Oliver Purnell out at DePaul

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

DePaul should pay for Fred Hoiberg. He's absolutely perfect for that job. Crean would be an awful hire and I'm not saying that because I think he's the devil incarnate.

[Les Nessman]

The Big East needs DePaul to be competitive again.

Does it really?

[GGGG]

Hoiberg isn't going to DePaul.  Cmon...

[brewcity77]

Hoiberg isn't going to DePaul.  Cmon...

No, but Hoiberg is probably going to Chicago...

[warriorstrack]

+1 lets get Crean back in the fold

[brewcity77]

Bobby Hurley has been mentioned a lot today for DePaul. He just earned the MAC's NCAA bid with Buffalo. Germantown standout Lamonte Bearden helping his cause. I think he'd be a better fit at Seton Hall, but DePaul could target Hurley once Buffalo is done dancing.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

No, but Hoiberg is probably going to Chicago...

You think the Bulls are.going to hire another Iowa State coach?

[brewcity77]

You think the Bulls are.going to hire another Iowa State coach?

I do, as long as they don't draft another Marcus Fizer.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Does it really?

Yes, it does.  We want to be in the best basketball conference possible, period.  We can't accomplish that with a program that won 15 Big East games in 5 years.  It also goes without saying that a competitive team in Chicago would only add to the national prestige and following of the conference. 

I'm all for beating DePaul twice a year, but you can't have a team entering Big East play with a losing non-conference record. 

DePaul getting better again is good for the Big East and good for Marquette.

[GGGG]

Eh, someone in the conference has to suck.  Might as well be DePaul.

I don't hear Big Ten fans saying "The Big Ten needs Rutgers to be competitive."  As long as the conference is placing a bunch of teams in the tournament, including a #1 seed, DePaul can be as sucky as they want to be.

[Tugg Speedman]

Oliver Purnell resigns as men's basketball coach at DePaul
By Paul Skrbina
Chicago Tribune
March 14, 2015 8:58PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-depaul-oliver-purnell-story.html

Oliver Purnell said last week he had "every intention" of returning as DePaul men's basketball coach next season.

But Saturday, Purnell resigned after posting a 54-105 overall record and going 15-65 in the Big East in five seasons.

"It is my best interest and my family's best interest to resign as head coach of the DePaul basketball program," Purnell said in a statement. "We made progress here and improved with the talent and character of our student-athletes.

"DePaul provided complete support and is fully committed to its basketball program with its budget, the on-campus facilities and in the future with the new events center."

DePaul's season ended Wednesday with a 78-63 loss to Creighton in the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Blue Demons were 12-20 overall and 6-12 in the conference, with their seventh-place finish marking the first year they didn't finish last since 2007-08. But DePaul lost its final eight games and 11 of its last 12.

"We would like to thank Oliver for his time at DePaul," athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto said in a statement. "He moved the program forward with the building of the roster. We are grateful to Coach Purnell for turning a corner in DePaul recruiting. We are clearly a stronger program because of his leadership."

Purnell, whose seven-year contract paid him a reported $2.2 million per year, said last week that DePaul's administration had been "nothing but supportive" of him.

"I wouldn't say I feel any pressure internally, but I do feel pressure I put on myself every year, every team," he said.

DePaul is Purnell's fifth coaching stop in 27 years, and he is 0-6 in the NCAA tournament. DePaul last reached the tournament in 2004. Its 12 victories tied for the most in a season since he took over in 2010. DePaul's six conference victories doubled Purnell's previous high.

ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg, a longtime Division I head coach, said the program has to have a profile in Chicago to succeed.

"You have to develop a persona, an identity," he said. "In college basketball, the coach has to be as big or bigger than the program. When you walk into a room with business leaders or a gym (with recruits), are you memorable?"

DePaul sophomore Billy Garrett Jr., whose father, Billy Garrett Sr., is an assistant, said last week the criticism directed at Purnell hasn't been entirely fair.

"The program is starting to change," he said. "Some places it might take a little longer. He has changed the program around everywhere he has been. The numbers don't lie. His track record doesn't lie.

"From the outside, it's easy to coach a team."

[GoldenWarrior11]

Eh, someone in the conference has to suck.  Might as well be DePaul.

I don't hear Big Ten fans saying "The Big Ten needs Rutgers to be competitive."  As long as the conference is placing a bunch of teams in the tournament, including a #1 seed, DePaul can be as sucky as they want to be.

But the Big Ten isn't trying to (re)market itself as an elite basketball conference.  The Big Ten has power programs in football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and now hockey.  The Big East's initial (and original) plan for marketing the league was promoting the very best basketball in the country, with all of the schools having a clear emphasis on basketball.

