Has the future ever been brighter?

[Drugs Delaney]

I've been thinking about the Flyers a lot lately, of course, and reflecting on what's happened the last 13 months and wondering what it means for the future of the Flyer basketball program. Has the future ever been brighter? I think you can reasonably argue that it never has been brighter, even during the heyday of the '50s and '60s when our teams were awesome on a national scale, but the landscape of college basketball nationally wasn't nearly what it is today.

We had an Elite 8 run last year, and win or lose today, this year has been another magical season. We clearly have one of the best coaches in the country, a terrific leader of men. Next season looks to have the ingredients in store for an even better team, one with depth and a little bit of height. And Archie would appear to have everything in place now to start attracting even more talented recruits going forward.

We all know not everything always goes according to plan, and there will be unforeseen hurdles to clear, as there always are, but I cannot help but feel that the future is incredibly bright, arguably brighter than it's ever been.

Much love, fellow Flyers! Let's beat the Sooners!

[T-Bone 84]

I can only think of 1 other time, and that was in the late 1960's, when our Flyers made the NCAAs in (I think it was) 3 out of 4 seasons, and in the off-year we won the NIT. But I was 5 years old when we were runners-up to UCLA, so that's a very distant memory. And my only guess is that the "powers-that-be" at that time thought the Arena would be enough to allow the program to sustain that level of success (and, obviously, no disrespect intended, it wasn't). I believe today's campus/athletic leaders are much more in-tune with what 's going to take over the next 5-10 years to sustain that level of success. Making it happen may be a different story, but I think they have a very good feel for what needs to happen. Let's hope so!

GO FLYERS!!
BEAT THE SOONERS!!

[SeasonTicketFan]

One game, day at a time. Success in college basketball is fragile. Keep the coach. Keeping the players healthy, hungry, focused and unselfish is also important.

Clearly the last 2 years have put UD basketball where fans would like to be.

Playing in NCAA games is a lot fun!

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by SeasonTicketFan One game, day at a time. Success in college basketball is fragile. Keep the coach. Keeping the players healthy, hungry, focused and unselfish is also important. Clearly the last 2 years have put UD basketball where fans would like to be. Playing in NCAA games is a lot fun!

...and that is why the Administration must recognize that they have one of the best coaches in the country and that they must figure out a way to keep him.

[UD62]

Originally Posted by TommyGola ...and that is why the Administration must recognize that they have one of the best coaches in the country and that they must figure out a way to keep him.

What makes you thing the admin hasn't already done that?

[Avid Flyer]

I feel he stays awhile, unless Mogran wants the big city life again. But she best be careful what she wishes for, Austin Texas if it opens is not like Pittsburgh or any cities of the northeast or midwest

[TommyGola]

Originally Posted by UD62 What makes you thing the admin hasn't already done that?

I am assuming they have done so or are doing so...just need to keep the pressure on them. Sometimes academicians can "drop the ball" on the non-academic programs. Dr. Curran was never like that, but keep in mind he will be replaced in the coming months. Dr. Curran recognized the value of sports to the institution. Many university presidents would love to get rid of sports.

[Real Fan]

I have been there a few times and thought it was an awesome city. It is a University town that is very much like Columbus Ohio.

[jack72]

Originally Posted by Avid Flyer I feel he stays awhile, unless Mogran wants the big city life again. But she best be careful what she wishes for, Austin Texas if it opens is not like Pittsburgh or any cities of the northeast or midwest

I assume you mean Morgan. She is from NC, and probably, unfortunately, would love Austin, and may not like the Northeast or Mideast. Austin is not a good city, it is a great city. It has it all, big university, great business climate, great restaurants, music, shopping and tech and medical companies, and even the only Formula 1 race track in the US. Hopefully Archie, who is from Pittsburgh, loves Dayton, but they both love UD.

[Falcon7]

Originally Posted by Real Fan I have been there a few times and thought it was an awesome city. It is a University town that is very much like Columbus Ohio.

