its been said Monty Williams isn't interested.
2017 Coaching Carousel
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its been said Monty Williams isn't interested.
I really want an X and O guy. Always thought that was important. Would take a Beilien or Bo Ryan that brings their system and recruits to the system rather than recruiting stars. Probably why I stuck with Weber longer than most. And why I think Lon Kruger was vastly under rated as we rank our past coaches.
At the same time, I know what we have to avoid is recruiting the anti-Groce. We have seen this Hegelian antithesis hiring way too much. Weber was the anti-Self. Turner was the anti-Tepper. Zook was the anti-Turner. Beckman was the anti-Zook. The new Coach needs to be a synthesis of the whole package.
I would take Ben Howland in a heartbeat. Or Gregg Marshall. Or Buzz Williams.
At the same time, I know what we have to avoid is recruiting the anti-Groce. We have seen this Hegelian antithesis hiring way too much. Weber was the anti-Self. Turner was the anti-Tepper. Zook was the anti-Turner. Beckman was the anti-Zook. The new Coach needs to be a synthesis of the whole package.
I would take Ben Howland in a heartbeat. Or Gregg Marshall. Or Buzz Williams.
His resume is incredibly short with zero P5 wins and zero NCAA tournament wins. Most of his wins are compiled in the CAA which conveniently lost VCU, Old Dominion, George Mason, and Georgia State in 2012 and 2013. His list of recruits at Louisville isn't overly impressive (not even close to Groce's level at OSU) and anyone expecting him to come in and "out coach" Big Ten coaches are mistaken. He's a definite winner at the CAA level, but is a very risky candidate. Also, people should be aware that I'm typically wrong about this stuff, so Keatts could be the savior for all I know.
I'm not sure anyone has mentioned him (323 pages to read), but what about Steve Lavin?
He studied under Gene Keady, had some success with UCLA and recruited some of the best classes in the nation while at St. John's. I think that had he not fallen ill while at St. John's, he would have had more success there. This is from a recent interview where he was asked about a return to coaching:
“...so if it was the right fit in terms of being able to elevate a program and win, I’d strongly consider returning.”
He studied under Gene Keady, had some success with UCLA and recruited some of the best classes in the nation while at St. John's. I think that had he not fallen ill while at St. John's, he would have had more success there. This is from a recent interview where he was asked about a return to coaching:
“...so if it was the right fit in terms of being able to elevate a program and win, I’d strongly consider returning.”
I have similar concerns. I understand the argument that he is winning in CAA with comparable talent, and will have BIG talent at Illinois. I buy that enough that I would embrace the hire. But I'm concerned that the difference in coaching in power conferences is similar to the difference in talent. I think it would be much easier to predict success if this were not the case.
But Keatts has been wildly successful. I do not worry about tourney/P5 wins. He does not have the necessary talent.
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Is Holtman a possibility here? I don't know a lot about him but, like what he is doing at Butler.
Very Cuonzo-y. Plus TV needs him.
I don't believe your sources know anything. JW will keep a tight lid until he pulls the trigger, (which I don't think he will. Ugh(.
The guy most likely to be able to get Jerrance as an Associate Head Coach type, if that's what we want, is clearly...
JANKOVIIIIIICH OH YEAH
Can someone help me out here... Has anyone ever been successful jumping from a mid major with zero wins against P5 programs? The ability to beat a team with more talent does actually concern me unlike most. Otherwise the expectation would be that Keatts will recruit to the level of Duke and Kentucky to win big here.
I'm not going to do that research, but I'll give you my thoughts.
First, Keatts would be moving up more quickly than we typically see. So he has not had as many opportunities as you would typically see.
Second, Keatts is not at a mid-major. He's at a low major. He does not have the talent that you will see at a Wichita St., Tulsa, etc. It's probably more in line with Loyola (Chicago).
Third, although I'd love to get to Duke/Kentucky status, the immediate goal needs to be to get competitive with the likes of Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin. That requires a very different level of talent. And it requires a level of talent that I expect that he will be able to get. The question then is whether he can coach against Belein and the other guys in the BIG. Unfortunately, we don't get the answer to that until he arrives. But we know that the current guy can't.
I do really hope our fan base roots for him to succeed in the future, and doesn't make him the butt of all jokes the way Beckman is. Beckman clearly deserves it because he was an incompetent, illiterate buffoon, but Groce is somebody who could actually become a decent to good coach down the road for a high mid major or a mid level P5 school.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
I mean, to be a cardiologist AND a DJ, you have to know a lot.
Loyola Chicago is clearly a mid-major now that they're in the Valley.
Tulsa is in the AAC which is a nether region between mid-major and high-major.
The CAA is 11th in conference RPI, ahead of the Valley and miles ahead of the real low-majors like the MEAC, SWAC, NEC, Southland, etc.
Future Hall of Famer Baby Pitino certainly didn't.
A random P5 scalp or two is far less predictive of what kind of coach someone is than the day-in, day-out scouting and travel grind of conference play. That is where the wheat separates itself.
Low major or mid major the point still stands.
Definitely wasn't saying we would be Duke\UK status, just questioning whether we could beat them with a coach that hasn't proven he can beat superior talented teams. It should be a concern for fans if we were to nab Keatts.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
It hasn't been successful in the past.
For some reason Keatts gets a pass on all his short comings and the supporters have only one positive retort, which is look what he did in the CAA. He's done great in the CAA. If VCU never left the CAA you would have never heard of Kevin Keatts.
I agree. If he were available, he'd be right at the top of my list. Some say he wouldn't come because he is a close friend of Groce.
Absurd.
Would he have 3 conference titles in 3 years after inheriting a dumpster fire? Probably not. But he would absolutely still be on anybody's list.
You just don't see resume's like his, where a guy who's out of central casting as someone who can recruit at the top level takes over a mess and explodes like he has. It's a unicorn of a resume.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Is Paul Westhead still with us?
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Man, that was some offense.
Oops, I forgot Loyola moved.
As for mid v. low major - is there an accepted definition? To me, any league that is a default one bid league is low major. IMO, if you don't get a second bid at least once every 5 years or so, you are low major. If there is a real definition, I'd be interested to know.
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