Best transfers in MU history

[brewcity77]

Brewcity

You do realize under Al we had a decade long period of being ranked in the top 10? That we had the second highest winning % in the country during that time period? We were Kansas or whomever you want to compare them to. We were not in the same zip code from'02-14 as the Al era.

Yes, I realize all that. I also realize that before Al, we were a nice program but nowhere near that level, and since Al left, we've been a nice program but nowhere near that level. The closest we came was 2002-2013. When I look at the past 100 years of history, it seems to me that the period Al was here was the anomaly.

I guess my question is where your expectations are at. Which current program do you feel is the best model for us to follow? How long do you expect it will take to get there? Who would have been a better hire than Wojo at the time when you consider the available candidates?

[Goose]

Brew

I have posted many times on what my expectations are for the program. It simply comes down to the expectations the program sets for itself. If they said they wanted to model Xavier, fine by me...just do it. If they said Villanova was the model, fine by me...just do it. If they said Kansas was the model, fine by me...just do it.

Basically, I believe many here feel the university has high standards and expectations for the program. Honestly, I have no idea what they are and I always am going to assume the highest bar possible. Hence, I feel frustrated on the results.

[Herman Cain]

Brewcity

You do realize under Al we had a decade long period of being ranked in the top 10? That we had the second highest winning % in the country during that time period? We were Kansas or whomever you want to compare them to. We were not in the same zip code from'02-14 as the Al era.

It should also be noted we achieved this success during a period when teams were allowed to stockpile good players. 

We were not only an elite team , we were the consensus number 2 program in the period behind the great UCLA program.  The best high school players dreamed of playing for MU. Our teams were feared.

The big mistake was hiring Hank to replace Al. Maybe we had no choice but there were more dynamic guys available who would have continued the tradition. Denny Crum, Dick Vitale etc

[Goose]

MFINY

Al had Mark Aquire locked up, we would have gotten Terry Cummings, Teddy Grubbs. We likely would have locked up McRay brothers under Al. The pipeline from NYC/Jersey and Chicago was a well oiled machine.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I will add, there have been several occasions that a group of basketball people have been involved in the hiring process and the results turned out very well, one S16 coach and one F4 coach. I also believe a committee of smart people is always better than a group of one.

I'll ask again. Who? Who are these "basketball people" that were involved before but not now? I'm curious if they were also involved for the Deane hire, because that didn't seem to work out. Buzz was also a hire that I'm certain pissed off a lot of "basketball people" but was arguably the most successful of the group.

It seems to me that most of the concern seems to be that "basketball people" were left out of the hiring decision. If Wojo is successful, does that concern go away like it did with Buzz?

[Goose]

TAMU

With all due respect, you have insiders at MU...you find out who the "basketball" people were during KO and TC hiring process. As for Buzz, obviously he was not successful hire because he was no longer wanted at MU. His success on the court did not overshadow the off court issues.

After wasting way too much time on this discussion, I really don't care. Hope we win tomorrow and they give us something to look forward to.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU

With all due respect, you have insiders at MU...you find out who the "basketball" people were during KO and TC hiring process. As for Buzz, obviously he was not successful hire because he was no longer wanted at MU. His success on the court did not overshadow the off court issues.

After wasting way too much time on this discussion, I really don't care. Hope we win tomorrow and they give us something to look forward to.

I wasn't looking for names. Just for categories. Former players? Former coaches? Search firms that specialize in coaching hires? I'm just curious what qualifies as a basketball person.

[Loose Cannon]

Vinnie

Of course Doc counts and is highly respected, but he is one guy and happens to have a rather full plate. What I meant on Wojo being an "easy out" is simple, when Shaka was gone Doc went to comfortable place, Wojo. Not a bad thing, but IMO, it was an easy decision for MU to make once Doc signed off on him. Doc knew him, liked and respected him and Wojo is a good guy.

I will add, there have been several occasions that a group of basketball people have been involved in the hiring process and the results turned out very well, one S16 coach and one F4 coach. I also believe a committee of smart people is always better than a group of one.

Fred Allen:  A Camel is a Horse designed by a Committee.

[Pakuni]

Vinnie

Of course Doc counts and is highly respected, but he is one guy and happens to have a rather full plate. What I meant on Wojo being an "easy out" is simple, when Shaka was gone Doc went to comfortable place, Wojo. Not a bad thing, but IMO, it was an easy decision for MU to make once Doc signed off on him. Doc knew him, liked and respected him and Wojo is a good guy.

When hired, Wojo was a 37-year-old with no prior head coaching experience at any level, and who'd spent his entire coaching career with a program that pretty much sells/sustains itself. There's a world of difference between recruiting kids to Duke and recruiting kids to Marquette.
I'm not sure I'd qualify that as a "comfortable" hire.
Howland or Martin would have been the comfortable hire. Wojo was much more of an unknown/risk.

[manny31]

Touching on something that was mentioned before, can MU be elite in this era of paying a father or an AAU coach to be on "staff"? I have spoken with some fairly high level AAU coaches and the stories they tell are ridiculous. Players and their handlers trying to monetize every step of the process. Also regarding Jucos and kids with less than stellar GPA's I am fine with recruiting those kids as long as they are prepared to put fourth the effort to get an education.

[Goose]

Pakuni

There was no baggage with Wojo and no immediate need to win, hence the safe hire. Shaka would have been given time because he first choice,  Howland (who really was not much of candidate) or Martin would have been expected to perform quickly. Wojo was the safest hire ever, IMO.

[HoopsterBC]

When hired, Wojo was a 37-year-old with no prior head coaching experience at any level, and who'd spent his entire coaching career with a program that pretty much sells/sustains itself. There's a world of difference between recruiting kids to Duke and recruiting kids to Marquette.
I'm not sure I'd qualify that as a "comfortable" hire.
Howland or Martin would have been the comfortable hire. Wojo was much more of an unknown/risk.

MU has taken a chance on Kevin O'Neal,  Tom Crean,  Buzz and now Wojo.  All assistant coaches, all successful so I can see how they picked an assistant.  I think
assistants have something to prove and all of them worked hard to recruit.  Not like Mike Deane, who hated to recruit.  It is a young mans job.  MU does have the
resources to compete against anybody when it comes to recruiting.

[Newsdreams]

When hired, Wojo was a 37-year-old with no prior head coaching experience at any level, and who'd spent his entire coaching career with a program that pretty much sells/sustains itself. There's a world of difference between recruiting kids to Duke and recruiting kids to Marquette.
I'm not sure I'd qualify that as a "comfortable" hire.
Howland or Martin would have been the comfortable hire. Wojo was much more of an unknown/risk.

This, and to think that Doc is too busy, has a full plate and just goes through the motions is silly.