CLK wrote:

Got to wonder how a guy like Jeff Goodman could report this.  He is a nationally respected sports writer (not a wannabe lazy pretender like Zeise).  The only thing I can think of is that there was a memorandum of understanding entered into by both parties, and that they were meeting tonight to finalize the contract.  As UMass can attest it ain't over till the fat lady sings, and even then it's not over.


 

I said it in the new coach thread wondering it, now I'm really starting to believe someone close to this search is leaking these candidates names to various media and claiming it to be done or nearly done when it is not at that stage to make all involved look bad.

/tinfoil hat

I shouldn't link this type of stuff since God knows he might turn us down, but check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLNUTpc5z3g

Ball State is 12-12 the last two seasons Feb/Mar, and then 2-2 in CIT play those years. That's slightly concerning to me. That's not at the level of epic collapses that we've seen, but it's certainly below the bar set earlier in those seasons by those teams. I don't know how much of that to give to the level that Ball State plays. Doesn't mean he's wrong, either. I think it's just easy to be wired for skepticism with DU Hoops.

Last edited by TheFace (3/23/2017 10:50 pm)

Go to the Ball State website and look at their arena and ask which school is committed to a basketball program.

My one concern? Who did he beat? In the last two years, which record-wise may have been great years for Ball State, their non-conference schedule is very weak, and they didn't beat any of the Big 3 MAC teams (Akron, Ohio, Kent State). 1-2 in the MAC tourney in that time.

I think its just a matter of perspective

DUQ is not a good job right now, and for as much as we are taking a chance on this hire, the new coach is gambling with his career as well.(if you were a manager of a local target with a chance to move into a regional manager position in 2 years, would you quit to go to work for sears, knowing sears may go out of business at any time?)

You can pretty much sift thru all the "great choices" we have mentioned and poke holes in their resumes for one reason or another, have concerns for one reason or another...fact is, they don't want to come here.

I just think this is a solid hire and want to get behind him bc he wants to be here. he wants to take a chance. 
 

Ya know, CLK, after all these rumor "offers" that we have heard reported, maybe a second chance hire of Mike Rice II, if he was interested would be a good option.

After all, it worked out in the movie, "Hooisers" didn't it?

Hey after all the press Duquesne bashing we could just say he was sorry for extreme coaching, and promises to never do it again in his life....

Dunlap was actually kinder to Duquesne this morning saying that despite the fact that Becker and Fife turned them down they have other options and he felt they would get a quality coach.

Here's the profile of Ball St in Whitford's four years there. First is the adjusted offense/defense/tempo based on the whole of the year and below that the play within the MAC only. Ranks out of 351 D1 teams and 12 MAC teams in parentheses. 




Also will point out efficiency is severly hampered for Ball St under Whitford due to terrible turnover rates. They've at least improved every year going from 25%, worst in all of D1 to 19.9% (273rd). Not great on offensive glass, have shot the ball well from both two and three the past two seasons.

Defense: They've been hard to score on inside and from two point land and they rebound well while they've been susceptible to getting beat from three. They don't force many turnovers. They more than likely play a pack defense.

 

president wrote:

There would be some flak from a Mike Rice ll hire and it would be taking a chance. If it blew up in our faces, the program would be devastated! Not sure it's worth the risk here.

I think its impossible to blow up in our faces.  We've been bad for 40 years.  At this point, a coach with functioning grey matter will do.

townsonkid wrote:

president wrote:

There would be some flak from a Mike Rice ll hire and it would be taking a chance. If it blew up in our faces, the program would be devastated! Not sure it's worth the risk here.

I think its impossible to blow up in our faces.  We've been bad for 40 years.  At this point, a coach with functioning grey matter will do.

 
Big difference between a losing team vs. a program involved in bullying.  Hopefully Rice has changed but there is substantial risk involved in hiring a guy who bullied his players.