The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

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  • waytofailself
    MVP
    • Feb 2011
    • 1522

    #316
    Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)


    #1 Drexel vs #4 Seton Hall

    A moment frozen in time. The errant shot went wildly high in the air bouncing high off the top of the backboard. Hanging above the rim like Polaris in the northern sky, it waited patiently for all observers to catch up. Then ever so slowly, it fell and hit the rim before diving through the hoop and net.

    Aaron Wright stared in disbelief then pumped his fist. It had been that kind of night for Seton Hall. Threes going in even when they should not in any other universe.

    The same cannot be said for West's Dragons. The mid-major came out swinging, but it was not enough against the Pirates. Drexel was overwhelmed early, and Seton Hall found whatever mid-rage shots it wanted around Drexel's zone. The Pirates took a page from Texas' playbook and swarmed Femi Ramsey early and often, and Ramsey struggled early. But what got the Dragons in a large first half hole was none other than Ramsey's supporting cast.

    The Dragons went 0-6 from beyond the arc in the first half. Some of the misses were terrible, and all four of Josh Payton's misses were while he was wide open. Furthermore, the Dragons were having a terrible time defending Seton Hall's shooters. Logon Chandler was abusing Duncan Richard all around the court when the Dragons switched to Man-to-Man, and the 6'10" Small Forward got whatever he wanted around Drexel's 1-3-1 zone. Richard was outclassed -- he could not keep up.

    Down in the dumps is not the word to describe Drexel's performance, but they were in trouble and losing grip of the game quickly. Facing a 12 point deficit in the first half, things needed to change fast.

    Out of necessity, Coach West brought in Tracey Cottrill. The 7' PF used to be called soft or a dough boy, but he has truly begun to grow into his body with an imposing frame, a gigantic wing span, and good lateral movement. No one else on the Dragons has the tools to match up with a player like Chandler.

    Cottrill responded with the best game of his career at just the right time.

    Drexel was getting little from their perimeter offense, but at least was able to do damage down low. Wright and Paris Kemp were able to double up on Ramsey, but they had trouble transitioning over to Duncan Sow when he went inside. Add Cottrill to the mix and suddenly the Dragons started putting a dent into Seton Hall's lead. It was a lot of grind-it-out work, but Drexel was able to reduce the lead all the way 1 on a Gilbert McLaughlin put back as time expired.

    But Coach West had problems. He was getting no production from his back court, and surely the Pirates could clamp down in the middle even harder. Despite the Dragons taking their first lead in a long time on the first shot of the 2nd half, Seton Hall quickly struck back and built up a 8 point lead. Forget Drexel's perfect season, the Big East Champs were swiping away the Dragon's title shot.

    The Dragons made a few more adjustments, including switching to a 3-2 to fight the perimeter and Coach West telling his team to push the ball down the court every time they could. Seton Hall continued to hold defenders back to stop the break, but Drexel finally slowed down the Pirates' shooting after allowing 50% three point shooting in the first half. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to allow Drexel to mount one final charge at the Pirates.

    Where Femi Ramsey was constantly contested, Tracey Cottrill picked up the team and put it on his shoulders. He attacked off the dribble. He made clean passes when available. He got to the line often and hit every single one of his free throws. Soon the Pirate defense had to account for the Cottrill, and that freed up Ramsey enough to start doing damage.

    As the score grew closer, the crowd awoke. No no one was going to pull this game out until the end, and for around the last 8 minutes of the second half, all the fans in attendance were on their feet willing their team to win.

    With three minutes to go, Drexel found themselves once again down by one. McCarthy had the ball at the top of the key, and as had been the case for most of the second half, the Pirates applied no pressure to him. McCarthy waited as his teammates moved into position to try and create space, but still no defenders came. The bucket was never going to be bigger. The defense would never be looser. McCarthy hoisted a wide open three with no one around for the lead.

    Clang.

    But the ball went straight into Ramsey's hands. The big man pump faked then put back the shot, drew a foul, and converted the free throw. Drexel's lead was two. Then four. Then five. Suddenly it was Seton Hall who was in danger of finding a way to lose a game they had dominated.

    McCarthy had the ball at the top of the key again, this time with the Pirates in man-to-man. During the time out, West set out two priorities, "Run the clock. No stupid plays." McCarthy let the clock wind down, but after a screen found Aaron Wright on top of him. That meant the far smaller M.C. Stokes was following Ramsey on the roll. The ideal match up. But before McCarthy could pass, Wright stepped forward and swiped the ball from the Senior Point Guard.

    Drexel's only second half turnover could not come at a worse time. Wright went barreling down the court with only McCarthy nearby. But McCarthy could not foul before Wright went up for a thunderous two handed slam -- and unfortunately for the Dragons McCarthy's foul was too weak to change Wright's trajectory. Maybe it was better than drawing a flagrant foul with less than a minute left in the game, but Wright deftly hit the free throw to cut Drexel's lead to two.

    The Dragons could not afford another empty possession. Coach West took a time out and drew up a play to free up Ramsey inside or Morandais on the wing. Once again Seton Hall came out in man-to-man, and Ramsey was blanketed inside. An entry pass was not safe. However, Moradais was able to run through a screen and free up space with 30 seconds left. McCarthy made the smart pass, and Morandais rose up to make it a two possession game.

    Clang!

