Who wins in St. Louis

[sivert]

I'm pretty sure Marshall's system isn't a cake-walk either.

Yeah, no doubt. That wasn't really my point.

[uniftw]

Actually, pretty much. Also, when your own fan base calls him "Jake" you can lose some of the spelling-smack high ground.

Salty.

His twitter handle is @CoachJake_UNI

[Cdizzle]

Actually, pretty much. Also, when your own fan base calls him "Jake" you can lose some of the spelling-smack high ground.

Salty.

His twitter handle is @CoachJake_UNI

Right. That's fine. So apparently it's cool to call him whatever people would like. Including using an 'e'.

[uniftw]

Actually, pretty much. Also, when your own fan base calls him "Jake" you can lose some of the spelling-smack high ground.

Salty.

His twitter handle is @CoachJake_UNI

Right. That's fine. So apparently it's cool to call him whatever people would like. Including using an 'e'.

One is an actual name he goes by. The other is a misspelling of his name.

[Stickboy46]

I'm pretty sure Marshall's system isn't a cake-walk either.

Yeah, no doubt. That wasn't really my point.

Then I'm not sure what your point was. If both of the teams run hard systems, one struggles with it, the other doesn't. How does that do anything to say that the coach that struggles is the better coach?

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the point of your original post?

[BirdsEyeView]

His twitter handle is @CoachJake_UNI

Right. That's fine. So apparently it's cool to call him whatever people would like. Including using an 'e'.

One is an actual name he goes by. The other is a misspelling of his name.

Why are we so worked up over this?
Here is how I would rank the coaches in the Missoura Vally Confrenc:

1. Greg Marshal
2. Ben Jacobsen
3. Dan Mueller
4. Gregg Lanseng
5. Barry Hinsen
6. Porter Mosur
7. Bryan Wardall
8. Marti Simmuns
9. Geoff Ruder
10. Paul Lusck

The order is not that important, however at least I spelled everyone's names right.

[sivert]

Then I'm not sure what your point was. If both of the teams run hard systems, one struggles with it, the other doesn't. How does that do anything to say that the coach that struggles is the better coach?

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the point of your original post?

These things are relative, but Ben has coached some very good defensive teams with less athletic players. Is that disputed? I'm not saying that WSU doesn't put out a great defense, so don't think I am.
I'm saying that for Ben to get what he gets out of his players, they must learn to execute his system as a team. And that relatively speaking, this high level of defensive success is more dependent on team system execution than individual athleticism. Thus, for UNI in particular, newcomers simply can't do it until they learn it.

[Stickboy46]

Then I'm not sure what your point was. If both of the teams run hard systems, one struggles with it, the other doesn't. How does that do anything to say that the coach that struggles is the better coach?

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the point of your original post?

These things are relative, but Ben has coached some very good defensive teams with less athletic players. Is that disputed? I'm not saying that WSU doesn't put out a great defense, so don't think I am.
I'm saying that for Ben to get what he gets out of his players, they must learn to execute his system as a team. And that relatively speaking, this high level of defensive success is more dependent on team system execution than individual athleticism. Thus, for UNI in particular, newcomers simply can't do it until they learn it.

"Less athletic players" is a result of recruiting which is part of how you judge a coach. Don't get me wrong, he's done pretty good with what he has, but it's not elite. Heck, I went back to the start of Marshalls Career at WSU and only 2 years (2008,2010) has UNI fielded a better defense than WSU per KenPom. I think everyone can agree he's Top 2 in the league based on historically success. He just hasn't ever made his team elite. That's mainly IMO due to recruiting.

[Horn28Clem30]

Assuming Marshall is 1, does being #2 ahead of the other coaches in the Valley really mean that much?

[Cdizzle]

Assuming Marshall is 1, does being #2 ahead of the other coaches in the Valley really mean that much?

When #1 is among the Top 15 in the country, I think it can still mean something.

Illinois State could end up being a Top 15 team next year and still lose the league by 2 games. That doesn't mean they aren't a good team.