Nagy is "back"

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Nagy is "back"

This was the unoffical word that I picked up but again its hard to know where the real truth lies.

I think David Boots at USD is learning that recruiting at this level is not the same as at D2.

No matter who was the assistant at the start of the transition period be it Larson or anyone else, had a real tough job in front of them since at D2, coaches probably have different contacts for the starting point of the recruiting process. No doubt Larson knew few people associated with D1 programs. He probably did the best he could and building contacts and a recruiting net works takes time. One has to be a real good salesman. I think the first recruits where people that were available and probably not the best choices, but they were choices.

Its now behind us and our recruiting network probably is much more today than it was 5 years ago.

I can't really say with certainty why Larson left, I've heard some things, I'm sure others have heard other things.

My original point was that I believe Larson's recruiting sort of gets a bad rap. If you look at the players he was able to bring to campus, they were pretty solid--especially considering the transition and all it brought with it. The problem was a lot of them didn't work out for one reason or another.

If the timeline in my head is right, Larson was here when we landed:

Kai Williams
Garrett Callahan
Mark Engen
Matt Cadwell
Andre Gilbert
Mo Berte
Steve Holdren
Ben Beran
Mac Casey
Andy Kleinjan

He might have played a big role in getting Clint and AC as well.

All of those guys were either pretty highly touted or pretty successful (individually) during their time at state.

[Nidaros]

Re: Nagy is "back"

I can't really say with certainty why Larson left, I've heard some things, I'm sure others have heard other things.

My original point was that I believe Larson's recruiting sort of gets a bad rap. If you look at the players he was able to bring to campus, they were pretty solid--especially considering the transition and all it brought with it. The problem was a lot of them didn't work out for one reason or another.

If the timeline in my head is right, Larson was here when we landed:

Kai Williams
Garrett Callahan
Mark Engen
Matt Cadwell
Andre Gilbert
Mo Berte
Steve Holdren
Ben Beran
Mac Casey
Andy Kleinjan

He might have played a big role in getting Clint and AC as well.

All of those guys were either pretty highly touted or pretty successful (individually) during their time at state.

Yes he may have gotten a bad rap, but the very first assistant doing the leg work for recruiting would have gotten the same bad rap. It like making pie or pizza or what have you from scratch. Unless you are Emile, the chef, scratch cooking is not easy nor is recruiting for transistion school going from D2 to D1. Whether Larson was a sacrificial lamb, we will ever know.

[bballfan54]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Larson did not recruit Kai.

Nagy saw Kai

[zooropa]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Larson did not recruit Kai.

Nagy saw Kai

I'd guess Nagy recruited the Callahans as well.

[Nidaros]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Larson did not recruit Kai.

Nagy saw Kai

Thanks, its hard to believe so much water has passed under the bridge, meaning Kai has came and nearly left. No doubts about what he has contributed to the SDSU program, I will miss him next year. Memories are blurred at times especially about who recruited who, at least in my mind.

[89rabbit]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Scott is a great coach and an even better person, I am glad he is at SDSU!

Go State!

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Larson did not recruit Kai.

Nagy saw Kai

Technically, Matt Wilber (while a GA for SDSU) spotted Kai in a Nike camp in the land of Hockey and Nagy took it from there. That's generally how it works. The gophers find leads and the head dog takes it from there. I remember getting the call from Matt talking about how Kai would be a huge "get" for SDSU. (To Riff on Nidaros, that call was one house move and 2 less kids ago - time flies.) Matt was really excited about Kai and was worried other bigger schools would find out about him and steal him from SDSU. He was a huge get for SDSU and I'm glad he decided to come to SDSU.

[bballfan54]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Yes you are correct, I forgot Matt's name but knew after I posted that you would come through LOL

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Yes you are correct, I forgot Matt's name but knew after I posted that you would come through LOL

Glad Kai is a Jackrabbit

[rockchalk]

Re: Nagy is "back"

I guess I have to disagree with the whole thread. As much as it bothers me being a Nagy backer and SDSU backer. Nagy has been a brilliant coach through out his days at SDSU during the Division 2 era however not so much during Division 1. The things we used to do in Division 2 when we were great was beat our Rivals and beat quality teams on the road. Those are two things we haven't done in the last 4 years. We are 0-8 vs. NDSU which kills me and we really haven't beat a quality team on the road. Although we did beat Centenary by 6 and UMKC by 5 on the road I still think we have a ways too go to say Nagy is back. This is suppose to be our year too with the two solid seniors we have and the helpful backup in Engen. We aren't even .500 over the year. Last years win in the summit league could have saved Nagy his job for at least another year but lets face it playing in the Arena might be the biggest homecourt advantage of any of the conference championships (based on how much SD loves our basketball). We should beat IPFW easily at the arena with the crowd and our team but if we don't what do we have to look forward to next year........we lose our top two players. Everyone the last 2 years has said wait til 09-10 that will be our year.....If below .500 overall and barely above .500 in conference is our plateau I'm not very thrilled. We've had some bad breaks but lets face it were not getting the job done. I love Nagy but this is a business and when things aren't going great fingers get pointed somewhere and unfortunately from a lot of people I talk to he gets a lot of blame. A lot of people are happy about the improvement but next year will be a decline again and we will be back to square one. Lets get a guy (head coach or assistant coach) who can recruit all over, who can beat their rival, local ties, who has experience winning on the road, and who has division 1 experience. We have one of the greatest assets in mid-major conference basketball (FROST ARENA). I'm just not happy with ok and moral victories.

