Season Preview with Coach Chavis and Coach Jennings
Dan and Nate talk with Coach Chavis and Coach Jennings about their road to Drexel, what to expect from our new recruits, returning players and the great schedule we have lined up for this season starting with the ODU game at the DAC.
Transcript
Welcome to Dragonscast
Nate H: Hello everybody and welcome to Dragonscast the Drexel Basketball podcast. I'm Nate and Dan is here as always. And then we're lucky enough to have two of our Men's Basketball Assistant Coaches with us here tonight. Coach Will Chavis and Coach Justin Jennings, both nice enough to take some time out, and talk about the season that's coming up. It's hard to believe. It's here. Essentially it's, Friday night we get started and as much as I'm upset the Phillies lost it is nice to have a couple sports in. I know Dan's disappointed about the Union. I'm a NASCAR fan. racing season is winding down, so it's nice to have something settled down so now we can focus on basketball and start talking about that.
What I always like to do is learn about the people that we have on here, cuz it's really interesting the stories that you hear, and then plus, people going to the games, you get to know people better and it makes you root even harder for 'em. So we'll start out with, Coach Chavis so again, thanks for joining us and just wanted to learn a little about you. So I know it's a general question, tell us about what got you into coaching, where you're from Philadelphia, but who I, walking us through that a little bit.
Coach Chavis Background
Coach Chavis: Okay, I grew up at 33rd and Wallace, which is right down the street from Drexel's campus. when I was younger, I used to sneak in the gym at Drexel when they didn't have air conditioning. It was a really hot box. We called it. tried to get us some shots. Yeah, but I grew up right there in West Philly. I went to Engineering and Science High School, played three years with Lynn Greer, that went to Temple, and John Cox, who's now assistant coach at, La Salle. So I played with those two guys in high school, finished up at Texas Tech for college, Coach Bob Knight. Played 11 years overseas and coached two years overseas.
So I was in various countries, mostly in Germany, and that's where I started coaching. I started coaching the youth teams in Germany, probably ages 14 to 19. And that's when I started, realizing was something I might wanna do in the future.
I got a chance to coach after playing. I got a chance to coach a professional team for two years, and it was a really good experience in terms of,not only Xs and Os, but learning how to put teams together and learning the business of basketball, professional basketball in that sense. So it's pretty much it in a nutshell.
Nate H: And I caught that on your bio about, so you're Bob Knight's first recruit at Texas Tech?
Initially I came outta junior college in Texas. I went to University of New Hampshire, my first year the coach resigned, it was Jeff Jackson resign, like the commissioner, the Big 12, something like that. So he resigned, went to Vanderbilt. So then I transferred to Tennessee State, coach gets fired, Frankie Allen. So then I go to Juco, my assistant coach and I get recruited all over again. And that's when Bob Knight recruited me outta Juco to go to Texas. So when he had his press conference at Texas Tech, I was on campus and they were introducing as the head coach.
Nate H: What was it like playing for him?
Coach Chavis: It was fun, It was fun. he was a character. I would say that, I learned a lot about myself, I would say, and he, he always said that, he always had a saying that mental, the physical is forced to. So we always mentally tried to challenge you more than physically. So it was one of those things that he was really passionate about, the mental aspect of the game.
And did you always, despite all the places that you went to, did you always see yourself coming back to Philly?
yeah, eventually. I love it. I see it in a different way now since I've been away. my wife is from Germany. I experienced Philly through her eyes a little bit now cuz we go around and we see different things. So it is been a unique experience coming back. cause I've almost been away from Philly as long as I've lived in Philly.
Coach Chavis: I left when I was 17. I came back when I was basically like 36. I was in and out during the summertime, but never really had roots here in terms of living situation.
How, How does she view Philly? Like you being from Europe?
Coach Chavis: She loves it. , it's funny, most people, they wanna move to the suburbs. She wanted to stay right in the city, like she wants to be, like when she can walk to a, a coffee shop, get a coffee, walk to a restaurant like she, she just likes to feel of, it has pretty much a European feel when you're in the city, a little bit downtown.
Nate H: Okay. I was a little nervous cause I live in Japan. I was in the Navy. We have one, our friends visit us and we picked it up at the Newark Airport. And I'm not a drinker, he said when he came in, he is like, he wanted some beer. And I was like, where do I get beer? And I think I, Googled some alcohol store, and I don't even know where it was in Newark.
But let's just say part, you, I'm, I parked the car, parked the van, locked the doors, took enough money to buy the beer and ran in. Got it. And came out. And so I'm glad, I thought it was, that was a perspective you were gonna say. so I'm glad. It's a good perspective. Long story short,but either way.
but yeah, but, happy to have you here,and certainly interested to hear, other perspective as Dan goes through some things. and then, Coach Jennings, if you wouldn't mind telling us a little bit about yourself and where you're from and what brought you to Drexel there.
Coach Jennings Background
Coach Jennings: Yeah, absolutely appreciate you having me on. really excited to do this. Also, appreciate you, going with the high major 10 year pro decade pro before me. that way my story sounds great as well. But,western PA guy grew up just outside of Pittsburgh. I was a three sport guy in high school,had some opportunities maybe in every sport to play at the next level.
Probably more scholarship opportunities to play football, but, wanted to chase my basketball dream. Decided on a division three school up in the Erie, Pennsylvania called Penn State Behrend. and I think my coaching career kind of started the day i, I signed there because, I was able to play for an unbelievable head coach in Dave Niland, who's, I guess you could say maybe the Bob Knight of Division three.
