Captain 14
- The Last Best Place
Mark Few must have married up.
ZzzzzzzzzzzI hypothesize the fans on this board who’s fandom lived through prime of the Henson years associate their fandom more closely with the coach more than recent fans. It makes sense. Henson was a HOF legend who had a lot of success as the players came and went to the point his name is on the court.
I suspect those posters wanted Weber to be like Henson and continued to defend him long past it was clear he wasn’t. I suspect the same thing is happening with Brad and some posters holding onto the hope that over the next 10 years he’ll cement his legacy.
My eyes see a ship that’s already sailed, and it’s just a matter of time before there is a separation. I do not envision a future where Brad retires as the Illini coach.
The Ayo recruitment was supposed to open the flood gates - and it did - BU recruited 11 freshman 4-stars in the last 4 years.
The problem is 6 of those 4 star recruits transferred out. So, BU recruited 2 4-star transfers (Mayer and Shannon) to back fill.
Now we are in another season needing to backfill from failure to develop the HS recruits, and BU has failed to fill the most critical gap.
What happens next year?
Shannon, Coleman, Harmon, Guerrero, Domask will be gone.
The team will be Dainja, Goode, Harris, Rodgers, Hansberry, and DGL, and chances are 1 or 2 of those guys will transfer. We have 1 signed recruit - Morez.
BU is going to need to add 6-9 players next offseason in addition to Morez? And he couldn’t even land a single PG this year?
BU is only in this situation because he failed to develop 50% of his 4 star recruits so he started recruiting players in the portal that other coaches developed for him, and now he’s struggling to do that too. So over the next season or two he’ll suddenly become good at what he’s failed to do so far?
Trash collectorsZzzzzzzzzzz
Must be tough spending every waking moment manufacturing rationales to trash Underwood.
Tell us what you do for a living?
Be interested to know.
That's why we need a CEO to manage this s#%t pile. I don't think our coaches are qualified nor paid to evaluate performance versus pay/value.
I think right now that BU getting his act together is our best chance at a championship. Stability matters. But him getting his act together is the important caveat for me. There really is no culture, despite the coach others proclaiming such. We don't seem to have a consistent philosophy on either side of the ball. I'm willing to see him sort this out before I'm calling for his head.
There are very few coaches that I think are worth the risk of firing BU. Sean Miller isn't one in my opinion.
I'm also optimistic about the season ahead, although I can definitely see scenarios where we end up on the bubble.
Brad has burnt some bridges … No getting around it … He has recruited some really good players but outside of Ayo and Kofi he has not kept any … And Kofi only stayed for one rea$on … Let’s just keep it on that …
At the end of the day, as a HC you can’t lose the boosters and that’s the road Brad is heading down … Josh will ALWAYS side with the boosters and that’s just how it goes … Especially when we haven’t touched a 2nd weekend …
Stability doesn’t mean jack anymore … These kids are pros now … They leave every year anyways … There is no culture … You need a guy who can COACH and a guy who can really, really get along with the boosters so he can recruit … Sean Miller does both of those things at an elite level … Muss does as well … Tang does as well … All would be upgrades …
Oats will be getting the next blue blood job that opens between UNC and Kansas … He isn’t coming here … Wouldn’t even consider it …
Now … I’ve got a sleepover to get to …
… GMAB
I agree that you shouldn't have to let a coach bottom out or sink a program.There seem to be two schools of thought emerging here:
1) "A coach shouldn't be let go until he has objectively sunk a program." This approach led to the enormous mess that Brad inherited.
2) "A coach should be let go before he has had a chance to sink a program." This approach led to Tim Beckman.
In my opinion, and as others have said I think, I don't care when you let a guy go as long as the next hire is the right hire. But preferably you can cut ties before your program hits rock bottom.
*This is not an endorsement for firing Brad.
