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Yep, Fitzgerald, after twelve years of blood, sweat and tears was able to build the program into an Audi A4. Monson quickly upgraded to a BMW 5 Series and handed the keys to Few. Few has upgraded the program to a Rolls Royce. Crews was handed the keys to a BMW 6 Series and totaled it. Ford wasn't even given a functioning car. Five years later we're driving in an Audi A4. Not sexy, but significant progress nonetheless.

These feel like somewhat lazy narratives to me. Our offense was objectively bad under Majerus every year but 2011-2012. Our offense has been above average the last two season under Ford (though certainly was bad before that). Our offense was better this year than 2 of the 3 tournament teams from 2012-2014. Our offense has also been brutal at stretches under Ford. But it’s kind of hacky to throw Ford under a broad umbrella of just getting by with better athletes. Loyola has had the best or second best recruiting class in their conference for 4 straight seasons. He’s doing more than finding diamond in the roughs who fit a system. They are winning games because of outstanding execution, agreed with everyone on that. But they’re also winning partly because they’re more talented than most teams they play. Moser also doesn’t exactly run the “Majerus system”. There are plenty of differences in Loyola’s offense and the offense Majerus ran at SLU. I don’t blame someone for being wary of Ford, but fans love to put coaches in broad categories like recruiter, Xs and Os coach, etc. when the results tend to be much more nuanced than that.

I don't care how bad his numbers are. We both know that's not true

Funny how things change. When he was an assistant here, a strong opinion on the board was that he was not a good X's and O's coach. I didn't really have an opinion, because frankly I wasn't very dialed in on what was going on at his two previous stops Little Rock and Illinois State. The consensus was that he was primarily just a good recruiter. That ability has been on display at Loyola. I don't care how many stars his players had in high school, they are a talented team and kudos to Porter for identifying those players and successfully putting a roster together. Majerus was very skilled at putting together a roster where the pieces fit. During his Final Four run, Moser repeatedly pointed to the value of his experience with Majerus as being a key to his evolution as a coach. Moser's success, also dispels a common notion that was thrown around on the board - that Majerus had no successors or a coaching tree. Well, now he has one very good one, which only enhances the Majerus legacy. Porter's success is a great story, that I think SLU fans should take pride in and celebrate, rather than settling old scores or some of the other tangents. He always struck me as a very committed assistant who played a big part in putting together a nice three year run here, so I'm happy for his success. Moser's success also shows that coaches, like players can develop and improve. IF Porter was not a good X's and O's guy previously, nobody can say that now.

what rickma taught better than any coach i have ever studied was precision. setting screens the right distance, releasing the right way, using a screen the correct way, defending against a screen, blocking out, moving without the ball. all the lunch bucket stuff that is a difference maker. i saw a lot of that stuff this weekend watching loyola. that is what moser learned and carried with him from his time being a billiken.

Great answer. Not that it's relevant, but you've gained some respect from me. ... and not that you didn't already have it.

Absolutely, great question Skip. This post is going to be long and I'm a much better speaker than writer so, apologies. WBB went from two 20 win seasons to under 500 and it was looking like maybe the program was losing steam and Stone may not be able to build past that initial 4 year build which we see all the time, a coach comes in and has initial success but can't keep the momentum. I was concerned that, while Stone kept bringing in these program changing talents like Jackie Kemph, she had been unable to surround them with complimentary talent for a complete team. To compound on that I was pretty frustrated that they hadn't been able to make the tournament in the two 20 win seasons. Looking back I think I didn't have the proper context in which to assess the progress of the program. Since that point, I took time to assess the history of the program and that they have never made an NCAA Tournament and really have no history to point back to. Looking at this current roster that is coming back next year in it's entirety(and maybe another year, I haven't looked at the extra covid year situation or if the official site has taken that into account). Stone has her focal point in Ciaja Harbison but finally has a well rounded roster with Kent, Clark, MST, Warren, Flowers(is really starting to turn a corner I was concerned she wouldn't), Martinez is flashing brilliance more and more every game. Stone added a midseason transfer in 6'4 Sevval Gul that will be a good addition next year. This next season will be their best shot to get to the tournament since 2016-17 and I firmly believe they are going to do it.

It’s amazing to think that the Texas -OU game was non-conference for the first 90 years of the Red River Rivalry. Then the SWC folded and the 8 became 12. College football fans should put that game on the bucket list. Lots of scenery at Fair Park in Dallas during the weekend, Jimbo.

A little OT, but I wouldn't exactly object to Ford taking advantage of the coaching carousel to bolster his staff. The Ford Stuen promotion seemed OK given the circumstances (Covid), but he just doesn't bring the same experience or presence as a Van Macon or Will Bailey - guys that can fill a mentor role. Or alternatively, Michael Wilson was promoted to Head of Basketball Operations in '19-'20. Again, fine. But makes me think of Barry Hinson being head of Basketball Operations at Kansas and how that role can be used somewhat creatively to bring in additional experience/expertise. Not to pick on those guys or that they don't work hard or anything. Just seems like there could be an opportunity to shake things up a bit and add some resources on the staff side.

You forgot to mention the enigma that was Tony Manuel.

Wake Forest transfer and former SLU recruit Ismael Massoud is looking for a situation where can play as a stretch four. He has three years of eligibility: https://247sports.com/college/wake-forest/Article/Basketball-recruiting-Wake-Forest-Ismael-Massoud-162957973/ “This year I had to play a lot of big down low at the five, but I feel like my natural position where I can be the most effective is more as a wing or a stretch four so I'm looking at that as well.”

