k-state is rolling a hot dice right now and must keep taking chances if it hopes to continue its ascension to basketball dominance.
six years ago, tim weiser took a chance on bob huggins, a hire that got ripped by a bunch of dinosaur writers like mike decourcy of the sporting news. but huggins succeeded. then, after huggins bailed, k-state went with an unproven, self-important douchebag named frank martin who, turns out, is actually an above average coach. well, actually, closer to mediocre. either way, martin piggybacked off huggins' success and kept the program afloat.
but while frank was verbally assaulting his players, running them off, screaming and setting stuff on fire, the great john currie was in the backdrop doing god's work. he got k-state out of its financial hole. he got money for facilities. he established trust with high money donors. and so on.
because of john currie, k-state basketball is back. but now he must identify a new head men's basketball coach to take over this top 10 20 35 40 50 program.
should he target someone ordinary? heck no. an ordinary coach would not be a good fit. should he target a safe hire? no again.
k-state must hire someone great.
k-state must hire jay bilas.
bilas himself admitted in a recent interview that he's been offered multiple head coaching jobs and even came awfully close to accepting one. gee, i wonder why schools are offering jay bilas coaching jobs?
i wonder if it has anything to do with ...
-bilas being coached by the game's greatest coach, mike kryzewsewsewki?
-bilas being perhaps the most recognizable college basketball figure outside of dick vitale and the aforementioned mike kryzewsewski?
-bilas being perceived as a top-notch analyst who studies film and gets an opportunity to observe how great programs operate on a weekly basis?
-bilas being better connected than just about anyone else in the business - on the coaching side, yes, but also on the player side? bilas, remember, hosts his own camp and has also been prominently involved with nike camps and even the lebron camp. in short: he has some serious recruiting swag.
-bilas being successful in everything he does in life? he's a great tv analyst, yes, but also a great practicer of law.
-bilas being incredibly media savvy? the perfect face for a basketball program, a face that will also get enormous publicity by ESPN, etc.
bilas intangibles?
-loves hip hop, can relate with today's players
-has been to manhattan and has complimented the fan base and atmosphere.
-has 317,000 twitter followers
if bilas feels wanted, he will come.
stop settling. demand jay bilas.
