You cannot watch a Pitt BB from start to finish anymore

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

That is how bad it is. And it is the same script every day. I don't care about them. But it is still frustrating. Which has led me to this rant posted on the other board in regards to Stallings.

I purposely didn't come up with a breath in the long paragraph.

You both are missing the point. Stallings is obviously not the answer, the program is NOT in a bridge era, it is at the bottom. It ain't going to do anything else. Recruiting is not any better. The is the ONE time this area is producing some decent talent and of course, vintage Pitt it is now, not 10 years ago.

It is not about 300 more seats, it is not about buyout, it is about the absolute agony of being so horrible with no hope. I watched alot of that game (it is impossible right now to watch a Pitt BB game from start to finish, impossible) and just saw players and coaches with no clues. The same thing, every game. They same 3-4 minute stretch where 4 point deficits turn to 15 point deficits or 14 point deficits turn to 25 point deficits. Same thing. Every game. No heart. No press. No answer. No one finally getting pissed off enough to friggin elbowing and undercutting an opposition just because you are pissed off. No emotions. But worst of all, no talent. These guys can't even get decent shots off many times. They lack the ability to create offense to find or get an open look. They over dribble. They are poor passers. No one rebounds. On defense, they can't stay in front of their man. They can't find their man. They look lost and disinterested half of the time. And we are talking 20 some games now into the season. Stallings felt that his team "didn't approach this game with the right mentality" meaning, they have now tuned him out. I don't think Stallings really wants to be here, and I do think you can possibly negotiate a lower buyout because he knows he is not liked here, he knows he is dead man walking whether this year or next, and he has all the enthusiasm of Kevin from the Office. I am sorry, no. It is stupid to "give him a chance" because he really isn't fighting for that chance. No. No. You got to cut it out now, you got to fire him after this season. Sorry.

 

[Atch]

That is how bad it is. And it is the same script every day. I don't care about them. But it is still frustrating. Which has led me to this rant posted on the other board in regards to Stallings.

I purposely didn't come up with a breath in the long paragraph.

You both are missing the point. Stallings is obviously not the answer, the program is NOT in a bridge era, it is at the bottom. It ain't going to do anything else. Recruiting is not any better. The is the ONE time this area is producing some decent talent and of course, vintage Pitt it is now, not 10 years ago.

It is not about 300 more seats, it is not about buyout, it is about the absolute agony of being so horrible with no hope. I watched alot of that game (it is impossible right now to watch a Pitt BB game from start to finish, impossible) and just saw players and coaches with no clues. The same thing, every game. They same 3-4 minute stretch where 4 point deficits turn to 15 point deficits or 14 point deficits turn to 25 point deficits. Same thing. Every game. No heart. No press. No answer. No one finally getting pissed off enough to friggin elbowing and undercutting an opposition just because you are pissed off. No emotions. But worst of all, no talent. These guys can't even get decent shots off many times. They lack the ability to create offense to find or get an open look. They over dribble. They are poor passers. No one rebounds. On defense, they can't stay in front of their man. They can't find their man. They look lost and disinterested half of the time. And we are talking 20 some games now into the season. Stallings felt that his team "didn't approach this game with the right mentality" meaning, they have now tuned him out. I don't think Stallings really wants to be here, and I do think you can possibly negotiate a lower buyout because he knows he is not liked here, he knows he is dead man walking whether this year or next, and he has all the enthusiasm of Kevin from the Office. I am sorry, no. It is stupid to "give him a chance" because he really isn't fighting for that chance. No. No. You got to cut it out now, you got to fire him after this season. Sorry.

Why are you sorry?

 

[Seneca_Valley]

That is how bad it is. And it is the same script every day. I don't care about them. But it is still frustrating. Which has led me to this rant posted on the other board in regards to Stallings.

I purposely didn't come up with a breath in the long paragraph.

You both are missing the point. Stallings is obviously not the answer, the program is NOT in a bridge era, it is at the bottom. It ain't going to do anything else. Recruiting is not any better. The is the ONE time this area is producing some decent talent and of course, vintage Pitt it is now, not 10 years ago.

