Interesting column from Jeff Goodman where Valley basketball coaches anonymously rank and comment on the best jobs the Valley.
Personally, #1 and #2 are a head-scratcher.
Would have been interesting if this same poll had been done 8-9 years ago. I think we definitely would have come across better (even with Wichita State and Creighton in the league). Mario Moccia really started a downward spiral of this program and Barry has taken it to new extremes. Our leadership has done so much damage in that timeframe that I'm not sure we will ever fully recover.
I'm not sure that I'd disagree that much with the top 2. ISU could be a very good job, they do have some resources at their disposal and while I don't care for Redbird Arena, they do have decent facilities. They can also tap a recruiting base, if it's done right, in a large portion of the state and a couple of surrounding states. Bradley still has a lot of old $$$$ supporting the program and it could be a very good job, if they would find the right guy (wonder if there is Jim Les regret in Peoria?).
There are some other things in the listings that raise and eyebrow, the tradition and facilities at Evansville are very good, unfortunately the school is very difficult to draw good recruits to. However, Evansville has decent community support when they aren't good, and when they are good they do draw.
Facilities ranked 8th? I could be wrong but SIU Arena, weight rooms, locker rooms, etc. should be at least top 4? Also a recruiting base at 7 seems like a joke. We should be able to pull from St. Louis and Chicago, but maybe they’re referring to Barry’s recruiting base. Our budget is weak, however.
Facilities ranked 8th? I could be wrong but SIU Arena, weight rooms, locker rooms, etc. should be at least top 4? Also a recruiting base at 7 seems like a joke. We should be able to pull from St. Louis and Chicago, but maybe they’re referring to Barry’s recruiting base. Our budget is weak, however.
I wonder if we scored lower because we don't have a practice facility. I don't understand the need for a basketball practice facility unless you play in an off-campus arena. I would want to practice on the same floor that I play on.
There’s events in the Arena that don’t always allow the floor to be open. I can see that side of the argument. Problem is, SIU simply lacks the cash to build a dedicated on-campus practice facility.
Facilities ranked 8th? I could be wrong but SIU Arena, weight rooms, locker rooms, etc. should be at least top 4? Also a recruiting base at 7 seems like a joke. We should be able to pull from St. Louis and Chicago, but maybe they’re referring to Barry’s recruiting base. Our budget is weak, however.
Facilities??? When was this taken - 15 years ago? With the arena rebuild, the arena is great. Ranked below UNI or Loyola's high school gym? Not to mention I can't believe anyone has a nicer weight training center than the Trout-Whitmann. A practice facility is a waste. Not needed.
I'd lay money that it was our guy Barry describing Evansville as "big-time." 😆
--Insert something witty here--
Facilities ranked 8th? I could be wrong but SIU Arena, weight rooms, locker rooms, etc. should be at least top 4? Also a recruiting base at 7 seems like a joke. We should be able to pull from St. Louis and Chicago, but maybe they’re referring to Barry’s recruiting base. Our budget is weak, however.
I wonder if we scored lower because we don't have a practice facility. I don't understand the need for a basketball practice facility unless you play in an off-campus arena. I would want to practice on the same floor that I play on.
I agree, however coaches these days like to be able to have a facility that the players can access 24/7 for individual workout, not simply practice or instruction. That isn't possible with the arena nor Davies.