Based on the ultimate metric (according to many here), Sweet 16's, the rankings would be:
I’m a retired motivational speaker.Zzzzzzzzzzz
Must be tough spending every waking moment manufacturing rationales to trash Underwood.
Tell us what you do for a living?
Be interested to know.
don't deny itBrad has burnt some bridges … No getting around it … He has recruited some really good players but outside of Ayo and Kofi he has not kept any … And Kofi only stayed for one rea$on … Let’s just keep it on that …
At the end of the day, as a HC you can’t lose the boosters and that’s the road Brad is heading down … Josh will ALWAYS side with the boosters and that’s just how it goes … Especially when we haven’t touched a 2nd weekend …
Stability doesn’t mean jack anymore … These kids are pros now … They leave every year anyways … There is no culture … You need a guy who can COACH and a guy who can really, really get along with the boosters so he can recruit … Sean Miller does both of those things at an elite level … Muss does as well … Tang does as well … All would be upgrades …
Oats will be getting the next blue blood job that opens between UNC and Kansas … He isn’t coming here … Wouldn’t even consider it …
Now … I’ve got a sleepover to get to …
… GMAB
He still added Domask, Harmon, and Guerrier this year without a PG.The team will be Dainja, Goode, Harris, Rodgers, Hansberry, and DGL, and chances are 1 or 2 of those guys will transfer. We have 1 signed recruit - Morez.
BU is going to need to add 6-9 players next offseason in addition to Morez? And he couldn’t even land a single PG this year?
Well that's a whole separate level of WTF. I realize you want to stick it to the kids who do something dumb, but why not do that after you play the game so you at least don't blow your record?They had a full practice before the game…..
Yeah.Well that's a whole separate level of WTF. I realize you want to stick it to the kids who do something dumb, but why not do that after you play the game so you at least don't blow your record?
If you're telling me he was a primary point guard in hs then yes. But I was not aware of that. If true, thanks for the correction.Does high school count for you?
Are all 3 legit options? It seems like the concern many have here is that if we were to move on from BU we wouldn’t be able to land a capable replacement. I’d be happy with all 3 you listed but are they legit options?Stability doesn’t mean jack anymore … These kids are pros now … They leave every year anyways … There is no culture … You need a guy who can COACH and a guy who can really, really get along with the boosters so he can recruit … Sean Miller does both of those things at an elite level … Muss does as well … Tang does as well … All would be upgrades …
I agree with all this… but at a program level is that where you want to be in year 8?He still added Domask, Harmon, and Guerrier this year without a PG.
His biggest issue has been lack of development moreso than guys transferring. The only guy to transfer out that hurts is Podz and it was perfectly understandable why he would leave. I can't blame Brad for that.
If the young guys keep developing Dainja, Hansberry, and Morez is a solid interior build plus Goode and Rodgers on the wing then Harris and DGL at guard.
That's 7 contributors right there. Teams don't roll that deep so youre realistically only looking for 3 transfers. They will also add some more freshman alongside Morez. Adding 3 contributors isn't a super difficult task since he added two last year in Shannon and Mayer and then already has 3 this year.
If we have those seven, six of which will have another year of experience, and Hansberry and DGL are anywhere near as good as their reputation/recruiting rank, then I expect a 6-8 seed in March. I'm not seeing a major issue. If 2 of them transfer out, despite being in line for big minutes, then yes, there is a culture issue.What happens next year?
The team will be Dainja, Goode, Harris, Rodgers, Hansberry, and DGL, and chances are 1 or 2 of those guys will transfer. We have 1 signed recruit - Morez.
BU is going to need to add 6-9 players next offseason in addition to Morez? And he couldn’t even land a single PG this year?
No but college basketball ebbs and flows for every program even the blue bloods. Teams have up and down years based on personnel.I agree with all this… but at a program level is that where you want to be in year 8?
That is one of the funniest things I have heard in a long time.I’m a retired motivational speaker.
I hope like hell you are right!This is going to be great to come back to in a few months lol...some of the negativity is crazy