What is going on?

Tramaine Isabell is gone, our recruiting is nonexhistent, and we had 13 donors. 

The first verse of that Pearl Jam song rings true for me today. "The waiting drove me mad..." 

Tramaine Isabell will graduate from Drexel this summer, and then be gone.

 

He tested the NBA draft waters, albeit a long shot, and now it appears he will be transferring to a school in a major conference where he can presumably raise his stock as a basketball player. 

Another year on his legs and another birthday behind him will certainly not inspire confidence in many NBA general managers, although perhaps he can parlay a stellar season into a G-League or two-way contract. I don't see that happening, and the most realistic scenario is Isabell goes overseas and earns a living as a professional hooper. 

I sincerely wish him all the best.

Isabell was the main facilitator for Drexel, and a top-3 player in the CAA last season. This year, it would've been hard to imagine anyone other than Tramaine taking home CAA Player of the Year honors. 

While it might not be a huge surprise Isabell is leaving, it was the agonizing period of not knowing what he'd do that was shaving years off of my life.

Everyone remembers Damion Lee, who left Drexel for Louisville to get on the radar of NBA scouts. Ultimately, Lee didn't have an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament, where his stock really could've rose, because of then coach Rick Pitino and his staffers indiscretions and ensuing NCAA penalties. Lee did enough to earn a spot in the G-League, and when his name was called this season, he made the most of it for the Atlanta Hawks. 

This is a totally different scenario, but for a player like Isabell, playing games on national television, and in a perfect world, making it to the big dance where he'd be in front of millions of pairs of eyes is his best shot of becoming a professional basketball player at any level. 

Drexel doesn't offer that, and to be completely frank, the administration seems ok with it.

There was absolutely zero effort to get asses in the seats of the DAC last season by anyone except for the guys in this sites Slack channel, who aren't employed by the university. 

During Drexel's 24-hours of giving donation-a-roma, the only athletic program with the potential to seriously move the needle came up completely empty with 13 total donors. The Drexel Men's Basketball Twitter account sent three total Tweets to encourage donations. The majority of those 13 donations came from employees of the University. One generous alum donated enough to make it appear as though people actually cares about the program. 

If you are attempting to be any sort of legitimate Division I Men's Basketball program you need financial support above all else. 

I compare this Drexel basketball team to the Temple football teams of the mid-2000's. The school was unconcerned with football, the team unable to recruit, and the results were comically lopsided games. 

The University eventually took an interest in football, and now Temple is a competitor, routinely sending players to the NFL. They spent money to play at Lincoln Financial Field, upgrade their practice facilities and hire competent people to run the program.

You cannot build a program on junior college transfers, or any transfers for that matter. That is not a knock on Zach Walton or Troy Harper, I'm excited for these dudes because their responsibilities just increased ten-fold.

It should be sounding the alarms in the squash facility where Big Z and Fry are playing their favorite pastime that this staff has come up all but completely empty this recruiting season. Drexel's inability to recruit the Philadelphia region is a major concern. I'm happy Assistant Coach Fortier has these Pacific Northwest connections, but it is not sustainable. 

With Isabell, the Dragons could've made a little noise next year. Without him it will be difficult, but Kurk Lee should return to form and have a season more similar to his freshman campaign. 

It is the future of this team that seriously concerns me. There seem to be major recruiting issues, and building a winning team is more difficult than trying to jam mismatched pieces into a puzzle like a child. 

Zach Spiker better be insanely confident that Coletrane Washington and Tim Perry  will develop into sensational players and program cornerstones because his job depends on it. 

Well, it would depend on it if anyone gave a shit. 

 

 

A Glance Back and a Look Ahead

Turning the Page

One of my favorite movies of all time is John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and while most people recall the 1949 film for the "we don't need no stinkin' badges" line, it's not the one that stuck with me. 

The movie is about American gold prospectors who head into the Sierra Madre Mountains to find treasure. Of course it's about much more than that, and spoiler alert, they don't strike it rich. When the men realize they are going home with nothing but the shirts on their backs, one character comes to a realization.

"You know," he says to his partner. "The worst ain't so bad when it finally happens, not half as bad as you'd figure it'd be before it happens."

 

This is pretty much how I feel about the way the Drexel season ended. 

Now that I've had a few months to sit back and reflect on the season, yes it still hurts and yes I thought we had the Charleston game for a fleeting moment, but it's not as bad as I figured it would've been.

All season long the Dragons battled injuries, groomed freshman, competed in flat out strange games and made history. The dialogue going on surrounding the team is awesome, and before I continue on with what I consider to be my first post of the new season, I will urge everyone again to join the Slack conversation which is linked atop this page. We need to continue to grow a strong fan base around this team. 

Now, here are a few offseason headlines worth taking a look at. 

1. Tramaine Isabell Declares for the NBA Draft

Isabell had a historic season which earned him plenty of ink in the Drexel record book. What's scary is he was injured and missed several games, and played much of the season while battling injuries, yet he was still a ferocious scorer and slick passer all year. 

To his own admission, Isabell doesn't pass the NBA "eye test". He's built like a brick shit house, but is smaller than what the NBA would look for in a one or two guard. 

The NBA draft is really based on projections, which is why the first 10 or so picks will be college freshman or 18 and 19-year old Europeans. Teams look for young players who they can mold into stars, so when they're 22 or 23 they can dominate. Isabell is already 22, so to NBA scouts, what you see is what you get. 

I don't doubt Isabell could come off the bench for an NBA team and score. He has a knack of getting to the rim and finishing, and that is something that cannot be taught. He also possesses a very high basketball IQ.

Isabell has a killer instinct that comes from within, but unfortunately many NBA scouts over look those types of attributes. They want young guys with size. 

Isabell did not hire an agent, so he can return to Drexel if he chooses to withdraw from the draft. 

I'm selfish so I want Isabell dominating the CAA next year. I want to get to watch him live and be amazed for one more year. He is worth the price of admission at the DAC, trust me. 

The other part of me really wants to see that guy realize a dream of playing basketball at the highest level. Certainly the odds are stacked against him, but Isabell is used to overcoming obstacles. 

My best guess is Isabell will be back at Drexel next season, which gives Drexel a chance to compete for a CAA Championship if a ton of other things fall into place. If he does feel comfortable enough to enter the draft and does not return, Drexel will have a massive void to fill. 

2. Zach Walton is a Dragon

Well, the last guy Drexel brought in from Washington panned out (see above), so Walton has some big expectations to meet. 

Walton is a 6'6 swingman from Morton, Washington, about 100 miles south of Seattle. He is coming to Drexel from Edmonds Community College in Washington and has two years of Eligibility remaining. 

In 2016-17 Walton only played in 5 games for Edmonds after suffering a knee injury which required surgery. Normally, this is a massive red flag, but he came back with a vengeance last season, averaging 20.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game against JUCO competition. Nonetheless, there is reason to be excited for Walton. 

He shot 54.7% from the field, and seems to have an ever improving jump shot. A guy who can pull up and hit midrange jumpers on a consistent basis is something Drexel lacked last year. 