Coach Jennings: Maybe not as hard on his players, but,he is an elite coach at that level and has built a powerhouse in division three. so I was able to play there for four years. after graduating, we did go to a couple tournaments as a player. After graduating, I was able to stay on while I was getting my MBA and start my coaching career, for two years and really learned a lot under Coach now and got to see it from a different way after, being a player for four years and then sitting with him for two years as an assistant.
left Penn State Behrend. And took, a job at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, another high academic division three school. Spent three years there coaching, and then, got the opportunity from Coach Spiker to, to go to West Point and spent five years, at the Academy. Three. my first three years I was the head coach of the United States Military Academy Preparatory School, which is a, basically a feeder programfor the academy. we were able to, get about six, seven recruits a year in there and, have a program. And it was good for those guys to get an opportunity to see how we run our system and everything. and those guys would end up moving on and being part of the team. So after three years there, I spent two more years at West Point with Coach Spiker.
Had an unbelievable run there. our teams had high level success and, Coach Spiker got the Drexel job and was able to come over here with him. And now I'm going on. this will be year seven. So year 12 with Coach Spiker and year seven at Drexel. And fired up to be here. Loving every day.
Nate H: Where are you from originally? You from the Erie area or
Cranberry Township's, probably about, 25 minutes north of Pittsburgh.
Nate H: Okay, gotcha. Where, football wires. Where'd you go to high school? Where'd you play?
Coach Jennings: Seneca Valley High School. So we were in, it was a big, it was only Quad A at that time, I guess was the highest division. But you got like your North Allegheny, North Hills, Woodland Hills was in that area. We would play them Central Catholic. know, there was a lot of western PA powerhouses at the time.
over there. Ryan Mundy was a player. Steve Preston, I don't if you remember him.
Nate H: What got you into basketball then? What? What set you that direction?
Coach Jennings: Yeah, I just loved the game, really. Iit was, ever since I was little,I knew that's where I wanted. It was probably my least talented of the three sports I played. But,it was my passion and, wanted to stick with it at the next level.
Dan C: What was the third sport?
baseball.
Nate H: I tell people all the time, it doesn't work matter where you go to school. It's what you do when you get there and what you like, what you make out of it. So it's a community college or, and with Coltrane is an example, if I'm wrong, if I'm not wrong about kind a satellite, major program. So yeah.
Now where you went, you've made the most out of it is what it sounds like. and I, what about Drexel? Have you really liked so far and you said, Fired up for this, for being here. Is there, maybe one or few things in particular that really get you fired up, You know about being where you are now?
I think that, there's, there is a passion about, about Drexel basketball. there, there's a beauty even though how much I love football. The beauty of not having football at Drexel and basketball being the number one thing, people care. We wouldn't be on this podcast right now if people didn't care about Drexel basketball and the passion that people have for it. there's a responsibility for us to put a successful product out there, and that's what makes exciting, That's what makes. Excited to come back to work every day to put that product out there.
Dan C: Yeah, begs the question,Coach Jennings, I don't, do you know Bobby Knight through Army Connections?
Coach Jennings: I've never had an opportunity, to meet Coach Knight. I know Coach Spiker, was able to meet him a few times. there was a time, I think, when, I can't remember the milestone, but Coach Spiker wore a sweater in honor of, Coach Knight. I think we beat Bryant that night and, it was a pretty cool moment.
It was maybe he was tying him for wins or something like that at the academy. Something along those lines. But, I know Coach Spiker had a couple opportunities to meet him at different times.
Dan C: So I'm assuming then,the Chavis connection to the staff now going back to you coach,was not some kind of Bobby Knight connection dreamed up this was something because you were fairly local or just how did you end up, getting involved with the program
Coach Chavis: I guess you gotta ask Coach Spiker that question. Really it kinda. I don't even know how it really happened. It was like organic. I met Coach Spiker, coach in high school, at Bishop McDevitt and I just remember he came to one of my games, I think we were playing Archbishop Wood, I think was the first game that I saw him at, and he texted me after the game and we started a conversation and we just kept going from there.
We just built a relationship, basically. Based on some of the players that I had at the school and some of the stuff that, that he, he saw that we ran at, that he liked, And then during the pandemic we also built a, a deeper relationship. We used to talk a lot and I used to do a Zoom call with a lot of area coaches and a lot of, a couple college coaches.
We would all be on the call just talking basketball, talking about life. And I asked him to join in. So that was something that I think he enjoyed during the pandemic.
Dan C: So So you were hosting that call? I think I've heard per tell of something like that before. I don't really know the substance or anything behind it, but, can you get some colors? Like what was going on there?
Coach Chavis: I guess it just was some of my, it was just some of my, I was inspired by something called 12 Inches Over and Jeff Arnold hosted it. Jeff Arnold, Scott Brooks. During the pandemic, they started to host a Zoom call with a lot of, with a lot of college coaches, high school coaches, just coaches in general, men's and women's side.
and we would talk about, we just talk about issues that are affecting the world, affecting basketball. just go from there. So what I did, and I just spin off with area high school coaches. We just talked about the same issues, some of the things that affected high school basketball, some of the things that we needed to know for college.
Coach Chavis: So we would ask the college coaches stuff that we needed to freshen up on, or some of the rule changes. So really simple.
New Recruits and Style of Play
Dan C: That's cool. that's, relationships is a way to build out. That's a really neat thing. I wasn't particularly familiar. something I'm a little bit more familiar on. I think you've got a relationship with one of our freshmen, maybe no one of 'em better than the others. Justin Moore coming into.