    Once again Drexel's dominance on the boards would be rewarded. Tracey Cottrill came down with the offensive rebound near the basket -- but then the Sophomore got caught up in the moment. All he had to do was kick out the ball, or even hold onto it to force a foul. Instead, he went back up with an ill advised put back Kemp and Loren Pope nearby. Kemp was credited with the block, but in truth the shot would have never gotten past either of them.

    Down two with time enough for one more possession, Seton Hall spent their last time out. It's hard to say what happened in either team's huddles because the Metrodome was so loud, but don't blame the audience. Look at the situation. Final Four. Down by two. Possession at the end of the game. It's the stuff kids dream up in driveways and school yards all across the country.

    M.C. Stokes brought up the ball, and Drexel came out in Man-to-Man. The clock ran slowly down, but the battle tested Pirates were not rattled. They made a living all year in the Big East coming from behind and grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat. They just needed one more spark. Drexel stayed in position, with Morandais staying tight on Stokes. As the clock was winding down, Josh Payton chased Simon Christie from the corner through the paint. But at just the right time, Paris Kemp stepped forward and made probably the most important screen of his life. It was clean, and it knocked Payton off his feet.

    Christie was by himself on the elbow. Beyond the three point line. Coach Willard has always been one to go for the win instead of tie when it is available, and the winning shot was right here. Christie rose up, as he had so many times before during his four years at South Orange, NJ, to fire the shot that would launch Seton Hall to victory. Into the Championship game.

    CLANG!

    The ball flew off the rim and landed in the mighty paws of Drexel's Duncan Sow. As he landed, he was fouled with only 3.2 seconds remaining. For some reason, it all seemed like deja-vu for the Dragons as Sow walked across the court to the foul line. Once again, his teammates encouraged him but kept their distance. Once again, it was on Sow to be the difference between elimination and preserving a win. The crowd was roaring. The nation watched as the 2014 Freshman All-American went to the line.

    Swish.

    The first shot didn't even graze the rim. The contingent from Philadelphia roared in approval. Now a three from Seton Hall could only tie. The Pirates knew they still had a shot at overtime, but would have to be prepared to move quickly whether Sow made the shot or intentionally missed it. With an expressionless look on his face, Sow rose up for his second free throw.

    Silence.

    So little net that the fabric hardly moved. Seton Hall swarmed to throw in a desperation in-bounds play, but it was too late. The Pirates last second three missed wide, and the ball was not recovered until time expired. Drexel had spent most of the game on the losing end of the scoreboard. But on the back of 24 points off the bench from Tracey Cottrill and 27 combined rebounds from Duncan Sow and Femi Ramsey, the Dragons earned a trip to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game by a final margin of 76-72.

    Seton Hall Pirates at Drexel Dragons
    Mar 31, 20151ST2NDSCORE
    #4 Seton Hall (27-9)413172
    #1 Drexel (36-0)403676
    Seton Hall Pirates (RPI: 12 OVR: 87)
    STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
    M. Stokes272-70-25-6150119
    S. Christie262-110-21-2060125
    L. Chandler228-111-20-08411017
    A. Wright268-121-12-26100119
    P. Kemp226-140-10-05001012
    BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
    L. Pope100-00-00-0311000
    L. Boticki111-21-22-2210005
    I. Allison72-61-20-0201015
    G. Copeland-- DID NOT PLAY --
    A. Deane-- DID NOT PLAY --
    S. Darden-- DID NOT PLAY --
    C. Kelley-- DID NOT PLAY --
    TEAM TOTALS29-634-1210-12271834572
    Drexel Dragons (RPI: 1 OVR: 83)
    STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
    P. McCarthy230-30-10-11111010
    J. Payton221-50-40-0220002
    D. Richard112-60-10-0110004
    D. Sow225-100-03-412111013
    F. Ramsey2510-220-02-215100022
    BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
    T. Cottrill228-130-18-85211024
    W. Morandais121-50-10-0231012
    D. Marsh60-10-00-0100010
    G. McLaughlin74-60-01-2100009
    J. Vassallo-- DID NOT PLAY --
    D. Wilson-- DID NOT PLAY --
    R. Burnette-- DID NOT PLAY --
    TEAM TOTALS31-710-814-17402142376

    Coach's Take: I have to credit our guys for facing adversity and pulling through. We may not have hit our shots like we wanted, and Seton Hall was very close to making us pay for it. They played a helluva game and deserve a lot of credit. But we executed at other phases of the game. We got a lot more rebounds. We created a number of second chance opportunities. We cut down on the turnovers. We took care of business at the free-throw line. Seton Hall gave it their all and can be very proud of their performance. But our team showed great character by coming back twice in this game to pull out the victory. And now we have one more game to go.
    Last edited by waytofailself; 06-02-2012, 03:23 PM.
    The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

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    • superjames1992
      Hall Of Fame
      • Jun 2007
      • 31382

      #317
      Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

      From the way you started that update, I thought you were able to get destroyed! Nice win, though; good luck in the Title Game!!!
      Coaching Legacy of James Frizzell (CH 2K8)
      Yale Bulldogs (NCAA Football 07)
      Coaching Legacy of Lee Williamson (CH 2K8)

      Comment

      • VandyRedskins21
        MVP
        • Dec 2010
        • 1898

        #318
        Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

        That may have been your best write-up yet. I was literally hooked the entire time. Good luck in the championship!! Just one more game
        “If you’re true to yourself, you’re going to be true to everyone else.”

