College Basketball 2010-11

[SouthSideRyan]

I really hope Howland stays put. Dude, it's cold in the Midwest.

 

Howland isn't leaving UCLA for [expletive] DePaul. I'm pretty sure DePaul knows this too. Create the illusion of effort to go grab a big name and then give the job to Dane Fife

[snoodmonger]

Why would Howland leave UCLA for DePaul? I know UCLA had a rough year, but it's going to be a lot harder to win in the Big East with DePaul than in the Pac 10 with one of the top programs in the country.

[SouthSideRyan]

Manny Harris to forgo his senior season. I'll drop Michigan to 8th in my predictions now.

[bcl412]

Sounds like Iowa might have their coach.

 

Fran McCaffery from Siena. Hope he can recruit.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

I'm not really sure what to think of the Iowa hire. On one hand I think McCaffery is a good coach, but bringing in a low to mid major coach who has no history in the Midwest would be troubling to me if I were an Iowa fan. He is going to have to hire some assistants with some good connections.

[NCCubFan]

Sounds like Iowa might have their coach.

 

Fran McCaffery from Siena. Hope he can recruit.

ESPN is reporting that he will be officially named coach tomorrow.

[bcl412]

I'm not really sure what to think of the Iowa hire. On one hand I think McCaffery is a good coach, but bringing in a low to mid major coach who has no history in the Midwest would be troubling to me if I were an Iowa fan. He is going to have to hire some assistants with some good connections.

 

That's pretty much what I'm thinking.

[Andy]

McCaffery seems like a pretty slam-dunk hire for Iowa. I've had my eye on him to be Mike Brey's successor for a while now. He'll be good there.

[Guest]

Why would Howland leave UCLA for DePaul? I know UCLA had a rough year, but it's going to be a lot harder to win in the Big East with DePaul than in the Pac 10 with one of the top programs in the country.

 

Yeah, I think this is just DePaul throwing around a lot of money and Howland possibly feigning interest for a contract renegotiation. He should be happy here despite the bad season.

[hawkeyecub]

I'm not really sure what to think of the Iowa hire. On one hand I think McCaffery is a good coach, but bringing in a low to mid major coach who has no history in the Midwest would be troubling to me if I were an Iowa fan. He is going to have to hire some assistants with some good connections.

 

He had more than a decade as an assistant/recruiting coordinator at Notre Dame. That's some history in the midwest.

 

It's not a name that fans will jump on board with right away, but people can't bitch about the style of play anymore. Big Ten fans should like it at least for the variance in style of play. It will be kind of like Mike Anderson coming to the Big 12.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

I'm not really sure what to think of the Iowa hire. On one hand I think McCaffery is a good coach, but bringing in a low to mid major coach who has no history in the Midwest would be troubling to me if I were an Iowa fan. He is going to have to hire some assistants with some good connections.

 

He had more than a decade as an assistant/recruiting coordinator at Notre Dame. That's some history in the midwest.

 

It's not a name that fans will jump on board with right away, but people can't bitch about the style of play anymore. Big Ten fans should like it at least for the variance in style of play. It will be kind of like Mike Anderson coming to the Big 12.

 

A lot has changed in the 11 years since McCaffery was at ND. No school in the Big Ten still has the same coach except for MSU. Countless high schools have had changes in their programs. The AAU circuit has become much more present in recruiting. I think his time at Notre Dame may prove beneficial in some respects, but 11 years is a long time and he is going to have to work very hard to reestablish what relationships he may have had. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Tracy Webster on staff at Iowa next year.

[hawkeyecub]

I'm not really sure what to think of the Iowa hire. On one hand I think McCaffery is a good coach, but bringing in a low to mid major coach who has no history in the Midwest would be troubling to me if I were an Iowa fan. He is going to have to hire some assistants with some good connections.

 

He had more than a decade as an assistant/recruiting coordinator at Notre Dame. That's some history in the midwest.

 

It's not a name that fans will jump on board with right away, but people can't bitch about the style of play anymore. Big Ten fans should like it at least for the variance in style of play. It will be kind of like Mike Anderson coming to the Big 12.

