I mean at this point, you should have your mind made up if you are the AD. Nothing short of a run to the title should have much sway in STL (assuming you were leaning towards moving on). Given that, it makes me think he’s leaning towards moving on. If you were going to keep him around, why waste time…just announce the extension.
Whatever the decision, I sure hope he doesn’t waste any time after the tournament ends.
2-7 vs the top 4 in 2019-20
0-9 vs the top 4 in 2020-21
1-10 vs the top 5 in 2021-22
2-4 vs the top 4 in 2022-23
2-8 vs the top 5 in 2023-24
Combined: 7-38
For some reason, my gut's telling me that Mullins could take money out of his own pocket to fund the team's entry into the CBI this year in a heartbeat, if only to take the heat off of another season of missing the NCAA and NIT tourneys.Whelp probably ought to bring this back. I’m hearing conflicting info though
So... if Mullins did do this, does he buy time with those of us who are pretty much tired of the same results yet again? If he shells out $27,500 of his own to bankroll the Salukis into the CBI, do we call off the "fire Mullins" dogs here?
It's an interesting proposition... and honestly, if he did do this, it would mean something - that he's willing to pony up some dough to prove that he's willing to go above and beyond if it means playing anything resembling postseason hoops in March.
I'd give him a pass if he did this... but he probably won't, saying the CBI's beneath him. But something's gotta change here, because this'll be 17 straight years with no NCAA tourney, and 16 straight years of missing the NIT as well.
Interesting scenario. Up until a few years ago, I would have gagged at the idea of playing in the CBI. It seemed like the type of thing Hinson would have done so he could have said, "Look, Ma, I made a postseason tournament!" But now, after so many years without postseason play, my feeling has gone from "No way" to "Well, maybe ..." Heck, the tournament takes place only 90 minutes from where I live, so I might even be able to catch a game or two. I agree that either Mullins or a booster would have to pony up the cash, because I don't see the administration spending any money for it.
2-7 vs the top 4 in 2019-20
0-9 vs the top 4 in 2020-21
1-10 vs the top 5 in 2021-22
2-4 vs the top 4 in 2022-23
2-8 vs the top 5 in 2023-24
Combined: 7-38
Yikes. That's pretty telling. I believe this is also 4-out-of-5 years we've been relegated to playing on Thursday?
I'm actually torn on what should happen. I like Bryan very much and don't really want to see him fired. Part of me says he should get at least as much rope as the little shyster Hinson did. Another part of me says 17 years of being an also-ran is way too long.
2-7 vs the top 4 in 2019-20
0-9 vs the top 4 in 2020-21
1-10 vs the top 5 in 2021-22
2-4 vs the top 4 in 2022-23
2-8 vs the top 5 in 2023-24
Combined: 7-38
Yikes. That's pretty telling. I believe this is also 4-out-of-5 years we've been relegated to playing on Thursday?
I'm actually torn on what should happen. I like Bryan very much and don't really want to see him fired. Part of me says he should get at least as much rope as the little shyster Hinson did. Another part of me says 17 years of being an also-ran is way too long.
17 years is too long. And it’s guaranteed to be 18 if we restart now. I’ve been frustrated a few times this season, including today, but restarting every 5 years isn’t the answer. A couple more years to see this through isn’t a terrible idea. I’ve got the patience for it, and I bet a lot of the people on here are of the age that calls out my generation for “instant gratification.” He has, at a minimum, earned the right to get at least the leash that Hinson had.
Just because we haven’t won a championship yet, doesn’t mean things are in terrible condition. I’ve been watching SIU basketball basically every game since 2013 (yes I didn’t catch the glory years much), and this is what I see:
1. Best crowds I’ve seen consistently
2. Most fun years that I’ve been a part of (of course, could be better with more consistency)
I am not giving up on this yet. Give an extension of a couple of years.
I can't really say what should happen. I don't know Brian Mullins personally the way athletic department people do I assume. I do think he improved this year and the offense improved and he definitely started trying to use the big guys better.
I would say this though. If I did know him the way the AD and some of those people probably know him and I thought he was the kind of stubborn coach that didn't listen to people and wasn't willing to think out of the box, he'd probably be gone. I'd look seriously at trying to raise more money and maybe hiring a guy away like Josh Scherz.
However if I thought he was the kind of young coach who was willing to listen and learn and change as needed, I'd give him an extension.
In other words I don't think it's necessarily just all about his record. I think it's also about his potential and his personality and the way he goes about his job everyday.
And by the way, today's Washington Post sports page had an article about Xavier Johnson and the Salukis. Good publicity on the East Coast. Maybe give us a boost in recruiting out that way.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/01/xavier-johnson-southern-illinois/
I loved the Mullins hire and advocated for it from the beginning because I thought he'd be a hungry young coach that was willing to adapt when needed. He just hasn't been that.
The try-hard attitude works against the bad teams in the Valley but when it comes time to playing the contenders, SIU shows they don't have the talent or the coach. They can try-hard their way to 20 wins as long as the schedule isn't too crazy but they'll never come close to even an NIT as long as they continue to lose to the good teams in the Valley.