Here at Drexel, what does that relationship look like now as you take it to the collegiate level?
It's funny cause I've known Justin's dad probably since I was 15 years old. And we actually got a chance to play together in Germany. We won a championship together, professionally, Justin Moore's dad and I. And so I remember Justin as a little kid. and his dad used to watch my kids when they were in Germany as well.
Coach Chavis: So we have a connection. We just have a connection there. So when it was time for him to pick a high school, I know he was the leader in Cheltenham I went really hard to try to get him to come to Bishop Mcdevitt High School, and he came for one. He did initially come, he initially went to Roman Catholic. and then he decided not to go to Roman Catholic and came to Bishop McDevitt and unfortunately the school closed down after one year. So then he had to go to another school. He chose Arch Bishop Wood.
Dan C: Now, obviously onto Drexel. and we talked to Amy Mallon, a couple weeks ago. know, it was a collegiate transfer, but moving from Richmond to St. Joe's, alongside one of the assistants there when they moved. and, she noted at the time it was unusual, that she was looked at.
She felt like she was looked at a little differently. I think at the time it's become much more common. I would say current day it's not unusual at all. See,know, recruits traveling with assistance or opening reopening that recruiting when somebody moves on or whatever the case might be.
how,how much of a role do you think that you had in, in Justin's decision to, to commit here, to Drexel?
I think I played a role in it, but II think it's the relationship that he had with Coach Spiker and I also think that, how he felt when he came on campus. I think he wasn't the type of kid that, that necessarily wanted to go away from home. I think he feel, he feels comfortable in this area.
Coach Chavis: I think he feels comfortable with the league. I think he should feel comfortable with the situation. So I feel like for him, he's a smart kid. He put everything. and for him it was the best decision, the best fit for him. And not necessarily because I was on the staff.
Dan C: That's a great segue. You helped me out there. the,one thing we were talking about, obviously we had a large international flavor, across the nations spread of our recruits, especially early on during Zack biker's tenure at Drexel. It's become a little more locally focused the last year or two, and I could easily point to the pandemic and travel restrictions or whatever else. but I don't know if that's what it is or if there's more to it. Is there a reason why we're seeing more of a local flavor Coach Jennings in some of our recent recruiting.
Coach Jennings: Yeah, I think I gotta be honest, I think it's always been a priority for us to recruit local. I know when Coach Spiker got here,know, that was an important factor, in what he was looking for, obviously, Philly basketball is second to none. When you talk about the talent pool, in the area, and it's something we've always tried to push. but I think early on,we wanted to always make sure we were taking the right local kid. know, you don't just wanna take local kids to take local kids. I think you want to have the right ones that fit your school, fit your program. and I think as we started to see some success in our program moving forward, I think the doors open to, maybe some better prospects in the area. And I think that's starting to, represent among our roster, and probably in our future rosters moving forward.
Dan C: So you think this is a theme to expect to see, going forward?
Coach Jennings: No question. Yeah, no question. II think we've, we've done our part, as much as we could. Coach Chavis has really helped,the staff push some inroads in, to some younger guys, some 2024s and 2025s to get, leads on. Within the local area. And I do think that, we're making a push to, to make our roster look like that.
But I think you also have to look at our roster now, I believe we have more, not just Philly guys, but Pennsylvania kids than any other Pennsylvania Division one school, around, I believe so if you look at 'em, I'm not sure that the, I think we have six Pennsylvania guys maybe. and that's more than any other, Division one Pennsylvania school.
Nate H: I was curious, this maybe kind a basic question. I guess I'm still football brain on an assistant as assistant basketball coaches, like I'm used to football team. You have an offensive coordinator or defense coordinator, special teams. How do you guys divide that up? I think I read maybe Coach Chavis, you're more in guards.
It could be wrong about that, but how do you divide that up? Or do you all kind of work with everybody? How does that.
Coach Jennings: I think we kind of work with everybody. I think JJ handles more of the offensive side. Paul does more of the defensive. I just get in where I fit in, honestly, . So I'm just, just around, just trying to help out where I can, And I think we all have,certain areas. he said, know, maybe I'm more on the offensive end and Coach Fortier more on the defensive end. I think Coach Chavis is really. pushed our guys to next level in the skill development scene. which is probably the most important aspect when you're looking at the game of basketball.
Our off season skill development program,our PEP program as we call it, performance enhancement program. he's put a lot of work into that and you'll see a lot of benefits for our guys this season with that. But just because we have a fo, one guy may be focused on offense, doesn't mean,know, the next assistant doesn't have some input.
Coach Chavis is always bringing ideas to the table for both offense and defense. I might throw defense at Think Coach 40. I may throw an offense at things. it's a collaboration. and I think the beauty of our staff we got a bunch of dudes in there that are just trying to grind and figure it out and,it's not about getting your own idea out there. It's about getting the right idea out there. And that's what makes our staff special.
Nate H: I remember too, like when Coach Spiker was, And Dan, correct me if I'm wrong, student reputation of running gun up and down the court. is there like a philosophy you guys have, and again, I'm gonna use football as an example, teams that really wanna run the ball and control clock, versus, again, take shots early in the shot clock.
Ithere were like overriding philosophies you guys have for us that you carry forward.
