Heather Lyke should pull trigger

[hoopsguy72]

List of realistic, potential candidates.
Thad Matta - if he is healthy
Eric Musselman - only making about 1 million a year
Joe Dooley - FGCU
Sanchez - Head Asst at UVA
Boyle - He would come in like Danny Hurley did and make similar impact or better

Your opinion should be utterly disqualified for even suggesting Thad Matta. Are you kidding? I live in Ohio, and I wouldn't let Matta coach a middle school team. He had solid results when he had Oden, Conley, and Sullinger, NBA lottery picks, but his trajectory looked just like Dixon's. It was a graph sloping downward and to the right.

And if you want to evaluate his X's and O's, look no further than this season and what former Butler coach Chris Holtmann is doing with Matta's player (17-15 overall last year, 7-11 in Big Ten last year vs. 14-4 overall, 5-0 in Big Ten).

It's precisely this kind of nonsense and illogical thinking that has Pitt in this mess to begin with. There are no simple, easy solutions. The program bottomed out under Dixon, and he got while the getting was good. For all the people who rip the Stallings hire because "he was on his way out at Vandy," you don't think Dixon got out for the same reasons? Dixon knew the impending apocalypse was coming, and he didn't want to be left holding the clipboard when the Pitt basketball house of cards came tumbling down.

Stallings is a good coach who knows how to build a program. He's done it before, and if given time, he'll do it here. But ain't nobody got time for that.

Here's a question for all of you who think Stallings is the anti-Christ and should be shown the door: Let's say Lyke gives him his walking papers in March. What then? If John Calipari doesn't walk through that door and it's some young, mid-major, high-energy guy, how long do you think it will take him to restore the program to respectability? I'll tell you: AT LEAST four years. You know why? Because some of the promising freshmen we have will transfer or leave. Because Ryan Luther may say, "Screw it," and grad transfer instead of staying loyal to KS. Because that coach will end up having to do what Stallings just did, which is recruit 4, 5, or 6+ players in a single recruiting year. These kids love Stallings (which should tell you something about the kind of man and coach he is vs.the angry, click-bait ESPN nonsense most of you choose to hang your hats on) and want to play for him. Let's let them do that, and let's give the man time to rebuild the program.

Or, we could just hire Thad Matta.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Your opinion should be utterly disqualified for even suggesting Thad Matta. Are you kidding? I live in Ohio, and I wouldn't let Matta coach a middle school team. He had solid results when he had Oden, Conley, and Sullinger, NBA lottery picks, but his trajectory looked just like Dixon's. It was a graph sloping downward and to the right.

And if you want to evaluate his X's and O's, look no further than this season and what former Butler coach Chris Holtmann is doing with Matta's player (17-15 overall last year, 7-11 in Big Ten last year vs. 14-4 overall, 5-0 in Big Ten).

It's precisely this kind of nonsense and illogical thinking that has Pitt in this mess to begin with. There are no simple, easy solutions. The program bottomed out under Dixon, and he got while the getting was good. For all the people who rip the Stallings hire because "he was on his way out at Vandy," you don't think Dixon got out for the same reasons? Dixon knew the impending apocalypse was coming, and he didn't want to be left holding the clipboard when the Pitt basketball house of cards came tumbling down.

Stallings is a good coach who knows how to build a program. He's done it before, and if given time, he'll do it here. But ain't nobody got time for that.

Here's a question for all of you who think Stallings is the anti-Christ and should be shown the door: Let's say Lyke gives him his walking papers in March. What then? If John Calipari doesn't walk through that door and it's some young, mid-major, high-energy guy, how long do you think it will take him to restore the program to respectability? I'll tell you: AT LEAST four years. You know why? Because some of the promising freshmen we have will transfer or leave. Because Ryan Luther may say, "Screw it," and grad transfer instead of staying loyal to KS. Because that coach will end up having to do what Stallings just did, which is recruit 4, 5, or 6+ players in a single recruiting year. These kids love Stallings (which should tell you something about the kind of man and coach he is vs.the angry, click-bait ESPN nonsense most of you choose to hang your hats on) and want to play for him. Let's let them do that, and let's give the man time to rebuild the program.

