Catching Up With Steve Bulpett
BEVERLY HILLS (MI) Time to take another break from the What do we know about
profiles of incoming UD players here at From the Swamp to catch up with UD grad and NBA scribe Steve Bulpett. From the Swamp last spoke with Steve back in 2015 at the Palace of Auburn Hills when he was in Detroit covering a Celtics/Pistons game for The Boston Herald:
http://www.udpride.com/forums/showth...=Steve+Bulpett
Since then Steve has moved from The Herald to Heavy.com as their resident NBA guru-at-large. Given Bulpetts dual citizenship as both an NBA Insider and a member of the Flyer Faithful, it made perfect sense to get his input about UDs latest player to be drafted, its future NBA draft pick and the current state of Dayton hoops.
FTS: What kind of buzz did Toumani have with teams before the NBA draft?
SB: He was getting a good look during the season for his hustle and measurables (size, etc.), but the NBA scouts I spoke to said he really helped his stock at the Portsmouth showcase.
FTS: Camara seems like a really good fit for the Suns doesnt he?
SB: It'll be interesting to see how quickly he develops and adapts to NBA defensive schemes, but Phoenix gave up some important people from that end of the court to get Kevin Durant, so the Suns are certainly looking for versatile and aggressive defenders.
Note: The fact that Phoenix just signed Toumani to a four year contract with the first year guaranteed indicates they agree that Camara is a great fit.
FTS: What was DaRon told that he needed to work on by the teams for whom he worked out?
SB: I don't know specifically what was said to him in those sessions, but the word I was getting all year is that he needed to work on his low post package of moves, from establishing solid position to knowing how to feel his defender and make the right move. The other thing scouts were saying after watching UD is that Holmes was hurt by the injuries to the Flyer point guards. Given good health this season, Malachi Smith could make DaRon a lot of money when the NBA comes calling again.
By the way, it's a measure of how the college basketball world has changed when I was told repeatedly during the season that teams expected him to stay at Dayton -- and that it would be better for him -- because he'd make more money than a potential G-League deal while developing in a good program.
FTS: Is Holmes a potential All-American?
SB: Absolutely. But his candidacy will be helped greatly if the team is winning. Obi's highlight reel looked even better because it was framed by Dayton's success.
A phrase you hear a lot when NBA teams are evaluating players in the league and potential draftees is, "How does he impact winning?" The number of players in the NBA is limited, and the number who have the ball in their hands most of the time is smaller still. Players need enough ego to believe in themselves, but they have to be able to buy into what the team needs from them.
Just look at all the second-round picks and undrafted people with long careers ... and the first rounders who never gained traction because they didnt get their head in the right place.
FTS: There was a fair amount of Fire AG posting on the UDPride MB at the tail end of last season. What do those posters need to know as we head into the 2023-2024 season?
SB: Let's put aside for the moment that Anthony Grant is a **** good basketball coach. That's the universal opinion of those in the game on both the college and pro level -- and in private conversations; not just when they're saying something nice on the record to a reporter. (You'd be stunned how often one coach will pump up another when being quoted, then roll his eyes -- and worse -- when the pen is down or recorder is off.) Anthony is respected for both his hoop knowledge and his character. And that latter quality is critical when youre in the living room recruiting the level of player who can thrive at this university. The parents notice. And you want the kind of players who notice it, too.
OK, so that aside, know this: If Anthony Grant somehow gets pushed out, you're almost certainly sentencing the University of Dayton to be a stepping stone job for the foreseeable future.
Think about that.
With the amount of support UD gets from an incredible fan base and administration, this deserves to be a destination job. (A higher level conference would help that, and maybe we'll discuss that later.)
Anthony Grant understands the university and its mission. His commitment to doing things the right way should be clear by now. And no one can question his effort through an unspeakably difficult time for his family.
What's happened to this team lately has largely been the function of injuries. UD is in the 2022 tournament if Smith doesn't go down, and this past season's medical absences stripped the club of key players and badly needed rotation continuity.
Also, throughout college basketball, dealing with the uncharted waters of NIL money made team-building and cohesion far more strenuous. I do not believe Dayton was immune.
