So now what?

[UD '01 grad]

Re: NIL and mid-majors vs. the big boys

https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story ... upsets-nil

[GVHen87]

I agree MI is likely back, but his career numbers are sobering:

All-time Conference record: 74 and 99 (.428)

This is the #1 reason why we need a change. Many are pointing out how hard it is for a mid-major these days. I definitely agree that is that case. But that is exactly the reason to compare the conference record - your "peer group" - which finpxz1 is rightfully doing. And much of that was in a watered down CAA. People are pointing out that UD went through some hardship this year and there is truth to that too. Sounds like people want to give out participation trophies. But what caused that hardship, and why couldn't it be handled better? All teams go through rough times. Also teams to go on a roll from time to time. Witness the "hard playing" spurt recently (Saturday's embarrasment notwithstanding) and the "lightning in bottle" run to the CAA tourney title a few years back which led to a horrendous decision on a contract extension. The fact of the matter is we have witnessed ten years of poor performance (a .428 conference winning percentage for goodness sake!) and lack of growth or change from the coach who still makes the same in game mistakes, fails to make in game adjustments and runs a predictable offense (or bluntly - lack of one). Losing to a 7-22 DE State team (2-12 in conference) and a Division II Wimington U team (10-18 / 6-14) are also embarrasments that should not be accepted. How will that affect recruiting? This is a track record that simply cannot be ignored and should lead to dismissal. It would for most programs; however, given the three years left on the contract, I am not optimistic one will be made.

[Cluck U]

Participation trophy?

Hey, not many of us are running marathons these days but, here is your opportunity. The LA marathon is going to give finishing medals for anyone who completes 18 miles.

Yeah, apparently, it is going to be a bit hot, so you can get a finishing trophy for not really finishing.

Who knows, maybe they will offer you a contract extension if you make the 18-mile mark.

[mpwerrell]

I agree MI is likely back, but his career numbers are sobering:

All-time Conference record: 74 and 99 (.428)

This is the #1 reason why we need a change. Many are pointing out how hard it is for a mid-major these days. I definitely agree that is that case. But that is exactly the reason to compare the conference record - your "peer group" - which finpxz1 is rightfully doing. And much of that was in a watered down CAA. People are pointing out that UD went through some hardship this year and there is truth to that too. Sounds like people want to give out participation trophies. But what caused that hardship, and why couldn't it be handled better? All teams go through rough times. Also teams to go on a roll from time to time. Witness the "hard playing" spurt recently (Saturday's embarrasment notwithstanding) and the "lightning in bottle" run to the CAA tourney title a few years back which led to a horrendous decision on a contract extension. The fact of the matter is we have witnessed ten years of poor performance (a .428 conference winning percentage for goodness sake!) and lack of growth or change from the coach who still makes the same in game mistakes, fails to make in game adjustments and runs a predictable offense (or bluntly - lack of one). Losing to a 7-22 DE State team (2-12 in conference) and a Division II Wimington U team (10-18 / 6-14) are also embarrasments that should not be accepted. How will that affect recruiting? This is a track record that simply cannot be ignored and should lead to dismissal. It would for most programs; however, given the three years left on the contract, I am not optimistic one will be made.

“But what caused that hardship, and why couldn’t be handled better”
You probably asked this rhetorically but what is your opinion and what would have been your solution to the hardship?

[rooneyguy]

The primary reason I continue to think UD is currently best served by keeping MI and his staff around is that there are numerous examples of how guys have become better players while at UD. Houser and Macon Emory are the most recent examples, but the same can be said about Pasha and Camden last year and Andrew Carr, Zyare Davis, Jammer Nelson Jr and others in the not-too-distant past. In short, if UD ever has a chance at winning championships, it will be because whatever staff is steering the ship can mold developmental prospects into something more. It will not be because we can recruit four and five star prospects out of high school or outbid other schools for guys from the portal. At the mid-major level, some of our competitors for talent in the mid-Atlantic region are schools without football programs. If you want UD to reduce its NIL monies devoted to football so that we can hang with VCU, George Mason, St. Joe's, LaSalle, George Washington etc. in basketball, good luck with that. So while the current environment in college sports is what it is, having a staff that focuses on developing the available talent is not a bad thing. Basketball schools that have poached some of our best players (e.g., Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and California) seem to understand what happens at UD. Just MHO.