Or, we could just hire Thad Matta.

OSU went downhill because Matta was having serious health complications. IF he is healthy, then he is a clear upgrade over a proven, mediocre coach. Would you like to compare Dixon and Matta’s resume to Stallings?

 

[hoopsguy72]

OSU went downhill because Matta was having serious health complications. IF he is healthy, then he is a clear upgrade over a proven, mediocre coach. Would you like to compare Dixon and Matta’s resume to Stallings?

Matta's win totals in his final seven seasons at OSU: 34, 31, 29, 25, 24, 21, 17. Does that trajectory look familiar to Pitt fans? I don't know if it was Matta's health or not, I only know what the recruiting and on-court results were.

And you completely ignored my broader point: There are no easy solutions or sure-fire coaches. Your "solution" is my, "Are you out of your mind?" Stallings, and the program, need time. We're not restocking the cupboard here, we're rebuilding the entire kitchen.

 

[FireballZ]

This is absolutely 100% false. You can't find one person who thinks Stallings was an upgrade over Dixon. honestly if you find one person I would be stunned.

Can you imagine what the storylines for some of these nut bags will be 10 months from now after a 1-17 / 2-16 ACC season this year? It's already that JD was pushed out, KS ran off a bunch of stud recruits that needed more time and would have us fielding an NIT roster this year if JD stayed to develop them, and that a sizeable portion of the fanbase thinks KS is an upgrade over JD.

Next year it'll be Brandin Knight didn't stick around the bench to continue his recruiting prowless because KS insulted his FT shooting...

 

[FireballZ]

Matta's win totals in his final seven seasons at OSU: 34, 31, 29, 25, 24, 21, 17. Does that trajectory look familiar to Pitt fans? I don't know if it was Matta's health or not, I only know what the recruiting and on-court results were.

And you completely ignored my broader point: There are no easy solutions or sure-fire coaches. Your "solution" is my, "Are you out of your mind?" Stallings, and the program, need time. We're not restocking the cupboard here, we're rebuilding the entire kitchen.

True, but in fairness, OSU is pretty darn solid this year and from what I understand, they are all more or less Matta's recruits.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Matta's win totals in his final seven seasons at OSU: 34, 31, 29, 25, 24, 21, 17. Does that trajectory look familiar to Pitt fans? I don't know if it was Matta's health or not, I only know what the recruiting and on-court results were.

And you completely ignored my broader point: There are no easy solutions or sure-fire coaches. Your "solution" is my, "Are you out of your mind?" Stallings, and the program, need time. We're not restocking the cupboard here, we're rebuilding the entire kitchen.

Are you serious Clark?

Stallings - last 4 years at Vandy in a weaker conference.
16-17
15-16
21-14
19-14

 

[hoopsguy72]

True, but in fairness, OSU is pretty darn solid this year and from what I understand, they are all more or less Matta's recruits.

Oh, absolutely agree with you that OSU is solid this year, but that was my point relative to the OP: 1. Matta, who he's suggesting as Pitt's next coach, coached this same group to 17 wins last year. Holtmann has them in first place in the Big Ten this year. 2. Relative to Pitt's situation, it's also worth considering how much OSU struggled last year, in a conference that's not nearly as deep as the ACC, and how good they are this year.

Last year, the narrative in Ohio was that these Buckeyes couldn't play, that Matta's recruiting was awful, and that the program would be down for years to come and something needed to be done. Lo and behold, the players everyone thought were so lousy are developing and are pretty good after all. OSU's five leading scorers this year are a redshirt senior, a redshirt junior, a junior, a sophomore, and a freshman. Imagine that, a sophomore or junior actually being better the next season. To say nothing of Pitt's seven freshmen and where they'll potentially be in two or three years. My point to the OP was that in the past half dozen years Matta's recruiting suffered, as did his coaching. The narrative in Columbus was the same as the narrative in Pittsburgh during Dixon's twilight. So, seeing someone suggest Matta as a potential replacement is just laughable to me. Sure, the grass always looks greener on the other side, but sometimes it's just because the grass on the other side is fake.

