Which SEC school is the next 'Florida?'

[MdWIldcat55]

All my fan-life (back to the 1960s) some school has been the Second Banana to Kentucky in the SEC -- it was Tennessee for awhile, then Alabama had a run, LSU under Dale Brown was a contender, then Arkansas under Nolan Richardson, and more recently Florida.

Maybe Auburn under Sweaty Bruce? Rick Barnes makes a good Second Banana coach at Tennessee. LSU, if it gets a new coach, can get players. ARkansas seems to have stalled out a bit under Mike Anderson.

So, who do you think emerges in the Post-Florida Second Banana race.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

I would honestly guess Florida will be the next Florida. Obviously they are not going to replace Donovan, but they have enough pieces to sell a top 15 coach to coming to Florida. No pressure, great location, weather, facilities, and a pretty decent recruiting base already set up with Florida being a top 10-15 program.

Jmo

 

[UK_Johnny24]

I think its still going to be Florida. They'll get a new coach and still be an elite team most every year IMO. Remember a lot of good recruits come out of Florida.

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

I don't think another SEC school is going to rise to the level of competing for national titles, but year in and year out top 10... I'd say Auburn under Pearl or Howland at MSU. Those guys will recruit well enough to get the talent to the schools.

I would guess Auburn over MSU. Recruiting to MSU is a pretty tough nut to crack IMO. If/when Pearl gets things rolling at UA, which he already has to a degree, it'll be an easier sell that MSU. Auburn is a beautiful campus and town.

 

[KMKAT]

I think it'll be LSU..they have a way of getting top recruits.....its the coaching issues they need to tackle.

 

[bookerfan66]

LSU is starting to get lots of talent but Johnny Jones just won't be able to do much with it.

 

[CatPhight]

I'll go with Auburn.

 

[TheFolker]

Any chance Florida makes an offer to Bruce Pearl?

 

[UK90]

My feeling about both Pearl and Howland is that they aren't great 'cultural fits' at their universities..

Your "feeling" is antiquated nonsense.

That whole outdated notion that SEC coaches should be "cultural fits" for their region got thoroughly debunked many years ago. Just look at the coaches who've dominated the conference in the last couple decades, they're mostly northerners who originally seemed "culturally" out of place in the SEC (examples include John Calipari, Rick Pitino, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Billy Donovan, Bruce Pearl, Les Miles, etc.).

Hell, if anything, recent history suggests cultural fit is a bad thing, as the regional misfits have on average been doing a lot better down South than the good ole boy coaches.

 

[UK90]

You misunderstood what I meant by 'cultural fits.' It wasn't a knock on the South. I was suggesting both Pearl and Howland see themselves as capable of being the top dog in the athletic department at a major school, and Auburn will always be dominated by football and MSU has never been a destination school for a coach who has been at a program like UCLA.

Sorry, after re-reading your post, I see I did misunderstand. I apologize, and you make a valid point.

That whole regional "cultural fit" thing is something you used to hear all the time about SEC coaches, and I still occasionally hear, and it always kinda annoyed me. I guess when I saw those words in your post I falsely assumed that's what you meant. My bad.

 

[CatPhight]

Any chance Florida makes an offer to Bruce Pearl?

Once Rocky Top gets a good taste of Rick Barnes fail, they may offer to bring the swined-one back to Knoxvegas.

 

[reignof cats]

TA&M - good as guess as any. GBB

 

[buckkiller]

Auburn

 

[CatPhight]

You misunderstood what I meant by 'cultural fits.' It wasn't a knock on the South. I was suggesting both Pearl and Howland see themselves as capable of being the top dog in the athletic department at a major school, and Auburn will always be dominated by football and MSU has never been a destination school for a coach who has been at a program like UCLA.

MSU & Georgia are both bulldogs and about equals on the hardwood - remember this father and son combo?

I wonder if Ben has a son named Ben Jr. who will take exams for the Mississippi variety.

 

[Festivus Miracle]

Texas A & M would be my guess though they have a limited history of tournament success. If Hogg and the two big kids they signed develop, they could be an interesting team to watch over the next few years.

 

[Bigblueforever]

I know want be Mississippi St.

 

[calamitybone]

Auburn. Pearl is going to get that thing humming down there. Not sure they're national contenders as often as UF has been under BD but I think they'll enjoy lots of success.

 

[Festivus Miracle]

Pearl may be on to the next job before things get going really well on the plains.