We won 8 conference games last year. The staff didn't get this bad overnight. They don't have the tools. Simply move Richmond back to advisor with the same pay and pickup a veteran coach. St. Jean is a talented kid who will only get better. I think the growth last year combined with what was supposed to be a talent infusion this year gave rhe staff a false sense of their NBA system being able to work. That vision is shattered. College kids need more structure and I think they finally get that.
The funny thing is everyone hates the staff except for Matt. If changes are made the guy on the staff with the least personal ties to Mullin is Matt. Chris Mullin will get fired before he fires Richmond and has ties to ST Jean's dad. IF there are changes my bet would be Matt. Hey Baldi might actually get something right. Can't wait to read the boards when it is announced that the change is Matt. Should be fun times.
You fire the single recruiter - presumably the only guy on the staff who's building relationships with future classes - and bring in a different single recruiter? Hard to believe they do that unless it's a great recruiter with head coaching experience like Norm Roberts. Besides which if the Magic 8-Baldi says it's likely it's likely not likely. Richmond becoming special advisor to the head coach a la Keady, I could see that, or maybe he gets kicked upstairs to assistant AD or something.
Yeah maybe I was just speculating and you must admit that would make for interesting times on here. But "demoting" Richmond would almost look like he is scapegoating his friend. Your scenario would make most sense but when has that ever happened around here?
And from what has been rumored, if you bring in another guy who recruits how does that dynamic with Matt work?
Mullin will have to manage that dynamic as head coaches are expected to do. Most programs have 2 recruiters with big egos, but the guys making the big $$ attend to any staff conflict. Slice "stuff" aside, one would hope he would be up to it this go around.
We are not most programs.
You want another recruiter or X and O old bench guy that everyone else wants? Unless you grab hybrid guy.
Personally I would want another recruiter. Preferably a guy who recruits HS kids every once in awhile.
Again none of this really matters if Mullin doesn't show something next year.
Hybrid
Will a difference making assistant want to attach himself to us at this point in time?
Specifically Rice. Would he want this to be his first job back?
If things don't work out next year, would be a 1 year return.
Hell yeah! We will likely have the biggest turnaround in conference record for the entire country. Even if we are slightly disappointing. All because we patched a few holes.
I don't disagree though I am sure we disagree on what the "holes" are.
I expect / hope we win 17 or 18 next year.
Which would be enough for me and more importantly the school and Mullin most likely.
Others on here won't be happy with that kind of turnaround.
I tend to agree with you but let's play devil's advocate. 17-18 wins is a 3-4 win improvement in 2 years from a team I think we all know kind of sucked.
Do we all think that Fred, Malik, Darien and SIgmund were better suited to this coach free NBA system than Simon, Clark and Trimble? Or did the returning players not benefit from the extra year of experience? This year's lineup looked better up and down the line. At t his point next year's lineup only has more bodies but I don't see any significant upgrades, unless Brooks does make it to campus an performs to or above his top 100 reputation.
FWIW I was expecting 17-18 wins this year and 20 or more in 18/19, or at least that's what I wanted to be satisfied with the progress. Some might say getting to just 17 or 18 next year won't wash the stink of this year off the program. Those that are happy with it will recognize that this year's regression happened and we have to move on from here.
PS the answers to the questions above are obviously No, the answer is Marcus Lovett obviously. Whatever his reasons for not coming back that was the thing that brought this season to ruin. I believe many on here underestimate his value to this program. I don't see a replacement on the roster next year. Even if Brooks doesn't come there should be a lot more production and options in the front court next year but back courts rule college hoops and I don't see next year's being as good as this year's could have been.