 

[hoopsguy72]

Are you serious Clark?

Stallings - last 4 years at Vandy in a weaker conference.
16-17
15-16
21-14
19-14

If you're seriously going to compare Vandy's recruiting footprint and ability to recruit to Ohio State's, there's really nothing to discuss.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

KS's average W-L ceiling (based on his Vandy record) is what many Pitt fans would only find acceptable as the programs floor.

 

[DiehardPanther]

If you're seriously going to compare Vandy's recruiting footprint and ability to recruit to Ohio State's, there's really nothing to discuss.

LOL - Vandy’s new coach just brought in a Top 5 recruiting class.

 

[hoopsguy72]

LOL - Vandy’s new coach just brought in a Top 5 recruiting class.

Is your stance that Bryce Drew is bringing in a Top 5 recruiting class because it's Vandy? Don't delude yourself. It's because Vandy hired Bryce Drew. It was one of the best hires in the country by any school. Kid hit one of the most famous shots in the history of The Dance and played in the NBA. He would have had this recruiting success at any P5 that had hired him, including Pitt. If you know another Bryce Drew out there, then by all means, let's hire him. But let's not pretend this is happening because Vandy is a better place to recruit than Ohio State. That's ludicrous.

 

[hoopsguy72]

https://www.sbnation.com/college-ba...uit-simi-shittu-darius-garland-romeo-langford

 

[DiehardPanther]

Is your stance that Bryce Drew is bringing in a Top 5 recruiting class because it's Vandy? Don't delude yourself. It's because Vandy hired Bryce Drew. It was one of the best hires in the country by any school. Kid hit one of the most famous shots in the history of The Dance and played in the NBA. He would have had this recruiting success at any P5 that had hired him, including Pitt. If you know another Bryce Drew out there, then by all means, let's hire him. But let's not pretend this is happening because Vandy is a better place to recruit than Ohio State. That's ludicrous.

Keep moving the bar and making excuses.

Out of about 10 new coaches that were hired around the time Stallings became our coach. He was the worst or right next to the worst hire.

 

[hoopsguy72]

Keep moving the bar and making excuses.

Out of about 10 new coaches that were hired around the time Stallings became our coach. He was the worst or right next to the worst hire.

I just started posting on this board in the past week, so I've not moved any bar. And I wasn't trying to debate Bryce Drew vs. Kevin Stallings. I was simply suggesting that people like you, who oppose and dislike KS as Pitt's coach, show how silly your opposition is when you suggest coaches like Matta as his replacement. It undercuts your credibility and demonstrates your bias.

 

[OriginalEther]

This is absolutely 100% false. You can't find one person who thinks Stallings was an upgrade over Dixon. honestly if you find one person I would be stunned.

There are quite a few out there, quick to tell us about improved recruiting and a more exciting style of play
Or at least, there was quite a few out there. For some reason, they’ve gone quiet. Wonder why?

 

[AvonBarksdale]

List of realistic, potential candidates.
Thad Matta - if he is healthy
Eric Musselman - only making about 1 million a year
Joe Dooley - FGCU
Sanchez - Head Asst at UVA
Boyle - He would come in like Danny Hurley did and make similar impact or better

Those names aren't going to put butts in the seats.

 

[Haydman]

Those names aren't going to put butts in the seats.

Avon, I really do appreciate the info you put out there so I'm legitimately curious. Do you think that KS can/will turn things around or are you more concerned that firing him too soon will create a negative perception making it more difficult to replace him?

 

[DiehardPanther]

Those names aren't going to put butts in the seats.

Howland turned it around by having a tough team that fans took a liking to. Then came the winning. Nobody knew who he was. It doesn’t have to be a huge name.

