mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
2017 Coaching Carousel
- Status
Kevin Willard?
We might as well delve into the Mark Fox's and Andy Kennedy's and Brad Brownell's if we're going to go there.
These are resumes that very closely resemble Groce's.
Well that's what I was hoping to see, without having to do the work myself. Saw where Seton Hall was on the bubble in a top heavy Big East. It was a program that was in pretty rough shape and seems to be on an uptick (based on the fact that I'm casually aware of it). Did know if it was a real turn around.
So Willard > Groce or Willard < Groce?
Full disclosure I work at the firm from the razor add with all the bald men.
The Pontiff
- Chicago, IL
Yep, my preference would be a coach that already has some sort of connection to the Midwest, either grew up, played or coached in the traditional B1G states or bordering areas. Just think it makes the transition that much easier if he comes with a pre-existing network as opposed to someone like Krystowiak, who I would assume would need to build one.
Skiles was great with the Baby Bulls of yore.
If you have to ask the question, that's not a good sign.
I don't think Seton Hall will be anywhere near the bubble this year, but we'll see. In any event, Willard lucked into Isaiah Whitehead, made the tournament one time, but in general has been a Big East doormat. Seton Hall is a tough job, but you gotta show a pulse more than once in seven years.
I don't think we should care about this very much at all, but when we're dealing with sitting Power Five coaches the bigger question is whether they'd take the job than whether we'd want them. Three factors seem to me to make a move to Illinois a possibility for those guys:
1. They make less than $2 million
2. They have connections to the Midwest/Big Ten/Illinois
3. They're at risk of getting fired
I think we're all not particularly interested in anyone subject to #3. Cuonzo Martin is 1 and 2. Steve Prohm is 1 and 2. Krystowiak is 0 for 3.
Miller/Keatts/Krystkowiak/Martin
If JW even approaches Marshall and gets shot down these are my top 4 guys. The first 3 have proven they are good coaches with Martin proving he can recruit but I am not sure how good a coach he is.
If JW even approaches Marshall and gets shot down these are my top 4 guys. The first 3 have proven they are good coaches with Martin proving he can recruit but I am not sure how good a coach he is.
From what I've heard/gathered, three of those four are attainable at the right price. LK is the wild card. I've heard he's only interested in blue bloods, but that was a couple years ago, I think.
Again, I think Whitman makes calls to Sean Miller, Tony Bennett, and maybe Fred Hoiberg first to gauge what it would take (if anything) to get them to take the job.
Yeah that's the thing. You gotta hire a guy with at least peripheral connections to an area. Connections with people is huge and if you have no time spent in an area, you have to try to come in and make connections. That sets a programs time to recover back quite a bit. Recruits and coaches in the area proceed with caution and there are ample opportunities for missteps. Chicago is tough to navigate and deal with as far as relationships. A guy with no experience there is a stranger in a strange land. Not every guy who can coach is a possibility. LK is a great coach and other than his time with the Bulls and Bucks, has no Midwest ties, connections experience. This is why is am not a Keatts guy either. We don't have time for a guy to come in and create relationships and expect to compete against guys with established connections particularly in the Chicago area and our home recruiting zones (K, Izzo, Self, Painter, Beilein, Crean, Wojo, Pitino, etc)
RichBradIllini
- Peoria
Weber never lost to Bradley.
He did. Thanksgiving weekend 2009 in Las Vegas. That loss, when all was said and done, cost us a tournament bid that year.
RichBradIllini
- Peoria
I should have known!
OrangeAndBlues
- Indianapolis
Oh, I remember that night well... Especially living near Peoria at the time.
The Pontiff
- Chicago, IL
Maybe it's just the dichotomy I'm perceiving between guys that have spent their entire career out west versus elsewhere. Dan Monson comes to mind as someone who had success, albeit for only two years as a head coach at Gonzaga, but then didn't click at Minnesota. On the flip side, I can think of a couple of West Coast guys that didn't have an issue, such as Lute Olson and more recently, Ben Howland, so you're right, it may not be a real causal factor for success.
Anyway, Krystowiak may not be all West Coast, since he spent the bulk of his NBA playing days in Milwaukee. Still if I'm splitting hairs between candidates, I'd rather have the guy with roots in the Midwest than not, as I do think that's a plus in the short-term for recruiting though nothing a good brand or personality can't overcome quickly. Of course, this assumes JW will have that luxury to do so.
But I agree that if a sitting P5 coach (or his spouse) has a geographic connection to the Midwest, it will make it easier for JW to close. I do think there is a fourth factor - they're with an administration that has recently changed leadership or they think is dysfunctional. A crappy work situation is always a great motivator for talented folks to flee.
I doubt Enfield as a fit here. Besides, he's in LA with a model wife and is recruiting well and has turned things around there. I'm not sure that's a couple that is leaving for a rebuild in cold and less glamorous CU.
I like all that. Good to hear that there are no hard feelings or negative recruiting at play.
I don't think a model wife moving to the cold........
What were we talking about again?
haasi
- New York
Hey, we were only one win away from the tournament. Pretty good!
I believe it was a beat down from an unranked Missouri team that cost Illinois a bid. Or three or four other loses you could find.
Flip any loss that year and we're likely in. We were the absolute razor's edge of the bubble in both 2007 and 2010.
I'm not as sure on this one. West coast is a whole lot different than mid-atlantic and Louisville in terms of differences from the midwest, and I'm also not as concerned with young candidates (in terms of coaching age -- 44 is relatively young (Keatts), 52 is middle aged).
Additionally, Bennett, for example, only has 4 years coaching in the midwest (1999-2003 at wisco) and the rest on the coasts, but we certainly would not turn him away (having grown up in the area doesn't really mean anything IMO). Let's not overblow it, it's a minor tick on the resume but should also not DQ anyone if they're not from MAC/B10 territory as long as their personality/brand can mesh in this footprint.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/video/forde-minutes-top-5-coaches-013844513.html
Didn't see this posted anywhere. Not that we didn't already know.
Didn't see this posted anywhere. Not that we didn't already know.
kcib8130
- Parts Unknown
Lorenzo Romar a prime example of keeping a lame-duck for the hopes of tomorrow. Somehow gets great talent, goes nowhere with it.
The question if Romar gets fired is what becomes of his assistant Michael Porter Sr., who presumably holds the keys to his sons Michael Porter Jr. the #2 player in next year's class and Jontay Porter, a top 50 recruit in 2018.
There's definitely a chance Mizzou swoops in for the whole lot, as they all have Missouri connections.
Another intriguing mid major guy, Nicholas McDevitt at UNC-Asheville.
Saw this tweet from Jeff Goodman:
So he lost his best player (soph) off of 2015 and then 2 good freshmen from last year's team and still is contending for his conference title. Not bad...
Resume's still a little thin right now though.
Saw this tweet from Jeff Goodman:
So he lost his best player (soph) off of 2015 and then 2 good freshmen from last year's team and still is contending for his conference title. Not bad...
Resume's still a little thin right now though.
- Status