MUScoop

http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/021014aac.html

Wow...

Good thing Depaul doesn't actually have a men's basketball board, cuz it would be blowing up right now.
Perhaps we could rampantly speculate on their behalf?

This is purnell's fourth year, correct? Any way he's back next year?

Wow did not see that coming.  Should hopefully make that trip to the Allstate easier.

That stinks.  What for I wonder?  He is one of the more exciting players to watch in our conference.  Tough loss for the Blue Demons.

Meh. Big deal.

He was a kernel of corn in a turd.

Should have seen it coming, he was suspended indefinitely about 10 days ago and has already missed several games.  We had a thread about it last week.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=41827.0

DePaul is 0-6 since beating Butler in 2OTs an then St. John's on Jan 14 and looking like another season is about to down the drain.

If they go winless the rest of the way, or maybe win 1 (please god, not is) how does Purnell survive?

That gives us a better chance at DePaul

I know it's bad form to root for a player to be out, should want to play and beat the best team etc., etc. But honestly, I'll take whatever we can get for our trip to Rosemont. This MU team needs all the help it can get.

Multiple reports that Cleveland Melvin is no longer enrolled at DePaul.   Not just suspended, gone.  

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-depaul-cleveland-melvin-20140210,0,6788279.story

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10433838/cleveland-melvin-depaul-blue-demons-no-longer-enrolled-school

Yes.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=41918.0 (http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=41918.0)

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 10, 2014, 05:28:57 PM
Should have seen it coming, he was suspended indefinitely about 10 days ago and has already missed several games.  We had a thread about it last week.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=41827.0

DePaul is 0-6 since beating Butler in 2OTs an then St. John's on Jan 14 and looking like another season is about to down the drain.

If they go winless the rest of the way, or maybe win 1 (please god, not is) how does Purnell survive?

The key to Parnell surviving is DePaul making a realistic assessment of who they can get to replace him.  I can't see anyone with any promise as a Division I coach stepping into the doo doo pile that is currently the DePaul program.  What was the last thing to get DePaul's president excited about athletics?  The fact that Lenti-Ponsetto was willing (i.e., smart enough) to sign on for five more years without a raise.

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 11, 2014, 02:33:13 PM
The key to Parnell surviving is DePaul making a realistic assessment of who they can get to replace him.  I can't see anyone with any promise as a Division I coach stepping into the doo doo pile that is currently the DePaul program.  What was the last thing to get DePaul's president excited about athletics?  The fact that Lenti-Ponsetto was willing (i.e., smart enough) to sign on for five more years without a raise.

You don't think a hotshot assistant with no head coaching experience would not want consider Depaul for his first head coaching gig?  That is Depaul's only way out ... find an undervalued asset.

Purnell, Wainwright, Leitao, Pat Kennedy ... too many retreads on this list.

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 02:41:12 PM
You don't think a hotshot assistant with no head coaching experience would not want consider Depaul for his first head coaching gig?  That is Depaul's only way out ... find an undervalued asset.

Purnell, Wainwright, Leitao, Pat Kennedy ... too many retreads on this list.

I thought Leitao did alright but I agree overall.  I mean it worked twice for us. 

Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 11, 2014, 02:43:40 PM
I thought Leitao did alright but I agree overall.  I mean it worked twice for us. 

and of that list, Leitao was the one "non-retread"  I believe Depaul was his first HC job, certainly his first high D1 HC job.

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 02:51:23 PM
and of that list, Leitao was the one "non-retread"  I believe Depaul was his first HC job, certainly his first high D1 HC job.

He had two unmemorable years at Northeastern before becoming as assistant at UCon..

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 02:41:12 PM
You don't think a hotshot assistant with no head coaching experience would not want consider Depaul for his first head coaching gig?  That is Depaul's only way out ... find an undervalued asset.

Purnell, Wainwright, Leitao, Pat Kennedy ... too many retreads on this list.

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 02:51:23 PM
and of that list, Leitao was the one "non-retread"  I believe Depaul was his first HC job, certainly his first high D1 HC job.

You and I define retread differently.  I think of a retread as a guy who was a head coach somewhere and let go who then gets another shot with another program.  All three of the DePaul hires on your list who were head coaches when DePaul hired them, were hired away from their school by DePaul.  Wainwright was at Richmond which he had moved up to from UNC Wilmington after having unusual success there.  Kennedy was hired away from Florida State where he had been for 11 years, after a successful previous run at Iona.  Purnell has steadily moved up the coaching ranks as a head coach from Radford to Old Dominion to Dayton to Clemson.  While DePaul gave him a bigger contract to induce him to leave Clemson, in other ways its hard to characterize that move as a move up, although, at the time, I sure that Purnell thought that he have a much better chance for national success at a school which was the top program in one of the country's basketball hotbeds. So, by my definition, no retreads among the DePaul hires that you listed.

