Possible Coaching Candidates

[IDRAFT]

I agree that Pitino is a great coach. He is better than Calipari any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I agree that he is a better coach than all the coaches you mentioned, except Bobby Knight. If we are going to evaluate Pitino strictly on his coaching ability, then Knight should be evaluated in the same way. I have always been a big Bob Knight fan.

I had this same conversation with a friend (Syracuse grad) who LOVES Boeheim and he was saying Pitino is the best coach he ever saw. And I reminded him he saw Knight and he amended it to second best for Pitino. And we both put Wooden ahead of him too because we were young then but that's a ton of winning. I know, Alcindor/Jabbar and Walton but still.

In any event still some serious company to be keeping.

 

[NCJohnnie]

I had this same conversation with a friend (Syracuse grad) who LOVES Boeheim and he was saying Pitino is the best coach he ever saw. And I reminded him he saw Knight and he amended it to second best for Pitino. And we both put Wooden ahead of him too because we were young then but that's a ton of winning. I know, Alcindor/Jabbar and Walton but still.

In any event still some serious company to be keeping.

Two of my favorite coaches are Tom Izzo & Jay Wright and I don't think there's ever been allegations against either.

 

[kranmars]

This is not to suggest Pitino can't recruit or doesn't get high level players. He does of course. But this is a myth that he only wins with those players.

And this is not to be a Pitino apologist for some of his personal baggage which he definitely has.

But this is not a controversial statement, he maybe the best pure coach of his generation. And many will tell you that. Give me any 10 guys and give me a week to prepare them for a big game and then give me any coach to pick, I am picking Rick. Over K, Dean Smith, Knight etc...

A few years back Jim Boeheim was on Center Stage on YES with Michael Kay and he gave him a hypothetical, it's Monday in April and you are playing for the National Championship. You look down the other end, who is the ONE COACH YOU DO NOT WANT to face?

He did not hesitate, he said Rick Pitino.

Hopefully within the next five years, some coach will have that identical experience playing against SJU.

 

[RedStormRising]

RSR, you mean as opposed to us banning ourselves from postseason play?

exactly!

 

[monte]

Two of my favorite coaches are Tom Izzo & Jay Wright and I don't think there's ever been allegations against either.

Jay had some issues years ago:

Villanova hoops put on two-year probation

Villanova's men's basketball team was placed on two years' probation by the NCAA on Thursday for recruiting and benefits violations.

www.espn.com

 

[monte]

I had this same conversation with a friend (Syracuse grad) who LOVES Boeheim and he was saying Pitino is the best coach he ever saw. And I reminded him he saw Knight and he amended it to second best for Pitino. And we both put Wooden ahead of him too because we were young then but that's a ton of winning. I know, Alcindor/Jabbar and Walton but still.

In any event still some serious company to be keeping.

I loved Wooden and those UCLA teams, but Wooden isn't Wooden without Sam Gilbert.

 

[billyfa]

Jay had some issues years ago:

Villanova hoops put on two-year probation

Villanova's men's basketball team was placed on two years' probation by the NCAA on Thursday for recruiting and benefits violations.

www.espn.com

Izzo has definitely had some minor infractions, I think he's been suspended for a game or two, and he didn't come out glowing in that Michigan state sexual allegation disaster (Nassar?).

 

[NCJohnnie]

Izzo has definitely had some minor infractions, I think he's been suspended for a game or two, and he didn't come out glowing in that Michigan state sexual allegation disaster (Nassar?).

Fair enough although Wright stuff was pretty minor imho.

 

[monte]

Fair enough although Wright stuff was pretty minor imho.

I guess the point being NCJ, is that even the great ones crossed line. And let's face facts, usually what's known is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[billyfa]

I guess the point being NCJ, is that even the great ones crossed line. And let's face facts, usually what's known is just the tip of the iceberg.

And that's even outside of coaching. Humans make errors. Me included lol.