Coach Jennings: Yeah, know, I guess I could talk a little bit about it cuz I was there at West Point. that was the way we had to play at West Point. we had to win with our numbers. We knew we probably weren't gonna have number one through five on our roster, be as good as maybe the next one through five in the rest of the Patriot League.
But we thought our sixth through 13. Could wear out, those numbers and we could have more depth and we could keep coming at you with our pace, our style of play, our pressure and all that, which made it,successful, but I think now,we're just focused on what's the best way this group can play.
obviously we love, we love the three ball and everything, but what team doesn't in college basketball nowadays? we're trying to play as successful as we can, for this group. And, we went from being one of the fastest teams in the country at Army.
Coach Jennings: And if you look at our tempo the last few years here,it was towards the bottom just because that's the way we felt to play, to be most successful.
What to Expect from the Roster?
Dan C: Coach, thanks for that. and I guess what I'm curious about now is, we have a fairly significant roster turnover. So what does this new look roster, which you'll have a lot of names we know on it admittedly playing a lot of minutes, but, what'll it look like as far as style of play? Should we maybe see things move a little faster now? We're gonna slow things down a little bit? Depend on the opponent?
The one unique thing about our new roster and you look at it and we really have eight new players, cuz Terrence Butler, was out most of last year. So you're looking at eight new guys. With this roster we have, more of an ability play different ways, we have more ball handlers than we've ever had. You could throw a lineup out there where you have three point guards with Justin Moore, Jamie Bergens, and Shane Blakeney out there at the same time. I think we have an opportunity to play big at sometimes put Amari on the perimeter, within our flow and play different ways.
Coach Jennings: But, think that's what's most exciting about this group, we'll be able to play different ways, play different styles, allow us to match up against differently as well. Not just having to play one way. We'll have the ability to play small and really stretch the floor and create some gravity within our offense and put four shooters around one big and, attack different teams different ways. So we're excited about that, excited about the different ways we can play.
Dan C: So brings up two questions for me. One, yes. Terrance Butler is the forgotten man, I'd forgotten. Can you tell me about are you expecting, significant minutes,from him this year? Is he healthy? Is he good to go?
Coach Jennings: Yeah, Terrence is working. He missed most of the summer again with the knee. But, looking to fight for minutes just like our other bigs right now. early on, he had another small minor procedure with his knee, but,he'll be ready to go. He's been practicing full go here the last few days and,give us some quality minutes.
And,he's in that battle right now with some of our other bigs with Amari, Garfield Turner, Cole Hargrove all fighting for those minutes on the front court.
Dan C: All right. I'm not trying to get anybody in trouble, and I know that Coach Spiker thinks Bill Belichick is forthcoming about injuries, so I'll stay away from that the rest of the way. But, the other one I had for you was that,Shane Blakeney is you look at him as a point guard. You just think he could play the point a little bit.
we kinda look at as a basketball player, to be honest with you. Not trying to be funny, but,I, I think that's what makes, guys that we look at great, do they have position flexibility? Can they play on the ball? Can they play off the ball? I think we have multiple guys that can do that.
Shane can certainly play the point if you need him to. but it can also be dynamic off the ball, and he's got great length. He's got scoring ability, he's got a huge upside as long as he moving forward and, we're really excited about what he can become.
Dan C: All right. are there any kind of, it's, I know it's tough before you've, you've had some scrimmages, I think, but, I think everybody has this point, but without seeing real opponents, it's tough. I know. I don't know how much you guys do or don't read from scrimmages. Is there anybody who jumps off the page, I guess is the question I'm trying to ask here.
As far as this season versus last season, who's had a really good summer you think?
Coach Chavis: Yeah, I think, we had a conversation with some coaches yesterday that came to watch practice and the one thing they said that stood out about the team is that we don't have that guy this year. Like we have more of a collective group, we share the ball. We don't have a necessarily a Cam Wynter who you know is gonna get the ball and take the shot, take the last shot.
So that's a, I think it's a good way because we have eight new players, so we have to share the ball a lot more. We have to learn each other. There's not one player that sticks out over the other one, I would say. if you look at the league, especially, the CAA and the higher leagues that you go, I think very important, to have position flexibility when it comes to, every player on the floor.
When you look at UNC Wilmington last year, they were the top of the league. Towson had some flexibility in positions with Gray. Gibson played one and two, and you had Delaware, Jamir Nelson. We don't know if he's a point guard, a two guard, you had, Anderson. a lot of the teams at the top of the league position flexibility.
that's something that we think we have, moving forward right now.
Nate H: And I know we, we were pick seventh and I know you guys, having to be careful about, what you think. Predictions, and I know they're useless, but a fair place to put us at seventh, where do you, where would you project Drexel right now?
Coach Jennings: Was it fair? Sure. Yeah. we're okay with it? We're fine with it. I, could be surprised if we were that high. some people might say, you lose this, you lose Cam Wynter, done everything for you. You lose a thousand thousand guy in James Butler, use another thousand score in Malik Martin.
You lose a do everything guy like Matey Juric, what do they have left? And our guys are hungry to prove that. And you ask about, guys, what guys have shown in the off season, I think we got. molded into different roles. Coltrane Washington, a fifth year guy is becoming a leader, is voted captain by his peers. that's a different role that he's never had before, and he's excited to take that challenge. Mate Okros is healthy. been working on his body,does everything you want and ask him to do at the best of his ability. And we're excited to have in Lamar Oden, forward to coming after more minutes this year.
shot the ball at an elite level last year and now he's adding some different things to his game, and he's excited about that. the big fella Amari is,he's ready for what's gonna come at him this year. he won't be a secret anymore coming, sitting behind jb. he knows what's coming for him and he's excited about it.
