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"Need to save our recruiting class"

Sportsfan101

Well-Known Member
I hear people say we need to hire McClain to "save our recruiting class." What recruiting class are people talking about? We have zero commits, and signing day is this week, right? The risk of transfer is low -- Burks won't transfer -- he's going to play next year and then go pro.

If we hire McClain, it should be because we think McClain is the best choice to lead the program over the next 5 years. But don't hire him to "save our recruiting class." That's stupid. And if St. Mary's coach has called and wants to interview, which has been reported, we NEED to at least talk to him. If Bohn decides McClain is a better fit, then fine, but Bohn owes it to the university to at least interview Bennett.
 
given where we've been as a program for the last 5-6 years, to get a look from a coach who has just made a deep tournament run is something that needs to be followed up. i like McClain and i can see the logic around hiring him now or ASAP.....but, i agree with you sportsfan. interview the guy.
 
Exactly. Let's actually go through a process for a change when making a major coaching hire.
 
McClain is sounding more and more like the guy. He's been the main recruiter for most of the squad and he's been the coach that the team liked and rallied behind (more so than with Coach Bzdelik). In Maui, there's no doubt that the team played as hard and as well for McClain as they ever did for Bzdelik. If McClain gets the job, he'll hold the team together, he'll finish this recruiting cycle strong, and he'll win. The more I think about it, the more I think we should just pull the trigger. Why go looking when you know you've already got a guy who would do a great job for you?
 
sparkybuffs said:
Actually, Burks' dad contradicted what you are saying in this denver post article
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14864066
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I don't care what Burks dad said -- they're just being emotional. When you look at his situation, he'd be absolutely CRAZY to transfer because he'd have to sit out a season. After he's cooled his jets a little, he'll realize that the smartest move for him will be to play at CU next year and then go pro.
 
Buffnik said:
McClain is sounding more and more like the guy. He's been the main recruiter for most of the squad and he's been the coach that the team liked and rallied behind (more so than with Coach Bzdelik). In Maui, there's no doubt that the team played as hard and as well for McClain as they ever did for Bzdelik. If McClain gets the job, he'll hold the team together, he'll finish this recruiting cycle strong, and he'll win. The more I think about it, the more I think we should just pull the trigger. Why go looking when you know you've already got a guy who would do a great job for you?
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I think it's stupid to not bring others in to interview. Interview Boyle. Interview Bennett. Interview McClain. Then hire the best fit. A basketball coach needs to be more than simply "Hold the team together." He needs to be the right person for the job long term. If that person is McClain, then great. But Bohn owes it to the basketball fans that have had season tickets over the years (myself included) to at least talk to a couple of candidates.
 
Sportsfan101 said:
I think it's stupid to not bring others in to interview. Interview Boyle. Interview Bennett. Interview McClain. Then hire the best fit. A basketball coach needs to be more than simply "Hold the team together." He needs to be the right person for the job long term. If that person is McClain, then great. But Bohn owes it to the basketball fans that have had season tickets over the years (myself included) to at least talk to a couple of candidates.
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The one porblem I have with your, umm, philosophy, is that interviews don't mean jack ****. Some guys interview really great and then suck.
 
Sportsfan101 said:
I think it's stupid to not bring others in to interview. Interview Boyle. Interview Bennett. Interview McClain. Then hire the best fit. A basketball coach needs to be more than simply "Hold the team together." He needs to be the right person for the job long term. If that person is McClain, then great. But Bohn owes it to the basketball fans that have had season tickets over the years (myself included) to at least talk to a couple of candidates.
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That's exactly where I was at this morning. But I got to thinking about how I run my own business and how I've been a manager in other businesses. If I have a position open up, I would never bother interviewing an outside candidate if I had someone already working for me who I had full confidence would get the job done if promoted. So if Bohn and the other people around the program have that feeling about McClain, I say put him in the job and let's move forward.
 
DBT said:
The one porblem I have with your, umm, philosophy, is that interviews don't mean jack ****. Some guys interview really great and then suck.
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I agree they're not a perfect evaluation tool, but frankly I don't know what is. if we go by performance, then Bennett would be the hands down guy since he just lead a small school on a deep NCAA run. Or boyle, because he led UNC to its best season in school history and his team lit up CU in a pre-season scrimmage.

My point is that we need to consider others. The best way to show consideration is to bring them in for an interview and talk to them.

I'm not saying McClain ISN'T the guy. I just want to make sure we undertake a thorough review of applicable candidates and aren't acting reactively.
 
DBT said:
The one porblem I have with your, umm, philosophy, is that interviews don't mean jack ****. Some guys interview really great and then suck.
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I could cite an example, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like it... :smile2:

I'm agreeing with Nik at this point. McClain looks like a very strong in house candidate. I wouldn't mind seeing guys like Boyle and Bennett interviewed too, but it's nice to know we've got a pretty good solution already on staff.
 
Buffnik said:
That's exactly where I was at this morning. But I got to thinking about how I run my own business and how I've been a manager in other businesses. If I have a position open up, I would never bother interviewing an outside candidate if I had someone already working for me who I had full confidence would get the job done if promoted. So if Bohn and the other people around the program have that feeling about McClain, I say put him in the job and let's move forward.
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I see your point. Still, the employees at this level are so highly compensated and important to the entire university that if there are candidates that have had more success than mcclain (and I think there are), we should be talking to them. Again, we don't necessarily need to hire them, but we should talk to them.
 
