Decent Read

[Peacock]

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com/2012/11/john-dunne-continues-to-do-more-with.html

[eclecticed]

I, for one, think that it's going to very difficult to keep JD after this year. It seems like his reputation as a coach grows with every game and I can't believe that there aren't several teams, in bigger conferences looking closely at him.

[loyal]

Under .400 winning percentage, plays slow down ball unpopular with talented recruits. Miracle tourney run produced only MAAC tourney wins in six years.
PE, after an extended close up look, did not hire him @ Binghamton. Took Dempsey instead.
King Rice, of all flawed candidates, got the nod at Monmouth.
I hope we go 21-0 in the MAAC and JD succeeds Coach K, but.......
JD has lots to do before movin' on up.

[oldtimer1]

Loyal..couldn't disagree with you more. If you have been at any of the games this year we ARE NOT playing "slow down" ball. A team can be coached to play great defense but that doesn't translate into a slow down offense. We are averaging over 60 pts. per game this year. Not bad for a college team, especially when you consider that we have a lack of scoring options. If you sit behind our bench you will hear JD exhorting the guys to run quite frequently. He does NOT teach a slow down, half court offense!

Where I agree with you, however, is that his record makes him an iffy situation for the fan base of other institutions. As the article Peacock posted almost everyone with a half a brain knows how good a coach JD is...not only x's and o's but running a Program. Tired of arguing with those who don't understand the difficulities of developing winning Programs and recruiting for SP. They just have no clue. PE knew it and JQ is finding out. Both outstanding guys with very limited resources.


It's amazing how rumors get started. The conclusion that PE didn't want JD is false. PE respected and admired JD as a coach. I'm not privy (nor are you and others) to the inside of the Binghampton job except that my friends son Jimmy Engles of NJIT was the only other coach seriously considered. Was in the final two. Doubt if JD even interviewed or was interested.Everything is just speculation.

Regarding Monmouth and Fairfield, JD was in the final two or three out of many, many applicants. Unfortunately his record does hurt him since his resume doesn't come with a footnote as to how difficult it is a SP. JD is doing a great job give his resources. Anyone who disagrees has absolutely no clue.

Finally, as you know I coach. Won some awards and have a pretty good team. But I will tell you this...a coach, any coach is only as good as his players. My players make me a better coach.. JD and Saint Peter's are making progress but no home run players yet. Everyone who knows area college basketball knows the difficulty of the situation at SP. Not an excuse, just reality! Bottom line IMO... we are lucky to have the Coach and Staff we have. Perhaps we'll catch lightning in a bottle. It's difficult but not impossible.

[maacfan]

Right on the money OT!

[peacockblue]

I agree with most of the article, but to say we've stayed "relevant alongside the Manhattans, Sienas and Ionas of the world" is a bit of a stretch. Outside of our very small core of fans and a one week stretch two years ago in which we won the MAAC and then got blown out by Purdue, we haven't been relevant at all. Manhattan, Siena, and Iona (say what you want about their fans) have all been in the national spotlight in the last 10 years while we have been lucky if MAAC fans took note of us. (Other than the exception of KeeKee, which was before Dunne and was one player, not the program) I don't mean this as a knock on JD but more of a reflection of SP as a whole, but to be compared to those teams in terms of relevance is ridiculous.

While I agree with most of OT's post, we've finished in the bottom of the country in scoring every year under JD, including when we won the MAAC two years ago, so even if we don't play "slow down", we are not the most exciting team to watch on the offensive end by any stretch. We've had the discussion on this board before about how much of an impact it is on recruiting, and while I don't think it's a major factor, it certainly doesn't help.

Whatever the truth is with the three jobs mentioned (and for what it's worth, I've heard that there were buyout issues with both Dunne's contract and BU's assistants that financially ended any thought of him being a candidate), the fact is that neither of the three is considered a "step up" based on conference. In fact, I would argue both Monmouth and BU would have been a “step down.” Of course when you factor in SP as a school, it becomes clear why he would take those jobs. The bottom line is that most of loyal’s post is correct. Aside from the debates of “slow down style” and specifics of the BU job, there are no schools knocking down the door to interview JD. Unless he wins the MAAC or he can string together a few 20 win seasons, JD has no chance of “moving up” and if he’s going to leave it’s going to be a lateral move or going to a better school in a worse conference than the MAAC. Although I think most athletic directors recognize the many factors working against him at SP, his record would be impossible to justify to a school with a fan base and boosters and that is why bigger schools have shown no interest.

[loyal]

As a final word.......
Whether or not we feel JD is a good fit for SPU right now (I think he is), the theme of the article is the point in question.
The author feels, based on past and current accomplishments, it's inevitable JD gets a call from a higher level program.
Based on everything discussed above, that is a preposterous point of view, IMO.
Thanks.

[oldtimer1]

IF the author implied that a call from a higher level program....I agree. Prehaps not preposterous but highly unlikely. Meanwhile, let's win some games and get some recruits.