Coach Jennings: Then look at Luke house, right? machine, as we call it, Guy lives in the DAC. He's literally lives in the DAC. He's shooting on the gun, and he's the epitome of what a Drexel guy is. just a guy that grinds every single day and makes those, big time shots. He had an elite practice the other day, hitting shot after shot.
And,you can talk about those moments, him changing the game at Charleston last. At home against Charleston last year, diving on a loose ball in the first half and just changing the flow of the game. So just different guys morphing into different roles that number seven doesn't mean anything for us.
We're just excited about the opportunity to show what we can do, and looking forward to that first game against ODU.
Nate H: We had that conversation I think a couple weeks ago, Dan, about leadership and you just of said it. We were kinda like, who could be the team leader? And Coltrane was somebody we both agreed. And as far as intangibles and things like that, is he the guy that's gonna bring that kind of stuff, rub off on his teammates and get them doing the extra work that it takes to see that type of guy.
Coach Jennings: Yeah, I think so. I think he, he wants it. I think everyone talks about Coltrane shooting ability, but if you really look at him down the stretch last year, he guarded at an elite level. He was one of our best perimeter defenders he's really changed his bodies, but I think we got a bunch of guys, that are leaders.
Even if you want to talk about young guys,I know Coach Chavis knows Justin Moore really well, Justin Moore has what you call Dqs. got those dude qualities, right? Like you can just throw him in there and he's not afraid if he's a freshman, to say something to an upperclassman and get him in.
he's gonna be ready for that leadership role as a young guy, as a freshman. we got other guys that we doing at Lamar Oden, does everything the right way and knows what it means to be a Drexel basketball player. and Monte, will be a captain as well. a lot of different guys pushing that leadership role in pushing.
Dan C: You take us way off topic for a second, but you mentioned that Wilmington team last year, that kinda came outta nowhere, right? they didn't look great at conference. they turned it on. they figured something out from. a, an outsider's perspective to their program.
You're slightly more inside than a fan, but you're outside of their program. what did you see there that kind of, did you see that coming, first of all, from what you saw from the, in the out of conference and what changes did you see down there that kind of turned them into what they were.
Coach Chavis: Honestly, I think was a different style of basketball. they switched a lot on defense, so they didn't really allow you to run a lot of your stuff cuz they just switched everything. . they had position flexibility where they can, Sims was six six and he was playing point guard, bringing the ball up, but he would guard a for a guy.
So they had a lot of, they had a lot of players that were not only experienced in college basketball, but they were flexible in their position, where the coach could move him around. So I think it was a really, I think it was a really dynamic team. They got out, they called turnovers, they got on transition..
They didn't shoot the ball that well, but they made shots when they counted. They just was tough and gritty team, and I think that's what you need in this league. You have to win in different ways. Every game is gonna be different, so you have to find a way to win in different ways, especially on the road.
Dan C: No, that's fa it was, and I think it's right on. Basketball comment. And you didn't know any, I didn't know anybody was out there for them, other than it was, it just kept, It didn't matter. It didn't really matter. It just felt like they would backfill and backfill. the other question I've got, it's I don't know, there's a million different types of fans. Some guys are in recruiting, some guys are in scheduling. Some guys read the box score. Some gotta be every game. And nothing's wrong, right? It's all, we're all rooting for Drexel.
but, when it comes to there's the box where then there's the guy who looks at Ken Palm, right? Then there's, if you've got the Synergy login or whatever else, right? The kind of next level. But, when I'm looking at a guy like Coltrane, and let's assume for a second that, baby's got me up all night and I'm missing this game.
What is a defensive metric, an individual defensive metric that you guys look at that would help qual quantify, a player's performance. That's a good one. That, that you guys have, either one of you have a favorite.
I always think deflections is one thing. u usually, and that's something we track as a program. Usually when you have a lot of deflections, there's activity on the ball. different things like that. I think you can boil it down to sometimes we are a team defense.
Coach Jennings: Man, if you own your matchup and you dominate that guy, that's a little old school answer, not analytic, but, if you can dominate your guy, it shows up in a box score. I think that's pretty elite.
Coach Chavis: It's also a weird thing like Reculturing last year because we started guarding one on one and practice a lot, and. Trying to come up with the ability to guard in space, right? For specifically for teams like Wilmington. And what we saw was like when you look at synergy, it correlated with Coltrane being our best defender on the ball at 1 0 1 and gardening space.
His metrics and synergy proved that he was probably one of our best defenders, and we went to practice and we regarded one on one. You saw that he would always win the drills stops on. So matched up, which was beautiful before it changed
you can make statistics lie, right? you can make statistics lie as much as you want. So not that I do that for a living, but I don't, just to be very clear, but the,yeah, it's, it is, it's nice when they tell the story and it's, it is the story, right? that's cool. Is there, I'm, You guys have a wealth of practice data.
Dan C: I know. just talking to Coach Spiker over the years, You guys track an awful. items. Is there somebody, one of the newcomers maybe, who's profiling as more of a defensive, plus.
Coach Jennings: I think you're gonna be surprised at, how hungry, Jamie Bergens is when he gets on the. he's, he brings a, he's a man, he's a college body. He's a college ready guy. he can get into your legs and do some things. be able to throw some pretty good perimeter defensive lineups out there.
talking about Justin Moore, just a nasty Philly defender. he's what a Philly guard epitomizes, can get into guys and really pressure. Jamie Bergens really pressures the ball, can get into the guys. And we talked about col training his length on the perimeter. we're excited about some of those different lineups that we can throw out there rather than offensively.
