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Craig Neal to Evansville?


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QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 12:28 PM)
No chance they'll hire another U of I assistant coach. I look for Phillips to use his ND connections, and possibly hire Gene Cross.

 

That is what i'm told is probably going to happen. I wouldn't mind it, he has a lot of Chicago recruiting connections as well I believe.

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QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 02:00 PM)
That is what i'm told is probably going to happen. I wouldn't mind it, he has a lot of Chicago recruiting connections as well I believe.

 

Former DePaul and virginia assistant with traitao...he's a Chicago guy and was at uic too, I believe...he does have Chicago connections although I can't recall if he ever really brought any relevant cps or Chicago-area talent to DePaul...

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QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 12:27 AM)

 

Don't get too excited. That article came out and simply listed names tossed around in the comments section from previous articles. To this date, I am the only one that has ever mentioned Neal and his inclusion in that article comes directly from that. If he is actually considered a candidate, I would be surprised.

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Boy it sure would be nice to be able to get back on to ValleyTalk.net. But until an admin desides to actually help get me back in, I am looking in from the outside. This is pretty frustrating.

 

Rowand, I sent them a message on Sunday through their admin form and have not heard back from anyone. I even gave them an alternate email address, but that didn't help either.

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QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 07:14 PM)
Boy it sure would be nice to be able to get back on to ValleyTalk.net. But until an admin desides to actually help get me back in, I am looking in from the outside. This is pretty frustrating.

 

Rowand, I sent them a message on Sunday through their admin form and have not heard back from anyone. I even gave them an alternate email address, but that didn't help either.

Ya, I'm not sure what the problem is there. I sent an admin a PM as well a good while ago now about your situation and still haven't received a response

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QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 12:40 AM)
Ya, I'm not sure what the problem is there. I sent an admin a PM as well a good while ago now about your situation and still haven't received a response

 

I have given up. I sent two additional emails to their web master, even giving them an alternate email address, but have gotten no response.

 

On a separate note, Evansville hired alum and former star Marty Simmons yesterday. He comes to Evansville from SIUE, where he has been Head Coach the past five years. The success Simmons brought to Edwardsville led to the decision by the school to go Division I, in which they will begin their transition next year.

 

Simmons was Illinois' Mr. Basketball while playing for Lawrencville HS. Lawrencville won 68 straight games and two straight State Championships with Marty leading the way.

 

He played two years at IU under Bob Knight. He was an important part of IU's Elight Eight team his freshman year, and scored 30 against Kentucky in one game. After falling out of favor with Coach Knight, he transferred to Evansville when IU assistant Jim Crews was named Head Coach at UE. Simmons averaged 24 ppg in two seasons at Evansville, leading them to an MCC co-championship and an NIT berth his senior year.

 

He was an assistant under Jim Crews at Evansville during a time when UE earned two NCAA Tournament bids and one NIT bid. He took the reigns at SIUE following seasons of 9, 7 & 7 wins. Simmons lead them to seasons of 9, 16, 23 and 25 (Elite Eight appearance) before falling back to 15-12 this year.

 

I feel good about this hire for Evansville. I think the only other candidate that made sense was Brad Brownell and he was going to be tough, if not impossible to get. Simmons is a UE alum and was a star player and fan favorite. He will bring instant energy to the program and his teams play with a toughness similar to what you see at SIU. While he has not been a Head Coach at the Division I level, I am confident he will make Evansville competitive in the Valley again.

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