Quote from: NativeCheesehead on March 07, 2016, 10:58:04 AM
I don't think the double bye is the problem or all that he was complaining about. The back to back to back seems to be the main issue. But as far as changing the format for this tournament once again, I repeat myself from an earlier thread: Get. Out. Of. This. Conference. (Yes, I realize it's easier said, and with the retention/new contract of a women's basketball coach who is 32-90 heading into the tourney, I'm beginning to think we should worry more about our local leadership than that in the conference office, but I promised myself I would save that rant for after the season.)
As a Wright State Fan, and having heard Donlon speak before about the tourney. He never had a problem with the double bye or even the home court going to the league champion. He liked the regular season being worth something. So my only guess is the back to back to back against a rested team being the problem. If there was a break in there, he would most likely be fine. He has never been happy with the league's scheduling in the regular season either, but that's another story.
So his first rant was to the media and their voting with none of his players being recognized. He was sticking up for his players, which any good coach would do. I think the tournament scheduling rant was just a carry over on that, once his emotions started going.
As far as HL awards, (he was in his own way, claiming do not look entirely at stats, but look how his players matched up each night against their opponent. Wright State is not a team that is going to put up gaudy stats, very similar to Valpo. Both Valpo and Wright State are defensive minded teams, that play good team defense, (Valpo just happens to have a shot blocker to supplement that team defense). They do not need to go toe to toe and try to out score the other team every night to win a game. So the offensive numbers aren't as high. I think he felt the media looked too much at stats. Donlon said winning is a big stat for him, and the most important thing to coaches, so he had 2 Valpo players on his first team along with Felder and Tiby. I'm not sure who the other player on his first team is but I would assume Fouse since he said his 1st team ballot consisted players of the top other 4 teams, since you can't vote for your own players.