When is the presser?

[DC_Area_Panther]

Thought it was a foregone conclusion KS would be let go today? The more time before there is a presser scheduled the more likely it will appear that KS may remain. Or, almost as bad, the Admin will wait weeks before making a final decision and then begin to conduct a long and drawn out search for a replacement using an expensive search firm so that by the time the new guy is hired it will be too late for the new guy to get any productive recruiting done for next season.

Let's hope we are proven wrong and it won't be, as in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "deja-vu all over again."

 

[DiehardPanther]

Thought it was a foregone conclusion KS would be let go today? The more time before there is a presser scheduled the more likely it will appear that KS may remain. Or, almost as bad, the Admin will wait weeks before making a final decision and then begin to conduct a long and drawn out search for a replacement using an expensive search firm so that by the time the new guy is hired it will be too late for the new guy to get any productive recruiting done for next season.

Let's hope we are proven wrong and it won't be, as in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, that it will be "deja-vu all over again."

Yup - they will probably wait and botch things up per usual.

 

[JD1976]

Just because they don’t have a presser today doesn’t mean they have botched anything. For that matter, if they haven’t let him go by Friday it’s not botched either. I know it seems easy to most fans, but there are certainly more items to sort out than a few i's to dot and t's to cross.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Yup - they will probably wait and botch things up per usual.

They're academics who first don't like managing things or people and second aren't good at it even when they get interested in something!

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

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

I never expected this to be done the day after their exit from the ACC tournament. People need to relax.

 

[Delpanther]

They're academics who first don't like managing things or people and second aren't good at it even when they get interested in something!

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

and third, they disdain taking any action that will cost the university big bucks and unequivocally point a finger of blame at them

 

[hoopsguy72]

I'll be shocked if it doesn't happen, but I think Lyke has to be very careful here. Bryce Golden and Danya Kingsby have already tweeted their support of Stallings and their hope that he stays, and players within the program know Stallings is likely to be fired and are talking about leaving en masse (not Ellison and Wilson-Frame, obviously, who don't really have options). If Lyke is about to fire him, she's got to meet with the players before that happens and try to assure them that there's a plan, potentially a coach, and to trust her during the process before they make any hasty decisions. And I'm not even sure Lyke can have those meetings, at this point. It's spring break, and I was told the players were all heading home after they got back from NYC last night. So, a team meeting may not even be possible until next Monday.

I've always believed if Pitt fired Stallings, the risk was that they'd lose all recruits; several, if not all, of the promising freshmen; and Luther. And, of course, that would mean the new coach has to do what Stallings had to do last year and recruit 6+ new players in a recruiting window that's rapidly closing.

My belief has always been that it makes more sense to fire Stallings next year because it would allow the program to stabilize, and it would mean that this freshmen class would shake itself out more. We'd know who was REALLY worth keeping and who should be jettisoned. Plus, players would be far less likely to want to transfer two years in than as freshmen. At this point, a freshman can transfer, sit out a year, and still enjoy playing at his new school with new teammates for three years. Not so after next year.

I'd still be shocked at this point if the dismissal doesn't happen, but I actually think a bang-bang decision is not a good thing for the program.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

I never expected this to be done the day after their exit from the ACC tournament. People need to relax.

Should be done in the month of march tho at the latest IMO.

Should be done soon if they are firing him.

 

[JD1976]

I'll be shocked if it doesn't happen, but I think Lyke has to be very careful here. Bryce Golden and Danya Kingsby have already tweeted their support of Stallings and their hope that he stays, and players within the program know Stallings is likely to be fired and are talking about leaving en masse (not Ellison and Wilson-Frame, obviously, who don't really have options). If Lyke is about to fire him, she's got to meet with the players before that happens and try to assure them that there's a plan, potentially a coach, and to trust her during the process before they make any hasty decisions. And I'm not even sure Lyke can have those meetings, at this point. It's spring break, and I was told the players were all heading home after they got back from NYC last night. So, a team meeting may not even be possible until next Monday.

I've always believed if Pitt fired Stallings, the risk was that they'd lose all recruits; several, if not all, of the promising freshmen; and Luther. And, of course, that would mean the new coach has to do what Stallings had to do last year and recruit 6+ new players in a recruiting window that's rapidly closing.

My belief has always been that it makes more sense to fire Stallings next year because it would allow the program to stabilize, and it would mean that this freshmen class would shake itself out more. We'd know who was REALLY worth keeping and who should be jettisoned. Plus, players would be far less likely to want to transfer two years in than as freshmen. At this point, a freshman can transfer, sit out a year, and still enjoy playing at his new school with new teammates for three years. Not so after next year.

I'd still be shocked at this point if the dismissal doesn't happen, but I actually think a bang-bang decision is not a good thing for the program.

Good, rationale post. That said, when you have a team that went 0-19, I'm not sure it's worth worrying about which players will stay or go. But, you do have to manage this the right way and if the team is away from campus then you probably need to wait to deliver the news to them first. That's good business.

 

[Fredact]

As many expected, Heather Lyke is in over her head, afraid to make the big move, or even address the press about no move.

 

[hoopsguy72]

Good, rationale post. That said, when you have a team that went 0-19, I'm not sure it's worth worrying about which players will stay or go. But, you do have to manage this the right way and if the team is away from campus then you probably need to wait to deliver the news to them first. That's good business.