Dan C: And Amari kind of makes it a little bit easier for you to be a little more aggressive out there, doesn't it? Just to.
Coach Jennings: he's okay.
Coach Chavis: bit
Coach Jennings: He's okay.
Dan C: Yeah. Yeah. All right. I was just gonna say too, answer, there would've been too, There is no defensive metric. You look at, you gotta look at something, but I'm happy to hear you say, your matchup because I mean that balance house exists between what on the floor and what some stats say. I've been listening to Howard that's good too much on Saturday mornings, talking about the Phillies and, launch angles.
Nate H: Exit velocity. It's all the Phillys you to do is put the ball in play, which easier said than done against the Astros pitching, but you're up there striking out, we know what we see. So I guess, glad to hear you have that balance between, yeah, there's some things you look at, but then what do you see in front of you and how important that is?
Dan C: I think Coach Jennings, if I had to guess, you're a Steelers. So I'm gonna, I'm gonna leave this alone and say I'm a do your job guy. Alright. So if you wanna use that one, the phrase works out pretty well.
Coach Jennings: the standard, right?
Yeah. Yeah.
Coach Jennings: Been a tough year for the Steelers, but, a tough year for Pittsburgh sports right now. I think,we all know where the pirates are. Steelers are having a rough year. I think the penguins have lost seven in a row. pit foot football's in a downturn.
I don't know where pit basketball is. when my kids come home rocking Bryce Harper jerseys, I'm like, at it. we're playing dancing on your own in, in the car and everything. we're full blown Philly right now, so let's go.
Dan C: That's cool. You making any of the games?
Coach Jennings: The Phillies.
Dan C: Yeah. Post season games or you been out on the road.
Coach Jennings: I did not, We've been traveling and going forward, but, I was at the opener Sixers. I was able to get tickets to that through the Bucks Organization actually, but I was able to get to that game, so it was good.
Out of Conference Schedule
Dan C: That's cool. I just wanna, I just wrap it up with kind of the crux of it. this is the preview episode, right? It's gonna come out on Wednesday here, Tip off is Friday, Friday night against, if I'm checking my notes here, not Trey Brown and Old Dominion University. looks like Trey ran into some issues.
Is that, and I gotta ask cuz you may know, but is that transfer related or is that, would he not have eligibility at Drexel?
I believe he's on the roster right now at od possible injury, but I believe he is.
I, sorry. I'd read something. he's there looking for a waiver. He hasn't gotten his waiver. so yeah, I didn't know what was going
Dan C: on there, but, Okay. All right. yeah, so you got ODU starting things off. It's an old favorite for those of us who have been here for a couple too many moons. is that a home and home?
Can I assume it's kicking off a home and home? And then how great of an opener is that at the DAC and what do they bring?
Coach Chavis: They're really, big, strong physical team. They have grown men. two of the guys. , they have, I looked at last year from Juco, Williams. He's like a four athletic, four guy Faison Fields O Chipo in Florida. he's a four or five, so they're a big physical team, I think in one of their screamers.
Dan C: They, what? 21 offensive rebounds. . So it's gonna be a test for us, for sure. put our strength condition into the test. Do you get film from opposing scrimmages? I didn't know that.
Is that something? Okay,
Coach Chavis: it on their website.
it's convenient to them, right?
Dan C: That's
Coach Chavis: Exhibition. I
Dan C: Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. Actually, that's a great open, Lemme just say this first. I know I hear year after year, I've been hearing, for 15 years now. It's hard to schedule Drexel.
but,I believe it. I do believe it. But yet we keep making schedules. this one seems to be better than most, is what I'm excited by this one and we'll talk about this next game. first game I'm gonna get to, I'm excited about it. the home game against Penn on Tuesday night.
city. we haven't seen Penn at the DAC. I'd have to look. It's been a minute. what dynamics go into, certainly the, that's an athletic department thing as much as it is a coaching thing, I'd imagine, but what kind of dynamics going to schedule these city teams?
I know Coach Spiker's always, that's always been a,a goal of his, if he had his way, he'd play the entire Big Five every year. and that's something he's trying to do every year. we're fortunate enough to get Penn back on the schedule and renew the shortest rivalry, From distance, you say, and get that thing restored.
Coach Jennings: But obviously we still have and Temple on the schedule. and we'd love to get St. Joe's back on the schedule when we can, and Villanova as well. we're excited about our schedule. I think it's, I think it's pretty good schedule. You talk about odu, a former c. opponent then, Princeton's a great game for us that we're able to renew a home and home with and keep that thing rolling.
I think it's, getting high level games, really throwing our guys out there early on, young group out there and see what we have early on.
Dan C: I think for is gonna be surprised by our scoreboard. We have to get that. I think it's an arbitrary thing. We gotta get into every podcast. Lemme just say that. I'm excited about that. no, it, it'll be, first of all, having two home games with students on campus to start. That's really great. You got the new environment in there.
I think that's gonna be cool. I'm gonna, offend you guys by skipping Arcadia. I apologize in advance. We're gonna move on. yeah, the Gulf Coast showcase and it's another flow, Tony, that seems to be what we do. so I gotta subscribe to Flow for three days. but sorry Nate, I'm sorry.