I heard a rumor from some DePaul students about the reason why he was suspended, and his subsequent leaving the team, but I don't want to be THAT guy that starts bogus rumors.

Did anyone else hear a reason?

Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on February 11, 2014, 05:40:32 PM
I heard a rumor from some DePaul students about the reason why he was suspended, and his subsequent leaving the team, but I don't want to be THAT guy that starts bogus rumors.

Did anyone else hear a reason?

Be that guy! Give us something to talk about!

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 11, 2014, 04:57:03 PM
You and I define retread differently.  I think of a retread as a guy who was a head coach somewhere and let go who then gets another shot with another program.  All three of the DePaul hires on your list who were head coaches when DePaul hired them, were hired away from their school by DePaul.  Wainwright was at Richmond which he had moved up to from UNC Wilmington after having unusual success there.  Kennedy was hired away from Florida State where he had been for 11 years, after a successful previous run at Iona.  Purnell has steadily moved up the coaching ranks as a head coach from Radford to Old Dominion to Dayton to Clemson.  While DePaul gave him a bigger contract to induce him to leave Clemson, in other ways its hard to characterize that move as a move up, although, at the time, I sure that Purnell thought that he have a much better chance for national success at a school which was the top program in one of the country's basketball hotbeds. So, by my definition, no retreads among the DePaul hires that you listed.

Then I guess Depaul turned all of them into retreads.

Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 11, 2014, 05:43:29 PM
Be that guy! Give us something to talk about!

Yes, make a post like this and then not follow-through.

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 05:54:17 PM
Yes, make a post like this and then not follow-through.

I don't get what you're trying to say...

These announcers are terrible.

Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 11, 2014, 05:57:41 PM
I don't get what you're trying to say...

If you don't want to say, then don't start a post.  But once you start a post, you have to follow-through and give us the rumor.

After all, baseless rumors are what message boards were made for!!

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 06:07:49 PM
If you don't want to say, then don't start a post.  But once you start a post, you have to follow-through and give us the rumor.

After all, baseless rumors are what message boards were made for!!

Oh I gotcha, yes indeed.

Whenever we play DPU, Melvin is the dude I fear because he can be a beast.

I wonder if the fallout will extend to Garrett.

C Melvin was the best thing that happened to DePaul in a long time. Watching him play is fun, it would be even more fun if Purnell coached basic things like sealing the baseline, moving well without the ball, etc. He has NBA skills if properly nurtured.

I went to see DePaul vs. Xavier a few weeks ago there was actually a healthy turnout, including of course a decent percentage of Xavier fans, but still... we are starving for some good b-ball here! I think that before DePaul makes their move to downtown Chitown (and MUCH closer to my house!!) they need to get rid of Purnell.

It's gotten so bad here I bet younger Chicagoans think Ray Meyer was Oscar's brother. People have mostly even given up on writing those "remember when" stories about the DePaul glory days. One good thing about being a doormat though: for less than the price of a large deep dish pizza I regularly sit in rock star seats for a major conference team, and years of attending losing games has taught me to really appreciate the grains of glory in a silo of crap: short lines at the concession stand, decent chances at catching a t-shirt from the cannon, etc.

:(

That was a great post, fiskadoro.  Post more often.

Quote from: wardle2wade on February 11, 2014, 11:07:08 PM
That was a great post, fiskadoro.  Post more often.

+1

I used to hate DePaul back in the early/mid-2000 CUSA days, but now I have come to pity them.  I sincerely hope that they can turn it around.

Think there is some easy money to be made with Nova only giving 13 to DePaul tonight...without Melvin...who was giving them 16ppg and 7 boards.  Nova beat DePaul (With Melvin) by 26 at Nova....would be shocked if they don't cover -13 tonight...

Quote from: 77ncaachamps on February 11, 2014, 06:54:48 PM
Whenever we play DPU, Melvin is the dude I fear because he can be a beast.

I wonder if the fallout will extend to Garrett.

Why would it?

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 05:52:52 PM
Then I guess Depaul turned all of them into retreads.

