Tubby Smith Out at Minnesota

[dee]

Tubby Smith & Keady, then what do we need Lavin for?

Lavin is the PR guy

Coach Lavin is going to make you all look so silly for doubting him. His plan was never to have a team that could win a first round game in 2012-2013, it was to build a team that could contend for a title as upperclassmen. Maybe that looks improssible from the view at this moment, but remember James Southerland averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds as a SOPH at Syracuse. Look at him now. All these kids you think are busts or not worthy of their rankings stick around and bring back physical and mental maturity as juniors and seniors.

Sampson and Obekepa will be exponentially better by the end of next season. I can't believe how much better Obekpa is now compared to when he first stepped foot on the court. That is tough to see becasue his blocked shots went down. Dom looks like he's starting to put it together and when he does, look out. This team needs a combined 40+ pounds extra of muscle on the court come November.

Southerland played 14 MPG as a soph, 16 as a junior. Only this year did he get to 29 MPG.

Marco, Christian and Felix are the only guys who averaged less MPG than that this year. Everyone else above 20.

dont misinterpret my remarks, I like Lavin a lot and want him as the coach here for a long time

 

[austour]

Tubby isn't a good fit for the AD (as noted in an earlier post, he and his assistant AD were the VCU guys who brought in Shaka Smart), who probably panicked when UCLA cut Howland loose, and fearing he wont get Smart now, fired Tubby even though it looks unfair. Those guys are convinced they can make Minnesota a premier basketball power, even if recent history says otherwise. Maybe they can convince Smart to rejoin them, which would be impressive. I like Tubby and all, but he doesn't inspire elite recruits to join him and that's what this is all about for Minnesota. It is brutal here in Big Ten country, and I don't see Minnesota beating Michigan State, Ohio State, or Indiana for the premier recruits in this conference, but I guess its possible. I just hope they don't end up taking a Buzz Williams or someone from our new conference as we need our coaches to stay and grow these programs to make the new Big East a viable option for recruits.

Buzz Williams -- that's the one I'm concerned about. He'd be a great catch for them and, as you implied, a blow to the new Big East.

I wouldn't look at it that way. Williams folllowed Tim Crean, and has done very well obviously. While a new hire always has risks attached, if an AD understands what coach fits the program, it will continue to be successful.

Similarly Todd Likliter, while not performing to Brad Stevens standards, won 70% of his games and made 2 Sweet 16s at Butler, including the team he left there when he took the Iowa job and opened the door for Stevens. Of course Butler also gave Thad Matta his first head coaching job so they seem to know what they're doing a la Xavier. Some schools just seem to have the right plan.

 

[SJU85]

Since Keady is only an "adviser", he is not allowed to directly instruct players on the court on in the huddle during a game.

To add about Mr. Southerland, he is a 5th year Senior having redshirted his freshman year (he came out of high school the same year as Devin Ebanks).

 

[indyredmen97]

Tubby isn't a good fit for the AD (as noted in an earlier post, he and his assistant AD were the VCU guys who brought in Shaka Smart), who probably panicked when UCLA cut Howland loose, and fearing he wont get Smart now, fired Tubby even though it looks unfair. Those guys are convinced they can make Minnesota a premier basketball power, even if recent history says otherwise. Maybe they can convince Smart to rejoin them, which would be impressive. I like Tubby and all, but he doesn't inspire elite recruits to join him and that's what this is all about for Minnesota. It is brutal here in Big Ten country, and I don't see Minnesota beating Michigan State, Ohio State, or Indiana for the premier recruits in this conference, but I guess its possible. I just hope they don't end up taking a Buzz Williams or someone from our new conference as we need our coaches to stay and grow these programs to make the new Big East a viable option for recruits.

Buzz Williams -- that's the one I'm concerned about. He'd be a great catch for them and, as you implied, a blow to the new Big East. (Come to think of it, I hope Brad Stevens isn't lured away from Butler. At this point, he IS the Butler program, the difference between an annual Tournament team and just another mid-major.)

Without any inside info, the feeling among many here with close ties to Butler is that Stevens is not considering leaving at this time. I happen to agree, Stevens has very strong roots here in Indianapolis (read: his wife), the program has grown exponentially under his control. I honestly think now he has a recruiting edge over in state rivals Purdue and Notre Dame (he has a bigger city, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Fox Sports broadcasting all of his games, and a post season tournament at the Garden). Who would have thought that? Two years ago Butler games were broadcast mostly on local TV, and in the Horizon league. Stevens won't have to go to a bigger program, this program will be a monster in the next few years and he knows it.

 

[kranmars]

Tubby isn't a good fit for the AD (as noted in an earlier post, he and his assistant AD were the VCU guys who brought in Shaka Smart), who probably panicked when UCLA cut Howland loose, and fearing he wont get Smart now, fired Tubby even though it looks unfair. Those guys are convinced they can make Minnesota a premier basketball power, even if recent history says otherwise. Maybe they can convince Smart to rejoin them, which would be impressive. I like Tubby and all, but he doesn't inspire elite recruits to join him and that's what this is all about for Minnesota. It is brutal here in Big Ten country, and I don't see Minnesota beating Michigan State, Ohio State, or Indiana for the premier recruits in this conference, but I guess its possible. I just hope they don't end up taking a Buzz Williams or someone from our new conference as we need our coaches to stay and grow these programs to make the new Big East a viable option for recruits.

Buzz Williams -- that's the one I'm concerned about. He'd be a great catch for them and, as you implied, a blow to the new Big East.

I wouldn't look at it that way. Williams folllowed Tim Crean, and has done very well obviously. While a new hire always has risks attached, if an AD understands what coach fits the program, it will continue to be successful.

Similarly Todd Likliter, while not performing to Brad Stevens standards, won 70% of his games and made 2 Sweet 16s at Butler, including the team he left there when he took the Iowa job and opened the door for Stevens. Of course Butler also gave Thad Matta his first head coaching job so they seem to know what they're doing a la Xavier. Some schools just seem to have the right plan.

I agree, some schools just seem to know how to keep their program moving regardless of a coaching change.

Hey SJU did it too with Lapchick and then Carnesecca, both hall of fame coaches.

Of course maybe the best example of that is Michigan St. They just slid Izzo over once Jud Heathcote retired. And while Heathcote was a very good coach, Izzo is the best.

 

[austour]

Well Michigan States had 1 coaching change in the last 37 years so it's not quite the same thing. LOL

 

[kranmars]

Well Michigan States had 1 coaching change in the last 37 years so it's not quite the same thing. LOL

That is the definition of quality over quantity.

From the looks of it, the Michigan St. AD just wants to put a coach in charge of the hoops program and sit back.

 

[austour]

Well Michigan States had 1 coaching change in the last 37 years so it's not quite the same thing. LOL

That is the definition of quality over quantity.

From the looks of it, the Michigan St. AD just wants to put a coach in charge of the hoops program and sit back.

I'm sure they've had a helluva a lot more ADs over the same period.