HakAttack
Shirt World Hater, Script Jersey Lover.
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2011
- Messages
- 4,344
- Like
- 7,709
This. x100.
Gerry McNamara needs to be the next coach
- Thread starter bballbeadle
- Start date
This. x100.
Irishsecra1
2nd String
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2021
- Messages
- 723
- Like
- 2,656
One of the reasons why there was no succession plan as far as JB was concerned.
He did not want to leave so had no time to set up Gerry as his successor.
If anything advocating for Gerry after he was kicked out, probably was a huge black mark against Gerry.
Probably continues to be a black mark against Gerry.
The last 10 is a stretch. His entitlement (really, arrogance) was always there but just became a problem when he stopped winning. His unwillingness to recruit was very baffling and annoying. He still had the fire on the court though, until the last few years.
Acesn8s
Starter
- Joined
- May 17, 2018
- Messages
- 1,569
- Like
- 3,135
Gerry McNamara was not a good player for Syracuse he was a great one, and I would hate for him in 3 years to be tarnished because he failed at this job. I do not think his two years at Siena are enough to take on a task of this magnitude. I was in the camp and maybe a camp of one that I want a coach who is a bit older, who has rebuilt programs over time, and has success at those programs. I'm not saying him but somebody like Greg McDermott, he almost certainly will be leaving Creighton at end of this year, he might love a new scene like Syracuse, or again maybe somebody like that with that pedigree . There are no sure things but a failed hire here we may never come back to relevance. There are 18 teams in this conference now if you go 6 or 7 years with no tourney appearances you may never crawl out of it.
bballbeadle
Woman of a certain age
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 18,540
- Like
- 51,466
Well, since I started this thread, I guess I should put in my two cents. I am good with either Gerry or Hodgkin. They both bring different strengths. I am not of the opinion that Gerry is fruit from the poisoned tree. That is not his fault. Duke took a chance on Scheyer and Scheyer has been a great coach. He will be at Duke for life. Many Duke fans were rather sick of K by the end, believe it or not. But legacy is important to Duke. If Gerry is successful, he will be here for life.
Hodgkin would be a great hire, but there are no guarantees with him, either. Gerry and Hodgkin are around the same age. Someone made the point that Hodgkin seems to run a more dynamic offense. That is appealing but perhaps Hodgkin has the players to do that. Gerry works with what he has.
The money and NIL make it all the more complicated, and I have no wisdom or insight about that except that I HATE it. Does Gerry even want this job? I am sure he understands the pressure he would be under.
There are no guarantees in life.
Hodgkin would be a great hire, but there are no guarantees with him, either. Gerry and Hodgkin are around the same age. Someone made the point that Hodgkin seems to run a more dynamic offense. That is appealing but perhaps Hodgkin has the players to do that. Gerry works with what he has.
The money and NIL make it all the more complicated, and I have no wisdom or insight about that except that I HATE it. Does Gerry even want this job? I am sure he understands the pressure he would be under.
There are no guarantees in life.
SU basketball is not football. You greatly underestimate the standing of this basketball program on the national stage. Sure it’s been a few down years but it is still a top tier program with only a very small handful of programs decidedly better.
721Comstock
2022 Iggy Awards: Leading Scorer/Game/Buddy 3s
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2015
- Messages
- 28,002
- Like
- 123,680
You are comparing apples and former Oranges.
GMac was a big part of the slide into obscurity before Red got the gig.
And while he’s having a nice season at Siena, they are a low low low mid major.
Doty is pretty much the team.
BH had success as an assistant w Oates at UB and Bama, and then at 2 different programs now as HC.
And USF is substantially further up the food chain than Siena.
BH has a proven system on O, with metrics amongst the very best across all of D1, P4’s included.
And solid D also.
GMac’s metrics are - meh.
They are in no way comparable.
Once again, with feeling:
If the Siena HC was named Gerry Smith, and had never been involved w Cuse in any manner -
no sane fan would be considering him for the HC gig.
None.
He’s getting ZERO buzz for ANY other P4 opening.
I think Gerry ihas done the right things and has done a great job at Siena. Given the failure of Autry and to some extent , Hopkins, there will be a bias against hiring another former player. Not good timing for GMac but he will get his big-program opportunity at some point.
IthacaMatt
Old Timer / Unofficial Contributor for 25+ years
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 27,502
- Like
- 43,119
When was Mike supposed to take over? I'm pretty sure it was after the 2016 season, and when Boeheim let it be known that he didn't want to leave, that's when Mike checked out. He was here that one more season but didn't sign any recruits. He saved them for his next job.
So, yeah, that's 10 years since Boeheim reneged on his agreement with Syverud after his 2nd probation.
Cusefan95
All Conference
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2011
- Messages
- 3,548
- Like
- 6,653
Syracuse hasn’t had a year with single digit losses since 2014. Kids do not care about history, so fans overrate where Syracuse stands. Where history matters is when there are two good years in a row - there’s instant credibility. Houston has benefited from that recently.
But if a coach left Syracuse for an SEC school like Auburn with little history, but a bigger NIL and higher salary - I don’t think anyone outside of Syracuse fandom would be shocked.
Last edited:
Sure, but don’t discount that Gerry inherited a 4 win program and has 23 wins and an NCAA berth. It is not trivial.
Final 4 in 2016. Sweet 16 in 2018 and 2021. I don’t care much they didn’t have single digit losses those years.
dollarbill44
Hall of Fame
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 9,592
- Like
- 17,775
This post is absurd. You can't fault someone for transporting the dead hooker in the trunk. Be reasonable.
dollarbill44
Hall of Fame
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2011
- Messages
- 9,592
- Like
- 17,775
But, we probably should. W-L percentage is a good indicator of a strong program. You increase your odds of a deep run with better seeding. You get a better seed by winning more games in the regular season.