It is not about 300 more seats, it is not about buyout, it is about the absolute agony of being so horrible with no hope. I watched alot of that game (it is impossible right now to watch a Pitt BB game from start to finish, impossible) and just saw players and coaches with no clues. The same thing, every game. They same 3-4 minute stretch where 4 point deficits turn to 15 point deficits or 14 point deficits turn to 25 point deficits. Same thing. Every game. No heart. No press. No answer. No one finally getting pissed off enough to friggin elbowing and undercutting an opposition just because you are pissed off. No emotions. But worst of all, no talent. These guys can't even get decent shots off many times. They lack the ability to create offense to find or get an open look. They over dribble. They are poor passers. No one rebounds. On defense, they can't stay in front of their man. They can't find their man. They look lost and disinterested half of the time. And we are talking 20 some games now into the season. Stallings felt that his team "didn't approach this game with the right mentality" meaning, they have now tuned him out. I don't think Stallings really wants to be here, and I do think you can possibly negotiate a lower buyout because he knows he is not liked here, he knows he is dead man walking whether this year or next, and he has all the enthusiasm of Kevin from the Office. I am sorry, no. It is stupid to "give him a chance" because he really isn't fighting for that chance. No. No. You got to cut it out now, you got to fire him after this season. Sorry.

No reason to feel sorry.

You've officially written off the coach and the team and are entitled to your opinion. I haven't turned the corner on this yet and still advocate giving Stallings one more year. And it won't change if we go winless the rest of the season. I know, silly me.

Simple question to you and the "anyone but Stallings crowd". Are you prepared for another 2-3 years to play out like this one? Because that is the most likely scenario save the splash hire. The prospect of Stallings turning it around next year, no matter how remote you think is possible, is worth more to me than watching another 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding. Not to mention the financial hole you've dug deeper if the next savior doesn't pan out.

 

[DiehardPanther]

No reason to feel sorry.

You've officially written off the coach and the team and are entitled to your opinion. I haven't turned the corner on this yet and still advocate giving Stallings one more year. And it won't change if we go winless the rest of the season. I know, silly me.

Simple question to you and the "anyone but Stallings crowd". Are you prepared for another 2-3 years to play out like this one? Because that is the most likely scenario save the splash hire. The prospect of Stallings turning it around next year, no matter how remote you think is possible, is worth more to me than watching another 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding. Not to mention the financial hole you've dug deeper if the next savior doesn't pan out.

There are so many examples of programs that were in shambles, but they hired a new coach that breathed life into them. The team takes on the personality of their HC.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

No reason to feel sorry.

You've officially written off the coach and the team and are entitled to your opinion. I haven't turned the corner on this yet and still advocate giving Stallings one more year. And it won't change if we go winless the rest of the season. I know, silly me.

Simple question to you and the "anyone but Stallings crowd". Are you prepared for another 2-3 years to play out like this one? Because that is the most likely scenario save the splash hire. The prospect of Stallings turning it around next year, no matter how remote you think is possible, is worth more to me than watching another 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding. Not to mention the financial hole you've dug deeper if the next savior doesn't pan out.

I don’t think the outcome the next 2 seasons will be different with Stallings

 

[Thee Jackie Treehorn]

The argument for firing Stallings immediately is that that 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding just extends one more year every time you delay the inevitable. Many of us don't see a strong foundation here, and the idea of starting another rebuild now is more hopeful than letting the Stallings disaster continue to play out.

 

[Hocking Hills Panther]

I thought I would give it one more chance and watch last nights game. It only takes 10-15 minutes to realize another loss is about to happen. In my opinion, Stallings is the wrong coach but we are also in a conference we can’t compete in. I understand why the move was made but did Pitt even consider the Big 10 might be a better move?
Tom Cream or Thad Matta could right this ship fairly quickly. The longer we wait the chances of getting one of them diminishes.

 

[OriginalEther]

The argument for firing Stallings immediately is that that 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding just extends one more year every time you delay the inevitable. Many of us don't see a strong foundation here, and the idea of starting another rebuild now is more hopeful than letting the Stallings disaster continue to play out.

I was going to post this as a follow up to my smart ass post in SMF's poll, but I figure here works better....

The question is, what is your expectations for Pitt basketball, and do you honestly thinks Pitt can eventually get there with Stallings as the coach?
If you don't think he can, all keeping him does is extend the misery. What's the point then?

 

[cupkafan]

Recruits we are not within 15 points of any ACC team. I am awaiting for Swofford to have a heart to heart with Gallagher and suggest we get our sh*t together. Pitt is hurting the ACC brand.

