2020 College Hoops Thread

[HomeRunBaker]

This is a nothing story. Mike Boynton hired Cade Cunningham's brother as an assistant and guess where he went? Back in the day, Bill Self hired Mario Chalmers' father as an assistant and guess where he went? It's been going on for years.

Yes these hirings are common. Michael Porters father was hired as an assistant a few years ago, the Mobley Bros father is an assistant at USC. Back when I was in HS, Kevin Mackey hired Leo Papile as an assistant at Cleveland State to bring big man Eugene Miles, one of the countries top recruits, and half of his Boston AAU team with him. There are many more examples every year of this and it goes back decades as far back as Danny Manning’s father being hired at Kansas to bring Danny with him......very common.

In one of the most blatant cases, Lamar Odom’s high school coach was hired as an assistant at URI then promoted to head coach in the hopes he could convince Lamar to stay. He didn’t.

 

[bosockboy]

Yes these hirings are common. Michael Porters father was hired as an assistant a few years ago, the Mobley Bros father is an assistant at USC. Back when I was in HS, Kevin Mackey hired Leo Papile as an assistant at Cleveland State to bring big man Eugene Miles, one of the countries top recruits, and half of his Boston AAU team with him. There are many more examples every year of this and it goes back decades as far back as Danny Manning’s father being hired at Kansas to bring Danny with him......very common.

In one of the most blatant cases, Lamar Odom’s high school coach was hired as an assistant at URI then promoted to head coach in the hopes he could convince Lamar to stay. He didn’t.

Ed Manning was plucked out of a truck driving job onto Larry Brown’s bench. Stole Danny from Dean Smith.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Ed Manning was plucked out of a truck driving job onto Larry Brown’s bench. Stole Danny from Dean Smith.

Brown had a huge advantage in that Ed played for him in the old ABA when he was starting out. To this day the best “steal” I’ve ever seen was when Dave Gavitt had Sly Williams letter of intent in his hand as they awaited for him to arrive at Providence to check into his dorm. Instead, Sly took the Kingston exit from his New Haven home and ended up in Jack Kraft’s office on the URI campus as he registered for school there.

 

[bosockboy]

View: https://twitter.com/rivals/status/1374128226059051008?s=21

 

[Ale Xander]

Must have failed the chair discus that is part of the Indiana physical

 

[canderson]

Indian tried to hire a guy that lost his job cause he couldn’t preform/recruit worth a damn due to health issues years ago? Glad I’m not an IU fan. Yikes.

 

[Average Reds]

View: https://twitter.com/rivals/status/1374128226059051008?s=21

That story appears to be false.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thebiglead.com/posts/no-thad-matta-did-not-fail-a-physical-after-agreeing-to-a-deal-with-indiana-01f1e3btc4bg/amp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/6958885002

Not sure why the story was leaked unless it was an attempt (and almost certainly a successful one) to torpedo Matta’s chances.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Wait what?
View: https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1375466701307936774

 

[canderson]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Average Reds]

It appears to be true and on the verge of being announced:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31141197/sources-texas-shaka-smart-talks-marquette-deal-imminent

 

[RedOctober3829]

View: https://twitter.com/_Brian_Hamilton/status/1375473344078811138

 

[BigSoxFan]

All my UT friends are psyched. Sounds like Smart got out of dodge before the eventual canning, which was close last year.

 

[canderson]

All my UT friends are psyched. Sounds like Smart got out of dodge before the eventual canning, which was close last year.

My guess is he pushed for an extension, wasn’t getting it, so bailed. Saved Texas a huge buyout. Marquette isn’t a really good job though - VCU might be just as good. Oh well, see ya.

 

[BigSoxFan]

My guess is he pushed for an extension, wasn’t getting it, so bailed. Saved Texas a huge buyout. Marquette isn’t a really good job though - VCU might be just as good. Oh well, see ya.

Yeah, I think you’re right. The first round disaster this year really ended any chance of him staying. Marquette is a clear step down. Shaka is probably better-suited for that level anyways. Still a solid school that has had its moments though.

Will be interesting to see where UT goes. The hoops program really should be better. So much talent in Dallas and Houston every year.