And that is why DePaul will have a difficult time getting even an upcoming assistant to replace Purnell.  Who wants to blow their chance (which will be their only chance, if they fail) on being a Division I head coach by taking on the DePaul job prior to the new arena and while Lenti-Ponsetto is still the AD?

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 12, 2014, 10:21:42 AM
And that is why DePaul will have a difficult time getting even an upcoming assistant to replace Purnell.  Who wants to blow their chance (which will be their only chance, if they fail) on being a Division I head coach by taking on the DePaul job prior to the new arena and while Lenti-Ponsetto is still the AD?

A successful coach doesn't think this way. He genuinely feels like he's going to be the guy to turn the program around. All he needs is a chance.

Quote from: barfolomew on February 10, 2014, 05:13:43 PM
Good thing Depaul doesn't actually have a men's basketball board, cuz it would be blowing up right now.
Perhaps we could rampantly speculate on their behalf?

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=430&f=2585

Quote from: MerrittsMustache on February 12, 2014, 10:27:23 AM
A successful coach doesn't think this way. He genuinely feels like he's going to be the guy to turn the program around. All he needs is a chance.

I disagree.  How does a potential head coach define "a chance"?  The smart ones (who also have the best chance of being a successful one) know to check into a school's commitment to the program.  Why did Buzz choose to leave New Orleans to become an assistant again?  I think it's because he didn't want to blow his chance by languishing at a school that wasn't committed to the basketball program.

Quote from: PTM on February 12, 2014, 10:31:36 AM
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=430&f=2585

Can I just say that after reading that board I am super happy about being a MU fan. I was reading the post-game thread against us and there was a poster that was happy they only lost by 10. If that isnt an indication of the discrepancy between programs I dont know what it. So as much as we complain about our PG situation or Jake Thomas its really nice to have a team that can actually be competitive night in and night out and a legitimate shot to beat any team in the conference. Plus 2 S16s  and an E8 in the pass 3 years is pretty nice too  ;)

Also just to add to that can you imagine some of the posters on this board if our team was like Depaul the past 7 years?

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 12, 2014, 10:44:17 AM
I disagree.  How does a potential head coach define "a chance"?  The smart ones (who also have the best chance of being a successful one) know to check into a school's commitment to the program.  Why did Buzz choose to leave New Orleans to become an assistant again?  I think it's because he didn't want to blow his chance by languishing at a school that wasn't committed to the basketball program.

Fair point but why did Buzz accept the UNO job in the first place? He wanted a chance.

Quote from: MerrittsMustache on February 12, 2014, 11:02:34 AM
Fair point but why did Buzz accept the UNO job in the first place? He wanted a chance.

My point is that Buzz didn't take the New Orleans job just to have a chance to be a head coach.  He took it because based on assurances that were made to him, he thought he had a chance to be head coach of a successful program.  When promises were not kept, he decided that NO was "a chance" that he could live without, and he put his reputation at risk to leave in order to salvage his opportunity for a real chance somewhere down the line.

Quote from: esard2011 on February 12, 2014, 11:02:27 AM
Also just to add to that can you imagine some of the posters on this board if our team was like Depaul the past 7 years?

If we were like DePaul the last 7 years, we would not have any posters--the board would have exploded 4 years ago.

Quote from: LloydMooresLegs on February 12, 2014, 12:06:21 PM
If we were like DePaul the last 7 years, we would not have any posters--the board would have exploded 4 years ago.

More like imploded.

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 12, 2014, 11:54:53 AM
My point is that Buzz didn't take the New Orleans job just to have a chance to be a head coach.  He took it because based on assurances that were made to him, he thought he had a chance to be head coach of a successful program.  When promises were not kept, he decided that NO was "a chance" that he could live without, and he put his reputation at risk to leave in order to salvage his opportunity for a real chance somewhere down the line.

Buzz took the UNO job because it was his opportunity to become a head coach and build a successful program. When it became clear that that wasn't going to happen (due to lack of support), he decided that the opportunity was no longer worth it and resigned.

DePaul is not at all in the same situation as UNO (location, conf affiliation, history, etc) although it is a program that is not currently getting much support from the university's higher-ups. If this afternoon DePaul offered the head coaching job to any of the top 50 "up and coming assistants" in the country, 49 of them would take it.