        Comment

        • waytofailself
          MVP
          • Feb 2011
          • 1522

          #319
          Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

          Originally posted by superjames1992
          From the way you started that update, I thought you were able to get destroyed! Nice win, though; good luck in the Title Game!!!
          For a long time I thought I was toast as well. Especially when I got slapped around at the start of the second half. Missing just about every single jump shot, after the team pulled through so well vs. Texas, hurt.

          Originally posted by VandyRedskins21
          That may have been your best write-up yet. I was literally hooked the entire time. Good luck in the championship!! Just one more game
          Glad you enjoyed it. Comebacks like that are always satisfying (although I still do not have the 15 point halftime comeback achievement).

          One more game!
          The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

          Comment

          • waytofailself
            MVP
            • Feb 2011
            • 1522

            #320
            Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)



            2015 Final Four Results

            This may have been one of the more unusual NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments in memory, but it hasn't been without drama. It hasn't been without surprise stories and new stars in the making. It's a special time of year. And this year's Final Four and Championship Game should be a fitting capstone to the season.

            Most of the teams expected to be here were dispatched long ago. Of those remaining, only one had legitimate dreams of making it here at the beginning of the season. But over the course of the season, and over the course of the Tournament, all four teams have shown they are worthy. They are battle tested. They are ready to give it their all.

            At this stage of the game there are no surprises. Everybody knows everyone else. Now, there is only victory or a plane ticket home.

            Game 1

            #1 Drexel 76
            #4 Seton Hall
            72

            The first game featured two schools from the Northeast that have had exceptional seasons but have always been the "little brother" to neighboring, much larger programs. Well, tonight they showed they belong in the limelight. Seton Hall did everything they could to win this game. They threw the kitchen sink at Drexel, and nearly sunk Coach West's perfect season. But credit the Dragons for being resourceful. They turned to their bench to get a huge performance out of Tracy Cottrill, and that was enough to escape the Pirates.

            Game 2

            #11 Missouri State 71 #1 Ohio State 95

            These two teams took totally different paths to make it to the field, but you would now know it during the first half. Ohio State gave body blow after body blow to the Bears, but every time Missouri State got back up again and fought harder. The first half featured seven lead changes, but no team could get any separation. The next stanza was an entirely different story. Ohio State's stars, especially Nick Warner, Darien Grundy and Simon Beye exploded to help the Buckeyes score 60 points in the second half. The Bears fought hard, but they could not match Ohio State's extra gear.

            Thus, after a wacky, almost upside down tournament, it is only fitting that two #1 seeds battle for the championship.
            The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

            Comment

            • waytofailself
              MVP
              • Feb 2011
              • 1522

              #321
              Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)



              2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Preview

              There are a surprising number of storylines in this year's final, but one that cannot be ignored is last year's upset victory for Drexel over Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen. Drexel returns pretty much the same lineup from last year's time, while Ohio State has lost a few of its biggest names to the NBA or International Basketball. Still, this should be a fitting end to the college basketball season.

              And don't forget, just because last year's game went Drexel's way, don't think that means Ohio State hasn't learned and watched tape of it. That game was the first time ever that Coach West put in his "bigs" lineup at the 3-5 spots. The Buckeyes have plenty of tape to study a counter, and if Coach West is going to win with gadgetry this year he will need to find another way.

              Keys to the Game
              1) Get Big: Just like last year, Drexel is a much bigger team than Ohio State. The Dragons were able to exploit the mismatch and Femi Ramsey went off for one of his biggest games of his entire career. With two years of good coaching under their belts, the Drexel's front court has become more refined on offense and better disciplined on defense. In order to go toe-to-toe with the Buckeyes, Drexel will need to rely on their towers.
              2) Be Big: This is the biggest game in Drexel history. This is the biggest game of Coach West's life. The Buckeyes at least have a coach with experience in the championship game, but Drexel needs to be mentally prepared. It starts with Coach West. If he can keep his team focused and playing like they are supposed to be here, the Dragons can seal a history defining victory. But they have to stay tough.

              The Ohio State Buckeyes are exactly who we thought they were. Some might begrudge them for eating a number of mid-major programs en route to the Championship game (where they face another mid-major), but the Buckeyes have proven again and again that they are one of the premier teams programs in the Country. This is Thad Matta's second National Title appearance in the last five seasons. Although he has an entirely different cast, the 2014-2015 are an imposing team who can shoot from anywhere on the floor, move the ball with killer efficiency, and play outstanding team defense.

              The Big Ten Champs will not be the biggest team on the floor tonight, but that is nothing new for the Buckeyes. Although they have only truly been tested once this tournament, against West Virginia, Ohio State is deadly from around the perimeter. If Darien Grundy, Nick Warner, and/or Chas Marks get hot early, this game could be over quick. The Buckeyes rely on Simon Beye to control the middle, but are not afraid to throw walk-on Senior Cedric Okpalobi into the fray either. The team has shown a lot of looks throughout the tournament, and it is clear that they have benefited greatly from sharing the floor together over the years.

              Keys to the Game
              1) Take Advantage of Depth: There is no question that the Buckeyes have better depth than Drexel. Thad Matta uses a very short bench in the tournament, but it isn't always a matter of quantity. Mani McKinney has been a true x-factor for the Buckeyes, hitting key shot after key shot off the bench. In order to defeat the Dragons, Coach Matta will need to make sure his team is playing like they have 7 or 8 starters instead of 5.
              2) Protect the Paint: Last year Femi Ramsey and Duncan Sow dominated inside both by scoring on the low block and by collecting rebounds. Can a year passing really make a difference. Simon Beye rededicated himself to defense in the of-season after being eliminated, but Drexel is going to attack Ohio State's heart like few other teams in the country can. So far te Buckeyes have looked anything but soft in the paint. The Championship Game is no time to start.

