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The overriding philosophy behind DD's style is that toughness and discipline make for better players. The physical and mental toughness that comes from strict discipline, severe a$$ chewings, early mornings, intense conditioning, low tolerance for mental mistakes, blah blah blah, means he will ultimately get more from his team than other coaches.

Players go through more under DD than under most coaches. However, from the players perspective, going through the riggers has to mean something. To buy in, it must be that their pain and suffering is part of a formula that consistently produces hardware and NCAA appearances. The problem is, to this point, the DD approach has produced nothing. One way or another, players ask themselves whether BGSU's basketball program offers enough to make the work and pain worth it. Given our recent lack of success, I have to think that other programs begin to look attractive after a year or two of disillusionment. If a coach is going to take the Knight/Dakich approach with players, their teams absolutely must win, and win consistently. (Knight did so, and DD has not.) Otherwise, the system doesn't make much sense for players relative to other systems (e.g., Charlie Coles).

We've been losing. DD's recruiting during the last two signing periods has been weak. Furthermore, when I look the spate of recent departures and the reasons behind them (Crawford, Moss, Hobson, Harwell, Wright, Newsome, Mattox, Magnor), it seems to me that the program is fraying. Dakich may be in a bit of a paradox. His approach may be eating itself: instead of producing tough winning teams, it's driving off talent. At this point, I'm more pessimistic about our program than I ever was under Wienert and Larranaga.

I don't think it's fair to include Magner and Keon as guys "who have left the program". They were never really part of the program per se.

Bleed,

You bring up some interesting points. I've been a Dakich backer since day 1. But lately, things have not gone well and even I take off my orange colored glasses at times (but not much!).

I feel this season is the most important in DD's tenure. He must produce now. And I really hope he does cuz I think he gives quite a bit back to the community and is generally well liked.

Bottom line is W's and L's though....

GO FALCONS!!!

BleedOrange wrote:We've been losing. DD's recruiting during the last two signing periods has been weak. Furthermore, when I look the spate of recent departures and the reasons behind them (Crawford, Moss, Hobson, Harwell, Wright, Newsome, Mattox, Magnor), it seems to me that the program is fraying.

You missed Kris Wilson as one that left the program as well. But the point is well taken. I think the problem is that he isn't getting the right kids for his style of play. When a program loses a player every few years, you expect that as these are just teenagers trying to figure out their life. But when we consistently lose one or two players every year, you have to look for other reasons. I think it falls on the coach and his recruiting. Yes, he has a demanding style. But why can't he seem to find the right kids that can thrive in that enviroment? They are out there, I am sure, but they are not coming to BG. Is it because the coaching staff is such a poor judge of these kid's character?

Along with Cole and Keon, I don't think the departure of Kris Wilson can be counted against Coach Dakich by any stretch of the imagination.

4th Row wrote:Along with Cole and Keon, I don't think the departure of Kris Wilson can be counted against Coach Dakich by any stretch of the imagination.

While it was never made public, my understading is that Wilson had some personal issues to deal with (death in the family?). While it is not the same as not getting along with the coach, he is still, none the less, someone who was on the team at one time and has left the program. Similarly, Crawford did not have a beef with the coach, he was just homesick. And BG is a long way away from Minnesota. My point is that the coaches/recruiters need to be doing a better job of examing the character of these individuals to see if they have what it takes to succeed at BG.