If you're making a change to the coaching staff, who would it be?

[mu03eng]

This topic was prompted by some twitter debate that the #mubb twitteratti got into.

The defensive deficiencies of this team are clearly the root cause of MU's bubble status this year. Some of the issue could be ascribed to roster make-up but certainly not all of it. There are definitely issues in coaching and player development at work, at least in my mind.

So, if coaching is an issue, what changes do you make in the off season? Do you replace someone on the staff? If so who? What do you do in replacement? Or do you stand pat and believe the staff gets better with another year of experience, etc?

[tower912]

Who is in charge of the defense?    And, who is landing the best recruits?    Or, more to the point, whose recruits is MU NOT landing?   If the answers to 'defense' and 'not landing recruits' is the same, the answer is easy.   

[warriorchick]

Who is in charge of the defense?    And, who is landing the best recruits?    Or, more to the point, whose recruits is MU NOT landing?   If the answers to 'defense' and 'not landing recruits' is the same, the answer is easy.   

Really?  You think our recruiting sucks?

[Marcus92]

It's still too early to say what's the best course.

We have 6 games left in the regular season — including 3 more against opponents currently ranked in the Top 25. Plus the Big East tournament, likely facing at least one more Top 25 team. And, unless the wheels completely fall off, at least one postseason tournament game (hopefully in the Field of 64) beyond that.

That's a lot of basketball yet to be played against the highest level of competition. We may well need changes after this season — but not until fully evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of this team and the coaching staff.

[cheebs09]

Really?  You think our recruiting sucks?

I think it's more of "which coach would we lose that doesn't affect our recruiting."

 It also seems like we are using the Director of Basketball Operations as more of a development role rather than the way Buzz did. I fet Buzz used that role for former head coaches that didn't want to recruit anymore (Wainwright I think started as DBO) or just were let go and need to bounce back (Coach from Air Force). I think that helped him with the Xs and Os.

[MU82]

I would fire Doug Collins and replace him with Phil Jackson.

It worked for the Bulls!

[wadesworld]

Getting John and Eke will help a lot.

[LAZER]

It's still too early to say what's the best course.

We have 6 games left in the regular season — including 3 more against opponents currently ranked in the Top 25. Plus the Big East tournament, likely facing at least one more Top 25 team. And, unless the wheels completely fall off, at least one postseason tournament game (hopefully in the Field of 64) beyond that.

That's a lot of basketball yet to be played against the highest level of competition. We may well need changes after this season — but not until fully evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of this team and the coaching staff.

Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, I think it's pretty clear the defense needs to get better.

[cheese ball chaser]

Getting John and Eke will help a lot.

How are John and Eke on the defensive end?

[mu03eng]

It's still too early to say what's the best course.

We have 6 games left in the regular season — including 3 more against opponents currently ranked in the Top 25. Plus the Big East tournament, likely facing at least one more Top 25 team. And, unless the wheels completely fall off, at least one postseason tournament game (hopefully in the Field of 64) beyond that.

That's a lot of basketball yet to be played against the highest level of competition. We may well need changes after this season — but not until fully evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of this team and the coaching staff.

Not to go all Denny Green(RIP) on you, but the team is who we thought they were. I don't see any possibility that the team will change. That doesn't mean that some alignment of the stars can't happen and we win a bunch of games and get to the FF. This team is great to historic on offense and terrible to below average on defense. If the historic and below average line-up at the same time in some combination we can win, if not we don't

The defense is more than player driven, hence why I think we need to make a change to the staff.

[wadesworld]

How are John and Eke on the defensive end?

(Much) Better than they are on the offensive end.

[Knight Commission]

Kevin O'Neill is only 60 yo, and I am confident he can have his own parking spot now.

[RJax55]

I'm not confident that bringing in a defensive specialist will have all that much of an impact in terms of defensive philosophy. This is not football, where you can make philosophical changes that have a limited impact on a team's other units. How Wojo wants to play on both ends are tied together. Both in style and the players he recruits.

Where a veteran coach could help Wojo is in teaching his ideas.

