I’m not here to speculate on Josh’s future as the head coach for the Memphis Tigers. I’m not here to call for his job. I’m not here to tell you what boosters are feeling and how that could play out over the course of the year. Truth be told…when it comes to those topics, I don’t know enough to say one way or the other.
I’m just here to say what I know to be true. I’m not an insider – KE, Brooks, Grant, JM, etc. all know way more than I ever will. But I am fortunate enough to know a couple of people, on a personal level, who are extremely close to the team. Obviously, we talk shop and things come up …

That being said, here’s what I know about Josh according to the people I know who know Josh.
Josh is a chronic over-thinker. He’s too darn smart for his own good sometimes. Heck, he’d probably admit to it and those around him will certainly attest.

We are 6 years into the Josh Pastner era and this team still lacks an identity. That’s because seemingly every year Josh changes how we will play or prepare. He messes with lineups and substitutes way too often. All these things can be attributed to his propensity to overthink things – complicate things. We aren’t known as a hard-nosed defensive team like Virginia or Louisville. We aren’t known as a pressing team like VCU or Arkansas. We aren’t known as a gritty, tough rebounding team like Pitt. We don’t run a methodical offense like Georgetown. I’m not saying we have to be like those teams…I’m saying we need to be known for something. Teams need to know when they play Memphis - win or lose - they’re going to play a certain way. So far, under Josh, Memphis hasn’t established a true identity and IMO that goes back to his inability to commit to an ideal and stick with it.

Josh doesn’t unite his teams. He struggles to motivate teams as a whole. If only one side of the boat is rowing, you’ll never get where you’re trying to go...you’ll just spin yourself in circles. Coaching, IMO, is 4 parts – X’s & O’s, recruiting, developing young men and motivating/teaching young men – not necessarily in that order. I think Josh knows his X’s & O’s…anyone who’s been around basketball as much as he has been around it knows the game. I think Josh can recruit, obviously he’s proven he can. He develops young men…our players graduate and stay out of trouble. Where Josh struggles – motivation/teaching. He can’t seem to get players to run through a brick wall for him, at least not all of them. Heck, maybe not even a majority of them. When he draws a play up in the huddle, I’ve been told by someone in the huddle, he can seem confused or lost as to how to relate it back to the players. The horn goes off and the players are still confused. I categorize that under motivating/teaching. fans and former players always talk about "heart" ...it's the coaches responsibility to get players to play with heart -motivate them!

Josh can be stubborn. (Not unlike a lot of coaches) Now, I think he’s getting better. Starting to realize the areas where he needs to improve, though I think some of that isn’t always self-enforced. However, since Murphy left, I’m not sure he really listens to an assistant coach, maybe Julian? I’m not predicting anything, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if this is Aki’s last year here.

All that being said – I’m not calling for his job. FWIW, I wouldn’t be opposed to having a different coach, but I want what’s best for Memphis regardless. If that can be Josh, I’m all for it. But these are some things I know to be true and I’d be willing to bet they play somewhat of a role (even a small one) in the way we played last night against CBU and the way we’ve underperformed over the last few years.

As always, GTG and let's get this thing right against WSU!!

I think that was a well-thought out, erudite response.

I have supported Josh since day one but he doesn't seem to be taking the next step and it appears this season could be a step back.

I would love to see Josh succeed more than he has at Memphis, but I am not sure that is what the future holds.

Maybe it's just that he doesn't know what he's doing.

(11-13-2014 12:29 PM)80sTiger Wrote:  Maybe it's just that he doesn't know what he's doing.

I think there are millions of reasons ($$$) for me to think he knows exactly what he is doing.

Now, the verdict is out on whether he can coach at a high level or not.

Bad examples-some of those teams are not relevant now and haven't been for several years or just became pretty good two seasons ago after 20 years of mediocrity.

Some people are so smart that they are stupid. They can't relate to the masses.

"He can’t seem to get players to run through a brick wall for him, at least not all of them. Heck, maybe not even a majority of them. When he draws a play up in the huddle, I’ve been told by someone in the huddle, he can seem confused or lost as to how to relate it back to the players. The horn goes off and the players are still confused. "

Exactly correct.

Very good post. I agree with everything you stated. None of JP's team have had an identity, other than looking poorly coached.

JP needs to find a coaching mentor and try to stick with a strategy for longer than 2 games.

(11-13-2014 12:27 PM)poppaslaw Wrote:  

Those who feel jp should go are the ones who understand basketball & have the ability to take in & understand a well thought out dialogue. That's why we are infuriated with his teams.

(11-13-2014 01:04 PM)Tiger5 Wrote:  "He can’t seem to get players to run through a brick wall for him, at least not all of them. Heck, maybe not even a majority of them. When he draws a play up in the huddle, I’ve been told by someone in the huddle, he can seem confused or lost as to how to relate it back to the players. The horn goes off and the players are still confused. "

Exactly correct.

+1

Actual player/skill development seems to be a big problem, among other things.

Did his speech last year about going to the final four fire you up? Quite frankly it was embarassing.

(11-13-2014 12:04 PM)HometownTiger Wrote:  I’m not here to speculate on Josh’s future as the head coach for the Memphis Tigers. I’m not here to call for his job. I’m not here to tell you what boosters are feeling and how that could play out over the course of the year. Truth be told…when it comes to those topics, I don’t know enough to say one way or the other.
I’m just here to say what I know to be true. I’m not an insider – KE, Brooks, Grant, JM, etc. all know way more than I ever will. But I am fortunate enough to know a couple of people, on a personal level, who are extremely close to the team. Obviously, we talk shop and things come up …

That being said, here’s what I know about Josh according to the people I know who know Josh.
Josh is a chronic over-thinker. He’s too darn smart for his own good sometimes. Heck, he’d probably admit to it and those around him will certainly attest.

