Kevin Looney kisses Marquette goodbye...........

[GGGG]

I assume you are rating him as an underperformer as a coach, not as a basketball player. Maybe you should define that. I have not looked it up, but I believe that he either won or was runner up D3 championship. He also won a couple of Big 10 tourney championships. Several conference championships at New Mexico. Turned around SW Mo. program, and I believe he took them to the Sweet 16 one year, or at least won a tourney game there. And since all of that, then he underperformed his way to the Head Coach at UCLA--probably the most storied program in country. Lots of underperforming there. Now he has the facilities, alumni base, money and program. Not to mention the underperforming gonads he had to take that job in that high pressure cooker.
Yeah, I guess he is a big time underperformer. No he has not won an NCAA championship, but other than a handful of current coaches, nobody else has either.
OK, Mr. expert analysts, you are right as usual.--he is a huge underperformer

18 years as a D1 head coach....

SWM: 1 tournament in four years.  Beat two higher seeds to reach S16.
Iowa : 3 tournaments in 8 years.  Once lost to a lower seed.  Never beat a higher seed.
New Mexico: 3 tournaments in 6 years.  Twice lost to a lower seed.  Never beat a higher seed.

Can't get it done when it matters most.  Underachiever.

[Dawson Rental]

I assume you are rating him as an underperformer as a coach, not as a basketball player. Maybe you should define that. I have not looked it up, but I believe that he either won or was runner up D3 championship. He also won a couple of Big 10 tourney championships. Several conference championships at New Mexico. Turned around SW Mo. program, and I believe he took them to the Sweet 16 one year, or at least won a tourney game there. And since all of that, then he underperformed his way to the Head Coach at UCLA--probably the most storied program in country. Lots of underperforming there. Now he has the facilities, alumni base, money and program. Not to mention the underperforming gonads he had to take that job in that high pressure cooker.
Yeah, I guess he is a big time underperformer. No he has not won an NCAA championship, but other than a handful of current coaches, nobody else has either.
OK, Mr. expert analysts, you are right as usual.--he is a huge underperformer

I'm kind of sorry that Sultan didn't laud Alford as a coach on the rise, so we could get your take on what a failure Alford is.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think he's referring to the 5 years after that 3rd final four.

Probably, though they were hardly dregs.  They won the conference title this past year.  Howland was fired because he couldn't recruit the southland anymore and his style was considered a problem.  Plenty of off the court problems as well. 

I dream of the day MU goes to back to back Final Fours, let alone three straight or 3 in 8 years.  Especially since we have gone to one in the last 30.

On a few other topics brought up here....UCLA women are cute, but nothing compared to other campuses here.  UCLA does not have a new arena, they have a refurbished Pauley Pavilion. 

UCLA might regret signing him, especially with that contract....they are stuck with him either way.

[GGGG]

I'm kind of sorry that Sultan didn't laud Alford as a coach on the rise, so we could get your take on what a failure Alford is.

Exactly. 

[4everwarriors]

Ya think if I tell Kevon he's gonna have to fly Southwest Airlines for road trips he might rethink his decision?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Just to play devil's advocate, doesn't the starting point count?

New Mexico had only been to the NCAAs 10 times the previous 75 years before he got there and had gone only one time since 1999.  Not exactly stepping into a hot program with the cupboard full.

Missouri State had won one NCAA tournament game in their history, his teams doubled that.

Iowa....that's where I think he underperformed.

I would argue he did just fine at UNM and SWMS considering the history, the recent lack of success, etc. at those institutions.  He did something at SWMS that had never been done, isn't that overperforming?  At UNM, took over a so-so program of recency and won four conference championships in five years....never been done in the history of the program.  Isn't that over performing when you do something that had never been done before?    

Not all situations are equal.  I guess we'll find out how he does at UCLA.  

[keefe]

Just to play devil's advocate, doesn't the starting point count?

New Mexico had only been to the NCAAs 10 times the previous 75 years before he got there and had gone only one time since 1999.  Not exactly stepping into a ready made program.  He won several conference titles, etc.

Missouri State had won one NCAA tournament game in their history, his teams doubled that.

Iowa....that's where I think he underperformed.

I would argue he did just fine at UNM and SWMS considering the history, the recent lack of success, etc. at those institutions.  He did something at SWMS that had never been done, isn't that overperforming?  At UNM, took over a so-so program and won four conference championships in five years....never been done in the history of the program.  Isn't that over performing when you do something that had never been done before?   

Not all situations are equal.  I guess we'll find out how he does at UCLA. 

I would agree with you that Alford has established himself as a successful coach. I am always amazed at how individuals of extremely slight accomplishment can find such profound improvidence and disappointment in those who have achieved some distinction.

