Oral Bob at Missouri State

[Aargh]

MSU is 0 for 2 on their hires since they fired Barry. (3 years of riding Weems, and then bailing for more money isn't a hiring success).

Either winning a regular season crown is a big deal or it isn't. Make up your mind Shocker fan.

I am having a hard time getting my head around how abysmally bad MSU is right now. Wow...

Winning a regular season crown is a big deal. If Martin were still at MSU and MSU were still in the upper half of the league, I'd consider his hire to be a successful hire.

Martin won a regular season crown in large part because of Weems and Creekmore. I don't believe he was involved in recruiting either. Now we're getting to see what Lusk can do with the leftovers of Martin's recruiting. Not much.

Martin won a regular season crown with Barry's recruits, and then bailed after 3 years and left MSU with a pretty bare cupboard. That's not what I'd consider to be a successful hire.

[MoValley John]

I wouldn't consider the Cuonzo hire successful either. That opinion is shaped exactly from what Aargh said, but also based on why Missouri State fans wanted Hinson fired. Their fans were upset because SMS, then Missouri State failed to make it to the NCAA tourney. Well, it's been five years since Hinson got the axe and MSU is no closer to the dance then when he was fired. In fact, other than their breakout year two years ago, the Bears are regressing. If Lusk doesn't get his act together, it could be a long time before they sniff a chance at the NCAA's again. Meanwhile, it appears Hinson has plugged the leak at SIU.

I thought I'd relish the SIU-MSU games this year, but as it draws closer, I'm a little apprehensive as this could get ugly. If Barry sweeps MSU this year, there may be throngs of bears fans waiting in line to jump off the Bagnell Dam. We are either going to see a bunch of Bears fans giving a bunch of I told you so's, or some of the ugliest, hate filled posts we've seen in years. Yep, it's gonna be ugly.

[shoxrox]

Either winning a regular season crown is a big deal or it isn't. Make up your mind Shocker fan.

That was a big swing and miss. You obviously didn't see his point. Reread it. Slowly, if you have to.

I am having a hard time getting my head around how abysmally bad MSU is right now. Wow...

Valley Champions and in 18 months a 340 RPI team with 0 D-1 wins through 7 games. That has to be some kind of record.

[glm38]

Instead of blaming the MSU AD, maybe you should look at the alumni and their apparent lack of financial support for MSU athletics.

MSU's apparent budget for a basketball coach only allows for hiring assistants who are unproven as head coaches. I doubt MSU can even hire from the top tier of assistants. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. MSU is 0 for 2 on their hires since they fired Barry. (3 years of riding Weems, and then bailing for more money isn't a hiring success).

It's like you sent Moats to the liquor store with a five dollar bill and then complained when he brought back Milwaukee's Best because you were expecting champagne.

That's not entirely true regarding the coaching budget. There was a lot of money thrown at Cuonzo to try to get him to stay before he took the Tennessee job. That came from alumni. When he left we hired a top asst. Top assistants taking a head coaching job don't get 7 figure or even high 6 figure salaries. If or when Lusk gets MSU back to the top of the Valley I think he'll be rewarded handsomely.

[glm38]

I thought I'd relish the SIU-MSU games this year, but as it draws closer, I'm a little apprehensive as this could get ugly. If Barry sweeps MSU this year, there may be throngs of bears fans waiting in line to jump off the Bagnell Dam. We are either going to see a bunch of Bears fans giving a bunch of I told you so's, or some of the ugliest, hate filled posts we've seen in years. Yep, it's gonna be ugly.

Could be wrong but I don't think it will be ugly. Most Bears fans I know liked Barry personally and wish him well. I know I do. I think it will be cool having him back in Springfield on the opposing bench. It lends a little extra excitement. If he beats us so what? It'll be one loss among many during this down year.

[valleychamp]

Instead of blaming the MSU AD, maybe you should look at the alumni and their apparent lack of financial support for MSU athletics.

