Let's be honest.

Beasts of East:

Still carrying that St. John’s can’t get good players without facility upgrades flag?
Bill,
Rick Pitino, without the dings to his reputation, is a top 10 college coach of all time, easily. He checks every important box - in game coach, player development, game preparedness, recruiter. Still, even with all that, there were things done at a school that had all the resources available, to build a championship caliber roster.

What I've said is that without facilities, without NIL(which has supplanted facilities as #1 importance ) sustained success will not occur for this program.

Anecdotal success can occur. The roster overhaul has been, on paper at least, impressive. Sorry to say, as impressive as it is, we will see just how good this team will be once we get through Charleston and the first 6 conference games. At this juncture last season, after adding Jones and Curbelo and Storr, we were anticipating selection Sunday because we thought this was CMA's best team. We all know how that worked out, another crash and burn of a coaching regime.


Pitino, no question, is an all-time great coach. If you think, though, that we will puncture the highest echelons of top 20 recruits consistently without #1 NIL, and without #2 facilities you are mistaken. The big Shanley gamble isn't whether Pitino can win enough here to get us to dance in March (we almost certainly will sooner than anyone else could for us) but whether philanthropy follows that initial success that will repay the investment and then some.

Reality being harsher than giddy hope, we move forward with a likely $11 million debt to a former coach, facilities that are worst in the big east in dire need of upgrade, NIL that must be raised to compete with the well armed programs.

Already much is being planned to actively and directly raise funds from our base of alums and fans - not just hit up the usual suspects who have already contributed mightily to our school, but to expand that base.

I am thrilled with what RP has done in such a short time, but who on our roster is sure fire to hear his name called in the first round of the nba draft in 13 months?

Even the great Rick Pitino knows what we need to build a sustainable program. The next 12 months will be interesting to see if we will 1) dance next season 2) have a top 10 recruiting class 3) dramatically increase NIL fund raising and 4) get the facilities fund raising campaign underway. It's a heavy lift.

Like everyone, I am very happy. Giddy? Not yet. There's too much to do.
 
Bill,
Rick Pitino, without the dings to his reputation, is a top 10 college coach of all time, easily. He checks every important box - in game coach, player development, game preparedness, recruiter. Still, even with all that, there were things done at a school that had all the resources available, to build a championship caliber roster.

What I've said is that without facilities, without NIL(which has supplanted facilities as #1 importance ) sustained success will not occur for this program.

Anecdotal success can occur. The roster overhaul has been, on paper at least, impressive. Sorry to say, as impressive as it is, we will see just how good this team will be once we get through Charleston and the first 6 conference games. At this juncture last season, after adding Jones and Curbelo and Storr, we were anticipating selection Sunday because we thought this was CMA's best team. We all know how that worked out, another crash and burn of a coaching regime.


Pitino, no question, is an all-time great coach. If you think, though, that we will puncture the highest echelons of top 20 recruits consistently without #1 NIL, and without #2 facilities you are mistaken. The big Shanley gamble isn't whether Pitino can win enough here to get us to dance in March (we almost certainly will sooner than anyone else could for us) but whether philanthropy follows that initial success that will repay the investment and then some.

Reality being harsher than giddy hope, we move forward with a likely $11 million debt to a former coach, facilities that are worst in the big east in dire need of upgrade, NIL that must be raised to compete with the well armed programs.

Already much is being planned to actively and directly raise funds from our base of alums and fans - not just hit up the usual suspects who have already contributed mightily to our school, but to expand that base.

I am thrilled with what RP has done in such a short time, but who on our roster is sure fire to hear his name called in the first round of the nba draft in 13 months?

Even the great Rick Pitino knows what we need to build a sustainable program. The next 12 months will be interesting to see if we will 1) dance next season 2) have a top 10 recruiting class 3) dramatically increase NIL fund raising and 4) get the facilities fund raising campaign underway. It's a heavy lift.

Like everyone, I am very happy. Giddy? Not yet. There's too much to do.
Wow smh
 
Pitino is one of only a very few inner circle HOF guys who can reverse the curse of the 6 worst coaching hires a program can make under two Presidents that had no clue about how to handle the flagship program of not only the sports program but the entire university.

Yeah I said it for all those academias out there.

Nothing benefits the university more than the success of its sports program. I’m sorry if it offends all the righteous educators. Nothing gets alumni more engaged than a successful basketball team. A new Science wing at the university is all good but not a needle mover in raising the national appeal of the University.

That is why guys like Rick Pitino and Jim Calhoun are the highest paid individuals at their universities.

You know how you get the alumni base engaged and raise contributions for facilities. You win!

Thank God Father Shanley recognized that and hired the GOAT.

It is the first time in 3 decades this floundering program is again relevant in the national media.
 
I guess can't make everyone happy but not sure what some posters really want? Who cares about facilities when the intent is more games at msg and even some at usb? I don't hear seton hall crying. Rutgers the Rac isn't that much better. Everyone chill relax.
 
