Transfer Portal wish: Bennett Stirtz please

[Eagles_Ball]

I'm not saying he can't coach but at a basketball school like Indiana the on court part is only half the job.
Indiana fans definitely want to "win now".
I don't know what his recruiting philosophy would be at Indiana.
The relationship you say he has with Stirtz is hard to find at the P4 level.
Hurley claims half his team is shopping themselves in the portal

I agree, super hard to find and rare for sure.

I don’t doubt most are doing that, and given the system I can’t fault them. Danny Hurley has done amazing things and won at the absolute highest levels. But you can watch him for about 30 seconds and then watch Coach McCollum for about 30 seconds da and understand the differences they might have when it comes to building bonds and relationships with players.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Bennett won’t leave McCollum. Ben is about 1 or 2 “no”s away from being Indianas coach. Bennett will go wherever Ben goes or stay with him at Drake.

He’s not a mercenary and money won’t talk with him. He’s an uber smart kid too. He’s smart enough to know what’s in front of him for the rest of his life. He doesn’t have to take a quick grab. I know UK means a lot to us, but it doesn’t mean squat to a kid like him.

If he didn't care about money or prestige, hed still be at the d2 school. So obviously he has ambition.

That said, no way we should be spending a load of money on this guy imo. If kstate is involved, they will pay obscene money and no need to get in a bidding war here.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

I'd rather start Lewis or Johsnon at PG than this Stirtz guy, watched 3 of his games and outstanding mid major, but not what we need to try and win the SEC or the NCAA .

 

[Eagles_Ball]

If he didn't care about money or prestige, hed still be at the d2 school. So obviously he has ambition.

That said, no way we should be spending a load of money on this guy imo. If kstate is involved, they will pay obscene money and no need to get in a bidding war here.

His coach left. He went with him. I would think anyone on this board, with this fanbase in the last 12 months or so, could understand that. Some of you need to realize basketball, and the world for that matter, exist outside of BBN.

Ambition and leaving a legacy are far different than getting a quick bag of cash in an NIL situation. Surely you understand that.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

His coach left. He went with him. I would think anyone on this board, with this fanbase in the last 12 months or so, could understand that. Some of you need to realize basketball, and the world for that matter, exist outside of BBN.

Ambition and leaving a legacy are far different than getting a quick bag of cash in an NIL situation. Surely you understand that.

If his coach when to naia, would the kid go with him?

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I'd rather start Lewis or Johsnon at PG than this Stirtz guy, watched 3 of his games and outstanding mid major, but not what we need to try and win the SEC or the NCAA .

I somewhat agree. Bennett's a really, really nice player. If he's your best player at UK, I think you might be in a bit of trouble. That said, if he's got a dynamic lineup around him (say put him in place of Teague in 2012) then I'd say you've got something special.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

If his coach when to naia, would the kid go with him?

Stupid question and irrelevant.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Stupid question and irrelevant.

No its directly on point. If he is following his coach and purely loyal, he would follow. He isnt, so he wouldn't.

Everyone playing at the d1 level has ambition. It takes hard work to get there and loving the game isnt enough. It takes drive and dedication.

Im not disputing hes a special kid and unusually loyal, because I take you wt your word. However that loyalty has limits. Imo its limits far exceed what we should spend to test it, but limits nonetheless.

 

[G-PIP]

I suspect he follows his coach to Indiana.

This I could understand. But not leaving Drake - assuming they don't have NIL anywhere comparable to UK of Indiana? That doesn't make sense.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

No its directly on point. If he is following his coach and purely loyal, he would follow. He isnt, so he wouldn't.

Everyone playing at the d1 level has ambition. It takes hard work to get there and loving the game isnt enough. It takes drive and dedication.

Im not disputing hes a special kid and unusually loyal, because I take you wt your word. However that loyalty has limits. Imo its limits far exceed what we should spend to test it, but limits nonetheless.

Jesus man. Obtuse? Dumb? Or just refuse to see things aren't so binary?

I never said he didn't have ambition. Ambition and grabbing a bag are two COMPLETELY different things. If you don't or refuse to understand that, that's a you thing and a you issue.

