🏈 Basketball post that deserves a little attention. National papers talking about coaching job...

[TerryP]

To me there is something eerily similar between the seasons Brown and Barnes have had late in their careers at Texas.

Taking that a step further.

When Brown was hired out of UNC I suggested (and still believe) it was his win over FSU that put him in the position at Texas. His coaching career at UNC wasn't horrible, but it sure wasn't one where he was winning ACC titles: much less competing for them. Brown did have success at UT only to be shown the door.

Look at Barnes before he got the job in Austin. His success as the head coach at Clemson certainly wasn't note-worthy. As I recall, he only had one winning season (in conference play.) He did get the Tigers to the dance, as I recall, but their exit was early. Barnes did have success at UT only to be shown the door.

Did the powers at be settle when they hired both guys? Was it a case where they thought "mediocre success at one school combined with being in Austin makes these guys winners?" I think both carry some truth.

 

[TerryP]

Back to the original post about reports:



At a glance that seems realistic. But, when you stop for a second and start weighing it against the logic test...

Reports out of Wichita (TV) say that Texas is out. Secondly, if this was truly the case, why not go ahead and tell Coach Battle no? What sense does it make not to say, "no thank you" if it's truly "Texas or staying put?"

I believe the answer is an easy one. King is mistaken.

 

[Rolltide24]

I hope we don't go the Pitino route. Let's make a big hire of someone who has actually done something. Enough of getting people we think might do something. We've made the tournament what, 6 times in the last 20 years and made it to the Sweet 16 3 times in the last 25 years. Haven't had an All American in the last, what, 7 years. I think we've sent 4 guys to the NBA in the past 10 years (Davidson was bad and I think Tony Mitchell has played 3 games in 2 seasons and is now in Canada). We need a coach who will not chase mediocrity. I hope we can find this guy and change our course.

The folks up here in Minneapolis are getting very defensive and even critical of their coach this week, even though he really hasn't done all that well here. And, even though he may not have even shown interest in the Bama gig. It's funny, they are on him for just being shown interest by our school, telling him he needs to establish a decent program here before bolting elsewhere and that he isn't his dad. Some are being pretty darn critical, when he could very will show no interest in leaving and still be the Gophers coach next year. It's a dog eat dog world I guess, and dome fans (and sportscaster) have little loyalty.

On a side note, the Gophers women's team had their basketball banquet at my hotel last night so I chatted up a few folks from their athletics department. My attempts at chatting up some team members didn't go as well as hoped... lol But these girls sure looked better all cleaned up! Even the tall ones...

 

[TerryP]

I hope we don't go the Pitino route.

Seeing his name in a few places this week struck me as pretty odd. While it's true that Battle reached out to gauge interest, it's also true that it was done several weeks ago while other coaches (who are higher on Battle's board) were still involved in tournament play.

Why do we see his name this week, but didn't several weeks ago when it actually happened? I can only assume FreeUAB was on reporters minds. :eyeroll:

 

[UAgrad93]

Two years as an HC with an NIT championship doesn't inspire me to run and buy season tickets with young Pitino. Now, if it was the old man, sure! 20+ losses in two seasons!!!
This is probably a ploy by his agent to weasel some more money from Minnesota.

 

[TerryP]

This is probably a ploy by his agent to weasel some more money from Minnesota.

To me, it has the smell of one CM Newton.

 

[UAgrad93]

To me, it has the smell of one CM Newton.

You Pitino was calling Newton asking for a good word from Newton since BAMA still values his opinion?

 

[TerryP]

You Pitino was calling Newton asking for a good word from Newton since BAMA still values his opinion?

Seeing his name now, versus when the original "contact" gauging interest was weeks ago, smells like Newton to me.

However, I certainly can see that scenario as well.

 

[TerryP]

FWIW, Shannon Terry reports that Marshall has continued to give Battle "positive assurances the deal can be finalized." Just like we discussed before Grant was let go, there are many reasons why coaches in basketball don't just move on due to financial packages. Just as some have speculated, a lot of this comes down to what his family feels about the move. There is sincere interest from Marshall and he very well could visit, hopefully with his family, in the next day or two.

