Candidates according to Ray Mernagh

[Sean Miller Fan]

No inside sources, just what he thinks:

Keatts
Wade
Beard
McCall (Chattanooga)

Was very very high on Keatts, harped on his recruiting. None of these would be splash hires but if Keatts is half as good a recruiter as people say, might be worth a shot. Plus, he presses. I don't care about that but Yinzers do.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

None are worth a look. Next.

 

[Piranha]

No inside sources, just what he thinks:

Keatts
Wade
Beard
McCall (Chattanooga)

Was very very high on Keatts, harped on his recruiting. None of these would be splash hires but if Keatts is half as good a recruiter as people say, might be worth a shot. Plus, he presses. I don't care about that but Yinzers do.

I like Wade, Beard, and Keatts in that order. All 3 of them would be good hires.

 

[pittbb80]

What a disaster.

You seem incredibly giddy about all of this.

So for you and the other SLY's, who would be an acceptable hire?

Also I have to assume you hated the Dixon hire at the time as he was incredibly under qualified compared to the guys on the list above.

 

[whirlybird optio]

Of all the names he mentioned, I like Chris Holtmann the best. I'm impressed on how, on short notice, he took over at Butler, won 20 games each year and a NCAA game too.

I think Pitt should be looking at the big east, Atlantic-10, and AAC for their coach.

Keatts is interesting, but he seems very doubtful to me. McCall is unproven.

Wade id be fine with, but I'm leery of guys who have had one good year.

Bryce Drew would be a solid choice, but not sure he fits in the ACC.

My list would be Holtmann, Wojo, maybe Cronin, Wade, maybe Cooley.

 

[Piranha]

What a disaster.

You are just as bad as the Paterno worshippers.

 

[Pittbaseball11]

At this point I have no preference.

Just get the best fit. None of these guys is a guarantee, so get a good fit and let the chips fall as they may.

 

[drunkinoakland]

Keatts I guess

 

[pittbb80]

Of all the names he mentioned, I like Chris Holtmann the best. I'm impressed on how, on short notice, he took over at Butler, won 20 games each year and a NCAA game too.

I think Pitt should be looking at the big east, Atlantic-10, and AAC for their coach.

Keatts is interesting, but he seems very doubtful to me. McCall is unproven.

Wade id be fine with, but I'm leery of guys who have had one good year.

Bryce Drew would be a solid choice, but not sure he fits in the ACC.

My list would be Holtmann, Wojo, maybe Cronin, Wade, maybe Cooley.

Just curious, why do you think Keatts is doubtful? ALso what about Mack at Xavier?

 

[pittmeister]

You are just as bad as the Paterno worshippers.

His comments keep getting deleted. He's on his way to bansville...

 

[ameoba defense]

Mark Schmidt would hardly be a disaster for Pitt. He did well at Bob Mo, so he's familiar with the area. He's been fairly successful at St. Bonnies. Bonaventure is a very difficult place to win at. Small town in the middle of nowhere, but he gets kids who can play, and gets the most out of them. He wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd take him over any assistant, or low major guy. He seems to have a connection in Toronto, which is producing more, and more talent these days.

 

[pittbb80]

I wasn't thrilled with miller, but he would at least be a lateral move. Marshall. Buzz Williams. I don't exactly know who else, but an established successful coach from a p5 school, because of you are going to run out the winningest coach in school history, you better not bring in a project.

At this point, just hire Brandon knight and hope it works!

Who ran off JD? Again Im assuming you hated the JD hire at the time because he was incredibly under qualified.

 

[Piranha]

Of all the names he mentioned, I like Chris Holtmann the best. I'm impressed on how, on short notice, he took over at Butler, won 20 games each year and a NCAA game too.

I think Pitt should be looking at the big east, Atlantic-10, and AAC for their coach.

Keatts is interesting, but he seems very doubtful to me. McCall is unproven.

Wade id be fine with, but I'm leery of guys who have had one good year.

Bryce Drew would be a solid choice, but not sure he fits in the ACC.

My list would be Holtmann, Wojo, maybe Cronin, Wade, maybe Cooley.

Holtmann - No, he has not proven himself as a recruiter and what is so special about his overall coaching record?

Cronin - No, he has had some health issues recently

Cooley - He would get about the same results as the last 5 years. Not worth it.

Bryce Drew - I like him as well. Good young coach and recruiter.

 

[UPitt '89]

I wasn't thrilled with miller, but he would at least be a lateral move. Marshall. Buzz Williams. I don't exactly know who else, but an established successful coach from a p5 school, because of you are going to run out the winningest coach in school history, you better not bring in a project.

At this point, just hire Brandon knight and hope it works!

He wasn't run out

He wasn't run out

He wasn't run out


Stop.

