Brent Axe defending Mike Hopkins

[Madbiker]

Hopkins deserves the job more than anybody, but may not be the best fit for the job.

Through the years I've gone back and forth in my head on if he should be the next guy in line. I'm starting to lean towards bringing in a proven commodity, somebody like Jay Wright or better, anything below that tier of coach I think you give Hopkins the job.

You realize that Jay Wright makes $3M a year, $1M more than JB. And he isn't leaving Nova for the same $3M. Do you really think SU is going to pay $4M for a coach? Plus he is a Philly guy who loves being in Philly.

 

[CusefanATL]

Whether Hop is the best choice is irrelevant in my mind. He has stuck with the program, apparently, based on promises that were made.

I'd be very disappointed in SU if they back off those promises.

I want Hop as the next coach.

But Hop all but accepted the job at USC. He hasn't stayed here based on promises. He left. And then FGCU happened.

 

[tbonezone]

I want Hop as the next coach.

But Hop all but accepted the job at USC. He hasn't stayed here based on promises. He left. And then FGCU happened.

what's your source ? Hopkins has had several interviews no job offers. that's a fact. how do we know for certain what he's turned down ?

 

[two3zone]

You realize that Jay Wright makes $3M a year, $1M more than JB. And he isn't leaving Nova for the same $3M. Do you really think SU is going to pay $4M for a coach? Plus he is a Philly guy who loves being in Philly.

I did say somebody like him, not him necessarily. Proven track record at a basketball school.

 

[cusefan88]

If it ain't Hop, Josh Pastner or Shaka Smart.

 

[moqui]

You realize that Jay Wright makes $3M a year, $1M more than JB. And he isn't leaving Nova for the same $3M. Do you really think SU is going to pay $4M for a coach? Plus he is a Philly guy who loves being in Philly.

we're not going to get an established, brand name coach because they won't take the pay cut

so we go the route of the coach who has had great success at a plucky little mid major and is ready to step into the big time.

that road leads directly to Kevin Ollie

 

[Flintstones]

Pastner? Josh just hired a new assistant who happened to have two top 50 sons- no thanks. Ollie isn't going to leave his alma mater and turn to the dark side. It would be hard to lure Shaka away from richmond and his new state of the art basketball facility for CNY winters. C'mon people, Hop is the man for the job.

 

[No Hoyas]

we're not going to get an established, brand name coach because they won't take the pay cut

so we go the route of the coach who has had great success at a plucky little mid major and is ready to step into the big time.

that road leads directly to Kevin Ollie

BLASPHEMER!!!
Although the melt down on the puppy board would soooo much fun.

 

[shermstheman]

242-97 - Jay Wright last 10 years

263-92 - JB last 10 years

Jay Wright can win games.

With all this talk about Jay Wright- why would he leave Villanova? Great school, great program on or close the the level of Cuse. If he were to look around it would have to be a step up- not many of those programs.

 

[two3zone]

With all this talk about Jay Wright- why would he leave Villanova? Great school, great program on or close the the level of Cuse. If he were to look around it would have to be a step up- not many of those programs.

Before the move to the ACC I would agree, but I can see him going to a P5 conference.

Listen, I didn't mean him exactly, I meant him or anybody with a similar resume. If we're as an elite program as people around here make us sound we shouldn't have a problem getting somebody like him. That's all I'm saying.

 

[HoustonCuse]

Everybody who doesn't want Hopkins basically has delusions of grandeur. I promise you would all be bitterly disappointed in the name you heard when the selection was announced. Jay Wright? Billy Donovan? These are the caliber names you think you will hear? Hell why not Coach K? Just as likely.

 

[Brooky03]

lol

Word.

 

[skurey]

I'm probably overreacting but I'm absolutely terrified for the future of this program. Look what happened with football. Had the history, the tradition, etc, not to the same degree as basketball but still pretty significant. Then GRob comes along and I don't think we'll ever be good again. Our next coach absolutely needs to win immediately.

 

[RF2044]

I'm probably overreacting but I'm absolutely terrified for the future of this program. Look what happened with football. Had the history, the tradition, etc, not to the same degree as basketball but still pretty significant. Then GRob comes along and I don't think we'll ever be good again. Our next coach absolutely needs to win immediately.

You and I aren't often on the same page, but I agree 100%. This is a significant hire, because [1] it is exceedingly difficult to replace icons, and [2] JB built the program from scratch and in essence IS the program. I have absolutely NOTHING against Hopkins--LOVE the guy, in fact. I just hope that our new AD does full due diligence, evaluations all options, and picks the best one. I don't want a Craig Esherick / Matt Doherty / Mike Davis flop.

