Bad news for Big 10 fans, sans Michigan

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:35 pm

Amaker out as coach.

Of course as someone happy to see the Big 10 getting back into "best conference in the country" form losing Amaker and Davis in back to back years is a huge boost.

FLW Buckeye · Post by **FLW Buckeye** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:06 pm

That's cool, as long as Tressel's beotch is still employed.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:38 pm

^^ Word. I doubt the U-M athletic department will pick up on that just yet. Still, this is pretty disappointing news.

Any chance they go after Krueger at UNLV?

buckeye_in_sc · Post by **buckeye_in_sc** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:18 pm

Greg Marshall...head coach at Winthrop...

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:25 pm

why would kreuger leave???

michigan isnt a better program than unlv. pretty even. and he gets to stay in sin city.

i told the dumbass from vegas, that lon was going to do well there, he's proven it in college wherever he's gone.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:16 am

There might be many good coaches to choose from this year (Marshall, Hill, Lowery, Grant). I just hope that we get one of these guys.

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:22 am

no chance lowery from SIU goes to South Fla

SIU >>>>> SFL in basketball, especially their programs. SIU has a nice program, from herring days to now lowery. only chance he leaves is for a top job, south fla is a serious downgrade from SIU

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:49 am

Lowery and Grant are the 2 guys who I think we would have no shot at, but our AD is a basketball guy, who also happens to be an SIU grad. He has been pretty tight lipped and I know he was at 2 different regionals on the same day talking with coaches. I just don't know which sites he was at.

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:50 pm

Word on the street is that Mike Montgomery is in the discussion.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:21 pm

i've been following the potential coaching searches from off the radar (from the perspective of the CU hoops Siberia and the Denver/Boulder media --since the Buffs had a lame duck in Ricardo Patton all year...) and the word i heard about Krueger was that he may have some interest in Mich....and that NMST's Reggie Theus wants the UNLV job. FWIW, i don't know.

but, all of it to be sure will knock the Buffs down a few slots on the desirability scale, even in the region....with NM and Utah both hiring.

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:01 pm

If Michigan wants to get back to being a winning program they should pick up the phone and give Brad Brownell a call.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:26 pm

I liked Amaker in that I think he ran a clean program. He was dealt a shitty hand when he came to Michigan and had a helluva rebuilding project ahead of him. The program was in shambles. So I think any UM fan owes Tommy thanks for coming to a difficult situation to begin with. All that being said, he just couldn't get it done. He lost too many key recruiting battles and couldn't get the team over the hump and into the dance. As for a replacement I'm not really up on who's hot on the mid-major circuit, but I hope Martin scours the nation. UM is an attractive job. Long history, big conference etc.

P.S. I've heard that UKfan is down on Smith. I'd take him in a heartbeat.

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:49 pm

UM is an attractive job. Long history, big conference etc.

was an attractive job. just like with UNLV, they have to bring back the attractiveness, the luster is gone. It's now above Northwestern and Penn st in jobs in big10, believing its not is foolish.

Missouri was a big job, in 80's Mizzou,Kansas,OU would fight it out for who was #1 in country every week. Norm refused to recruit st.louis, losing major talent to duke, arizona, etc. The program started to sink, Snyder was brought in, and shat on the program, it is now finally starting to wake up, baby steps, but in right direction, Michigan must do the same.

Going for a quick fix coach would be foolish. Lon would be a great fit, has ties to big10, and can flat out coach. What year is his son? I doubt he leaves till his son has left UNLV, unless he transfers.

Going for a mid major coach, might backfire, I would look at Kreuger if i was them, but like i said, not sure Michigan is an upgrade over UNLV. Its their programs #1 priority, the basketball program, and Kreuger is doing a hell of a job there.

How about Tim Floyd? Like many have said, USC shits on its basketball program, its a filler till football season. And that would be an upgrade, in my opinion.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:06 pm

Kruegers son is a senior+. He graduated from ASU but there was some loophole rule in place for a short time that some players took advantage of allowing an extra year and no sitout for transferring. Don't know the particulars but I heard them talking about it during the UNLV first round game.

