Report: Purnell's days at DePaul "numbered"

[Bill Marsh]

If Howland brings the old Pitt style back to the BE, it'll bring any enjoyment of watching DePaul basketball to a permanent close. I remember the 54-52 wins that were commonplace with the Howland Pitt games. Ugly, ugly, ugly basketball. Granted he is probably a better coach than Purnell but put me in the category of not hoping Howland gets the gig.

If I were DePaul why not send an e-mail to Doug Collins? His son is over at NW; he's got ties to Chicago and has a ton of coaching experience (in the NBA no less). Keep on Garrett Sr. and grab some young coaches who can recruit and sell the idea that he can coach recruits up to an NBA player. It worked for SMU and Larry Brown...

Comeon, enjoyment comes from winning. If you're winning 54-53 every game I don't think you're whining too much. And really, this is DePaul...have their fans really been enjoying DePaul basketball?

Oh I'm sure that DePaul fans would love any kind of win. But having experienced the Howland era as a rival of Pitt two things were certain of those teams: 1). no autopsy = no foul and 2). early NCAA exit when their physical style of play didn't travel well in the tourney. I grew an absolute hatred for the Pitt style of play over the years. It was just so ugly to watch. Really, I'm not kidding. It wasn't just that they were physical, it was just that they were so plodding and methodical. Absolutely un-watchable at times. If there was a mirror opposite to how Creighton plays now, it would have been the Pitt teams of the 90's and early 2000's.

I agree, Gumby. I don't know how Howland's style would translate into the new era of calling the game in favor of the offense. I expect not well.

Moreover, Howland has never been known as a recruiter. To revive DePaul, you have to start by keeping those Chicago kids home. Howland is a West Coast guy who happens to have had a stint in Pittsburgh, but he has absolutely no ties to the Midwest. If he is successful, he'd be out of there in a few years anyway to go back to California. It's not the way to build a program. They need a someone with more of a Chicago identity.

[Demon22]

On behalf of DePaul fans everywhere, I could learn to live with a few 20-win seasons of ugly basketball.

[cu blujs]

On behalf of DePaul fans everywhere, I could learn to live with a few 20-win seasons of ugly basketball.

You might, but after about two years of it, you won't have a lot of people in the stands with you. DePaul needs to really think about this next move. Right now, there is no basketball team in Chicago, let alone the State of Illinois, better than mediocre. I have to think half the city and state will quickly embrace the first team that can jump up and do something really good. DePaul has a golden opportunity to take a big stride toward becoming Chicago's team if they get this thing done right. I guaranty you that will not happen if you put Howland-style ball on the floor - winning 20 games or not.

[Demon22]

On behalf of DePaul fans everywhere, I could learn to live with a few 20-win seasons of ugly basketball.

You might, but after about two years of it, you won't have a lot of people in the stands with you.

Have you seen one of our home games?

[notkirkcameron]

DePaul doesn't need a senior citizen coach like Howland or Pearl looking for one last paycheck. They need a young coach eager to prove himself.

As much as it pains me to say it as a Marquette fan, you know who I think would be a good fit for DePaul? UW-Green Bay head coach and former Marquette standout Brian Wardle.

Wardle's a Chicago-area guy (played his high school ball at Hinsdale Central) before playing at Marquette for 4 years, and is still the program's third-all-time-leading scorer. He was Director of Basketball Operations at Marquette from 2003-05 under Tom Crean (a guy who Wardle's career trajectory is starting to remind me of), was an assistant at Marquette from 2003-2005, then an assistant at UWGB from 2005-2010. In 2010, he became the youngest active Division I Head Coach at age 30 when he took the UW-Green Bay job. He has improved the Phoenix every year since taking the job.

2010-11: 14-18 (8-10, 7th in Horizon)
2011-12: 15-15 (10-8, 6th in Horizon)
2012-13: 18-16 (10-6, 3rd in Horizon, beat eventual Big East champion Marquette)
2013-14: 22-5 (12-2, 1st in Horizon, beat ACC leader Virginia, only lost to UW-Madison by 3 in Madison)

[stever20]

DePaul doesn't need a senior citizen coach like Howland or Pearl looking for one last paycheck. They need a young coach eager to prove himself.

