Comments on: Thank You, Bryce Drew

By: a68domer

a68domer — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 13:59:45 +0000

Mea culpa, mea culpa. I was a detractor of MB for years due to the lack of quality wins or tournament victories. Great review! I’m definitely on Team Brey now.

By: Mike Coffey

Mike Coffey — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 04:08:55 +0000

In reply to BDC. I am 110 percent certain of it. He says it both off the record and on, and he's a lot more emphatic about it off.

By: BDC

BDC — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 23:18:31 +0000

In reply to Mike Coffey.

Well – I believed my parents all those times I questioned them about that Santa guy, and they repeatedly swore to me that he was the one that was putting all those gifts under the tree and eating all those cookies.
I mean, what do you expect MB to say about a job that one of his mentors still has at this point?
I sincerely hope you are right about MB not wanting to follow Coach K. But just to be safe… I’m still going to hope Coach K comes back and coaches another 10 years at Duke.

By: Garr Isacco

Garr Isacco — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:39:46 +0000

Really enjoy this article. Coach Brey has just done a fantastic job with this team. After the hick up during our first year in the ACC, he has been able to get his team prepared for a very tough competition in every game. This year’s team is just a delight to watch so tough and fighting to the very end of every game. A 5-0 record to start the ACC season simply beyond belief, especially with three wins on the road against quality teams. I think they will make a significant run in both the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament. Kudos to Coach Brey for a job well done.

By: Todd Burlage

Todd Burlage — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:47:27 +0000

What a great analysis Kevin, really enjoyed it. This line “he wastes zero energy telling his bosses how and why they need to change the place to make him more successful” was spot on and made me laugh because of all the excuses and shenanigans with the football program. That said, shouldn’t we be thanking Matt Doherty for Coach Brey more than Bryce Drew? Had Doherty stuck around for even a second season, it’s likely another school would have snatched Brey up because of the success he was having at Delaware. Thanks again for the great read.

By: rays15

rays15 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:04:00 +0000

Kevin, thanks for a perceptive analysis of how Brey succeeds in producing records that very often exceed predictions, sometimes by a wide margin. One of his true strengths is in getting his players to believe in sharing the basketball. It’s never going to be perfect, but his guys do it to a very high level. I also think he has evolved in a couple of areas. One is in focusing more on defensive principles and in giving playing time to guys who are strongest at the end of the floor. And, two, he now uses his bench more. There were a lot of years when his rotation only went 7 deep. Playing more guys keeps everyone a little fresher for those crucial final minutes, and it also helps to develop guys who will have to play a role in the following season.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 05:52:10 +0000

I got my 2 ACC Tournament tickets today. $595 per book on the lower level. Looking forward to seeing the Irish in Brooklyn. Come join me. I was one of about only 100 ND fans in Greensboro two years ago. Our live support for this team is embarrassing. I also was a senior in the stands when we stopped the ucla 88 game winning streak. I’m a basketball junkie and I think this team is not only fun to watch but has a chance to win something. And how about those three Matt Farrell bullet passes at the end of the Miami game! Great game by Austin Torres. I met your Dad in our Cleveland hotel. He’s very proud of you. Beat VaTech. See you in New York. Go Irish.

By: Mike Coffey

Mike Coffey — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 04:23:50 +0000

In reply to BDC. Mike Brey has absolutely zero interest in following K at Duke, and has said so on numerous occasions.

By: BDC

BDC — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 00:03:46 +0000

Interesting take on how things could have been different. Using the same logic, I’ll mention something that all ND hoops fans should be fearing. I’ll start this by saying I pray this never happens, as I believe MB and ND are the perfect match for each other… Now and in the future.
As an ND fan, I hope the surgeon that performs Coach K’s surgery is the best in the world. I hope Coach K feels like he can come back and coach Duke for another 10 years. But if Coach K decides he wants to call it a career, who do you think would be at the top of Duke’s list as a replacement?
MB was an assistant at Duke. Duke’s current AD is the same AD that hired MB at ND in 2000. And while MB turned down a chance to return to his home state a few years back to coach Maryland, coaching Duke, and taking over a program that can attract top NBA prospects, and give MB a chance to win National Championships every single season may be the only place MB would consider leaving ND for.
I certainly hope this never happens, but I’m just saying… The only other school MB seems to be just as good of a fit as ND for is Duke – and that job might be vacant sooner rather than later.

By: Mark DeBoskey

Mark DeBoskey — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:36:47 +0000

I’d enjoy reading a similar overview of the fabulous program that Muffet has built.