Porter Moser should be the guy

[DoctorV]

I’ve seen the numbers and I understand the hesitation.

I’m not quite sure if he will be able to recruit at the elite level necessary.

I’m fairly certain that if he can he will succeed at Marquette and we would all be very happy with him and his product.

He’s the right man at the right time.
He’s the perfect age.
He’s a local guy who’s ok with staying at one place for a long long time.
He’s got the Jesuit background and experience.
He seems like a good guy that runs a clean ship.
He coaches with an intense passion and he sure as hell knows how to coach an amazing defense.
His guys seem to improve tremendously and play like they would run through a wall for him.

He’s no sure thing, no one is. He’s managed to do a heckuva lot with the little he’s been given at Loyola, and he would be given much more at Marquette.

I’ve become enamored with the idea of a big name like John Beilein or even Rick Pitino because of the prospect of lightning in a bottle and immediate success, but the more I think about it the more I realize that Porter Moser is the guy Marquette needs and Marquette is the step up that he deserves.

Come on down Porter and let’s get to work.

We Are Marquette.

[Pakuni]

I’ve seen the numbers and I understand the hesitation.

I’m not quite sure if he will be able to recruit at the elite level necessary.

I’m fairly certain that if he can he will succeed at Marquette and we would all be very happy with him and his product.

He’s the right man at the right time.
He’s the perfect age.
He’s a local guy who’s ok with staying at one place for a long long time.
He’s got the Jesuit background and experience.
He seems like a good guy that runs a clean ship.
He coaches with an intense passion and he sure as hell knows how to coach an amazing defense.
His guys seem to improve tremendously and play like they would run through a wall for him.

He’s no sure thing, no one is. He’s managed to do a heckuva lot with the little he’s been given at Loyola, and he would be given much more at Marquette.

I’ve become enamored with the idea of a big name like John Beilein or even Rick Pitino because of the prospect of lightning in a bottle and immediate success, but the more I think about it the more I realize that Porter Moser is the guy Marquette needs and Marquette is the step up that he deserves.

Come on down Porter and let’s get to work.

We Are Marquette.

Will this change if Loyola blows a double-digit lead this afternoon?

[Lennys Tap]

Will this change if Loyola blows a double-digit lead this afternoon?

Honest question: After watching 15 minutes of Loyola vs Illinois do you have any doubt that Moser would coach circles around Wojo?

They may lose, sure - Illinois is loaded AND well coached. But this Loyola team is VERY well coached. Period.

[burger]

NO......

[MuggsyB]

Honest question: After watching 15 minutes of Loyola vs Illinois do you have any doubt that Moser would coach circles around Wojo?

They may lose, sure - Illinois is loaded AND well coached. But this Loyola team is VERY well coached. Period.

Zero, Lenny.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

This Loyola team woulda kicked Marquette's ass this season.

[ATL MU Warrior]

This Loyola team woulda kicked Marquette's ass this season.

Absolutely

[Pakuni]

Honest question: After watching 15 minutes of Loyola vs Illinois do you have any doubt that Moser would coach circles around Wojo?

They may lose, sure - Illinois is loaded AND well coached. But this Loyola team is VERY well coached. Period.

No, but being a better game coach than Wojo shouldn't be where Marquette sets the bar for its next hire.
I'm pretty sure no here is questioning Moser's coaching ability.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

This Loyola team would have been near the top of the BE this season.  I get some of the hesitancy around Moser, but this is a really well coached team and the talent isn’t terrible by any stretch.

[Judge Smails]

Agree Loyola would’ve beat MU this year. They are very disciplined. They take care of the ball. Love their defense. Notice their crisp passing too. Passes are delivered in rhythm at the correct spot for the receiver. MU passing this season was terrible - hardly ever spot on.

[MU82]

Honest question: After watching 15 minutes of Loyola vs Illinois do you have any doubt that Moser would coach circles around Wojo?

They may lose, sure - Illinois is loaded AND well coached. But this Loyola team is VERY well coached. Period.

We don't need Moser to coach circles around Wojo, Lenny. Wojo is yesterday's news. We need to figure out if Moser can coach circles around the 10 other Big East coaches.

He made a a pretty good case in the first half today. Loyola got a good look at the basket on almost every possession: wide-open 3s, paint touches, high-percentage shots, excellent passes, solid screens. And on defense, they are making a very, very talented Illinois team work.

I am looking forward to seeing the adjustments both Moser and Underwood make for the second half.

[Lennys Tap]

No, but being a better game coach than Wojo shouldn't be where Marquette sets the bar for its next hire.
I'm pretty sure no here is questioning Moser's coaching ability.

He’s not just better, he’s WAY better. I doubt they’ll hold on, they’re seriously outmanned. But their offensive and defensive game plan (and its execution) were a thing of beauty in that first half.

[brewcity77]

This game is why I didn't think Illinois would escape the first weekend. Loyola looks good, but this is a PERFECT matchup for them. Everything they do is exactly what kills Illinois. Seriously, look at the Haslametrics page:

https://haslametrics.com/ratings2.php?yr=&tid=735

Moser has a good team this year. He had a good team in 2018. What happened in between? What about the rest of his career? He's fine, but behind Smart & Gates, IMO.

[JWags85]

This game is why I didn't think Illinois would escape the first weekend. Loyola looks good, but this is a PERFECT matchup for them. Everything they do is exactly what kills Illinois. Seriously, look at the Haslametrics page:

https://haslametrics.com/ratings2.php?yr=&tid=735

Moser has a good team this year. He had a good team in 2018. What happened in between? What about the rest of his career? He's fine, but behind Smart & Gates, IMO.

