E-mailed 3/29/11
This morning I woke up and it felt like the morning after a night of too much partying: I was hung over. Only last night I was drunk on excitement, not my standard cocktail of booze. Much like hung over mornings the events of last night were hazy but started to take shape over time. As such, to date, here is what we know:
(1) The job is Painter's if he wants it. Some would say he has been offered the job. I guess that all depends on what your definition of the word "offered" is.
(2) Mizzou officials are meeting with Painter in FL today where he is on vacation.
(3) Painter has called Missouri high school coaches within the last 24 hours to get their opinions on the Missouri program and their willingness to work with him as head coach. You could classify this as a "significant" step
(4) Last night, in their words, Purdue "demonstrated our commitment to Coach Painter and our men's basketball program." You could classify this as a "significant" development.
(5) Hall of Fame Basketball Journalist Dick Weiss is an ass clown.
Two bold moves in the last 24 hours:
(1) Painter taking the step to call Missouri high school coaches, and
(2) Purdue making an offer PRIOR to Mizzou finalizing their offer.
I think this is all good news for Mizzou. First, since he took the steps to contact coaches he has to actually be interested in the job and not just interested in a job offer to leverage Purdue (as was once feared). Second, Purdue made an offer so we now know the cards Purude is holding. It also doesn't seem like Purdue is going to extraordinary lengths to keep him.
It's probably going to play out like this:
(A) Alden has an offer, is taking it to Painter.
(B) Painter leverages offer based on what Purdue offered last night.
(C) Alden counters.
(D) Painter "thinks on it" and contacts Purdue.
(E) Purdue counters or not. It sounds like not.
(F) Painter accepts or rejects Alden's offer.
(G) If accepted, Curators vote to approve contact.
(H) If approved, press conference/pep rally announced.
Things to look for in the next 24 hours:
* Me murdering Hall of Fame Journalist Dick Weiss.
* Terms of Mizzou's offer being leaked by Indiana/national press outlets -- this will let us know what Purdue has to beat.
* Rumors or confirmation of a Mizzou Board of Curators meeting.
* If Painter stays at Purdue, what Alden does/says. One would think he would have to come out and say "we gave it our best shot" but that's not his nature. The fan base, I fear, will be really restless and start howling dribble about how we should have hired Cuonzo Martin.
* Purdue Alumni and students murdering their AD.
I'd like to say I would know where we go from here if/when Painter turns us down but I don't. I also don't have a good feeling about today. But I'm wearing black and gold to counter those bad feelings. I'm hoping we have a coach by midnight. Tomorrow by 5:00 pm is probably more realistic.
With a Cheer for 'Ole Mizzou,
Doug
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: PAINTER TO MIZZOU?
E-mails on 3/28/11
Well, 15 minutes ago the first reporter called it. Dick Weiss says Painter agrees to terms with Mizzou on a 7 year $14 mill contract. Weiss works for the New York Daily News, has been covering college basketball for 40 years, and is a member of the USBWA college basketball writers' Hall of Fame.
Alden had a public event tonight with some boosters. Looked happy. When asked dodged the question and said "things progressing really well" in regards to the search. Said "we won't rush things."
I'm not calling it yet, but I'm 80% sure we've got him. More to come as it develops.
Well, 15 minutes ago the first reporter called it. Dick Weiss says Painter agrees to terms with Mizzou on a 7 year $14 mill contract. Weiss works for the New York Daily News, has been covering college basketball for 40 years, and is a member of the USBWA college basketball writers' Hall of Fame.
Alden had a public event tonight with some boosters. Looked happy. When asked dodged the question and said "things progressing really well" in regards to the search. Said "we won't rush things."
I'm not calling it yet, but I'm 80% sure we've got him. More to come as it develops.
Monday Roundup
E-mail on 3/28/11
What a wonderful Monday morning! The cherry blossoms are nearly in full bloom in our nation's capital and Matt Painter is sitting down to meet with Mizzou. Article found here:
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/article_95e4a9d2-594b-11e0-9b25-0017a4a78c22.html
The article puts it at "better than 50% chance" he will come to Mizzou. This guys puts it at 60% he WON'T, but we can dream can't we? Two juicy tidbits to note both via the Twitter:
(1) Painter will coach junior Team USA basketball this August (or something of the sort, I'm not familiar enough with the Olympics to fully describe what it is) and his two assistant coaches are Butler's Brad Stevens and VCU's Shaka Smart. All three mentioned as potential coaches for Mizzou. To note is the fact that Painter will be the head coach. What is clear is that he might not have the hype of Stevens and Smart but its clear he has the respect and experience on the national level.
