How Is Darian Devries Doing?

[str8baller]

19 minutes ago, JF87 said:

I agree with you, but Dolson and those in charge don't like to see an empty Assembly Hall on television.  That's just a reminder of how mismanaged our basketball program has been. 

I think the crown is all at one place 

[Kentuckysucks]

6 minutes ago, BtownStrength said:

Might still be a possibility. Get the JMU reunion going 

Ha.  I remember this tweet.

 

[Alford Bailey]

45 minutes ago, Kentuckysucks said:

Ha.  I remember this tweet.

 

Cig, you sure about that?

[str8baller]

59 minutes ago, Kentuckysucks said:

Ha.  I remember this tweet.

 

Literally Cigs only misstep in his entire career. 
 

Im officially convinced IU basketball is cursed. 

[Asha’man]

I was listening to a Michigan podcast and they brought up IU basketball in light of Dusty May’s success. The comments they were making after watching IU is just the lack of talent but they like DeVries. They actually said the program that should be worried is Iowa even though they did better than IU in year 1. They seemed to think DeVries ran better stuff but didn’t have Stirtz and Iowa was a one man show. 
 

Then listening to Assembly Call the other day, Tonsoni said that he had some Iowa guys he talked to bc if bracketology and they are not happy with McCollum. And Purdue fans have not been happy with Painter this month. Be interesting to see how PU fans feel. Is they are playing for a big ten title. 
 

 

[str8baller]

6 minutes ago, Asha’man said:

I was listening to a Michigan podcast and they brought up IU basketball in light of Dusty May’s success. The comments they were making after watching IU is just the lack of talent but they like DeVries. They actually said the program that should be worried is Iowa even though they did better than IU in year 1. They seemed to think DeVries ran better stuff but didn’t have Stirtz and Iowa was a one man show. 
 

Then listening to Assembly Call the other day, Tonsoni said that he had some Iowa guys he talked to bc if bracketology and they are not happy with McCollum. And Purdue fans have not been happy with Painter this month. Be interesting to see how PU fans feel. Is they are playing for a big ten title. 
 

 

Talked to some Purdue people that more or less know some things, and the feeling was that for that senior crew once they couldn’t win the B1G they went into coast mode. I don’t love that mentality, but seeing them in the BTT this week and I can kind of see it.  
 

Re Stirtz and McCollum, why wouldn’t he be able to use that to recruit other elite PG’s and combo guards? He brought him from D2 nobody to first round NBA draft pick. Similar to how bigs wanted to play for Woody. 

[lillurk]

3 minutes ago, str8baller said:

Talked to some Purdue people that more or less know some things, and the feeling was that for that senior crew once they couldn’t win the B1G they went into coast mode. I don’t love that mentality, but seeing them in the BTT this week and I can kind of see it.  
 

Re Stirtz and McCollum, why wouldn’t he be able to use that to recruit other elite PG’s and combo guards? He brought him from D2 nobody to first round NBA draft pick. Similar to how bigs wanted to play for Woody. 

I think it’s possible McCollum genuinely will punch above his weight but he said himself as recently as last week that the guys who came in this year with him could’ve had more $ going elsewhere. I applaud their loyalty, and maybe the proof of concept if and when Stirtz is a first round pick helps close the gap; some guys may give up $ now for PT and the chance to play early or think they’ll get drafted and make it up in earnings later.

But I’m curious about a post-Stirtz McCollum at a place with Iowa’s resource limitations, too, despite thinking he’s a good coach.

[str8baller]

4 minutes ago, lillurk said:

I think it’s possible McCollum genuinely will punch above his weight but he said himself as recently as last week that the guys who came in this year with him could’ve had more $ going elsewhere. I applaud their loyalty, and maybe the proof of concept if and when Stirtz is a first round pick helps close the gap; some guys may give up $ now for PT and the chance to play early or think they’ll get drafted and make it up in earnings later.

But I’m curious about a post-Stirtz McCollum at a place with Iowa’s resource limitations, too, despite thinking he’s a good coach.

All guys that stay with their coach/program take a nice discount. Luckily our new GM understands that and referenced that.  
 

But I agree with you about Iowa. I don’t see them as some rising power. I out them up there with Wisconsin as short on resources. I just wouldn’t be shocked if one of the top portal guards wanted to go there and become the “next Stirtz” the way QBs go to Cig. 

[lillurk]

7 minutes ago, str8baller said:

All guys that stay with their coach/program take a nice discount. Luckily our new GM understands that and referenced that.  
 

But I agree with you about Iowa. I don’t see them as some rising power. I out them up there with Wisconsin as short on resources. I just wouldn’t be shocked if one of the top portal guards wanted to go there and become the “next Stirtz” the way QBs go to Cig. 

Agree on the UW parallel; both good programs that are 2nd fiddle to proud and consistent football programs. Also true that UW has been consistently good at hoops and yet the ceiling for programs like this is rarely f4 high.

