Reply to thread

Message

[QUOTE="PoppyHart, post: 1686785, member: 515"]
but got really lucky that JB stuck around?

Watching the SHU-Xavier game tonight, I was thinking "what would this program have looked like if PJ decided he wanted to settle down there"? I had a front row seat, literally, during their heyday, and the program was becoming an earlier version of UCONN.  There is no disputing that SHU had the momentum, NYC pipeline, and Big East cred behind it. Sure it's South Orange, but its 15 miles or so from Manhattan.

Similarly, what if Pitino decided he loved Providence so much he could never leave, or Gary Williams mistakenly thought Boston was a great city?

None of those programs have have sustained excellence since. SHU made the Sweet 16 under Amaker (as a 10 seed over Temple I believe), Providence won a Big East title in '94 and had a moment of glory under Gillen in '97 or '98, and BC had mild success under Skinner.

Hopefully JB's successor is able to buck the trend.  Other than the Carrier Dome, I'm not sure what other tail winds we have vis-a-vis those three, especially if you were to time warp back 25-30 years. I suppose the money has changed, though BC has the same income stream as us.
[/QUOTE]

Verification

What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?