March 30, 200719 yr I've always thought Matta would be a guy to look at when the UK job opened up ... but could they even get him now, considering how he has things rolling at Ohio State?
March 30, 200719 yr I am just afraid tha if Matta then it would be instant "Probation" watch and alert. Besides thinking that Donovan is the man for the job (even tough I don't like his personality) I like Gillispie, Izzo and Belien.
March 30, 200719 yr How was he lucky? He was on all of those kids at X and kept them as the two year target when he got to OSU. Truth be told I think I have to stay consistent, and my thoughts on Tubby failing to get in with kids early makes me have to like Matta. He's already all over 08 and 09 at an elite level, and that's how you win these days. My post history says I have to like the Matta to UK plan... I'd say he was lucky that Mike Davis is an idiot. If IU had been in the picture it likely would have been a lot harder to pry Oden and Conley out of the Hoosier state.
March 30, 200719 yr I am just afraid tha if Matta then it would be instant "Probation" watch and alert. . What am I missing? This is the 2nd time someone has linked "probation" with Matta.
March 30, 200719 yr What am I missing? This is the 2nd time someone has linked "probation" with Matta. That has been my question as well. The only thing I can come up with is people are questioning his methods in landing these top recruits. Maybe waiting for it to hit the fan.
March 30, 200719 yr Author I'd say he was lucky that Mike Davis is an idiot. If IU had been in the picture it likely would have been a lot harder to pry Oden and Conley out of the Hoosier state. I'll give you that...
March 30, 200719 yr I am just afraid tha if Matta then it would be instant "Probation" watch and alert. Besides thinking that Donovan is the man for the job (even tough I don't like his personality) I like Gillispie, Izzo and Belien. I really like him as well. I would take him over most that have been mentioned.
March 30, 200719 yr I would definately like Thad as "UKs plan B". He can flat out recruit and isnt that what most UK fans want? I could certainly see him coming here.
March 30, 200719 yr I really like him as well. I would take him over most that have been mentioned. One of the best coaches in the business if you as me.
March 30, 200719 yr The more I think about it, it just might be a very good hire. I took a little while to step back from my first reaction and this is what I keep going back to. Is there really anyone that recruits the region better than Thad right now? He pretty much has Ohio and Indiana on lock down and he's had success in Kentucky and Michigan. As I have said before I do question his national presence, but after an Elite 8 at X and now a Final 4 and maybe more at OSU that isn't the issue as much as my first reaction lead me to believe. I do think he hasn't been a great coach with this Ohio State team, but he was last year and the year before with an active, three point bombing system that kept them in every game. Truth be told we would all change what we do as a coach with a kid like Oden in the post. That's just reality. Play him 20 minutes a game and you're a bad coach by default. The more I look at it the more positives I see if he is the guy. He's got the perception as a guy that is a bit slimy, but if you step back and look at the body of work it's pretty impressive for a guy looking to coach in the fish bowl that is Lexington... I was thinking the same thing last night. I don't have any reservations about him being able to take his recruiting to a national scope...I think his success in the region and at Ohio State, combined with the boost the Kentucky name will give, should smooth that over. I could be wrong, but that's what I think. Also, he's a good coach, despite popular opinion...as you cited his prior success at Xavier and at OSU pre-Oden. Most the criticism of his coaching comes from this season....a season in which a guy has his team at 34-3 and riding a 21 game win streak into the final four...if that isn't good enough, then I'm surprised Tubby made it into the 21st century as UK coach. Talk about unrealistic expectations. Here is Matta's coaching record... 2000-01 @ Butler: 24-8 01-02 @ Xavier: 26-6 02-03 @ Xavier: 26-6 03-04 @ Xavier: 26-11 04-05 @ OSU: 20-12 05-06 @ OSU: 26-6 06-07 @ OSU: 34-3 That's pretty darned impressive...I dare say it's probably better than Billy Donovan's record in his first seven years. Donovan is still my first choice, but I'm not going to be terribly disappointed if we have to "settle" for Thad Matta. They guy can recruit and he can coach. And he took OSU to a pretty high level in a very short time, which is something that would go over well at UK. What don't I like about him? I really don't like the way he looks. I would prefer that UK's next coach not look like a bird. He might be a better fit coaching the Kansas Jayhawks...
March 30, 200719 yr He was lucky to have to class and you know it. You could not be anymore wrong! He has already signed a stud for 07 with Koufas. Then his 08 class is unheard of! He already has 5 5 star players for 08. If he gets those 5 players, and they all stay at the same level, I would venture to say that in a 3 year period no one in history has gotten the players he has got. Matta is defintily my 2nd choice right now!
March 30, 200719 yr I would definately like Thad as "UKs plan B". He can flat out recruit and isnt that what most UK fans want? I could certainly see him coming here. No, UK fans want wins...PERIOD. Doesn't matter what kind of players you bring in. Just win, baby! Personally, not a fan of Izzo at all...Tubby's brand of basketball was painfully boring and a big reason I am glad to see him go. If they replace him with the same thing, I will be extremely disappointed.
March 30, 200719 yr No, UK fans want wins...PERIOD. Doesn't matter what kind of players you bring in. Just win, baby! Personally, not a fan of Izzo at all...Tubby's brand of basketball was painfully boring and a big reason I am glad to see him go. If they replace him with the same thing, I will be extremely disappointed. That's not gonna happen...Izzo won't be at UK. I can't see Barnhardt hiring a guy who doesn't push the ball after the frustration with Tubby's style...that would be a questionable move, IMO. Unless he runs out of options, and I don't think that will happen.
March 30, 200719 yr That's not gonna happen...Izzo won't be at UK. I can't see Barnhardt hiring a guy who doesn't push the ball after the frustration with Tubby's style...that would be a questionable move, IMO. Unless he runs out of options, and I don't think that will happen. Izzo isn't an upgrade from Tubby, just keep hearing some throw his name around. As for Matta, not a big fan of him either and his idiotic statements at the press conference have brought me to the point of disliking him...
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