Pitino Recruiting

[quote="Mike Zaun" post=394946][quote="Moose" post=394945][quote="Mike Zaun" post=394944]Zero chance anyone on here would be unhappy if we signed that kid. 6'10 220.[/quote]

You new here?[/quote]

You're implying the guy who has been by far most vocal about how we need 6'10 220+ bigs would be disappointed if we got him?! I'd be thrilled![/quote]

You said zero chance anyone would complain. You might be fine with it but the is absolutely 100% chance ppl would complain here.
 
[quote="Moose" post=394947][quote="Mike Zaun" post=394946][quote="Moose" post=394945][quote="Mike Zaun" post=394944]Zero chance anyone on here would be unhappy if we signed that kid. 6'10 220.[/quote]

You new here?[/quote]

You're implying the guy who has been by far most vocal about how we need 6'10 220+ bigs would be disappointed if we got him?! I'd be thrilled![/quote]

You said zero chance anyone would complain. You might be fine with it but the is absolutely 100% chance ppl would complain here.[/quote]

Maybe but probably the least people to ever complain on here if some did. When was the last time we had a 6'10+ 220+ who could score well and be an average defender?
 
Anybody watch the kid play?? The kid can barely run the court. Has some decent skills around the basket but would never survive in Mike Anderson’s system. I don’t see what everybody is getting excited about. This kid doesn’t look like a stud we missed out on in any way, and he’s not a 5-star kid here.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=394923]Look, it's time we get used to it. In the MAAC, Pitino will likely see the NCAA's every single season. His pitch is simple. We will build a great team in a weaker division, play a national schedule OOC, and make the dance every single year, and do damage there.

To me there is little question he will out recruit us. On the court he is easily a top 10 coach. The only reason he is at Iona is that the baggage was just too much for better programs to swallow. Iona was perfect for him - he wasn't signing up for a failed mid-major program. Cluess made Iona easily the class of the MAAC.

There was just no way this was going to happen at St. John's, and even if there was a chance, he isn't here. My guess is that he will be competitive nationally very quickly. That's all there is to it really.[/quote]

There is no question Pitino will out recruit any school in his conference. But even he can't make Iona a national power or destination. My prediction is one or two years at Iona at best until Jim Dolan fires the next Knicks coach. Then he'll earn another 10 million for a couple of years and retire to horseracing. ;)
 
I have no clue as to Rick Pitino's long-term plan, but I think what Iona desires is to not only dominate the MAAC and get the automatic bid, but to play power conference teams, with Iona's home venue being MSG, get on national television and get a better NCAA tourney seed. In the past, the MAAC winner would be consigned to a very low seed, which made it a one and done fate,
Give Pitino a higher seed, say a 12, and an upset victory over a five seed is a real possibility. Also, I would love to see an SJU-Iona game every year in late December develop into a big draw, at MSG.
 
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[quote="NCJohnnie" post=394932]Beast of the East wrote: What would our fans say if we signed the #4 center in the class of 2021?


Beast, he is #4 center in the state of Kentucky, #25 center nationally and ranked #191 overall by 247sports recruiting service. Solid pickup for Pitino nonetheless.[/quote]

Not sure if he corrected it, but it was definitely poor writing by Zags, who said he was No. 4 center in 2021, which I immediately recognized as a mistake. He definitely looked like a reach for the ACC with those numbers at a no-name high school, but I won't be shocked at all if he shows great improvement under Pitino's tutoring..
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=394964][quote="Beast of the East" post=394923]Look, it's time we get used to it. In the MAAC, Pitino will likely see the NCAA's every single season. His pitch is simple. We will build a great team in a weaker division, play a national schedule OOC, and make the dance every single year, and do damage there.

To me there is little question he will out recruit us. On the court he is easily a top 10 coach. The only reason he is at Iona is that the baggage was just too much for better programs to swallow. Iona was perfect for him - he wasn't signing up for a failed mid-major program. Cluess made Iona easily the class of the MAAC.

There was just no way this was going to happen at St. John's, and even if there was a chance, he isn't here. My guess is that he will be competitive nationally very quickly. That's all there is to it really.[/quote]

There is no question Pitino will out recruit any school in his conference. But even he can't make Iona a national power or destination. My prediction is one or two years at Iona at best until Jim Dolan fires the next Knicks coach. Then he'll earn another 10 million for a couple of years and retire to horseracing. ;)[/quote]

Depends what you mean by a "national power". I say top 25 by year 3 and consistent top 25 for as long as he sticks around. I know it was a long time ago, but Valvano did a pretty good job at Iona in his 5 years there. Granted he wasn't exactly above board, but neither is Pitino. I expect similar results.
 
[quote="Monte" post=394979]
Depends what you mean by a "national power". I say top 25 by year 3 and consistent top 25 for as long as he sticks around. I know it was a long time ago, but Valvano did a pretty good job at Iona in his 5 years there. Granted he wasn't exactly above board, but neither is Pitino. I expect similar results.[/quote]

Different world. Won't happen for Pitino at Iona in my opinion. I think he's a HOF coach and was the best implementer/innovator of the newfangled "three point" shot in college basketball but Valvano was a young, hungry guy in his element on an upward trajectory in the 1970s. Pitino is an old guy with a lot accomplished and nothing to prove really other than he's not too old.. He's also under the microscope and he won't be doing any innovative recruiting that he could get away with at powerful schools. I think he will do well but he won't make Iona a top 25 team.
 
