Pretty cool.
https://twitter.com/PaulBiancardi/status/435813463055958016
Good to see SLU doing well (and fulfilling Rick's prediction).
I love that big time. The man was one of the greatest teachers of basketball the game ever saw. Seldom does a ball conversation with peers goes without a Rick mention.
Could somebody explain to me why he seemed to have problems coaching at MU? I mean he clearly was a great coach but he didn't bring us anywhere close to what he did at the other 3 schools. Note before anybody spazz's out and thinks I'm insulting him... I respect him I'm just curious.
Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 18, 2014, 11:49:59 AM
Could somebody explain to me why he seemed to have problems coaching at MU? I mean he clearly was a great coach but he didn't bring us anywhere close to what he did at the other 3 schools. Note before anybody spazz's out and thinks I'm insulting him... I respect him I'm just curious.
Too early/young? Too much pressure replacing a legend?
Really disappointing to look back on it. Could've been our perfect coach for the 90s.
In St. Louis Post Dispatch this a.m..
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/majerus-vision-for-slu-proves-prophetic/article_a26f266e-2eca-536b-aa79-106c3c5f027c.html
Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 18, 2014, 11:49:59 AM
Could somebody explain to me why he seemed to have problems coaching at MU? I mean he clearly was a great coach but he didn't bring us anywhere close to what he did at the other 3 schools. Note before anybody spazz's out and thinks I'm insulting him... I respect him I'm just curious.
HC is a much different role than assistant. He was asked to make that leap under very difficult circumstances.....high expectations with a big spotlight on him. Rick had the talent to perform as HC, he just needed time to develop into that role. In an environment of high expectations, its difficult to learn on the job.
Too young and too much pressure, both internal and external pressure. Leaving MU was best thing for him in the long run. While I was very pissed when he left I learned to understand it was the right move for him. Love him or hate him no one can deny he was one of best of all time.
And the Marquette community had yet to come to the realization that the McGuire years were further in the rear view mirror than they actually were so the external pressures were completely unrealistic.
This is how bad Marquette basketball had gotten...
In the span of just over 12 years, Marquette had gone from winning the national championship to joining what is now the Horizon League. Just think about that for a second.
Sultan
What are you talking about?
For all you Real Chili fans out there.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/In-Rick-Majerus-memory-Real-Chili-served-at-community-meal.html (http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/In-Rick-Majerus-memory-Real-Chili-served-at-community-meal.html)
I was very young when he left, but isn't it safe to assume that expectations were very high for Rick? Assuming his direct ties to the McGuire era and the fact he was the third one down the bench...fans and alumni expected a return to the Glory Days that at the time weren't so far away.
Not to denegrate him posthumously, but didn't he have some odd complaints against him at Utah and SLU? Showed his little Ricky when demonstrating a 6" spacing for defensive players.
Quote from: Goose on February 18, 2014, 12:01:31 PM
Sultan
What are you talking about?
That the performance expectations exceeded the school's ability to produce given the environment in which the basketball program operated. It was still being run like a 1970s program...not a modern one.
Quote from: The Sultan of Serenity on February 18, 2014, 11:59:48 AM
In the span of just over 12 years, Marquette had gone from winning the national championship to joining what is now the Horizon League. Just think about that for a second.
Rick was hardly blameless for this. He was, in fact, one of the key contributors to MU's slide.
He went on to be a very good coach elsewhere, but he was not one at MU.
Lloyd
I was curious on why Sultan thought that related to Rick and his time at MU.
Pakuni
Agreed. Rick played a large role on the slide. I would argue the timing of his leaving and the new hire played larger role than his coaching success at MU. Directly and indirectly he played a role in decline, no doubt.
Great coach. Big fan of the Bilikens (2nd fav team). Nice to see them doing so well this year, and hopefully in the Big East soon!
Rick was one of a kind--and never lost one of his Wisconsin roots--he loved to eat.
Never really took any chit from his players or his student managers. But sure could dish it out.
Quote from: reinko on February 18, 2014, 12:30:58 PM
Never really took any chit from his players or his student managers. But sure could dish it out.
Or pinch it out
What are the chances of Saint Louis getting a Big East invite? They fit the conference and institutional profile (private university, big city/media market, strong basketball tradition, big arena, etc.).
I personally think the only hold up is the lack of a clear-cut school for #12 (VCU, Richmond, Dayton, etc.). If only Gonzaga was in in Cleveland or Michigan or something... ;D
Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on February 18, 2014, 03:30:45 PM
What are the chances of Saint Louis getting a Big East invite? They fit the conference and institutional profile (private university, big city/media market, strong basketball tradition, big arena, etc.).
I personally think the only hold up is the lack of a clear-cut school for #12 (VCU, Richmond, Dayton, etc.). If only Gonzaga was in in Cleveland or Michigan or something... ;D
That's what I think as well. St Louis needs another Catholic/Jesuit brethren to pair up with before the league would expand. Right now, I don't think one exists. #ABD
Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on February 18, 2014, 11:49:59 AM
Could somebody explain to me why he seemed to have problems coaching at MU? I mean he clearly was a great coach but he didn't bring us anywhere close to what he did at the other 3 schools. Note before anybody spazz's out and thinks I'm insulting him... I respect him I'm just curious.
He did a good job, it was his first head coaching position and he was still very much following the legend of Al. He was very well regarded and left to be an assistant for the Bucks who were an NBA powerhouse at the time. I was very disappointed when he left. My sense is if the would have stayed at Marquette, he would have produced similar results to what he posted at the other schools in his career.
Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on February 18, 2014, 03:30:45 PM
What are the chances of Saint Louis getting a Big East invite? They fit the conference and institutional profile (private university, big city/media market, strong basketball tradition, big arena, etc.).