+1. And there is no one whose opinion on college ball I respect more than UDJoe’s. Brey clued me in on that years ago.

[hoopster]

The primary reason I continue to think UD is currently best served by keeping MI and his staff around is that there are numerous examples of how guys have become better players while at UD. Houser and Macon Emory are the most recent examples, but the same can be said about Pasha and Camden last year and Andrew Carr, Zyare Davis, Jammer Nelson Jr and others in the not-too-distant past. In short, if UD ever has a chance at winning championships, it will be because whatever staff is steering the ship can mold developmental prospects into something more. It will not be because we can recruit four and five star prospects out of high school or outbid other schools for guys from the portal. At the mid-major level, some of our competitors for talent in the mid-Atlantic region are schools without football programs. If you want UD to reduce its NIL monies devoted to football so that we can hang with VCU, George Mason, St. Joe's, LaSalle, George Washington etc. in basketball, good luck with that. So while the current environment in college sports is what it is, having a staff that focuses on developing the available talent is not a bad thing. Basketball schools that have poached some of our best players (e.g., Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and California) seem to understand what happens at UD. Just MHO.

+1. And there is no one whose opinion on college ball I respect more than UDJoe’s. Brey clued me in on that years ago.

That’s all well and good, but why isn’t it translating into more wins? MI’s track record over a 10 year period is not good. The atmosphere at our games are abysmal and there is zero energy from our students. Pre NIL days UD would likely have performed better as many of their players would stay for 4 years. We all know that’s not the case anymore, however other mid major programs have navigated this better than us. With that being said, MI is here for another year mainly due to the fact his contract has too many years left for Delaware to buyout.

[72 Hen]

If you have enough money fixing a basketball roster should not be that difficult. A basketball roster is small compared to other sports. Pay Bliss and Fernandez enough to keep them here. Then pay a couple of premium players that we normally could not recruit to come here. That's seems to be the way of college sports today. I hate the whole idea payouts but you need to keep up with the Joneses.

We don't need a new coach. We do need a new recruiting edge.

[HENJOHN]

That "Edge" is apparently not coming from the existing HC

[football]

Performance like this in football would have the hen fans calling the coach's head, in basketball not so much.

[Hens79]

The last 2 posts express my sentiments exactly. The best predictor of future performance is usually past performance.

[CaliHen98]

Let me preface my comments by saying that it brings me no joy to feel this way.

Yes, in a perfect world I would give 100% of my support for UD and JS to spend and invest whatever amount is necessary to ensure that our men's basketball program (all UD men's & women's sports, for that matter) is a legitimate contender for the conference championship year in and year out. But given the budgetary issues facing the university, the length of MI's contract still remaining and the large cost of a buyout, and money still needed for stadium upgrades, etc., I would rather error on the side of caution to make sure we don't do anything that takes away or hampers the momentum and growth of the football program during this extremely crucial time. Therefore, IMHO, I think this decision should be pretty straightforward, regardless of your personal opinion on whether MI deserves to be brought back or not.

[finpxz1]

Hard to make a case that MI “deserves” to be back, but I think we all agree that he very likely will be for the many reasons that have been discussed previously. Also hard to disagree that he hasn’t done a nice job recruiting and developing players, but there’s clearly something not right here. And I’m really tired of all the excuses over the past 10 years. The man has a losing career coaching record, and a significantly worse in conference record! When is the madness gonna end? So let’s FINALLY stop with the excuses, find a way to keep our top guys, add some key contributors, and start competing for a CUSA championship NEXT SEASON…

[finpxz1]

Follow up to my previous post…Bobby Hurley out at ASU after 11 seasons. Hurley finished 185-167 during his tenure at Arizona State, leaving as the second-winningest coach in program history. Different scenario in that his contract was set to expire in June. Would be awesome to get a Hurley in Newark…LOL

[rooneyguy]

Want better basketball at UD? Find more donors.That is the starting point.

[HENJOHN]

Follow up to my previous post…Bobby Hurley out at ASU after 11 seasons. Hurley finished 185-167 during his tenure at Arizona State, leaving as the second-winningest coach in program history. Different scenario in that his contract was set to expire in June. Would be awesome to get a Hurley in Newark…LOL

I posted the same thing earlier in the thread about Hurley becoming available eventually, and now he is, imagine the excitement and restart this would create.