You are embarrassing yourself over and over and over.

Step away from the keyboard for a couple days.

You're unhinged.

 

[whirlybird optio]

Just curious, why do you think Keatts is doubtful? ALso what about Mack at Xavier?

I think being at UL during that time frame might be a non-starter with the administration.

Chris Mack would be on the Gregg Marshall pipe dream level right now.

I forgot to mention Chris Beard, who has an impressive resume, and just seems to win wherever he goes. But no real ties to ACC country, a guy who changes jobs every other year. I dunno.

I look at the Buzz Williams hire at VT..that's getting a proven high level coach. We should be able to do that.

 

[whirlybird optio]

Holtmann - No, he has not proven himself as a recruiter and what is so special about his overall coaching record?

Cronin - No, he has had some health issues recently

Cooley - He would get about the same results as the last 5 years. Not worth it.

Bryce Drew - I like him as well. Good young coach and recruiter.

He turned around Gardner Webb from the dead, and then, when the Butler coach leaves the job for personal reasons, he steps in and wins 20 games a year in the big east and a game in the NCAA tournament each year. Nothing to sneeze at.

Cronin to me would be similar to the Buzz hire at VT. A guy who has maybe done all he can at Cincy. He's similar to Dixon in style though, not sure about the fit if looking for anti-Dixon.

Wojo to me should get a look. Very good recruiter. ACC roots. Buzz left the cupboard bare there a little bit, and they improved this year.

 

[UPitt129]

He wasn't run out

He wasn't run out

He wasn't run out


Stop.

You are embarrassing yourself over and over and over.

Step away from the keyboard for a couple days.

You're unhinged.

Yeah, he was.

 

[Piranha]

Mark Schmidt would hardly be a disaster for Pitt. He did well at Bob Mo, so he's familiar with the area. He's been fairly successful at St. Bonnies. Bonaventure is a very difficult place to win at. Small town in the middle of nowhere, but he gets kids who can play, and gets the most out of them. He wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd take him over any assistant, or low major guy. He seems to have a connection in Toronto, which is producing more, and more talent these days.

NO! There are far better options.

 

[UPitt '89]

Yeah, he was.

Unhinged.

You.

And full of crap.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

I think being at UL during that time frame might be a non-starter with the administration.

Chris Mack would be on the Gregg Marshall pipe dream level right now.

I forgot to mention Chris Beard, who has an impressive resume, and just seems to win wherever he goes. But no real ties to ACC country, a guy who changes jobs every other year. I dunno.

I look at the Buzz Williams hire at VT..that's getting a proven high level coach. We should be able to do that.

Chris Mack is a possibility, but not likely to make a switch. Both Mack and Marshall should be our primary targets. But I assume that Barnes knows that.

You're right, whirly. If VT can get Buzz Williams, why can't Pitt do even better? Really, why not? The college landscape hasn't changed that much since Williams was hired at VT. The ACC then is pretty much what it is now. No reason to not get that kind of coach for Pitt.

 

[whirlybird optio]

Chris Mack is a possibility, but not likely to make a switch. Both Mack and Marshall should be our primary targets. But I assume that Barnes knows that.

You're right, whirly. If VT can get Buzz Williams, why can't Pitt do even better? Really, why not? The college landscape hasn't changed that much since Williams was hired at VT. The ACC then is pretty much what it is now. No reason to not get that kind of coach for Pitt.

Tony Bennett went from a p5 job to UVA. Buzz went to VT. Wake got an AAC coach.

That's why I'm just leery of going too deep into the mid major ranks.

Holtmann, Wojo, Cronin, Cooley, wade.

I think that's a decent list.

I also feel Barnes may have an out of left field type name no one is expecting, maybe a West coast guy. Randy Bennett??

 

[Piranha]

He turned around Gardner Webb from the dead, and then, when the Butler coach leaves the job for personal reasons, he steps in and wins 20 games a year in the big east and a game in the NCAA tournament each year. Nothing to sneeze at.

Cronin to me would be similar to the Buzz hire at VT. A guy who has maybe done all he can at Cincy. He's similar to Dixon in style though, not sure about the fit if looking for anti-Dixon.

Wojo to me should get a look. Very good recruiter. ACC roots. Buzz left the cupboard bare there a little bit, and they improved this year.

Can he recruit to the ACC, and what about his staff?

I know people are annoyed by me bringing up Wade, but the guy turned around Chattanooga, he helped bring in a Top 25 class to Harvard of all places, he coached under Shaka and helped bring in a lot of the kids that went to the Final 4, and he did a really good job this year. The big key as well - Rasheen Davis is on his staff along with another guy that is tied into the DC metro area. Notice 2 of our recruits are from VA, so they know Kithcart and Manigault. This staff is right in our geographical footprint. In addition, they have 3 R. Jr's who if they choose to transfer would help. He would literally hit the ground running, and I would bet $ that we would be back in the tourney and probably a Top 25 team next year.

