MUScoop
MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: Golden Avalanche on March 31, 2013, 03:55:16 PM
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/200800721.html (http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/200800721.html)
Rayno has been dropping hints on Twitter all weekend about Buzz. Definitely placing high value in Villa 7 connection and feels the Flip Saunders "offer" was a ruse to appease alums.
On one hand, she admits it'd be a tough sell and lateral move. On the other, she can't just be throwing trash out there regarding Buzz. It'd have to be sourced.
One other nugget: Goodman tweeted today he doesn't see Buzz taking Minnesota.
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Buzz isn't going to Minny. They(Minny) already explored that option.
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/200800721.html (http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/200800721.html)
Rayno has been dropping hints on Twitter all weekend about Buzz. Definitely placing high value in Villa 7 connection and feels the Flip Saunders "offer" was a ruse to appease alums.
On one hand, she admits it'd be a tough sell and lateral move. On the other, she can't just be throwing trash out there regarding Buzz. It'd have to be sourced.
One other nugget: Goodman tweeted today he doesn't see Buzz taking Minnesota.
First it is not a lateral move, its a big step down. MN will suck next year and the year after, lucky to be above 500 and see the CBE tourney.
Second, as I noted in another post, the FB coach gets $1.2 million/year. Buzz's current salary of $2.8 is more than the FB coach, the Hockey coach and all their assistants COMBINED. Is MN ready to throw Hockey and FB under the bus for BB? That is what will happen if you have a BB coach that has never been the FF more than everyone else.
Final, yes is is throwing trash out there. She is making it up. Their are no consequences for her being 100% wrong. Remember a year ago we had the same BS about Buzz being spotted in Norman and about to go to OU. All of it was 100% wrong (just like the stories that Brad Stevens was spotted on UCLA's campus last week ... again a 100% wrong).
Oh to be a sportswriter, make up fantastic stories that have no basis in reality and no cares that you're wrong.
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Christ sports writing and sports talk radio are below Fox News
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First it is not a lateral move, its a big step down. MN will suck next year and the year after, lucky to be above 500 and see the CBE tourney.
Second, as I noted in another post, the FB coach gets $1.2 million/year. Buzz's current salary of $2.8 is more than the FB coach, the Hockey coach and all their assistants COMBINED. Is MN ready to throw Hockey and FB under the bus for BB? That is what will happen if you have a BB coach that has never been the FF more than everyone else.
Buzz is not making a $2.8M salary.
If you look at MU's 2011 990, he made $1.07M of reportable compensation. And "Team Buzz Williams, LLC" was paid about $671,000 for services. (Probably related to his basketball camps, media appearances and alumni appearances.) The $2.8 figure was was from a previous year when he was paid a retention bonus of some sort.
That being said, the jist of your post is spot on.
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Minnesota's beat writer was also not one of the first to know when Tubby was fired.
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or this depending on your perspective....
Christ sports writing and sports talk radio are below Fox NewsMSNBC
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Irrelevant. Buzz is not going to Minnesota unless maybe if the T-Wolves come calling.
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or this depending on your perspective....
ill meet you halfway - both trash reporting regardless of your political leanings
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Christ sports writing and sports talk radio are below Fox News MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN
Fixed it for you
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Fixed it for you
You cross out Fox News???? Wow. You must be joking.
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You cross out Fox News???? Wow. You must be joking.
In reality, I wouldn't...they all suck...but was playing the same "game" as he was playing.
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Is their anyone on this board that is actually in the know or is this just one big circle jerk
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Is their anyone on this board that is actually in the know or is this just one big circle jerk
The latter.
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Buzz to NBA?.....maybe after we win the championship next year.
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In reality, I wouldn't...they all suck...but was playing the same "game" as he was playing.
Got it. Now let's get back to basketball....
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In reality, I wouldn't...they all suck...but was playing the same "game" as he was playing.
fits your narrative. They are not equal. Sorry.
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fits your narrative. They are not equal. Sorry.
