I could see that one, I talked myself into Jerrod Calhoun earlier from Utah State also if he doesn't land somewhere bigger.

Bunk Moreland said:

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Bryan Hodgson. Nate Oats coaching tree and has Arkansas St playing great basketball. We should take a chance on a young guy if Buzz left.

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I feel I need to make my "i read this board but rarely post" disclaimer but along those same lines I think Ryan Pannone (a current Oats assistant) would be interesting as well. Coached all over the world, became part of Oats's staff after head coaching in the G League. 40 years old, first learned about him in the G League and followed his twitter feed because dude watches a ton of film and would post highlights and breakdown plays on there in both college and pro games. Figured taking someone from Oats's staff would hurt Alabama maybe and i think Pannone is gonna be getting a HC gig within a couple of years anyway

I'll go back to lurking now.

BREAKING: Utah is parting ways with Craig Smith, source told @TheFieldOf68.

Strange timing.

Utah is 7-9 in the Big 12.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 24, 2025

BREAKING: Utah is parting ways with Craig Smith, source told @TheFieldOf68.

Strange timing.

Utah is 7-9 in the Big 12.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 24, 2025

First one we didn't have on the list!

He doesn't have one of my cornerstone requirements which is either experience running a program as a head coach or experience at multiple programs under different head coaches, so he'd be extremely risky.

Being a college head coach is as much, if not more, a time management and talent acquisition job as it is a basketball knowledge job.

When I was throwing that makeshift list together a while back I considered that Bryce Drew should be on it, but I'm not convinced he's a good coach. GCU has major advantages over everyone in their conference, I think most anyone that isn't outright terrible could win there in the NIL era.

As for Calhoun I can't lie I would be a little hesitant. At this point it seems like there is something institutional at Utah State that no matter who they hire, they win. It could be their admin is just elite at identifying coaching talent though and you take a shot at it.

LawHall88 said:

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BREAKING: Utah is parting ways with Craig Smith, source told @TheFieldOf68.

Strange timing.

Utah is 7-9 in the Big 12.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 24, 2025

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Weird timing for sure. I wonder if they have someone in mind already they're trying to get ahead on. Utah feels like a pretty mid job.

Yeah, Drew is going to get another chance at some point but I can't get over just how horrible Vandy was when he was there. At least with Pitino you could make the argument that he wasn't that bad, he was just mostly mid at Minnesota and maybe that's just who Minnesota is. But Vandy was terrible under Drew.

I think I could talk myself into Calhoun for a couple of reasons. His last two Youngstown State teams were really good also and I like his teams from a style component aspect. But you're right, Utah State might be like VCU where it's a place that just tends to win for some reason no matter who the coach is, like Houston football before they joined the Big 12, but they're as good this year as they've been in a long time.

Especially in the league they're in now. That seems like a tough gig for sure.

I'd be MUCH more willing to be Richard Pitino's second chance than Bryce Drew's. I think as you said Minnesota is just kind of that type of program in my mind and he was also so young when they hired him.

Vandy under Drew got progressively worse year over year and if you take last season and call it an outlier, his GCU teams have all been pretty much exactly the same.

Yeah I think you could spin Pitino as a "wasn't ready for the first time" style deal like Lane Kiffin. And even if there's something inherently good about New Mexico they haven't been THIS good in a decade.

No doubt, Pannone doesn't have that on his resume yet. Then again i also wanted us to take a look at Glenn Schuhmann when we hired Elko. I don't know what the AD prioritizes when it comes to a basketball hire and i figure if we have to make a choice in the near future there will be plenty of safe, easy hires (like BK was) and there won't be a lack of interest. I suppose I like taking big swings.

I like big swings but that seems too big. Only been in the college game for two years.

How many hires like that have worked?

This should be mandatory viewing

Matt Painter was asked what Indiana should look for and what fans should expect with their coaching search. His answer is worth your time 👏

“They jump on and off things way too much here. Support your team. Support your coach. Quit overdoing shit”pic.twitter.com/703QiBUCw7

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 23, 2025

JJxvi said:

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This should be mandatory viewing

Matt Painter was asked what Indiana should look for and what fans should expect with their coaching search. His answer is worth your time 👏

“They jump on and off things way too much here. Support your team. Support your coach. Quit overdoing shit”pic.twitter.com/703QiBUCw7

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 23, 2025

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Matt Painter reads TexAgs?

Texas should look at hiring Rick Barnes

The only reason I kind of want are as to fire Terry is that would be a fascinating coaching search.

Bet that's well received…

I legitimately have no clue where they'd go. You mentioned Ivey the other day and I can't think of anyone else they'd allow themselves to hire and would be gettable.

I imagine they'd try some big swings first. See if they can lure Wright out of retirement or something.

I do think that coaching job has some potential benefits that some of the others don't.

Not a lot we don't already know here, but a good run down from ESPN for those with an ESPN+ subscription.

Quick bump for some of the Rodney Terry buzz over the weekend. It seems Operation Rodney Terry Forever is in grave danger.

Honestly I imagine their fans printing out our comments about Terry and sending them to Del Conte and saying "look, A&M fans think we should keep him, what other proof do you need that we should fire him."

Buzz to Austin would be a very real possibility

Why?

I think some people are still picking the wrong schools for Buzz interest. It's not first or second tier schools that would want him I wouldn't think. It's schools that are maybe on the cusp of second tier or third tier that don't have the top flight resources.

Less Indiana and Texas and more like Arizona State if they fire Hurley.

I think Texas' first few calls would be Grant McCasland, Royal Ivey, Chris Jans.

I could also see them seeing if Jai Lucas has signed anything at Miami if those guys pass.

I'm sure they'll also kick the tired on Jay Wright or Mark Few.

bobinator said:

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Why?

I think some people are still picking the wrong schools for Buzz interest. It's not first or second tier schools that would want him I wouldn't think. It's schools that are maybe on the cusp of second tier or third tier that don't have the top flight resources.

Less Indiana and Texas and more like Arizona State if they fire Hurley.

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I thought Florida State might be a possibility, but there are no media reports even suggesting he would be in play there.

bobinator said:

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I think Texas' first few calls would be Grant McCasland, Royal Ivey, Chris Jans.

I could also see them seeing if Jai Lucas has signed anything at Miami if those guys pass.

I'm sure they'll also kick the tired on Jay Wright or Mark Few.

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Or Bill Self.

Yeah I thought that might be one also.

_lefraud_ said:

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I'm sure Beard heard enough about IU from Knight, who knows if Beard would even give them the time of day.

I doubt Beard would have much interest in moving to Bloomington at this point in his career…to put it simply, he can do better.

IU Basketball = Nebraska Football

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I came up with this thought also

That would be a pretty wild move. Self does have a reasonable buyout ($5M), but they'd probably have to pay him like 11 mil a year.

I don't think the analogy quite works though just because the money involved isn't even close to the same.

Bill Self to Texas would be Calipari to Arkansas levels of willllld.

So much so, that it actually makes sense.

bobinator said:

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That would be a pretty wild move. Self does have a reasonable buyout ($5M), but they'd probably have to pay him like 11 mil a year.

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Texas can afford it, and it just feels like Self may be ready for a new challenge. His name periodically comes up for NBA jobs as well.