 

[pitt-girl]

I thought I would give it one more chance and watch last nights game. It only takes 10-15 minutes to realize another loss is about to happen. In my opinion, Stallings is the wrong coach but we are also in a conference we can’t compete in. I understand why the move was made but did Pitt even consider the Big 10 might be a better move?
Tom Cream or Thad Matta could right this ship fairly quickly. The longer we wait the chances of getting one of them diminishes.

Thad Matta is never coaching again. You probably didn't see it nested in other threads, but has been noted multiple times here.

 

[pitt-girl]

Recruits we are not within 15 points of any ACC team. I am awaiting for Swofford to have a heart to heart with Gallagher and suggest we get our sh*t together. Pitt is hurting the ACC brand.

If hurting the ACC brand was a real issue, BC would have been gone a loooooong time ago. Pitt is fine. Just need to reboot the hoops program.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

There are so many examples of programs that were in shambles, but they hired a new coach that breathed life into them. The team takes on the personality of their HC.

And there are far more examples of the opposite. What makes you think the next total rebuild gets the right guys? What makes you think it won't take them a few years to develop? What makes you so sure that Pitt gets it right. I sure as hell don't.

 

[ScrantonicityIII]

That is how bad it is. And it is the same script every day. I don't care about them. But it is still frustrating. Which has led me to this rant posted on the other board in regards to Stallings.

I purposely didn't come up with a breath in the long paragraph.

You both are missing the point. Stallings is obviously not the answer, the program is NOT in a bridge era, it is at the bottom. It ain't going to do anything else. Recruiting is not any better. The is the ONE time this area is producing some decent talent and of course, vintage Pitt it is now, not 10 years ago.

It is not about 300 more seats, it is not about buyout, it is about the absolute agony of being so horrible with no hope. I watched alot of that game (it is impossible right now to watch a Pitt BB game from start to finish, impossible) and just saw players and coaches with no clues. The same thing, every game. They same 3-4 minute stretch where 4 point deficits turn to 15 point deficits or 14 point deficits turn to 25 point deficits. Same thing. Every game. No heart. No press. No answer. No one finally getting pissed off enough to friggin elbowing and undercutting an opposition just because you are pissed off. No emotions. But worst of all, no talent. These guys can't even get decent shots off many times. They lack the ability to create offense to find or get an open look. They over dribble. They are poor passers. No one rebounds. On defense, they can't stay in front of their man. They can't find their man. They look lost and disinterested half of the time. And we are talking 20 some games now into the season. Stallings felt that his team "didn't approach this game with the right mentality" meaning, they have now tuned him out. I don't think Stallings really wants to be here, and I do think you can possibly negotiate a lower buyout because he knows he is not liked here, he knows he is dead man walking whether this year or next, and he has all the enthusiasm of Kevin from the Office. I am sorry, no. It is stupid to "give him a chance" because he really isn't fighting for that chance. No. No. You got to cut it out now, you got to fire him after this season. Sorry.

Sure you can. It is usually over 15-20 minutes in. Not that big of a commitment. :-D

Good post. Most of us feel the same way.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

No reason to feel sorry.

You've officially written off the coach and the team and are entitled to your opinion. I haven't turned the corner on this yet and still advocate giving Stallings one more year. And it won't change if we go winless the rest of the season. I know, silly me.

Simple question to you and the "anyone but Stallings crowd". Are you prepared for another 2-3 years to play out like this one? Because that is the most likely scenario save the splash hire. The prospect of Stallings turning it around next year, no matter how remote you think is possible, is worth more to me than watching another 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding. Not to mention the financial hole you've dug deeper if the next savior doesn't pan out.

Well it is not like it is a "savior". Stallings is a "destroyer". As long as he is here, Pitt will not be able to recruit any better than what is out there. The team is not getting better. At all. Aside from Terrell Brown, there is really not one player who looks better than he did in November. Worse than being young, is that they are bad and young, with a real concern on just how high the ceiling really is. As someone mentioned, what the hell did anyone see in Kene Chukawa?