(2) Fran Fraschilla (analysis) tweeted: "Stunned that PU would lose Painter. There are few who "take his & beat yours, take yours & beat his" to quote B. Bryant." Quite a testament to how good of a coach he is. It also shows he's not s "systems guy" but actually coaches as the talent, team, and situation warrant. I'd say this was Anderson's biggest drawback: he had a system and if the system wasn't working and/or an opponent figured it out we were toast. Not the case with Painter.
I also think the fact that we are this far along with Painter shows us where Mike Alden's head is at: he wants a proven coach not one with potential. His track record is hiring people from mid-majors and hope they can make the leap. With Anderson cleaning up our program from Quinn and getting us back on the national scene combined with the fact that the Big 12 is going to be so difficult to win in, he's going after established coaches and not taking chances on guys who "might make it" instead focusing on guys who have made it and have a record of success. Speaking of Quinn, former KC Star columnist Jason Witlock laid into Shaka Smart over the weekend saying "buyer beware anyone can make a deep tournament run. This looks a lot like Quinn Snyder."
If Painter comes to Mizzou its most likely because (1) he's in a fight with his AD, and (2) Purdue won't pay his assistants what they should. His loyalty to his assistants and frustration with the AD and playing basketball in a crowded state (Butler, Indiana, etc.) will have to outweigh his loyalty to his Alma Mater. This should all play out in 48ish hours, so we should have an answer yes or no by Wednesday.
If he doesn't come to Mizzou, I think Alden is in some hot water with the fan base. I think they are stupid to put him there but I think people are frustrated by the fact he tried to get Anderson to stay in a pretty public manner and lost out and now he would try to get Painter here in a pretty public manner and lost out. I think that's pretty dumb thinking. I think the man is just trying to do his job. If he doesn't seal the deal with Painter one would think he's go more toward the Mick Cronin's, Scott Sutton's, and Dave Rose's of the world and less toward the Missouri Valley Conference young coaches.
For what its worth--and I think not much--the connected alumni of Purdue are under the impression Painter is gone and that is a done deal him coming to Mizzou. On the flip side, connected Mizzou alums were probably saying Anderson was staying.
The prospect of going from Anderson to Painter, a major upgrade, is fascinating and is a testament to the University and Athletic Department. Should be an interesting 48 hours.
What a wonderful Monday morning! The cherry blossoms are nearly in full bloom in our nation's capital and Matt Painter is sitting down to meet with Mizzou. Article found here:
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/mizzou/article_95e4a9d2-594b-11e0-9b25-0017a4a78c22.html
The article puts it at "better than 50% chance" he will come to Mizzou. This guys puts it at 60% he WON'T, but we can dream can't we? Two juicy tidbits to note both via the Twitter:
(1) Painter will coach junior Team USA basketball this August (or something of the sort, I'm not familiar enough with the Olympics to fully describe what it is) and his two assistant coaches are Butler's Brad Stevens and VCU's Shaka Smart. All three mentioned as potential coaches for Mizzou. To note is the fact that Painter will be the head coach. What is clear is that he might not have the hype of Stevens and Smart but its clear he has the respect and experience on the national level.
(2) Fran Fraschilla (analysis) tweeted: "Stunned that PU would lose Painter. There are few who "take his & beat yours, take yours & beat his" to quote B. Bryant." Quite a testament to how good of a coach he is. It also shows he's not s "systems guy" but actually coaches as the talent, team, and situation warrant. I'd say this was Anderson's biggest drawback: he had a system and if the system wasn't working and/or an opponent figured it out we were toast. Not the case with Painter.
I also think the fact that we are this far along with Painter shows us where Mike Alden's head is at: he wants a proven coach not one with potential. His track record is hiring people from mid-majors and hope they can make the leap. With Anderson cleaning up our program from Quinn and getting us back on the national scene combined with the fact that the Big 12 is going to be so difficult to win in, he's going after established coaches and not taking chances on guys who "might make it" instead focusing on guys who have made it and have a record of success. Speaking of Quinn, former KC Star columnist Jason Witlock laid into Shaka Smart over the weekend saying "buyer beware anyone can make a deep tournament run. This looks a lot like Quinn Snyder."
