April 8, 2023
For the first time, two Lafayette players are selected in the professional draft.
Thomas Lucy is picked at #32, very early in the second round. Then,
Matt Robles hears his name called at #43.
By the time Lucy is drafted, two Patriot League players have already come off the board. Lehigh's
Marlon Smith goes at #18, the highest any Patriot League player has ever been drafted. American center
James Zimmer, like Smith a player we recruited heavily once upon a time, was the last man chosen in the first round (#30).
It's not a great year for the Patriot League in the recruiting wars.
Code:
2022 Recruiting Rankings
# Team Conference Best Player Rtg 5* 4* 3* 2* 1*
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85. Lafayette Patriot League C Carter Todd *** 0 0 3 0 0
140. American Patriot League C George Bush *** 0 0 2 1 0
171. Bucknell Patriot League PF Marc Burgess *** 0 0 2 1 1
186. Lehigh Patriot League SF John McKinnie *** 0 0 1 1 2
202. Holy Cross Patriot League PF Bryan Caldwell *** 0 0 1 0 3
291. Army Patriot League PF Marcel Braddy ** 0 0 0 1 2
298. Colgate Patriot League SF Antoine Rowles ** 0 0 0 1 0
310. Navy Patriot League C Brian Landis * 0 0 0 0 3
Carter Todd is the conference's highest-ranked recruit (#208). He arrives on College Hill as a Red/Green player, but his classmates are even more ready for college ball.
Charles Allenis the best of the bunch, debuting as a Yellow/Blue talent.
Before we get too excited about our haul, I must remember that two of our offers went unclaimed. We begin May with only 10 scholarship players.
The biggest news from the coaching carousel is the retirement of one of the most storied names in college basketball.
James Berube of Mississippi State is hanging up his whistle.
Berube arrived in Starkville in 2014, and led the Bulldogs to six Final Fours and two national championships (2018 and 2020). He retires with a career record of 324-104.
Graham is flattered when the Mississippi State AD offers him the opportunity to succeed Coach Berube, but he turns it down, along with the other eleven offers that come his way. Seven more arrive in the next round, along with the news that the last remaining member of Graham's original coaching staff, assistant
Thomas Liang, has accepted the head coaching position at Siena.
Coach Liang is highly regarded as a defensive guru, and he worked hand-in-hand with Coach Sims to build Lafayette into one of the hardest teams to score against in the nation. Good luck with your new challenge, Coach.
In another universe, I'd probably let Graham take the job he's offered at Stanford. I like coaching at universities with high academic standards. But, since Palo Alto is not in Pennsylvania, Graham will have to say "no, thank you."
To replace Coach Liang, we hire
Nathan Bailey.
COACH DETAILS
Code:
Nathan Bailey - Coaching Assistant - Lafayette
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Age: 51
High School: Palmyra High School
Hometown: Palmyra, MO
Alma Mater: Oregon State
Current Level: 3
Career Record: 0 - 0
Salary: $135,000
Recruiting: 2
Scouting: 15
Offense: 78
Defense: 65
Coaching History:
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Season Team Position W L CW CL Postseason
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2022 Georgia Tech Assistant 18 13 10 6 NCAA Tournament Play-in Game
2021 Georgia Tech Assistant 18 14 8 8 Loss in NIT Round 1
2020 Arkansas Assistant 11 18 5 11 No Postseason
2019 Arkansas Assistant 10 21 4 12 No Postseason
2018 Arkansas Assistant 9 22 0 16 No Postseason
2017 Arkansas Assistant 17 15 6 10 No Postseason
2016 Akron Assistant 27 7 13 3 NIT 3rd Place
2015 Akron Assistant 16 14 10 6 No Postseason
2014 Akron Assistant 12 19 6 10 No Postseason
2013 Akron Assistant 14 17 5 11 No Postseason
2012 Akron Assistant 27 7 12 4 Loss in NCAA Round 1
2011 Akron Assistant 22 12 9 7 Loss in CBI Round 2
Awards & Achievements:
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Season Award
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No awards won.
Job Movement:
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Season Move
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2023 Hired by Lafayette (Assistant Coach)
2023 Fired by Georgia Tech
2021 Hired by Georgia Tech (Assistant Coach)
2021 Staff fired by Arkansas
2017 Hired by Arkansas (Assistant Coach)
2017 Fired by Akron
2011 Hired by Akron (Assistant Coach)
I'm trying to figure out why Akron fired Coach Bailey after the Zips went 27-7 and made a deep run in the NIT. Since then, he's coached at SEC and ACC schools. Coach Bailey knows his stuff, and has skill working on both sides of the ball. He's not cheap, but when you see our new budget, you'll understand why we could hire him.
Welcome to Lafayette, Coach Bailey.