Coaching Carousel
- Thread starter paultzman
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MakingPlays
Well-known member
Big East is upgrading their coaches for sure.
It's still a long way to go in off-season with the Portal just now picking up, but just an early look at the rosters in the BE, I don't think St. John's is as far behind as some think.
A lot of moving pieces and departures for some teams that did well this year. Providence is losing most of their key players, Seton Hall losing some guys, plus a coaching change, Xavier going through coaching change, Villanova loses a ton, UConn loses some key guys.
If everyone stays and they are able to get a couple nice pieces in the portal very possible Johnnies could be one of the most experienced teams returning in the conference as far as returning guys that played significant minutes. Right now Creighton and Marquette are probably the only one's that is returning more.
Good for Butler Fans. Good for the BE. Makes it that much more important to take care of our own shit.
Have to agree on the first point. Really impressive that there are no signs that the Big East is going to just fade away from the power conferences. Bringing in household names like Shaka Smart, Sean Miller and now Thad Matta is impressive. Even Holloway, who probably would have been in high demand. Heck, CMA was a household name in his own right when he was brought in.
What it means is those schools are serious about winning.
There was an article earlier this year in the Indianapolis Star seriously questioning whether Butler made too big a gamble jumping to the BE. That it may not have the money and facilities to consistently compete in the BE.
I think the firing of Jordan and the hiring of Matta says something about their commitment. Remember 2 yrs ago Butler was as high as no. 5 in the AP poll and a lock to make NCAAs until Covid cancelled the Tourney under Jordan and now he is gone.
There was an article earlier this year in the Indianapolis Star seriously questioning whether Butler made too big a gamble jumping to the BE. That it may not have the money and facilities to consistently compete in the BE.
I think the firing of Jordan and the hiring of Matta says something about their commitment. Remember 2 yrs ago Butler was as high as no. 5 in the AP poll and a lock to make NCAAs until Covid cancelled the Tourney under Jordan and now he is gone.
To further my point on Matta he is the type of coach, assuming his back is good and he is motivated to coach again, that was good enough when he had it rolling at OSU to coach a Kentucky or Kansas. Outside of Jay what other BE coach do you think has the resume and chops to coach a program like that? I would argue none.
And Butler just hired that guy.
And Butler just hired that guy.
Right. But Butler was only able to get that guy because he is a Butler grad and wanted to be back home. Have to keep that in context.
Agreed. But to make that hire they had to create an opening. They didn’t have to fire Jordan even if they thought they could get Matta. Xavier did not have to fire Steele.
Under normal circumstances SJU would not be able to get Pitino right.....
Not sure about that. It didn't seem like anyone of consequence was banging down his door and Butler and BE is a pretty good job.
We can agree to disagree on that one. Not sure how in demand of a job Butler is, comparatively speaking. Plus it never seemed like Matta had an interest in returning to coaching due to his health issues. That's why we never heard his name come up.
I would agree that it was a little lucky that he was available. Just like Xavier got lucky Miller was available.
But sometimes you need to create something to take advantage of that luck, like fire a former star turned popular coach. Nobody would have thought it was outrageous if Butler brought Jordan back for 1 more year. And also make a monetary commitment that you normally are not prepared to make. I can assure you they aren't getting Matta on the cheap.
Yes Shaka/Matta/Miller are all big name hires with big potential upsides. But all of them, like CMA when he was hired, are/were risky hires of coaches with some serious flaws or concerns and/or limited recent accomplishments. None of those guys are getting considered for a Blue Blood/top level job. And Holloway is a coach who needs a stepping stone before being considered for one of those jobs as well, Seton Hall is just such a stepping stone. The other three might fit the stepping stone definition as well. Not meaning to denigrate the hires just put them in the proper perspective.
Adam Zagoria ; “Rutgers associate head Brandin Knight is expected to stay in Piscataway instead of remaining in the mix for the head coaching opening at Saint Peter’s, several people with knowledge of the coaching search told NJ Advance Media.”
I bet he knows there's going to be an exodus... to the Hall.
The difference between those risky hires and our risky hire is that those risky hires have big upsides, as you mentioned. Ours doesn't. I'd compare the Lavin hire to those other hires, in terms of high risk/high reward. Those risky hires also make our risky hire's job a whole lot harder.
Agreed and there is no way Matta is the same risk as any of the other hires. Only issue is his health, if he feels right it is a grand slam hire. His resume is far and away better than anyone in the conference save Jay and 6 years ago it would have been better than Jay's.
Don't see how this is even arguable. He told Goodie he feels great and if so it is as you say a grand slam hire.