 

[UAgrad93]

I was corresponding with a Shocker fan on Twitter yesterday and I told him what I though it would come down to whether he stays or goes. I told him that it would boil down to family ( can and will his family be up to moving to Ttown), challanges ( every coach likes them and BAMA presents one; to put BAMA back into the picture of NCAA tourneys year in and year out and take us farther), and finances ( how much green can he get to keep his family secure).
He did say that there was a rumor floating that if it came down to money, that the Koch brothers would get involved. He also thought that only a blue blood Top 5 program would get him to leave.

 

[Rolltide24]

The ole trick of resorting to name dropping of biggest team supporters and threats that they will pay whatever the cost to keep their coach... That is probably nothing more than a made up rumor to make themselves (the fans) feel better. Remember all the similar talk with Texas was trying to hire Saban, all these rich oil billionaires wanting to pay a gazillion dollars to get him. I just don't believe it. But I am sometimes a skeptic...

I was corresponding with a Shocker fan on Twitter yesterday and I told him what I though it would come down to whether he stays or goes...

He did say that there was a rumor floating that if it came down to money, that the Koch brothers would get involved. He also thought that only a blue blood Top 5 program would get him to leave.

 

[UAgrad93]

@Rolltide24, I couldn't agree more and I told him as much. I also told him that Marshall could leave Wichita and come to Ttown, and then leave within 3-4 years because of that "blue blood" job like a Duke, UNC, Kansas brand. I also told him that Saban would probably throw in a few bucks to sweeten the pot in order to get a high quality basketball program here. He said that the thing that scares Wichita fans is the fact that BAMA has football and that Marshall could use that as a huge recruiting tool.

 

[planomateo]

We put more butts in seats at Alabama than Wichita State in 2014...keep in mind, they were 35-1 last year.

For the record, their arena has a capacity of 10,512. Coleman's capacity is 15,316 which would put us #14 on the list if we sell out every game.
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2014.pdf

 

[UAgrad93]

Pat Forde is swimming neck deep in his own crap!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...-visit-alabama-on-friday-010201546-ncaab.html

If Marshall elects to stay at Wichita State, Minnesota coach Richard Pitino is a potential fallback candidate at Alabama. There has been contact between the two camps, sources said, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the Crimson Tide had expressed interest in Pitino earlier this week.

Marshall was an initial candidate at Texas but that courtship ended quickly, sources said. Texas now is in talks with Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart, who has interest in the job. Smart has been seeking input from trusted friends and advisers in college basketball regarding the Texas job for several days, sources said.

Forde is as the old saying goes, " he is as full of Sh^! As a Christmas turkey"!

 

[UAgrad93]

Received two notifications within the last 30 minutes. The first one says Marshall and his family will be in Ttown Friday. Just a minute ago, the second one says Bill Battle confirms Marshall is staying at Wichita State. He had better get Archie Miller. I will be sending the BOT an email asking for Battle's job if Richard Pitino becomes the next coach.

 

[TerryP]

@psychojoe

In some "areas" of life, flashbacks are just one of the side effects, right?

But damn, circa 2009 here, eh?

 

[psychojoe]

TP, that could be a very good approach at this point. Just like the rest of us, coaches sometimes benefit from a change of scenery. Maybe that is the secret of Larry Brown's success, LOL.​

 

[riz]

Hoo boy.

 

[TerryP]

I will be sending the BOT an email asking for Battle's job if Richard Pitino becomes the next coach.

If I've seen one, I've seen a hundred mention "I emailed Battle..." A lot of that was going on before Grant was released. I'm starting to see that trend being mentioned often, again.

I cringe at these statements/comments when I see them for one reason:

 

[UAgrad93]

@TerryP, I just cringe at the idea of firing one second rate coach just to get another one. Why bother if we want the program to just be mired in mediocrity?

As for DuBose getting the HC job when Stallings retired, I NEVER understood that one!!