 

A lot has changed in the 11 years since McCaffery was at ND. No school in the Big Ten still has the same coach except for MSU. Countless high schools have had changes in their programs. The AAU circuit has become much more present in recruiting. I think his time at Notre Dame may prove beneficial in some respects, but 11 years is a long time and he is going to have to work very hard to reestablish what relationships he may have had. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Tracy Webster on staff at Iowa next year.

 

True, I wasn't meaning it like he was hyper-connected with the scene today in the midwest.

 

Would Webster leave for Iowa? Van Coleman mentioned him at the beginning of the search as a target for whoever Iowa got. They need someone who is connected and can bring athletes in to run his system. That was Lick's biggest downfall and McCaffery is going to need more high-caliber athletes than the Butler system.

[CubbieBum]

I don't think he can turn Iowa into a top team in the league because he will lose many top recruits simply due to location and not having the name recognition of most other Big Ten coaches. However they don't really need that right now. I think McCaffey can get them turned around and make them be a competitive team again. I would think he would then leave for a bigger job perhaps out closer the Siena area where he has a lot of contacts. Iowa would then be attractive enough to perhaps get a big name.

[bcl412]

I don't think he can turn Iowa into a top team in the league because he will lose many top recruits simply due to location and not having the name recognition of most other Big Ten coaches. However they don't really need that right now. I think McCaffey can get them turned around and make them be a competitive team again. I would think he would then leave for a bigger job perhaps out closer the Siena area where he has a lot of contacts. Iowa would then be attractive enough to perhaps get a big name.

 

If Iowa becomes a consistent bubble team in the near future I'd be satisfied. I'm not really expecting to be a top team in the conference.

 

I think he can lead us to be a consistent middle of the pack team.

[hawkeyecub]

It will all depend on his assistants and how they recruit. It's a major transition from Lick's style to his. He's helped rebuild three programs in the past so that's encouraging. He had 8 and 9 win turnarounds in his first years at UNCG and Siena.

 

At least his style of play will be more enticing to recruits than Lickliter's.

[Magnetic Curses]

It will all depend on his assistants and how they recruit. It's a major transition from Lick's style to his. He's helped rebuild three programs in the past so that's encouraging. He had 8 and 9 win turnarounds in his first years at UNCG and Siena.

 

At least his style of play will be more enticing to recruits than Lickliter's.

 

i don't know, i bet stevens is about to bag some big-time recruits running lickliter's system.

[Rusch33]

If McCaffrey can't recruit Illinois, he's screwed. He'll be a goner in 4/5 years.

[snoodmonger]

Steve Lavin is interviewing for the St. John's job.

[Guest]

Steve Lavin is interviewing for the St. John's job.

 

I read that a few hours ago and couldn't stop laughing.

[SouthSideRyan]

Steve Lavin is interviewing for the St. John's job.

 

I read that a few hours ago and couldn't stop laughing.

 

That's not going to end well. If Lavin wants to get back into the head coaching game, it's gotta be in the midwest.

[snoodmonger]

I think he should stay in the announcer's booth. He cracks me up as a commentator.

[hawkeyecub]

If McCaffrey can't recruit Illinois, he's screwed. He'll be a goner in 4/5 years.

 

You never fail to deliver.

 

Of course it would be helpful to recruit Illinois and it's easiest due to location but it's not an absolute necessity. What if he brings in guys who can recruit Minnesota, KC/STL or Indiana or Michigan or Ohio or get a couple guys from the east coast or Texas or wherever? A couple of the most talented teams in Iowa history weren't built with more than 1-2 Illinois players.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think he should stay in the announcer's booth. He cracks me up as a commentator.

 

Well yeah I'd prefer that. He's great, pretty pissed they broke up the Musberger/Lavin team

[Guest]

I think he should stay in the announcer's booth. He cracks me up as a commentator.

 

Well yeah I'd prefer that. He's great, pretty pissed they broke up the Musberger/Lavin team

I thought Self was great today. He should stay in the booth, too. :D

[Flames24Rulz]

I think he should stay in the announcer's booth. He cracks me up as a commentator.

 

Besides the whole, "Congratulations on the NCAA Tournament berth" to Illinois after the game against Wisconsin, I agree.