The obvious intangible Walton brings to the Dragons is his size. The Dragons were often undersized, and especially struggled with teams who had big guards so Walton can fill a much needed gap there. 

If all goes well in camp, I predict Walton will start alongside Lee and Isabell, and Troy Harper will come of the bench.

If you're interested in seeing Walton on the court, Edmonds CC posts full games online, like this one. You just better be really drunk or really bored to watch more than one of these gams. 

It looks like Zach Walton can step in and immediately contribute to the Dragons so I'm stoked for that. What I don't like is the fact the Drexel staff has struggled mightily to recruit in this region.

Coletrane Washington, a 5th year high school player from the Pittsburgh area is the only other recruit the Dragons have landed this offseason, and more likely than not, they will be brining in another transfer. 

Isabell and Walton coming from the Pacific Northwest has everything to do with Drexel assistant Paul Fortier having ties in that region. Fortier was a standout at the University of Washington. 

Drexel cannot expect to build a program if they are relying on JUCO players from 3,000 miles away and transfers. It's disconcerting they have not been able to establish any recruiting ties in Philadelphia, and have struggled so mightily recruiting this offseason. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have Walton and Washington, but Drexel needs to become a player on the recruiting trail around these parts as well. 

3. The Man in the Middle

When Rodney Williams graduated and moved on to bigger and better things, Drexel fans had Austin Williams to hang their hats on. Now that Big Stretch is outta here, there is a big old question mark in the middle. 

Tadas Kararinas showed an effortless touch from beyond the arc, but struggled trying to defend the rim despite being 6'10. Unless Tadas makes insane improvements on the defensive end, he will not be a reliable center. 

Jarvis Doles isn't a center and has shown no desire to bang in the paint. He looks much more comfortable shooting corner 3's and running in the open floor than scoring on the low block. Doles could probably play a little center if Drexel is going with a small ball lineup, but he's better suited elsewhere. 

So we're left with some unknowns. 

Tim Perry Jr. is probably the best answer for a pure center. He is 6'10 and has long arms which should enable him to protect the rim. His motor was called into question in high school, and he carried the label of an underachiever. There is a possibility that Perry will step up for the Dragons and be a serviceable center who can score inside and defend the rim on the other end of the floor. 

That is probably the best case scenario, but in all honestly, right now we just don't know. 

James Butler, the Navy transfer who sat out last season will play power forward for the most part, and again, would only be used at the center position in a small ball lineup. Butler played very sparingly at Navy and transferred after only a few games. He did average 27.5 points per game in high school though, so he possesses some ability. 

When the dust settles some more this offseason, I will write a post about Drexel's depth this season which Butler will play a part of and which I think is very promising. 

The Top 10 Moments of the Regular Season

It was a very weird season.

Was it always pretty? Nope. Was it so insanely bizzare that looking back I still can't really wrap my head around it? Yup.

The regular season didn't end exactly how the Drexel Dragons had envisioned it, in fact, it was probably exactly how they didn't want to end the season, but that's all water under the bridge. This team needs to look forward to the CAA Tournament where, if they have shown anything this year, they can beat any team in that conference. 

While they focus on the real season, I'm going to take a look back at the regular season's most memorable moments. 

Number 10 - Alihan vs. Charleston

The home game at Charleston was such an odd game. Tramaine Isabell didn't have his best night, and coach Spikers motto of "Sometimes me, sometimes you, always us" rang true, and a fellow transfer had himself a game.

All season long, Alihan Demir has impressed me. He seems to have plenty of offensive skill, and often slows the game down when the opposition is going on a run. He will need to get faster to improve his defense and increase his rebounding numbers next year, but so far so good for Alihan.

When Charleston came to the DAC, the Dragons were coming off of back to back ass kickings, and while not fully realized at that point, Charleston clearly had some of the most talent in the CAA. Someone needed to step up, and Demir did. Kurk Lee came alive scoring 5 of his 22 points on the night in overtime, but it was Demir's toughness and 20 points in his coming out party that gave Drexel the edge. 

Number 9 - Coletrane Washington

The recruiting trail has been more painful for Drexel than the Oregon Trail was for me in 3rd grade computer class, and while no one died of dysentery, it hasn't been a smooth ride. The Dragons missed out on some targets, but it looks like they have hit on a 6'5 guard with an awesome name.

Coletrane Washington from Quaker Valley is the lone commitment Zach Spiker received this season, and he may be a steal. Washington was debating attending a 5th year prep school following high school, but opted to sign with the Dragons. 

Washington is 6'5, but can handle the ball thanks to playing point guard before he hit a growth spurt. As evidenced in his 10 three-pointer performance this season, he can really shoot the basketball. He has a smooth, fluid stroke, and can rise over the outstretched arm of a defender to get a shot off, but his release will need to be quicker to do the kind of scoring he's capable of. 

Drexel is small at the guard spot, and Washington can use his length to create problems for opponents on the defensive side of the ball. 

No, recruiting hasn't been stellar, but after Dragons fans see some highlights, like the ones below, they'll at least be happy with Coletrane Washington.

Number 8 - Lee's Three

It was another one of those nights at the DAC, well, pretty much like every night at the DAC where Drexel was in a tight game. What happened way too frequently this season, though, was the Dragons were often playing down to their competition, and this is what happened against a struggling Quinnipiac team. 

The Dragons led by one at the half, and Tramaine Isabell dropped 23 points, but Drexel could never pull away. In a surprising turn, Quinnipiac had a lead with 13 seconds remaining after a Rich Kelly free throw. 

There have been debates all season long about who should take the last shot in these situations. Down two with the ball at the end of regulation. Isabell? Lee? Mojica if he can get open? Run a play for an Austin Williams dunk? It usually ends up with whoever has the ball and this time it was Lee. 

And he delivered. It hasn't always been easy for Kurk Lee this season, but in this moment he was the man. 

Number 7 - Beating Houston

It really comes down to not quitting. Houston is an immensely talented team that can score the ball in basically every way, so for the Dragons to weather their mini runs and Rob Gray's 37 points, and never give up was hugely promising to see early in the season.

The Dragons won 84-80 thanks to some timely stops and scores, and Tramaine Isabell's 16 rebounds. 

It would've been a different story if Drexel used this win to go on a tear this season, but they didn't, so the real story is Isabell. He didn't play in the opener, and the only action he had came against D-387455 Arcadia, so Drexel fans still didn't know what we had exactly.

His 16 rebounds may have been considered a fluke at the time, but his nose for the ball and his scoring ability has continued since the Houston game, which really is the biggest takeaway from the upset.

That and every time Houston is discussed for tournament seeding, Drexel always falls under their "Bad Losses" category. Thanks for the ultimate backhanded compliment, Lunardi.

Number 6 - This Tweet

Look, the problem with attendance starts at the top. The University needs to make massive improvements to the in-game experience and work to establish a strong student and alum fan base for both the women's and men's programs. If that doesn't happen, I look forward to more Fake Zillmer Tweets. 

