• Great article on Richey

 #69575  by FU Hoopla
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:07 am
From the article:
"Richey envisions Furman, in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, as a possible mid-major monster like Gonzaga. "
dornb liked this
 #69576  by FU Hoopla
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:11 am
No reason FU can't be the place that Bob Richey achieves his dream of coaching in the Final 4, gotta set big goals, gotta keep pushing this thing forward every single day! After this past season there should be no more complacency from the fan base, time to be thinking BIG!
dornb, Roundball, gman84 liked this
 #69582  by The Jackal
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:49 am
FU Hoopla wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:11 am
No reason FU can't be the place that Bob Richey achieves his dream of coaching in the Final 4, gotta set big goals, gotta keep pushing this thing forward every single day! After this past season there should be no more complacency from the fan base, time to be thinking BIG!
It’s an interesting question. The article cites four SoCon coaches that departed for P5 jobs recently (Paris, Young, Miller, Forbes)

Of that group, South Carolina was terrible. Wake and VT didn’t make the tournament in a league where every mediocre team makes the tournament (Furman just beat arguably the best team in the ACC). Cincinnati was slightly better, but didn’t make the tournament in a 2 bid league this year and Miller’s squad is (unsurprisingly) is predominately transfers.

Can we all make the argument that these power schools are closer right now to a deep tournament run than Furman?

I’d love to see an East Coast model of the WCC - where there are two or three mid majors that become constant basketball power houses (like Gonzaga and St. Marys).

Jason Donnelly had a front row seat to Villanova - really the only program in the country that was nationally relevant in basketball and FCS football. There shouldn’t be a reason that couldn’t be replicated here. It’s encouraging to hear that the University appears to be backing Richey’s vision.
'Din Djarin, dornb liked this
 #69583  by The Jackal
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:50 am
I would also note that in my observation in Orlando, Furman purple outnumbered UVA orange.

There’s a big fan base here for a small school and they are showing up. Keep building on this energy and we may have something.
Roundball, gman84, Bootie and 3 others liked this
 #69585  by 'Din Djarin
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:14 am
The Jackal wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:49 am
Jason Donnelly had a front row seat to Villanova - really the only program in the country that was nationally relevant in basketball and FCS football. There shouldn’t be a reason that couldn’t be replicated here. It’s encouraging to hear that the University appears to be backing Richey’s vision.
This point, for the win.
 #69597  by Affirm
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:28 am
The Jackal wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:49 am
FU Hoopla wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:11 am
No reason FU can't be the place that Bob Richey achieves his dream of coaching in the Final 4, gotta set big goals, gotta keep pushing this thing forward every single day! After this past season there should be no more complacency from the fan base, time to be thinking BIG!
It’s an interesting question. The article cites four SoCon coaches that departed for P5 jobs recently (Paris, Young, Miller, Forbes)

Of that group, South Carolina was terrible. Wake and VT didn’t make the tournament in a league where every mediocre team makes the tournament (Furman just beat arguably the best team in the ACC). Cincinnati was slightly better, but didn’t make the tournament in a 2 bid league this year and Miller’s squad is (unsurprisingly) is predominately transfers.

Can we all make the argument that these power schools are closer right now to a deep tournament run than Furman?

I’d love to see an East Coast model of the WCC - where there are two or three mid majors that become constant basketball power houses (like Gonzaga and St. Marys).

Jason Donnelly had a front row seat to Villanova - really the only program in the country that was nationally relevant in basketball and FCS football. There shouldn’t be a reason that couldn’t be replicated here. It’s encouraging to hear that the University appears to be backing Richey’s vision.
Your reply is great.
May we keep both Richey and Donnelly as long as possible. And whenever it becomes no longer possible (hopefully whenever each of them retires AT FURMAN), may Furman University make certain that the vision of excellence and achievement that they each possess continues by Furman University hiring the right people to replace them.
To the extent feasible, let’s make sure this continues!
Last edited by Affirm on Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Davemeister, dornb liked this
 #69601  by paladinfan12
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:09 pm
If Richey and Furman can build something like Gonzaga and the SoCon turns into the WCC, I think they would need to lure back CofC and Davidson. I don't see many other schools currently in the conference that have the resources (facilities, money for coaches, fan support) to produce great teams consistently alongside Furman.

The other option is for Furman to call up some of these schools to create a new conference - however I'm unsure how football would fare.
 #69615  by FU Hoopla
 Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:04 pm
FU Hoopla wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:32 pm
This is a golden opportunity for the University. Richey is a good man, that we need to give every single incentive and reason to want to stay right here with us and continue to build this program into one of the college basketball elites!
dornb liked this