From your liberal point of view, I would expect absolutely nothing short of that statement. There's also a difference between opinion based shows and news based shows, though some people are entirely unprepared to distinguish the two.
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No. from a facts point of view you are making equivalency where there is none.
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Another thread shot to sh*t because people can't help themselves....
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Another thread shot to sh*t because people can't help themselves....
+1
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Another thread shot to sh*t because people can't help themselves....
I Miss the old sultan. He used to be happier. This was a stupid thread to begin with.
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I e-mailed Amelia the following:
Well written piece on Buzz Williams, but there's an infinitesimal chance he moves to a middling Big Ten school that won't match Marquette's pockets. The 2013 recruiting class is top 10 in the country, and Marquette is primed to make a big splash in a fledgling conference that recently signed a huge TV deal. Unless the relationship is as acrimonious as some believe between Buzz and Larry Williams, there's no way Buzz downgrades. He's building something too special to start over in Minnesota.
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Getting back to the thread subject ...
The worst thing about reporters making up rumors is they give fans the idea that Shaka smart, brad Stevens or Buzz or whoever they invent are going to their school. Then when they announce their head coach pick, it is deflating as it seems like their fifth choice.
See Alford to UCLA a few days go or John Groce to The Illini last year.
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I have a friend who is high up in the athletic dept at minnesota sent him a text saying "there is no way buzz is going to Minnesota". He basically agreed, wouldn't tell me who they are targeting, but basically said there was no way buzz was going there.
Anyway, take that fwiw...
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You could stop at "they don't have a practice facility." That's not a minor point for recruiting.
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Getting back to the thread subject ...
The worst thing about reporters making up rumors is they give fans the idea that Shaka smart, brad Stevens or Buzz or whoever they invent are going to their school. Then when they announce their head coach pick, it is deflating as it seems like their fifth choice.
See Alford to UCLA a few days go or John Groce to The Illini last year.
To this point, Rayno has done the exact opposite. Has always maintained that inquiries would be put to Shaka, Stevens, and Saunders but none were realistic options.
Rayno mentioned Buzz the day after Smith was let go and has seemed fixated on him to the degree of writing a blog entry and specifically naming him in her Sunday article as next in line after Marquette's loss when most people up there give Buzz passing reference.
I don't see Buzz going to Minnesota. But I admit to being intrigued that the Gophers beat writer seems to feel he's a legitimate option albeit a tough sell at that. Perhaps, as a 25 year old relative newbie, her only "source" is the rehash of Goodman/Parrish's consistent drumbeating of trouble between LW and Buzz?
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Not gonna happen.
Next.
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Several in the traditional Twin Cities media received silly "Buzz whisperings" immediately after Tubby's firing and have really struggled to let go. With each passing day, the grip grows stronger. Not going to share specifics, but I've received some entertaining questions & commentary...
If you feel compelled to write something and have no knowledge or understanding of where things stand, you'll come up with some bizarro thoughts and "insight".
The latest Strib scribbling comes on the heels of the huge Andy Enfield news (http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/200687681.html)
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He considered SMU last year. I am not going to be so smug that Minnnesota is beneath us. If Buzz is happy he turns down the Lakers. If not, he takes Concordia job. This is is not money thing IMO.
Whole thing is tiring and I will check backin afew days and see what is going on.
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My concern Goose is that he gets too unhappy then, too quickly. If he is unhappy at MU after being unhappy at New Orleans, etc...well I worry about where he can be happy.
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My concern Goose is that he gets too unhappy then, too quickly. If he is unhappy at MU after being unhappy at New Orleans, etc...well I worry about where he can be happy.
Buzz is not one to suffer fools gladly, something you wouldn't understand.
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Ugh. It sounds like Buzz could have at least tried at UCLA and turned them down. He's not turning down UCLA and then listening to Minn.
If minn is talking to the guy from Fgcu, then buzz isn't even in consideration. The Fgcu guy may well be a good coach but his resume is nowhere close to the same universe as buzz.
If he wants to leave so be it. Looking at the only real evidence we have, Buzz could have left but has not.
