John Wildhack joins Orange Nation today at 12:15

[JeremyCuse]

He has to show full support. There is no other choice at this point if Red is to be back.

I expect a full and complete support statement at end of season.

If it's a half ass short lease support than Red is completely doomed, how is he (or Kline) supposed to go out and drum up NIL support in the off season? How is Red going to recruit from HS or even the portal if EVERYONE knows he is a one year lame duck?

Those are definitely major hurdles Red will need to try and overcome. It's why I would have moved on if I had the call but the University gave him a third year so he's gonna have to figure it out.

 

[PhatOrange]

So if we go 21-14, make the First Four game as an 11 seed, and lose... that's enough to keep his job?

No. Meaningful means contending for the ACC (tournament) trophy (like making it to the final or semifinal and being solidly in the NCAA tourney. That's why he said what do you think it means. It doesn't mean being a bubble team and being the play in game. He knows that and he knows his fans know that.

 

[PhatOrange]

Everyone knew Red would get another year so I think as fans we should be happy with these JW comments. He's publicly fired warning shots at Red and set pretty clear public expectations. I suppose next year he can move the goalposts a little on what meaningful games mean, but I think that's fine. He can't box himself into a corner until he sees what transpires next year.

What sucks is that complete apathy has set in for me (I didn't even know they played Tuesday night until after the fact)...I'm completely checked out and it'll be hard to kick start it back up in the fall.

 

[Red2003]

Of, if you're Hodgson, you make it known to JW or whoever that if you want me, you want me now.

Haha. What. Coming in hot with the demands from the Sun Belt.

 

[kingtidge]

Haha. What. Coming in hot with the demands from the Sun Belt.

He'll go elsewhere at the end of this season for more $$$ than we'd pay him next year anyways.

 

[JeffCuse]

He didn't use those exact words obviously but he made it pretty easy to read between the lines.

He refuses to draw a clear benchmark because he wants to be able to move the goalposts later.
Infuriating

 

[cliftonparksufan]

No. Meaningful means contending for the ACC (tournament) trophy (like making it to the final or semifinal and being solidly in the NCAA tourney. That's why he said what do you think it means. It doesn't mean being a bubble team and being the play in game. He knows that and he knows his fans know that.

It’s nuts, because the program is at such a low point that Red could show a big improvement and the team could still be barely relevant.

Lets say 12-8 in conference, 20-12 overall, with a few more wins in the ACCT.

We get into the NCAAT and win one or zero games
Is that considered a success? It is for programs that are really struggling.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Everyone knew Red would get another year so I think as fans we should be happy with these JW comments. He's publicly fired warning shots at Red and set pretty clear public expectations. I suppose next year he can move the goalposts a little on what meaningful games mean, but I think that's fine. He can't box himself into a corner and until he sees what transpires next year.

What sucks is that complete apathy has set in for me (I didn't even know they played Tuesday night until after the fact)...I'm completely checked out and it'll be hard to kick start it back up in the fall.

I think by phrasing it that way it allows fans to create their own definition of "meaningful games" which IMO is actually worse. He could have said if we make the Sweet 16, he will stay. If we have a losing season, he will be gone. Anything in between is a gray area and will depend on a multitude of factors. That being said the likelihood of a change increases the closer he is to that bottom.

I think for a lot of fans meaningful games means Top 25 team. Playing in the First Four and losing isn't meaningful enough. Which would make fans angry if Red is retained.

 

[Franz69]

It's entirely possible that Hodgson bides his time for one more year to get a chance at this gig.

 

[Sbucketball]

He refuses to draw a clear benchmark because he wants to be able to move the goalposts later.
Infuriating

Yup. Very easy to say Tournament or Bust. He's leaving it open for an extension after a 20-win season in a horrible ACC with no tournament. End of the day it's up to the big money donors so he's giving them room to make their own decision next year.

 

[007]

He refuses to draw a clear benchmark because he wants to be able to move the goalposts later.
Infuriating

Couldn't he just as easily "move the goalposts" in either direction? Do you believe the lack of specific numbers is so that he can retain him regardless?

JW: “I won’t put a number of wins per se in that type of thing, but we all know the expectations of this program,’’ Wildhack said. “And you know what? We’ve got to meet the expectations of that program.’’

Combining that statement with his comments about Kline and being better prepared for the portal makes it clear that next year will be a make or break year for Red.

 

[JeremyCuse]

He refuses to draw a clear benchmark because he wants to be able to move the goalposts later.
Infuriating

I'd be shocked if he was back without a tourney appearance, Wildhack's been pretty clear on what he means, see Dino Babers.

 

[Red2003]

One man can save this cluster. I’m hoping that Carmelo is just biding his time until this season is over.

I get that he wants to let Kiyan build his own legacy but his involvement can really lessen some of the negativity around the program.

