Conf Play Starts tonight!!!! 10 Predictions...

[xusandy]

To CUJAYSFAN:
Amaker a flameout coaching at Harvard? He's the highest paid coach in the Ivy (makes close to a $mil), runs the ONLY Ivy program that is at all relevant on the national stage year after year. He has won his league more than half his years there, and thus faces about zero pressure to recruit better, or win now, or be fired. He lives high on the hog in one America's great cities, and his players are a bunch of very smart and very driven young men, who both understand and love the game, and will almost all become national leaders in whatever fields they choose to pursue after college.

That's just not a flameout in my mind; it's a guy who has figured out how to win the game of life as a bball coach! I envy Tommy Amaker -- the BEST of Coach K's coaching offspring.

[hoyahooligan]

To CUJAYSFAN:
Amaker a flameout coaching at Harvard? He's the highest paid coach in the Ivy (makes close to a $mil), runs the ONLY Ivy program that is at all relevant on the national stage year after year. He has won his league more than half his years there, and thus faces about zero pressure to recruit better, or win now, or be fired. He lives high on the hog in one America's great cities, and his players are a bunch of very smart and very driven young men, who both understand and love the game, and will almost all become national leaders in whatever fields they choose to pursue after college.

That's just not a flameout in my mind; it's a guy who has figured out how to win the game of life as a bball coach! I envy Tommy Amaker -- the BEST of Coach K's coaching offspring.

He flamed out at Michigan before re-emerging at Harvard.

And He got Harvard to change the rules for his basketball players so of course he had a leg up on the rest of the Ivy league.

[Xavier4036]

If Marquette finishes 8th in the conference, Wojo ain't getting poached and might get fired.

Exactly. If Marquette misses the tournament again, at what point does Marquette fire Wojo? 5 years, 1 tournament appearance with a first-round loss? They may have some patience for him since the cupboard was pretty bare when Buzz Williams left, but man, the last 5 years have been rough in Milwaukee. Unless Marquette goes on a run this year, he isn't getting "poached" by anyone... fired more likely

[cujaysfan]

To CUJAYSFAN:
Amaker a flameout coaching at Harvard? He's the highest paid coach in the Ivy (makes close to a $mil), runs the ONLY Ivy program that is at all relevant on the national stage year after year. He has won his league more than half his years there, and thus faces about zero pressure to recruit better, or win now, or be fired. He lives high on the hog in one America's great cities, and his players are a bunch of very smart and very driven young men, who both understand and love the game, and will almost all become national leaders in whatever fields they choose to pursue after college.

That's just not a flameout in my mind; it's a guy who has figured out how to win the game of life as a bball coach! I envy Tommy Amaker -- the BEST of Coach K's coaching offspring.

He flamed out at Michigan before re-emerging at Harvard.

And He got Harvard to change the rules for his basketball players so of course he had a leg up on the rest of the Ivy league.

this is correct

i don't think an ACC school is going to go all in on Amaker after the Michigan situation - he'd have to work his way back up again

and amaker better than brey is laughable

and IIRC he left Seton Hall in quite the mess when he took off for Ann Arbor - but i'll let pirate fans chime in on that part of it...

plus - apparently his wife is quite the rainmaker at harvard - and getting someone to match her $$ won't be easy either

[Red Rooster]

You might be on to something, per your predictions, GD. I basically agreed with all of the prognostications.

By the way, it's Mullin.

[marquette]

If Marquette finishes 8th in the conference, Wojo ain't getting poached and might get fired.

Exactly. If Marquette misses the tournament again, at what point does Marquette fire Wojo? 5 years, 1 tournament appearance with a first-round loss? They may have some patience for him since the cupboard was pretty bare when Buzz Williams left, but man, the last 5 years have been rough in Milwaukee. Unless Marquette goes on a run this year, he isn't getting "poached" by anyone... fired more likely

Minor correction, this is year 4 for Wojo, the first year in the Big East was Buzz's fault. You are right, the cupboard was very bare when Wojo came in and because of that the administration, by all appearances, is willing to give him through next year. Honestly, I expect a lot from the team next season and a first round flameout would be cause for comcern.

[JayPak]

You forgot Khyri Thomas getting drafted first round.

Agreed that Wojo goes nowhere.

[kayako]

Yeah, I thought that at first too. But the NBA draft is not about current talent, it's about projected talent.

Omari's ceiling at college level is probably Caleb Swanigan. They're actually the same age. It'll take some time for Spellman to build up his draft stock. Won't happen this year. Maybe next year, but I think more likely he's a 3 or 4 year player.

[ChestRockwell85]

Buzz Williams, took Marquette to the tournament 5 out of the 6 years he was there, the only year he didn't bring them to the tournament was his last year. Buzz was also doing this in the old Big East. Wojo has been doing a decent job, but I don't think he has proven himself to be high on any big time program's wish list just yet. Time will tell.

[Hoya33]

There is no chance Wojo gets picked off by anyone. He has not had enough success.

Jay Wright will be the 76ers Head Coach after they miss the playoffs this year.