 

[AvonBarksdale]

People are looking to fire a guy after 1.5 seasons. I'm sorry, but I don't see them hiring anyone that can change things in one year. Yeah... Eric Musselman is doing a very good job at Nevada, but would he be able to come in, sign a strong class his first and turn things around in one season? I am highly skeptical of that happening.

People say that other coaches are negatively recruiting against Stallings. While I'm sure that's true... what do you think opposing coaches are going to say if Pitt is on their 3rd coach in 4 years? They're going to tell recruits, "Pitt can't keep a coach."

I think it was difficult to replace Jamie. I don't think it would be any less difficult if they get rid of Stallings at the end of the year.

Am I happy about the current situation? Not particularly, but I think Stallings deserves at least one more year to turn things around. It would take a very, very big name for me to say it's time to make a change.

I guess a lot of fans on here see the Pitt basketball program as being bigger than I do. I think my perception is shared a bit more nationally.

I see mention of Danny Hurley. First two years at Arizona State, he was 30-35. He comes in and does that here, you're seeing the same posts about Hurley as you do about Stallings.

 

[Fredact]

Let me fix this for you.

Lyke CANNOT do anything because her hands are tied, and doesn’t have enough money to buyout the idiotic contact that was given to Stallings.

Sounds like the excuses of a loser. Real leaders get things done regardless of the gand they are dealt. That Stallings was not immediately fired when Lyke got here suggests she’s afraid to make a big decision, or was brought into the “fix” that got him here in the first place. Given the history of the shady deals since Barnes was here, the latter is highly believable.

 

[pitt2533]

There are quite a few out there, quick to tell us about improved recruiting and a more exciting style of play
Or at least, there was quite a few out there. For some reason, they’ve gone quiet. Wonder why?

I am not sure someone saying Stallings will play a more exciting style of play is saying he was an upgrade over Dixon. Even saying he would recruit better is not saying he is an upgrade. And even so, very few people were saying that.

He was the most unpopular hire in the history of Pittsburgh sports. Have you really missed all the venom towards him including the press conference since the day he was hired? He was killed from the instant he was hired so saying people thought he was an upgrade over Dixon is just false.

But carry on if you want to portray some false narrative.

 

[PantherO]

I do hate the general "we pushed Dixon out". I assume I am counted as part of the "we", though I assure everyone, I had nothing to do with it. I am also fairly certain that most people on the board had nothing to do with it. Therefore, I conclude that either A) Dixon Left on his own accord B) 1 or 2 High level donors got in the ADs ear and they pushed him out. But to say Pitt fans pushed him out is idiotic.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

I do hate the general "we pushed Dixon out". I assume I am counted as part of the "we", though I assure everyone, I had nothing to do with it. I am also fairly certain that most people on the board had nothing to do with it. Therefore, I conclude that either A) Dixon Left on his own accord B) 1 or 2 High level donors got in the ADs ear and they pushed him out. But to say Pitt fans pushed him out is idiotic.

You are correct. "WE" didn't push Dixon out. Pitt fans did not push Dixon out. He was pushed out by Barnes who had big money, big mouth donors in his ear to get him out because they didn't like his style. I think we all know who those donors are. There was an article in the paper about them a while back.

 

[FireballZ]

I do hate the general "we pushed Dixon out". I assume I am counted as part of the "we", though I assure everyone, I had nothing to do with it. I am also fairly certain that most people on the board had nothing to do with it. Therefore, I conclude that either A) Dixon Left on his own accord B) 1 or 2 High level donors got in the ADs ear and they pushed him out. But to say Pitt fans pushed him out is idiotic.

Come clean!!!

 

[DiehardPanther]

I do hate the general "we pushed Dixon out". I assume I am counted as part of the "we", though I assure everyone, I had nothing to do with it. I am also fairly certain that most people on the board had nothing to do with it. Therefore, I conclude that either A) Dixon Left on his own accord B) 1 or 2 High level donors got in the ADs ear and they pushed him out. But to say Pitt fans pushed him out is idiotic.

People that stopped showing up helped open the door for it to happen.