They aren't going to turn it around next year or the year after. Why? Look at Stallings, I'd like to think he is better than he is, but he isn't coaching for a turnaround. He is going through the motions. He is not invested. It was an unpopular hire from the get go, the guy that hired him left for another job, and those are the highlights. It got and is getting worse and worse. I see a beaten team led by a beaten coach with no answers and no energy. Contrast that down Forbes, similar if not worse situation coming into this year, Damtrot managed to marry the holdovers with some really decent freshmen and who has a gaggle of decent kids transfers sitting out. This is the best Duquesne team in 30 years, starting with little to nothing.

So the coach coming into Pitt doesn't have to be a Calipari or a big name coach with 5 star McD All Americans to start the turnaround. Stallings doesn't look like he has the energy, nor the credibility (meaning he is dead man walking right now) to walk into a Brandon Stone or an Ethan Morton's home and sell them on playing for him at Pitt. So yeah, you might as well make the change. Also, as I posted before, this likely will be a low water mark for P5 job openings this offseason, so the timing is going to be right. They buyout is tough, but damage and lost opportunity to this program will far exceed that cost.

Who would or should be the next coach is not as important as the fact that it isn't Kevin Stallings.

 

[ScrantonicityIII]

That is how bad it is. And it is the same script every day. I don't care about them. But it is still frustrating. Which has led me to this rant posted on the other board in regards to Stallings.

I purposely didn't come up with a breath in the long paragraph.

You both are missing the point. Stallings is obviously not the answer, the program is NOT in a bridge era, it is at the bottom. It ain't going to do anything else. Recruiting is not any better. The is the ONE time this area is producing some decent talent and of course, vintage Pitt it is now, not 10 years ago.

It is not about 300 more seats, it is not about buyout, it is about the absolute agony of being so horrible with no hope. I watched alot of that game (it is impossible right now to watch a Pitt BB game from start to finish, impossible) and just saw players and coaches with no clues. The same thing, every game. They same 3-4 minute stretch where 4 point deficits turn to 15 point deficits or 14 point deficits turn to 25 point deficits. Same thing. Every game. No heart. No press. No answer. No one finally getting pissed off enough to friggin elbowing and undercutting an opposition just because you are pissed off. No emotions. But worst of all, no talent. These guys can't even get decent shots off many times. They lack the ability to create offense to find or get an open look. They over dribble. They are poor passers. No one rebounds. On defense, they can't stay in front of their man. They can't find their man. They look lost and disinterested half of the time. And we are talking 20 some games now into the season. Stallings felt that his team "didn't approach this game with the right mentality" meaning, they have now tuned him out. I don't think Stallings really wants to be here, and I do think you can possibly negotiate a lower buyout because he knows he is not liked here, he knows he is dead man walking whether this year or next, and he has all the enthusiasm of Kevin from the Office. I am sorry, no. It is stupid to "give him a chance" because he really isn't fighting for that chance. No. No. You got to cut it out now, you got to fire him after this season. Sorry.

I wouldn't say the kids have no heart though. They just have no leadership, and possibly high end talent.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

The argument for firing Stallings immediately is that that 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding just extends one more year every time you delay the inevitable. Many of us don't see a strong foundation here, and the idea of starting another rebuild now is more hopeful than letting the Stallings disaster continue to play out.

Well Jackie, there is the rub. Most pushing back at my post have written off the coach and the team. I haven't.

Advocating another year is NOT necessarily a ringing endorsement. Save hiring a splash coach, someone like a Sean Miller, it is more prudent to wait a year before pulling the plug. My opinion.

 

[ScrantonicityIII]

No reason to feel sorry.

You've officially written off the coach and the team and are entitled to your opinion. I haven't turned the corner on this yet and still advocate giving Stallings one more year. And it won't change if we go winless the rest of the season. I know, silly me.

Simple question to you and the "anyone but Stallings crowd". Are you prepared for another 2-3 years to play out like this one? Because that is the most likely scenario save the splash hire. The prospect of Stallings turning it around next year, no matter how remote you think is possible, is worth more to me than watching another 2-3 years of wholesale rebuilding. Not to mention the financial hole you've dug deeper if the next savior doesn't pan out.

it's going to be 2-3 years anyway, maybe longer. we may have to rebuild from Stallings' rebuild. He may leave the team in worse shape than Dixon did.

What do you fear, that we may not win a conference game if we change coaches?

