[quote="Adam" post=349829][quote="Mike Zaun" post=349799]I think Cooley is a good coach but a bit exaggerated in terms of just how good. He has shown he can win about 20+ games for PC but has been unable to get those huge national wins that make headlines or do anything in the big dance. He seems like an awesome guy to hang around and he's hilarious. Oozes personality, but just not sure he's the guy who will take PC to the next level...unless of course he does. IMO there are shades of Lavin winning 20+ I believe 3 yrs with us, however they were pretty hollow with ho-hum conference records and pretty much nothing in the big dance. PC has had our number under Cooley but by no means are they some monster. They struggle a lot offensively and lack big time playmakers to lead the team IMO. To be clear, I'd be totally satisfied with what Cooley has done if he was here doing it, however I would also expect him to finally prove he can make a Sweet 16 or something.[/quote]
Lol. So a page ago you were complaining about how the Big East is doomed since Michigan was poaching Cooley, and now that he's staying you're complaining about how he won't take PC to the next level? Is this supposed to be satire? Same thing happened last month when VT went after Willard.
Here is everything that has happened since realignment 6-7 years ago:
Schools that have not been poached: Seton Hall (turned down Pitt and VT), Providence (turned down Michigan), Villanova (turned down everyone including UCLA and the NBA), Creighton (turned down Ohio St), Georgetown (Ewing won't leave unless for the NBA possibly), St. John's, DePaul. Bonus: Marquette (Wojo) turned down VT according to the VT message board,
Schools that have been poached: Marquette (VT), Butler (NBA/Ohio St), Xavier (Louisville)
So 1 coach was poached during year 1 by a meh ACC school. Buzz's replacement Wojo then turned down the same exact school last month. That to me sounds like progress.
The other 3 coaches were taken by powerhouses Louisville, Ohio St, and the Boston Celtics. Those are some of the highest paid basketball jobs in the country. They were also taken from recently added Big East teams (formerly A10) and not the old guard.
Then we have tons of known attempts to poach Big East coaches from the NBA, UCLA, Ohio St, Michigan, Pitt, and likely dozens of others that were never made public.
Meanwhile, other conferences including the two biggest ones were poached this year: ACC (by the SEC) / B1G (by the NBA). The Big East has kept everyone even after that awful Tournament performance.
Really makes you wonder why some fans choose to push a false narrative. Thank God those in charge have more sense.[/quote]
Adam, ask any national hoops pundit without bias towards Big East about this. Again, you can be both a huge fan of SJ but also have real critiques...and you can be both a huge fan of the Big East but also have real critiques simultaneously. The Big East succeeded in transforming Nova into a blue blood and being the strongest conference top to bottom in America. It has succeeded with tourney bids and solidified itself as a major conference even post realignment which many did not expect. However, the tournament performances post realignment has been awful aside from Villanova and one year each or so from Butler and Xavier. Those two programs are rebuilding and lost their coaches that took them deep. We look great during the regular season but then we open the door to criticism from pundits when we lose immediately in the tourney. You don't think that affects perception? This has been a consistent theme, not 1 year.
The common fan thinks the Big East is dead...I know because when I talk hoops with average fans they say "Didn't Syracuse and UConn leave? It's not the same". We have done well in spite of all the realignment, however we still have to prove ourselves and we are still seen as just VIllanova like it or not. This is why I'm worried about perception. I know we need a strong core of big time coaches to stay for at least a decade if we want consistency and good perception. I'm happy so far with MA but remember we were turned down by Hurley for Arizona State which is a joke of a basketball school traditionally. Money matters and I just worry about our ability to hire big time coaches and keep big time coaches if they develop into them. It's completely rational and pundits would agree with me. I'm impressed and glad Cooley stayed away from Michigan which helps perception, however these concerns will continue to come up. Every time a F5 coach leaves or gets fired, it seems BE coaches are on the top of the list. That won't change and not all will turn them down like Willard, Wright, Cooley, etc. I know it's part of the game but I don't remember this coaching carousel in the old Big East.