 

[mufvr]

Just announced this afternoon.  Better than him ending up in Madison.

[Aughnanure]

Yeeeeaaaahhhh....about that.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=39041.225

[avid1010]

didn't ucla prefer buzz to alford?

[77ncaachamps]

3 Final Fours in the last 8 years....I wish we had those difficult times.

Say what you will about that but the coach that led that program to 3 CONSECUTIVE Final Fours (the last, almost SIX years ago). His last season? 25-9 and an exit in the first round.

And in the same period Buzz has been our coach, MU has fared much better:
- 122 MU wins > 107 UCLA
- NCAA every year (5 years) > 3 years

[muwarrior97]

I checked Buckyville just for a laugh. Most seemed to recognize that they didn't have a chance. The biggest sentiment I'm seeing is "Why get coached by Alford when you can get coached by Ryan?"

BO = BOring basketball....Great coach not-withstanding

[ChicosBailBonds]

Say what you will about that but the coach that led that program to 3 CONSECUTIVE Final Fours (the last, almost SIX years ago). His last season? 25-9 and an exit in the first round.

And in the same period Buzz has been our coach, MU has fared much better:
- 122 MU wins > 107 UCLA
- NCAA every year (5 years) > 3 years

I don't disagree with you in one sense, consistency, but three Final Fours is special.  No one remembers Sweet 16's in the long run.  I would trade three straight Final Fours in the last 8 years for what we have done in the last 5 years in a heartbeat.  Not even a nanosecond to decide. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

Sure, I said all those things. No reason whatsoever needed to validate my comments as there was never 1 word of hyperbole or falsehood uttered. Recruitin' is an ever volitile activity, especially when so many are involved. I stand by every statement I've ever made concerning Kevon, whether they were direct quotes or as I've qualified, opinions.

Your updates were appreciated and insightful...you certainly had more than the recruiting analysts....although I suspect the knowledge learned was under the influence of laughing gas.   

[keefe]

I don't disagree with you in one sense, consistency, but three Final Fours is special.  No one remembers Sweet 16's in the long run.  I would trade three straight Final Fours in the last 8 years for what we have done in the last 5 years in a heartbeat.  Not even a nanosecond to decide. 

Still, in the end, UCLA fired Howland. Wasn't it more about losing control of the troops than losing on the court?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Still, in the end, UCLA fired Howland. Wasn't it more about losing control of the troops than losing on the court?

That was part of it, but the AAU and high school coaches basically were keeping their players away from him.  Not many coaches win a conference championship in a league like the Pac 12 and get fired.  It was clear for many months that was the case unless he made the Final Four again.    The SI article did him no favors.

[brandx]

Probably, though they were hardly dregs.  They won the conference title this past year.  Howland was fired because he couldn't recruit the southland anymore and his style was considered a problem.  Plenty of off the court problems as well. 

I was always a fan of Howland as a coach, but I was stunned when I saw the Bruins last year. I have never seen a team that acted like they cared less than them.

I just assumed Howland was fired because he totally lost the team.

[willie warrior]

I would agree with you that Alford has established himself as a successful coach. I am always amazed at how individuals of extremely slight accomplishment can find such profound improvidence and disappointment in those who have achieved some distinction.

 

Exactly--but according to Sultan's grandiose ego and world class basketball analysis, Alford is an underachiever. Alford's resume speaks for itself--sorta like the Stilted One speaking for himself.
Bottom Line: Alford pulled Looney out of our backyard when hardly anybody saw that. We did not get Looney. And that is the bottom line, because the Sultan says so.

[willie warrior]

18 years as a D1 head coach....

SWM: 1 tournament in four years.  Beat two higher seeds to reach S16.
Iowa : 3 tournaments in 8 years.  Once lost to a lower seed.  Never beat a higher seed.
New Mexico: 3 tournaments in 6 years.  Twice lost to a lower seed.  Never beat a higher seed.

Can't get it done when it matters most.  Underachiever.

No mention of a D3 success, by the Sultanned one. Turned SWM program around. Did well at New Mexico by winning several conference regular season championships. Iowa--won at least two Conference tournies. Landed Looney. Classic underachievement.

The Sultan is well full of it.

[willie warrior]

Just to play devil's advocate, doesn't the starting point count?

New Mexico had only been to the NCAAs 10 times the previous 75 years before he got there and had gone only one time since 1999.  Not exactly stepping into a hot program with the cupboard full.

Missouri State had won one NCAA tournament game in their history, his teams doubled that.

Iowa....that's where I think he underperformed.