DePaul is not going to have much trouble finding a quality coach, so long as they set their sights reasonably (i.e. don't think they're going to pull Sean Miller from Arizona).
People seem to forget that two of DePaul's last four coaches were taken from ACC programs and a third, Leitao, was considered one of the top assistants in the country when they pulled from from UConn.
A program in a major market, with a major conference affiliation, good TV deal and probably the most fertile recruiting turf in the country is going to be attractive to a lot of coaches.

Finally getting the new arena in Chicago will be a great building block for them.  Theyre planning on 2016-2017 season.

Quote from: Pakuni on February 12, 2014, 01:57:16 PM
DePaul is not going to have much trouble finding a quality coach, so long as they set their sights reasonably (i.e. don't think they're going to pull Sean Miller from Arizona).
People seem to forget that two of DePaul's last four coaches were taken from ACC programs and a third, Leitao, was considered one of the top assistants in the country when they pulled from from UConn.
A program in a major market, with a major conference affiliation, good TV deal and probably the most fertile recruiting turf in the country is going to be attractive to a lot of coaches.

+1

But this begs two questions

1)  Will they fire Purnell and go about trying to replace him?

2) With all the above true, and let's add that Purnell gets $1.7 million/year so Depaul will pay, can Depaul find someone that can actually make them better?  I don't need to list the clunkers they have had before Purnell.  Why do we believe the next guy will be an improvement?   I guess what I'm saying is Depaul needs a new AD before they can effectively change anything.

The hiring of Oliver Purnell was a huge mistake and DePaul has a history of riding mistakes into the ground.  

If you look at DP's roster it is not that bad, or at least not bottom of the BE bad.  Billy Garrett is a very good player.  Hamilton IV is providing much more than I expected.  Role players exist that are equal to ours.  Brandon Young plays out of control but has the talent to score and handle the ball.  Melvin was BE rookie of the year.  All in all, not so bad to be where they are at now.

But then you watch them play (yes, I do) and I ask the same questions:  what is their identity on defense?  What are you trying to accomplish on offense?  How in the heck does Purnell decide his substitutions (picking names out of a hat would be better)?  A coach should be valuable enough to help you win games.  Purnell does the opposite for his team.  I cannot think of one game in 4 years where Purnell's moves and decisions had a positive effect on a game.  I'm sure it has happened but not enough and not even against inferior talent.

DP lost the chance to grab Chris Collins and I honestly don't think JLP is smart enough or should be allowed to make the next hire.

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 12, 2014, 10:18:07 AM
Why would it?

If Purnell and the assistants are purged, Garrett may feel like this isn't the program he signed up with.

But he's a city kid, so Northwestern, UIC and Loyola are pretty much it if he wants to "stay in the city" and transfer.

Quote from: Fullodds on February 12, 2014, 02:30:12 PM
The hiring of Oliver Purnell was a huge mistake and DePaul has a history of riding mistakes into the ground.  

If you look at DP's roster it is not that bad, or at least not bottom of the BE bad.  Billy Garrett is a very good player.  Hamilton IV is providing much more than I expected.  Role players exist that are equal to ours.  Brandon Young plays out of control but has the talent to score and handle the ball.  Melvin was BE rookie of the year.  All in all, not so bad to be where they are at now.

But then you watch them play (yes, I do) and I ask the same questions:  what is their identity on defense?  What are you trying to accomplish on offense?  How in the heck does Purnell decide his substitutions (picking names out of a hat would be better)?  A coach should be valuable enough to help you win games.  Purnell does the opposite for his team.  I cannot think of one game in 4 years where Purnell's moves and decisions had a positive effect on a game.  I'm sure it has happened but not enough and not even against inferior talent.

DP lost the chance to grab Chris Collins and I honestly don't think JLP is smart enough or should be allowed to make the next hire.

This is why I doubt that DePaul would generate much interest in its head coach position should it open up.  Purnell was clearly the best of their recent hires.  He had a history or reviving or building from scratch successful programs at other schools, then he gets to DePaul and suddenly he's dumb.  I don't follow DePaul that closely, I can't say why that is.  Is it The AD?, the water?, a voodoo curse?  Why did the only coach who had recent success there, Leitao, choose to leave after three years?  WHAT IS THE F'ING PROBLEM?  

If I was a top assistant inline for a head coaching position, why would I chance taking the DePaul job knowing that if I stay patient, I'll certainly have a shot at a solid job instead of a job where good coaches go and see their careers die.

