[Leftcoast]

With a contract extension signed I'm belatedly drafted into the Dawkins camp - but drafted I am.  I will cheer for him to take Stanford to the next level.

Others have discussed program talent.  I don't believe Stanford's success depends upon lightning striking in the form of NBA lottery twins - even though we've proven lightning can indeed strike twice (Collins twins, Lopi).  Asking for a THIRD blue moon event risks pressing  the Basketball god's patience.  They may send us the relative skill equivalent of Greg Oden at Portland rather than Greg Oden at Ohio State. 

My complaint is that in his first years Dawkins tried to win using the run and gun, McDonald's AA route that isn't a match for Stanford.  If Stanford basketball success waits until we have a stable of long, lean McDonalds all-american clones then we will dance once a decade at most.  Stanford needs to develop the Pete Sauer's, the Rob Little's, the Matt Lottich's into top level NCAA players that fit seamlessly into a blue collar TEAM basketball concept that is capable of winning at the NCAA level.  I see flexibility in Dawkins' most recent approach but now I'm worried that while the second model may fit Stanford it may not be a fit for DAWKINS. 

Regardless, we now have another 3-4 years to cheer for Dawkins and wish that the fit - both ways - is a successful one for Stanford. 

Dawkins represents us off the court perfectly - it is time to make the on the court performance match.

[Leftcoast]

With a contract extension signed I'm belatedly drafted into the Dawkins camp - but drafted I am.  I will cheer for him to take Stanford to the next level.

Others have discussed program talent.  I don't believe Stanford's success depends upon lightning striking in the form of NBA lottery twins - even though we've proven lightning can indeed strike twice (Collins twins, Lopi).  Asking for a THIRD blue moon event risks pressing  the Basketball god's patience.  They may send us the relative skill equivalent of Greg Oden at Portland rather than Greg Oden at Ohio State. 

My complaint is that in his first years Dawkins tried to win using the run and gun, McDonald's AA route that isn't a match for Stanford.  If Stanford basketball success waits until we have a stable of long, lean McDonalds all-american clones then we will dance once a decade at most.  Stanford needs to develop the Pete Sauer's, the Rob Little's, the Matt Lottich's into top level NCAA players that fit seamlessly into a blue collar TEAM basketball concept that is capable of winning at the NCAA level.  I see flexibility in Dawkins' most recent approach but now I'm worried that while the second model may fit Stanford it may not be a fit for DAWKINS. 

Regardless, we now have another 3-4 years to cheer for Dawkins and wish that the fit - both ways - is a successful one for Stanford. 

Dawkins represents us off the court perfectly - it is time to make the on the court performance match.