Believe it or not Michigan is an attractive job still. When I say that I mean to a coach of a smaller conference team, and not to lure a coach already in place at a big program. UM's athletic department is huge. The Big Ten is a solid hoop conference. A coach would love to go against guys like Izzo, Matta, Sampson, and the boys at the top of the conference.

BlindRef · Post by **BlindRef** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:59 pm

I am delighted Amaker is gone, I am excited for this coach search.

Don't be stupid, Michigan is still a great job, it is a top notch athletic department, the state has talent, and there is chance to save the program. A lot of guys would love to get into a big six conference, Michigan as of now is the best job available. That will change if Kentucky fires Smith.

Go Blue!

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:05 pm

Sounds like none of their recruits will transfer so they've got a nice class coming in next year for the new coach. Hard to say what direction they'll be looking to get their new coach...go with a hot assistant on a major program, go after an up-and-coming coach for a mid-major power or go after a veteran coach. By firing Amaker, that shows they weren't happy with just being pretty good...I think they want something more. Izzo owns this state but Michigan can be a player again in the conference and the nation with the right coach.

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:40 am

Adelpiero wrote:
How about Tim Floyd? Like many have said, USC shits on its basketball program, its a filler till football season. And that would be an upgrade, in my opinion.

Arrogant comment. The SuC cheaters are pumping lots of kayshe at the hoops program. New Arena, big salaries, lower admission standards...they are going for it....

UM in that conference would NOT be an upgrade...

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:56 am

Small tidbit...

Ernie Kent sounds interested ... maybe a little too interested
What Ernie Kent is doing answering questions about Michigan's coaching vacancy as his Oregon team is in the midst of an NCAA Tournament run is beyond me. But The Oregonian had this quote from Kent on Saturday:

Said Kent: "I have an agent, and he's been contacted by some people. All I'm going to say is that I want to be at Oregon as long as they want me there. But if they don't want me there anymore, and Michigan wants to talk, Oregon owes me the opportunity to listen."

Kent said he never would pursue a vacant job. But if they want to talk, he's all ears. Also, Kent said he prefers to wait "until we've finished our own tournament run," before talking more about his future.

A little more......

Legion 'still committed' ... and an example of Amaker's class
Star recruit Alex Legion apparently is still planning on heading to Ann Arbor - assuming the coaching move doesn't impact Michigan's roster.

Mar. 17, 2007, Detroit News: "I'm still committed to Michigan, as long as I have players around me like (incoming recruit) Corperryale Harris and (current player) DeShawn Sims," Legion said.

Still, Legion -- a 6-foot-5 guard out Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. -- had strong feelings about Amaker's firing.

"I'm surprised, shocked and disappointed," Legion said. "Coach Amaker is the coach I wanted to play for."

Legion said that Amaker called Saturday morning to tell him about the firing and encouraged him to stay at Michigan to help turn the program around.

The Legion news is hopefully encouraging - the last thing Michigan needs is its class for 2007 to desert it now.

But let me talk about that last sentence for a minute. Even knowing he was being let go, Amaker took the time out to not only call Alex Legion (and probably Kevin Grady and Manny Harris) to tell them the news, but he also made a pitch on behalf of Michigan.

You can argue with the way Amaker coach, and you can moan about the results on the floor ... but the one thing that really holds true through it all is that Tommy Amaker is one of the classiest individuals in the game of college basketball.

The failure to make the NCAA Tournament was a huge disappointment, but there is a reason that Michigan turned to Amaker when the program was in such a state of embarrassment - he did restore respectability to the Maize and Blue. The wins never came as frequently as people hopes, and the NCAA Tournament dream never became fulfilled. If nothing else, though, you have to at least tip your cap in recognition of what Amaker did off the floor to prevent this program from being a national laughingstock.

