Is Kevin Willard the problem?

[shu09]

Such a ridiculous thread. Yeah, we're all upset with how this team collapsed like a house of cards but he is NOT GETTING FIRED. PERIOD!!

The only way we have a new coach next year is if Kevin decides to go elsewhere.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Such a ridiculous thread. Yeah, we're all upset with how this team collapsed like a house of cards but he is NOT GETTING FIRED. PERIOD!!

The only way we have a new coach next year is if Kevin decides to go elsewhere.

Yes he is not getting dismissed for performance at this moment...however how many .500 league years and no tourney appearance or advancing will it take? 2 more, 3 more in a row?

He has work to do the second this season ends.

 

[radecicco]

Legit criticism of KW for this season. However, some posters are just nuts.

 

[mbraue]

I was so curious as to who "Hamilton" was that I was waiting for someone to get an answer. LOL.

Braziller said that Anderson benched Moore, who has been playing well off the bench for them. My guess is he didn't like some of those early 3s the kid was hoisting.

Anderson doesn't F-around. You go to class, practice hard and play his way or you don't play. He'll happily play his bench group because he's played 10/11 kids and won 400+ games along the way.

Wait, Anderson plays his entire bench? Yet we sit a 4 star and play Molson who is shooting 12 percent from 3 and can’t convert in the paint? Stevens saw some time tonight - what a joke. Bench has been forgotten. Wait, Johnnies can beat us with 3 stars and no names and frosh and sophomores yet we keep supporting this script?

 

[thehall07]

Look, he is a stiff, he and shu have reached the ceiling

Please provide a realistic list of who you would replace him with or what other school is going to get him to leave SHU. Once you do we can add rivals AD to your running list of things you know everything about .

 

[TomD82]

No more 1 year Grad transfer PGs. Need a true quick long term PG who can break down a defense. No more Maayans Longs or Wilson or Gordon.Need 3 pt shooters like Villanova and Creighton. Shooters that spread the floor and create matchup problems and with better basketball IQ. And enough with the low and mid major transfers. For every McKnight there is a Molson a Stix Mitchell or a Brian Thomas. And I know Stix was not Willard but he is an example.

 

[ironlung75]

I am not happy with the play over the past games. But it looks like the team has given up. If that is on him then he needs to deal with it and he needs a real review of how he is going to fix this. But I don’t think this team has it in them. They have the talent, I think it is In their heads. They look like they are playing in slow motion. That steal by Earlington from Shavar looked like he just gave it to him. Very weak. I have a lot of respect for Reynolds but he seems to be mailing it in. Molson has been on the floor but he disappears. Mamu could dominate almost everyone he plays against but lately despite his scoring he seems like he could do more. Ike has hands of stone. There have been plays where he catches the ball high brings it down instead of putting it in and then gets his pocket picked. I don’t like going off on the team, but the play is not all on Willard. Yes he is responsible, but the players have to step up as well. It is disappointing but it is also fixable. That may be too late to make it to the Tournament.

 

[thehall07]

No more 1 year Grad transfer PGs. Need a true quick long term PG who can break down a defense. No more Maayans Longs or Wilson or Gordon.Need 3 pt shooters like Villanova and Creighton. Shooters that spread the floor and create matchup problems and with better basketball IQ. And enough with the low and mid major transfers. For every McKnight there is a Molson a Stix Mitchell or a Brian Thomas. And I know Stix was not Willard but he is an example.

Brian Thomas ??? You def mean Oliver.
I get your point though.

 

[TomD82]

Anthony Grant is a good point. He might want the BE prestge. Johnny Dawkins? I don't think Willard should be fired but there are names out there. And Willard needs to make some changes.

 

[TomD82]

Brian Thomas ??? You def mean Oliver.
I get your point though.

Yes Oliver thanks. And I can barely post on my phone I am so disgusted now.

 

[thehall07]

Anthony Grant is a good point. He might want the BE prestge. Johnny Dawkins? I don't think Willard should be fired but there are names out there. And Willard needs to make some changes.

Grant had a big job got fired and now has one of the top mid major jobs in the country and is super happy there. Absolutely no way he takes SHU. Johnny Dawkins has never impressed me at all.
Willard’s changes are not in his staff they are all in his head, he needs to adapt change and adjust can be so damn ridged. Plus seeing some fire from him would go a long way with some of the guys here and maybe even on the court.

