Richard, that is.
https://goxavier.com/news/2025/3/25/mens-basketball-xavier-university-names-richard-pitino-as-mens-basketball-head-coach
https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=66570.575
Quote from: Mr. Nielsen on March 25, 2025, 08:54:58 PMhttps://x.com/JonRothstein/status/1904713194276265985?t=gntEUhv4gIKceZdGPHau_A&s=19
Quote from: Warrior of Law on March 26, 2025, 07:18:41 AMRichard, that is.
https://goxavier.com/news/2025/3/25/mens-basketball-xavier-university-names-richard-pitino-as-mens-basketball-head-coach
I don't think this is true
X 2 cellar
It's fine, but I'd be a little disappointed if I were an X fan.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 26, 2025, 12:23:28 PMIt's fine, but I'd be a little disappointed if I were an X fan.
Why?
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on March 26, 2025, 12:26:06 PMWhy?
I'm actually curious to watch this play out. First hire outside the family in quite some time
Is this really that big of an upgrade for him ? Xavier has more resources?
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on March 26, 2025, 12:26:06 PMWhy?
The fact Mack turned them down to stay at Charleston would be my biggest disappointment. But how many times can you cycle through the same coaches.
As for Pitino, he's been good in the MWC but his time in a power conference at Minnesota was pretty disappointing. Granted that might be more on Minnesota than it is on him. Also, he'll now have the advantage of using the portal which he didn't have at Minnesota.
It's fine.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on March 26, 2025, 12:28:19 PMI'm actually curious to watch this play out. First hire outside the family in quite some time
Agreed!
It's being reported that Mack has 3 million of NIL money to work with. If that's true, I would not leave Charleston for Cincinnati.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 26, 2025, 12:48:56 PMThe fact Mack turned them down to stay at Charleston would be my biggest disappointment. But how many times can you cycle through the same coaches.
As for Pitino, he's been good in the MWC but his time in a power conference at Minnesota was pretty disappointing. Granted that might be more on Minnesota than it is on him. Also, he'll now have the advantage of using the portal which he didn't have at Minnesota.
It's fine.
Agreed!
Did Mack turn them down?
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 26, 2025, 12:48:56 PMThe fact Mack turned them down to stay at Charleston would be my biggest disappointment. But how many times can you cycle through the same coaches.
As for Pitino, he's been good in the MWC but his time in a power conference at Minnesota was pretty disappointing. Granted that might be more on Minnesota than it is on him. Also, he'll now have the advantage of using the portal which he didn't have at Minnesota.
It's fine.
Agreed!
It's definitely a reflection on Minnesota. Their only period of sustained success was when they were involved in a major academic fraud scandal. Since the scandal broke in 1999 Pitino has two of Minnesota's six NCAA appearances and their only tourney wins (along with an NIT title). Poor facilities, poor NIL game.
He also took UNM to their first tourney appearance since 2014 (back to back), taking over a 6-16 (2-15) team.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on March 26, 2025, 12:56:49 PMDid Mack turn them down?
There were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down.
Pitino at Minn.. the year prior, the team made the tourney. Tubby had to go because of multiple issues. So, in comes Pitino. His first year most of the starting lineup was returnees, and largely multiple year guys.. think Andre and Austin Hollins, no relation. Junior bigs Mo Walker and Elliott Eliason manned the middle, etc. Pretty good situation for an incoming coach, and won the NIT (hang a banner!).
By year 3 it's his guys. They go 8-23; 2 wins in the Big Ten. One of the worst shooting teams known to man. Just brutal. He wound up going to the tourney twice (would not have in 2020 - sub .500 team). Half of his seasons at Minnesota were sub-500, after being above in his first two years it was 2 over .500, 4 under. Had exactly one year at .500 or better in the Big Ten.
At New Mexico, no dancing in years 1 and 2. A year ago they (probably) needed to win the conference tourney to make the dance. Credit for doing so, but this was a team that started off 18-3 (6-2) before crapping the bed to a 10-8 conference finish (ugh, guess we can't talk).
This year went well with an exeperienced, tall group that was good enough for #75 best in KP Adj OE :/.
Pitino's best eFG% team was ranked #60 in the nation and that was a decade ago.
With that I say: Good luck, X. You're gonna need it.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 26, 2025, 01:03:58 PMThere were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down.
