That is a damning quote from someone who understands Duquesne and high level basketball.

ElDuque wrote:

Quote from Mike James in DK on Pittsburgh Sports: "The kids are good. You can’t blame it all on the kids. But what’s allowing them to not finish the games?"

It's Smalltime Jim, actually.

13 teams ahead of us, Jimmy.

WOW. Did not see that quote. That wasn't a hidden shot, that was a direct uppercut at Ferry. Think about it, Mike James was in the NBA for a very long time. Guys with long careers like that know what reporters are really asking when they ask questions, and they also learn to answer questions by saying one thing and meaning another.

Translation from politically correct journalistic answer: "This team has good talent but doesn't play well and they are not the reason for this." Hmmmm who else could be to blame?

I love the quote,"but what's allowing them to not finish the games?" He's leaving it up to you to draw the conclusion that Ferry is obviously the problem without having to actually come out and say it. Well done Mike, I appreciate the fact that he was willing to tell it like it is while coming in to be celebarated by the program. Way to not suck up to the program just because you are being honored.

Last edited by Duques102 (2/23/2017 10:37 am)

Dukes2012 wrote:

A good coach is one that can do more with less. Ferry is a coach who can only win when he has a great team assembled. That's why it took him so long to succeed at LIU, and that's why it's taking so long on the bluff. Frustrating.

 
Bottom line is he should be out, he shouldn't get anymore time. That was my point in another post a couple days ago. Getting superior talent to the rest of the league is the only way Ferry can possibly have a decently successful year or couple years. Couple problems with that:

Lot easier to outrecruit the NEC vs the A10.

Very far from a given he could ever do that (maybe in another 15 years).

Still doesn't guarantee success because of how much he drags the program down on his own.

Good coaches don't need all the pieces in place to succeed. They get the best out of their players, outcoach other teams, and build a program identify that can be translated across recruiting classes and create fan interest and appreciation with an attractive style of play. Then you get the program funding, better recruits, and increased local and national attention for the program. This is how we can grow organically. Ferry has done none of this and has had ample time to start checking at least some of these boxes off.


I believe we are all well aware of the definition of insanity.

Last edited by Duques102 (2/23/2017 11:02 am)

Dukes2012 wrote:

102, the fact that it took him about 8 years to win at LIU should have been a big red flag in the hiring process, but unfortunately our previous AD has proven to not be a great thinker or strategist.

 
I respect your posts and insight and I totally agree with this. However wasn't I responding to you the other day with that post in response to some of the give Ferry another year because of the freshman and recruits?

Dukes2012 wrote:

Duques102 wrote:

Dukes2012 wrote:

102, the fact that it took him about 8 years to win at LIU should have been a big red flag in the hiring process, but unfortunately our previous AD has proven to not be a great thinker or strategist.

 
I respect your posts and insight and I totally agree with this. However wasn't I responding to you the other day with that post in response to some of the give Ferry another year because of the freshman and recruits?

Yep, and I laid out my reasoning. I think the path to competitiveness is longer if we can ferry, Lewis and Mike are poached by bigger schools, and wheeler and Walker commit elsewhere. Now, if there's a good possibility of keeping the freshmen and at least some of the recruits, then sign me up for terminating his contract asap.

I would argue that the path to competitiveness would still not be longer even if we lost the freshman and the recruits because as long as we keep Ferry, the path continues to expand and become longer at the rate of expansion similar to the universe. All joking aside, I would argue that losing those guys, keeping those guys doesn't matter because with or without them, Ferry has proven over 5 years that he cannot lead this team to sustainable success and competitveness.

He hasn't even really shown any upward trend, especially after this season.

There are no positives to point to besides the freshman and recruits. The recruits are still completely unknown commodities as it relates to performing at this level and yeah mike and Lewis II are great, but look at the record. We need more than talent to get anywhere.

Jim has literally provided this program with nothing else, I respect your opinion but he should absolutely be fired.

When we had Bill Clark and Damian Saunders, we also had Ron Everhart. Enough said!

Duq81 - I agree with your observation.  Thinking back, they probably did.  Though the program may have been behind for a year with an EFFECTIVE coach, they are now behind 5 years with an ineffective coach.

Mulder - sadly, you could very well be right...let's hope he pulls the plug though.

Dukes2012 wrote:

duq81 wrote:

Dukes2012 wrote:

102, the fact that it took him about 8 years to win at LIU should have been a big red flag in the hiring process, but unfortunately our previous AD has proven to not be a great thinker or strategist.

They panicked after wasting a month chasing Keith Dambrot.
 

Do you remember who else they were even pursuing? I know they made multiple runs at dambrot, but can't remember who else was even being looked at.

Orlando Antigua.

Dukes2012 wrote:

duq81 wrote:

Dukes2012 wrote:

102, the fact that it took him about 8 years to win at LIU should have been a big red flag in the hiring process, but unfortunately our previous AD has proven to not be a great thinker or strategist.

They panicked after wasting a month chasing Keith Dambrot.
 

Do you remember who else they were even pursuing? I know they made multiple runs at dambrot, but can't remember who else was even being looked at.

I remember Dino Guadio, who was such a successful coach he is now doing color commentary now. He was on the Dukes/Kentucky game

DCSTL wrote:

I also doubtful. While I hope Lewis II and Mike return, I'm beginning to think it is far more likely that Lewis II transfers, even if Ferry does stick around for one more year.

I don't think he will though. I think Ferry is gone. I hope that Harper has been working on this for months and has several targets lined up.
 

I don't think Mike Lewis pulls the TJ after only one season. Lot of guys had one good season and then flame out. I think he stays next year and builds his resume regardless of the coaching situation.  If Ferry stays and we suck again he is gone.  If Ferry is retained and more successful, he stays.  If a new coach is successful and the new recruits show promise, he is here for the long haul.
 

levon1975 wrote:

What a negative bunch; actually suggesting that our best young players are going to transfer. I've never seen anything so ridiculous! Why try to plant seeds for transfers when nothing exists?

i actively fear it happening. there's plenty of precedent. i don't believe many schools' fans have to fear it.

levon1975 wrote:

What a negative bunch; actually suggesting that our best young players are going to transfer. I've never seen anything so ridiculous! Why try to plant seeds for transfers when nothing exists?

I assume I am at least one of the people you're referring to with your "ridiculous" comment. I'm not sure why you'd think it was ridiculous; there are any number of analyses you can read out there about the regularity of transfers in college basketball. It does happen all the time; to most schools (except the one-and-dones).

But more to the point I was trying to make (and I will admit that I didn't fully finish my thought) is that I don't think Harper should make any decisions on Ferry based upon whether Lewis II or Mike will leave if the coach leaves. It would be unsurprising to me if Lewis II left. He has no ties to Pittsburgh, has to be considered a favorite to win A10 ROY, and when he sees his high school teammate Jayson Tatum going to the Dance, he's got to be thinking that he has now shown larger programs that he can play at a high level too. I don't know that he does think that way but I think it would be foolish to discount that possibility. TJ left because he wanted to play on a larger stage...heck, even LG Gill left for one opportunity to play in the tourny. Why wouldn't Lewis II take this opportunity? Or put another way, why would Lewis II stick around to play for Ferry for 3 more years?

My point was that the decision has to be made now and not based on who might or might not leave, depending on what the decision is. I know some on this board can't stomach another "5-year plan." But that's what Ferry has told you Duquesne has with him. No thanks. I'd rather give the next 5-years to another coach and if that means we lose our recruits and our best players, that'll be what it means.