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I know this is a basketball discussion, but I also miss Frank Dolce. I really enjoyed his color commentary and still look forward to listening to his takes when he’s a guest on the radio shows each fall.

I am getting really sick and tired of folks on here constantly saying that Larry was a better recruiter and Smith was a better coach. I’m sorry but the numbers just simply do not support that absurd theory. Here are some real numbers:

Larry had 5 20+ win seasons in 10 years, 50%.
Smith had 1 20+ win season in 4 years, 25%
Larry’s overall win…[Read more]

That’s unbelievable to me. I would have reached out to Andre if I was Smith. My sympathy for Smith is fading fast.

Jim,
He didn’t even return Miller’s calls offering his services. Smith had an assistant finally return the call after Andre had called a few times over several weeks.

to be fair to Ludwig he ran Barnes and Johnson out together in the Baylor game and was obviously trying to set up what you are talking about. Then he tried the same thing against SC with Jackson and Vaki.

And I would be the mid-manager pulling you aside after the meeting and saying “we all know John is a fucking idiot, just nod along and we’ll get together later and talk about what we actually need to do”

Someone else brought up a good point that as a job at a state university, they have to create the vacancy (aka fire smith) then post the position and interview applicants that are qualified. There may be some EEOC boxes to check as well. I’m not sure how true that is or what the requirements are exactly, but that sounds like it could be the…[Read more]

Jeff Johnson said on DJ and PK that Miller didn’t want to be head coach but wanted to help out. Why wouldn’t you find a spot for him? He is close friends with Jensen. Wouldn’t it be amazing to get both!!

Ludwig should have adapted his scheme to the talent and weapons.

I’ll one up you, can you imagine NJ and JJ running option as a QB and RB duo with either of them interchangeable at either position? Lord help me.

Instead we got 13 games of Bryson Barnes, runs up the middle into full boxes and the occasional double reverse in the red zone. But h…[Read more]

It’s like fingernails on a chalk board to me. I had an asshole of a boss that came from that milieu and that was his goto when he was pontificating about something especially when it was clear to everyone in the room that he didn’t understand shit. Inside everyone just died a little every time he said “right?” when he clearly was wrong but…[Read more]

Thanks for the answer, but I’m not gonna lie, that is something concrete I will hold against Harlan. I miss Jimmy and I dare say the program also misses him. Maybe with the right hire, he can patch up some of those relationships.

Yes NBA ties matter in recruiting Miami. Coach K had them Smith doesn’t. No point guard and lack of athleticism has been the Achilles heal of Smith. His recruiting and playing style doesn’t fit a P4 conference. Smith should have listened to the past players 4 years ago. If it’s true he rejected Millers offer to help coach he deserves to be fired…[Read more]

Jim’s departure had everything to do with Mark Harlan. They don’t see eye to eye on how fundraising should be done and how the department should be led. When Jim left the athletics fundraising team it was just a matter of time before he’d lose the color job. He was under contract for that. I don’t listen enough to have much of an opinion on the…[Read more]

Not an answer to your questions, and I am by no means perfect with language, but the habit of so many to end statements with “right” is something I also find really annoying.

Jim, I always said that if the Utes could find a guy that recruited like Coach K and coached like Smith, they’d be an eternal presence at the Dance. Unfortunately, those guys are extremely hard to find.

You bring some good points Minnesota. I think the biggest disconnect with Smith was recruiting and style of play not actual coaching. You can’t tell me there isn’t any local players the last couple years that aren’t better than Little and Erickson. Smith just recruits talent but some don’t fit his system. The most successful past coaches had a s…[Read more]

I wouldn’t be to concerned with losing players. Mike gives you a secondary ball handler and Dawes has some starter qualities. Wahlin and Azur are good bench players. The rest should hit the portal.

I listened to the Tony Jones interview (he follows the NBA). He knows the local market and Bryant was his first pick. He raved about Bryant’s credibility in the NBA and his development skills would make him the best recruiter. He is next in line for an NBA head coaching job (according to Jones) so would have little interest in the Utah job.…[Read more]