[TrueHoosier62]

I wish I were more optimistic about the direction of the basketball program but I'm just not feeling it. Whether we want to use Bobby Knight's coaching ability from 50 years ago, or Curt Cignetti's coaching ability for the last two years, the common thread linking the two, and which I believe is missing from current coach DeVries, is that their teams were better by season's end than they were at the season's start. They both inherited good or average  talent, but by season's end had created something better, stronger, and more solid than the talent would have suggested. DeVries, Woodson, Miller and even Crean's teams either got weaker throughout the season, or failed to correct fatal flaws going into the tournament. I don't know what the answer is, but in my opinion it doesn't look like DeVries is going to be it.

[IUHoosierJoe]

13 minutes ago, TrueHoosier62 said:

I wish I were more optimistic about the direction of the basketball program but I'm just not feeling it. Whether we want to use Bobby Knight's coaching ability from 50 years ago, or Curt Cignetti's coaching ability for the last two years, the common thread linking the two, and which I believe is missing from current coach DeVries, is that their teams were better by season's end than they were at the season's start. They both inherited good or average  talent, but by season's end had created something better, stronger, and more solid than the talent would have suggested. DeVries, Woodson, Miller and even Crean's teams either got weaker throughout the season, or failed to correct fatal flaws going into the tournament. I don't know what the answer is, but in my opinion it doesn't look like DeVries is going to be it.

That was the trend for Knight, that his teams were better at the end of the year, until his last 6 years here. The last 6 years, that trend woefully reversed. 

[str8baller]

3 minutes ago, TrueHoosier62 said:

the common thread linking the two, and which I believe is missing from current coach DeVries, is that their teams were better by season's end than they were at the season's start.

I have the same concern. With roughly 5 games to go we were something like 85% likely to make the tourney. The offense got worse and the defense fell off. Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin are all playing their best ball at the end of the year. That’s not historic blue bloods either. Just average schools. 
 

The last game with Northwestern with tournament hopes on the line was an embarrassment. Let’s hope he’s a Golden/Underwood type with a steep learning curve

[Hoosierfan1901]

1 hour ago, str8baller said:

I have the same concern. With roughly 5 games to go we were something like 85% likely to make the tourney. The offense got worse and the defense fell off. Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin are all playing their best ball at the end of the year. That’s not historic blue bloods either. Just average schools. 
 

The last game with Northwestern with tournament hopes on the line was an embarrassment. Let’s hope he’s a Golden/Underwood type with a steep learning curve

Very similar to his 2025 WVU team, started hot and then just was average after New Year’s Day. I’ve wondered what an 2nd year Devries WVU team would’ve looked like too. So hopefully the outcome for Year 2 is different for next season. Judging by his post game interviews, seems like he admitted that this was learning process for the Big 10 and wasn’t fully prepared.

[Asha’man]

11 hours ago, str8baller said:

Talked to some Purdue people that more or less know some things, and the feeling was that for that senior crew once they couldn’t win the B1G they went into coast mode. I don’t love that mentality, but seeing them in the BTT this week and I can kind of see it.  
 

Re Stirtz and McCollum, why wouldn’t he be able to use that to recruit other elite PG’s and combo guards? He brought him from D2 nobody to first round NBA draft pick. Similar to how bigs wanted to play for Woody. 

I think they don’t have the NIL for them to get that kind of player again. Or at least not a guy who is going to blow up in year 1. we shall see, but it’s not a recipe for success if you are relying on a single guy to get you over the hump yearly. 

[Brass Cannon]

10 hours ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

Very similar to his 2025 WVU team, started hot and then just was average after New Year’s Day. I’ve wondered what an 2nd year Devries WVU team would’ve looked like too. So hopefully the outcome for Year 2 is different for next season. Judging by his post game interviews, seems like he admitted that this was learning process for the Big 10 and wasn’t fully prepared.

That’s at least more than woody ever did.  Archie sometimes alluded to learning but he never did anything different. Even after the rule change made his defense less workable 

[Golfman25]

2 hours ago, Brass Cannon said:

That’s at least more than woody ever did.  Archie sometimes alluded to learning but he never did anything different. Even after the rule change made his defense less workable 

While I am extremely disappointed that a $4M + coach didn’t know the rigors of the Big10, I am happy he admitted it and hopefully a correction will be made.   Step one is admitting you have a problem.

[RaceToTheTop]

46 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

  Step one is admitting you have a problem.

"Why are people always sitting in a circle and telling me that?"

                                                                 --   Chris Beard

[Home Jersey]

This comment was posted in response to Scott Van Pelt calling this season at Maryland unacceptable. Feels like the exact same type of lament we have. At least we're not the only ones...

-

We all have stuff going on.  But we also all need a distraction.  I would LOVE for this to be a distraction.  But, it isn't.  This isnt' fun.  We've had degrees of fun on and off for the last 20 years or so (thank you Greivis) , but following this team has been work.

I grew up in an ACC household (not a Maryland one, unfortunately).  But, I went to Maryland and instantly cut all other ties to any others.  Unfortunately, that was the first year they missed the tournament (04-05).  I got redemption though, seeing Will Bowers dominate a young Seph Curry in the 2007 tourney.  Whatever.

