The Coaching Carousel is Officially Over And....

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Ben Howland still doesn't have a job. I'm curious if this changes anyone's opinion of the administration's decision to not hire Howland. He had opportunities at Marquette, Wake Forest, Missouri, Tennessee, California, Washington State, Oregon State, Tulsa and probably others. But his phone never rang. It seems that passing the sniff test is an important factor to more than just our leadership.

[StillAWarrior]

Ben Howland still doesn't have a job. I'm curious if this changes anyone's opinion of the administration's decision to not hire Howland. He had opportunities at Marquette, Wake Forest, Missouri, Tennessee, California, Washington State, Oregon State, Tulsa and probably others. But his phone never rang. It seems that passing the sniff test is an important factor to more than just our leadership.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but do we know if that is true?  Is it possible that his phone rang repeatedly, but he opted to not answer?

[GGGG]

No but I was never all that excited about him to begin with.  But there has to be something about him that is keeping people away.  Maybe he is being highly selective, but when schools are passing you over to hire Ernie Kent....well...

Honestly I think Wojo has been great so far.  The biggest problem I had with him to begin with is that I never have really liked Duke and their screamy, hustley point guards of which he is one of them.  But the more I have seen him interviewed and what he is trying to do, the more I think this hire is going to be a really good fit for Marquette.

[BallBoy]

I think a big part of it was his salary demands. If you recall MU said they liked him but put him on hold.  Most likely it was due to salary and not because of his history. You don't put someone on hold if their history is unappealing.

[MuMark]

They wanted Shaka...thought they had a deal....then when it blew up they still didn't go back to Howland...they then looked at Martin and Wojo....

They didn't pass on Howland because of money.....they interviewed him...and decided they would rather hire a different type of guy with less baggage.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think a big part of it was his salary demands. If you recall MU said they liked him but put him on hold.  Most likely it was due to salary and not because of his history. You don't put someone on hold if their history is unappealing.

MU said they "liked" Howland to be polite. He was never a serious candidate.

[Jay Bee]

Was almost a #donedeal with Howland until the administration read the concerns of a few Scoopers. Thanks, guys.

[keefe]

Was almost a #donedeal with Howland until the administration read the concerns of a few Scoopers. Thanks, guys.

Exactly what happened with Shaka Smart. He and his wife were thrilled to be coming to Marquette and were already working with a realtor. Evidently, Maya Smart came across Scoop and was appalled by what she read. She was overheard telling her husband, "Baby, they don't need a coach! They already have hundreds of basketball experts! Read this sh1t!"

[brandx]

Was almost a #donedeal with Howland until the administration read the concerns of a few Scoopers. Thanks, guys.

Probably any of us who watched UCLA during his last year and saw the inmates in charge of the asylum.

[brandx]

Exactly what happened with Shaka Smart. He and his wife were thrilled to be coming to Marquette and were already working with a realtor. Evidently, Maya Smart came across Scoop and was appalled by what she read. She was overheard telling her husband, "Baby, they don't need a coach! They already have hundreds of basketball experts! Read this sh1t!"

Smart woman, that Maya. The clincher was when she saw the background and experience of Ners.

[chapman]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but do we know if that is true?  Is it possible that his phone rang repeatedly, but he opted to not answer?

Not sure how much interest he had from the schools.  As far as his interest, he was reported to have floated his interest for MU and UT, and he pulled a Cuonzo and "removed himself from consideration" at Oregon State, meaning mutual interest was expressed but he was passed over.

Probably any of us who watched UCLA during his last year and saw the inmates in charge of the asylum.

Have you guys read this Sports Illustrated article? [862nd time Link to article posted]

[brandx]

Have you guys read this Sports Illustrated article? [862nd time Link to article posted]

I was referring to actually watching them - there was no coaching involved at all by end of season.

[jsglow]

Smart woman, that Maya. The clincher was when she saw the background and experience of Ners.

Well played.

[BallBoy]

MU said they "liked" Howland to be polite. He was never a serious candidate.

Howland's issues are well documented and are well known in college circles. If MU had an issue with them they wouldn't have taken the time to interview him.  Also in terms of a big splash Shaka would have been the bigger catch and cost less.

MU showed interest and kept him on backup until they found Wojo. They easily could have said they had no interest but did not.  The salary and his issues might have led to him bring on the back burner but he was one of four people who got an interview. That shows a significant enough level of interest.

The first thing they tell you during a executive search is please don't waste our time and we won't waste yours. If it doesn't appear to be a fit then let's end it sooner rather than later. Being "polite" is not considered a courtesy.

[keefe]

MU said they "liked" Howland to be polite. He was never a serious candidate.

Uh, I'm not sure this is correct.

[dgies9156]

Why do we care? Here's how I view things:

1) We probably got the best of the lot. The Hillbillies in western Virginia might disagree, but they are Hillbillies. The fact that the Head Hillbilly chased off the good half of the returning Hokie team says wonders about him. If I were them, I would be very worried about how the Head Hillbilly lost control of his team last year. He could not adapt to the realities we all saw during the year (and if you don't believe me, go read our Scoop postings in-season last year).

2) Howland would have been a stop-gap. An expensive one at that. He is a name but can he recruit after being away for two years? Under the best scenario, we would have been a two-year rebuilding project with a coach that has a five- to seven-year lifespan. And if he is successful, he's already proven he'd bolt and run for a coastal program with better weather.

3) Shaka's heart wasn't in Marquette. Period. I think the posters were right. His wife read Scoop and screamed! She saw Ners and Keefe and said she was high-tailing it back to Virginia. "Nobody deserves that," she reportedly told Shaka.

4) If we had hired the University of Tennessee's hand-me-down coach, I would have sworn allegiance to Becky Badger or someone like that. We're better than UT and could do better than UT's hand-me-downs. Good grief, I could hear us all singing Rocky Top at halftime. YIKES!

5) I like Wojo. He's Polish in a Polish and German city, for one thing. He's a winner, which we also like. And, he's a gritty, get your hands dirty basketball guy, which we REALLY like. On the day he was hired, one of my friends from UNC said he "could never be for Marquette again. First you hire a Dookie... and then THAT Dookie!" Means we have a good one!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Howland's issues are well documented and are well known in college circles. If MU had an issue with them they wouldn't have taken the time to interview him.  Also in terms of a big splash Shaka would have been the bigger catch and cost less.

MU showed interest and kept him on backup until they found Wojo. They easily could have said they had no interest but did not.  The salary and his issues might have led to him bring on the back burner but he was one of four people who got an interview. That shows a significant enough level of interest.

The first thing they tell you during a executive search is please don't waste our time and we won't waste yours. If it doesn't appear to be a fit then let's end it sooner rather than later. Being "polite" is not considered a courtesy.

Who said we ever interviewed him?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Uh, I'm not sure this is correct.

I am.

[keefe]

Who said we ever interviewed him?

Bill Cords and two boosters had multiple conversations with Ben Howland. There was definite interest both ways.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Bill Cords and two boosters had multiple conversations with Ben Howland. There was definite interest both ways.

Conversations and interviews are not the same thing.

[Goose]

Keefe

No doubt Howland was a candidate and spoken to. He may not have been high on everyone's list but he definitely was part of the conversation. You know your stuff!!

[keefe]

Keefe

No doubt Howland was a candidate and spoken to. He may not have been high on everyone's list but he definitely was part of the conversation. You know your stuff!!

A powerful penis cannot be ignored!

[Newsdreams]

A powerful penis cannot be ignored!

You mean the Strong one?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A powerful penis cannot be ignored!

Well played