Nobodies looking for a savior (what is it with you guys and Jamie is God, Stallings is God, looking for a savior), we just want a competent coach that can recruit a bit and actually seems to have a game plan. I don't think that's too much to ask. I think Pitt's ceiling may now be mid-ACC, I doubt we ever get out of the bottom 2 with the current coach.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Recruits we are not within 15 points of any ACC team. I am awaiting for Swofford to have a heart to heart with Gallagher and suggest we get our sh*t together. Pitt is hurting the ACC brand.

Hence, why I made the comparison of we are Avella playing in a good 5A or 6A section in the WPIAL. We have not only no chance at a win, but we have no chance to be competitive.

We saw that team last night. I am sorry, Clemson sucks. I don't care about their record. That team, the 2009 Pitt team would have taken them to the woodshed by 15-20 points. We looked like a jayvee team. We were a jayvee team. The kid with the bad hand that was making all those 3's in the second half, are you kidding me? Someone or a coach couldn't have figured out that a hard foul "going for the ball" ahem, across his wrist or hand to heighten up the sensitivity and pain, no we probably gave the kid some extra strength tylenol.

How about once, what they hell you got 10 guys who can't play but play, come out with a press. Just once. What can be worse. Have your kids be aggressive and have some fun. DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! EVEN IF IT IS WRONG!!

I mean christ, they cannot even get a shot off most possessions. They either end in a TO or a rushed heave at the end of the shot clock that doesn't even see the rim. What the hell is going to happen against UVa?

 

[DiehardPanther]

And there are far more examples of the opposite. What makes you think the next total rebuild gets the right guys? What makes you think it won't take them a few years to develop? What makes you so sure that Pitt gets it right. I sure as hell don't.

It cannot get any worse. We are at a bottom. Pitt has to cut its losses and try with another coach.

 

[ScrantonicityIII]

Well Jackie, there is the rub. Most pushing back at my post have written off the coach and the team. I haven't.

Advocating another year is NOT necessarily a ringing endorsement. Save hiring a splash coach, someone like a Sean Miller, it is more prudent to wait a year before pulling the plug. My opinion.

Custer didn't give up on his team either, and look what happened.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

it's going to be 2-3 years anyway, maybe longer. we may have to rebuild from Stallings' rebuild. He may leave the team in worse shape than Dixon did.

What do you fear, that we may not win a conference game if we change coaches?

Nobodies looking for a savior (what is it with you guys and Jamie is God, Stallings is God, looking for a savior), we just want a competent coach that can recruit a bit and actually seems to have a game plan. I don't think that's too much to ask. I think Pitt's ceiling may now be mid-ACC, I doubt we ever get out of the bottom 2 with the current coach.

First, don't lump me in with the hate Dixon/hate Stallings crowd. I'm neither.

Anyone who thinks that it is possible to turn this team into a tournament contender in a couple of years IS looking for a savior. Who are you think you are fooling? Throwing out the bath water with the baby two years in a row just doesn't sound all that palatable. Tossing Stallings for the same old same old will just blow. Promise me a coach that really moves the needle and will excite the fanbase and I'm all in.

BTW, I don't fear anything. The next guy, or Stallings for that matter, will win conference games. The question is how many.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

It cannot get any worse. We are at a bottom. Pitt has to cut its losses and try with another coach.

I also ask you this question. If you get your wish, will you be OK with a couple more years at the bottom? Will you treat the next coach with the same lack of respect you did with Stallings.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

Well it is not like it is a "savior". Stallings is a "destroyer". As long as he is here, Pitt will not be able to recruit any better than what is out there. The team is not getting better. At all. Aside from Terrell Brown, there is really not one player who looks better than he did in November. Worse than being young, is that they are bad and young, with a real concern on just how high the ceiling really is. As someone mentioned, what the hell did anyone see in Kene Chukawa?

They aren't going to turn it around next year or the year after. Why? Look at Stallings, I'd like to think he is better than he is, but he isn't coaching for a turnaround. He is going through the motions. He is not invested. It was an unpopular hire from the get go, the guy that hired him left for another job, and those are the highlights. It got and is getting worse and worse. I see a beaten team led by a beaten coach with no answers and no energy. Contrast that down Forbes, similar if not worse situation coming into this year, Damtrot managed to marry the holdovers with some really decent freshmen and who has a gaggle of decent kids transfers sitting out. This is the best Duquesne team in 30 years, starting with little to nothing.