I usually read that as, the school went in a different direction.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 26, 2025, 01:03:58 PMThere were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down.
Unless Villanova calls. Which they may if they don't get Willard from Maryland.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on March 26, 2025, 01:08:03 PMI usually read that as, the school went in a different direction.
Correct, Mack wanted the job and was the early favorite. X went in a different direction. Mack was informed as they do in these cases.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on March 26, 2025, 01:08:03 PMI usually read that as, the school went in a different direction.
Quote from: GOO on March 26, 2025, 01:17:30 PMCorrect, Mack wanted the job and was the early favorite. X went in a different direction. Mack was informed as they do in these cases.
Ah gotcha.
While I'm not sure I'd be a fan of bringing a coach back, I'd much rather have Mack over Pitino.
I think it was Fanta who mentioned that the one and only Buzz Williams tried to inject himself into the X search process. I think he used the word inject to describe it. Strange if true.
I think the concern with Mack is if he still has the fire and desire. Probably a safer bet than Petino, but with NIL and immediate transfers, I'd think Petino can pull in better players right away over Mack who has been recruiting at a much lower level. That could be a factor. Keep the school competitive immediately with Petino.
Maybe Mack stays longer if successful, but after Miller burnt them again, I'm sure they wouldn't trust anyone even someone like Mack who spent a lot of years at X and even played there. He left once just like Miller had.
Often hiring is a reaction to what just happened. For example Wojo replacing Buzz. Stability and high character replace the opposite and a character.
In what world would Buzz Williams want to Coach at X?
Quote from: 79Warrior on March 26, 2025, 02:02:02 PMIn what world would Buzz Williams want to Coach at X?
The one where pretending to want it results in a pay bump from his current employer.
Quote from: 79Warrior on March 26, 2025, 02:02:02 PMIn what world would Buzz Williams want to Coach at X?
a world in which he's trying to squeeze more money and years out of Texas A&M by using another school's opening after a spectacular display of coaching ineptitude against Michigan last week.
I would bet Buzz waits one more year before he moves on again. He just finished his 6th at A&M so it's about that time. I just don't think any of the remaining openings would interest him. He's losing 8 Seniors so he knows he won't have a postseason to worry about next year and can keep track of the openings. Probably hoping Sampson retires because he's running out of power conferences to rotate through.
Quote from: Its DJOver on March 26, 2025, 02:20:00 PMI would bet Buzz waits one more year before he moves on again. He just finished his 6th at A&M so it's about that time. I just don't think any of the remaining openings would interest him. He's losing 8 Seniors so he knows he won't have a postseason to worry about next year and can keep track of the openings. Probably hoping Sampson retires because he's running out of power conferences to rotate through.
Oh there would be lots of one way interest from Buzz to get in the door at Villanova.
Quote from: Hards Alumni on March 26, 2025, 02:31:41 PMOh there would be lots of one way interest from Buzz to get in the door at Villanova.
But the Big East is dying...
Or whatever it was Buzz said in every TV studio that would have him in 2014.
My guess is that Nova has some insight into Buzz's moral compass, and thus that conversation is probably a non-starter.
Quote from: PJDunn on March 26, 2025, 02:51:06 PMMy guess is that Nova has some insight into Buzz's moral compass, and thus that conversation is probably a non-starter.
But he sweeps the corners of the gym!
Now L'il Richie can get tips about every BEast team from Pops.
Fanta on Xavier audio piece brought up Buzz having interest. Mind-blowing.
Quote from: Mr. Nielsen on March 26, 2025, 08:01:58 PMFanta on Xavier audio piece brought up Buzz having interest. Mind-blowing.
Buzz to Maryland when Willard leaves for Nova
You gotta love that Willard can't wait to bolt a B18G team to get to the Big East.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 26, 2025, 01:03:58 PMThere were reports Xavier was targeting him so I was assuming the statement he released about staying at Charleston was him turning them down.
Nvm, others beat me to it
Quote from: Jay Bee on March 26, 2025, 01:04:34 PMPitino at Minn.. the year prior, the team made the tourney. Tubby had to go because of multiple issues. So, in comes Pitino. His first year most of the starting lineup was returnees, and largely multiple year guys.. think Andre and Austin Hollins, no relation. Junior bigs Mo Walker and Elliott Eliason manned the middle, etc. Pretty good situation for an incoming coach, and won the NIT (hang a banner!).
