"An outstanding eye for talent". Bruce Pearl on Golden (I know its Bruce Pearl). Golden recruited Jared Harper and Bryce Brown to Auburn, the two small, pesky uber talented guards who led Auburn to the 2019 Final Four, and frustrated the Gators for years. The Barn lost to eventual champion Virginia 63-62 in the National Semifinal. Can Golden recruit the SEC? He found Harper and Brown in the sticks of rural Georgia. Analytics-As a player at St. Mary's, Golden would keep running totals of his own team's plus/minus for various line-ups in his head, and then relay this information to an Assistant Coach. Now, Golden has an assistant dedicated to analytics, and appears to use them as much or more than anyone in College Hoops. I could go on and ON about Golden and analytics. Read up on him for several hours today. Let me put it this way, as much as the Football Boards are gaga for Napier, would not be surprised if Golden puts a better product out there to compete.
He sounds like a future elite level coach. Based on what I've read, Golden might be one of the best young coaches in the game. And he has a legitimate shot at being one of the best in the country. I hope!
Well the marketing machine is doing its job selling the hire for sure. This article has generated a lot of positive conversation. Given it’s posted on the official gator sports page, I’m interpreting it with caution. His claim to fame right now is he was an assistant under Bruce pearl. He recruited a couple impact players, that he didn’t end up coaching but apparently is getting all the credit for their success. And lastly he’s got international experience in Isreal. I didn’t realize their was a influx of Isreal talent getting ready to dominate the college basketball scene. The speed of this hire is very strange.
He had a half-dozen international guys on his roster. None from “Isreal.” Read the story (and The Bible).
I’m at the point where I think those that WANT to complain will. They will say the hire was too fast… although it’s been pointed out that that is likely not true. They will say he is too young… hello Bill Donovan. They will say he can’t recruit… Bruce pearl would argue with you. They will say any number of things and not look at the simple facts. He is an up and comer and was very sought after. Is he Scott see? Of course not. But he is better than some want to give credit for.
I only looked at the last 5 games, only 1 international player had any production. way too much talent in the south east to have to rely on international players to fill a roster. I love bringing in top international talent but shouldn’t be the focal point of our recruiting.
Maybe, but a lot of hires seem to be going fast, Missouri,Missy St and Xavier have already hired new guys as well.
Look again. His best post player (from Belarus, I think) blew out his knee in the conference tournament. Averaged 13.5 and 9.1. Offense went thru him.
The speed of the hire is only a little strange if you believe that White leaving UF was a surprise to our AD. It wasn’t. Replacements were being weighed and measured before White resigned.
What bothered me is during the interview in the Xavier game he was asked what he had learned from cheating bruce and his answer was he learned to be a "complete coach". I don't think we should hire anyone who has had anything to do with cheating bruce (or wade, beihem, smith, miller (now @ Xavier; lost all respect for them) and several others)
If I could correctly speculate that White was looking to leave, there is no doubt that his boss was aware.