(02-15-2024 08:07 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  Not a hot seat rumor but just heard a RUMOR that WKU's Lutz is on the short list for An Ohio State HC job.

What if WKU and Ohio St. end up exchanging head coaches? I hope the WKU coach stays around and keeps winning. But, I’ve always been a fan of Chris Holtmann. We went to college together and hung out a few times. He was a good dude and capable coach. Plus he’s a Kentucky kid from just up the road from Bowling Green.

(02-27-2024 03:53 PM)army56mike Wrote:  

(02-15-2024 08:07 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  Not a hot seat rumor but just heard a RUMOR that WKU's Lutz is on the short list for An Ohio State HC job.

What if WKU and Ohio St. end up exchanging head coaches? I hope the WKU coach stays around and keeps winning. But, I’ve always been a fan of Chris Holtmann. We went to college together and hung out a few times. He was a good dude and capable coach. Plus he’s a Kentucky kid from just up the road from Bowling Green.

Nicholasville is not up the road from BG but ok,all the Cayut fans would want us to hire him. WKU would look at Morehead ST HC Preston Spradlin.

(02-28-2024 09:28 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 03:53 PM)army56mike Wrote:  

(02-15-2024 08:07 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  Not a hot seat rumor but just heard a RUMOR that WKU's Lutz is on the short list for An Ohio State HC job.

What if WKU and Ohio St. end up exchanging head coaches? I hope the WKU coach stays around and keeps winning. But, I’ve always been a fan of Chris Holtmann. We went to college together and hung out a few times. He was a good dude and capable coach. Plus he’s a Kentucky kid from just up the road from Bowling Green.

Nicholasville is not up the road from BG but ok,all the Cayut fans would want us to hire him. WKU would look at Morehead ST HC Preston Spradlin.

2 hrs. up the road.

Lutz is going nowhere the way we are ending this season.

Xavier and OSU switching coaches is the most common outcome. Sean Miller has been rumored to OSU for a few weeks and Xavier would prob call Holtmann if that happens.

Jeff Goodman with a report indicating he expects Ballard to be retained by FIU.

(03-09-2024 05:58 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  Jeff Goodman with a report indicating he expects Ballard to be retained by FIU.

Honestly, that is probably the best move. The team has struggled to replace transfer portal losses lately, but especially this season. Ballard coached teams have performed pretty well, in general, for the talent they’ve been able to sign. I think he is a good coach. There is a high risk that another coach would be worse.

Unless interest in FIU athletics starts to increase and the department starts to invest more into athletics, there is little hope for improvement no matter who the coach is, but especially because FIU gets decimated every year by the transfer portal.

I have to imagine Ray Harper has to win a tournament game or two next year to keep his job at JSU. On the other hand, we have no basketball money so he might be able to stay indefinitely.

(03-13-2024 01:09 PM)JSUBlazer Wrote:  I have to imagine Ray Harper has to win a tournament game or two next year to keep his job at JSU. On the other hand, we have no basketball money so he might be able to stay indefinitely.

You guys had 0 NCAA bids and 4 winning seasons in 20 years before Harper.

5 winning seasons and 2 NCAA bids in the 8 years since.

I am not saying he shouldn't be on the hot seat given how the last two years have gone, but I have serious doubts that Jacksonville State cares enough about basketball to fire him.

(03-13-2024 02:57 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(03-13-2024 01:09 PM)JSUBlazer Wrote:  I have to imagine Ray Harper has to win a tournament game or two next year to keep his job at JSU. On the other hand, we have no basketball money so he might be able to stay indefinitely.

You guys had 0 NCAA bids and 4 winning seasons in 20 years before Harper.

5 winning seasons and 2 NCAA bids in the 8 years since.

I am not saying he shouldn't be on the hot seat given how the last two years have gone, but I have serious doubts that Jacksonville State cares enough about basketball to fire him.

At most, JSU fans are "split" about Harper. A large number of us realize we're playing in a much tougher league with a decided NIL disadvantage (which Harper legally can't do anything about) and that the 2023-24 season was a rebuilding year, after losing much of last season's team to graduation.

A number of fans (not sure of the numbers, but they're vocal) blame Harper for the team's 14-18 finish and early exit from the conference tourney.

