This topic is starting to get a dead horse vibe, but after last night's broadcast I felt like Ellis' points shouldn't go unchallenged. Is this team better with Clifford? Yes. Would he have made a difference this year? Yes. But BC's inability to protect the rim or have in inside presence is on Steve Donahue and his staff.
Dennis Clifford's injury issues go back to November 2012. He was a seven footer in a boot and doing water workouts in December 2012. I am not a doctor, but even a casual basketball fan can rattle off the big men who were slow to recover from lower body injuries. And with each injury, Dennis Clifford's recoveries took longer. That should have been a huge red flag to Donahue and his staff. They never should have counted on Dennis Clifford to ever be 100% again. Did they recruit a big man during the 2012-13 cycle? Only very late in the process when they picked up Will Magarity. I was thrilled about Magarity. I knew his game was different from Clifford's but I thought he would at least give us size on D. Yet he hasn't played significant minutes. Is is because he's not good defensively? Is it because the offense is less efficient with him? I don't know. But the failure to use him or have him serviceable is on the coaching staff.
Now if Dennis Clifford were truly the missing piece to this team, then you would expect that the staff would be turning over every rock they could to find another serviceable big man. We have at least one scholarship this year. Yet we are not in play with anyone of note. That is failure. The whole team is coming back next year. If Donahue really believes it is all about having a defensive big man, then why hasn't he locked one up?
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Again, not to beat a dead horse but I'm sure you could throw the staff's inability to develop Caudill in there too.
I would guess there is no big man locked up because any sensible person would stay far away from this debacle.
Great post Bill, and as I said on BCI, they won 4 of the last 5 last year with Clifford averaging 10 minutes, literally zero points, and 2 rebounds. He was obviously hurt. The regression of the team is all on the coaches.
As to Magarity, perhaps he will develop, but it seems that if he gets the ball in traffic, he can't hold on to it. Not strong physically or mentally (hopefully yet), and from what I can see, currently cannot compete at the ACC level.
Could the Wizard of Westwood (John Wooden) have overcome the loss of his 7-footer (Lew Alcinder?) Of course not.
It is easy to fault Donahue when he is on a bender of bad luck (some people here from thier safe, distant perches love to kick a guy when he is down), but why try to take a way a major reason for that bad luck? Not fair.
Donny has a 7 year contract. Think BC is going pay him for another 3 years while paying his replacement? Of course not.
Everything i've ever seen says that Donahue has a 6 year contract, 2 years remaining. Can't find any contract details online though.
eagle... weigh what BC is going to lose in sponsorships, ticket sales, and other revenue (anything sold at games, apparel, etc.)... there is no chance that BC doesn't suck it up and pay him to disappear after this season. While I don't want to give GDF any credit, there has to be a buyout in there, and it will surely be exercised. Even though Fr. Leahy doesn't prioritize sports, he wants BC to be looked at as an elite school, and basketball is too public of a sport to let it be a national embarrassment.
Press coverage at the time Donahue signed on with BC indicated that he received a coveted "rollover" contract, for a five year term that renewed every off-season.
I have not seen this questioned anywhere by a knowledgeable source. If anyone (ATL?) knows differently --- or knows that the contract involves a buyout clause exercisable by the school that effectively nullifies the rollover --- please enlighten us.
Because, knowing BC as we all do, the answer to this issue will dictate whether the Don is with us come next year.
If BC is even considering building a stadium to support a non-revenue, non-competitive team, then they could afford to pay Donahue and another coach.
While we're beating the dead horse, under no circumstances should an ACC team need overtime to beat Sacred Heart, I don't care who they're missing
When Gene made the ill fated decision to dump Al, he had 3 years left on his contact. So there is a precedent.
I think BC got more value paying Al for those 3 years to do nothing than they got from paying Onahue that same period of time.
I think Eagle is that dude that posts the sarcastic stuff.
BTW, it's Alcindor. And in no universe should that name be referenced to Mr. Clifford.
Next year will be a great time for a new coach. Guy can only improve on the anticipated results from this year with the same guys, and then do a complete re-build with his guys/his system.
Kinda reminds me of another recent hire at BC.
ESPN, 2010
Barring any contractual disputes, Boston College will hire Cornell coach Steve Donahue as its next coach. Donahue first interviewed for the opening after Al Skinner was fired last week. Donahue, who already turned down an offer from Hofstra, is expected to receive a salary in the $900,000 per year range for . . . seven years.
"Eagle" says it all. Let's talk about something else. Donohue doesn't want a big man. The Ivy League doesn't need "bigs". Someone please tell "Dunny" that this is not the Ivy Leabue. The "5 man weave" at the top of the key to set up a 3 went out with "high topped tennies".
CT
You're right on. The wizard kept on winning after big Lou left, as great as he was.
This is not the 1990's. The ACC pays BC big money.
They can come to agreement with Donahue to leave
Money won't be an issue in making the change.
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