ESPN Top Xs and Os Coaches

[The Equalizer]

Okay...I'll try this again.

I wasn't specifically talking about this article. Nowhere in my post did I specifically reference this article.

So I guess I should have known that your post had nothing at all to do with the article being discused in the thread. Sorry about that.

I was making a generalized statement that while ESPN may have tried to bolster Stevens' reputation in the past, I didn't expect it in the future.

Don't you think that its far more likely that Stevens bolstered his own reputation by getting to the national championship game two years in a row, and ESPN merely reflected his performance?

Basically, had he stayed at Butler, I don't think they'd constantly be touting him as the wonder-boy he was usually regarded as, and I don't expect ESPN IN THE FUTURE to go out of their way to try to shine the bums of the NBE schools because we are now clear competition.

And I suspect ESPN's future coverage of Stevens' would mirror his coaching performance at Butler--just like any other coach.

In other words, if Butler made it back to multiple national championship games with Stevens at the helm, I strongly suspect ESPN would still be regarding him as one of the game's great coaches. 

[The Equalizer]

I tend to think Butler is far more traditional and fundamentally sound than the far more "athletic and talented" Marquette.  Let's face it, Marquette had no player of Rotnei Clark's ability last season.  The guy is a marksman from downtown, traditional, yet quite a bit more athletic than Junior Cadougan.  Also, Andrew Smith, the great traditional Center with great footwork and great touch, yet is such an inferior athlete to both Chris Otule and Devante Gardner.  Let's not forget though that Kyhle Marshall and Roosevelt Jones are no slouch athletes - whom I'd suggest are both more explosive than was the uber athlete Trent Lockett.

But good point 84 - Butler had no business being in that game, if not for the coaching genius of Brad Stevens, paired against the marginal coaching chops of Buzz Williams who only had the benefit of having such great athletes that pulled him through to victory...

Your words, not mine.  Thought you were a big fan--what happened?

Meanwhile, I don't think a single person on earth disagrees with the notion that MU had more talent than Butler last year.  Or that Stevens is a better coach.

[jesmu84]

Your words, not mine.  Thought you were a big fan--what happened?

sarcasm isn't for everyone...

[NersEllenson]

Your words, not mine.  Thought you were a big fan--what happened?

Meanwhile, I don't think a single person on earth disagrees with the notion that MU had more talent than Butler last year.  Or that Stevens is a better coach.

Since your sarcasm detector requires teal - I'll spell it out more clearly for you:  I'll be that single person on earth that disagrees - I think Buzz is a better coach than Brad Stevens.  If someone were to say you could trade Buzz Williams for Brad Stevens right now - you think EVERY Marquette fan would make that trade??  Ludicrous.

Furthermore, part of being a coach in college is recruiting your players - Stevens recruited his, Buzz recruited his - so if there is a talent disparity, blame it on the recruiting chops (or lack thereof) of Stevens.  Think his talent was getting pretty thin at Butler anyway, and therefore doesn't come as a great surprise that he bolted for the NBA when he did - as his stock is at an all time high.  I'm quite curious to see how he does at the NBA level - quite frankly, I don't think he'll fare all that well.  Don't see his style playing well with NBA players.

[brewcity77]

...

I'm not feeding the troll.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The hardest part I had with that poll was who to place at #20: Crean or Ryan!

Looks like the actual coaching profession peers put them at #13 and #14 respectively...they did the heavy lifting for you since they have to face their offensive and defensive schemes night in and night out.   

[Benny B]

ESPN didn't leave anyone out....it's a list voted on by other coaches....coaches who coach at all levels of D-1 basketball

Aaaaaaaaand the first horse crosses the finish line as the rest are still sputtering on the backstretch.

[The Equalizer]

Since your sarcasm detector requires teal

Obviously, yours does as well.