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Tubby Smith signs with Texas Tech.
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Is their anyone on this board that is actually in the know or is this just one big circle jerk
GIF?
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Patiently waiting for the "Buzz to New Mexico" talk to start... ::)
Seriously, sounds as though Craig Neal is a done deal there.
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Patiently waiting for the "Buzz to New Mexico" talk to start... ::)
Seriously, sounds as though Craig Neal is a done deal there.
What about USC? Is that still available?
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I live in Minnesota, and have been listening to KFAN today. Buzz's name has been mentioned countless times, and they are really delusional here.
Oh, and the common man - the afternoon guy, keeps calling him Buzz Aldridge.
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I live in Minnesota, and have been listening to KFAN today. Buzz's name has been mentioned countless times, and they are really delusional here.
Oh, and the common man - the afternoon guy, keeps calling him Buzz Aldridge.
Stay sane. NEVER listen to sports talk radio.
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I live in Minnesota, and have been listening to KFAN today. Buzz's name has been mentioned countless times, and they are really delusional here.
Oh, and the common man - the afternoon guy, keeps calling him Buzz Aldridge.
Buzz Aldridge was my favorite astronaut.
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Buzz Aldridge was my favorite astronaut.
Mine was Buzz Lightyear
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Buzz Aldridge was my favorite astronaut.
Mine was Terry Glenn.
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Buzz Aldridge was my favorite astronaut.
Mine were the Mick Jaggernauts.
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Stay sane. NEVER listen to sports talk radio.
Especially when it comes to the common man. His bit is to act like he doesn't know anyone's name. I'm actually a huge Common fan.
In any case, the morning show--on the same station--mentioned that the gophers might have to "settle" for Buzz. Boy, this town is in for a rude awakening.
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Buzz Aldridge was my favorite astronaut.
That was the bald astronaut, hey?
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I live in Minnesota, and have been listening to KFAN today.
Why?
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Why?
Because lunch in my car is too lonely otherwise.
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The two things Minnesota can offer Buzz that MU cannot. An arena named after him and the chance to beat Bo 2 or 3 times a year instead of only once.
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The two things Minnesota can offer Buzz that MU cannot. An arena named after him and the chance to beat Bo 2 or 3 times a year instead of only once.
Unless they're matched up in the first round of the big ten/NCAA tourney, that 3rd matchup would be tough to get ;)
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Because lunch in my car is too lonely otherwise.
That is funny. I will admit that Common is good for a chuckle every once in awhile. Have not listened to him in at least 5 years now.
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Interesting list of all time NCAA appearances (according to Wiki). MU shows nicely at 11. Where does Minnesota rank? Tied for 126th with 7! Right next to the other basketball powerhouses such as Dartmouth, TCU, Ball State, and Eastern Kentucky.
Yeah but what about the stripped records you ask? fine add in the 4 NCAA appearances that were wiped out by cheating. They surge ahead to 90th, next to Seattle and Navy.
Even more interesting, Butler, VCU and Davidson would be one slot higher than MN with 12 appearances. Perhaps they should be calling MN coaches when they have coaching vacancies...
52 Kentucky
44 North Carolina
43 UCLA
42 Kansas
39 Louisville
37 Indiana
37 Duke
36 Syracuse
33 Notre Dame
32 Villanova
31 Marquette
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Tournament_bids_by_school
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Interesting list of all time NCAA appearances (according to Wiki). MU shows nicely at 11. Where does Minnesota rank? Tied for 126th with 7! Right next to the other basketball powerhouses such as Dartmouth, TCU, Ball State, and Eastern Kentucky.
Yeah but what about the stripped records you ask? fine add in the 4 NCAA appearances that were wiped out by cheating.
No need to add in those stripped records. There is cheating and really really cheating. The U was really really cheating.
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MN and UW basketball are very similar jobs now.
For the right coach, it's a great gig, and they can have a lot of success.
But, there isn't a laundry list of guys clamoring to take either of those gigs.
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MN and UW basketball are very similar jobs now.