 

Number 5 - Stretch with a game-winning...block?

The guy is a rim protector of the highest order, and while every block impacts the game in some way, winning a game on a blocked shot is really amazing. 

First off, it takes a huge defensive lapse to allow a player to go the length of the court in six seconds for a layup in a two-point game, but that might just show you the confidence the Dragons have in Stretch to protect the hoop at all costs. 

Second, it takes some serious stones to contest that shot given the situation because a foul would be horrible in that case. 

Third, the skill and control it takes to block a shot in situation is not something everyone has. Stretch makes it look easy, but it certainly is not. 

The big guy has 82 blocked shots on the season, but that one may be the best of his career. 

Number 4 - Beating La Salle short-handed

Driving from the 'burbs to North Philly at rush hour on a weeknight can be difficult. 

What made my trip to Tom Gola Arena to see Drexel take on La Salle that night even more trecherous was the message on the Slack I received saying Tramaine Isabell wouldn't be playing due to an injury. 

At the time La Salle was playing very well, so the prospects didn't seem promising with Isabell. Without, the task became seemingly insurmountable. 

The Dragons got off to a great start shooting the lights out, and that never really stopped as Drexel shot 52.9 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from three. 

Kurk Lee and Sammy Mojica combined for 42 of Drexel's 72 points, and Tyshawn Myles gave some great high energy minutes defending and getting key stops on La Salle's B.J. Johnson. 

Always nice to get a City 6 win especially when you weren't expecting it. 

Number 3 - Sammy gets 1,000

Congrats to Sammy Mojica for recording his 1,000th point as a Drexel Dragon. This is an awesome honor for a player who has meant so much to the program. He has gone through coaching changes and tough times, but always plays hard and keeps his head up, so it's great to see him rewarded. 

 

Number 2 - #TheTramaineEvent

In the final week of the regular season, Tramaine Isabell averaged 29.5 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists per game. As if anyone didn't know he is the Player of the Year in the CAA, he wanted to make sure. The jury is still out, and haters will say he doesn't deserve it because Drexel isn't a dominant team in the conference, but if he doesn't win he will be robbed. 

He also made me his Twitter profile pic, but I swear, I'm not biased because of that. 

I cannot tell you how many times I sat at the DAC this season and just shook my head when he made a ridiculous play. The most off balanced, body contorting shots he made look effortless.

Drexel has had some really, really good players in the past, but Isabell's basketball talent is right up there with the greats. He is currently averaging over 21 points per game, and has a legitimate shot to break Michael Andersons record of 19.2 points per game if he keeps it up next season. The man can flat out score the basketball.

He is strong and quick, and one of the first things I ever wrote about him after watching a few YouTube clips was that he reminds me of Kyrie Irving finishing around the rim, and he hasn't disappointed. 

When we went into this season, all Dragons fans had to hang their hats on were those YouTube clips, some news stories and the comments made by former Drexel players who saw him play in practice that were made on this sites podcast. 

What they ended up getting was a prolific scorer with a driven personality and one of the best players to ever put on the blue and gold. Certainly you can tell me it's only been one season, but from a basketball talent standpoint he is right up there.

I cannot wait to continue watching this beast play.

Number 1 - The Comeback

It was an incredible come-from-behind win, so a group of fans decided to celebrate. What I didn't realize until I was on my second beer, was that it was the biggest comeback in the history of NCAA Men's Division I hoops.

My girlfriend got a text from her basketball-junkie brother that said it was the biggest comeback ever. He followed it up with a picture of a Tweet from someone I had never heard of. I told one of the hosts of Dragonscast, Leon, what had been relayed to me, and he seemed as surprised as I was. 

Soon, more and more media outlets had picked it up. When the big dawgs started Tweeting it, we knew it was real. 

I didn't even realize the lead had been as high as 34. I just watched in awe as Delaware drained open three after open three and Drexel turned the ball over on seemingly every other possession. By halftime I was emotionally exhausted, but it was dollar dog night, so I got in line with plenty of other people who decided the game was over. 

Then the second half began and Drexel hit a few shots, then a few more and the deficit was 20. Then a few more stops and the lead was 10, then some magical plays and Drexel had won the game. 

 

An insane comeback yes, but the biggest of all time? I was surprised to hear that.

What followed was a national media whirlwind with Zach Spiker taking advantage of the historic event to promote Drexel basketball. He was interviewed on ESPN and the comeback was the number 1 play on the Sportscenter Top 10 plays of the day. In particular they showed the play above. For the record, that's the best play of the year.

I was up basically all night when I got home from the game, consuming every piece of media I possibly could from the game. It was such an insane moment in Drexel basketball,and I'm still trying to take it all in. 

This will put the 2017-2018 Drexel Dragons in the record books, and it's obviously the best moment of the year. 

The Shirt: If you're reading this, you probably saw a picture of me wearing a shirt at the game versus UNCW that said "The Comeback" with the score 53-19 written on the front in blue ink, and the score 85-83 written across the top of the back. 

I was vocal in the Slack and on Twitter about how following a historic event, The Philadelphia Inquirer didn't devote anymore ink to it then they would've a normal game recap. I wanted something substantial on at least the sports page. Since the newspaper of record in Philadelphia took the approach of working against the Dragons, I took matters into my own hands.

As the Tweet from Josh Verlin of CoBL stated, I got the shirt at the King of Prussia mall and it took about 20 minutes to make all told. 

The store I went to was called Custom Creations, and they will basically screen-print anything on to anything. They only had white or grey shirts, so I decided to go simple, blue ink on a white shirt.

This could very well be a record that Drexel holds onto for a long time. It should be commemorated as such, and if my t-shirt and some Tweets helps do it then I'm happy. 

Josh approached me at a media timeout, asked me if he could grab a picture of the shirt. A few people at the game commented on it, a Drexel cheerleader stopped me in the hallway and asked for a picture, of course, she kept my face out of it, and I went home and tossed it in a pile of laundry.

The next day, Tramaine Isabell made it his profile picture.

I have no idea if any of the players saw it during the game, but Isabell, I think, saw it on Josh's page and ran with it. Tramaine seems to be a friendly guy, with a sense of humor. We've conversed on Twitter a few times, and gave each other shit when his Seahawks played my Eagles, but we haven't met in person. 

So, it's obviously a surprise and an honor and well worth the trip to the mall. I hope the shirt becomes a reminder to never ever quit, and Tramaine is epitome of that mentality, 

At the time I just wanted to have some fun and have something to commemorate the event, but now I really hope everyone in the Drexel basketball community see's it and remembers that the Dragons may be down, but never out. 

I especially hope that rings true as Drexel enters the CAA Tournament needing to win four straight games to be crowned champion and head to the big dance. 

It seems almost impossible, but stranger things have happened. 

 

The Greatest Comeback

Drexel was able to pull off the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball history because they defended, made shots and forced turnovers in the second half versus Delaware. 

Of course, that's the simple answer, but when something so incredible happens, something that puts Drexel on the national radar for at least a night, one needs to dig deeper than the numbers.