Quote from: LittleMurs on February 12, 2014, 09:00:11 PM
This is why I doubt that DePaul would generate much interest in its head coach position should it open up.  Purnell was clearly the best of their recent hires.  He had a history or reviving or building from scratch successful programs at other schools, then he gets to DePaul and suddenly he's dumb.  I don't follow DePaul that closely, I can't say why that is.  Is it The AD?, the water?, a voodoo curse?  Why did the only coach who had recent success there, Leitao, choose to leave after three years?  WHAT IS THE F'ING PROBLEM?  

If I was a top assistant inline for a head coaching position, why would I chance taking the DePaul job knowing that if I stay patient, I'll certainly have a shot at a solid job instead of a job where good coaches go and see their careers die.

I've heard negative things about the AD but don't actually know the backstory.

Embarrassing loss.  Nothing less.

DePaul's misfortunes are the direct act of poor leadership at the top, starting with the Athletic Director.  Forget about the fact that they play all of their home games an hour away from campus.  There is no incentive for a student to travel to see a worthless basketball team.  There is no media, no PR, no news stories that drum up interest to get people out and spend money.  There is more opportunity for students to watch Women's Basketball games than Men's.  The school does not offer football, nor baseball.  Basketball is the program's money maker, and they are putting no money into it to help it grow.

Honestly, until DePaul moves to the new arena, they should seriously consider playing select home games at the Sullivan Athletic Center (place that replaced Alumni Hall).  Yes, it only seats 3,000, but they would definitely sell the place out and St. Johns plays select home games at Carnesecca Arena, which only seats 5,000.

Also, whomever suggested Joey Meyer as the new AD (to replace the current one), that is a FANTASTIC idea!  I'm not sure if Joey would want to return, but he could definitely help turn it around.  They need SOMEONE to lead the charge!

Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on February 12, 2014, 09:40:23 PMDePaul's misfortunes are the direct act of poor leadership at the top, starting with the Athletic Director.  Forget about the fact that they play all of their home games an hour away from campus.  There is no incentive for a student to travel to see a worthless basketball team.  There is no media, no PR, no news stories that drum up interest to get people out and spend money.  There is more opportunity for students to watch Women's Basketball games than Men's.  The school does not offer football, nor baseball.  Basketball is the program's money maker, and they are putting no money into it to help it grow.

Oliver Purnell is one of the higher-paid coaches in the conference, and they just committed $70 million to a new building.

I'm not sure exactly what else they need to be doing.

Quote from: Heisenberg on February 11, 2014, 02:41:12 PM
You don't think a hotshot assistant with no head coaching experience would not want consider Depaul for his first head coaching gig?  That is Depaul's only way out ... find an undervalued asset.

Yes, like Northbrook native, former Mr. Illinois, and current Duke assistant Chris Collins. Oh, wait...........

Mike North column on DePaul...

I watched the DePaul Blue Demons the other night against Creighton with Doug McDermott, the 6-foot-8 phenom who right now is leading the popular vote in player-of-the-year honors. DePaul, despite playing with effort, was no match for the surging Blue Jays, losing 78-66.

But what I found truly sad was that I tuned in to see all-American McDermott play when years back I turned on the TV to watch DePaul.

From the mid-1970s to the mid-80s, I rarely missed a game. The Blue Demons had seven straight winning seasons from 1978-84.

The shame is that now no one seems to care anymore about DePaul basketball. It's hard to believe that at one time this storied program actually was bigger than the Bulls.

In 1979, when Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer and Chicago all-star Mark Aguirre got this team to the Final Four, they were ranked No. 1 in the nation and consistently featured on WGN television.

What has happened to this bottom-feeder program is not the story. What is the story is that it was allowed to happen.

At that time, the basketball team was the golden goose and the biggest thing in town, yet the current team under coach Oliver Purnell now plays at home in front of empty seats or seats filled by opposing fans.

DePaul has lost six in a row, and the arrow is pointing so down that it might as well be underground.

Their record is 2-9 in Big East play, 10-14 overall.

What happened?

The school has plans for a new arena, but no one cares unless the taxpayers get hit with the bill.

Maybe then the public should have some say in how the team runs.

Unfortunately, DePaul basketball is a rudderless ship. The golden days of players such as Dave Corzine, Randy Ramsey, Terry Cummings, Mark Aguirre, Gary Garland and, yes, even Dallas Comegys are a distant memory.

Sit the young kids down and tell them to Google DePaul men's basketball from the 70s and 80s. They would be stunned at what they would see compared to now.

Oh, by the way, it didn't take a rocket scientist to predict what would happen to DePaul basketball once it joined the Big East.

Disaster.