For the right coach, it's a great gig, and they can have a lot of success.
But, there isn't a laundry list of guys clamoring to take either of those gigs.
From a facilities standpoint, the UW job is 1 million times the job the MN job is. If they threw that job open to a true national search, they will get a real good group of people who are interested IMO.
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From a facilities standpoint, the UW job is 1 million times the job the MN job is. If they threw that job open to a true national search, they will get a real good group of people who are interested IMO.
Last time they had the job open they settled for their third choice after choice 1 (Majerus) and choice 2 (Braun) passed.
Though it probably worked out for the best for them.
Not sure the facilities have changed much since then.
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GIF?
(http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/012/113/join_in_the_internet_circle_jerk_print-ra11ce31c7e7d40d78d37d8a5a1e777f5_zod_400.jpg)
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From a facilities standpoint, the UW job is 1 million times the job the MN job is. If they threw that job open to a true national search, they will get a real good group of people who are interested IMO.
Yes, but I have to think that a new Gopher practice facility is on the immediate horizon for MN. I assume that is brought up during the interview process...
But then again, nobody is taking the job, so maybe there isn't a new practice facility coming. :-\
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Interesting list of all time NCAA appearances (according to Wiki). MU shows nicely at 11. Where does Minnesota rank? Tied for 126th with 7! Right next to the other basketball powerhouses such as Dartmouth, TCU, Ball State, and Eastern Kentucky.
Yeah but what about the stripped records you ask? fine add in the 4 NCAA appearances that were wiped out by cheating. They surge ahead to 90th, next to Seattle and Navy.
Even more interesting, Butler, VCU and Davidson would be one slot higher than MN with 12 appearances. Perhaps they should be calling MN coaches when they have coaching vacancies...
52 Kentucky
44 North Carolina
43 UCLA
42 Kansas
39 Louisville
37 Indiana
37 Duke
36 Syracuse
33 Notre Dame
32 Villanova
31 Marquette
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Tournament_bids_by_school
Interesting that Notre Dame is the only school in that group not to win a National Championship.
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I sent a email to Buzz yesterday voicing my support to him and the team and got a nice response. I also sent a email to pilarz (I would be shocked if I got a response) and voiced the same. Nothing wrong with letting the donations director and the Admin/Pres know if you support Buzz and how much losing him could move us back when we are just getting the ball rolling on moving forward.
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Interesting that Notre Dame is the only school in that group not to win a National Championship.
... and how many final fours? 1 (1978)?
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Yes, but I have to think that a new Gopher practice facility is on the immediate horizon for MN. I assume that is brought up during the interview process...
But then again, nobody is taking the job, so maybe there isn't a new practice facility coming. :-\
Are you kidding? That's not happening, unless they receive a donation. $300 million to Target field, $450 (right now, "gaming" income is at 10% of estimates) for the vikings stadium and you think tax payers will agree to a practice facility? They are still paying tubby and brewster...and if Kill is their guy they'll have to bump his pay as well. It's a terrible job. Typical delusional MN fans.
If they start paying players and doing school work for players again maybe they'll attract some talent.
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Are you kidding? That's not happening, unless they receive a donation. $300 million to Target field, $450 (right now, "gaming" income is at 10% of estimates) for the vikings stadium and you think tax payers will agree to a practice facility? They are still paying tubby and brewster...and if Kill is their guy they'll have to bump his pay as well. It's a terrible job. Typical delusional MN fans.
If they start paying players and doing school work for players again maybe they'll attract some talent.
The state isn't going to build them a facility.
T. Denny has some deep pockets if the U can convince him that a new practice facility would make them competitive.
It's not a terrible job if they can get the infrastructure in order and hire the right coach.
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I sent a email to Buzz yesterday voicing my support to him and the team and got a nice response. I also sent a email to pilarz (I would be shocked if I got a response) and voiced the same. Nothing wrong with letting the donations director and the Admin/Pres know if you support Buzz and how much losing him could move us back when we are just getting the ball rolling on moving forward.
