Why Steve Lavin Returned to Coaching
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
Not too surprising. Bobby G was infatuated with the thought of Mullin as coach.
I like Lav and wished they kept him, but to be fair his time at the helm felt like it was running out of gas especially with our senior core graduating and no stellar class coming in.
“St. John’s was more of a surprise (than UCLA),” Lavin said. “We went to the tournament my last year. We had back-to-back 20-win seasons. But the university hired a new president who came in and thinks, hey, we can get (former university All-American and NBA star) Chris Mullin. If Lav can get us to two NCAAs, two NITs and win 20 games a year, imagine what Chris Mullin could do.”
I like Lav and wished they kept him, but to be fair his time at the helm felt like it was running out of gas especially with our senior core graduating and no stellar class coming in.
“St. John’s was more of a surprise (than UCLA),” Lavin said. “We went to the tournament my last year. We had back-to-back 20-win seasons. But the university hired a new president who came in and thinks, hey, we can get (former university All-American and NBA star) Chris Mullin. If Lav can get us to two NCAAs, two NITs and win 20 games a year, imagine what Chris Mullin could do.”
Just look at what Chris "inherited" as a team. If Lav had a good recruiting class coming in, he would have remained coach and the Mullin "error" might never have happened
He had lost steam and not landing Briscoe hurt the idea of momentum carrying over post Dlo. But he did have Sampson signed who was a top 100 guy. And Samir Doughty who ended up being a serious piece on a final four team. I personally felt like the job was wearing him down but what do I know. I’m sure he would have been able to find some solid pieces but I never felt he would get back to the high he had us on year 1. Could grab the studs but never seemed to fill out a roster with the right bench pieces. Conversely CMA hasn’t gotten the same top end guys (HS recruit wise) but his roster has been filled out well. Damn cancer. What could have been.
It wasn't Lavin's responsibility to recruit for Mullin. Not to mention, Obekpa and Jordan (who wanted to or tried to return, but probably wasn't gonna be able to return even if Lavin was retained) intended to return the following year, but bailed out late. Top 60 player in Brandon Sampson was in the fold, as well as Samir Doughty as mentioned by Mase.
There were already backdoor channels working to remove Lavin and I'm sure he was aware. I felt he would've pulled in another viable recruit or two had he been retained. But ask yourself this question.... Would you bust your ass knowing there are whispers and rumors swirling you're going to get the boot?
I remember I was at a gas station in New Jersey refreshing my phone on redmen.com and found out we had lost Briscoe.
That really felt like the beginning of the end for the Lav era.
I actually remember exactly where I was too. God we’re sick
MugCostanza
Well-known member
To play devil's advocate, Lavin was well positioned to have a monster year 5 where had he reached the Sweet 16 or something it would have been impossible for the school to move on from him. Instead of beating down the bushes to get one or two more solid depth pieces, Lavin rolled with 6 guys the entire season which really limited the team. Those big recruiting classes from his first couple years graduated with one tournament appearance as a 9 seed and a first round exit.
To me, it seemed like that his was ceiling here. He'd pull in a few highly rated kids here and there but his rosters were never fully rounded and his coaching deficiencies after Dunlap left were never going to lead him to get the most of out his players.
Not by any means saying choosing to go with Mullin over him was the right move, but I personally don't know if this program would be in all that much better shape today had Lavin gotten a few more years here.
Another problem faced was no supportive Athletic Director. Tan Man left as did Lav and Joe Oliva had Bobby's ear. Might have been different if Lav was working for a strong AD,
Thanks Mase, I forgot about losing out on Briscoe. Ironically Briscoe never really lived up to the hype (McDonalds AA) spending two years at Kentucky and going pro. 1 season in the NBA but he is an Estonian League Champ! Hey, it’s a living.
I think if MJ Dinkins is right about the back door channel attempt to remove him that would explain a lot. I remember being surprised but maybe I shouldn’t have been.
perhaps if the university didn't elect to administer a drug test the day before selection sunday knowing full well that obekpa - our only useful big - would fail, a sweet 16 may have been possible. the die had been cast, as others have indicated.
MJ is definitely correct. I was in LA in January of Lavin's final season and heard talk that he was going to be let go if we did not make the NCAA tourney. When we beat Georgetown at the Garden during Samir Doughty's visit, Monasch was the only person looking unhappy. The Administration wanted him to fail, which is really f'd up.
As for Obeka and Jordan, it would have taken some work, but I believe that both would have returned if Lavin had been retained.
As for Obeka and Jordan, it would have taken some work, but I believe that both would have returned if Lavin had been retained.
+10000
I'll counter with this though. If he had won a game or two in that NCAA tourney, including beating Duke, there is no way he could have been fired. Imagine if that happened? As for Jordan, he stopped attending classes, but that was partially on Lavin's watch.
Im pretty sure I remember correctly. There was a live stream of the Briscoe decision via ESPN. I remember watching that and being devastated when he chose Kentucky
Moose
Well-known member
Bobby doesn't get blamed as much as he should. I know the President is responsible for much more than just athletics but he torpedoed the program with him and Joe's infatuation with Mullin.
We were in it for a lot of top level recruits that last year. Problem was by January it was internally known that Mullin was lingering so then kids popped elsewhere and Lavin checked out.
We were in it for a lot of top level recruits that last year. Problem was by January it was internally known that Mullin was lingering so then kids popped elsewhere and Lavin checked out.