Who controls the future of the MVC?

[agrinut]

I'm not sure why a head coach is concerned about co-eds or 4 star restaurants....

UNI has a co ed population, per capita, on par with any campus I've ever been on.

While not 4 star, the dining establishments in CF are very good

Just because those Iowa weigh the same as 2 girls, doesn't mean they count as 2.

[DUBulldog]

I'm not sure why a head coach is concerned about co-eds or 4 star restaurants....

UNI has a co ed population, per capita, on par with any campus I've ever been on.

While not 4 star, the dining establishments in CF are very good

Just because those Iowa weigh the same as 2 girls doesn't mean the count as 2.

And I thought Casey was incoherent.

[Aargh]

OK, I'll give my take, now that I've seen that it's virtually impossible to be more incoherent or less relevant that some posts in this thread.

WSU - Should have at-large potential as long as Marshall stays.

UNI - As long as Jacobsen is there, could be an at-large team every 2 or 3 years if he can raise his recruiting level just a tiny bit. UNI is probably the only FB school with enough money left over to throw some at BB.

BU - I think BU is the current Sleeping Giant.

Loyola - They committed a LOT of money to BB before they got the MVC invite. They're in a great recruiting area.

After that group there seems to be a little gap when considering potential.

SIU - Has the coach, but can Barry get the recruits when his recruiting budget is something like a tank of gas. SIU's great years are probably starting to disappear from the memory of recruits. I wouldn't be surprised if Hinson coaches at SIU until he retires.

Then I see another potential gap.

InSU - I think Lansing has the potential to put an at-large team on the court, but he's going to have to continue showing that after Odum graduates.

MSU - Low-paying coaching job. Any successful coach will bail. If MSU couldn't raise the money to keep Martin after he won a league title, it's doubtful they can raise the money to get a coach or a recruiting budget to ever get an at large.

IlSU - Has the best group of ineligible (and potentially troubled) recruits ever seen in the Valley. The history of previously troubled recruits is that they stay troubled. Muller's track record is that players leave the program. There are more red flags in IlSU's program than there are red shirts in the stands at games.

Drake, Evansville - Just not seeing it.

[Drakey]

Drake, Evansville - Just not seeing it.

You Potentialometer needs adjustment.

[kcmsaluki12]

OK, I'll give my take, now that I've seen that it's virtually impossible to be more incoherent or less relevant that some posts in this thread.

WSU - Should have at-large potential as long as Marshall stays.

UNI - As long as Jacobsen is there, could be an at-large team every 2 or 3 years if he can raise his recruiting level just a tiny bit. UNI is probably the only FB school with enough money left over to throw some at BB.

BU - I think BU is the current Sleeping Giant.

Loyola - They committed a LOT of money to BB before they got the MVC invite. They're in a great recruiting area.

After that group there seems to be a little gap when considering potential.

SIU - Has the coach, but can Barry get the recruits when his recruiting budget is something like a tank of gas. SIU's great years are probably starting to disappear from the memory of recruits. I wouldn't be surprised if Hinson coaches at SIU until he retires.

Then I see another potential gap.

InSU - I think Lansing has the potential to put an at-large team on the court, but he's going to have to continue showing that after Odum graduates.

MSU - Low-paying coaching job. Any successful coach will bail. If MSU couldn't raise the money to keep Martin after he won a league title, it's doubtful they can raise the money to get a coach or a recruiting budget to ever get an at large.

IlSU - Has the best group of ineligible (and potentially troubled) recruits ever seen in the Valley. The history of previously troubled recruits is that they stay troubled. Muller's track record is that players leave the program. There are more red flags in IlSU's program than there are red shirts in the stands at games.

Drake, Evansville - Just not seeing it.

I agree with this.

[glm38]

I can understand the criticism of MSU in regards to coaching salary. But it's not entirely accurate to say any successful coach will bail. Or that we won't offer competitive pay. In Cuonzos case mid year during 2011 we opened negotiations to substantially increase his salary. I believe the offer was 800k? Not entirely sure but it was enough to make him one of the better paid coach's in the MVC.

The argument could certainly be made that we should have offered sooner. But to that point (his 1st 2 years) we hadn't really won anything. But it was clear the program was on the rise so that was probably a mistake. I don't think it would have mattered though. Even if we had matched TN offer he still would have gone. Some coach's just have their sites set on BCS type programs regardless. I liked Cuonzo but he wanted what he perceived to be the "big time".

I feel MSU is a good place to coach. Get the right guy in here and we'll pay a competitive salary. To date Lusk has proven he can recruit. But to date he hasn't proven anything in the W/L column. Hopefully we have a good year and his compensation is boosted accordingly.

[agrinut]

I can understand the criticism of MSU in regards to coaching salary. But it's not entirely accurate to say any successful coach will bail. Or that we won't offer competitive pay. In Cuonzos case mid year during 2011 we opened negotiations to substantially increase his salary. I believe the offer was 800k? Not entirely sure but it was enough to make him one of the better paid coach's in the MVC.

The argument could certainly be made that we should have offered sooner. But to that point (his 1st 2 years) we hadn't really won anything. But it was clear the program was on the rise so that was probably a mistake. I don't think it would have mattered though. Even if we had matched TN offer he still would have gone. Some coach's just have their sites set on BCS type programs regardless. I liked Cuonzo but he wanted what he perceived to be the "big time".

I feel MSU is a good place to coach. Get the right guy in here and we'll pay a competitive salary. To date Lusk has proven he can recruit. But to date he hasn't proven anything in the W/L column. Hopefully we have a good year and his compensation is boosted accordingly.

The offer to Zo would have raised his Base salary to $750,000 and he would still have the $100,000 for TV and $100,000 for Radio. Zo was obviously going to make more money at Tennessee but even if MSU would have matched that offer he was gone. Zo's mind was made up when he realized that you could win the conference and not go dancing. I don't get the complaints about Recruitung budgets but what do I know, I think most would agree that Lusk has done well on the recruiting front. I would be lying if I said I didn't envy the relationship with WSU and Marshall, and the money plays a large part but I'm inclined to believe that he is just really really happy being the Man at a true basketball school.