Decisions like that and the hiring of Purnell just boggle the mind. If a goof like me knew they were bad moves, what does it say about the people running the show?

The program is barely breathing. Bye bye, golden goose.

Quote from: mr.MUskie on February 13, 2014, 12:43:11 AM
Mike North column on DePaul...

Oh, by the way, it didn't take a rocket scientist to predict what would happen to DePaul basketball once it joined the Big East.

Disaster.

I was never a Mike North fan and this column is a good reason why. He's an idiot. Joining the Big East was the problem? Yeah, maybe they should have stayed an Independent. They'd be on top of the world now.

The problem is very simple though. Lack of leadership. Period.

It's hard for me to see Purnell as the problem.  He's had so much success rebuilding programs before he got to DePaul.  Why did he hit the wall there?  Maybe all the money that DePaul is willing to commit to the program is going to his contract.  Don't they spend like only 30% or so of what Marquette does?

I think his point is that they stepped too far up in class to be able to compete, and the results have been more losing.  However you can't turn down that invitation...ever.  The idea that they could have joined the A10 instead and worked their way up doesn't come with any guaranties.

And of course since it is a Mike North article, it has to come with gems like this:

"The school has plans for a new arena, but no one cares unless the taxpayers get hit with the bill.

Maybe then the public should have some say in how the team runs."

Quote from: The Sultan of Serenity on February 13, 2014, 12:29:38 PM
I think his point is that they stepped too far up in class to be able to compete, and the results have been more losing.  However you can't turn down that invitation...ever.  The idea that they could have joined the A10 instead and worked their way up doesn't come with any guaranties.

+1

It was a no brainer. No one with any sanity would argue that staying in a worse conference would be good for any program, ever.

Even then though if I remember correctly they really wernt that bad the first couple of years in the Big East. I mean MU made the same jump but the programs have gone in vastly different directions.

2005–06  12–15 Big East Conference   
2006–07 20–14 Big East Conference   
2007–08  11–19 Big East Conference   
2008–09  9–24 Big East Conference   
2009–10  8–23 Big East Conference   
2010–11  7–24 Big East Conference   
2011–12  12–19 Big East Conference   
2012–13  11–21 Big East Conference

They went to the NIT in 06-07, but otherwise have been brutal since joining the Big East...

Quote from: brandx on February 13, 2014, 01:34:39 AM
I was never a Mike North fan and this column is a good reason why. He's an idiot. Joining the Big East was the problem? Yeah, maybe they should have stayed an Independent. They'd be on top of the world now.

The problem is very simple though. Lack of leadership. Period.

I'm pretty sure DePaul had a much better record than us the year before we joined the Big East.

Quote from: TallTitan34 on February 14, 2014, 02:06:58 PM
I'm pretty sure DePaul had a much better record than us the year before we joined the Big East.

20 wins and an NIT berth but then the coach left

Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 14, 2014, 02:20:36 PM
20 wins and an NIT berth but then the coach left

....for Virginia from which he was fired.  DePaul, making retreads out of quality coaches for two decades.

A couple years ago, all the top guys from Chicago were actually talkin' about going to DePaul together - Anthony Davis, Blackshear, Mike Shaw, and a couple others, but when one guy backed out, it just kind of fell apart.

I think They have to get lucky one year and have 3 or 4 of the top guys decide they want to play together there - kinda like back in the Aguirre, Dillard, Cummings, Grubbs, Corzine days. But it would take the right coach to make it happen.

Quote from: brandx on February 14, 2014, 02:42:38 PM
A couple years ago, all the top guys from Chicago were actually talkin' about going to DePaul together - Anthony Davis, Blackshear, Mike Shaw, and a couple others, but when one guy backed out, it just kind of fell apart.

I think They have to get lucky one year and have 3 or 4 of the top guys decide they want to play together there - kinda like back in the Aguirre, Dillard, Cummings, Grubbs, Corzine days. But it would take the right coach to make it happen.

Or the Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons, Andre Brown, Lance Williams and Steve Hunter days.

Quote from: LloydMooresLegs on February 12, 2014, 12:06:21 PM
If we were like DePaul the last 7 years, we would not have any posters--the board would have exploded 4 years ago.

Hell, this board explodes almost every day!

Quote from: TallTitan34 on February 14, 2014, 02:06:58 PM
I'm pretty sure DePaul had a much better record than us the year before we joined the Big East.

I can't remember...who was Marquette's coach in those halcyon days of post Final Four bliss?


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