Why should Butler change their system if it's working?
Because working in the Horizon or the A-10 is one thing but it ain't what we envision for the BE.
We all hope the new Big East becomes one of the power conferences.
I don't think we can say for certain that a big name is the answer for them. What Stevens built, he built in part because he wasn't a name. He was a really young guy with an eye for talent, and a terrific system.
For Butler, that recipe has worked over the years. Under Stevens, it work famously, but it's not like his assistants are completely unaware of how it's done. Larry Brown, I see someone mentioned above would probably be a disaster. He should be retired now.
I think Butler should be searching for the next Brad Stevens. Changing the recipe now when it's worked so well would be a disaster IMO.
We'll see soon enough.
Again it has worked in the context of hiring in the Horizon League when you are competing against Valpo and Detroit-Mercy.
But again let's say Butler left a year ago for the Big 10. And Stevens who had turned down all those BCS jobs leaves for UCLA this year.
Now Butler has to hire a coach. Do they go the same route and hire within? Maybe and maybe they are successful. But now they are competing against schools who when they hire coaches they are going to go get ESTABLISHED coaches with records in MOST cases.
In other words when Indiana was looking to hire a replacement for Sampson they went and hired Tom Crean from BCS school Marquette. When Illinois hired a coach after firing Bruce Weber they hired John Groce from Ohio who had just gone to the Sweet 16. When Ohio St fired Jim O'Brien they hired successful Xavier HC Thad Matta.
When ACC schools like Maryland and Virginia and NC St made hires they hired head coaches who had a record of success like Tony Bennett, Mark Gottfried and Mark Turgeon.
I use those conferences because they are BCS conferences that the new Big East hopes to compete with.
Again Butler has had a nice blueprint and it has worked. All I am saying is it has worked in the context of the Horizon League they have never had to hire a coach in the context of competing in a BCS conference.
If we look at Butler, and what Stevens has accomplished there, I think it's on par with what we've seen from Jim Calhoun and Coach K. While they haven't been a contender every season, the two consecutive years they went to the finals, they beat the snot out of several BCS programs.
Obviously, hiring a proven name is less of a risk, but I think Butler is different. With Stevens' success, they've entered a category that includes only them. If their success was mainly due to a weaker Horizon League schedule, their weaknesses would have been clear come March.
But instead, they proved that not only were they ready for the big time, but that they were as good anyone. Once, like a GMU, or a VCU, a case can be made that its a fluke. Twice, there is no dispute.
As far as Maryland, Virginia and NC State go I would put them in a category similar to us. They are trying to become a nationally recognized program again. Right now, it clear that Virginia is a bottom feeder.
They may get there eventually, but right now, despite their big name hires, they are not examples of success. Virginia was a hair better than us last year. Butler could have beaten both teams at the same time.