[quote="dee" post=382540][quote="MCNPA" post=382408][quote="panther2" post=382388][quote="mjmaherjr" post=382380][quote="Monte" post=382378][quote="mjmaherjr" post=382377]Put 8 players on a team and have any coach coach them. Pitino would have them playing better than any coach within top 5.. Not knock on any coach but he is top 5. Blaming him for cheating you might as well blame almost any coach too but he will have that 5 playing just as well if not better than almost everyone else[/quote]
Mike you think he could have done more with this group of kids this year then CMA did?[/quote]
Yes but that's not a discredit to CMA and maybe he would have only more than one or 2 more. It's not a Pitino vs CMA thing. It's just stating how good I think he is.
I think he's top 5. Its not like I'm saying I think CMA is top 200. It's just acknowledging that dont fact what he is personally just coaching Pitino is as close to a program changer sure bet as there is. And lets not ( not saying you ) but think virtually every coach doesn't cheat ( I think CMA is probably more honest than all of them or most of them )[/quote]
I happen to disagree with you Mike. I don't believe that Pitino would have had the patience and demeanor to be successful with this year's team. Coach Anderson's success was about more than just X and O's, it was about taking a group of players and molding them into a cohesive unit. It was about bonding and building character. It was about overcoming obstacles and being resilient.
How many times did those of us on this board write the season off? Heron got injured and missed a few games, came back was not himself and finally had to sit out the last part of the season. LJ was up and down all season before coming on at the end. Rutherford's role changed throughout the season but he always played hard and was instrumental in helping the team win a few games. Towards the end of the season, he was playing his best basketball. Dunn gave us all that he had, while adjusting to the Big East. Caraher accepted his role and came up big in some games. The progress that Williams, Earlington, and Roberts made this year is a product of the player development capabilities of Coach Anderson and his staff. Sears was definitely limited offensively, but never backed down from anyone. Champagnie, who very few of us , myself included, thought was a Big East player, exceeded all expectations and became a member of the All Big East Freshman team. Coach Anderson rewarded Cole for his contribution over the years by giving him minutes towards the end of the season. You better believe that the others players saw and respected this.
Coach Anderson created a positive vibe, where the players were continually encouraged and supported, while also being held accountable. The familial atmosphere around the program helped the players to bond as a team and have each others back. The results this season are a testament to Coach Anderson's ability as a coach and as a leader of young men.
I do not believe that Pitino would have had the patience or the tolerance to be successful with this group of players. It has nothing to do with coaching ability, more with his personality and sense of entitlement. These players would have been beneath him.[/quote]
I’ll go further and say that I don’t think Pitino is nearly as good as being made out to be and a ton of his success was due to his cheating. He got awesome players at most spots. It’s precisely the d
difference between a guy like Slick Rick and CMA. Give CMA the talent that Rick paid for all those years and CMA might have won a few NC’s with the talent difference. He certainly would have not been at SJU and likely some blue blood. I don’t think Rick could have done any better with this years team.[/quote]
If Pitino had been hired by sju he would not have had this team. He would have brought more talented players here. Watch what he does with iona. The sky is the limit[/quote]
Just curious as to where the more talented players would have come from. By April, the more talented players have already committed to a school. Pitino is a good coach, but he ain't walking on water. The belief that he could have recruited great players in April is "delusional".
