I want Cal gone, but I don't feel good about the possible coaching search after he's out. I don’t think we get any of the top tier guys that would make nearly everyone happy--Donovan, Stevens, Jay Wright, Hurley. So who's in that second tier?
Firstly, I don't ding anyone for past NCAA violations in the modern NIL era, but I don't know if Mitch sees it the same way. Personally I think Chris Beard is the best coach of the bunch, but again I don't think Barnhart will consider him.
I think Scott Drew, who according to Matt Jones is the most likely successor, is otherwise the best of that second tier. 53 years old, won a title, built that Baylor program up from the lowest of the low and is having consistent success. If Hurley doesn't win the title this year, then Drew has the better record of the two (Hurley had two R64 exits and two R32 exits before last season).
But I worry Scott Drew will be a good, not great coach for us, in the unfortunate limbo where you can't really justify firing him but we can't seem to get over the hump, either. Is this the time to go an unconventional route and hire someone from the NBA (out of my wheelhouse to name anyone), or a former player plus an experienced assistant to guide them (Rondo)? Or if Iowa St makes the EE/FF, do you take a swing at a possible rising star and hire TJ Otzelberger?
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- Scott Drew (title in the weird Covid year, 53, maybe ready to move to a bigger stage)
- Bruce Pearl (old, one final four ever, NCAA baggage, probably dreams of being the UK coach)
- Nate Oats (intriguing but very limited success, plus the legal stuff last year, just signed an expensive contract extension)
- Kelvin Sampson (68 years old, one final four, NCAA baggage)
- Mark Few (doesn't seem like he'll ever leave Gonzaga)
- Tony Bennett (the fanbase would revolt like Texas A&M hiring Stoops)
- Musselman (seems to have peaked? Good recruiter but meh coach, and not a lot of success)
- Chris Beard (major off court baggage)
- Tommy Lloyd (no major success yet and a 15/2 upset last year, but definitely a promising young coach, not sure he would leave Arizona)
- TJ Otzelberger (probably still borderline tier 3 but I'm keeping my eye on Iowa St this tournament, he's young with one Sweet Sixteen to his name, but he took over Iowa St after a 2-22 season and got them to the NCAA tourney the next year, now a 2 seed and a Big 12 title in year 3. 6-3 vs top 10 teams and beat Houston twice.)
Firstly, I don't ding anyone for past NCAA violations in the modern NIL era, but I don't know if Mitch sees it the same way. Personally I think Chris Beard is the best coach of the bunch, but again I don't think Barnhart will consider him.
I think Scott Drew, who according to Matt Jones is the most likely successor, is otherwise the best of that second tier. 53 years old, won a title, built that Baylor program up from the lowest of the low and is having consistent success. If Hurley doesn't win the title this year, then Drew has the better record of the two (Hurley had two R64 exits and two R32 exits before last season).
But I worry Scott Drew will be a good, not great coach for us, in the unfortunate limbo where you can't really justify firing him but we can't seem to get over the hump, either. Is this the time to go an unconventional route and hire someone from the NBA (out of my wheelhouse to name anyone), or a former player plus an experienced assistant to guide them (Rondo)? Or if Iowa St makes the EE/FF, do you take a swing at a possible rising star and hire TJ Otzelberger?
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.