If Painter comes to Mizzou its most likely because (1) he's in a fight with his AD, and (2) Purdue won't pay his assistants what they should. His loyalty to his assistants and frustration with the AD and playing basketball in a crowded state (Butler, Indiana, etc.) will have to outweigh his loyalty to his Alma Mater. This should all play out in 48ish hours, so we should have an answer yes or no by Wednesday.
If he doesn't come to Mizzou, I think Alden is in some hot water with the fan base. I think they are stupid to put him there but I think people are frustrated by the fact he tried to get Anderson to stay in a pretty public manner and lost out and now he would try to get Painter here in a pretty public manner and lost out. I think that's pretty dumb thinking. I think the man is just trying to do his job. If he doesn't seal the deal with Painter one would think he's go more toward the Mick Cronin's, Scott Sutton's, and Dave Rose's of the world and less toward the Missouri Valley Conference young coaches.
For what its worth--and I think not much--the connected alumni of Purdue are under the impression Painter is gone and that is a done deal him coming to Mizzou. On the flip side, connected Mizzou alums were probably saying Anderson was staying.
The prospect of going from Anderson to Painter, a major upgrade, is fascinating and is a testament to the University and Athletic Department. Should be an interesting 48 hours.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sifting Through the Articles So You Don't Have To III
E-mailed on 3/25/11
An interesting article on Marquette which makes you love Buzz Williams even more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/sports/ncaabasketball/25williams.html?_r=1 Don't get too excited, he's happy at Marquette and comes with a 3.5 mil buyout if he leaves.
National media seem to suggest BYU Dave Rose IS in play and willing to leave BYU. He would clearly be placed under "Seal the Deal" but I still think he's ungettable. Also teetering on the edge of will he come or won't he come is Matt Painter. A big article in the Post Dispatch yesterday says trusted journalists have info on him that he will come, but can't give said info up. I certainly think that is interesting. I'm buying what he is selling. He would be my top choice if he'll come. He may just be trying to get a bigger contract from Purdue.
Two names I left off:
Mick Cronin -- Head coach of Cincinnati. The Big East has around 96 schools in their basketball conference and he is in the lower half in terms of pay and UC sucks so bad as a University they can't afford to pay him more. He turned around a program that under Bob Huggins hadn't graduated a single student. Oh, ya, he also out-coached Anderson this year in the tournament.
Gregg Marshall -- Head coach of Wichita State. St. Louis media are obsessed with the Missouri Valley Conference and he's allegedly the best coach in that conference. I would file him under "Terrible Choices" but I hate the MVC. It seems like nationally and locally a movement is building for Cuonzo Martin. If hired I will stop following Mizzou basketball and switch to following Mizzou's Olympic sports. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
If you want more in-depth analysis, Rock M Nation is profiling in depth each series coaching candidate. Four more coming out today: http://www.rockmnation.com/2011/3/25/2069253/mizzou-basketball-coaching-search-cuonzo-martin
Last coaching update of the week from me, we have an accepted student open house today.
Doug
An interesting article on Marquette which makes you love Buzz Williams even more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/sports/ncaabasketball/25williams.html?_r=1 Don't get too excited, he's happy at Marquette and comes with a 3.5 mil buyout if he leaves.
National media seem to suggest BYU Dave Rose IS in play and willing to leave BYU. He would clearly be placed under "Seal the Deal" but I still think he's ungettable. Also teetering on the edge of will he come or won't he come is Matt Painter. A big article in the Post Dispatch yesterday says trusted journalists have info on him that he will come, but can't give said info up. I certainly think that is interesting. I'm buying what he is selling. He would be my top choice if he'll come. He may just be trying to get a bigger contract from Purdue.
Two names I left off:
Mick Cronin -- Head coach of Cincinnati. The Big East has around 96 schools in their basketball conference and he is in the lower half in terms of pay and UC sucks so bad as a University they can't afford to pay him more. He turned around a program that under Bob Huggins hadn't graduated a single student. Oh, ya, he also out-coached Anderson this year in the tournament.
Gregg Marshall -- Head coach of Wichita State. St. Louis media are obsessed with the Missouri Valley Conference and he's allegedly the best coach in that conference. I would file him under "Terrible Choices" but I hate the MVC. It seems like nationally and locally a movement is building for Cuonzo Martin. If hired I will stop following Mizzou basketball and switch to following Mizzou's Olympic sports. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
If you want more in-depth analysis, Rock M Nation is profiling in depth each series coaching candidate. Four more coming out today: http://www.rockmnation.com/2011/3/25/2069253/mizzou-basketball-coaching-search-cuonzo-martin
Last coaching update of the week from me, we have an accepted student open house today.