Isn't it a little early for the Scoop email campaign?
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Gophers are interested in Richard Pitino (Rick's kid).
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/04/03/source-gophers-express-interest-in-rich-pitino/
Also, heard rumors of Dwayne Stevens.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/201095111.html
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I wonder if young Pitino might be more interested in Rutgers at this point.
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I wonder if young Pitino might be more interested in Rutgers at this point.
Rutgers .... where promising coaching careers go to die.
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Andy Katz says Minnesota is close to a deal with Little Rick.
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That would be good, then hopefully we can wrap up this years version of the coaching carousel. Plus, maybe he can keep all the good Minny players from going to Madison.
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Pulled straight from Richie's wikipedia page...
Richard Pitino left his position as the assistant coach at Louisville to become the head coach at FIU on April 15, 2012. Then April 3rd, 2013 the Minnesota Gophers settle on this chump and hire him to be the head coach after Norwood Teague screwed up the hiring of Flip Saunders. This is going to be a train wreck.
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Twitter word is saying it's Richard Pitino.
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http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/22000827/richard-pitino-leading-candidate-to-succeed-tubby-at-minnesota
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Buzz to Florida International!!!! :'(
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(http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/012/113/join_in_the_internet_circle_jerk_print-ra11ce31c7e7d40d78d37d8a5a1e777f5_zod_400.jpg)
I hope you BING imaged searched for this image on a work computer
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Jesus...Richard Pitino...I mean the guy only got his previous jobs because his dad let him be an assistant at Lousiville and then Donovan let him glom on at Florida. I mean, I get Tubby didn't live up to his high contract, but c'mon. What a freaking joke.
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Jesus...Richard Pitino...I mean the guy only got his previous jobs because his dad let him be an assistant at Prov and Lousiville and then Donovan let him glom on at Florida. I mean, I get Tubby didn't live up to his high contract, but c'mon. What a freaking joke.
Think about it: Minnesota and UCLA dumped proven winners to hire two schlubs. Talk about getting what you deserve.
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18-14 at FIU. Made a run in the Sun Belt tourney to lose in the finals.
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Great comment on the Minn article about the hire:
"Talk about desperation....should have just handed it to Saul! At least his daddy doesn't bone bimbos in restaurants after closing time...."
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Looks Like we got all scared for nothing
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Think about it: Minnesota and UCLA dumped proven winners to hire two schlubs. Talk about getting what you deserve.
Actually, they fired coaches who had hit their ceilings and hired young, energetic guys who are going to take the program to the next level. Just ask the administrators ;)
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The only people happy with the hiring of Pitino are the fans of Northwestern.
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The only people happy with the hiring of Pitino are the fans of Northwestern.
I think this is a great hire. He has the name, the basketball pedigree and the personality to possibly get boosters to contribute to a new practice facility and with success, may be able to get a replacement for ancient Williams Arena. Doesn't hurt that there are 3-4 top 100 kids in Minnesota's 2014 class.
Great year this year.
http://www.fiusports.com/Sports/MensSports/MBasketball/Article/tabid/417/Article/20033/The-Season-FIU-Men’s-Basketball-2012-2013.aspx
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The only people happy with the hiring of Pitino are the fans of Northwestern.
You cant judge a hire from the get go
Will Pitino win the press conference, and are the boosters going to be creaming their Gold and Maroon overalls? Probably not. When the they hired Tubby that is what happened. They won press conference and 5 years later couldnt get over the hump and fired him.
Who did MN fans think they were going to get anyways?
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A lot of people doubted Buzz when MU hired him.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
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A lot of people doubted Buzz when MU hired him.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
Exactly.
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A lot of people doubted Buzz when MU hired him.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
Yep. I hope he has success.
But this is a good lesson for all. Remember that 'small handful of good jobs' comment by Buzz? The media is just insane when they throw out names like Brad, Shaka, and even more incredibly Buzz every time a middle tier Big 6 job opens. I have a very good friend who attended Minny. I sincerely hope he's excited today and not disappointed that some unreasonable expectation wasn't met.
