CPA @ David Lipscomb

[Gimmetheball]

Been giving this some thought. To say someone can't coach, particularly when they are having a good year and sitting undefeated on top of the district is certainly too strong a statement. On the other side of that coin, (if one was objective), it doesn't automatically mean that a person can coach. From what I've seen and what I read CPA is enjoying certain advantages night in and night out with its superior personnel, particularly since on one can match up with the Mason kid. We know that good coaches don't get beat by teams they should beat and at times will beat teams they have no business beating. CPA's strength of schedule ranking currently stands at 92 on CoachT, so it sounds like they are curently only beating the teams they are suppose to beat. Although to their credit I think they have tried to strengthen the schedule from last year. (Didn't they play teams like Franklin Classical last year?) When you are dealing with talent and as I have read certain postings of the past, kids who have been gym rats since elementary, that is not a very hard team to coach since those kids motivate themselves. Maybe we can at least agree that this is an easy team to coach and let the strong statements rest until more time passes by. Good coaches are determined over the long term anyway, not the short term.

 

While you do make a few good points, your criticism of CPA is subtle and smacks of someone who may not wish us well. That's ok though....as you say, you're entitled to your opinion.

 

CPA is having a great year due to a lot of different factors. Sure, this year we happen to have a lot of talent on this team. (none of which are "gym-rats") Also, alll of our coaches are extremely skillful and communicate brilliantly with the team. It doesn't take the "long term" to see that. I've seen more than one game that was "won" by a coaching adjustment. That doesn't happen by accident.

 

In the spirit of making a legitimate post regarding our schedule, all of the teams in 9AA come to play every night and we've had to play hard and smart to win. (I'll bet the other teams are tired of hearing how "down" they are this year) How about Livingston Academy, Harpeth High, Memphis Melrose, and McGavock High this year? All big CPA wins against much larger schools outside of 9AA. In our Kentucky showcase loss, after a poor start we played the #1 team in Kentucky "even" to the end. If memory serves me, even college teams balance their schedule with programs larger and smaller than their own.

 

No, I don't agree that CPA is an easy team to coach. This is a team that has a lot of expectations on them. No, I don't think a bunch of teenagers motivate themselves. Our coaches are constantly working on our teams confidence. They know every one is bringing their "A" game. Our guys take nothing for granted and, however it goes, we expect a fight to the finish.

 

Just my humble opinion. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

[manarms32]

Just my humble opinion. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

 

 

And a good one at that, nothing I can really specifically dispute because the possibility does exist that you are right, though I am a little suprised at your disagreement with the term gym-rat. Gym-rat is a complimentary basketball term, means those who put a lot of time into their game in case you were wondering what I meant. So if others have not described this group accurately by their previous posts, I apologize, I was under the impression this was a characteristic of players on this team. My opinion of 9AA this year has nothing to do with CPA, they are strong and whether the other teams get tired of hearing it or not still doesn't alter the truth of this year's talent level from top to bottom compared to the last few years. I am not the one rating schedule strengths. I wish CPA all the best and any other team who rises to the top because I enjoy the aspects of competition and discussing intelligently all the factors of what it takes to get there. Talent is one of those and one that does make coaching easier. Certain talent has nothing to do with coaching. A player like Mason can make a lot of coaches look good, which certainly is no disrespect to CPA's staff. Just happens to be a truth of competitive sports.

[preppygal]

And a good one at that, nothing I can really specifically dispute because the possibility does exist that you are right, though I am a little suprised at your disagreement with the term gym-rat. Gym-rat is a complimentary basketball term, means those who put a lot of time into their game in case you were wondering what I meant. So if others have not described this group accurately by their previous posts, I apologize, I was under the impression this was a characteristic of players on this team. My opinion of 9AA this year has nothing to do with CPA, they are strong and whether the other teams get tired of hearing it or not still doesn't alter the truth of this year's talent level from top to bottom compared to the last few years. I am not the one rating schedule strengths. I wish CPA all the best and any other team who rises to the top because I enjoy the aspects of competition and discussing intelligently all the factors of what it takes to get there. Talent is one of those and one that does make coaching easier. Certain talent has nothing to do with coaching. A player like Mason can make a lot of coaches look good, which certainly is no disrespect to CPA's staff. Just happens to be a truth of competitive sports.

