Aki Collins Gone....

[strotty]

Who said it didn't happen in April?

It wasn't done in April, but this certainly did not pop up out of nowhere. Couple of weeks in the making.

[MUMac]

Did some research on this guy and yea he is the real deal. That is the exact type of coach I would want as are Associate. 9 years behind Izzo, multiple final fours, and National Championship. Would be great to lure him away.

I  always felt he was a loss when he left Crean's staff after the Final 4 run.  It would have been nice to have kept that staff together.

[BrewCity83]

It wasn't done in April, but this certainly did not pop up out of nowhere. Couple of weeks in the making.

Strotty, does this look to you like a case of Aki seeing he wasn't getting the top asst. job at MU so he got out, or more like all of the rats jumping off of a sinking ship before the captain leaves?

[Hards Alumni]

Strotty, does this look to you like a case of Aki seeing he wasn't getting the top asst. job at MU so he got out, or more like all of the rats jumping off of a sinking ship before the captain leaves?

The captain isn't going anywhere.  period.

After back to back sweet 16s assistant coaches look for promotions.  These guys all deserve the promotions they get.

How many guys get into the coaching business looking to be a career assistant coach?  I'm guessing the answer is about zero.

[MUfan12]

Perhaps there is another person in line for Benford's spot, or there was some friction between Buzz and Aki. But I keep getting the feeling that this is not a good sign.

I just have a hard time believing that Buzz would let his highest level assistant leave for another assistant gig, at a school that will be joining the conference. Unless Buzz doesn't plan on being here when Memphis joins.

[Rubie Q]

Perhaps there is another person in line for Benford's spot, or there was some friction between Buzz and Aki. But I keep getting the feeling that this is not a good sign.

I just have a hard time believing that Buzz would let his highest level assistant leave for another assistant gig, at a school that will be joining the conference. Unless Buzz doesn't plan on being here when Memphis joins.

This doesn't make sense to me: if Buzz is planning to leave, and he *really* thought a lot of Aki, wouldn't he say: "Coach, just stick with me for one more year, and we'll leave for greener pastures together"?

I don't know how much of a push Buzz made to keep Coach Aki, but it seems a heck of a lot more likely that Buzz had other plans for the top assistant's spot.

[Goose]

I would think Buzz would protect talent regardless of staying log term or leaving after next year. Trust that he has better option in his opinion to replace missing spots. I wonder if they just did not get along or if Buzz wanted something better.

[79Warrior]

I would think Buzz would protect talent regardless of staying log term or leaving after next year. Trust that he has better option in his opinion to replace missing spots. I wonder if they just did not get along or if Buzz wanted something better.

+1

[brewcity77]

I agree that this is a disappointing loss, but if Buzz had someone else in mind for the #1 spot, it's really not surprising that Aki would leave. He already entertained other offers, is probably pretty close to a HC job, and if he wasn't going to get the #1 spot here, it might have actually hurt his resume as prospective employers might wonder why he didn't move up when Benford left. While this seems like a lateral move, he can at least justify it based on money, climate, or simply broadening his horizons as he prepares for a top job. It will all depend on who Buzz lands at the #1. If it's someone that seems like a bonafide up-and-comer, that will make it pretty evident that Aki needed to move on to further his career.

[GGGG]

Perhaps there is another person in line for Benford's spot, or there was some friction between Buzz and Aki. But I keep getting the feeling that this is not a good sign.

Aki almost left last year.  I don't think I would read too much into this.

[strotty]

Strotty, does this look to you like a case of Aki seeing he wasn't getting the top asst. job at MU so he got out, or more like all of the rats jumping off of a sinking ship before the captain leaves?

I am not positive on the reasoning behind it, but as others have said, Aki almost left for Louisville last year. Personally, I have never believed the "sinking ship" theory, so I really doubt it's that. Very well could have been Aki looking for a change of scenery. I don't believe it had anything to do with a promotion, or lack thereof, to the top assistant position. And without trying to stir the pot, relationships may have been a factor. How big a deal that was, I'm not sure.

[Dawson Rental]

Can someone give mea quick couple sentence description of heroshima?  I could prob guess but...

