Alabama prepared to make big run at Gregg Marshall

[Rollbird5]

Sorry but most Redbirds I see posting are anti-WSU, insecure d-bags. Just that's the way it is. Until I see a shift the other direction, I'll continue to think what I want. And I wasnt generalizing anybody. The specific poster ISUbirds69 is one of the biggest anti-WSU posters out there so don't even go there.

All u do is attack everyone's posts on here which makes you seem like the most insecure d-bag on the board to be honest.

Most isu fans root for the shockers out of conference and definitely in postseason play to do well. Of course in conference play u root for the teams ahead of u to lose some so u can try to catch up and attain a higher seed

[Play Angry]

I probably misinterpreted what I read from fans saying "Money isn't a big deal to him" or "His family loves Wichita"

After reading the posts again most of them are more dismissive to THIS job in particular instead of all jobs.

I apologize to WSU fans. I think we can both agree that Marshall at WSU is not only good for WSU, but for the league in general. We need to get more quality coaches in this league!

No need to apologize- the rest of your post was spot on. Cheers and here's to both Ben and Gregg returning for many more years.

[rlh04d]

I probably misinterpreted what I read from fans saying "Money isn't a big deal to him" or "His family loves Wichita"

After reading the posts again most of them are more dismissive to THIS job in particular instead of all jobs.

Exactly. WSU fans are dismissive of THIS job, not all jobs. Texas is more worrisome, but still ... many of the same things apply to Texas as Alabama.

The jobs I worry about: UNC, Kentucky, Florida, Indiana. IMO, all four of those jobs will be open within the next two years. Indiana's a distant fourth on that list. If I was Marshall, I wouldn't consider leaving WSU until UNC opens. That job would give him everything he could ever want. Why would he take on a rebuilding project where he'd need three years to begin to produce a winner at a job that clearly isn't what he would consider a dream job? UNC is a dream job.

Taking the money at a school like Alabama or Texas is an inherent admission that he got lucky with FVV and Baker and doesn't believe in himself to win at a high enough level without them to get the jobs he really wants. And if there's one thing nobody would say about Marshall, it's that he lacks self-confidence.

One thing that I did not expect, that I'm reevaluating my opinion on, is that Marshall has clearly surpassed Shaka Smart as the hot coaching target. Until this current NCAA tournament, Smart was neck and neck with Marshall in terms of success, far younger, with a stronger media appeal, and so likely ahead of him for all big jobs. That's not the case anymore. Now Shaka hasn't made the second weekend since the Final Four run, going 2-4 in the last four trips, while Marshall's proven that he's created a monster that was one absurdly bad seeding matchup from three consecutive great tournaments, if you can believe Calipari's continued argument that Wichita State was a Final Four team last year as well, which I've heard him say three or four times now. Marshall's taken himself out of Smart's category and is now in his own category below Brad Stevens.

[ISUBirds89]

I probably misinterpreted what I read from fans saying "Money isn't a big deal to him" or "His family loves Wichita"

After reading the posts again most of them are more dismissive to THIS job in particular instead of all jobs.

Exactly. WSU fans are dismissive of THIS job, not all jobs. Texas is more worrisome, but still ... many of the same things apply to Texas as Alabama.

The jobs I worry about: UNC, Kentucky, Florida, Indiana. IMO, all four of those jobs will be open within the next two years. Indiana's a distant fourth on that list. If I was Marshall, I wouldn't consider leaving WSU until UNC opens. That job would give him everything he could ever want. Why would he take on a rebuilding project where he'd need three years to begin to produce a winner at a job that clearly isn't what he would consider a dream job? UNC is a dream job.

Taking the money at a school like Alabama or Texas is an inherent admission that he got lucky with FVV and Baker and doesn't believe in himself to win at a high enough level without them to get the jobs he really wants. And if there's one thing nobody would say about Marshall, it's that he lacks self-confidence.

The only thing in your post I will question is your aligning Texas with Alabama. Marshall has recruiting ties that would be a great benefit for Texas and Austin is a hell of a place to live. The money is very enticing at a place like that too. I do think the main worry would be if Calipari decided to go back to the NBA.

The only way Alabama is a legit contender for his services would be to dramatically commit to basketball. Fixing basketball facilities and allowing Marshall to flourish could go a long way. Is that a realistic possibilty? Probably not.

Taking the money doesn't mean he thinks he got lucky either. He's got a hell of a class coming in. The potential move would have to do more with conference affiliation than questioning his ability in my opinion.

