I’ve done a complete 180 since we starting discussing/arguing coach’s.
My original thought was Odom was the uninspired choice. Try to go big.
After reading ~1000s of posts, Odom just makes too much. Sure, if Shaka or Otz is dying to come to CVille, you make it happen. I feel confident that over the course of a season, we know if there are any HR hires that are receptive.
Barring Shaka’s return to the commonwealth, imo it’s a matter of opportunity cost.
If Lil Pitino (or Olen or whoever) goes on and kills it for the next 10 years, I won’t feel much attachment one way or another.
But if Odom goes and kills it at Wake (or wherever), I’ll have a lot of buyers remorse.
#TeamOdomite
The Capel candidacy has to be dead dead dead now right? We may very well finish ahead of Pitt or at least tied. That’s got to be completely disqualifying. Fans may actually physically revolt.
The Hoiberg dream also probably died today
Mark Byington with a huge home win over #14 Missouri in OT. Really helps solidify his NCAAT resume.
I was there - not nearly as good an atmosphere as JPJ 
There’s no way any coach is comfortable playing in a gym where your bench is behind the basket
I’ve actually seen a game at vandy. Terrible gym. However, I’ll never forget a fan yelling at a ref “hey ref your mother’s a terrible cook!” So I left with some mild respect for Vanderbilt basketball.
Dirty south
We played Vandy my redshirt freshman year. Some guy was wearing me out the whole game. Just shitting on me every 10 seconds in the first half. TP- one of our assistants- asked me if I knew him from somewhere during a timeout. I said no but I was about to go at him if he started again.
He was crushing me to start the second half. Right behind us on the bench. TP looked at me and saw I was done with the guy- I was redshirted and wasnt going to play but was dressed. He was eventually removed by security.
Cool and weird gym though. Fresh knows.
Minnesota gym was the weirdest though.
Yeah, Vandy and Minnesota are same/similar concepts
Ha. Hav actually went into the stands to confront the guy. And rightly so
No it isn’t.
VCU’s level of success has been sustained over six straight coaches — for 24 years. USU — five of the last six coaches over 27 years.
Us? One of four coaches (including the interim this year) in that same time period. So, no, it’s not even close to the same thing.
There was a rough stretch with Gillen and Leitao, but you’re forgetting a lot of history, pal.
Regardless, we’ve got some of the best facilities, best paid assistants and sounds like we’re willing to up our NIL presence (that’s relatively strong already).
lol - a great 15 years from 1980-1995
And a great 10 years from 2013-2023
Every other period isn’t even mediocre.
That’s the history.
I would rather pick up the pieces (and reputation) left by Bennett than the pieces left over by Leitao.
Facilities, fan support. Administration support, donor support etc. they’re all there thanks to Tony.
It’s not a rebuilding job. It’s a sustaining job.
Seeing as VCU and Utah State are apparently better programs than UVA, we should be delighted if we can get Odom to take a step down to our level.
Ideally, it’s a “take the next step” job.
Take the next step how?
From the perspective of the coaching candidates, it’s a step up into a P4 league with real in-conference competition and a much higher media profile.
From UVA’s perspective it’s a “sustain/maintain” thing. Down year aside, it’s maintaining the level of consistent national rankings, regular wins over Duke/UNC, contending for league titles, and earning NCAAT appearances.
I.e. if the next coach has a tenure like Bennett’s, the hire will be seen as a success.
Take the next step, as in, becoming a consistent second weekend kind of program.
Bennett got us nationally relevant, beating UNC, and consistently into the Tournament. There’s a next step beyond that that I think is realistic at UVA in 2025 and beyond.