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FYI, I was in complete rage mode yesterday so if I was a bit disrespectful to you or Piratefan2009 I apologize. I was at the game and had a ton of Nova fans around me telling me to sit the F down and almost got into a few scuffles, went to the board and vented.
IMHO we are not awful enough to get rid of Willard and if we can squeeze out 9-9 it really won't be that bad, I just don't think we are much better.
Guys, you are all wasting your time with these type posts.
The only way Willard isn't coming back is if he decides to go elsewhere.
Guys, you are all wasting your time with these type posts.
The only way Willard isn't coming back is if he decides to go elsewhere.
There's just no way Willard will be or should be fired after this season, that's just crazy for anyone to even think that.
Still a pretty good chance to make the NCAA's this season (what it's really all about) even if it is a disappointing season.
No NCAA's this seaosn and he should be on the hot seat next year.
And on another note, why would Willard leave Seton Hall after the season to go to South Florida? That is a god awful job with just about nobody interested in that program. I don't buy it.
Sounds like what they said about us when we fired Orr.Gottfried getting fired was a joke on so many levels. Does NC St think they are Duke or NC? I'd kill for what Gottfried did in his tenure.
Of course he does. You don't fire a coach one year after winning the BIG EAST COY award.Dan,
Do you think Willard deserves to come back? Please be honest.
If we waste next season by not bringing in at least 1 high quality PG and don't take advantage of the core four seniors then he deserves to be on a very hot seat after next season.
It's not professional sports. If he's got a monster 2018 class lined up he could go 15-16 and be back the following year.He would deserve to be fired after next season if that were to happen.
It's not professional sports. If he's got a monster 2018 class lined up he could go 15-16 and be back the following year.
I'm not saying whether I agree or disagree as I would have to see the actual scenario play out, I'm just saying there's more that will go into the decision than W's and L's.I understand, but if he has another disappointing season next year and fails to make the NCAAs this year, that would be 8 years here with 1 NCAA appearance. That, plus failing to capitalize on the 2014 class and not having much coming in on recruiting trail should be enough to move on from him, IMO.
What Dan had referenced would be an absolute worst case scenario and I don't see either happening. But if they did, I can't see how the administration could justify Willard returning for what would be a 9th season.
Of course he does. You don't fire a coach one year after winning the BIG EAST COY award.
That plus we are involved with a ton of big time recruits and you don't want to do anything to lose that momentum right now.
Despite that Willard has not done a very good job with this team and he deserves criticism although at times it's over the top here.
If we waste next season by not bringing in at least 1 high quality PG and don't take advantage of the core four seniors then he deserves to be on a very hot seat after next season.
If he doesn't and we do not have someone to fill the void that's on our head coach who has not followed up recruiting Delgado three years ago with anything close to resembling a quality D1 backup.Agree with this. But are you confident that Delgado returns? I'm not.
He would deserve to be fired after next season if that were to happen.
It's not professional sports. If he's got a monster 2018 class lined up he could go 15-16 and be back the following year.
That, plus failing to capitalize on the 2014 class and not having much coming in on recruiting trail should be enough to move on from him, IMO.
I'd be with haLL baLL, if he went this year and next without making the NCAA's he would have proven that he can't coach even with a good recruiting class, what would make anyone believe it would be any better with a good 2018 class?
These are just huge hypotheticals though, let it all play out bit by bit.
(2) pointed criticism about the coach is an expression of the overwhelming disappointment - decades and decades long - and the reason the criticisms appear so easily is that the there appear to be only desperate hopes for improvement in this long unhappy road.
I'd be with haLL baLL, if he went this year and next without making the NCAA's he would have proven that he can't coach even with a good recruiting class, what would make anyone believe it would be any better with a good 2018 class?
These are just huge hypotheticals though, let it all play out bit by bit.
The idea that someone is rooting for Willard to fail is flawed - (1) not one person wants failure for the program (2) pointed criticism about the coach is an expression of the overwhelming disappointment - decades and decades long - and the reason the criticisms appear so easily is that the there appear to be only desperate hopes for improvement in this long unhappy road.