FTS: You and I both feel that AG is the best man for the job. Is this a do-or-die season for him or does Neil Sullivan have complete faith in Coach Grant?
SB: I think it's fair to count the AD among the faithful.
The university is fortunate to have Neil Sullivan navigating the rapidly changing paradigm of college athletics. The multi-sided challenges of keeping a private institution like Dayton competitive on the fields of competition while threading the needle on the introduction of a major financial platform that is likely to be altered again (how long until schools are paying athletes directly?) is all-consuming. But I trust that Neil Sullivan is up for the fight.
Moreover, he is protective of the larger and more important entity that is the University of Dayton. He was hired to advance the school's athletic programs within the standards of the Marianist institution -- a charge that should be of great importance to alumni and those who care about UD.
Look, I'm not going to get into examples, but we can all think of colleges with impeccable academic credentials whose reputations were stained by the actions of their coaches and/or athletes.
In other words, don't mess with the value of our degrees.
Beyond offering a home for young athletes to grow, our teams can be John the Baptist, shining a light on a school that is truly special and is getting better by the day.
The fact is UD has gathered a very impressive group of coaches who "get" the school and what it represents in the area and beyond. For example, I loved that baseball coach Jayson King talked about community service projects when I met him.
FTS: How does UD thrive and compete with the Power 5 in the new world of college hoops with NIL and the transfer portal?
SB: It's going to be difficult, but these are issues even larger schools are facing. The latest problem I've seen brought to light is that universities rely heavily on donors for capital improvements and general funding, and with these benefactors now being pressed for contributions to NIL collectives and the like, the squeeze is on.
UD is the gold standard in the Atlantic 10 when it comes to facilities and support, and I know of Power 5 schools that look upon Dayton with measures of envy. It's going to be hard to compete with larger institutions as changes come, but UD is blessed to have amazing individual and corporate support and passion.
FTS: What are you hearing about a new conference for the Flyers?
SB: Not as much as I'd like. I'm not saying Dayton is above the Atlantic 10 at all, but I've spoken to a number of prominent people like Dick Vitale who would offer strong testimony that Dayton belongs in the Big East. It's a perfect fit for both on so many levels.
Rivalries enhanced by proximity and alums from different schools working in the same corporate offices helped grow the original Big East, and putting UD with Xavier, Butler, DePaul and Marquette would strengthen the Midwest foothold.
There's another word that should resonate with the Big East: football. Not the kind of big money football that caused such upheaval in the conference years ago, but the type Dayton plays now, without athletic scholarships. A number of BE schools are already playing (some do scholarships, but that could be pulled back to level the field) and more could join. And we know Butler is already with Dayton in the Pioneer league.
Getting these schools together in some Ivy League-type settings on Saturdays in the fall would be great for engagement with alumni and other fans.
In basic terms of the Big East including Dayton, the response I got from a now-former conference administrator I've known for a long time was about market size. My reply is that the Dayton market is bigger than Dayton when it comes to UD. Because it's a Catholic institution, it draws students from the Midwest, East Coast and beyond. So if UD is in the conference, Cleveland, for example, becomes a Big East market. (My freshman roommate at Founders was from Euclid, and the two guys across the hall were from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia -- and I'm happy to say all are still friends.)
FTS: As a longtime Celtics observer, what did you think of the three-team trade that sent Marcus Smart for draft picks and Kristaps Porzingis?
SB: If you'll allow me to take the easy way out, I'll just do a cut-and-paste from my recent Heavy.com column:
"...in terms of cold, hard, on-paper facts, the Celtics came out ahead on this trade. But the truth is the deal can't be properly judged for Boston until it's seen how many games Porzingis can play and what effect Smart's loss has on the Celts' identity. The latter component wasn't enough to keep the club from self-inflicted eliminations, but we'll see how the C's run without his fuel."
As stated numerous times in this space, I am not a journalist, but rather just a fan with a blog. Steve Bulpett is a journalist and one of the most connected and respected dudes covering the NBA. I appreciate him sharing that knowledge with UDPride.
