I am not sure there was a better fit from school and coach than this one. I think I am on the record as saying that a better SEC is better for UGA. I was hoping that CMF would come in and build a high mid-major-type team, with shooters and passers but we didn't go that route. We went more traditional with a few bigs and some guards that maybe match-up better in the SEC, rather than just a different viewpoint on what a team should be. I think that Drew will have Vandy looking like a Butler (I say that more than his own Valpo, because I think Butler got better players than Valpo, and I think Drew can get better players than he could at Valpo).
I do not think it will hurt us as much in recruiting. I think we will go after different styles of players. But I do think it will cost us wins, and in particular, Vandy may be much better than last year as they only had two seniors. And I bet every one of Vandy's players will buy into Drew's system.
Also, he will only play 8 guys regularly. Maybe 9 if there are injury issues. He makes no bones about it...you play your best players and keep your starting 5 on the floor as much as possible. He is also a D-first coach (as they all claim to be, but in the NIT, they held the same St Marys team to 13 points in almost 24 minutes of the second half, a game we decided not to play any defense, or you could argue got drilled on D...I prefer to believe that it was that we thought we could out-athlete them and run).
With TAMU, Bama, Auburn, UF, Miss St and now Vandy with Drew (I think after 4 years of suck, it was way past time for Stallings to go)... the SEC has really upped the coaching game. But, being the 4th best conference, just because we have better coaches, will we get the best recruits in the country? I think we will move up to the 3rd best conference next year, but moving to the top 2 will take a ton of recruits coming to SEC teams. TAMU may have been poised to do that but losing Stansbury will make it interesting...they already have another great class in 16, and recruit different players than we do. They have tons of money, too (as I saw when I went to the Aggie-Bama football game last fall). We know that Pearl is a killer recruiter, and Miss St has the best class outside of KY this year. Even Arky has a higher ranked class than we do, so the SEC is definitely getting better.
Lastly, we have discussed Pastner in other posts, but he WILL affect our recruiting. You cannot just say "he ended up sucking at Memphis" and be done. He still recruited really well, but he may have stunk as a coach. But he could get recruits we want, even if he can't coach them.
The next summer thru 2019 should be really, really interesting.
I do not think it will hurt us as much in recruiting. I think we will go after different styles of players. But I do think it will cost us wins, and in particular, Vandy may be much better than last year as they only had two seniors. And I bet every one of Vandy's players will buy into Drew's system.
Also, he will only play 8 guys regularly. Maybe 9 if there are injury issues. He makes no bones about it...you play your best players and keep your starting 5 on the floor as much as possible. He is also a D-first coach (as they all claim to be, but in the NIT, they held the same St Marys team to 13 points in almost 24 minutes of the second half, a game we decided not to play any defense, or you could argue got drilled on D...I prefer to believe that it was that we thought we could out-athlete them and run).
With TAMU, Bama, Auburn, UF, Miss St and now Vandy with Drew (I think after 4 years of suck, it was way past time for Stallings to go)... the SEC has really upped the coaching game. But, being the 4th best conference, just because we have better coaches, will we get the best recruits in the country? I think we will move up to the 3rd best conference next year, but moving to the top 2 will take a ton of recruits coming to SEC teams. TAMU may have been poised to do that but losing Stansbury will make it interesting...they already have another great class in 16, and recruit different players than we do. They have tons of money, too (as I saw when I went to the Aggie-Bama football game last fall). We know that Pearl is a killer recruiter, and Miss St has the best class outside of KY this year. Even Arky has a higher ranked class than we do, so the SEC is definitely getting better.
Lastly, we have discussed Pastner in other posts, but he WILL affect our recruiting. You cannot just say "he ended up sucking at Memphis" and be done. He still recruited really well, but he may have stunk as a coach. But he could get recruits we want, even if he can't coach them.
The next summer thru 2019 should be really, really interesting.