              This is it. Both teams are worthy of the title, but only one will emerge as Champion. Are you ready?
              The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

              Comment

              • waytofailself
                MVP
                • Feb 2011
                • 1522

                #322
                Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)


                #1 Ohio State vs #1 Drexel

                Sometimes it is the unsung hero that will carry the day when everything is on the line. Sometimes it is the sure thing.

                Sometimes it is a player who wanted to walk-on to a big time program instead of taking a scholarship elsewhere. With all of the attention on Drexel's star center and Ohio State's stars working together as a team, the bottom of the scouting report had to have read Cedric Okpalobi.

                The Dragons came out firing early. Their strategy was clear from the start, work the ball inside on offense and prevent entry passes to the middle on defense. Coach West played his standard pressure defense, but dared the Buckeyes to shoot over him. The result was a classic barn-burner.

                Femi Ramsey got whatever he wanted inside. Duncan Sow was too imposing in the middle. Meanwhile, Nick Warner was having trouble getting separation from Josh Payton and Darien Grundy was still trying to get on track. Drexel took a quick five point lead, but it was still early.

                Ohio State had little experience playing from behind this tournament because they always found someone to step up. For the first time all tournament, it was Okpalobi, who was way too fast for Duncan Sow and showed he could shoot from anywhere on the court. Drive to the paint? Sure. Hoist a three? Yes please. It was just the spark the Buckeyes needed, and his 14 first half points, including shooting 3-3 from beyond the arc, changed the dynamic of the game.

                Mike Eisentrout came off the bench and hit shots immediately. Chas Marks followed suit, and soon Ohio State was off to a 20-6 run. Josh Payton and Perry McCarthy could not answer from a distance, and Coach West had to take a time out. The Buckeye faithful were in the game now, and the Dragons were staring at the possibility of taking a double digit deficit into the half. Things needed to change, and the team needed to get back to what was working on offense. As for defense, nothing was working. The 1-3-1 was Swiss Cheese. Man-to-Man was rice paper. Ohio State was shooting a blistering 80% and there was no way to stop them.

                Like last year, Drexel went extra big and put their best defenders on the floor. Morandais and Payton, although they could not hit a shot, were showing they could at least keep up on defense. Sow and Ramsey stayed in the middle to guard, and Tracy Cottrill came in to the Small Forward spot. Ohio State was prepared, especially after seeing the damage Cottrill did against Seton Hall. But fortunately, Coach West also reemphasized getting the ball inside. Femi Ramsey benefited the most. No one was tall enough or strong enough to stop him, not even Simon Beye.

                Ohio State continued to score at will, but Drexel began to chip at their lead slowly but surely. Until Tracy Cottrill came down hard on his right leg while grabbing a rebound. The Sophomore Center sprained his knee, and despite having a profound impact on the game in helping Drexel's come back, Coach West would not be able to rely on the same tricks for the win two years in a row.

                Instead, he would need to rely on a conventional lineup and smart basketball. The difference was moving the ball around and forcing turnovers. As stellar as Grundy is at making his own shot, he was careless and made two costly turnovers -- including getting the ball swiped in the closing seconds of the half. Gilbert McLaughlin grabbed the loose ball and slammed the ball home to end the half for Drexel.

                Although the Dragons had narrowed the deficit to 2 points, the game's momentum still felt like anyone's to grab. Ohio State ended the half shooting 70% from beyond the arc and 75% overall.

                Before going into the locker room, Coach West had this to say, "We're in the right position. We're making plays. But I swear, there's no way they can hit all those shots in the second half. Not if we keep playing the same defense."

                In the locker room Coach West made sure to keep his team calm. Everyone had played their hearts out and were doing the right thing. Instead of making wholesale changes, West instead decided to get back to basics. Go back to the 1-3-1. Focus on stopping baseline passes. Pressure the top of the key. Coach West showed confidence in his players and his system -- but it would take a transcendent effort to derail Ohio State after the half.

                Tracy Cottrill tried to come back on in the second half, but he was a shadow of himself. Fortunately, someone else was ready to step up and take the game.


                Femi Ramsey takes a pass from Duncan Richard on the fast break.

                The Dragons are a #1 seed instead of a run-of-the-mill mid-major because of one player in particular: Femi Ramsey. Many wondered why he chose Drexel in the first place, while others wondered if he was only so good because he didn't face top competition day in and day out. Tonight he showed what few doubters remained that he is THE premier center in College Basketball today.

                Any time Ramsey wanted a bucket, he could get it. If he reached for a rebound, it fell to him. If he turned around to shoot, it hit the bottom of the net. During an early 2nd half time-out, all eyes in the huddle were on Ramsey. Coach West had very few instructions, just "If they can't stop it, keep going to it."

                Ramsey delivered in kind. The ball ball would fall softly into his hands, and he would put it in the basket. Midway through the half, Drexel rode Ramsey from a small deficit all the way to a 10 point lead in the National Championship game. Everyone in the Metrodome was beginning to feel it. This would not be the first time where one exceptional player willed his team to a title. But Ramsey was not the only player on the floor considered exceptional.

