The Next Coach

[kingofnerf]

Shaka Smart to Marquette.

Marquette men’s basketball needed a new head coach. Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl moved quickly to get one, and it’s a name that’s very familiar to Golden Eagles fans who remember the last time MU went hunting for a new head coach.

It’s about as official as it can get: Shaka Smart is the Marquette head men’s basketball coach.

https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2021/3/26/22352277/marquette-golden-eagles-mens-basketball-new-coach-hire-shaka-smart

Now Frank needs to go Old School and put Marquette on the OOC schedule next year.  Rematch from the Final Four run.  Make it so.

 

[ShepCock]

I concur,  playing good defense is crucial but the name of the game is scoring.

I don't know man, Oregon won a game in the NCAA Tournament this year by a final of 2-0...  :lol:

 

[kingofnerf]

Texas Tech HC Chris Beard to Texas as Shaka Smart's replacement.

In short, Beard's here to change the culture. That can be taken in several ways and hopefully fans of Smart won’t be insulted because for all the good Shaka did here — he ran a clean ship, graduated his players and developed them into good people — he just didn’t win enough, and in a results-based business, a coach like Chris Beard was a must-hire if Texas could get him.

A culture change was needed, that is, if the administration is really serious about getting after Baylor in the Big 12 and becoming a real title threat outside these southern borders. Beard turned a .500 program in Lubbock into a legitimate NCAA title threat in a handful of seasons.

https://www.hookem.com/story/sports/2021/04/05/texas-longhorn-basketball-coach-chris-beard-coach-wants-make-imprint/7093506002/

I remember the story of Beard sleeping in his car down his Charleston several years ago.  Good on him, but I would have stayed with the Red Raiders.

 

[markymark550]

Texas Tech HC Chris Beard to Texas as Shaka Smart's replacement.

https://www.hookem.com/story/sports/2021/04/05/texas-longhorn-basketball-coach-chris-beard-coach-wants-make-imprint/7093506002/

I remember the story of Beard sleeping in his car down his Charleston several years ago.  Good on him, but I would have stayed with the Red Raiders.

I think that right now Texas Tech is a more stable job, but Beard went to Texas. Can't fault him for going back to his alma mater. He will be under a lot of pressure to win right away, but Texas has the resources that he could build something big there.

 

[kingofnerf]

I think that right now Texas Tech is a more stable job, but Beard went to Texas. Can't fault him for going back to his alma mater. He will be under a lot of pressure to win right away, but Texas has the resources that he could build something big there.

If you go to his Wiki page, Beard has never stayed in one job for more than two years at a time.

For better or worse.

 

[markymark550]

If you go to his Wiki page, Beard has never stayed in one job for more than two years at a time.

For better or worse.

What does that have to do with whether or not he's the right guy for Texas? I don't think you fault a guy for moving around as an assistant or as a head coach at D2 or D3 level.

 

[kingofnerf]

What does that have to do with whether or not he's the right guy for Texas? I don't think you fault a guy for moving around as an assistant or as a head coach at D2 or D3 level.

Right.  He's job hopping.  He didn't give the TT AD a chance to counter the offer and Hokum was pretty pissed about that.  Doing stuff like that will catch up with him.  You can only burn so many bridges no matter what you do for a living.

History says Beard will probably put in two good years at Texas (if it's possible to do so) and then make the jump to the NBA.  That's the pattern with him.

 

[markymark550]

I don't think history says that at all. He's spent 5 seasons coaching in a major college basketball conference - all at Texas Tech. Everything I've read about him says that he highly coveted the Texas job and his ties as an alum will keep him there for long haul...that is if he wins enough for the Texas boosters.

 

[Longhaul]

Interesting in reading about the extension for Frank it was said that Caslen told Tanner to replace him, but received pushback about the $6 mill buyout from "some" state senators, so now we have a coach that knows the President wanted him gone on a 2 year extension and a much lower buyout for next year and beyond.  It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out. 

 

[kingofnerf]

Interesting in reading about the extension for Frank it was said that Caslen told Tanner to replace him, but received pushback about the $6 mill buyout from "some" state senators, so now we have a coach that knows the President wanted him gone on a 2 year extension and a much lower buyout for next year and beyond.  It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out. 

From what I have heard, Frank got a two-year extension with no salary increase and his buyout was reworked.

All Frank has to do is get back on the winning track next season and this will be forgotten.  Frank's temper issues over the years have stemmed from the fact that he wanted to turn the program around a lot sooner than happened 4 years ago.  I would think he and Caslen would be on the same page in that respect.  Caslen didn't win any friends by giving Muschamp his full lump sum buyout, either.

I also still believe a lot of our problems here are above the coaching level.

 

[Cockyandproud]

From what I have heard, Frank got a two-year extension with no salary increase and his buyout was reworked.