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A lot of people doubted Buzz when MU hired him.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
But Marquette did fire a respectable good coach to hire an assistant. Gophers had to pay out 3.5 million to Tubby. Maybe he didn't take them to the top, but they're definitely in a better place now than before they hired Tubby. Paying out that kind of money is definitely not going to help with funding new facilities.
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But Marquette didn't fire a respectable good coach to hire an assistant. Gophers had to pay out 3.5 million to Tubby. Maybe he didn't take them to the top, but they're definitely in a better place now than before they hired Tubby. Paying out that kind of money is definitely not going to help with funding new facilities.
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A lot of people doubted Buzz when MU hired him.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
Sometimes it is better to hire an up and coming guy instead of an old retread. I hope he does well and recruits those pastey Minn traditionals away from Bo.
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But Marquette did fire a respectable good coach to hire an assistant. Gophers had to pay out 3.5 million to Tubby. Maybe he didn't take them to the top, but they're definitely in a better place now than before they hired Tubby. Paying out that kind of money is definitely not going to help with funding new facilities.
That's fair criticism.
I don't know what the thought process was on dismissing Tubby, but I can't imagine it was with hopes of landing Richard Pitino.
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I have a friend who is high up in the athletic dept at minnesota sent him a text saying "there is no way buzz is going to Minnesota". He basically agreed, wouldn't tell me who they are targeting, but basically said there was no way buzz was going there.
Anyway, take that fwiw...
The relevant quote should have been his response. But I will take it for FWIW.
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Looks Like we got all scared for nothing
I hope you meant to put that in teal.
Because most of "we" knew Buzz was never going to Minne-freakin'-sota.
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I hope you meant to put that in teal.
Because most of "we" knew Buzz was never going to Minne-freakin'-sota.
Well just I did; I guess.
But than again I get scared with every Buzz Rumor
Seems like this "Buzz Not happy Stuff" was just message board fodder that people needed to fill up threads with after the season was done
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Think about it: Minnesota and UCLA dumped proven winners to hire two schlubs. Talk about getting what you deserve.
Again, So Cal recruits weren't going to play for Ben any longer so it was going to happen no matter what. Alford might not be the right guy, who knows, but Ben was gone regardless.
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Again, So Cal recruits weren't going to play for Ben any longer so it was going to happen no matter what. Alford might not be the right guy, who knows, but Ben was gone regardless.
Who cares?
Dude had nation's top recruiting class last year. If that's not good enough for UCLA people because they're not from California, then it's just another reason they deserve everything they're going to get from Alford.
Also, Cali recruits are overrated.
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Who cares?
Dude had nation's top recruiting class last year. If that's not good enough for UCLA people because they're not from California, then it's just another reason they deserve everything they're going to get from Alford.
Also, Cali recruits are overrated.
You may be right. Keep in mind it wasn't just the fact that they can't get the So. Cal recruits, but they also have had a massive transfer problem plus the SI expose was not good. Think about our Chicago Tribune story X10.
The kids they did land for this year, one is threatening to transfer (Parker), Muhammed is going pro, Andersen is threatening to leave...this on the heels of 5 star Josh Smith transferring in December already. Tyler Lamb also transferred at the beginning of the season.
Lots of stuff. I like Ben, worked with him a bit when I ran our college basketball product. UCLA expects more, just is what it is.
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A lot of people doubted Buzz when MU hired him.
Everybody has to start somewhere.
I think Minnesota realized they faced a crossroads - hire an older, mid-major success of a coach w/a proven track-record that would keep the program at least at .500 or better, or, put their chips on table and go for a young, energetic, up-and-comer of a coach, hope he's successful, then pay him accordingly based on that success in keeping him around for the longevity of the program.
While I don't think Pitino is that guy, it's not the worst decision. Somewhat like Crean at MU. Get a guy in when he's young, hungry and trying to prove himself. Hope for success and then try to keep him. If he bolts, the program is at least better off than it would've been.
Not a bad decision IMHO. A reach, but an understood one that's worth the risk.
