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Ford on taking over a rebuild similar to what our
Posted on: September 6, 2016 at 11:33:20 CT
FIJItiger MU
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next coach will inherit:
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben-frederickson/benfred-slu-s-ford-is-picky-about-home-players/article_7e8abc06-3640-5d2d-9e19-9f2d606fccc5.html
He has consumed himself with the two tasks required by every rebuild. He must put the best team possible on the floor for his debut season, but pay just as much attention to acquiring the kind of talent that will greatly elevate that ceiling in years to come.
“When you take over a program like we are taking over, one that has really struggled at the bottom of the league the past couple of years, it’s a process,” Ford said. “It’s not going to happen overnight. What we want to do out of the gates is create a lot of excitement. Our fans are going to love watching every game. They’re going to see a team that scratches, claws, is going to be scrappy and gritty.”
“My only expectations are: Are we getting better? Are we playing our style of basketball? Are we playing tough? Are we playing with a lot of energy? Are we playing together? I would never put wins and losses in the category.”
He proved it last month, when he stunned Illinois by landing the commitment of Althoff’s Jordan Goodwin. The Illini had made the four-star guard a top target in the 2017 class. Mizzou, Purdue and Michigan State wanted him, too. Ford’s hiring of Goodwin’s former AAU coach and then Mizzou assistant Corey Tate surely helped. But there’s no rule against it, and Tate’s ties to the talent in this area should also pay off with other targets.
It’s all part of the plan.
“We wanted to identify difference makers,” Ford said. “We wanted players we knew could come in and help us get back to being a top-10 program in America. And No. 2, we wanted players that fit my system. We have worked extremely hard in trying to develop relationships very, very quickly. And they’re paying off.”
The competition has already started for local stars in the 2018 class. Carte’Are Gordon (Webster Groves), Fred Thatch Jr. (Sikeston) and Torrence Watson (Whitfield) will be in demand. Will they consider their hometown team? Ford plans on turning the question into common sense.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben-frederickson/benfred-slu-s-ford-is-picky-about-home-players/article_7e8abc06-3640-5d2d-9e19-9f2d606fccc5.html
He has consumed himself with the two tasks required by every rebuild. He must put the best team possible on the floor for his debut season, but pay just as much attention to acquiring the kind of talent that will greatly elevate that ceiling in years to come.
“When you take over a program like we are taking over, one that has really struggled at the bottom of the league the past couple of years, it’s a process,” Ford said. “It’s not going to happen overnight. What we want to do out of the gates is create a lot of excitement. Our fans are going to love watching every game. They’re going to see a team that scratches, claws, is going to be scrappy and gritty.”
“My only expectations are: Are we getting better? Are we playing our style of basketball? Are we playing tough? Are we playing with a lot of energy? Are we playing together? I would never put wins and losses in the category.”
He proved it last month, when he stunned Illinois by landing the commitment of Althoff’s Jordan Goodwin. The Illini had made the four-star guard a top target in the 2017 class. Mizzou, Purdue and Michigan State wanted him, too. Ford’s hiring of Goodwin’s former AAU coach and then Mizzou assistant Corey Tate surely helped. But there’s no rule against it, and Tate’s ties to the talent in this area should also pay off with other targets.
It’s all part of the plan.
“We wanted to identify difference makers,” Ford said. “We wanted players we knew could come in and help us get back to being a top-10 program in America. And No. 2, we wanted players that fit my system. We have worked extremely hard in trying to develop relationships very, very quickly. And they’re paying off.”
The competition has already started for local stars in the 2018 class. Carte’Are Gordon (Webster Groves), Fred Thatch Jr. (Sikeston) and Torrence Watson (Whitfield) will be in demand. Will they consider their hometown team? Ford plans on turning the question into common sense.
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Ford on taking over a rebuild similar to what our - FIJItiger MU - 9/6 11:33:20