 

[anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0]

People calling to fire Willard and naming guys who cant make the tournament in their current roles, hilarious. Willard did a bad job with this team, and the immediate future does not look good, but Willard has turned this program into a legitimate major program, just looked at our home crowds, and he deserves the chance to rectify the season, hes earned that much. How quickly people forget how atrocious we were with Bobby G, bad teams and gangsters.

 

[Abbo71]

No more 1 year Grad transfer PGs. Need a true quick long term PG who can break down a defense. No more Maayans Longs or Wilson or Gordon.Need 3 pt shooters like Villanova and Creighton. Shooters that spread the floor and create matchup problems and with better basketball IQ. And enough with the low and mid major transfers. For every McKnight there is a Molson a Stix Mitchell or a Brian Thomas. And I know Stix was not Willard but he is an example.

I totally agree, but can we get these types of players?

 

[TomD82]

Grant had a big job got fired and now has one of the top mid major jobs in the country and is super happy there. Absolutely no way he takes SHU. Johnny Dawkins has never impressed me at all.
Willard’s changes are not in his staff they are all in his head, he needs to adapt change and adjust can be so damn ridged. Plus seeing some fire from him would go a long way with some of the guys here and maybe even on the court.

No question Grant did not do as well as Avery Johnson and now Oates at UA. Dawkins was unlucky not to beat Duke in the NCAA. Both guys I think would want the basketball prestige and backing of the BE. I am not advocating for anyone in particular, but think the problem is more than Willard's head. Recruiting has been mentioned, player evaluation and game situations. He has coached like Chris Mullin this entire year and parts of just about every other season. Not doing much of anything that is.

 

[mbraue]

People calling to fire Willard and naming guys who cant make the tournament in their current roles, hilarious. Willard did a bad job with this team, and the immediate future does not look good, but Willard has turned this program into a legitimate major program, just looked at our home crowds, and he deserves the chance to rectify the season, hes earned that much. How quickly people forget how atrocious we were with Bobby G, bad teams and gangsters.

Look how great Buffalo and Bonnies are and other mid-majors. Buffalo coach now killing it at Alabama and Wofford coach doing well at VTech. Hearing that Bonnies coach, a BC grad, in line for BC head coach bb job.

We are a good option for good coaches - can’t get complacent for too long. Something seems wrong. The way we lose and the optics on offense and defense cause major concerns - to me it goes beyond talent.

 

[NYC Pirate]

Should not be fired. And the season is not technically over. But he needs to adjust things after the season. He needs to take some time off and then focus on film instead of four irons. Has to reevaluate everything about how we game plan, substitution patterns and the zone defense. Recruiting of course. He’s going against good programs and coaches and it’s going to take a huge effort to remain in the conversation.

 

[TomD82]

I totally agree, but can we get these types of players?

It looks like SJU has some. And Creighton sure has. No question though it is going to be next to impossible to get those over Villanova and now UConn. Rhode Island used to lose games like we have this season. Now Hurley at UConn has recruited even better like has been mentioned we need more of and it showed how much tougher they are.

 

[LeftCoastPirates]

People calling to fire Willard and naming guys who cant make the tournament in their current roles, hilarious. Willard did a bad job with this team, and the immediate future does not look good, but Willard has turned this program into a legitimate major program, just looked at our home crowds, and he deserves the chance to rectify the season, hes earned that much. How quickly people forget how atrocious we were with Bobby G, bad teams and gangsters.

I am not calling for Bobby G to come back.

but 17-15, 17-15, 19-13 is not the definition of atrocious IMO.

 

[TomD82]

Should not be fired. And the season is not technically over. But he needs to adjust things after the season. He needs to take some time off and then focus on film instead of four irons. Has to reevaluate everything about how we game plan, substitution patterns and the zone defense. Recruiting of course. He’s going against good programs and coaches and it’s going to take a huge effort to remain in the conversation.

Excellent point. When I was in the horse racing business our trainer was very good. At one point the entire barn was 0-69 in races. Everything in the barn, training and racing the horses was re-evaluated during that period and it paid off.

 

[NYC Pirate]

Excellent point. When I was in the horse racing business our trainer was very good. At one point the entire barn was 0-69 in races. Everything in the barn, training and racing the horses was re-evaluated during that period and it paid off.

