Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Purdue blows out Hoops in predictable fashion

I could write a recap of the Purdue loss but it would be a waste of time. BC got run off the court by a more physical team. BC again looked lost and disinterested on defense. The offensive numbers will look okay in a boxscore but won't reflect the feel or flow of the game. We are now getting to the point where the conversation will shift from "what can Donahue do?" to "what is Brad Bates going to do?"

I know the staff thinks they are close to a breakthrough. The players said all the right things in MSG last week. Someone needs to give this whole group a wake-up call. If they don't go on a huge run shortly they are all out.

25 comments:

Danny Boy said...

I've been a huge Donahue apologist, but I'm at a loss. Dragicevich seemed to be the only guy who wanted to play in the first half. So naturally, he barely sees the floor in the second half.

I'm not sure how it happened, but the teams defense has actually gotten worse. No one as any interest in playing help defense. It's shameful.

Claver2010 said...

The problem with the make up of the team is that who ever is your coach this spring & summer better be your coach when the class of 2015 graduates with all those free scholarships.

Don has showed me absolutely nothing to prove he deserves a shot to continue.

Hoib said...

the ship be sinkin

Big Jack Krack said...

This needs to be rectified for sure.

Erik said...

Who would have ever thought the football team would outperform the basketball and hockey teams this year???
And at 7-5 that isn't saying a lot.

WI_Eagle said...

I just don't get the regression from last year. We finished off last year strong and had last-possession losses to top teams in the conference (Puke, The U, NC State). Now I would peg us as going 3-15 in conference. What happened?

Hario said...

I have never seen a team regress like this in a year when the roster was made up of a majority sophomores and juniors who have had significant playing time already

Unknown said...

The regression is baffling, frustrating, and fairly damning for The Don. A real shame, my hopes were quite high for this team after last year, it doesn't make much sense.

hsk said...

I always welcome the opportunity to watch any BC team compete on TV, in any sport. I watch to the bitter end, whatever the outcome. Last night after 5 mins. of that debacle I had to switch channels, hoping that it was just a temporary wtf moment. I came back 15 mins. later, and it was more of the same if not worse. There is zero sense of urgency on this team, no communication, no defense, and when I watched the bench laughing during a timeout that sealed the deal for me. The staff needs to go, and the scholarships pulled. End of story.

JBQ said...

I watched Villanova against Penn last night. The Wildcats are interesting. They play very good defense and are so good (8-0, #14)) that they get into trouble when they take their foot off the accelerator. They flash players to the middle and run the baseline. They conquered Bermuda with wins over Kansas and Iowa. They have a very good press. The point is to compare BC to Villanova. Jay Wright is well in control and the team is well coached in many facets. Again from many previous comments, Donohue is a very good Ivy League coach. He is conscientious and has integrity. Unfortunately, he is in "way over his head". A change should be made.

Hario said...

Seth Davis ‏@SethDavisHoops 12h
Just saw the BC-Purdue score. Is BC the most disappointing team in the country? I lean toward UNLV but still....


Can't be a good sign for Donahue if national writers are calling the team one of the most disappointing in the country.

I mean I thought this team had to be a tourney team this year for Donahue to keep his job... hopes of that are pretty much done already 8 games into the season...

When can we get some posts on potential replacements going... anything to keep me excited about BC hoops

Hoib said...

My guess is just like he did in football Bates will bring in a connection from MAC basketball. AD's usually go w/ guys they know. Pretty sure Disaster Don is just playing out the string at this point.

eagleboston said...

I really wanted Donahue to work out, but clearly he is not going to get it done. Time for Bates to make the tough decision and bring in one of his guys. I fully trust him to make a good hire, as he did with football.

Dports1 said...

The team's 5 losses are to teams with a combined 36-4 record. So far, UConn (8-0) and UMass (7-0) look like tournament locks. Purdue (7-2) and Providence (7-2) should join them. Toledo (7-0) is at the top of its conference, even though it will need an auto bid. So while disappointing, it's not like BC is losing to bad teams.