Pitino will get kids and succeed as he always does. SJU staff and fans are better served concentrating on moving up in BE, rather than dwelling on shiny objects.
 
[quote="Paul Massell" post=394981][quote="Monte" post=394979]
Depends what you mean by a "national power". I say top 25 by year 3 and consistent top 25 for as long as he sticks around. I know it was a long time ago, but Valvano did a pretty good job at Iona in his 5 years there. Granted he wasn't exactly above board, but neither is Pitino. I expect similar results.[/quote]

Different world. Won't happen for Pitino at Iona in my opinion. I think he's a HOF coach and was the best implementer/innovator of the newfangled "three point" shot in college basketball but Valvano was a young, hungry guy in his element on an upward trajectory in the 1970s. Pitino is an old guy with a lot accomplished and nothing to prove really other than he's not too old.. He's also under the microscope and he won't be doing any innovative recruiting that he could get away with at powerful schools. I think he will do well but he won't make Iona a top 25 team.[/quote]

Respectfully disagree Paul, that he doesn't have something to prove. Pitino will always have something to prove, it's his nature. And especially now. He's old but there's still a lot of gas left in that tank IMO.
 
This kids highlight video is comical- honestly entertaining. Don’t think he faced anyone over 6’4. Decent ability to finish- but I wouldn’t sweat this one. We need guys who get up and down.
 
[quote="Monte" post=394985]
Respectfully disagree Paul, that he doesn't have something to prove. Pitino will always have something to prove, it's his nature. And especially now. He's old but there's still a lot of gas left in that tank IMO.[/quote]

Even so, I don't think we are in a time where Pitino could come into Iona and make them a top 25 team. Maybe sniff it in a given year but not consistently. I love college basketball as a coach's game but it is barely hanging onto that and there are only a few coaches that distinguish themselves in that way. All the rest do it by recruiting. Different world than when Pitino came up and certainly no comparison to 1970s. I think I recall Calhoun's Div III St Joseph squad beating Yukon but if a great coach could make any team top 25 then Calhoun would have had a lot of money thrown at him the past several years to fix some big name schools and get them into the top 25.
 
[quote="Paul Massell" post=394987][quote="Monte" post=394985]
Respectfully disagree Paul, that he doesn't have something to prove. Pitino will always have something to prove, it's his nature. And especially now. He's old but there's still a lot of gas left in that tank IMO.[/quote]

Even so, I don't think we are in a time where Pitino could come into Iona and make them a top 25 team. Maybe sniff it in a given year but not consistently. I love college basketball as a coach's game but it is barely hanging onto that and there are only a few coaches that distinguish themselves in that way. All the rest do it by recruiting. Different world than when Pitino came up and certainly no comparison to 1970s. I think I recall Calhoun's Div III St Joseph squad beating Yukon but if a great coach could make any team top 25 then Calhoun would have had a lot of money thrown at him the past several years to fix some big name schools and get them into the top 25.[/quote]

Put me in the boat who also don't think Pitino will consistently field a top 25 Iona squad. Maybe in a given year or parts of a season, but not consistently. He'll fare a quality and competitive team similar to Cluess but Pitino will emphasize defense.

Besides, I don't think Pitino will be coaching Iona past year 3. Just my opinion.
 
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[quote="NCJohnnie" post=394932]Beast of the East wrote: What would our fans say if we signed the #4 center in the class of 2021?


Beast, he is #4 center in the state of Kentucky, #25 center nationally and ranked #191 overall by 247sports recruiting service. Solid pickup for Pitino nonetheless.[/quote]

Thanks for the correction. Big difference. I appreciate the correction
 
[quote="MJDinkins" post=394988][quote="Paul Massell" post=394987][quote="Monte" post=394985]
Respectfully disagree Paul, that he doesn't have something to prove. Pitino will always have something to prove, it's his nature. And especially now. He's old but there's still a lot of gas left in that tank IMO.[/quote]

Even so, I don't think we are in a time where Pitino could come into Iona and make them a top 25 team. Maybe sniff it in a given year but not consistently. I love college basketball as a coach's game but it is barely hanging onto that and there are only a few coaches that distinguish themselves in that way. All the rest do it by recruiting. Different world than when Pitino came up and certainly no comparison to 1970s. I think I recall Calhoun's Div III St Joseph squad beating Yukon but if a great coach could make any team top 25 then Calhoun would have had a lot of money thrown at him the past several years to fix some big name schools and get them into the top 25.[/quote]

Put me in the boat who also don't think Pitino will consistently field a top 25 Iona squad. Maybe in a given year or parts of a season, but not consistently. He'll fare a quality and competitive team similar to Cluess but Pitino will emphasize defense.

