Interesting Question

[hatvol96]

I was talking to some friends who are out in Vegas for the summer hoops tournaments. They posed a question to me that got bounced around last night at Piero's among the basketball cognescenti, and I thought it would be interesting to get the takes of the hoops minded members of VolNation. The question was as follows: If you were starting a college program from scratch, with major conference level resources, who are the top 5 coaches you would look at to head your efforts? I'd like to get some input, then I'll give you my 5 and the consensus 5 of the group. There are some names on the consensus group that would really surprise you. One caveat; the candidate should be reasonable. For example, nobody mentioned Coach K, because it's become obvious he's never leaving Duke.

 

[therealUT]

Rick Barnes, John Calipari, Bobby Knight, Ben Howland, Bruce Pearl

 

[hvwarrior58]

Roy Williams
Billy Donovan
Ben Howland
hatvol special-Lute Olson
homer pick-Bruce Pearl

 

[hvwarrior58]

I suppose I could guess 3 of hat's picks.

 

[therealUT]

Roy Williams
Billy Donovan
Ben Howland
hatvol special-Lute Olson
homer pick-Bruce Pearl

We all know that Roy is not going to leave UNC and Olsen would not leave Zona...Have to pretty much agree with the other 3, Donovan was right on the border for me.

 

[DKG534]

Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan, Bruce Pearl, John Calipari, and Steve Alford

 

[hatvol96]

I'll tell both of you that Howland didn't make the list, because I don't think anyone thinks he would leave his dream job at UCLA. Same with Roy Williams. Knight and Olson both were excluded, probably because of age.

 

[hatvol96]

I suppose I could guess 3 of hat's picks.

Let's hear them.

 

[hvwarrior58]

But, seriously, my 5 would be:
Roy Williams
Billy Donovan
Ben Howland
Thad Matta
Bruce Pearl

 

[hvwarrior58]

Cal
Huggs
Floyd

 

[hatvol96]

Cal
Huggs
Floyd

Actually, I think SC is Tim's last stop. His daughter lives in LA, he's got a new arena and a fertile recruiting base. I can't see him making another move. Obviously, you are 100% correct on the other two.

 

[hvwarrior58]

So you think Cal would leave Memphis? He seems set on staying there. I'm also a little skeptical on his ability to win the big, big game. How high would you have Pearl and Matta?

 

[hatvol96]

I'll start the counting down the consensus list in reverse order of support, as it was explained to me. #5-Jay Wright.

 

[hatvol96]

So you think Cal would leave Memphis? He seems set on staying there. I'm also a little skeptical on his ability to win the big, big game. How high would you have Pearl and Matta?

I think Cal's happy at Memphis. I don't think he's to the point of refusing to listen to other offers. Pearl and Matta are both on my list.

 

[kptvol]

I figure Billy Donovan isn't too likely to be leaving Florida anytime soon. I'm not sure what his contract is, but I bet he'll receive a pretty nice extension.

 

[hatvol96]

#4-Bruce Pearl.

 

[hatvol96]

#3-John Calipari.

 

[lawgator1]

1-- Billy Donovan
2-- Billy Donovan's wife
3-- Billy Donovan's next door neighbor
4-- Billy Donovan's cat
5-- tie between Billy Donovan's third grade teacher and Billy Donovan's trash compactor

 

[hatvol96]

1-- Billy Donovan
2-- Billy Donovan's wife
3-- Billy Donovan's next door neighbor
4-- Billy Donovan's cat
5-- tie between Billy Donovan's third grade teacher and Billy Donovan's trash compactor

Amazing how one good tournament run boosts a guy's stock in some people's eyes.

 

[lawgator1]

Amazing how one good tournament run boosts a guy's stock in some people's eyes.

:angel:

 

[hatvol96]

#2-Thad Matta.

 

[NCGatorBait]

Amazing how one good tournament run boosts a guy's stock in some people's eyes.

I thought he's made two NC title game runs? :angel: anyway...my top 5 excluding BD since I dont think he'll leave UF now..

1 Matta
2 Izzo
3 Wright
4 Calapari
5 Few

 

[hatvol96]

I thought he's made two NC title game runs? :angel: anyway...my top 5 excluding BD since I dont think he'll leave UF now..

1 Matta
2 Izzo
3 Wright
4 Calapari
5 Few

Izzo's already turned down two NBA jobs. He's not going anywhere. Given some of the schools Few has declined to even talk with, I'm not sure he's ever moving either.

 

[NCGatorBait]

Izzo's already turned down two NBA jobs. He's not going anywhere. Given some of the schools Few has declined to even talk with, I'm not sure he's ever moving either.

Izzo...prolly not...Few will move eventually. Too much $$$ out their from some elite program like UK when they let Tubby go.

 

[hatvol96]

Izzo...prolly not...Few will move eventually. Too much $$$ out their from some elite program like UK when they let Tubby go.

1) Few's making plenty at Gonzaga. He's turned down interviews for big money jobs at Indiana and NC State, to name a couple.
2) The Pacific Northwest is home for him.
3) He would have to completely change his recruiting strategy at a place like UK. The sleepers and foreign players he brings to Spokane wouldn't satisfy the locals in Lexington.
4) Let's remember, Few has never made a really deep tournament run at Gonzaga. He can get away with that in Spokane, he wouldn't be able to in places like Bloomington or Lexington.