I graduated and tried to stay connected.  I volunteered for the Terrapin Club.  I remember putting red celophane in the stairwell windows of Elliott Hall for College Gameday cameras to catch.  Or organizing gamewatches in rural Maryland.  And, I ended up parlaying it into a job working for UMD doing fundraising for several years.  I'm in a different career now, but I owe a lot to UMD, and I've tried to stay connected as much as I can.

In my 20s, the games would affect my mood.  Make my week.  I remember my first job post college, working a night shift in the basement of a hotel in DC, catching glimpses of the UMD/UNC game where Boom Osby and James Gist just gave it to them.  And "go back to the ghetto" was audible from the UNC student section after the loss.  Oh, man.

In my 30s, MD Basketball was a hobby.  I was more established in my career.  My college friend group dispersed.  I watched every game.  Sometimes, it was taped beacause of kids.  But, it was one of the things that was still a part of me.

I just turned 40 this year.  I watched like 14 minutes of a game, and that's just because it was on while I was in a bar with some friends.  I could have prioritized games.  I didn't.  Because I have no connection to this team.

I know it's football, but this tracks.  I was texting someone during the Super Bowl, and I was able to say that I was ~15 feet away from Diggs when he committed to Maryland at the Turtle in CP.  I followed these guys from recruitment through their career.  Even if they ended up elsewhere - I knew their story (the litany of recruiting misses...).

So, maybe this is as much about the current enviornment as it is about Buzz.  But - I don't care.  I don't know these kids.  These coaches.  Anything.  And they don't know us.  And - it's not like everyone has to be a die-hard.  But: play the game.  Let me pretend that you care about this as much as I do.  Because, if nobody on the team cares about Maryland, then why should I?

[Pagoda]

42 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

This comment was posted in response to Scott Van Pelt calling this season at Maryland unacceptable. Feels like the exact same type of lament we have. At least we're not the only ones...

-

We all have stuff going on.  But we also all need a distraction.  I would LOVE for this to be a distraction.  But, it isn't.  This isnt' fun.  We've had degrees of fun on and off for the last 20 years or so (thank you Greivis) , but following this team has been work.

I grew up in an ACC household (not a Maryland one, unfortunately).  But, I went to Maryland and instantly cut all other ties to any others.  Unfortunately, that was the first year they missed the tournament (04-05).  I got redemption though, seeing Will Bowers dominate a young Seph Curry in the 2007 tourney.  Whatever.

I graduated and tried to stay connected.  I volunteered for the Terrapin Club.  I remember putting red celophane in the stairwell windows of Elliott Hall for College Gameday cameras to catch.  Or organizing gamewatches in rural Maryland.  And, I ended up parlaying it into a job working for UMD doing fundraising for several years.  I'm in a different career now, but I owe a lot to UMD, and I've tried to stay connected as much as I can.

In my 20s, the games would affect my mood.  Make my week.  I remember my first job post college, working a night shift in the basement of a hotel in DC, catching glimpses of the UMD/UNC game where Boom Osby and James Gist just gave it to them.  And "go back to the ghetto" was audible from the UNC student section after the loss.  Oh, man.

In my 30s, MD Basketball was a hobby.  I was more established in my career.  My college friend group dispersed.  I watched every game.  Sometimes, it was taped beacause of kids.  But, it was one of the things that was still a part of me.

I just turned 40 this year.  I watched like 14 minutes of a game, and that's just because it was on while I was in a bar with some friends.  I could have prioritized games.  I didn't.  Because I have no connection to this team.

I know it's football, but this tracks.  I was texting someone during the Super Bowl, and I was able to say that I was ~15 feet away from Diggs when he committed to Maryland at the Turtle in CP.  I followed these guys from recruitment through their career.  Even if they ended up elsewhere - I knew their story (the litany of recruiting misses...).

So, maybe this is as much about the current enviornment as it is about Buzz.  But - I don't care.  I don't know these kids.  These coaches.  Anything.  And they don't know us.  And - it's not like everyone has to be a die-hard.  But: play the game.  Let me pretend that you care about this as much as I do.  Because, if nobody on the team cares about Maryland, then why should I?

Even worse for Maryland they lost all their ACC rivals.  Heck, I miss watching them play in the ACC -- their home games used to be nasty and it was very entertaining, especially in the Cole Fieldhouse days.  They should have renovated that arena vs. building new.

Now they're in the empty Xfinity Center playing a bunch of teams that don't care about them and they don't care about.  It's too bad.

As for the players, we've definitely got that issue too.  Most of our team this season was here for 10-11 months and they're gone.  Overall, very little time to build a connection.  And a primary reason for most of our guys selecting IU was money.  I don't blame them, it's how it works now, especially in a mega portal rebuild.

It could get better.  If we get more two to three year guys the connections with the fans can still form.  But we've got to get out of this roster turnover spiral, I'm pretty disappointed in how little progress we made with that this past season.

[Mopladysman]

2 hours ago, Golfman25 said:

While I am extremely disappointed that a $4M + coach didn’t know the rigors of the Big10, I am happy he admitted it and hopefully a correction will be made.   Step one is admitting you have a problem.

I’m just glad we hadn’t been through the rigors of the big ten when we played Louisville and Kentucky.