 

[fordham96]

The only legitimate reason to be against hiring Pitino is his age. How long can he coach and what kind of a transition happens in 5-6 years.

But please don't insult my intelligence by telling me you have same level of confidence as hiring Speedy Claxton because the only reason Putino wins is because he cheats...lol

 

[NCJohnnie]

I guess the point being NCJ, is that even the great ones crossed line. And let's face facts, usually what's known is just the tip of the iceberg.

I hear that narrative Monte, but not sure I buy the fact that everyone does it to close to the same degree and I don't equate Wright, Few & Izzo with some of the more egregious offenders. Just my view.

 

[monte]

And that's even outside of coaching. Humans make errors. Me included lol.

We all do Billy. What I don't get is the "selective outrage" and "selective forgiveness" exhibited by so many. Let's face facts, if John Wooden were to raise from the dead, our fan base would be clamoring for him to be our coach. In spite of the fact that pretty much every kid who played for him was bought by Sam Gilbert. But, ya know, Wooden looked and spoke like a gentleman, and was so wise, blah, blah, blah. Let's stop with the hypocrisy people.

 

[monte]

I hear that narrative Monte, but not sure I buy the fact that everyone does it to close to the same degree and I don't equate Wright, Few & Izzo with some of the more egregious offenders. Just my view.

That's partly because they look and act differently. See my post about Wooden, arguably the most egregious offender ever. Anyhow NCJ, always appreciate and respect your POV.

 

[L J S A]

What happens first? Pitino to St. John's or Rodgers to the Jets?

Rodgers actually has a way bigger ego if you can believe that, so he’ll want to go first and have a week of back pages to himself.

 

[SJU85]

Firstly, my post was in jest!
It was a reference to the amenities Rick Pitino and his players enjoyed at Kentucky. St. John's will NEVER have those pampered players facilities.
As for the hairstylists, it was poking fun at MALE college athletes today who think looking like Brittney Griner is masculine. Yeah, Yeah, I know it's a current hair style!

You said:
"You want to be a big time D1 program, then you get the coach, who gets the players and support him with the appropriate budgets and facilities. Right now we are lagging behind on all fronts."

Don't expect a 71 year old Pitino to recruit at the level of his days at Kentucky or Louisville. St. John's will never be able to duplicate the NIL offers of those schools or any top power 5 school. Matching a recruiting budget is the easiest part to address. Spending $100 million to improve the facilities because "the coach" wants it is not going to happen. I'm sorry to piss on your wishful thinking but Pitino has at most another 4 years left of coaching. No new fieldhouse, on-campus arena, dedicated athletic dorms, are happening in the time period.

Finally, let's hire a coach before we steal all those basketball players from basketball powerhouses like Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, Marquette, Houston, Miami, Alabama, and Xavier. will rely on his assistants to do the heavy lifting in recruiting and him closing the deal. Something some of h

Firstly, my post was in jest!
It was a reference to the amenities Rick Pitino and his players enjoyed at Kentucky. St. John's will NEVER have those pampered players facilities.
As for the hairstylists, it was poking fun at MALE college athletes today who think looking like Brittney Griner is masculine. Yeah, Yeah, I know it's a current hair style!

You said:
"You want to be a big time D1 program, then you get the coach, who gets the players and support him with the appropriate budgets and facilities. Right now we are lagging behind on all fronts."

Don't expect a 71 year old Pitino to recruit at the level of his days at Kentucky or Louisville. St. John's will never be able to duplicate the NIL offers of those schools or any top power 5 school. Matching a recruiting budget is the easiest part to address. Spending $100 million to improve the facilities because "the coach" wants it is not going to happen. I'm sorry to piss on your wishful thinking but Pitino has at most another 4 years left of coaching. No new fieldhouse, on-campus arena, dedicated athletic dorms, are happening in the time period.

Finally, let's hire a coach before we steal all those basketball players from basketball powerhouses like Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, Marquette, Houston, Miami, Alabama, and Xavier.