I heard Porter being interviewed on CBS before the tournament by Seth Greenberg and others. Porter emphasized the Majerus basic rules of defense- guard the corner 3, and don't overplay on defense. Rules that we could profit from.

Shocking news! Mickey the tool Pearson is on the move. Must be following grandma to a new destination.

If Mike Brey can't get his mojo back next year, Porter can get the Notre Dame job.

exactly. people should go back and review the history of gonzaga. few was the second choice to replace his mentor Dan Fitzgerald. initially Fitzgerald selected fellow assistant coach, Dan Monson who also had the Fitzgerald mindset. he had a huge three year run as well and then left to seek big ten fame and fortune. was never the same success. monson was replaced by few who also was an assistant on Fitzgerald's staff and the rest is history as few has exceeded momson's fine winning percentage since.

great example of why we should hesitate switching coaches just because we havent made the final four yet. change isnt always good.

I mean this is how I think of the NIT, too. People want to get their panties in a bunch over losing a NIT game, but I am totally fine not hanging a “2021 69th Best Team” banner at Chaifetz

Taj You are correct. Once Jim Crews won National Coach of the Year, AD May and SLU were stuck and could do nothing but hire Jim Crews, pay him "market price" and a full term as you mention. And if you recall, Fr. Biondi apparently let the contract to hire Jim Crews collect dust sitting on his desk and delayed in signing it -- unsure if he really went out of town or was just throwing another Fr. Biondi fit to remind everyone that he was still in charge on campus. And then there was concern that Fr. Biondi's delay in signing the contract would allow the National Coach of the Year to take his talents elsewhere... and then finally... a collective relief when the great Jim Crews did not leave but signed with SLU for 4 years. Laissez les bon temps rouler!! Now, if you will agree to the following three (3) premises, I can explain how AD May could/should have handled this situation. Can we agree that 1. Chris May, as typical of most good AD's, had a feel for how the players and other coaches/staff felt about the coaches on the program's only revenue sport -- namely what they thought of Crews and how Crews related with them/commanded their respect. 2. Chris May was aware of Jim Crew's reputation, and track record, as a coach, including why he was terminated at Army for assaulting a player. 3. Chris May is not an idiot and capable of making a rational decision. Now, it took us MBMs a year or more to discover how the guys hated him, ignored him and coached themselves. How did Chris May not see this or know this? I believe Chris May knew this. I also believe Chris May had to investigate Jim Crews just to hire him as RM's assistant coach due to his assault of a player. Universities will look the other way on many issues... but not upon the physical or verbal treatment of a student athlete, and SLU is no different. Sure, there are two (2) sides to every story, not all accusations are true, allegations and "facts" can be exagerated and everyone can have a bad day or an isolated bad moment, but Crew's age, demeanor, style and philosophy of coaching is so 1970s and 1980s, he had not had success in over a decade and at Evansville. This had to be a red flag just to hire him as an assistant coach. And finally, I don't personally know Chris May well, am sure he is a nice guy, passionate, etc. and not an absolute idiot. If so, we all knew our team was loaded, stacked, an NCAA team and that they would win as long as they stayed together and the coach got out of their way. BRoy told us his grandmother could win with RM's team, most on this Board agreed. Did AD May think otherwise? No, AD May had to know the team would win and yet he also had to know that Crews was not the right man for the job and also had to know that this team would win, and if it won, that there would be pressure to hire this winning interim coach. So what did Chris May do? Not believe we would win? No, Chris May may be alot of things - but is not an idiot. So why did May not take early action before the wins piled up? Get ahead of the decision, set the tone, leak information as to the new requirements of the job: young, charismatic, recent success as a head coach, etc. to control it rather than be controlled by it? No, Chris May did nothing, no leadership, no action, waited until the decision - even the one he had to know was the wrong one - would be made for him. That conduct alone is sufficient to have let Chris May go.

Stone coached Wisconsin for 8 seasons. It took her a few years to build and start winning. But, she did that in years 4 through 8, mostly WNIT, one NCAA. At Wisconsin, Stone followed the most successful coach in Wisconsin history, who had made 5 NCAA's and 2 WNIT's in 9 seasons. (Wisconsin has made the NCAA's 7 times in their history) Since Stone was fired there, Wisconsin has had two different coaches over the past 10 seasons, zero post season of any kind, and not one winning record season. One of those two coaches was fired last week.

If we grab Marcus Carr and the 7’1” kid from unc, that will be a good start

Sekeue Barentine was good at 2 things: -busting his ass down the floor for the occasional easy bucket -inducing lane violations with his quadruple clutch FT attempts

Top 100 prospect. He was playing in Europe after ending his career at Maryville.

60's rivalry 'tween NU & OU best in the land that period.

Reaves is going all Pistol Pete on the Zags, keeping them in it.

In Ford I trust so I can see 2 big time transfers being signed maybe 3. I am already past the disappointment and excited for next season and getting back into Chaifetz again.

Things I have definitely said on this board - Moser should be the coach after Majerus and that if we don't keep him, he will go to at least 1 final four and 2 sweet 16s in his first 10 years at another Jesuit school that would hire him - Crews would have 2 good, but underacheiving years, and then blow up the program and be fired by 2016 and coach 3rd grade basketball in Indiana while we'll aim for a coach with big conference experience - Ford would make 1 NCAA appearance in his first 5 years but have some tough circumstances including a once in a century global pandemic - Goodwin and French will win zero non-A10 postseason games in their careers - John Manning will never play in the NBA - Grandy Glaze will be the most successful pornstar in SLU history

slufanskip, surely in one of those posts back then Billy Ken advocated for SLU to keep Moser and promote him to head coach!

The SLU battle cry-wait till next year we should be good.