2012-2013 NCAA Basketball thread

[Soxbadger]

If Shaka is "Smart" he goes to UCLA and never looks back.

 

He should want no part of the Big10 and having to recruit against top coaches every year.

[southsider2k5]

Shaka lost out on deciding not to come to Illinois and the Big Ten. Though I read on a message board this week rumors that he was actually much closer to accepting the job than previously thought and his wife basically talked him out of it at the least minute. At this point just be content where you're at, making the tournament and being a cinderella favorite every year.

 

I mean, is the extra million really worth the added pressure of having to win at a program like UCLA? Multiple final fours and conference titles wasn't enough for that delusional fan base.

 

He missed nothing by passing up Illinois. UCLA is in a whole different world from Illinois.

[Jenksismyhero]

He missed nothing by passing up Illinois. UCLA is in a whole different world from Illinois.

 

I wasn't trying to compare the programs. Shaka doesn't strike me as a guy that wants to lead a big time program like that. Illinois would have been a good fit because it's a 2nd tier program where you can still win consistently. UCLA your expectations are apparently more than an NC game appearance, a few final fours and a bunch of conference titles.

[gatnom]

I wasn't trying to compare the programs. Shaka doesn't strike me as a guy that wants to lead a big time program like that. Illinois would have been a good fit because it's a 2nd tier program where you can still win consistently. UCLA your expectations are apparently more than an NC game appearance, a few final fours and a bunch of conference titles.

 

I don't think Shaka's system would fare well in the Big Ten. That alone made him a bad fit at Illinois, IMO.

 

 

[farmteam]

I wasn't trying to compare the programs. Shaka doesn't strike me as a guy that wants to lead a big time program like that. Illinois would have been a good fit because it's a 2nd tier program where you can still win consistently. UCLA your expectations are apparently more than an NC game appearance, a few final fours and a bunch of conference titles.

While all this may be true, haven't there been strong whispers of NCAA violations as well as Howland generally being a jerk to players/administration?

[RockRaines]

While all this may be true, haven't there been strong whispers of NCAA violations as well as Howland generally being a jerk to players/administration?

Yes, but you cant argue with his performance.

[farmteam]

Yes, but you cant argue with his performance.

Agreed, but when you couple it with being down for what, 4 straight years? I guess it's not unimaginable...

 

I dunno, I just guess I'm not surprised because the entire year I thought anything short of the Elite 8 would lose Howland his job.

Edited March 25, 2013 by farmteam

[Jake]

Is it just me, or was Minnesota totally irrelevant pre-Tubby Smith? An "okay" run of stripped NCAA appearances in the 90s and that's hit. Tubby hasn't exactly been sub-par there.

[farmteam]

Is it just me, or was Minnesota totally irrelevant pre-Tubby Smith? An "okay" run of stripped NCAA appearances in the 90s and that's hit. Tubby hasn't exactly been sub-par there.

They had Kris Humphries for a year when Dan Monson was there, I think.

 

There just isn't really any buzz about the program up here. I mean yeah, people want the Gophers to win, but there's no real fervor.

 

I've only lived in Minneapolis for a little over a year and a half, but this what I think how Twin Cities folk rate their interest in the teams:

 

1. Vikings

2. Twins

2. Wild/Gopher Hockey

3. Gopher Football

4. Gopher Basketball

5. Timberwolves

 

Twins and the hockey teams are tied because their seasons are mostly exclusive; all three are pretty popular.

 

Maybe a big splash, like a Stevens or Smart, could generate that buzz. And of course, if whoever they bring in starts winning consistently in the Big Ten (say, 3 top 4 finishes in a 5 year span), that would generate buzz as well as anything.

[ZoomSlowik]

If he were just some random coach, I think he'd still be there. The problem is that they're paying him something like $2 million a year (best guess I could find) based on his resume.

[farmteam]

If he were just some random coach, I think he'd still be there. The problem is that they're paying him something like $2 million a year (best guess I could find) based on his resume.

Also very true. He came in as a "name" coach which enhanced the expectations.

[Jenksismyhero]

In a blog post by an ESPN guy:

 

Many will cite Smith's 46-62 record in the Big Ten, but even more damning is his record in February. To wit:

 

2013: 3-4

2012: 1-7

2011: 1-6

2010: 4-3

2009: 2-5

2008: 4-4

 

Ouch.