I personally think the only hold up is the lack of a clear-cut school for #12 (VCU, Richmond, Dayton, etc.). If only Gonzaga was in in Cleveland or Michigan or something... ;D
99.9999999999%. Almost no way Big East expands w/out adding SLU. Like a Notre Dame returns and UConn ditches football program kind of chance to not be invited.
I actually don't know why we wouldn't just go to 11 with SLU and wait. Big Ten made it work for what, a decade or more?
I agree with you about 11 schools. Full round robin with one weekday and one weekend bye. The big east had 15 at one point. An odd number is perfectly fine.
Quote from: The Sultan of Serenity on February 18, 2014, 07:51:27 PM
I agree with you about 11 schools. Full round robin with one weekday and one weekend bye. The big east had 15 at one point. An odd number is perfectly fine.
Would we really do 20 games? I mean, FOX would love that, but jeez that's a lot. Would really negate poor OOC play though (assuming the whole league didnt blow). At worst it would be 8 home-and-homes plus 2 with teams #9 and #10.
No doubt in my mind SLU will be joining the Big East. Just a matter of when.
Quote from: Aughnanure on February 18, 2014, 07:56:50 PM
Would we really do 20 games? I mean, FOX would love that, but jeez that's a lot. Would really negate poor OOC play though (assuming the whole league didnt blow). At worst it would be 8 home-and-homes plus 2 with teams #9 and #10.
Probably not but it would be fun.
Quote from: Aughnanure on February 18, 2014, 07:56:50 PM
Would we really do 20 games? I mean, FOX would love that, but jeez that's a lot. Would really negate poor OOC play though (assuming the whole league didnt blow). At worst it would be 8 home-and-homes plus 2 with teams #9 and #10.
The Big Ten never did a full round robin when there were 11 teams. The only reason I remember that is because the year Illinois absolutely ripped through the conference in 2005 they only had to play the 2nd best team (who was also a final 4 team) Michigan St. once.
After hearing from some of you about it, I actually could see the conference staying at just 11 - if they expand. 20 conference games, everyone gets a home/home series with each and every other school. You could get a bye during the season on a weekend and weekday (like Sultan said). It gives FOX more programming, as well as an added market (big drive in realignment).
Realignment talk has been really, really quiet since the conference began (or restarted). I wonder if FOX and/or the schools are even considering addition(s).
Quote from: The Sultan of Serenity on February 18, 2014, 08:03:51 PM
Probably not but it would be fun.
Just to expand, wouldn't it be cool, maybe, to play the 2 extra conference games during the traditional OOC timeframe (i.e., November and December)? Maybe even play them at neutral sites somewhere? If you want to get creative on scheduling, that's a cool start to the year.
Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on February 18, 2014, 10:31:34 PM
After hearing from some of you about it, I actually could see the conference staying at just 11 - if they expand. 20 conference games, everyone gets a home/home series with each and every other school. You could get a bye during the season on a weekend and weekday (like Sultan said). It gives FOX more programming, as well as an added market (big drive in realignment).
Realignment talk has been really, really quiet since the conference began (or restarted). I wonder if FOX and/or the schools are even considering addition(s).
Adding two extra conf games (in a world where other conferences doesn't have it) is a bad idea. It will pile on at an extra loss for many potential tourney teams which doesn't look good when the committee compares resume. The conference gets paid by tournament invites and wins, so I really think you are giving something up (potential $) and not getting anything in return.
Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on February 18, 2014, 03:30:45 PM
What are the chances of Saint Louis getting a Big East invite? They fit the conference and institutional profile (private university, big city/media market, strong basketball tradition, big arena, etc.).
I personally think the only hold up is the lack of a clear-cut school for #12 (VCU, Richmond, Dayton, etc.). If only Gonzaga was in in Cleveland or Michigan or something... ;D
I think calling STL a big city and saying SLU has a strong basketball tradition are both major stretches. Nice arena, though. The media market can only be called big because the suburban sprawl of STL covers a ridiculous amount of territory. Very, very few people in that huge territory give a rat's ass about SLU, though. But get their money via FOX and I guess all's well, right?
Long term, a program we absolutely want in. Short term, if they don't give advanced notice I'd wait a year or two. Starting five seniors this year, almost impossible not to have struggles for a couple years. Though Crews has done a terrific job getting commitments lined up to re-build after shaking the interim tag and having virtually nobody committed nine months ago.
Would rather have the imperfect schedule than increasing conference games. What I see is the best draw of the schedule this year and hope is kept even if the schedule isn't perfectly balanced with expansion is the timing of head-to-heads. The perfect double round robin this year was split evenly, where each team played all nine, never playing a team twice before completing the first match with everyone. Makes it truly a different ballgame when you see a team for the second time and one or both teams are in a completely different season than the first match. Much better than many of the old BE head-to-heads, like when we played Villanova twice in a week a few years back, and two of the first four games on the schedule yet didn't see others until March.
Quote from: PunchingPiper on February 18, 2014, 11:49:59 AM
Could somebody explain to me why he seemed to have problems coaching at MU? I mean he clearly was a great coach but he didn't bring us anywhere close to what he did at the other 3 schools. Note before anybody spazz's out and thinks I'm insulting him... I respect him I'm just curious.
I was a student at MU when Rick became head coach, and expectations were huge. People generally knew Hank wasn't getting it done and saw Rick, with his ties to Al, as our savior. If only he could have been a head coach somewhere first (junior college maybe?) to get that experience.
Also, the year before he became MU's coach, there was an interview with Al in
Basketball Digest where Al said Rick was one of the three best coaches in the country and would have lots of success. Too bad it was everywhere he went except MU.