 

[canderson]

Yeah, I think you’re right. The first round disaster this year really ended any chance of him staying. Marquette is a clear step down. Shaka is probably better-suited for that level anyways. Still a solid school that has had its moments though.

Will be interesting to see where UT goes. The hoops program really should be better. So much talent in Dallas and Houston every year.

Shaka last 5 NCAA Tournaments:

2014: Round of 64, loss to 12-seed
2015: Round of 64, loss to 10-seed
2016: Round of 64, loss to 11-seed
2018: Round of 64, loss to 7-seed
2021: Round of 64, loss to 14-seed

 

[bbc23]

Great job by Shaka for being a great interview, Jimmy Sexton for doing Jimmy Sexton things, and CDC for getting out of this situation without having to pay a buyout. I doubt we get one of my personal top two of Musselman/Beilein but the rumored top group of Beard/Altman/Ivey doesn't have any clear duds.

 

[Ale Xander]

Great news. But it still depends on who takes over.

 

[Kremlin Watcher]

Halle-flipping-luja.

It has never made sense to me why we aren't great at hoops. All the talent in the world in-state (Shaq was from San Antonio) and not a final four since 2003.

Crossing fingers for Beard.

 

[canderson]

Halle-flipping-luja.

It has never made sense to me why we aren't great at hoops. All the talent in the world in-state (Shaq was from San Antonio) and not a final four since 2003.

Crossing fingers for Beard.

Culture issue I think. Texas basketball is second fiddle, despite it all.

 

[bbc23]

Culture issue I think. Texas basketball is second fiddle, despite it all.

Hopefully the Moody Center helps with some of that and maybe CDC is able to bring some of the gameday spectacle to basketball games. Obviously not for every matchup but for bigger ones/weekend ones at least.

 

[BaseballJones]

Halle-flipping-luja.

It has never made sense to me why we aren't great at hoops. All the talent in the world in-state (Shaq was from San Antonio) and not a final four since 2003.

Crossing fingers for Beard.

I have such good memories of that particular Final Four.

 

[Awesome Fossum]

Culture issue I think. Texas basketball is second fiddle, despite it all.

It really is, but it has so much potential. It ought to be the biggest thing in Austin in January through March.

Only half joking when I attribute much of the underperformance to how ugly the Erwin Center is. Looks like a water storage facility or something.

 

[canderson]

It really is, but it has so much potential. It ought to be the biggest thing in Austin in January through March.

Only half joking when I attribute much of the underperformance to how ugly the Erwin Center is. Looks like a water storage facility or something.

It’s almost gone, thank god.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Great job by Shaka for being a great interview, Jimmy Sexton for doing Jimmy Sexton things, and CDC for getting out of this situation without having to pay a buyout. I doubt we get one of my personal top two of Musselman/Beilein but the rumored top group of Beard/Altman/Ivey doesn't have any clear duds.

You know they're going to go after Calipari first.

 

[bbc23]

You know they're going to go after Calipari first.

Definitely seems like Beard is option 1. Basically every site has thrown out Cal's name though because of the revelation he's able to leave Kentucky without paying a buyout (which is a hilariously bad job by Kentucky) and I'm sure our boosters are pushing for us to at least do our due diligence there. I don't love us following the trend of "hire former player who's an NBA assistant" even though this seems like the only time we'd be able to hire Ivey, assuming he's a future NBA head coach like some seem to believe, just because we have no info on what he's like as the lead.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Definitely seems like Beard is option 1. Basically every site has thrown out Cal's name though because of the revelation he's able to leave Kentucky without paying a buyout (which is a hilariously bad job by Kentucky) and I'm sure our boosters are pushing for us to at least do our due diligence there. I don't love us following the trend of "hire former player who's an NBA assistant" even though this seems like the only time we'd be able to hire Ivey, assuming he's a future NBA head coach like some seem to believe, just because we have no info on what he's like as the lead.

His success recruiting Texas kids can’t hurt plus they need a big personality that won’t give a crap about what the boosters say and the boosters will stay out of his way.

 

[canderson]

My guess is they end up hiring Royal Ivey. Beard imo isn’t leaving Tech.

