Hello Followers. Long time no see. Hope you all are doing great.
As for me, well, the seas have parted just enough for me to fire up a quick post.
So, for a few quick thoughts about Ken Bone and Cougar Basketball on the eve of the NCAA tournament, read on.
++++
Followers, when our Cougies completed an improbable home sweep of the LA schools a few weeks, I thought that Ken Bone had saved his job. I mean, our boys looked disciplined, they actually executed an offense (one that looked TERRIFIC), and most importantly, they looked like they were fighting for their coach.
But then last week happened. Mind you, at the time, I was pretty satisfied with our play against Washington in Pac-12 tournament—particularly the way we fought back from 19 down.
However, as last week headed into this past weekend, my optimism started to fade again.
The reason? As I watched several other Pac-12 tournament games (as well as the Big East, Big Ten, MWC, and ACC), it became increasingly apparent that we don’t match up talent wise with teams that are either in, or contending for, the NCAA tournament. And so, when you add to that the fact that Ken Bone is not a very good bench coach (although he game preps pretty darn well), well, you have the recipe for a hoops program that just isn’t very good.
++++
It’s been written here before that AD’s typically like to pull the trigger when the existing roster is young and talented enough for the new coach to facilitate a quick turnaround. And certainly, when you consider that Woolridge, Lacy, & Dexter are only sophomores, Shelton is a junior, and Junior is a freshman, well, we’ve got a lot coming back. In fact, our team is still young enough that a good case could be made that we might be better suited to just “hang on” with Bone for another year, since we figure to have a lot returning in 2014-2015 as well. And that doesn’t even factor in the salary savings that our Athletic Department could really, really use right now.
At the same time, Moos made it very clear upon his hire that he is not going to tolerate being a doormat.
And when you consider that Bone has finished dead last in conference 2 out of his 4 years, has never finished in the upper division, and has never won a conference tournament game, well, that just doesn’t fit the mold of a program that’s trying to re-brand itself as a winner—or at least one that wins periodically. What’s more, while it may be tempting to make a change prior to Lacy and Wooldrige’s senior campaigns, our past season with Mike Leach shows how precarious those first transition years can be.
So, when you factor in yesterday’s evasive Q&A about Bone’s future, it’s pretty clear that the trigger is going to be pulled by Moos sometimes in the next few days. And so, here are my top two choices for our next coach.
Ernie Kent. His record speaks for itself. Led Oregon to multiple NCAA appearances, conference tournament titles, and two Elite Eight appearances. Importantly, Mr. Kent is African American, and we need to hire minority coaches. And, his last group of touted recruits—Hairston and Porter—both heralded from Detroit. And if you buy into the idea that building a winner at WSU requires an ability to recruit unconventionally, well, Kent fits the mold. I think it’s gonna happen. I really do.
Greg Marshall, Wichita State. Just signed a new deal last year that pays him about 1 million per. But, as we all saw with the SHELLACKING the “other WSU” put on us a few years ago in the NIT semis, well, the guy can flat out coach. Great bench coach, recruits depth and versatility (a lot like VCU), and develops teams that are disciplined and that share the ball. This guy is probably way out of our league, but if you’re looking for a guy to come in and win, Marshall would do it. He actually reminds me a lot of my favorite Pac-12 coach, Mr. Sean Miller.
That’s all the time I got for today. Hope you all enjoy the first weekend of the NCAA tournament!
All for now. Go Cougs.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
