And Then There Were 2...

[Wojo'sMojo]

We did fall, from Smart.

In my opinion, the candidate tiers were:

1) Smart
2) Martin/Wojo/Howland/Miller/Manning
3) Everyone else
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So Manning and Howland are on the same tier? Lol 

[Golden Avalanche]

Gary Parrish was the first to report six days ago that Steve Masiello to South Florida was a #DoneDeal. So, when is Masiello's introductory press conference?

[NersEllenson]

Who knows what's true anymore...but if it truly is down to these two, my preference would be Wojo.

So you'd prefer to have a guy with no head coaching experience who has a low likability factor than a guy who turned around Missouri State program, got TN to within a basket of the Elite 8 and who's record has improved EVERY year of his head coaching career at each school and that was a finalist for JJJ, Looney and has been in the mix for Stone??  Wow.  

[Litehouse]

So you'd prefer to have a guy with no head coaching experience who has a low likability factor than a guy who turned around Missouri State program, got TN to within a basket of the Elite 8 and who's record has improved EVERY year of his head coaching career at each school and that was a finalist for JJJ, Looney and has been in the mix for Stone??  Wow.  

Agreed, Martin seems to be on an upward trend with both coaching and recruiting.  I'd take him over any assistant.  Not a real exciting hire, but I've warmed up to the idea.

[Newsdreams]

Respect the process. If there is even a process  

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

So Manning and Howland are on the same tier? Lol 

Yep.

Howland has the resume. Manning has the non-squirminess

[thekahoona]

Respect the process. If there is even a process  

The first rule of The Process is: You do not talk about The Process.

[Golden Avalanche]

Yep.

Howland has the resume. Manning has the non-squirminess

unnatural carnal knowledge. You're relentless on this. Howland has less squirm on him than the guy who just left us for Blacksburg.

[jesmu84]

So you'd prefer to have a guy with no head coaching experience who has a low likability factor than a guy who turned around Missouri State program, got TN to within a basket of the Elite 8 and who's record has improved EVERY year of his head coaching career at each school and that was a finalist for JJJ, Looney and has been in the mix for Stone??  Wow.  

Wojo must have some sort of likability to get recruits at Duke.

[Litehouse]

Wojo must have some sort of likability to get recruits at Duke.

Of all the reasons to go to Duke, Wojo's personality might be pretty close to the bottom.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

In terms of Martin is there any recruits or current quality players that would possibly to transfer to MU?

[GooooMarquette]

So you'd prefer to have a guy with no head coaching experience who has a low likability factor than a guy who turned around Missouri State program, got TN to within a basket of the Elite 8 and who's record has improved EVERY year of his head coaching career at each school and that was a finalist for JJJ, Looney and has been in the mix for Stone??  Wow.  

No, I prefer a guy who has been a loyal assistant at one of the most prestigious programs in the country and learned from one of the best coaches in the business over a guy who inherited a loaded Tennessee team and led them to 2 NCAA tournament wins in three seasons...and who didn't land JJJ or Looney.

[NersEllenson]

Wojo must have some sort of likability to get recruits at Duke.

Tell me you are kidding?  You really believe Wojo is any kind of influencing factor in getting recruits to DUKE to play under Coach K?  Coach K can basically handpick whoever he wants, he offers, and 50% of the time the 5-star kid says yes...

Also why I'm a little skeptical of Howland - UCLA recruits itself.  He's almost 10 years removed from Pitt, and had old Big East to sell back then...not the current version.  Plus at 57, he's further removed from the mindset of 16 year old kids in this day and age..

[Litehouse]

In terms of Martin is there any recruits or current quality players that would possibly to transfer to MU?

http://espn.go.com/colleges/basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/2633/class/2015/page/considering
Here's who ESPN has listed considering Tennessee for 2015.  Anyone heard of that Stone guy?

[NersEllenson]

No, I prefer a guy who has been a loyal assistant at one of the most prestigious programs in the country and learned from one of the best coaches in the business over a guy who inherited a loaded Tennessee team and led them to 2 NCAA tournament wins in three seasons...and who didn't land JJJ or Looney.

LOL - A loyal assistant?  At Duke, under Coach K, as a former player and graduate of that program?  Really a test of one's loyalty.  Reality is, Wojo has hardly ever been rumored for other head coaching positions.

Martin has been on the hot seat making the game decisions as a Head Coach for 6 years. Each of his 6 years his teams have improved year over year.  He walked into a bit of a sh$t show at TN with Pearl's departure...and you want to say he inherited a loaded squad - well guess what - those kids also had to make the choice to STAY at TN - they could have easily transferred.  So, he retained the talented kids during that transition...as he likely would do in this case at MU....and his team just finished in the Top 20 nationally in Offensive and Defensive efficiency....I'd put a lot more trust in a guy like that, than an annoying Duke assistant coach.