We are 6 years into the Josh Pastner era and this team still lacks an identity. That’s because seemingly every year Josh changes how we will play or prepare. He messes with lineups and substitutes way too often. All these things can be attributed to his propensity to overthink things – complicate things. We aren’t known as a hard-nosed defensive team like Virginia or Louisville. We aren’t known as a pressing team like VCU or Arkansas. We aren’t known as a gritty, tough rebounding team like Pitt. We don’t run a methodical offense like Georgetown. I’m not saying we have to be like those teams…I’m saying we need to be known for something. Teams need to know when they play Memphis - win or lose - they’re going to play a certain way. So far, under Josh, Memphis hasn’t established a true identity and IMO that goes back to his inability to commit to an ideal and stick with it.

Josh doesn’t unite his teams. He struggles to motivate teams as a whole. If only one side of the boat is rowing, you’ll never get where you’re trying to go...you’ll just spin yourself in circles. Coaching, IMO, is 4 parts – X’s & O’s, recruiting, developing young men and motivating/teaching young men – not necessarily in that order. I think Josh knows his X’s & O’s…anyone who’s been around basketball as much as he has been around it knows the game. I think Josh can recruit, obviously he’s proven he can. He develops young men…our players graduate and stay out of trouble. Where Josh struggles – motivation/teaching. He can’t seem to get players to run through a brick wall for him, at least not all of them. Heck, maybe not even a majority of them. When he draws a play up in the huddle, I’ve been told by someone in the huddle, he can seem confused or lost as to how to relate it back to the players. The horn goes off and the players are still confused. I categorize that under motivating/teaching. fans and former players always talk about "heart" ...it's the coaches responsibility to get players to play with heart -motivate them!

Josh can be stubborn. (Not unlike a lot of coaches) Now, I think he’s getting better. Starting to realize the areas where he needs to improve, though I think some of that isn’t always self-enforced. However, since Murphy left, I’m not sure he really listens to an assistant coach, maybe Julian? I’m not predicting anything, but it wouldn’t shock me at all if this is Aki’s last year here.

All that being said – I’m not calling for his job. FWIW, I wouldn’t be opposed to having a different coach, but I want what’s best for Memphis regardless. If that can be Josh, I’m all for it. But these are some things I know to be true and I’d be willing to bet they play somewhat of a role (even a small one) in the way we played last night against CBU and the way we’ve underperformed over the last few years.

As always, GTG and let's get this thing right against WSU!!

Good post.

I want to address the identity issue, because I have always wondered why he would ditch the system that he inherited which had compiled a 137-14 record, 4 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights and a Championship Game. And I'm talking about the debated "dribble drive".

Cal had that down. It worked if Willie Kemp was a freshman guard going to the Elite 8 or if it was Derrick Rose going to the Finals. I do realize that we used it more later in that run than we did earlier, but to keep it simple, that is my concern. Why wouldn't Josh keep that system and recruit based on that system?

Good post.

Josh's best course is to be a specialist, and his specialty is recruiting. He can't handle all of the nuances being a head coach entails, especially at a program like Memphis.

I had hoped he would develop over the years, but he hasn't.

Time to move on before all of the fans do.

Maybe it's just he's inexperienced as a head coach and doesn't completely know what he's doing.

HometownTiger, you've just summed up someone who lacks the capacity to effectively coach. I know i'm not the only one who sees this.

Wow. I'm out of town a few days and all hell breaks loose.

I'm not an insider, just a multi-year season ticket holder. I think the lack of identity issue mentioned by the OP is spot on. I've been watching pastner teams for six years now from the lower bowl and what I find consistently frustrating is the lack of fundamental bball.

This is complete and total conjecture but I think that pastner suffers from some common issues that many new managers struggle with - trying to do too much without delegating, lack of leadership, and inexperience.

These are all things that can be leaned in the right environment and over time. Part of me wonders if his "I can do it all" attitude comes from inadequacies about his age and experience or misunderstandings about what leadership and motivation entail. I don't know pastner at all, just speculating. Many have called for a veteran X's and O's assistant. It still seems like something we woefully need.

Speculation aside what I do know is that from my first person POV, Pastner's teams seem to struggle with the same issues year in and year out. The most adamant Pastner supporters point to the elusive win over a top 25 team, W-L ratio, and all manner of statistics. The basic issues are still the same and teams still struggle with motivation, basic defensive strategy, and leadership.

The season may yet prove fruitful but pastner has not proven to me that he can overcome some of these fundamental problems - the product I've seen on the floor for the last few seasons has been eerily similar with the issues they've had.

The thing is I want him to succeed, he strikes me as a bit goofy but an above average human being and it's hard not to root for the good guy. But 6 years at big boy pay has produced more questions than answers. The fact that we're still debating whether or not he can coach X's and O's, develop players, and lead teams should be something worth considering in and of itself.

My non-insider best guess says that he has this year and next but not much beyond if things don't change (sweet 16).

Big money folks didn't get to be big money folks without understanding ROI.

My rambling 2 cents from a warm sunny place...

Spot on ^

Man, I love josh to death. That being said I think it's time for a change. I'm not saying that because of the CBU loss, but what do we do? Are we a tough defensive team, are we a disciplined offensive team ? Its been 5+ years and he hasn't learned to develop, coach or motivate his teams.