3ptshot

Emery had an okay season, but if you read my post, there is talent there that IS NOT being exploited. I didn't say anyone should have gotten the nod this year, I am saying that given the right coaching there are boys on this year's team who would have shined. Any of the starters on the team could have made All Region, Second Team, or Honorable Mention if the team had played up to its potential.

They finished third in regular season play, then proceeded to lose in the first round to Father Ryan, the number 8 seed, coincidentally enough they had just beaten Father Ryan 4 days earlier. The problem is post season. 4 out of 5 years under Husband's leading, BA has been put out of the tournament in the first round. I say it again, BA had talent, but the way they were coached the talent could not shine. Had Husband played to his talent, I believe that there would have been several All-Region players on the team. When they had their mini-run after the first of the year that set them up to finish 3rd, they played differently than the end of the season. They ran the floor instead of walking the ball up, there were fast break points because they ran, they set picks for the wings and guards to get open for uncontested jumpshots, and they utilized the fact that their posts were fast and tall (if not big) getting the ball down low quickly before the others teams could set up their defensive pressure. Then Husband changed the whole offensive strategy going back to his tried and not-so-true habit of passing the ball around the perimeter and turning the ball over... basketball should be played North and South, not East and West... they stopped running, they stopped going to the basket, they stopped setting picks for the wings, the posts never got the ball when they were open because no one was looking inside, and when they did get the ball they had to contend with the other teams' post players that out weighed them by 20 lbs. They stopped playing like a team, each kid not trusting the other, so there were so many low percentage "chuck it up" shots. Again, there was talent, but the talent was not used well.

Wareagle, any chance you know something the rest of us dont know? Or is this just wishful thinking? I too have seen Sonn coach. Seems like he would be a value add. Never seen Smith coach anything but girls. With his record at Ensworth, do you think that he wants to rebuild when he has had such success where he is?

Ensworth vs. Briarcrest... both teams with great coaches. Can Briarcrest overcome the Corn factor?

These are great questions, and I agree the Travelers have been a good program and represented TN well over the years. However, there are many mid state players not willing or able to drive to Knoxville every weekend for early season practice that might be more inclined to play for the Travelers if they were based in a more central location like Nashville. I know its an invite only team, but there might be more to choose from if based in Nashville.

Truer words were never spoken! But, given that the past cannot be changed, there is absolutely no reason to continue to make the same mistake for 2012-2013 and beyond.

It is many people's hope that Husband will step down, but if not,I hope you are wrong about next year... because there are rumours that many of the talented 8th graders will change schools next year NOT to play for Husband. And do you blame them? They need to make the decision now or lose a year of eligibility if they transfer later. If the school makes a change now, then the juniors with talent(and there are still several on this team) will have an opportunity to play at least one year with a good coach and the school will not lose any of the boys transitioning from middle school to high school. Parents need to make their concerns known to the Head Master and the interim AD - NOW - so that the new AD wont have to make this his first decision. However if they do leave the decision making to the new AD, then it will go a long way towards knowing how strong a leader he will be going forward to see if he can make the tough but long overdue decisions. Records speak for themselves, and Husband's is not reflective of the talent he has seen go through his system.

You are not the first to mention Hubie Smith. Why didn't he get the job last time? I understand he was in the running.

Did I read the boxscore right? Did DCA beat FRA? Someone who was there, tell us what happened.

Bradshaw is liked and has the respect from the boys, but its much easier to be an assistant coach than the guy making the calls. After tonight's loss to Father Ryan, it was obvious that Husband was out coached. Father Ryan came to play... they knew it was win or go home. Did Husband?

And to top it all off, they are both such great kids! Congratulations Logan and Mason, and best wishes for both of you in the future.

baller33, why would you say that?

I have not seen the teams in the west play this year, or the Chattagnooga kids, but so far, these are the boys who have been impressive and given their teams the extra edge when needed. Ensworth: Elder, Downey BA: McGrath, Henninger MBA: Blackwell, Howard PJPII: Phillips BGA: Smith, Shellnut

Capt. This didn't just start in the middle of this year. There were major rumours of a change last year, however the "hands off" AD did nothing to make a change even though there were plenty of people who thought a change was needed and expressed their views to the school. Now that the school will have a new AD, it is hopeful that they will do something. Bking, probably would just like to see the coach admit that he is the problem and proactively step down. Over the past 5 years that I have been going to BA basketball games (and I go to almost all home games and many away games), I have seen enthusiastic, talented players turned into kids with no love of the game. Last year 3 seniors and a junior quit over Christmas break, this year 3 or 4 talented boys decided not to play, specifically because of the coach. And, as mentioned in another post one family chose to leave BA in their son's junior year instead of suffering through another basketball season. You mention that people should offer to help with the team, or that the talent was less than in the past. Those are valid questions, and I would say to you that help has been offered by several people outside the team who played at the D1 college level, yet in the end, the coach has chosen not to take any of that advice. The talent that has cycled through the team in the past few years is not of the same caliber as Brandon Wright, however, at one time his team had at least 4 potential D1 players. Yet to my knowledge, he has yet to help anyone of those boys secure a place on a college team (D1, D2, or at any other collegiate level). Bking is right, its time for a change.

Capt. Its not the same as being on "red light" they were told, your only job is to set picks, you never shoot. If I was on the other team, I might notice that only 1 or 2 players have the green light to shoot and the others never look to the basket. Just sayin.

There are 3 injured players who would normally get good off the bench time, hopefully by January and district play they will all be well. But that does not make up for the fact that despite being an awesome person and man of God, he doesn't doesn't know how to coach a team. Players who should be excelling in the sport are faltering in an offense that doesn't allow players to take a shot when they are open, but puts blinders on them to "run the play". Parents of boys who have quit have told me their son's were told specifically not to shoot... really?

It would be in BA's best interest to choose an AD ASAP, I believe that Buddy Alexander should be considered. Not only is he a BA alum with strong ties to the school (he has 3 kids, one who graduated from BA and 2 currently there), he is the middle school AD, he has been a state champion athlete, and a 3 time state champion coach with the baseball team. He has seen BA from all aspects, student, coach, and parent, and understands that the AD oversees more than just the football team. At BA, all the sports (with the possible exception of cross country and track) have floundered under Potter's tenure. Its time to get a strong AD who will evaluate all the programs and make the tough decisions that need to be made to return the school to its previous glory.

I was at the game as well, and the boys looked okay in the first half, but struggled in the second. There is and has been plenty of talent at BA, but Husband doesn't have the ability to coach to his talent. He consistantly tries to make his players fit his coaching style instead of designing his game around the talent he has. Over the past 4 years, I have watched at least 8 good players quit the game or leave the school specifically because of his coaching style. They should have replaced him last year, and in my opinion should do so as soon as possible or this season will be exactly like every other season he has coached, maybe even worse.