Someone, somewhere, will hire Amaker - whether as an assistant or a head coach. And when that school does, it will be inheriting the services of a gentleman whose class is nearly unmatched

Rack Tommie.

Mustang · Post by **Mustang** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:21 pm

Classy coaches do not equal winning coaches. Ditto with disciples of legends. As a Duke fan, I'd have enjoyed seeing Amaker be successful at Michigan but mediocrity at Michigan isn't acceptable. Make no mistake though, basketball coach there is an incredibly attractive job. Lot of good things going for a coach there......awesome in-state talent pool, giant fan base, and it's one of the few schools that is interested in having fine football and basketball. Even lousy coaches did pretty well there.....Frieder, Fisher.

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:21 pm

i just hope they hire a coach who installs an offensive philosophy other than have the point and two wings dribble and play catch along the perimeter. invariably choking away any sort of lead near the end of the game was a bit questionable, too. have i mentioned the 20+ turnovers each time i watch/listen to a game?

that said, no new coach needs to save the program. i think amaker did that already, so propers. any new coach won't necessarily have a powerhouse-in-waiting to tinker around with, but he will have a nice foundation from which to start.

my personal suggestion is pat summit, if only so we can put to rest the idea that she's bball's winningnest coach.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:47 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:Ernie Kent sounds interested ... maybe a little too interested
What Ernie Kent is doing answering questions about Michigan's coaching vacancy as his Oregon team is in the midst of an NCAA Tournament run is beyond me. But The Oregonian had this quote from Kent on Saturday:

Said Kent: "I have an agent, and he's been contacted by some people. All I'm going to say is that I want to be at Oregon as long as they want me there. But if they don't want me there anymore, and Michigan wants to talk, Oregon owes me the opportunity to listen."

Sheesh...listen to Ernie go...

The only reason he's still employed right now is because his Underachievers finally showed up. The fanbase was pretty much calling for his head on a platter if this year's team didn't go deep, or win the conference. So they even set up one of the more pansy-ass OOC schedules you'll ever see from a major conference team to help things along.

And frankly, the only reason he's been able to stay employed in Eugene is A) because he was a Duck when they pretty much had their last team that was worth a crap, and B) because they didn't want to risk pissing off his superstud track/football playing son.

But here he is, trying to work a better deal with idle "threats," after finally getting his players to play to potential for the first time in 4 years.

You GO, Ernie! You might want to think about doing your job for more than one season out of every 4 before you start playing the "yeah well, I could go to Such-And-Such U next year" card.

And some of the fan base isn't too happy about letting not one, but two of the top prep players in the country leave the state next year...that's no small issue to a lot of fans(even though competing with schools like UCLA and Duke who are going HARD after those players is no easy gig). There's people out there(non U&L people, national recruiters) who are describing Kevin Love as "the greatest high school player in history." While claiming absolutes like "the best EVAR" is subjective to the point of comedy, considering how many millions and millions of high school players there has been over the generations(although the Big Man might well have proven himself the greatest player in state history, which I probably would have begrudging bestowed upon AC Green up until now...who was a man amongst boys in his high school days, and dominated in a way he never did in college or the pros)...but the idea that anyone would claim he's the "greatest ever" still speaks volumes about his game, despite the ludicrous natutre of that claim(equally ludicrous to bestow on any prep player). So have fun with that, UCLA. You're going to be some happy fucking campers with Love...trust me on that one(although he's probably going to be one-and-done for you).

Then there's Kyle Singler, who got his revenge on Love in the state 6A championship game(in a rematch of the 2006 final). But, Singler seems to have preferred Coach K's sales pitch to that of Ernie, even though Singler is buddies with Marty Leunen of the Ducks. Singler is reminiscent of Mike Dunleavy(former Oregon high school great), only much more athletic, with much better inside game...but similar styles.

For these two reasons alone, I see Duke and fUCLA as being scary next year.