Overall- I completely disagree with the thread- Improvements in a year where we are suppose to be good means nothing to me. Is Nagy Back? In the last 4 years have we won on the road vs. Ok teams at best? Have we beat our Rival?



Winning one game in the summit means nothing. Winning 3 games in the summit means everything. I really think this is going to be our best team in the next 3 years so if there was a year it would have to be now. However if we lose first round..................Will there be a coaching debate? I have 2 right now that I know we would have a shot at getting that carry everything listed above.

With that being said I love Nagy and hope he wins so people like me can stop hammering on the coaches. But for me .500 doesn't get it done.

[zooropa]

Re: Nagy is "back"

I think it is ridiculous to expect an 'outsize' improvement from '08/09 to '09/10.

Nor do I think that the program is going to take a step backwards next year.

Nor do I think that Nagy's recruiting, of late, has been poor.

[jackmd]

Re: Nagy is "back"

A lot of people are happy about the improvement but next year will be a decline again and we will be back to square one. Lets get a guy (head coach or assistant coach) who can recruit all over, who can beat their rival, local ties, who has experience winning on the road, and who has division 1 experience. We have one of the greatest assets in mid-major conference basketball (FROST ARENA). I'm just not happy with ok and moral victories.

Overall- I completely disagree with the thread- Improvements in a year where we are suppose to be good means nothing to me. Is Nagy Back? In the last 4 years have we won on the road vs. Ok teams at best? Have we beat our Rival?

Winning one game in the summit means nothing. Winning 3 games in the summit means everything. I really think this is going to be our best team in the next 3 years so if there was a year it would have to be now. However if we lose first round..................Will there be a coaching debate? I have 2 right now that I know we would have a shot at getting that carry everything listed above.

You MIGHT be right about some of these things but I have to disagree with your take in general. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he was never not Coach Nagy so how could he be "back".

The inability to get over the hump against NDSU is difficult to pin on Coach Nagy. Winning an opening round game over a favored ORU team means plenty, certainly not as much as winning the championship game. That is obvious.

As for the future, graduation of 2 of our best players will be a tough. That said, we return a number of very good players and have some other recruits that will be solid. It isn't going to be easy and a .500 record overall with a top 4 finish in the conference is a realistic goal.

[zooropa]

Re: Nagy is "back"

I think SDSU has a legit shot at finishing #3 next year. It might be unreasonable to expect anything higher. The league will be a bit softer at the top next year, I think.



What I'm curious about is whether Dykstra can pick up some good low-post moves in the next couple years.

When AC is playing at 10/10ths, he's very good at backing the defender under the basket, and then stepping back for a hook or some other short high percentage shot. I would think that Dykstra is capable of playing that kind of game at the D-1 level.

[zooropa]

Re: Nagy is "back"

And let's just put the whole 'coach' debate to bed, period.

These kids play for Nagy. It's taken a while--perhaps longer than it should have--but these kids play for him, now. And I think that's what's meant, generally, about Nagy being back. It's not so much that Nagy has been 'gone', but that he hasn't been able to coach the way he could in the 90s, his players haven't 'gotten it', but they do now.

You don't throw that kind of rapport away.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Nagy is "back"

Overall- I completely disagree with the thread- Improvements in a year where we are suppose to be good means nothing to me. Is Nagy Back? In the last 4 years have we won on the road vs. Ok teams at best? Have we beat our Rival?



Winning one game in the summit means nothing. Winning 3 games in the summit means everything. I really think this is going to be our best team in the next 3 years so if there was a year it would have to be now. However if we lose first round..................Will there be a coaching debate? I have 2 right now that I know we would have a shot at getting that carry everything listed above.

With that being said I love Nagy and hope he wins so people like me can stop hammering on the coaches. But for me .500 doesn't get it done.

I started this thread and will say it again. Nagy hasn't gone anywhere. We can all question things that have happened. Hindsight is always 20/20. Heck, I have to and I'm about as pro-Nagy as they come. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and they vary widely.

I certainly agree with one thing you wrote, that winning three games in Sioux Falls means everything! It would be an incredible finish to say the least! It will be disappointing to not at least make it to the semis and give that team a good game.

There are a few things to disagree with. The future does look good at SDSU and I think we will see improvement moving forward. We have a talented bunch of players coming back and a very strong recruiting class. Sure, we graduate two of our best players. That happens to every team just about every year. Just makes it a non-factor if you ask me. Kai and Garrett have been great and have given a lot to SDSU and they will be missed. The cupboard is far from bare. Clint is a stud. Wolters is a stud. AC is back. Griff, Moss, Fiegen, Palarca, and Rader Plus, we have arguably the best influx of talent the school has ever seen coming into the fold. I count White in that mix along with Dykstra, Heemstra, and Carlson since he had to redshirt due to injury.

I can't imagine that anybody that has watched the team this year can honestly say there hasn't been substantial improvement over last year. Yes, I thought there would be a few more wins in the left column but we have been more than competitive in almost every game. That certainly could not be said last year. Our conference record has improved and we won games on the road. Onward and upward as far as I'm concerned!

Is winning a game against the Bison the one thing that will make people not think there has been improvement? Trust me, I wanted those games as much as anyone on the board.

Let's all get to Sioux Falls and cheer both teams on. Three wins and all this crap goes away and everyone is elated!

GB, GB, GJ!

SUPERBUNNY