 

[Dinkyspond]

Let's hope that with Red coming back for at least (likely) 1 year that JW makes it known to Hodgson's agent (and any other coach's agent he is seriously interested in) that Syracuse is very interested in them so they can decide if the Syracuse job is worth waiting a year for.

Good AD's always say they have a list of potential coaches they would immediately contact if they need to make a coaching hire. Good AD's should know ahead of time who would be interested and likely to come to their school. Good AD's don't start from scratch a coaching search only after an opening occurs.

This is utterly ridiculous. You either offer him the job now or you don't. He or another coach is not going to wait around and see if we fire Red next year. What if Red miraculously turns it around next year. Hodgson and anybody else is left holding the bag. If Hodgson or somebody else gets a P5 offer to their liking before the Cuse job opens up, they are taking it.

 

[powdersmack]

I think for a lot of fans meaningful games means Top 25 team. Playing in the First Four and losing isn't meaningful enough. Which would make fans angry if Red is retained.

This. Ranked. No hanging on by our fingernails to the bubble and being the last team into the tourney.

 

[sufan59]

This is utterly ridiculous. You either offer him the job now or you don't. He's not going to wait around and see if we fire Red next year. What if Red miraculously turns it around next year and turns it around. Hodgson is left holding the bag. If Hodgson gets a P5 offer to his liking before the Cuse job opens up, he's taking it.

And if we are going to want him if next season doesn’t meet expectations, he’s going to more likely cost more than less.

 

[Cusefan95]

Well when you haven't made it in 4+ years ya making the ncaa tourney takes on a different feeling then it did previously. The teams barely been at. 500 on average the last 4 years, don't think were making a final four run next year even if JB in his prime was the coach. Team needs to make the tournament next year and look like it has a future or pull the plug and do a true nationwide search. I'd prefer to move on now but thats not happening so at least it's clear next year is boom or bust.

Scraping in to a last four in isn’t “boom” - and we both know that’ll be deemed a success. And with NIL, forecasting a future is impossible.

We’ve basically accepted at an administrative level we are now Seton Hall. Scrape into the NCAA tourney 2-3 times in a decade and call it a success. Seton Hall has to tarp off the upper levels of the Prudential Center - I’m wondering what the Dome will look like for hoops with the 300’s tarped off.

 

[SUforme]

Yes Autry will just become 10x better easy...

 

[SUFan44]

No. Meaningful means contending for the ACC (tournament) trophy (like making it to the final or semifinal and being solidly in the NCAA tourney. That's why he said what do you think it means. It doesn't mean being a bubble team and being the play in game. He knows that and he knows his fans know that.

In full transparency, I did not listen to the interview. Have not had time. But good to hear his tone is such that his expectations are higher than bubble and slightly above.

 

[littlereg]

Well when you haven't made it in 4+ years ya making the ncaa tourney takes on a different feeling then it did previously. The teams barely been at. 500 on average the last 4 years, don't think were making a final four run next year even if JB in his prime was the coach. Team needs to make the tournament next year and look like it has a future or pull the plug and do a true nationwide search. I'd prefer to move on now but thats not happening so at least it's clear next year is boom or bust.

nah man this loser train of thought will have them exactly where they continue to sit right now. It doesn’t matter if it’s been a year or 4 years The expectation at Syracuse should never just be barely make it. This exact complacency is the reason theyre where they are right now.

 

[JeffCuse]

In full transparency, I did not listen to the interview. Have not had time. But good to hear his tone is such that his expectations are higher than bubble and slightly above.

I didn't get anything specific from his tone and I believe that was the point. They want it opaque so they dont have to do anything

 

[SUFan44]

I didn't get anything specific from his tone and I believe that was the point. They want it opaque so they dont have to do anything

Then why are people saying a bubble team that is one-and-done in the NCAA Tournament wouldn't be good enough?

 

[JeremyCuse]

nah man this loser train of thought will have them exactly where they continue to sit right now. It doesn’t matter if it’s been a year or 4 years The expectation at Syracuse should never just be barely make it. This exact complacency is the reason theyre where they are right now.

That's not the train of thought moving forward, its the train of thought on whether Red is the coach after next year. Clearly SU has higher expectations then just making the tournament but again when you haven't' made it in closing in on 5 years you also can't still act like its 2004. I also don't think if SU barely gets in and gets bounced 1st round that Red is somehow safe and sound. This team needs to show a huge amount of improvement next season.

 

[Scooch]

He refuses to draw a clear benchmark because he wants to be able to move the goalposts later.
Infuriating

You gotta take a breath, my man.

JW can’t say lay out an explicit wins total, or tourney seed. Just look at the last year of Dino’s tenure. The cynics thought Dino making a bowl assured him another season. That turned out not to be true.

I think it’s highly likely that if Red doesn’t comfortably get into the tourney next year then he’s out.

 

[Scooch]

I didn't get anything specific from his tone and I believe that was the point. They want it opaque so they dont have to do anything

Did you not watch the Dino situation literally a year ago?