                Ohio State entered halftime on fire and came out in the second half unable to cope with Drexel's defnsive energy. Shots that were falling before stopped. Okpalobi had not scored a single point since putting the torch to the Dragons in the first half. But with the game slipping away, the Buckeyes called on Nick Warner to bring the team back into it. He had his hand in every single point that helped reduce Drexel's biggest lead, 12 points, all the way down to five. Whether it was making the right pass or driving the ball to the basket, Warner willed the Buckeyes back into the game.

                As is almost always the case, in the closing minutes Coach West told his squad to go more into the half court. If the fast break presented itself McCarthy or Morandais should push the ball, but otherwise the goal was to take possessions out of the game. But nursing a 5 point lead, Drexel needed to make a play or risk Ohio State bulling them over.

                McCarthy brought the ball down the court after an Ohio State miss. Thad Matta was now dropping his entire team back to try and keep the Dragons from getting quick turnstile points. McCarthy looked to Coach West, who held up three fingers and nodded his head. The Senior Point Guard got the team in position, and once again the Dragons ran a simple play that they could all do in their sleep.

                Josh Payton started on the far base line. He went up, then ran across the base line around screens by Duncan Sow and Femi Ramsey. It's a simple play and Ohio State has scouted it just as much as anyone else. But Chas Martin was caught running around Ramsey, and Payton had plenty of separation.

                The Senior leader of the Dragons knew what he had to do. The Drexel Captain could halt or at least substantially hurt Ohio State's final push with less than 3 minutes to go. But he caught the ball and he hesitated. He froze.

                Last year Payton made a name for himself as being a great sharpshooter and defender. But ever since injuring his leg in February he has had trouble hitting his shots. He has not been the same player. This Tournament was no different. Tonight was no different. Payton had only scored from the free throw line. The greatest players are those who can put bad plays out of mind. They are the ones who can look ahead instead of look back over their shoulder.

                But as Payton stood behind the three point line, the crowd shouting "shoot," it was clear a lot was on his mind. The pressure of the moment was crashing on him. And soon, Chas Marks was too. The opportunity had ended. The open look was no more. The shot clock was winding down. Someone else would have to make a play.

                And then Payton jumped off his feet. Marks, ready and waiting, rose and did the same. Not only had Payton squandered a great open look, but now, after thinking instead of simply reacting, he was hoisting an ill advised shot with Ohio State poised to take the game away.

                The crowd erupted as the ball hit nothing but net. Facing disaster, Payton's only field goal of the game pushed the Buckeyes back.

                From there, it was up to Ramsey to close out the game. Inch by inch, Drexel's lead built back up. Payton switched over to defense on Warner, and Warner found no room. Soon the momentum was gone. The need for late game heroics was over. Instead, only a podium and confetti. On the back of a tremendous 42 point effort by Femi Ramsey, the Drexel Dragons win the 2015 Men's Basketball Championship and complete their undefeated season by a final score of 86-73.

                Drexel Dragons at Ohio State Buckeyes
                Apr 2, 20151ST2NDSCORE
                #1 Drexel (37-0)483886
                #1 Ohio State (33-5)502373
                Drexel Dragons
                STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                P. McCarthy162-61-10-0141005
                J. Payton261-51-22-2062105
                D. Richard184-61-30-0352029
                D. Sow268-110-01-110100117
                F. Ramsey2319-260-04-47110042
                BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                T. Cottrill101-20-04-4200002
                W. Morandais111-30-20-0140002
                D. Marsh90-10-10-0150000
                G. McLaughlin112-20-00-0311014
                J. Vassallo-- DID NOT PLAY --
                D. Wilson-- DID NOT PLAY --
                R. Burnette-- DID NOT PLAY --
                TEAM TOTALS38-623-97-7282771486
                Ohio State Buckeyes
                STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                D. Grundy265-82-41-23800213
                C. Marks237-151-40-03220115
                N. Warner184-71-30-0241009
                C. Okpalobi255-93-41-14300014
                S. Beye254-60-00-0511018
                BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                M. Eisentrout145-82-30-02100112
                M. McKinney70-20-10-0010010
                H. Falknor131-30-00-0210112
                K. Plummer-- DID NOT PLAY --
                R. Hobbs-- DID NOT PLAY --
                B. Grimes-- DID NOT PLAY --
                C. Laws-- DID NOT PLAY --
                TEAM TOTALS31-589-192-3212141773

                Coach's Take: I want to thank all of my players for working so hard. This is much more their achievement than mine. I want to thank all of the support staff, trainers, volunteers, and students who have worked so hard behind the scenes to make our team so successful. I want to thank everyone at Drexel for believing in what we can do and giving me the privilege of coaching this great team. We had to fight through this tournament. We had to earn it. We got no breaks in the bracket, and our guys just stayed focused and plowed ahead. I am so proud of them.

                Femi Ramsey Voted Most Outstanding Player
                25.0 PPG | 9.2 RPG | 1.3 APG | 0.8 SPG | 2.8 BPG

                After exploding onto the college basketball landscape in last year's Tournament, Femi Ramsey showed he was ready to take his game to new heights. The standout Center, previously the top rated center recruit in the country, was consistently excellent throughout the tournament and saved his best for last.

                Ramsey is currently projected to be a Lottery pick but has likely done a lot for his draft stock after his March tour-de-force. But even with the promise of riches abound, the Drexel center turned numerous heads when he declared after the game, "I'll be in Philly next year. Let's do this again!"

