FanPost

Coach Drew

I've put myself in a tough place as a Vandy fan. I've been talking so negatively about Bryce Drew for the last 2 years that I find myself taking pleasure in our losses. This is twisted and I repent.

It's also clear I watch every game with bias. When we play well I am quick to credit the players and when we lose I point my finger at Bryce. My hope in writing this is to sift through some facts, some feelings and explain why I don't like Bryce Drew as Vandy's basketball coach. I understand it's much easier to write this when we are 0-4 in the SEC and the season resides in the toilet.

Some background that makes me biased.

I played high school basketball for a disciplinarian. He finished his career as one of the most respected high school coaches in Tennessee basketball history. He was a passionate, loving tyrant. The man could lead, game plan and motivate like few can.

I'm young - 24. Vandy basketball has always been Kevin Stallings. As you know, he coached in an intense, vulgar, and dramatic way. His teams were disciplined, good-shooting, and sometimes fun to watch. In an era when teams ran sets on every play, Stallings was a solid coach. His inbounds plays were a work of art - and so on. DO NOT READ THIS as me wanting Stallings to be our coach. I was at the play-in game in Dayton. I was ready for him to be done.

Bryce Drew

Year One

We flew to Vegas for Thanksgiving in 2016. This is was the fated MFD benching. Now just because you travel to watch a team play doesn't mean they owe you a win. This game, however, was the first moment HCBD didn't seem like he had the chops. His inability to discipline his players in practice or while playing led him to a temper tantrum move of putting MFD on the bench. The benching came, supposedly, for Fisher-Davis’ use of foul language. A few hours later Mathew Fisher-Davis accepted Jesus in the locker room as one of the coaches shared the Gospel with him. That didn't bother me, it was just interesting.

As the first season progressed, we dropped to 2-4 in SEC play. Bryce made some excellent adjustments. Kornet, a future NBAer, became the focal point of the offense. His anchor on the defensive end and ability to stretch the floor from 3 was giving teams fits. Cressler, LaChance, MFD, and Roberson rounded out a nice team. We got really hot late as Drew led us to the NCAA tournament for the fated Northwestern game. The game where one of his players forgot the score. The player should certainly get most of the blame, but the coach isn't blameless. Late in games you MUST over-communicate with your team about the situations. Live and learn.

The first season was over and HCBD seemed like a fit. I was skeptical of his X & O ability, but the season felt like a success. As I’ve said over and over again to my friends: AS LONG AS WE DON’T CHEAT, ALL I CARE ABOUT IS WINNING. The year didn’t look pretty but it felt like a success.

Year 2

Cressler graduated and Luke went off to the League. Drew brought in Saben Lee, Max Evans, and Obinna. He also added Yanni Wetzell and Matt Ryan as transfers, although they would have to sit for a year.

Year two we lost to Belmont and MTSU. Once again, we traveled on Thanksgiving to watch the team. We lost one of the worst offensive games I have seen in my life - even if it was against the best team in the country. This is when the offensive pattern came into clear view. We run a weave, the shot clock ticks down, someone finally drives or we take a bad 3. Rinse. Repeat.

We finished 6-12 in the SEC and Vandy managed its first 20 loss season. We had three, 1,000-point scorers on the team - guys who had been to 2 NCAA tournaments. We were awful. We've been Football and Basketball season ticket holders for decades (I am 2nd generation). This hoops season was the worst I have ever seen.

By the middle of the year our group of Vandy fans began to sour on Bryce Drew. The older gentlemen in our crew didn’t like how the young-ones talked about recruiting. They’d often say, "You sound like a bunch of UT football fans." These few were excited about Drew’s recruiting ability. The tenured vets cared more about winning and developing players than getting them in the door.

At this point I don’t like the way he coached in game. He rarely, if ever, has a play to run for an open bucket. His defenses double the low post with mind-numbingly slow feet. Guys rarely seem to play tough or act like they give a shit. He was constantly clapping and telling Joe Fisher on the radio, "This was a hard-fought game. Going to build a lot of character." I was, however, excited about our recruiting class.

Year 3

Bryce’s first recruit, Payton Willis, transferred. His second, Clevon, dropped out of the rotation. Larry Austin left along with Baptiste. The three 1,000-point scoring seniors graduated. He brought in a transfer who became eligible from Syracuse (Moyer). Obinna was redshirted. Drew brought in the best recruiting class in Vandy hoops history along with Ryan and Wetzell.

His best recruit got hurt. For 2 months this has been the only story. His best 19-year-old got hurt. Are you kidding me? That’s the excuse? Of course, we are going to be worse without a great player, but that’s an excuse for a larger problem – it doesn’t seem like Drew is a great coach.

Here we are. 9-7. 0-4 in the SEC. We aren’t even halfway into SEC play and I don’t want to go to another game.

Overall

He has yet to really develop anyone. Nesmith seems to be the only player that has played better day over day with Drew and he has only been here for 17 games. A guy hasn’t come back from summer looking jacked or with a better shooting stroke.

We are hard to watch. He is hard to listen to. After a 5 second call in Lexington, Drew was seen clapping on the sideline. That’s awesome. "Good try out there, guys!" I understand Drew is a positive coach, which is great. He still needs to correct his players. We don’t think you are a bad guy if you have to look a player in the eyes and tell him how to improve.

I can’t watch our offense anymore. I can’t stand everyone talking, "With Darius Garland things would be different." SURE, we would be a few games better. I just can’t build my hope on one 19 year old.

In his short tenure we are 1-3 against UT, 0-5 against UK, 7th and 13th in the SEC…currently 14th.

Everyone wants to talk about the symptoms. I think the real problem is Drew.

In the end, if Bryce Drew can make Vandy a winner, I want him to be the coach. I could care less about our sets, our defensive schemes, or the coach’s posture on the sideline IF we win. However, when I don’t like any of those things AND we lose, I point to the coach.

Make no mistake about what you are watching. This is the worst team in the SEC. I hope I am wrong. I don’t think I am.

Part of the reason I penned this is for feedback. Help me see the light here.


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