The Holy Land of Hoops

Tim Ring
‏@timring3TV
Hearing that DePaul's Oliver Purnell's days are winding down and the school will target former UCLA coach Ben Howland as his replacement.

https://twitter.com/timring3TV/status/4 ... 1503663104

For those of you wondering, Tim Ring is a TV sports anchor from Phoenix, who graduated from DePaul. I believe he worked for the athletic department while a student, as well.

I actually feel bad for Depaul, and thats coming from a PC fan, so that's saying something....I think its long past time to send Purnell packing....Good luck to them.

Have to say this would be just about the least surprising coaching move in recent history. You go 40-82 in 4 years and you generally will get let go every single time. Never won more than 12 games.

Interesting replacement. Return to the Big East for Howland. Kind of wonder however if he might be able to get a stronger job than DePaul. If DePaul could get him- I think a great hire(just don't ask Bill Walton!)

My fear is the Garrett and Hamilton will transfer. That's a nice nucleus to build around if they can keep them from leaving.

Jet915 wrote:My fear is the Garrett and Hamilton will transfer. That's a nice nucleus to build around if they can keep them from leaving.

Garrett's not going anywhere if his dad stays at Depaul.

But Ben Howland would be a fantastic hire. Considering Depaul's expectations will be anything at all it'll be a wonderful chance for Howland to get his coaching game back up to snuff without insane UCLA boosters.

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...

Howland would be perfect, but so would a guy like Bruce Pearl. They need a spark to jump start that program. Think back to when Huggins left Cincy in shame, wound up at Kansas State (which had gone decades of complete irrelevance) and after just ONE year lit a fire under that program that turned it around.

Hell is Buzz suddenly left MU, I'd want to go after Howland.

GumbyDamnit! wrote: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?

aughnanure wrote:Howland would be perfect, but so would a guy like Bruce Pearl. They need a spark to jump start that program. Think back to when Huggins left Cincy in shame, wound up at Kansas State (which had gone decades of complete irrelevance) and after just ONE year lit a fire under that program that turned it around.

Hell is Buzz suddenly left MU, I'd want to go after Howland.

Love the Bruce Pearl idea for DePaul. Think it'd be a GREAT fit.

You are right about Huggins- just look as well at what Larry Brown did at SMU. 2 years there and they're at a level they haven't been at in 30+ years. The right guy, and you could say the same at DePaul- it's been 27 years including this year since they've made the 2nd weekend. Just think about that number.

aughnanure wrote:

GumbyDamnit! wrote: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.