Waiting for "the right time" is bosh. There is no right time. For all our flaws, we are not fools when it comes to what appears on the floor, game in and game out. Why should I sit on my hands and pretend like I cannot see the wrong trends in terms of coaching the players and the results?
If we were awash in even a modest damned uptick of success, there would be criticisms, because there always will be, but they would be tactical criticisms, not strategic criticisms. As we come to the close on year 7 (and add 3 more for Gonzo, just because that's the fact), the programmatic successes gained by Lyons and Willard should safely now be declared as GAINED and in the drinking water. What I mean is, if the GPA is high and the program is functioning to an effective degree, there's a point at which you say "that part is complete, stop touting this as a principle accomplishment for the year".
We're grateful for these programmatic accomplishments.
Now where's the damned beef?
I respectfully disagree here. I know the extension we gave him makes this a non-issue, but ignoring obvious recruiting and coaching issues just because of one good season is a mistake. It's the same rationale that I believe most here had when we knew moving on from Orr was the right move despite a couple NCAA appearances. You could just tell he wasn't going to have sustained success and that was proven out after he left. If Holloway leaves for a HC job the issue is just further compounded. Again, moot point given his reported contract situation, not to mention whatever factor his relationship with Lyons plays, but it's been more than long enough of a track record IMO.Of course he does. You don't fire a coach one year after winning the BIG EAST COY award.
That plus we are involved with a ton of big time recruits and you don't want to do anything to lose that momentum right now.
Despite that Willard has not done a very good job with this team and he deserves criticism although at times it's over the top here.
If we waste next season by not bringing in at least 1 high quality PG and don't take advantage of the core four seniors then he deserves to be on a very hot seat after next season.
I'm not saying whether I agree or disagree as I would have to see the actual scenario play out, I'm just saying there's more that will go into the decision than W's and L's.
Again I agree the entire situation needs to be looked at but can we wait until March 2018. We're in a position where we can get back to the NCAA tournament in consecutive years for the first time in 23 years. Unfortunately I'm not sure if the majority of our fan base knows that. The team could use our support these final 4 games.This is also the rationale for those who would like Willard gone. Many say it's crazy because of last season (which, though by far his most successful, still ended in a game one blowout tournament loss), but others think you have to look bigger picture. Without selling two assistant coaching spots, I think last year looks like every other year, including this one thus far, which like it or not carries the common hallmarks of collapse after promising starts. I don't have confidence in his ability to secure elite talent without the hiring quid pro quo, nor to win without elite talent given his lack of an effective offensive system. He is a perpetual excuse-maker, which is why I think we see the same problems recur season after season instead of being addressed by taking responsibility and making real changes.
It is both about wins and losses and more than wins and losses. Unfortunately, I do not think he has succeeded in either category.
Of course he does. You don't fire a coach one year after winning the BIG EAST COY award.
That plus we are involved with a ton of big time recruits and you don't want to do anything to lose that momentum right now.
Despite that Willard has not done a very good job with this team and he deserves criticism although at times it's over the top here.
If we waste next season by not bringing in at least 1 high quality PG and don't take advantage of the core four seniors then he deserves to be on a very hot seat after next season.
Sometimes a COY Award is really an 'Exceeded Expectations Based on Consistenly Poor Results' Award. KW won that award. I would not use this as a supportive argument in this case.
If he doesn't and we do not have someone to fill the void that's on our head coach who has not followed up recruiting Delgado three years ago with anything close to resembling a quality D1 backup.
If Delgado does leave for a Spanish league or something similar then our staff better bring in a high quality big THIS season. We are involved with a few.
Gottfried getting fired was a joke on so many levels. Does NC St think they are Duke or NC? I'd kill for what Gottfried did in his tenure.
Ironically, I think alot of people would say that about Seton Hall if they fired Willard. When was the last time Seton Hall went to 2 consecutive NCAA tournaments? Willard has a realistic chance of doing that with nearly a full roster returning next season. I just don't think this program is at the point where they can lose their best player, and nearly conference player of the year, after his sophomore season and expect to match previous results. Seton Hall, while firmly on the bubble and coming off a conference championship, barely had 4,000 fans show up for a home game against a top 20 team. There's not going to be an Archie Miller knocking on the door if Willard is tossed.