PB1230

Also like how TJD is really making his presence felt on social media and with his press conference. He is going beyond just being the best player in the team to being the primary leader in the team

And Matta, which has gotten lost in the shuffle a bit since it was announced at the same time as Woodson. If the Matta hire happened today, people’s jaws would be dropping

I think this more about CMW than Trayce, and to generate some positive press around one the presumed potential weaknesses of CMW - ability to relate to younger players. Trayces announcement just provides the venue

yep, without TJD, most players probably recognized the likelihood of a very low ceiling on the potential for next ceiling

TJD really was/is by far the most important pending player decision. I think we can get solid transfer guards to replace Franklin/Lander, but we almost certainly wouldn't be able to find a big man of TJD's caliber in the transfer market

I tend to believe this is more about Dakich trying to advocate Woodson as a solid hire, irrespective of Matta being hired or not. I do think that Woodson will be fine with by himself with any on court practice/game coaching and all aspects of offensive and defensive schemes/strategy. Matta's biggest impact will probably be highly college specific behind the scenes stuff: managing practice/workout schedule to fit class and travel needs, allocation of time and effort on recruiting (eg who is going to what games/events), managing support staff - decisions essentially that are above the pay grade of a typical assistant.

Although, I'd say that Matta's $400k salary and bonus package structure is a major increase in investment at this position

Also, I remember 30 min pre and post game shows, and both would be aired on channel 4 even if the game was on CBS or ESPN

Although, I think that’s the environment Woodson is used to in the NBA, where some teams might have 4 or 5 assistants, plus multiple additional guys dedicated to scouting, analytics, etc

I think the biggest issue wasn't player development per se. A lot of players showed flashes of obvious improvement, but there was a clear lack in consistency which I think was more of a confidence issue.

Matta is up there too in strange aging, he’s been 63 since he was 37, but still only actually 54

Also, on some level I’m getting a low key Tom Allen vibe. Different personalities for sure, but you can sense his first priority is people and vision of family rather than all X’s and O’s strategy stuff

With Matta and now maybe Brown, it’s starting to look like Alabama football, just start making up non coaching positions to get as many experienced guys on campus

If nonrecruiting, guessing it’s won’t count as a full assistant. Wondering if it could be a DOBO and/or scouting position. Just a way to get Woodson another trusted advisor on campus

I think this might make Matta one of the top 10 highest paid non heading coaching staffers and highest overall paid non assistant coach in all of college basketball

Also, the knee jerk reaction is that an NBA guy like Woodson might struggle to relate to college younger players, but the Knicks currently have 6 guys on the roster between the ages of 20-23 (essentially college aged players), and those younger players are the ones coaches are going to be giving more attention anyway rather than the veterans

Hell, I'm 38 and my own mother screws up my name often

The think the Matta hire/announcement was precisely to address Woodson's biggest question mark (lack of college experience). It was to preemptively quiet the biggest doubts so the rest of Woodson's resume could make a splash

Wittman hasn't coached in 5 years

Jordan has also been the most active on twitter of anyone on the team in support of the Woodson hire (liking 3 or 4 tweets).

There's a lot of "What other schools would consider a guy like Woodson to be a candidate for an open job" But let's flip that - what other college jobs would a guy like Woodson consider besides IU - the answer is NONE

Although he did “like” IUs official Woodson announcement on Twitter