Doug
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sifting Through the Articles So You Don't Have To II
E-mailed on 3/24/11
Take off the list:
Mark Fox -- Said he's coming back to Georgia
Put on the list (I guess):
Dave Rose -- Head Coach of BYU for six years. Went to the NIT his first year, NCAA all years after. Currently in Sweet 16. Has won 20 games every year as head coach. File under "Get Real." He's coaching BYU and is Mormon. BYU is starting its own national TV network. No reason for him to leave. He's at his dream job.
Greg Kampe -- Head Coach of Oakland since...1984. Not a misprint. 1984. 7 NCAA trips during that time. File under "Terrible Choices." The only things he has going for him are (1) He looks the part of someone from Missouri, and (2) Pat Forde (an ESPN Alumn) mentioned his name as a possible replacement.
Thoughts on update: Pat Forde is generally a voice of reason but in a recent report he mentioned Dave Rose, Ben Jacobson, Cuonzo Martin, and Greg Kampe as all "on the short list." Bad news if this is the short list.
Take off the list:
Mark Fox -- Said he's coming back to Georgia
Put on the list (I guess):
Dave Rose -- Head Coach of BYU for six years. Went to the NIT his first year, NCAA all years after. Currently in Sweet 16. Has won 20 games every year as head coach. File under "Get Real." He's coaching BYU and is Mormon. BYU is starting its own national TV network. No reason for him to leave. He's at his dream job.
Greg Kampe -- Head Coach of Oakland since...1984. Not a misprint. 1984. 7 NCAA trips during that time. File under "Terrible Choices." The only things he has going for him are (1) He looks the part of someone from Missouri, and (2) Pat Forde (an ESPN Alumn) mentioned his name as a possible replacement.
Thoughts on update: Pat Forde is generally a voice of reason but in a recent report he mentioned Dave Rose, Ben Jacobson, Cuonzo Martin, and Greg Kampe as all "on the short list." Bad news if this is the short list.
Sifting Through the Articles So You Don't Have To
E-mailed 3/24/11
Since college basketball is the only college sport I'm following form here forward (or at least until our football program signs with a real conference), events in the past week have been pretty fascinating to say the least. Lots of press out there. I have the good fortune to have a pretty free day at work today. If you are interested, here are the links out there that you might want to peruse:
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/23/2748700/missouri-should-land-a-quality.html -- Very aggressive article by the KC Star. If you're feeling bitter, you HAVE to read this.
http://college-basketball-blog.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/28049887?source=rss_blogs_NCAAB -- General article that says the same thing as the Star, just less aggressively and more objectively (in the event anyone felt the first link was biased)
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/mar/23/andersons-bad-breakup-leaves-unpleasant-aftertaste/ -- This link is worth clicking even if you don't read it...look at the photo as Alden thanks Anderson for his service to Mizzou. Look at the players faces.
http://m.stltoday.com/STL/db_260518/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=BXWec6H2&full=true#display -- Solid article with a paragraph: "And there's another reason the MU job should interest some fine candidates: The new coach will instantly become the most popular man in Boone County. It wasn't easy for Snyder to succeed the living legend, Norm Stewart. It wasn't smooth for Anderson. The Anderson style of basketball, while successful over the last three years, was irritating to watch at times. Even those of us who respect Anderson's work grew tired of watching the same frenetic game — with the same, stupid mistakes — over and over again. By now, I don't think any reasonable person will resent the new coach for not being Norm Stewart. And I think a lot of people are ready for a change in strategy in Mizzou's approach to the game. And I think it's safe to say many fans are upset at Anderson for the way he duped Mizzou after the university went to great lengths to satisfy his wishes."
Also if you are interested, here is the list of potential candidates found mentioned in all of the articles I read:
Terrible Choices
Shaka Smart -- Head Coach of VCU. Plays a similar style of defense as our team does now. Only been at VCU two years. He would jump at the chance to come to Mizzou. I think this would be a terrible choice.
Scott Sutton -- Head Coach of Oral Roberts since 1999. Taken Oral Roberts to the NCAA Tourney three times, exiting in first round each time. Another terrible choice.
Anthony Grant -- Head Coach at Alabama for two years, three before that at VCU. Two NCAA appearances (both at VCU). Pass. Not enough experience and a habit of jumping teams every 2-3 years.