Now, what I did say is if Ben is still at Drake next year, Bennett Stirtz will be his PG. If Ben leaves for Iowa (doubtful) or Indiana (equally doubtful for different reasons) then Bennett will be his PG.

The NAIA question is stupid because it doesn't make any sense because I never said anything nearing "Bennett will only play where Ben is". It was based on some goofballs on here saying he's just going to be shown some money and bounce. It won't happen. It's irrelevant because Ben McCollum ain't coaching at the NAIA level next year or any year while Bennett still has eligibility.

I'll anxiously await your convoluted effort to somehow prove a point that doesn't exist based on things I never said.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This I could understand. But not leaving Drake - assuming they don't have NIL anywhere comparable to UK of Indiana? That doesn't make sense.

I'm sure it doesn't make sense to a lot of people. Bennett Stirtz is a really smart kid who's got a really strong bond with his coach. Let's say someone offers him $500K (seems high, but lets roll with it) to leave Coach McCollum. It's my opinion (based on something other than guesses) that there's zero chance he takes it. Why? Because he's got a bond with his coach and he's extremely loyal and trusting of that coach. BUT, and this is where some get lost because it's not always just simply one way or the other, he's also going to make that money moving forward doing whatever he chooses. It could be a pro career. It could also be as a mechanical engineer like his two older brothers. You're not dealing with an athlete that's going to have to go into "sales" when he's done playing. Super smart and grounded kid.

 

[OliverSimmonstwinbrother]

This kid probably won't enter the portal but also McCollum won't be the coach of IU next season, Gottlieb will. It's pretty much a done deal. Gottlieb was seen in Bloomington over the weekend looking at dirt farms.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This kid probably won't enter the portal but also McCollum won't be the coach of IU next season, Gottlieb will. It's pretty much a done deal. Gottlieb was seen in Bloomington over the weekend looking at dirt farms.

This made me laugh. For a lot of reasons.

I'm really curious who they get. The funny thing is, since it was all announced or whatever, they've kind of been on a heater. Woodson is awful and they're a mess, but they're winning games too. Would be funny to see them get to the S16 or something, just for the drama and theater of it all.

I'm a big fan of McCollum, but I agree...I doubt he's at Indiana next year. He stayed in Maryville MO for 15 freaking years, the last 5-8 years just because he liked it better than any of the DI head coaching options he had. It'll take a Northwest-Drake type move to get him to jump again. Oddly enough, Iowa and Indiana could be options. My gut tells me he will be at Drake, but I also believe he'd take Indiana given the opportunity. Iowa I'm not completely sure about.

 

[bigbluedon]

Eagle I like McCollum also. Was hoping he would get an interview before we hired Pope. The man can coach.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Eagle I like McCollum also. Was hoping he would get an interview before we hired Pope. The man can coach.

As much as I like Ben, Maryville MO to Lexington KY is a jump nobody could make.

I live in the Springfield area. Was hoping like hell MO State would get off their arse and hire him. Should've done it when they hired Dana Ford in 2018. Ben only had the one natty, but also three other S16s, and six (five in a row) conf titles. Ford had finished middle of the road in the OVC a handful of times. MO State athletic department is lazy and not very forward thinking. Had a chance again this year and bungled it all over $50K. Just ridiculous.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Eagle I like McCollum also. Was hoping he would get an interview before we hired Pope. The man can coach.

I'm not anti- BM in any way but he is definitely an outlier.
Played JUCO and D2 ball.
Assisted at the D2 level
Head coach at D2 level.
Successful first season at Drake with 4 of his former players following.
This in a nutshell tells me he's never played with, recruited or coached even a three star player in his entire career
He hasn't been mentored by a successful D1 coach.
This is where I see the problem if he were to go to Indiana.
Not saying the man doesn't know basketball but would he be like Hal Mumme and the insist on bringing his D2 assistants with him?
Has he ever had to go through an AAU coach to get a player.
I know he's never had to deal with NIL demands.
He's also coached in relative obscurity for the last 20 years.
You can't go to Indiana and say "I just want to coach my team"
At any basketball school like IU, you'll spend at least half you time with off court stuff.

 

[Stonewall12]

No we are getting Max Green from Holy Cross

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

No we are getting Max Green from Holy Cross

green if he came here would be a bench depth piece, stirtz is a starter