****Official Mizzou Head Basketball Coach Search****

[stonedstooge]

Thought I'd start a new one of these. The old one is infected with the Haith Aids plus it had the wrong number of astericks.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I can't hate Kim Anderson for taking the job. I would have taken it too, but goddamn, what a disaster this is going to be.

The problem with Missouri, just like the Chiefs, starts at the top. The curators and AD have completely crippled this program.

The only hope is that Loftin is smart enough to realize what a disaster Alden is and shitcan him within the next two years.

One more legal scandal would probably do it.

Loftin will put more heat on Alden than Brady Deaton (and already is, honestly).

And yes, Mike Alden is clearly the problem. Much too satisfied with mediocre athletic results.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

It will drive you crazy that he never seems to get excited. Very calm

During the finals the mules were down and getting beat and they took a timeout then the camera showed him smiling. I was like DUDE YOU ARE ****ing losing nothing funny about that. Later it was mentioned that he laughed and told the team you didn't think it would be easy did you?

very dry but maybe he can cook up some crow for everyone to feast upon

It's a good thing charisma and charm aren't important factors for a D1 hoops coach... oh, wait.

His personality has long been known as a major negative factor at this level. It's why he was a shitty D1 recruiter when working under Norm (but hey, he did get guys like Jeff Hafer and Jedd Frost!) and why he was never really pursued to be a D1 head coach elsewhere.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

All things being equal, and I'm no fan of KA (I really don't know enough to say he sucks or not), but the MIZZOU athletic program does need an image adjustment.

Winning is a great cologne.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Winning is a great cologne.

Well, so far, his voice is about the only thing I see that'll make things a challenge. Again, basketball and its rules are kinda gay (oh, he touched me while I was running his ass over, foul!!!), so I'm no X's and O's basketball guy, I just hope he can recruit like a MoFo! Because if there's one thing I've learned about college hoops, ALL that matters is getting the best high school players to play for you (for a year). It may not be a guarantee for a national championship, but it'll get you in the press and into the hunt.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Well, so far, his voice is about the only thing I see that'll make things a challenge...

I was referring to you saying that the program needed an image adjustment. I don't think they do. They need to win games. If they were winning nobody would care about whatever image problems people think they have. The image they have is that they lose a lot of games.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I was referring to you saying that the program needed an image adjustment. I don't think they do. They need to win games. If they were winning nobody would care about whatever image problems people think they have. The image they have is that they lose a lot of games.

I get your point, and winning does a lot to mask other issues but at this point "winning" isn't going to happen quickly because it's college hoops. I have no problem with them working equally as hard on cleaning up their image as anything else. It's not like some kid who was going to go play for KU or KY is going to change their mind and come to play for MU - that wouldn't have happened if the UCLA guy would have been hired. And it's not like the kids coming in are really going to be re-coached from being a 3-star kid to 5-star talent in a year, so it's a process and a long one at that.

Therefore KU is going to be the class of area college hoops programs because they have 5-star high school talent begging to come play for them (for a year and for the camera time), MU is on a LONG road to recovery, and MU fans have to hope this works.

[Reaper16]

Like, this is a cry for help from Mike Alden, right? Alden WANTS to be fired. He's practically begging for it.

[WhawhaWhat]

Listening to the Kim Anderson press conference. Does anyone feel like maybe Mike Alden went into the curators meeting yesterday wanting to hire somebody else, got denied and Kim Anderson was the fallback plan?

[Codered]

I think it's safe to assume that Marshall was plan A. Alden just couldn't get it done. I think there were better options out there, but listening to the press conference it sure sounded good compared to the crap we had to sit through with the past few coaches.

I guess we will see if he does anything worth a darn on the court. It still would of been really nice to hire the homerun for once.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by Codered

I think it's safe to assume that Marshall was plan A. Alden just couldn't get it done. I think there were better options out there, but listening to the press conference it sure sounded good compared to the crap we had to sit through with the past few coaches.

I guess we will see if he does anything worth a darn on the court. It still would of been really nice to hire the homerun for once.

Disagree. I do not think Marshall was even contacted, despite what is being said, at least with a serious offer.

Painter was Alden's only real choice last time, the only difference this time is that Alden's only choice said yes, instead of pulling out.

[duncan_idaho]

Had a friend who was listening to the press conference, a noted sunshine pumper, get excited because "He's being funny and responding directly to the criticisms about his age and stuff! Confronting the questions and doubts head-on!"

My response:
"Wouldn't it be nice to hire a basketball coach who doesn't have to confront questions and doubts head-on at his introductory press conference?"

This is two in a row that have come in with major questions.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Had a friend who was listening to the press conference, a noted sunshine pumper, get excited because "He's being funny and responding directly to the criticisms about his age and stuff! Confronting the questions and doubts head-on!"

My response:
"Wouldn't it be nice to hire a basketball coach who doesn't have to confront questions and doubts head-on at his introductory press conference?"

This is two in a row that have come in with major questions.

He also went full Vermeil (minus the proven success at the highest level) when asked about telling his players he was leaving, touching.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

Disagree. I do not think Marshall was even contacted, despite what is being said, at least with a serious offer.

Painter was Alden's only real choice last time, the only difference this time is that Alden's only choice said yes, instead of pulling out.

I'm pretty certain they contacted him through the search firm and had some discussions. It was progressing well until Saturday night.

As for making it work monetarily... I am pretty certain a certain huge donor (who has anonymously bankrolled huge, recent donations to Mizzou athletics) would have made up any difference Alden needed him to.

But still, even if no Marshall... there were a lot of other, better options than Kim Anderson that should have been the No. 2 option instead of him.

[KCUnited]

The "identity' of the team response said it all for me. "Good kids, graduate, good in the community, represent Missouri people, because that's what we all are...Missouri people."

[Stanley Nickels]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

The "identity' of the team response said it all for me. "Good kids, graduate, good in the community, represent Missouri people, because that's what we all are...Missouri people."

I love the pride Missourians have for their state-- there really are few states with one major state university (I'm not counting SMS, er, Missouri State here) around which everyone rallies. But the "aw shucks", good ol' Missouri angle is so convenient for Alden, a guy from Chicago who affects his "Missour-ah" character so blatantly. I don't care where someone is from, be it Sedalia, MO or ****ing Pakistan... I just want a coach who can win a championship. Being realistic, that means sometimes you'll have to make a questionable hire with a positive upside, but to me that means a proven winner with a questionable past (eg, Howland) more than it does an unproven lower-division coach who was able to win against lesser competition. The fact that this is sold as a "True Son hire" doesn't mean shit if KA can't win. I just hope the people in positions of power can see past the forced "Missouri roots" angle Alden is using to justify this, and really get into where the ball was dropped along this process. I can't imagine Kim Anderson was plan 1A.