I would argue he did just fine at UNM and SWMS considering the history, the recent lack of success, etc. at those institutions.  He did something at SWMS that had never been done, isn't that overperforming?  At UNM, took over a so-so program of recency and won four conference championships in five years....never been done in the history of the program.  Isn't that over performing when you do something that had never been done before?    

Not all situations are equal.  I guess we'll find out how he does at UCLA.  

Chico's how dare you question the Sultan's veracity. If Alford is an underachiever because The Sultan says so, then it must be true, because Sultan says so. Meanwhile Alford is the one that underachieved on Looney--now that was a recruiting coup. When Buzz lands a stud of that stature, we can all say he is an underachiever too. Until that happens, we can continue to overachieve.

[avid1010]

Exactly--but according to Sultan's grandiose ego and world class basketball analysis, Alford is an underachiever. Alford's resume speaks for itself--sorta like the Stilted One speaking for himself.
Bottom Line: Alford pulled Looney out of our backyard when hardly anybody saw that. We did not get Looney. And that is the bottom line, because the Sultan says so.

says the guy who rips on buzz's recruiting all the time...you're too funny.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Exactly--but according to Sultan's grandiose ego and world class basketball analysis, Alford is an underachiever. Alford's resume speaks for itself--sorta like the Stilted One speaking for himself.
Bottom Line: Alford pulled Looney out of our backyard when hardly anybody saw that. We did not get Looney. And that is the bottom line, because the Sultan says so.

Josh Pastner is a recruiting failure because Buzz went into Memphis and pulled Jajuan Johnson out of his backyard!

Oh wait, Memphis wasn't recruiting him, it was MU, Alabama, Miami and others.

Do you see how stupid that sounds? MU stopped recruiting Looney, he tweeted that himself. You are a moron.

[GGGG]

No mention of a D3 success, by the Sultanned one. Turned SWM program around. Did well at New Mexico by winning several conference regular season championships. Iowa--won at least two Conference tournies. Landed Looney. Classic underachievement.

I'm having trouble understanding why you keep humping my leg like a little puppy.  Never really had anyone obsessed with me before...and it's kind of creepy.

But you are the one on these boards that goes on and on about how making a Final Four is the ultimate goal, yet Alford has never been closer to the Sweet 16.  Look, he is a really good recruiter and he clearly is a decent coach - but when you keep getting knocked out by lower seeds in the tournament, how can you not ultimately say that he is an underachiever?

And if you really want to have some fun, Google up the bullsh*t that he did with Pierre Pierce at Iowa.  So the guy isn't simply an underachiever....he's an underachieving slimeball.

[willie warrior]

says the guy who rips on buzz's recruiting all the time...you're too funny.

Sorry--I do not rip on Buzz's recruiting all the time--only on his recruiting of bigs--which is marginal at best from the record.

For the record, Buzz has done a good job recruiting overall. His latest class shows that, as well as some of the past. Where we have fallen down is in recruiting bigs. Look at that record. IMO, as I have stated several times, we need a quality big to go along with the other talent coming in to reach the FF. That must happen within the next year or two, before all the current talent is gone.

You have opinions and so do I. However, the track record for bigs is not good. Gardner was good, the rest have not been. MCKay, Williams, Mbao, Roseboro, McMorrow, Durley and so on.

Hope we make FF this year, but it will be tough, unless Gardner has a super year.

[willie warrior]

I'm having trouble understanding why you keep humping my leg like a little puppy.  Never really had anyone obsessed with me before...and it's kind of creepy.

But you are the one on these boards that goes on and on about how making a Final Four is the ultimate goal, yet Alford has never been closer to the Sweet 16.  Look, he is a really good recruiter and he clearly is a decent coach - but when you keep getting knocked out by lower seeds in the tournament, how can you not ultimately say that he is an underachiever?

And if you really want to have some fun, Google up the bullsh*t that he did with Pierre Pierce at Iowa.  So the guy isn't simply an underachiever....he's an underachieving slimeball.

Sorry, I lived in Iowa when the Pierre Pierce stuff went on, so I do not need Google to tell me. Clearly, Alford made mistakes on Pierce, but he did nothing illegal. Initially, he was giving the guy support. His mistake was not cutting it off. So yeah, he made a mistake with Pierce. So Alford is not perfect like you profess to be. And if you are so upset by the Pierce fiasco, then start looking at Ferentz's track record with convicts. And please let us hear your thoughts on Pitino at Porcinis or Cal's sterling record.

And by the way, there are many on this board that talk about making the FF. I merely give my opinion on what I believe we need to get there. And there are many who feel the same way.

And speaking of humping legs, get off mine. Because you love to pontificate about your limited BB knowledge. But guess what--to make you feel better, the ignore button is always there--or don't read the posts and then you can quit bitching about my posts.