-07
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01-24-17 04:42 PM - Post#219234
In response to Paulie777
Paulie, would those be "Alternative Facts"? 
| New season, new team, new dream . . . |
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HuskyColonial
PhD Student
Posts: 1976
Age: 50
Reg: 02-17-12
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01-24-17 10:54 PM - Post#219259
In response to Bison89
Perfect!
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candyfan
Masters Student
Posts: 459
Reg: 01-10-10
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 01-25-17 05:43 AM - Post#219263
In response to HuskyColonial
Alternative facts!
As in:
1. Global warming is consensus.
or,
2. Global warming is a hoax.
Both are presented as FACT.
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Paulie777
PhD Student
Posts: 1767
Reg: 11-11-07
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01-25-17 10:57 AM - Post#219286
In response to candyfan
Ok, you got me. Todd O'Briens girlfriend didn't cause Trump to be president. Just a poor attempt to be witty. Alternative facts they are.
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vic42
Freshman
Posts: 68
Reg: 10-20-08
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01-25-17 12:24 PM - Post#219291
In response to bison63
@bison 63.
A coach will always go with what's best. Different coaches have different systems & need players with different skill sets.
DP played Joe over Enoch as he was a much better fit for DP's system. He was DP's guy as his ability & talent fit the system; hence recruited specifically for that reason. Do you really think Enoch could have handled that spot?
Mike is in the NBA, Todd is not.
Darryl & Bryan fit DP's system well.
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bison63
Postdoc
Posts: 3857
Reg: 01-23-06
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01-25-17 12:57 PM - Post#219293
In response to vic42
Sorry if I led you to believe I was not aware of all of that. I was merely making the point that had Todd stayed, I think he'd have been overshadowed by Mike, and I do not believe he would have had much, if any negative effect on Mike's development.
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vic42
Freshman
Posts: 68
Reg: 10-20-08
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01-25-17 01:48 PM - Post#219299
In response to bison63
Thanks for clarifying. I'll go back to sleep now!
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