Bob Burchard -- Currently the men’s basketball coach at Columbia College. The Cougars have advanced to the NAIA Men's National Basketball Championship 14 times during his tenure, including 13 of the past 16 seasons. The Missourian actually listed him as a candidate. My response: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Jon Sunvold -- Former Mizzou player. A great choice. If he was actually a coach.
Kim Anderson -- Current Coach at Central Missouri. Former players and assistant coach for the Tigers. At Central he has coached his teams to five NCAA DII Tournaments in the past six years. Everyone wants him to come "home." A bad choice for the program.
Cuonzo Martin -- Current Coach at Southwest Missouri State Teachers College for two years. ZERO NCAA appearances. St. Louis media is jocking him b/c he recruits well in St. Louis. I'd take Kim Anderson over him. I'd even take Bob Burchard over him.
Hopefully We Can Do Better
Mark Fox -- Head Coach of Georgia 09-11, Nevada before that 04-09. 7 years coaching, four years in NCAA, never out of second round. Almost hired over Anderson. It would worry me he would leave after only two year at Georgia.
Chris Mooney -- Head Coach of Richmond since 2005. Turned the program around and just now coming into his own as a coach with two back-to-back NCAA appearances.
Brian Gregory -- Head Coach of Dayton since 2003. Taken them to the NCAA twice and he won the NIT in 09-10. One would think he would be on the next plane to BoCoMo if offered. I'll pass, but would take him over Scott Sutton.
Randy Bennett -- Head Coach at St. Mary's since 2001. Has shown he can run a program but the bottom line is he couldn't get over the hump and be better than Gonzaga. Can he really get over the hump and be better than kU?
Ben Jacobson -- Head Coach of Northern Iowa since 2006. Two NCAA appearances, one to the Sweet 16. Makes under 500,000 a year. Last time we hired someone from Northern Iowa to coach our team, we ended up naming out basketball court after him. Can beat Kansas.
Hopefully We Can Seal the Deal
Matt Painter -- Head Coach of Purdue since 05, Southern IL 03-04. 155-66 record, 7 NCAA appearances in 8 years as a Head Coach. Two Sweet 16's. St. Louis radio reported he wants the job. I was all over him as a candidate until I found out he's a Purdue grad. He ain't leaving. If he does, we should question his integrity at least minimally. Feel free to move him to "Get Real" list.
Kevin Stallings -- Head Coach of Vanderbilt since 99. Coached IL State before that. 7 NCAA appearances and two Sweet 16's. The world wouldn't end, but I wonder if its better to chose someone with more upside than someone who is established, yet not spectacular.
Get Real
Brad Stevens -- Head Coach of Butler. Four years as head coach, four NCAA tournaments, one final four. He can go anywhere he wants. He's not coming to Mizzou.
Buzz Williams -- Head Coach of Marquette for three years, all three with NCAA tournament appearances. He coaches in the Big East, best college basketball conference in the country. He has Big 12 ties. And let's just say, he looks the part of a Missourian. Perfect choice, but I don't know if heading to Mizzou from Marquette and Big East (where is both successful and worshiped) is the right move for him. He's not coming to Mizzou.
Conclusions:
I'm guessing we'll announce Stallings, Jacobson, Bennett or Mooney. If you are overly optimistic hope for Williams or Painter.
In two days (3/26) Mike Anderson will have come into the lives of Missouri sports fans exactly five years ago. Let's recap what life was like then:
* A radio play-by-play announcer (Link) had just fired our head coach (Synder)
* Our Athletic Director (Alden) was getting called in front of the Board of Trustees to presumably get fired.
* We had no recruits in the pipeline
* Our current players were defecting...quickly
* Our program was a national embarrassment
* Our head coach was a drug user
Anderson was hired sans search committee and quickly declared himself a "Mike Alden guy" possibly saving Alden's job. In the five years since we've been to the tournament 5 times and the Elite 8 once. There have been some troubling and frustrating times sprinkled in there. Those five years, however, were much better than the five before. Five years from now I think we will look back and find that Mike Anderson era at Mizzou will be remembered for him saving Alden's job and bringing the program back into the national conversation.
Bottom line: I don't think we'll be remembering his classless appearance in the NCAA's this year and his classless avoidance of the media in Columbia on the night he resigned.