[mu03eng]

I'm not confident that bringing in a defensive specialist will have all that much of an impact in terms of defensive philosophy. This is not football, where you can make philosophical changes that have a limited impact on a team's other units. How Wojo wants to play on both ends are tied together. Both in style and the players he recruits.

Where a veteran coach could help Wojo is in teaching his ideas.

Not a defensive specialist, but someone who can teach fundamentals and translate what Wojo wants into action on the court.

[GGGG]

I have no idea what Chris Carrawell does.  Stan Johnson is clearly a recruiter, and is very active on the bench as play is going on.  Brett Nelson has been recruiting as well.  But Carrawell?  I don't think I have seen him linked to anyone recruiting wise.  I also don't see him very active in coaching situations during games.

He may play a valuable role that I am just not seeing or understanding.

[RJax55]

Not a defensive specialist, but someone who can teach fundamentals and translate what Wojo wants into action on the court.

My top comment was in response to the idea of bringing in a guy like a KO or a coach known for a defensive system. That's not going to make much of an impact.

I agree with you. A veteran who can help teach. Someone that would assist in communicating Wojo's ideas could make a difference. I believe it was Freeport that stated here a few months ago about Wojo right now being more of a motivator than a teacher. That certainly seems to be the case. And, I look over to his bench and I do wonder who the teacher is.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Not a defensive specialist, but someone who can teach fundamentals and translate what Wojo wants into action on the court.

Did you see how much Jerry was doing this during the fresno game? 

I have no idea what Chris Carrawell does.  Stan Johnson is clearly a recruiter, and is very active on the bench as play is going on.  Brett Nelson has been recruiting as well.  But Carrawell?  I don't think I have seen him linked to anyone recruiting wise.  I also don't see him very active in coaching situations during games.

He may play a valuable role that I am just not seeing or understanding.

This is who I would vote off the island as well.

[wildbillsb]

Enough. It's coaching basketball, for pity's sake, not rocket surgery.

[CTWarrior]

Not to go all Denny Green(RIP) on you, but the team is who we thought they were. I don't see any possibility that the team will change. That doesn't mean that some alignment of the stars can't happen and we win a bunch of games and get to the FF. This team is great to historic on offense and terrible to below average on defense. If the historic and below average line-up at the same time in some combination we can win, if not we don't

The defense is more than player driven, hence why I think we need to make a change to the staff.

This I agree with.  There has to be a usable scheme we can come up with that doesn't have Fischer chasing people on the perimeter, at least.  Hedge and recover, maybe, but not more than that.

[cheese ball chaser]

I have no idea what Chris Carrawell does.  Stan Johnson is clearly a recruiter, and is very active on the bench as play is going on.  Brett Nelson has been recruiting as well.  But Carrawell?  I don't think I have seen him linked to anyone recruiting wise.  I also don't see him very active in coaching situations during games.

He may play a valuable role that I am just not seeing or understanding.

I don't know what he does either. According to his profile on gomarquette.com, he played with Wojo at Duke. He aint goin' nowhere.

[mu03eng]

This is who I would vote off the island as well.

This is the conclusion I reached on twitter as well.

I'll start it #fiurCarrawell

[GoldenDieners32]

(Much) Better than they are on the offensive end.

Im pretty sure theo is good on both sides, but Eke i think is just defense

[KampusFoods]

I think Carrawell was brought in as a "player development" kind of coach. Obviously had no college coaching experience before this, but I think was well known for getting guys to improve. Clearly, we don't watch practice and have no clue what kind of impact he has with these guys. Certainly, if I had to pick a coach to cut, it would be him. Though I think we've got bigger problems in player personnel than we do on the coaching staff.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

From my few games sitting near the bench, during games it seems like Wojo and Carrawell are the ra ra pump guys up coaches. Nelson and Johnson are the talk with individual players about what they need to do coaches.

I wouldn't mind a veteran on the bench with some defensive chops. But I don't think it would help as much as we want it to.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

This is the conclusion I reached on twitter as well.

I'll start it #fiurCarrawell

I came to that conclusion during a discussion about this earlier in the year. However, he and Wojo are besties, I don't think that's happening. Stan is too good at recruiting. That probably means Nelson would be the one to go if anyone did.