Please disregard though because I am a redbird fan and just bitter.

[ISUBirds89]

Sorry but most Redbirds I see posting are anti-WSU, insecure d-bags. Just that's the way it is. Until I see a shift the other direction, I'll continue to think what I want. And I wasnt generalizing anybody. The specific poster ISUbirds69 is one of the biggest anti-WSU posters out there so don't even go there.

Close. And I have a whole 20 some posts here so I'm not sure how I am anti WSU or the biggest anti WSU poster. Do I like Wichita? No. Do I like Marshall? Hell no. Is a strong Wichita coached by Marshall good for the Valley? Hell yes. A strong team in Wichita means the whole conference needs to improve to compete which leads to a better league.

I may be "anti-WSU" to an extent, but I recognise the positive effect they have on the conference and even ISUr.

[mvcfan]

I know that most of the discussion on HCGM choosing to leave has centered around Alabama and Texas type of schools where the buildings are less than half full most of the basketball season and most of the talk in March centers around who is the starting QB instead of whether the BB team is going to win a Championship or how far they go into March Madness. These are all negatives that would hinder hiring Coach to most any school in the SEC and schools like Texas (not UK) That would seemingly make a BIG school like Indiana more attractive to him. I have heard (from people who know Gregg) that weather and climate is another factor affecting Marshall's decision. Cold weather is a negative factor to attract Gregg. He doesn't really want to go North (Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan St., Ohio State, etc.)

I think that if UCLA had been willing to wait on him several years ago, it may have gotten interesting. He was interested in how far his team was going in the Final 4 and they didn't want to wait. When New Mexico won during the opening weekend, they grabbed Alford.

[BirdmanBB]

Every head coach dreams of winning a national championship. I wonder how much that will weigh on his mind as the offers start rolling in. Obviously he has gotten to a final 4 with WSU, but does he feel that he can win a national championship at WSU? Personally, I hope he retires as the head coach of WSU (even as a redbird fan). Nothing lasts forever and I'm sure he has a price and/or a school in mind that he would accept. All I know is that as he continues to be successful at WSU he will show up on the very top of anyone's list who is looking for a new head coach. Most certainly he will show up on the ones that WSU fans are fearful of him leaving for.

How about this for a curveball. HCGM to the Chicago Bulls.

[rlh04d]

The only thing in your post I will question is your aligning Texas with Alabama. Marshall has recruiting ties that would be a great benefit for Texas and Austin is a hell of a place to live. The money is very enticing at a place like that too. I do think the main worry would be if Calipari decided to go back to the NBA.

The only way Alabama is a legit contender for his services would be to dramatically commit to basketball. Fixing basketball facilities and allowing Marshall to flourish could go a long way. Is that a realistic possibilty? Probably not.

Taking the money doesn't mean he thinks he got lucky either. He's got a hell of a class coming in. The potential move would have to do more with conference affiliation than questioning his ability in my opinion.

Please disregard though because I am a redbird fan and just bitter.

My comparison of Alabama and Texas is that both schools are VERY football oriented, to the point where basketball is far, far down the list of fan priorities. Both schools have attendance averaging within the 60-70% capacity range. Both schools have fan bases that will only support significant winners. Both schools have incredibly involved donor bases that demand significant power over athletic decisions. Both schools have egos from football that carry over into basketball without the success in basketball to justify the expectations.

Now your point about Texas recruiting ties and Austin's quality as a city are true, and are part of why I said that I would be more worried about Texas. Lack of state taxes is another attraction. Texas also has better facilities, and the B12 is obviously a much better conference.

Still, neither worries me that much, because Marshall pretty clearly likes being at a school that values basketball first and foremost. I don't think he would handle fan apathy well.

[ISUBirds89]

Still, neither worries me that much, because Marshall pretty clearly likes being at a school that values basketball first and foremost. I don't think he would handle fan apathy well.

Just curious, but how did the first couple years of the Marshall era go in regards to fan support and his response? I know Wichita had some solid support even in weak years and that Marshall was critical of student support this year.

I am confident Marshall would be successful just about anywhere and a couple years of apathy wouldn't mean much as long as he was given the resources necessary to build a winner.

[Play Angry]

Texas would have some very strong selling points, no doubt, but it blows my mind that they may fire Barnes after he's gone to 16 NCAA Tournaments in 17 years as head coach in Austin. Not that he hasn't underachieved in several of those seasons, especially recently, but just...wow. And that's at a school without a particularly proud hoops history.

Caveat emptor when it comes to that fanbase.