Giacoletti

[lime]

Wells Fargo is a horrible basketball venue. Drake would need a period of 5-10 years of sustained success before we can even talk about drawing 10-12k at which point that arena would be 15+ years old and not aging well.

If Drake could sustain basketball success/support and had the money I think they would fully renovate/expand the Fieldhouse (this is on deck at some point for being a warmup facility for the Relays) and then convert Knapp into an actual basketball (well, and volleyball) venue. Permanent seats, etc.

[unipanther99]

Wells Fargo might be the most poorly designed arena in the country. Too small for the NCAAs, too big for high school tournaments. It's best use seems to be as a hockey arena and is never full for that. They would have been better off renovating Vets into a nice 8K arena. I hope Drake never needs to play there. I think there are things that could be done to Knapp to give it more of an arena feel.

[lime]

Wells Fargo might be the most poorly designed arena in the country. Too small for the NCAAs, too big for high school tournaments. It's best use seems to be as a hockey arena and is never full for that. They would have been better off renovating Vets into a nice 8K arena. I hope Drake never needs to play there. I think there are things that could be done to Knapp to give it more of an arena feel.

they apparently were too small initially capacity-wise for the NCAAs and had to get creative to get there this year but still had tiny floor space (even though every seat for basketball feels like 100 feet away, I sat right behind the Iowa bench for the Big Four Classic and still felt distant).

They're going to build the convention hotel attached a decade after opening and probably build it too small.

[Drake2010]

The Knapp Center, is indeed, awful. It's a tomb. The only time that place seemed alive was when I was boozed up with my buddies or the one season when everyone on campus went to the games. Success will lead to renovations and I think that Giac can help point us that way.

Question for anyone who has watched Drake:

I'm obviously hugely excited by the start under Giac but being up in Minneapolis, I don't often have any recourse but to keep up with games via Gamecast. What, exactly, is so different this year? I know Phelps was inadequate but Giac is doing solid things (amazing things considering our recent history) with, on paper, very little. Daniels sounds great, and Carter is playing well, but we couldn't win with guys like Rayvonte Rice and Ben Simons. Is the playbook that much better? Are his substitution patterns that much better? Or maybe he's just a much more inspiring coach than the previous knucklehead?

I'm legitimately curious!

[Wufan]

The Knapp Center, is indeed, awful. It's a tomb. The only time that place seemed alive was when I was boozed up with my buddies or the one season when everyone on campus went to the games. Success will lead to renovations and I think that Giac can help point us that way.

Question for anyone who has watched Drake:

I'm obviously hugely excited by the start under Giac but being up in Minneapolis, I don't often have any recourse but to keep up with games via Gamecast. What, exactly, is so different this year? I know Phelps was inadequate but Giac is doing solid things (amazing things considering our recent history) with, on paper, very little. Daniels sounds great, and Carter is playing well, but we couldn't win with guys like Rayvonte Rice and Ben Simons. Is the playbook that much better? Are his substitution patterns that much better? Or maybe he's just a much more inspiring coach than the previous knucklehead?

I'm legitimately curious!

I've only seen two Drake games, but Carter is a stud at getting to the basket. I think he is utilizing the individual talents of the players to their fullest ability. I think the defensive and offensive schemes are better (at least for the personnel that is currently there) and that they are rebounding more and passing better. Flat out, he's a better coach. You can tell due to the player movement.

[musiccitybulldog]

If Drake finishes 2nd ?????????????????????????

[Wufan]

If Drake finishes 2nd ?????????????????????????

If Drake finishes second with a 12-6 record and WSU finishes 15-3 or worse, Gia is the COY. It gets a little more dicey if WSU wins 16 or more conference games or Drake wins less than 12 IMO.

[DUBulldog]

The Knapp Center, is indeed, awful. It's a tomb. The only time that place seemed alive was when I was boozed up with my buddies or the one season when everyone on campus went to the games. Success will lead to renovations and I think that Giac can help point us that way.

Question for anyone who has watched Drake:

I'm obviously hugely excited by the start under Giac but being up in Minneapolis, I don't often have any recourse but to keep up with games via Gamecast. What, exactly, is so different this year? I know Phelps was inadequate but Giac is doing solid things (amazing things considering our recent history) with, on paper, very little. Daniels sounds great, and Carter is playing well, but we couldn't win with guys like Rayvonte Rice and Ben Simons. Is the playbook that much better? Are his substitution patterns that much better? Or maybe he's just a much more inspiring coach than the previous knucklehead?

I'm legitimately curious!

I've only seen two Drake games, but Carter is a stud at getting to the basket. I think he is utilizing the individual talents of the players to their fullest ability. I think the defensive and offensive schemes are better (at least for the personnel that is currently there) and that they are rebounding more and passing better. Flat out, he's a better coach. You can tell due to the player movement.

I think wufan nailed it. Phelps had a system, and he expected all his players to adapt to his system. Except, none of them ever understood it. Giacoletti is keeping it simple, and has designed his system around the players he has....he has put them in positions to utilize their strengths. Plus, he has them rebounding and playing defense like they never did under Phelps.

[DUBulldog]

Giacoletti is getting around $500 K per year. I have heard him (on more than one occasion) say that this is it for him; he plans to retire here. He and his wife are both from the midwest (central Illinois), and they've been out west for 20 years. He wants to build something. I think he's seen the downside of "big-school" basketball.

I know people say things like that all the time, but he seems sincere about it.

If Drake becomes successful enough for somebody to want to hire him away, I think Drake can come up with the funds to keep him. They raised approx $9 million in 7-8 months for the new practice facility.....given that, I think they'd be able to raise the money needed to keep Giacoletti around.

The new facility should be ready in time for the next basketball season.....I think Giacoletti wants to see what he can do once it's completed. I know he thinks it's a hugely important thing for the program. His first recruiting class is very solid (yes, I know everybody thinks their class is great), he's got a new facility coming....I think he sticks it out.

[Cdizzle]

I think wufan nailed it. Phelps had a system, and he expected all his players to adapt to his system. Except, none of them ever understood it. Giacoletti is keeping it simple, and has designed his system around the players he has....he has put them in positions to utilize their strengths. Plus, he has them rebounding and playing defense like they never did under Phelps.

Ahhhhhhh, like a coach? I can understand the difference in records now.