All Frank has to do is get back on the winning track next season and this will be forgotten.  Frank's temper issues over the years have stemmed from the fact that he wanted to turn the program around a lot sooner than happened 4 years ago.  I would think he and Caslen would be on the same page in that respect.  Caslen didn't win any friends by giving Muschamp his full lump sum buyout, either.

I also still believe a lot of our problems here are above the coaching level.

I hope you are right. However, it amazes me that someone can fail pretty miserably, and senators get involved and he gets an extension. Only in government can you fail and be rewarded. 

 

[Longhaul]

I hope you are right. However, it amazes me that someone can fail pretty miserably, and senators get involved and he gets an extension. Only in government can you fail and be rewarded. 

I think they became involved due to state funding and spending $6 million on the buyout, not sure if it was necessarily in support of Frank, but you never know.  

 

[kingofnerf]

I think they became involved due to state funding and spending $6 million on the buyout, not sure if it was necessarily in support of Frank, but you never know.  

Mainly this.  Probably also sending a strong signal to get smarter on our coaching contracts in a time of significant revenue issues.

 

[doublea1971]

I think they became involved due to state funding and spending $6 million on the buyout, not sure if it was necessarily in support of Frank, but you never know.  

@LonghaulIt wasn't, and Caslen missed his chance to make a number of the people holding $$$ over Tanner/Frank's head look silly by calling them on that and saying, "we don't want the MUSC money, if it comes with the strings attached that you are describing".

Regardless, we are where we are.  Like @kingofnerf said, hopefully next year the ship is righted.  If so, this whole conversation is just a big, ugly, bad dream.  We move on and don't look back.

Personally, I'm ready to focus on the 2021-22 team, what it looks like, what the strengths and weaknesses are, and begin to talk about next year.  I'm done with all this Frank Martin silliness that has, unfortunately, taken up too much press time around Columbia in recent months.  He's the coach for at least one more year.  Even, if you don't care for the man, let's get behind the young men who remain in Gamecock uniforms and support them in their endeavors.

 

[kingofnerf]

Now the line-up is the biggest question.

I assume there will be something official about Frank's contract next week or sooner.

Hopefully the roster will firm up quickly after that and the NBA draft things finish up.

 

[GregoryHouse]

From what I have heard, Frank got a two-year extension with no salary increase and his buyout was reworked.

All Frank has to do is get back on the winning track next season and this will be forgotten.  Frank's temper issues over the years have stemmed from the fact that he wanted to turn the program around a lot sooner than happened 4 years ago.  I would think he and Caslen would be on the same page in that respect.  Caslen didn't win any friends by giving Muschamp his full lump sum buyout, either.

I also still believe a lot of our problems here are above the coaching level.

I am in support of CFM staying because I truly believe he is a good coach and can win with great players. 

I am glad that UofSC kept CFM instead of firing him after this season and it results. Regardless of the results of the season, firing CFM att would have lead to the athletic department taking a PR beating and likely would have labeled UofSC as a university that has no loyalty to its coaches after the coaches have had to plan and coach around and through a once in a lifetime event (though that take is mostly bullcrap).

I hate the methods I think CFM used to hang on to his job (which included calling in political favors and trying to go to the media with excuses). Do I know this is what happened for a fact? No. This is pure speculation on my part based on what I saw during the late part of the season and in the offseason. It could be pure coincidence that certain people stepped forward in support and that CFM also forgot to clear media events with Tanner and Caslen over the  last couple of months. 

I firmly believe that Frank has one year to make it to the NCAA tournament or Tanner and Caslen will can him. Nothing less will save his job and Frank won't be able to lean on the pandemic and Gervais Street to save him. - This I am perfectly fine with and I know Ray Tanner is behind the scene updating his contacts of potential CFM replacements to call at the end of next season. 

Winning will indeed be the key Frank continuing on past 2021-2022 season - as it always should be. The buyout and extension will only be there to help Frank in recruiting.

 

[Cockyandproud]

@LonghaulIt wasn't, and Caslen missed his chance to make a number of the people holding $$$ over Tanner/Frank's head look silly by calling them on that and saying, "we don't want the MUSC money, if it comes with the strings attached that you are describing".

Regardless, we are where we are.  Like @kingofnerf said, hopefully next year the ship is righted.  If so, this whole conversation is just a big, ugly, bad dream.  We move on and don't look back.

Personally, I'm ready to focus on the 2021-22 team, what it looks like, what the strengths and weaknesses are, and begin to talk about next year.  I'm done with all this Frank Martin silliness that has, unfortunately, taken up too much press time around Columbia in recent months.  He's the coach for at least one more year.  Even, if you don't care for the man, let's get behind the young men who remain in Gamecock uniforms and support them in their endeavors.

All 3 or 4 of them. 
 

