UCONN's Hurley has proved that. Billy Donovan proved that. Unfortunately, between football and basketball over the last decade, the UF AD's choices of coaches haven't worked. Same for selecting CEOs who get hired and can't get the job done. Most still walk out with millions. Unfortunately, the fan's frustration is mediocrity being paid from their wallets. I think many times, when hiring young coaches, it can be a matter of luck. Donovan getting Mike Miller to sign. Maybe Napier getting DJ Lagway to commit. There is no doubt that between NIL and the transfer portal, the job has become more difficult. That's what Golden needs. A home run. Then a lot of doubles.
I don't see Stricklin swinging for the fences with his hires. It's not like there isn't enough money to go for it with his HC choices. Agreed, his future resides with Billy.
Anecdotal perhaps, but Mulkey getting the tigers to the champ game in her second season is pretty compelling evidence.
It's a stunning rise to the top. Did she use the players already at LSU or go out and sign a bunch of elite high-schoolers and transfers?
How often in college basketball do schools swing for the fences? It seems to me that it almost never happens. Roy Williams from Kansas to UNC. Who else?
It's not about time, it's about having an elite coach. If the coach is elite, the team will be legit very quickly. If it takes longer, then the coach is simply not elite at that time. Perhaps they'll grow into it, perhaps they won't know. But below average coaches do not have above average results....and vice versa. It begins and ends with elite coaching (and that includes recruiting, obviously).
There's more to it. Check the number of championships won at the prior schools like Marshall and Buffalo, for just two. Pitino failed outside Kentucky. Good coaches help but don't hang your hat on luck of the draw 200+ schools are making.
Pitino failed? huh. he took providence to a final four and won a title with Louisville (even if it was stripped from the books)
Can you clarify what you mean in the latter part? I'm of a mind that the coach, not only in hoops, but in other or all sports, is the primary factor in the team's success. Get the coach and then you get the players + development +program building.
The girl who averaged 23/15 and was Tournament Most Outstanding Player was a transfer from Maryland-not sure about rest of the team.
Yep, Reese was a transfer. With the NIL the way it is now, you can go from awful to really good in a short amount of time. You just have to know what you’re doing.