TheJON · Post by **TheJON** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:09 am

I actually think Amacker has a bright future ahead. Maybe not as a major college head coach, but certainly at the MVC level or another good mid-major conference. I'm not saying the guy did a good job at UM, but I think Michigan made a huge mistake in hiring a young coach with no head coaching experience. That program needed an experienced, older coach at the time. Not a 70 year old guy, but someone that had 5-6 years of head coaching experience. We're talking about a program with major NCAA violations to deal with and a reputation that was basically destroyed.

I feel bad for Amacker because he's a good guy, and a good coach. But this was not the program for him at least not at that point in his life. Same goes for Mike Davis and Steve Alford. They all took tough jobs (all with different circumstances) at young ages and with the exception of Alford, none of them had been head coaches before. They all made some mistakes along the way, all spent much of their time under intense scrutiny, and none of them were ready to take over their respective programs. However, I believe all 3 of them have bright futures ahead as head coaches in college basketball.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:25 am

TheJON wrote: I'm not saying the guy did a good job at UM, but I think Michigan made a huge mistake in hiring a young coach with no head coaching experience. .

That would indeed be a mistake, but UM didn't make it. Amaker coached at Seton Hall.

BlindRef · Post by **BlindRef** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:14 pm

Amaker had experience...

Tommy Amaker Coaching Career

Season School Overall Conf. Postseason Postseason Round
2006-07 Michigan (Head Coach) 22-13 8-8 Postseason NIT Second Round
2005-06 Michigan (Head Coach) 22-11 8-8 Postseason NIT NIT Finalist
2004-05 Michigan (Head Coach) 13-18 4-12
2003-04 Michigan (Head Coach) 23-11 8-8 Postseason NIT NIT Champions
2002-03 Michigan (Head Coach) 18-12 10-6 ineligible for posteason
2001-02 Michigan (Head Coach) 11-18 5-11
Record 109-83 43-53

2000-01 Seton Hall (Head Coach) 16-15 5-11 Postseason NIT First Round
1999-00 Seton Hall (Head Coach) 22-10 10-6 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
1998-99 Seton Hall (Head Coach) 15-15 8-10 Postseason NIT First Round
1997-98 Seton Hall (Head Coach) 15-15 9-9 Postseason NIT First Round
Record 68-55 32-36

1996-97 Duke (Associate Head Coach) 24-9 12-4 NCAA Tournament Second Round
1995-96 Duke (Associate Head Coach) 18-13 8-8 NCAA Tournament First Round
1994-95 Duke (Assistant Coach) 13-18 2-14
1993-94 Duke (Assistant Coach) 28-6 12-4 NCAA Tournament Final Four
1992-93 Duke (Assistant Coach) 24-8 10-6 NCAA Tournament Second Round
1991-92 Duke (Assistant Coach) 34-2 14-2 NCAA Tournament National Champion
1990-91 Duke (Assistant Coach) 32-7 11-3 NCAA Tournament National Champion
1989-90 Duke (Assistant Coach) 29-9 9-5 NCAA Tournament Final Four
1988-89 Duke (Assistant Coach) 28-8 9-5 NCAA Tournament Final Four
Record 230-80 87-51

Michigan Coaching Record: 109-83 (six seasons)

I didn't like the hire when it happened, but I gave it a chance. He wasn't even that good at Seton Hall.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:48 am

i hope Tommy gets another gig if he wants it, and does well. I always liked him as a player. but, not as much as Johnny Dawkins.

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:56 am

i dont know, seton hall was a bad team when he got there, if i remember correctly.

not saying he's a good coach, lord knows MU got burned with a Duke player/asst coach as its head coach!

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:14 am

i'm reading jon's "amacker" post in this thread, and no one is that dumb. i took the bait with the no HC experience, but....

c'mon, who's troll is it?

TheJON · Post by **TheJON** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:26 pm

Ah yes, I knew that. I am not sure how, but his Seton Hall tenure completely slipped my mind when I posted that. Either way, he was a bad hire. If I recall correctly, his last Seton Hall team underachieved quite a bit.