bigrod

How many times do we have to hear Archie say that there’s nothing wrong with what they are doing, they just have to do it better. Slow starts have been a mainstay in his time, and lineups have rarely been adjusted. Shooting issues, free throws, lack of flow on offense. These have been issues every season, but his response has been to keep doing what they are doing. As has been mentioned many times, all the good coaches play to their players’ strengths. This is just sad...

We need you sober...

Sadly, this is where I am. I used to never miss a game and drove to see a few every year. For me, it started toward the end of Crean’s tenure, but I came back to see how Archie would turn it around. I was encouraged by his first season, thinking he did quite a lot with the talent he had. Unfortunately, for me anyway, my apathy has grown every season since. It’s hard for me to get excited because I know for every Iowa win, there’s going to be an ugly Purdue, Michigan State (this year), or Indiana State loss. This is the definition of mediocrity. Crean’s teams reflected his wild personality swings, but at least you got a high every few years. Archie just keeps an even keel, never getting too high or too low for very long (12 game losing streaks aside).

His stats are almost exactly what they were here. I mean, good for him if he's happy, but he was supposed to be going to this free flowing offense that was going to let him break out. Admittedly, I haven't seem him play at all, but his stats don't represent anything different.

I remember when many, including myself, thought that we got the better coach of the 3 that came in to the Big Ten four years ago. Definitely hasn’t aged well...

My CEO always says he want's 20% growth, year after year, but never has a plan on how to do it. I always think, "yeah, who doesn't?" Wonder if this is the same. To say, I want us to score in transition, I want to shoot 75% from the free throw line, I want to shoot 40% from 3 - everyone wants that. The guy in charge has to come up with a good, executable plan on how to achieve those things. If he has, I haven't seen the players get it yet.

Archilles heel

I remember at the time that it was one of his assistants that threatened to have him deported if he didn't go to Baylor. It was one of those "common knowledge" things, but I'm sure it couldn't be proven. Instead, he had to sit out 8 games for bumper stickers. I guess he never recovered from that...

I figured this as well. In fact I told several people that we need to get used to mediocrity until his contract is up. The only thing that makes me wonder is that next year he would only have a year left on his contract. That makes recruiting even harder than it seems it has been for him lately. Who wants to play for a coach on the hot seat with a year left on his contract?

For sure - this needs to be the norm, not the exception. This means very little if they go out and lay an egg against Rutger, but it is definitely something to build on. Let's hope that is the case.

Maybe some others can expand on this, but the rumors I have seen have to do with mandating how he is allowed discipline the team and how he can talk to the team, etc. I personally have no idea if any of this is true. I think there was also stuff about not allowing him to remove anyone, but that could have been more because of the mess Crean left.

I think we have a long way to go before we say we are no better than last year. Having said that, I too am tired of seeing some things that are consistent issues every year. This is kind of where we are though. I do think the administration is not doing the coach any favors, but it does seem to be a tough argument when the football team has the same administration, and they have managed to build on success year after year. Maybe I'm being over simplistic. There is no way I would say the writing is on the wall though. I don't see a change made after this year unless it just totally falls apart. As much as I want to see the basketball team return to the elite status, I don't think I want a change made at this point. What coach would want to come here knowing they have 3-4 years or they are out? I'm afraid we have to see a few more years of mediocrity before a change is made. Or better yet, maybe we start seeing him build on success and its a moot point.

We have the All Airport team. Can't remember if that was Vitale or McGuire that used to say that.

I agree. Tons of talent and physical ability, but I couldn't ever figure out if he over-thought everything or didn't think enough. Much of the time he (mentally) seemed to be somewhere else.

I think the rule is a year out of HS.