He just can’t be so stubborn. I would not be totally shocked if we beat SJU and gave Nova a game. All kidding aside, that’s not the point. It should never have come down to this. The way they’ve played the last 6 or 7 games has been hard to fathom. He tried nothing, nothing at all.
plus isn’t there enough data/ analytics that say your early mass substitutions are changing the trajectory of the game in a very negative way., The personnel on the court in the last 4 minutes of the half are not producing points. The team coming out after the half has lacked energy and focus? Why is it so hard to see this??

 

[Abbo71]

He just can’t be so stubborn. I would not be totally shocked if we beat SJU and gave Nova a game. All kidding aside, that’s not the point. It should never have come down to this. The way they’ve played the last 6 or 7 games has been hard to fathom. He tried nothing, nothing at all.
plus isn’t there enough data/ analytics that say your early mass substitutions are changing the trajectory of the game in a very negative way., The personnel on the court in the last 4 minutes of the half are not producing points. The team coming out after the half has lacked energy and focus? Why is it so hard to see this??

It defies all logic.

 

[SHUSA]

Some of the best coaches were not great players, Grand coaches his ass off and all of what you state is on the players you think he teaches them to soft ??? Our front court gets out rebounded because our guards don’t box out and look at the ball bounce off the rim. Again you are barking up the wrong tree and I don’t think I will convince you otherwise. Grant is massively respected by coaches around the country but that doesn’t matter because you don’t think he was a good player at SHU.

Grant goes and gets a beer with the fans across the street after wins. idk but theres something about that that says alot about his character that i love. unfortunately our coach takes tiny sips of wine while being a completely poor sport about eating a hot dog.

 

[mbraue]

It defies all logic.

He has no motivational skills or has checked out.

 

[SHUSA]

This is my first post on this board in a long time, because of posters like the ones on this post.

This post is an embarrassment to a board I loved for 24 years. You hate KW no matter what, that's your prerogative but you make the board unreadable.

I'll see you guys when this board cleans up their acts.

and willard hasnt made the games unwatchable. i mean legitimate fans here have turned the channel the last month. people arent even joking theyre saying its been literally unwatchable. the board is just reflecting the team.

 

[NYC Pirate]

Grant goes and gets a beer with the fans across the street after wins. idk but theres something about that that says alot about his character that i love. unfortunately our coach takes tiny sips of wine while being a completely poor sport about eating a hot dog.

Precisely why I feel they should give consideration to Shavar if he wants to go down that path. I think he could make an excellent coach. Obviously as an assistant to start with.

 

[SHUSA]

People calling to fire Willard and naming guys who cant make the tournament in their current roles, hilarious. Willard did a bad job with this team, and the immediate future does not look good, but Willard has turned this program into a legitimate major program, just looked at our home crowds, and he deserves the chance to rectify the season, hes earned that much. How quickly people forget how atrocious we were with Bobby G, bad teams and gangsters.

how would willard do im bobby gs league? i didnt love bobby but his recruits did almost make the tournament under willard until, yup, they completey collapsed under his leadership.

giving him a chance to recrify is fine, if thats the actualy situation. im under the impression its a lifetime membership for him. personally its clear he wont rectify. his hopper is bare. his vaunted recruiting class is debatably 7th in the conference. the first time he turned it around he needed to hire positions. so im begging for him to do it again. or it looks super grim.

funny enough, the fans did step their game up and showed up to the arena. but then our teams literally said they played worse in front of the full crowd. it was too much pressure.... i mean helloooo. were better if the fans DONT show up? its impossible to turn so many advantages into disadvantages. 3rd tallest team, 169th % of shots from 2 pt , 176 2 pt rate... we take HALF our shots from 3. just a magical quest to do less with more.

 

[flconticello]

Unless you're getting a stud transfer scoring 28pts a game in one of these lower leagues ... from now on...no thanks. You can go back and check my posts but hated the Molson offer when it happened limiting us on our HS recruits. He shot 25% from 3 for Canisius now shooting below 18% for us. In BE play he's shooting 35% over all and 8% from 3. You read that right EIGHT PERCENT. He hasn't hit one since before Christmas. At 50 I guaranty I could shoot a better percentage and I don't belong anywhere near a court. Point is he is not a BE player. Huge miss considering we passed on some good recruits with his ship. Willard should give him the Nelson treatment and get him to transfer out. KW seems to be good at chasing people out... time to use his talent.