That said, this is the year BC should be competitive with and stealing games from the top teams, and that's not happening. The Don must go!

Knucklehead said...

They cannot defend the dribble because they don't see it in practice.

Hanlan thinks he is going to the NBA next season. Joke. He better stand up and take charge of the team.

BMas90 said...

I am a Philly guy and would love to see Donahue succeed. Everyone I know down here loves him and says he is a great coach. Problem is he doesn't seem to be able to consistently recruit ACC talent.

Last year's run was great but it was not sustainable because BC is not adding talent. A bunch of the role players were playing their best ball at the end of last season but that's not their normal long term games. Last season we would have been fine with them competing well against the teams they have lost to this year but that doesn't cut it when they are supposed to improve.

Basic fundamentals are lacking because these guys are top Ivy League talent, not ACC talent (accept for our guards). So their D and rebounding and shooting would all be a notch higher if they were playing Penn and Columbia most nights.

It's a big bummer because Stevie D is a good guy...but bottom line is that, unless we were just waiting for a few top committed recruits to come in next year, there needs to be a change.

BMas90 said...

I am a Philly guy and would love to see Donahue succeed. Everyone I know down here loves him and says he is a great coach. Problem is he doesn't seem to be able to consistently recruit ACC talent.

Last year's run was great but it was not sustainable because BC is not adding talent. A bunch of the role players were playing their best ball at the end of last season but that's not their normal long term games. Last season we would have been fine with them competing well against the teams they have lost to this year but that doesn't cut it when they are supposed to improve.

Basic fundamentals are lacking because these guys are top Ivy League talent, not ACC talent (accept for our guards). So their D and rebounding and shooting would all be a notch higher if they were playing Penn and Columbia most nights.

It's a big bummer because Stevie D is a good guy...but bottom line is that, unless we were just waiting for a few top committed recruits to come in next year, there needs to be a change.

Napolean Bonaparte said...

I think if I hear Donahue is such a great guy again I'll hurl an internal organ. Skinner was probably a great guy too. For all I know - so was Spaz. The truth is that Donahue is most definitely neither a "great" teaching coach nor a "great" floor coach or a competent recruiter at the ACC level. He has been given his chances, has been paid and treated fairly by BC and has failed to meet reasonable expectations. Barring some miraculous transformation, its time to move on at the end of the season - its too bad it didn't work out. His inability or unwillingness to assemble an experienced supporting staff was his probable downfall.

Claver2010 said...

Agreed.

I've been a Donahue supporter but why does every criticism about him need to start with "he's such a great guy"?

He's clearly in over his head.

Joseph said...

What exactly is wrong with acknowledging the regret that in spite of being a "great guy" he is not cutting it as the HC? Nobody is saying that because he is a "great guy" that he is doing the job well. Stop with the constantly negative BS.

Hoib said...

I think the great guy thing is relavent. Gene D Napolean Blownaparte got rid of 2 very competant coaches, who he probabky had no personal relationship, to replace them w/ what he thought were great guys. Jags and Don. Give me a prick like Belichick or Harbaugh any day or even T. Coughlin for that matter any day. Great Guy Great coach, it's almost an oxymoron.

Joseph said...

What? Is it either or? I'm glad that you are not doing the hiring. Look for competence, and if you can get a "great guy". Don't ever not consider a competent candidate just because they are nice people. If SD were winning. would you fire him because he is a great guy? Would you keep an incompetent coach just because he is a prick? Being competent and being a great guy are not mutually exclusive.

Hoib said...

I'm not doing the hiring. My point, which is pure speculation, is that Gene was smoozed by couple of nice guys. I can't stand Bobby Knight but I'd rather have him coach my team than an incompetant nice guy like "The Don"

Napolean Bonaparte said...

Okay Joseph - Coach Donahue is truly a great guy. And despite the fact that he has built BC basketball into an ACC laughingstock - nothing will change the fact that he is still a great guy. And Joseph - one more thing - I think you are a great guy.

Bravesbill said...

Why should being a great guy even be mentioned at all Joseph?