Those numbers are remarkable though. In the first half, where Delaware was up 53-19 at one point, the Blue Hens shot 61.8 percent from the field and made 10 three-pointers, many uncontested. In the second half, Drexel ramped up their defense and held them to 37.9% from the field, and allowed only one three-pointer.

In the first half Drexel forced just two turnovers and committed eight. In the second half, they pressed the hell out of Delaware and forced eight turnovers while committing just two.

After shooting just 34.3 percent from the filed in the first, the Dragons lit it up at a clip of 56.8 percent while drilling seven three's.

Those are the stats that show you how Drexel was able to win the ballgame, but they won't tell you the story.

I mentioned the press that Drexel applied during the second half. Their quick guards wreaked havoc, and Coach Zach Spiker did an excellent job substituting so he always had enough fresh legs on the floor.  Delaware wasn't efficient or quick enough to create 2-on-1 opportunities that pressing often leads to. 

That was just one of the things that stood out from the job Spiker and his staff did. Whatever was said in that locker room at halftime should be bottled up and sold because his team came out focused in the second half. 

To comeback from 34 points down, the coach cannot make one misstep, and the players must execute with no margin for error.

That is what makes a comeback like this so remarkable, but when you look at the players who made it happen, it makes sense.

As a high school senior in Seattle, Tramaine Isabell put on a Washington State hat on signing day. When that didn't work out, it was off to Missouri and a situation in which his talent was undervalued and his coach was clueless. In his first season playing in games for the Dragons, Isabell is making the case for the CAA Player of the Year, and is obviously the best player in the conference. He's doing this on the other side of the country after facing immense adversity, but it's like he has said several times: "I'll never quit."

While Isabell was the star of the game, another transfer provided the toughness that is required to comeback. Troy Harper slapping the floor on defense got me right out of my seat. Harper talks about Philly toughness, and having competed in the Philadelphia Catholic League in high school, he certainly has that. After leaving his hometown to attend Campbell, Harper made the decision to come home, and the only word to use for his intensity in Philly. 

Austin Williams has spend much of his time at Drexel in the shadows of stellar big men, but this year he has emerged from the shadows to lead the CAA in blocked shots. Although he was in foul trouble early, Stretch was able to come up with two key blocks and make some phenomenal interior plays on defense.

Alihan Demir, from Turkey by way of a Wyoming juco has been a pleasant surprise this year, and while he didn't have his best offensive game of the season, he enabled Spiker to play a speedy, small ball lineup to force turnovers because he did a great job rotating with Stretch and not allowing the offense to get behind him. 

Kurk Lee has had a rocky year adapting to a brand new team around him, but he never hung his head and it was his defensive pressure that led to many of the key second half turnovers. The kid from Baltimore who's father was a standout at rival Towson has found a place in Philly, a city that knows big things come in small packages. 

Miles Overton was a standout high school player in Philadelphia, but couldn't get his footing at Wake Forest. His time at Drexel has been marred by injuries, but he stepped up in a big way last night, knocking down two big three's.

Then there is Sammy Mojica. While I was at the first Drexel-Delaware game at Delaware, a woman sitting next to me asked if Mojica was a senior. I told her yes, to which she replied "thank goodness, I'm tired of watching him make three's against us." Mojica was the second leading scorer with 16 points, nine of which came on three's, but his veteran savvy was key on getting necessary stops. Mojica has gone through a lot in his time at Drexel, new coaches and new teammates, and although he doesn't say much, Sammy leads by example. 

When you put all of the pieces together, transfers, adversity, under appreciation, injuries, changes, long roads, etc. you can see that if any team was going to come back in win after being down 34 points, it was these Dragons, a team full of players who have done nothing but fight and claw their whole careers.

I hope we have been standing too close to the picture to see the pieces fitting together, and I hope this win starts a run that leads to a CAA Championship. 

That is what I hope for, but what I know for certain is this team will never quit. 

The Drexel Basketball Drinking Game

Instead of analyzing, let's get drunk.

I said it in my last post. Drexel is just a below average team with some talent that doesn't play defense. 

I wasn't surprised that they lost to Charleston, Northeastern and Hofstra on the road, and I won't be surprised when they beat Delaware and UNCW at home in the final two games of the season. This is a fickle team who play up to competition at home, can't seem to win on the road, and win and lose in head scratching fashion. 

I just can't figure them out, so I'll spend my time giving you something more substantial. 

The Official Drexel Basketball Drinking Game. 

Whether you're watching Dragons.tv on your iPad, silently praying your CAA.tv app won't freeze up at a key time, or telling yourself no matter how bad it gets, you won't throw your phone at the wall while watching, the Drexel Drinking Game is sure to increase your enjoyment. And, if they lose, it won't be as bad.

 

The Rules

  1. If a player who was assumed to be playing is not dressed for any reason  - Finish Your Drink
  2. If Paul Fortier is wearing his forest green suit that makes him look like a Christmas tree - Take Three Sips
  3. If Zach Spiker is wearing a tie clip - Take Two Sips
  4. If the Dragons score first - Take One Sip.
  5. If the opponent scores first - Take Two Sips.
  6. Each time Stretch Williams Blocks a shot - Take One Sip (This should get you drunk)
  7. If Tramaine Isabell is fouled at the rim and it is not called -Take Two Sips (This might give you alcohol poisoning)
  8. Each Drexel Turnover - Take One Sip (This may kill you)
  9. If Sammy Mojica hits a corner three - Take One Sip
  10. If Sammy Mojica hits a three from anywhere but the corner - Take Two Sips
  11. For each time Rob Brooks mentions Rob Falcone - Drink Half of your Drink (Dragons.tv or radio broadcasts only)
  12. If an official tells Zach Spiker to move back into the coaches box - Take One Sip
  13. If Tramaine Isabell leads the team in rebounding at the end of the game - Take Three Sips
  14. Each time the opponent hits a three pointer - Take One Sip
  15. If the three pointer was uncontested - Take an additional sip
  16. If Zach Spiker is feverishly clapping and the team is down 10+ points - Take Three Sips
  17. If the opposition finishes the game with 90 or more points - Finish Your Drink
  18. If Tadas Kararinas hits a three - Take Three Sips
  19. If Austin Williams hit a three - Go to a beer store, buy a keg, get a friend, and proceed to do a keg stand until I say stop.
  20. For each time Troy Harper argues with an official - Take One Sip
  21. If Tramaine Isabell reaches 20 points - Take Two Sips
  22. If Tramaine Isabell reaches 30 points - Take Three Sips
  23. If Tramaine Isabell reaches 40 points - Finish your drink, get a fresh drink, and finish that
  24. If Kevin Doi enters the game - Finish Your Drink
  25. If Troy Harper throws one down - Take Two Sips
  26. For each Kurk Lee assist - Take One Sip
  27. If the Dragons miss a free throw - Take One Sip
  28. If an Opposing Player reaches 25+ points - Take Two Sips
  29. If Zach Spiker slaps the scorers table in anger - Take Three Sips
  30. If the Dragons Win - Finish You Drink
  31. If the Dragons Lose - Finish Your Drink
  32. If Eric Zillmer (the real Zillmer) Tweets something tone deaf following the game - Take Three Sips
  33. If Fake Zillmer Tweets something you thought was real Zillmer - Finish Your Drink

Ok, I think 33 rules for 33rd Street ought to do it. I'm sure I'm missing some great rules, so if you have anything to add hit me up on Twitter @magnificentball and we'll fine tune this thing until we're properly loaded to either celebrate wins or enjoy losses. 