                Was it just the heat of the moment? Or will Ramsey once again be marching to the beat of his own drummer? Ramsey has yet to enter the name into the preliminary draft pool, so he can always explore his options if he so chooses.
                Last edited by waytofailself; 06-03-2012, 09:51 PM.
                The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                Comment

                • VandyRedskins21
                  MVP
                  • Dec 2010
                  • 1898

                  #323
                  Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)







                  Eh you did alright this season.
                  “If you’re true to yourself, you’re going to be true to everyone else.”

                  Comment

                  • delija66
                    Pro
                    • Apr 2009
                    • 638

                    #324
                    Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                    Congrats!

                    Comment

                    • waytofailself
                      MVP
                      • Feb 2011
                      • 1522

                      #325
                      Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                      First off, thanks for all the likes and congratulations and followings. It is amazing to think this Legacy is at nearly 20,000 views. It has given me a lot of motivation to keep going.


                      What I've Learned about College Hoops 2k8

                      After completing an unreal season, I thought it would be appropriate to take a few moments to briefly reflect upon last season's success. I do not know how "legit" one could call my total undefeated season, seeing as the first 9 or 10 games were on All-American instead of MOP. On the other hand, I was able to win the whole thing on MOP against some superior competition.

                      Still, there were a number of pointers and thoughts I had read about CH2k8 before on these forums, especially by Vandy, Roggie, and others. After these past two seasons, I share a lot of their beliefs.
                      • It is very easy to be dominant by signing a bunch of lower tier very tall players. Duncan Sow and Tracy Cottrill are big and strong, and they made a world of difference down low. Of course, I did not recruit them because of their size specifically, but because they were who I could grab on short notice after signing with Drexel. But I'll be mindful of that in the future.
                      • It is very possible to make a powerhouse that is just as good as top teams in Power Conferences as a mid-major. It just takes knowledge of how to recruit and being smart about it. My team may have played greater than the sum of its parts, but by recruiting I have set the table for my squad for a long time.
                      • It's a shame I can't find the first MOP sliders I used. I have since switched to the ones so many use here posted by xlegendkillax and I can say I'm satisfied by the switch. Not so much because the game is easier or harder, but because of the little things. The fast break is back in my game now. There is more variety in results. You'll see what I mean in the season to come.
                      • I really want to have challenging opponents the whole season, not just non-conference play. The past few seasons that NCAAs have posed a great challenged, but a lot of the regular season/conference schedule felt inevitable. As much as I'd love to help grow what I've built at Drexel, I'm starting to feel the tug to move up another rung.
                      • I did not own an XBOX 360 until January 2011. This game has by far my most play time of any game on the system. And it's not even close. Not bad for only paying $5.

                      And after that scheduled interruption, back to the show.
                      The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                      Comment

                      • waytofailself
                        MVP
                        • Feb 2011
                        • 1522

                        #326
                        Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                        Some of you may or may not have seen it, but I wanted to let you know that I have uploaded the end of season & recruiting files for all five seasons of my dynasty thus far onto 2kShare. Note that this is the xbox360 version.

                        Files are appropriately named: Guy West OS 20##
                        Gamertag is Pancakez0r (with a zero)

                        Updated the OP to reflect this. Will also be updating the OP with all time Legacy stats soon.

                        I would appreciate if someone were to DL them at least to have as a backup somewhere else, especially if/when case 2kshare goes down again.

                        Edit: ha, saw that I already got a vote and a rating. Thanks to whoever did that
                        The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                        Comment

                        • waytofailself
                          MVP
                          • Feb 2011
                          • 1522

                          #327
                          Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)


                          End of Season Update

                          Magical is not the appropriate word, but it is the proper cliche to describe Drexel's season. A perfect season. A national title. Femi Ramsey baffling critics by confirming his return for his Senior season. Rumors of Coach West leaving the program being immediately quelled by no Power Conference school having a job opening this year (huh?!?!) Everything seems to be on the upswing for Coach West and the Drexel Dragons. Now they can take some well deserved time back to studies and away from basketball before the start of the new season.

                          Coach Guy West
                          (numbers in parentheses are from current season)
                          Total Legacy Points: 48160 (16217)
                          Coaching Record: 146-31 (38-0)

                          Legacy Goals Achieved
                          (2 Points Put On Holdover)
                          Sign a 5 Star Recruit
                          Sign a 5 Star Recruit in Season
                          Sign a High School All-American
                          Coach a Team to the #1 Ranking
                          Coach a Team to the Final Four
                          Coach a Team to the NCAA Championship
                          Coach a Team to a #1 Seed in the NCAA Tournament

                          West's Coaching Attributes Changes
                          Overall: B+ (+1)
                          Offense: A- (+1)
                          Defense: C+ (+1)
                          Teaching: A+ (+1)
                          Scouting: C-
                          Charisma: A+
                          Discipline: B+ (+2)

                          I cannot think of too many coaches who have this good a resume. And to think he never would have coached basketball and now he could grow into one of the all-time greats. Coach West is continuing to learn to use his teaching skills to get the best out of his players, and the difference this year was most apparent in his team's discipline. It takes focus to stay successful for so long, and Coach West kept his team's eyes on the prize.