Plus, the program gets better media exposure when the team is ranked throughout the season vs being a perennial bubble team.
Irishsecra1
2nd String
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2021
- Messages
- 723
- Like
- 2,656
Honestly, if you are strictly looking at Metrics, then you are right, Gerry should not even be considered.
And if he was Joe Blow at Siena, we probably wouldn't consider him or even talk about him on this board.
But he is not Joe Blow, he is Gerry McNamara.
Won our only national championship with an epic 3 point barrage as a freshman.
Willed his 9 seed team to a historic Big East Championship when literally all hope was lost to get to the NCAAT.
Flat out won as a player, even when he had to carry SU on his back.
Grad manager for 2 years, Assistant coach for 13 years at SU.
In those years, SU went to 9 NCAAT and one NIT. Made 2 final fours, 1 elite eight, 3 sweet sixteens.
Last trip was 20-21 and a sweet sixteen.
So, though the team definitely went down the last 3 years, he was not an assistant at a bottom tier losing program.
So, you could say, for the most part, his teams won when he was an assistant until JBs coaching issues dragged them down.
Then becomes head coach at Siena. Frankly no one thought he would do much there, at least initially.
Team was 4-28 the year he showed up.
He built the team from scratch - everything had to be redone.
Promised at his introductory news conference that he was there to win.
That all he had done his whole life was geared toward winning, every day in the gym he was focused on what could he do to win. That is what he said.
2 years later his team is 23-11 and won their tournament and a ticket to the NCAAT for the first time in 16 years. He promised he would win and he kept that promise.
So, you can say that he flat out won as a head coach.
Bottom line is he has been a winner his whole life.
He has never shirked from a challenge, has never failed to achieve what he set out to do.
That is why so many, including myself, are advocating for GMAC.
I dont blame him for Jims slide in the later years. Seriously, what was he supposed to do to fix it.
He wasnt in control of the program. He could help as best he could but he could not fix what ailed us.
All I know is that once he was in control he brought Siena back from the scrap heap.
Brought in players, set up a winning culture and a defensive identity as a bunch of scrappers who wont leave you alone.
They will be dancing next week, we are still waiting and waiting.
And if he was Joe Blow at Siena, we probably wouldn't consider him or even talk about him on this board.
But he is not Joe Blow, he is Gerry McNamara.
Won our only national championship with an epic 3 point barrage as a freshman.
Willed his 9 seed team to a historic Big East Championship when literally all hope was lost to get to the NCAAT.
Flat out won as a player, even when he had to carry SU on his back.
Grad manager for 2 years, Assistant coach for 13 years at SU.
In those years, SU went to 9 NCAAT and one NIT. Made 2 final fours, 1 elite eight, 3 sweet sixteens.
Last trip was 20-21 and a sweet sixteen.
So, though the team definitely went down the last 3 years, he was not an assistant at a bottom tier losing program.
So, you could say, for the most part, his teams won when he was an assistant until JBs coaching issues dragged them down.
Then becomes head coach at Siena. Frankly no one thought he would do much there, at least initially.
Team was 4-28 the year he showed up.
He built the team from scratch - everything had to be redone.
Promised at his introductory news conference that he was there to win.
That all he had done his whole life was geared toward winning, every day in the gym he was focused on what could he do to win. That is what he said.
2 years later his team is 23-11 and won their tournament and a ticket to the NCAAT for the first time in 16 years. He promised he would win and he kept that promise.
So, you can say that he flat out won as a head coach.
Bottom line is he has been a winner his whole life.
He has never shirked from a challenge, has never failed to achieve what he set out to do.
That is why so many, including myself, are advocating for GMAC.
I dont blame him for Jims slide in the later years. Seriously, what was he supposed to do to fix it.
He wasnt in control of the program. He could help as best he could but he could not fix what ailed us.
All I know is that once he was in control he brought Siena back from the scrap heap.
Brought in players, set up a winning culture and a defensive identity as a bunch of scrappers who wont leave you alone.
They will be dancing next week, we are still waiting and waiting.
Well, it’s easier to turn around a program in a dog-crap league like the MAAC. I live in the Albany area, I’ve seen a number of Siena games. And I’m vastly unimpressed with the general level of teams in that league. BC would probably go unbeaten in the MAAC. The fact is, as has been noted, if the coach was anyone other than a beloved alum, no one here would be taking him seriously.
It is all relative. I don’t think it is any easier to turn around a MAAC team than in other leagues. Recruiting is still hard and coaching still needs to be good. NIL funding is low in the MAAC.
He took a 4 win team to 23 wins. Another year of that and he will get looks. Teams will take him seriously. Sure, BC coach might win the MAAC but not necessarily with Siena’s players.
You know, when things are told to you with the condition that you do not repeat them, you should honor that pledge.
Obviously less losses is better but the team didn’t fall off the cliff after their last single-digit loss season. They got into a Final Four. In the Final Four, your record is irrelevant.
Hiring Gerry at this time would just be another mistake. Let him coach a few more years, and if the job opens up again , and he is doing well then hire him.
If you foul this up now we will never get the program back.
He is not getting the SU job but he has still done a great job with Siena.
Cuseregular
Hall of Fame
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2011
- Messages
- 9,968
- Like
- 28,859
RF2044
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 32,723
- Like
- 114,037
CuseFaninVT
2023-24 Iggy Winner Leading Rebounder
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
- Messages
- 47,380
- Like
- 108,230
This board was the source for that article.
Similar threads
