Originally Posted by
champion110
I have some stats on recruits that put some things in perspective for me. I think most of us always knew that if we had a few down seasons, it would be tough to rebuild a big powerhouse like we were. We fell on those down seasons and we see the result now. However, even though it is hard to do, I do think we can rebuild. Many blame Long for a lot of our problems now. I always believed that Long was a great X&O coach and Barmore certainly believed in him. I think that he lacked a certain discipline with the players and he had a really tough group left from Budke, though. He, also, lacked emotion and was not able to pump the players up for games and during games. This is my opinion and I certainly supported him, while he was coach, though - until the last year. Even then, I never said anything negative on the open board. I did state that he needed to go in the recruiting section, though, many times.
A person close to the program gave me some information recently. The facts show that it was Budke that had a hard time recruiting quality players. That was the beginning of where we find ourselves now. Not wanting to say something bad about Budke due to the horrible misfortune of his accident, but we all know that most of us were very unhappy with him. Some of us (including me) even felt that he threw the last game in the NCAA tournament due to the OSU interview. It was obvious that Decimen (although never reaching her potential) was dominating in the first half against Temple, but he didn't play her in the second at all.
My friend sent me some stats that showed me the recruiting downfall/break down. To me, it shows that Budke didn't try very hard to get the players that we were used to seeing at Tech. Once that starts, it is hard to recover. These were the same players that refused walked off the court in the last season (the real reason we didn't play in the WNIT that first year that we didn't make the NCAA's).
Here is the breakdown in recruiting between Budke and Long:
Kurt Chris
High School 5 8
JC 6 5
Transfer 1 1
Total 12 14
All-WAC Honors 2 9
WAC POY Honors 0 3
Completed Eligibility 6 of 12 11 of 14
Years of Starters 7 23
2008 Class -- Chris Long Class #3
Jasmine Bendolph, HS
Kiara Young, HS
De’Angela Sword, HS
2007 Class -- Chris Long Class #2
Adrienne Johnson, HS
Tarkeisha Wysinger, HS
Sidney Stewart, HS
Shordy Mulford, JC
Keshia Warren, JC
Whitney Jones, Transfer from Baylor
2006 Class -- Chris Long Class #1
Shanavia Dowdell, HS
Tiawana Pringle, HS
JoKeirra Sneed, JC
Sierra Nixon, JC
April Williams, JC
2005 Class -- Kurt Budke Class #3
Eboni Mangum, HS
Quantae Thomas, HS
2004 Class -- Kurt Budke Class #2
Tia Lawson, HS
Margaret Deciman, JC
Tashia Combs, JC
Tosha Christmas, JC
Amber Metoyer, Transfer from Colorado
2003 Class -- Kurt Budke Class #1
Shan Moore, HS
Nastassja Levingston, HS
Lakiste Barkus, JC
Tiffany Thompson, JC
Sarah Johnson, JC
This was all very interesting to see in this format. The recruits that Budke had did not even come close to what Long was able to do. It all seems ashame that Long was promoted and not utilized as an Associate HC with someone like Spoon as the HC. The roles were flipped and that hurt us. If Spoon would have been the HC and had Long breaking down the film and coming up with game plans, we might be in a totally different place right now.
It will be interesting to see what Spoon's recruits will garner. Also, I do give Budke credit for really building something at OSU. He started out like he did here - a LOT of JUCO's and transfers. He, then, started really going after some good HS players and it worked. I think he cared more there than he ever did here, though. Maybe the money and maybe just his home state. Who knows?
I think the way Spoon turned around a program SO quickly with the talent that Long brought in was pretty magical that first half year. We went from 4-4 to 8-0 as soon as she took over. The next year, we continued to do well - not at the level we were used to, but very well. Only Fresno was truly our competitor and kudo's to them for building something there. Wiggins obviously knows how to run system - their offense is precise.
We had a rough year and we are angry, disappointed, and some are thinking it is all Spoon. Sitting back and looking at her players, though, gives me reason to believe that there is some magic left to be built again. No one has more passion that Spoon - not even KMR or Barmore. She is gaining experience and that is a great thing. I even believe that this year might have been good for her and the young players on the team. We should come out fighting next year - take no prisoners type of approach! I am looking forward to seeing our recruits in action (Spoon's recruits).