Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: TOS to Alabama
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Mark Lembright '85
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Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 3/18/2015 2:22 PM
I still think Groce made the right decision 3 years ago when he left Ohio (for literally millions of reasons) but I wonder if there are times lately where he wonders to himself what would have happened had he stayed at Ohio with LeVert and others he had originally recruited? Oh well.

I truly hope it works out for him at Illinois as I think the guy is still a fantastic coach!
bornacatfan
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Posted: 3/18/2015 10:27 PM
Mark Lembright '85 wrote:expand_more
I still think Groce made the right decision 3 years ago when he left Ohio (for literally millions of reasons) but I wonder if there are times lately where he wonders to himself what would have happened had he stayed at Ohio with LeVert and others he had originally recruited? Oh well.

I truly hope it works out for him at Illinois as I think the guy is still a fantastic coach!
I agree with you with his personal decisions, hated to see him go and i still think a Few like situation was possible here. I have been around those Illini fans since moving to Chicago at age 17. While Bobby Knight was going undefeated they were acting like they deserved to be in the hunt. Oddly enough I found a scouting report for the 57 or 58 Illinois vs UK game my pops prepared for Rupp/Lancaster in an old basketball textbook and asked him about the Illini when Tommy was grade school age. He recounted a similar impression even back then.
OUVan
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Posted: 4/5/2015 9:53 PM
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/126...

Avery Johnson gets the job. Yet another coach hired with no college experience.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 4/5/2015 10:47 PM
Interesting.

Do you think it is a problem not to have the college coaching experience? That is the idea I have heard over and over and can not figure out why.

IMHO I do see problems with running a program, working within the NCAA guidelines, recruiting and variety of other situations in a university setting. I think the biggest key is putting a staff together that handles the day to day while Avery, Fred Hoiberg, Chris Mullin et al create a vision and a place that let's them coach the kids up. Still... there are 68 spots in the Dance and any fanbase that feels they should be there every year is a bit delusional and same fanbase is guaranteed to turn on you in 2 years of not being there. I would hope that any coach who is coming from the pro side would be smart enough to fast track the learning curve without making sure all bases are covered. College ball is transforming in the approach....quickly
Mike Johnson
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Mike Johnson
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Posted: 4/6/2015 10:37 AM
If a former NBA player or assistant coach moves directly to a college head coaching spot, I wonder if his biggest challenge might be recruiting - establishing contacts among high school coaches, building a 'pitch', investing the time, etc could well be unfamiliar and challenging.
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 4/6/2015 10:40 AM
Marshall is hoping it works for Dan D'antoni.
OUVan
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Posted: 4/6/2015 10:55 AM
bornacatfan wrote:expand_more
Interesting.

Do you think it is a problem not to have the college coaching experience? That is the idea I have heard over and over and can not figure out why.

IMHO I do see problems with running a program, working within the NCAA guidelines, recruiting and variety of other situations in a university setting. I think the biggest key is putting a staff together that handles the day to day while Avery, Fred Hoiberg, Chris Mullin et al create a vision and a place that let's them coach the kids up. Still... there are 68 spots in the Dance and any fanbase that feels they should be there every year is a bit delusional and same fanbase is guaranteed to turn on you in 2 years of not being there. I would hope that any coach who is coming from the pro side would be smart enough to fast track the learning curve without making sure all bases are covered. College ball is transforming in the approach....quickly
I have no doubt that Avery Johnson has the ability to coach the kids he gets but, as Mike Johnson pointed out, there is a big learning curve to maneuver the recruiting landscape. I guess when all is said and done it is all going to come down to who he surrounds himself with. He's going to need some experienced assistants with strong recruiting ties. And you are 100% correct, he's got a very short window to learn it especially at a higher echelon program.
bornacatfan
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Posted: 4/6/2015 11:59 AM
I think you are so very correct. Perhaps the biggest coup was Mullin hiring away Hoiberg's top asst.

I am not sure if Iowa State goes back a step or if they find someone who can step right in that spot with similar approach, recruiting ties, background and to act as a go between with compliance, academics and Coach's pro background. St John's BIG score.
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