Alabama prepared to make big run at Gregg Marshall

[Shoxfan11]

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.

Fan support was great those first few years and, IMO, is a big reason he is still here. Even in the last few years, he has cited the UAB game from 2007 (a game that took place during a snowstorm but we still had at least 7000-8000 show up) and the Creighton game from 2008 (we started 0-6 in the league and the coaches didn't expect anyone to show up, but it was a sold out crowd) as games he remembers fondly.

[ShoxNAwe]

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?

Marshall has stated several times on national shows, like Jim Rome, that he believes he can win a national title at WSU. He elaborated that he just needs a better cast of big men and to continue attracting the bigger, better, faster caliber of guards and forwards that are currently on the roster and in the pipeline.

Who's to say he cannot do that? Not I.

He's been within 7 minutes of playing for a national championship. If you are as confident as Marshall is, given your recent momentum, why would you think that can't be overcome?

The biggest thing holding him back right now might be conference affiliation.

[unipanther99]

What advantages would a power 5 school have over Wichita State in being able to win a national title? I can't think of any. At one time you might say they would never give a school like WSU, Gonzaga, etc. a 1 seed, thus making it more challenging. They've already proven that's not true. Like anywhere, it's just getting the right cast of characters. That can certainly be done at WSU as easily as it can be done at Alabama, Tennessee, etc. Would the necessary recruiting be easier at Indiana, North Carolina, or Texas? Yeah, probably.

[musiccitybulldog]

Tennessee job is open as of this morning.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vols/2015/03/27/donnie-tyndall-out-tennessee-basketball-coach/70533142/

This will make things interesting.

[Statman]

Doubt seriously if Marshall's a "Rocky Mount" - type of guy, regardless of how many shares of Jack Daniel's they throw at him!

It will simply never compute...

[UNIFanSince1983]

WSU is losing assistant Steve Forbes to ETSU.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... head-coach

Obviously, doesn't make a difference on Marshall's decision to go anywhere, but thought I would post it here.

[glm38]

Tennessee job is open as of this morning.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vols/2015/03/27/donnie-tyndall-out-tennessee-basketball-coach/70533142/

This will make things interesting.

He'd be crazy to take that one. Cuonzo found that out the hard way.

[Statman]

Ya, unlike Pearl, Cuonzo never had enough "hillbilly" bred in him! Prohm from Murray State plays the type of ball they like in Knoxville & would be an excellent pick. Plus, Murray, KY is a fairly comparative "breeding ground!"
I see where MSU just elevated Prohm's salary to $500,000 thru 2019...not much for the Vols to overcome if they want him.

[Kyle]

Question for WSU fans:

What do you realistically think Marshall's salary ceiling is at WSU? $2.5MM? $3MM?

I know at UNI we are fairly confident $1MM is about the best we can do for coach Jake right now.

[BirdsEyeView]

Rumors that Texas has fired Rick Barnes.....that could be a problem for WSU.

Alabama vs Texas in a bidding war for Marshall (with Texas winning)