Just a reminder, Thursday night at the DAC we have Delaware. Please, please, please show up if you can and be loud. If you can't, give this game a whirl and let me know how it goes. Of course, do so responsibly. 

 

Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself

Annnnnnnnd We’re Back

When the late author David Foster Wallace was being interviewed by David Lipsky for a Rolling Stone piece that eventually became a book, Wallace made the remark I’ve titled this piece with. Of course Lipsky titled his book with the same remark, which was then turned into a movie worth checking out, but anyway, I find it applicable here.  

I’m not going to get pretentious about Drexel basketball, but the past week has been one in which we’ve seen the Dragons become themselves. They’re a below average team with some talent, no depth, and a massive void where a defensive identity should be at this point in the season.

After winning four games in a row, and hoodwinking me something fierce, the Dragons had their hearts ripped out by Towson at the DAC, and then, still licking their literal and figurative wounds, they were hammered on the road at Charleston, despite doing their best to hang in. 

A Big Problem

If you needed any more proof that Austin Williams is one of the best defensive players in the CAA, just look what happened to Drexel when he limped off the floor, never to return, against Towson. 

Towson's Zane Martin and Mike Morsell put on a show, hitting some jumpers and the Tigers buried open looks from three to claw back into the game, but when you don't have a rim protector and rebounder of Williams' caliber back there, everything changes. 

Tyshawn Miles is a great team player and a high energy guy who can give you 8 to 10 minutes of defense and rebounding, but he can't be called on for more than that. 

Tadas Kararinas has shown some finesse on the offensive end, but his defense is still lacking. Yes, he's extremely raw, but I would've thought that with over half a seasons worth of practices and more game time than Coach Spiker would've ever wanted to give him, he would have shown some improvement on the defensive end. He still looks like a kid lost in a crowd searching for his mom when he's trying to protect the paint. 

Jarvis Doles basically showed that he has some range and that's about it this season. He can't be counted on to play much defense at this point, and he's seen his PT dwindle as the Dragons got healthy. 

I don't want to rip the freshmen too much, because they're just that. The coaching staff needs to help these guys improve, and I haven't seen that over the course of the season. 

The point is with Stretch out, you knew Charleston was going to be a bear of a game. 

He doesn't have a 7'9 wingspan like Mo Bamba, and he isn't imposingly tall, but Austin Williams blocks shots because he has incredible timing and body control, oh, and because his guards give him plenty of opportunities to get blocks. 

Lee, Isabell and Harper all need to improve their on ball defense. It's way too easy for the guards in the CAA, and there are a lot of good ones, to go right by them and get into the lane. 

Once the guard penetrates, Williams often slides up in the paint to contest a layup, and the guard will leave a drop pass for the man Williams left. If that doesn't happen, the guard will kick for a corner three, or just create enough space to pull up for a jay a la Zane Martin. 

I'm all for a decline in Williams block numbers if it means are guards are playing better defense around the perimeter. 

Stretch's injury doesn't appear to be a season-ender, but it's unclear if he will be available at Northeastern. 

If I Were the Coach

I would hold Williams out at Northeastern. The chances of the Dragons getting out of a play-in game at the CAA Tourney are slim, the Dragons are awful on the road, and Northeastern is very, very good, and will be very, very pissed after the way Drexel beat them at the DAC a few weeks back. 

This will be an epically difficult game for Drexel to win with or without Stretch, so if there is even an inkling that he is hobbled and not 100 percent ready to rock and roll, I'm keeping him in one of those nice grey sweatsuits. 

 

 

The Drexel Dragons are on a four game winning streak...woah.

I Just don't know anymore.

I wish I had something to offer other than a shrug, but I'm still drunk from the Birds Super Bowl win and trying to figure out how the same Drexel team that lost four consecutive games a month ago has somehow won four in a row is just beyond my comprehension. 

I really tried to figure out what this team did so differently. I am a firm believer that you win basketball games by playing defense, rebounding, and not turning the ball over. 

In their four consecutive wins, the Dragons averaged 12 turnovers per game, had nine more rebounds then their opponents over that four game span, and allowed 74.75 points per game. 

In their four game skid, the Dragons averaged 10 turnovers per game, were out rebounded by 34 (Towson out-rebounded them by 21) and allowed 84.5 points per game. 

The numbers show something, and as someone who doesn't really care about numbers, I can see that they tightened their defense and a huge part of that is simply not allowing two-shot possessions. 

I'm sure someone will crack an egg of stats on my head and show me how the four game losing streak and winning streak came down to one key stat or maybe they weren't that different at all, but I'm not as interested in numbers as I am by what I see, and what I see is a team that is just playing harder than their opponents. 

It would be easy to say Drexel got some fortunate calls or caught a lucky break here and there or their opponent just missed a ton of open looks, but that's basketball, and that shit happens when you play your ass off. 

Earlier this year Drexel beat some stiff competition and played some really good teams close, and it wasn't because Tramaine Isabell was hot or they got lucky, it's because they played tough, hard-nosed basketball, and that's how you create luck. 

Most will look at the Northeastern win, and say we got lucky. I sent this tweet out following that game, and I stand by it. 

You make your own luck, and if you want to talk about how this squad is catching breaks and getting lucky then you're doing a disservice to the team. 

Also, how has #TheTramaineEvent not caught on yet? It's the thing I'm most proud. Seriously. It's sad. I know. 

Winning Division I college basketball games is difficult, and you don't win four straight by getting lucky, and you don't lose four straight because of bad luck, but when you compete, good things will happen. 

Good things are starting to happen for the Dragons. 

Drexel takes on Towson tomorrow night at the DAC and then hits the road for three tough games. They haven't been good on the road, and I'll be watching those games with knots in my stomach, and not the garlicly kind, ok who am I kidding, they'll be in my stomach as well, but I have faith in the Dragons. I don't want to get ahead of myself to the road trip though. 

Now more than ever, show up.

The Towson game tomorrow night is the biggest of the year. Drexel is currently 5-7 in the CAA while Towson sits at 6-6, so you don't need to be a mathematics major at Drexel to know this game is meaningful. 

And if you are a numbers major, or any major for that matter, if you have a Drexel student ID, turn up for this game. The Dac Pack needs to be packed to rattle the Tigers, and me spewing vulgarities that would make Chris Rock blush at a 19-year-old kid is not gonna cut it. Show up, stand up and be loud. 

Drexel is also running plenty of promotions in conjunction with the Eagles parade, so if you wear Birds gear, you get in for free. If you're near the DAC and want to cheer on the Dragons or are just looking for a place to get out of the cold, it's going to be a pretty good game. 