If Hopkins is the best choice, that's great. But if the "best" [and I understand that this is subjective] candidate is the likes of Jay Wright, Shaka Smart, Sean Miller, or some other proven coach--and I'm not saying that any of those guys are in play--is in contention, then we'd be foolish not to consider all options.

And I don't mean that as a slight to Hopkins.

 

[HoustonCuse]

Guys, college sports is all about recruiting. The football team's recruiting was starting to decline at the end of the P era. That is why he started slipping, not a sudden change in his coaching abilities. Then they hired a guy with no recruiting connections anywhere that could help us at the same time two regional schools started vying for the same guys we'd normally lock up. Those factors put the program in its current state.

In basketball, recruiting is even more critical. Hopkins is a guy that we know can recruit and thus he provides almost certain stability and a high likelihood of being able to win. At the level we are used to? I don't know, but I think there is little risk of falling out of relevancy like football did.

Bottom line: recruiting is about 75% of the equation in a coaching hire.

 

[jordoo]

Everybody who doesn't want Hopkins basically has delusions of grandeur. I promise you would all be bitterly disappointed in the name you heard when the selection was announced. Jay Wright? Billy Donovan? These are the caliber names you think you will hear? Hell why not Coach K? Just as likely.

I think believe we could get Jay Wright. Donovan no way IMO.

That said I 100% want Mike to have the job!

 

[Macky44]

Actually Billy Donovan has said publicly that he would love to coach at a school like Syracuse.

 

[jordoo]

Actually Billy Donovan has said publicly that he would love to coach at a school like Syracuse.

Isn't he making something like 3 mil a year? I'd be surprised if we could get him I wouldn't be surprised to see Wright or an established young coach like Smart coming to SU. Its a job that many many many coaches would want especially now with the P5 alignment. In Bball we have a great chance at getting whomever we want out of the NE. We have the Melo Center and the Dome.

Again though for me Mike is the man for the job. It streamlines everything and the program goes on keeping the cupboard that Jim n Mike stocked running the same basic system with no hickups and a much smaller chance of doubt being a factor in recruiting going forward.

 

[Macky44]

i hate to say it...but if Hopkins isnt the coach ( which is what im truly hoping for is to keep hop and gerry and red )...then lets go big and go after Petino. I know alot of people will hate this thought...but i wouldnt be surprised if he came back to The Dome to finish off his career and be the only head coach to win championships at 3 different schools.

 

[jordoo]

i hate to say it...but if Hopkins isnt the coach ( which is what im truly hoping for is to keep hop and gerry and red )...then lets go big and go after Petino. I know alot of people will hate this thought...but i wouldnt be surprised if he came back to The Dome to finish off his career and be the only head coach to win championships at 3 different schools.

I could see it might give him some extra juice to finish his career and our guys would work in his system he'd just need to add depth to play his way.

Again though I am all for keeping what we have in place with Mike it makes the most sense.

 

[Melancer46]

What is the Syracuse-Jay Wright connection? I always see his name brought up, but I honestly have never figured out the connection that makes him such an obvious candidate. Did he go here?

Sorry I'm so ignorant on this topic lol.

 

[orange79]

What is the Syracuse-Jay Wright connection? I always see his name brought up, but I honestly have never figured out the connection that makes him such an obvious candidate. Did he go here?

Sorry I'm so ignorant on this topic lol.

No connection. He just looks so dreamy in those D'Annunzio suits.

 

[PhatOrange]

You and I aren't often on the same page, but I agree 100%. This is a significant hire, because [1] it is exceedingly difficult to replace icons, and [2] JB built the program from scratch and in essence IS the program. I have absolutely NOTHING against Hopkins--LOVE the guy, in fact. I just hope that our new AD does full due diligence, evaluations all options, and picks the best one. I don't want a Craig Esherick / Matt Doherty / Mike Davis flop.

If Hopkins is the best choice, that's great. But if the "best" [and I understand that this is subjective] candidate is the likes of Jay Wright, Shaka Smart, Sean Miller, or some other proven coach--and I'm not saying that any of those guys are in play--is in contention, then we'd be foolish not to consider all options.

And I don't mean that as a slight to Hopkins.

Amen. Good post

 

[Cusefan0307]

What is the Syracuse-Jay Wright connection? I always see his name brought up, but I honestly have never figured out the connection that makes him such an obvious candidate. Did he go here?

Sorry I'm so ignorant on this topic lol.

There is none, besides him coaching in the big east against us. He makes 2.3 million vs JB's 1.8 and he grew up outside of Philly. Also it's been 6 years since his final four run, and that is the last time they were past the first weekend.

 

[Melancer46]

Thanks. I mean, I like Jay Wright a lot. My father got the opportunity to meet him at a coaching clinic a few years ago and said he was just awesome. But I never understood why his name is the first to be brought up every time we talk about a successor.

I think Hop deserves it if he sticks around for it.