 

[Pittbaseball11]

I also feel Barnes may have an out of left field type name no one is expecting, maybe a West coast guy. Randy Bennett??

I've seen Enfield and Krystkowiak mentioned by some other independent sources. Neither strikes me as particularly exciting, at least not to the level I wanted Bennett several years back, but I think they're at least better than Danny Manning.

 

[yourhired]

Only one name of that list might be interviewed. I know of one big ten coach that has expressed interest and no its not Pat Chambers. Names will be floated but we will not everyone interviewed.

 

[pittbb80]

I think being at UL during that time frame might be a non-starter with the administration.

Chris Mack would be on the Gregg Marshall pipe dream level right now.

I forgot to mention Chris Beard, who has an impressive resume, and just seems to win wherever he goes. But no real ties to ACC country, a guy who changes jobs every other year. I dunno.

I look at the Buzz Williams hire at VT..that's getting a proven high level coach. We should be able to do that.

Appreciate the feedback. I agree with the Buzz analogy so Im not sure why Chris Mack is out of PItts league.

 

[daminals76]

None are worth a look. Next.

Lol what??

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Unhinged.

You.

And full of crap.

Place him on ignore ,change your handle too close

 

[Pittbaseball11]

Only one name of that list might be interviewed. I know of one big ten coach that has expressed interest and no its not Pat Chambers. Names will be floated but we will not everyone interviewed.

Tim Miles uses Twitter all the time (he even Tweets at halftime of every game!) so he seems to "get it". I hope it's him.

 

[Chairman Moe]

Appreciate the feedback. I agree with the Buzz analogy so Im not sure why Chris Mack is out of PItts league.

Not so sure that Mack is "out of our league"; Mack played at X (I think) and grew up in SW Ohio (I think) so his ties might be deeper to the Musketeers. X ---> Pitt is not necessarily a step up, even though the league (ACC) now is (vs Big East).

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

With all these Buzz Williams references in this thread, may I ask, why cant we hire.......Buzz Williams? Is he married to VT? Their arena is putrid, there is no local talent and its a tougher sell there. He left Marquette for VT. Why wouldn't he leave VT for Pitt?

As for Chris Mack, that has to be the longest of all longshots. He's a Xavier alum coaching Xavier, in a pretty good league with a clear easy path to a good seed every single year.

 

[steel_curtain]

No inside sources, just what he thinks:

Keatts
Wade
Beard
McCall (Chattanooga)

Was very very high on Keatts, harped on his recruiting. None of these would be splash hires but if Keatts is half as good a recruiter as people say, might be worth a shot. Plus, he presses. I don't care about that but Yinzers do.

Keatts has put 15 players in the NBA between Hargrave and Louisville. 15!!! From a recruiting standpoint there isnt another coach that is even in the same stratasphrte as this guy except Sean Miller on Pitts radar. Would inject massive talent to Pitt immediately. My number 1 guy followed by Miller, who looks to be out.

 

[whirlybird optio]

Tim Miles uses Twitter all the time (he even Tweets at halftime of every game!) so he seems to "get it". I hope it's him.

Let's rank B10 coaches from least likely to most likely take Pitt job..

14) Izzo (no way)
13.5) turgeon (no way)
12)Greg gard (no way)
11) Beilin (no way)
10)Tom crean (some local ties, but no way)
9) Matt painter (getting the JD treatment at Purdue, but no way)
8)Thad Matta (don't see it)
7) steve pikiell (wouldn't blame him)
6) pat chambers (would be hilarious)
5)tim miles (he seems like a maniac)
4)Richard pitino (not there for long)
3)Fran mccafferty (east coast ties)
2) john groce (would be smart to leave before he's fired)
1) Chris Collins (probably worth a look)

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Tony Bennett went from a p5 job to UVA. Buzz went to VT. Wake got an AAC coach.

That's why I'm just leery of going too deep into the mid major ranks.

Holtmann, Wojo, Cronin, Cooley, wade.

I think that's a decent list.

I also feel Barnes may have an out of left field type name no one is expecting, maybe a West coast guy. Randy Bennett??

I agree which is why I'd look for guys who may be looking for scenery changes like a Thad Matta or Fran McCaffrey. Heck, even Wake Forest hired the Colorado coach from the Big 12 though he was terrible. It is possible to get a major college coach.

 

[wicker]

I suggested this to Rutgers but no one bit. How about this under the radar pick from a small school that's had a few runs of decent success- Luigi Auriemma

 

[cabe23]

Where did you guys see Rays list?

 

[SpPanther]

Orlando Antigua !!!