 

[sami]

nm

Just go away already. Stop confusing passion with stupidity.

 

[donnie_baseball]

No more 1 year Grad transfer PGs. Need a true quick long term PG who can break down a defense. No more Maayans Longs or Wilson or Gordon.Need 3 pt shooters like Villanova and Creighton. Shooters that spread the floor and create matchup problems and with better basketball IQ. And enough with the low and mid major transfers. For every McKnight there is a Molson a Stix Mitchell or a Brian Thomas. And I know Stix was not Willard but he is an example.

Stix was a very good player for us, so not only the wrong coaching staff, but just wrong.

 

[donnie_baseball]

What’s funny is I knew well before tip that we were going to lose last night. Everyone should have just gotten this “WIllard is a bum” bile out of their systems after the Connecticut game. Maybe between now and Thursday, so we don’t have to ratchet it up again for early Friday morning?

 

[Pirate143]

Such a ridiculous thread. Yeah, we're all upset with how this team collapsed like a house of cards but he is NOT GETTING FIRED. PERIOD!!

The only way we have a new coach next year is if Kevin decides to go elsewhere.

I agree he will not nor should be fired. The assessment is whether he can get the school to the “next level”. It is his decision to make.

 

[BabyBlue]

Why? Why did I read this thread? Utterly ridiculous.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Look to some, people are P'D and venting...past the series of CU and Nova, this should have been a manageable schedule win 12 to 13 league games. Post away uconn this became a nightmare...while calling for an immediate dismissal is an overreaction and unless there is some magical destination getaway he seeks, he will be the HMIC next season. He needs to go to work. However, on the other end, there are head coaches out there seeking opportunity. There are area lead assistants looking for a breakthrough as well.

Willard needs to have a season, perhaps next season, where the team just grinds, shows two way effort, is that hard ass team that finishes 3 to 4 in a more complete conference that is a 6 or 7 ncaa seed that can get to the 2nd weekend.

 

[Hallsome]

Look to some, people are P'D and venting...past the series of CU and Nova, this should have been a manageable schedule win 12 to 13 league games. Post away uconn this became a nightmare...while calling for an immediate dismissal is an overreaction and unless there is some magical destination getaway he seeks, he will be the HMIC next season. He needs to go to work. However, on the other end, there are head coaches out there seeking opportunity. There are area lead assistants looking for a breakthrough as well.

Willard needs to have a season, perhaps next season, where the team just grinds, shows two way effort, is that hard ass team that finishes 3 to 4 in a more complete conference that is a 6 or 7 ncaa seed that can get to the 2nd weekend.

Pissed and venting.
How about this: grow up

 

[TomD82]

Stix was a very good player for us, so not only the wrong coaching staff, but just wrong.

You must be kidding. He took more stupid shots than Molson does . Him and Molson are the only players I ever saw hit the back of the backboard not the side on a shot because they didn't even know where they were. And Stix always jacked up shots. He never met a shot he didn't like. And I didn't even mention TT in my transfers post.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

You must be kidding. He took more stupid shots than Molson does . Him and Molson are the only players I ever saw hit the back of the backboard not the side on a shot because they didn't even know where they were. And Stix always jacked up shots. He never met a shot he didn't like. And I didn't even mention TT in my transfers post.

Averaged 28 min and 11 ppg across 2 shu seasons, while not an exquisite 3pt marksman numbers say far better than molson...feel bad he got played by gonzo and derm after year 1

 

[anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0]

You must be kidding. He took more stupid shots than Molson does . Him and Molson are the only players I ever saw hit the back of the backboard not the side on a shot because they didn't even know where they were. And Stix always jacked up shots. He never met a shot he didn't like. And I didn't even mention TT in my transfers post.

He also was really good at robbing his fellow students at gunpoint.

 

[Seton75]

your up 18-0, you dont lose guys

We were down 18 once, and won by about 18. That us why coach k was fired in 89.

 

[knowknow456]

My problem this year is I really like these kids. Not just because they wear the uniform but because I think they represent the school really well.

I support Willard 100% but I think he needs to look in the mirror. This group underachieved at the end and I'm not convinced it's all on the players.

I'll be ready by Thursday, hoping in the next four days they find whatever it is they are missing.

 

[Halldan1]