Seriously, I understand your point, and now that it’s done, I hope Frank wins and wins big, but this smells of Muschamp to me. I stayed behind Muschamp for way too long, thinking he would turn it around. Both Muschamp and Martin continued to get worse, so I don’t see Frank magically getting it figured out, and turning the team into a tournament team, especially after how many have left, but we will see.  I sincerely hope I’m wrong. 

 

[Longhaul]

I am in support of CFM staying because I truly believe he is a good coach and can win with great players. 

I am glad that UofSC kept CFM instead of firing him after this season and it results. Regardless of the results of the season, firing CFM att would have lead to the athletic department taking a PR beating and likely would have labeled UofSC as a university that has no loyalty to its coaches after the coaches have had to plan and coach around and through a once in a lifetime event (though that take is mostly bullcrap).

I hate the methods I think CFM used to hang on to his job (which included calling in political favors and trying to go to the media with excuses). Do I know this is what happened for a fact? No. This is pure speculation on my part based on what I saw during the late part of the season and in the offseason. It could be pure coincidence that certain people stepped forward in support and that CFM also forgot to clear media events with Tanner and Caslen over the  last couple of months. 

I firmly believe that Frank has one year to make it to the NCAA tournament or Tanner and Caslen will can him. Nothing less will save his job and Frank won't be able to lean on the pandemic and Gervais Street to save him. - This I am perfectly fine with and I know Ray Tanner is behind the scene updating his contacts of potential CFM replacements to call at the end of next season. 

Winning will indeed be the key Frank continuing on past 2021-2022 season - as it always should be. The buyout and extension will only be there to help Frank in recruiting.

Agree with you on all points.  Winning fixes a lot of things and I would like him to succeed.  I would like to see him step up and take some blame next year if things do not go well.  I did not like how he laid it on the players shoulders so much this past season.  

 

[doublea1971]

All 3 or 4 of them. 
 

Seriously, I understand your point, and now that it’s done, I hope Frank wins and wins big, but this smells of Muschamp to me. I stayed behind Muschamp for way too long, thinking he would turn it around. Both Muschamp and Martin continued to get worse, so I don’t see Frank magically getting it figured out, and turning the team into a tournament team, especially after how many have left, but we will see.  I sincerely hope I’m wrong. 

@Cockyandproud... TOTALLY understand that perspective.  

Assuming we lose no one else to the portal, I believe we have a REALLY strong team returning.  The two new transfer additions are very good additions, in that we gain as much as we lose (from departing players).  There are only a few more changes I would wonder about - Trey Anderson (who I would encourage to move on to the portal), and the potential return of Seventh Woods (who I believe stands to benefit enormously from one additional season in Collegiate ball).  I don't see Lawson returning, and I don't believe that either Keyshawn nor Cousinard will be leaving for the NBA.  Kitchen seems well stocked with bigs who can show dramatic improvement and increase scoring (just look at what Minott was doing in limited minutes on the floor, and out of shape).  Kitchen also looks pretty good at the PG/SG position if one assumes the return of Cousinard and looks at the addition of Carter, as well as the incoming FR players.  Biggest is at PF/SF position, as we don't really know much about the incoming FR players - though Woodley seems for real.

 

[kingofnerf]

Here are the home attendance numbers for the 2019-20 season lest we forget.




 


Date


Opponent


Result


Score


Attendance




1


11/6/2019


NORTH ALABAMA


W


77-55


11,927




2


11/10/2019


WYOMING


W


66-32


10,255




3


11/15/2019


CLEVELAND STATE


W


90-63


10,083




4


11/19/2019


BOSTON U


L


70-78


10,113




5


11/22/2019


GARDNER-WEBB


W


74-69


10,022




6


12/1/2019


GEORGE WASHINGTON


W


74-65


9,843




7


12/8/2019


HOUSTON


L


56-76


11,164




8


12/30/2019


STETSON


L


56-63


10,985




9


1/7/2020


FLORIDA


L


68-81


10,651




10


1/15/2020


KENTUCKY


W


81-78


18,000




11


1/25/2020


VANDERBILT


W


90-64


12,393




12


2/1/2020


MISSOURI


W


76-54


14,678




13


2/8/2020


TEXAS A&M


W


74-54


13,388




14


2/15/2020


TENNESSEE


W


63-61


15,085




15


2/22/2020


LSU


L


80-86


15,979




16


2/26/2020


UGA


W (OT)


94-90


11,613




17


3/3/2020


MSST


W


83-71


10,889




 


 


 


 


 


 




 


 


 


 


Total Att.


207,068




 


 


 


 


Avg Att.


12,180



Attendance was a moot point this season for sure, but it's still a critical part of our team's success.  Frank's teams, with the exception of this past season, have produced consistently high attendance revenue despite a disappointing record sometimes.