I love the attention and production from Fox, but, if anyone has looked it up, the ratings for Fox aren't so hot.  It was definitely to be expected (with it being a new channel and all), but having a competitive team in Chicago could only help the league.  If the Big East is still getting low ratings in 10 years, Fox won't be giving us the same amount of money on our next contract.

[Tugg Speedman]

But the Big Ten isn't trying to (re)market itself as an elite basketball conference.  The Big Ten has power programs in football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and now hockey.  The Big East's initial (and original) plan for marketing the league was promoting the very best basketball in the country, with all of the schools having a clear emphasis on basketball.

I love the attention and production from Fox, but, if anyone has looked it up, the ratings for Fox aren't so hot.  It was definitely to be expected (with it being a new channel and all), but having a competitive team in Chicago could only help the league.  If the Big East is still getting low ratings in 10 years, Fox won't be giving us the same amount of money on our next contract.

FS1 is adding Saturday baseball.  They already have football.  They are on their way to becoming a powerhouse sports network like ESPN.

BE (and don't forget PAC-12) basketball will enjoy this increased exposure in the coming years.

[brewcity77]

Reading that article, I don't believe a word Purnell or JLP say. Nothing there is true.

As far as DePaul being good, someone has to lose. If you want 6-7 bids, that means 6-7 teams need to win 9-15 games in league, and 3-4 teams need to lose 11+ games. DePaul can be one of those every year. Will only help the rest of the league, as well as our recruiting in Chicago.

[Tugg Speedman]

Reading that article, I don't believe a word Purnell or JLP say. Nothing there is true.

If Purnell voluntarily resigns, he does not get the rest of his contract.  If he is fired, he continues to get paid.

He says he resigned.  He is saying he will forego his contract.  Therefore, I believe him.

[GGGG]

If Purnell voluntarily resigns, he does not get the rest of his contract.  If he is fired, he continues to get paid.

He says he resigned.  He is saying he will forego his contract.  Therefore, I believe him.

They undoubtedly negotiated a buy out.

[WarriorFan]

First I must admit that I have no inside information.
But TC to DePaul seems impossible for two reasons. 1.  It's a big step down for TC who has too big of an ego to step down.  2.  DePaul would never pay what he wants to get paid.
Hurley is not a midwest guy... that would be a stretch.
Howland seems to be poison and is unemployed for a reason.

But, what about Kevin O'Neill?  He's been hanging around the Big East all year, knows the league, knows the area, can recruit anywhere, and seems to have mellowed a bit.  I could see him really making something out of the program.

I also would like to see DePaul be good again because I want Marquette to have a true rivalry in the new big east, and the closest school seems the likely candidate.

[MU82]

Howland will be the early name for almost every major job opening mainly because he's unemployed (as a coach), and taking away his last couple years at UCLA, a lot of success.  I don't get why he remains unemployed.  

Squirmy.

[brewcity77]

Howland will be the early name for almost every major job opening mainly because he's unemployed (as a coach), and taking away his last couple years at UCLA, a lot of success.  I don't get why he remains unemployed.  

Read this: http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/29/ucla

Exposed a lot of Howland's program, including how he allowed Matt Carlino to be terrorized during his brief spell in Westwood. Of course there is debate about the different sides of the story, but it sure seems like Howland may as well have sewn a red "A" on his suit.

[MU82]

Read this: http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/29/ucla

Exposed a lot of Howland's program, including how he allowed Matt Carlino to be terrorized during his brief spell in Westwood. Of course there is debate about the different sides of the story, but it sure seems like Howland may as well have sewn a red "A" on his suit.

All's I know is I'm glad my alma mater passed on him, and seemingly did so very quickly.

[barfolomew]

But the Big Ten isn't trying to (re)market itself as an elite basketball conference.  The Big Ten has power programs in football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and now hockey.  The Big East's initial (and original) plan for marketing the league was promoting the very best basketball in the country, with all of the schools having a clear emphasis on basketball.

I love the attention and production from Fox, but, if anyone has looked it up, the ratings for Fox aren't so hot.  It was definitely to be expected (with it being a new channel and all), but having a competitive team in Chicago could only help the league.  If the Big East is still getting low ratings in 10 years, Fox won't be giving us the same amount of money on our next contract.

A consistently decent DePaul team makes it harder for Marquette to recruit in Chicago.
I am fine with the status quo that DePaul is the conference drunk that sobers up about once every ten years.

I don't think a relevant DePaul attracts enough extra eyeballs in Chicago to move the needle on foreseeable future TV contracts.
I'd rather keep the Blue Demon=loser stigma in the minds of kids at Simeon and Farragut and Brother Rice and Lane Tech.

[Tugg Speedman]

A consistently decent DePaul team makes it harder for Marquette to recruit in Chicago.
I am fine with the status quo that DePaul is the conference drunk that sobers up about once every ten years.