Things can change with the portal but this team is losing two starting guards including a top 3 scorer in the country and top 3 player in the MVC. They're gonna need to replicate what Indiana State did last offseason with Swope and Conwell to even have a shot at contending next season.
I loved the Mullins hire and advocated for it from the beginning because I thought he'd be a hungry young coach that was willing to adapt when needed. He just hasn't been that.
The try-hard attitude works against the bad teams in the Valley but when it comes time to playing the contenders, SIU shows they don't have the talent or the coach. They can try-hard their way to 20 wins as long as the schedule isn't too crazy but they'll never come close to even an NIT as long as they continue to lose to the good teams in the Valley.
Things can change with the portal but this team is losing two starting guards including a top 3 scorer in the country and top 3 player in the MVC. They're gonna need to replicate what Indiana State did last offseason with Swope and Conwell to even have a shot at contending next season.
in the world of the portent there’s almost no sense prognosticating what next year looks like until they start playing games next year… gotta make a decision on Bryan right away tho. Get rid of him or extend him. The in between will run the program into the ground.
@kyle_saluki_17 That is probably something of a blessing my friend. The glory years were amazing. I was a heavy business traveler back then and everwhere I went in this country the other travellers I chit chatted with knew the Southern Illinous Salukis and were almost universally fans of our up and coming mid-major school. I woud typically wear a hat, shirt, pin or some other items to identify my Salukis. More often than not, it was the other busienss travelers that recognized the name Salukis and would ask me about the team and the school. Those days are long gone. In fact, the trajectory of the entire school has seemed downward since our sports programs collapsed. Most of my Saluki car magnets, coozies, flags and other prized treasures of yesteryear are now yellowing in a closet. At least we'll always have the Sweet 16s and the amazing game at Butler. I'll never forget that feeling that the wooden bleachers in the Arena might collapse during those rowdy home games. Those were truly the days.
After going back and forth about it as the season progressed, I'm more or less back to my original stance on Mullins. The charlatan who preceded him got seven years, so Mullins -- based on his SIU pedigree and the way he and his players represent the school -- deserves that much for fairness' sake. But if a performance review is part of the process of extending his contract, I would hope that the reviewer would be brutally honest (unless, of course, the school is fine with a ceiling of 20-win seasons that don't include postseason play). I'd also include two other caveats: Make the extension relatively short beyond that seventh year; and, if the extension includes a raise, don't break the bank (although I'm not sure the school has much "bank" to break).
I think one variable that hasn’t really been discussed much, and works to Mullins detriment in my eyes, is that Leonard hasn’t really got to hire anyone since he took over. Especially not at a high impact program like Men’s basketball. I think he hired the latest Women’s soccer coach…that may be it?
In any case, if he’s not 100% sold on Mullins he may very well want to bring in “his own guy” and this would be an opportunity for him to do so. Not saying this is the primary concern when making the decision, but it could certainly be a tipping factor one way or the other.
I have no reason to believe he doesn’t have a good relationship with Mullins btw…just some food for thought.
If you look at Leonard's track record he seems to be patient with coaches with that being said I have been a fan for 50 years I have seen the lowest of lows and the highest of highs I have seen good coaches and bad and yes when rivals jump up quickly it is frustrating but I am inclined to give Bryan an extension for all of the reasons that have already been mentioned plus I believe he is one good point guard and shooting guard away from being dominant if the core stays together because the length and athleticism on the roster is better than at any time in 10 years and I believe Bryan has a vision for sustainably not just a quick fix yes in today's time patience is thin but do you want long term fixes or a 1 hit wonder and then we start over again but the CBI would be good for some of the younger players to get experience where they haven't got alot this year
Nothing personal, 5 years is enough for me. $2.25 million reasons.
Compare that to Josh Schertz over at Indiana State, who made 300K his first two seasons with the Sycs, and this past fall got a contract extension which bumped it up to $365K per year through the 2027-28 season.Nothing personal, 5 years is enough for me. $2.25 million reasons.
Mullins pulled in $110K more this year than Schertz, and which one is going to the postseason? If Bryan wants to pay that $27,500 CBI entry fee to mitigate the money he's earned for NO postseason appearances... that'd be a start.
Compare that to Josh Schertz over at Indiana State, who made 300K his first two seasons with the Sycs, and this past fall got a contract extension which bumped it up to $365K per year through the 2027-28 season.Nothing personal, 5 years is enough for me. $2.25 million reasons.
Mullins pulled in $110K more this year than Schertz, and which one is going to the postseason? If Bryan wants to pay that $27,500 CBI entry fee to mitigate the money he's earned for NO postseason appearances... that'd be a start.
There's a reasonable debate to be had about Mullins' body of work, but not sure comparing him to literally one of the hottest coaches in the country is the most fair comparison. The other side of that equation is, let's see if Schertz is still in Terre Haute come April 1, given the aforementioned salary situation (though I'm sure the Sycs will offer a big raise).
I would like to think Mullins would be capable of results similar to what Wardle gradually built at Bradley, but so far, it hasn't happened. Beating them on Fri night would be a nice step in that direction.
Also ... who gives a rat's ass about the CBI? 😀