 

[Detts]

Christian Watford (@Cwat205) Tweeted:


View: https://twitter.com/Cwat205/status/1376293589479751688?s=20

 

[HomeRunBaker]

My guess is they end up hiring Royal Ivey. Beard imo isn’t leaving Tech.

Wow really? That would seem extremely risky although what Juwan is doing at Michigan could make for a copy cat hire. Is anyone talking about Eric Musselman? After Beard, he’d have to be on the short list no? Another guy who won’t get the Texas gig but could replace say a Musselman at Arkansas if he got it is Joe Golding from Abilene Christian.

 

[bbc23]

My guess is they end up hiring Royal Ivey. Beard imo isn’t leaving Tech.

I would have agreed he's the favorite earlier, but apparently we only talked to him for 15-20 minutes today. I'm not totally sure what that means, I'd imagine it means that it was to let him know where in the process we are but clearly it wasn't a formal interview if that was the case.

Wow really? That would seem extremely risky although what Juwan is doing at Michigan could make for a copy cat hire. Is anyone talking about Eric Musselman? After Beard, he’d have to be on the short list no? Another guy who won’t get the Texas gig but could replace say a Musselman at Arkansas if he got it is Joe Golding from Abilene Christian.

I mentioned him upthread, he's my personal #1. I'm not positive how acquirable he is, but I am a huge fan of his and how he wants his teams to play.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I would have agreed he's the favorite earlier, but apparently we only talked to him for 15-20 minutes today. I'm not totally sure what that means, I'd imagine it means that it was to let him know where in the process we are but clearly it wasn't a formal interview if that was the case.

I mentioned him upthread, he's my personal #1. I'm not positive how acquirable he is, but I am a huge fan of his and how he wants his teams to play.

A couple decades ago I played pickup ball with a kid who was a D-1 prospect out of RI (last name McGovern) and he had played under Musselman in summer camp when the coach was in his mid-20’s. He reported back that he had never met a more insane individual in all of his life. He shared a few details but I don’t recall them other than he felt the coach was impaired in some form. It seems like he’s taken that energy and passion to direct it in a proper way.

 

[Humphrey]

A couple decades ago I played pickup ball with a kid who was a D-1 prospect out of RI (last name McGovern) and he had played under Musselman in summer camp when the coach was in his mid-20’s. He reported back that he had never met a more insane individual in all of his life. He shared a few details but I don’t recall them other than he felt the coach was impaired in some form. It seems like he’s taken that energy and passion to direct it in a proper way.

He didn't fall too far from the tree; Bill was pretty crazy.

 

[soxhop411]

Christian Watford (@Cwat205) Tweeted:


View: https://twitter.com/Cwat205/status/1376293589479751688?s=20

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1376658269519904773

New Indiana coach Mike Woodson has talked with Hall of Famer Larry Brown about a possible role on the IU coaching staff, sources tell ESPN. Idea would be an on-campus, non-recruiting slot. Woodson was an assistant under Brown with Sixers and Pistons. Brown, 80, left SMU in 2016.

Sure why not?

 

[Detts]

In

 

[RedOctober3829]

Texas with a very, very, very good hire.

View: https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1377638930175172609

 

[canderson]

Sorta kinda surprised he's leaving Lubbock and his kingdom, but makes sense.

What's funny about hiring him this morning is today his buyout dropped $4m.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Sorta kinda surprised he's leaving Lubbock and his kingdom, but makes sense.

What's funny about hiring him this morning is today his buyout dropped $4m.

It dropped to $4 million from $5 million this morning.

 

[canderson]

It dropped to $4 million from $5 million this morning.

Oops, I missed the critical "to" there lol.

 

[bbc23]

I definitely have misgivings about his offense, I've definitely stated I would have preferred a more offensive-minded coach, and it's going to be interesting transitioning to the other side of the flops (Brock Cunningham is going to go bonkers next year) but the dude is a winner and has won everything he's gone so let's make it out of the 1st weekend for the 1st time since before I even thought about going to UT.

 

[canderson]

Kansas has signed Bill Self to a lifetime contract. Because of course.