So the coach coming into Pitt doesn't have to be a Calipari or a big name coach with 5 star McD All Americans to start the turnaround. Stallings doesn't look like he has the energy, nor the credibility (meaning he is dead man walking right now) to walk into a Brandon Stone or an Ethan Morton's home and sell them on playing for him at Pitt. So yeah, you might as well make the change. Also, as I posted before, this likely will be a low water mark for P5 job openings this offseason, so the timing is going to be right. They buyout is tough, but damage and lost opportunity to this program will far exceed that cost.

Who would or should be the next coach is not as important as the fact that it isn't Kevin Stallings.

Like I said, you're heels are dug in with the rest. That's OK. BTW, excellent rant!

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I also ask you this question. If you get your wish, will you be OK with a couple more years at the bottom? Will you treat the next coach with the same lack of respect you did with Stallings.

Why I am voting for change (LOL) is the fact that I think there is a very likely chance with Stallings next year, will be more of the same as this year (maybe 3-4 conference wins) and I don't see it any better the next year. Then you have to fire Stallings and start over.

You fire Stallings now, I don't see them being any worse than a 2 win Conference team, with at least a much better upside in year 2.

Remember, this isn't football. All it takes is a decent recruit here, a transfer there and you can rebuild quickly. Who is coming here with Stallings?

 

[gary2]

I also ask you this question. If you get your wish, will you be OK with a couple more years at the bottom? Will you treat the next coach with the same lack of respect you did with Stallings.

I think we have a pretty good idea of the answers to those questions from a certain segment of the board.

 

[Panthergrowl13]

AD Barnes.

So much damage in so little time.

HAIL TO PITT!!!!

 

[DiehardPanther]

I also ask you this question. If you get your wish, will you be OK with a couple more years at the bottom? Will you treat the next coach with the same lack of respect you did with Stallings.

I did not mind losing when Howland first started because there was progress being made. The team busted their butt on defense and rebounded, they played hard, and were starting to gel. Give me a young, unknown coach that can do these things and I will be happy to support a rough patch.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

That is how bad it is. And it is the same script every day. I don't care about them. But it is still frustrating. Which has led me to this rant posted on the other board in regards to Stallings.

I purposely didn't come up with a breath in the long paragraph.

You both are missing the point. Stallings is obviously not the answer, the program is NOT in a bridge era, it is at the bottom. It ain't going to do anything else. Recruiting is not any better. The is the ONE time this area is producing some decent talent and of course, vintage Pitt it is now, not 10 years ago.

It is not about 300 more seats, it is not about buyout, it is about the absolute agony of being so horrible with no hope. I watched alot of that game (it is impossible right now to watch a Pitt BB game from start to finish, impossible) and just saw players and coaches with no clues. The same thing, every game. They same 3-4 minute stretch where 4 point deficits turn to 15 point deficits or 14 point deficits turn to 25 point deficits. Same thing. Every game. No heart. No press. No answer. No one finally getting pissed off enough to friggin elbowing and undercutting an opposition just because you are pissed off. No emotions. But worst of all, no talent. These guys can't even get decent shots off many times. They lack the ability to create offense to find or get an open look. They over dribble. They are poor passers. No one rebounds. On defense, they can't stay in front of their man. They can't find their man. They look lost and disinterested half of the time. And we are talking 20 some games now into the season. Stallings felt that his team "didn't approach this game with the right mentality" meaning, they have now tuned him out. I don't think Stallings really wants to be here, and I do think you can possibly negotiate a lower buyout because he knows he is not liked here, he knows he is dead man walking whether this year or next, and he has all the enthusiasm of Kevin from the Office. I am sorry, no. It is stupid to "give him a chance" because he really isn't fighting for that chance. No. No. You got to cut it out now, you got to fire him after this season. Sorry.

1. What incentive does Stallings have to accept anything less than the full buyout? Because his wife lives in Nashville? For some guys, thats the dream. He gets paid $2 million to coach basketball and watch basketball on ESPN when he gets home. Its a dream job. He can do anything he wants. He can read a newspaper during the game if he wants. He can watch other games on his phone during the game if he wants.

But lets say he is really unhappy. How much is happiness worth to him? Would he accept $3 million less to be happier? If I'm Stallings, "not a dime back."

