Problem is that recruiting prowess isn’t even paying off this season in a weak Mountain West Conference. Just not sold on Otzelberger being the guy to turn the program back around.
TJ Otzelberger's program is ranked 6th in the Mountain West right now. PASS.The bottom line is that TJ can recruit at this level. That’s THE bottom line for me. I don’t want any question marks in recruiting. There’s no chicken or egg situation in CBB. There are outliers, but not many.
TJ Otzelberger's program is ranked 6th in the Mountain West right now. PASS.
I refuse to think Fred was great at ISU because of his assistants, he was great at ISU because he got a few awesome HS recruits (Niang, Long etc), some impact transfers, and was a magician on O. I don't think TJ deserves a ton of credit for his success. Yes he was a pretty damn good recruiter.
I'd take either. I'm a tad worried about the results that TJ has seen as a head coach. Yes he can recruit, but I really thought he'd be racking up wins already and he isn't. And if he wasn't ISU's assistant before would he be on our radar? Is he on ANYONE'S radar from a P5 school? I have to think no. That's also just something to keep in mind.
DeVries I just don't know much about other than this season. He seems to do great with less but how is his recruiting? Is he a Hawk that would bolt for Iowa whenever Mad Fran leaves? Would he even be interested?
I would be ok with either but agree with others I hope the pool is a bit larger. To me, sending feelers to the following group to see their thoughts would be great:
Just kick the tires with the last two to see.
- TJ
- DeVries
- Craig Smith
- Anthony Grant
- Beilein
- Matta
What has TJ accomplished so far as head coach? I’m wondering. We need someone from major conference with a ton of experience. This is not a trial and error anymore. After what Fred built, it’s crazy to see us so low. The first few yrs, Prohm won with Fred’s players. Even with that he couldn’t coach. He would call his useless timeouts after we started scoring and getting into a rhythm. This would usually happen after experiencing a 5min drought. Lol. I wish Prohm had succeeded here but I think it’s time to pull the trigger. Enough is enough.
TJ Otzelberger's program is ranked 6th in the Mountain West right now. PASS.
I refuse to think Fred was great at ISU because of his assistants, he was great at ISU because he got a few awesome HS recruits (Niang, Long etc), some impact transfers, and was a magician on O. I don't think TJ deserves a ton of credit for his success. Yes he was a pretty damn good recruiter.
You're right here, and Fred Hoiberg coached all of these guys, not TJ. Does TJ get most of the credit for Fred's ridiculously good offense?Wikipedia, always a definitive source, says TJ recruited (or at least had a huge part in)...
Mike Taylor
Craig Brackins
Diante Garrett
Scott Christopherson
Chris Babb
Chris Allen
Will Clyburn
Korie Lucious
Melvin Ejim
Georges Niang
Naz Mitrou-Long
Matt Thomas
Nick Weiler-Babb*
Solomon Young*
*I added these because... well, he did.
Solomon is our second-best player right now. ANY of the other guys on that list would be our best right now.
75%+ of college basketball is recruiting. Period.
Prohm lands highly-rated guys who aren't very good. TJ landed guys who were highly-rated AND good.
How many would be against Kelvin Sampson? He is killing it. Would he want back in the big 12?
Who would you rather have take over ISU basketball for the 2021-22 season if it came down to these two?
I don’t get the hard on for Otz here. His UNLV team blows, and we’re seeing how a coach who can recruit but sucks in game is working out for us now
I don't necessarily agree with the notion that Fred wouldn't have been able to keep getting transfers. He literally brought Burton to Ames in December prior to him leaving.Maybe what Fred built wasn’t as tenable as everyone likes to think? Fred caught lightning with his transfer game. That game is long up.
People are insane about his texting/calling charges.
Yeah and I don't know why. Hoiberg got in trouble for the same thing. Well his staff did anyway
You're right here, and Fred Hoiberg coached all of these guys, not TJ. Does TJ get most of the credit for Fred's ridiculously good offense?
Now that TJ is a head coach he's leading a team that is in the bottom half of the Mountain West. Either the body of work he's creating NOW as a head coach is a part of your consideration, or it's something you ignore.
I'm not bashing the guy, just saying a top 15 type program can do better. Yes - Hilton Magic when on is a top 15 place to play.