Basketball 2014-15

[RichH]

Courtney's contract concluded. Can't understand why he's still the head coach.

We won't be over .500 in winning games with Courtney, book it.

"Over .500?"

"I don't think I'll ever get over .500."

As in win more than 50% of the games he coaches, no I don't see it. ;-)

Those wounds...run deep.

[phillysportsfan]

I believe it is neither. IMO, Andy extended Bill when the program appeared to be moving in the right direction, but now it is clear it is not.

I don't have any details. I am just told that there is a very small inner circle that is involved. Bill will be back next year and from what I am told, next year is the last year absent a demonstration the program is moving forward.

My hunch is that a one year extension was probably given early this season.

Can only hope this is true as we should be horrible next year losing Miller, Cancer, Cherry. We would be horrible no matter who the next coach is so as was said before it may work out well since new coach wont be stuck with that rough year on his resume. Problem then is Andy needs to hire a better coach than before when the program is at a much worse position than it was 5 years ago. Too bad Spiker probably wont be available, hurts to think where we would be if that Army job didnt open late fall 2009, Spiker would have been the no brainer replacement for Donahue

[mountainred]

I believe it is neither. IMO, Andy extended Bill when the program appeared to be moving in the right direction, but now it is clear it is not.

I don't have any details. I am just told that there is a very small inner circle that is involved. Bill will be back next year and from what I am told, next year is the last year absent a demonstration the program is moving forward.

My hunch is that a one year extension was probably given early this season.

Can only hope this is true as we should be horrible next year losing Miller, Cancer, Cherry. We would be horrible no matter who the next coach is so as was said before it may work out well since new coach wont be stuck with that rough year on his resume. Problem then is Andy needs to hire a better coach than before when the program is at a much worse position than it was 5 years ago. Too bad Spiker probably wont be available, hurts to think where we would be if that Army job didnt open late fall 2009, Spiker would have been the no brainer replacement for Donahue

A one year extension seems like a really odd decision.  Put aside the issue of whether BC should stay or go, next year is going to be complete reboot.  We lose three starters (including one of the best players in school history) and need to replace over 60% of our minutes and our scoring.  The only two rising seniors on the roster are guys who have never been part of the rotation and are, at best, lottery tickets to contributing meaningful minutes next season.  As Philly said, next year is likely going to be tough regardless of the coach.  I guess you keep the large recruiting class intact and get to see if Bill found a transformative class, but otherwise it just seems like a punt.

[KeithK]

Sounds more like cost certainty to me.

[CAS]

So is there a suggestion that we extended a coach who took a program from first to worst, because we know his salary?  Is this how far we have fallen?

[KeithK]

So is there a suggestion that we extended a coach who took a program from first to worst, because we know his salary?  Is this how far we have fallen?

Pure speculation here.  If budgets are tight doing a search for a coach in a high profile (nationally) sport puts thosebudgets at risk.

Is this how far we've fallen?  It feels like we've just returned to the historic norm for Cornell basketball.  (I'm not a fan of the sport so I'm being a little callous about this.)

[CAS]

Courtney had an expiring contract. Would a new coach have cost more than what the extension calls for?  I'm not expecting Calipari to come here. Donahue's last 6 teams all had winning Ivy records. Should we just accept/expect losing in basketball?  Why field a team then?

[KeithK]

Courtney had an expiring contract. Would a new coach have cost more than what the extension calls for?  I'm not expecting Calipari to come here. Donahue's last 6 teams all had winning Ivy records. Should we just accept/expect losing in basketball?  Why field a team then?

Following the ideals of intercolliegate athletics one could argue that the purpose of competing is the competition, etc. not the winning. Frequent losing in a sport doesn't necessaily mean we should cancel the program.

From a practical standpoint a school has limited resources and sometimes has to accept a lower standard for one sport in order to promote another that is deemed of more importance.  I don't know if that'swhat is happening here but it's possible.  Or maybe Courtney just made a really good argument to stay on the job and Andy was so busy and happy following wrestling that he deciding to keep the coach on.

[phillysportsfan]

I would think a new coach might cost less as they will likely have less experience than Courtney. Frequent losing is one thing, not trying to start winning is another. After that Sweet 16 run you would think Men's BB would be more of a priority, no other sport at our level provides that national exposure

[CAS]

+1 philly

[Willy '06]

I wonder if Kevin App might make sense down the road? He's a former CU basketball captain ('07), and he just landed the Head Coach job at Williams last summer after Assistant positions at Cornell and Army (under Spiker). His first season went okay, going 15-10 overall and 5-5 and in conference. It's probably a little early, but if Courtney gets fired after next season and App has a good season at Williams, I could see him as a solid choice.

[mountainred]

I wonder if Kevin App might make sense down the road? He's a former CU basketball captain ('07), and he just landed the Head Coach job at Williams last summer after Assistant positions at Cornell and Army (under Spiker). His first season went okay, going 15-10 overall and 5-5 and in conference. It's probably a little early, but if Courtney gets fired after next season and App has a good season at Williams, I could see him as a solid choice.

I have no idea of anything that happened this season at Williams (they may have had a ton of injuries), but Williams has lately been a D3 power and their pre-season rank was #5. So, 15-10 isn't that hot (again, there may be a very good reason).  Kevin may be a great choice one day, but he's probably a few seasons from being ready.

[phillysportsfan]

http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/3/28/8305587/cal-marquette-uconn-michigan-illinois-boston-college-basketball-shonn-miller

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/581806055606390784

Miller getting heavily recruited by Mich St, UConn, Marquette, Cal, BC, Mich, Illinois, just to name a few of 30 schools. Good for him, hope he lands on a NCAA tournament team next year. Has to be the dumbest Ivy league rule that grad students cannot play sports, its anti academics if anything

http://www.leftydriesell.com/

He also was nominated for national defensive player of the year

[TimV]

Should we just accept/expect losing in basketball?  Why field a team then?

Two thoughts:

1.)  Why not accept/expect losing in basketball?  We do in football.::screwy::

2.)  If we DIDN'T field BOTH basketball and football, could we pour the savings into hockey and lacrosse?::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::
         Ok, maybe a few shekels for wrestling.  But only a few.:-D

[Trotsky]

Should we just accept/expect losing in basketball?  Why field a team then?

Two thoughts:

1.)  Why not accept/expect losing in basketball?  We do in football.::screwy::

2.)  If we DIDN'T field BOTH basketball and football, could we pour the savings into hockey and lacrosse?::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::
         Ok, maybe a few shekels for wrestling.  But only a few.:-D

I suspect the Ivies make you compete in hoops and football as a condition of membership.  Clearly this is not true of all sports.