It wasn't that long ago that the varsity boys at Murphy were on top of the SMC but those days seem a distant memory with the way the last few seasons have gone. Since their last sectional final appearance in 2011, the Murphy program has been on a sharp and steady decline. Things finally hit rock bottom this season when the team only won 5 games, two of those wins coming against a school with less than 50 total students in their high school.
However, much to my surprise, there are apparently no plans for a coaching change. That really says it all about how the athletic department views the basketball program and all sports not named football, given what has transpired. Coach Payne has been a faithful servant to Murphy basketball but the program is in a tailspin that is unlikely to improve with him in charge. I commend him for all he has done in his years at Murphy but it's time for a new voice, a new face, a new direction.
Coach Payne has been in charge for 15 years now, the program started out strong under his watch benefiting from a great run of talent early in his tenure. After that group graduated in 2002-2003 the program suffered through several years of mediocrity before returning to prominence behind what was arguably the best run of basketball talent in Murphy history. A group backed by the likes of 2 time SMC POY Zack Lovingood and standout guards Dwayne Neal and Devantae Sudderth the Bulldogs enjoyed 4 straight SMC conference tournament titles and 3 straight regular season SMC titles.
While those regular season accomplishments were impressive, those teams never got over the hump in the postseason, managing only one regionals appearance during that stretch. And despite having the deepest roster in the history of the SMC with the 2009-10 team, a team that went 10 deep and whose second five were better than any starting five in the rest of the conference, that team only managed a sectional finals appearance that season. In that sectionals game against Hendersonville the Bulldogs lead much of the game, however early in the 4th quarter SMC POY Lovingood picked up his 4th foul with the Bulldogs leading. Payne took Lovingood out and the Bearcats preceded to cut the Murphy lead and with home crowd behind them the Bearcats took the momentum and eventually the lead, while Lovingood remained on the bench. Payne finally reinserted Lovingood but it was too late, the Bearcats held onto their late lead and moved on to regionals. A team that was plenty talented enough to have won it all that season, sent home after the 3rd round..
While the talent on the team is clearly not on par with that of the past, there is still plenty of talent in the school. Some of that talent either isn't playing at all or quitting in the middle of their high school career. The last few years there have been several players, starters even, who have not returned for their junior or senior seasons and others who have simply not bothered to play after JV. This season alone there were 3 certain starters who did not suit up, one transferred out and the other two elected not to play after having started the previous season (one for Murphy, the other for Hayesville JV). Those three players: a 6'8 post, a 6'4 post and a 6'0 guard would've drastically upgraded the talent level. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident, roster attrition has been happening for a while. That speaks to a disconnect between the coach and his players/potential players, unfortunately this issue could continue to manifest itself without a change in coach.
While last year was indeed the low point, next season promises to be as bad or if possible worse. The Murphy JV team showed well and offered some hope for the future but several of these kids will not bother suiting up for the varsity team because of the current perception of the varsity program, real or perceived. Then there will likely be the same annual defections from what is already a paper thin and largely untalented varsity roster. While the Murphy varsity roster last season was constructed of many kids who would never see the floor on previous Murphy teams, next year's team might have a hard time even fielding a complete roster.
Yes, this was long winded but I hate to see a once proud program reach this ultimate low point. The athletic department has sent a loud and clear message with their coaching decisions in regards to basketball and baseball. That message appears to be that they're unconcerned with the rest of the athletic department as long as the football program remains successful. But when the state of these programs starts causing talented young footballers to transfer to schools that still take other sports seriously, perhaps only then will some things change. But I and many others won't be holding their breath though.
This post was edited on 3/18 9:14 PM by mbdfan
However, much to my surprise, there are apparently no plans for a coaching change. That really says it all about how the athletic department views the basketball program and all sports not named football, given what has transpired. Coach Payne has been a faithful servant to Murphy basketball but the program is in a tailspin that is unlikely to improve with him in charge. I commend him for all he has done in his years at Murphy but it's time for a new voice, a new face, a new direction.
Coach Payne has been in charge for 15 years now, the program started out strong under his watch benefiting from a great run of talent early in his tenure. After that group graduated in 2002-2003 the program suffered through several years of mediocrity before returning to prominence behind what was arguably the best run of basketball talent in Murphy history. A group backed by the likes of 2 time SMC POY Zack Lovingood and standout guards Dwayne Neal and Devantae Sudderth the Bulldogs enjoyed 4 straight SMC conference tournament titles and 3 straight regular season SMC titles.
While those regular season accomplishments were impressive, those teams never got over the hump in the postseason, managing only one regionals appearance during that stretch. And despite having the deepest roster in the history of the SMC with the 2009-10 team, a team that went 10 deep and whose second five were better than any starting five in the rest of the conference, that team only managed a sectional finals appearance that season. In that sectionals game against Hendersonville the Bulldogs lead much of the game, however early in the 4th quarter SMC POY Lovingood picked up his 4th foul with the Bulldogs leading. Payne took Lovingood out and the Bearcats preceded to cut the Murphy lead and with home crowd behind them the Bearcats took the momentum and eventually the lead, while Lovingood remained on the bench. Payne finally reinserted Lovingood but it was too late, the Bearcats held onto their late lead and moved on to regionals. A team that was plenty talented enough to have won it all that season, sent home after the 3rd round..
While the talent on the team is clearly not on par with that of the past, there is still plenty of talent in the school. Some of that talent either isn't playing at all or quitting in the middle of their high school career. The last few years there have been several players, starters even, who have not returned for their junior or senior seasons and others who have simply not bothered to play after JV. This season alone there were 3 certain starters who did not suit up, one transferred out and the other two elected not to play after having started the previous season (one for Murphy, the other for Hayesville JV). Those three players: a 6'8 post, a 6'4 post and a 6'0 guard would've drastically upgraded the talent level. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident, roster attrition has been happening for a while. That speaks to a disconnect between the coach and his players/potential players, unfortunately this issue could continue to manifest itself without a change in coach.
While last year was indeed the low point, next season promises to be as bad or if possible worse. The Murphy JV team showed well and offered some hope for the future but several of these kids will not bother suiting up for the varsity team because of the current perception of the varsity program, real or perceived. Then there will likely be the same annual defections from what is already a paper thin and largely untalented varsity roster. While the Murphy varsity roster last season was constructed of many kids who would never see the floor on previous Murphy teams, next year's team might have a hard time even fielding a complete roster.
Yes, this was long winded but I hate to see a once proud program reach this ultimate low point. The athletic department has sent a loud and clear message with their coaching decisions in regards to basketball and baseball. That message appears to be that they're unconcerned with the rest of the athletic department as long as the football program remains successful. But when the state of these programs starts causing talented young footballers to transfer to schools that still take other sports seriously, perhaps only then will some things change. But I and many others won't be holding their breath though.
This post was edited on 3/18 9:14 PM by mbdfan