Goodbye Tubby, Hello.....??/ Rich Pitino

[DTro]

Yep, once again another lose lose venture for the Gooophers.

 

If anyone thinks for a second he will stick around in MN if he has success you are smoking something funny.    So again we are stuck with watching someone wave goodbye for greener pastures or lining his pockets when he fails.

 

Oh wait, in the meantime they might go 8-6 in the Big Ten and everyone can stick out their chests for a year or two

[Coach1310]

I am intrigued by the hire. The fact that he only has been a head coach for one year makes me pause a bit, but I trust Teague in that he has had great success in the past with these types of hires with Grant and Smart. I can't help but be excited about the style he plays which is something the Big Ten desperately needs and I love the idea it isn't about fitting in the Big Ten, but rather makes folks deal with it. I keep hearing and reading tireless recruiter and passion... something I can't say Tubby really has anymore(at least he doesn't show it). If he doesn't pan out, so be it-- we were headed that way with Tubby. If it is a stepping stone, that only happens if he does great things with the program and means we are in better shape than we were before hand. In regard to it costing us $3.3 million because we had to buy out Tubby..... that is just the way this business works.

[Coach1310]

Dtro, I have to ask. When you are fishing, do you just fish the same old spots if they are average to below average or to you search out and explore new ones?

I am guessing your answer is to always try new spots and see what is out there in hopes of finding the great one and another and another.

If they are the "Goooophers" in your mind, why do you even pay attention to this thread?

[echotrail]

The experienced head coaches the U contacted didn't want the job and it's been reported by the media that Flip Saunders turned them down when the U wouldn't allow him to hire his son in as an assistant coach. Hiring "Little Rickey" Patino is a grab for name recognition in hopes they won't loose more recruits (They already lost one). I'm sure Little Rickey's dad told him a few years at any big ten school is a good entry for your resume especially when your only 30 years old.

[rundrave]

I am not a fan of the hire either but time will tell. In hindsight all the guy has to do is show the ability to draw up an in bounds play or an offensive play to win the game then progress has been made.

[PierBridge]

I'm really disapointed with all the negativty in this town...

Go Gophs~

[CaptainMusky]

The part I like about his is his "supposed" work ethic. I will admit, I know carp about basketball and will never claim to be an expert, but MN has had many top talented HS kids leave the state. True, you will lose some, but Tubby was never convincing in giving these kids a reason to stay.

When a coach makes comments in a presser that he "doesnt know what to do, or what went wrong" that is a sign to me that he has checked out of the program and should be relieved of his duties.

Could there have been a hire that appeased the masses? Possibly, but realistically Shaka was never going to leave, Stevens certainly wouldnt. Flip was a potential, but I think we all believe he has his eyes set on the NBA.

I think Pitino should get his feet on the ground and convince Jones, Vaughn etc to STAY HERE, pack the barn every night and play for one year. NCAA is just a speedbump in the road for these kids. Spend that year closer to home, with family and friends and be heroes to every 7,8,9 grader watching gopher basketball.

[DTro]

When I go fishing, I try new spots before I hit old reliable.  Those decisions are based on weather conditions and seasonal patterns.  Sometimes yes those new spots become favorites.  Not sure what this has to do with fishing. 

 

Big 10 basketball has been and always will be mediocre here in MN.   I’m participating in this discussion because I’m not a fan of public schools burning money which is EXACTLY what they did here

[CaptainMusky]

Dtro, they were burning money either way you look at it. If they kept him they would have had to pay him, buyout after next year wasnt any less than it was now so essentially they would have paid more if they waited a year. Wait to the end of his contract, then you are spending ever more money on a lame duck coach.

I am quite sure that Pitino will come in for less money per year than what Tubby was to get. So in that, they are saving over the course if the remaining years for Tubby.

Maturi would be to blame for this whole deal and the backdoor extensions he did before he left. Borton was also in that same boat.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

I’m participating in this discussion because I’m not a fan of public schools burning money which is EXACTLY what they did here

Then you MAY be happy to know we will be saving money on the Pitino deal versus what we were paying Tubby.

Not to mention what we have told you about the ramifications with Boosters and Alumni moneys!

So the money gripe while I understand the frustration looking at it simplistically just doesn't hold water.

Go Gophs!

[CodyDawg]

I like the hire. Will it work out? Who knows. He is an up and coming coach with a last name that will open some doors for him. I think we should keep an open mind and see how it plays out.

One thing I thought of is if we get a practice facility built under Pitino, and he has success here, he may not bolt quite so fast. If he can win here, it could become a pretty nice job. There is enough talent in the area to keep a program competitive and no major college competition; a coach could do worse.

[DTro]

Ok if they saved money, I'm all for it. Doesnt change the mediocrity thing though, but neither did Tubby.

[Coach1310]

When I go fishing, I try new spots before I hit old reliable.  Those decisions are based on weather conditions and seasonal patterns.  Sometimes yes those new spots become favorites.  Not sure what this has to do with fishing. 

 

It is not about the fishing, but the thought process. You don't always just SETTLE for old reliable, even though it may be ok-mediocre.... you are always striving to find BETTER. This is exactly what the U did with firing Tubby and hiring a new coach. They STRIVED to find BETTER.

You are right, we may always be mediocre, but if we settle for that, you can kiss a whole bunch of booster money goodbye and regardless of what folks think, U of M athletics cannot survive without it.

[DrJuice1980]

Im happy with the hire. The name itself will draw some talent. We couldnt have done much better than Jr. Who cares if he only sticks around for a couple of years as long as he leaves us better than what he started with, the "lose-lose" you say turns into a win-win. There arent too many coaches out there that stay with their program. You got Izzo, Coach K, Boeheim and maybe a handfull of other guys that have been with a program for more than 10 years-with major conference teams. Thats just the nature of college basketball or college sports in general. To say that its a bad thing we got Jr because this is his stepping stone is just crazy. If that was your first thought then you live outside of reality.