MSU's apparent budget for a basketball coach only allows for hiring assistants who are unproven as head coaches. I doubt MSU can even hire from the top tier of assistants. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. MSU is 0 for 2 on their hires since they fired Barry. (3 years of riding Weems, and then bailing for more money isn't a hiring success).

It's like you sent Moats to the liquor store with a five dollar bill and then complained when he brought back Milwaukee's Best because you were expecting champagne.

MSU's last two coaching hires were well respected assistants from high level BCS programs, and both Martin and Lusk were deemed "ready" to be a head coach at the times they were hired by most basketball people. I think that both of them were considered among the "hot young coaches" at the time, so to speak.

I love the fact that you think the of hiring high level BCS assistants--such as MSU has done--is a sad commentary on their program and athletic finances, meanwhile the hires that WSU has made (head coaches from Winthrop and Jacksonville State) is supposedly representative of WSU's superior finances and greater hiring capability. Laughable.

[shocktheheart]

Instead of blaming the MSU AD, maybe you should look at the alumni and their apparent lack of financial support for MSU athletics.

MSU's apparent budget for a basketball coach only allows for hiring assistants who are unproven as head coaches. I doubt MSU can even hire from the top tier of assistants. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. MSU is 0 for 2 on their hires since they fired Barry. (3 years of riding Weems, and then bailing for more money isn't a hiring success).

It's like you sent Moats to the liquor store with a five dollar bill and then complained when he brought back Milwaukee's Best because you were expecting champagne.

MSU's last two coaching hires were well respected assistants from high level BCS programs, and both Martin and Lusk were deemed "ready" to be a head coach at the times they were hired by most basketball people. I think that both of them were considered among the "hot young coaches" at the time, so to speak.

I love the fact that you think the of hiring high level BCS assistants--such as MSU has done--is a sad commentary on their program and athletic finances, meanwhile the hires that WSU has made (head coaches from Winthrop and Jacksonville State) is supposedly representative of WSU's superior finances and greater hiring capability. Laughable.

How is that laughable when that has translatedt to wins on the court?

[valleychamp]

How is that laughable when that has translatedt to wins on the court?

1) It isn't about the wins. It is about the statement regarding "who they are 'able' to hire" because of their supposed lack of finances. The idea that MSU would be much better off if they hired a head coach from some tiny mid-major rather than a respected assistant from Purdue is ridiculous, and on its own is based on the faulty premise that they weren't "able" to do so because of money.

2) MSU hasn't won??? Cuonzo was there for 3 years, they got better every year and won an MVC title his last year. Lusk is just starting his tenure, you cannot even make an evaluation on him yet. Was Marshall deemed a failure at WSU after his first two years???

[Ricardo del Rio]

MSU is 0 for 2 on their hires since they fired Barry. (3 years of riding Weems, and then bailing for more money isn't a hiring success).

Either winning a regular season crown is a big deal or it isn't. Make up your mind Shocker fan.

I am having a hard time getting my head around how abysmally bad MSU is right now. Wow...

Winning a regular season crown is a big deal. If Martin were still at MSU and MSU were still in the upper half of the league, I'd consider his hire to be a successful hire.

Martin won a regular season crown in large part because of Weems and Creekmore. I don't believe he was involved in recruiting either. Now we're getting to see what Lusk can do with the leftovers of Martin's recruiting. Not much.
Martin won a regular season crown with Barry's recruits, and then bailed after 3 years and left MSU with a pretty bare cupboard. That's not what I'd consider to be a successful hire.

Sorta reminds me of Coach Lowery.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I love the fact that you think the of hiring high level BCS assistants--such as MSU has done--is a sad commentary on their program and athletic finances, meanwhile the hires that WSU has made (head coaches from Winthrop and Jacksonville State) is supposedly representative of WSU's superior finances and greater hiring capability. Laughable.

I am going to the doctor tomorrow because I agree with you.