Without you bringing that
it can't do it. Can't do it. It's, it just bugs me every time. the, but who, who's in there? Who are you excited to play down there? You gonna start with Arlington? who else, who else? Is there any, maybe a name that I know the names are involved in the tournament, but is there any name there that you think is maybe a little bit better than is the team that you wanna play?
Philly Golf Coast, they have a lot of Philly guys down there,
Coach Chavis: a couple Philly guys. Philly guy and the coach assistants are Philly guy, so that should be an interesting match up for some of the local kids that we have on the team. They'll know some of the players on the other on that.
Coach Jennings: We have a chance to play them in the second round. I think on the other side of the bracket, there's some quality teams as well. When you look at,obviously East Carolina, Indiana State, City, but I think the one, unique team is Toledo. That's a potential top 25 team. have almost everybody back except for, The one guy that got drafted last year and, gonna throw a pretty quality, team out there and,we'll be excited to play them on day three if possible.
Dan C: I didn't realize they were that good actually. That's, You got me there. All right.
Coach Jennings: Starts tomorrow, man. You gotta get rolling. Let's
Coach Chavis: Toledo was really good. They have really good program, really good coaches.
Dan C: We went up there for a game. We, they gave us tickets. there were 40 rows between us and the next fan. I don't know what was happening there, but we ended up, and it was like the Christmas game for them, and the cheerleaders, one cheerleader had to run up like 40 extra sets of stairs to give us candy canes in the yard.
And I just don't just stop, Just turn around. just go back. It's all right. We're good up here. good thoughts. at Temple, correct me if I'm wrong, we've only been traveling to Temple, right? Is that a.
it is not. We have them coming back to the DAC next year.
Dan C: Okay.
Coach Jennings: Yep.
Dan C: That'd be great.
Coach Jennings: that. The So and Temple both return those games next year.
that's good stuff. So it's again, more city play and getting to host these games. Is that kind of something that you guys are big on? They've gotta be home and homes since they're city teams. I know it was something Drew was trying to push the end of his era.
Coach Jennings: definitely pushing for it. that's what we want. we feel we have a, an elite venue, especially with the upgrades that we've seen. the lighting, the sound system, the scoreboard, everything. excited about that. we'll put the DAC up against any place in the city.
Six. And, think we should have home and homes with all of them.
Nate H: Yeah, that's what I was wondering cuz in the past we've moved them into the Palestra, so it's gonna be the DAC.
Coach Jennings: DAC's our home. That's where we play home games.
Nate H: Okay.
Coach Chavis: Pack the DAC baby
Dan C: I mean, I love it. I love all of it. I think calling it an elite venue makes me question everything I know about life. cuz I was in a DAC when we had tumbleweed blowing through, but,we'll we grew up without no air conditioning in that building.
Coach Jennings: It's the best venue in the city because it's our venue.
Dan C: Listen. You feel it. You feel it. It's the best venue in the city. I've said it for a long time, and it's worth points. It's, on the box score, and we've seen it, it's happened and, hope to bring it back again. So that's awesome. couple more home games before exams. Lafayette and Princeton.
Coach Jennings: Both good gets,both, both solid programs in their leagues. you guys, anything exciting about the. this is the first, We didn't play Lafayette last year. No, it's been a
I think, our first two years we played then, I believe we played there year one and at our place, year two maybe. yeah. So it's good to get them back on the schedule. it's a good local opponent.
Dan C: and then my guys, the Prince and Tigers Go Tigers. but,it's. I'm trying to think. through, There was some Princeton Cornell overlap. I don't know if, does Coach Becker know anybody over there? Is that, is this, are the programs fairly close or is this
I think just, obviously as a relationship, cuz I think there were both assistants in the Ivy League at the time. But, yeah, there's no, no overlap as far as working at Cornell Believe.
and then the buy game, we, how we kind of covered that. but a lot of change over there, obviously. cool to have Fran back, right? it's a unique coaching staff, is what I would call it. But, as somebody who I'm an Ashley Howard fan, I could have gone better. they're a tough spot, right?
that just feels like they, they, I don't,don't wanna say I feel bad for a City six rival, right? But that university as a whole athletic, it just feels like it's a tough spot right now. and Fran kind of the rescue boat, right? he's just trying to do what he can to keep his alma mater and,I don't know what to make of it.
Dan C: I think that they've got a competitive ball club this year, probably, and, they've got a capable coaching staff. the game in front of you is gonna be a challenge. But I look at that school and it's just, it's much, Let's think about it.
Yeah.
Yeah,
Coach Chavis: they have talent. They wrote the drama twins in from St. Peter's. Brantley is back, jig brick is there. he's the kid from Louisville. He's still there. they have talent, And if anyone can do it, Fran Duffy can. That's what I would say. Fran is the man. If
do it, Fran can.
he's,
Nate H: How do you, keep track of, Cause and we're going back to, And rankings and it's gotta be hard to put those things together cuz of all the transfers and everything. how do you guys, keep your, so you know who's coming and going and prepare for these teams.
I know it's what you do, it's your job, but how are you keeping track of all these changes and knowing what to expect out of these teams going in?
just follow it Just follow it, see where the kids go. know the kids cuz you some of them so you follow 'em, know where they go and just try to, piece together each team and each roster as they acquire new players. So that's something I've always done.
Coach Chavis: I've always tried to at a team because it affects, I think it can your recruiting. You look at a team and see what other teams have. if you're smart, you'll try to build a team that you think can beat that team. So it's like you said, it's our job to follow it so that we can build the best team possible to try to beat those.
