Cronin to UCLA

[Farnox]

Maybe UCLA consulted Barnes before the hire.

 

[ThePanthers]

I think he’s a much better than average coach. He will do OK but will it be anywhere near good enough!

That's the key. Will UCLA be patient, and also realize if they do make the Final Four but not win the championship, will that be good enough.

The days of winning 10 championships in 11 years or whatever are gone.

 

[ThePanthers]

It really does seem like UCLA and Pitt's Administration and decision makers are cut from the same cloth.

Or finding the "homerun" hire that fans expect is not as simple as they make it. See Tennessee football search as another example.

 

[PhysicalOatmeal]

Disagree. He's been to the tournament 9 years in a row. He's a very good coach. I can't comment on what he inherited situationally and personal-wise from Andy Kennedy, as I honestly don't recall.

The fun part is that we'll get to see how he does with a very talented lineup. I could see top players not fully buying into his style.

He only made it to one sweet sixteen in 9 years — that didn’t fly at Pitt with Dixon, and it certainly won’t fly at UCLA

 

[BuffetParrothead]

UCLA set a low bar right out of the gate with Dixon being a top choice and Cronin being the choice!

There has to be better choices out there wanting to be HC of UCLA.

 

[ThePanthers]

UCLA set a low bar right out of the gate with Dixon being a top choice and Cronin being the choice!

There has to be better choices out there wanting to be HC of UCLA.

Those were like choices 4 & 5. They went after Calipari, Barnes, Dixon, Smart, Bennett, and got them all nice pay raises at their schools. None wanted to go there.

 

[FireballZ]

He only made it to one sweet sixteen in 9 years — that didn’t fly at Pitt with Dixon, and it certainly won’t fly at UCLA

Cool story. I didn't say it would. I think if you can be consistently successful for nearly a decade at Cincinnati, you'll probably do a bit better at UCLA. It's up to UCLA if they've now accepted the reality of what 'better' can mean for them.

Jamie Dixon quit.

 

[PhysicalOatmeal]

Cool story. I didn't say it would. I think if you can be consistently successful for nearly a decade at Cincinnati, you'll probably do a bit better at UCLA. It's up to UCLA if they've now accepted the reality of what 'better' can mean for them.

Jamie Dixon quit.

A large part of the Pitt fan base had already quit on Dixon. And the university quit on him by lowering his buyout, so I’d say everyone involved just kinda quit. Hadn’t heard “cool story” in a while — nice throwback to like 10 years ago lol