TampaBayTimes Analysis: No Band-Aid fix for USF (men's) basketball

[Triple B]

USF center Ruben Guerrero is the only recruit from the Orlando Antigua era to have any sort of lasting impact on the program.

 

College basketball never has held a monopoly on virtue. Like most other segments of society, it has long since succumbed to the undertow of instant gratification.

Hence the reason the quick fix has evolved into standard operating procedure in the sport. From Westwood to Krzyzewskiville, one-and-dones are prevalent. And there's a mercenary feel to the way some players with baggage (i.e. transfers, jucos) are summoned to help a foundering program suddenly flourish.

Can't blame coaches for maximizing how the system's set up. And to be sure, it works splendidly at some places.

But it has flopped recently at USF. And whomever is hired as the program's 10th permanent coach must avoid the allure of such a philosophy at all costs.

Time to rebuild the Bulls with patience and pragmatism. Adding a local player or two also would help.

Rest of article

[Capital H]

Man that picture is telling. A pale big man shooting a jumpshot in front of tens of fans who are yawning (or really scared that she missed last call for popcorn), and one overly excited lady sitting courtside.

At this point the best fix may be the Kevorkian way.  

[Brad]

Joey's mostly right, but it's a common sensical situation. 

We need someone that can actually develop and coach a team.  Not a club ball mentality. 

[CousinRicky]

Interesting article.  Says that we need to give the next guy 3 - 4 years to build it the 'right' way after firing a guy after 2 1/2 years.  I know that is a simplification and that things weren't going in the right direction.  But hearing between the lines listening to people at the school, including the former and interim coaches, it does seem that the biggest issues seemed to be off the court.  But we all know what happened when former football CSH tried to bring in better students; Great kids, no discipline issues, better students but on field results weren't there.  We shall see.  IBBCMB says he would love to stay if given the opportunity.  Watched a practice last night and he definitely seems to be a teacher.  Never saw FormerBBCOA run a practice but was impressed with Bartow.  Not loud, not screaming.  But would stop a play, move the players step by step to get it right. Whether the players are receptive to that type remains to be seen.  

[Brad]

If Bartow is priced right, he'd be a candidate.  We don't need to spend football coach type money. 

[Gatorbull325]

We need to finally hire Anthony Grant.....End of Story!!!!!!

[usfgrad84]

I know this is just a jounalist's point of view (which I agree with actually), but the funny thing is we had a relatively (by our standards) coach that had a young nucleus of pretty good talent in place with Heath. Then Judy got impatient. We wasted at least 3 seasons with Antigua. More than likely it will take another 3 to 4 with the new hire for this team to even become respectable. So, we lose at least 7 years to get back to where we were. 

Firing Heath was the dumbest move ever. Let's just hope we find  a solid BB coach that can get us moving forward. 

[El_Toro_86]

Basketball can be turned around faster than football.  The right coach that can bring in the right 3-4 players and this can be turned around pretty quickly.  After all, only 5 on the court at one time.

[BDYZR]

What would you expect with these players, today, and any coach in America?

[Joe]

4 hours ago, usfgrad84 said:

I know this is just a jounalist's point of view (which I agree with actually), but the funny thing is we had a relatively (by our standards) coach that had a young nucleus of pretty good talent in place with Heath. Then Judy got impatient. We wasted at least 3 seasons with Antigua. More than likely it will take another 3 to 4 with the new hire for this team to even become respectable. So, we lose at least 7 years to get back to where we were. 

Firing Heath was the dumbest move ever. Let's just hope we find  a solid BB coach that can get us moving forward. 

As bad as the program was, and as great as the NCAA wins were, Heath won 6 conference games his last two years here and had 2 winning seasons out of 7.

He was the solution, but neither was COA. Hopefully all the NCAA stuff doesn't scare good candidates away, but I'd give Murray a shot.