He also wouldn't have failed before at a similar job. Weber got a lot more time, likability aside, at Illinois because he had succeeded at SIU immediately prior. Just needed to get his high major legs.
again, i wonder just how much oscar
really failed in the big ten. at least relative to expectations. the big ten he walked into is much different than the big ten he left. when he was coaching at illinois, the big ten was typically the fourth or fifth best league in the country. it was that way throughout his tenure. in his final two years (and the ensuing two years after) the big ten was the
toughest conference. no matter what he does, he's not surpassing izzo, bo, beilein or matta. all those coaches are more talented and have better, more established programs. in his final season, the year everything went wrong, he played the 7th, 3rd, 10th, 23rd, 28th, 2nd, 23rd and 7th best teams in a six-week stretch to close the season. things went poorly...but it wasn't unsurprising. he didn't have a top 15 caliber team that can hang with those teams, especially not on the road.
this year, it's the same story. by season's end, k-state...a team that on paper
isn't a top 25 team...will have played 11 teams rated 25th or better in big 12 play. they've won four of the seven so far, and with a team that's in apparent disarray. the tcu and texas tech losses...awful...obviously. and again, oscar sucks, he's unlikable, his sideline demeanor is the worst of any coach i've ever seen, etc.
but going forward, k-state...with oscar...with any coach...is not going to be a consistent, every year top-5 team in this league. it just isn't going to happen.