 

[pitt2533]

I do hate the general "we pushed Dixon out". I assume I am counted as part of the "we", though I assure everyone, I had nothing to do with it. I am also fairly certain that most people on the board had nothing to do with it. Therefore, I conclude that either A) Dixon Left on his own accord B) 1 or 2 High level donors got in the ADs ear and they pushed him out. But to say Pitt fans pushed him out is idiotic.

All true but even if fans wanted Dixon pushed out or thought it was time to make a change from Dixon, that doesn't mean they wanted Stallings hired to replace him.

That connection is made far too often as well.

 

[Cap pitt]

this will never get anything close to being where this program was at one point under Stallings


Do it

QUIT CRYING. Dixon is gone

 

[Haydman]

People are looking to fire a guy after 1.5 seasons. I'm sorry, but I don't see them hiring anyone that can change things in one year. Yeah... Eric Musselman is doing a very good job at Nevada, but would he be able to come in, sign a strong class his first and turn things around in one season? I am highly skeptical of that happening.

People say that other coaches are negatively recruiting against Stallings. While I'm sure that's true... what do you think opposing coaches are going to say if Pitt is on their 3rd coach in 4 years? They're going to tell recruits, "Pitt can't keep a coach."

I think it was difficult to replace Jamie. I don't think it would be any less difficult if they get rid of Stallings at the end of the year.

Am I happy about the current situation? Not particularly, but I think Stallings deserves at least one more year to turn things around. It would take a very, very big name for me to say it's time to make a change.

I guess a lot of fans on here see the Pitt basketball program as being bigger than I do. I think my perception is shared a bit more nationally.

I see mention of Danny Hurley. First two years at Arizona State, he was 30-35. He comes in and does that here, you're seeing the same posts about Hurley as you do about Stallings.

Thanks, appreciate the response. Hard to argue with your viewpoint. I think where I differ is between the legitimate concern over "Pitt can't keep a coach" vs taking longer to discover KS just isn't going to turn it around. I worry more about going 3 or 4 seasons without making significant progress all the while attendance continues to drop and apathy continues to grow. And THEN you still have to hire someone new to turn it around.

Obviously it's all out of our hands and the single biggest determining factor is KS himself. If he rights the ship with much improved recruiting then he might be here for the long haul.

 

[OriginalEther]

I am not sure someone saying Stallings will play a more exciting style of play is saying he was an upgrade over Dixon. Even saying he would recruit better is not saying he is an upgrade. And even so, very few people were saying that.

He was the most unpopular hire in the history of Pittsburgh sports. Have you really missed all the venom towards him including the press conference since the day he was hired? He was killed from the instant he was hired so saying people thought he was an upgrade over Dixon is just false.

But carry on if you want to portray some false narrative.

No false narrative here

Very few (Which, there was more than) does equal some

And just because someone is widely despised, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have supporters

Btw, “I told you so” is aimed not just at Stallings is an upgrade Folks, but those who wanted Dixon gone thinking Greg Marshall or Sean Miller would be racing to take the job, even though common sense told them Pitt would be getting a Stallings

 

[DiehardPanther]

Stallings has signed 11 recruits, and not 1 guy was rated in the Top 100. He is a mediocre coach and recruiter. His ceiling at Pitt is the NIT. Not good enough.

 

[PittFathead87]

This is absolutely 100% false. You can't find one person who thinks Stallings was an upgrade over Dixon. honestly if you find one person I would be stunned.

I read for months on this board about how much recruiting would improve under Stallings. We had daily reports about how much more active he was than Dixon, his coaches were all over the place, in on all of these top recruits. People were gleefully proclaiming Stallings' tireless work ethic on the recruiting trails.

I don't think it was a matter of better coaching, but I sure heard that recruiting and style of play would be light years better than Dixon.

And here we are.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

QUIT CRYING. Dixon is gone

Who is Dixon?

" save a horse ride a cowboy"
Signed: Mrs Buffett
Go Pitt & CSU Rams!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

This is absolutely 100% false. You can't find one person who thinks Stallings was an upgrade over Dixon. honestly if you find one person I would be stunned.