Junction said:
I could cite an example, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like it... :smile2:

I'm agreeing with Nik at this point. McClain looks like a very strong in house candidate. I wouldn't mind seeing guys like Boyle and Bennett interviewed too, but it's nice to know we've got a pretty good solution already on staff.
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No, I don't care. CU is gong to hell in a hand basket in sports. And sports is probably the one thing that keeps alums close to the school.
 
So Randy Bennett is not related to Dick or Tony Bennett, right? I just looked up his record at St. Mary's. Pretty solid. In 9 seasons, he has never won the conference, but finished runner-up 6 times. Damn you Gonzaga!

Regarding DBT's rant, I see no point in interviewing guys that you think are the equal to McClain (Bennett, Boyle), assuming you like McClain. However, by drawing out the process more, you increase the odds (albeit long odds) that you may be contacted by a homerun candidate. Who knows. Maybe someone recently fired like Ernie Kent, someone retired like Steve Lavin, or perhaps a solid coach moving down the ranks (i.e Tubby Smith or Steve Alford).
 
UrbanaBuff said:
So Randy Bennett is not related to Dick or Tony Bennett, right? I just looked up his record at St. Mary's. Pretty solid. In 9 seasons, he has never won the conference, but finished runner-up 6 times. Damn you Gonzaga!

Regarding DBT's rant, I see no point in interviewing guys that you think are the equal to McClain (Bennett, Boyle), assuming you like McClain. However, by drawing out the process more, you increase the odds (albeit long odds) that you may be contacted by a homerun candidate. Who knows. Maybe someone recently fired like Ernie Kent, someone retired like Steve Lavin, or perhaps a solid coach moving down the ranks (i.e Tubby Smith or Steve Alford).
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Ernie Kent may be able to pull Mike Dunlap. I like this idea.
 
Continuity is key to the rebuilding.

Things are headed in the right direction....I can guarantee you Ernie Kent or Billy Gillispie or even Randy Bennett are going to want to put their own stamp on the program. McClain has been as responsible for where CU is headed as Bzdelik and in a lot of ways I think he has done more with his recruiting and his enthusiasm as anyone. Bzdelik, who I like, isn't the most personable person and doesn't have the charisma of McClain.
 
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

McClain's record as a head coach wasn't all that great, if I remember correctly. I dunno, I think I'd like to bring in a few guys for interviews.
 
sackman said:
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

McClain's record as a head coach wasn't all that great, if I remember correctly. I dunno, I think I'd like to bring in a few guys for interviews.
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9 seasons

157-115 overall record (.577)

2 conference titles (1 was a tie)
1 NCAA tournament (advanced to 2nd round by beating 6 Gonzaga)
3 NIT tournaments
2 MWC Coach of the Year

What it came down to is that he was a victim of his own success. He got fired for a .500 record and no postseasons over his last 3 seasons (17-15 in the final one).
 
Buffnik said:
9 seasons

157-115 overall record (.577)

2 conference titles (1 was a tie)
1 NCAA tournament (advanced to 2nd round by beating 6 Gonzaga)
3 NIT tournaments
2 MWC Coach of the Year

What it came down to is that he was a victim of his own success. He got fired for a .500 record and no postseasons over his last 3 seasons (17-15 in the final one).
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:nod: Yup. His first 5 seasons were good ones, and it should be mentioned that his 9 years at Wyoming were the most successful in school history. Very similar to Patton's time in Boulder.
 
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I remember McClain recruiting Chicago very well at Wyoming. He had a big man and a point guard from there late in his time who could have started anywhere, but I can't recall their names.
 
bombay said:
I remember McClain recruiting Chicago very well at Wyoming. He had a big man and a point guard from there late in his time who could have started anywhere, but I can't recall their names.
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Brandon Ewing was the guard I think.
 
I had totally forgot but I think his Wyoming team was in the Albuquerque regional that year they beat Gonzaga. Not positive on that but I went to that regional and Im pretty sure I saw his team. Anyway, I like McClain and think he would do a nice job. I just think it's smarter to interview several candidates even if ultimately McClain has the inside track. Whoever the hell gets the job, no secret on what this team needs.
 
BuffLuKe said:
I had totally forgot but I think his Wyoming team was in the Albuquerque regional that year they beat Gonzaga. Not positive on that but I went to that regional and Im pretty sure I saw his team. Anyway, I like McClain and think he would do a nice job. I just think it's smarter to interview several candidates even if ultimately McClain has the inside track. Whoever the hell gets the job, no secret on what this team needs.
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I was at the Pit for that. FSN reality show Preps alum Jason Strait playing guard for the Cowboys. Great upset. The nightcap was Arizona fending off an upset from UCSB. New Mexico fan was calling for Lute's head all game because he had backed out of a yearly UNM-UA matchup the two schools used to have.
 
lol I remember hearing about that from UNM fans. The Pit is a pretty cool place to watch college games. I went to a few women's regionals too with UNM's women in it. They packed the house for them, pretty damn loud in there.
 
bombay said:
Exactly. Great memory, and the kid was a heck of a player.
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Ya I had to look it up. :lol:

I went to the Mountain West tourney at the Pepsi center a few years back. Wyoming ended up making it the the tourney finals that year. Ewing just went off that weekend. Got to see him play again the next season when the 'Pokes were in Boulder. Reminded me a bit of Jaquay Walls.
 
I am so confused about what candidate. Any chance we get a great head coach AND keep McClain as assistant HC?
 
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