Since college basketball is the only college sport I'm following form here forward (or at least until our football program signs with a real conference), events in the past week have been pretty fascinating to say the least. Lots of press out there. I have the good fortune to have a pretty free day at work today. If you are interested, here are the links out there that you might want to peruse:
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/23/2748700/missouri-should-land-a-quality.html -- Very aggressive article by the KC Star. If you're feeling bitter, you HAVE to read this.
http://college-basketball-blog.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/28049887?source=rss_blogs_NCAAB -- General article that says the same thing as the Star, just less aggressively and more objectively (in the event anyone felt the first link was biased)
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/mar/23/andersons-bad-breakup-leaves-unpleasant-aftertaste/ -- This link is worth clicking even if you don't read it...look at the photo as Alden thanks Anderson for his service to Mizzou. Look at the players faces.
http://m.stltoday.com/STL/db_260518/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=BXWec6H2&full=true#display -- Solid article with a paragraph: "And there's another reason the MU job should interest some fine candidates: The new coach will instantly become the most popular man in Boone County. It wasn't easy for Snyder to succeed the living legend, Norm Stewart. It wasn't smooth for Anderson. The Anderson style of basketball, while successful over the last three years, was irritating to watch at times. Even those of us who respect Anderson's work grew tired of watching the same frenetic game — with the same, stupid mistakes — over and over again. By now, I don't think any reasonable person will resent the new coach for not being Norm Stewart. And I think a lot of people are ready for a change in strategy in Mizzou's approach to the game. And I think it's safe to say many fans are upset at Anderson for the way he duped Mizzou after the university went to great lengths to satisfy his wishes."
Also if you are interested, here is the list of potential candidates found mentioned in all of the articles I read:
Terrible Choices
Shaka Smart -- Head Coach of VCU. Plays a similar style of defense as our team does now. Only been at VCU two years. He would jump at the chance to come to Mizzou. I think this would be a terrible choice.
Scott Sutton -- Head Coach of Oral Roberts since 1999. Taken Oral Roberts to the NCAA Tourney three times, exiting in first round each time. Another terrible choice.
Anthony Grant -- Head Coach at Alabama for two years, three before that at VCU. Two NCAA appearances (both at VCU). Pass. Not enough experience and a habit of jumping teams every 2-3 years.
Bob Burchard -- Currently the men’s basketball coach at Columbia College. The Cougars have advanced to the NAIA Men's National Basketball Championship 14 times during his tenure, including 13 of the past 16 seasons. The Missourian actually listed him as a candidate. My response: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Jon Sunvold -- Former Mizzou player. A great choice. If he was actually a coach.
Kim Anderson -- Current Coach at Central Missouri. Former players and assistant coach for the Tigers. At Central he has coached his teams to five NCAA DII Tournaments in the past six years. Everyone wants him to come "home." A bad choice for the program.
Cuonzo Martin -- Current Coach at Southwest Missouri State Teachers College for two years. ZERO NCAA appearances. St. Louis media is jocking him b/c he recruits well in St. Louis. I'd take Kim Anderson over him. I'd even take Bob Burchard over him.
Hopefully We Can Do Better
Mark Fox -- Head Coach of Georgia 09-11, Nevada before that 04-09. 7 years coaching, four years in NCAA, never out of second round. Almost hired over Anderson. It would worry me he would leave after only two year at Georgia.
Chris Mooney -- Head Coach of Richmond since 2005. Turned the program around and just now coming into his own as a coach with two back-to-back NCAA appearances.
Brian Gregory -- Head Coach of Dayton since 2003. Taken them to the NCAA twice and he won the NIT in 09-10. One would think he would be on the next plane to BoCoMo if offered. I'll pass, but would take him over Scott Sutton.
Randy Bennett -- Head Coach at St. Mary's since 2001. Has shown he can run a program but the bottom line is he couldn't get over the hump and be better than Gonzaga. Can he really get over the hump and be better than kU?
Ben Jacobson -- Head Coach of Northern Iowa since 2006. Two NCAA appearances, one to the Sweet 16. Makes under 500,000 a year. Last time we hired someone from Northern Iowa to coach our team, we ended up naming out basketball court after him. Can beat Kansas.
Hopefully We Can Seal the Deal
Matt Painter -- Head Coach of Purdue since 05, Southern IL 03-04. 155-66 record, 7 NCAA appearances in 8 years as a Head Coach. Two Sweet 16's. St. Louis radio reported he wants the job. I was all over him as a candidate until I found out he's a Purdue grad. He ain't leaving. If he does, we should question his integrity at least minimally. Feel free to move him to "Get Real" list.
Kevin Stallings -- Head Coach of Vanderbilt since 99. Coached IL State before that. 7 NCAA appearances and two Sweet 16's. The world wouldn't end, but I wonder if its better to chose someone with more upside than someone who is established, yet not spectacular.
