Jon Rothstein Big East Offseason Breakdown

[MU82]

So is Cooley better than a guy who finishes 3-14, 8-9, 5-7, 8-8, 1-6, and 1-6?

Maybe, maybe not.

I see no evidence, including head-to-head competition, that either is better than the other.

And nobody was claiming Wojo is a great finisher. Anybody who does needs his or her head examined. However, somebody did try to claim that Cooley is a great closer, but his long-term record shows otherwise.

[DFW HOYA]

He's 7-6 in big east tournaments according wiki but I count 8-5.. with 3 of those coming from 2014. Please tell me, what does quite well mean? .500 to close out 4/6 years and a game above .500 in 5/6 big east tournaments plus 1 ncaa win. You're just wrong and doubling down on your original statement.

1-1 2019
2-1 2018
0-1 2017
1-1 2016
1-1 2015
3-0 2014

Finals 2018, lost to Villanova in OT
Semis 2016, lost to Villanova 76-68
Semis 2015, lost to Villanova 63-61
Title 2014, beat Creighton 65-58

[Galway Eagle]

Finals 2018, lost to Villanova in OT
Semis 2016, lost to Villanova 76-68
Semis 2015, lost to Villanova 63-61
Title 2014, beat Creighton 65-58

Yes you can make records sound flashy by labeling rounds as semifinals etc when in reality it's 1-1

[willie warrior]

7th in BEast is typical for a Wojo led MU team. A little bit worse than mediocre. Same old same old

[Uncle Rico]

Ed Cooley and Providence KenPom numbers since 2015:

2020: 40th overall, 75th offense, 20th defense
2019: 79, 164, 41
2018: 63, 100, 36
2017: 60, 101, 40
2016: 44, 92, 28
2015: 27, 42, 42
2014: 48, 30, 94

He is who he is.  It could be this is as good as Providence can be on a regular basis.  Whatever the case, there appears to be a ceiling.  He's done great work at Providence.  They haven't been this consistent in a long time.  All that said, until he fixes his offensive scheme, they are a good team with limitations that the coach isn't addressing

[Uncle Rico]

7th in BEast is typical for a Wojo led MU team. A little bit worse than mediocre. Same old same old

Thanks, Willie!

[DFW HOYA]

He is who he is.  It could be this is as good as Providence can be on a regular basis.  Whatever the case, there appears to be a ceiling.  He's done great work at Providence.  They haven't been this consistent in a long time.  All that said, until he fixes his offensive scheme, they are a good team with limitations that the coach isn't addressing

My last points on Cooley:

1. He's in the top three of Big East coaches not named Jay Wright, in the conversation with McDermott, a peer with Willard. (Wojo, close.) Cooley gets more out of his teams than most, and PC just doesn't get a lot of talent. That's going to be a bigger problem now that UConn returns and works the same regional pipeline that PC does.

2. PC basketball is a roller-coaster. For every Rick Pitino there was a Gordie Chiesa, for every Rick Barnes or Pete Gillen, there was a Keno Davis or Tim Welsh. Cooley's five straight NCAA's and seven consecutive post season appearances have only been matched twice in school history, most recently by Dave Gavitt (1970-78). He's a local guy  that's not looking to pressure the college for more money like Chris Mack did at Xavier. PC will never be great, but they will always be good--and for most PC fans, that's fine for them.

[willie warrior]

Thanks, Willie!

You are welcome. Great minds think similarly.

[Dawson Rental]

Also think people like that his teams play more of an old school gritty defense first brand of ball that the conference is famous for, rather than the 5 out 3-fest that the game is heading towards.  The thing is though, that you really need big athletic guards in order for that style to be effective.  If you're swapping 6'-7" Alpha Diallo and 6'-3" Maliek White for 5'-10" Jared Bynum, that style of ball won't be as effective.

Actually, they're swapping 5'11" Luwane Pipkins for 5'10" Jared Bynum, so not that different.

[Its DJOver]

Actually, they're swapping 5'11" Luwane Pipkins for 5'10" Jared Bynum, so not that different.

Except that Bynum is shorter, lighter, a worse defender, scored less, and had a significantly lower assist % while in the same league. 

PC as a whole lost 5 Seniors and are bringing in 4 players to replace them, 2 mid major transfers, a 200+ ranked Freshman and a 300+ ranked Freshman.  I stand by my assessment that they'll take a step back next year.

[connie]

1.  As much as I would like to be outraged by 7th, it's probably pretty close.

2.  The fact that I am not outraged by this makes me sad, as it evidences my acceptance of a drop in program expectations.

3.  The thought of 14 years of this terrifies me.