Well, my own view is that it reflects pretty well on us and BU if the highest profile program in the country is trying to steal multiple assistants from us. It’s too bad we couldn’t keep them. But I hope the next assistants BU brings on are also in demand by blue bloods.
I agree it “reflects pretty well” on Illini, but really what does that get us beyond some current and brief self satisfaction. Does it really bring us a better pool of assistants to choose from? Not really. If all or some of the money that was earmarked to keep the assistants goes toward new hires that is what will help. And doubt it helps with recruits. Not like we can pitch look how great staff was that blue blood wanted them. Recruit: oh, so they’re still here? Us: Umm no. I think it makes KY look a little bad, but that won’t matter to anyone other than us.
As to the whole OA and PR connection, you can assign whatever value you want to impact OA had, but it certainly had some kind of impact in getting Curbelo. Was it the “main reason”? I don’t know but it doesn’t seem a stretch to say it was enough of a factor to open the door wider and tip the scales towards the Illini. Once Curbelo was in place, I’d guess he had some impact on the others coming (but no I don’t know for sure). If Curbelo stays — and I think he will — I’d say Plummer stays. Melendez might be a little iffier, but I’d like to think the other PR players as well as all the other factors for Illinois help keep him here.
All that said, it sucks losing OA and possibly Chin. Hopefully will get two new great hires that can assess, recruit and develop players — and maybe start some new pipeline. And hopefully the current PR players can help that pipeline at least stay open a bit.