ElDuque wrote:

So think about this:

King Rice is in discussions with Duquesne, maybe even engaged in contract talks. He asks for the night to talk things over with his family. Tweets start flying, and once they do, the ugly underbelly of critics starts bashing the program. Rice gets cold feet. Now Mr. Harper is left at the altar.

Mulder, and others, are right. It's darned near impossible to get good candidates this way.

There may still be a rising coach at a smaller program who'd be interested. But as some have suggested, we will likely get stuck with a Ferry like coach who will keep us in the same miserable place.

I'm leaning towards the notion that the best solution might be an assistant - Brandin Knight, the associate HC, or someone like that.

Or, maybe we go full blown resurrection and get Mike Rice.

 
Stop and back away from the ledge...  Brandon Knight is NOT the answer. I actually root for both Duquesne and Brandon Knight to succeed.  They aren't a good match for each other right now.  Duquesne needs a more polished coach and Brandon needs to cut his teeth in a lesser conference.  Taking a HC job at a project like Duquesne in a league as tough as the A Ten is setting him up for failure.

Last edited by Panthers & Dukes (3/21/2017 9:22 pm)

Gentlemen (and ladies, if the case applies):

​If you're looking for me on a ledge, you will not find me there. The point about Twitter could have applied to information coming from any number of sources ... family, friends, advisors, etc. With Twitter I was taking a jab at the has-been media types who could, indeed, be unwittingly sabotaging Duquesne's efforts to hire a coach by talking about the past. Yes, in the past, there's been a lot of talk with nothing behind it, a lot of bad decision-making, etc. The Gormley-Harper team has been together for only a few months. Ferry's been relieved of his duties, the search is on, why not let the process play out?

​As to mentioning Brandin Knight, please read the full context of the quote: I advocated for a rising assistant, and used Knight as an example. I would have no way of knowing whether he, or any other assistant, is ready for a HC job. If you read one of my 2,900 other posts, you'll see that I also mentioned Larry Davis, the associate head coach at Cincinnati (Mike DeCourcey suggested him), and several other assistant coaches.

​Kurt, we're all smarting a little today. Yes, I was way down on the whole deal because I really thought there was no commitment to winning here, and I was ready to cash out. Saying that did not come lightly to me. I was a fan of the program as a young teenager who watched the Dukes on the NBC Game of the Week. I enjoyed my four years as a student & Duke sports editor. I stayed close for decades without the benefit of the Internet and message boards. I was indeed at the sourest point of my association when I said those things and I have since retracted them. I don't recall using the word "jokes," but I clearly did state that I did not believe there was no commitment.

​I wish the washed up sports media would take the time to talk to Mr. Harper before recycling vintage "news" about Duquesne basketball. It might not persuade someone to take the job, but it certainly wouldn't hurt our cause. We're clearly at a low point and digging out will only start with winning. But we need to find a coach first.

​So, friends, don't look for me near the edge of anything. I'm not there. I'm simply waiting patiently for the announcement about the next coach.

Peace.

DU not only needs a coach, who can coach and recruit, but a personality that will attract players, alumni and local fans to his program.  Not a stiff who is never heard from after his intro presser.  Someone with an outgoing personality who will go on camera, do interviews, show up at fundraisers and events at the school.  I have no idea who that might be.  But I would prefer a younger man, with desire and potential.

Last edited by townsonkid (3/22/2017 9:03 am)

THIS administration hasn't tarnished anything.  The past 40 years has seen our men's program suffer from outright animosity (Nesti) to benign neglect (Murray) to benign incompetence (Dougherty/Amadio).  Winning cures many problems.  Ron Everhart made the Dukes relevant, and with that relevance, fans and positive coverage returned. It can happen again.  A new administration and renewed commitment can change a culture.  The Dukes could end up being similar to college basketball's version of the Pittsburgh Steelers...a generational joke for decades that turned it around because of new leadership (the younger Rooney & Coach Noll).

Tjsbmurphy wrote:

I'm rather stunned by all the support for Mike Rice. This guy has just way too much baggage. I doubt he EVER coaches a D1school again.

Same here.  I know he is probably a decent coach, but my Goodness, I would never send my kids to play for him.  I know that the old schoolers may disagree, but physically throwing basketballs at players is too much IMO.  In addition, Rice was always the biggest Ahole on the sidelines ever.  He honestly made Danny Hurley look calm, and I can't stand to watch URI with him on the bench.  I would rather hire and up and coming assistant than M. Rice.  

Give me Dunleavy, Steele, or Fife before Rice.  I'd also take a retread like Groce.  

 

Last edited by Simms (3/22/2017 10:09 pm)

I really don't think the media would move on- the first time a player is disciplined or he acts up on the sideline, the stories and videos would be running.  Some actions can be forgiven, but not forgotten, and unfortunately for Rice that is what has happened with him.  Like the coach in Hoosiers, he needs to go somewhere with no real media interest...maybe a Division III school.

"What the f*ck happened to the [Duquesne] that I used to know, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst!" 

 

rosceaux wrote:

"What the f*ck happened to the [Duquesne] that I used to know, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst!" 

 

"Well I'm not going to take it! King Rice? He's dead to me. Fife? He's dead to me. Dooley? ..."