McCullum should not be in peril, players say!

[TyBull]

McCullum should not be in peril,players say

USF's AD won't discuss the coach's job status as Big East losses mount.

By GREG AUMAN

Published February 17, 2007

TAMPA - USF senior Melvin Buckley has heard the questions about Robert McCullum, has had fans ask him if this season's team has shown enough improvement to keep the Bulls coach around for another season.

"My response to that would be 'Why?' " Buckley said. "If you look at all the programs in the Big East, all of them have more years of basketball tradition than we have as an institution.

"For a guy to come in here and do what he's been able to do - look at everything, at guys getting their degrees, cleaning up the program's image - I really don't think job security is a problem."

McCullum hasn't talked about his future with athletic director Doug Woolard - "not a single conversation," the coach said - and Woolard isn't commenting, citing a policy of not publicly evaluating coaches during a season.

One year after a 7-22 season that saw USF open Big East play 0-15 and finish last, McCullum's Bulls are 12-14 and 3-9 in league play, still hoping to make the Big East tournament as they head into tonight's home game against DePaul.

"That would be a great accomplishment," said McCullum, who is 40-71 in the fourth of his six-year contract.

"If we did that, we'd be doubling the number of wins we had from last season with several more conference wins. With the nucleus we have coming back ... I think it certainly points in the right direction. But that's just my perspective."

Woolard's perspective is un-clear.

"Woolard said there needs to be a marked ... a significant improvement," McCullum said. "But I don't know how that adds up in terms of numbers."

The Bulls were picked by league coaches to finish last again but are about 70 spots higher in the national RPI ratings than they ended last season. Only one of their losses is to a team now with a losing record as opposed to five such losses last season.

At the same time, the Bulls boast only one win against a team with a winning record - a 69-63 upset of then-No. 21 Notre Dame two weeks ago.

Those kind of upsets are, perhaps, McCullum's best trait. He has four wins against ranked opponents, as many as USF had in its history before he took over.

"Last year, we had, what, six wins at this point? So to be 12-14, we're doing something nobody thought we could do," Buckley said.

"To have double-digit wins, to be close to .500, to have a winning record at home, I think this is a program that has taken steps toward being what it has the potential to be."

The team's progress hasn't shown up in the Sun Dome attendance, which remains easily the lowest in the Big East. The average announced crowd has dropped from 4,163 last season to 3,783. But that's hardly unique to USF as attendance is down from last season for 12 of the league's 16 schools.

McCullum is starting two freshmen at guard, and junior center Kentrell Gransberry is the Big East's leading rebounder. The team has leaned heavily on Buckley and fellow senior McHugh Mattis, but the underclassmen said they hope McCullum is a part of their future.

"That's the coach I came in here with, and that's the coach I want to leave this program with," freshman point guard Chris Howard said. "He teaches us a lot more than just basketball, and I hope people can realize that side of that and not just wins to losses. I'm behind him 100 percent."

Greg Auman can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or auman@sptimes.com View his blog at blogs.tampabay. com/usf/.

[USFMikeB]

The young kids have bought into Mac's plans, and it is bearing fruit through improvement over last year.  Mac stays.  The Mac-haters will once again be posting incessant garbage throughout the offseason, just like last year.

[Brad]

Let the firestorm begin...   :

[Brad]

By those that know better than the players or anyone else, of course...

[Held_AccountaBull]

The young kids have bought into Mac's plans, and it is bearing fruit through improvement over last year.  Mac stays. The Mac-haters will once again be posting incessant garbage throughout the offseason, just like last year.

since when are you doug woolard? he is the only one that will decide if mccullum stays. it doesnt matter what the players think

[USFMikeB]

I'm not Doug Woolard, but you can mark my words : MAC STAYS.  Sorry if you don't like that.

[Brad]

since when are you doug woolard? he is the only one that will decide if mccullum stays. it doesnt matter what the players think

That is correct, but no one should argue that the players are not the closest to the program over some message board schmucks.  Bottom line is the anti-Mac regulars claimed games ago that is lost the respect and control of the team.  That doesn't seem to be the case.  Then again, we'll see if the other paper can get a good smear story out before season's end.

[USFMikeB]

The young kids have bought into Mac's plans, and it is bearing fruit through improvement over last year.  Mac stays. The Mac-haters will once again be posting incessant garbage throughout the offseason, just like last year.

since when are you doug woolard? he is the only one that will decide if mccullum stays. it doesnt matter what the players think

Since you are now the post police on anyone making prognostications of what happens at the end of the season, I expect to see you correcting the Mac-haters from now on as well.

[Brad]

Easy on dwowarp Mike, he has encouraged those that post the same tired repeated stats, records, nonsense, etc. to just lay off and let the season play.  He's redeemable.  

[Herman_Momart]

The fact that these player even have to discuss this makes you know something is wrong.  

A lot of you pro-mac guys were saying if we dont make the conference tourney, it would be fair enough to say he is gone, now a lot of those guys are changing their minds.  

But it really does not matter what the players say and Brad you played ball before. No matter how bad your team is, your coach is your coach.  Of course you like him and are going to defend him.  He gave you a scholarship and a free ride, why would you throw him under the bus.  Honestly?  

plus the 2 guys are macs guys.  Buckley loves mac because mac gave him the open trigger.  He has never seen a shot he didnt like or been reprimanded for taking bad shots.  And chris howard (who i am a fan of) may not have a starting job with a new coach, so im sure he wants him here.  

all in all it is Woolards choice, if he really said he needs to see a signifigant improvement, im not sure how he can justify this year as that.  Again, missing your conference tournament and every other tournament.  Fan attendence amazingly going DOWN.  No road conference wins (yet).  Not trying to be a jerk, but if you honeslty ask yourself if this is a significant improvement, you really cant think yes.