Get Real
Brad Stevens -- Head Coach of Butler. Four years as head coach, four NCAA tournaments, one final four. He can go anywhere he wants. He's not coming to Mizzou.
Buzz Williams -- Head Coach of Marquette for three years, all three with NCAA tournament appearances. He coaches in the Big East, best college basketball conference in the country. He has Big 12 ties. And let's just say, he looks the part of a Missourian. Perfect choice, but I don't know if heading to Mizzou from Marquette and Big East (where is both successful and worshiped) is the right move for him. He's not coming to Mizzou.
Conclusions:
I'm guessing we'll announce Stallings, Jacobson, Bennett or Mooney. If you are overly optimistic hope for Williams or Painter.
In two days (3/26) Mike Anderson will have come into the lives of Missouri sports fans exactly five years ago. Let's recap what life was like then:
* A radio play-by-play announcer (Link) had just fired our head coach (Synder)
* Our Athletic Director (Alden) was getting called in front of the Board of Trustees to presumably get fired.
* We had no recruits in the pipeline
* Our current players were defecting...quickly
* Our program was a national embarrassment
* Our head coach was a drug user
Anderson was hired sans search committee and quickly declared himself a "Mike Alden guy" possibly saving Alden's job. In the five years since we've been to the tournament 5 times and the Elite 8 once. There have been some troubling and frustrating times sprinkled in there. Those five years, however, were much better than the five before. Five years from now I think we will look back and find that Mike Anderson era at Mizzou will be remembered for him saving Alden's job and bringing the program back into the national conversation.
Bottom line: I don't think we'll be remembering his classless appearance in the NCAA's this year and his classless avoidance of the media in Columbia on the night he resigned.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
On Losing Bowl Games
Posted as a Facebook Note on 12/28/10
A few things on my mind after tonight's game: First, I was gong to write a FB note "On Losing Bowl Games" but decided that this spectacle was so pathetic it didn't warrant it. I was just going to write a series of status updates. But then Facebook made me do a note. So it's now a note.
Second if any fan or player from the flat wasteland that occupies the space above the State of Missouri thinks that they did something to win the game tonight I suggest they stop kissing their sister and review some film in order to clearly see what happened--we, Mizzou, lost the game.
Third, around 5-8 years ago in ESPN the Mag a brilliant article was written about Derrick Jeter. Even then he was being called clutch. Long story short: the article went on to point out that despite labels (being clutch) or rankings that at the end of the day it all came down to the law of averages. At that time Jeter had played a regular season's worth of postseason's game. If you looked at those stats you saw what you would expect to see: his performance in the post season was exactly as good (or dare I say average) as his performance in the regular season. I could go on a Jeter rant here (like when it was written he hadn't driven in or scored a winning run after the 7th inning of any game in his career) but that's not the point. The point is that we can ascribe rankings, traits, adjectives, etc. to people or teams but data often times tell a different story. If you have enough data points and all of the outliers even out you see what people--or teams--are really made of.
Cut to tonight. I won't go over the history of Missouri football in painstaking detail but let's just say this is what happened on December 28, 2010: a lot of type and hope and then questionable officiating, a bone-headed play by a star player, and questionable game management by the coaching staff. The end result: heartbreak. Tonight didn't just happen. Tonight has been happening for the hundreds of years we've been playing football. Its just that tonight it was all crystal clear on display all wrapped up into one game.
On to the future...
Fourth, Pinkel haters will hate on Pinkel for not calling timeout at the end of the game. First, ESPN had our number of time outs wrong. Second, well, you know what happened on the next play from scrimmage. Hate on him if you want, but look at the numbers. I'm sure people had beef with Dan Devine and Don Faurot back in the day and I'm sure they feel pretty stupid now. Actually, I don't think they feel anything now because they are probably all dead.
Fifth, I suspect it must be tough times around the Gabbert house tonight. As I posted about during the game, going into the season there was hope Gabbert would go pro, turn the keys over to little Gabbert (with Franklin in wildcat) and all would be well. Throughout the season that just didn't feel like reality until tonight when it felt like reality a lot...then comes the INT. Good luck making that decision but I don't see how someone leaves a place like Mizzou after a play like that on a night like tonight.
