Pitino had a great call-in on the radio. Talked about Menzies, how to run UNLV, and his two favorite coaches (Wright, Bennett). Also cleared up the famous airport bungle.
Joe, curious to hear your thoughts on the call-in. Pitino's great words about Menzies were nice, but he also said that a MUST for UNLV was OOC scheduling (DUH!). Why are we (as you so eloquently put it in your podcast) throwing in the towel with mediocre OOC scheduling? What is Menzies thought process with his scheduling, and how do you think his time here ends? He's a nice and boring guy, and I think we all know he's not the long-term play here.
Lastly, in your opinion, who is the right hire for UNLV? T.E. sounded drunk the whole podcast, so I'm going to cut him some slack with his suggestions. I think Pitino could have been perfect for us the first go-around had it worked out. I know it's a premature conversation, but the way the season is going- it's just more exciting.
Is Theus available? Couldn't get it done at pathetic CSUN, but if I remember correctly; Tark wanted him as a successor eventually.
I didn’t hear it, but if you look at MM’s OOC scheduling at NMSU, it was weak. And when they did play somebody mediocre, they were spanked (look at his record bs T25 and even vs the MWC). I suspect he’s gun shy and it’s become a scheduling philosophy. Dave Bliss was famous for this at UNM. Gaudy records playing nobodies, even was able to grab weeks of weeks of rankings because the record (number wise) was impressive. He rode that wave, keeps ignorant fans jumping like crazy, but then it’s revealed as fraudulent in the post season.
I can’t say how his time here ends, but I suspect it’s more likely to be with a dismissal rather than him leaving for bigger offers. Scheduling nobodies and beating (and losing) to nobodies is a formula for failure. Not challenging the team and not entertaining fans will make it short term. Something needs to change drastically.
But if UNLV can’t find much more cash, it’ll continue with whoever else they bring in, IMO, unless they fluke into it.
Theus would take this job for a dollar a month. But he was awful at CCSN. Former Rebels, of course, but this job takes a ton of attention to detail and some savvy maneuvering, a ton of time required. I don’t think that’s his strong suit at all. He’s more of a roll it out and play type of guy. And before people say “well it can’t be worse”, that was said a few years ago and we plummeted off the face of the earth.
Pitino is the perfect type for here, always has been. Plenty of coaches could get it done here but it’s probably gonna run you 2.5M per to have a solid shot, and that’s 3x more than currently.
Not having to assume the risk as a fan, but for me, I’d make a play for RP if the time comes. Could get him way under market value, wouldn’t be a long timer due to his age, and he’d immediately energize the community, put butts in seats, would compete, would play real teams and would trigger people like Hiker and other basketball haters.