[Felix]

They had Kris Humphries for a year when Dan Monson was there, I think.

 

There just isn't really any buzz about the program up here. I mean yeah, people want the Gophers to win, but there's no real fervor.

 

I've only lived in Minneapolis for a little over a year and a half, but this what I think how Twin Cities folk rate their interest in the teams:

 

1. Vikings

2. Twins

2. Wild/Gopher Hockey

3. Gopher Football

4. Gopher Basketball

5. Timberwolves

 

Twins and the hockey teams are tied because their seasons are mostly exclusive; all three are pretty popular.

 

Maybe a big splash, like a Stevens or Smart, could generate that buzz. And of course, if whoever they bring in starts winning consistently in the Big Ten (say, 3 top 4 finishes in a 5 year span), that would generate buzz as well as anything.

DISCLOSURE: I'm not a Minnesota native, but I've been here for 7+ years now

 

Kind of off-topic, but in regards to your Minnesota sports interest:

 

Gopher hockey is infinitely more popular than the Wild. The only reason people care about them is now is because they signed Parise/Suter. Prior to those signings, there were some casual fans who followed them just because it's hockey, but it's nowhere near the same level as the Twins or Vikings. While Minnesota is the state of hockey, the Wild haven't been able to capture the same amount of interest that the North Stars once had (according to everyone I've talked to, at least). St. Paul has a little more interest in the Wild given they play in the city, but it's not even close to the others in Minneapolis.

 

Add in the fact that everyone knows someone who knows someone that played hockey at the U of M (high school hockey is huge here, and all the top Minnesota preps play at the U), and yeah, Gopher hockey gets SIGNIFICANTLY more interest. From everything I've heard/everyone I've talked to, the Timberwolves were the toughest ticket in town to get when KG was here and things were going good (read: 2004).

 

Honestly, if all things are even, the Wolves probably have an edge on the Wild, if only because of bitterness from the North Stars days. The Twins are on a whole different level now because of the outdoor stadium (warm weather, great location, beautiful park, etc.).

 

Agreed about the Gopher basketball team fighting for relevance, but really the key to that is winning. If the team wins, people will care because it's the college team that everyone has ties to. If the team loses (or doesn't win consistently, which has been the case during Tubby's tenure), then they aren't going to differentiate themselves from the rest of the teams in the market. The Tubby hire made a huge splash in the market, but he didn't live up to the (admittedly bloated) expectations. A Shaka Smart hire (or something similar) would definitely go a long way to taking the team to the next level, but it'd all come back to winning consistently.

[farmteam]

DISCLOSURE: I'm not a Minnesota native, but I've been here for 7+ years now

 

Kind of off-topic, but in regards to your Minnesota sports interest:

 

Gopher hockey is infinitely more popular than the Wild. The only reason people care about them is now is because they signed Parise/Suter. Prior to those signings, there were some casual fans who followed them just because it's hockey, but it's nowhere near the same level as the Twins or Vikings. While Minnesota is the state of hockey, the Wild haven't been able to capture the same amount of interest that the North Stars once had (according to everyone I've talked to, at least). St. Paul has a little more interest in the Wild given they play in the city, but it's not even close to the others in Minneapolis.

 

Add in the fact that everyone knows someone who knows someone that played hockey at the U of M (high school hockey is huge here, and all the top Minnesota preps play at the U), and yeah, Gopher hockey gets SIGNIFICANTLY more interest. From everything I've heard/everyone I've talked to, the Timberwolves were the toughest ticket in town to get when KG was here and things were going good (read: 2004).

 

Honestly, if all things are even, the Wolves probably have an edge on the Wild, if only because of bitterness from the North Stars days. The Twins are on a whole different level now because of the outdoor stadium (warm weather, great location, beautiful park, etc.).

 

Agreed about the Gopher basketball team fighting for relevance, but really the key to that is winning. If the team wins, people will care because it's the college team that everyone has ties to. If the team loses (or doesn't win consistently, which has been the case during Tubby's tenure), then they aren't going to differentiate themselves from the rest of the teams in the market. The Tubby hire made a huge splash in the market, but he didn't live up to the (admittedly bloated) expectations. A Shaka Smart hire (or something similar) would definitely go a long way to taking the team to the next level, but it'd all come back to winning consistently.

