McFan

7 minutes ago, ZLK said:

Have they won their conference back to back years? Do team's who win their conference have off days? They're back, I don't know what to tell you.

No chance they win the conference if Iona had played a full schedule.  

1 minute ago, ZLK said:

lol I'm not wasting my time defending Siena. I hope they lose every game they ever play. You just need to face current facts.

No offense but I provided facts.  They lost to a bunch of crappy teams this year.  A year which you proclaimed that "they're back" and we would be "gifting" them wins.  

4 minutes ago, ZLK said:

Did you watch their last two season's? They're back. They wanted no part of us when they were a mess. Why would you gift them games now that they're clicking again and we have no idea what we are?

Now they're unbeatable (gift them).  Come on they lost games in that conference.  They lost to St.Peters, Iona, Niagara, Marist and Canisius.  I refuse to accept that we couldn't beat them next year.  

Just now, ZLK said:

When's the next time you think we'd realistically beat them? They're back. We aren't right now.

Soon.  They aren't "back".  They had a decent season.  Their best player is gone.  Tell me who is coming back next year and I'll give a better answer.  I think the core we had this year was pretty competitive. A few holes to fill and I'm hopeful DK can do this. 

People get way too caught in thinking that the people on this board represent the whole UA BB fan community.  We are the die hards.  I really think the larger UA BB community is not as concerned as this group is w/ where the game is played.  Ask the casual UA fan or the casual BB fan where it should be played.  Take the purple glasses off for a minute. It was an event at the TU.  10+K people.  Bars and restaurants filled.  It introduced local people to UA hoops.  It introduced Siena fans (not necessarily alum) to UA hoops.  Those games were good for us.  They were good for the community.  Split the arena and have it at the TU (dead horse, sorry) and beat them every year.  Win the local fans over.  Show them that Siena is a second rate program.  

A little ironic that John Calipari was praising his character or is that just me?

3 minutes ago, Clickclack said:

That was a home run as far as pressers go but we'll see what the result is on the recruiting trail and then on the court in the fall. I'm more excited about the direction of this program than I've been in about a half a decade or more...is that wrong?

100% agreement.  It's only a presser but that was about as good as it gets.

Is it too early for us to call him "DK" too?

I guess I shouldn't be but I'm a bit surprised by guys entering the portal that already have multiple colleges under their belt.  Transferring that many times has got to be a drain on academic progress no?  

Didn't I read that fundraising was at an all time high for the University?

21 minutes ago, MRSGDG said:

This is a new coach thread, yes. People have the right to talk about the qualities that a new coach should have. And of course that's going to be compared to the last coach... Or for example conversations about those qualities of a new coach and what qualities the old coach did or did not have. And that may very well still involve people saying that they like certain coach qualities that our last coach had.

Certainly wasn't questioning yours, or anybody's, right to do so.  I was simply stating why I was putting my comment here rather than somewhere else.  

Equally as important to me was that style wasn't getting the recruits.  

I know this thread is supposed to be about the new coaching search but it's become the "we love Will Brown" or at least "Will Brown was our best option" thread.  Look if his contract wasn't up I get it but are/were all of you okay w/ the direction of the program.  In a very low level conference we've been mediocre lately.  Our recruits (true recruits not the transfers that came in this year) have been somewhere between non contributors to inconsistent at best.  Rizzuto was the only "recruit" to do much of anything this year.  And last year people were wondering if he was a D1 player.  The style of play until late in the season this year is at times unwatchable.  Look at the lack of interest in game threads on this board and attendance figures.  If you're winning you deal w/ that style but when you aren't (and I mean really winning) that style is awful to watch.  

Now, is Will Brown solely responsible for all of those things?  Of course not.  Will his supporters on this board continue to point out how others were at fault?  Of course.  Are there excuses, both valid and not?  Yup.  But at a point in time when his contract is up I just don't see pounding the table saying getting rid of him is indefensible.  You can hate Benson and still understand this decision.  You can think Will Brown is a great guy that did tremendous things in his time at UA and still understand this decision.   To me there just isn't enough evidence over the last handful of years to justify giving him another contract.  If he had time left on his contract it's a different discussion.  

33 minutes ago, Clickclack said:

I don't see how you can separate the two considering Will never really had a chance. Come hell or high water, Benson was moving on. Let's not pretend that isn't the case. 

I struggle to think he would be gone if we won the AE Tourney. Anything short of that may have been predetermined but also may have been appropriate depending on your point of view.

1 minute ago, cwdickens said:

The transfer portal will have a few UAlbany MBB players

And to be fair it would've had a few if WB had stayed too.  I would think a lot of our guys (the ones that already have a couple of schools under their belt) might not be in the best position to transfer again if they are looking to get a degree.  Maybe this helps us keep a couple of valuable pieces.

50 minutes ago, nysteve661 said:

Heck, I would coach for free if I could get unlimited original Sutters Mill burgers and fries from back in the day for you old timers that remember them and how they saved you from UAS food on many nights.  Quick walk from Dutch Quad.  Amazing I don't have cardio vascular disease from all of them I ate!

I knew I'd get undercut here but you went right to the bottom w/ free.  I'm out.  

I have 3 years of assistant CYO girls coaching experience to my name.  Hat officially in the ring and I'll do it for $250K, a suit allowance, and some kind of deal w/ Across the Street Pub.  I've got a few assistant coaches lined up too.  I've got a style the kids would love too.