I guess can't make everyone happy but not sure what some posters really want? Who cares about facilities when the intent is more games at msg and even some at usb? I don't hear seton hall crying. Rutgers the Rac isn't that much better. Everyone chill relax.
Facilities don't necessarily mean the arena the games are played. It's the practice gym, weight room, sports med, film, hang out rooms and misc. amenities.
 
Bill,
Rick Pitino, without the dings to his reputation, is a top 10 college coach of all time, easily. He checks every important box - in game coach, player development, game preparedness, recruiter. Still, even with all that, there were things done at a school that had all the resources available, to build a championship caliber roster.

What I've said is that without facilities, without NIL(which has supplanted facilities as #1 importance ) sustained success will not occur for this program.

Anecdotal success can occur. The roster overhaul has been, on paper at least, impressive. Sorry to say, as impressive as it is, we will see just how good this team will be once we get through Charleston and the first 6 conference games. At this juncture last season, after adding Jones and Curbelo and Storr, we were anticipating selection Sunday because we thought this was CMA's best team. We all know how that worked out, another crash and burn of a coaching regime.


Pitino, no question, is an all-time great coach. If you think, though, that we will puncture the highest echelons of top 20 recruits consistently without #1 NIL, and without #2 facilities you are mistaken. The big Shanley gamble isn't whether Pitino can win enough here to get us to dance in March (we almost certainly will sooner than anyone else could for us) but whether philanthropy follows that initial success that will repay the investment and then some.

Reality being harsher than giddy hope, we move forward with a likely $11 million debt to a former coach, facilities that are worst in the big east in dire need of upgrade, NIL that must be raised to compete with the well armed programs.

Already much is being planned to actively and directly raise funds from our base of alums and fans - not just hit up the usual suspects who have already contributed mightily to our school, but to expand that base.

I am thrilled with what RP has done in such a short time, but who on our roster is sure fire to hear his name called in the first round of the nba draft in 13 months?

Even the great Rick Pitino knows what we need to build a sustainable program. The next 12 months will be interesting to see if we will 1) dance next season 2) have a top 10 recruiting class 3) dramatically increase NIL fund raising and 4) get the facilities fund raising campaign underway. It's a heavy lift.

Like everyone, I am very happy. Giddy? Not yet. There's too much to do.
A few things Beast:
I agree wholeheartedly that we still have question marks on the roster, and I to am trying to temper expections, but don't compare what CMA did with last years group (which had the talent to dance) to what Rick will do with this group.

Also, both Soriano and Dingle have the potential to have their names called in the first round next year's draft. Not saying it's going to happen, but wouldn't rule it out.

Lastly the Pitino hire was an investment in our future. Getting rid of Anderson is a case of "cutting your losses". Both very smart business decisions by Fr. Shanley. Money has already flowed in will continue to flow in because of the Pitino factor. Lots of money. And not just from increased donations. There's ticket sales, merchandise, NIL, etc.

The end result will hopefully be that we get upgraded facilities which will lead to better recruiting and a team that will be at or near the top of the Big East every season.

I, for one, see all of this as the catalyst that we need to develop long term success, well beyond Rick's tenure here. Time will tell.
 
I guess can't make everyone happy but not sure what some posters really want? Who cares about facilities when the intent is more games at msg and even some at usb? I don't hear seton hall crying. Rutgers the Rac isn't that much better. Everyone chill relax.
LOL. Go to the Seton Hall message board. There usually isn’t a more depressed, desperate place in college sports when it comes to facilities, NIL and attention in the tri-state area. RU is a state school so different dynamic.

Shanley and Pitino were step 1. Pitino early success coupled with fan attendance and excitement is next. And then capitalizing on that. Big or small, the program needs as much support as possible. Whether it’s Storm Marketing, events or other support.
 
Just to clarify my prior post, when I say that we still have question marks on the roster, I'm talking about things like:

how will the mid-major kids do at this level? how will unproven kids like Zuby, Traore and Dunlap perform?
How will an entirely new team mesh together?
etc, etc.

I absolutely love the depth and balance of our roster. We have size, athleticism, shooting and ball handling. Real balance like we haven't had in a long time. We also have kids who are all hopefully going to completely buy in to the coach's vision, and run through a brick wall for him.

So my "concerns" are really just me being my usual cautious self heading in to next season.
 
Facilities don't necessarily mean the arena the games are played. It's the practice gym, weight room, sports med, film, hang out rooms and misc. amenities.
Isn't CA an adequate practice gym? How bad are the other facilities? I honestly have no clue. I mean, a weight room is a weight room. If we need a new lounge, how much could that cost? A film room is pretty basic. All I keep hearing is that we have the worst facilities in the big east, and I'm not even sure what that means.
 
A few things Beast:
I agree wholeheartedly that we still have question marks on the roster, and I to am trying to temper expections, but don't compare what CMA did with last years group (which had the talent to dance) to what Rick will do with this group.

Also, both Soriano and Dingle have the potential to have their names called in the first round next year's draft. Not saying it's going to happen, but wouldn't rule it out.

