Even if you were treating it just like a board game wouldn’t you want to be good at that board game? In what world does it make sense to pay way more than you need to if you don’t actually care?
Fire Mooney
- Thread starter Spideralways
- Start date
Eight Legger
Bench player
Like I said, I get it in a general sense, but Merkel is a different animal.
I’ve been with you up to your comment on Mike Young. The problem at VT was definitely money and MY couldn’t get the players he needed to compete in the ACC. Got money for this season and the team is significantly better and is on track to get to the NCAAs. The Hokies aren’t going to beat Duke, but no one in the ACC has (will see if UNC can pull an upset Saturday).
MrTbone
Starter
I don’t think that was actually the intent. The thought at the time was, “this guy is gonna get poached, so someone’s gonna have to pay big money to us to get him and that will fund our coaching salary for years to come. Or we keep a winning coach around and have great success.
Jim didn’t consider the possibility that 2010-2011 were high watermarks and what we’d get after was more modest and below his expectations.
So there’s a little bit more to this that you’re leaving out with Mike young. The lack of money was true but when you realize how it happened you realize it was mikes fault. Going into last season the ad went to Mike and asked how much he needed for basketball nil. Mike gave him a number which according to sources was 75% below what the average ACC roster had for their nil payroll. I’m sorry but how are you a power 5 coach and that far off on the number? That’s called he coached at Wofford for 30 years and has no clue how a power 5 program works. Fast forward to this year and yes they got more money for players which has made the team better but only learned that from the mistake of last year.
Other reasons he’s not a good coach are he’s actually kind of similar to Chris Mooney. He’s kind of soft, doesn’t take it all that serious and his teams reflect that attitude even when there is better talent on the roster. There has always been a severe lack of intensity, focus, toughness and attention to detail especially in close games ever since he’s been at Tech. That all comes from the top and the fact that it’s been a problem for 7 years is proof that it comes from the top. Tech lost a game earlier this year to SMU when they were up 4 with 5 seconds left and had the ball. How is that possible? That’s hard to do. Blew a 13 point lead with 2 minutes left to Stanford because Mike decided it wasn’t important to guard their best player in the last 2 minutes and then lost one to wake they never should have lost either that came down to just effort (sounds familiar?). Even the big win over uva they blew a 7 point lead with less than a minute left to even allow that game to go to overtime. Had several other close calls this year against lesser teams where they almost coughed it up in the last minute of the game. 16-7 record right now but really should be 20-3 but they’re not because of Mike.
Even in the past there were good players on his team, Sean pedulla, Rodney rice, tyrece Radford, darius Maddox and all either got ran off the team or transferred because they were tired of playing in mikes system. The fact he missed the tournament multiple years in a row with those guys says a lot.
Lastly I’ll add that some people think he may be a little racist or at least have some preferences towards white players over black. Look at the guys that he ran off the team versus the guys he didn’t as proof of this. Those guys all went on to do well after they left and were good players by the way. Long winded but all these are reasons why you don’t hire a guy who was at a lower level for 30 years, just different expectation at the lower level.
In fairness at the time I don’t think many thought this was gonna go as poorly as it has.
Mojo-Spider
Bench player
JSK It’s only January and it might not stand up, but have to give you credit for understatement of the year!
Have enjoyed your perspective.
Go Spiders!
VT needs a few more good wins to get to the dance. I would say they are on the outside looking in right now.
Anyone over mooney is a low bar.
MrTbone
Starter
No, that’s the point. Miller had a huge blind spot in his thesis.
Spider17
All A-10 player
Called it. While we’re coming up with excuses like being outspent in NIL, when that doesn’t explain losing to teams like Charleston Southern every year. A Charleston Southern team who by the way is 2-7 in the Big South and 8th out of 9 teams. While we’re doing that… VCU is taking action.
Spider2020
Bench player
Our men’s program is a joke
brooklyn brownstone
Bench player
Had to jump in here because a point being made about NCAA appearances keeps coming up, and I think it's also a huge point to just say that we've only been on the BUBBLE one time in 15 years, that being the 19-20 year with no tourney (24-7 year.)
Come selection Sunday, there has been zero need to tune in to the selection show for a decade and a half, save our 2022 A10 tourney title.
*I'm willing to concede that a couple of seasons we may have been mentioned in the Bracket Matrix at some point in March, but quickly fell out after A10 tournament flameouts (which, notably, were both losses to VCU.) But I don't consider a couple "if things go perfect they could play their way onto the bubble" scenarios to be seasons worthy of actual NCAA consideration - UR was still wins/steps away from that kind of consideration. I'm talking seasons with a good NET (or RPI), a good record and actual inclusion in all the in/out talk.
Once in 15 years have we been solidly in discussion of In or Out.
Come selection Sunday, there has been zero need to tune in to the selection show for a decade and a half, save our 2022 A10 tourney title.
*I'm willing to concede that a couple of seasons we may have been mentioned in the Bracket Matrix at some point in March, but quickly fell out after A10 tournament flameouts (which, notably, were both losses to VCU.) But I don't consider a couple "if things go perfect they could play their way onto the bubble" scenarios to be seasons worthy of actual NCAA consideration - UR was still wins/steps away from that kind of consideration. I'm talking seasons with a good NET (or RPI), a good record and actual inclusion in all the in/out talk.
Once in 15 years have we been solidly in discussion of In or Out.
