@salukiworld that was my initial thought on a chance of getting him also. But when my wife mentioned the sighting I thought I'd at least mention it.
My wife just read that Huggins was sighted at the SIU airport. She didn't know who he was but I had heard a rumor while at the MVC tournament that they were going after him. I dismissed it as hopeful thinking as his last salary was 4.2m. But was told he wants to retire on a high note and it wasn't about the money as he's already made enough.
There is 0 chance SIU is hiring a 70 year old drunk, right?
I think if Huggins is actually in Carbondale, it might be about Jerrod Calhoun (Youngstown State Head Coach)
The Huggins-Calhoun connection makes perfect sense because Calhoun was director of basketball operations and then an assistant at WVU. Can't see Huggins himself being interested, or SIU being interested in him, but who knows? I remember that after Gottfried was canned, there was a similar rumor about a Gene Bartow sighting at the airport. Turned out that it was merely a guy who looked a lot like Bartow.
Speaking of Rumours
the ghost of Bobby Knight might be coming back to haunt the SIU arena😵💫
Despite the mass exodus we had yesterday, I still contend that the longer this goes, the better it will end up for Southern. If SIU were locked in on Smithpeters even before firing Mullins - like I read by multiple people on here and X - it seems like it would’ve happened by now.
No matter who the next coach is. It will be 3-4 years before we get relevant again.
Because of NIL MONEY and that players want to play in the NCAA and not a chance we sniff it in 5 years
No matter who the next coach is. It will be 3-4 years before we get relevant again.
Because of NIL MONEY and that players want to play in the NCAA and not a chance we sniff it in 5 years
This isn't true. Western Kentucky hired Steve Lutz this year and he flipped a roster to an NCAA Tournament. Danny Sprinkle did the same at Utah State. I'm not saying expectations should be high next year but you can flip a team fast in the portal era. It's something Bryan really struggled with the last 3 years and probably what ultimately did him in.
@salukiworld It’s got to be the proper hire. If the hire goes south. Well you know what is going to happen. Also NIL money. That’s what is holding us back. I am being a realist. We will be taken to the woodshed numerous times next year and until we get 10or so decent players. It will at least 3-5 years.
Despite the mass exodus we had yesterday, I still contend that the longer this goes, the better it will end up for Southern. If SIU were locked in on Smithpeters even before firing Mullins - like I read by multiple people on here and X - it seems like it would’ve happened by now.
we already told you who they were waiting on.
@barkeep-1967 hopefully it’s a good choice. Because I don’t think the admin survive if they fail.
@barkeep-1967 I may have missed it. I think the only name I’ve seen so-called insiders supposedly convinced that SIU was after is Smithpeters. You referring to Spradlin?
The portal era sucks, with the exception of one thing. If you fire a coach, it’s easier than ever before to rebuild a good roster quickly. Before, you had to go through at last two bad years before you could expect success. Now, you can be successful in year one with the right coach.
@barkeep-1967 I may have missed it. I think the only name I’ve seen so-called insiders supposedly convinced that SIU was after is Smithpeters. You referring to Spradlin?
there was Devin Johnson, associate HC at Texas A&M. That would be a Lane call.
they were not complete roster change overs some players stayedNo matter who the next coach is. It will be 3-4 years before we get relevant again.
Because of NIL MONEY and that players want to play in the NCAA and not a chance we sniff it in 5 yearsThis isn't true. Western Kentucky hired Steve Lutz this year and he flipped a roster to an NCAA Tournament. Danny Sprinkle did the same at Utah State. I'm not saying expectations should be high next year but you can flip a team fast in the portal era. It's something Bryan really struggled with the last 3 years and probably what ultimately did him in.
they were not complete roster change overs some players stayedNo matter who the next coach is. It will be 3-4 years before we get relevant again.
Because of NIL MONEY and that players want to play in the NCAA and not a chance we sniff it in 5 yearsThis isn't true. Western Kentucky hired Steve Lutz this year and he flipped a roster to an NCAA Tournament. Danny Sprinkle did the same at Utah State. I'm not saying expectations should be high next year but you can flip a team fast in the portal era. It's something Bryan really struggled with the last 3 years and probably what ultimately did him in.
Utah State returned 0.1% of their minutes last year. Western Kentucky returned 20.6% of their minutes. Will Wade flipped the roster at McNeese State too, 16.8% returning minutes.
@barkeep-1967 I may have missed it. I think the only name I’ve seen so-called insiders supposedly convinced that SIU was after is Smithpeters. You referring to Spradlin?
there was Devin Johnson, associate HC at Texas A&M. That would be a Lane call.
If it does go this direction, I don’t see it sitting well with a lot of people. It means the coach was already pre-determined with no “search”. Also everything that came out of Leonard’s mouth about what he is looking for in the next coach was just a bunch of gibberish. Won’t be a good look for the administration especially with half of the fanbase already not happy over the firing.
