Hey Everybody!
I left here months back. I struggled with the creeping acceptance of mediocrity that plagued a good portion of the fanbase.
Let me get this out of the way: I feel terrible for Bryan Mullins.
Mullins exemplified/exemplifies everything good about Saluki basketball. He was a tough ass player; a great leader on and off the court.
It really sucks that this didn’t work out.
On top of that, I genuinely believe he’s going to be successful in basketball moving forward. Not sure where it will be, but he will find his footing again.
It was clear Bryan showed growth this past year. The offense looked better. His rotations got a little tighter…but unfortunately some of his loyalties and bull-headedness got in the way during key situations.
The losses to Austin Peay, Bradley, Missouri State, and UIC were as much on him as the players. Tough, tough losses that may have cost him his job.
The truth is when you regularly struggle against the top of your conference, you can’t sniff a postseason (NIT or NCAA) with a NET regularly outside 100, and you’re unable to recruit…well, it’s probably time to go.
Having an all Big Ten conference player, a top of the line Big Ten starter, and a top national scorer, and STILL fielding an offensive efficiency BELOW the 200th rank in the country (2023)? Also an issue.
The decision isn’t easy, though. BMull had to navigate COVID in Year 2, the loss of his best player for most of Year 2, changes to transfer rules, changes to NIL, and moving through Year 4 with Lance losing his father. One could say a young coach having to learn the head coaching game at the D-1 level AND taking on all these challenges would be more than enough for anybody.
It sucks that it ended like this, but the choice was to extend after another middling season, or have him play out another year with little chance of getting recruits.
I love Bryan Mullins, but the choice to move on was right.
Here’s hoping SIU can get the next hire right. It won’t be easy for whoever takes the job. College coaching is evolving with every new whim/ripple the NIL shows us.
I love Bryan, I love SIU, and I still hate Illinois State.
dools
Bow Em
I agree with everything you say here. But it's pointless if the replacement isn't an upgrade.
If the replacement is indeed KS, that is not an upgrade.
It's just not, in any way. And yes: it stinks to high heaven.
(Inflammatory political snark)
I agree with everything you say here. But it's pointless if the replacement isn't an upgrade.
If the replacement is indeed KS, that is not an upgrade.
It's just not, in any way. And yes: it stinks to high heaven.
can’t get any worse Bryan was by far one do the worst in game coaches I’ve ever seen. Or siu has seen quite frankly. The last half of the season showed he was so out of his element
The scenario mentioned earlier is accurate and unfortunate. Bryan was not on the team bus after the game when the report was leaked to ESPN. That's when and how most of the players found out. I spoke to someone who was on the bus yesterday.
Hey Everybody!
I left here months back. I struggled with the creeping acceptance of mediocrity that plagued a good portion of the fanbase.
Let me get this out of the way: I feel terrible for Bryan Mullins.
Mullins exemplified/exemplifies everything good about Saluki basketball. He was a tough ass player; a great leader on and off the court.
It really sucks that this didn’t work out.
On top of that, I genuinely believe he’s going to be successful in basketball moving forward. Not sure where it will be, but he will find his footing again.It was clear Bryan showed growth this past year. The offense looked better. His rotations got a little tighter…but unfortunately some of his loyalties and bull-headedness got in the way during key situations.
The losses to Austin Peay, Bradley, Missouri State, and UIC were as much on him as the players. Tough, tough losses that may have cost him his job.
The truth is when you regularly struggle against the top of your conference, you can’t sniff a postseason (NIT or NCAA) with a NET regularly outside 100, and you’re unable to recruit…well, it’s probably time to go.
Having an all Big Ten conference player, a top of the line Big Ten starter, and a top national scorer, and STILL fielding an offensive efficiency BELOW the 200th rank in the country (2023)? Also an issue.
The decision isn’t easy, though. BMull had to navigate COVID in Year 2, the loss of his best player for most of Year 2, changes to transfer rules, changes to NIL, and moving through Year 4 with Lance losing his father. One could say a young coach having to learn the head coaching game at the D-1 level AND taking on all these challenges would be more than enough for anybody.
It sucks that it ended like this, but the choice was to extend after another middling season, or have him play out another year with little chance of getting recruits.
I love Bryan Mullins, but the choice to move on was right.
Here’s hoping SIU can get the next hire right. It won’t be easy for whoever takes the job. College coaching is evolving with every new whim/ripple the NIL shows us.
I love Bryan, I love SIU, and I still hate Illinois State.
dools
I'm with you!!!
The scenario mentioned earlier is accurate and unfortunate. Bryan was not on the team bus after the game when the report was leaked to ESPN. That's when and how most of the players found out. I spoke to someone who was on the bus yesterday.
Not good
The scenario mentioned earlier is accurate and unfortunate. Bryan was not on the team bus after the game when the report was leaked to ESPN. That's when and how most of the players found out. I spoke to someone who was on the bus yesterday.
Thanks for confirming.
Hearing Bryan to UIC looking likely
I have no idea why they would want that. His two issues are coaching in games and recruiting. They saw his lack of in game coaching first hand and uic has a worse recruiting footprint than siu.
then why did they win fewer games and finish behind us in the standingsHearing Bryan to UIC looking likely
I have no idea why they would want that. His two issues are coaching in games and recruiting. They saw his lack of in game coaching first hand and uic has a worse recruiting footprint than siu.
@dunkledog His dad runs one of the top AAU programs in the country. I would think that being in chicago that maybe some of those players would be interested in the UIC program. but i am just guessing.
@jabman62 why did bryan lose to them in horrible fashion in the tourney? Why haven’t we seen any results from the wolves pipeline he was supposedly brining. Winning more games than uic isn’t an accomplishment and it’s quite sad siu fans think being mid is an acceptable thing.
@dunkledog His dad runs one of the top AAU programs in the country. I would think that being in chicago that maybe some of those players would be interested in the UIC program. but i am just guessing.
weird how we never saw results from that. Same time uic never will beat out the other Chicago schools even with that connection
Hearing Bryan to UIC looking likely
I have no idea why they would want that. His two issues are coaching in games and recruiting. They saw his lack of in game coaching first hand and uic has a worse recruiting footprint than siu.
Whether you like it or not….a lot of teams would take what we have done in the past 5 years….not saying we should but the lower level of teams would be really excited to have those results. Not every team is NCAA or bust.
@dunkledog interesting that maybe that they didnt like the area(SIU) from the Mullins dads AAU teams. Maybe they like the big city more. IDK but if Mullins lands at UIC. he will get players (what type) i wouldnt know but UIC did have AAU players on there whether they were Mullins dads IDK