I have a friend there (from the Dayton area), that has literally made his millions in Austin, it's a really nice city, especially in his hood.
I remember the 1st time his wife came here, she could not believe how green everything is.

I lived in Cbus for 4 years, don't really see the comparison though, but poo poo, that was 40 years ago. Dam (can't add the n), I'm F'n old .

[Falcon7]

I imagine Mrs. Miller likes the "good" life, they will be gone way sooner than we want.

[Sid Louick]

Interesting how so many on this forum think they know so much about Mrs. Miller's likes and dislikes. How many of you have asked her where she would like to live?

[Falcon7]

See, she loves the High Life! I doubt Dayton is High enough...

[jumpin' joe]

We've had 10 NCAA tournament wins in the past 40 years. 5 (or half) of those wins have been in the last two years under Archie. Thank you Archie for raising the bar.

[College B-Ball Fan]

Originally Posted by Falcon7 I imagine Mrs. Miller likes the "good" life, they will be gone way sooner than we want.

See, she loves the High Life! I doubt Dayton is High enough...[/QUOTE]



Grow up! Don't you have better things to post and/or do with your time!

[zmz723]

Special thanks are in order to Georgia Tech for taking a mediocre but not bad coach off our hands. So fortunate.

[ruechalgrin]

Don't want to be a downer, but future is bright if Archie stays. Uncertain if goes.

[FlyingArrow]

I think the immediate future is bright regardless. If Archie leaves this offseason, I don't think we lose all of our recruits like last time around. And we have enough of a core coming back that we should make the tournament even if we do lose every single recruit.

The problem, of course, is that Archie is proven to be one of the top coaches in the country. For a year or two we're good... the cupboard is stocked. But could a new coach keep the momentum going?

[FlyerinChicago]

Archie isn't going anywhere. His work is far from complete.
He's even said it himself, ad nauseam...compose yourself people.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ud2]

Originally Posted by zmz723 Special thanks are in order to Georgia Tech for taking a mediocre but not bad coach off our hands. So fortunate.

Sad but true. BG was under contract thru 2018 at UD, it didn't seem like he was really on the hot seat at UD.

UD was extremely fortunate that BG was hired away.

None of this would have happened if not for GT hiring BG away.

I would say that BG was better than mediocre at UD.

[joeybaloney]

I don't think very many attractive jobs are even going to be available.
NC State won't be.
Gtech apparently is giving Gregory 1 more year.
Seton Hall? Doubt if he would go there if it opens up.
Depaul isn't an attractive job.
Alabama is too much of a football school. Plus I am not sure Archie us an SEC guy.
Texas and IU are the only two I would be concerned about if they open up, and both AD's have indicated they support their current coaches.

Archie will leave at some point, but I don't think it is this year. He has plenty of talent for next year and some unfinished business.

	Brian Gregory BRIAN GREGORY UD Men's Basketball Head Coach since 2004. Groomed by the likes of Judd Heathcoate and Tom Izzo at Michigan State, as well as Kevin O'Neill and others, Gregory's defensive-minded leadership has led Dayton to NCAA and multiple NIT appearances. A good recruiter, BG has elevated the athleticism of the squad in recent years and kept top area talent at home. Still looking for that breakthrough season with his own players that catapult him to the NCAA tourney. Graduated from Oakland University.

[ruechalgrin]

Originally Posted by FlyingArrow I think the immediate future is bright regardless. If Archie leaves this offseason, I don't think we lose all of our recruits like last time around. And we have enough of a core coming back that we should make the tournament even if we do lose every single recruit. The problem, of course, is that Archie is proven to be one of the top coaches in the country. For a year or two we're good... the cupboard is stocked. But could a new coach keep the momentum going?

UD has very good talent, but not great. Archie gets the most out of the team and coaches them up massively. Hire a guy with a new system and I am not so sure we go dancing next year. Think BG as next years coach with our talent and I honestly don't know. Not being negative, just realistic.