Wherever Pitino lands, I expect his assistants to do the heavy lifting with him closing the deal and in this case he still has the rep to be able to do that.

Not raining idling my parade as O don’t expect a new on campus or near campus arena and money is just part of the reason. I do expect the budget for more upgrades as we have received done a both facilities and more games at available pro arenas. I also expect a bigger budget for incidentals including recruiting, travel and accommodations. If you are going to hire big, then go big.

You don’t hear me talking about stealing players from anybody but if Pitino were to come, I expect recruiting to improve and more parties getting involved and increasing NIL deals.

Lastly, I don’t expect Pitino to be here more than 5 years. That is enough time to generate excitement and rebuild a foundation to make us relevant again.

 

[redmannorth]

Wherever Pitino lands, I expect his assistants to do the heavy lifting with him closing the deal and in this case he still has the rep to be able to do that.

Not raining idling my parade as O don’t expect a new on campus or near campus arena and money is just part of the reason. I do expect the budget for more upgrades as we have received done a both facilities and more games at available pro arenas. I also expect a bigger budget for incidentals including recruiting, travel and accommodations. If you are going to hire big, then go big.

You don’t hear me talking about stealing players from anybody but if Pitino were to come, I expect recruiting to improve and more parties getting involved and increasing NIL deals.

Lastly, I don’t expect Pitino to be here more than 5 years. That is enough time to generate excitement and rebuild a foundation to make us relevant again.

Agree with every word of your post 85. If it is Pitino everything will have to be improved but there will be no new on campus arena.
Time will tell and with what should be a record number of players in the transfer portal hopefully we will have a new coach within the next week.
I really like the players we had this season and I like the 3 recruits we have. We are guaranteed to loose Mathis and Nyiewe and who knows who else, Pinzon, Andre, though I never want any kid to leave. This is no rebuild and there could be a great base to build off of. The new coach only has to pluck 2-3 good kids from the portal and we will be in very good shape. Remember all 13 kids can’t be stars. Very excited to see how things play out.

 

[SJU85]

Rodgers actually has a way bigger ego if you can believe that, so he’ll want to go first and have a week of back pages to himself.

I doubt Roger’s even thinks there is a possibility that he won’t be back page (and possibly front page) news.

 

[mjmaherjr]

Guys - can we please stay on topic? If you want to talk about how many times you piss at night or other unrelated nonsense, please post in the maher thread or take it to pms.

Thanks.

please everyone keep on topic and stop pissing in peoples cheerios and dont you dare piss in the Maher thread

I've gone from 100% confident we are getting Pitino to 85% but that's still better than my confidence we would be better under CMA next year. For some reason I'm riveted by the hofstra game right now

 

[Rocket]

Wherever Pitino lands, I expect his assistants to do the heavy lifting with him closing the deal and in this case he still has the rep to be able to do that.

Not raining idling my parade as O don’t expect a new on campus or near campus arena and money is just part of the reason. I do expect the budget for more upgrades as we have received done a both facilities and more games at available pro arenas. I also expect a bigger budget for incidentals including recruiting, travel and accommodations. If you are going to hire big, then go big.

You don’t hear me talking about stealing players from anybody but if Pitino were to come, I expect recruiting to improve and more parties getting involved and increasing NIL deals.

Lastly, I don’t expect Pitino to be here more than 5 years. That is enough time to generate excitement and rebuild a foundation to make us relevant again.

Glad you agreed with everything I said.
However, just a reminder that this is not Louisville or Kentucky where assistants had carte blanche. The head coach will have to do more than just close the deal.

If, after all this wishful thinking, the deal to get Pitino falls through, I expect Speedy Claxton to be a leading contender. He prepares his teams well, has an excellent in-game aptitude with substitutions and time outs, is a local basketball legend and comes with fewer demands in the short run but with longer term benefits with the right assistants.