It's that time of year: College coach carousel!

Is Gregg Marshall on Mizzou's line 3?

 

I hope not.

 

Realisticly, unless somebody's got a Painter-level surprise in store, aren't we pretty much down to Smart and Marshall for N.C. State and Mizzou? Unless somebody's going to be taking a shot at an assistant from a hot program.

 

The happiest man in the Midwest this afternoon is Tom Crean.

Think Painter's wishy-washiness will come up a few times in living rooms across corn country?

Ask Billy Donovan.

 

Why? Seems like a good fit.

 

But is it wishy-washiness? Maybe I missed something, but Painter never came out and said he'd taken the job did he? All he has to do is say something along the lines of "they made an incredible offer and it was very flattering. At the end of the day, I couldn't leave my alma mater. And if I didn't take that job, I can't see leaving for any job."

It's not like he was introduced in Columbia and professed his love of all things Mizzou.

 

When was the last time a coach went from an assistant (with no HC experience) to a HC job in a top conference? I know that was the thing to do with Duke and Carolina assistants at one point, but it seems like these days everybody has to go to a mid-major first to prove themselves.

 

I agree this is a disaster for Missouri. The only candidates left are ones who would be a monumental step down from Mike Anderson.

That includes Smart, who will get paid $2 million a year by someone only because he was able to get his team to play well for 3 weeks. I would almost rather have Marshall over Smart, and I think Marshall is vastly overrated for what he's done, too. I also think this brings Steve Alford back into play at Missouri.

The bottom line is, it's a bad year to be looking for a basketball coach.

 

I don't know. It reeks of Stan Heath. If I'm not mistaken, Smart didn't recruit most of the guys on VCU, Anthony Grant did. It was a similar deal when Heath took Kent State to the Elite Eight. He could wind up being great, but he could be a one-hit wonder.

 

The Donovan thing, from what I remember, had an introductory presser, a goodbye presser, Anthony Grant on a plane in Gainesville and about a week's worth of drama.

 

That's the other thing. Getting Smart, who is very unproven, is going to cost a fortune.

 

St. Louis P-D reported that he called Mizzou this morning to accept the offer. Whether Mizzou misinterpreted what he said or is lying, or whether Painter accepted and then changed his mind, is the big question there. But I doubt he'll ever escape the impression that he was on his way out of town.