Yes he can.
Anything's possible!
If he looks in the mirror he'll scare himself to death and find the one person who thinks Stalling is an upgrade over Dixon?

"it's five o'clock somewhere"
Signed: Mr Buffett
Go Pitt & CSU Rams!

 

[DiehardPanther]

Cut the chord.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Is there a list of names of who the big mouth big donors are who got in Barnes ear about Dixon? I want to know which local businesses NOT to support.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

PGT Trucking

 

[Fsgolfdr]

My group was discussing that last night at the game. It's unimaginable that that team could lose 2 games so far, and to lose them to whom they lost. Just Bagley alone would assure a win if he just walks on the floor and makes a token effort.

Must be the coach ...fire the bum .

 

[Jpripper88]

Your opinion should be utterly disqualified for even suggesting Thad Matta. Are you kidding? I live in Ohio, and I wouldn't let Matta coach a middle school team. He had solid results when he had Oden, Conley, and Sullinger, NBA lottery picks, but his trajectory looked just like Dixon's. It was a graph sloping downward and to the right.

And if you want to evaluate his X's and O's, look no further than this season and what former Butler coach Chris Holtmann is doing with Matta's player (17-15 overall last year, 7-11 in Big Ten last year vs. 14-4 overall, 5-0 in Big Ten).

It's precisely this kind of nonsense and illogical thinking that has Pitt in this mess to begin with. There are no simple, easy solutions. The program bottomed out under Dixon, and he got while the getting was good. For all the people who rip the Stallings hire because "he was on his way out at Vandy," you don't think Dixon got out for the same reasons? Dixon knew the impending apocalypse was coming, and he didn't want to be left holding the clipboard when the Pitt basketball house of cards came tumbling down.

Stallings is a good coach who knows how to build a program. He's done it before, and if given time, he'll do it here. But ain't nobody got time for that.

Here's a question for all of you who think Stallings is the anti-Christ and should be shown the door: Let's say Lyke gives him his walking papers in March. What then? If John Calipari doesn't walk through that door and it's some young, mid-major, high-energy guy, how long do you think it will take him to restore the program to respectability? I'll tell you: AT LEAST four years. You know why? Because some of the promising freshmen we have will transfer or leave. Because Ryan Luther may say, "Screw it," and grad transfer instead of staying loyal to KS. Because that coach will end up having to do what Stallings just did, which is recruit 4, 5, or 6+ players in a single recruiting year. These kids love Stallings (which should tell you something about the kind of man and coach he is vs.the angry, click-bait ESPN nonsense most of you choose to hang your hats on) and want to play for him. Let's let them do that, and let's give the man time to rebuild the program.

Or, we could just hire Thad Matta.

Of course they want to play for Stallings. Half of them would be at community colleges otherwise.

 

[Scruffy the Panther]

People are looking to fire a guy after 1.5 seasons. I'm sorry, but I don't see them hiring anyone that can change things in one year. Yeah... Eric Musselman is doing a very good job at Nevada, but would he be able to come in, sign a strong class his first and turn things around in one season? I am highly skeptical of that happening.

People say that other coaches are negatively recruiting against Stallings. While I'm sure that's true... what do you think opposing coaches are going to say if Pitt is on their 3rd coach in 4 years? They're going to tell recruits, "Pitt can't keep a coach."

I think it was difficult to replace Jamie. I don't think it would be any less difficult if they get rid of Stallings at the end of the year.

Am I happy about the current situation? Not particularly, but I think Stallings deserves at least one more year to turn things around. It would take a very, very big name for me to say it's time to make a change.

I guess a lot of fans on here see the Pitt basketball program as being bigger than I do. I think my perception is shared a bit more nationally.

I see mention of Danny Hurley. First two years at Arizona State, he was 30-35. He comes in and does that here, you're seeing the same posts about Hurley as you do about Stallings.

Right. As painful as it may be he's going to be here at least one and probably two more years.