Hire Howland NOW

[GooooMarquette]

Howland is aiming high.  Waaaaaay higher, in my opinion, than SS.

Yep.

[humanlung]

Uh, here's the part that I think undermines your argument;

Nelson often reacted to hard fouls or calls against him in practice by committing violent acts against teammates. He did not deny to SI that he would stalk his targets, even running across the court, away from a play, to hit someone.

Once, Nelson got tangled up with forward James Keefe while going for a rebound. Keefe was playing with a surgically repaired left shoulder, and Nelson pulled down suddenly on Keefe's left arm. That reinjured Keefe's shoulder, and he missed several weeks. Later in the season Nelson hacked walk-on Alex Schrempf, the son of former NBA player Detlef Schrempf, from behind on a breakaway, knocking Schrempf to the ground. The back injury Schrempf suffered sidelined him for months. In another workout Nelson threw an elbow at Lane after the whistle, injuring Lane's ribs.

Walk-on Tyler Trapani was another Nelson victim. After Trapani took a charge that negated a Nelson dunk, Nelson went out of his way to step on Trapani's chest as he lay on the ground. Trapani is John Wooden's great-grandson. (Nelson confirmed all these incidents to SI and expressed his regret, saying, "On all that stuff, I have no trouble admitting that I lost control of my emotions sometimes. I take responsibility for my actions. I'm really just trying to learn from the mistakes I made on all levels.")

After each of the incidents, Howland looked the other way. One team member says he asked Howland after a practice why he wasn't punishing Nelson, to which he said Howland responded, "He's producing."

Has anyone ever confirmed this outside the article?  To the best of my knowledge, there were never any issues prior to UCLA and for this attitude to just appear with no prior warning would be highly unusual.  After all, a leopard doesn't change its spots.

[WarriorFan]

There are other, better solutions.

George Karl.

Terry Porter

Both would be better candidates than Howland (who smells funny to me, too) and would bring serious Wisconsin ties and NBA credentials to the MU program. 

[Let's Go Warriors]

I seriously don't get it. Howland says immediately after Bazz leaves that he wants the job. Why did this week even have to happen? We have the money, we need the coach...nah, let's go after the unattainable instead and get completed unnatural carnal knowledgeed by everyone in the process.

Sometimes big wigs feel like they themself are different than other big wigs(and everybody else). IE "I know SS turned down the likes of UCLA but we(actually I) am different"

I agree, I have wanted Howland from day 1.  Would have been fine with SS, but believe Howland would be here longer anyway.  He has alot better track record.  So far in reality SS has had 1 great year.  He is charismatic and would have been a big windfall initially.  I do think Howland has just as much Cache however and much more success.

[LAMUfan]

I have nothing really important to add other than if you can get howland, you take 'em.  George Karl?  really?

[chapman]

There are other, better solutions.

George Karl.

Terry Porter

Both would be better candidates than Howland (who smells funny to me, too) and would bring serious Wisconsin ties and NBA credentials to the MU program. 

Karl is 62 years old and has never coached at the collegiate level (head or assistant).  Porter has never coached at the collegiate level (head or assistant).  

And they're better than a guy who has won eight conference championships, been to 10 NCAA tournaments and three Final Fours?  

That smell is a quality coach who has won - we're afraid of setting the bar high.

 

[Niv Berkowitz]

There are other, better solutions.

George Karl.

Terry Porter

Both would be better candidates than Howland (who smells funny to me, too) and would bring serious Wisconsin ties and NBA credentials to the MU program. 

I think you missed the 'teal' option there. Because there's one thing that we have to do - hire someone with ties to the past or the state.

Also, those guys are really plugged into the college scene too.

[Niv Berkowitz]

...and that was sarcasm about having ties.

If they are there and we can use them to our advantage? Great. Other than that...who cares.

I think the majority of people here on this board actually like Wardle....just not as the coach this year. Give him a few more years and then see.

Which goes back to the ....Hire Howland. NOW!  #overreacting

[Pakuni]

Last I checked, Howland is still out there and has no other serious suitors.
Wake is focused on Mack and others; BC is focused on Amaker, Hopkins and the guy from Townson.
Where's Ben going, exactly? Wazzou? Marshall? USF?
There's about a million reasons that make it worth his time to wait for MU.
Bunch of drama queens here.

[humanlung]

Last I checked, Howland is still out there and has no other serious suitors.
Wake is focused on Mack and others; BC is focused on Amaker, Hopkins and the guy from Townson.
Where's Ben going, exactly? Wazzou? Marshall? USF?
There's about a million reasons that make it worth his time to wait for MU.
Bunch of drama queens here.

I would up that to three million reasons.  MU needs to get off the pot on this one.  Get 'er done, already!

[Let's Go Warriors]

While you certainly do not want to rush into a bad decision.  You also want to make a decision as quickly as you can.  Future recuirts, the upcoming recruiting class, current players can all be impacted by this.  And from experince, the worst thing can often be uncertainty.  These kids dont want to wait around for a long time trying to figure out who their coach is going to be.  This can cause anxiety for the kid and also his parents.  Not to mention negative recruiting(while it may be against the rules) can also be going on.  Saying things like, you dont want be at MU look at them.  They didnt even have a President or AD for how long?  And now who is going to be your coach?  Will you even fit into his system?

This needs to be handled as quickly as possible.  Without taking a risk on an unproven assistant.

[Pakuni]

I would up that to three million reasons.  MU needs to get off the pot on this one.  Get 'er done, already!

Yeah, my point was MU can afford, and is likely willing, to pay Howland seven figures more than anyone out there with the possible exception of Wake.
The notion that Ben is going withdraw from consideration at MU because his feelings are hurt by the pursuit of Shaka Smart seems ridiculous. If that were true, I wouldn't want the guy anyhow.

[frozena pizza]

Let's also think about this from Ben's perspective.  Sure, he has said that he is interested in MU, but if the price isn't right hanging out in California for another year to see what opens up isn't a bad option either.

[LAZER]

Let's also think about this from Ben's perspective.  Sure, he has said that he is interested in MU, but if the price isn't right hanging out in California for another year to see what opens up isn't a bad option either.

After Buzz left, Howland got his name to Andy Katz and into the discussion in under 30 minutes.  He's interested and I'd imagine 2.5-3 should get it done.

[humanlung]

Yeah, my point was MU can afford, and is likely willing, to pay Howland seven figures more than anyone out there with the possible exception of Wake.
The notion that Ben is going withdraw from consideration at MU because his feelings are hurt by the pursuit of Shaka Smart seems ridiculous. If that were true, I wouldn't want the guy anyhow.

Howland's a pro.  Business is business and he knows that.  Feelings have nothing to do with it.

[Pakuni]

Let's also think about this from Ben's perspective.  Sure, he has said that he is interested in MU, but if the price isn't right hanging out in California for another year to see what opens up isn't a bad option either.

What are the chances a job at a program a) comparable to MU and b) interested in Ben comes open next year?
I don't expect many better programs would be interested in a 58-year-old coach who's been sitting on his tail in California for two years. It's possible he could land a similar gig,  but the longer he's away from the game the harder it becomes.

[GooooMarquette]

Time to resurrect this thread....

[humanlung]

Time to resurrect this thread....

Got that right.  Hopefully, to be replaced quickly by the "Howland Press Conference..." thread very, very soon.