                          Drexel Season Stats 2014-2015 Stats
                          PlayerGPMINPPGRPGAPGSPGBPGTPGFPG
                          F. Ramsey3819.019.77.41.70.62.01.32.4
                          T. Cottrill3815.812.65.21.10.91.21.11.8
                          D. Sow3820.112.49.11.60.61.61.01.8
                          P. McCarthy38 19.47.40.95.91.10.01.51.1
                          J. Payton3819.47.42.52.10.60.31.00.9
                          W. Morandais3816.16.32.23.30.70.21.00.8
                          D. Richard38 19.26.13.21.80.40.30.81.2
                          G. McLaughlin3810.25.44.30.40.40.70.61.1
                          D. Marsh3711.73.40.53.00.50.00.80.7
                          J. Vassallo335.01.80.70.70.10.00.20.1
                          D.J. Wilson273.91.20.80.30.00.00.20.1
                          R. Burnette273.40.50.10.90.20.00.30.2

                          Maybe the most fascinating trend is that Femi Ramsey was not as statistically dominant as he was last season -- and as a whole the Dragons actually did WORSE this year than they did last year in terms of straight up box-score statitstics. Of course, there are plenty of things that are not meausreable by mere stats alone, and West seems to be a master at bringing out those intangibles. Just the same Tracy Cottrill's numbers were very impressive for the number of minutes he played, and one wonders how well he would perform next year if Ramsey did decide to leave for the NBA. Meanwhile, after struggling earlier in the year Morandais came into his own. Fans hope he will take a big next step in filling Josh Payton's shoes.

                          2015 Coaching Carousel Summary

                          Allegedly storms were brewing on the horizon, but if they were they never materialized on the coaching front. In what can only be considered a bizarre year with the stars aligning, not a single coach from the Power Conferences retired or was fired. Do not expect it to be this way next year.

                          Univ. Texas El Paso fires T. Barbee, hires J. Flint (App State)
                          Northeastern fires B. Coen, hires W. Brown (Albany)
                          Canisius fires T. Parrotta, hires F. Warren (UMBC)
                          Loyola University Chicago fires J. Whitesell, hires M. Kelley (UVC)
                          University of Louisiana Monroe fires C ULM, hires S. Wojciechowsi (Duke Asst)
                          University Wisconsin Milwaukee fires R. Jeter, hires K. Smith (Citadel)

                          End of Season Awards

                          National Champion: Drexel
                          NIT Champion: Maryland
                          NCAA Player of the Year: Shawn Sarchet (Richmond)
                          NCAA Mid-Major Player of the Year: Jesse Hughes (Saint Peter's)
                          NCAA Coach of the Year: Thad Matta (Ohio State WTF)
                          NCAA Defensive Player of the Year: Ricky Fellers (Fairleigh Dickinson)
                          NCAA Big Man of the Year: Shawn Sarchet (Richmond)
                          NCAA Freshman of the Year: Calvin Galbreath (Iowa State)

                          Going to have to call shenanigans or highway robbery on Thad Matta winning NCAA Coach of the Year. Look, I know Drexel played half of its season against CAA foes, but Coach West took a team with one star player and a bunch of role players and beat the world -- INCLUDING, need I remind you, Thad Matta and Ohio State by double digits.

                          First Team All-American
                          PG: Wes Sanderson (Syracuse)
                          SG: Matt Carlino (BYU)
                          SF
                          : Allen Payne (Marshall)
                          PF: Jamaicus Fields (Georgia)
                          C: Shawn Sarchet (Richmond)

                          Second Team All-American
                          PG: Ontario Starks (Butler)
                          SG: Lewis Markham (Clemson)
                          SF: A.J. Pearson (Missouri)
                          PF: Major Ingerson (University of Southern California)
                          C: Manuel Werch (Virginia Tech)

                          Freshman All American
                          PG: E.F. Dupree (Arizona State)
                          SG: Dell Davidson (South Florida)
                          SF: Byron Winans (Wake Forest)
                          PF: Ricky Santos (Pittsburgh)
                          C: Calvin Galbreath (Iowa State)

                          Just want to add that while Femi Ramsey may be one of the most, if not the most, talented Centers in the Nation, Shawn Sarchet absolutely deserves the nod for all the big man awards and accolades. The Senior was a 2nd Team All-American last Season, and averaged 27 points per game to go along with 8 rebounds, two blocks, and carrying the Richmond Spiders practically by himself to the NCAA Tournament.



                          CAA Champions: Drexel
                          CAA Coach of the Year: Guy West (Drexel)
                          CAA Player of the Year: Femi Ramsey (Drexel)
                          CAA Freshman of the Year: Woody Morandais (Drexel)


                          First Team All-CAA
                          PG: Damond Moore (Georgia State)
                          SG: Goran Gross (Hofstra)
                          SF: Okaro White (Delaware)
                          PF: Brody Frisby (Delaware)
                          C: Femi Ramsey (Drexel)

                          Second Team All-CAA
                          PG: Cornelious Neale (VCU)
                          SG
                          : Darrall Cowen (Towson)
                          SF: Bronski Avery (George Mason)
                          PF
                          : Arizona Scott (Old Dominion)
                          C: Erick Okpwae (Towson)

                          Freshman All-CAA
                          PG: Edgar Mills (UNC Wilmington)
                          SG
                          : Woody Morandais (Drexel)
                          SF
                          : Leroy Woodards (Old Dominion)
                          PF: Cartier Valsin (Hofstra)
                          C: Uche Archibald (UNC Wilmington)


                          Maybe it is fitting that a year filled with team accolades for the Dragons the individual players walked away with less individual awards. Only two Dragons made it onto all Conference Teams this year, which is a huge down-tick from last year and from what Coach West generally enjoys. Even so, it is hard to argue with the results, which this year would be an undefeated run through the CAA and a National Title. I don't think anyone on the Dragons team will want to trade those trophies away.
                          Last edited by waytofailself; 06-04-2012, 04:26 PM.
                          The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                          Comment

                          • waytofailself
                            MVP
                            • Feb 2011
                            • 1522

                            #328
                            Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                            Also updated the front page spoiler with info on all-time stat leaders in the Legacy. Some of the names on this surprised me a little bit.