While we are on the subject of journalism, it is only fitting to finish this piece with a recent in-depth profile from Sports Business Journal on the Jedi Master of sportswriters, Peter Gammons, a hero of mine and Im sure of Steves as well:
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.co...r-gammons.aspx
Thats it From the Swamp.
You can email me at: swampy@udpride.com
http://www.udpride.com/forums/showth...=Steve+Bulpett
Since then Steve has moved from The Herald to Heavy.com as their resident NBA guru-at-large. Given Bulpetts dual citizenship as both an NBA Insider and a member of the Flyer Faithful, it made perfect sense to get his input about UDs latest player to be drafted, its future NBA draft pick and the current state of Dayton hoops.
FTS: What kind of buzz did Toumani have with teams before the NBA draft?
SB: He was getting a good look during the season for his hustle and measurables (size, etc.), but the NBA scouts I spoke to said he really helped his stock at the Portsmouth showcase.
FTS: Camara seems like a really good fit for the Suns doesnt he?
SB: It'll be interesting to see how quickly he develops and adapts to NBA defensive schemes, but Phoenix gave up some important people from that end of the court to get Kevin Durant, so the Suns are certainly looking for versatile and aggressive defenders.
Note: The fact that Phoenix just signed Toumani to a four year contract with the first year guaranteed indicates they agree that Camara is a great fit.
FTS: What was DaRon told that he needed to work on by the teams for whom he worked out?
SB: I don't know specifically what was said to him in those sessions, but the word I was getting all year is that he needed to work on his low post package of moves, from establishing solid position to knowing how to feel his defender and make the right move. The other thing scouts were saying after watching UD is that Holmes was hurt by the injuries to the Flyer point guards. Given good health this season, Malachi Smith could make DaRon a lot of money when the NBA comes calling again.
By the way, it's a measure of how the college basketball world has changed when I was told repeatedly during the season that teams expected him to stay at Dayton -- and that it would be better for him -- because he'd make more money than a potential G-League deal while developing in a good program.
FTS: Is Holmes a potential All-American?
SB: Absolutely. But his candidacy will be helped greatly if the team is winning. Obi's highlight reel looked even better because it was framed by Dayton's success.
A phrase you hear a lot when NBA teams are evaluating players in the league and potential draftees is, "How does he impact winning?" The number of players in the NBA is limited, and the number who have the ball in their hands most of the time is smaller still. Players need enough ego to believe in themselves, but they have to be able to buy into what the team needs from them.
Just look at all the second-round picks and undrafted people with long careers ... and the first rounders who never gained traction because they didnt get their head in the right place.
FTS: There was a fair amount of Fire AG posting on the UDPride MB at the tail end of last season. What do those posters need to know as we head into the 2023-2024 season?
SB: Let's put aside for the moment that Anthony Grant is a **** good basketball coach. That's the universal opinion of those in the game on both the college and pro level -- and in private conversations; not just when they're saying something nice on the record to a reporter. (You'd be stunned how often one coach will pump up another when being quoted, then roll his eyes -- and worse -- when the pen is down or recorder is off.) Anthony is respected for both his hoop knowledge and his character. And that latter quality is critical when youre in the living room recruiting the level of player who can thrive at this university. The parents notice. And you want the kind of players who notice it, too.
OK, so that aside, know this: If Anthony Grant somehow gets pushed out, you're almost certainly sentencing the University of Dayton to be a stepping stone job for the foreseeable future.
Think about that.
With the amount of support UD gets from an incredible fan base and administration, this deserves to be a destination job. (A higher level conference would help that, and maybe we'll discuss that later.)
Anthony Grant understands the university and its mission. His commitment to doing things the right way should be clear by now. And no one can question his effort through an unspeakably difficult time for his family.
What's happened to this team lately has largely been the function of injuries. UD is in the 2022 tournament if Smith doesn't go down, and this past season's medical absences stripped the club of key players and badly needed rotation continuity.
Also, throughout college basketball, dealing with the uncharted waters of NIL money made team-building and cohesion far more strenuous. I do not believe Dayton was immune.
FTS: You and I both feel that AG is the best man for the job. Is this a do-or-die season for him or does Neil Sullivan have complete faith in Coach Grant?
SB: I think it's fair to count the AD among the faithful.
