One of Georgia State’s biggest fans this year is the man who helped resurrect the basketball program.
Watching from his home in Virginia, former coach Lefty Driesell said he’s impressed by what coach Ron Hunter is doing in his first season at the GSU Sports Arena. The Panthers will play host to Texas-San Antonio in Saturday’s BracketBuster game on the court bearing Driesell’s name.
“I think he can give anybody in the league a game and beat them,” Driesell said.
The “ol’ lefthander” knows a little bit about coaching. He capped his 41-year coaching career, which included stops at Davidson, Maryland and James Madison, by going 103-59 at Georgia State, including leading the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2001.
That was the team’s last appearance in the tournament. This season’s squad will almost certainly need to win the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in Richmond to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Driesell thinks the Panthers can do it. He watched them defeat VCU 55-53 earlier this season with a defense that he said had the Rams so “screwed up they didn’t know what to do.” He said he’s considering making the trip to Richmond to watch the CAA tournament and Hunter.
“Everything he’s doing, he’s done before,” Driesell said. “His defense is super. They are running the offense and sharing the ball. They aren’t scared to take a shot either. They are playing with confidence. I think they can beat anybody in the league.”
The two coaches have spoken several times this year. Actually, Hunter says he listens while Driesell talks.
Hunter credits Driesell for keeping him from over-coaching. While the team has won 18 games, Hunter said he has felt the urge to tinker more than he has in an attempt to improve the team’s offense. The Panthers average 67.2 points per game, fourth most in the CAA, but could be scoring much more if they were better at free-throw shooting. It’s making 65.6 percent of its attempts, 10th in the conference.
“I ask him for advice, he says ‘Whatever you are doing, I don’t want to mess you up. Keep doing what you are doing,’’ Hunter said. “It’s actually been great advice. Lot of times I haven’t made changes because of his advice.”
The Panthers have won four of their past five games, with the only loss in overtime against Delaware. After playing host to the Roadrunners (15-11), Old Dominion comes to town Wednesday in a game the Panthers must win to keep alive hopes of earning a fourth seed, which comes with a bye, in the CAA tournament. They will finish the regular season at William and Mary.
Driesell said he appreciates Hunter’s tough-love style and his ability to get the most out of his players. The senior class never won more than 12 games the previous three years. He said he expects Hunter will keep up the success after the team’s six seniors leave and Hunter’s first recruiting class, which includes his son R.J., arrives.
“People in this league better watch out for him,” Driesell said. “He knows how to recruit and how to coach.”
About the Author
