Pitino and Iona

[quote="L J S A" post=381974]This seems like a pretty clear indication that all the posters who last year said Pitino would never come to St. John's were wrong.[/quote]

There is no doubt in my mind he would have come to SJU IF they had called. Pretty obvious they had no interest. Anybody thinks he preferred to be in Greece rather than coach SJU in his native NY in the BE is crazy. It was just clear SJU was not going down that road. When James Jones of Yale was a serious candidate you knew they were not going to call Rick.
 
Would have been interesting to see what he'd be able to do at a school like DePaul.

And I wonder how long this was in the works.
 
Given the choice between Pitino and CMA then I would take CMA.
 
Ive always like Pitino and wanted ua to pursue him pre-CMA hire, but these posts that predict a powerhouse Iona are delusional IMO...he will no doubt elevate them relative to where they are...but, its not like he landed at a sleeping giant and all eyes will be on him should he start landing recruits that they otherwise would have no business being involved with.

Doubt UCONN, Nova or even SH and Providence are sweating this hire. More interesting than impactful. Frankly,, as one other poster mentioned, I wish he had landed at DePaul
 
[quote="redmannorth" post=381986]I can see him attracting grad transfers, jucos with 1 or 2 years left, transfers and 2-3 star kids to Iona. I have a very difficult time seeing him recruit 4 and 5 star kids to New Rochelle. Truth be told I have a hard time seeing him get 3 star recruits who want the big time college feel and experience.
In any event he can clearly coach with the best of them. We shall see what will transpire but for Me the sky is not falling by any means.[/quote]

Truth is that a good percentage of Cluess' recruits at Iona were transfers, JUCO's, etc.
 
Right. Ditto for the Hall. But I think Pitino recruits nationally there. Frankly, aside from a Ponds-type talent coming out of NYC, I don't think this impacts our recruiting beyond how you stated. I don't see Pitino going for kids like Champaigne, or the type of kids that the Hall has feasted on (Carrington, Desi, Rhoden). I think Pitino will "big game hunt" like he always has at prior stops and be successful in doing so.

With Macon and the relationships Anderson is building locally I still think we get our share on the type of kids from NYC/local AAU programs that are attainable.

Of course, the "leader" of the other board has already professed this as doomsday for St Johns when it comes to local recruiting. He killed Champagne when we landed the kid, and now has had to eat some crow because of that. He said the same about Posh and while that is unknown I'm feeling pretty good. If Anderson continues to win games, and the staff continues to grind on the recruiting-side, I think we'll be just fine.

[quote="Moose" post=381961]Pitino will feast off transfers coming home. That’s where it got harder for SJU.[/quote]
 
[quote="fordham96" post=381990][quote="L J S A" post=381974]This seems like a pretty clear indication that all the posters who last year said Pitino would never come to St. John's were wrong.[/quote]

I he was willing to accept the Iona head coaching job, he would have come here in a heartbeat.

There is no doubt in my mind he would have come to SJU IF they had called. Pretty obvious they had no interest. Anybody thinks he preferred to be in Greece rather than coach SJU in his native NY in the BE is crazy. It was just clear SJU was not going down that road. When James Jones of Yale was a serious candidate you knew they were not going to call Rick.[/quote]
 
What's the over/under in how long he stays? Iona better have a big buyout clause when he walks after making NCAA's as this is entree into making it back to the BIG time.
 
[quote="otis" post=381995]Given the choice between Pitino and CMA then I would take CMA.[/quote]

I absolutely say that now. But do I say that during the hiring process? I doubt it, even though I liked Coach Anderson before his hire here. And Pitino vs. Moser vs. Jones?
 
[quote="Moose" post=382007]LoHud saying it’s slightly less than Cluess 1.1M salary[/quote]
Tells you his wife was desperate to get back to US. He could have waited for much better opportunities to open up.
 
I can’t see Pitino getting 4 and 5 star kids to go play there in the MAAC Conference. What Pitino will do is get the best players at that level with the occasional higher lever player transferring from a bigger school. He will be the king of the MAAC Conference and win it every year and receive an annual NCAA berth. He will upset some top seeds in the tournament and get some press. But, the MAAC is not the Big East. He will probably try to schedule aggressively but no high major school will want to play them. I could be totally wrong on this but I don’t see Iona as a threat to us. CMA and our staff have their recruiting relationships and we will get players.
 
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LJSA wrote: I absolutely say that now. But do I say that during the hiring process? I doubt it, even though I liked Coach Anderson before his hire here. And Pitino vs. Moser vs. Jones?

I didn't want Pitino then and wouldn't want him now. The ultimate glimpse into Pitino is the quote my biggest regret is leaving Providence; anyone want to buy a bridge?
 
[quote="dee" post=381968][quote="RedmanMike" post=381963]The Iona president and AD should be ashamed of themselves.[/quote]
You guys are nuts. I said we should have gotten Pitino last year and people on here laughed. Iona will be a big time team. He will get recruits and they will play in the Garden. Oh yea they will also own the Garden. No way Anderson recruits over Pitino and Hurley at UConn.
Pitino is a winner[/quote]

We blew it big time when we didn't hire Doh.
 
Not sure if question has been raised, but anyone think that the plan may be for Iona to try and get in to Big East in a year or 2?
 
[quote="Monte" post=382019]Not sure if question has been raised, but anyone think that the plan may be for Iona to try and get in to Big East in a year or 2?[/quote]

N/M
 
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[quote="Monte" post=382019]Not sure if question has been raised, but anyone think that the plan may be for Iona to try and get in to Big East in a year or 2?[/quote]

Wouldn’t St. John’s and Seton Hall block that? If we’re them , I would block that in a heartbeat!
 
[quote="Monte" post=382019]Not sure if question has been raised, but anyone think that the plan may be for Iona to try and get in to Big East in a year or 2?[/quote]

Personally don't see that even being a scenario that could happen. Iona has never even fit the profile of a school that would fit the Big East. Plus Pitino is 67, its not like he's dedicated himself to staying there a decade plus to elevate their profile.
 
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[quote="L J S A" post=381974]This seems like a pretty clear indication that all the posters who last year said Pitino would never come to St. John's were wrong.[/quote]

We would never have offered. Too much baggage for our program
 
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