It may only be the NIT, but Thursday’s championship game against Minnesota in New York could be an important step for Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins.
In his fourth season at Stanford, the former Duke all-American and longtime first assistant to Mike Krzyzewski appears to be gaining traction.
It’s not been an easy path for the 48-year-old Dawkins.
After his first three teams finished 20-14, 14-18 and 15-16, there was some speculation that the rebuilding task was too much for Dawkins to handle.
Even though Stanford got a four-point win over N.C. State early and gave Syracuse a scare in the preseason NIT title game, the Cardinal could do no better than 10-8 in Pac-12 Conference play.
It wasn’t until March that Dawkins' generally young team clicked. With six wins in the past seven games, the Cardinal (25-11) could begin next season as the league favorite regardless of what happens Thursday in Madison Square Garden against Tubby Smith’s Gophers (23-14).
Four of Dawkins’ starters are either freshmen or sophomores _ 6-1 Chasson Randle (14 ppg), 5-11 Aaron Bright (11.6 ppg), 6-6 Anthony Brown (8.8 pgg) and 6-9 Dwight Powell (5.7 ppg).
“Our guys have really worked and stayed with it all season,” Dawkins said after Tuesday’s 74-64 semifinal win over Massachusetts.
“Having gained this experience throughout this tournament, I think will bode well going into the future. I think this will help us understand how to win games in this type of atmosphere, which will make us a better team in the future.”
-Caulton Tudor
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
NIT title game important for Johnny Dawkins
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9 comments:
Johnny Dawkins will be the next head coach at Dook when Coach K retires in 2015.
Wojo will be coach
Wojo stinks just like the rest of that "coaching" tree...Lol...
11:37am what are you smokin? Tommy Amaker just led Harvard to their first NCAA tourney ever, one of the hottest coaching names in college hoops.
Dawkins' team has the most wins in the Pac 12 (25), may do what Ol' Roy couldn't (win NIT).
Mike Brey's gone to 10+ tourneys at Notre Dame...
But hey, Roy's got Matt Doherty right? Oh wait he just got FIRED. Again. From SMU.
Hahaha every post on here is childish and ignorant except for 11:53am...the only factual, rational statement on here.
And FYI, Steve freakin' Wojciechowski will NOT be Duke's next coach.
11:53am...Show us some more of your "knowledge" and go back to the 1988-89 season and tell us more about Roy's assts. and former players that past 25 years. I mean, since you know so much about who has worked and played for him.
Trivia question: In 25 years of coaching, how many of Roy's players has he developed into future NBA All-Stars?
Answer: ONE! Yes, one. (PPierce)
We want K to stay at Dook forever!! 20 point victories AT Cameron are a LOT of FUN!! Never retire K!!
Good job Johnny D. Absolute blowout win over Minnesota to take NIT crown. 26 win team with a string of beatdowns to close out the year...maybe Stanford should've been in the Dance.
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