Besides, I don't think Pitino will be coaching Iona past year 3. Just my opinion.[/quote]

Agree on all points. Did anyone pay attention to the first class he brought in to Iona? Sure he was grabbing kids at the last minute. But there were some pretty low rankings, not a ton of talent. Yes he's a legendary coach who will coach kids up and get the most out of them. But let's not go overboard.

Also to the people thinking this recruit was a great get. Go watch the highlight videos provided ....
 
[quote="MJDinkins" post=394988][quote="Paul Massell" post=394987][quote="Monte" post=394985]
Respectfully disagree Paul, that he doesn't have something to prove. Pitino will always have something to prove, it's his nature. And especially now. He's old but there's still a lot of gas left in that tank IMO.[/quote]

Even so, I don't think we are in a time where Pitino could come into Iona and make them a top 25 team. Maybe sniff it in a given year but not consistently. I love college basketball as a coach's game but it is barely hanging onto that and there are only a few coaches that distinguish themselves in that way. All the rest do it by recruiting. Different world than when Pitino came up and certainly no comparison to 1970s. I think I recall Calhoun's Div III St Joseph squad beating Yukon but if a great coach could make any team top 25 then Calhoun would have had a lot of money thrown at him the past several years to fix some big name schools and get them into the top 25.[/quote]

Put me in the boat who also don't think Pitino will consistently field a top 25 Iona squad. Maybe in a given year or parts of a season, but not consistently. He'll fare a quality and competitive team similar to Cluess but Pitino will emphasize defense.

Besides, I don't think Pitino will be coaching Iona past year 3. Just my opinion.[/quote]

I give him 3-5 years, he avoids scandal and reestablishes himself, then he bolts for a high D1 job. He'll be in his early 70's then, still young enough to have a nice run at another school. I know he'll be watched very closely, but so are other coaches. He'll play by the same rules as most other college coaches with regard to recruiting. Maybe just a little more cautious. He's succeeded every where else that he's coached, no reason to think he won't at Iona. Having said all that, wouldn't trade him for CMA for all the tea in China, if that's sill an acceptable term to use. lol.
 
[quote="Monte" post=395022][quote="MJDinkins" post=394988][quote="Paul Massell" post=394987][quote="Monte" post=394985]
Respectfully disagree Paul, that he doesn't have something to prove. Pitino will always have something to prove, it's his nature. And especially now. He's old but there's still a lot of gas left in that tank IMO.[/quote]

Even so, I don't think we are in a time where Pitino could come into Iona and make them a top 25 team. Maybe sniff it in a given year but not consistently. I love college basketball as a coach's game but it is barely hanging onto that and there are only a few coaches that distinguish themselves in that way. All the rest do it by recruiting. Different world than when Pitino came up and certainly no comparison to 1970s. I think I recall Calhoun's Div III St Joseph squad beating Yukon but if a great coach could make any team top 25 then Calhoun would have had a lot of money thrown at him the past several years to fix some big name schools and get them into the top 25.[/quote]

Put me in the boat who also don't think Pitino will consistently field a top 25 Iona squad. Maybe in a given year or parts of a season, but not consistently. He'll fare a quality and competitive team similar to Cluess but Pitino will emphasize defense.

Besides, I don't think Pitino will be coaching Iona past year 3. Just my opinion.[/quote]

I give him 3-5 years, he avoids scandal and reestablishes himself, then he bolts for a high D1 job. He'll be in his early 70's then, still young enough to have a nice run at another school. I know he'll be watched very closely, but so are other coaches. He'll play by the same rules as most other college coaches with regard to recruiting. Maybe just a little more cautious. He's succeeded every where else that he's coached, no reason to think he won't at Iona. Having said all that, wouldn't trade him for CMA for all the tea in China, if that's sill an acceptable term to use. lol.[/quote]

Just think about this in terms of Pitino and St. John's. If he really really wanted the SJU job, he would have quietly arranged to drop by campus to say hi, charmed the pants off everyone, acted contrite, and perhaps even be offered a job. Just like local area recruits, he dropped a lame comment about not being contacted by St. John's about the vacancy, likely just to get his name out in people's minds that he is available and interested.

In terms of Iona, Pitino will know when to get off of that carousel, and it will be when it serves Pitino best. He may be there till his career ends, or he may jump ship if something better comes along.
 
I can tell you exactly how long Pitino will be at Iona - until the day he gets offered a better job.

Remember, this is a guy who sued Louisville for $40M for wrongful termination, and then less than a year later said that "I deserved to be fired" at Louisville. He says whatever he thinks you want to hear.
 
[quote="RedmanMike" post=395085]I can tell you exactly how long Pitino will be at Iona - until the day he gets offered a better job.

Remember, this is a guy who sued Louisville for $40M for wrongful termination, and then less than a year later said that "I deserved to be fired" at Louisville. He says whatever he thinks you want to hear.[/quote]

This does not make sense. Just because you get fired does not mean you don't think you should get paid the money you would be owed as part of a normal buyout. Pitino did not sue for damages he sued for money he was OWED under a normal firing, Lousiville chose not to pay his buyout because they fired him "for cause." All that means is they fred Pitino for something other than performance related.

His buyout was RIDICULOUSLY high and no one in his situation would have simply walked away from that without trying to get some of it if not all of it.
 
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