 

 

Every time you respond, you start out as if it is going to be a positive and intelligent post, then it turns out to be just like your other posts. They have all been very well thought out, carefullly written, and I almost fall for it...then I realize it's all just the same as the posts before. You haven't posted one thing where you didn't start off apologizing or agreeing with someone just to turn around and criticize another part of the CPA program, staff, or team.

[crimsontide43]

Having won over 500 games and coached against CPA for years I think I know what a good coach is what a bad coach is. All I am saying is Maddux is getting credit for inheriting good talent. Lets see him win with average Talent. From what I have seen he wont be able to do that.

[Gimmetheball]

Having won over 500 games and coached against CPA for years I think I know what a good coach is what a bad coach is. All I am saying is Maddux is getting credit for inheriting good talent. Lets see him win with average Talent. From what I have seen he wont be able to do that.

 

If what we've seen is what we have to go from then....from what I've seen....Drew WILL continue to succeed. And since you are so experienced at winning and "KNOW" what a good coach is, then you certainly know that building a winning program is a "process". Seems like it would be more productive to criticize someone who had his/her chance and failed than a young coach in the 2nd year of his career. You haven't let the process work so how could you possibly be so sure. Absurd.

[Bighurt]

Having won over 500 games and coached against CPA for years I think I know what a good coach is what a bad coach is. All I am saying is Maddux is getting credit for inheriting good talent. Lets see him win with average Talent. From what I have seen he wont be able to do that.

 

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Some coaches always seem to have "talent". I think that there are coaches like Drew who are just good at developing talent.

 

Just my opinion.

[kbrks]

... and believe me when I say this, if Maddux did not come to CPA two years ago they would not be as good as they are now. CPA won 7 games the year before Maddux came and 27 in his first year with all the same players other than 1 senior who graduated. Now he has taken an 7 win team to a top 5 midstate team in two years. You can't tell me thats just because of the players and competition.

 

 

Wow, one never knows what may appear on CoachT. Certainly I have debated as to whether or not to enter this arena, but there comes a time when certain statements should not continue to go unchallenged. If nothing more then for the sake of truth, accuracy and context. Hopefully there is not a limit on the length of a post.

 

In the five seasons between 2000-05, CPA boys basketball averaged 20 wins a year made it to the sweet 16 three times (hosting two games), won back to back district regular season championships (9-1 each year), and back to back region tournament championships. We fortunately had enough talent, but it was never because we were the most talented. Time and time again we faced opponents who were bigger and stronger since we did not possess the advantage of having a true, big post presence. The highlight for many was the 03-04 year that resulted in a sectional championship, making it to the state final four - winning the first game before losing in the semis on a last second putback. That team won 30 games and broke Temple??™s 55 game home winning streak (who was also a state semifinalist that season), to add to the many highlights.

 

The fan base was terrific. There were packed gyms, with students dressing up and storming the court after big wins. Part of the fun was to see what they would wear to the games. These fans chanted my nickname after the 04 district tournament and sang happy birthday to me during the region tournament of 05.

 

Does this sound like a program that went from ???discouraged fans to an overpacked gym??? as described in a past divepix post? Granted, he was making reference to the 05-06 season, just one year removed, but I would like to think that the majority of CPA fans are not that fickle and understood what happened in 05-06 which in reality was a tremendous accomplishment for that team,

 

CPA entered the 05-06 season having lost 8 seniors from a 23-11 year and returned only one player with any varsity experience along with being bumped up to 2A due to the multiplier. In my view, the first year that CPA was in this new district has been the toughest this district has been in CPA??™s three years at 2A. Not only did this team lack experience, but due to the planned, intentional youth movement, this team lacked a physical maturity which was only going to be solved with time. The plan was to jump start the experience factor by affording our freshmen and sophomores a chance to play right away.

 

This team also lost Z Mason (who was actually the one young player who possessed the physical maturity to go along with his talent) for the entire season only a few weeks before the season began. This greatly affected the planning that had taken place since the previous spring. The fact is the 05-06 team won 8 total games (not 7), but the difference in the margin of victory was slightly over 5 points per game which was the same when one looks at the district games. Anyone think that Z might have been able to make up that 5 point difference? I certainly think so.