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But Marquette did fire a respectable good coach to hire an assistant. Gophers had to pay out 3.5 million to Tubby. Maybe he didn't take them to the top, but they're definitely in a better place now than before they hired Tubby. Paying out that kind of money is definitely not going to help with funding new facilities.
Which may also be the reason to go with a young, relatively unproven guy in Pitino--$$. They basically have to pay two coaches at once, so they probably did not have a ton of money to throw around (especially if they weren't able to get a Smart, Stevens, or Williams).
Its a value buy--the name and family connections brings some buzz-worthiness (no pun intended) to keep people talking and intrigued, yet I'm sure they can get him at a pretty low salary (haven't seen reports on his new salary, but he only made $250K at FIU) while they work on paying off Tubby.
If they happen to catch some success with him, great--they can give him a raise later on to match it. If not, they give him a short leash, wait and see how he does for a few years (2-4), and then cut their losses if he doesn't show signs of improvement. Then they'll have more financial flexibility to hire someone slightly more established. If they are planning on making upgrades to facilities in the meantime, also allows for the time and resources to do that in time for the next coaching change.
That said, I'm a bit astounded that he is only 30 years old and landing a job like this. Just can't imagine that even with his dad's mentoring that he's ready to take on something of this scale.
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I think this is a great hire. He has the name, the basketball pedigree and the personality to possibly get boosters to contribute to a new practice facility and with success, may be able to get a replacement for ancient Williams Arena. Doesn't hurt that there are 3-4 top 100 kids in Minnesota's 2014 class.
Great year this year.
http://www.fiusports.com/Sports/MensSports/MBasketball/Article/tabid/417/Article/20033/The-Season-FIU-Men’s-Basketball-2012-2013.aspx
Actually it is the problem. I think this is what many die hards are concerned about. How will a 30 yro newbie convince 2 ESPN top 10 local kids and the 40th ranked player to stay home. (Tyus Jones #2). Flip Saunders would have been able to say, listen I know what it takes to get to the Association. Can Richard say that? All 3 probably gone now. Duke, Kent, UNC in the running.
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Actually it is the problem. I think this is what many die hards are concerned about. How will a 30 yro newbie convince 2 ESPN top 10 local kids and the 40th ranked player to stay home. (Tyus Jones #2). Flip Saunders would have been able to say, listen I know what it takes to get to the Association. Can Richard say that? All 3 probably gone now. Duke, Kent, UNC in the running.
I saw a comment from the Howard Pulley coach saying players of this caliber are more likely to play for the father than the son.
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I saw a comment from the Howard Pulley coach saying players of this caliber are more likely to play for the father than the son.
I think it is doubtful for a number of reasons that Rick and Junior will be going after the same recruits, at least in the short term.
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I dont think this is a bad hire at all. If anything if I were Bo Ryan I'd be more concerned than when Tubby was coach.
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Actually it is the problem. I think this is what many die hards are concerned about. How will a 30 yro newbie convince 2 ESPN top 10 local kids and the 40th ranked player to stay home. (Tyus Jones #2). Flip Saunders would have been able to say, listen I know what it takes to get to the Association. Can Richard say that? All 3 probably gone now. Duke, Kent, UNC in the running.
The success of Minnesota basketball will not be determined by one recruiting class. Most likely, those recruits scratched Minnesota off the list as soon as Tubby was fired, regardless of who was hired (unless it was a homerun like Shaka). If you're going fire your coach at a program like Minnesota, you're going to take a step backwards in the near term.
I don't know any MN basketball die hards, but it seems they're very short sighted.
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We all bash Michael Hunt from time to time and for good reason, but he is a far better beat writer than the Gopher beat writer, who dutifully transcribed the MN AD's talking points throughout this process.
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The firing and hiring of a new coach seems to be based on the few high profile recruits coming through the MN pipeline in the next few years. They wanted to get a new coach to improve their chances on getting these recruits, and there was a general belief that Tubby didn't know how to relate to the current kids, and couldn't get them to play hard. So, they wanted to move on with a new coach, but they were worried if they delayed doing this, they'd miss out on these top recruits.