I don't know if they have short memories or what. I, for one, certainly do not want to revisit the LaPlante/Green era. But then, I remember distinctly when each of them was fired (for accomplishing absolutely nothing as coaches over 16 combined seasons) there were plenty of Gamecock fans complaining that we just fired the best coach we could hope for, and that a 15-17 win season was probably our ceiling as a program.

I don't get it. But I guess that's what fan boards are for.

(In fairness, before Harper was brought in, fans made a short list of candidates which included a couple of high school and lower level coaches who'd seen nothing but success at that level. JSU passed on them then due to D-I collegiate inexperience, but other schools picked them up. Now at least two of them have coached their teams into the NCAA Tourney this season. It's a bitter pill to swallow if you ignore all the other factors.)

(03-14-2024 09:42 AM)whupemall Wrote:  

(03-13-2024 02:57 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(03-13-2024 01:09 PM)JSUBlazer Wrote:  I have to imagine Ray Harper has to win a tournament game or two next year to keep his job at JSU. On the other hand, we have no basketball money so he might be able to stay indefinitely.

You guys had 0 NCAA bids and 4 winning seasons in 20 years before Harper.

5 winning seasons and 2 NCAA bids in the 8 years since.

I am not saying he shouldn't be on the hot seat given how the last two years have gone, but I have serious doubts that Jacksonville State cares enough about basketball to fire him.

At most, JSU fans are "split" about Harper. A large number of us realize we're playing in a much tougher league with a decided NIL disadvantage (which Harper legally can't do anything about) and that the 2023-24 season was a rebuilding year, after losing much of last season's team to graduation.

A number of fans (not sure of the numbers, but they're vocal) blame Harper for the team's 14-18 finish and early exit from the conference tourney.

I don't know if they have short memories or what. I, for one, certainly do not want to revisit the LaPlante/Green era. But then, I remember distinctly when each of them was fired (for accomplishing absolutely nothing as coaches over 16 combined seasons) there were plenty of Gamecock fans complaining that we just fired the best coach we could hope for, and that a 15-17 win season was probably our ceiling as a program.

I don't get it. But I guess that's what fan boards are for.

(In fairness, before Harper was brought in, fans made a short list of candidates which included a couple of high school and lower level coaches who'd seen nothing but success at that level. JSU passed on them then due to D-I collegiate inexperience, but other schools picked them up. Now at least two of them have coached their teams into the NCAA Tourney this season. It's a bitter pill to swallow if you ignore all the other factors.)

I am no Harper apologist, but I do recognize that he is an excellent X's and O's coach. At WKU he struggled to land high level talent (that didn't come with baggage anyway) and seemed to think he could "coach up" whoever he brought in. If you aren't going to spend the money on hoops (and I really doubt JSU and boosters will when football is what drives the bus there) then it will be hard to do better than Harper. It will be especially hard to keep anyone else there that shows any signs of success. If Harper lays a few more egg seasons, then send him packing. Too early to write off the only coach that has ever really been successful there.

Western fans.......... do you think your women's coach is gone ?

Had a key player go down with an injury, but finished the season with a thud.

(03-14-2024 11:40 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Western fans.......... do you think your women's coach is gone ?

Had a key player go down with an injury, but finished the season with a thud.

HOPE He is Gone!!

SIX seasons is enough. At this point his buyout is pretty low. IMO enthusiasm for the program is at an all time low. Lost 10 of the last 12 games. Lost last SEVEN in a row!

Time for a change.

I predict announcement tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday.

(03-13-2024 01:09 PM)JSUBlazer Wrote:  I have to imagine Ray Harper has to win a tournament game or two next year to keep his job at JSU. On the other hand, we have no basketball money so he might be able to stay indefinitely.

How is that possible, 3/4ths of the WKU fan base view him as a top 10 coaching legend.

(03-14-2024 11:40 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Western fans.......... do you think your women's coach is gone ?

Had a key player go down with an injury, but finished the season with a thud.

He will be fired Monday.

(03-15-2024 09:04 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(03-14-2024 11:40 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Western fans.......... do you think your women's coach is gone ?

Had a key player go down with an injury, but finished the season with a thud.

He will be fired Monday.

Agreed--I don't know why I posted an earlier firing above--that would take away from the men's tourney participation. They'll wait till Monday.

McDevitt back on the warm/hot seat?

What say you MT fans?

(03-15-2024 07:11 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  McDevitt back on the warm/hot seat?

What say you MT fans?

Hope he’s on it for about 48 hours and then finds out he needs to look for another gig.