Ben McCollum?

[UncleMark]

The last championship in 87 was neither.

No question. But it was in 1972, and was decidedly less "exciting" than what they were used to with the Hurryin' Hoosiers.

 

[IUNorth]

No one knows the answer until it happens. More coaches that move up fail than succeed. It's almost always a low probability gamble. Style, offense, defense, tempo ... those are not the traits that make them successful.

Leadership, competent management, ability to motivate and teach, is ..

It's a different ballgame with high level talent and the egos that come with it. Dealing with, developing and motivating that talent is the main trait we're looking for and there's no possible way to know beforehand.

Yep. I like most things I see and read about him. The pace of play is a concern, and then his lack of experience at the P4 level. Because as you wrote, different ball game with kids with legit NBA aspirations, and 7 figure NIL deals. That's just got to be something, if there aren't any proven P4 guys in the fold, that Scott tries to flush out and make his best judgement on.

 

[T.M.P.]

No question. But it was in 1972, and was decidedly less "exciting" than what they were used to with the Hurryin' Hoosiers.

He brought defense into the equation in his early days. No doubt...and it impacted basketball from HS to pros ..

fwiw - look at the last 30 champions, note the offensive and defensive efficiencies of each. Defense first doesn't win championships. Elite offense combined with decent defense, does. I'd rather see an offense first approach in this era. Not saying ignore defense like Crean seemed to do .. but I'd like to see a dynamic modern offense like Woodson promised ... and failed to deliver.

 

[kmathum]

He brought defense into the equation in his early days. No doubt...and it impacted basketball from HS to pros ..

fwiw - look at the last 30 champions, note the offensive and defensive efficiencies of each. Defense first doesn't win championships. Elite offense combined with decent defense, does. I'd rather see an offense first approach in this era. Not saying ignore defense like Crean seemed to do .. but I'd like to see a dynamic modern offense like Woodson promised ... and failed to deliver.

Are you kidding? Just win baby and nobody cares.

 

[Gage Fu]

I’m not “wanting” anyone but those two…? Seriously?

Yeah. They win. Google them.

Shaka Smart - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[T.M.P.]

Are you kidding? Just win baby and nobody cares.

I thought the goal was to win championship banners?

 

[stollcpa]

I'm sure Dolson is watching him very closely. Actually...I hope he's conversing with him and his people. It'll be interesting how his team finishes the season out. But even if they don't make the NCAA, and/or get bounced early, he's already proven capable of post season success. And it appears his program has proven it can step up in competition levels, and succeed.

As of today, projecting who I think are probably actually realistic candidates, he'd be my number 1 choice. As an added bonus with him, I'd assume he'd bring Bennett Stirtz with him. And he's a really good guard, that followed him from D2 to Drake, and is thriving at the D1 level.

Dolson cannot converse with a head coach at another school can he?

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Yeah. They win. Google them.

Shaka Smart - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

He’s not an option. Get over it. Neither is TJ.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

Dolson cannot converse with a head coach at another school can he?

He can with an agent.

 

[Victorbmyboy]

A compound in Waco? That's scary.

It’s a family compound.

 

[kmathum]

It’s a family compound.

That's what David said.

 

[jet812]

Yeah. They win. Google them.

Shaka Smart - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Shaka couldn’t hack it at Texas….

 

[ButHerEmails]

The pace is slower, for certain...but I've watched a handful of extended minutes of Drake, and it doesn't come across as "boring" to me. And I bore pretty easily with traditionally slower paced programs like UVA and the old Wisconsin stuff.

I’ll tell people what’s boring…getting your ass beat by 25 at home. Losing two games in a row by 25. After tonight it might be three straight games losing by 25. That’s pretty goddamn boring.

 

[ButHerEmails]

Heard his name being mentioned online.

He’s just 43, has won 4 national titles at Div. II level and is in his first year at Drake and they’re 15-2, playing with a lot of former Div. II players.

He’s 20 years younger, but with his previous success at small programs it’s like we’d be getting the “coach Cig of basketball.”

Coming from a lower division and having success isn’t unheard of. Pearl had an impressive record in D2. Bo Ryan had an impressive record in D3. Funny, I think they both coached short stints at Milwaukee as their first D1 job. Then Ryan made a habit of beating our asses and winning B1G titles and B1G tournaments at Wisconsin, while Pearl went to TN.

 

[welshman#]

I could get on board with McCollum if I expected

1) he would hire (at least) 1 blue-chip recruiter on his staff and

2) he would speed up his offense by a few RPMs once he got to Bloomington

Clearly he’s an outstanding and imo “proven” coach-you don’t win 4 nattys at ANY level without being one