I don't think Pitino was who they envisioned in the hiring process, but it may not be a bad hire in the end.
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The firing and hiring of a new coach seems to be based on the few high profile recruits coming through the MN pipeline in the next few years. They wanted to get a new coach to improve their chances on getting these recruits, and there was a general belief that Tubby didn't know how to relate to the current kids, and couldn't get them to play hard. So, they wanted to move on with a new coach, but they were worried if they delayed doing this, they'd miss out on these top recruits.
I don't think Pitino was who they envisioned in the hiring process, but it may not be a bad hire in the end.
If the AD did in fact fire his coach to help his chances with upcoming, in-state recruits he should be fired.
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If the AD did in fact fire his coach to help his chances with upcoming, in-state recruits he should be fired.
Why? If the AD doesn't believe, based on past performance, that the coach isn't going to succeed at a significant part of his job, why can't that be grounds to get rid of someone.
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If the AD did in fact fire his coach to help his chances with upcoming, in-state recruits he should be fired.
Why? "We want to put a fence around the state" "we want to close the borders." "We want to keep the best players in the state--here in the state."
Aren't these the words--and rightly so of most every AD?
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We all bash Michael Hunt from time to time and for good reason, but he is a far better beat writer than the Gopher beat writer, who dutifully transcribed the MN AD's talking points throughout this process.
not to hijack this thread .... +1
When Hunt wants to, he can be very good. Problem is he mails it in too much.
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The success of Minnesota basketball will not be determined by one recruiting class. Most likely, those recruits scratched Minnesota off the list as soon as Tubby was fired, regardless of who was hired (unless it was a homerun like Shaka). If you're going fire your coach at a program like Minnesota, you're going to take a step backwards in the near term.
I don't know any MN basketball die hards, but it seems they're very short sighted.
If the AD did in fact fire his coach to help his chances with upcoming, in-state recruits he should be fired.
We hired a young unproven assistant (Kevin O'Neill), he went out and landed the top three recruits in Wisconsin his first year (McIlvane, Key and Logtermann).
We hired a young unproven assistnat (Tom Crean), he landed the only top 100 RSCI in-state recruit his first year (Scott Merritt)
We hired a young, unproven assistant (Buzz Williams), he went out and landed the best in-state player each of the next two years (Maymon & Blue)
From our own experience, we had three new coaches that recruited the best in-state talent out of the box, and Marquette wasn't even the flagship state program. So I think its a mistake to suggest that making a coaching change wasn't the best way to get the MN talent to stay with MN.
There's a tendency for recruits to at least hear out the new head coach at a major in-state program, and I think having the new coach probably helps them in terms of recruiting.
And let's not forget here that a guy with the last name of Pitino probably has a better pedigree and more connections in the basketball community than Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens combined.
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Exactly. See Nunn, Kendrick.
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We hired a young unproven assistnat (Tom Crean), he landed the only top 100 RSCI in-state recruit his first year (Scott Merritt)
We hired a young, unproven assistant (Buzz Williams), he went out and landed the best in-state player each of the next two years (Maymon & Blue)
And let's not forget here that a guy with the last name of Pitino probably has a better pedigree and more connections in the basketball community than Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens combined.
I absolutely agree that a coach should focus on locking down in state talent and I think Buzz has done a good job of that. But the success of both Crean and Buzz has been largely a result of out of state recruits. And just to note, I don't think Pitino is a bad hire at all I just think a big splash hire like Shaka has more of a chance to land top recruits both in and out of state.
Ultimately what I'm getting at is that I don't think an AD would fire a coach because of ONE great upcoming class in am otherwise mediocre talent pool. And the future success of Minnesota basketball will be affected by many different factors whose sum is much greater than in state recruits. Much like Marquette's has been in recent years.
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I saw a comment from the Howard Pulley coach saying players of this caliber are more likely to play for the father than the son.
Did you have to bring religion into the discussion?