New Assistant Basketball Coach: Roger Powell, Jr.

valpopal · June 27, 2011, 02:10:04 PM

"Valparaiso men's basketball head coach Bryce Drew announced today that the Crusaders have hired former University of Illinois standout Roger Powell Jr. as an assistant coach. Powell has spent the last six years playing professional basketball, including a stint with the Utah Jazz of the NBA... "

http://www.valpoathletics.com/news/default/173/10870/

sectionee · June 27, 2011, 02:20:02 PM

A big guy from Joliet who played at Illinois. He could help the recruiting in the basketball rich Chicago-land area.

setshot · June 27, 2011, 02:51:30 PM

Good show,but another rookie hired by a rookie head coach. Let's hope for the best. Go Drewsaders!

hoopfan22 · June 27, 2011, 03:15:01 PM

Heard about this over the weekend, along with some other stuff regarding this hire. Head scratcher for sure.

Crusader03 · June 27, 2011, 05:42:22 PM

Certainly this was a move made with recruiting in mind...I like it, but I am concerned about the lack of experience on the bench.

Something that has not really been mentioned---won't Homer continue to be a close advisor to Bryce? Maybe that is where the experience comes from

valpotx · June 27, 2011, 05:49:58 PM

I like this hire for the recruiting benefits. Being able to tell kids that they will be coached by someone who spent much of the season playing at the #1 ranked program in the nation, and who played in an NCAA title game, can be a big sell. Someone that has been through the tough games can only help us...

vu72 · June 27, 2011, 05:50:10 PM

Quote from: Crusader03 on June 27, 2011, 05:42:22 PM
Certainly this was a move made with recruiting in mind...I like it, but I am concerned about the lack of experience on the bench.Something that has not really been mentioned---won't Homer continue to be a close advisor to Bryce? Maybe that is where the experience comes from

First off, I think the hire is a very good one. We add a young black man with NBA experience and great ties to Illinois and the midwest.

As for "experience", I wonder what that means in this situation. Do we have guys with D1 head coaching experience on the bench? Nope. Will we have two guys with NCAA tourney and NBA experience on the bench? Yep. Luke Gore is entering his 10th year as an asst coach. Chris Sparks is entering his fifth year, all under one Homer Drew. Other than that, we lack experience. I guess...

Oh, and one more thing...Homer will stop being an advisor to Bryce and Scott when he takes his last breath. I sure don't expect that any time soon!

milanmiracle · June 27, 2011, 05:53:39 PM

This is a FANTASTIC HIRE! As you know I am a glass half empty kind of guy, but i couldn't be more pleased. If he can communicate half of the things he did on the court at Illinois to some of the Valpo players, the Crusaders will be in good shape.

VU75 · June 27, 2011, 06:59:05 PM

This team has two projects at the center position so it's good to see more coaching help for the bigs.

sectionee · June 27, 2011, 08:29:48 PM

If nothing else our coaching staff should be able to take on any other coaching staff in the league in a 4 on 4 game.

hoopfan22 · June 27, 2011, 09:27:38 PM

Not sure this is a fantastic hire. It's okay. Good in name recognition for sure, but I'm not sold on what's going on there these days at all.

DMvalpo18 · June 27, 2011, 11:17:08 PM

Quote from: sectionee on June 27, 2011, 02:20:02 PM
A big guy from Joliet who played at Illinois. He could help the recruiting in the basketball rich Chicago-land area.

good thoughts! i sure hope so.

milanmiracle · June 28, 2011, 12:01:03 AM

Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 27, 2011, 09:27:38 PM
Not sure this is a fantastic hire. It's okay. Good in name recognition for sure, but I'm not sold on what's going on there these days at all.

Just to clarify, it's fantastic to me because I believe Roger Powell will teach the game the right way. Roger Powell was a winning player at Illinois and did more to help that team win that most will give him credit for. He knew how to move without the ball, set up his teammates even when they weren't involved in the play directly and getting ready to rebound before the shot was even attempted. I think he can really help this team.