As much as it pains me to say it as a Marquette fan, you know who I think would be a good fit for DePaul? UW-Green Bay head coach and former Marquette standout Brian Wardle.

Wardle's a Chicago-area guy (played his high school ball at Hinsdale Central) before playing at Marquette for 4 years, and is still the program's third-all-time-leading scorer. He was an assistant at Marquette from 2003-2005, then an assistant at UWGB from 2005-2010. In 2010, he became the youngest Division I Head Coach at age 30 when he took the UW-Green Bay job. He has improved the Phoenix every year since taking the job.

2010-11: 14-18 (8-10, 7th in Horizon)
2011-12: 15-15 (10-8, 6th in Horizon)
2012-13: 18-16 (10-6, 3rd in Horizon, beat eventual Big East champion Marquette)
2013-14: 22-5 (12-2, 1st in Horizon, beat ACC leader Virginia, only lost to UW-Madison by 3 in Madison)

senior citizen?
Bruce Pearl is 53
Ben Howland is a bit older- still only 56.

53 isn't old at all.

[notkirkcameron]

senior citizen?
Bruce Pearl is 53
Ben Howland is a bit older- still only 56.

53 isn't old at all.

Glad to see the only thing you took away from that was my characterization of Howland and Pearl's ages. If they're old enough to join the AARP, they're not exactly young.

[Demon22]

DePaul doesn't need a senior citizen coach like Howland or Pearl looking for one last paycheck. They need a young coach eager to prove himself.

With all due respect if DePaul can get Ben Howland, then I want Ben Howland.

You know what we've never had? A coach that can walk into a recruit's home and say, "I've been to three Final Fours; I've won Conference Championships at every school I've coached at; I've personally recruited and coached four NBA All-Stars and put a dozen more players in the league; I've been voted the National Coach of the Year; I've won 20 games in 11 of my 19 seasons as a Head Coach; and oh, by the way, I've won more games as a Head Coach than just about anybody in this friggin' conference, so you better get on board now, because I'm gonna kick some ass with or without you."

That beats the heck out of, "I used to be Buzz's errand boy, and I did a pretty good job in four years at the University of Wisconsin-Middle of Nowhere Holy Crap It's Cold Outside."

[cujaysfan]

whoever it is - will either have to know the ins and outs of the CPL and chicago AAU scene - or have someone on their staff who really does.

not sure if howland has the energy or wherewithal to be a salesman to the community and alumni to get some momentum going. i think that's gonna be an important piece going forward.

[notkirkcameron]

DePaul doesn't need a senior citizen coach like Howland or Pearl looking for one last paycheck. They need a young coach eager to prove himself.

With all due respect if DePaul can get Ben Howland, then I want Ben Howland.

You know what we've never had? A coach that can walk into a recruit's home and say, "I've been to three Final Fours; I've won Conference Championships at every school I've coached at; I've personally recruited and coached four NBA All-Stars and put a dozen more players in the league; I've been voted the National Coach of the Year; I've won 20 games in 11 of my 19 seasons as a Head Coach; and oh, by the way, I've won more games as a Head Coach than just about anybody in this friggin' conference, so you better get on board now, because I'm gonna kick some ass with or without you."

That beats the heck out of, "I used to be Buzz's errand boy, and I did a pretty good job in four years at the University of Wisconsin-Middle of Nowhere Holy Crap It's Cold Outside."

To be fair, UWGB is probably going to the Tournament this year (assuming they win the Horizon League Tournament, which is in Green Bay).

Also, the Buzz's errand boy jab would carry a little more weight if Buzz Williams and Brian Wardle were ever co-workers. Wardle left Marquette in 2005. Buzz Williams didn't arrive at Marquette until 2007, and didn't become head coach until 2008.