[jesmu84]

LOL - A loyal assistant?  At Duke, under Coach K, as a former player and graduate of that program?  Really a test of one's loyalty.  Reality is, Wojo has hardly ever been rumored for other head coaching positions.

Martin has been on the hot seat making the game decisions as a Head Coach for 6 years. Each of his 6 years his teams have improved year over year.  He walked into a bit of a sh$t show at TN with Pearl's departure...and you want to say he inherited a loaded squad - well guess what - those kids also had to make the choice to STAY at TN - they could have easily transferred.  So, he retained the talented kids during that transition...as he likely would do in this case at MU....and his team just finished in the Top 20 nationally in Offensive and Defensive efficiency....I'd put a lot more trust in a guy like that, than an annoying Duke assistant coach.

Would your world fall apart if Wojo was hired and played Derrick 35mpg next season? 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Reality is, Wojo has hardly ever been rumored for other head coaching positions.

That's because Chris Collins was on the staff until this past year. We wouldn't consider Wojo either if Collins was still there.

[Pakuni]

No, I prefer a guy who has been a loyal assistant at one of the most prestigious programs in the country and learned from one of the best coaches in the business over a guy who inherited a loaded Tennessee team and led them to 2 NCAA tournament wins in three seasons...and who didn't land JJJ or Looney.

A loaded Tennessee team????
Ha. Seven of the top 10 players from Pearl's team were gone when Martin took over, including five of the top six scorers.

[Dawson Rental]

Martin will be named the coach either tomorrow or Wednesday when his buyout goes down. Atleast that seems like the most likely outcome. We've heard nothing but silence and rumors surrounding Martin for the last couple days, and the delay could very well be just a stall for his buyout to go down.

They should tell Tennessee to throw out the buyout or deal with the fallout from having to keep Martin that should settle things.

[texaswarrior74]

They should tell Tennessee to throw out the buyout or deal with the fallout from having to keep Martin that should settle things.

Tennessee is still paying so much in buyouts for two ex football coaches that there' very little chance of that happening.

[willie warrior]

http://www.jrn.com/wtmj/wi-sports/Report-Marquette-search-down-to-two-major-candidates-253226751.html

Trebby says it is down to Wojo and Martin. He mentions Gary Parrish as the source but I couldn't find the original leak.

I'd say the smart money is on Wojo

EDIT: WRONG LINK!!!

Neither of these guys is an impact hire. If true, doesn,t say much for the "stallions" conducting the search.

[Scooter22]

I grew up in TN and my brother is a UT alum.  Football reigns there...whatever others may say.  The problem with Martin is that he wasn't Pearl...  he was never given much of a chance from the gitgo. 

I am warming up to him as MU coach, if it happens.   

[NotAnAlum]

Just compare the 2 honestly

CM has shown that he can turn around a program (Missouri State) Wojo - no

CM has won in the tourne, granted only once but he has won.  Wojo no

People question CM's recruiting.  When CM was the assistant at Purdue he recruited a number of top players from the midwest and Purdue is not the easiest place to recruit to.  You can question his recruiting depth at Tenn even though he did pull in a couple 5 star players.  The only legitimate comparison with Wojo is the time at Purdue.  On top of that Wojo was ranked the 17th best recruiter while he was working for DUKE.  By comparison both O'Neill and Crean had the rep as the best recruiting assistant in the nation when they got the MU gig.  Sorry 17th best isn't good enough, especially at Duke.

CM comes with a staff that is ready to go and all has experience in the SEC.  Wojo would have to build his staff from scratch.

On top of all of this if everything is equal, and they are not, I think you give the benefit of the doubt to the black head coach.

I don't like having only 2 choice but since the title of the thread is "Then there were 2" this is a no brainer.  You go with Martin

[77ncaachamps]

I'm not enthralled by the two, but then again, I wasn't with Buzz's hire.

I prefer HC experience, but Martin would need to deliver big time especially with recruiting. He may be here for about half a decade so it could give MU some time to target their next coach.
I like Wojo's intensity and tutelage under Coach K, but not knowing how to run a team as a HC can backfire. And when Coach K retires, will Wojo bail?

My take?

Go with Wojo and pray to God he turns out to be anything like Josh Pastner.
Our recruiting needs to NOT lose a step.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Mark Miller ‏@WisBBYearbook  7m
Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin or Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski? It appears Marquette's coaching search is down to those two candidates.