2 minutes ago, Dane96 said:

Exactly 200k, per season for 10 years.  That's real cash.

Why did Mike C, a huge UA supporter, not buck up again for SEFCU?  Hmmmmm.....

You're a lot closer than I am but maybe his board asked him to justify $200k/year for an arena that for it's biggest draw was getting the same 1,800 people every game. 

1 minute ago, Clickclack said:

It's unclear how true this is with the exception of the St. Bonna situation. I've been here a long time, know a lot and have seen heard a lot and it's unclear if he's ever had a solid offer on the table. Maybe Dartmouth where he went through the interview process. 

And based on the salary and the retirement package in NY it's doubtful that Dartmouth was anything more than a lateral move.  

6 minutes ago, Dane96 said:

Let's also talk about attendance, which is down EVERYWHERE...but...plummeted at UA due to a lot of moves made by Benson.  You need butts in the seats to bring in revenue...perfect example is fundraising.  $1 from millions versus 1 million from 1 donor...do the math.

 

I lay blame on both parties here.  Facilities needed some work.  Some of the moves that GDAC took were puzzling (awarding 1 year donor at say $1,500 vs. a 20 year donor at $500/year).  And parking charge was stupid.

But (and I'm beating a dead horse here) if you aren't winning you need to at least entertain me. His style just isn't what people want to see.  My opinion Will would rather lose 52-50 than 76-74.  I give him credit for recognizing late this year that he had some guys that could push the ball.  

1 minute ago, Dane96 said:

Absolutely. In fact, I think the new coach shouldn't take the job unless he gets a max 5 year contract and guarantees on COLA, summer school, buy games, budget increases, and a real direction on SEFCU.

Otherwise, that Coach is dealing with the same cesspool that Brown was swimming in.  So, yes, I give the new coach a 5 year pass...hell with 4 years.

That's my big issue here: unless there is some special, unknown announcement about a major move in conferences or upgrades to SEFCU, this is a move to merely rid himself of someone who he straight up had zero relationship with.

So, at least we had a guy loyal to the school...who can get us some joy/highlights every few years, running a clean program. 

That's a fair viewpoint.  Realistic?  Not for a hungry coach w/ an ego looking for a job.  

1 minute ago, Dane96 said:

Fair enough.  If the man has one foot out the door, he shouldn't be making these decisions in a vacuum.  Just my .02.

Agree.  If he leaves after this kind of change that's not good.  I was going to use coward but thought better.

15 minutes ago, Dane96 said:

Ok, let's play numbers.  I don't count this season (freaking nightmare) and I don't count his first four because one was an interim, and the next three he was handcuffed in building a program by both admissions (believe me, I know deep details on this one) and the 5/8 rule.

So, in the 15 years since--admittedly good and bad years--he has gone 300 and 195, or 20-13 per season, with 5 NCAA appearances (once, every three years average).  He has had 26 All-Academic kids in that time.  He also had the unforeseen nightmare of the last three years with the Cremo and Nichols sudden departure....but that's on him to rebuild.

I know for a FACT that we were losing recruits due to the lack of COLA and, oh...get this...Benson REFUSES TO SUPPORT SUMMER SCHOOL.  Think about that!  He refused to fund it like every other team in the league does.  Do you know how hard that is to recruit with...and crap facilities.

So the man brought Albany to the NCAA's every three years, and won 20-13 per year.  Math may be a bit rust for me...but I will take a 606 win percentage any day of the week.

And this entire team (basically) was coming back.  Again, Coach had some things he needed to fix (I didn't like relying on only Albany guys for his staff...but that's his call)...a three year contract with 2 being guaranteed would have been fair.

But numbers DO NOT LIE...and the 15 year numbers I just put up would be taken by MANY schools better than Albany,.  There is a reason that Twitter is on fire today, from near and far, with people touched by Will Brown's leadership.  It's universally being stated as a SHOCK TERMINATION. 

Will you give the next coach a 4 year pass because the cupboard may be equally as empty when the dust stettles?

I also struggle w/ the Cremo/Nichols setting us back for so long.  They only had one year left.  Why would that damage us for 3+years.  

Fully on board w/ the Academic All Americans and stated it before he's seem to recruited quality kids.  Fully on board w/ Summer School too.  Facilities I struggle w/ and maybe unfair but it's a one word answer: Vermont.

I do think his style (playing) hurt his ability to recruit.  From what I'm told Cremo fell into his lap.  Other than that I mean for a  number of years we just haven't had great recruits.  Healy may have been one but I don't know if his numbers were inflated last year because we had no one else or this year was a fluke due to the injuries.  

It'll take a long time to know if this was the right move. If Twitter is the answer no one should worry about Will Brown.  Some mid major will snag him tomorrow right?  Who we get and where he goes will provide some answers I guess.

4 minutes ago, Dane96 said:

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30985656/will-brown-albany-men-college-basketball-coach-20-years

 

A bit unfair to point this out but it's interesting that for a 7 year stretch he was 70 games over .500.  That means 50 games under .500 the other 13 seasons.  Some tough ones early obviously but he's basically a .500 coach in a terrible conference.  

21 minutes ago, UA'08 said:

If there was the right job opening for Becker he’d be out the door and if Hartford was smart they should’ve let Gallagher go when they had the chance.

Exactly.  Who'd want Gallagher.  His best years are only okay in my view.  Brown was an anomaly sticking around when he was winning early.  I don't think he's had a ton of calls lately.