Urmite
Starter
I thought the lesson was that Iowa wins more NCAA games when they don’t face the spiders…
OT: Coaching Changes
- Thread starter *23*
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Spider17
Assistant coach
There are other coaches out there who have this mindset. Young, up-and-coming coaches, motivated, get the importance of instilling a culture of work ethic and high energy. Don’t settle. Guys who have a fire to them. For instance, I think Matt Brauer from SFA is one of them. Richmond just chooses to settle rather than trying to improve themselves.
Spiders4ever
Starter
Or keep the same poor coach for 21 years
Iowa and McCaffery isn’t in the same Universe as UR and Mooney.
7 NCAA tournaments with 4 wins over 14 seasons (excluded 19-20 Covid year). Last 2 years didn’t make the tournament and got fired. Iowa had a very good coach and appears to now have an even better one. The example is poor and the comment dumb.
Yes schools can get stuck at “good enough”, but Iowa’s good looks excellent from the UR perspective.
Spider17
Assistant coach
It’s relative to the schools’ expectations. UNC fired Davis who took them to the national championship game a few years ago. NC State fired Keatts the year after he took them to the final four in 2024. No one is saying for UR to have the same standards as UNC, NC State, or Iowa but asking to not be bottom 4 of the A10 3 out of 4 years seems like a really low bar and we still don’t care enough to make a change when it happens.
Spiders4ever
Starter
Low expectations are the best.
No pressure.
No pressure.
*23*
Assistant coach
I think the point may be, now - with our seeming NIL disadvantage - having a coach that can mine basketball players (not just portal highlights like our last two classes) is more important than ever.
Beielein was a guy (like McCollum) that won at the lower levels as a head coach. He has guys that are mentally tough, want to win, high hoops IQ and have that edge. I remember Beilein always had different than the norm questions he asked recruits, like give me directions to your house or something like that - things to judge ability to think on feet etc. Not everything translates, but JB and Tarrant were innovative, and tough (maybe in a little different ways). Mooney seems to have swung the pendulum over time to the culture of comfort.
Now, he has recruited mentally tough players - just seems more ealier on than lately. Gilly was obvioulsy one. Earlier he had a ton in Geriot, KA, Gonzo, Kevin Smith, etc. Now we seem to go over whoever is left in the portal that has good stats or did previously.
I want to see a couple dawgs from the portal, and some 2 way athletes that play tough physically and mentally. That has been severely lacking
I do like what I see (of course in limited highlights) from incoming frosh Simmons and Caldwell. A lot of folks on here comparing Caldwell to Noyes - b/c of thinner frame. But Caldwell to me looks bigger and looks like he likes to slash - which I didn't see with Noyes highlights.
Beielein was a guy (like McCollum) that won at the lower levels as a head coach. He has guys that are mentally tough, want to win, high hoops IQ and have that edge. I remember Beilein always had different than the norm questions he asked recruits, like give me directions to your house or something like that - things to judge ability to think on feet etc. Not everything translates, but JB and Tarrant were innovative, and tough (maybe in a little different ways). Mooney seems to have swung the pendulum over time to the culture of comfort.
Now, he has recruited mentally tough players - just seems more ealier on than lately. Gilly was obvioulsy one. Earlier he had a ton in Geriot, KA, Gonzo, Kevin Smith, etc. Now we seem to go over whoever is left in the portal that has good stats or did previously.
I want to see a couple dawgs from the portal, and some 2 way athletes that play tough physically and mentally. That has been severely lacking
I do like what I see (of course in limited highlights) from incoming frosh Simmons and Caldwell. A lot of folks on here comparing Caldwell to Noyes - b/c of thinner frame. But Caldwell to me looks bigger and looks like he likes to slash - which I didn't see with Noyes highlights.
Spiders4ever
Starter
Need a Bigelow and a Francis.
Broke the Mooney mold.
Broke the Mooney mold.
Spiders4ever
Starter
I will get blasted for this I am sure but I look at it as if you want some toughness, are there players on the roster that would that be able to crack the roster at VCU? Not skill level, but toughness level.
Argabright - yes
Lopez - Maybe
Can't think of any other, maybe JROB.
Then going back a looking at recent rosters.
Bigelow, Francis, Cayo. Yes
Eight Legger
Starter
John Hardt just sent out a 1,290-word email update and managed to avoid mentioning anything about the men's basketball program except for two paragraphs about AA coming back. Impressive gaslighting. It's also been 21 days now with no comment on Mooney's return, why, what will change, or anything else about the program.
*23*
Assistant coach
Interesting, since I posted this seeing in my X timeline lots of stories about Illinois giving recruits S2 congnitive test - used by NFL teams etc.
Focus on the positive
Typical boiler plate info from Hardt, which is the expected communication coming out of that office.
*23*
Assistant coach
Yes, I believe coach needs to help mold this, can't remember how many times last five years mooney has a bitch fit when someone turns the ball over, yet says NOTHING when one of "his guys" gives up a GD straightline drive to the basket. CULTURE OF SOFTNESS.
72Spider
Bench player
Thought the same thing
Spider17
Assistant coach
I thought about commenting something here about that newsletter but I get tired repeating the same thing over again. Glad others noticed it as well. The silence says all we need to know about how seriously our admin takes this program. Even a simple “While we are disappointed with this season in men’s basketball, Coach Mooney and I are meticulously looking at all aspects of the program to ensure we position ourselves to compete for A10 championships and NCAA appearances moving forward. The University remains committed in providing our program the resources necessary to achieve these goals.”
That’s it. 2 simple sentences like that would’ve at least been something. But nope. We get nothing, yet again.
That’s it. 2 simple sentences like that would’ve at least been something. But nope. We get nothing, yet again.
Perhaps he doesn't put out those 2 sentences because he can't truthfully say those things.
SpiderTrue
Walk-on
There isn't a single thing that Mr. Hardt could say that would settle most of you down anyway so why are you so focused on him addressing anything at all.