What is Brandin Knight's biggest strength as a a coach and right hand man?

[mdpitt]

He never really gets mentioned but it's obvious coach talks to him often and many times when Coach Dixon is most fired up, Brandin is really calm. A few years ago Brandin seemed much more animated to the point where I think refs told our bench to settle down. He has been at Pitt for 7 years as a coach, was one of our great players who started the winning trajectory but I never hear him getting mentioned for other coaching positions to start out on his own.

By all accounts he is a tremendous person and has a very grounding effect on the team when the wheels start falling off. I will note that I'm being Naive with my question because his value is not jumping out to me.

Pitt always follows the rules and takes a buttoned down approach in the really slick business of college basketball. I have said before that most would trust coach Dixon watching their young kids for the weekend.

Maybe it's time for Dixon to continue to be the trusted person but have a General that does all the fast talking on the recruiting trail and someone who really challenges the team.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Brandin is a great basketball mind. Howland said countless times that he was a coach on the floor and that he had a future in coaching. I have no doubt that BK is a high-caliber D1 assistant coach. I don't think, though, that he has the schmoozy personality to be a top-tier recruiter.

If it were me, I'd keep BK but have 2 recruiting gurus. Those 2 guys are supposed to be Smoke and Barton. Smoke's too new but Barton is the obvious guy who needs replaced.

 

[Atch]

You have to shake Barton to see if he is alive. How can he be a recruiter?

 

[Pittbaseball11]

Knight is the intense one in practices. Knew a manager and he always said that Knight was the one who really got on guys.

I think he's probably the 2nd or 3rd best recruiter they've had. Herrion is the clear #1 and then it's probably between Rice and Knight for #2. Think Slice is vastly overrated, sort of an AJ Burnett type where he came around right as the program rose to prominence so gets maybe a little more credit than he deserves. Joe Lombardi was right on par with Slice during their time here.

At some point we should probably admit that Pitt doesn't really have any unique, outstanding qualities that make it an easy sell. People wanted to run Orlando Antigua out of here as quickly as possible because he was incompetent on the trail, then he leaves and turns out to be a great recruiter. This just isn't a place you'll recruit at a high level without getting your hands a little dirty.

 

[gary2]

Barton is going to complete a miracle and get Lovett eligible. Barton is tutoring Lovett 24/7 as we speak.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Originally posted by gary2:
Barton is going to complete a miracle and get Lovett eligible. Barton is tutoring Lovett 24/7 as we speak.

Yes. He also got Mostella eligible last December.

 

[Pittbaseball11]

Originally posted by Sean Miller Fan:

Originally posted by gary2:
Barton is going to complete a miracle and get Lovett eligible. Barton is tutoring Lovett 24/7 as we speak.

Yes. He also got Mostella eligible last December.

True. And, like Mostella, it sounds as though LoVett is too much of an asshole to be worth the trouble of dealing with him if/when he gets eligible.

 

[Harve74]

Barton is everyone's favorite candidate to go.

But, he recruited Artis and Nix. He's the guy who makes the non-glamorous trips to small towns and dingy gyms to screen jucos and very young kids to determine which freshmen or sophs we should be following. And, from what I've been told, he inherited Sandle's game-planning responsibilities and is considered pretty good at it.

He was very good at bringing in future college and NBA talent to Notre Dame Prep when he was there.

I think there WILL be staff movement. I don't know who or how. I'm pretty sure Jamie relies in Barton and Regan (DoB) for the day to day scutwork any program needs: glad-handing recruits, local coaches and recruits, boosters, scheduling visits, scheduling practices, transportation, meals, etc. Basically all the political stuff that has to go on. Maybe one of them should move on. Jason Richards has out-grown his video job. He probably moves up or on. They kept him last Spring with a raise and a better title but he's ready for more. Ashton badly wants a job here.

It's very unlikely Smoke would be pushed out. He just got the Manigault commitment and he's pushing the Mac Irvin (Chicago) and Family (Detroit) kids. Brandin is the recruiter for Gibbs and Diallo and NYC/NJ.