Lastly the Pitino hire was an investment in our future. Getting rid of Anderson is a case of "cutting your losses". Both very smart business decisions by Fr. Shanley. Money has already flowed in will continue to flow in because of the Pitino factor. Lots of money. And not just from increased donations. There's ticket sales, merchandise, NIL, etc.

The end result will hopefully be that we get upgraded facilities which will lead to better recruiting and a team that will be at or near the top of the Big East every season.

I, for one, see all of this as the catalyst that we need to develop long term success, well beyond Rick's tenure here. Time will tell.
No disagreement from me. Appreciate your comments
 
The job Pitino has done here is impressive in a very short time he has upgraded this entire roster every player he brought in is an improvement over the ones that left. I can only imagine the talent he will bring in when he has even more time to build relationships.
The idea that this hall of fame coach may be hungrier than ever to achieve success and silence the naysayers is pretty damn exciting!
 
Isn't CA an adequate practice gym? How bad are the other facilities? I honestly have no clue. I mean, a weight room is a weight room. If we need a new lounge, how much could that cost? A film room is pretty basic. All I keep hearing is that we have the worst facilities in the big east, and I'm not even sure what that means.
You know when Villanova got the big $ for their facilities upgrade is when they went to multiple Final Fours and won a National Championship under Jay Wright not when Steve Lappas was controlling the sidelines.

You hire the right coach and win, the contributions will come. Pitino was the right hire.

To a lesser extent Father Shanley parlayed winning annually and making 5 straight NCAAs under Ed Cooley into getting the funds to build Providence’s facilities.

He will get it done here too. Father Shanley wasn’t a home run hire, he was a grand slam.
 
Speechless!!!! I mean there are people who can pivot then there are people who can pivot. This is world class olympic style pivoting. BRAVO!
Moving Season 5 GIF by Friends
 
LOL. Go to the Seton Hall message board. There usually isn’t a more depressed, desperate place in college sports when it comes to facilities, NIL and attention in the tri-state area. RU is a state school so different dynamic.

Shanley and Pitino were step 1. Pitino early success coupled with fan attendance and excitement is next. And then capitalizing on that. Big or small, the program needs as much support as possible. Whether it’s Storm Marketing, events or other support.
The last part is the most important. After Carnesecca retired, and even after Mahoney was fired, there were very good coaches who wanted this job, such as Calapari to name one.

But the school did not capitalize on being a perennial NCAA tournament program, by hiring a coach who could win and shake things up.

Fraschilla did that to an extent (except he was an unhinged) but, to his credit, he put the players in place for Jarvis.

Lavin could have done that except for bad luck (Kennedy injury before the tournament), health (I think he would have had a very good class if not for cancer), and the Board falling in love with the idea of having the greatest player in school history become coach.

Pitino will set a strong foundation and build upward. The plan to follow is crucial.
 
why do we need first round picks in the NBA draft to be successful in college basketball?

Thinking we need that, to me, shows a clear misunderstanding of where modern college basketball is
 
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why do we need first round picks in the NBA draft to be successful in college basketball?
Jack, I don’t know if it’s “first round picks“ but I know that Dingle and Ejiofor both mentioned Pitino specifically taking their game to the next level (NBA). Kids have big dreams. Dingle becomes a 1st round pick and we certainly will hear a lot of “that one year with Pitino” really elevated his game. You can imagine our recruiting videos will focus on that.
 
I imagine helps with recruiting.
Of course it would help. It would be awesome. But to point to our roster and be like "oh I don't foresee any of these guys going first round therefore maybe temper your expectations" doesn't make any sense to me.

College basketball has changed rapidly due to NIL and the portal.

I don't know if everyone here likes the NBA, but the first round nowadays is mostly reserved for 18/19 year olds getting drafted purely off potential.

So in college basketball, you have really good players who are 20-23 years old, who know they aren't getting picked in the first round because of probably their age, but are making good NIL money off their talents anyway, so are just gonna milk college bball for as long as they can.

That is a vast difference from the earlier 2000s where it felt like everyone who was good in CBB was just here as a pit stop, or trying to get out ASAP.

So to fixate on first round picks as a barometer to judge how good our roster can be... IMO... not smart
 
Of course it would help. It would be awesome. But to point to our roster and be like "oh I don't foresee any of these guys going first round therefore maybe temper your expectations" doesn't make any sense to me.

College basketball has changed rapidly due to NIL and the portal.

I don't know if everyone here likes the NBA, but the first round nowadays is mostly reserved for 18/19 year olds getting drafted purely off potential.

So in college basketball, you have really good players who are 20-23 years old, who know they aren't getting picked in the first round because of probably their age, but are making good NIL money off their talents anyway, so are just gonna milk college bball for as long as they can.

That is a vast difference from the earlier 2000s where it felt like everyone who was good in CBB was just here as a pit stop, or trying to get out ASAP.

So to fixate on first round picks as a barometer to judge how good our roster can be... IMO... not smart
Is Calipari even a good game coach?Literally every NBA all star went to Kentucky. I know Kentucky could sell itself and Cal is shady but he can walk into any recruits living room and start rattling off names.
 
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