(Women) Dawn Staley to South Carolina?

[cinskyline]

It sounds more than likely that this could happen:

http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/womhoops/2008/05/sources_staleysouth_carolina_t.html

It would make sense to me for her to leave this year. The last 2 players from their championship teams (Morris and Comfort) are now gone. The Temple team really seems to be on a downward trend. Staley's recruiting the last 2 years hasn't been very good.

Unfortunately, I think Temple will go back into the abyss if this happens. Staley pretty much is the program.

[X-band '01]

I could see Staley leaving if the Virginia job opened up, but South Carolina? They're a wasteland in the SEC. It'll be a lot easier for her to make the NCAAs in Philly than it would be in Columbia.

[cinskyline]

Well, it now official. Dawn Staley is leaving Temple to go to South Carolina.

Guess you were wrong, X-Band.

I wonder where Temple will turn to next.

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/752990.html

[Fan4XU]

I am glad to see this woman leave.

[X-band '01]

Bye bye, Temple.

[cinskyline]

Bye bye, Temple.

I agree. At the very least, things will be very rough for Temple for the next 2-3 seasons. Staley isn't exactly leaving the cupboard stocked. There's just not very much talent there. She's getting out at the right time.

Also, I wonder how many players are going to transfer and how many recruits will want out of their commitments.

It's not a good situation.

On the downside for X, this is going to be bad for the A-10.

[HomerCecil]

While I'm sad to see her go, I'm honestly surprised Temple kept her as long as they did. She eventually probably will go to Virginia, but Debbie Ryan probably won't retire for some time.

South Carolina has the potential to be good (as do all the SEC teams, really). They had a couple really good years a few seasons ago.

Frankly, I won't miss watching Staley's teams' dirty play. I admire her a lot, but her teams were not that pretty to watch.

Curious to see who Temple gets to coach them. It's late in the cycle to be hiring someone. I do think Temple stepped up its commitment to the program, so perhaps all is not lost. But yeah, tough break.

[XU-PA]

First off, WOW!
That's a big move. Congrats to Staley, for all our angst about her, she is a top notch player and coach, one of those women who make the college basketball world enjoyable.

In the short term this is good for X, takes a nemesis down a notch, they will probably suffer right away.

Long term, this is a huge blow to Temple, no doubt they'll get a top quality candidate, but much like the departure of Mel Balcomb from XU, this will have an effect on the team. Taking Staley's name away from the owls will absolutely kill their recruiting.
XU got very very very lucky that Coach McGuff was our pick, we ended up with one of the best. Can Temple follow that up?? I doubt it.

Also a huge blow to the A-10, take a certain tournament team out of the mix now for a year or two, Our conference could be back to just the champ going to the dance.

[Bigbluebrotha]

Glad to read all of you are on top it even in the spring. The passion lives!

I too think it's a curious move, but the SEC is the SEC and with it comes the SEC cash! She wanted a challenge and definitely will get one.

This will make the A-10 a solid two-bid NCAA conference now. I think Temple got in a couple of times specifically because of Dawn Staley.