I still have recordings of the Illini team and I am not even a fan of Illinois. They played the game the right way, and even though they didn't win the national title, they still were one of the best teams I've seen since UNLV of the early 90's.

hoopfan22 · June 28, 2011, 06:37:08 AM

Gotcha.

wh · June 28, 2011, 12:39:48 PM

Quote from: VU75 on June 27, 2011, 06:59:05 PM
This team has two projects at the center position so it's good to see more coaching help for the bigs.

I don't know anything about Powell, but I see he's listed as 6-6 and played SF. SF is closer to PF and C than our mostly guard-oriented coaching staff, but I wonder how much first-hand knowledge he has about low post offense and defense. That said, he could be a big help in developing our mid-sized guys like Rowdy, Jakolis and Edwards.

sectionee · June 28, 2011, 01:15:13 PM

A guy that played at the level he did probably has a pretty good feel for all the positions on the court, except maybe point guard.

vu72 · June 28, 2011, 04:13:24 PM

I really don't think size matters in this context. How tall is Scott Drew? Seriously, a guy with inside experience will be helpful for Luke Gore, who handles our bigs now. We really don't need more coaches, we need more bigs!!

lowposter · June 28, 2011, 09:08:54 PM

Recruiting Illinois players will no doubt be his assignment.

He was a warrier at Illinois.

hoopfan22 · June 29, 2011, 06:26:32 AM

None. I said before, this is a real head scratcher.

valpofan56 · June 29, 2011, 07:46:16 AM

Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 27, 2011, 03:15:01 PM
Heard about this over the weekend, along with some other stuff regarding this hire. Head scratcher for sure.

Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 27, 2011, 09:27:38 PM
Not sure this is a fantastic hire. It's okay. Good in name recognition for sure, but I'm not sold on what's going on there these days at all.

Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 29, 2011, 06:26:32 AM
None. I said before, this is a real head scratcher.

How about instead of adding pointless comments to the discussion you actually make a point? Why don't you get/like the hire? Who were you expecting? Bob Knight? As a mid major, your chances of landing new assistant coaches with a significant amount of experience is slim to none.

hoopfan22 · June 29, 2011, 08:10:33 AM

inbox

valpo04 · June 29, 2011, 09:08:00 AM

Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 29, 2011, 08:10:33 AM
inbox

So you can allude to this move being a "head scratcher" three separate times in this thread, but your reasoning as to why can only be shared through PM?

Weak.

valpofan56 · June 29, 2011, 09:47:08 AM

Quote from: valpo04 on June 29, 2011, 09:08:00 AM
Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 29, 2011, 08:10:33 AM
inbox

So you can allude to this move being a "head scratcher" three separate times in this thread, but your reasoning as to why can only be shared through PM?

Weak.

That's what I told him. I told him to post what he messaged me because I thought it could really add to the discussion, for better or worse.

vu72 · June 30, 2011, 08:40:17 AM

Nice article about Powell by Lazerus. It sounds like Fernandez should be a Crusader shortly. The pieces are starting to fall together!

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/6246772-419/mark-lazerus-no-experience-necessary-at-valpo.html

covufan · June 30, 2011, 12:15:54 PM

Quote from: valpofan56 on June 29, 2011, 09:47:08 AM
Quote from: valpo04 on June 29, 2011, 09:08:00 AM
Quote from: hoopfan22 on June 29, 2011, 08:10:33 AM
inbox

So you can allude to this move being a "head scratcher" three separate times in this thread, but your reasoning as to why can only be shared through PM?

Weak.

That's what I told him. I told him to post what he messaged me because I thought it could really add to the discussion, for better or worse.

Not sure I understand as well. By most accounts, it appears that Powell will fit in nicely with the VU coaching staff. This young staff has the knowledge, and should be able to work together to convey that knowledge to the players. Homer is not far if they should desire to seek his counsel.