 

Put all those factors together and those who understand basketball could see what the 05-06 team was up against. Even though we had to throw a physically immature and inexperienced group into the fire that first year, take some lumps and go through some growing pains, the future was very bright. We knew we had given our talented young players valuable game experience and of Z??™s desire to return to CPA.

 

Was their a significant personnel difference between the 05-06 team and the 06-07 team? Absolutely! It is not true that the 06-07 success was based on insignificant personnel changes. Z??™s return was significant beyond measure; he is a special talent that was the missing piece to those returning. Outside of Z??™s return, this team had a chance to physically mature between these two seasons as well as added experience. 06-07 was not a team that returned only one varsity player with experience as was the case in 05-06. The 06-07 team added Z, returned players who had added inches to their height and weight to their frame and at least six other players with varsity experience. Any coach would tell you this does play a part in a team??™s substantial improvement from one year to the next, particularly a young team that was close and competitive the previous year. I don??™t think my believing this basketball truth in any way takes away from what the current coaching staff is accomplishing. On the other side of that coin it is not necessary to elevate Coach Maddux and staff at the expense of the previous. Each staff and team should be allowed to stand on its own, without comparisons.

 

In spite of all of that was stacked against the 05-06 team, this team grew during the course of the year and was the beginning to play well at the end. Unfortunately after Hunter??™s 44 point performance in a solid win over Ezell, he missed the last regular season game due to sickness and was not nearly at full strength for the first round tournament game against a very good, talented, experienced, tournament tested Lipscomb team on their home floor. Entering the tournament, we had also lost one starter to injury. Two other key players, one starter and one off the bench, were sick as well. David had to leave that game when he fell hard on his head. Too many factors for this team??™s first district tournament experience. Yes, I consider those legitimate factors and not some coach looking for excuses.

 

Regardless of the outcome, I could not have been prouder of that team. Against all odds, they competed well throughout the year and learned what it took to compete. I believe that group laid a strong foundation for the future success of CPA basketball at the 2A level. I also believe going with a youth movement helped speed the process along. I was totally optimistic about the future, we happened to hit a predictable speed bump along the way. It was no different than what I felt in the development of the program prior to the 03-04 season. I had no doubt that what happened with CPA basketball at the 1A level was going to happen at the 2A level. In my experience from observing and experiencing mid-state basketball, the good 1A teams have always been able to consistently compete with the good 2A teams. In my view, this would be true of this upcoming CPA group. They were a talented group and had every piece necessary in place. Not disrespecting AA, I have great respect for those teams, I am only touting the strength of district 9A during those years and the known abilities and work ethic of the players at CPA.

 

This year??™s CPA team and coaching staff are obviously having an excellent year. Congratulations to all. Support them fully since the fans are an important part of the success and add so much to the fun a year like this can bring. But does it have to be done at the expense of previous teams or the previous coach, particularly if you are not going to accurately describe the scenario which affects what people think? Past posts of those like divepix and sportsfreak became too personal and never showed any real sensitivity to me, my family or even the successes of the 05-06 team or previous teams. Once again, in our culture, too much emphasis on winning. Yet what some viewed as a down year was in reality not a down year at all, only part of the process. Unfortunately, what has been stated and what has been left unstated easily allows people??™s minds to draw the wrong conclusions. Yet those thoughts continue to permeate people??™s minds and continue to show up on public postings. I offer this in the hope that it helps people develop opinions and a better perspective by adding a context that I have yet to see.

[matt610]

good points and well received...

It is most definitely true that CPA's current success cannot be credited solely to the coach. It's all the factors playing in: district strength, players talents, school history, and yes, the coach. I fully understand that CPA teams in the past had much less to work with, and I don't think anyone on here is trying diminish your accomplishments or say that you weren't a good coach, rather only trying to combat the "Maddux haters" on here with evidence that shows he is getting the job done and that the program is on the rise. I have a lot of respect for you and what you did for the school and the impact you had on young men's lives. You helped lay the foundation for what is now coming to fruition. God Bless.

[crimsontide43]

Mike Ellson built CPA from nothing to a mid state power long before Maddux was on the scene. He should be getting the credit.