I don't think a relevant DePaul attracts enough extra eyeballs in Chicago to move the needle on foreseeable future TV contracts.
I'd rather keep the Blue Demon=loser stigma in the minds of kids at Simeon and Farragut and Brother Rice and Lane Tech.

Does Duke being good hurt North Carolina?  Michigan hurt Ohio State?  Louisville hurt Kentucky?  Does Wisconsin hurt us?

The answer in all cases is no.  In fact a good rivalry helps a program.  A decent DePaul would benefit us.

Lastly, Why do you think Wisconsin high school basketball is all of a sudden producing great talent?  From the 1980s to about five years ago Wisconsin high school basketball was wasteland that produced the occasional gem.  But in the last five years we see Jamil Wilson, Tokoto, Looney, Duane Wilson, Burton, McKay, Koenig, Dekker, Noskawiak, Ellenson, Stone, Cohen.  

Could these kids, and these programs, have been inspired by the last 10+ years of good MU and Bucky basketball?  Restated is Bucky being good help MU and visa versa?  Yes!  See the state of Indiana and all the talent they produce at the high school level.  Having IU, Butler, ND and Purdue all in the same state helps all.

[NCMUFan]

Marquette should hire Oliver Purnell as an assistant.  Wainwright did wonders for MU bigs.  Probably no elite 8 without Wainwright.

[brewcity77]

Does Duke being good hurt North Carolina?  Michigan hurt Ohio State?  Does Wisconsin hurt us?

The answer in all cases is no.  In fact a good rivalry helps a program.  A decent DePaul would benefit us.

It would take DePaul getting monumentally better to allow us to have a rivalry with them on that level. But if a decent DePaul would benefit, why has it never benefited us before? Ray Meyer's rise at DePaul coincided with Al's departure and Marquette's decline in the late 70s/early 80s. When did DePaul start to fall off? The early 90s, about the same time Kevin O'Neill made Marquette relevant again.

Enter Mike Deane, who had early success, and Pat Kennedy, who had early struggles. In three of Deane's four 20 win seasons, DePaul had a losing record. Then as Deane's team clunked in 98-99 and Crean took over with some struggles in 99-00, Kennedy had his two best years in Chicago. Crean's team got better as Kennedy's got worse. Dave Leitao took over and his two most successful seasons were the seasons Marquette went to the NIT. Since the Amigos arrived, DePaul has collapsed. Wainright had one 20-win season while Purnell was a disaster.

Then we come to this year. Marquette has their worst record since Bob Dukiet and Purnell has his most successful season at DePaul.

I get the thoughts of why we should be able to have a good rivalry with DePaul. But seriously, line the two teams' records up over the past 30 years and you'll see that for whatever reason, it just doesn't work. DePaul's ups and Marquette's downs and vice versa line up nearly perfectly. There were a few early years under Hank that both teams were pretty good, but DePaul pulled away as they managed to snag recruits like Terry Cummings and Mark Aguirre that would have ended up at Marquette.

In theory, a rivalry with them should work. In reality, it hasn't been the case for the better part of three decades and counting.

[Tugg Speedman]

It would take DePaul getting monumentally better to allow us to have a rivalry with them on that level. But if a decent DePaul would benefit, why has it never benefited us before? Ray Meyer's rise at DePaul coincided with Al's departure and Marquette's decline in the late 70s/early 80s. When did DePaul start to fall off? The early 90s, about the same time Kevin O'Neill made Marquette relevant again.

Enter Mike Deane, who had early success, and Pat Kennedy, who had early struggles. In three of Deane's four 20 win seasons, DePaul had a losing record. Then as Deane's team clunked in 98-99 and Crean took over with some struggles in 99-00, Kennedy had his two best years in Chicago. Crean's team got better as Kennedy's got worse. Dave Leitao took over and his two most successful seasons were the seasons Marquette went to the NIT. Since the Amigos arrived, DePaul has collapsed. Wainright had one 20-win season while Purnell was a disaster.

Then we come to this year. Marquette has their worst record since Bob Dukiet and Purnell has his most successful season at DePaul.

I get the thoughts of why we should be able to have a good rivalry with DePaul. But seriously, line the two teams' records up over the past 30 years and you'll see that for whatever reason, it just doesn't work. DePaul's ups and Marquette's downs and vice versa line up nearly perfectly. There were a few early years under Hank that both teams were pretty good, but DePaul pulled away as they managed to snag recruits like Terry Cummings and Mark Aguirre that would have ended up at Marquette.

In theory, a rivalry with them should work. In reality, it hasn't been the case for the better part of three decades and counting.

The problem has been DePaul basketball has been monumentaily mismanaged.