Those who talk with the players say Brandin is the "players' coach", the guy they talk to and both strokes and yells at them. Others have called him the "Mad Scientist" for some of his strategic tactics and twists. Whether he's 55 or not, he IS the bench consultant and confidant many say Jamie needs.

 

[gary2]

Pitt can not fire Brandin Knight - Smoke is new and looks like he might be able to recruit.

Who does that leave? Barton recruited Artis (who you say is part of the class so bad on defense, that it may need to move on before we can improve) and Nix (who I am hopeful about, but may or not be a player - weight issue is troubling - plus he looks like Lucious Keese (not good).

If Barton is doing Sandle's scouting duties, I say he is not doing them as well as Sandle.

I would like to see Ashton or Richards as an assistant, but that needed to happen last year. They could have fit in the Smoke role.

What we need now is a more experienced assistant. Despite his longevity, Jamie needs help on the game day coaching end. Someone to advise him he has fouls to give at the end of a half (we do not give a foul and a 6 point lead becomes a 4 point lead), someone to suggest maybe you want to go two possessions for one at the end of the half or game, someone to suggest maybe it is a good idea to foul rather than allowing a last second three (Vir.Tech) . Someone to help prevent a Butler like fiasco. Someone who might have a suggestion for when G.Marshall devises a strategy to completely take Woodall out of a game.

Jamie has been great at instilling fundamentals into our players, but maybe someone is needed to instill some coaching fundamentals into our coaching staff.

We definitely need someone to help on the bench, if he could also help with recruiting and player development that would be a welcome bonus.
This post was edited on 3/24 12:53 PM by gary2

 

[gary2]

Herb Sendek would be a perfect choice - Open the checkbook

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Originally posted by gary2:

Herb Sendek would be a perfect choice - Open the checkbook

HC: Dixon
AHC: Sendek
AC: Knight
AC: Williamson
DBO: Regan
VC: Gibbs

If it were up to me, of course. Richards, I'm sure could have any number of assistant jobs somewhere. Barton should go back to coaching prep school.

 

[evahflow]

Originally posted by Harve74:
Barton is everyone's favorite candidate to go.

But, he recruited Artis and Nix. He's the guy who makes the non-glamorous trips to small towns and dingy gyms to screen jucos and very young kids to determine which freshmen or sophs we should be following. And, from what I've been told, he inherited Sandle's game-planning responsibilities and is considered pretty good at it.

He was very good at bringing in future college and NBA talent to Notre Dame Prep when he was there.

I think there WILL be staff movement. I don't know who or how. I'm pretty sure Jamie relies in Barton and Regan (DoB) for the day to day scutwork any program needs: glad-handing recruits, local coaches and recruits, boosters, scheduling visits, scheduling practices, transportation, meals, etc. Basically all the political stuff that has to go on. Maybe one of them should move on. Jason Richards has out-grown his video job. He probably moves up or on. They kept him last Spring with a raise and a better title but he's ready for more. Ashton badly wants a job here.

It's very unlikely Smoke would be pushed out. He just got the Manigault commitment and he's pushing the Mac Irvin (Chicago) and Family (Detroit) kids. Brandin is the recruiter for Gibbs and Diallo and NYC/NJ.

Those who talk with the players say Brandin is the "players' coach", the guy they talk to and both strokes and yells at them. Others have called him the "Mad Scientist" for some of his strategic tactics and twists. Whether he's 55 or not, he IS the bench consultant and confidant many say Jamie needs.

He recruited Artis who has turned into a pretty good offensive talent who has not 1 ounce of defensive skill in his body and Nix who may or may not be a servicable back up at C. He was the game planner and behind the scenes guy on a 19-14 first round loss NIT team. Yeah he should definately get a pass, where would we be without him? Pitt needs to cut Barton and either open up the check books and hire a proven recruiter/AAU guy or promote richards and give Gibbs the VC job and lock up his brother(s)
This post was edited on 3/24 4:40 PM by evahflow

 

[Piranha]

Agreed ^^^^^^