Originally Posted by FlyerinChicago Archie isn't going anywhere. His work is far from complete. He's even said it himself, ad nauseam...compose yourself people. Posted via Mobile Device

I hope he stays 2 more years until the sophomore class graduates, but I am not as confident as you. You could cut and paste quotes from Matta, Sean Miller, and a host of others right before they left to other schools.

[ud2]

Originally Posted by ruechalgrin Don't want to be a downer, but future is bright if Archie stays. Uncertain if goes.

Uncertain? Yeah ok, I'll agree with that, but AM has laid the foundation/created the blue print. If they stay in-house, then I'm not worried, if they go outside, then I think the risk of problems/the risk of regressing increases.

[Go-UD-Go]

Originally Posted by Drugs Delaney I've been thinking about the Flyers a lot lately, of course, and reflecting on what's happened the last 13 months and wondering what it means for the future of the Flyer basketball program. Has the future ever been brighter? I think you can reasonably argue that it never has been brighter, even during the heyday of the '50s and '60s when our teams were awesome on a national scale, but the landscape of college basketball nationally wasn't nearly what it is today.

I don't think that many people on this board realize how good we were in the 50s. We went to 7 NITs when it was the better tournament and they only took 12 teams. We had a record of 14 and 7 in them. We were in the finals 5 times. We were ranked #2 for most of the season in 55-56, right behind perfect San Francisco Don's of Bill Russell. And we ended the year ranked #3. We even went to both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in 1952.

I love the Flyers of today but if we could become the Flyers of the 50s we wouldn't be obsessing about Xavier any more.

	Xavier XAVIER MUSKETEERS Dayton's biggest rival dating back to the early 1900s. Founded in 1831, Xavier University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its three colleges offer 78 undergraduate majors, 43 minors and 11 graduate programs to 6,646 total students, including 3,961 undergraduates. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide. Xavier's nickname is the Musketeers and are fellow A10 Conference members.

[Gazoo]

I'm of the completely uneducated opinion that Miller isn't in a hurry to leave.

College basketball changed, but interestingly, is also changing "back". Coaches at schools like VCU, Gonzaga, and to a lesser extent schools like Davidson and Wichita State, are realizing that the grass isn't always greener. Many coaches are happy to trade loyalty for $($$$). UD tolerated BG's lackluster performance (as compared to talent / expectations) longer than a Kansas, North Carolina, or UCLA ever would. And some schools are outright unrealistic about their prospects making them a nightmare job at any price.

I think coaches like Miller are looking around and thinking bigger isn't always better. He can get the players he needs to win, he sure as h*** can coach them, and he can have great success in the NCAA tournament. And he's virtually guaranteed not to get fired for at least the next 5 years, very likely much longer.

Or, he can roll the dice and get more $ and risk being left where BG is. 3-4 years later he's got cash in his pocket and a professional dilemma: take a much lesser job or maybe even go back to being an assistant.

[MrFlyerFanatic]

Regarding Mrs Miller, if you follow her on twitter, you know that she is a basketball fanatic. I don't think her husband's team being 2nd fiddle at a football school would suit her. Kentucky is probably the only SEC school that would be a fit.
Archie is extremely well connected. He knows very well that $$$ does not equal happiness or success. He also knows that, as basketball goes, UD is a great job with nearly unrivaled support (UK being the most obvious exception).
Archie is a magician. He won with smoke and mirrors this year, but he will have a full stable of horses to run with next year.
Last season, he took the team from mostly dead in January to within a 3 minute 1st half stretch of the Final Four. Last night, we were a couple favorable bounces and bad passes away from advancing to the Sweet 16. Archie is a very tough and very loyal SOB. I believe that he believes that he can take UD to the Final Four and he has demonstrated nothing that leads me to believe that he can't or won't do it.