@jessenewell
KU Athletics has signed coach Bill Self to a lifetime contract. It's a new five-year rolling agreement that automatically adds one year at the conclusion of each season for the remainder of his career.

View: https://twitter.com/jessenewell/status/1377999460593197064?s=20

 

[67YAZ]

Porter Moser jumps to Oklahoma.

 

[67YAZ]

Drew Valentine, Denzel's big brother, gets the nod as Loyola's new coach. He's only 29 and has been at LUC for 4 years now.

I figured they would promote from within given the university's pandemic-crunched financial situation and a desire to keep the culture going, But I thought Matt Gordon would get the nod, since he's been here with Moser for 10 years. Likely means Gordon is off to Oklahoma, too.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Utah State has hired UMBC's Ryan Odom as their next head coach per Jeff Goodman.

 

[Greg29fan]

Hubert Davis is going to be the coach at UNC - the Board of Trustees has a 3 p.m. meeting to finalize the contract.

View: https://twitter.com/InsideCarolina/status/1379142846289174533

 

[RedOctober3829]

Hubert Davis is going to be the coach at UNC - the Board of Trustees has a 3 p.m. meeting to finalize the contract.

View: https://twitter.com/InsideCarolina/status/1379142846289174533

Not surprising at all. Keeping it in the Carolina family was always the #1 priority. As long as Davis has a good staff around him especially someone with past HC experience he should do fine. This also most likely ensures that Bacot and Garrison Brooks stays.

 

[Ale Xander]

Praying that Steve Robinson stays on.

 

[Greg29fan]

Praying that Steve Robinson stays on.

My initial reaction is that this is a woefully poor hire. If Roy's reasoning for leaving was mistakes made the last two seasons and not being able to connect with or get the most out of the 20-21 team, then what makes someone on the same staff any more qualified to be head coach than someone with three Nattys in his back pocket? I think we'll be back in 2-3 years looking for a "name" outside the UNC family when Roy's influence on his replacement has been lessened signifcantly.

 

[RedOctober3829]

My initial reaction is that this is a woefully poor hire. If Roy's reasoning for leaving was mistakes made the last two seasons and not being able to connect with or get the most out of the 20-21 team, then what makes someone on the same staff any more qualified to be head coach than someone with three Nattys in his back pocket? I think we'll be back in 2-3 years looking for a "name" outside the UNC family when Roy's influence on his replacement has been lessened signifcantly.

Who would you have wanted other than Davis? Wes Miller would've been a good option since he has HC experience. Outside the UNC footprint, I'm sure they took a swing at guys like Mark Few, Brad Stevens, Tony Bennett, and Jay Wright and they all either said no or are still coaching this season and didn't fit within the timeframe of when they wanted to make a hire. They made this hire to keep the rest of the team from transferring out IMO. Davis was responsible for most of these guys coming to UNC. I've seen it in other places where an AD makes a quick hire from within to keep the team intact but is not the long term solution. Time will tell if this was another example.

 

[soxhop411]

Dane Fife to join Mike Woodson’s staff at IU

INDIANAPOLIS – Another Hoosier is coming back to Bloomington to coach Indiana Men’s Basketball.

Dane Fife will join Mike Woodson’s staff, a source tells CBS4’s JoJo Gentry.

Fife has spent the last eight seasons with Michigan State. He most recently served as the Spartans’ associate head coach.

https://cbs4indy.com/sports/dane-fife-to-join-mike-woodsons-staff-at-iu/

 

[Greg29fan]

Who would you have wanted other than Davis? Wes Miller would've been a good option since he has HC experience. Outside the UNC footprint, I'm sure they took a swing at guys like Mark Few, Brad Stevens, Tony Bennett, and Jay Wright and they all either said no or are still coaching this season and didn't fit within the timeframe of when they wanted to make a hire. They made this hire to keep the rest of the team from transferring out IMO. Davis was responsible for most of these guys coming to UNC. I've seen it in other places where an AD makes a quick hire from within to keep the team intact but is not the long term solution. Time will tell if this was another example.

I'd have been fine with anybody not on the current staff for the reasons I outlined. If you wanted to stay in the family, at least Wes has experience and has done his own thing in Greensboro.