Finally, College Football, its been a good run. In high school I attended a Mizzou game and got to watch Norm Stewart drink a beer at the half in the parking lot with my friend's dad. In college I got to sit through some miserably cold and miserably hot games. After I left Columbia I got to usher in some friends to the Mizzou fold. Its a fascinating sport that is unpredictable and gives us all quite a bit to look forward to and talk about every weekend in the fall. We follow teams and players so close that you think you know them and you live and you die on every single word and action they take. But, as I have talked about all year, College Football, your hold on my life is over after tonight. I'll still occasionally watch but I won't be as invested as I once was. See, I'm a "dance with who brung ya" type of guy and I don't see myself rooting for any other team than Mizzou. I'm also not rooting for Mizzou as long as they play in the "Texas State Championship Football Conference" that is run by a bunch of lying, back-stabbing, low-life ingrates. Since I know your skull is pretty thick, Dan Beebe, I'm referring you and your cronies.
As Gabbert said tonight: "Watch out for us next year, we're going to be dangerous." I hope everyone does and I hope the Tigers are. I'm sure I will be getting updates from my friends and casually looking at some scores. But in terms of my obsession with the sport, it ended tonight, just like it began, and just like the bowl game ended: with a lot hope, hype, excitement, and despair.
Second if any fan or player from the flat wasteland that occupies the space above the State of Missouri thinks that they did something to win the game tonight I suggest they stop kissing their sister and review some film in order to clearly see what happened--we, Mizzou, lost the game.
Third, around 5-8 years ago in ESPN the Mag a brilliant article was written about Derrick Jeter. Even then he was being called clutch. Long story short: the article went on to point out that despite labels (being clutch) or rankings that at the end of the day it all came down to the law of averages. At that time Jeter had played a regular season's worth of postseason's game. If you looked at those stats you saw what you would expect to see: his performance in the post season was exactly as good (or dare I say average) as his performance in the regular season. I could go on a Jeter rant here (like when it was written he hadn't driven in or scored a winning run after the 7th inning of any game in his career) but that's not the point. The point is that we can ascribe rankings, traits, adjectives, etc. to people or teams but data often times tell a different story. If you have enough data points and all of the outliers even out you see what people--or teams--are really made of.
Cut to tonight. I won't go over the history of Missouri football in painstaking detail but let's just say this is what happened on December 28, 2010: a lot of type and hope and then questionable officiating, a bone-headed play by a star player, and questionable game management by the coaching staff. The end result: heartbreak. Tonight didn't just happen. Tonight has been happening for the hundreds of years we've been playing football. Its just that tonight it was all crystal clear on display all wrapped up into one game.
On to the future...
Fourth, Pinkel haters will hate on Pinkel for not calling timeout at the end of the game. First, ESPN had our number of time outs wrong. Second, well, you know what happened on the next play from scrimmage. Hate on him if you want, but look at the numbers. I'm sure people had beef with Dan Devine and Don Faurot back in the day and I'm sure they feel pretty stupid now. Actually, I don't think they feel anything now because they are probably all dead.
Fifth, I suspect it must be tough times around the Gabbert house tonight. As I posted about during the game, going into the season there was hope Gabbert would go pro, turn the keys over to little Gabbert (with Franklin in wildcat) and all would be well. Throughout the season that just didn't feel like reality until tonight when it felt like reality a lot...then comes the INT. Good luck making that decision but I don't see how someone leaves a place like Mizzou after a play like that on a night like tonight.
Finally, College Football, its been a good run. In high school I attended a Mizzou game and got to watch Norm Stewart drink a beer at the half in the parking lot with my friend's dad. In college I got to sit through some miserably cold and miserably hot games. After I left Columbia I got to usher in some friends to the Mizzou fold. Its a fascinating sport that is unpredictable and gives us all quite a bit to look forward to and talk about every weekend in the fall. We follow teams and players so close that you think you know them and you live and you die on every single word and action they take. But, as I have talked about all year, College Football, your hold on my life is over after tonight. I'll still occasionally watch but I won't be as invested as I once was. See, I'm a "dance with who brung ya" type of guy and I don't see myself rooting for any other team than Mizzou. I'm also not rooting for Mizzou as long as they play in the "Texas State Championship Football Conference" that is run by a bunch of lying, back-stabbing, low-life ingrates. Since I know your skull is pretty thick, Dan Beebe, I'm referring you and your cronies.
As Gabbert said tonight: "Watch out for us next year, we're going to be dangerous." I hope everyone does and I hope the Tigers are. I'm sure I will be getting updates from my friends and casually looking at some scores. But in terms of my obsession with the sport, it ended tonight, just like it began, and just like the bowl game ended: with a lot hope, hype, excitement, and despair.
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