I've seen the question posed a few times...are we any better off with Mullins now than we were with Hinson?
Despite my frustrations with Bryan, the answer to this question will always be an unequivocal yes for me.
In terms of wins/losses, it's probably pretty similar. But in terms of literally everything else, it's night and day. Program respectability, fan interest, work ethic, character, authenticity, culture. Mullins every day.
I would rather sit through 20 mediocre seasons as a fan of the program Mullins is running, than sit through a single season of what Hinson made me put up with.
So while I am largely on the fence about whether or not we need to stick with Mullins, I will emphatically go on record as saying that I am grateful for many of the changes he has implemented with the program and that he will always rank light years ahead of Barry Hinson in my book.
To me the hardest thing is you bring Howard who has a solid background and you only give him one year to upgrade the recruiting it seems a 2 year extension would be appropriate to see if they can get over the hump
If they (and again, I ask, "Who is they?") do offer an extension, I would hope that a thorough performance evaluation accompanies it. Praise him for what he is doing well -- building a high-character program -- and be very candid about what he is not doing so well. And ask some hard questions about what steps he plans to take to improve his performance. There's a good chance he won't like this. But considering what he is being paid, it should come with the territory.
...I would rather sit through 20 mediocre seasons as a fan of the program Mullins is running, than sit through a single season of what Hinson made me put up with...
Considering they've given us nearly the exact same results (Mullins is 2-5 at the MVC tourney, one semi appearance, vs. Hinson 4-7, three semi appearances), you're nuts if you're OK with another 15 seasons like this.
You can certainly discuss the personalities of both coaches, and yes, Bryan's got the edge there when it comes to the fanbase getting behind him... at some point you HAVE to produce results, and so far, he's got five full years in and the output's been just about the same as what Hinson produced in seven seasons.
Both had their obstacles to overcome (Hinson with the dumpster fire and APR problems left by Lowery, and Mullins with COVID and the NIL), and while both have done OK with managing those hurdles... we're tired of just "OK" while other Valley teams keep going to the NCAA or NIT tourneys.
At some point, you have to pull your personal feelings about Mullins away from the record on the court, and after five seasons, we're nowhere closer to the postseason now than when we were five years ago. I think I can say with confidence you're in the minority of the fanbase if you really want 15 more years of middle-of-the-pack finishes and nothing of note in the MVC tourney.
One excellent example of a fanbase sticking with a coach they loved, despite the lack of results, was Marty Simmons at Evansville. Over 11 seasons, Marty never took the Aces to the NCAA or NIT, and had just a single MVC finals appearance. Marty ended up with a record just over .500 at Evansville (184-175), but his non-con schedule strength was miles ahead of Mullins' non-con schedules so far.
The Evansville fanbase kept giving him shot after shot, but he never could take his team to the next step. Is that what you want here, a coach that you like personally but can't produce results?
And it's not even just about the last 5 years of results from Mullins, which shouldn't be good enough to begin with. It's looking at the fact that they have 0 incoming HS recruits and are losing 2 starters, including a top 3 player in the conference this year. I just don't see how next year is gonna go any better than this year barring some portal magic
It all gets much easier when you come to the realization that I have. We are no longer a basketball school. We are a football school. 😀
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
And where is Mrs. Mullins (saluki4life) in all of this?
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
And it's not even just about the last 5 years of results from Mullins, which shouldn't be good enough to begin with. It's looking at the fact that they have 0 incoming HS recruits and are losing 2 starters, including a top 3 player in the conference this year. I just don't see how next year is gonna go any better than this year barring some portal magic
I mean I kind of like what’s coming back +Cade. Well if nobody transfers anyway
And it's not even just about the last 5 years of results from Mullins, which shouldn't be good enough to begin with. It's looking at the fact that they have 0 incoming HS recruits and are losing 2 starters, including a top 3 player in the conference this year. I just don't see how next year is gonna go any better than this year barring some portal magic
I mean I kind of like what’s coming back +Cade. Well if nobody transfers anyway
@barkeep-1967 The problem with that is that there is ZERO guarantee that anyone will come back next year if folks feel they can get more playing time someplace else.
https://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/no-chalk-the-clock-is-ticking/
Is the clock ticking at SIU? Xavier Johnson’s spectacular season masked the struggles in Little Egypt. After losing Marcus Domask and Lance Jones to Big Ten schools last offseason, there was not much left in the Saluki cupboard. Johnson carried an otherwise offensively challenged team. Johnson and veteran Trent Brown have exhausted their eligibility. Young players Ferguson and Kenard Davis are legitimate MVC players, but SIU needs more talent.
SIU Administration may be on the verge of signing a two-year extension to the contract of head coach Bryan Mullins and we think they should make that move and make it now, because the clock is ticking. We’ve also heard rumors leaning in the other direction and recruits (both high school and portal) hear those things too. We believe Mullins has one year left on his contract, if that is true, Saluki administration should confirm Mullins’ continued employment sooner rather than later.
Does SIU have the money to buy-out Bryan's final season?
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
...I would rather sit through 20 mediocre seasons as a fan of the program Mullins is running, than sit through a single season of what Hinson made me put up with...
Considering they've given us nearly the exact same results (Mullins is 2-5 at the MVC tourney, one semi appearance, vs. Hinson 4-7, three semi appearances), you're nuts if you're OK with another 15 seasons like this.
I believe you misinterpreted my words. I have been pretty clear in other posts on this board about my feelings and where I stand in regards to Mullins' performance as our head coach.
I didn't say that I am okay with 15 more years like this. I said I would prefer that to a single season from Barry Hinson. And I stand by that whether you think I'm nuts or not.
Hinson's regime was a freaking clown show. Mullins is a great guy, leading excellent young men, and has instilled a lot of things into our program that myself and the fanbase are very proud of. Proof is in the attendance. We all know that he is working tirelessly to try and do everything right and just hasn't been able to get it done. While I still lean towards a short Mullins extension, I 100% would understand and be okay with a change being made today.
But that doesn't change the fact that I am exponentially more proud to follow the Saluki basketball program right now than I was for the 7 years during Hinson's inauthentic tenure. His teams had talent, but the program was a disgrace.
Does SIU have the money to buy-out Bryan's final season?
At this point in his contract, the buyout is "only" $250,000. Chris Lowery's buyout was $1.5 million. Not sure if he ever got it.
It all gets much easier when you come to the realization that I have. We are no longer a basketball school. We are a football school. 😀
No