                            Edit: also added a Coach Goal spoiler to the OP, but for some reason by my count it seems like I'm missing one. Am I?
                            Last edited by waytofailself; 06-04-2012, 08:56 PM.
                            The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                            Comment

                            • waytofailself
                              MVP
                              • Feb 2011
                              • 1522

                              #329
                              Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)


                              Setting the Table: 2015 Recruiting Recap

                              It wasn't enough that the Dragons had a successful season. No, now they have also pulled off what could be considered one of the best recruiting classes in school history. It isn't just a matter of quality, but quantity too. Coach West reeled in a stunning SIX recruits on scholarship. Will any of these players live up to the legend of Femi Ramsey? Who knows. But with next year's back court largely unsettled (even with Dez Braxton finishing his red shirt year), it looks like there could be opportunities for this class to make an instant impact in Drexel's Title defense.

                              Most importantly, Coach West will not necessarily have to rely on these players immediately. Instead, he can let some of them grow and develop now that his early signings are growing into upperclassmen. It is a luxury so few teams can afford -- especially with such highly rated recruits coming on board.

                              Drexel Recruiting Update Recruiting - 2015
                              NAMEPOSCLASSHOMETOWNHTWTCALIBER
                              #17 Shannon Legans (AA)
                              PG #7HSDetroit, MI (Mr. BB)
                              5'10"156
                              #91 Tim CaldwellPF #20HSReading, PA6'8"210
                              #37 Kentrell DeanPG #13HSOshkosh, WI5'11"173
                              NR Jeshimu PadillaPGJUCOLos Angeles, CA6'1"170
                              NR Kyle DiakhateSGHSDakar, Senegal6'4"197
                              NR Josiah LoveCJUCOAlbuquerque, NM6'10"241

                              The highlight of the class has to be Shannon Legans. The Detroit point guard may be small, but he showed he could hang tough in the East-West All-Star game by finding teammates and getting his own points from beyond the arc. Legans has a flair for the dramatic that has made him a YouTube hit, and his commitment to the game should make him a great locker room fit with the Dragons.

                              Tim Caldwell is a recruit with a wealth of potential, but with a number of big men in front of him on the rotation it will be awhile before he sees action on the court. Caldwell is an intriguing Power Forward prospect because he is equally good at shooting from range and playing on the low block. Coach West has had great success at getting the best out of his big men in the past. Caldwell could be his next project.

                              Want to know how far Drexel has come under Coach West. How about stealing recruits from Duke? For a long time, it looked like Kentrell Dean was on his way to Durham, but some last second signings by the Blue Devils made Drexel look like a much more attractive option. Dean is as pure of a shooter as they come, but he's not a one trick pony. He was a star on his track team and has incredibly quick hands as well.

                              With two quality point guards on the roster, Coach West was not done. He decided to load up on a third, Junior College prospect Jemishu Padilla. He is a good shooter with strong instincts, and could compete for the starting job or Dallas Marsh's slot as the backup/rotational point.

                              Kyle Diakhate
                              takes pride in his defense. He is strong and stout, and he gained a reputation for toughness that got him an invitation to try out for the Senegal National Team. He does not have much of a shooting touch, instead preferring to bull rush to the basket. Diakhate will likely need some time to develop his game.

                              Finally, Coach West made a late play for Junior College senior Josiah Love. It never hurts to have more size waiting in the wings, and with all of Drexel's rotation big-men graduating in the next two years, West decided he needed to start stocking up big bodies now. Like Caldwell, Love probably redshirt unless there is an injury. But this late signing could pay big dividends for Drexel in a few years.

                              Conclusion
                              One thing is for sure, Coach West has set up the Dragons nicely for the coming years. With this class he successfully addressed the team's immediate need at Point Guard while also giving his team depth for the future. This could be the making of a long, successful program.

                              Ed Note: Strangely, this was not a Top 20 recruiting class. *shrug*
                              Last edited by waytofailself; 06-05-2012, 01:08 AM.
                              The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                              Comment

                              • superjames1992
                                Hall Of Fame
                                • Jun 2007
                                • 31382

                                #330
                                Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                                42 points!!!!

                                Your frontcourt was dominant!

                                Congratulations on your first Title and that is a hell of a class you are hauling in!

                                I know what you mean about wanting to move up to a power conference, though. Now that I'm at a power conference, I do have some desire to move back down and "start over", so to speak, but I just don't know. Things started to get old at Princeton as I raped and pillaged every team I faced, for the most part. Same at USF. Though I always had good competition in the NCAAs, when 14+ games of your schedule are a predetermined conclusion, it gets harder and harder to have motivation to play.

                                Of course, the Colonial is quite a bit better than the Ivy League, though.
                                Coaching Legacy of James Frizzell (CH 2K8)
                                Yale Bulldogs (NCAA Football 07)
                                Coaching Legacy of Lee Williamson (CH 2K8)

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