RichardKeenesCousin
Coaching Carousel (Basketball)
- Status
This is a good point and reminder. I've been down on Brad for the past 6-8 weeks. I think some of that criticism is warranted, but I also recall talking with other fans at the beginning of the season and saying that what I really want is NCAA tourney success and cared less about B1G regular season championships. If I'm squinting and I have my orange glasses on, I see us looking like last year's NC State team (and we are without a doubt more talented than they were).
Look, Jules is getting roasted for this post, and rightfully so, but the part that loses me the most is the bolded above. This is exactly what Brad Underwood did for the men's basketball program. It makes Bret and Shauna great, but Brad isn't good enough.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
“Your passion is compelling, but it is also useless.”- Lt. Daniel Kaffee
Neither Bret nor Shauna meet the measurements you are applying to BU.
Even including their previous stops.
These things can all be true:
- Brad is good at leveraging whatever tools he has available to build a roster. That was true pre-NIL when he somehow figured out a way to get Kofi on campus, and it's true now
- his teams generally play hard and rebound well
- he has had 2 game changing talents in Kofi and TSJ that can turn an average team into a very good or great team
- His X's and O's coaching is average for a P5 coach, and that may be a generous assessment. As we have seen repeatedly in the postseason, we are at a significant disadvantage when we face a disciplined, well coached team
- He has done a poor job of building his staff
- He has benefited from having weak coaches at UM and IU during his tenure
- He is very highly paid
Is he a terrible coach? No. When you take everything into consideration it's hard to argue he's not at least above average. He is certainly not elite, and we are paying him elite coach $. Because his game day shortcomings are so apparent, it skews perception of his overall coaching ability.
In my opinion, assuming IU makes a good hire and Iowa hires a reasonably good coach, it will be difficult for BU to sustain the level of performance of the last 6 years.
- Brad is good at leveraging whatever tools he has available to build a roster. That was true pre-NIL when he somehow figured out a way to get Kofi on campus, and it's true now
- his teams generally play hard and rebound well
- he has had 2 game changing talents in Kofi and TSJ that can turn an average team into a very good or great team
- His X's and O's coaching is average for a P5 coach, and that may be a generous assessment. As we have seen repeatedly in the postseason, we are at a significant disadvantage when we face a disciplined, well coached team
- He has done a poor job of building his staff
- He has benefited from having weak coaches at UM and IU during his tenure
- He is very highly paid
Is he a terrible coach? No. When you take everything into consideration it's hard to argue he's not at least above average. He is certainly not elite, and we are paying him elite coach $. Because his game day shortcomings are so apparent, it skews perception of his overall coaching ability.
In my opinion, assuming IU makes a good hire and Iowa hires a reasonably good coach, it will be difficult for BU to sustain the level of performance of the last 6 years.
sacraig
- The desert
I actually had no idea about his Danville and U of I roots. Wow.
OA, Chin, Jamall to
OA, Chin, Gentry to
TA, Chester, Geoff to now
Bringing back OA and likely 1-2 other coaches this off-season.......I'd argue he's had great staffs
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I should know this, but what is the distinction between the three "traditional" assistant jobs and the jobs that Hamer and Tyler have? Something with recruiting off-campus?
All 5 are able to go off campus and recruit now, but only 3 can be on the road at the same time. Geoff, OA and Technically Kwa would be your traditional 3 assistants as would be in the past, that will change to OA, Geoff and someone else next year.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
We all know where I stand on this debate, but in fairness, and in reference to your breakdown above, it would be fair to say that considering the whole staff according to the rules at the time, today we have the weakest staff of Brad's tenure.
That needs to be addressed and I'm sure it will.
Yup. The TA timing put us in this situation, while we knew it was going to happen we couldn't actively search for a coach because we didn't have an opening. We would have had to fire him(no cause or reason too). They left on the best terms possible which didn't strain the AAU relationship as bad as it could have.
drsmitty74
- Rochester
Disagreeing with an opinion, is just expressing one's own opinion, is it not?I guess I'm "insanely dumb" too. I think BU has underperformed given all the tools/$ he has at his disposal. Wish we could have civil disagreements here rather than intolerance for differing opinions.
Let me rephrase that, he's had very good recruiting staffs, weak staffs when it comes to X's and O's (ex-Gentry).
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Well... when differing opinions are insanely dumb....I guess I'm "insanely dumb" too. I think BU has underperformed given all the tools/$ he has at his disposal. Wish we could have civil disagreements here rather than intolerance for differing opinions.
My dad once said "when you're being stupid, it does you no good for me to not tell you you're being stupid."
The Conversation is my top. Again, a completely different character than the others.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I mean, Gentry is genuinely elite, Geoff and Chester are both strong in that area (BU just seems to want to transition away from Chester's style of basketball), and as much as the nepo thing with Tyler bothers me, our offensive efficiency has been great since his pace-and-space concepts were introduced.
The staffs have been what they needed to be to win. A strong emphasis on recruiting is a major part of it.
For the staff to continue to be what it needs to be to win we're going to need some change and some investment.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Weber post Self recruits
23-12, 16-19, 24-10, 21-15, 21-14, 17-15 fired --avg 20-14
3 NCAA in 6 seasons
Groce
23-13, 20-15,19-14, 15-19, ,18-14 fired avg 19--15
one NCAA in 5 seasons
You really want to fire Brad who has made NCAA 5 years in row, one B10 championship, 2 B10 tournament championships, elite 8 last season to get some imaginary better coach when its more likely you get a Weber or Groce?
Ask Indiana how their coach search is going. They are delusional thinking they are going to get Brad Stevens or Dusty May.
Brad has reinvented his system multiple times
- 1st 2 seasons half court trap all game
- Kofi/Ayo feed the low post
- TSJ and KJ five out
JMO our defense against athletic teams is weak and our 3 point goal shooting has been terrible. Brad needs to adjust more to his current personnel.
23-12, 16-19, 24-10, 21-15, 21-14, 17-15 fired --avg 20-14
3 NCAA in 6 seasons
Groce
23-13, 20-15,19-14, 15-19, ,18-14 fired avg 19--15
one NCAA in 5 seasons
You really want to fire Brad who has made NCAA 5 years in row, one B10 championship, 2 B10 tournament championships, elite 8 last season to get some imaginary better coach when its more likely you get a Weber or Groce?
Ask Indiana how their coach search is going. They are delusional thinking they are going to get Brad Stevens or Dusty May.
Brad has reinvented his system multiple times
- 1st 2 seasons half court trap all game
- Kofi/Ayo feed the low post
- TSJ and KJ five out
JMO our defense against athletic teams is weak and our 3 point goal shooting has been terrible. Brad needs to adjust more to his current personnel.
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Bigtex
- DFW
I believe TA is still getting paid. Don't understand him stepping away from the program and still getting paid. If we didnt fire him (believe that to be true) and he stepped away (quit), why is he still getting a paycheck?
Took a leave of absence. Best for all parties involved. And to keep all recruiting relationships as healthy as possible.
ReademandWeep
- Deep South Illinois
You forgot to add Tyler & Hamer
Is there a chance to get Gentry back? Then we add a stellar recruiter and get back to work.
One of the insiders has mentioned at if Few retires Gentry could be back. I honestly think that's the ideal scenario. Jeff Goodman has said he thinks Few might retire at the end of the season.
I don't envision a world where Gentry is back
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Appreciate the info, even if I wish the opposite were true.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Was the leave of absence his idea, Josh's idea or someone else's?
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