An attempt to answer always leads to a thread hijack, so.....
I'd suggest that you the MUScoop search feature to see one of the three or so other times that this question has been answered. 

[BrewCity83]

I am not positive on the reasoning behind it, but as others have said, Aki almost left for Louisville last year. Personally, I have never believed the "sinking ship" theory, so I really doubt it's that. Very well could have been Aki looking for a change of scenery. I don't believe it had anything to do with a promotion, or lack thereof, to the top assistant position. And without trying to stir the pot, relationships may have been a factor. How big a deal that was, I'm not sure.

OK, thanks for the response.  I don't think the ship is sinking either, but you have better sources than most on here so I wanted to know your take on this.

[mr.MUskie]

I am not positive on the reasoning behind it, but as others have said, Aki almost left for Louisville last year. Personally, I have never believed the "sinking ship" theory, so I really doubt it's that. Very well could have been Aki looking for a change of scenery. I don't believe it had anything to do with a promotion, or lack thereof, to the top assistant position. And without trying to stir the pot, relationships may have been a factor. How big a deal that was, I'm not sure.

Man, can't Buzz get along with anyone?

[77ncaachamps]

Maybe Pastner is looking to leave soon and is taking in Aki to groom him as a replacement?

[MUfan12]

Maybe Pastner is looking to leave soon and is taking in Aki to groom him as a replacement?

If the NCAA ever investigates the Tarik Black recruitment, this might come to fruition.

[EarthBoundMisfit]

If the NCAA ever investigates the Tarik Black recruitment, this might come to fruition.

Josh Pastner is an honorable man. He is the anti-Calipari. Whereas the program was ALL about John Calipari when he coached at Memphis, it has been all about the players and assistant coaches since Josh has been here. In no way shape or form do you have any proof that Josh Pastner's assistants have engaged in shady recruiting practices.

[EarthBoundMisfit]

Clearly he's concerned about recruiting with our new impossible academic standards, so he decided to go where he knows there are none.

You do realize that Memphis was one of the schools who just posted a perfect APR score right? Our student athletes are expected to take their studies seriously.
We'll be a valuable academic asset to the Big East come next season.

[strotty]

Josh Pastner is an honorable man. He is the anti-Calipari. Whereas the program was ALL about John Calipari when he coached at Memphis, it has been all about the players and assistant coaches since Josh has been here. In no way shape or form do you have any proof that Josh Pastner's assistants have engaged in shady recruiting practices.

Mmm...sorta.

[EarthBoundMisfit]

Mmm...sorta.

Link?

[EarthBoundMisfit]

If it is any consolation, Josh has gotten asst coaches who are just a cut under head coaching material. Several of his assistant coaches have already gone on to head coaching jobs, and Josh is only in his fourth season of coaching.

Aki may be here a season or two before moving on. Memphis is a big city, and it may be in this kind of market that Aki can prove himself to be cut out to be a head coach soon.

[Jay Bee]

Josh Pastner is an honorable man. He is the anti-Calipari. Whereas the program was ALL about John Calipari when he coached at Memphis, it has been all about the players and assistant coaches since Josh has been here. In no way shape or form do you have any proof that Josh Pastner's assistants have engaged in shady recruiting practices.

LOL!  Hilarious.

[Blackhat]

I just hope he doesn't get shot in Memphis.

[ecompt]

You do realize that Memphis was one of the schools who just posted a perfect APR score right? Our student athletes are expected to take their studies seriously.
We'll be a valuable academic asset to the Big East come next season.

Congratulations on your renaissance, and I'm happy to hear it. But YOU dio realize that your school over the course of 25 years had one of the worst graduation rates for basketball players in the country?

[GGGG]

If it is any consolation, Josh has gotten asst coaches who are just a cut under head coaching material. Several of his assistant coaches have already gone on to head coaching jobs, and Josh is only in his fourth season of coaching.

Aki may be here a season or two before moving on. Memphis is a big city, and it may be in this kind of market that Aki can prove himself to be cut out to be a head coach soon.

Uh....what exactly does Memphis have that Milwaukee and Marquette doesn't?

And I think MU fans are perfectly content with Chew as a replacement for Collins anyway.