2015-16 Media love thread

[ArtVandalay]

I'm not sure I totally agree.

Gonzaga is known for consistently making the tourney, but not much else. At some point higher performance in less volume has to outweigh lower performance in higher volumes, doesn't it? I mean in the past ten years WSU has 3 S16's, 1 E8, and 1 F4 in 5 appearances. Gonzaga has the same line, minus the F4 game changer, over the course of 10 appearances (in a league very much similar to the modern day MVC). They are more known as a flame out than anything else. I'm not sure what the national vibe on WSU is currently, but it is most certainly not a flame out.

I see your point, but compare the image of Gonzaga vs Butler. Granted, Butler lost their coach, but that was the year after missing the tournament all together (2012), and started with their new coach exiting in the first weekend two of the last 3 years, while not making it at all the year in between. Gonzaga still consistently gets more love than Butler.

[SHOCKvalue]

I see your point, but compare the image of Gonzaga vs Butler. Granted, Butler lost their coach, but that was the year after missing the tournament all together (2012), and started with their new coach exiting in the first weekend two of the last 3 years, while not making it at all the year in between. Gonzaga still consistently gets more love than Butler.

But Butler has fallen off some. Butler has been a bell curve. Gonzaga has been a chart of CPI inflation. Wichita State has been the trading price of Tesla stock.

[ArtVandalay]

But Butler has fallen off some. Butler has been a bell curve. Gonzaga has been a chart of CPI inflation. Wichita State has been the trading price of Tesla stock.

The original idea was we need to continue our success to be on the same level of Gonzaga. They have been consistently good, and despite the lack of a Final Four, they are still relevant on a yearly basis and regularly talked about on a national basis and are able to use that to recruit. Butler had a few great seasons, but have dropped off and are less nationally relevant. To end up more like Gonzaga and not Butler, we have to continue winning. We don't have the luxury that other basketball team in this state has, where we can choke on a yearly basis but still pick up top flight recruits and be considered national contenders. Continue winning, and that builds momentum to where you can have an off year and be Butler.

[SHOCKvalue]

The original idea was we need to continue our success to be on the same level of Gonzaga. They have been consistently good, and despite the lack of a Final Four, they are still relevant on a yearly basis and regularly talked about on a national basis and are able to use that to recruit. Butler had a few great seasons, but have dropped off and are less nationally relevant. To end up more like Gonzaga and not Butler, we have to continue winning. We don't have the luxury that other basketball team in this state has, where we can choke on a yearly basis but still pick up top flight recruits and be considered national contenders. Continue winning, and that builds momentum to where you can have an off year and be Butler.

I guess I just don't see us as that far - if at all - behind Gonzaga in national profile/respect currently. Maybe we just have a variance of impression in that regard.

[Wurdaddy]

Ranking the Top Player - Coach Duo for 2015-16.
While there is no surprise to me who is #1. Its nice to see some love from a UNC fan in the comments section.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2568501-ranking-the-top-player-coach-duos-in-college-basketball-in-2015-16/page/21

[WuShock Reaper]

"Game that should have been scheduled but wasn't: Kansas-Wichita State" - Yahoo Sports, Jeff Eisenberg

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/non-conference-scheduling-studs-and-duds--the-big-12-195520125.html

Kansas Jayhawks becoming the Jan Brady of College Basketball with their: Marshall, Marshall, Marshall.

Okay, I confess I added that last sentence, but....

:poster_wu:

[ShockerFever]

"Game that should have been scheduled but wasn't: Kansas-Wichita State" - Yahoo Sports, Jeff Eisenberg

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/non-conference-scheduling-studs-and-duds--the-big-12-195520125.html

Kansas Jayhawks becoming the Jan Brady of College Basketball with their: Marshall, Marshall, Marshall.

Okay, I confess I added that last sentence, but....

:poster_wu:

That guy is spot freaking on, word for word.

But the Chickenhawks prefer to be scoreboarded instead. Oh well. Works for me.

[Dan]

Butler couldn't maintain the momentum because they didn't have the resources to keep their coach. Any school can elevate for a short period of time, it's much more difficult to stay. Keeping a consitent prgram starts with the coaching staff, just ask Duke.

[_kai_]

Butler couldn't maintain the momentum because they didn't have the resources to keep their coach. Any school can elevate for a short period of time, it's much more difficult to stay. Keeping a consitent prgram starts with the coaching staff, just ask Duke.

Wichita State also hasn't battled an organization like the Celtics for Gregg. I wouldn't necessarily say Butler didn't have the resources to keep their coach. I'd say it's pretty hard for any organization to keep their coach if any NBA organization shows interest.

[WSUwatcher]

Wichita State also hasn't battled an organization like the Celtics for Gregg. I wouldn't necessarily say Butler didn't have the resources to keep their coach. I'd say it's pretty hard for any organization to keep their coach if any NBA organization shows interest.

Uh, yes.

Kai is exactly right -- for example, if it came down The Flagship or the Spurs for Bill Self when Popovich leaves (which I suspect it won't, but you get the idea), does anyone seriously believe that resources alone would be an issue?

Actually, the bit of irony in Butler's situation is that a coaching change when someone left for what he considered a better -- and no doubt richer -- opportunity may actually have been what propelled them to the stratosphere in the first place. Brad Stevens took over after having been an assistant to Todd Lickliter when Lickliter "moved up" to Iowa (and had the results for him personally that often follow such a hop to the next stepping stone). Under Lickliter, Butler had been good, which was why Iowa wanted in him in the first place and was willing to marshal, so to speak, the resources to snatch him away. But it was under Stevens that they reached the two championship games.

[shockmonster]

Wichita State also hasn't battled an organization like the Celtics for Gregg. I wouldn't necessarily say Butler didn't have the resources to keep their coach. I'd say it's pretty hard for any organization to keep their coach if any NBA organization shows interest.

Didn't look it up but would make a guess that Stevens was making less than than 1 m. at Butler when he left (probably more like 800k. They may be better now but that isn't competitive.

[Stickboy46]

http://hoopseen.com/index.php/news/headlines/item/3582-who-owned-the-week?utm_content=buffer4f0ca&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Article listing WSU as one of the Big winners this week with the pickup of Keyser

[Dan]

I read somewhere that Stevens was making $1.2 M at Butler and the Celtics gave him a 6 year $22 M contract, or $3.6M per year.

[wsushox1]

Uh, yes.

Kai is exactly right -- for example, if it came down The Flagship or the Spurs for Bill Self when Popovich leaves (which I suspect it won't, but you get the idea), does anyone seriously believe that resources alone would be an Issue?.

I think that's exactly what's going to happen in a couple of years. RC is going to make a play for Bill I am sure.

[_kai_]

http://shockerhoops.net/index.php/2015/09/23/gregg-marshall-speaks-in-van-vleets-hometown/

Video in the post of Gregg's interview with WREX while in Rockford. Some Tweets at the bottom with pictures and a video of Gregg demonstrating drills.