The university is fortunate to have Neil Sullivan navigating the rapidly changing paradigm of college athletics. The multi-sided challenges of keeping a private institution like Dayton competitive on the fields of competition while threading the needle on the introduction of a major financial platform that is likely to be altered again (how long until schools are paying athletes directly?) is all-consuming. But I trust that Neil Sullivan is up for the fight.
Moreover, he is protective of the larger and more important entity that is the University of Dayton. He was hired to advance the school's athletic programs within the standards of the Marianist institution -- a charge that should be of great importance to alumni and those who care about UD.
Look, I'm not going to get into examples, but we can all think of colleges with impeccable academic credentials whose reputations were stained by the actions of their coaches and/or athletes.
In other words, don't mess with the value of our degrees.
Beyond offering a home for young athletes to grow, our teams can be John the Baptist, shining a light on a school that is truly special and is getting better by the day.
The fact is UD has gathered a very impressive group of coaches who "get" the school and what it represents in the area and beyond. For example, I loved that baseball coach Jayson King talked about community service projects when I met him.
FTS: How does UD thrive and compete with the Power 5 in the new world of college hoops with NIL and the transfer portal?
SB: It's going to be difficult, but these are issues even larger schools are facing. The latest problem I've seen brought to light is that universities rely heavily on donors for capital improvements and general funding, and with these benefactors now being pressed for contributions to NIL collectives and the like, the squeeze is on.
UD is the gold standard in the Atlantic 10 when it comes to facilities and support, and I know of Power 5 schools that look upon Dayton with measures of envy. It's going to be hard to compete with larger institutions as changes come, but UD is blessed to have amazing individual and corporate support and passion.
FTS: What are you hearing about a new conference for the Flyers?
SB: Not as much as I'd like. I'm not saying Dayton is above the Atlantic 10 at all, but I've spoken to a number of prominent people like Dick Vitale who would offer strong testimony that Dayton belongs in the Big East. It's a perfect fit for both on so many levels.
Rivalries enhanced by proximity and alums from different schools working in the same corporate offices helped grow the original Big East, and putting UD with Xavier, Butler, DePaul and Marquette would strengthen the Midwest foothold.
There's another word that should resonate with the Big East: football. Not the kind of big money football that caused such upheaval in the conference years ago, but the type Dayton plays now, without athletic scholarships. A number of BE schools are already playing (some do scholarships, but that could be pulled back to level the field) and more could join. And we know Butler is already with Dayton in the Pioneer league.
Getting these schools together in some Ivy League-type settings on Saturdays in the fall would be great for engagement with alumni and other fans.
In basic terms of the Big East including Dayton, the response I got from a now-former conference administrator I've known for a long time was about market size. My reply is that the Dayton market is bigger than Dayton when it comes to UD. Because it's a Catholic institution, it draws students from the Midwest, East Coast and beyond. So if UD is in the conference, Cleveland, for example, becomes a Big East market. (My freshman roommate at Founders was from Euclid, and the two guys across the hall were from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia -- and I'm happy to say all are still friends.)
FTS: As a longtime Celtics observer, what did you think of the three-team trade that sent Marcus Smart for draft picks and Kristaps Porzingis?
SB: If you'll allow me to take the easy way out, I'll just do a cut-and-paste from my recent Heavy.com column:
"...in terms of cold, hard, on-paper facts, the Celtics came out ahead on this trade. But the truth is the deal can't be properly judged for Boston until it's seen how many games Porzingis can play and what effect Smart's loss has on the Celts' identity. The latter component wasn't enough to keep the club from self-inflicted eliminations, but we'll see how the C's run without his fuel."
As stated numerous times in this space, I am not a journalist, but rather just a fan with a blog. Steve Bulpett is a journalist and one of the most connected and respected dudes covering the NBA. I appreciate him sharing that knowledge with UDPride.
While we are on the subject of journalism, it is only fitting to finish this piece with a recent in-depth profile from Sports Business Journal on the Jedi Master of sportswriters, Peter Gammons, a hero of mine and Im sure of Steves as well:
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.co...r-gammons.aspx
Thats it From the Swamp.
You can email me at: swampy@udpride.com