I'd agree with your first point if we had a bunch of upperclassmen on the roster, but we don't. We have primarily freshmen. And most people agree that Carr, Stewart, and Brown are solid, if not spectacular, long-term pieces. I think Davis and Stevenson are, too, but NP if people disagree. The record is what it is, but I don't think it speaks to the potential of freshmen players. It speaks to what they've been, not to what they can, or will, be.

 

[JoseLind13]

As many expected, Heather Lyke is in over her head, afraid to make the big move, or even address the press about no move.

To clarify, is this comment intended to be sarcastic or moronic?

 

[DiehardPanther]

I'd agree with your first point if we had a bunch of upperclassmen on the roster, but we don't. We have primarily freshmen. And most people agree that Carr, Stewart, and Brown are solid, if not spectacular, long-term pieces. I think Davis and Stevenson are, too, but NP if people disagree. The record is what it is, but I don't think it speaks to the potential of freshmen players. It speaks to what they've been, not to what they can, or will, be.

He has recruited 12 players, and re-signed 3 when he first got here. Stallings has done a horrible job of assembling a good team with class balance.

 

[hoopsguy72]

He has recruited 12 players, and re-signed 3 when he first got here. Stallings has done a horrible job of assembling a good team with class balance.

What does this have to do with anything? JD said when you go 0-19 he's not sure if worrying about who you lose really matters. I disagreed. Yes, if we went 0-19 with a lot of sophs, jrs, and srs, then losing guys would largely be immaterial. But that 0-19 came, in large part, because the key players were freshmen, and several of those freshmen have the potential to be key contributors at Pitt for years to come. I think it's a mistake to not care about losing guys like Carr and Stewart. And I think I think that about Stevenson, Brown, and Davis as well

 

[gary2]

What does this have to do with anything? JD said when you go 0-19 he's not sure if worrying about who you lose really matters. I disagreed. Yes, if we went 0-19 with a lot of sophs, jrs, and srs, then losing guys would largely be immaterial. But that 0-19 came, in large part, because the key players were freshmen, and several of those freshmen have the potential to be key contributors at Pitt for years to come. I think it's a mistake to not care about losing guys like Carr and Stewart. And I think I think that about Stevenson, Brown, and Davis as well

In agreement with the bulk of what you post

Seems like we 72 guys think alike (as do the 85 guys).

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Heather will be scheduling the "presser" to announce the KS year # 3 soon.

KS should be gone but KS might have PITT in a box that they can't figure out how to get out of.

After year # 3 or 4 his contract may make it possible to send him on his way.

The NBA might be a good place for him since they seem to "recyle" old loser coaches all the time! Plus the NBA plays his style of " chuck and duck" basketball.

I hear Lyke has a double or nothing game of Rock, Paper, Scissors game scheduled with KS this week? Why not. The PITT Leadership team thought that was a good alternative at this time?

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

 

[Fredact]

To clarify, is this comment intended to be sarcastic or moronic?

One word to describe Lyke: timid
One word to describe Barnes: insecure

 

[DiehardPanther]

One word to describe Lyke: timid
One word to describe Barnes: insecure

How many times have you sat down and talked to them?

 

[Black_Man_Panther]

I'll be shocked if it doesn't happen, but I think Lyke has to be very careful here. Bryce Golden and Danya Kingsby have already tweeted their support of Stallings and their hope that he stays, and players within the program know Stallings is likely to be fired and are talking about leaving en masse.. jibberish... nonsense....

What happened? Stallings threaten to kill all of those who stay?

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Considering the amount of rumors about buyout negotiations, there may be no announcement yet because it's hard to hire a new coach until the old one is gone. That doesn't mean there aren't private conversations happening with Hurley or Shrewsberry or anyone else. Calm down.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Considering the amount of rumors about buyout negotiations, there may be no announcement yet because it's hard to hire a new coach until the old one is gone. That doesn't mean there aren't private conversations happening with Hurley or Shrewsberry or anyone else. Calm down.

Actually it's almost always the opposite in football or basketball!
Check out the football firings this past year.
They fire the HC and replace when appropriate.
Colleges don't even want the guy to be fired on the property so he doesn't due more damage.
The more time that passes is possibly a signal that he isn't gone!
Which would be bad!

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

 

[bwh05]

Relax.

 

[Fredact]

How many times have you sat down and talked to them?

4 and 5.

 

[Jpripper88]

I'd agree with your first point if we had a bunch of upperclassmen on the roster, but we don't. We have primarily freshmen. And most people agree that Carr, Stewart, and Brown are solid, if not spectacular, long-term pieces. I think Davis and Stevenson are, too, but NP if people disagree. The record is what it is, but I don't think it speaks to the potential of freshmen players. It speaks to what they've been, not to what they can, or will, be.

But the issue is what options those players would have to find another place to play. Stevenson and Davis would have no shot and the other 3 would have extremely limited P6 options and likely nothing better than Pitt. Good programs are not going to take just solid players, who aren't immediately eligible. Of course, Stewart is the only one who has proven that level. Brown and Carr were really, really bad this year, but they have more potential. There are recruits equal to these guys available in the late period every year and they are immediately eligible and have 4 years of eligibility.