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Gonna be interesting to see who they get. Reports are they have their guy already and somebody reported who is close to Saunders that it isn't him.

Betcha it's Smart and that would be quite a get...
Shaka Smart is a guy that I was hoping might be interested in Madison in 5-6 years when Bo is ready to ride off into the sunset. He grew up in the Madison area and might look at it as a goal to achieve.

The longer Iowa and Minnesota stay relatively weak the better it is for Wisconsin as we've been successful getting players from there over the last decade.
The new A.D. at MN was the VCU A.D. who hired Smart. From what I've read he is also a "basketball-focused" A.D. Smart would probably have the run of the place. That really is the only reason. However, it seems like VCU is opening up the checkbook to keep Smart.
So what are the top jobs in the country? Where do people think Wisconsin ranks relative to this list?

Historically, for those of us who grew up when the superstars played at least 2-3 years of college the premier programs would probably be

UCLA
Kentucky
Duke
Indiana
North Carolina
Kansas
Michigan
Georgetown

Maybe Michigan State gets onto this list too. If you'd have had this conversation 25 years ago, DePaul is probably included, but obviously not any longer.

UCLA is the only one with an opening and even though Roy Williams and Coach K are getting a little older, it would be hard to believe they wouldn't be succeeded by a person with ties to those programs.

Would someone like Smart or another "mid" major type like the coach at Butler or Florida Gulf Coast be interested in the Wisconsin job after Ryan retired? It depends what people think of the program nationally.

This is no way meant to indicate that I think Ryan should be forced out. People sometimes forget he has the top winning percentage (or tied with Matta) in Big Ten history. For perspective, Ryan is at 71%, Bobby Knight was at 70%. Ryan is probably the best coach in the country at developing players. He gets A level play from B- level recruits.
IMO, Michigan State is an elite program. Indiana and UCLA are the tough ones. They have such storied pasts but have been up and down in recent memory. Me wonders if the youngsters even know about Knight and Wooden and the bucket full of great players and teams that came from those two programs.
quote:
Originally posted by phaedrus:
Interesting conversation. My guess is:

Elite
Kentucky
Duke
North Carolina
Kansas

Just Under:
Indiana
UCLA


After that, I don't know. Maybe Michigan State. Maybe Louisville.


Michigan State in the elite group. In just under take out UCLA. Put in Florida, Louisville, and tOSU.
Florida? They of course are not one of the legends but they do have recent success and a great recruiting area/base. I would think that a young up and coming coach would consider Florida as a good job.
I too have wondered about the Shaka Smart Madison connection. I think the stars would rely have to align.

And I think Bo oils want Gard to take over- he's been stumping for him for a while now. If Bo hung em up after next year, my guess is it would be Gard.

Gonzaga has to start entering into he conversation, don't they? Of all the mid-majors, they'd the ones hat really had he most success over the longer time period.
quote:
UCLA
Kentucky
Duke
Indiana
North Carolina
Kansas
Michigan
Georgetown


I'd put Michigan State on that list before Michigan. Yes, they've had a nice year but MSU has been far better over a longer period of time.

I would also have Louisville, Syracuse, and maybe Arizona and Florida on that list

I don't think GU can be on there without UConn - similar programs IMO

To me the legacy programs are UCLA, Indiana, UNC, Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas
PiPress Gophers Now ‏@GophersNow 9m Virginia coach Tony Bennett could be getting more attention from Minnesota as a possible #Gophers candidate, per @Charley_Walters

Smart
The Mayor

Walters notes generally on principal should be ignored but Bennett returning to the Midwest makes sense.

There is a lot of steam about Brad Stevens up here but I think he definitely is waiting for an elite job.

Methinks Flip Saunders has to be #1 now unless he is waiting until next to see who is out in the tourney over the weekend.
quote:
Originally posted by Music City:

And I think Bo oils want Gard to take over- he's been stumping for him for a while now. If Bo hung em up after next year, my guess is it would be Gard.



I've heard this as well and while Gard has been invaluable to Ryan, I hope they don't go down this route. Ryan has built a good program doing it his way. His name has equity. Gard's name would really have none.

They will need to bring in a name to keep the program at the level it's at. Even if they have to completely change the way they play.
quote:
Originally posted by Tschmack:
Why would Brad Stevens leave Butler to join Minnesota? That's a step down IMO.


Stevens just got an extension from Butler. If nothing else the Minnesota job seems to be making a lot of coaches money.
Andy Katz ‏@ESPNAndyKatz 4m Source: Hurley spurns Rutgers contract offer from Monday, stays at URI, signing extension tonight: http://espn.go.com/mens-colleg...and-according-source … View summary

I am very surprised on how many coaches are sticking with smaller programs. Rutgers is joining the Big Ten and Hurley is a "Jersey Boy." Seems like a nice position in a major conference with limited expectations initially.

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