By year 3 it's his guys. They go 8-23; 2 wins in the Big Ten. One of the worst shooting teams known to man. Just brutal. He wound up going to the tourney twice (would not have in 2020 - sub .500 team). Half of his seasons at Minnesota were sub-500, after being above in his first two years it was 2 over .500, 4 under. Had exactly one year at .500 or better in the Big Ten.
At New Mexico, no dancing in years 1 and 2. A year ago they (probably) needed to win the conference tourney to make the dance. Credit for doing so, but this was a team that started off 18-3 (6-2) before crapping the bed to a 10-8 conference finish (ugh, guess we can't talk).
This year went well with an exeperienced, tall group that was good enough for #75 best in KP Adj OE :/.
Pitino's best eFG% team was ranked #60 in the nation and that was a decade ago.
With that I say: Good luck, X. You're gonna need it.
People also gain experience.
Guess you could also say that about Rick Majerus while at MU.
In any case, will be fun going up against the two headed Pitino's next year.
Our Xavier grad Daughter, her Xavier grad Cintas working husband and Xavier athletics department working mother in law seemed bummed about losing Miller but seem happier after landing Pitino.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on March 26, 2025, 08:09:20 PMBuzz to Maryland when Willard leaves for Nova
Aaaaand Here. We. Go.
Coaching Carousel is 🔥🔥🔥 hot
https://x.com/TerrapinNation/status/1905439493890425044?t=H9h-HToABw6IYADWemrWVA&s=19
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on March 27, 2025, 09:24:15 PMAaaaand Here. We. Go.
Coaching Carousel is 🔥🔥🔥 hot
https://x.com/TerrapinNation/status/1905439493890425044?t=H9h-HToABw6IYADWemrWVA&s=19
It is nothing compared to last year's carousel.
Surprised Scott Drew isn't involved. He's always got his hand out looking for a fat raise
Quote from: Uncle Rico on March 28, 2025, 07:23:18 AMSurprised Scott Drew isn't involved. He's always got his hand out looking for a fat raise
He needs to pray about it first
Quote from: swoopem on March 28, 2025, 07:26:54 AMHe needs to pray about it first
I'm sure he's already prayed to his agent
Quote from: NCMUFan on March 27, 2025, 10:12:36 AMPeople also gain experience.
Guess you could also say that about Rick Majerus while at MU.
In any case, will be fun going up against the two headed Pitino's next year.
You probably also consider colonoscopies and root canals as fun. ;D
Slick Rick will help his son game plan against the other 9 teams so the Pitinos can lock up the first 2 BE spots. I can hardly wait!
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on March 28, 2025, 08:53:23 AMYou probably also consider colonoscopies and root canals as fun. ;D
Slick Rick will help his son game plan against the other 9 teams so the Pitinos can lock up the first 2 BE spots. I can hardly wait!
Don't worry, Willard is coming back so we're all just playing for second place.
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on March 28, 2025, 08:53:23 AMYou probably also consider colonoscopies and root canals as fun. ;D
Slick Rick will help his son game plan against the other 9 teams so the Pitinos can lock up the first 2 BE spots. I can hardly wait!
So maybe MU team with Hurley for UCONN and MU to alternate 1st and 2nd in Big East yearly.
We need another BE school to hire Bobby Hurley so we have two Pitinos and two Hurleys. Seton Hall, I'm looking at you.
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on March 28, 2025, 12:50:30 PMWe need another BE school to hire Bobby Hurley so we have two Pitinos and two Hurleys. Seton Hall, I'm looking at you.
I think DePaul tried once, but they low-balled him, so he went to ASU.
Quote from: cheebs09 on March 28, 2025, 12:57:18 PMI think DePaul tried once, but they low-balled him, so he went to ASU.
Yep. Lowballed him and Dennis Gates. They may have dodged a bullet with Bobby
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on March 27, 2025, 09:24:15 PMAaaaand Here. We. Go.
Coaching Carousel is 🔥🔥🔥 hot
https://x.com/TerrapinNation/status/1905439493890425044?t=H9h-HToABw6IYADWemrWVA&s=19
I hope MD thought to themselves, "who is always up to have their name in a coaching search?" and immediately went to Buzz.