2. We go round and round about this but if you cant reduce the buyout, paying $10 million or whatever and hiring a lottery ticket is insanity. If you can get Hurley, Sean Miller, etc, ok. Not Joe Dooley.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

Why I am voting for change (LOL) is the fact that I think there is a very likely chance with Stallings next year, will be more of the same as this year (maybe 3-4 conference wins) and I don't see it any better the next year. Then you have to fire Stallings and start over.

You fire Stallings now, I don't see them being any worse than a 2 win Conference team, with at least a much better upside in year 2.

Remember, this isn't football. All it takes is a decent recruit here, a transfer there and you can rebuild quickly. Who is coming here with Stallings?

The operative word is think.

I did not mind losing when Howland first started because there was progress being made. The team busted their butt on defense and rebounded, they played hard, and were starting to gel. Give me a young, unknown coach that can do these things and I will be happy to support a rough patch.

I don't believe you, but if I did, you would be one of the few.

 

[DiehardPanther]

The operative word is think.


I don't believe you, but if I did, you would be one of the few.

1) I was in the camp of giving Stallings a chance even though I never liked the hire. But he hasn’t done anything to show me there is even the slightest chance of turning this around.

2) Pitt needs to hire an energetic, aggressive coach. Press Virginia, VCU Havoc Defense, or Agresssive Defense and Rebounding. They need one philosophy like this. We need to outwill and outwork the opponent. We aren’t going to beat most teams by having more talent.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The operative word is think.


I don't believe you, but if I did, you would be one of the few.

1) I was in the camp of giving Stallings a chance even though I never liked the hire. But he hasn’t done anything to show me there is even the slightest chance of turning this around.

2) Pitt needs to hire an energetic, aggressive coach. Press Virginia, VCU Havoc Defense, or Agresssive Defense and Rebounding. They need one philosophy like this. We need to outwill and outwork the opponent. We aren’t going to beat most teams by having more talent.

If Ron Sanchez at UVa is half as good as Bennett and if he promises to play the pack line defense, that's a guy I'd pay the full buyout to hire

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

1) I was in the camp of giving Stallings a chance even though I never liked the hire. But he hasn’t done anything to show me there is even the slightest chance of turning this around.

2) Pitt needs to hire an energetic, aggressive coach. Press Virginia, VCU Havoc Defense, or Agresssive Defense and Rebounding. They need one philosophy like this. We need to outwill and outwork the opponent. We aren’t going to beat most teams by having more talent.

That's exactly how I feel. I mean when they hired Stallings, I didn't like it, but what else did you have to do except give him a chance. And okay, he was given a chance and obviously is what the fail most of us expected. Or worse, the epic fail none of us could even have imagined.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Well it is not like it is a "savior". Stallings is a "destroyer". As long as he is here, Pitt will not be able to recruit any better than what is out there. The team is not getting better. At all. Aside from Terrell Brown, there is really not one player who looks better than he did in November. Worse than being young, is that they are bad and young, with a real concern on just how high the ceiling really is. As someone mentioned, what the hell did anyone see in Kene Chukawa?

They aren't going to turn it around next year or the year after. Why? Look at Stallings, I'd like to think he is better than he is, but he isn't coaching for a turnaround. He is going through the motions. He is not invested. It was an unpopular hire from the get go, the guy that hired him left for another job, and those are the highlights. It got and is getting worse and worse. I see a beaten team led by a beaten coach with no answers and no energy. Contrast that down Forbes, similar if not worse situation coming into this year, Damtrot managed to marry the holdovers with some really decent freshmen and who has a gaggle of decent kids transfers sitting out. This is the best Duquesne team in 30 years, starting with little to nothing.

So the coach coming into Pitt doesn't have to be a Calipari or a big name coach with 5 star McD All Americans to start the turnaround. Stallings doesn't look like he has the energy, nor the credibility (meaning he is dead man walking right now) to walk into a Brandon Stone or an Ethan Morton's home and sell them on playing for him at Pitt. So yeah, you might as well make the change. Also, as I posted before, this likely will be a low water mark for P5 job openings this offseason, so the timing is going to be right. They buyout is tough, but damage and lost opportunity to this program will far exceed that cost.

Who would or should be the next coach is not as important as the fact that it isn't Kevin Stallings.

