The Dave
- CA
Good! I've been saying for months now that we could use an upgrade at the Tyler position!
Someone out there knows something, because i’ve heard from a few sources that Patterson already has an idea what he plans to do.
Eh, I don't really see this as being very accurate. I think the next 10 months may be critical for Brad Underwood's success at Illinois, but that is as far as I am willing to meet him. In my opinion, as long as the University of Illinois exists in a basketball-crazy part of the country and is located within easy driving distance of several major metropolitan areas, then it will always be at most the right coach away from being a consistently good program. We've just done a very poor job at that last part lately.
Some typos really make my day.
That's a pretty simplistic approach to take when the stakes are this high. Every program is the right coach away from the being a consistently good program. The problem is the longer you struggle the harder it is to get that coach and even then it takes luck. I'd argue that Indiana has been in worse shape then us over the last 20 years and they had father to fall.
Well, assuming that Patterson counts as "someone," then you almost can't be wrong.
And yet our geography still gives us an built-in advantage if the right coach arrives. I don't think it's overly simplistic to say that a school in the geographic and historical position we are in is always just one coach away from being good. I am not claiming we are one coach away from being a blue blood, but consistently good is a much lower bar.
Adam Miller to take an OV to Louisville on Friday.
My MIF source told me it’ll likely come down to Michigan, Louisville, Kansas, or Illinois until you see Duke or UK get involved.
Chin and BU will get their shot. Wouldn’t worry about him committing at all. Louisville definitely one to look out for though as the recruitment goes on.
My MIF source told me it’ll likely come down to Michigan, Louisville, Kansas, or Illinois until you see Duke or UK get involved.
I just can't see Michigan doing this without showing any product on the court.
I just can't see Michigan doing this without showing any product on the court.
That's a pretty simplistic approach to take when the stakes are this high. Every program is the right coach away from the being a consistently good program. The problem is the longer you struggle the harder it is to get that coach and even then it takes luck. I'd argue that Indiana has been in worse shape then us over the last 20 years and they had father to fall.
Their product on the court has been astronomically better than ours lately. And yes, while they're trotting out a brand new coach, stud recruits commit to new coaches all the time.
Even if Howard is a sub-par coach, he's going to have the talent in place -- and kids who still have Beilein's good habits -- to win next year at a minimum.
Now is actually a great time for Howard to strike it hot on the trail. Before he (potentially) exposes himself as completely unable to keep Michigan at their current level.
I’m so confused as to why people think Juwan Howard won’t be a good coach. It’s not like he doesn’t have coaching experience?
As a counterpoint, I think that his hire of Phil Martelli separates him from the other guys on your list. It's a signal that he both knows his limitations as a game coach at this point of his career, and also that he might be willing to check his ego and get help where he needs it. The latter seemed to be an issue with Mullen, though I admit that I didn't follow his story too close.Experience as an NBA assistant and experience as a major NCAA head coach -- with all of the recruiting + player development + mentorship responsibilities that come with that -- are quite different.
I'm not saying he won't be successful. But in my own personal estimation, it's far more likely he goes the way of other former stars-turned-coaches with limited college coaching experience (Ewing, Mullen, Isiah Thomas, etc.) than John Beilein. At a minimum, I'd be shocked if he wins at Beilein's level.
But, he's got enough firepower in place this upcoming year to win pretty comfortably.
Indiana has made the tournament 4 times in the last 12 years during the Crean and Miller years. During that time they have had as recruits:
7 - 5 stars
20 - 4 stars
Keep in mind many of these players played together for multiple years, so on paper they've been stacked. Yet, still little, or sporadic success. So, I think that they've been the right coach away from success. They have all the other pieces. And look at Miller's response from being offered the Indiana job after turning down so many over the years - he took it despite the demanding fanbase, and absurd expectations. (A side note - IMO they still don't have the right coach).
I think Illinois is in a much different place. I think Weber personally made the program unattractive while it was at its peak. It's hard to shake that stigma. The program completely failed its branding and public persona effort during the Dee/Deron/Augie years.
That's why I'm content with Underwood's recruiting and turnover so far, and I have some patience. Indiana's different because they've put guys in the pros even in their down years, they've established that you can go to Indiana, suck for a year or two, and get drafted. The attitude towards the school within the state is different. Etc.
I think Underwood is putting the pieces together not only to win, but to make it fun being a fan again. There are players that are fun to watch, and have personality. There are players that will likely become pros. If that all happens I think things will change with recruiting.