I do hear more about the Gophers than the Wild, and I personally care about the Gophers more than the Wild (though I'd say I follow the Gophers slightly less than I do the Blackhawks). I rated the Wild that high just because I know it's a pretty tough/pricey ticket, at least compared to the other sports.

 

Target Field is gorgeous, I love it out there. I went to the Target Center for the first time in February, not a bad venue. Half the arena was empty, unsurprisingly.

[Felix]

I do hear more about the Gophers than the Wild, and I personally care about the Gophers more than the Wild (though I'd say I follow the Gophers slightly less than I do the Blackhawks). I rated the Wild that high just because I know it's a pretty tough/pricey ticket, at least compared to the other sports.

 

Target Field is gorgeous, I love it out there. I went to the Target Center for the first time in February, not a bad venue. Half the arena was empty, unsurprisingly.

Target Center is an archaic building that desperately needs revamping, but when the team is doing well, it's a rocking building. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case for quite some time.

[IlliniKrush]

On why Howland and Tubby out isn't outrageous

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaab--losing...cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3

[Dick Allen]

Looks like Collins to NU is very likely.

[Jenksismyhero]

Looks like Collins to NU is very likely.

 

Could be a big hire or a big bust. It'll come down to recruiting, as it always does.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Jenksismybitch

[LittleHurt05]

Could be a big hire or a big bust. It'll come down to recruiting, as it always does.

 

If he follows in the footsteps of the other members of the Coach K coaching tree, he will be a bust.

[RockRaines]

If he follows in the footsteps of the other members of the Coach K coaching tree, he will be a bust.

Hire someone from the Matta tree, its been fairly successful so far. Chris Jent or Jeff Boals are about ready.

 

 

Thad Matta (asst., Miami 1993-94,) Head coach, Ohio State; former head coach Xavier, Butler

Todd Lickliter (asst., Butler 2000-01) Head coach, Iowa; former head coach, Butler

Brad Stevens (asst., Butler 2001-07) Head coach, Butler

John Groce (asst., Ohio State, 2004-08, Butler, 2000-01) Head coach Ohio University

Sean Miller (asst., Butler 2001-04) Head coach, Arizona; former head coach Xavier

Archie Miller-HC at Dayton

Edited March 26, 2013 by RockRaines

[Dick Allen]

Hire someone from the Matta tree, its been fairly successful so far. Chris Jent or Jeff Boals are about ready.

As an Iowa alum..........Todd Lickliter? Really? He seems like a nice guy, and probably is a decent enough coach, he was National Coach of the Year at Butler, but you throw him in a major conference, you better not give him too long of a contract or you will be paying him to coach NAIA which is exactly what Iowa is doing now.

 

Stevens is an interesting case. If he ever leaves Butler, the expectations are going to be enormous. It would be interesting to see how he does.

Edited March 26, 2013 by Dick Allen

[clyons]

If he follows in the footsteps of the other members of the Coach K coaching tree, he will be a bust.

 

But none of those other guys can say, "My daddy coached Michael Jordan."

 

I said last year he would have been a terrible hire for Illinois, but he actually kind of makes sense for Northwestern, even if he has never been a head coach before (which is still a big knock coming into the Big Ten).

[farmteam]

But none of those other guys can say, "My daddy coached Michael Jordan."

 

I said last year he would have been a terrible hire for Illinois, but he actually kind of makes sense for Northwestern, even if he has never been a head coach before (which is still a big knock coming into the Big Ten).

He does seem to be a good fit. From the area, a breath of fresh air for the program...any ideas what style he would run?

[RockRaines]

As an Iowa alum..........Todd Lickliter? Really? He seems like a nice guy, and probably is a decent enough coach, he was National Coach of the Year at Butler, but you throw him in a major conference, you better not give him too long of a contract or you will be paying him to coach NAIA which is exactly what Iowa is doing now.

 

Stevens is an interesting case. If he ever leaves Butler, the expectations are going to be enormous. It would be interesting to see how he does.

I'm not sure Matta himself could make Iowa a contender. But I did say FAIRLY successful.

[farmteam]

I'm not sure Matta himself could make Iowa a contender. But I did say FAIRLY successful.

Fran McCaffrey seems to be on the right path.