Ok, Ok. Ask Lon how it feels that when he left UF, that the coach following (Billy D) would eventually play in 3 NCAA Championship Games (winning two back-to-back) makes him feel as a coach? Also, ask Lon if he felt like a loser after he recruited such great players and classes at Illinois, but was NEVER able to make it out of the first weekend. Ever. At. Illinois. Ask him how it feels that at UNLV, he only made it to the Sweet 16 once out of the next 7 years he was there. Then ask him how he feels when over the next 10 years at Oklahoma, he only made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA tourney once, when he went to the Sweet 16? So, dude coached at OK for 10 years and only made it past the opening weekend once, when he miraculously made it to the sweet 16. And during those 10 years at OK, he missed making the NCAA Tourney 2x. So this dude is a good coach? Mediocre at best, IMHO.
I know that lots of folks think that not getting Vince Carter to UF was the reason he left us for Illinois. I have heard another story second hand and I don't know if it is true. The O'Dome was not available for the hoops team to practice (Career Showcase or whatever it was called back then) and the basketball team had reserved the old Alligator Alley gym for practice. But it was raining so the basketball team was bumped out and the football team got the gym for practice and Kruger was livid. If the second story is true I doubt that Lon would say so.
Haha. I have issues with the guy and was so damn glad he left so that we could Billy D. Foley knew that Lame Lon had bigger aspirations and let him go in favor of a humble and hungry Billy D coming in.
God yes. Are you serious? John Calipari is a very mediocre coach but a great recruiter. How many times over the last 8-10 years that he has had the #1 recruiting class (by far) and has not won the NCAA Championship despite having the best class of recruits over all other teams? John Calipari is a great coach? lol
Lon Kruger peaked when he coached the beloved 1994 Gators, Hill, Cross, DeClerq and Williams. That was a great team and I was so proud of their accomplishments that year. Like really, really proud. I was a freshman then. Sophomore season, we were 3rd in the East. Junior season, we were 5th in the East. See a pattern here? Thankfully, we acquired Billy D, who was 100x the coach Lonnie was or ever could be. By my sophomore class during Dental School, we were playing for the National Championship in Indianapolis against Michigan State. Do you really think that Lon Kruger could of had us playing for the National Championship in Indianapolis in 2000? If so, then I take back everything I said about Lonnie.
this seems like a very hot-button issue for you. I really like you are a poster, so I’ll bow out. This was far from the intention of my thread. And I shouldn’t have engaged.
No, you are right to engage. Lon Kruger is a hot-button issue for me. However, you should definitely pursue your interview with Lon. I'd like to read what he says. No over critical judgements from me
Just Find a Way, Brent! Can ask when did he begin to think he had a special team in 94? What challenges may Mike White face in terms of having sustainable success at Florida?
Lon was the real deal. I was a high school basketball coach back in the day for a small private school when we went to the FF. Took our kids to his camps. I actually called the Gator offices and told him I was going to Charlotte and where I was staying. He actually called my hotel to say thanks for coming. (All before real cell phones) True story. Really great guy regardless of how he left, hope he still has love and fondness for UF. “Wes Chandler was Percy Harvin before Percy Harvin was born.”
Grateful you are a great poster I respect but this is a ridiculous statement. His stats say otherwise. Not a great recruiter, ok. But coach? You are dead wrong. “ Wes Chandler was Percy Harvin before Percy Harvin was born.”
Kruger isn't a great coach, but a very good one. And if Kruger doesn't have success at Florida, does Billy D come? Pitino told Donovan not to take the job, because Florida was a football school that didn't care about basketball. But the support the 1994 Final Four team showed Donovan what was possible. Making a Final Four isn't easy. Lute Olson is a HOFer, and only went 5 times in 35 seasons at Iowa and Arizona. And only one it all once. Others, like Kruger and Bob Huggins, have gone to a FF twice, but neither I'd call great coaches. But both are very good, and a lot better than many in the game. I understand there may be some hard feelings with Kruger. But he put Florida basketball on the map and paved the way for Billy D.
This one is for you Brent. Ask Coach Kruger if he likes to plunk his line in freshwater or saltwater? With the follow up question for either answer, would he please call you the next time he is heading to the East coast of Florida if he needs a fishing guide? Now that would be an interview we'd all like to be a part of, except for GratefulGator.
Ask him why he left his alma mater to come here—we had little history of success, coming out of NCAA problems, and the DeVoe disaster