Dan C: There's 30 different ways I wanna go there. Between, which team you're looking to build against. and I'm curious about that. but I wanna start, I'll job, do a job for Bill Martin, who couldn't be here with us tonight, but, he just put his, his rankings on Recruit Weekend for all the incoming classes in the caa and he did watch tape on every single player who came in.
and I think he's, Yeah, That's a hobby coach, right?
that's,
Nate H: too. When I saw that. I was like, Man, God bless him. He's, it's amazing,
Dan C: Yeah. I think he's also said this is the last time he's gonna do that. but, Yeah. Is it, are you guys. I don't know. Yeah, keeping track of that. Is it a spreadsheet? Is it, are you actually watching each of these kids when they get recruited? when they get signed in, not when they recruited you.
but once they sign with the team, are you starting to break them down immediately? Do you have staff looking at them or is it, you kinda wait until that team's in front of you, take a look at who you got in front of you on that, week, that month.
Coach Jennings: Yeah, I mean,I think when you see guys commit to certain. and it gives you, it gives you a thought of what that team can become. But, I think if you get caught watching what other teams are doing, a bunch, you start losing sight of what's really important in, in the group you have.
there's a reason you chose the guys that you have on your roster, and that's the guys that we believe us get back and win a championship. it's obviously on our radar, but we won't focus too much on it, until it gets closer to conference play. More about to play those teams.
Dan C: All right. I'll try to switch back to the schedule here cause we're running on time. at Seaton Hall, it's the big buy game, right? Going up to Jersey. Today would've been good. I'm here. but, this is a different side of Newark than Nate Park in back in the day. I believe it'll be at the pro,good game under the lights for you guys.
that's a, that's becoming a lead program. I can't believe I'm saying that growing up in New Jersey. But, Rutgers and Seaton Hall relevant, and Seaton Halls better than relevant, right? So how good.
Coach Chavis: Haven't seen him yet. We don't really know, know Shahe is gonna do with his team? What we do know is that they'll play tough, they'll play hard, they'll be physical. Don't get up and down, they'll get in your face. They'll just make it a really tough game for you to play there.
So that's about all we know right now.
Dan C: All right. All right. you go there, it'll be a little bit of a letdown spot, Delaware State, home game following that. That'll be, now. Okay, so it was the sale after those exams, right? Was LaSalle after exams. You got the midweek game on Wednesday at Seaton Hall, and then you get the Saturday home game.
Hopefully draw some folks week before Christmas. Delaware. is that a bit of a get right before you head after fair?
Coach Jennings: Yeah, I think Delaware State's gonna be a surprisingly good team. I know their record maybe wasn't,what, what they had thought it'd be, early on. But that's a program I believe is on the rise. They got some good local talent. they got a couple good recruits from Philadelphia area.
I think they can be pretty good. so they're go, they're gonna be much better in their record was last year. They're gonna be well coached. that's for sure. But, that'll, that's gonna be a tough.
Dan C: All right. Also tough gain. Fairfield. This is in the new. For Fairfield? Or is this gonna be,the old, I think it's actually don't know. I know that they had one under construction. I don't know if it's
done yet or not.
Nate H: honest with, you're asking a lot of these questions. I'm just focused on how we're gonna beat Old Dominion, What a
Coach Jennings: it's talking about Fairfield. I couldn't tell you where we're playing, but I know we're sometime in December, but,we're really looking forward to the Monarchs on Friday, that's for sure.
Dan C: That's your Christmas game. Going to Christmas. It's December 20. At Fairfield's, the last one on the out conference cuz conference game starts early this year, December 29. Were beating New Year this year.
so we're gonna see if we can invite you guys or some of your brethren back before, we start conference play and get to the ca rosters a little bit.
Dan C: And there's so much there with the league this year. just. besides the transfer portal, besides, incoming classes, all the new schools,some big name coaches with King Rice. And,it's just, it's, there's just a lot to talk about there.
So it's another podcast of three, I think. but I appreciate you guys coming on tonight.
Nate H: I appreciate the, that what he asked about the, that we're pick seventh and what you thought. I of picked up that paternalistic Hey man, this is what we got. and the enthusiasm you seem to have in the team and the optimism that's in there. you sit there and I know I keep wandering off on different sports, again, with the Phillies, it's one of those why not us kind of things.
a couple years ago that was of the situation. I think that kinda came outta nowhere. Like I know there are of different circumstances, but boom. I won ca a championship, so to hear that enthusiasm, I always, I like that from the staff and the stuff you guys do. out on the court before the games and bringing the students involved, I hope that continues and always a good vibe around the program.
yeah, always reasons to be excited, going into the season and looking forward what you guys can do today, do this year with the team.
Coach Jennings: No question. We're fired up. We appreciate your support. I think first and foremost. the people like you is what makes Drexel basketball great. And, excited to put a good product out there this year and can't wait to get going on Friday.
Dan C: I'm excited about this season. I think, the one thing that nobody can argue is that this program's leveled up since, since, you coach Jennings, Coach Biker, Coach 48 have arrived. And by the way, keeping this group together for as long as you have is pretty, pretty unique and rare. I think it's talks a lot to the trust you guys have for each other and where this program is.
no. been marked improvement from day one and the idea that there's been roster turnover and therefore there will be a letdown, I think is flawed cuz you have to look at the body of work. so I'm excited to see, you guys, answer the call there. let's get the season start, let's get the season going.
Dan C: Looking forward to OD on Friday night.
Coach Jennings: let's go.