If for some reason you're on this blog for my nonsense and haven't listened to the newest Dragonscast Podcast yet, I demand you do so now. The segment about the attendance issue at the DAC is some of the best stuff on that podcast thus far, Leon, Marshall, Bill and Nick really hit the nail on the head. 

While I'm just typing in a manic state with no direction whatsoever at this point, I'm going to reiterate something that someone said on the Slack a few days back. I forget who said it, so I apologize, but the in game stuff at the DAC has become rote. Tickets to Drexel games are way more expensive than they need to be, and we still don't have a video board...but for the money a person has to pay to bring their family, the entertainment needs to be better. 

Having the cheerleaders or dance team come out at every stoppage in play and then once a game have two kids dressed up like coffee cups dribble in between said cheerleaders and subsequently miss four layups is getting really, really old. 

I digress. 

Haircut Watch

I wrote a post a week or so ago about Tramaine Isabells haircut. That is how bad it was. I wrote that the haircut may have been that quirky, weird little thing that turns the season around for Drexel, and since that shape up, they have won four in a row. 

Now, it has been reported that there was some sort of team meeting that may have something to do with the winning streak. I like to believe it's 100% about the hair cut, but have it your way. 

The fact is the Dragons are playing team basketball, and whatever is going right will need to continue versus a Towson team who opened up a can of whoop ass on Drexel a few weeks back. The key will be rebounding the basketball. Stretch Williams and Tyshawn Miles need to stay in the game versus an extremely physical Towson team. 

Drexel will need to match their physicality, but play smart basketball, as Towson scored 30 points from the charity stripe in their first meeting. 

The football game last Sunday was all my heart can take, Drexel needn't turn Thursday nights contest into another one. 

Coach Spiker said the team slogan could be "Sometimes me. Sometimes you. Always us." That has rung true for many games this season, but in the Dragons victory over William & Mary, it was balanced scoring and 20 assists that propelled the Dragons. 

As was true in that game, the "Always Us" part of that mantra is the one that will need to ring true for Drexel to take down Towson. 

 

The Tramaine Event

Tramaine Isabell gets a hair cut and goes for 40

On the Wednesday before Drexel played Elon at home, in a game which they would go on to win 83-79, Tramaine Isabell posted the Drexel team photo to his Instagram account. 

He captioned the photo with "Nobody wins when the family feuds" and "NoMoreFro".

You can read into the feuding family part all you want, and I am sure, and I would honestly hope, tempers are flaring in that locker room. Of course, I have no idea what exactly Isabell was referring to, but when you're sitting at 7-14 and 1-7 in the conference, it is understandable that emotions would be running high. Ask anyone who has ever been in a losing locker room.

I would be concerned if these guys didn't care, and didn't get after each other, and didn't compete hard in practice. Good teams challenge each other, and up to a certain point that is healthy, expected and understandable. 

Again, I am just speculating and maybe he was just quoting a lyric from a song that I'm too dull to know, so instead of further speculating about the family feud part, I'm going to focus on the other part. 

As a Drexel fan, I really needed something to hang my hat on, pardon the pun, and Isabell getting shaped up may be just the thing. 

Basketball, and sports in general are weird. Sometimes the most trivial, minor happenings transform a team. 

Remember when Klay Thompson autographed that toaster and the Warriors went on a 31-2 run? Or how about in 1952 when two brothers in Detroit threw an octopus on the ice during the first playoff game for the Red Wings that season? The Wings then swept both series en route to the Stanley Cup.

Maybe Isabell shaving the afro is just the touch of weirdness this team needs. Or, maybe I still need something to hang my hat on.

The fact is, in the first game post-fro, Isabell went for 40 points to lead Drexel past Elon. 

He shot 14 of 23 and 7 of 11 from three. He also had 6 boards 3 assists 3 steals and only 1 turnover. In a game where Kurk Lee and Sammy Mojica both struggled to find their touch, Isabell came up big to lead Drexel to a much needed win. 

One of the things I love about Isabells game is how efficient he is scoring the ball. Before this last Elon game, he was averaging 18.5 points per game, and taking just over 13 shots. That being said, I want him to shoot the ball more. 

He is a smart player who has a great feel for the game, so he understands that he sometimes needs to be in takeover mode, and he was last night. 

Isabell is probably not going to be able to go 7-11 from three every night, but he was bombing them from NBA range and drilling them against Elon. I believe that Isabell is a confident player to begin with, but when any player sees a few shots fall, it's easier to pull the trigger on the next. 

Aside from getting the W, when a player does something exceptional, it doesn't go unnoticed. Isabell's big scoring night generated some buzz for Drexel which is always beneficial for fans, recruits and the school in general. 

Isabell will be dogged all day come Saturday when the Dragons take on the first place team in the CAA, Northeastern. Those guys don't want to get torched for 40 like Elon did, so expect Isabell to use his smarts and make things easier for his teammates. 

Of course, a player with Isabells talents might just find a way, and if he goes off again and the Dragons get another monster win, I'll be sitting outside the DAC with a pair of clippers willing to shave the heads of anyone who wants to get on board with the NoMoreFro movement. 

 

Where do we go from here?

If there is one stretch in the Drexel season that is absolutely imperative, it is the one the Dragons are in the middle of right now. 

Conference games versus Delaware, Hofstra, Towson and James Madison over a two week span are critical for several reasons.

First, Drexel had the opportunity to go 3-1 in this stretch by beating every team but the the exceptional Towson. This would've put the Dragons at 10-11 and 4-4 in the CAA, meaning there was a chance they could avoid the dreaded CAA Tournament play-in game. 

Secondly, following that 4 game stretch, the Dragons get Elon and Northeastern, two of the top teams in the CAA. 

I don't want to sound alarmist, but I believe I am being a realist when I say that in losing the first two games of this critical stretch, Drexel all but cemented their place in a CAA Tournament play-in game. In two winnable games at Delaware and at home versus Hofstra, horrendous defense and poor shot selection were Drexel's undoing. 

Now, Drexel sits at 1-5 in the CAA, and most likely will lose to Towson, and against bottom feeding JMU, nothing is certain. 

Having seen Drexel play against most of the teams in the CAA thus far, it doesn't appear this team can compete in this conference. 

Drexel doesn't have the size, interior quickness or intensity needed on defense. On offense, they look completely lost aside from the spurts of greatness from Tramaine Isabell. 

I have gone to bat for Zach Spiker, but he doesn't seem to be helping this team improve. Sure, injuries were tough, and they won some big games in spite of them. Against Delaware and Hofstra, Drexel found themselves in a hole and clawed their way back. These are signs that Spiker has managed games well and made necessary in-game adjustments. 

The knock is that his team has not gotten any better from game one to now. No matter the personnel on the court, the defense seems to be fighting against Spiker's scheme, or they're just totally inept, and the offense is just iso-ball where Lee dribbles around for 20 seconds and shoots, a reckless drive by Harper, a missed corner three from Mojica, a poor Austin Williams pass or an Alihan Demir forced shot in amongst larger defenders. 

