Great debate on here
Let me say I support AA, think he represents the program well, however whether he is or isnt the guy to get us back remains to be seen.
There is no way he is getting 5 years with no NCAAT appearances, no way. Hes got 3 years max, maybe 4.
The season was going sort of ho hum, until that 29 pt loss to WF. That was the 1st time, I had some questions over whether he was going to be the long term solution. He gained back some credibility with how handled things post WF, dismissing Benny, etc. I was concerned after the 2 pt Louisville win, but saw some positives in how they competed against Clem and then a great performance against UNC. He showed the ability to pull an upset and beat a Top 10 team. The next step was could he build off of that? The team failed, they are immature and lack consistency and couldn't pass that next step of progress. I understand they are outsized and undermanned. So, to me a positive 1st year would be 18-20 wins. Last night was a missed golden opportunity towards that. If he can reach 18-20 he can show progress from last year with having Jesse stolen, injuries, and Benny dismissal. Next year, he has to get into the Top 6 of the ACC to have a serious chance of making NCAAT. We have to get out of finishing 8th/9th. Third year should be Top 4 of ACC. If he gets that NCAAT appearance in Year 2, that should warrant an extension. Why is that important? I cant find his contract length but I suspect it is 3 years, 4 years max. Cant give a first time head coach, internal hire while the program is declining more than 3 years, that would just be reckless. Need to have something to warrant an extension or else he becomes lame duck by year 3 and competitors can negative recruit which will kill his recruiting abilities.
Red has 2 things working against him, 1 if he cant make NCAAT, his time will be seen as an extension of the JB failures. The fan base will not be enthused, attendance down etc.
2-Although making a healthy $3 mill a year, the school didnt have to pay a buyout to poach him from another school, such as Pitino, Cooley, Shrewsbury etc. So SU didnt have to invest as much to promote him as they would have with an outside hire. When you have to invest more to poach, those hires likely merited a 5 year contract and so the school will have to be more patient. Those 3 I mentioned have mostly been disappointments so far in year 1, fwiw. The other item, is Red likely has a low buyout, no sense that he is going anywhere or a threat to leave. Ohio State just paid Holtman $14 million in buyout to send him packing. So I feel this hire was more of a long audition as opposed to a marriage.
Lets so how the season finishes, factor in the circumstances and then assess whether or how much of a bust it was.
