8bucks

Helps give some perspective about how hard it is for coaches to leave a good job to go and rebuild somewhere else. While the portal helps it also hurts. There are a lot of kids available to recruit from the portal but you also generally have most of your team go into the portal.

If we offer $800k are they getting an equal match or enough of a match to stay put? I suspect the latter but if not, then we may be underestimating how much $ we have compared to others. May have to shop the scrap heap for coaches out of work.

Could make sense to overpay them now. Over time the rest may catch up but if they are working out well then we should be able to match offers for them unless for a HC position

Is done but not committed yet basically a verbal? I agree many others will likely be coming after him. I wonder if he has a no-contact posting on his portal info

If any of you come across any games of his we should watch, link here. It has been cool to watch prior WVU games to see both Coach and Tucker in action. Hoping Reed can provide some sort of combo in between JMorgan and Danny Wolf. Even if a lessor version of those guys but one that can be a weapon if ignored and one that can help create opportunities for the others. With the way Tucker can pass, I am liking the addition of guys that can move and score and distribute the ball. Hoping he is a key cog to the "team" aspect

Good to hear the administration has been looking to help already. Suggests, they are aware of the need, have some resources available and probably ready to react if Moren cannot adapt. Hoping she can because she has built something and would be nice to see her continue that.

I can't help but wonder if the reported email from MM and the subsequent non-response/punishment for that neutered any goodwill gained from the staff's support. I recall that Moren wanted her to play to her size advantage more and work inside more was creating a role here that differed from the role Maryland offered. Also a bit saddened that we have not been able to utilize the portal to restack things here. 2023/24 was a great year but we took a step back this year. If we take another step back next year Moren might start to lose a lot of momentum.

Or get kind of lucky like he did with Small. Small was the 8th best portal PG last year and seemed to outplay that

It is but his point is correct.

Did Reed Bailey visit any other schools? Had seen where UK felt good about him

Makes me wonder but he did have 2 people follow him. Would have expected more but will let it play out.

How many games of his have you watched? I have been looking for games and watched the game vs Gonzaga last night. So far I don’t see him as an all American level, maybe not Danny Wolf level but definitely really good. He is such a good passer that you would really benefit if you had him as one of your best but not necessarily your best.

Since they did not work out and since the new staff does not seem to want them here I am not sure that is a good example.

I think this is my take as well. Short term, sure there are concerns. Whenever you don’t get your first choices (can only assume based on who visited) then you are hoping the next choice is similar or you get lucky. I would prefer he field a team not just guys after a payday but right now you kind of have to do both. Also concerned that we don’t seem to be well ahead of the pack on NIL. Basing this on the surprise some schools are showing up with some big offers. Long-term I think we can be in good shape. 3 of the 4 schools/coaches in the FF had a slowish start when they took over. NIL is different but Lville built a good team last year with non high end portal kids and now that kids see what they are about Lville is landing big targets. I expect us to be far better than when Crean took over but not expecting to be as strong as Michigan was

What level competition does his school play at in Missouri? Any idea if he is putting up these numbers against large schools?

I wonder if he has to be more cautious in year 1 since he has an entire roster to build. We have to overpay to get guys since we don’t have a clear vision of who we are or how we will really play. Then you have to balance getting mercenaries vs a team. I am becoming more convinced we as fans are going to have to grind and be less insistent on a super quick turnaround.

Ballo followed Tommy Lloyd from Gonzaga to AZ right.

who would you compare his game to?

What does this mean then regarding Pack and IU? Are we checking out a few options that are better than him first then coming back and expecting him to still be there?

When the dead period starts in a few days can unnamed assistant coaches contact players? I know under prior rules it was sometimes an advantage to not naming new assistants because they could still contact players. Not sure this is the strategy here but just wondered.

Anyone wonder if perhaps the coach at Texas shared some thoughts about IU too. Not hard to eliminate us when you have options

Girls athletics started to grow on my when our daughters started playing their sports at higher levels. The guys are quicker, more athletic etc but for top girl teams there is something pretty cool about the way that game is played.

I had not been to any girls games, and maybe watched a couple on TV for the first 55 years. I moved to Florida 3 years ago and so going to mens or womens games has not been on my radar since moving. I do record all the girls games that are on TV down here and have watched about as many of those as I did guys games this year.