Im happy for it, seems like a bright kid and hes got dad to fall back on for advise.

[alleyes]

Tubby was too lazy to recruit, begged for the extension to help recruits see stability in the program. Not many kids will sign on with a lame duck coach on a one year deal. So, he went from lame duck to just lame. I for one will remain optimistic with this hire, the program is desperate for some energy...Go Gophers!

[Musky Buck]

I'm in. Why not ? Who else ? He has 1 of the best a speed dial away for help. I realize a coach has a job to do, but talent is what separates the good from the great, we need talent or it won't matter who is coaching. Guards need to dribble, shooters need to shoot, big guys need to own the paint, if the other team is better at that than you you will only beat that team maybe 2 out of 10 times. We need lots of talent. Are the Miami Heat the best NBA team ? If so why is that ? We could coach Miami. At the college level they've already been coached heavily before they ever get there, there does need to be some serious desire also. Then the college coach needs to reign it all in and play to the teams strengths, among hundreds of other things lol.

[Scott M]

Read a rumor that one booster paid most of the buyout. I don't know what the public transparency is for those kind of donations to the Athletic Department, but if it was true it would throw the "burning public money" thing out the window.

From the sounds of things, this kid is pretty good at turning up the heat on defense. I wrote for years in this board that Tubby drove me nuts by having a bunch of long, athletic kids that couldn't shoot running disjointed and poorly planned half court offenses. Now maybe someone will listen to me and use those same kids to press. The Hollins boys and Joe Coleman make up a pretty good pressing backcourt.

[CaptainMusky]

Hopefully the UofM is burrning money faster than the Fed prints it so we can slow inflation.

[Dotch]

I'm fine with the hire (as if anyone's opinion here really matters) because hey, Teague had to hire someone soon, as the natives were starting to get restless. Who knows how it'll play out? Name recognition is a plus, energy is a plus. Experience? Well as a wise old farmer (my Dad) once told me the only way to get good at anything is to do it. And like I mentioned to someone here, play hard, coach 'em up, and win some games. The interest will return.

[SkunkedAgain]

For everyone tossing around opinions, how about posting a link that verifies your claims?

Have they established Pitino's contract? Do any of you know that he comes at a discount?

I haven't seen one thing published that a "booster" paid Tubby's $3.35 million buyout. I can't fathom that the Gophers have ANY booster with that kind of cash that is so excited about the program that they would shell out that kind of money.

Dtro, they were burning money either way you look at it. If they kept him they would have had to pay him, buyout after next year wasnt any less than it was now so essentially they would have paid more if they waited a year. Wait to the end of his contract, then you are spending ever more money on a lame duck coach.

I am quite sure that Pitino will come in for less money per year than what Tubby was to get. So in that, they are saving over the course if the remaining years for Tubby.

This is not true. They didn't have to buy out Tubby at any point. They could have let him coach out his contract. That was the only GUARANTEED way to "save" money. Hiring a 30 year old kid with limited experience ain't much different than a lame duck coach.

Who honestly thinks the 2013/14 Gophers are going to perform much better than Tubby's record this season? Get real.

For the record, I would have been fine with firing Tubby and hiring Jr Pitino had the UofM Athletic program not had to go into debt to do so. It's financially imprudent and plain reckless.

[CaptainMusky]

Skunked you completely took my comment out of context and didnt read very clearly. My point was if he stayed he has a salary right? They have to pay him. If they decide NEXT year they want to fire him they would have paid his salary AND have to buy him out. This is FACT. Please read closer.

It is quite clear he wasn't the long term solution here and they were going to part ways at some point. Could they have waited out through his contract? Sure, but at what cost? I'm not talking just what it cost them in paid salary but recruits lost and further unrest amongst fans, boosters, etc. If fans quit coming to games (hypothetical) they lose revenue also FACT.

[DTro]

Heard on KFAN today that Teague called Donovan and asked for recommendations and that is where the name Pitino came from.

[CaptainMusky]

Jr sure has been working under a couple of the greats. Tubby is a "big" name only because he won a championship with someone else's recruits. Didn't do squat on his own. Pitino Jr took a program in turmoil with what 2 scholarship players and had a winning record when they hadn't since like 2000.

[SkunkedAgain]

Skunked you completely took my comment out of context and didnt read very clearly. My point was if he stayed he has a salary right? They have to pay him. If they decide NEXT year they want to fire him they would have paid his salary AND have to buy him out. This is FACT. Please read closer.

It is quite clear he wasn't the long term solution here and they were going to part ways at some point. Could they have waited out through his contract? Sure, but at what cost? I'm not talking just what it cost them in paid salary but recruits lost and further unrest amongst fans, boosters, etc. If fans quit coming to games (hypothetical) they lose revenue also FACT.

I didn't misread you at all and understand your point. I disagree that he would need to be fired after next year, negating your FACT. You are correct that if they fired him after the next season that they would have to pay the buyout, but I disagree that they would need to fire him before his contract expired.

[CaptainMusky]

If they decide NEXT year they want to fire him they would have paid his salary AND have to buy him out. This is FACT. Please read closer.

Please read this a couple hundred times skunked and tell me where I said THEY HAD TO FIRE HIM NEXT YEAR? Thanks!

By your last comment you are agreeing with exactly what I was saying, BUT, you say you disagree?

Of course they could have just let the contract run out in two years and not have to pay a buyout, which is precisely what I said.