Yea Illinois is a perfect matchup for them.  This is the same Loyola team that got handled completely by Wisconsin and lost to Richmond.  He’s a very good coach, he’s not a complete slam dunk

[MU82]

Yea Illinois is a perfect matchup for them.  This is the same Loyola team that got handled completely by Wisconsin and lost to Richmond.  He’s a very good coach, he’s not a complete slam dunk

True. And Texas is the same team that got handled by Abilene Christian a few hours ago and has won 5 fewer NCAA tournament games than Loyola has the last 6 years.

All bad matchups for Texas and good matchups for Loyola?

I seriously don't know the answer to that question. Maybe Shaka's just super unlucky and Moser is the luckiest man around.

Looking forward to this second half.

[burger]

Yea Illinois is a perfect matchup for them.  This is the same Loyola team that got handled completely by Wisconsin and lost to Richmond.  He’s a very good coach, he’s not a complete slam dunk

Getting two assistants that are "great recruiters" and bring an assistant or two that knows his "system and culture"......And you do have a slam dunk......

[Goose]

in all seriousness, I think Moser is the perfect guy...for Loyola. I like him and am a big fan of us and hope he hits bank and has great success at Loyola. We are in a position, at least for the moment, that we appear to have higher level options and we should pursue all of them. As I said about Wojo last year, aside from MU or DePaul, who else is chasing after Moser. I want to chase guys the big boys chase and not pick a guy because he is a great guy, local guy and spent time with Rick.

I strongly believe that MU might, and I say might, be able to land a much better option this time around. That could change in two days, but right now it sounds that there may be real interest from better options.

[DoctorV]

This game is why I didn't think Illinois would escape the first weekend. Loyola looks good, but this is a PERFECT matchup for them. Everything they do is exactly what kills Illinois. Seriously, look at the Haslametrics page:

https://haslametrics.com/ratings2.php?yr=&tid=735

Moser has a good team this year. He had a good team in 2018. What happened in between? What about the rest of his career? He's fine, but behind Smart & Gates, IMO.

Smart I’ll give you.

Gates I don’t understand. He had two “good” years, but neither of those were as good as Mosers good years. The volume isn’t there and I don’t quite get why he’s all of a sudden considered an elite can’t miss coach. He’s not what shaka was when he went to Texas.

Maybe I’m missing something on Gates but I’m not sure what it is I’m missing

[DoctorV]

Will this change if Loyola blows a double-digit lead this afternoon?

Actually I think I would prefer if the Illini come back and pull off a win because the MU can get on the phone sooner.

Also another super deep run by Loyola would make Moser much more desirable to other programs

[willie warrior]

Surely Moser has to be a clear cut favorite of all the names bandied around here, simply because he "covets" the job as somebody reported and At very least, he is the best fit with his experience and with the possibility to be attained of the names bandisd. Question would be, can MU even land him, because bigger programs may already be whispering to him.
The guy can coach. So now let the naysayers chirp.

[DegenerateDish]

True. And Texas is the same team that got handled by Abilene Christian a few hours ago and has won 5 fewer NCAA tournament games than Loyola has the last 6 years.

All bad matchups for Texas and good matchups for Loyola?

I seriously don't know the answer to that question. Maybe Shaka's just super unlucky and Moser is the luckiest man around.

Looking forward to this second half.

Abilene was always a terrible matchup for Texas. The WSJ upset index had Abilene as the #1 potential upset in the first round, heck even I mentioned as soon as the lines came out that Abilene at +9 looked great. I’m not saying I predicted they’d outright win, but there was definitely signs there based on similar type defenses Texas played in the regular season.

[Uncle Rico]

Smart I’ll give you.

Gates I don’t understand. He had two “good” years, but neither of those were as good as Mosers good years. The volume isn’t there and I don’t quite get why he’s all of a sudden considered an elite can’t miss coach. He’s not what shaka was when he went to Texas.

Maybe I’m missing something on Gates but I’m not sure what it is I’m missing

Gates is a high ceiling type of candidate.  You could be buying low on a guy who has a great trajectory up.  It’s a risk, no doubt.

[Pakuni]

He’s not just better, he’s WAY better. I doubt they’ll hold on, they’re seriously outmanned. But their offensive and defensive game plan (and its execution) were a thing of beauty in that first half.

LT: Is Moser a better coach?
P: Yes, he's a better coach
LT: Wrong! He's WAY better.

[Goose]

DoctorV

Moser is not an unknown commodity and top programs have not been knocking down his door the past couple of seasons. Some guys are great fits and certain schools and I think Loyola is perfect for him. I hope he wins out this season and is the toast of Chicago and returns to Loyola to defend his NC. That would be great story.

[DoctorV]

in all seriousness, I think Moser is the perfect guy...for Loyola. I like him and am a big fan of us and hope he hits bank and has great success at Loyola. We are in a position, at least for the moment, that we appear to have higher level options and we should pursue all of them. As I said about Wojo last year, aside from MU or DePaul, who else is chasing after Moser. I want to chase guys the big boys chase and not pick a guy because he is a great guy, local guy and spent time with Rick.

I strongly believe that MU might, and I say might, be able to land a much better option this time around. That could change in two days, but right now it sounds that there may be real interest from better options.

I used to think this way too, but I think I’ve come to the conclusion that Moser wouldn’t be a “settle” option and that he has advantages, some of which I listed above, that the big names don’t.

St John’s was interested recently according to reports, and my guess is several more high programs will be interested this time around.

There are times in life where the right answer is the obvious one that’s staring you in the face, and that’s what I think this scenario with Moser is.