The success for the Dragons usually comes in the form of a Tramaine Isabell drive, or him spotting an open shooter and firing a pass. Often times, his teammates aren't quite ready for the pass and it ends up being a turnover anyway. 

While we're on offense, I think it is time that Kurk Lee comes off the bench, and Isabell and Harper start together at guard.

Lee and Isabell just can't seem to click, and despite the affection Spiker has for Lee, he'd serve this team better coming off the bench to spell Isabell. Drexel's large point totals come against piss-poor defenses, and even with some impressive scoring games, they still don't crack the top 100 nationally in points per game. This minor change would have both players playing their natural position, and neither would end up matched up with a much larger guard. 

It's really the defense that needs to improve though, to give Drexel any sort of chance at salvaging the season. 

It's a shame Jarvis Doles and Tadas Kararinas have proven themselves useless, because interior defense is the biggest issue for the Dragons who allow 78.1 points per game which is good for 279th nationally. 

So, the defense is the larger of two problems which needs to be corrected immediately. 

The scheme changes depending on who the opposition is, but regardless of the type of zone or man defense they play, the Dragons just seem outmatched. 

Both Hofstra and Delaware losses can be attributed to the lack of interior defense. Austin Willams can alter shots, but if they're coming off the rim the Dragons are often out of position or missing box outs to get the rebound. It's incredibly frustrating as a fan, so I can't imagine how Spiker and Co. feel. 

If the opponent has a big man, Williams will try to stay home on him, so when a guard can penetrate and Williams slides over, a simple drop pass leads to a monster dunk. If Williams stays at home, Demir doesn't have the quickness to slide over, so you're just hoping for someone to block a shot in the trail. 

It's impossible to beat teams who get easy, high-percentage shots, as Drexel is proving. 

The coaching staff is paid to figure this shit out, and I'm pretty pissed off there has been a regression in not only their help defense, but the defense in general from the start of the season. Yes, I know Ty Myles isn't playing, but the problems go beyond the injury to a high energy, but ultimately mediocre player.  

If Drexel does appear to be defending the post, it's because their opponent is kicking out for open three's or to a wing with a clean path to the lane. 

There are definitely some games where a team is just "on" and consistently knocking down tough shots. That has not been the case for Drexel. The reason they fall behind and can never mount a full comeback is because even if shots start falling for the offense, the defense doesn't make enough stops. Therefore, if you go into a shooting slump, which a team like this is prone to do, you better have strong defense to stay close and turn stops into offense. 

Delaware shot 47.5% from the field, which is actually pretty good for Drexel, but it was one of those offensive slumps that buried the Dragons. 

Next up is Towson, a team that averages 76.3 points per game, and we have to play them at their place. Between 6'5 and 6'4 guards Mike Morsell and Zane Martin, Drexel will have their hands full.

This team can surprise, but I don't see how Drexel can compete if their defensive struggles persist.  

 

 

Fill The Moat on January 13th

There are stories from ancient history recounting the military tactic of building a moat around a castle to protect it from unwanted intruders. 

As if the deep, water filled trenches were not enough to keep intruders at bay, stories of fire breathing dragons being placed in the moats were circulated to ensure the enemies wouldn't dare attempt a crossing. 

When I started my blog, Magnificent Basketball, I used the imagery of the fire breathing creature, and even took a piece of the Drexel mascots name for my title. I just thought it was awesome to have such a badass mascot, but what I want to convey here, is the fact that we have a pretty badass fanbase and team as well. 

If you read Magnificent Basketball, then you know how fond I am of this group of guys and their leader. The Dragons are not a great team by any stretch of the imagination, but the players play extremely hard, and just about every game at the DAC so far this season has been at times excruciating, but always exciting. 

My plea to you, in simplest terms, is to Fill the Moat. 

We are the Dragons, and that court is our castle. We need to fill the moat surrounding our castle with fire breathing Dragons to ensure that no opponents have an easy time infiltrating our house.

I am pleading with all Dragons to help fill the moat surrounding Sam Cozen Court on January 13 at 4:00PM. This is going to be a huge game for current students to get rowdy for as it's their first game back from break. 

The Blue and Gold Club is hosting a pregame party in the Blue and Gold Room inside of the DAC for alumni to catch up with one another. This is set to begin at 3PM and you can RSVP here. Following the game, there has been talk of the party continuing at Landmark to watch the Eagles game. 

Of course, the January 13 game versus Hofstra is just the start of what we want to build. 

Who do I mean when I say "we"?

The quick version is still pretty long, but I'm going to tell it to you anyway. 

I started a blog and didn't think anyone would read it. An alum named Rob Falcone did, and invited me to a Slack group with about 15 Drexel basketball fanatics in it. 

In that group I met the gentlemen who run this website and the podcast that started it. We decided to team up to put our content in one spot, making it easy for fans to get a dose of Drexel hoops without having to scour the internet. 

The aforementioned Rob has since rebuilt the Blue and Gold Club newsletter, and the Drexel basketball community is fortunate for it. I encourage you to sign up to receive the e-newsletter here. 

The reason I tell you this is because there is a whole community of Drexel basketball fans that you can be a part of. Four months ago I had no idea this community existed, and now I'm trying to do my Dragonly duty and help to fill the moat. 

CAA play is underway, the Dragons have the opportunity to make some noise, and I want my fellow alums to join me in at the Dac on January 13. There are still tickets available, and when you go to www.drexeltickets.com to purchase them, be sure to use the promo code BLUEANDGOLD and get 10% off your purchase. 

At the top of this page there is a link to our Slack channel so feel free to join and share your thoughts on Drexel basketball. 

This is goin to be an awesome day and a great start to what we hope to build. I know there is a fanbase of Drexel alums out there who will join me on Saturday to fill the moat and protect what's ours. I can't wait to see everyone there. 

 

CAA Play: Not off to the Best Start

Alright, so not a GREAT start to CAA play. In fact, this is about the worst start imaginable for our Drexel Dragons. 

After losing to Elon by 15 points and giving up 90 in their first conference matchup of the season, Drexel outdid themselves with a 20 point loss in which they surrendered 107 points to UNCW. The Seahawks were 3-10 heading into this game with only one victory against a D-I opponent. 

Elon is a talented team and Drexel at least showed some fight. UNCW is a conference win you need to get. To lose by 20 points and show absolutely no ability to defend is maddening. 

Drexel shot the ball at a clip of 51.6% from the field, scored 87 points, and only turned it over 12 times to UNCW's 16. The fact they found a way to lose by 20 is mind-blowing. 

Tramaine Isabell, Sam Green and Tyshawn Myles didn't play, and yes they would've made a difference, but unless Tramaine Isabell turned into Scottie Pippen, then it wouldn't have been enough. 

Drexel was shredded like an old water bill. It wasn't like UNCW was making difficult shots. They were making uncontested jumpers, and essentially doing lay up drills through the paint. 