What we need to be better is a get a coach who can immediately find good grad transfer (or JUCO) point and post players this spring or summer and keep the better players from Stallings roster and we could immediately go to 10-11 OOC wins and 4-5 ACC wins (14-16 overall wins) in the 2018-12019 season. A good recruiting class in fall 2018 to follow could put us at 11-12 OOC wins and 6-7 ACC wins (17-19 wins overall) in the 2019-2020 season for an NIT bid. Add one additional year of quality recruiting and we could be a 12-13 OOC win team with 9-11 ACC wins (21-24 0verall wins) and back in the NCAAs in the 2020-2021 season. That should be Pitt's objective! Each year Stallings remains will push the start of that scenario off one additional year, IMHO.

 

[Parkview57]

I have said this before in a similar way. If I am the A.D. I support Stallings efforts to recruit now. If we get to summer and we are still at the same place I absolutely pull the plug. I literally move his office to a closet, give him nothing but what he is owed, nothing more. Not one penny and then let him know he has no support from the AD's office and let him live in the DIII world he has created on the court, everything low budget. He can ride a bus to Syracuse and Louisville, tell him if he doesn't like it, "Start winning some conference games". Stallings wants to act like such an up front guy well the bottom line is success so get with it. I am sure DI AD's have way more insight than I on what exactly drives coaches out so HL can try that. Call him in on every loss and have him explain anything you see as poor decisions etc., waste his time like he is wasting the Universities time, etc.

 

[ScrantonicityIII]

First, don't lump me in with the hate Dixon/hate Stallings crowd. I'm neither.

Anyone who thinks that it is possible to turn this team into a tournament contender in a couple of years IS looking for a savior. Who are you think you are fooling? Throwing out the bath water with the baby two years in a row just doesn't sound all that palatable. Tossing Stallings for the same old same old will just blow. Promise me a coach that really moves the needle and will excite the fanbase and I'm all in.

BTW, I don't fear anything. The next guy, or Stallings for that matter, will win conference games. The question is how many.

Has anyone asked for a return to the tourney in 2 years? I'd settle for showing competent coaching with a plan and better recruits, and more than 0 conference wins. If we had 6-8 wins in year 2 of a coaches tenure and made the NIT, I'd take that as progess.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

What we need to be better is a get a coach who can immediately find good grad transfer (or JUCO) point and post players this spring or summer and keep the better players from Stallings roster and we could immediately go to 10-11 OOC wins and 4-5 ACC wins (14-16 overall wins) in the 2018-12019 season. A good recruiting class in fall 2018 to follow could put us at 11-12 OOC wins and 6-7 ACC wins (17-19 wins overall) in the 2019-2020 season for an NIT bid. Add one additional year of quality recruiting and we could be a 12-13 OOC win team with 9-11 ACC wins (21-24 0verall wins) and back in the NCAAs in the 2020-2021 season. That should be Pitt's objective! Each year Stallings remains will push the start of that scenario off one additional year, IMHO.

Sounds like you have it all figured out. I didn't realize it would be that easy.

Bring on the new guy.

 

[levance2]

Has anyone asked for a return to the tourney in 2 years? I'd settle for showing competent coaching with a plan and better recruits, and more than 0 conference wins. If we had 6-8 wins in year 2 of a coaches tenure and made the NIT, I'd take that as progess.

My definition of tournament contender is if we actually are talented enough to win another Hispanic College Fund Classic.

 

[Seneca_Valley]

Has anyone asked for a return to the tourney in 2 years? I'd settle for showing competent coaching with a plan and better recruits, and more than 0 conference wins. If we had 6-8 wins in year 2 of a coaches tenure and made the NIT, I'd take that as progess.

There are plenty of people on this board who think a good coach should be able to significantly turn a program around in two years. While I'm sure some will point out cases where it is true, there are far more instances where it takes longer assuming the coach is given enough time. The incoming guy who potentially inherits a roster without Stallings better players and God forbid Luther will probably be fired before he gets to the NCAA's.

 

[pitt-girl]

There are plenty of people on this board who think a good coach should be able to significantly turn a program around in two years. While I'm sure some will point out cases where it is true, there are far more instances where it takes longer assuming the coach is given enough time. The incoming guy who potentially inherits a roster without Stallings better players and God forbid Luther will probably be fired before he gets to the NCAA's.

Two years ago, I would agree with you. For better or worse, the standard here has dropped dramatically. I'm thinking some better recruiting, actual enthusiasm from the coach and some close wins should suffice for the near term.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

We are going to win a conference game. It may not be this year or even next year, but it will eventually happen. But changes need to be made.