College basketball coaching carousel

I would agree. Marshall loves his home state. But he doesn't love it enough to take the hometown discount.

For the time being, Nebraska gave him leverage to squeeze more dough out of Wichita State.

 

I don't question a word of your post for a second. Marshall is the sort that would never consider taking a job, yet using the offer for major leverage.

There has to be something to him, and not necessarily good. I know he was dying for a shot at NCSU when Herb Sendek departed for Tempe. Lee Fowler wouldn't give Marshall time of day and opted for Sidney Lowe. Struck me as something prickly about Marshall's personality because goodness knows NCSU wasn't in a position to be excessively picky.

 

Guy at my former shop has covered the Valley for about 25 years, and he said it's not even a competition, that Marshall is the most egotistical asshole he's ever had to deal with during that time. And given Steve Alford is in that group, it's saying something.

I don't remember it being covered earlier in the thread (apologies if it has been), but there are reports that Tubby Smith's people are negotiating with South Carolina. Makes sense, as he has never really gotten any traction at Minnesota, puts him back in the SEC, etc.

Also, it may be a longshot, but it sounds like Billy Gillespie may be in play to move from Texas Tech to Tulsa. Apparently he hates it in Lubbock, has history with Tulsa and would be an instant "splash" hire who would likely get a couple seasons with no heat to get things built there.

 

Canisius has offered its job to Jim Baron.

http://blogs.buffalonews.com/campus/2012/03/source-baron-offered-canisius-job.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fbuffalonews%2Fcampus+%28Campus+Watch%29

But the idiot boards say contract talks have broken down.

 

Anthony Grant is the name I've heard mentioned for Illinois.

He's a good coach. I'm surprised he's considered such a good recruiter, because the guy isn't exactly Mr. Personality, but it's hard to argue with the results.

 

I think Illinois is pretty clearly a top 20 job. Probably the second 10, maybe even in the 15-20 range, but definitely a top 20 job.

 

Chicago Sun-Times says Grant isn't interested. And you were just praising Florida's recruiting classes in the late-1990s/early-2000s! Grant was the lead recruiter.

I don't think Illinois is much of a move up from Alabama. It's a move up, sure, but I'm glad to see he's not running from what should be an excellent team next year.

 

Hmmm. Maybe there's something to the Cuonzo Martin-to-Illinois talk after all?

 

The more I think about it, the more I think it comes down to what your criteria is for being a top 20 program. I mean, I went down the list and named at least 20 schools that I, personally, would find more attractive than Illinois. I think I hit 26.

We talking exposure, recruiting, recent success, long-time history, what? Top 20 means something different to everyone.

 

As a visiting beat writer, I like him, because he's quotable as hell and he will occasionally go into crazy-conspiracy mode (as he did at this year's MVC Tournament ... again) which shakes things up in an entertaining (for me) way.

However, he definitely does stray into asshole territory on occasion and he doesn't suffer fools or foolish questions.

I've never personally had any problems with him at all, but he's undeniably made some enemies around the MVC, especially in his early years, when I think he was in "punch someone in the mouth before they punch you" mode. I don't know if it's coincidence, but the closer a school or its media is geographically to Wichita the more abrasive he seems to be to those folks. He creates a bunker mentality around his program, which would concern me about how he could handle a bigger job.

I don't think he's an asshole as a person, but he's definitely type-A. In fact, prior to games he tends to kibitz with the media, hired university help, etc., more so than the other coaches do. He's also mischievous and that can be construed as assholish too. The one thing he does that drives everyone nuts is to do his conference call on speaker phone. I'm convinced he does this on purpose to tweak everyone, including the league, with which he's had a long (and entertaining) spat.

He's an interesting dude. Certainly one of the more interesting characters the MVC has had in the last decade.

 

I've been to Lubbock. Isn't that a given?