It wasn't just the seeming disdain for playing defense, but the Dragons were also crushed on the boards, 43-24. Austin Williams can't do it all, and he found himself in foul trouble, making it difficult for him to play as aggressively as he'd like. 

I have come to the conclusion that Tadas Kararinas and Jarvis Doles are not ready to play Division I college basketball. Kararinas has looked completely lost out there on both ends of the floor, and is honestly doing more harm than good. Doles has seen his minutes rapidly decline and for good reason. These young bigs need time to season, and I assure you if his hand wasn't forced, Spiker would very sparingly have either of them check in. 

The young guns are the last people I want to blame though.

I understand Harper and Overton are both working their way back from injury, but they have been underwhelming in these first two games. Overton seems like he's scared to play defense for some reason, and his shot selection has been poor. Harper, while showing an ability to score, has whatever the opposite of finesse is when he's driving. If his whole game is attacking the rim with reckless abandon in the hopes that the stripes will blow their Fox 40's, then he will not be a player that can help his team win. 

Kurk Lee, who played so exceptionally well in the absence of Isabell at La Salle has struggled in CAA play thus far. 

in the games he has played, Isabell can usually get a bucket or make a play on defense or sky for a rebound if things are getting out of hand. Him being on the floor puts more defenders eyes on him and makes things easier for his teammates. His absence has been felt mightily in the last three games.

Overton, Harper and Lee all had stretches in both the Elon and UNCW games where they seemed like players who could stop the bleeding and start a run, but after every big shot on offense came a lapse on defense. One step forward, two steps back. You'll probably throw their point totals at me in these past two games, but when they're still losing by 15 or 20 something is horribly wrong. 

It all comes down to defense. Drexel can score, but cannot get key stops. When they get down by a huge number early like they did against UNCW, the game is basically over because they will never be able to get enough stops, despite their scoring prowess, to get back into the game. 

So, what needs to happen for Drexel to get on the right track in the CAA?

Obviously, you need Isabell back and healthy. He's not the greatest defender in the world, but his scoring and rebounding ability is desperately needed. It would also be nice to see his passing skills on full display with players like Overton and Harper who should be the beneficiaries of easy buckets compliments of Tramaine. 

Secondly, Spiker and his staff need to go back to the drawing board and figure out which way to best utilize their personel on defense. 

Contesting three point attempts is obviously the easiest way to stay in games, but it's easier said than done. Drexel is usually too slow on rotations and getting to the ball once a team starts whipping passes around. Their laziness and lack of communication also makes it difficult to defend the three pointer. UNCW and Elon both utilized high screens to free up a shooter and the Dragons either didn't call out the screen or no one helped on defense. 

Harper and Overton need to get their legs back under them sure, but that will only help if these guys want to hustle on defense, and right now that doesn't seem to be the case. 

Alihan Demir needs to play around the rim and clog up the paint. He is too slow to chase down shooters. The guards need to force the ball into the paint so Demir, and especially the shot blocking menace Williams can be effective on defense. 

This, of course, is going under the assumption that every team can shoot the three. Well, if you give enough open looks to D-I players, the three-ball will fall. Drexel features a premier shot blocker so if the guys on the wings can force the ball to the middle, Stretch will not find himself behind the play or out of position and can alter the shot. 

After the non-conference schedule was completed, I was fairly optimistic. It seemed like Drexel was at least playing very hard, and the coaches were getting the most they could out of what they had, despite never being healthy. 

Right now, it feels like they're simply outclassed. Like every team just has more talent top to bottom. 

My hope is that's not the case. My hope is that Drexel has talented pieces that need to be healthy and play together for a while.

This is what I hope because what the reality might be is just too damn hard to face two games into conference play. 

 

Back in Time for CAA Play

Listen, 6-7 is not that bad of a record for Drexel to have compiled in non-conference play. 

One of those wins did come against Arcadia, and one of the losses was at the hands of Loyola, but wins over La Salle and Houston, and a close game versus Temple should give Drexel fans confidence as we head into CAA Play.

It's tricky to make any kind of prediction as to how the Dragons will fare in conference play this year. At the beginning of the season, I did predict Drexel would finish one game over .500, so going by that, Drexel would have a winning record in conference play. 

This is still doable, but it will not be easy. 

You're reading a blog on a website with "Dragons" in the title, so unless you're a Game of Thrones nerd who stumbled across this site, you probably know Drexel has battled injuries all season. I won't elaborate, but it looks like Troy Harper will definitely be ready for CAA play, Miles Overton might be, and Sam Green most likely won't be. 

It is so crucial for Drexel to have these guys back and healthy for conference play for several reasons. 

Number one, Overton and Harper can be used to break up the two headed point guard of Tramaine Isabell and Kurk Lee the Dragons have been running this year out of necessity. 

The emergence and strong play of Alihan Demir has enabled Coach Spiker to use a big lineup where he plays Mojica at the two, and Demir with Stretch and Doles/Kararinas/Myles.

Harper will be able to get a bucket when Drexel needs one. and Overton should be able to make an impact on defense, but above all, they will be able to break up some minutes. 

Lee, Isabell and Mojica have all been playing way too many minutes and it has effected their production late in games. Just look at Quinnipiac. Lee knocked down the game winning three pointer. He only played 30 minutes that game as opposed to his usual 40. Would he have had the legs and concentration to make that shot with 10 additional minutes of play?

Isabell, who played all 40 minutes in that game made a costly turnover very late as he tried to dribble between two pressing defenders. Tramaine usually has the ball on a damn string and can make that look easy, but if you're tired, nothing is easy no matter how skilled you are. 

There is no doubt in my mind Lee and Isabell will both be more productive if they can get a blow every once in a while, and especially if neither is forced to be without the ball. 

They are ball dominant guards and neither is good at moving without it. 

I am curious to see Isabell and Harper playing together. Both have the ability to drive and score, and both are phenomenal athletes. I think Isabell will make it easy for Harper to get clean looks all over the court, and it wouldn't shock me if he averages double figures in scoring this year.

The concern one might have would be how do you fit these new pieces into the puzzle. The good news is Drexel really has not developed an identity yet. 

At their best, they have guards who can score, Mojica hitting three's, Demir putting up numbers and Stretch dunking the ball and blocking shots. Those games are few and far between. At their worst, you have Lee and Isabell passing the ball back and forth to one another and everyone else standing still. 

For the most part, the Dragons have been somewhere in between that. Lee, unsurprisingly has put up his best numbers when Isabell hasn't played. Different players have stepped up on the scoring front in different games. They have never been healthy enough to become a well oiled offense. 

When Harper and Overton get acclimated, which shouldn't take very long, Drexel can be a very dangerous team. Spiker knows what he is doing, and when the players get enough reps in his system it will show. 

The bottom line is getting players healthy will result in a better team. I know, I know, I'm a regular John Wooden. 

Drexel can be a top four CAA team just as easily as they can finish in the bottom four. I anticipate they'll lose a few games early and win a few surprising ones later on. What I am certain of is if they stay healthy, we will see this team develop an identity which is key for any good program. 

 

13 - I Get Hard

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