Iād argue that each of these points are exactly the right kind of change of pace from the current challenges our program faces. I think itās fair to say Pitinoās style is too far in the other direction. I also think itās fair to question whether the style of basketball that made us great under Bennett can be anywhere near as successful in this era. Personally, Iām skeptical (as much as I loved all it did for our program).
We need a more reasonable tempo, we need a system good athletes want to play in, we need guys who can create 1 on 1, etc. Sure, you still need to coach that style well and plenty of guys donāt. Defensively, I love what Pitino does. Pack line is dead. You need to be able to pressure the basketball and deny passing lanes, and they do that incredibly well.
Regardless, I have a slight preference for Odom, but I like Pitino too.
Itās been discussed! I donāt think you should make this decision based off a coachās ability to bring any individual players with him. He would be well resourced to attack the portal, and I think he would do well playing the game with donors to maintain those resources. I think he would be able to get some difference makers here fairly quickly, we may not be ready to go year 1, but his track record for his second years has been quite good.
Also shows that heās able to work the portal well. And that he is able to have success with VCU on direction for a 30 win which is impressive seniors or not.
He also starts true freshman Luke Bamgboye (British Mamadi) at center
Can you imagine a starting front court with British Mamadi and ARob? One of them would have to develop into the skilled forward but the blocking and rebounding man
Iām not against fast pace. You can win fast or slow. But you need to be effective in coaching efficient systems that overcome talent deficits to win at uva.
Calhoun at Utah state plays substantially faster than Tony ever did. But itās a system that is high in assist rate and creates open shots, leading to high 3pt and 2pt percentages. He plays really intricate, smart sets. Itās the 11th best offense in the country while being top half in pace. Great! I have questions about his defense, but Iād probably take him over pitino for fit (both are good coaches but I donāt think pitino can be successful here for the same reasons as Minnesota).
I just donāt think a coach who relies on having the best player on the floor taking 30% of your teamās shots while racing up and down the floor trying to get to the basket for layups will be successful at uva.
Yeah but they didnāt have enough NIL to pay both him and pay Jack Clark who they wanted. Also think there was a loved one involved and the assistant coach who recruited Lawal to VCU is at Virginia Tech (Was a Rhoades assistant)
I guess put it this way; Iām in favor of a new coach, if we get to keep the players we want to keep, he brings a player or two with him, and heās good in portal and with X and Os. The thought experiment gets complicated if you lose all our players
I want a coach who understands that a big part of why we have had some talent deficits was because of the style of play we employed. Most 4 and 5-Stars didnāt (and donāt) want to play the slow and plodding style we have had. That style goes out the window and so does the talent deficit if we get the right coach.
Not sure I agree entirely. Vs the league ex Duke/unc, I can buy it. No style is going to even the field on a raw talent basis vs those two. But, yeah, new style please.
I worry itās a talent deficit vs Duke & UNC (because theyāre blue bloods) and talent deficit vs. SEC/B1G, or at least the top teams in those leagues (because theyāre Power 2). That adds up to a lot of teams weāll have trouble recruiting against.
Plus weāre more likely than many of those schools to have issues with academic requirements, and our transfer requirements are even worse (this might even be the biggest issue).
So I think itās fair to say we need a coach who can win with less. Maybe only a little less, hopefullyā¦ but less all the same.