A thought about Huggins

[michigancat]

This is mostly directed at FAN, who seems to think that Huggins will struggle, not because of recruiting thugs or being on eternal probation, but because he would be  outside of the Ohio Valley and/or an urban environment.

The man has coached for 22 freaking years.  He's recruited against all types of programs for all types of players.  I'm sure he knows the strengths and weaknesses of urban environments, rural environments, small schools, big schools, private schools, and public schools.  He can identify what type of players are drawn to what type of situation, and recruit accordingly.  As a WVU grad, I'm sure he knows what it takes to win at a school in a small town.

Additionally, I think you're giving the city of Cincinnati too much credit.  Huggins had one season in his last ten where he won fewer than 25 games.  The guy can coach.  Removing him from Ohio won't reduce his basketball knowledge one bit.



Hire Huggins, Weiser.

[ksu_FAN]

Thanks Rusty.  Those thoughts have been implied in most of your other posts on Huggins.  Your thoughts on Huggins are quite clear.

[michigancat]

I just get the feeling you are more concerned about Huggins from a basketball standpoint than a character standpoint.

Do you think Huggins or McDermott would be more successful at Kansas State?

[ksu_FAN]

I'm concerned about both.  Its not one or the other.  Combination of what I consider character issues (and don't go down the Marcus Raines road, one of the biggest mistakes Snyder made IMO), "fit" issues in Manhattan KS, and how realistic he is as a candidate.  One really doesn't outweigh the others.  Like I said, I think Nolan would be a more realistic candidate than Huggins.

Huggins would most likely be successful at K-State.  How much, I don't know. 

[michigancat]

(I know this has been rehashed 1000 times, but I haven't really shared my thoughts, but...)
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I wouldn't have had a problem with the Raines situation if Snyder had stuck to his guns and kept Raines, (or not recruited him at all).


The problem I have is that one of two things happened:

1.  Snyder knew about Raines' conviction, offered the scholarship, but backed down and lied about it after he received pressure from somewhere to renege the offer.
2.  Snyder knew nothing about the conviction, which was a horrible, careless oversight.


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Now, back to the Bob Huggins lovefest.



 

[ksu_FAN]

Agreed on Raines and the problem you have with it completely.  Either way, its one of the biggest misakes he made as a coach in his tenure at K-State.

I have a feeling he didn't know the whole story and got caught in it later on.  It simply doesn't make sense for Snyder to talk character after the Fiesta fiasco and then recruit Raines if he knew the whole story.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in 2nd chances, but your team knows when you say one thing and do the other and I can't help but think that would've carried over (and might have anyway) with the recruitment of Raines.

Now I'm done with my Raines commentary as well.

[mjrod]

(I know this has been rehashed 1000 times, but I haven't really shared my thoughts, but...)
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I wouldn't have had a problem with the Raines situation if Snyder had stuck to his guns and kept Raines, (or not recruited him at all).


The problem I have is that one of two things happened:

1.  Snyder knew about Raines' conviction, offered the scholarship, but backed down and lied about it after he received pressure from somewhere to renege the offer.
2.  Snyder knew nothing about the conviction, which was a horrible, careless oversight.


*************************************************************************
Now, back to the Bob Huggins lovefest.



 

Just so you know.. the story is that Raines didn't say anything to Snyder about it because he had served his sentence.   His coach never said anything either.

Snyder originally was going to keep the kid, but after it had come public that he had been given a scholarship offer, the family of the victim called Snyder and expressed their dismay.   Snyder, thought about the victims family, rather than the recruit, EVEN though Snyder believes in second chances. I agree that Snyder dropped the ball because essentially, the kid payed his debt to society, and that he was not before or after a trouble maker before.  I think he felt it might be a distraction to the team and the program.

[JavaCat]

And the GP story is told.

[mjrod]

And the GP story is told.

It was also in the Mercury.